Tanghinia
Plant · Apocynaceae
Tanghinia is a remedy with a picture of profound toxemic collapse — violent purging vomiting, extreme weakness, numbness, and progressive paralysis accompanied by great anxiety. The patient remains conscious but stuporous, lying as if asleep and lapsing back when roused.
Key symptoms
- Intense, distressing, repeated vomiting
- Anxiety accompanying the vomiting
- Numbness, especially of the hands
- Numb tingling in mouth and throat
- Giddiness and staggering
- General weakness progressing to complete paralysis
- Stupor alternating with brief consciousness
- Spasmodic movements of fingers and toes before death
Tanghinia venenifera. N. O. Apocynaceæ. Trituration of the seed.
Characteristics
Tanghinia (the Tanghin or Tanquen of Madagascar) is the only representative of its genus of the Apocynaceæ. The fruit of the tree is ellipsoid, between two and three inches long, having a smooth, purplish skin tinged with green, containing a hard stone surrounded by a thick fibrous flesh. The part used as an ordeal is the seed, which is pounded, and a small piece is swallowed by the person to be tried. Those in whom it causes vomiting escape. Those whose stomachs retain it are quickly killed, and their guilt is held proven. General weakness, even complete paralysis is produced, death being preceded by spasmodic movements of fingers and toes. Numbness is a common symptom; especially numbness of the hands. The vomiting is intense and distressing, and is accompanied by anxiety and weakness. The Schema comprises symptoms observed on persons undergoing the ordeal.
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