Lathyrus Sativus

Katipo is a venomous spider found in New Zealand and some parts of

California. The symptoms recorded are the effects of bites. The seat of a bite becomes

immediately painful and swelling occurs. In some cases the swelling does not come on until

some days after the bite. In one case, five days after the bite, a scarlet papulous rash appeared on

both extremities, burning like fire. Lassitude, faintness, twitchings, and in one case trismus were

noted. The symptoms were somewhat slow in evolution, and in a fatal case, that of a girl bitten

on the abdomen, death did not occur until six weeks after the bite.

Depressed; hypochondriacal. Vertigo when standing with eyes closed.

Suffered long, wasting and losing all energy, some having appearance of one

going into a decline; it was three months before he rallied and six before he recovered.—Nervous

twitching all over body.—Suddenly became faint and pallid.—Large quantities of whisky

produced little impression, except a feeling as though affected side was drunk.

Anxious expression.—Extreme pallor changing to blue tint, of face and body.—Jaws

stiff very soon, could not open mouth to eat, and could scarcely articulate.

Burning pain in tip of tongue; with tingling and numbness of tongue and lips, as if scalded.

Incontinence of urine.—Pressure on bladder, if not immediately satisfied,

urine rushes out with great force.

Increased bladder reflex. Frequent, must hurry, else voided involuntarily.

Almost pulseless.—Pulse slow, scarcely more than twelve or fourteen beats to the

minute.

Lumbago.—Pain in back so severe as to prevent movement.—Pains in back < or

excited by touch.

Severe shaking, burning pains ran from the bite on the foot up the limbs to

back, accompanied by nervous twitching all over body soon; pain felt almost equally in both

limbs, and seemed to centre about heel.—Feet felt as if rudely lacerated by dull instrument,

waking him from sleep (immediately).

• ▸Tips of fingers numb.
• ▸Tremulous, tottering gait.
• ▸Excessive rigidity of legs; spastic gait.
• ▸Knees knock against each other when walking.
• ▸Cramps in legs worse cold, and cold feet.
• ▸Cannot extend or cross legs when sitting.
• ▸Myelitis, with marked spastic symptoms.
• ▸Rheumatic paralysis.
• ▸Gluteal muscles and lower limbs emaciated.
• ▸Legs blue; swollen, if hanging down.
• ▸Stiffness and lameness of ankles and knees, toe do not leave the floor, heels do not touch floor, Muscles of calves very tense.
• ▸Patient sits bent forward, straightens with difficulty.

Small, red spot like flea-bite—Bitten surface raised, as large round as teacup, the

raised part white with red halo; with pain; swelling and pain > by spirits of Ammonia.—Swelling

size and shape of hen's egg; pain > by ammonia, but not the swelling.—The bite remained a small

purple point for nine days, on the tenth began to swell and turn white like a bee-sting; pain and

swelling rapidly increased, dorsum of foot and ankle like a puff-ball, red streak running up

leg.—A bright scarlet, papular eruption on both lower limbs, which stung and burned like fire.

Extremities cold and flaccid.—A cold, clammy sweat covered |. lower extremity; in

morning sweat covered both limbs.

Compare: Oxytrop; Secale; Petiveria, a South American plant (Paralysis; paraplegia with numbness. Sensation of internal coldness). Agrostema githago-Corn-cockle --(Burning sensations, in stomach, through oesophagus into throat, in lower abdomen and anus; nausea, bitter vomiting, impaired locomotion; difficulty in remaining erect; vertigo and headache, burning from lower jaw to vertex).

Third potency.