http://mindhacks.com/2007/03/25/st-anthonys-fire/ Neuroscience and psychology news and views. Mon, 20 May 2013 15:51:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://mindhacks.com/2007/03/25/st-anthonys-fire/#comment-7464 Mon, 26 Mar 2007 10:22:21 +0000 http://mindhacksblog.wordpress.com/2007/03/25/st-anthonys-fire/#comment-7464 If I remember from the Scientific American circa 1969, there are several different natural compounds in ergot fungus from rye, as well as two families (Tetracyclic Ergolines, and Peptide Alkaloids) with about 8 chemically interesting products. I believe only one natural compound is soluble in water; LSD 2. The water soluble compound would evaporate in an oven, so whatever St. Antony’s Fire is, must come from some combination of the others. The effects should not properly be blamed on LSD 2.
There is a lot of speculation about ancient ritual use of LSD 2. It seems to be a relatively benign compound, not as intense as LSD 25. I have no knowledge of anyone actually using it though.

]]> http://mindhacks.com/2007/03/25/st-anthonys-fire/#comment-7463 Sun, 25 Mar 2007 19:47:38 +0000 http://mindhacksblog.wordpress.com/2007/03/25/st-anthonys-fire/#comment-7463 There is a 1968 book written by John G. Fuller, titled _The Day of St. Anthony’s Fire_. It’s out of print now, but it details the true story of Pont-St.-Esprit, a tiny Provencal village where the boulangerie’s flour was contaminated with ergot. People and animals which had eaten the bread baked with the tainted flower went beserk. I read this book in high school and never forgot it.
The book is out of print now, but you can still find some used hardcover versions of the book on Amazon.

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