334 
JAMES LAW. 
the walls of the capillary blood-vessels explains readily the stoppage 
of circulation in, and death of the parts the farthest removed 
from the heart and where the circulation is weakest; in other 
words, the occurrence of dry gangrene. In the same way is ex¬ 
plained the power of ergot to arrest haemorrhages and mucous 
discharges, whether it is applied locally or taken internally. 
Even abortions are sought to be explained on the ground of its 
causing contractions of the involuntary muscular fibers in the 
walls of the womb, and the nervous disorder and depression of the 
heart’s action by the diminished circulation through the capillary 
vessels of the brain and heart respectively. There is reason to 
suppose, however, that, as in the case of various other fungi, the 
principles of ergot act directly on the nervous substance, inducing 
the various phenomena of nervous disorder, and indirectly contri¬ 
buting to the derangement of the heart and stomach. If we ac¬ 
cept the results reached by Dr. Levi, we must acknowledge the 
action on the brain and womb to be respectively primary and 
distinct, seeing they are produced by the two ingredients, ecbolina 
and phosphoric acid. 
The whole subject of the different forms of ergot and smut, 
and of other fungi, in their action on the animal system, is yet 
far from being fully understood, and offers a very promising field 
to the patient investigator. 
NATURE OF SMUT OF CORN (MAIZE). USTILAGO MAIDIS. 
This fungus develops in the bracts and leaves that surround 
the female flower, in the neighboring leaves of the stem, and on 
the spike of the male flower. Under its growth the coverings of 
the pistil become greatly enlarged, abnormally broad, and flat¬ 
tened with longitudinal grooves, or narrow, thick, and long, with 
prominent, rounded, longitudinal ridges. The resulting enlarge¬ 
ment varies from the size of a hazel-nut to that of the closed fist. 
The ovary also is invaded and hypertrophied, often to the size of 
a walnut, but always smaller than its diseased investments, and it 
may entirely disappear. The remnants of the ovule are usually 
found in the interior of the diseased mass. Its diseased integu¬ 
ments are at first white, later pink, and finally brownish or 
smoky. When the ear is affected the diseased flowers or seeds 
