Mold poisoning: An unrecognized english health problem, 1550–1800

Abstract

The evidence presented here supports the hypothesis that two forms of fungal poisoning, ergotism (caused by the infection of rye by Claviceps purpurea) and alimentary toxic aleukia (caused by the infection of a variety of cereal grains by Fusarium tricinctum), made important contributions to child mortality in England between 1700 and 1750 and probably earlier as well. There is evidence that suggests that these diseases may have been prevalent in England in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The decline in child mortality after 1750 may be partly attributed to a decline in the incidence of these diseases. Crop substitutions and climatic changes may have been responsible for these developments. © 1981, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.