. Feet of cows severely afflicted with Ergotism. From a photograph. Perhaps the most common cause to which abortion has been attributed is ergot. The action of ergot upon the animal has a tendency to contract the womb upon the foetus and this was thought to be the direct cause of abortion. The common term for ergot is smut, and this is often seen upon grasses, corn, and other grain, and is more prevalent during some seasons than others. In the spring of 1893, my attention was called to a number of cattle afflicted with ergotism, having consumed a large amount of June grass, the June grass bein
. Feet of cows severely afflicted with Ergotism. From a photograph. Perhaps the most common cause to which abortion has been attributed is ergot. The action of ergot upon the animal has a tendency to contract the womb upon the foetus and this was thought to be the direct cause of abortion. The common term for ergot is smut, and this is often seen upon grasses, corn, and other grain, and is more prevalent during some seasons than others. In the spring of 1893, my attention was called to a number of cattle afflicted with ergotism, having consumed a large amount of June grass, the June grass being so affected with ergot as to cause this herd of cattle to lose their feet and the ends of their tails. Many of them were seen walking around after the claws and first joints had dropped off. One animal in particular was so affected as to have her feet partly drop off. But upon change of feed and a course of treatment, recovered from the disease. She being pregnant at the time of this trouble and carrying her calf full time, is sufficient evidence that in this case ergot had nothing to do with abortion.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectveterin, bookyear1906
