46 Medical Botany. 
one exclusively confined to Physic ; and as your Journal 
includes Materia-medica within its plan, and is, in all prob- 
ability, more extensively known in our own and foreign 
countries, than any other American periodical publication, 
I take the liberty of forwarding it to you. 
Yours Sir, very respectfully, &c. 
WILLIAM TULLY. 
SCLEROTIUM-CLAVUS. Decand. 
Clavus-Secalis-Cerealis, Clavus-Secalinus, Mater-Seca- 
lis, Secale-cornutum, Secale-corniculatum, Secale-luxurians. 
Horned-Rye, Spurred-Rye, Ergot of Rye, Mother of Rye. 
Ord. nat. Fungi Lin. 
Europe, United States. 
This article is parasitic within the glumes of some of the 
Granuna, most commonly of Secale-Cereale, but frequently 
of Triticum-satiwwum, Hordeum-vulgare, and Avena-Satwa. 
It is more rarely found upon Titicum-repens, Avena-elatior, 
Alopecurus-pratensis, Arundo-Cinnoides, Festuca-fiutans, 
Phalaris-Canariensis, Lolium-temulentum, Phleum-pra- 
tense, &c. 
There have been three distinct opinions, respecting the 
origin and nature of the Clavus. 
First. It is affirmed to be a morbid change, or modifica- 
tion of the seed of the plant, upon which it is found. This 
has been supported by the assertion of Teissier, that he 
found seeds, one half of which were sound rye, and the 
other half Clavus ; and by the assertion of others, that in 
Chemical composition, it approximates nearer to the seeds 
of the plants upon which it is found, than to any other vege- 
table substance. 
As to the statement of Teissier, it is to be remarked, that, 
as no one but himself has ever witnessed such a fact, it is 
highly probable, that he may have been incorrect in his ob- 
servations ; but admitting that he was not, the phenomenon 
in question, is nothing more than sometimes happens, with 
respect to some unequivocal examples of Fungi, that grow 
among seeds; as for example, the smut upon an ear of 
Zea-Mays. ‘The conclusion from analysis will be found to 
have but little more weight, when it is recollected, that the 
composition of the seeds of the different plants, upon which 
