Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
The ergot kernel is known as the sclerotium, and this kernel contains a high level
(up to 2 per cent of the dry mass) of an alkaloid known as ergotamine. Whilst the full
descriptionandeffectsofthealkaloidmightappeartorequireachemistrydegreetoun-
derstand it, suffice to say that from a layman's point of view, the alkaloid ergotamine
hasalinktolysergicacidthroughthewayitisbiosynthesisedbythefungus.Whileitis
connected to lysergic acid, it is not actual LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide). It contains
ergotamine which is used to synthesize lysergic acid which is a precursor for synthes-
izing LSD itself. Eating bread contaminated by ergot can have a number of effects on
humans including the neurotransmission and circulatory systems. Severe pathological
syndromes can also affect humans once they have ingested the bread. It can lead to
hallucinations, extremely irrational behaviour, convulsions and death. Other symptoms
include strong uterine contractions, nausea, seizures and unconsciousness. It has had a
long history stretching from the Middle Ages and was also known as St Anthony's Fire
duetotheburningsensationinthelimbsfeltbysufferers,causedbysevereconstriction
of the blood vessels. In some cases it leads to gangrene and complete loss of limbs. St
Anthony'sFirealsoreferstotheHospitalOrderofStAnthony,anorderofmonksestab-
lished in 1095whospecialised in treating victims ofergotism. One ofthe most peculiar
properties of such a deadly fungus is that it was used to also treat some illnesses. Ergot
extract has been used in some pharmaceutical products to treat migraine headaches and
also to induce uterine contractions in pregnant women, as well as controlling bleeding
afterchildbirth.Theuseofergottoinduceabortionandcontrolbleedingafterchildbirth
was fairly common in the Middle Ages. Such a volatile drug can have its own prob-
lems. A study of 11,000 patients who had Parkinson's disease and were being treated
with ergot-derived drugs found that they increased the risk of leaky heart valves by up
to 700 per cent.
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One example of hysteria that may have been induced by ergot is the Salem Witch
Trials in Massachusetts in 1692-1693, this theory was put forward by Linnda Caporael
in 1976, although the idea has been disputed.
A second example is the legend of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the roots of which are
possibly based in fact. Hamelin (Hameln) is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, where
in 1284 the town's children died or were lured away by the music of a piper who wore
multi-coloured clothing. In the sixteenth century the legend was given a fuller narrat-
ive, with the piper saying to the mayor of Hamelin that he will rid the town of their
plague of rats for the payment of a set price per rat. Using his pipe the piper entranced
therats,whichfollowedhimoutofthetownandintotheRiverWeserwhereallbutone
drowned. The Pied Piper felt he had kept his side of the bargain and went back to claim
his payment. When the mayor refused to pay him the full amount as he had agreed,
the piper swore revenge. On St John and Paul's Day, the piper returned while all the
