The article on ergot in this Handbook (vol. II, 2, pp. 1297–1354) was written by Arthur Cushny in 1914 but not published until 1924, without further revision. Thus a gap of more than two decades has now to be filled. In this interval the number of known ergot alkaloids has increased from two to eleven or twelve, all crystalline, and a considerable insight has been gained into their chemical constitution, which can now be correlated with their pharmacological action. The discovery and commercial production of ergotamine greatly stimulated pharmacological research, not only on the properties of this alkaloid, but also on the very similar effects of ergotoxine, already dealt with by Cushny.