ergotism

Plural: ergotisms

Noun

• Poisoning caused by eating food contaminated with ergot fungus.
• poisoning by ingestion of ergot-infected grain products; characterized by thirst and diarrhea and nausea and cramping and vomiting and abnormal cardiac rhythms; in severe cases it can cause seizures and gangrene of the limbs
• The plant disease caused by ergot.
• The effect of long-term ergot poisoning, traditionally due to the ingestion of the alkaloids produced by the fungus Claviceps purpurea which infects rye and other cereals, and more recently by the action of a number of ergoline-based drugs, consisting of convulsive and gangrenous symptoms.
• The use of ergot-infested grain to poison animals.
• A logical deduction.

Examples

• The sudden, unexpected bingo left my opponent in a state of verbal ergotism, unable to respond.

Synonyms

St. Anthony's fire, ergotoxicosis