In an extensive outbreak of ergotism in the United States in 1884 Law and Salmon reported as a prominent symptom ulceration of the mucous membrane of the tongue and mouth cavity, this and lesions on the extremities giving the appearance of foot-and-mouth disease. Affected animals showed weakness, dullness, and paralytic conditions of certain groups of muscles. When in pregnant animals the uterus is acted upon, labour pains occur, and the fœtus is expelled. The straining in those cases is often very painful and may be so severe that prolapsus of the uterus or even the rectum is the result. When Ergot produces gangrene, it usually affects the extremities, like the lower parts of the legs, the ears, tail or teats in cattle, and the comb, wattles, toes, wings or tongue of poultry. It is preceded by redness, coldness, and painful swelling of the parts affected. After a while sensibility of the dying region is lost and the line of demarcation between it and the living tissue becomes manifest. The dead portion commonly dies and is cast off. In some cases the gangrene is accompanied by symptoms of a septic nature.
“The possible result of the poisoning depends largely on the amount of Ergot taken and on the severity of the symptoms produced thereby. When small amounts are taken and only a slight dullness or digestive disturbance results the outlook may be quite favourable. Even Ergot abortion with rather severe symptoms usually is followed by recovery, but in the gangrenous cases, fatal terminations are common. The animals which through this cause have lost one or more parts are not only crippled, but septic or embolic complications may lead to a fatal termination. Paralytic cases do not permit of a favourable prognosis, especially if muscle groups containing important functions are involved.” (N. Dakota Exp. Sta. Rept.)
REFERENCES.
[1], [4], [13], [16], [35], [57], [81], [82], [128], [154], [161], [203], [242], [251].
CHAPTER VII
PLANTS SUSPECTED OF BEING POISONOUS.
A very large number of plants have at various times been suspected of possessing poisonous properties and causing harm to live stock. Of these it is quite probable that many are in practice entirely harmless, but some must be included as possibly deleterious, complaints having been made which vary in gravity from a slight irritation to causing death.
Purging Flax (Linum catharticum L.). It is perhaps doubtful whether this plant is really poisonous unless taken in considerable quantity by animals—as it is quite unlikely to be. It may, however, be included here, as it is stated to contain a glucoside which is purgative and which on fermentation yields prussic acid.
Furze or Gorse (Ulex europæus L.). In view of the fact that Gerrard isolated from the seeds of Gorse the alkaloid Ulexine, which is identical with Cytisine (p. [27]) and that the alkaloid is also contained in less quantity in the bark of young shoots, this plant has been suspected of possessing toxic properties. Experiments ([179])[[7]] with the alkaloid definitely showed it to be a nerve and muscle poison, 3 milligrammes having killed a chloroformed cat with convulsions in three minutes, though the animal could be kept alive as long as artificial respiration was kept up. As, however, Gorse has long been used very widely and in considerable quantities as a fodder the percentage content of the alkaloid must in general be exceedingly small, and no harmful effects need be feared from the consumption of the cut and bruised plant. Possibly the seeds might prove injurious if eaten in quantity.
[7]. Reference to Bibliography.
Melilot (Melilotus sp.) may at times cause injury. Ewart (82) writes: “All the species contain Cumarin, a volatile odoriferous principle, which in excess produces a disinclination to locomotion, paralysis and ultimately fatal symptoms. No harm is to be apprehended if the amount present does not exceed 10 per cent. of the herbage.”