Selected monographs on dermatology / P.G. Unna [and others].

Date:
1893
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Selected monographs on dermatology / P.G. Unna [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    496/636 (page 478)
    ERGOT.1 The condition called ergotism may result from tl internal administration of the drug in medicinal doses, c from the consumption of bread or other farinaceous foo strongly impregnated with the diseased rye. Changes i the skin from the ingestion of ergot are comparatively ran and only supervene upon its long-continued use. A ves cular eruption upon the skin with petechias has bee observed, also a pustular and furuncular inflammation sphacelus and circumscribed gangrene may occur on pari distant from the centres of circulation.2 The group of skin lesions comprehended under convu sive and gangrenous ergotism will not be considered hen since they are phenomena caused by consumption of foo infected with ergot, and rarely result from the use of th drug in medicinal doses. The hypodermic injection of ergotin is usually followe by more or less intense symptoms of local reaction. At th point of puncture there generally results a painful blac unsightly swelling. These nodules are exceedingly sens tive, and may persist for some time. A phlegmonov. inflammation around the point of injection not infrequentl results. Carrying the instrument deep down into th subcutaneous tissues does not prevent the formation of thes nodular infiltrations. 1 In connection with ergotism, reference may be made to somewh analogous diseases probably associated with diseased bread-stuffs, viz. tl mystei'ious epidemic diseases acrodynia, pellagra, and the affections occurrir in India from the consumption of diseased grain or some of the varioi leguminous seeds known generically as Dal. Hirsch's ' Handbook of Ge graphical and Historical Pathology' may be consulted for references.- T. C. F. 2 Reformatski, in the serious epidemic of ergotism occurring in Eastei Russia, 1889-90, observed trophic changes affecting the hair and nails. 1 the Frankenberg epidemic in 1879 slight analgesia of the anoemic tinge was observed, also bullae, miliaria, eczema, boils, urticaria, and loss of nai and scalp hair. Meadows records a case in which intoxication and redness and swelling 1 the face, eyelids, and right arm recurred on three occasion in a woman afti the administration of ergot. He refers to another similar case.—T. C. F.