336 
JAMES LAW. 
frequent thunder-storms, heavy rainfalls, and extreme changes of 
temperature, are especially noteworthy. Newly broken-up land, 
rich in decomposing vegetable matter, and land that has been 
overmanured favor their growth. Dr. Yoelcker attaches great 
importance to an excess of nitrogenous matter in the soil, and 
Dr. J. B. Lawes to a relative deficiency of mineral matter, botli 
of which conditions favor a growth deficient in stamina, even if 
luxuriant. 
TREATMENT OF ERGOTISM. 
This can only be satisfactory in the mildest cases and in the 
early stages. When warmth, sensibility, and circulation have left 
the extremities, recovery can only occur after they have separated. 
If circulation and nutrition have been permanently arrested in a 
circumscribed part of the brain or spinal cord, it may still bo 
possible to preserve life, but this is liable to be incurable paralysis. 
In mild and recent cases the treatment may be summed up in 
this: Make a thorough change from the ergoted or smutty fod¬ 
der to a more wholesome diet, and preferably to one largely made 
up of succulent vegetables in a sound condition (turnips, beets, 
carrots, pumpkins, potatoes, apples, grass, ensilage, &c.); remove 
by purgatives any remaining ergot in the stomach and bowels; 
solicit by the use of abundance of diluents (daily liberal salting 
and free access to water at all times) and by diuretics (sweet 
spirits of niter, digitalis, or iodide or nitrate of potassa) the elim¬ 
ination from the blood and tissues of the active principles of the 
ergot; rouse by stimulants and tonics (ammonia, valerian, capsi¬ 
cum, angelica, musk or alcohol and gentian) the failing vital and 
circulating power; and oppose the contraction of the capillary 
vessels by such antagonistic agents as nitrite of amyle, chloral 
hydrate, chloroform, or opium. Locally, cleansing of the affected 
feet and the application of poultices containing a little camphor 
would be indicated. In cases where there is as yet no indication 
of gangrene, but merely a raw sore between the hoofs, a local 
stimulant like wood tar, with or without a few drops of sulphuric 
acid, will greatly favor a healthy reaction. Similarly, if the dis¬ 
ease is confined to the sole of the foot without leading to shed¬ 
ding of the hoof, but merely to turning up of the toe or to lame- 
