452 



On Ergot. 



longer and more horn-like. It occupies the place of the seed, 

 but, unlike most of the parasitic fungi with which agriculturists 

 are acquainted, it sends no roots down into the plant, its whole 

 organisation being confined to the affected ear. The external 

 surface is scaly or somewhat granular, and is generally marked 



by longitudinal and horizontal 

 cracks, penetrating into and 

 exposing the interior. The 

 colour is black or purple- 

 black, but the interior is white 

 or purplish, and of a dense 

 homogeneous structure (Fig. 

 13), composed of spherical or 

 polygonal cells, so largely 

 charged with an oily fluid * as 

 to burn freely when lighted at 

 a candle. t 



De Candolle suggested that 

 this anomalous structure had 

 some affinity to the amorphous 

 indurated masses of mycelium 

 which had been united together 

 in a spurious genus to which was . given the name Sclerotium. 

 The illustrious mycologist Fries separated it from Sclerotium, and 

 established a genus for its reception, which he designated Spcr- 

 moedium, although he doubted whether it should be included 

 among the fungi at all, considering it rather as only a morbid 

 condition of the seeds of grasses. 



The true nature of ergot was at length determined by observa- 



Microscopic structui-e of Ergot, magnified 

 500 diameters. 



* The oil is of a brownish yellow colour, of aromatic flavour and acrid taste ; 

 it is viscid, and its specific gravity is '9249. It consists of 69 per cent, of oleic 

 acid, 22 of palmitic acid, and 8 of glycerine, with traces of acetic and butyric 

 acid, and trimethylamin, ammonia and ergotine as colouring matter. — Dr. Herr- 

 mann. 



f The inorganic constituents of ergot are — 



Potash 30-06 



Soda 0-65 



Lime 1-38 



Magnesia 4-87 



Alumina O'oS 



Oxide of iron • 86 



Oxide of manganese 0-26 



Phosphoric acid 4.5 '12 



Silica 14-67 



Chloride of sodium 1-50 



99-95 



Dr. Herrmann in Buchner's 'Eepcrtorium for 1871,' p. 283, and 'Pharma- 

 utical Journal,' 1872, p. 241. 



