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to the Leguminous order, called Ceratonia Siliqua or Carob Tree. It grows wild
on the coasts of the Mediterranean, and is used by the inhabitants as a cheap
food for cattle, especially by the poorer orders. The fruit is not there known to
be in any way injurious, except by occasionally causing colic from the accumulation
of seeds in the intestines.* In the south of Europe it is also eaten by
children. It appears probable that the young man who died in Somers Town,
rather suddenly, after eating a number of these beans, died from inflammation of the
lungs. The appearances found, post mortem, in his stomach, were dependent not
on the use of these beans but on a chronic change. Since this time, another
boy, aged ten years, has died in Bolton, with symptoms of acute inflammation of
the stomach, a day after eating a number of these beans. The medical man who
gave evidence in the case, attributes the death to the use of this fruit, as he was
unable to discover any other cause for the symptoms or post mortem appearances;
none of the usual irritant poisons could be discovered. The evidence of other
persons at the Inquest seemed to indicate that in some persons this fruit caused
sickness and diarrhæa, whilst others partook of it with impunity.
Whether either of these two deaths was due to the use of these beans is
doubtful; but it appears clear that they are not fit for human food, for at the best
they are crude, indigestible things, and to say the least, there is a probability
that to some persons, or in some conditions of the fruit, they are actually poisonous.
I have thought it right to call your attention to this matter, that the
public may be informed of the true state of the case as far as it can be ascertained
at present.+
It will be seen that the Tables of Mortality for January and February are
altered in my present report. The Association of Medical Officers of Health
have had the subject of tabular forms under their consideration, and to secure
uniformity in the various districts have agreed upon the form (A), which gives,
in detail, the names of all diseases, as given by the Registrar General in his
Tables. By the use of two tables, namely, A and B, I trust that more valuable
results will be obtained, than could be secured by the one which I had previously
employed.
During the month there have been nine days warmer and nineteen days
colder than usual. The highest temperature at Greenwich was on the 28th,
being 56°-9. The lowest was on the 1st of the month, 20°. The greatest
diurnal range was 27°.2 (from 28°.2 to 55°.4) on the 16th.
I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
THOMAS HILLIER, M.D., L.R.C.P.
21, Upper gower street.
• This information I obtained from my friend, Mr. J. S. Gamgee, who has spent some time in Italy.
+ Since writing the above, another case has been recorded at Brighton, of severe gastric disorder, in a
youth, from drinking an infusion of these beans.