72 
ON THE USE OF THE SECALE CORNUTUM (ERGOT 
OF RYE) IN RETENTION OF THE PLACENTA, 
AND PROTRACTED LABOUR. 
By Mr. G. W. Allinson, Idle, Yorkshire. 
In compliance with the desire expressed by your talented cor¬ 
respondent, Mr. Simpson, I beg leave to relate two cases, and 
the result of my experience in the use of the ergot of rye. 
Being aware of its prompt and powerful action on the uterine 
system of women, and without any data (to guide me) as to its 
effects on quadrupeds, I felt the necessity of great caution in ex¬ 
hibiting so energetic a medicine. I tested its powers by ad¬ 
ministering it in cases of retention of the placenta, gradually re¬ 
ducing the quantity of the articles I had usually given, and in¬ 
creasing in like manner the ergot of rye, until I was satisfied 
that I might rely on it alone in a great majority of cases. 
The secale cornutum, in the vigour and energy of its action, 
much resembles the farina of the croton nut; alike in the small 
bulk of the dose, and the promptitude with which it exerts its 
power; and also in the disadvantage attending the use of both, 
for each occasionally induces inflammatory action. 
CASE I. 
Passive State of the Uterus. 
On the 12th of April, 1830, I had the first opportunity of 
trying the ergot of rye, unassisted by other drugs, in a case of 
protracted labour. The patient, a cow, five years old, with her 
third calf, and in high condition, had exhibited for three days 
unequivocal symptoms of incipient labour, but had made no 
progress. On the fourth day she refused food, but drank w'ater 
very eagerly. On examination per vaginam, I found the os in¬ 
ternum so little dilated that it was with difficulty I could intro¬ 
duce two fingers: the calf was very lively, but there was no action 
of the uterus. She had been three times milked since the 8th, 
but the udder now was cold and empty, and, to use her owner’s 
phrase, “ she was making up.” 
1 gave a decoction of half an ounce of the ergot of rye. An 
hour afterwards, when w T e were administering a second dose, she 
had a very smart pain, and which was quickly repeated : the 
waters came; and, in a quarter of an hour more, a very fine 
heifer calf was born, and tw r o gallons of milk taken from the 
udder. 
At my evening visit, I was informed that the pains gradu¬ 
ally subsided ; but as the placenta was retained, I gently intro- 
