GRASSES OF IOWA. 195 



a distinct fungus. In this stage the mass which has replaced 

 the ovary is soft, but as it becomes older it hardens; ultimately 

 a hard and compact mass, the ergot, is formed. 



Chemical composition of ergot. — The grain contains about 30 

 per cent of a yellowish oil, consisting of fats, principally olein 

 and palmitin. It contains, according to Wenzell, two alka- 

 loids, ecboline and ergotine, which are said to be the active 

 princ pies of the drug Another alkaloid, ergotinine, has also 

 been isolated, but according to Robert,* ergot con tales three 

 poisonous substances. These are cornutin, an alkaloid having 

 a specific action on the uterus, causing it to contract; sphacelic 

 acid, a non-crjstalizable and non-nitrogenous substance which 

 causes the poisoning and gangrene; ergotinic acid, a nitrogen- 

 ous glucoside without action on the uterus and narcotic in its 

 effect Besides these substances it contains others, prominent 

 among them being a sugar called mycose, which is also pres- 

 ent in other fungi. 



Medical use. — Ergot has long been used in medicine on 

 account of its specific action on the uterus. Its effects are (1) 

 gastroenteritic, causing salivation, inflammation and diarrhoea; 

 (2) a dry gangrene of the extremities, hoofs, ears, tail, etc. ; (3) 

 contraction of the uterus and, as a consequence, abortion; (4) 

 want of feeling, lameness. 



Cereals affected. — Rye is more subject to it than any of the 

 other cultivated cereals. The largest specimens are usually 

 produced on isolated specimens of rye coming up in fields. It 

 seldom happens that all of the ovaries are affected. Wheat, 

 especially -w inter wheat, is subject to the disease. The officinal 

 ergot is usually obtained from rye. 



Wild grasses. — Of our native grasses, wild ryes {Elymus 

 robustus, E. virginicus, E. striatus, E. canadensis, Asprella hystrix) 

 are most subject to the disease. Most cases of ergotism in this 

 state undoubtedly result from the ergot of Elymus robustus, 

 which is a common everywhere. Agropryon spicatum, a grass 

 not uncommon in northwestern Iowa, and Quack grass (Agro- 

 jyyron repens), are also much subject to its attacks. Scarcely a 

 head of the two species cultivated on the college farm could be 

 found which did not have some ergot. This may be for the 

 same reason that it occurs most abundantly on rye, namely, that 

 the grasses occurred in isolated places. In some pastures, tim- 

 othy {Phleum x>ratense), is much subject to the attack of Claviceps 



*Proehner: Lehrb. d. Toxologle f. Thierarzte. 1890. 



