20 



largements, usually dark purple in color and as hard as horn. When 

 in the heads of rye the sharp-pointed ergotted grains project like 

 spurs upon a cock, thus giving a common name to this fungus, 

 namely, "spurred rye." These grains contain a poisonous sub- 

 stance, ergotine, which may cause loss of extremities and even life 

 when eaten by the animal. The ergot is most abundant upon low- 

 land grasses and seldom to be dreaded in the Eastern States. In the 

 West whole herds have experienced ergotism and been destroyed. 



Should any trouble arise among live stock leading to suspicions, 

 the veterinarian should, of course, be consulted at once. In such 

 cases a careful examination of the maturing heads of standing grass 

 or that of the hay might possibly give a clue to the cause of the 

 trouble thus obtained. 



Corn Smut. 



The smut of corn and other grains has been suspected of doing 

 injury to live stock, but from all the experiments that have been 

 made no definite poisonous action of this fungus ( Ustilago Mays 

 Zcae DC. ) has been demonstrated. 



PLANTS POISONOUS TO THE TOUCH. 



There are many plants that sensibly irritate the surface of the body 

 of the human, but none is more familiar in these painful effects than 

 the poison ivy (Rhus radicans L. ) This is a climbing, perennial 

 shrub, with trifoliate, compound leaves, somewhat like those of a 

 strawberry plant. The small, greenish flower clusters appear in early 

 summer, followed by waxy berries, that may cling to the vines 

 through the winter. 



This poison ivy grows generally throughout the State, and in some 

 sections there is scarcely a stone wall or old fence that is not more or 

 less covered with it. It can be quickly distinguished from the harm- 

 less woodbine, or Virginia creeper (Parthenosissus quinquifolia"L.), 

 often growing with it, by having three leaflets instead of five to each 

 leaf, as in the latter vine. The poison ivy, or poison sumac, for it is 

 of the sumac group of plants, has rootlets that are given off from 

 the creeping stem, and by means of these it clings to the object of 

 support, while the woodbine possesses short tendrils with discs at 

 their tips for the organs of prehension. Figure 10 (Plate IV.) shows 

 some of the details of the poison ivy. 



All parts of the plant are pervaded with the poisonous principle, 



