ERGOTISM. 
27 
Certain of the spinal centers, both motor and sensory, are 
first stimulated and afterwards paralyzed by ergot, directly, 
according to some authorities, and indirectly by others. The 
unquestionable action of ergot upon the uterus is explained 
by some authorities as due to stimulation of the center of the 
uterus in the cord. Others assert that ergot acts upon the 
muscular fibers of the organ, either directly or indirectly, 
through the blood supply. 
Whatever may be the value of the several explanations of 
the action of ergot, the facts connected with it suffice to ac 
count for the specific phenomena of ergotism. 
The small, feeble and infrequent pulse is due to an inter¬ 
ference with the circulation ; while the painful spasm, as well 
as the formications and other sensory disturbances are the 
direct result of the action of the poison upon the cord. The 
gangrene may also be partly due to the latter cause. 
I don’t think it necessary for me to lengthen this paper by 
giving a description of the different symptoms said to be pro¬ 
duced by smut and ergot. Suffice it to say that, in my opin¬ 
ion the same feed may produce one or all the symptoms seen 
in ergot poisoning, such as convulsive and anasthesia; 
gangrene, dry or moist, causing sloughing of the hoofs; 
diseased condition of the mouth and tongue ; twitching of the 
muscles, etc. 
I will now proceed to give you, as well as I can, a brief 
history of the first cases that came under my notice. 
It was during the month of December, 1888, that a gentle¬ 
man named Waddley came to my office and reported that a 
number of his cattle in a diary of thirty cows were suffering 
from swollen legs and very lame. He had noticed nothing 
unusual until about 1 o’clock the day before, when he let them 
out to water. Then he discovered that one cow was quite 
lame and that one of her hind legs was swollen badly. He 
thought little of it, supposing the animal had hurt itself in some 
way. But about 3 o’clock the same afternoon, w r hen he went 
to the stable he found two others in the same condition. 
The following morning he found five others in the same con¬ 
dition, making eight in all. He wanted me to go and see 
