8 3 6 
C. E. SAYRE. 
depend, but when three, four and more turn up with similar 
symptoms, they may be diagnosed as related to ustilaginun 
poisoning. 
Professor Frochner’s “Toxicologie for Veterinarians,” con¬ 
tains a description of symptoms and post-mortem results, caused 
by ustilago toxicum, which corresponds with cases I have had 
opportunity to observe several times, leading me to believe that 
this malady belongs in the same category. Frochner claims that 
the opinion prevailing to some extent, that the entrance of the 
poisonous spores into the blood circulation takes place in a phy¬ 
sical manner, is erroneous ; but that it is effected by the forma¬ 
tion of a ptomainlike body, which besides irritating' the mucous 
membrane has the additional property of paralyzing the pharynx 
and spinal cord. 
In order to satisfy themselves as to the certainty of the fatal 
termination of cattle upon eating ustilago maidis, a few experts 
made trials with this parasitic fungus, but instead of producing 
death, as was the case of those which partook of it accidentally 
the gestation organs were influenced to such a degree that abor¬ 
tus followed. 
According to the results of these experimental attacks upon 
the system, it appears that under certain, as yet inexplicable I 
circumstances, the gestation organs are more susceptible to the 
poisonous virus than the sensorium and its membranes. 
HOMOEOPATHY IN VEl ERINARY PRACTICE. 
By Prof. C. E. Sayre, M.D., D.V.S., 
(A paper read before the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association.) 
(Continued from page ?6S, and coticluded.) 
Enough of the history of homoeopathy. The practice of 
homoeopathy in the veterinary profession has been confined to 
unqualified practitioners and stable men almost exclusively. 
And what seemed very strange to me was, that when intro- 
