Laburnum
Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 5,853 chars · source ↗
General
Laburnum.
Cytisus laburnum. N. O. Leguminosae. 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., aet. 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 diarrhoea 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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mouth
Slight frothing at mouth
Pale, glazed tongue
Tongue dry, glazed, and red
Dryness of mouth; and throat
Lips parched
Speech very indistinct.
Throat
Burning in throat with great thirst.
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 diarrhoea 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.
Abdomen
Abdomen distended; tympanic sensation
Flatulent distension
Colic < by pressure.
Stool
Diarrhoea: 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.)
Urinary Organs
After a few hours passed 300 grains of grass-green urine and felt > after. The urine soon assumed natural colour on standing.
Male Sexual Organs
Tenesmus and erections.
Respiratory Organs
Breathing: stertorous; accelerated after the fever; hurried and laboured; slow, expiration very markedly prolonged.
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.
Limbs
Jerking and trembling of limbs.—Extremities weak and cold.
Lower Limbs
Some had a peculiar twitching in their walk.
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.
Sleep
Remarkably sleepy.—Transitory somnolence and languor, but this soon passed off, leaving marked insomnia, which lasted through the night.
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.