ORIGIN OF THE ERGOT OP RYE. 237 
the iodine by bromine, or even chlorine; and I have, indeed, 
myself commenced some experiments, with a view to this 
research. 
Lond. and Edin. Phil. Mag., and Journ. of Sci. 
ART. XXXV.— ORIGIN OF THE ERGOT OF RYE. 
By Edwin J. Quekett. 
In the Lancet, of the 22d of June, is a paper, signed 
U F. B.," in which it is asserted that I have assumed to my- 
self the credit of discovering ergot, which credit, it is said, is 
due to my friend, Mr. Smith, of the Royal Botanic Gardens, 
Kew. I shall, therefore, feel obliged by your insertion of the 
following; though I do not consider myself bound to answer 
anonymous correspondents, yet, as I am represented to have 
acted unhandsomely towards an individual for whom I have 
always entertained the greatest respect, both for his talents as 
a botanist, and his personal kindness to me, (which feeling of 
respect appears mutual, if I may judge from his last letter to 
me, dated June 3d, 1839,) therefore I cannot consent to re- 
main silent. 
It appears somewhat strange that "F. B." should have al- 
lowed Mr. Smith's claims to slumber for eight months, more 
especially as during this time I have often met Mr. Smith, 
who has never once opened his lips to me on the subject. 
To explain the matter, I must state, that when at Kew 
Gardens, in the summer of 1838, Mr. Smith pointed out to 
me the "elymus sabulosus," a grass, as being ergotised; and 
as I, as well as he, doubted the opinions hitherto entertained 
of its nature, I was glad to have the opportunity of examining 
it in the recent state, and begged a few spikes of the grass 
(not "the fluid" only, as F, B. mentions,) which I told Mr. 
Smith were for the purpose of investigating the matter. The 
