Meaning & use
ergotism
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A form of poisoning caused by eating grain contaminated with ergot fungus, which can cause convulsions, hallucinations, and gangrene.
See it in a sentence
Historians believe outbreaks of ergotism in medieval Europe may have inspired tales of witchcraft.
Ergotism nearly disappeared once modern grain storage prevented fungal contamination.
A note on using this word
Also known historically as 'St. Anthony's Fire'; the fungus involved, ergot, is also the source of compounds used to develop LSD.
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