Abrus and ricinus ingestion: management of three cases.

Three instances of toxic bean ingestion, all in the course of 1 week in the St. Louis area, have led us to submit this article. One case of jequirty bean (Abrus precatorius L.) and two of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) were treated at Cardial Glennon Memorial Hospital for Children during the third week of August in 1979. These seeds contain phytotoxins which are among the most potent toxic principles known to man.