The fungus that caused mass hallucinations and witch trials — in 25 educational minutes!
This educational film is an introduction to the ergot fungus, including lifecycle, cultivation, medicinal uses, and toxic effects. The film also summarises methods for the chemical extraction of ergoline compounds.
Production
Glorious vintage lab equipment and microscopic photography.
Writing
Dry narration that accidentally makes ergot sound absolutely terrifying.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This film arrived right as LSD was being synthesized from ergot compounds — the CIA was already experimenting while kids watched this in classrooms.
Henry H. Dale was a Nobel Prize winner who discovered acetylcholine; he's slumming in educational films because science communication used to be like that.
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