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properties of half-putrid Wheat, which are known to be dangerous. The 

 grain of Eleusine coracana is cultivated as corn, under the name of Nat- 

 chenny, upon the Coromandel Coast. Ainslie, 1. 245. Independently of 

 their nutritive fsecula, Grasses contain a large proportion of two other prin- 

 ciples which deserve especial mention, viz. sugar and silex. The abundance 

 of the former in the Sugar-cane is the cause of its extensive cultivation ; but 

 a large quantity exists in many other Grasses, some of which, such as Holcus 

 saccharatus, have actually been grown as substitutes for the Sugar-cane in 

 Italy ; its presence in the nascent embryo of Barley is the cause of that grain 

 being employed under the name of malt in the preparation of beer and of 

 ardent spirits. Dr. Chisholm says, that the juice of the Sugar-cane is the 

 best antidote to arsenic. Ed. P. J. 4. 221. That the cuticle of Grasses 

 contains a large proportion of silex, is proved by its hardness, and by large 

 masses of vitrified matter being found whenever a hay-stack or heap of corn 

 is accidentally consumed by fire. In the joints of some Grasses a perfect 

 siliceous deposit is found, particularly in a kind of jungle Grass mentioned 

 in a letter from Dr. Moore to Dr. Kennedy of Edinburgh. Ibid. 2. 192. It 

 is also said that Wheat-straw may be melted into a colourless glass with the 

 blow-pipe, without any addition. Barley-straw melts into a glass of a topaz 

 yellow colour. Ibid. 2. 194. The siliceous matter of the Bamboo is often 

 secreted at the joints, where it forms the singular substance called taba- 

 sheer, of which see a very interesting account in Dr. Brewster's Journal, 

 8. 268. It was found by Dr. Turner that the tabasheer of India consisted 

 of silica containing a minute quantity of lime and vegetable matter. A 

 coarse soft paper, of excellent quality, is manufactured in India from the 

 tissue of the Bamboo. A cooling drink is prepared in India from the roots 

 of Cynodon Dactylon. Ainslie, 2. 27. The fragrance of some Grasses, such 

 as Anthoxanthum odoratum and Holcus odoratus, depends, according to 

 Vogel, upon the presence of Benzoic acid. Ed. P. J. 14. 170. Sulphur 

 exists, in combination with different bases, in Wheat, Barley, Rye, Oats, 

 Maize, Millet, and Rice. Ibid. 172. The Arundo arenaria is an invaluable 

 species for keeping together the blowing sands of the sea-coast, by its creep- 

 ing suckers and tough entangled roots. It is employed in the Hebrides for 

 many economical purposes, being made into ropes for various uses, mats for 

 pack-saddles, bags, hats, &c. Ibid. 6. 155. Some of the Reeds of Brazil, 

 called Taquarussa, grow from 30 to 40 feet high, with a diameter of six 

 inches ; they form thorny impenetrable thickets, and are exceedingly grateful 

 to hunters ; for, on cutting off such a reed below the joint, the stem of the 

 younger shoots is found to be full of a cool pleasant liquid, which imme- 

 diately quenches the most burning thirst. Pr. Max. Trav. 81. The roasted 

 leaves of Andropogon Scheenanthus are used in India, in infusion, as an ex- ■ 

 cellent stomachic. An essential oil of a pleasant taste is extracted from the 

 leaves in the Moluccas ; and the Javanese esteem the plant much as a mild 

 aromatic and stimulant. Ainslie, 2. 58. This is the Grass oil of Nemaur, 

 called in India Ivarancusa, and described in Brewster s Journal, 9. 333. 

 Many others, such as Andropogon citratum and nardus, and Anthoxanthum 

 odoratum, partake in the same qualities. The gluten of Wheat yields the 

 two chemical principles called gliadine and zimome. Ann. of Phil. no. 89. 

 p. 390. M. DecandoUe truly remarks, that the dangerous eflPects of the ergot 

 of Corn is no exception to the generally wholesome properties of the order, 

 because in this the whole grain is in a state of disease. The ergot of 

 Rye has been lately found to exercise a decidedly powerful stimulant effect 

 upon the uterus, on which account it is now frequently and successfully 

 employed by European practitioners in cases of difficult parturition. The 

 ergot of Maize is, according to M. Roulin, very common in Colombia, and 



