Common names: Toot-berry, Tupa-kihi or Tutu (New Zealand species).
Introduction
C. ruscifolia, Linn.
Natural order: Coriarieae (between Anacardiaceae and Rutaceae).
Preparation: Tincture or trituration of the berries.
Mind.
Emotional.
Sometimes there are symptoms like those of brain fever. The symptoms differed greatly in different individuals. Some became excited or violent; they laughed or they raved outrageously, or their conduct was simply grotesque in the extreme; the results, indeed closely resembled those producible by ‘laughing gas”.
Occasionally the delirium resembles that of alcoholic intoxication or delirium tremens; at other times it rather approximates that of acute mania, being marked by great muscular excitement, the patient requiring restraint of the most powerful kind, in some instances the assistance of several strong men, for several hours. It is called “Tupa-kihi” by the New Zealanders, because persons under its influence resemble in their actions “drunken Europeans”. During the night he was seized with delirium, accompanied by great muscular excitement, resembling that of acute mania, necessitating the assistance of several men to restrain him. Felt as if he head been newly born into the world, and was overwhelmed with wonder at the novelty of all his surroundings (third day).
Intellectual. One of the characteristics of the convalescent stage is loss of memory, with or without a vertiginous condition.
On emerging from the comatose condition, loss of memory was the chief or only peculiarity observable. For about half a day he remained in a semi-stupid state, not able to remember where he was or what he had been doing for the previous forty-eight hours, or how he had come there (third day). When convalescing from the stupor, resembled a person emerging from a brain fever. Was utterly oblivious of the particulars of his illness, denying even that he had eaten the berries. The next day he was pretty well but had entirely lost his memory of all recent occurrences. He could not tell me even to what detachment of the regiment he belonged or at what post he had been stationed. This loss of memory seems to be a characteristic effect of this plant. Total loss of consciousness.
When he attempted to get out of bed, at about 6 a. m., he got on his clothes partly but suddenly lost all consciousness till about 11 a. m. (second day). He was conscious for a minute or two, but almost immediately relapsed into stupor, which continued for about twenty four hours. Stupor. State of stupor continuing all the next day, following the convulsions. Coma, with or without convulsions or delirium.
Head.
Giddiness. It seems to act principally on the intellectual or parietal portion of the brain, producing great excitement, followed by congestion. Its action is rapid.
Stomach.
Retching. Vomiting.
General Symptoms.
Convulsions. Seized with convulsions, which speedily became so violent that it required two strong men to hold him. These convulsions were severe for about forty minutes, when they gradually diminished and the patient passed into a state of stupor (after five hours).
Tetanic convulsions. From his appearance I should have certainly supposed that he had taken Strychnia. The convulsions were very violent and the opisthotonos complete. Attack similar to epilepsy (from swallowing berry with small stalk adhering). A peculiar form of nervous irritability not observable prior to the Toot poisoning (after several years). It is questionable, however, whether this sequela is a ” proper hoc”, or a mere ” post hoc”.
Born in 1837in Westminster, Vermont. . He was an orthodox doctor who converted to homeopathy
Dr. Allen compiled the Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica over the course of 10 years.
In 1881 Allen published A Critical Revision of the Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica.