620 ERGOT 



It abounds both in grain and grasses in various parts of 

 the United States of America, where it is stated that as 

 much as 1 Ib. has been got from 100 Ibs. of hay. It should 

 be collected before the plants are cut. 



PROPERTIES. Ergot of rye is cylindrical, or somewhat 

 triangular, curved, resembling a cock's spur tapering towards 

 the ends ; it varies in length from one-third of an inch to 

 an inch and a half, and in breadth from one to four lines ; 

 is marked by a longitudinal furrow on each side, often 

 irregularly cracked ; has at one end a pale-grey, fragile 

 excrescence, the shrivelled remains of the style, and is 

 covered by the grey, powdery conidia or spores. It is 

 dark violet-black externally and pinkish- white within. 

 Its odour is peculiar and disagreeable ; its taste, at first 

 sweet, becomes bitter and slightly acrid. When dry it is 

 inflammable, hard, and brittle ; when moist, or long exposed, 

 it becomes soft, darker in colour, and covered with acari. 

 Its structure is made up of felted thread-like cells, amidst 

 which lie drops of oil. Ergot should be free from mustiness ; 

 it deteriorates by keeping, and by exposure to damp (B.P.). 

 Infused in boiling water, it forms a claret-coloured solu- 

 tion, retaining the odour, taste, and actions of ergot. 



Ergot consists of about 30 per cent, of a non-drying fixed 

 oil, which has no special action ; a peculiar sugar termed 

 mycose ; lactic, acetic, and formic acids ; colouring matters ; 

 and, according to Kobert, of Strasburg, three active prin- 

 ciplesan alkaloid, eornutine, and sphacelinic and ergotinic 

 acids. Another base, ergotinin, has been described, but 

 is inert. Amine and ammonia bases are formed normally, 

 and are also produced by decomposition. Jacoby has stated 

 that the action of sphacelinic acid is due to a resinous 

 substance, sphacelotoxin. 



ACTIONS AND USES. Ergot, eornutine, and sphacelinic 

 acid stimulate and contract involuntary muscular fibre, 

 and hence diminish the blood-stream passing through 

 the arterioles. Large or continued doses thus produce 

 ergotism. Medicinal doses are given to contract the 

 uterus, and also the blood-vessels in cases of haemorrhage. 



GENERAL ACTIONS. The physiological effects of the three 

 active principles of ergot may be thus described : 



