ERGOT 619 



from the leaves of Turnera aphrodisiaca, growing in 

 California and Mexico, has been employed in the United 

 States as a remedy for functional sterility, and as a tonic 

 and diuretic. The compound damiana mixture (Willows, 

 Francis, Butler and Thompson), containing the liquid 

 extract, with phosphorus and nux vomica, is a useful 

 tonic and aphrodisiac for horses in doses of j., given 

 twice a day for a week, then suspended for five or six 

 days, and repeated if qp cessary. 



ERGOT 



ERGOTA. Spurred or Horned Rye. Ergot of Bye. The 

 sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea, originating in the 

 ovary of Secale cereale (B.P.). 



Ergot attacks not only rye but the other Graminaceae, the 

 Cyperaceae, and palms. The earliest symptoms occur about 

 the time of blooming, when the ears of the rye exhibit drops 

 of yeUow, sweet, fungous slime, called honey-dew, which 

 attracts ants and beetles, and which after a few days dries 

 up. The soft ovaries of the grains attacked are meanwhile 

 covered and filled by white, spongy, felted-together cells 

 the mycelium (or spawn) of the Claviceps purpurea. The 

 grain is disintegrated ; at its base the mycelium cells separ- 

 ate, swell, solidify, and form a compact, dark violet body, 

 which, as it grows in a curved, horn-like shape, protrudes 

 from the pales, and constitutes the ergot. The further 

 history of this biennial fungus, investigated by Tulasne, 

 shows that it reaches its fully-developed sclerotium or ergot 

 state in July ; it should be gathered in August or September, 

 before any putrefaction appears ; it usually remains in a 

 quiescent state during winter ; on moist soil, in March or 

 April, it produces fruit heads of the perfect fungus, the 

 Claviceps purpurea, which, after a few weeks, is again 

 ready to distribute its earlier spores. Close, damp weather 

 and undrained soils favour development and distribution 

 of these ergot spores as of other fungi. The injury done to 

 the rye crop by ergot varies much ; sometimes only a few 

 grains in each head are diseased, sometimes scarcely one 

 is altogether sound ; five to ten on an average are affected. 



