and some other Grasses. 467 
Another argument against the ergot being a fungus is, that the reproductive 
particles are most numerous when it is young, and it continues its growth 
after their production has ceased, which is contrary to the usual law amongst 
that class of vegetable beings ; for their efforts to live are only to develop the 
means of their propagation, commencing to decay the instant this act has been 
accomplished. 
Besides these proofs, chemical analysis shows its dissimilarity in composition 
with Fungi generally, and even with the species of Sclerotium (a genus to which 
the Ergot was assigned by DeCandolle and Fée) on account of its containing 
very different constituents, the following being those given by Vauquelin in 
his analysis of the Ergot :— 
Colouring matter : soluble in alcohol. 
White oil: very abundant ; sweet. 
Violet matter : soluble in water. 
Fired phosphoric acid. 
Azotized matter: very abundant, and alterable. 
Free ammonia : at 100? Reaumur. 
The fact of having caused the sporidia to grow unconnected with the ergot, 
and without assuming any form in the least degree analogous to it, is another, 
and the most substantial and convincing proof that the sporidia do not belong 
to that body, but are joints or portions of microscopic plants, which select the 
grains of many grasses as a suitable matrix for their development. There 
are other proofs of the separate existence of this microscopic plant; for it is 
not found exclusively on the body of the grain, but has been observed to flou- 
rish on other parts of the same grass, but occasioning in such situations no 
exuberant growth, for obvious reasons, because these parts have completed 
their development before the fungus makes its appearance; and their strnc- 
ture is not like that of the grain, which, at the period of attack, is exceedingly 
young, and, commencing to grow rapidly, is susceptible of impressions which 
can easily pervert its form and structure. 
After numerous examinations respecting the nature of the Ergot of rye, and 
comparing the results with those obtained from other grasses* similarly af- 
* The following are the grasses that have been examined when bearing ergots; most of the lower 
ones on the list were obtained in the neighbourhood of Greenwich :— 
