ERGOT. 97 



domestic fowl. The ergotted grain is com- 

 pletely changed both in form and properties, 

 and is one of the most wonderful monstrosities 

 to he met with in nature. The altered grains 

 elongate, turn black, and protrude in the 

 manner shown in the figures, both of which 

 are drawings of actual specimens. Ergot has 

 been the subject of numerous speculations, and 

 it has, by a singular mistake, been actually 

 classed amongst the fungi, to which it bears no 

 true resemblance whatever. A very superficial 

 examination, in the present state of science, is 

 enough to show that this is a great error. 

 Some persons have imagined that it is caused 

 by the puncture of an insect made for the pur- 

 pose of laying its egg, such as is well known 

 to be the case in certain remarkable excres- 

 cences on plants, of which oak apples, and 

 nut-galls are common examples. By such 

 punctures, morbid action is induced, and the 

 results are the excrescences alluded to, some of 

 which are articles of commercial importance 

 and of great use to man. A certain fungus 

 invariably accompanies ergot, and therefore it 

 has been concluded by certain observers that it 

 produces the disease. It is however quite as 

 probable that the fungus is accidental to the 



