On poisoning by the root of aconitum napellus / by F.W. Headland, M.D., B.A., F.L.S.

  • Headland, Frederick William
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On poisoning by the root of aconitum napellus / by F.W. Headland, M.D., B.A., F.L.S. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    other which occurred some time ago in my own experience— an example of poisoning by aconite root, which fortunately did not prove fatal. Case 5.—A gentleman of my acquaintance being at break¬ fast one morning with his brother, both partook of coffee. (It was afterwards remembered that the coffee-strainer, which had not been used for some time, had been formerly employed in a chemical laboratory to strain some decoction of aconite roots; it had been washed and put aside, but not burned, as it should have been.) My friend tells me, that shortly after breakfast he set out as usual on an accustomed walk, but had not pro¬ ceeded far when he noticed a peculiar tingling sensation about his tongue, which shortly extended backwards into the throat. His tongue felt too large for his mouth; his lips and face tingled; and soon a creeping sensation extended down both arms, and next along the thighs also. He then felt altogether ill, with giddiness in the head, swimming before the eyes, great weakness, and almost inability to stand. He noticed a peculiar feeling of stiffness about the neck and back, a symptom which out-lasted all the others. His head felt as if it was in a vice, and yet so heavy that he thought he could hardly support it; he felt continually as if he wanted to draw a deep breath; he did so with much effort, but with relief to the giddiness. He was not sick. After a time his symptoms gradually abated. His case is interesting,—as we have here, given by an intel¬ ligent and competent person, the very characteristic train of symptoms caused by an over-dose of aconite. The brother was affected very much in the same manner, but lay down on the sofa, expressing himself as unable to stir a limb. He, too, got over it. The coffee-strainer was burnt; but my friend, who had previously suffered from dyspepsia and aggra¬ vated hypochondriasis, assures me that for some weeks after this occurrence he was in better health and spirits than he had ever been before. I regret that I am obliged to curtail the remarks which 1 had intended to make on these cases of poisoning. We are
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