St. Anthony's Fire

St. Anthony's Fire, historically associated with ergotism, is a condition caused by ingesting bread contaminated with ergot fungus. Ergot contains alkaloids that can cause symptoms like severe vasoconstriction, leading to gangrene, hallucinations, seizures, and skin irritation. This poisoning was more common in medieval times when grain was stored improperly. Today, it is rare due to improved food safety, but the condition highlights the importance of proper grain storage and processing to prevent ergot contamination.