114 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO IjQS. 



afflicted with a weakness of the limbs, or a stiffness and immobility of one joint 

 or other, together with a dulness of intellect. 



In 1741 this disorder appeared in Neuinarck, where it continued until May 

 1742. It has been well described by Muller. (p) His description accords with 

 that of Serine, except that in Neumarck the disorder was constantly attended 

 with fever, from which the sick in Bohemia were exempt. 



Dr. T. next gives an account of the other form of disease produced by 

 spurred rye, viz. the spontaneous gangrene.* This disorder was known in 

 some provinces of France as far back as the year 1 630, according to the testi- 

 mony of Dr. Thuilier, physician to the Duke of Sully, (q) In 1650, 1670, 

 and 1674, it raged in some parts of Aquitania, in Sologne, and in the district of 

 Gatinois ; and in 17^4, in the neighbourhood ofMontargis, according to Mons. 

 Perrault.(r) 



The first symptom was a numbness of the legs, then a pain with a slight 

 Swelling, but no inflammation; and in quick succession, coldness, lividness, 

 mortification, and dropping off of the limb. At Sologne there was no fever, 

 and the pains were slight. No remedies were applied; but the nose, fingers, 

 hands, arm, feet, leg, thighs, sphacelated spontaneously and dropj^d off. 



In 1695, Dr. J. C. Brunn saw at Augsburg, a woman labouring under a 

 spasmodic disorder and a mortification of the hands, in consequence of eating 

 some spurred rye; and he was told by the surgeon who attended her, and who 

 a very short time before had amputated her foot, which had mortified from the 

 same cause, that it was owing to such vitiated bread-corn, that so many of the 

 inhabitants of the Black Forest were afflicted not only with convulsions, but 

 also with mortifications of the extremities, (s) 



In 1709, Sologne was again visited by the same disorder, a fourth part of 

 the rye being that year infected with the spur (ergot) Mons. Noel, surgeon to 

 the Hotel Dieu at Orleans, had under his care, in that hospital, above 50 

 ergotted patients, chiefly men and boys, (t) The disorder commonly began in 

 the toes, and often spread to the upper part of the thigh. The first symptom 

 after eating the poisoned bread, was a sort of intoxication. Four patients died 

 after amputation, the mortification having spread to the trunk of the body ; 

 whence Dr. T. infers that it is dangerous to amputate before the mortification 



(p) C. A. a Bergen et J. M. F. MuUeri Disputatio de Morb. Epid. Spasm. Convuls. Contagii ex- 

 perte. Francofurti ad Viadr. 174-2. Vide Halleri Dissert. Med. Pract. 



• Gangraena spontanea. The epithet spontaneous is not well applied to a disease supposed to be 

 excited by the use of vitiated rye in bread. 



(q) Lettre de M. Dodart au Journalist des S9avaiis ann. 1676. Tom IV. p. 79» 



(r) Journ. des Sfavans, ibid. 



(s) Act. Curiosor. Natur. Dec. III. Ann. Q. Obs. 224. 



(t) Hilt, de I'Acad. Royale des Sc. Ann. 1710, p. «0. 



