In Saxon times, corsned was a piece of bread consecrated by exorcism, to be swallowed by any person suspected of a crime. If guilty, it was expected that the swallower would fall into convulsions, or turn deadly pale, and that the bread would find no passage. If innocent, it was believed the morsel would turn to nourishment. Research Corsned
Datura is a genius of plants of the family Solanaceae, with large trumpet- shaped flowers. They are all poisonous. The genus includes the thorn-apple, which posesses strong narcotic properties and some-times employed as a remedy for neuralgia, convulsions, etc. The dried leaves of Datura Stramonium, and Datura Tatula, an American species, were formerly smoked as a cure for asthma. Research Datura
Goat's-rue (Galega officinalis) of French lilac, is a leguminous bushy perennialherb indigenous to southern Europe. It has an erect, hairless angled stem and alternate, odd pinnate leaves with four to twelve pairs of rectangular leaflets. The flowers are white, pinkish or lilac and arranged in long erect racemes in the leaf axils. It is used as forage and was once used as a cordial to treat fever and convulsions. Research Goat's-rue
Hemlock (Conium maculatum) is a poisonous biennialherb of the family Umbelliferae supposed to be identical with the plant koneion of the Greeks.. It is a tall, erect, branching biennial, with a smooth, shining, hollow stem usually marked with purple spots. It has elegant, much divided leaves which when bruised emit a nauseous odour. The flowers are white in compound umbels of ten or more rays surrounded by a general involucre of three to seven leaflets.
Hemlock is found in Britain and throughout Europe and temperate Asia in waste places, banks, and under walls. It is said to be fatal to cows when they eat it, but that horses, goats, and sheep may feed upon it without danger. In the human subject it causes paralysis, convulsions, and death. The poison administered to Socrates is supposed to have been a decoction of it, though others are of opinion that the potion was obtained from water-hemlock (Cicuta virosa).
Hemlock is a powerful sedative, and is used medicinally. The extract is considered the best preparation. It was formerly used as a substitute for, or as an accompaniment to opium. It has been found very useful in chronic rheumatism and in hooping-cough, in allaying the pain of irritable sores and cancerous ulcers. The virtues of hemlock reside in an alkaline principle termed coma or coniine. Research Hemlock
The Convulsionists or Convulsionaires was the name given to those fanatics of the 18th century in France who had or affected to have convulsions, produced by religious impulses. The name was first applied to fanatics who exhibited varied seizures at the tomb of a Jansenist at St Medard, some jumping, some barking, and others mewing like a cat. A number of them were imprisoned, but this had little effect. Research Convulsionists
Aflatoxin is a toxin produced naturally by the mould Aspergillus flavus commonly found in peanuts, cottonseed, soybeans, wheat, barley, maize, sorghum and nuts such as pistachios, almonds and cacao. Symptoms of poisoning include weight loss, loss of co-ordination, convulsions and death. It also damages the liver and causes liver tumours when consumed at low levels for a long period of time. In the Gambia during the late 20th century, liver cancer attributed to daily consumption of aflatoxins in peanuts and rice, caused ten percent of deaths among men. Aflatoxin, when taken regularly, also damages the immune system causing susceptibility to infectious diseases such as pneumonia. Aflatoxins are found in the blood system of almost all inhabitants of rural Africa. Research Aflatoxin
Alkalosis is a condition in which a person's body fluids become too alkaline. The body adjusts to mild alkalosis but severe alkalosis can result in muscular weakness, convulsions, coma, and even death. Most cases of alkalosis arise from disorders or drugs that cause the body to lose too much acid, thus upsetting the normal balance of acid and alkali. Disorders that can result in alkalosis include prolonged vomiting and hyperventilation. Prolonged alkalosis causes excessive loss of hydrochloric acid from the stomach. During hyperventilation, a person exhales too much carbon dioxide, lowering the level of carbonic acid in the blood.
Alkalosis can arise from the prolonged use of such drugs as diuretics. Treatment of alkalosis usually consists of correcting the underlying disorder or reducing the drug intake. A solution containing a weak acid may be administered through a vein to help restore the body's normal acid- alkalibalance. Research Alkalosis
Encephalitis Lethargica or sleepy sickness is a disease of comparatively late recognition. It has been known in Europe, America and Great Britain since about 1916. The virus is unknown, but the disease is characteristic, causing fever, lethargy and paralysis of the eyemuscles with double vision. Infection probably takes place through the mouth and nose. Various non-typical forms of the disease also occur. The onset is often gradual and insidious, but sometimes acute delirium may be the first symptom. The condition often resembles influenza in the early stages, and hiccough is a common symptom. In severe cases mania or delirium is seen, or lethargy and coma; muscular pains, rigidity of the limbs, or convulsions may develop. Later, in cases which recover, tremors and purposeless movements may indicate the true condition and the patient's face becomes mask-like and expressionless ('Parkinsonism'). A drooping posture and the shuffling gait are characteristic, The diagnosis is often difficult; about 33 per cent. of cases are fatal. Complete
recovery is rare, most cases ending in chronic invalidism, and the disease often runs on for many months. There is no specific treatment. Isolation and careful nursing are essential. Hyoscine, Artane and Benadryl relieve tremors, and stiffness ollimbs. Research Encephalitis Lethargica
Ergotism (St Anthony's Fire) is poisoning resulting from the consumption of the fungus ergot, often in infected rye. Symptoms include hallucinations, convulsions, burning pains and gangrene in the hands and feet. Research Ergotism
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Corsned
