1700 Dungeon, torture and death as punishment for participation in the mushroom-cult are strong motives for the alchemists to keep their practice of self-intoxication disquised. *** Knowing that midwifes have used Ergot `Secale cornutum` since ages to trigger labour contractions, Rudolf Jakob Camerarius turns `Pulvis ad partum` into one of the most important birth supporting medicines used until 1907. ***