977 



Ergotism of Grasses. 



Mr. Blyth drew attention to the subject of the ergotism of grasses. 

 During the summer of last year, he had observed its prevalence 

 amongst every species of grass, in certain localities. These were 

 upon a heavy clay soil, and on the shady sides of hedges. 



It would be remembered that the cold and dry spring, which 

 retarded vegetation, was succeeded by heavy rains at the period of 

 inflorescence of the cereals, and then by intense heat. 



Specimens of ergot, collected from a number of grasses, were placed 

 on the table. Some of the same sample had been employed by Dr. 

 Tyler Smith, at St. Mary's Hospital, and had proved far more effi- 

 cient than the ergot of rye. The question of its substitution was 

 therefore one of much interest ; and it was most desirable that any 

 opportunities for its collection should be embraced, in order to place 

 in the hands of the medical profession a supply for further exami- 

 nation. 



The influences upon which the disease depended were still a con- 

 tested subject ; audit was to be hoped that the simultaneous obser- 

 vations of pharmaceutists in different parts of the country, during the 

 ensuing season, would assist in clearing up some points involved. 



It would be important to notice the character of the soil, the tem- 

 perature of the air, the amount of rain, and the periods of vegetation 

 at which it had fallen; also whether sunshine had prevailed.* 



Substitute for Tea, Sgc. 



The President exhibited some specimens received from Capt. Ken- 

 nedy, late commander of the ' Prince Albert,' one of the vessels 

 engaged in the search after Sir John Franklin. 



Firstly, the dried flowers, with a few leaves, of Ledum palustre (Eri- 

 caceae), employed extensively as a substitute for tea, in various parts of 

 North America. The plant in question is commonly called narrow- 

 leaved Labrador tea, and is an inhabitant of the colder part of Canada, 

 the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the whole of Rupert's 

 Land to the Arctic Sea, on whose shores it grows, from Repulse Bay 

 to Kotzebue Sound. According to Dr. Asa Gray, it is not found 

 South of the United States boundary-line. This plant was formerly 

 found on the north-west coast of Ireland, and used to be included in 



* An excellent popular account of the subject will be found in a little book entitled 

 ' Blights in the Wheat,' by the Rev. E. Sydney. Religious Tract Society. 



