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THE USE OF CALABAE BEAN IN TETANUS. 
In the ‘Lancet’ of March 2nd, the successful treatment of two cases of Traumatic 
Tetanus with the Calabar bean are given by Dr. Eben. Watson, of Glasgow, and are 
interesting, as affording some definite information as to the effects of the. internal 
administration of Calabar bean. The following is abstracted from Dr. Watson’s paper: 
“At half-past two p.m. of the 15th November, one square of Squire’s gelatine paper, 
containing the extract of Calabar bean, was put on the patient’s tongue through the 
space left by a missing tooth. Shortly after getting it she felt easier, was more cheerful, 
and kicked up her heels as she lay in bed on her abdomen, to show the power she had 
over them. At three p.m. she got two other squares, at seven p.m. three squares, and at 
ten P.M. two more. No severe spasms occurred during this evening ; she had only a few 
short starts, but she was always very rigid in both body and limbs, and the opisthotonos 
and trismus were quite marked. She was more cheerful, however, and spoke more 
distinctly. Pupils rather contracted. She was to have two squares of Calabar paper 
every hour during the night. 
“ IQth .—This morning I found her quite rigid, and with frequent and severe spasms. 
In fact, I thought either that the papers were not sufficiently strong, or that they were 
losing their influence on the patient. I now therefore ordered the following preparation: 
—Extract of Calabar bean, 12 grains; white wine, 1 ounce. This made a muddy 
sort of wine of the Calabar bean, every five drops of which contained about one-eighth 
of a grain of the extract. Such a dose was to be given every half-hour, the effects being 
carefully watched by my assistant. It will be noticed that the doses were given very 
close together, for we had already learned that their effects were very short-lived. 
These doses were regularly given till seven p.m., by which time she had taken eighty 
drops, or two grains of the extract. Only momentary twitches had occurred, and these 
principally when spoken to. At half-past seven p.m. she was in a semi-comatose con¬ 
dition, lying on her back, with no arching, mouth open, pupils pretty well contracted, 
breathing quiet and regular, pulse rather hurried and full 
On the 18th she continued better, and the dose was increased to 10 drops every hour. 
Notwithstanding this increase, she had three fits on the 19th, when a stronger dose 
was determined on. For this purpose I ordered the following pills:—Extract of 
Calabar bean, 12 grains; ginger powder of sufficient quantity to make 24 pills: one 
to be taken every hour. By mistake the apothecary made these pills of twice the 
strength ordered, viz. containing each one grain instead of half a grain of the extract. 
This was not, however, discovered till the evening, so that the patient took one grain of 
the extract every hour for eight hours without any particular effect being produced. 
But half an hour after the ninth had been swallowed, the patient fell into the following 
state:—Her eyes were widely opened, staring and glassy ; the pupils were contracted to 
pin points ; the pulse was rapid and intermitting; there was a mucous rattle in the 
throat, and the breathing was jerky and fitful. Patient did not answer questions, and 
gave no sign of sensibility. She had no spasms, neither could they be induced. In fact, 
all the muscles were completely relaxed, except those of the back, which were still rigid. 
She either could not or would not move any of her limbs, or make voluntary efforts to 
swallow. Some brandy-and-water and seven drops of the tincture of belladonna were 
poured down her throat, she not resisting, and this was repeated in five minutes. No 
effect was produced on the pupils, but the expression became less death-like. Tow'ards 
morning the spasms, though less violent, could be easily induced; and next morning, at 
half-past eight, I found no traces remaining of the very remarkable state in which she 
had been on the previous evening. 
It was thought prudent to discontinue giving the bean, unfil Dec. Gth, when it was 
recommenced in the form of tincture, made after the recipe of Dr. Fraser (Edin. Med. 
Journ. vol. ix., p. 124),* who considers 5 minims to be equal to 3 grains of the kernel; a 
dose of five minims of the above tincture was given every two hours, and on the follow¬ 
ing day, without any aperient medicine having been given to her, patient had five large 
* Tincture .—Take 1 oz. Calabar bean (deprived of husks), macerate with 1 oz. spirit of wine for 
forty-eight hours ; then percolate with spirit of wine, so that the resulting tincture may mea¬ 
sure 2 oz.; commencing dose, 6 minims. There is also a tincture very genei’ally used, made in 
the proportion of 2^oz. of the bean to 20 oz. of spirit of wine. 
