Convulsive ergotism

Symptoms of convulsive ergotism were conspicuous in the Salem witchcraft records of the 17th century. The sudden onset of the condition was considered... 

The Reverend s candid description of the religious experience that he observed is a pretty good account of convulsive ergotism. Many other accounts of religious experiences from the period of the Great Awakening also are consistent with a mass ergotism epidemic at the time. 

St. Vitus dance (convulsive ergotism)—122 Salem witchcraft trials-i45-6 salicylic add-420 salvanol (thujones)-389,452 salviarin-38o... 

There were two types of ergotism epidemics, convulsive and gangrenous. The epidemics of gangrenous ergotism occurred from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century. Epidemics of convulsive ergotism arose between 1581 and the last large outbreak in Russia in 1928. Many deaths occurred in these epidemics for example, 8000 people died in one district in France in the epidemic of 1770-1771. 

Early epidemics of gangrenous ergotism ( holy fire ) were thought to be a sign of divine wrath. The later incidences of convulsive ergotism occurred... 

Symptoms of ergotism that must be reported immediately in dude coolness , numbness and tingling of extremities dyspnea, nausea, confusion, tachycardia or bradycardia, chest pain, hallucinations and convulsions If these reactions occur, the nurse immediately reportsthem to the primary health care provider because use of the drug must be discontinued. 

The disease takes two different forms depending apparently on whether ergotoxin, the alkaloid in ergot, attacks predominantly the nervous or the circulatory system. The former condition is characterized by severe convulsive seizures the latter produces an intense burning and itching of the skin called St. Anthony s Fire. 

The ergot alkaloids have been associated with a number of spectacular outbreaks of central nervous system disorders, sometimes called ergotism. St. Anthony s fire is an example of convulsive... 

D2-R agonist [ergotism (hallucinogenic, convulsant), inhibits Prolactin release, vasoconstrictor]... 

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