NOTE ON ERGOT. 
271 
glutinous matter. In some of the more perfect cocoons are 
the remains of the shell of the insect, or rather the chrysalis. 
It would seem, from the above observations, that, at an early 
period of the growth of the grain, an insect deposits its egg; 
which gives rise to the worm or larva, and that this, in 
arriving at maturity, and while undergoing the changes inci- 
dent to it before assuming the winged form, preys upon the 
internal structure constituting its matrix, and thus gives rise 
to the phenomena detailed. 
The questions, then, to be settled, are, whether the agency 
exercised by the insect is primary or secondary, and what are 
its entomological characters. The first can only be determined 
by carefully instituted experiments; and the second, by obtain- 
ing and examining the mature insect. The subject has recently 
been submitted to the Jicademie Royale de Medicine, by M. 
Debourge, who has regarded ergot as of insect origin, and the 
insect producing it as a species of Telephorus. The opinion 
advanced by M. Debourge, appears not to have been favor- 
ably received by the Academy. From the discussion upon 
the communication of M. Debourge, it appears that the 
sentiment of French naturalists is decidedly in favor of the 
views of Decandolle, that ergot is a fungous growth, into 
which is merged the structure of the grain of rye. 
Sufficient testimony is afforded to show that the presence 
of an insect is a common concomitant; its absence may de- 
pend upon circumstances unfavorable for its manifestation. 
In the ergot referred to, it is apparent they were highly 
propitious, as not a single sound grain could be detected of 
the whole quantity. Among the points of interest with re- 
spect to this product, is the inquiry, to what extent is the 
power of carrying on the germinating process possessed by 
the grains ? An experiment made by Mr. Graves, recorded 
in the Hortus Medicus, will give some information upon this 
question. He found in a grain that had been sowed, "after 
two weeks, it had swollen considerably, but no exterior sign 
of vegetation appeared; on cutting it lengthwise, it appeared 
as if an attempt, at vegetating had been made but it was quite 
