A form of ergotism; a poisoning caused by fungal toxins from ergot-contaminated grain.
From 'ergot' (a fungal disease of grain) plus '-ism,' related to 'ergon' but referring specifically to the disease condition it causes.
Ergoism is probably responsible for some of history's weirdest events—whole medieval villages got it from moldy rye bread and experienced hallucinations, convulsions, and the sensation of invisible fire, which may explain some 'witch' hysteria.
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