^] Fungi 89 



authorities considering the behef weU founded, while others consider 

 that there is little ground for it. It is quite clear, however, that when 

 taken m sufficient quantity Ergot induces serious poisoning of domestic 

 animals. Horses have died in two or three days from eating ergoted 

 hay and wild rye. Extensive outbreaks of ergotism have occurred in 

 the United States, and serious losses have been recorded in the Central 

 and Western States. Ewart remarks that "a comparatively small 

 number of fresh Ergot grains suffice to injure or kill a horse, cow, or 

 sheep." The effects of the poisoning of animals will be found under 

 Symptoms below. 



Toxic Principle. Ergot of rye is used in medicine. It contains 

 0-20 to 0-25 per cent, of Ergotinine. In the British Pharmaceutical 

 Codex, 1911, the grains (sclerotia) of Ergot (see Frontispiece) are 

 described as longitudinaUy furrowed, 1 to 4 cm. long, slender, curved, 

 tapering to both ends; they break with a short fracture, and are 

 somewhat triangular in transverse section ; they have a characteristic 

 and disagreeable odour and taste, are dark violet to black in colour, 

 and whitish within. Ergot contains the physiologically active alkaloid 

 Ergotoxine or Hydroergotinine (Cg^B.^0^1S^), also known as amorphous 

 Ergotinine, and, when formerly obtained in an impure state, as 

 Cornutine and Ecboline. It is the hydrate of the crystalline base 

 Ergotinine (C35H39O5N5). There are also other physiologically active 

 constituents derived from amino-acids. 



Symptoms. In man Ergot has induced two types of epidemic ergotism, 

 caused by the prolonged use of ergoted rye bread. The two forms are 

 rarely or never found together. One is a gangrenous form characterized 

 by agonizing pain in the extremities, followed by dry gangrene of the 

 peripheral parts of the body. The second type of ergotism is much 

 more rare — a nervous epidemic characterized by paroxysmal epileptiform 

 convulsions. 



Owing to the fact that at the outset ergotism causes irritation in the 

 hands and feet it is termed "Kribbelkrankheit" in Germany. 



The three substances noted above as isolated by Kobert are stated 

 to cause poisoning — the first producing inflammation of the serous and 

 mucous membranes, disintegration of the red blood cells, and widespread 

 ecchymoses ; the second excites the central nervous system and causes 

 general convulsions ; and the last induces gangrene. 



In one case a horse ate ergoted hay : next day the left hind leg was 

 stiff, and moist with cold sweat ; on the second day it was badly swollen 

 and gangrene of all the tissues became apparent, and after the skin of 



