' ERGOT ' 759 



Symptoms. — In the ears of rye, wheat, and many pasture 

 grasses dark purple-coloured bodies known as ' ergots ' are found 

 occupying the place of some of the grains. In 

 rye and several grasses these structures are much 

 larger than the natural grains and stand out 

 from the glumes of the inflorescences in a con- 

 spicuous manner {e, Fig. 256), while in wheat and 

 many smaller grasses the ergots are not larger 

 than the grains which they displace. 



Each ergot is solid and often slightly curved 

 with a furrowed surface ; although black or deep 

 purple on the outside, it is white within, and 

 waxy or oily in character, especially in fresh 

 specimens. 



The substance of the ergot contains several 

 poisonous compounds, and continued use of 

 bread made from the flour obtained from ergoted 

 samples of wheat and rye has led to dangerous 

 illness in human beings. Since the introduction 

 of improved methods of screening and cleaning 

 samples of grain, ergotism is of rare occur- 

 rence. 



Abortion among cattle has been attributed to 

 the consumption of ergoted grasses, but from 

 carefully conducted experiments to test th-e 

 matter there appears to be no ground for such 



, • • • ii- i li' Fig. 256.— Inflores- 



behef, although serious poisonmg efltects resultmg cence of False Brome 

 m numbness, paralysis, and gangrene ot the pimmtmn Beauv.), 



.J, J ji_ .iwith ergots e (natural 



extremities are rapidly produced when animals size). 

 are fed with considerable quantities of ergoted 

 hay. 



Cause, — The ' ergot ' is the compacted dormant mycelium of 

 a fungus, Claviceps purpurea Tul., and is termed a sderotium. 

 The hyphae composing it are so closely united and divided in 



