Robinia pseudacacia

Volume IV — Supplement

ROBINIA, Robinia poend-acacia, L, Locust, Nat. Ord, Leguminase,

I. Provings.—1. Dr. Bunt chewed the green bark, and observed the following effects :—Constant, dull, heavy, throbbing, frontal headache, much worse on motion or reading, with occasional sharp stitches in temples ; from midnight to dawn severe neuralgic pain in |, temple, preventing sleep; white coating on tongue, with red tip; constant eructations, a very sour fluid being at times regurgitated ; nausea for 3h, followed by profuse vomiting of an intensely sour fluid, setting Teeth on edge,—vomiting repeated 3 times; constant distress in epigastric region, with cutting pains in’ stomach and bowels, and much rumbling ; burning distress in stomach and region of gall-bladder ; dull heavy aching’ distress of stomach ; very severe sharp pains in stomach, all d and n. He felt very faint and weary, was low-spirited, and had no ambition for anything. (Amer. Observer, 1864, p. 61.)

1. A girl and boy chewed the bark. After 3 h., they were found with pupils contracted; thirsty ; prostrate; feet and hands cold. ‘They began to vomit an h. after supper, and continued to do so every few m. for an h. ; after another h. they vomited a watery, sour-smelling substance, with much retching. Purging accompanied each act of vomiting, with last a very little dark liquid only passing, accompanied by tenesmus and great pain, They were extremely weak next m, (Bart, Ibid, 1865, p. 327.)

2. Dr. Sprakger took on two successive d. 40 dr. of tinct. of bark. On 1st d., soon after dose, dry scratching sensation in throat ; after 4 h., great and painful distension of bowels, with rumbling; relief after discharge of flatus. On 2nd d., after 9 h., distension with rumbling of bowels, which seemed to fill whole abdomen, soreness when moving or on pressure; bowels costive, with frequent ineiFectual desire for stoo]. {Jbid.y i, p. 271.)

3. &ime gave brother 15 dr. Soon, slight headache. After 2 h., sleepiness and dulness in head and limbs, with stinging pain in temples, changing from r. to 1. side. After 4 h., dreadful dulness in head. In course of ist d., most severe dull headache and pain in r. temple ; eyes felt sore and watery ; running at nose ; rough soreness of throat. On and d. dull headache, and very profuse continual discharge from nostrils, with frequent sneezing, as from a bad cold ; soreness of eyes and roughness of throat ; sourness of stomach ; restless sleep all n., on account of frequent sneezing. {Ibid.)

II. PmontHfs. — Several cases of poisoning by " locust beans," imported from £Egypt, are mentioned in the Med. Ttmes and Gazette for 1857 (i, 197, 241, 266, 269, 570). The symptoms were those of local irritation, with, in one case, a severe outbreak of urticaria, in another (a child of 20 mos.) great prostration and muscular paralysis. But, on the other hand, many seem to have eaten them with impunity ; and, administered to animals, they have failed in developing any morbid condition. It is also stated that the pods known by this name belong either to the Ceratonia s'tliqua^ the '' Algarola bean " (carob tree, St. John's bread-tree), or to the Hymenaa cembaril of the West Indies ; neither of which, save for belonging to the same natural order, and having the same common name, can be accounted interchangeable with our Robinia. In view of this uncertainty, therefore, we think it better to limit ourselves to reference here. — Eds.