HISTORY 150 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Psilocybin, Postpartum Bleeding, Claviceps Purpurea
Document Summary
Ergot produces toxins which, if eaten can cause disease in humans and animals. A disease called holy fire was first described in rhine valley. Common in the middle ages - for ex) in 944 outbreak 40,000 died in northern france. Fingers, toes and whole felt like they were burning. Gaston de la valloise a french nobleman established hospital for ergotism victims - hed recovered and credited prayers to the relics of st anthony. Fungus causes a disease of rye and other cereals. Fungus produces a class of chemicals called alkaloids that are biologically active in humans and animals. Two forms of ergotism gangrenous and convulsive:hallucinations. It is not destroyed by milling or baking the grain. Caused by an alkaloid called ergotamine, a vasoconstrictor. With prolonged loss of blood flow tissue dies and gangrene develops. Caused by another chemical made by the fungus, isoergine or lysergic acid amide, close relative of lysergic acid diethylamide.
