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SELECTED ARTICLES. 
sporules, as a proof of the nature and origin of ergot, as what 
Mr. Smith had by his finding the fungus on the anthers. 
I am accused by this anonymous writer of not giving Mr. 
Smith his share of the credit of the discovery of the origin of 
ergot, either in my paper or in the abstract; but the fact is, 
Mr. Smith's paper had been read and spoke for itself; and in 
the "Proceedings" both papers appeared as abstracts; and if I 
did not put forth what that gentleman discovered, I mention- 
ed the essential matter of his observations. But I feel that 
some apology is due to him for leaving his name out of my 
account of the ergot, inserted in the "Medical Gazette" of the 
19th of January, which was done inadvertently from a desire 
of brevity, and not with a view of wishing to take from him 
any share of credit to which he is entitled for his obseryations. 
According to F . B. the credit which he wishes to claim for Mr. 
Smith is the discovery "that the ergot is not a fungus, but a* 
diseased grain, occasioned by the growth of a fungus, not pre- 
viously detected." But it is fair to other botanists, who have 
examined the nature of ergot, to state their discoveries and 
opinions before this claim is adjudged to any individual in 
particular. 
And if F. B. reads Fries ? s description of Spermoedia he 
will find that he considered it the diseased grain of grasses; 
and in a note in the "English Flora," (Vol. v., Part ii.,p. 226,) 
Berkeley entertains the same idea. If F. B. reads Phcebus's 
account in the "DeutschlandsKryptogamische Giftegewachse," 
1838, he will find the ergot figured as a diseased grain cor- 
rectly, and also the sporules of the fungus of F. B., " not pre- 
viously detected," are there also figured with extreme accu- 
racy ; and it is also there stated, as well as in Christison's "Treatise 
on Poisons," (3d edition,) that Wiggers could produce ergot 
by infecting healthy grains with the seeds(sporidia) of the fungus; 
and in Philippar's "Treatise on the Nature and Origin of Ergot" 
the viscid juice is described, its supposed origin is pointed 
out, and its containing numerous sporules is also related; he 
goes farther, and figures the sporules, and gives a drawing of 
the fungus on the anthers cementing them together into one 
