ergotism: Meaning and Definition of

er•got•ism

Pronunciation: (ûr'gu-tiz"um), [key]
— n. Pathol.
  1. a condition caused by eating rye or some other grain that is infected with ergot fungus or by taking an overdose of a medicine containing ergot, characterized by cramps, spasms, and a form of gangrene.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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