XXXVII.—The alkaloids of ergot

Abstract

THE great medicinal importance of ergot has led to numerous chemical researches, which have mostly, however, resulted in little that is definite, possibly owing to the fungoid nature of the plant, As in the case of many drugs, the therapeutic properties of ergot have been attributed to the presence of ofie or inore alkaloids, but several investigators have of late years denied to the ergot alkaloids any part in the specific activity of the drug. The problem is further complicated by the extremely small alkaloidal content (about 0.1. per cent.); this makes the preparation of even a moderate supply of material very expensive.