Anacardium Occidentale.

Cashew Nut. Anacardiaceae.

The common cashew nut of the West Indies. It is easily distinguished from our Anacardium which comes from the East Indies, by its being kidney-shaped, while the Oriental nut, our well-proved medicine, is heart- shaped. It was never proved and is only known by the frequent cases of poisoning which occur from peeling or roasting the nut. The kernel is edible, but it is advisable first to remove the germ between the halves.

The poisonous black juice contained between the outer and inner shell contains two peculiar principles, Anacardic acid and Cardol. Poisonings are frequently mistaken for Rhus poisoning.

The effects on the skin are mentioned by C. Hg. in Cl. Müller's Vierteljahrschrift in 1861, Vol. 12, p. 276. No cures on record excepting from Segin in Hygea.

Loss of will; cannot control voluntary muscles. ~ Paralysis with imbecility.
Did not know his surroundings. ~ Paralysis with imbecility.
Weak memory.
Difficult thinking.
Melancholy.
Hypochondriasis.

Apathy or anesthesia.

Tearing headache on left side.
Head falls forward, difficult to keep it up. ~ Paralysis and imbecility.

(OBS:) Scrofulous ophthalmia.

Swelling of ears with burning and itching.

Erysipelas over whole face (from applying juice to destroy marks).
Swelling of face with itching and burning; next night after handling nuts.
Applied to face to remove cuticle and produce a fresher and more youthful appearance.
Face so much swollen that for a time not a feature was discernible (in a lady exposed to fumes of nut while roasting).

The juice corrodes lips and mouth.

Cannot speak, only mutters unintelligible sounds. ~ Paralysis and imbecility.
Painfully swollen tongue from handling nuts.

(OBS:) Aphthae.

Drinks run out of mouth. ~ Paralysis with imbecility.

(OBS:) Dysentery.
Increased urination.

Stimulates sexual desire.
Testicles swelled when touched with hands after handling nuts.

When during menses juice is applied, it causes erysipelas of face.
(OBS:) Uterine complaints and dropsy.

Respiration free. ~ Paralysis and imbecility.

Pulse slow, moderately full, 60. ~ Paralysis with imbecility.

Large blisters filled with a yellow fluid are raised on hands, followed by desquamation.
(OBS:) Warts.

(OBS:) Corns.

Temperature of body cool. ~ Paralysis.

Left: tearing headache.
Left to right: red itching spots.

Tearing pain: in left side of head.
Burning and itching: of ears and face.

(OBS:) Scirrhous swellings.
(OBS:) Hard excrescences.
(OBS:) Proud flesh.

If hands are not washed carefully after handling nuts, they cause itching and painful burning swellings wherever they touch skin.
(OBS:) Corroding or dry tetters.
Red itching spots like nettlerash, similar to that of Rhus tox., spreading from left to right.
Used as a vesicant it causes itching and burning; then gradual reddening and swelling, followed by vesicles which become pustular; these are large and flat at first and gradually become confluent and break; the epidermis peels off, but leaves surface swollen, hyperaemic and suppurating for days.
The juice is used on corns, warts, ringworms and obstinate ulcers.

A woman, aet. 70, lost two grown-up children who died in the insane asylum; ulcers on the leg and attacks of vertigo so that she fell from chair; a year ago had what was called an apoplectic-attack. ~ Paralysis with imbecility.
A lady, swollen face, from exposure to fumes when roasting nuts.

Collateral relations: Anac. orien.; Rhoes.
Similar to: Canthar.; Mezer. (as a vesicant); Crot. tigl.; Rhus rad.; Rhus tox.
Antidoted by: Rhus tox.
The tincture of Iodine was found useful as a local application to parts affected.