350 
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
[Vol. 9, 
For ergotoiine. The tests for this alkaloid on White Leghorn cocks were 
in all cases negative, so far as indices of comb-bluing are concerned. Two 
tests were made on a bird previously standardized for his reaction to U. 
S. P. ergot, the injections being made at intervals of four or five days to 
permit complete recovery from the previous doses. The dose was in each 
instance 2}4 times the strength necessary to produce a very distinct comb- 
bluing of the same bird with standard ergot extract. In neither case did 
the injection of culture extract produce anything more than a very slight 
bluish tinge of portions of two tips of the comb. The slight color changes 
may well be ascribed to the general physiological reaction of the fowl to 
the injection, as the comb is a fairly sensitive index of condition, but no 
deductions other than negative are warranted with respect to ergotoxine 
action. 
On the other hand, there was clear evidence of toxaemia. One half 
hour after injection the bird was distinctly sick, exhibiting general ex- 
citation, drooping of head and tail, and shaking of comb. Diarrhoea was 
noted in both trials about one half hour after injection, in one instance 
being more pronounced than in the other. One hour after injection the 
bird was very weak on its legs (PI. XXI, figs. 3, 4), inclined to squat or 
to lie flat, with sunken head (PI. XIX, fig. 5). A complete return to 
normal condition was not effected for several days. 
A final trial of extract of pure fungus was made with material taken 
from abundant growth in the 500-cc. flask of corn meal illustrated in Plate 
XIX, figures i and 2. With the exception of a small portion reserved for 
microscopic study, the entire upper layer of fungus here shown was removed 
and extracted after drying. Fifty-six and eight tenths grams of fungus 
produced 5.8 grams of air-dried material for extraction. The latter had 
the same gross characters as previous material. A dose seven times the 
normal produced no effects of any kind in a healthy cock. The extract, 
when tested chemically, showed no trace of alkaloids. 
Controls with extracts of autoclaved and dried corn meal were carried 
on with the foregoing tests, and in all cases gave negative results. 
Discussion 
The present study confirms in great part the descriptions by former 
students of C. purpurea in culture, but opposes them in several particulars 
■ — notably in regard to the question of morphological variations and the 
development in cultures of advanced age of a stage distinctly analogous 
to the pseudo-parenchyma and epidermal layers of the natural sclerotium. 
The development of the conidial stage directly from the sclerotium without 
germination and without formation of ascospores has been demonstrated. 
The data presented give indications of the presence in Claviceps cultures 
as here grown of but one of the commonly recognized active principles 
of ergot — histamine. There is at present no ground, however, for a belief 
