John Parsons wrote:
>Myself, I'd go for the ergot theory.....The theory runs that as regulars >in
the Middle Ages so often subsisted on rye bread, and since rye grain >and
flour are so readily contaminated with the ergot fungus, the
>religious suffered regularly (!) from ergot poisoning and perhaps
>experienced their "visions" as a result.
Not just the religious, John, but regular folks, as well.
I believe that there may have been a direct correlation between outbreaks of
ergot poisoning (what is it called, St. Elmo's fire??) and conditions of
draught and famine, when one might be tempted to eat rather marginal and less
fresh grains (starving people being sometimes less than picky about what they
eat).
By *far* the best account of an ergot poisoning outbreak I know of is in
the _Miracles of Our Lady (of Soissons)_ by Hugo Farsit(us)--whom I believe
from his detailed descriptions of the symptoms to have been something of a
doctor--which provides quite a vivid account of the large outbreak in Soissons
in 1128(?), including details of the **visions** which accompanied the
physical symptoms of the sufferers (in the PL: sorry, I don't have the
reference).
Perhaps someone else here can share another suchlike source.
(Or more on Hugo.)
Re John Shinners good suggestion that
>St. [is she a saint?] Hildegard of Bingen would be a likely patroness
>against migraine...
The migraine theory of the etiology of Hildegard's visions is quite venerable
and generally accepted, I believe; and was given a quite interesting treatment
by Madeline Caviness a few (seems like 2 but was probably 10) years ago in a
Hildegard session at the Kalamazoo
conference.
In addition to her qualifications as an absolutely first rate art historian
(and paper-giver), Professor Caviness revealed herself to be over qualified to
discuss the matter, as she both suffers from migraine and has a husband who is
a doctor (neurologist??).
I would love to hear that the substance of this excellent paper has been
published somewhen.
Though it is not impossible that Hildegard's visions were caused by
ergot, in view of the number of them she had, she must have been
tripping constantly for decades.
But, then, maybe she got off on it.
Best to all from here,
Christopher
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