Thevetia
Cascabela thevetia · Plant · Apocynaceae
Thevetia, based on poisoning cases in children, presents a peculiar picture of somnolence repeatedly interrupted by throat irritation with frothy mucus discharge. After the mucus is expectorated with a gulp, the child immediately falls back to sleep until disturbed again by the same cycle. This alternation of near-sleep and throat gulping every few minutes is the most characteristic symptom.
Key symptoms
- Tendency to sleep disturbed every 3–4 minutes by irritation in throat
- Discharge of a mouthful of frothy mucus with a gulp, then immediately falls asleep again
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea (bowels moved twice or thrice)
Thevetia nereifolia. Cerbera thevetia. Ahovai-baum (of the Antilles). N. O. Apocynaceæ. Tincture or trituration of the seeds.
Clinical
Diarrhœa. Somnolence. Throat, affections of. Vomiting.
Characteristics
J. Balfour observed the effect of eating the seeds on two boys, 8 and 6 1/2. This peculiar symptom was noted: "A tendency to sleep, disturbed every three to four minutes by irritation in the throat, and the discharge of a mouthful of frothy mucus with a sort of gulp; then the child would lie down and close his eyes until again disturbed."
Relations
Compare: Apocy. Stroph. Upas.
9. Throat
Tendency to sleep, disturbed every three to four minutes by irritation in the throat and discharge of a mouthful of frothy mucus with a sort of gulp; then the child would lie down and close his eyes again until again disturbed.
Classical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
