Lolium temulentum. Darnel. *N.O. Gramineae. Trituration of seeds. Tincture of ripe spikelets. Tincture of ripe seeds.
Clinical
Delirium tremens. Paralysis. Paralysis agitans. Tremor. Writer’s cramp.
Characteristics
The name *Darnel means stupefied, and the plant’s evil reputation is of very ancient date. The symptoms are the result of observations made on persons poisoned by eating meal containing an admixture of *Lol. tem. Allen mentions an assertion that *Lolium is much infested with *ergot, and that it is to this that the poisoning symptoms are due, the unaffected grain being inert, and Allen notes in support of this that the poisonings have been most frequently observed in low, wet districts, and during wet seasons. Provings are needed to decide this. The chief symptoms are: Confusion of mind, at times delirium, very great depression. Nausea and vomiting of the bread containing it and mucus with it. Paralysis, tremors, and convulsions. Cold rigors, internal chilliness, cold sweat. A very characteristic symptom is: Tightness in the calves, violent pain in the calves as if bound with cords. This tightness affects the rest of the legs in less degree. Bonino has cured a carpenter, 29, who had trembling of the hands eleven years, worse morning. Latterly the legs also began to tremble. His father and brother were similarly affected. *Merc-v. and *Agaricus only relieved temporarily. *Lol. tem. cured.
Relations
*Compare: Ananth., Secale, Lath. (paralysis, worse wet seasons). Opium (sleep).
Mind
Mania. Slight delirium. Depressed spirits. Anxiety and general uneasiness. Comprehension slow and difficult, distraction, confusion and stupefaction.
Head
Vertigo, better closing eyes, with shaking in head. Dizziness, nausea, loss of speech. Intoxication. Violent sticking in head, especially forehead and temples.
Eyes
Pupils widely dilated. Vision: dim, blindness in some cases, scintillation before eyes.
Ears
Deafness. Roaring and tingling in ears. Noise like drums and cymbals.
Nose
Epistaxis.
Face
Face: red, hot, puffy, or pale.
Mouth
Tongue: first white, then black, tremulous. Burning in mouth and throat. Speech: difficult, very imperfect, or lost.
Throat
Deglutition: difficult, impossible, cannot pronounce a whole word.
Stomach
Nausea. Vomiting. Inflammation of gullet, stomach, bowels, with fever. Vomiting every half-hour, all night, portions of bread and colorless mucus, leaving disagreeable taste. Uneasiness in epigastrium, with eructations of peculiar taste. Pains in stomach, especially a pressure in stomach-pit and abdomen.
Abdomen
Distension. Severe colicky pains.
Stool
Severe purging. Diarrhoea, with great colic, obstinate constipation.
Urinary Organs
Copious micturition.
Respiratory Organs
Difficult breathing.
Chest
Sticking pains in sides.
Heart
Small irregular pulse.
Limbs
Gait unsteady, trembling in all limbs, unable to hold a glass of water. Spasms of arms and legs.
Upper Limbs
While attempting to write, hand refused its service and he became stupid.
Lower Limbs
Attempting to rise from a seat he began to stagger, was obliged to steady himself on walking along the room. Great pain and tightness in legs, especially calves, extending to ankles, with redness, swelling, and itching of skin. Legs excessively tight and painful, swollen, inflamed, itching much for nine days, followed by a small collection of gelatinous fluid inside foot, terminating in gangrene, followed by sphacelus. Violent pain in calves as if bound with cords.
Generalities
General tremors. Paralysis. Restlessness. General malaise for several days. The action of *Lolium is apt to be manifested in very wet seasons.
Sleep
Drowsiness. Sleep unusually heavy. Sopor.
Fever
Great internal chilliness. Cold rigors all over, especially in limbs. Fever. Cold sweat.
