THE STOCK EPIDEMIC

Evening Star, Issue 22953, 10 May 1938, Page 16

THE STOCK EPIDEMIC

ERGOT POISONING NO FACTOR [Peb United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, May 9. A definite opinion that ergot poisoning is not a factor in facial eczema has been formed by the plant diseases division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. In a statement made today Dr G. H. Cunningham, director of the division, said that in company with Dr E. Marsden, permanent head of the department, he had just completed a tour of the Waikato to investigate possible lines of attack on the outbreak- inf collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, which had charge of the work. “Ergot is produced by a fungus which attacks the, seed-heads of grasses at the time of flowering,” Dr Cunningham said. “ The fungus replaces the seed and develops into ergot, which is so conspicuous in grasses that have been allowed to run to seed. “ In the Waikato it is generally held that facial eczema occurs usually in ryegrass and white clover pastures which have been close grazed with stock,” Dr Cunningham said. “It does not occur in pastures which have been allowed to run to seed. This shows that ergot poisoning cannot be a factor in the production of facial eczema. Further support is given to this view by the fact that ergot is common to pasture grass throughout New Zealand, being equally prevalent in districts where facial eczema does not occur."