The Cure for Ergot. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 12

The Cure for Ergot. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, — I see in your issue of the 21at a leaflet prepared by Mr CharltOn, veterinary surgeon. He writes a very good article based on theory, but scarcely on practice. I have been in practice for a long time at Home and in New Zealand — since the year 1830. I saw any amount of ergot at Home, where the old vulgar name given to it was stomach staggers. If either* cows, horses, or sheep got on grasi that had ergot on it which was coming to maturity, they were sure to have the staggers, and they were very difficult to cure ; but very few died with it I attended a great many cases at Home, and I never knew of any one dying, although lam qui'e sure it is dangerous. The great thing is taking it in time. I may say that all grasses in this colony are affected with ergot, even the snow grass and tussock among the number. I am quite &ure hundreds of sheep, cattle, and horse* die annually through neglect. If farmers were to keep one j>art of their land eaten down short, and when the grass begins to seed put the stock on the short grass, there would be no deaths Then take the reaper and binder and go over all the seeded grass, and burn it By trying this plan every year it would soon be overcome. I see Mr Charlton recommends ploughing the land. You might plough all your land and then it would come up with thencxt crop. I have seen it on oats and. barley, but rye is the worst grain for it.

The mode of curing it is to take the cattle that show symptoms and put them on barren pasture, and give the following dose:— For a full-grown cow or horse, one pint castor oil, £dr

assafoetida, Jdr tartar emetic; and 2lb treacle ; mix all together. Give one half of this drink m the morning, the other half at about 1 or 2 o'clock. Use injections of soap and water and castor oil. Give every hour 20 drops of aconite till relieved. If a beast is taken in time it will be cured by the above treatment.— l am, &c, Hugh M'Gregor, M.R.C.V.S. Waikouaita, June 30.