220 HERBS 



resist the damp and cold of the autumn and winter. In the spring 

 it produces small stalk-like projections (stromata, fig. 116, b) each 

 of which is terminated by a globular head in which numberless 

 spores (ascospores) are developed, and these, carried by the wind 

 on to the flowers of the rye, complete the cycle. 



Ergot is collected chiefly in Spain, Russia, Germany, and Austria. 

 It is sometimes picked grain by grain by hand, or more usually sepa- 

 rated from the rye after it has been thrashed by a machine specially 

 designed for that purpose. Its exclusion from the grain is, in countries 

 in which rye-bread forms the staple food of the people (as in Russia) , 

 a matter of the utmost importance, as the continued consumption 

 of bread containing ergot has led to widespread disease (ergotism). 

 The epidemics known as * ignis sacer ' and ' St. Anthony's Fire ' 

 were traced in 1747 to ergot. The chief centres for the collection of 

 the drug in Russia are Tomsk, Omsk, and Viatka. 



FIG. 116. A, Ergot of Rye (Planchon and Collin). B, Ergot of 

 Rye germinating (Luerssen.) 



Description. The grains of ergot are usually about T5 to 3'5 cm. 

 in length, and of a very dark violet or nearly black colour. They 

 are slender and curved, tapering towards both ends and rounded 

 or obscurely triangular in section ; to one extremity a small whitish 

 appendage (remains of the sphacelia) is often attached. They are 

 longitudinally furrowed, especially on the concave side, and often bear 

 as well numerous small transverse fissures. Ergot breaks easily with a 

 very short fracture, and is whitish or pinkish white within, but does 

 not exhibit any definite structure when examined with a lens. It has 

 a characteristic disagreeable odour and an unpleasant mawkish taste. 



It should be thoroughly dried and kept in air-tight vessels to pro- 

 tect it from deterioration by damp and by the attack of insect pests. 



Constituents. The most important constituent of ergot is ergotoxine 

 (Barger and Dale, 1906, hydroergotinine, Kraft, 1906), C 35 H 41 N 5 O 6 , an 

 amorphous alkaloid yielding crystalline salts. This substance contracts 

 the pregnant uterus, raises the blood pressure and darkens the cock's- 



