Convulsive ergotism: epidemics of the serotonin syndrome?

Eadie, Mervyn J.

doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(03)00439-3

Cited by 90 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…4; in the latter case, the feet seem to be amputated, even the naked stumps appear under the garment. We suggest that the statues with limb amputation might represent patients with ergotism, or St Antony fire (this condition was also known as ignis sacer, "holy fire"), which was mainly characterized by peripheral vascular disease, gangrene and limb amputation in severe cases [1][2][3]. In addition, ergotism was also characterized (convulsive ergotism) by movement disorders, mainly severe muscular spasm and abnormal postures [1,3,4] as was already noticed by Wilson [5].…”

Section: Descriptions Of Dystoniamentioning

confidence: 62%

“…Ergotism was due to poisoning from the ergot fungus claviceps purpurea which forms on cereal grains, and was widespread all over Europa during XII-XVI centuries [1,3]; even in the last century occasional outbreaks of ergotism occasionally occurred [1]. Ergotism was graphically described in paintings by Mathias Grunewald, in some of his paintings severe dystonia can be recognized [6].…”

Section: Descriptions Of Dystoniamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ancient descriptions of movement disorders

et al. 2006

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El Burgo de Osma (Soria, Spain) offers one of the best preserved medieval structures in Spain. The interior of the building conserves abundant samples of Romanesque art, and the tomb in polychromatic stone of the founder, San Pedro de Osma. We have classified those pieces of art that could represent descriptions of movement disorders. In the main façade of the Cathedral, several statues representing prophets can be seen one of them is clearly different to the rest. This statue represents a man with abnormal cervical posture characterized by right rotation, head tilt and elevation of right shoulder. The tomb includes several statues representing fragments of the life of San Pedro de Osma. Some of these figures show movement disorders. First, a woman with a baby in her arms who has marked head tilt to the left. Second a peasant without hands, perhaps amputated, this man has a head tilt to the right. We suggest that in the latter case ergotism can explain both manifestations: peripheral vascular disease leading to amputation, and cervical dystonia.Finally, a statue of polychromatic wood represents a priest with stooped posture, half open mouth, staring expression and a very notorious anterocollis. The author probably depicted a man with parkinsonism.

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Section: Descriptions Of Dystoniamentioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Descriptions Of Dystoniamentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient descriptions of movement disorders

et al. 2006

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“…Vartoti skalsėmis užkrėstus augalus yra pavojinga, nes jos sukelia ūmų ir lėtinį apsinuodi jimą. Jose esantys alkaloidai pažeidžia centrinę nervų sistemą, dėl to kyla haliucinacijos, galimi psichinės veiklos sutrikimai [6,429]. Dėl skalsėmis užkrėstų miltų Europoje, į rytus nuo Reino upės, nuo XI a. kilo konvulsinio ergotizmo epidemijos [2,.…”

Section: Pav Medinio Kubilo Su Rugiais Skersinis Pjūvis Perkasoje (Vunclassified

Archaeobotanical Investigations of a Burnt-down Storage Shed in the Civitas Rutenica Quarter: An Insight into the Daily Lives of Foreigners in Vilnius in the Late Fourteenth Century – the First Half of the Fifteenth Century

Matuzevičiūtė¹,

Jonaitis²,

Kaplūnaitė³

2018

lituanistica

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The article focuses on the study of a domestic building that was used to store crops and burned down sometime in the fourteenth century–the first half of the fifteenth century (the time limits are confirmed by a radiocarbon date received from dating cereal grains directly 484 ± 44 BP [FTMC-23-1]). This domestic building was situated within the boundaries of the Civitas Rutenica quarter of Vilnius, which was populated by the first Orthodox Christians of Vilnius. The earliest Orthodox Christians arrived in Vilnius from the Duchy of Galicia-Volhynia and from the Slavic cities of Black Rus sometime in the second half of the thirteenth century. The archaeobotanical investigations of the storage shed have shown that the residents of Civitas Rutenica cultivated crops of rye and buckwheat. In total, about 40 litres of rye and a bag of buckwheat were recovered (the volume was not recorded during archaeological excavations). The crops contained unthreshed grains that were clearly left as seed to be planted the following year. A detailed analysis of those crop remains gives us two important insights into the lives of the population of Civitas Rutenica. There has been an ongoing debate on how the integration of the first Orthodox Christians took place in the city of Vilnius and whether their rights were restricted after Lithuania officially accepted Catholicism. The presence of cereal with chaff within the boundaries of the Orthodox city could imply that here people (at least some families) had rights to land ownership or rent, and that they were allowed to cultivate the land within or near the city boundaries. The data derived from studying archaeobotanical plant remains could also point towards the potentially positive relationships between the grand dukes of Lithuania and the Orthodox Christians of Vilnius. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the sample size is currently too small to make more conclusive observations. The dominance of rye and certain weed types at the archaeobotanical assemblage points towards the crop cultivation conditions on well-drained sandy soils that could have been in a close proximity to the Orthodox quarter, such as the slopes of the Vilnia River.

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“…Obviously two major groups of symptoms occurred: (1) convulsive ergotism ( Ergotismus convulsivus ) causing spasms, paranoia and hallucinations; and (2) gangrenous ergotism ( Ergotismus gangraenosus ) characterized by disturbed peripheral sensation, oedema and the loss of affected limbs [ 5 ]. The reason for this variability, as we know today, is the existence of various "chemical races" of C. purpurea containing different sets of alkaloids [ 5 ]. It was not before the 19th century that the link between ergot contamination of rye and disease was established [ 6 ], resulting in a better control of sclerotia contamination in cereals.…”

Section: The History Of Ergotmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The prevention of excessive bleeding during childbirth, one of the major reasons for maternal mortalities, has been a major application of ergot alkaloids in the last 100 years [ 10 ]. In addition, ergot alkaloids were used for blood pressure control and treatment of migraine [ 5 ] and against degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, such as Parkinson's disease. A wide range of different natural ergot alkaloids has been described, with quite different biological effects.…”

Section: The History Of Ergotmentioning

confidence: 99%