ERGOTA. 367 



latter is taken. Maltose is a form of sugar which does not 

 ferment, and will not give rise to acidity and dyspepsia. 



Ergota ERGOT. The sclerotium (compact my- 

 celium or spawn) of Claviceps purpurea. produced 

 within the palese of the common Rye, Secale cereale. 



Characters. Subtriangular, curved, with a longitudinal 

 furrow on the concave side, obtuse at the ends ; from one-third 

 of an inch to an inch and a half in length ; of a violet-brown 

 colour on the surface, pinkish within ; solid, frangible, fracture 

 short; odour faintly marked, but strong if the powder be 

 triturated with solution of potash. 



Composition. The chemical composition of ergot has 

 always been a subject of difficulty, a'nd cannot be said to be 

 yet settled. Ergot is now generally believed to contain three 

 important bodies : 4 per cent, of sclerotic acid, 2^ per cent, of 

 scleromucin, and colouring matter. Besides these, there occur in 

 it 30 per cent, of a fixed oil, cholesterin, cellulose, mannite, 

 lactic acid, abundance of potash salts, methylamin, trimethyl- 

 amin, leucin, and several unimportant alkaloids. Sclerotic 

 acid, C l2 H l9 NO 9 , is a brownish hygroscopic substance without 

 odour or taste, acid, forming salts readily soluble in water, 

 and possessing the physiological action of the ergot itself. 

 Scleromucin is a colloidal gummy -like mass, without odour or 

 taste,' soluble in water. It contains nitrogen, and has the 

 same physiological action as sclerotic acid, but less marked. 

 The colouring matter is also feebly active physiologically ; it 

 consists of several bodies, named sclererythrin, scleroxanthin, 

 etc. The " ergotin " of manufacturers is an extract of the 

 drug, not any of the active principles in a separate form. 



Dose. 20 to 30 gr. Of" Ergotin " hypodermicatty, 1 to 3 gr. 



Preparations. 



1. Extraction Ergotse T^iflum. 1 in 1, after washing with 



Ether. Dose, 16 to 30 min. 



2; Infusnm Ergfrtf* ] in 40. Dose, 1 to 2 fl.oz. 

 3. Tinctura Ergota. 1 in 4. Dose, 15 to 60 min. 



ACTION AND USES. 

 1. IMMEDIATE LOCAL ACTION AND USES. 



In large doses ergot is a gastro-intestinal irritant, but 

 moderate doses may be given almost indefinitely without 

 interfering with the stomach or bowels. 



