470 Mr. E. J. Quekett nn the Ergot of Rye, 



the manner in M'hicli tliey have been conducted, it is considered the body 

 known as an ergot may be defined to be a substance composed of the diseased 

 constituents of the grain occupi/ing the position of the healthi/ ovari/. 



Perhaps no vegetable substance has given rise to so many different opi- 

 nions as to its cause as the Ergot. The earlier investigators supposed it to 

 be owing to the puncture of an insect, and also to excessive moisture; some 

 supposed it a habitation for living creatures ; others followed, who considered 

 it a fungus, which was called Clavaria Claims by Munchausen, Sclerotium C/a- 

 vus by DeCandolle, and lastly, Spermoedia Claras by Fries, the same view 

 being also entertained by Philippar. The " Mémoire sur l'Ergot" by Leveillé 

 certainly approaches nearer tlie truth. He describes the Ergot as a grain 

 diseased by a certain fungus, whicii he denominates Spliacelia, and assigns to 

 it the characters given below* ; still this intelligent observer is in error when he 

 supposes that the appendage at the apex of the ergot is one of the conditions of 

 the fungus, instead of being composed of the remains of the pericarp and hairs 

 belonging to it, together occasionally with the remains of the styles ; or, to 

 use his own words, " Si ce champignon traverse les glumes sans éprouver 

 d'accident on le voit a l'extrémité de l'ergot, ou il forme un tubercule jaune 

 dont la consistance, le volume et la figure sont extrêmement variables." 



Phœbus, the latest authority, considers the ergot to be the albumen altered 

 " wir diirfen sie [Mutterkorn]" also " wohl fiir ein alienertes Eiweiss halten" 

 (p. 104), and consequently to be a morbid grain of rye (p. 105), but denies that 

 the "Blaschen" can be sporidia of a fungus, since they are of variable size 

 and contain other smaller bodies. 



From the foregoing observations it must be evident that the nature of an er- 

 got is becoming better understood, from its origin being relieved of some of the 

 obscurity that has hitherto enveloped it ; therefore the former received opinions 



* " Sphacelia. Fungus parasiticus, mollis, viscosus (forma indeterminata) gyris exaratus, ex 3 vcl 4 

 Icbis apice connatis basi divisis et in axiin confluentibus, constans. Spomlis globoso-ovatis nidulanti- 

 bus." 



" Vcre, in germinibus variarum graminearum , crescit, et prœcipue secalis cerealis." 



" Sphacelia segetmn N. An eadem in omnibus gramineis?" 



•' Apicem germinis occupans, sphacelia fccundationi obstat, tamen ovarium crescit, sed gallarum 

 more, et, pro forma elongata et curvata sub nomine ergot vel clavi designatur," 



