On the Calabar bean : its action, preparation, and use / by Mr. Nunneley.

  • Nunneley, Thomas, 1809-1870.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the Calabar bean : its action, preparation, and use / by Mr. Nunneley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    1. To a luingry half-grown terrier dog twelve gi'ains of finely- powdered bean, placed between two bits of meat, were given, and then a moi-sel more meat, all of which was bolted without mastication. No salivation was induced, nor any effect, iintU forty minutes had elapsed, when he became weak, staggering, and inclined to lie down, but when induced do do so he would run about. He was perfectly sensible and free from pain. The pupils became somewhat, though by no means greatly, contracted. In two hours all effect had passed away, and the dog appeared perfectly well. The following morning he was as well and active as ever, the pupUs being quite normal. 2. Two days afterwards, to the same young dog twenty grains of the powdered bean was given in meat as before. He was very chary in eating it, requiiing to be coaxed to do so; and unless he had been starved I do not think he would have taken it. Not more, perhaps hardly so much effect was produced as with the twelve grains. He was able to run about, and continued cheerful. The pupils were rather, but not greatly, contracted. Biit little saliva or mucus was produced, and neither purging nor nausea. 3. To a small dog, thii'ty-five grains of a finely powdered bean mixed with a little butter was given; it had to be forced down the throat, as it resisted swallowing it as much as possible. Slavei-ing was at once induced. In fifteen minutes he was weak and staggeiing, but stiU walk- ing about; sick and retching, but not vomiting; no contraction of the pupUs. In thirty minutes he lay down, and was indisposed to move. In sixty minutes he could stand with great difficulty, and when made to move, which he would not do unless obliged, he staggered and fell down from excessive weakness. When compelled to walk, the forelegs were jerked straight out forwards, and the hind backwards, with some spasm, which, however, was neither great nor long continued. He was per- fectly conscious, but appeared giddy; he retched, only getting up a little frothy mucus; strained much, passing a little fjeces and some mucus; and the pupils had become decidedly contracted. He crawled into a comer, and feU soundly asleep. At five hours, when aroused, he was much better, though not steady on the limbs; the pupils were still con- tracted. In the evening, ten hours after swallowing the bean, he was perfectly well; the pupils were less contracted. 4. To the same dog, three days afterwards, he being and having been perfectly well, was given twenty gi'ains of the macerate from a bean which had been treated—1st, with cold ether; 2ndly, with boiling ether; and thirdly, repeatedly with boiling spirit; so that all possible by these media had been extracted. For sixty minutes little effect was perceived, when it became weak and staggeiing, and continued in much the same