Convulsive ergotism causes a variety of symptoms, including nervous dysfunction. Notable epidemics of ergotism occurred up into the 19th century. The alkaloids can pass through lactation from mother to child, causing ergotism in infants. This may explain the different manifestations of ergotism in different outbreaks. An outbreak of ergotism had also occurred just before the Council of Clermont. This can cause devastating, even fatal effects, which is called ergotism. "Ergotism", in this modern sense, was first recorded in 1853. Rye, the main vector (route) for transmitting ergotism, was not grown much around the Mediterranean. Ergotism is the earliest recorded example of "mycotoxicosis", or poisoning caused by toxic molds.