SECALE CORNUTUM. 745 



glycerin. The large amount of oil is remarkable; the fungi, dried 

 at 100°, usually contain not more than 5 per cent, of fat, mostly 

 much less ; they are on the other hand much richer in albumin than 

 ergot of rye. The oil of the latter, as extracted by bisulphide of carbon, 

 is accompanied by small quantities of resin and cholesteHn (see p. 420). 

 It is erroneous to attribute to this oil the poisonous properties of ergot, 

 although it has been shown by Ganser^ to display irritating properties 

 when taken in doses of about 6 grammes. But the effects observed 

 appear dependent on the presence in it of resin. 



According to Wenzell (1864), ergot of rye contains two peculiar 

 alkaloids, which he designated Echoline and Ergotine^ and claimed to 

 be the active principles of the drug. They were, however, got merely 

 as brownish amorphous substances. 



The two bases of ergot are, according to Wenzell, combined with 

 Ergot ic Acid, the existence of which has been further admitted by 

 Ganser. It is said to be a volatile body yielding crystallizable salts. 



A crystallized colourless alkaloid, Ergotinine, C^^H^^N^O^, has been 

 isolated (1877-1878) by Tanret, a pharmacien of Troyes. He obtained 

 it to the amount of about 004 per cent., some amorphous ergotinine 

 moreover being present. Tanret exhausts the powdered drug with 

 boiling alcohol, which by evaporation affords a fluid resin and an 

 aqueous solution, besides a fatty layer. Some ergotinine is removed 

 from the resin by shaking it with ether, and mixed with the main 

 liquid. This is acidulated and purified by means of ether. Lastly, the 

 ergotinine is extracted by adding a slight excess of carbonate of potas- 

 sium and shaking with ether, and recrystallizing from alcohol. The 

 solutions of ergotinine turn very soon greenish and red; they are 

 fluorescent. Sulphuric acid imparts to it a red, violet, and finally 

 blue hue. 



Dragendorff and several of his pupils, since 1875, have isolated the 

 following aviorphous principles of the drug under notice : — (1) Sclerotic 

 acid (doubtful formula C^^H^^NO®), said to be a very active substance, 

 chiefly in subcutaneous injections. About 4 per cent of colourless acid 

 may be obtained from good ergot of rye. (2) Sclerortvucin, a mucila- 

 ginous matter, which may be precipitated by alcohol from aqueous 

 extracts of the drug. Scleromucin when dried is no longer soluble in 

 water. (3) Sclererythrin, the red colouring matter, probably allied to 

 anthrachinon and the colouring substances of madder, chiefly to pur- 

 purin. (4) Sclerojodin, a bluish black powder, soluble in alkalis. (5) 

 FiLscosclerotinic acid. (6) Picrosclerotine, apparently a highly poison- 

 ous alkaloid. Lastly (7) Scleroxanthin, CH^O^ + OH^ ; and (8) Sclero- 

 crystallin, OlI"0^ have been obtained in crystals; their alcoholic 

 solution is but little coloured, yet assumes a violet hue on addition of 

 ferric chloride. 



Tanret also observed in ergot of rye a volatile camjphoraceoua 

 substance. 



Ergot, in common with other fungi,^ contains a sugar termed Mycose, 



1 Archiv der Pharm. cxliv. (1870) 200. iy. (1843) 107; Pereira, Elem. of Mat. Med. 



^ The name Ergotine has also been given ii. (1850) 1012. 



to a medicinal extract of ergot, prepared * ISee Miintz in Comptes Rendus, Ixxvi. 



after a method devised by Bonjean, a phar- (1873) 649. 

 macienof Chambery, vide yourw. rfe PAaTTW. 



