THE 
VETERINARIAN. 
VOL. XXXII. 
No. 379. 
JULY, 1859. 
Fourth Series. 
No. 55. 
Communications and Cases. 
ON ERGOT. 
Mr. G. Evans, M.R.C.V.S., has directed our attention to 
a conditional state of the grasses termed ergotized, and for¬ 
warded to us a specimen of darnel grass so affected ; which 
he states he has no doubt is often a fruitful source of disease, 
although he has not been able to trace any to it directly. He 
adds, “ If a large quantity could be collected, and an extract 
made from it, and given to small animals, its action might be 
soon ascertained. If circumstances allow me, I will endeavour 
to do this myself, but I shall be glad to hear that others have 
done the same, as the more experimenters there are the better.” 
It is with ergot, as with many other agents used medi¬ 
cinally, that differences of opinion exist respecting its action. 
The darnel grass itself, however, would seem to possess 
qualities that are objectionable, or such at least as do not 
recommend it. Sir W. Burnett, respecting it, says, “ Lolium, 
or darnel, is a very common grass, and several species, as the 
arvense , perenne , &c., have been recommended to be sown 
among other grasses on poor cold soils ; it affords a bulky 
crop of hay, and, although much less nutritious than the 
florins and various others, it is more so than the fox-tail, 
cock’s-foot, dog’s-tail, and fescue grasses.” 
The following table by Sir H. Davy gives the amount of 
nutritive matter in 1000 parts of the grasses: 
Meadow Foxtail (Alopercurus pratensis) 
Darnel, or Ray Grass ( Lolium perenne) 
Fertile Meadow Grass ( Poa pratensis ) 
Crested Dog’s-tail (Cynosnrus cristatus ) 
Spiked Fescue ( Fesluca loliacea ) 
Sweet-scented Soft Grass ( Rolcus odoratus ) 
„ Vernal ( Anthoxanihum odor a turn) 
Fiorin ( Agrostis stolonifera ) 
„ cut in Winter .... 
33 parts. 
39 
78 
35 
19 
82 
50 
54 
99 
99 
99 
99 
99 
99 
76 
99 
XXXII. 
49 
