The only diseases of the intestinal canal to which ergot is applied are chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. It is best adapted to those cases in which the chronic succeeds to the acute form, and is not so serviceable in the chronic diarrhoea of warm climates, which has developed slowly, without preliminary acute symptoms. Rx Ext. ergotae fluidi, oz iijss; tinct. opii deodor., oz ss. M. Sig.: A tea-spoonful three times a day. Rx Ergotinae (aq. ex.), Э j; ext. nucis vomicae, gr. v; ext. opii, gr. v. M. Ft. pil. no. xx. Sig.: One every four or six hours. This last prescription is highly useful in persistent chronic diarrhoea.

Dr. L. G. Andrew has treated acute dysentery successfully with the fluid extract of ergot. Dr. W. C. Dabney, of Virginia, urges the local application of fluid extract of ergot in affections of the mucous membrane characterized by enlarged vessels, as, conjunctivitis, cervicitis, pharyngitis, etc., and by Dr. Eldridge it has been applied to the treatment of gonorrhoea, acne rosacea, etc. The theory of its action in these maladies is the artificial anaemia which it induces in the arterial vessels. Inflammation can not go on, because the blood-supply is inadequate. In the local application the fluid extract of ergot is used. In most cases this may be applied directly to the membrane undiluted. The aqueous extract, or ergotin, may be utilized for these purposes also; made into a paste more or less thick according to the character of the surface, it may be plastered on the affected part.

Ergot in the form of the fluid extract, with or without nux-vomica, will often arrest the bleeding of haemorrhoids, and cause such a contraction of the vessels in recent cases as that the symptoms may entirely disappear. This treatment is especially serviceable in the haemorrhoids which succeed to delivery. Relaxation of the sphincter ani and prolapsus of the rectum may be ameliorated and, when recent, cured by the same means.

Ergot is a useful remedy in cases of enlarged heart (dilated cavities) without valvular lesion. It may be given with digitalis: Rx Ext. ergotae fluidi, 3 iijss; tinct. digitalis, oz ss. M. Sig.: A tea-spoonful three times a day. There is now no longer any doubt as to the value of ergot in aneurisms, and especially in internal aneurisms beyond the reach of surgical treatment. In these cases the methodus medendi is as follows: ergot slows the action of the heart, and causes such a degree of contraction of the arterioles as to produce a great increase of the blood-pressure, whence it follows that the coagulation of the blood in the aneurismal sac is greatly promoted. It is quite conceivable that, as respects small aneurisms of the peripheral main arterial trunks, ergot may effect a cure in the mode suggested by Langenbeck, viz., by direct contraction, under the influence of the ergot, of the unstriped muscular fibers in the affected portion of the vessel. With the use of ergot should be enjoined rest in the recumbent posture, and other measures to favor hyperinosis and the coagulation of the blood in the aneurismal sac.

The recent, more accurate notions, regarding the physiological action of ergot, have led to its employment in various forms of hemorrhage. With suitable means for improving the quality of the blood, ergot is very serviceable in the hemorrhagic diathesis; but it is not to be relied on alone. The special indication for its use in haemorrhage is a want of tonicity of the vessels. It is used in epistaxis, haemoptysis, renal, intestinal, and uterine haemorrhage. Large doses of a suitable preparation are necessary; for, if the drug be inert, nothing but disappointment will be experienced from its use, and small doses do not produce sufficient effect. From half a drachm to a drachm of the powdered ergot, or one to two drachms of the fluid extract, given every half-hour or hour, will be necessary in urgent cases. As powdered ergot rapidly loses its activity by keeping, the fluid extract should be used, and only that prescribed which has been carefully made from the fresh drug. Attention to these precautions will insure more uniform results in hemorrhage than have hitherto been obtained. In haemoptysis the fluid extract of ergot may be given with other appropriate remedies; Rx Ext. ergotae fluidi, oz iij; ext. ipecac, fluidi, tinct. opii deodor., āā oz ss. M. Sig.: A tea-spoonful every half-hour or hour. When the sputa are heavily charged with blood, and there is no defined haemorrhage, the following may be used: Rx Ergotinae (aq. ex.), Эj; pulv. ipecac, gr. x; acid, gallic, Э j. M. Ft. pil. no. xx. Sig.: One every hour or two. In renal haemorrhage, the following is a useful formula and generally very effective: Rx Ext. ergotae fluidi, tinct. krameriae, āā oz ij. M. Sig.: A tea-spoonful every hour or two. Or, ergotine may be prescribed with gallic acid, as in the prescription above given.

The indication for the use of ergot in menorrhagia is the existence of the large, spongy uterus—the condition of things which depends on subinvolution of the womb. Menorrhagia, when caused by ovarian excitement, is usually more promptly relieved by bromide of potassium, and metrorrhagia, produced by fibroids or fungous granulations, is, in the author's experience, much more decidedly held in check by diluted sulphuric acid than by ergot.

When there is reason to believe that vertigo, epistaxis, headache, and tinnitus aurium, are due to miliary aneurisms of the intra-cranial arterioles, most favorable results can be produced by the use of ergot. Also, when there is a sluggish and partially obstructed state of the intra-cranial veins, usually due to chronic arteritis, and accompanied by hebetude of mind, giddiness, epistaxis, etc., these symptoms are made to disappear, and the mental condition is much improved by ergot.

Dr. Crichton Browne, a physician of large experience in these disorders, finds ergot a very useful remedy in certain forms of mental disease,

example," in recurrent mania, chronic mania with lucid intervals, and in epileptic mania." In these mental disorders he assumes the existence of cerebral hyperaemia, and he deduces the curative value of ergot from its power to cause contraction of the vessels.

Migraine, when the attacks are accompanied by suffusion of the face, injected conjunctivae, and a full pulse—the congestive form—is cured by ergot, and Dr. Kitchen indeed extends its use to almost all kinds of headache.

In epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, ergot is one of the remedies from which the best results are to be expected. In congestion of the spinal meninges and the cord, and in acute myelitis, this remedy has probably been more uniformly successful than any other, but it must be given in large doses.

Excellent results have been obtained from the use of ergot in acute inflammation of the conjunctiva, in blepharitis, and in the phlyctenular ophthalmia of children.

The long-continued use of ergotin has achieved remarkable results in chronic metritis. Uterine fibroids and polypi of the uterus are greatly benefited in two modes by ergot: uterine action is set up, by which the growth is either compressed or extruded, and the nutrient vessels are so diminished in caliber that atrophy of the morbid growth occurs. The numerous reported instances of success by this treatment, and the author's personal experience of its utility, justify him in urging a trial of this remedy in uterine fibroids and polypi.

In congestive dysmenorrhoea, much good may be expected from the use of ergot when the menstrual molimen begins. Rx Ext. ergotae fluidi, 3 vij; tinct. gelsemii, 3 j; tinct. aconiti rad., gtt. xvj. M. Sig.: A tea-spoonful every two, three, or four hours. Amenorrhoea, when dependent on plethora, has been cured by ergot.

When incontinence of urine, nocturnal or diurnal, is caused by a paretic or paralytic state of the sphincter vesicae, relief may be confidently expected from the use of ergot. The fact that one of the ill results of the administration of ergot in large doses is an inability to void the urine, is an interesting explanation of the methodus medendi of ergot in these cases.

Ergot is one of the most satisfactory remedies in the treatment of spermatorrhoea. It is not useful when the losses are due simply to plethora. Its curative value is especially exhibited in those cases in which the erections are feeble and infrequent, the intromittent power wanting, and the testes relaxed and deficient in secretory activity.

Paralysis of the bladder, the result of over-distention, and occasionally when due to cerebral or spinal lesion, is greatly benefited or cured by ergot.

Ergot was first employed by Da Costa in the treatment of diabetes insipidus, and a number of cases have been cured by Murrell, Saunders, and others. The remedy must be perseveringly used, and in full doses, up to the stomach capacity or evidence of physiological action.

Heitzmann has found ergot extremely useful in acne rosacea, and other forms of acne. He uses Squibb's fluid extract of ergot mixed with glycerin and water, giving 3 ss internally, daily.