ON RED WATER. 
361 
its deleterious effects. This uncertainty of effect will materially 
reduce the value of the ergot of rye with veterinary practitioners. 
The case was a middle-aged cow, that, with the exception of a 
lame foot, was perfectly healthy. On the 12 th of last month 
she displayed evident signs of calving, and these continued until 
the 15th, at which time the owner, fancying the calf to be dead, 
wished me to extract it. Upon examination the os uteri was 
sufficiently dilated to admit the free introduction of the hand, 
and, after keeping it within the uterus for some length of time, 
not the least contraction was perceived. Having great faith in the 
ergot, I determined, with the owner’s permission, to give it; and 
accordingly ^i, in a bruised state, was made into a decoction in 
one pint of water, to which was added a small wine glass of gin, 
and this was given at nine o’clock in the morning. At eleven 
jii powdered were given in a pint of warm water and a little gin. 
At twelve o’clock, no pains having been produced, 3 a were ad¬ 
ministered : at three, six, and nine o’clock, two additional 
drachms of the powder were administered. 
No effect having hitherto been produced, I determined, al¬ 
though my faith was much weakened, to continue it; accord¬ 
ingly, at twelve o’clock, another 3 H were given; and at three 
and six o’clock on the morning of the 16th, the same doses were 
repeated. At nine o’clock, no effect having yet appeared, and 
my fears of any pernicious consequences from the administration 
of the ergot having disappeared, I administered 3 i in a decoc¬ 
tion, and at twelve o’clock another ounce. 
One o’clock having arrived, and the animal being still very 
placid, my faith in the powers of the ergot was completely 
shaken, and the owner’s patience exhausted, and I proceeded to 
extract the calf, which I fortunately accomplished. 
ON REDWATER. 
By Mr. J. Steel, F.S., Biggar , N.B. 
I shall be glad to learn, from some of your correspondents, 
the best method of treating Redwater or Moor-ill in cattle, as it 
is termed in this part of the country. It was raging here last 
spring w T ith great violence ; the cows were seized with it about 
two weeks after calving in every case that I have seen except 
one. I have met with several cases every year since I com¬ 
menced practising, but never lost a patient until the last year; 
and in the course of that year I lost three patients, two of which, 
indeed, were far gone before I saw them. 
My method of treating this species of redwater is by giving 
