University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Pharmacy and Drug Artifacts
Classification
Pharmacy, General
Accession Number
1984.6.3
Description
Clear cylindrical glass jar with black metal screw-on lid with cream paper label affixed to jar with black text describing contents; contents are large brown seed pods; sealed closure.
Clear cylindrical glass jar with black metal screw-on lid with cream paper label affixed to jar with black text describing contents; contents are large brown seed pods; sealed closure.
To take, the outer shell would be removed, seeds swallowed whole in small doses (large doses result in vomiting and purging due to effect on alimentary canal, or it can stop the heart due to muscle paralysis). It can also be made into physostigmine eye drops, taken 1-2 drops at a time. It was used for Tetanus, epilepsy, and rheumatism (presumably little effect), Glaucoma, and to constrict pupil. They are highly poisonous but have no distinguishing taste or smell. Has no effect on unbroken skin, must be swallowed. Increases salivary secretion, speeds up gastrointestinal tract, slows heart rate, breaks down tension in iris, contracting the pupil as a result. Atropine is its antidote. Consumption of the Calabar Bean was a ritual of the natives of Old Calabar (Akwa Akpa, flourishing in the 19th century in modern day southern Nigeria). The bean was given to people accused of crime or witchcraft, and if their body rejected the bean (i.e vomiting) then they were found to be innocent. However, if they died due to the bean they were considered guilty and further punished if possible.