ERGOTA 8 1 



growing ovary. Conidia are produced (non-sexual spores) in great abundance 

 which quickly germinate. 



Following the conidial stage the mycelium at the base of the ovary assumes a 

 hard and compact form, increases in size, becoming a horn-shaped and dark- 

 colored body, the so-calied ergot. Such a compact mass of hyphae (the 

 vegetative threads or filaments of the fungi) is called a sclerotium. 



The official fungus grows on rye, but the ergot also grows on other grasses and 

 some of these ergots from other grasses have been found to be stronger than 

 that of rye. The different grades are Russian, German, Austrian, Spanish 

 and Swedish. 



PREPARATION AND PRESERVATION. Ergot should be dried without arti- 

 ficial heat kept in tin or glass containers free from light. A few drops 

 of chloroform or carbon tetrachloride should be added from time to 

 time to prevent development of insects. The powdered drug should 

 not be kept longer than one year. Suggestion for preservation 

 keep over slaked lime. Dip into ethereal solution of tolu and keep 

 in stoppered bottles. Also by removing the oil from the drug. 



DESCRIPTION or DRUG. The official ergot of rye is from 10 to 30 mm. 

 (% to i% in.) long and from 2 to 6 mm. GK 2 to % in.) in diameter. 

 On other grasses it is usually of less size. Triangular, slightly curved, 

 tapering toward, but obtuse at, the ends; externally purplish-black, 

 internally whitish with pinkish lines; fracture short (not very brittle). 

 If a portion be macerated in water containing hydrate of potassium 

 or sodium, then carefully crushed under the blade of a spatula, the 

 fragments of mycelium threads are plainly discernible under the 

 microscope. Odor (especially in powder or when treated with an 

 alkali) heavy and unpleasant; taste oily and disagreeable. 



When more than one year old, it is unfit for use, Old ergot, which 

 breaks with a sharp snap, is almost devoid of pinkish tinge upon the 

 fracture, is hard and brittle between the teeth, and is comparatively 

 odorless and tasteless, should be rejected. 



CONSTITUENTS. The active constituents" of ergot are still somewhat in 

 doubt due probably to the amorphous condition in which they exist. 

 Barger and Carr have extracted a substance called ergotoxine (non- 

 crystalline) to which the dangerously poisonous character of ergot is 

 due including the power to produce gangrene. Barger and Dale 

 have shown it to contain amines derived from amino acids.' Two 

 of especial physiological activity are: 



1. p. Hydroxyphenylethylamine or (Tryamine) has action of same 

 type as active constituents of suprarenal glands and substance chiefly 

 concerned in standardization of ergot by rise in blood pressure. 



2. b. Iminoazolethylamine (Ergamine) has an action of peculiar 

 intensity on plain muscle especially on uterine muscle. 



Ergo tine an alkaloid thought by some to be identical with ergotonine. 

 Ecboline same as cornutine. Others say ergotine and ecboline are 



