Ergot & Convulsive Epidemics
Historical, agricultural, and toxicological analysis of Claviceps purpurea, rye grain infection, and Saint Anthony's Fire.
Inside this collection
Claviceps purpurea Biology
Life cycle of the ergot fungus, rye ear honeydew stage, purple sclerotia formation, and overwintering ascospore dynamics.
Saint Anthony's Fire & The Antonines
Medieval ergotism epidemics, gangrenous limb symptoms, and the nursing monasteries of the Order of Saint Anthony.
Dancing Manias Reassessed
Critical historical inquiry evaluating choreomania outbreaks in 1374 and 1518 against contested ergot-poisoning hypotheses.
Agronomy & Rye Blight History
Early modern wet harvest conditions, rye milling technologies, grain winnowing, and agrarian preventative policies.
The Salem 1692 Debate
Historiographical and biological critique of Linnda Caporael's ergotism thesis regarding the Salem witchcraft accusations.
Ergot in Early Midwifery
Historical use of ground spurred rye as pulvis ad partum, early modern obstetric hazards, and dosage unpredictable dangers.
Ergot Alkaloid Chemistry
Isolation of ergotamine and ergometrine, vasoconstrictive and uterotonic actions, and modern laboratory pharmaceutical syntheses.
Veterinary Ergotism & Paspalum
Ergot species infecting wild grasses, Claviceps paspali, stagger syndromes in grazing livestock, and agricultural veterinary annals.
A darker leaf.
A closer look.
We trace the line between botanical evidence, historical remedies and plant lore. A beautiful specimen deserves a careful reading.
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