St. Anthony's fire refers to poisoning by:
(A) Ergot alkaloids (B) Spanish fly (C) Crotalaria juncea (D) Aflatoxin
(A) Ans: A. Ergot alkaloids(Ref Reddy 34/e p517. 33/e p556: Parikh 6/e p9.32)St. Anthony's Fire:Causes:Due to overdose of ,Ergot medications.After eating flour milled from ergot-infected rye.Humans & livestock a Develop ergotism.Ergotism:Long term effect of ergot poisoning.Due to alkaloids ingestion produced by Claviceps purpurea fungus infected rye & other cereals.Also due to a action of number of ergoline-based drugs.Also known as "ergotoxicosis, ergot poisoning & Saint Anthony's Fire".In middle age -Gangrenous poisoning was known as "holy fire" or "Saint Anthony's fire".Named after monks of Order of Saint Anthony who succeeded in treatment.