Noun: ergotism 'ur-gu,ti-zum
- Poisoning by ingestion of ergot-infected grain products; characterized by thirst and diarrhoea and nausea and cramping and vomiting and abnormal cardiac rhythms; in severe cases it can cause seizures and gangrene of the limbs
"Ergotism was a common problem in medieval Europe due to contaminated rye"
Derived forms: ergotisms
Type of: intoxication, poisoning, toxic condition
Encyclopedia: Ergotism