208 
THE PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY. 
poeia/ by Professor Tuson,* “ERGOTA, Ergot, Ergot of 
Rye , the sclerotium (compact mycelium or spawn) of a 
fungus, Clariceps (Cordiceps?) purpurea, produced within 
the palse of the common rye, Secale cereale ” 
“ Characters. — Subtriangular, curved, with a longitudinal 
furrow on the concave side, obtuse at the ends; from one 
third of an inch to an inch and a half in length ; violet brown 
colour superficially, pinkish internally ; solid, frangible, 
fracture short ; faint odour, which may be increased by tri- 
turation with solution of potash” (pp. 92, 93). 
Ergot has long been known as prevailing to a considerable 
extent in the rye of the Continent ; and it is principally from 
this corn that the ergot of rye used in medicine has 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 immediate operation 
upon gravid animals appears to be the procuring of abortion. 
Here, then, this is, as we think, properly viewed as of fun- 
goid origin, and it would seem that, like so many other 
fungi, though growing from most harmless matters, the 
altered growth possesses very active properties. Cook, in his 
f British Fungi/ says : — “ Bread made of ergotised grain pro- 
duces a form of disease called ergotism, which has at differ- 
ent times overspread large districts on the Continent, as 
though it were the visitation of the plague.” 
And as one of the grasses in which it occurs in great quan- 
tity is the Lolium perenne , perennial rye, a prevailing grass 
in all good pastures, it often becomes a matter of great im- 
portance to look well to a meadow in autumn before turning 
in cows. Some years since the late Earl Ducie suffered con- 
siderably from the dropping of the calves of some of his most 
valuable stock. At this time a quantity of ergotised rye 
grass was gathered in the field w r here this accident took 
place, and submitted for our inspection ; and from the report 
given us of the general state of the meadow, we have little 
doubt but that this diseased grass was the cause of the acci- 
dents 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 ergotised grass. 
* This concise and logically arranged work should be in the hands of 
every medical man, be his practice either with the higher or lower animals. — 
J. B. 
