T H E 
AMERICAN JOURNAL 
OF 
PHARMACY. 
JANUARY, 1839. 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
ART. XL V. — REMARKS ON ERGOT. By W. H. Muller, 
of Butler County, Pa. 
Upon looking over some ears of rye, several grains of 
ergot were found in each ear, averaging from four to eight or 
nine grains apiece. On breaking one open, a small white 
worm was found snugly embedded within. Believing it to 
be yet a disputed point, whether ergot is merely a diseased 
vegetable growth, independent of any insect lesion, or arising 
from the deposit of an egg, I followed up the discovery by 
opening several more. 
I soon found that the presence of the worm was indicated 
by a little accumulation on the outside of the grain, of a 
powdery substance, which the insect had excavated and then 
disposed over itself, so as to hide completely all appearance 
both of the hole and its little occupant. Generally each grain 
had but one worm, though some had two and three, or more. 
These insects were about one line in length; body composed 
of twelve rings and six legs. On pulling the ergot out of the 
ear, there were found on its internal end from three to six 
very minute red worms, just visible to the naked eye; under 
the microscope they were found to resemble the large worms, 
except that they were of a bright red color. They crept 
leisurely about, and appeared to regale themselves on the 
VOL. IV. — NO. IV. 35 
