482 
Abortion in Cows. 
occurs, by stakes or otherwise ; then, and not till then, to care- 
fully pick off all affected stems and burn them, and for the 
following two seasons at least never to allow a grass to flower 
on such portions, by mowing them frequently. This may 
appear a tedious and troublesome mode of procedure, but in 
reality it entails no more expense than would accompany a 
single cow aborting on an ordinary sized farm, and is, so far as 
I know, the only effectual method of eradicating this pest.* 
In hay, ergot is not so easily discernible when present, from 
the fact of its occurring in patches. A long and tedious 
examination of a stack of hay may fail to reveal its presence ; 
for, unless the hay was mown very late, the fungus could not 
have attained sufficient length to extrude much beyond the pales. 
But I would strongly advise a conscientious search for ergot, 
especially where some of the hay consumed by the animals 
aborting was made late. I have no doubt that such a search will 
be frequently unsuccessful, even when ergot is present in con- 
siderable quantities, as from the habit of growing in patches, it 
similarly occurs to a certain extent in the stack. I can easily 
understand a whole cutting being carefully examined, which 
takes more time than would generally be supposed by those 
who have not practised such an examination, and no ergot 
being found, whilst the next cutting might contain large 
quantities ; so that I should not feel justified, if I had spent 
three or four hours in examining a late-made stack and found 
no ergot, in saying that none was present. I should take every 
available opportunity of renewing the search, and should try 
so to interest the man whose duty it was to feed such animals 
(by fee or otherwise), to examine every truss, and to save 
any suspicious spikes for my inspection. 
In conclusion, I may mention that I shall be glad to hear 
from any agriculturist whose herd may suffer from this malady, 
and to give them any advice I can on the subject. I hope to 
continue my enquiries, and shall be glad of the co-operjition of 
all who have recently experienced a loss from this affection, 
by receiving from them particulars of each outbreak ; for 
which purpose I shall be pleased to forward a copy of the 
questions which I have arranged. 
I have for obvious reasons abstained from going too minutely 
into the peculiar properties of ergot in a non-medical journal. 
To those unacquainted with its powers, I would advise a con- 
versation with their medical man, who, I presume, Avould have 
no objection to impart any information as to the capabilities of 
the drug, if he was aware of the object of such enquiries. 
* Or the pasture might be converted into a meadow, and mown moderately 
early for a couple of seasons. 
