Lathyrus

[Compare with Physostigma. -T. F. A.]

Lathyrus sativus, Linn.

Natural order , Leguminosæ.

Common names (French), Gesse or Jarosse, Pois de brebis, etc.; (Germ.), Kicherling.

Preparation , Trituration of the peas.

Authorities.

1 , Benninger and Duvernoy, Diss. de Lath., 1770, effects of L. cicer; from Wibmer; 2 , Hirzel, from the same; 3 , Puihn, Mat. ven. reg. veg.; from Wibmer; 4 , Prag, Med. Monats., 12, 176, effects when eaten with bread (Lath. sativus); 5 , Zeit. f. H. Kl., 2, p. 37, general effects; 6 , Br. J. of Hom., 20, p. 136, numerous cases believed to be due to the use of this pea as food (occurring in a very swampy district); 7 , effects of subsisting upon a crop of this pea, the wheat crop having failed; the sad effects began to appear the year after, Br. J. of Hom., 3, 257; 8 , Cantani, effects on three brothers, aged 20, 10, and 8, of eating daily for several weeks the flour mixed with Indian corn (Lyon Med.), from L'Art Méd., Aug. 1874, p. 174.

• Paralysis of the lower extremities with tremulous tottering gait; the skin of the paralyzed limbs is sometimes hyperæsthetic, 5.
• Paralysis of the lower extremities, the sensibility remaining intact; sometimes persons who go to bed healthy wake with stiff limbs, and in a few days the paralysis is complete, 4 . [this symptoms is said to occur only during wet weather, usually suddenly, and confined to, or most frequent in, marshy districts.]
• Numerous cases of lameness; the patients averred they had all become paralytic during the rains, in most cases suddenly so, and, in many, during the night; there was no pain or splenic enlargement, 6.
• The younger part of the population of this and the surrounding villages, from the age of thirty and downwards, began to be deprived of the use of their limbs below the waist by paralytic strokes, in all cases sudden, but in some more severe than in others; about half the youth of this village, of both sexes, became affected during the years 1833 and 1834, and many of them have lost the use of their limbs entirely, and are unable to move; the youth in the surrounding villages have suffered in an equal degree; no person once attacked has been found to recover the use of the limb affected; all stated that their pains and infirmities were confined entirely to the parts below the waist; they described the attack as coming on suddenly, often while the person was asleep, and without any warning symptoms whatever; and stated that a greater proportion of the young men were attacked than of the young women, 7.
• The gluteal muscles and those of the lower extremities were plainly emaciated, while the upper limbs retained their natural appearance. While lying in bed they moved their lower limbs with considerable facility, and the legs could be fully extended; abduction was well performed, but flexion was difficult; and it was especially difficult for them to lift up the limbs. In the case of the oldest patient, the left extremity was decidedly weaker than the right. The youngest could stand and walk; to do either was difficult for the oldest, and impossible for the remaining patient, without a firm support. All three, when walking, threw the chest well forward, the haunches projecting behind, so that they seemed literally to fall from one foot to the other. They also misplaced the feet, which, by two of them, were brought too close to the median line, and sometimes passed beyond it, causing their legs to cross each other and tangle up; the third and worst affected walked, on the contrary, very bow-legged. The whole weight of the body rested on the metatarso-phalangeal articulations, the heel never touching the ground. Walking backward was similarly effected, but was still more difficult. When told to stand steady, two of them obeyed with great difficulty, and for a few minutes only, if not firmly supported; they swayed widely forwards and sideways, and seemed in constant danger of falling; they instinctively sought to keep their balance by pressing with the hands upon the hips. If they shut their eyes while standing or walking, their attitudes and movements were in no wise modified, .