20 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF BRITISH GRASSES. 
been obtained, and the terrific effects of its presence in rye- 
bread have been pointed out by various medical authors. 
Amongst other diseases incidental to its prolonged use, even 
in small quantities, is that of Gangrene: its more immedi- 
ate operation upon gravid animals appears to be the pro- 
curing of abortion; and as one of the grasses in which it 
occurs in great quantity is the Loliwm perenne (rye grass), 
a prevailing grass in all good pastures, it often becomes a 
matter of great importance to look well to a meadow in 
autumn before turning in cows. Some years since, the late 
Earl Ducie suffered considerably from the dropping of the 
calves of some of his most valuable stock. At this time a 
quantity of ergotized rye-grass was gathered in the field 
where these accidents took place; and from the report given 
me of the general state of the meadow, I have little doubt 
but that this diseased grass was the cause of the accidents 
which occurred. 
The quantity of ergot in some low damp meadows is 
quite astonishing ; however, it is lessened by good draining. 
Uplands are much less affected: in the Cotteswold district 
the bands of oolitic clays are often clearly made out by the 
quantity of ergotized grass. 
I have gathered ergot from almost every species of grass ; 
but it occurs to a very inconsiderable extent in other grasses 
of the pasture—the Poa fluitans, a water grass, and Bromus 
asper, perhaps are next to the rye-grass; but these, from 
their quality and position, can have no effect of a baneful 
kind. 
