AN ANALYSIS OF ERGOT OF RYE. 
fot 
remainder by exposure in the air pump; the residue was an almost 
colorless oil, from which a very small quantity of solid fat or wax 
separated by long repose. The solid was in too small amount to 
admit of its exact determination. 
After complete extraction by water, alcohol, and ether, a sub- 
stance remained which was separated from the sand by washing, 
and subjected to a few experiments. When treated with potassa- 
lime it evolved copious ammoniacal fumes, indicating a large con- 
tent of nitrogen. Being prepared in the warm season, it soon 
commenced putrefying, which precluded further investigation into 
its nature. I may however state, that it closely agreed m its be- 
havior with fungin, 
The ash was determined by first removing the oil and a portion 
of the resin by ether, and burning the balance carefully in a pla- 
tinum crucible, which gave a more correct result than if the whole 
ergot had been burnt off. 
The following are the results of the analysis : 
Gum, and a small amount of extractive, - - 7*940 
Nitrogenous extractive, and Sugar, - 13*648 
Albumen, - - - - - - . 0*430 
Soft brown resin a, - 3*637 
Hard black ^esins £ and y, - - - - 1*370 
Black oil, - 1-702 
Colorless oil, 32 377 
Solid fat or wax, - - - - - 0*075 
Ash, - 4*440 
Fungin, &c, insoluble in water, alcohol, and ether, 34*381 
100.000 
Description of the Colorless Oil. The oil as obtained had a 
faint yellowish color, with a taste and odor similar to Castor oil. 
It had the specific gravity 0*9252, at a temperature of 60° F., and 
according to Wiggers, congeals at — 22° F. It was very soluble in 
ether and chloroform, but almost insoluble in alcohol. When 
thoroughly washed successively with ether, alcohol and water, it 
was destitute of odor, and had an agreeable sweet taste. If too 
high a temperature be used to separate the oil from its ethereal 
solution the color is considerably deepened, but if carefully evapo- 
