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Difference between Saint Anthony’s fire and Saint Elmo’s fire

Saint Anthony’s fire—an inflammatory disease of the skin caused by alkaloids produced by a fungus that infests rye and wheat:

  • Outbreaks of Saint Anthony’s Fire were common in countries where populations subsisted on rye bread.

Saint Elmo’s fire—a naturally occurring corona discharge from a pointed conducting object, such as a ship’s mast, etc.:

  • Ball lightning and Saint Elmo’s fire are sometimes confused.