80 

 Seme of the most important kaown apidamics presumatly 

 caused by ergot aro those in Silesia in 1588, Saxony in 1648, Cologne 

 in 1590, Frei-burg in 1702, SvTitzerland in 1709, Silioia in 1736 where 

 300 out of 500 cases resulted in death. In this case, the Icing of 

 Prussia ordered an exchange of sound rye for the affected grain. Hiere 

 ■roas similar trouble in Denmark, Sweeden and Worrvay, 1761; 7estphalia in 

 1770, and 1771; Lorraine and Burgundy in 1816; Nassau in 1856. In later 

 years epidemics have been more frequent in Russia. In 1854 an epidemic • 

 broke out in Crimea among the soldiers, in 1862 in Finland and in various 

 other provinces in 1866, 1872, 1879, and 1880. In 1884, there were rany 

 cases of ergotism in the province of Poltava, where many people died, 

 lost a hand or foot due to gangrene, or became paralyzed for the rest of 

 their lives. Since that time several severe epidemics have occurred in 

 Russia. Single cases have been reported during the ninteenth century in 

 Berlin, Pomrrem, Braunschweig, Great Britian, Various districts in France, 

 United States and Bulgaria. In 1608, after inundations and heavy fogs 

 there was a general epizootic among the cattle in Germany. In recent 

 years a number of ergotism cases among cattle and horses have been reported 

 from various countries. 



Ergotism as known now is a disease of bovine s caused by the 

 consumption of considerable quantities of food contaminated by ergot. 

 Equines are apparently less susceptible than bovines, althou^ the hor^^S* 

 have been known to stiff er severely from this disease. Ergotism in men is 

 not an unknown occtirrence at present, and in nearly every instance it has 

 resulted from eating bread nade of ergotized grain. 



(l) Galen, Claudius. Greek physician and medical writer. 

 A. D. 120 - 200 ? 



