EDITORIAL.  PEREIRa's  MATERIA  MEDICA. 
179 
The  subject  of  Ergot  although  fully  treated  of  in  the  previous  edition  has 
been  further  illustrated  by  comparative  researches  into  the  structure  of  the 
healthy  and  the  spurred  rye.    Fig.  207  represents  a  thin  section  of  a  ripe 
Fig.  207  Fig.  208.  Fig.  209. 
grain  of  rye  ;  a,  the  seed  coal ;  6,  the  inner  seed  coat ;  c,  a  layer  of  gluten 
cells ;  d,  cells  of  the  albumen  filled  with  starch  grains.  Fig.  209  exhibits 
a  single  cell  of  the  albumen  more  highly  magnified,  and  showing  the  starch 
grains  with  which  it  is  filled.  Fig.  208  shows  the  starch  grains  very  highly 
magnified. 
Fig.  212.  Fig.  213.  Fig.  214. 
Microscopic  appearance  of  Ergotized  Rye  highly  magnified. 
Fig.  212.  Thin  transverse  section  of  ergot  of  rye;  a,  layer  of  spores  ;  b,  sporospores  or 
basidia  ;  c,  epidermis  of  the  receptacle  ;  d,  body  of  the  receptacle  ;  e,  oil  globules. 
Fig.  213.  Spores  of  the  fungus  very  highly  magnified. 
Fig.  214.  Body  of  the  receptacle  -with  the  cells  containing  oil. 
Dr.  Pereira  adopts  the  view  that  ergotized  rye  is  a  diseased  condition  of 
the  ovary  or  seed,  and  this  condition  is  owing  to  the  presence  of  a  parasitic 
fungus,  the  Oidium  abortifaciens.  In  reference  to  the  changes  induced  in 
the  structure  of  the  seed  by  this  parasite,  he  remarks : 
"  When  examined  by  the  microscope,  we  find  that  ergot  consists  of  three 
distinct  parts: — 1st.  The  internal  part  or  body  of  the  ergot :  this  is  composed 
of  the  hexagonal  or  rounded  cellular  tissue.  The  cells  have  the  shape  and 
regularity  of  the  normal  cells  of  the  albumen,  but  they  are  considerably 
smaller,  (Corda  says  they  are  only  l-35th  of  the  size,)  and  contain  instead 
of  starch,  from  one  to  three  globules  of  oil  which  are  lighter  than  water  and 
soluble  in  ether,  (fig.  212  d  and  214).    2d.  The  violet  or  blackish  coat  oL 
