202 ERGOT. 



ERGOT. 



Ergot is the sclerotium or spawn of Claviceps purpitrea, a fungus parasitic on the 

 grain of rye and other grains. 



Pharmacodynamics. 



Central Nervous System. Ergot stimulates the myoneural junctions of the lum- 

 bothoracic sympathetic system. There is also some disturbance of the central nervous 

 system. 



Muscular System. Unstriped muscle stimulated, especially the muscle of the 

 uterine wall, which is acted upon by stimulation of the myoneural termination of the 

 hypogastric nerve. 



Respiration. Not affected. 



Heart is primarily accelerated by local irritation, then slowed by both centric and 

 local action, and, possibly, by depression of the accelerator terminations. 



Blood-pressure may fall slightly at first from increased heart action, but is soon 

 and markedly elevated by direct stimulation of the terminations of the splanchnic vaso- 

 constrictors. 



Eye. Pupil is strongly constricted from stimulation of the constrictor fibers of 

 the iris. 



Alimentary Tract. Tone is reduced and peristalsis lessened through stimulation 

 of the inhibitory fibers of the splanchnics. 



Secretory Glands. Somewhat inhibited. 



Metabolism. Obscurely disturbed in chronic poisoning. 



Temperature. Not affected. 



Absorption. Fairly rapid. 



Excretion. 



Symptoms. 



Therapeutic Doses. Toxic Doses. 



No symptoms. Headache. 



Ergotism : Restlessness. 



Type A. Delirium. 



Dry gangrene of extremities. Weak rapid pulse. 



Skin necrosis. Clamminess of skin. 



Cataract. Vomiting and diarrhea. 



Type B. Hemorrhages: 



Headache and giddiness. Subcutaneous. 



Itching and formication. Internal. 



Painful cramps in limbs. Uterine. 



Epileptiform convulsions. Collapse. 



Therapeutics. 



Ergot may be advantageously employed at the end of the second stage of labor as 

 a preventive of postpartum hemorrhage. 



Dosage. 



Fluidextractum Ergotse, 2 to 4 mils. 



