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VIII.49 - Ergotism

from Part VIII - Major Human Diseases Past and Present

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2008

Kenneth F. Kiple
Affiliation:
Bowling Green State University, Ohio
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Summary

Ergotism is a disease condition acquired by eating cereal grains infected with ergot fungus. Known since the time of Galen, it was prevalent in medieval Europe, particularly among the poor who, during famine, consumed bread made from spoiled rye. Ergot (secale cornutum, spur of the corn, horned rye, womb grain), the dried sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea, develops on the ovary of common rye, or on corn, where it was previously known as corn smut. The actual cause of ergot in grasses was hotly debated by early naturalists, some of whom thought it occurred in rainy weather and was attributable to fog or impure atmosphere. Others believed it to be the work of worms or butterflies, whereas still others regarded it as the product of improper fecundation or perhaps the cooking of the sexual parts of the plants.

Classification

Ergotism has two forms: (1) convulsive, or spasmodic, also known as creeping, which affects the central nervous system; and (2) gangrenous, which affects the blood vessels and blood supply to the extremities. Common names for the gangrenous form are St. Anthony’s fire (after the patron saint of the disease), hidden fire, saint’s fire, evil fire, devil’s fire, and holy fire. As a result of early imprecision in disease specificity and diagnosis, physicians confused ergotism with the plague and a variety of other diseases including leprosy, anthrax, typhus, smallpox, and scurvy.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1993

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References

Barger, George. 1931. Ergot and ergotism. London.Google Scholar
Berde, B., and Schild, H. O., eds. 1978. Ergot alkaloids and related compounds. Berlin.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bové, Frank J. 1970. The story of ergot. Basel.Google Scholar
Caporael, L. R. 1976. Ergotism: The Satan loosed in Salem? Science 192.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haller, John S. Jr. 1981. Smut’s dark poison: Ergot in history and medicine. Transactions and Studies, College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Ser. 5, III.Google Scholar
Hirsch, August. 1883–6. Handbook of geographical and historical pathology, 3 vols. London.Google Scholar
Matossian, Mary. 1982a. Ergot and the Salem witchcraft affair. American Scientist 70.Google Scholar
Matossian, Mary. 1982b. Religious revivals and ergotism in America. Clio Medica 16.Google Scholar
Stockman, Ralph. 1934. The cause of convulsive ergotism. Journal of Hygiene 34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

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  • Ergotism
  • Edited by Kenneth F. Kiple, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
  • Book: The Cambridge World History of Human Disease
  • Online publication: 28 March 2008
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521332866.111
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  • Ergotism
  • Edited by Kenneth F. Kiple, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
  • Book: The Cambridge World History of Human Disease
  • Online publication: 28 March 2008
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521332866.111
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Ergotism
  • Edited by Kenneth F. Kiple, Bowling Green State University, Ohio
  • Book: The Cambridge World History of Human Disease
  • Online publication: 28 March 2008
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521332866.111
Available formats
×