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a fungus that infects various cereal plants forming compact black masses of branching filaments that replace many grains of the plant; source of medicinally important alkaloids and of lysergic acid

a fungus that infects various cereal plants forming compact black masses of branching filaments that replace many grains of the plant; source of medicinally important alkaloids and of lysergic acid

The mycelium or spawn of this fungus infecting grains of rye and wheat. It is a powerful remedial agent, and also a dangerous poison, and is used as a means of hastening childbirth, and to arrest bleeding.

A stub, like soft horn, about the size of a chestnut, situated behind and below the pastern joint.

See 2d Calcar, 3 (b).

The mycelium or spawn of this fungus infecting grains of rye and wheat. It is a powerful remedial agent, and also a dangerous poison, and is used as a means of hastening childbirth, and to arrest bleeding.

A stub, like soft horn, about the size of a chestnut, situated behind and below the pastern joint.

See 2d Calcar, 3 (b).

A black hornlike growth upon wheat, rye, etc.; a drug.

Substance forming on rye; a hemostatic; also used to contract uterus.

Grain affected by a parasitic fungus; a drug prepared from such grain.

A small bare patch found on the limbs of the horse-tribe, representing the last remnant of the naked palm of the hand and sole of the foot.

Ergot is generally considered to be the result of a disease in rye, occurring most frequently when a hot summer succeeds a rainy spring. Decandolle, however, regards it as a parasitic fungus, and calls it Sclerotium elavus; whilst Leveille esteems it to be a fungus giving a coating to the diseased grain; the medical virtues residing in the coating. This parasitic fungus he calls Sphacelia segetum. More recently, it has been maintained, that it is a diseased state of the grain occasioned by the growth of a fungus not previously detected, to which the names Ergotoetia abortans seu abortifaciens, Oidiom abortifaciens, Ergot-mould, have been given. It is found projecting from among the leaves of the spike or ear, and is a long, crooked excrescence, resembling the spur of a cock, pointed at its extremities, of a dark brown colour externally, and white within. This substance has been long used in Germany to act on the uterus, as its names Mutterkorn and Gebarpulver testify. Upwards of forty years ago, it was recommended in this country, by Dr. John Stearns, of Saratoga County, New York, for accelerating parturition; and since that period, numerous testimonials have been offered in its favour. Half a drachm of the powder is gently boiled in half a pint of water, and one-third part given every 20 minutes, until proper pains begin. Some recommend the clear watery infusion; others advise the powder; others the oil; and others the wine. It is obvious that, in many cases, the uterine efforts would return in the period which would necessarily elapse in the administration of ergot; so that several of the cases, at least, of reputed efficacy, may not have been dependent upon the assigned agent. Ergot also possesses, it is affirmed, narcotic virtues, which have rendered it useful in hemorrhagic and other affections of excitement. Bread, made of spurred rye, has been attended with the effects described under Ergotism.

Hippocampus minor-e., Ergot.

A fungus growing on rye : hemostatic and ecbolic.

The sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea, growing on and replacing the grain of rye, Secale cereale. The chemistry of e. presents many difficulties, and it has been the subject of much dispute, but it appears that ergot contains at least two alkaloids: amorphous ergotinin, having crystalline salts, and crystalline ergotinin, having amorphous salts; the latter alkaloid being concerned in the action of e. on blood pressure. E. also contains tyramin, the action of which resembles that of epinephrin, and another amin which is present in small amount and is probably not concerned in the therapeutic action of the drug. It is impossible to give all the terms which have been applied by different investigators to the various substances found in e., the same name having been given to different substances and the same substances having received different names, owing to the difficulty of isolating the various principles in a fair degree of purity. E. is used therapeutically for its action on the uterus, whereby the organ is thrown into tonic contraction, after the delivery of the placenta, or, less frequently, to induce peristaltic contraction to facilitate the expulsion of the fetus [U. S.].

n. [French] A parasitic fungus, having a spur-like form, of narcotic and poisonous qualities, found in some grains, especially rye;— a protuberance behind and below the pastern-joint of a horse’s leg.

A sort of stub, like a piece of horn, placed behind and below the pastern joint.