470 Mr. E. J. QUEKETT on the Ergot of Rye, 
the manner in which they have been conducted, it is considered the body 
known as an ergot may be defined to be a substance composed of the diseased 
constituents of the grain occupying the position of the healthy ovary. 
Perhaps no vegetable substance has given rise to so many different opi- 
nions as to its cause as the Ergot. The earlier investigators supposed it to 
be owing to the puncture of an insect, and also to excessive moisture; some 
supposed it a habitation for living creatures ; others followed, who considered 
it a fungus, which was called Clavaria Clavus by Miinchausen, Sclerotium Cla- 
vus by DeCandolle, and lastly, Spermoedia Clavus by Fries, the same view 
being also entertained by Philippar. The “ Mémoire sur l Ergot” by Leveillé 
certainly approaches nearer the truth. He describes the Ergot as a grain 
diseased by a certain fungus, which he denominates Sphacelia, and assigns to 
it the characters given below * ; still this intelligent observer is in error when he 
supposes that the appendage at the apex of the ergot is one of the conditions of 
the fungus, instead of being composed of the remains of the pericarp and hairs 
belonging to it, together occasionally with the remains of the styles; or, to 
use his own words, “Si ce champignon traverse les glumes sans éprouver 
d'accident on le voit a l'extrémité de l'ergot, ou il forme un tubercule jaune 
dont la consistance, le volume et la figure sont extrémement variables." 
Phoebus, the latest authority, considers the ergot to be the albumen altered 
* wir dürfen sie [Mutterkorn]" also * wohl für ein alienertes Eiweiss halten" 
(p. 104), and consequently to be a morbid grain of rye (p. 105), but denies that 
the * Blaschen" can be sporidia of a fungus, since they are of variable size 
and contain other smaller bodies. : 
From the foregoing observations it must be evident that the nature of an er- 
got is becoming better understood, from its origin being relieved of some of the 
obseurity that has hitherto enveloped it ; therefore the former received opinions 
* «Sphacelia. Fungus parasiticus, mollis, viscosus (forma indeterminata) gyris exaratus, ex 3 vel 4 
lobis apice connatis basi divisis et in axim confluentibus, constans. Sporulis globoso-ovatis nidulanti- 
bus." ! 
** Vere, in germinibus variarum graminearum, crescit, et precipue secalis cerealis." 
“ Sphacelia segetum N. An eadem in omnibus gramineis ? ” 
. “ Apicem germinis occupans, sphacelia fecundationi obstat, tamen ovarium crescit, sed gallarum 
more, et, pro forma elongata et curvata sub nomine ergot vel clavi designatur,” : 
