Medical Botany. 45 
Lam. which in general form resembles C. Glabra, length 
about one inch and three fourths, breadth rather more ; an 
Arca, about one inch wide; a Terebratula which seems te 
approach nearest to 7. ornithocephala, Sowerby ; a large 
species of T'erebratula resembling the F’. ovoides of the 
same author, excepting that it is very slightly truncated be- 
fore. 1 found at Mulliger hill a Watica much changed by 
the ferruginous matter so abundant in that region ; length 
nine tenths of an inch; and also a somewhat distorted im- 
pression of a Mytillus. Specimens of Turbinolia, Lam. 
often occur in different situations. 
MEDICAL BOTANY. 
—<+e=—. 
On the Ergot of Rye, by Dr. Wiuuiam Toy, 2 Jiddle- 
town, Connecticut. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, &e. 
Dear Sir, 
i SEND you the following Essay, for publication in your 
Journal, not so much from my own judgment, as at the 
suggestion of Professor Ives, to whom it was read a short 
time since. 
As the regular and scientific employment of the Clavus, 
in medicine, originated exclusively with American Practi- 
tioners, and has so nearly superseded the use of the Forceps 
and Vectis, in obstetrical practice, that they are not now 
necessary in one case out of a hundred, in which they were 
formerly employed ; and as most of the information, which 
has been laid before the public, respecting the article in 
question, is in disjointed fragments, and dispersed through 
various distinct works, it was thought, that a digested sum- 
mary of what appears to be well founded, with respect to 
one of the greatest medical discoveries of the age, could not 
but be acceptable to the public. 
As this sketch is not entirely medical, it seemed more 
proper, for a work devoted to science in general, than to 
