Jasminum officinale. White Jessamine. *N. O. Jasminaceae. (Lindlet. Some botanists include the Jasmine in the Oleaceae.) Tincture of red berries.
Clinical
Convulsions. Tetanus.
Relations
*Compare: Nyctanthes (bot.).
Characteristics
The only observation on this plant is one made by W.H. Hull on a boy who ate the red berries. They produced a comatose state, vomiting and convulsions ending in tetanus. (*Jasminum must not be confounded with Gelsemium, the “Yellow Jessamine,” or “Carolina Jessamine,” which belongs to a different order of plants. “Gelsomino” is the Italian for Jessamine, and it is probably from this that the word *Gelsemium is derived, and this will also account for the spelling *Gelseminum, which has sometimes been used.) The *Treasury of Botany states that the bitter leaves of *J. florbundum are used in Abyssinia against tapeworm, and the bitter root of *J. angustifolium, powdered and mixed with the powdered root of *Acorus calamus is considered in India an excellent application in ringworm. *Jasmin. offic. has not been used in medicine, but the poisoning case shows that it is a very powerful drug. The convulsive symptoms were better by a bath. Symptoms go from above downwards and from left to right.
SYMPTOMS.
Mind
Comatose condition. Perfect insensibility.
Eyes
Pupils immoderately dilated.
Face
Face pallid. Muscular movement first above eyes and face, especially left side, towards which eyes and facial muscles were directed.
Stomach
Slight emesis. Slight emesis after first sleep.
Respiratory Organs
Respiration somewhat rhonchial but of unusual frequency.
Heart and Pulse
Pulse slow and feeble.
Generalities
Muscular movements observed first about eyes and face, especially on left side, towards which eyes and facial muscles were directed, becoming generally more severe, going from head to left arm, then to left lower extremities, till finally the whole body was thrown into most violent convulsions. At one time the spasms were chiefly opisthotonos, when the whole surface was congested almost to a blackened hue, most marked about the muscles of the head and throat, jaws locked, trismus complete, better by a bath. Weak and almost helpless for a few days. Lying on the floor in a fainting fit. Perfect insensibility. Surface cool.