600

elements of materia medica.

There are no good grounds for suspecting the existence of either hydrocyanic acid orphosphate of morphia in ergot, as supposed by Pettenkofer .

Chemical Characteristics. —Ergot is inflammable, burning with aclear yellowish white flame. The aqueous infusion or decoction of ergotis rod, and possesses acid properties. Both acetate and diacetate of leadcause precipitates in a decoction of ergot. Iodine gives no indication ofthe presence of starch. Nitrate of silver causes a copious precipitatesoluble in ammonia, but insoluble in nitric acid. Tincture of nutgallsalso produces a precipitate ( tannate of ergotin ?). Alkalies heighten thered colour of the decoction.

Physiological Effects. —Great discrepancy is to be found in theaccounts published respecting the influence of spurred rye on man andanimals. While the majority of experimenters or practical observersconcur in assigning to it energetic powers, others have declared itharmless.

{a.) On Vegetables. —Schiibler and Zeller have tried its effects onplants, and I infer that they found it poisonous (Marx, Die Lehre v. A.Giften, ii. 107).

(6.) On Animals. —Accidental observation and direct experiment con-cur in shewing that in most instances spurred rye acts as a poison to theanimal economy. But, as Phoebus correctly observes, we cannot call itd violent poison, since drachms and even ounces are required to destroysmall animals (e. g. rabbits and pigeons).

It has proved poisonous to flies, leeches, birds (geese, ducks, pigeons,common fowls, &c.), and mammals (dogs, cats, pigs, sheep, rabbits, &c.)Birds and mammals refuse to take it even mixed \vith other kinds of food-Diez (quoted by Pheebus, op. cit. p. 106) gives the following as thesymptoms produced by it in dogs who are compelled to swallow it“ Great aversion to the ergot, discharge of saliva and mucus from themouth, vomiting, dilatation ol the pupil, quickened respiration andcirculation, frequent moanings, trembling of the body, continual runninground, staggering gait, semi-paralysis of the extremities, especially thehinder ones, sometimes diarrhoea ; sometimes hot anus, increased forma-tion of gas in the alimentary canal; faintness and sleepiness, with greatthirst, but diminished appetite, remained. Death followed unde*gi adually-increasing feebleness, without being preceded by convulsion* -lo the less constant symptoms belong inflammation of the conjunctiva,and, the peculiar appearance of turning round in a circle from right tolelt.” Similar observations as to its injurious operation have been madeby Robert (Cliristison, op. cit. p. 832). In some cases, abscess andgangrene of various parts of the body, wdtli dropping off' of the toes, andconvulsions, have been noticed. A strong decoction injected into thevein of a dog caused general feebleness, paralysis of the posterior extr e "mities, vomiting, and death (Gaspard, Journ. de Phys. exper. ii. 35).

But there are not wanting cases apparently shewing that spurred *y ehas no injurious action on animals. The most remarkable and strikingare those related by Block (Phoebus, op. cit. p. 107). In 1811, twentysheep ate together nine pounds of it daily for four weeks without any 1effects. In another instance, twenty sheep consumed thirteen pounds an*a half daily, for two months, without injury. Thirty cows took togethpwenty-seven pounds daily, for three months, with impunity; and two ia_cows took, in addition, nine pounds of ergot daily, with no other obviou-