FUNGI AND BACTERIA. 19 
those of the extremities, cannot obtain a sufficient supply 
of blood. This shows itself first in coldness, paleness and 
loss of feeling in the extremities. Later the tissues die, 
producing the condition known as gangrene. The ears, 
hoofs and tail often slough off, and gangrenous sores may 
form on other parts of the body. Gangrene may set in 
very quickly if the quantity of ergot eaten is sufficient. 
An extreme case has been recorded of a horse that was 
given a feed of badly ergotized hay. At the end of the 
first day the left hind leg was cold, stiff and moist with 
sweat. In two days gangrene had commenced, and in 
three the animal died—the skin and some of the muscles 
of the affected leg having already sloughed off. 
The second, or spasmodic type of the disease is de- 
scribed as follows by Pammel: “Tonic contractions of the 
flexor tendons of all the limbs, anaesthesia of the extremi- 
ties, muscular trembling, general tetanic spasms, convul- 
sions ‘and delirium.” In other cases Long states that 
fatigue and cold sweat are followed by paralysis of the 
tongue and muscles used in swallowing and later by gen- 
eral paralysis. In both types of the disease the heart’s 
action is very slow, probably due to the stimulation of 
the vagus nerve. 
Very large quantities of ergot produce acute ergotism. 
Dr. Winslow has investigated the symptoms in dogs, and 
states them as follows: “Vomiting, profuse 
salivation, dilation of the pupils, rapid breath- 
ing and frequent pulse. The animal cries out, 
has convulsive twitchings, staggering gait, paraplegia, 
intense thirst and coma, terminating in death.” 
In addition ergot must be held responsible for many 
cases of sporadic abortion, although this effect does not 
follow in the earlier stages of pregnancy as often as is 
Acute 
Ergotism 
