290 
.TAMES LAW. 
paralysis of the throat, sores on the mucous membrane of the 
mouth and throat, and salivation. In some cases there is merely 
progressive paralysis, with little or no spasmodic action, the palsy 
commencing in hind limbs and gradually extending to the rest of 
the body. Tiiis constitutes the paralytic form. 
In other cases the spasms set in early. They may resemble 
those of tetanus or epilepsy, and often cause the subject to moan 
or cry out with pain. They are not continuous but paroxysmal, 
the intervals being marked by knuckling forward at the fetlocks 
from some remaining tonic contraction of the flexor muscles, or 
by stupor, drowsiness, or even palsy of the hind limbs. 
The course of the disease will vary with the individual suscept¬ 
ibility, the quantity of ergot taken and its quality. It sometimes 
only attains the first stage of drowsiness and vacillating gait, and 
on the ergot being withdrawn recovery ensues. In the more 
severe cases death takes place after several hours or days, preceded 
by coinatism or general paralysis. 
More commonly the quantity of ergot taken is small but main¬ 
tained, and the disease goes on in a chronic form. The appetite 
is irregular, dainty and ravenous by turns; but however much is 
taken, the animal fails to digest and assimilate it and becomes 
steadily emaciated and exhausted, and finally dies in a convulsion. 
Finally, in a certain number of cases, neither spasms or par¬ 
alysis occur, but the animal is plunged into a condition of profound 
lethargy and stupor, from which nothing will rouse it; it remains 
mostly in the recumbent position, eats little, fails to digest or 
assimilate, becomes rapidly emaciated, and dies in marasmus. 
SYMPTOMS OF GANGRENOUS ERGOTISM. 
Dry gangrene .—Cases of this kind are usually preceded by 
intestinal and nervous disturbance. Constipation, diarrhea, varia¬ 
ble appetite, salivation, and dullness, followed by a morbid acute¬ 
ness of the senses, may be so marked as to attract general atten¬ 
tion, or these symptoms may be so slight that the gangrene seems 
to come on as a primary lesion. In the lower animals the gan¬ 
grene usually attacks the feet and pasterns, and less frequently the 
tail, the ears, and even the horns. It is ushered in by lameness, 
