Fries' Syst. mycol. ii. 268. Nat. Ord. Fungaceae. Officinal. Ergota, Lond. Ergot.

Syn. Ergot de Siegle (F.), Secale cornutum (auct. var.).

The London College has referred this fungus to Acinula Clavus of Fries' Syst. mycol., but there is no such plant in Fries' work, and we are informed by Dr, Lindley that the

1 One grain of sulphate of solania will kill a strong rabbit in six hours.

2 Description and Treatment of Cutaneous Diseases, 147.

*U U 7 only species of Acinula known is A. candicans, which is found on the rotten leaves of the alder.1

The ergot is a morbid production on the grains of the rye. It is a dark-purplish, somewhat cylindrical, angled body, rounded at its extremity, and covered with a powdery substance. Its texture is horny, of a dirty-white colour internally, and when sliced and examined under the microscope, it is found to consist of threads bearing spherical sporules, the whole being consolidated into a compact mass. When the ergot is ground into flour with the rye, and is eaten in bread, it proves poisonous, causing a disease closely resembling dry gangrene.

Qualities. - Ergot, besides the physical characters which we have mentioned, has a slight unpleasant odour; its active properties are taken up by alcohol, and when the tincture is distilled and evaporated it acquires the odour of putrid fish. It loses its activity when kept longer than a year; the more recent it is the better for therapeutical purposes. It should be kept in a closely stopped phial. In large doses, namely, two or three drachms, ergot operates powerfully upon the brain and spinal chord, causing cephalalgia, vertigo, dilatation of the pupils, and drowsiness. The dilatation of the pupils remains often for days after the use of the ergot has been discontinued, but the sight is not affected. The vertigo resembles that of inebriation; it is followed by drowsiness, and is often accompanied with nausea, vomiting, itching all over the body, and a sensation of excessive fatigue. In large doses the operation of ergot is that of a narcotic.

Medical properties and uses. - Ergot is chiefly employed to stimulate the uterus to renewed action in protracted parturition, depending on atony or exhaustion of the uterus. It had been long used by some female midwives, but its employment was first recommended to the profession by Dr. Stearnes, an American physician, and its influence as an excitant of uterine action, in certain states of the uterus, is now almost generally admitted. The most decided proofs of its utility have been published by Bayle (Bibliotheque Therapeutique). In 1176 cases of protracted parturition from exhaustion, the ergot terminated the labour safely and promptly in 1051 cases; it failed in 111, and was productive of some slight benefit in 14. When the medicine causes the uterine contractions it generally operates in ten or twenty minutes; the duration of its action varying from half an hour to an hour and a half, with scarcely an interval of cessation. It should not be administered, however, until the os uteri is dilated to a certain extent, nor until, the hand being placed on the hypogas-trium, no uterine contraction is felt above the pubis.

1 Flora Med. 8vo., Lond. 1838. p. 624.

Besides urging the uterus to expel the child, ergot may be employed to expel clots, accumulated in the organ, after parturition. It is requisite to avoid its administration, either during parturition or afterwards, where puerperal convulsions are present.

Ergot has been found equally beneficial in puerperal metrorrhagia as in protracted parturition; but Prescott and others contend that it is of no value in metrorrhagia of the unimpregnated uterus. This opinion, however, has been combated by Spargani and some Italian physicians, who have brought forward cases in support of the efficacy of ergot in menorrhagia1; and their opinions have been confirmed by the observations of Trousseau. According to the last-mentioned author, less than thirty-six grains produces little or no effect; and when this dose is inactive it should be rapidly augmented to twice the quantity. Its action is always either preceded by, or accompanied with, uterine colic, which may be regarded as the precursor of the salutary influence of the ergot in suppressing the menorrhagia.

As far as regards the action of ergot on the uterus, the following conclusions may be hazarded: -

1. Ergot exerts a powerful but transitory action on the exhausted uterus during parturition.

2. It operates chiefly on the contractile fibres of the organ., and their contraction is always accompanied with pain.

3. It operates upon the nervous centres in the manner of a narcotic.

4. In cases of metrorrhagia the doses should be administered at equal intervals.

Besides the salutary effects derived from ergot in parturition and in metrorrhagia, it has been said to prove beneficial in epistaxis, haemoptysis, hematuria, and other haemorrhages; but its influence in such cases is doubtful. The same opinion may be expressed respecting its use in leucorrhoea, in which it has also been vaunted.

Ergot should not be powdered until it is about to be administered. It is most advantageous when it is given in powder; but it has also been prescribed in the form of infusion, in the proportion of 3 j. of the ergot, bruised, to a pint of distilled boiling water.

The dose of the ergot, in powder, may be from gr. x. to 3 ss. It may be repeated according to circumstances.