vi] Fungi 89 
authorities considering the belief well founded, while others consider 
that there is little ground for it. It is quite clear, however, that when 
taken in sufficient quantity Ergot induces serious poisoning of domestic 
animals. Horses have died in two or three days from eating ergoted 
hay and wild rye. Extensive outbreaks of ergotism have occurred in 
the United States, and serious losses have been recorded in the Central 
and Western States. Ewart remarks that "a comparatively small 
number of fresh Ergot grains suffice to injure or kill a horse, cow, or 
sheep." The effects of the poisoning of animals will be found under 
Symptoms below. 
Toxic Principle. Ergot of rye is used in medicine. It contains 
0-20 to 0-25 per cent, of Ergotinine. In the British Pharmaceutical 
Codex, 1911, the grains (sclerotia) of Ergot (see Frontispiece) are 
described as longitudinally furrowed, 1 to 4 cm. long, slender, curved, 
tapering to both ends; they break with a short fracture, and are 
somewhat triangular in transverse section ; they have a characteristic 
and disagreeable odour and taste, are dark violet to black in colour, 
and whitish within. Ergot contains the physiologically active alkaloid 
Ergotoxine or Hydroergotinine (CggH^OgNg), also known as amorphous 
Ergotinine, and, when formerly obtained in an impure state, as 
Coroutine and Ecboline. It is the hydrate of the crystalline base 
Ergotinine (C 35 H 39 5 N 5 ). There are also other physiologically active 
constituents derived from ammo-acids. 
Symptoms. In man Ergot has induced two types of epidemic ergotism, 
caused by the prolonged use of ergoted rye bread. The two forms are 
rarely or never found together. One is a gangrenous form characterized 
by agonizing pain in the extremities, followed by dry gangrene of the 
peripheral parts of the body. The second type of ergotism is much 
mpre rare a nervous epidemic characterized by paroxysmal epileptiform 
convulsions. 
Owing to the fact that at the outset ergotism causes irritation in the 
hands and feet it is termed "Kribbelkrankheit" in Germany. 
The three substances noted above as isolated by Robert are stated 
to cause poisoning the first producing inflammation of the serous and 
mucous membranes, disintegration of the red blood cells, and widespread 
ecchymoses ; the second excites the central nervous system and causes 
general convulsions ; and the last induces gangrene. 
In one case a horse ate ergoted hay : next day the left hind leg was 
stiff, and moist with cold sweat ; on the second day it was badly swollen 
and gangrene of all the tissues became apparent, and after the skin of 
