286 
JAMES LAW 
3d. The abdominal form, resulting in constipation, impactions 
of stomach or bowels, with subsequent diarrhea and eruptions on 
or erosions of the mucous membranes or skin (mad itch). 
4th. The abortion form. 
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ERGOTISM. 
The disastrous abortions which occurred in nearly all classes 
of pregnant females, human and brute, at Rome in B. C. 278 
(Orosii), are with some reason attributed to ergotism, as agricul¬ 
ture was likely to have been neglected in consequence of the pre¬ 
vailing Tarentian war. In later times the affection has been no¬ 
ticed to follow a dull, cloudy summer and a great development 
of ergot. In A. D. 857 it was widespread among human beings 
(cattle not mentioned; Amsales Zanteus, Pertz). Man and beast 
suffered severely in France in A. D. 994 (Heusinger); man in 
Flanders in A. D. 1041 (Chron. Ste. Bavonis); in England in 
1048 (Tysden); in France (man and beast) in 1085 (Konigshofen), 
in which year there were great losses in cattle in England and 
Ireland (Chron. Sax.); in man and beast on the continent of 
Europe in 1089-’91 (Chron. Ste. Bavonis); in France in 1099 
(Mylius); in France in 1127 (ibid.); in France and England in 1196 
(Heusinger); in Spain and France (dry gangrene in men, sterility 
in cattle, sheep, and birds) in 1213 (Villalba), 1214 and 1215 
(Heusinger); in Germany (ergotism in man) in 1598, also a great 
mortality in beasts, cause not stated (Aeuspinger); in Silesia in 
1587 and 1592, and in Westphalia and Hesse in 1596 (Hecker). 
in France in 1650 ; in Germany (in men, ruminants, horses, swine^ 
geese) in 1694 (Brumer) and 1700-’l (Hoyerus) ; in Freiburg in 
1703 (Kanold); in Sologne in 1709 (Phil. Trans.); in Transyl¬ 
vania (pregnant animals aborted) in 1720 (Koliser); in Silesia 
(men and animals—cows and ewes had difficult and dangerous 
parturitions) in 1721 (Hecker, Bresl. Samml.); in Silesia and Bohe¬ 
mia (convulsive form) in 1737 (Soring) ; in Sologne (man and beast) 
in 1754 (Yerheycn) ; in France and Germany (fowls had spasms and 
laid few eggs, most of which failed to hatch) in 1770-’72 (Her¬ 
mann, Schneider, Meyer, Traube). 
Since the end of the eighteenth century ergotism has become in- 
