Semi-transparent amber glass vial with long narrow tip and cyclindrical base; cream paper label with black and red ink; full of liquid product.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Donated by Bonita Erwin, University of Toronto Faculty of Nursing. Owned by donor's grandfather Dr. Harold Barker, with a general Practice in Sharbot Lake, Ontario.
Maker
Parke, Davis & Co.
Dates
1910
1920
circa 1910-1920
Date Remarks
Donor information
Material
glass: amber
paper: cream
ink: black, red
Inscriptions
Printed on label: "1 CC. No. 29 // STERILIZED SOLUTIONS // ERGOT ASEPTIC // 1 CC. equal to 2 Gm. // (30 grs.) Ergot. // Chloretone, 0.005 Gm. (1-12 gr.) // C507719 // Parke, Davis & Co."
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A3-3 Box 2
Dimension Notes
Length 5.3 cm x Diam. 0.9 cm
Condition Remarks
Minor surface grime; label is slightly discoloured
It was used to hasten child birth from the 1700s to the 1800s, by causing violent contractions of the uterus. It has since been discovered to be very dangerous and could be fatal. Ergot is a fungus that attacks rye. Ergot poisoning causes mental frenzy, hallucinations, and convulsions. Ergotism causing hysteria due to eating infected rye bread is one theory behind the Salem witch hunt. It was discovered to contains lysergic acid, from which LSD (powerful hallucinogen) is derived.