Anacardium

Authorities. 12, P. Le B. Sticky, M.D., Phil. Med. Exam., vol. vii, 1844, p. 133, J. B., aged sixteen years, was poisoned by rubbing upon the back of the hand the dried juice of the cashew nut; 13, Dr. F. Taylor, Med. Times and Gaz., 1875 (2), p. 519, a boy, aged thirteen years, painted the figure of an anchor on his left arm with the juice of the Indian marking nut; 14, Dr. Yeldham, Month. Horn. Rev., vol. xx, p. 95, A. B., aged twenty-eight years, let some of the juice of the bean get into an abrasion on his left wrist.

The effects of the poison was first manifested by an excessive inflammation of the affected part (the hands), accompanied with pain and an almost intolerable itching. This was followed by an eruption of small red pimples, which soon suppurated, bearing a close resemblance to the pustular eruption produced by croton oil. In a short time, these pustules discharged a very small quantity of thin pus, coalesced, and became covered with a thin pellicle, filled with serum, giving to the skin the appearance of having been covered with small blisters. The blistering or desquamation of the cuticle was confined to the j)art upon which the juice had been applied, excepting the lip.s, which being repeatedly rubbed by the hands, presented a similar appearance, whilst the swelling and pustular eruption extended to the other parts of the body. The penis and scrotum were enormously distended by an oedematous swelling, but the eruption was confined entirely to the scrotum. The urine, which was voided in large quantities, was of a dark-green color, possessed its natural smell, and deposited no sediment. On the first appearance of the swelling, there was some fever and thirst, —In one week his arm became red, and a number of small pimples appeared. In the night his face became swollen and red, and the next day the abdomen and thighs on which he had rested the arm were red. The left hand, forearm, and the lower half of the upper arm were swollen, and of a bright-red color, resembling that of erysipelas. On the front of the forearm was an abrasion of the skin, shaped somewhat like an anchor, and presenting some black points, which the boy stated were the remains of the material used. Over the rest of the forearm were many vesicles of various sizes and shapes, mixed, especially at the back of the forearm, with minute pustules. The swollen arm did not pit on slight pressure, but the color readily disappeared for the time. Ou the back of the right hand, and on the front of the wrist, were a few raised spots, surmounted by minute white pustules. The face presented a similar inflammatory condition. The redness and swelling affected both eyes (the left being quite closed), as well as the upper lip, the chin, and back of the right cheek, where there were a few isolated, raised, red spots. The color was sharply defined, and on the chin was a yellow crust resembling that of eczema. On the inner side of each thigh at the upper part was a large, red, less sharply defined patch, with one or two transparent vesicles; and on the lower part of the abdomen were a few spots resembling those on the right hand and wrist. The eruption caused considerable itching,^^ — [660.] About twelve hours after the wound itched, and he scratched it and increased the irritation. On the afternoon of the next day, vesicles made their appearance around the wound, and higher up the arm towards the elbow. The skin became hot, inflamed, and of a deep-red color; this condition extending upward above the elbow, and occupying the whole of the anterior and under aspects of the limb. At first there was not much itching, but on the second day the itching was considerable, and so much aggravated at night as to prevent him sleeping. On the evening of the third day the scrotum became sore, red, and inflamed, but without vesication ; and at the same time the face was attacked, the eyelids and upper part of the right cheek presenting all the appearance of a sharp attack of erysipelas. The skin, he said, felt hot, stiff, and burning. There was also a red patch at the bend of the right arm, and on the right hand. Two days later the arm was more swollen and tense, the redness deeper and more uniformly diffused ; the color disappearing on pressure, and returning the instant the pressure was removed. The vesicles had dried up. The lace was somewhat better. The right hand and arm much the same; itching of the scrotum, but no redness. On the eighth day, there was still a little fulness of the left arm, with a lain! blush of the skin. Depressed and irritable, disinclined to move, and impatient of the play of his children, which usually afforded him pleasure. He also complained of confusion of the head and memory. If he laid a thing down he forgot where he had placed it and sneb like. Looked ill and worn and languid, due, doubtless, to some extent, to want of sleep. Every object appeared a long way off, on waking after half an hour’s sleep (third day). Loss of appetite and some thirst. The pulse was weak and somewhat accelerated,