1 ] 4 GRAMINACE^E. [Endogens. 



stimulant. (A indie, ii. p. 58.) The former is one of the Grass oils of Nemaur, called 

 in India 1 varancusa, and described in Brewster's Journal, ix.p. 333. Many others partake 

 of the same qualities. But it is not merely for their aroma that Grasses are used 

 medicinally. A cooling drink is employed in India from the roots of Cynodon Daety- 

 lon. The bard stony fruits of Coix Lac'hryma (Job's-tears), have been supposed to be 

 Strengthening and diuretic ; and the latter quality has been recognised in many others, 

 especially the common Reeds, Phragmites arundinacea and Calamagrostis in Europe, 

 Perotis latifolia in the West Indies, and the Brazilian species of Gynerium. A decoc- 

 tion of Elcusine indica is employed in Demerara, in the convulsions of infants, accord- 

 ing to Schomburgk. Donax arundinaceus is astringent and subacrid. The creeping 

 roots of the Quitch or Quick Grass, Triticum repens, of Tr. glaucura and junceum and 

 Cynodon Dactylon and lineare, have some reputation as a substitute for Sarsaparilla. 

 A decoction of the root of Gynerium parviflorum is used in Brazil to strengthen the hair. 



Sugar is a general product of Grasses. Gynerium saccharoides, a Brazilian Grass, 

 derives its name from that circumstance. It exists in great quantity in the Sugar-cane 

 (Saccharum officinarum) ; Maize so abounds in it that its cultivation has been pro- 

 posed in lieu of the Sugar-cane ; and it is probable that the value of other species for 

 fodder depends upon the abundance of this secretion. 



For economical purposes Grasses are often of much importance. The strong stems 

 of the Bamboo are employed instead of timber and cordage. The Arundo arenaria and 

 FJ vums arenarius (Marrum Grasses) are invaluable species for keeping together the 

 blowing sands of the sea-coast, by their creeping suckers and tough entangled roots. 

 The first is employed in the Hebrides for many economical purposes, being made into 

 ropes for various uses, mats for pack-saddles, bags, hats, &c. Some of the Reeds of 

 Brazil, called Taquarussa, are living fountains : they grow from 30 to 40 feet high, with 

 a diameter of six inches, form thorny impenetrable thickets, and are exceedingly grate- 

 ful to hunters ; for, on cutting off such a Reed below a joint, the stem of the younger 

 shoots is found to be full of a cool liquid, which quenches the most burning thirst. 

 Reeds and other coarse species furnish in Europe the materials for thatching. The 

 reeds (sometimes 1(> feet long), from which the Indians of Esmeralda form the tubes 

 whence they blow the arrows poisoned with the deadly Urari or Woorali, are single 

 intcrnodes of the Arundinaria Schomburgkii. (Linn. Trans, xviii. p. 562.) A coarse 

 but good sort of soft paper is manufactured in India from the tissue of the Bamboo, and 

 the very young shoots of that plant are eaten like Asparagus. 



Besides these things the inorganic products are remarkable. That the cuticle contains 

 a large proportion of silex, is proved by its hardness, and by masses of vitrified matter 

 being found whenever a hay-stack or heap of corn is accidentally consumed by fire. 

 In the joints of some Grasses a perfect siliceous deposit is found, particularly in a kind 

 of Jungle Grass mentioned in a letter from Dr. Moore to Dr. Kennedy of Edinburgh. 

 It is also said that Wheat-straw may be melted into a colourless glass with the blow-pipe, 

 without any addition. Barley-straw melts into a glass of a topaz yellow colour. The sili- 

 ceous matter of the Bamboo is often secreted at the joints, where it forms a singular 

 substance called tahasheer, of which see a very interesting account in Brewster's 

 Journal, viii. p. '-(>!!. It was found by Turner that the tabasheer of India consisted of 

 silica containing a minute quantity of lime and vegetable matter. Sulphur exists, in 

 combination with different bases, in Wheat, Barley, Rye, Oats, Maize, Millet, and Rice. 



For an account of the disease called Ergot, see p. 39, in the Fungal Alliance. It 

 seems to be fomid in all Grasses, but most abundantly in Rye and Maize. When 

 mixed with flour, in any quantity, it causes a mortification of the limbs, and the most 

 horrible poisoning. Medical men have however found it to exercise a decidedly power- 

 ful stimulant effect upon the uterus, on which account it is now frequently and success- 

 fully employed by European practitioners in cases of difficult parturition.* The ergot 



* Ergot is a disease which causes the grain of Rye to lengthen, harden, turn Mack, and form horns 

 or spurs upon the ears. Where Rye is the food of man or of cattle, most dreadful consequences have 

 followed the use of the spurred grains. Some curious observations have lately been made upon it by 

 M. Ronjean. He says that the action on animals is extremely similar to that of morphine, although it 

 in fact contains no trace of that substance. The first effect is to produce a loss of appetite and stupe- 

 faction : when it begins to act, dogs howl frightfully until they are completely under its influence, and 

 then lie down and groan. In fowls the comb and crop become black. It appears that the Ergot which 

 breaks with a white fracture is quite as dangerous as that which is violet ; but until it is quite ripe it 

 has no dangerous action ; six or eight days are sufficient for its maturity, and even its being very old, 

 hard, and dry seems in no way to impair its venomous qualities. M. Ronjean adds that Ergot contains 

 two principles entirely different : one, of an oily nature, is venomous ; the other, of a watery character. 

 is harmless, but produces the extraordinary medical effects for which Ergot is employed — in particular 

 in stopping the most frightful cases of hemorrhage. He asserts that the watery part, which he calls 

 hemostatic extract, may be prepared without difficulty, and that he has administered as much as 

 S drachms of it. which is equal to !) or 10 drachms of the Ergot, without any dangerous consequences. 



The best Er^ot is obtained from Rye which is grown on dry, airy, elevated regions, and where the 



