St. Anthony's fire
Gangrenous fungal disease
St.
Anthony's fire is an old name for two different skin conditions: erysipelas, a bacterial infection causing painful red swelling, and ergotism, poisoning from fungus-contaminated grain that causes burning sensations and gangrene.
Medieval sufferers sought relief at shrines of St.
Anthony, patron saint of skin diseases.
The term persists in medical contexts but sounds archaic: The physician diagnosed St. Anthony's fire before antibiotics were available.
Cereal grain fungus
- ryeHardy cereal crop
- grainCereal plant's harvest unit
- fungusSpore-bearing organism
- convulsionsInvoluntary muscular contractions
poisoning · alkaloids · vasoconstriction · contamination · limbs · necrosis · epidemic · bread
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- streptococcusSpherical bacteria in chains
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- skinBody's outer layer
redness · swelling · fever · cellulitis · antibiotics · penicillin · dermis · lesion
Imagined or prophetic sights
- deliriumAcute mental disorientation
- psychedelicInducing altered perception
- hallucinogenDrug inducing false perceptions
- LSDPsychedelic hallucinogen
psilocybin · mescaline · altered states · distortion · dreamlike · trip · phantasmagoria · ergot
ergot
Cereal grain fungus
convulsions · poisoning · alkaloids · vasoconstriction · contamination · limbs · necrosis · epidemic · bread · flour
infection
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- streptococcusSpherical bacteria in chains
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- inflammationProtective tissue response
skin · redness · swelling · fever · cellulitis · antibiotics · penicillin · dermis · lesion · spreading
visions
Imagined or prophetic sights
- deliriumAcute mental disorientation
- psychedelicInducing altered perception
- hallucinogenDrug inducing false perceptions
LSD · psilocybin · mescaline · altered states · distortion · dreamlike · trip · phantasmagoria · ergot · convulsive
pilgrimage
Religious journey to shrine
miracle · veneration · shrine · afflicted · intercession · hermit · piety · devotion · abbey · alms
- Old Ailmentsconsumption, dropsy, ague, apoplexy, phthisis
St. Anthony's firefrostbite
Freezing of body tissue
numbness · hypothermia · cold sensation · freezing · chilblains