ergotism
noun
er·got·ism
ˈər-gə-ˌti-zəm 
: a toxic condition produced by eating grain, grain products (such as rye bread), or grasses infected with ergot fungus or by chronic excessive use of an ergot drug
Examples of ergotism in a Sentence
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For example, some scholars suggest that the people of Strasbourg contracted ergotism — a condition that can cause hallucinations, twitches, tremors, convulsions and incredible pain — from a fungus in their food.
—
Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2021
Doyle observed that ergotism results in the constriction of blood vessels, producing similar signs and symptoms as tabes dorsalis.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 1 Dec. 2015
When consumed, ergotism poisoning could cause convulsions, hallucinations and other symptoms.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 27 Oct. 2022
Experts now know that those symptoms are common among people with convulsive ergotism, or ergot poisoning, which is caused by a fungus that can grow on wheat, rye, and other similar grains.
—Sarah Klein, Health.com, 2 Oct. 2017
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Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Oct. 2021
Doyle observed that ergotism results in the constriction of blood vessels, producing similar signs and symptoms as tabes dorsalis.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 1 Dec. 2015
When consumed, ergotism poisoning could cause convulsions, hallucinations and other symptoms.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 27 Oct. 2022
Experts now know that those symptoms are common among people with convulsive ergotism, or ergot poisoning, which is caused by a fungus that can grow on wheat, rye, and other similar grains.
—Sarah Klein, Health.com, 2 Oct. 2017
Dictionary Entries Near ergotism
Cite this Entry
“Ergotism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ergotism. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
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ergotism
noun
er·got·ism
ˈər-gət-ˌiz-əm
: a toxic condition produced by eating grain, grain products (as rye bread), or grasses infected with ergot fungus or by chronic excessive use of an ergot drug
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