602 ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

to food, uneasiness or actual pain in the abdomen, occasionally alvineevacuations, weight and pain in the head, giddiness, in some cases stuporand dilatation of pupils, have resulted from its use. It deserves, how-ever, to be noticed, that these effects have not been noticed by someexperimenters (Keil, Diss. inaug. de Secali Cornuto, Berol. 1822, quotedin Sundelin, Heilmittell ; also, Dr. Chapman, Elem. of Thtrap. vol. i. P -488, 4th ed.)

The effects produced by the use of single or a few doses of ergot maybe conveniently arranged under four heads.

a. Effects on the uterine system. (Uterine contractions.) —The action ofspurred rye on the uterus when labour has actually commenced, is usuallyobserved in from ten to twenty minutes after the medicine has been taken,and is manifested by an increase in the violence, the continuance, amithe frequency of the pains, which usually never cease until the child i sbom; nay they often continue for some minutes after, and promote thespeedy separation of the placenta and the firm contraction of the uterusinto a globular form. The contractions and pains caused by ergot aredistinguished from those of natural labour by their continuance: scarcelyany interval can be perceived between them, but a sensation is expe-rienced of one continued forcing effort. If from any mechanical impe-diment (as distortion) the uterus cannot get rid of its contents, the violenceof its contraction may cause its rupture, as in the case alluded to byDr. Merriman {Syn. of Biff. Part. p. 197, 1838. Did the ergot causethe rupture, in the case related in the Lancet, vol. i. 1836-7, p. 824, byMr. Hooper?)

Ergot sometimes fails to excite uterine contractions. The causes offailure are for the most part conjectural. The quality of the ergot, pee 11liarities on the part of the mother, and the death of the foetus, have beenassigned as such. The two first will be readily admitted; but whyremedy should be altogether inert “ where the foetus has been for som etime dead, and putrefaction to any extent taken place” (Dr. Bibby, 111Merriman’s Synopsis, p. 198), cannot be readily explained. Its occa-sional failure has been urged by Dr. Hamilton (Pract. Observ.to Midwifery, part ii. p. 84,1836) as an argument in favour of his notionthat ergot acts “ in no other way than by influencing the imagination -But on the same ground the sialogogue power of mercury might b®denied. Dr. Hamilton’s erroneous estimate of the powers of ergot Jreferable to a want of experience of its use ; for he admits that he hasonly had two opportunities in practice of making a fair trial of it.

There is usually much less hemorrhage after delivery, when ergot h a ^been employed, than where it has not been exhibited. The lochial <h s 'charges axe also said to be less: but this is certainly not constantly thcase. Moreover, it has been asserted “ that the menstrual discharg,has not recurred after the use of the ergot in certain cases of protract®parturition” (Dr. J. W. Francis, in the 3d Amer. ed. of Denman’swifery, 1829). But the inference intended to be conveyed here, vl 'that ergot caused the non-recurrence, is not correct; at least, 1acquainted with several cases in which this effect did not follow tnemployment of spurred rye, and I know of none in which it did. , eErgot has been charged with causing the death of the child; butchaige has been repelled by some experienced practitioners as b® 1devoid of the least foundation. “ The ergot,” says Dr. Ilosack {Ess J