Laburnum.
Cytisus laburnum. N. O. Leguminosć. Tincture or trituration of seeds.
Tincture of fresh bark.Clinical.─
Convulsions. Eyes, affections of.
Hydrocephalus. Vertigo.
Characteristics.─
All parts of this well-known
ornamental tree are poisonous, our knowledge of it being derived chiefly from the accidental
poisoning of children who have eaten the pea-like seeds and pods. Here is a typical case: W.
G., ćt. 10, ate eight to ten seeds. Five or ten minutes after began to sweat, but soon
became cold and shivering, skin pale, pulse scarcely perceptible, general collapse. Pupils
dilated, is drowsy and giddy, but in no pain. Emetics and brandy were given, but after an
hour of this there was no improvement. An enema of hot strong coffee was now given, the
patient was wrapped in blankets, and hot bottles applied. The collapse then gradually passed
off (Brit. Med. Jour., Sept. 26, 1891).─The
giddiness is intense and in some cases peculiar: “Constant vertigo, even while lying;
if she attempted to sit upright, she immediately fell back again.” In one case the head
was rigidly thrown back. Head hot. Convulsions, insensibility, drowsiness, and mental
indifference were leading features; and muscular twitchings about the face were noted.
Pupils dilated; in two cases they were unequally dilated.
These patients were two boys poisoned by the root of an old tree; they had very strange
waving motions of the arms and convulsive drawing up of the legs, first one leg then the
other. A boy who ate the green twigs was seized with vomiting, pain in the stomach, and
collapse; there was no diarrhśa but tenesmus and erections. After a few hours he passed 300
grams of grass-green urine, after which he felt >.
The urine soon after passing assumed a natural colour.
Relations.─
Antidoted by Coffee, and stimulants,
hot and cold douches to chest. Compare: Nux; Gels. (> by copious urination).
SYMPTOMS.
1. Mind.─
No anxiety; remarkable indifference to
all around.─When spoken to, seemed stupid and unconcerned; when aroused
by a shake and asked a question, he answered by a nod or shake of the head.─Stupefaction.
2. Head.─
Constant vertigo even while lying down;
if she attempted to sit up, she immediately fell back.─Giddy, wheeled
perfectly round before and during vomiting.─Staggered, rolled head from
side to side, eyes closed.─Giddiness prevented him from walking, but he
could sit upright.─Head rigidly thrown back.─Head
hot.─Headache.─Pain in head and abdomen.
3. Eyes.─
Eyes: dull, lustreless; surrounded by
livid zone; sunken.─Lids only half open; mostly closed.─Pupils:
much dilated, but react to strong light; unequally dilated; slightly contracted; sluggish.
6. Face.─
Expression anxious.─Face:
pale, cold, of dull expression; pale and expressive of severe pain, augmented from time to
time by a succession of spasmodic muscular contractions after the pain; deathly pale with
blue lips.─Twitchings of muscles of face (and neck); with efforts at
vomiting.
8. Mouth.─
Slight frothing at mouth.─Pale,
glazed tongue.─Tongue dry, glazed, and red.─Dryness
of mouth; and throat.─Lips parched.─Speech very
indistinct.
9. Throat.─
Burning in throat with great thirst.
11. Stomach.─
Impaired appetite.─Excessive
thirst.─Greedily thirsty, grasped at liquids with avidity, seizing the
vessel with both hands and draining it.─Constant nausea and eructations.─Vomiting,
pain in stomach, collapse; no diarrhśa but tenesmus and erections; followed by copious
urination.─One vomited repeatedly during twelve hours, another one two
or three hours; in the latter case the other symptoms were much more violent.─Nothing
remained in stomach, even water or ice was almost immediately rejected.─Burning
pain in epigastrium.─Cramp-like sensation in region of stomach.
12. Abdomen.─
Abdomen distended; tympanic
sensation.─Flatulent distension.─Colic < by pressure.
13. Stool.─
Diarrhśa: followed by cessation of
convulsions; with tenesmus and slightly bloody stool.─Never vomited but
was much purged.─Watery fluid with peculiar odour constantly drained
involuntarily from bowels.─In the crude form it colours the stools,
giving them either a green, clay, or dark appearance.─The bowels almost
always become constipated.─Tenesmus and erections.─(Marked
relief to constipation due to pressure on rectum.─Cooper.)
14. Urinary Organs.─
After a few hours passed 300
grains of grass-green urine and felt > after. The
urine soon assumed natural colour on standing.
15. Male Sexual Organs.─
Tenesmus and erections.
17. Respiratory Organs.─
Breathing: stertorous;
accelerated after the fever; hurried and laboured; slow, expiration very markedly prolonged.
19. Heart.─
Heart’s action rapid and tremulous.─Slight
increase of pulse, and respiratory movements are also accelerated; this is transient, pulse
soon falls below normal; languor and tendency to sleep follow.─Pulse
alarmingly weak.
21. Limbs.─
Jerking and trembling of limbs.─Extremities
weak and cold.
23. Lower Limbs.─
Some had a peculiar twitching in
their walk.
24. Generalities.─
Convulsions.─Insensible,
very strange waving motions of arms to and fro; now and then the legs, first one then the
other, convulsively drawn up.─Complete collapse with great restlessness;
with, perfect consciousness.─Extreme intractable restlessness ending in
incessant, almost frantic jactitation.─Felt faint and giddy.
26. Sleep.─
Remarkably sleepy.─Transitory
somnolence and languor, but this soon passed off, leaving marked insomnia, which lasted
through the night.
27. Fever.─
Surface of body pale, remarkably cold,
almost like marble; at same time great aversion to slightest covering.─Sub-normal
temperature.─Skin, very cold add clammy.─Every now
and then severe rigors shook his frame.─Skin covered with clammy sweat.─Cold
sweats, vomiting, vertigo, preceded by slight feeling of malaise, and followed by high
fever.® 2000
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