Gangrene and Death Following Ergotamine Tartrate (Gynergen) Therapy

In view of the recent increasing use of ergotamine tartrate (gynergen) in clinical medicine, the following case report suggesting some of its possible dangers may be of interest: REPORT OF CASE History.— M. I., a white woman, aged 52, a housewife, was admitted to the Medical Service of the William J. Seymour Hospital, Sept. 5, 1935. Her chief complaints were hematuria, urgency of urination, and weakness. Her present illness began four weeks before admission, at which time, in a suicidal attempt, the patient swallowed 200 grains (13 Gm.) of barbital. She was taken to the Detroit Receiving Hospital, where she remained for four weeks. During this period she developed hematuria and urgency of urination, but these symptoms disappeared soon after her admission to this hospital. The weakness was of two years' duration and was associated with numbness and tingling of her upper and lower extremities. Her past history was negative