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.