488 



SPORADIC DISEASES. 



which also contains lupins, whin, broom-clover, vetches, haricot 

 bean, scarlet runner, peas, gram, lentil, &c. 



There are several varieties of Lathyrus sativa, showing slight 

 differences in colour of flower, in size and colour of seeds, in 

 colour of foliage (darker or lighter), and in strength of growth ; 

 but they have one characteristic in common, namely, in being 

 wedged, angular (triangular), or hatchet shaped. They differ 

 in colour in various countries where they are grown. According 

 to Harz, quoted by Macdougall, the variations are as follows : — 



The nutrient ratio is 1 : 1'75, the characteristic being rich- 

 ness in nitrogenous constituents. The seed contains 84 per 

 cent, of dry substance, yielding 25 per cent, proteid, 1-9 per 

 cent, fat, 54-5 per cent, non-nitrogenous extract, 4-1 per cent, 

 fibre, and 2-9 per cent. ash. For further information upon the 

 botanical and other characters of tlie plant the reader is again 

 referred to Professor Macdougall's article. 



So far as my knowledge goes, only two kinds of the seeds have 

 been concerned in the production of the disease, namely, a small 

 dark-coloured seed, known as Indian Mutters, brought from 

 India mostly as ballast to such ports as Liverpool and Glasgow, 

 and a larger white variety, popularly called the dog-tooth vetch 

 or dog-tooth pea, and sometimes sold under the name of Eussian 

 peas. 



The terms Matar, Muther, Mutter are used in India for 



