MONOCOTYLEDONS l8l 



two substances, a yellow matter and an extractive ; 

 but little is as yet known about their compositions. 



Though poisonings have been frequent, deaths 

 have been rare. It is recorded that an individual 

 succumbed after eating bread which was made of 

 wheat in the proportion of one-third, with two- 

 thirds of Darnel. 



Thirty grammes of the meal of Darnel appears 

 to be the limit which a man can take without 

 dangerous symptoms following. 



The effects upon man are the production of 

 vertigo, and great somnolence, coupled with other 

 ailments. 



It is said that it is particularly in wet seasons 

 that the dangerous properties are most conspicuous. 

 As it is under moist conditions that the fungus 

 known as Ergot attacks all kinds of grasses, it has 

 been suggested that the poisonous properties of 

 Darnel may be really due to an incipient stage of 

 that parasite, or to some other which does not 

 assume the Ergot-form. The same author describes 

 the effects of Darnel as "vertigo, dimness of vision, 

 headache, a sort of drowsiness and stupor." The 

 result of eating rye-bread in which Ergot was 

 ground up was " nausea, vomiting, pain and vertigo 

 in the head, giddiness, dilatation of the pupils, 

 delirium and stupor." 



Not only do these effects of Darnel and Ergot 

 resemble one another, but Gerarde in describing 



