454 DISEASES DUE TO I'ENOMS AND POISONS 



urine and impotence are common. Tlie mind is normal. There is no 

 gang-rene as in ergotism and no dropsy or heart symptoms as in 

 beriberi, (iive some food, warm clothing, bromides and counter 

 irritants to the spine. 



Lolismus is an intoxication due to the ingestion in bread of the 

 seeds of Loliuni temulentum. It is present in some parts of India and 

 Europe. There are giddiness, trembling of arms, legs, and tongue, 

 impairment of vision, dilated pupils, prostration and vomiting. 



It is seldom fatal. 



Give a castor oil purge and stimulants. 



Paspalismus This is the result of eating bread made from the 



seeds of Paspalum scrobiculatum. Sometimes fatal. 

 Symptoms and treatment as above. 

 Fungi are said to play some part in it»o production. 



Atripliasmus — A similar disease confined to China. 



The poor eat the seeds of Atriplex serrata, which grows wild in 

 the courts, gardens and on the walls of Pekin. A parasite eaten with 

 the weed may be the cause of the disease. 



The s\-mptoms begin ten to twenty-four hours after its con- 

 sumption. 



The finger-tips and the dorsum of the hands become painful, 

 swollen, c\anosed and cold. This condition spreads to the forearm. 



The face and eyelids itch and become swollen, the nose is cyanosed 

 and cold. Sensibility to touch is diminished, to heat increased, bullae 

 and ulcers may appear on these parts, and gangrenous patches are 

 possible. The general health is but little affected. 



The treatment is symptomatic. With Raynaud's disease there is 

 no swelling. 



Tapioca is obtained from the cassava root (Manihot utilissima). 

 The bitter variety contains hydrocyanic acid in its milky juice, and is 

 poisonous until it is roasted, when the volatile acid is driven out. The 

 juice should be expressed and the root cooked before eating. 



Nutmegs are poisonous if taken in large doses. 



Castor Oil Seeds (Euphorbiacea?) cause burning of the throat and 

 abdomen, vomiting and collapse. There may be diarrhoea. 



These seeds will kill in about fort^'-six hours. 



Give emetics, stimulants and morphia. 



Manchineel Tree Fruit (Hippomane mancinella, Euphorbiaceas).— 

 These fruits look very like apples and have a delightful fragrance. 



They are common on the Grenadine Islands, and sailors have met 

 I heir deaths mistaking the fruit for that of apples. There is gastro- 

 intestinal inflammation, dilated pupils, bullae on the skin. 



