New, Old and Forgotten Remedies. (continued 5)
Reading edition
From the fact that the Lathyrus disease occurs frequently in certain mountainous regions of Asia it has been remarked that it is akin to Beri-Beri, which has been traced to eating the Lathyrus bread.
LIATRIS SPICATA.
Nat. Ord., Compositæ. Common Names, Dense Button-Snake-root. Gay Feather. Devil's Bit. Preparation.—The root is pounded to a pulp and macerated in two parts by weight of alcohol.
(The following, by Dr. T. C. Duncan, was called forth by the publication of an item in Eclectic Medical Journal, stating that twice during the past year Liatris had given good results in dropsy; in one case, on the second day, the patient had passed a gallon and a half of urine. Dr. Duncan's paper was published in the Homœopathic Recorder for 1898):
Any new remedy that promises relief in dropsy will be hailed with pleasure by the profession. Happening into a pharmacy soon after receiving the January Recorder, a physician rushed in and inquired for "that new remedy for dropsy—that got rid of 'a gallon and a half of urine in one day.' Have a bad case cardiac dropsy. Want to try it. How do you give it?" He could not get it. "Get me some," was his order. "There is the article, be sure to get the right thing, Liatris!"
Liatris spicata is the familiar "button-snake-root" that I used to dig every fall for our old family physician (who called himself a "botanic physician") and who gave it for indigestion. It is also called "colic root" and "devil's bit," because a piece is missing from each tuber as a rule, just as if bitten out. Kost's Medicine (my first medical work) describes it as follows: "Root perennial, tuberous, ovate, abrupt, beset around the base with many fine fibers; it is aromatic. Stem round, about three feet high, bearing a spike of scaly purple-colored blossoms, bearing in the aggregate a resemblance to an acorn. The leaves are linear or sword-shaped, somewhat resembling the leaves of young corn. It is found in prairies and open woods in the western States."
"The Liatris is an aromatic stimulant, diaphoretic, diuretic, anodyne and carminitive. It is particularly useful in colic, backache and flatulency."
It is interesting to know that it has had clinically a good effect in dropsy, (1) due to liver and splenic enlargement, also (2) where the kidneys were involved. In the second case referred to, "Apocynum can., Aralia, Digitalis, et al." had been given, but the kidneys failed to respond until the Liatris "was given in infusion," then "on the second day the patient passed a gallon and a half of urine"—equal to 192 ounces of urine! In the first case the Liatris was followed by Ferrum carb.
Whether it will prove equally efficient in cardiac dropsy only time will tell. I hope that the readers of the Recorder will report results, whether favorable or otherwise. The dose that Dr. Bradley gave was about a pint, drank during the course of the day, containing about half an ounce of the root. The tincture will be more convenient, and it is a question if the dilutions will not be equally efficient. Try the third, and then go up or down the scale as the case seems to demand. This drug should be proved. It is harmless. If any young physician will volunteer I will gladly direct him.
Infusion of Digitalis (English leaves) is a favorite prescription with some physicians in cases of cardiac dropsy, but I have not found that form any more efficient than the dilution, except in cases where alcohol had been a cause, then Strophanthus or Arsenicum had a better effect.
LOLIUM TEMULENTUM.
Nat. Ord., Gramineæ. Common Names, Darnel. (G.) Taumellolch. Preparation.—Trituration of the dried seeds.
(The following concerning this little used drug was reported by Dr. Bonino, an Italian physician, translated by Dr. Mossa and published in the Allgemeine Hom. Zeitung, July, 1898. The use of the drug by Dr. Bonino was truly homœopathic for the short proving of it. Allen's Encyclopædia reports trembling of the limbs and hand so great that "he could not hold a glass of water.")
A carpenter, aged twenty-nine years, had been suffering ever since his eighteenth year of trembling in both hands, especially in the morning; of late also his legs began to tremble. It is remarkable that both his father and his brother were subject to the same ailment, while no definite cause could be indicated. He was first given Mercurius vivus, then Agaricus, which brought a partial but only transitory improvement. Finally I prescribed Lolium tem., which in a short time effected a cure.
(On this Dr. Mossa comments as follows):
The pathogenetic effects of this remedy which has not yet been proved at all are only known to some degree from its effects when it has been mixed with grain and baked into bread. It has caused chest troubles, vertigo (thence the name darnel-grass, in German Taumellolch), trembling, paralysis with anguish and distress, vomiting, failing of the memory, blindness, headache, epileptic attacks, deep sleep and insanity. The good success obtained by its use in the case given above shows what curative effects may be expected from it in severe affections of the brain or spinal marrow. An Italian physician, Fantoni, has tried it in cephalalgia, meningitis rheumatica and in ischias.
LYCOPUS VIRGINICUS.
Nat. Ord., Labiatæ. Common Name, Bugle Weed. Preparation.—Tincture of the whole plant by macerating one part by weight of the fresh plant in two parts by weight of alcohol.
(Although a well-known remedy, the following concerning it may not be amiss here; it is from the Homœopathic World, 1889, by Dr. Proell):
Lycopus Virginicus seems to be a specific for bringing back an old (but long disappeared) hæmorrhoidal flux in persons with light eyes. I gave, a week ago, the first decimal dilution to a gentleman (sixty years) for noise and throbbing in the head during the night (which prevented the quietness of sleep); because neither Cactus (which helped quickly when he had blood-spitting) nor Kalmia, nor Gelsemium helped radically. The night after taking Lycopus, he was a little better, and in the forenoon came a bleeding from the rectum (about three tablespoonfuls after defecation) with great general relief. There was chronic catarrhus bronchialis. Two days afterwards, I gave an elderly lady (sixty years), who had glycosuria, cataract of the left eye, and every third night was very restless, Lycopus Virginicus 1 decimal dilution, one drop in the evening. The following night was excellent, and in the morning came an abundant bleeding from the rectum, with great relief. Both patients are tall, very irritable, have weak innervation of the heart, without decided organic disease of the heart; both are hypochondriacs; have light eyes; noise in the left ear. Both had, years ago, hæmorrhoidal flux, which stopped suddenly.
MALARIA OFFICINALIS.
Preparation.—It is prepared in three degrees of strength: No. I. Is the water that stood on decomposed vegetable matter for one week at a temperature of 90° F. No. II. Is the water that decomposed vegetable matter for two weeks. No. III. Is the water that decomposed vegetable matter for three weeks.
(The following is an abstract of a paper on this peculiar remedy, by Dr. G. W. Bowen, that appeared in the Transactions of the Indiana Institute of Homœopathy, 1895):
In the summer of 1862 vegetable matter of different forms was decomposed in my office in glass jars, and malaria was freely generated. Persons were hired to inhale the gas evolved in its different stages of decomposition, and a careful observation of its effects on them was made that gave me a clue to its future use, and the only reliable guide for combatting its effect when acquired naturally.
Not only did the gaseous form demonstrate, but subsequent use of the liquid product proved it capable of producing not only the three leading types that the past years had made me conversant with, but also others of a minor grade yet of unsuspected parentage.
The miser made delight of added gain, Was like a pebble on the shore again,
In comparison to the satisfactory consolation that came as a realization of the comprehension of the producing cause. Henceforth the battle need not be carried on mid the gloom of the night.
The decomposition of the vegetable matter passed through three stages or degrees. The first gave off gases freely, yet of not so offensive odor as later. After ten days or two weeks the expense of securing inhalers was more than doubled, even for one moment of time. After three or four weeks not much gas was generated, for it seemed only capable of lying still and sending its fearful odor heavenward. Inhalation of the gases evolved produced for the first week or ten days a headache, nausea, distress in the stomach, coated the tongue white, and this in from one to two hours time generally; and there, if not carried too far, would generally pass off in two or three days. Inhalations after ten days or two weeks did not produce results in less than twelve or twenty-four hours, according to time and amount inhaled. Then there was fearful headache, nausea, aversion to food, distress through the hypochondriac region, first in the spleen, the liver and stomach, and on the third day chills that would doubtless have continued on indefinitely if not interfered with.
After decomposition had gone on for three or four weeks it was ascetic and simply fetid to a fearful degree, and no results except nausea were apparent in any one exposed to it in less than three or four days. The first was extreme lassitude and loss of appetite, and apparently a continued fever, with an unlimited amount of pains and aches and a lassitude that limited locomotion.
Three vials of the watery tincture were saved, one each from the various stages of decomposition, and from these an attempt was made to make provings and find out what were the reliable antidotes to them, and thus be able to cope with my invisible foe in my daily avocation. Their provings were not carried far enough, or continued long enough to be justified in placing them in our Materia Medica, but are ample to aid and guide the future steps that ought to be taken. Its discontinuance was rendered rather necessary by my enthusiasm that led too far in a few cases, but the antidotal effects of certain remedies amply compensated me for my financial and reputational loss.
Bilious colic, nausea, cramps, diarrhœa and headaches were readily secured from a few drops of the first vial, in many cases, while the second vial gave me a large number of cases where the liver, spleen, stomach and kidneys were apparently seriously involved, and not them alone, but fair types of intermittent fever with its attendant shakes, some daily, some tertian.
With the third vial trouble came, as it did reduce many that had been able to be up and around to their beds, and unmistakably cause them to get worse, and cause them to degenerate into a typhoidal or semi-paralytic condition. In a few cases I was deprived the liberty of finding my antidotes and helping them out of the dilemma.
(Among the experiments made with these strange tinctures, if they may be so called, was the following, which is strangely confirmatory of a speculation advanced by several old physicians that consumptives are benefited, or even cured, by being exposed to malaria):
It was a lady, the last of a family of five, all others had died of consumption, and three in her preceding generation of the same disease. I doubted the probability of saving her, yet theoretically decided that as the primitive action of malaria was, first, the spleen, next the liver and stomach, that I would develop an artificial or drug disease there, in hopes that her chest would be relieved and doubtless be benefited. She was given the tincture from second vial, and on the fifth day she had a fairly perceptible chill, and a harder one the sixth and seventh. On the eighth I saw her shake for one hour, and her fever lasted over six hours. Out of pity my drug was neutralized and her health was restored, with no more cough distress in her lungs or heart. She was cured of her tendency and certainty of dying with consumption. She remained well for twelve years when she was lost to my call.
(In his search for remedies, or antidotes, for the malarial poisons, Dr. Bowen was disappointed in Eupatorium perf. In his experience the following remedies are best):
For the first or primitive effects, the remedies that did act most promptly and effectually were Nux vomica and Bryonia, thus calling to mind the effect of those remedies that experience had led me to use in the attacks that come in the summer, that are usually designated as of a bilious nature.
In the secondary form, or where my malaria seemed to be the result of the decomposition of the material or vegetable fiber, its effects were more permeating, as different symptoms were developed by it. Then a change of remedies (or chemical antidotes, if you please), became necessary, and far the best results were secured by the use of Bryonia and Arsenicum. China did not act well or give any reasonable satisfaction.
Prior and later experience give ample satisfactory proof of the utility of the use of Arsenicum in all types of an intermittent nature, yet not to discredit the fact that other remedies can and will cure this form. But that a pernicious case can, or will, be as readily restored by any other remedy, I reserve to myself the liberty to doubt. Opportunities and time have demonstrated that these two remedies are able to restore the system and remedy a majority of the diseases that are wont to make their advent in the early autumn or late in the spring.
Later, after the total decomposition of my vegetable matter had taken place, and it almost seemed to possess a demoniacal potency or power to undermine the humblest human form, then to my surprise Bryonia seemed to hold prestige and give splendid results, but needed a different assistant, one that could and would permeate the muscular system, yet slowly, and for this Rhus tox was called into requisition, and from that day to this it has not been the means of causing me a single disappointment.
(Again, and as a last quotation from this interesting paper, we quote):
Many years of observation have demonstrated one more important fact in relation to the means that will render the system less liable to its absorption, at least to that extent that it will give evidence of its presence, and that is, by the liberal use of coffee.
(In 1897 Dr. Bowen sent the following to the Homœopathic Recorder concerning Malaria off.):
Messrs. Boericke & Tafel prepared me a new supply of it, and I have used so far only one form of it and in the one attenuation.
It was prepared in three degrees of strength:
No. I is the water that stood on decomposed vegetable matter for one week at a temperature of 90 degrees.
No. II is the water that decomposed vegetable matter for two weeks.
No. III is the water that decomposed vegetable matter for three weeks, and it is fearfully offensive.
I have only used the No. II, or that that had only partially decomposed the vegetable fibres.
In preparing it for use I put ten drops of the water to ninety drops of alcohol and then medicated my pellets (No. 30), and it does not soften them up. This is the only form I have used it in, and give from three to ten of these pills for a dose two, three or four hours apart.
I have been confined to my home for three months this year, and hence will only report a few of the most marked cases.
Case I. Mrs. R., aged 45, weighing 245 pounds, could scarcely walk or get into a buggy for two years, from the effects of rheumatism in her back and limbs. I gave her last March two drams of No. 30 pills medicated with the first decimal, or No. 2 preparation, with orders to take ten pills three or four times a day. In one week she could walk as well as ever and has no rheumatism or lameness since.
Case II. Mr. S., foreman in a large saw mill, has been afflicted with rheumatism for years. He came to me in April with a stiff neck and his right arm and shoulder helpless and painful. He wished me to keep it from his chest and heart. I gave him two drams No. 30 pellets, first decimal, and a vial of neutral globules, with orders to take two hours apart, changing, when better, three hours apart. In three days he was better and could turn his neck and use his arm fairly well. One week later gave him two drams more of Malaria, to be taken six hours apart. He has not had any rheumatic troubles since that time.
Case III. Mr. C., proprietor of two large saw mills, one in Arkansas, where he passes part of his time (and frequently gets wet), has been afflicted with what some doctors called gout. I found it was of a rheumatic nature (caused from malaria) and made worse by Quinine and external applications. I gave him Malaria, two drams, No. 30 pills. In three days he assured me he was better and did not have half as many pains or aches. He took only four drachms, at from three to six hours apart, and has not had any rheumatic or gouty pains since. I saw him last week and he says he is fully ten years younger than he was last spring.
Case IV. I was called to see I. S., aged 55, a veteran and pensioner of the last war. He was poor and bronzed in color. Had not been able to walk for years. After repairing his heart, chest, stomach and curing his piles and regulating his bowels he was content, yet he could not walk. Being assured that his back had been injured while in the army, and as his limbs would not move at his will and he could not walk alone or get out of a chair, I gave him for a week Ruta graveolens and Rhus tox., of each the first cent., three hours apart. This enabled him to get up and down two steps alone to the kitchen. Then, concluding his trouble was due to rheumatism, and that was caused by malaria, I gave him two drams of No. 30 pellets of No. 2 form of Malaria, first decimal, with orders to take ten pills three or four times a day. In one week he rode to my house and came up and down steps alone. I gave him two drams more and in five days he came to my office, having walked nearly three miles that morning alone. I need not say I was deeply surprised and could hardly believe it was all due to Malaria. It certainly was, as nothing else was taken or applied. He has gained flesh and seems to be at least ten years younger than he was.
These are a few of the surprising results that have been obtained from Malaria this year. I much wish that others would try it and help to obtain its proper place as a medicine and healer when used where it should be given.
(Dr. W. A. Yingling contributed the following to the same journal):
On the day I received from Boericke & Tafel Malaria off. 30, I was foolishly led to try Hahnemann's inhalation. The thought just occurred to me on the spur of the moment, and without stopping to think I took three strong inhalations, with both sorrow and a proving resulting. None of the symptoms were distressing, yet marked and clear cut. The remedy commenced its work very promptly and in the order following:
Aching in both elbows.
A kind of slight concentration of feeling at root of nose, and just above, as though I should have a severe cold, similar to that complained of by hay-fever patients.
Aching in the wrists.
A tired ache in the hands.
A tired ache in the knees, and for a distance above and below.
A feeling as though I should become dizzy.
Pain in top of left instep.
A tired feeling in wrists.
Aching in an old (cured) bunion on left foot.
Sensation on point of tongue as though a few specks of spice or pepper were there.
Itching on right cheek over molar bone; ameliorated by slight rubbing or scratching.
When leaning face on left hand, elbow on the table, perceptible feeling of the heart beats through upper body and neck.
Slight itching on various parts of the face and extremities; ameliorated by slight rubbing.
Sense of heat in the abdomen.
Chilly sensation in left forearm. Soon followed by chilly feeling in hands and fingers; feet are cold with sensation as if chilliness was about to creep up the legs. A few moments later knees feel cold. A sense of coldness ascending over body from the legs.
Arms feel tired.
Belching several times, easy; no taste.
A drawing pain in right external ear.
Lumbar back feels tired as though it would ache.
Neck feels tired, with slight cracking in upper part on moving the head.
Shallow breathing which seems from languor, with a desire to take a deep inspiration occasionally.
A kind of tired feeling through abdomen and chest.
A general sense of weariness.
A feeling about head as though I would become dizzy.
Pain in upper left teeth.
A sensation as though I would have a very loose stool (passed away without a stool).
Feeling rather stupid and sleepy.
A sensation in the spleen as though it would ache.
Saliva more profuse than usual; keeps me swallowing often.
Pain in abdomen to right of navel.
Dull aching through forehead.
Face feels warm as if flushed, also head; becomes general over body, as if feverish.
Aching across upper sacral region.
Legs very weary from short walk.
Pain at upper part of right ilium.
General sense of weariness from a very short walk, especially through pelvis, sacral region and upper thighs. I feel strongly inclined to lie down and rest.
Qualmishness at stomach, as though I should become nauseated.
General sense of malaise and weariness becoming quite marked.
Aching above inner angle of right eye.
A kind of simmering all through the body.
Felt impelled to lie down, and on falling to sleep a sense of waving dizziness passes all over me, preventing sleep.
At times I feel as though I should become cold or have a chill, then I feel as though I should become feverish or hot, though neither is very marked.
Eyes feel heavy and sleepy.
Uneasiness in lower abdomen.
Gaping, yawning and desire to stretch.
Legs are restless; feel like stretching and moving them.
I feel very much as I did one time before having the ague, twenty-five years ago.
Odor from cooking is pleasing, but I have no desire for dinner. Yet when I sit down I eat a good dinner with relish.
Dizziness on rising from a reclining position.
Feel generally better after eating dinner.
Aching in the occiput.
During the afternoon leg weary.
Unusual hearty appetite for supper (the good appetite keeps with me for some days).
A good night's rest following, and have felt much brighter and generally better ever since the first day. (Healing.)
I have no doubt had I repeated the inhalations several times I should have been very sick. It is not necessary to push a proving to extremes. I think Hahnemann did not as a rule. If I were strong I should push this proving, but I dare not. Who will take it up?
(Apropos of the foregoing Dr. G. Hering, of England, made the following suggestions which hint at a possible use of the remedy in tuberculosis):
What curious discoveries are made by the observant! Witness the following remarks of Dr. Casanova, as recorded in the Homœopathic Review of over thirty years ago:
"I know several localities in South America, Africa and Spain where the marsh miasma has unquestionably arrested and cured that fatal scourge of the human race, phthisis pulmonalis, without any other treatment or restriction in food or drink. And why should not the climate of the fen lands of Lincolnshire, in the neighborhood of Spalding, prove as curative an agent for this disease as the climate of so many foreign regions where patients go and die, deprived of all the comforts of a home? Penzance, among the British localities, is reported to be superior to nine-tenths of the places to which patients are sent. Penzance, then, and Spalding should be particularly studied by medical men and recommended to consumptive individuals who wish to enjoy the benefits and advantages of a national place of relief, if not of cure."
Upon reading this I began to reflect upon the limitless nature of science. We never seem to find either beginning or end to it. Circles within circles, and no one can tell what communications there are between those circles. We cannot trace them. We are lost in infinity.
Miasmatic places are the most healthy places—for some of us at least.
Now, I think of it, I find I can give some support to this statement of Dr. Casanova. I was once on board a Liverpool steamer which put into Aspinwall, on the swampy Isthmus of Panama, for nine days. Upon our return home several of the sailors, otherwise healthy fellows, were prostrated by what was called Panama fever, whilst I myself, who had formerly suffered from tubercular disease of the lungs, was totally unaffected.
MULLEIN OIL.
Preparation.—Fill a bottle with the blossoms from the Verbascum thapsus, cork tight, and hang in the sun for four or five weeks. By that time there will be an oily liquid distilled. Mix with ten per cent. of alcohol.
(Dr. A. M. Cushing introduced this now rather well-known remedy to the medical profession in 1884. He writes of it as follows):
The history of it is this: My father's house was the home for all poor tramps, as well as ministers, etc. He fell into the river, got water in his ears and was quite deaf for months. A blind man called, heard loud conversation, asked the cause, etc., then said for kindness received he would tell us how to make something that would surely cure him, and it was worth a thousand dollars in New York city. We made the oil, put it in his ears at night, and he was well in the morning. For years we kept a bottle of it, and it travelled all around the towns and did wonders. That was when I was a youngster. When I studied medicine, or when I was practicing, I wanted to know if it was homœopathic, and made a proving, and developed the symptoms of almost constant but slight involuntary urination, keeping my pants wet.
I did not make any this past season, and have divided till I have but a little, half-and-half alcohol, left. I could spare a little of that, and next season, if I live, will try and make a quantity.
(The next item is from a letter of Dr. H. C. Houghton's, of New York, addressed to Boericke & Tafel.)
I have been much interested in the clinical study of this remedy—new, yet not new—but I have not succeeded in demonstrating what the symptom—deafness means in this case. Dr. Cushing does not claim to be an expert in this department, so time must help us out, and I am anxious to learn all I can of its effects on the ear.
In an old note-book of Dr. Hering's, Hearing and Ears, copied for me with the author's permission by my friend Dr. C. R. Norton, I noticed the following: "In Germany, flowers of Verbascum thapsus put in a dark-colored bottle, hung up in the sunlight, give in two or three weeks an oily fluid which has cured many old people and children." This method is impracticable, the amount produced being so small. Verbascum prepared in olive oil or fluid petroleum has the same effect as any oil; excellent in chronic disease of the integument; negative in middle ear disease. When your house brought out Mullein oil under Dr. Cushing's direction, I took it up again, and have prescribed it in a large number of cases. In chronic dermatitis of the external meatus and drum-head, or exfoliation after furuncle, it is excellent; in chronic catarrhal inflammation of the tympanum I have not been able to see any effect, but in chronic suppurative disease of the tympanum, or in accumulations of detritus in cases of perforation, scarred drum-heads, etc., it acts to dislodge accumulations, free the ossicula from pressure, and thereby improves the hearing; this process goes on for months till the tympanum has thrown out an amount of débris that is surprising. In a few cases it has caused soreness and increased muco-purulent discharge, due, I think, to excessive use.
My experience with it in chronic catarrh of the tympanum coincides with that of my friend, H. P. Bellows, M. D., of Boston, as published by him, but I purpose to continue the study of the drug, and hope for better results. In sub-acute or chronic disease after suppuration its effect is very gratifying; it aids exfoliation and checks irritation from exfoliated material.
I am able to confirm the symptoms noted of its effects in nocturnal enuresis in many instances. There is one effect I have not seen noticed by any observers: relief of night cough. More than ten years ago, Dr. H. A. Tucker, Brooklyn, N. Y., told me of a Glycerole of Mullein made by macerating the plant in Jamaica rum for two or three weeks, expressing it and adding to this product an equal quantity of glycerine. This led me to the use of the fluid extract of the plant, glycerine and water, equal parts, as a mollifier in cases where patients would resort to some popular remedy containing opium or similar opiate. The same effect can be produced by drop doses of Mullein oil, the teasing cough which comes on lying down, preventing the sleep usually yielding to a few doses.
(Dr. J. C. Wentz contributed the following bit of folk-lore):
The application of Mullein oil is of more general application than anything I have found in print. I report to you some cases:
Case I.—Mertie B., aged sixteen. Called to see her May 20, 1888. Found her suffering great pain in right ear. Parotid gland very much enlarged and painful. The right side of the head and face much swollen. Pulse about 100; tongue coated.
Treatment.—Mullein oil in the ear, and used as a liniment twice daily on the swollen parts. For the fever, Aconite. Great improvement during the first twenty-four hours, and on the 23d found the case convalescent.
Case II.—Carrie H., aged twenty-two. Her second child four weeks old. Called November 15, 1888. Right breast inflamed and sore. Two weeks previous it had been lanced by another physician, a little above the nipple, but now a place a little below and to the left of the nipple gives evidence of forming pus. I told her that in my judgment it had gone too far to check it then.
Treatment.—Mullein oil, one-half ounce in four ounces of water. Wet cloths and apply. The inflammation and soreness disappeared in one week, and by the use of the same remedy occasionally has entirely recovered without breaking. Her husband, when he paid me, said: "Well you have done better than any of the rest of the doctors."
Case III.—Linford S., aged sixty-four. Called to see him September 20, 1888. Has just recovered from typhoid fever, but is able to be around. Taken with inflammation of the right testicle. Swollen to the size of a goose egg, and much pain. Red and shining appearance of the skin. Cause unknown, unless it was in connection with chronic enlargement of prostate gland.
Treatment.—Mullein oil applied twice daily as a liniment. Mercurius sol. internally. In three days the soreness and pain had entirely disappeared, but the enlargement continued several days. He walked around with ease three or four days before swelling had diminished any.
Case IV.—F. C., aged thirty. Called November 16, 1888. Found inflammation of left kidney and of left testicle. Had been under treatment by another doctor and had recovered partially, but relapsed. Suffering much with pain in testicle, which ran up the spermatic cord and through to the left kidney.
Treatment.—Cantharis and Aconite, as there was some fever. Mullein oil applied to the testicle. Rapid improvement during the first twenty-four hours, and made a quick recovery.
I have also cured a case of chronic inflammation of the eyes, and a case of chilblains from which the patient had suffered, during the winter, for about six years. * * *
Every drug has its exact range. This one being new to the profession, we are just learning what it will do. In all these cases the Mullein oil has had an outward application twice daily.
A short time ago I was in Dodge city and was talking with a friend about the use of various remedies in veterinary practice, and amongst them I mentioned an almost instant cure of earache in a boy and also the same in a cat by the use of Mullein oil. He said: "Why do you homœopaths use that? I used to have the well sweep full of bottles of mullein blossoms when I was a boy. We used the oil as a dressing for burns, and it was the best thing we could get." He also related to me the following case, which is of interest and may prove of great value: An old neighbor, a Mr. Kemmis, had spent a large amount of money treating with various physicians for what they pronounced a rose cancer and without any relief. An Indian squaw told him to use Mullein oil. He distilled it (as it is now prepared, by sun exposure), and for a short time bathed the cancer with the oil. The growth of the cancer was permanently checked, but was not healed. Mr. K. lived, perhaps, forty years after the treatment was used, and the cancer never again bothered him.
MUCUNA URENS.
Nat. Ord., Leguminosæ. Common Name, Horse-eye. Preparation.—The pulverized bean is macerated in five times its weight of alcohol.
(Delgado Palacios, of Venezuela, in 1897, wrote Messrs. Boericke & Tafel concerning this remedy):
Reading the list of remedies of your "Physicians' Price Current," I was very much astonished to meet with the name Dolichos pruriens, which the greater and modern authorities in botanical matters consider an identical plant with Mucuna urens.
You will meet the botanical description of Mucuna urens and altissima (two varieties) in the Flora of West Indian Islands, by A. H. R. Grisebach, p. 198 (Grisebach regards Mucuna and Dolichos as two different genus).
If one consider that there is a discussion upon this subject, and on the other hand that the mother tincture you possess is that which is made with the hair on the epidermis of the pod (North American Journal of Homœopathy, vol. 1, p. 209. Allgemeine Homœopathische Zeitung, vol. 53, p. 135. Oehme, Hale's Amerikanische Heilmittel, p. 242), while the tincture which we employ is made with the pulverized bean (1:5 alcohol) enclosed in the pod of a special plant which grows in the calid regions of Venezuela I believe you must try the same tincture we use and the success will be that which we obtain.
I have used my tincture of Mucuna urens extensively in a great number of hæmorrhoids and with the most satisfactory results. It seems that the characteristic symptom or key-note is a sensation of burning. The hæmorrhoids may be or not in a great stage of development, there may be more or less blood, etc.
One can consider the Mucuna urens as a specific against the hæmorrhoidal diathesis. The diseases of other organs, depending upon that cause, liver, uterus (hæmorrhage) and intestinal affections, yield admirably to its use.
I have been treating recently a remarkable case of chronic ingurgitation of a testicle, small and frequent hæmaturias, and other intestinal troubles with a prominent symptom, the hæmorrhoidal state, which led me to use Mucuna, and in a few months I have obtained a perfect success.
The experiences have taught me, and I have the conviction that this tincture is a more perfect remedy for the cure of hæmorrhoids than any other remedy known. I rely upon it more faithfully than I do upon Hamamelis, Æsculus, etc.
Its pathogenetics are not known.
I frequently use the mother tincture in the hæmorrhoids, one drop daily. I seldom use the lower dilutions. Mucuna may be used also, and with success, as an ointment.
The beans are very difficult to obtain; the plant has a single yearly crop.
NAPHTHALIN.
Origin—A chemical compound procured from coal, alcohol, ether vapor, etc. Preparation.—Trituration of the pure naphthalin.
(Two clinical cases illustrating the use of Naphthalin. The first is by Dr. W. L. Hartman, in Transaction of the Homœopathic Medical Society of New York, 1896.)
In treating children we are often disappointed in our results; in making prescriptions we think we have just the right thing in the right place, but when we come to see our case again we are confronted with the same condition that we had before. We may say the same in adults, but not so often. In whooping cough in the very young who are unable to tell us how they feel we must rely on what the mother may tell us; but how often do we find mothers who cannot tell their own symptoms, let alone those of their children? Now, what do we do? Sit and look wise and guess at our prescriptions while we hear the little fellow coughing, in fact trying to cough his head off and at the same time lose his breath.
Well, now while you are thinking and looking wise in this case, just think of Naphthalin and give a tablet triturate of the 1x every two hours, and when you are consulted the next time you will not be annoyed with the dreadful choking spell. Now in prescribing this remedy it is not necessary to wait until the child chokes to death with the cough, but give it from the first and you will be surprised how it will cut the disease short. I do not know as I have ever given this remedy without receiving benefit, and in many cases it was unnecessary to give any other remedy to cure the case; if it is, Drosera will follow best.
The grand characteristic of this remedy is long and continued paroxysms of coughing, unable to get a respiration, sometimes so violent as to cause perspiration.
This remedy is not only good in whooping cough, but in any condition where you get the above symptoms Naphthalin will cure your case just the same. Now my experience with this remedy where I have prescribed above the 1x has been very unsatisfactory, so, of late, I only use the one potency.
(The other by Dr. W. A. Weaver in Hahnemannian Monthly, 1898.)
My experience with Naphthalin in whooping cough is as yet limited, but the results obtained have very much exceeded other remedies and I wish to cite a few cases in which the alleviation of the symptoms was soon appreciable.
Case I.—Francis——, a boy of 9 months, with a severe bronchitis as a complication. The breathing was labored. The respiratory murmur was feeble and a large number of sibilant and sonorous râles were heard, when I was called to see the case. The child had become emaciated, had a cyanotic appearance, was unable to retain food for any length of time, because of the frequent paroxysms accompanied by vomiting, and was very much exhausted. Later, the moist râles became very prominent over the entire chest. The paroxysms were of great length, and accompanying was a free discharge of thick, tenacious mucus from the nose and mouth. Many of the favorite remedies employed in this disease were prescribed, but with little effect. Naphthalin was then given, four or five drops of the tincture in one-half glass of water. In a short time the paroxysms were lessened in severity and frequency, the expectoration was freer, the number of râles were lessened, and shortly convalescence was well established.
Case II.—John——, 3-1/2 years, with an accompanying bronchitis. Symptoms worse at night. Paroxysms very long and severe; would hold his head to relieve the pain from coughing. Great difficulty experienced in breathing. A number of râles heard over portion of the chest, with little expectoration. After Naphthalin had been given for a short time improvement began, and terminated without further complications.
Case III.—Patrick——, a man 23 years of age, large physique and healthy appearance, contracted pertussis from other members of the family, and, although not accompanied by the whoop, the paroxysms were very severe. They were not frequent during the day but many during the night. He would wake the entire house by coughing and would become purple in the face. He had been suffering a week or two before I saw him. I prescribed Drosera, Corrallium rub., Ipecac and Hyoscyamus, without appreciable improvement. He gradually grew worse until Naphthalin 1x in pellets was given. The spasmodic condition was relieved very shortly, and although the cough remained for a short time it never became severe and soon entirely disappeared.
NARCISSUS.
Nat. Ord., Amaryllidaceæ. Common Name, Daffodil. Preparation.—The young buds, stems and leaves are macerated in two times their weight of alcohol.
(The following is from the Homœopathic Recorder for May, 1899):
"Agricola," one of the Homœopathic World's oldest contributors, has the following to say of this very old, yet little known, remedy. After stating how he prepared it, he continues as follows:
"A case of bronchitis (a continuous cough) has from Narcissus 1-3x obtained such prompt marked relief, where a most varied selection of the standard remedies had hitherto failed, as to induce me to write these few lines in hope that as this beautiful flower is about to be found in most cottage gardens the prevalent bronchitis, whooping and other coughs may meet with prompt cures. Dr. Chargé's work, Maladies de la Respiration, quotes the great Laennec, M. D., as an authority in re Narcissus."
There is no proving whatever of this drug, although in the Encyclopædia (Allen) a case of poisoning from the bulbs eaten as a salad is given; but the remedy as prescribed by Agricola was prepared from the young buds, stems and leaves, so the case in the Encyclopædia is not apropos, nor is the old tincture from the bulbs of use.
The name of the plant, Narcissus, is not from that of the fabled youth who fell in love with his own image reflected in the water, but is from the Greek Narkao, "to be numb," on account of the narcotic properties of the drug. The classic Asphodel and the Narcissus are the same, from which it may be seen that the plant dates back as far as man's records go. Fernie, in his excellent Herbal Simples, from which we gather the preceding, also says: "An extract of the bulbs applied to open wounds has produced staggering numbness of the whole nervous system and paralysis of the heart. Socrates called this plant the 'Chaplet of the Infernal Gods,' because of its narcotic effects."
Fernie also says that a decoction of the dried flowers is emetic, and when sweetened will, as an emetic, serve most usefully for relieving the congestive bronchial catarrh of children. "Agricola's" experience, quoted above, however, seems to disprove the notion that the beneficial action in bronchial catarrh is the result of the emetic properties of the drug, but demonstrates rather that it is peculiarly homœopathic to this malady and long-continued coughs, especially of nervous origin, as may be inferred from the following, the concluding paragraph in Fernie's section on the Narcissus:
"The medicinal influence of the Daffodil on the nervous system has led to giving its flowers and its bulb for hysterical affections, and even epilepsy, with benefit."
The National Dispensatory says practically the same, i.e., "The emetic action of Narcissus has been used to break up intermittent fever and relieve bronchial catarrh with congestion or obstruction of the air tubes. Like Ipecacuanha, it has also been prescribed in dysentery, especially of the epidemic form. Its influence upon the nervous system, is attested by the vogue it has enjoyed in hysteria, chorea, whooping cough and even epilepsy."
It is still the emetic action that is looked to here, but any good homœopath will see beyond that, in Agricola's experience, and perceive a strong homœopathic action in the drug to the conditions named, for if it were the emetic action only that is efficacious then, certainly, one emetic would do as well as another, but there is something more, and the curative action can be obtained from homœopathic doses without the emetic action. The tincture should not be prepared from the bulb, as has been the case in the past, but from the fresh buds and leaves. From such a preparation considerable benefit in obstinate bronchial coughs should be confidently expected.
NEGUNDO.
Nat. Ord., Sapindaceæ. Common Names, Box Elder. Ash-leaved Maple. Preparation.—The bark of the root is macerated in twice its weight of alcohol.
(In the California Medical Journal, 1898, Dr. O. S. Laws, of Los Angeles, California, writes of a new "pile" remedy, Negundo):
I suggested that we have a "Symposium," in Our Journal, on single remedies. They are the backbone of whatever science there is in therapeutics, and should be kept in view. As a starter I offer one that is entirely new to the medical fraternity, as I cannot find it in any medical work.
In botanical language it is known as Negundium Americanum. The common name is "box elder." It is a native of Kansas. It is a distant relative of the Acer family. I had just fairly begun to test its value when I left Kansas for California, and not finding it here, except as a shade tree on the sidewalks, I cannot get any of the root bark, which is the part used. From the short experience I had with it I conclude it is the best internal remedy we have for hemorrhoids. I have used Colinsonia and Æsculus without ever being impressed with their prompt action. But Negundo goes at it as Colocynth does in its specialty, so that the victim who has been writhing with an engorged rectum "will arise up and call you blessed." So you see this is not only a single remedy, but a "fundamental" one. The bark of the root in the yearling plants is what I prefer.
Recent cases of hemorrhoids can be completely cured in this way, and the old hard cases temporarily relieved. So, gentlemen of the medical profession, I hereby introduce to you my friend Negundo.
ONOSMODIUM VIRGINIANUM.
Nat. Ord., Borraginaceæ. Common Name, False Cromwell. Preparation.—The entire plant with root is macerated in twice its weight of alcohol.
(This paper was prepared by Dr. W. A. Vingling for the Kansas State Homœopathic Society, and reprinted in Homœopathic Physician for July, 1893).
To the homœopathic physician a new remedy, well proven, is an acquisition of greater importance than honor or wealth, for his sole duty being to relieve the sufferings of humanity, he acquires a new tool with which to accomplish his work. To the degree that the new remedy has peculiar characteristics its value is enhanced, to the extent that the pathogenetic effects are different from every other drug its usefulness becomes the more apparent. Generalities constitute a poor basis upon which to prescribe. Peculiarities, the unusual symptoms, give certainly an assurance in every prescription.
We have in Onosmodium a remedy with some peculiarities, and occupying a sphere unique, a curative range differing from that of every other drug. The remedy holds within its grasp the power to restore peace to the disrupted family, and to prevent the truant husband seeking the sweets of "stolen waters" by restoring the wife to the enjoyable performance of her wifely functions, and thus gratifying the dissatisfied husband. This generation of one-child families, Malthusian, with the long train of misery entailed upon the licensed family, adultery consequent upon preventive measures, malum in se, has its remedy in Onosmodium to a very large extent.
We pass to consider the more important pathogenesis of the remedy in regular course. A great part of this paper is necessarily based upon the notes of the original author, Dr. W. E. Green, with some isolated symptoms from the journals and my own experience.
We find marked in the mental sphere a drowsiness of mind and confusion of thought, dulness of intelligence, a dazed feeling of the mind. The party wants to think and not move, so absorbed in thought as to forget all else and where she is. There is a complete listlessness and apathy of the mind; she cannot concentrate her thoughts. From this want of concentration there follows an impairment of the memory, she cannot remember what is said. In conversation she will forget the subject, will begin a new one, and then suddenly change to another. There is great confusion of ideas. This listlessness is so great as to cause forgetfulness of what one is reading, or that one is reading at all: the book drops in vague and listless thought. The time passes too slowly, and minutes seem like hours. There is great irritability of temper.
There is a continuous and ever-present feeling of heaviness of the head. Pains in the left side of the head and over the left eye, extending round the left side to the back of the head and neck, greatly aggravated by moving or jarring. Intense pain driving her to bed; relieved by sleep, but soon returning after waking. There is a constant dull headache, chiefly centered over the left eye and in the left temple; always worse in the dark and when lying down. Here we have a contradictory symptom—always worse lying down. The general symptoms are ameliorated by lying down. This peculiar feature is also seen in some of the polycrests. Bryonia alb. has a "pain and pressure in the shoulder when at rest." Rhus tox. has a "stiff neck, with painful tension when moving;" Arsenicum alb. has a headache relieved by cold water.
Onosmodium has a dull, heavy pain in the occiput pressing upward with a dizzy sensation. Pain changing from the right frontal eminence to the left and remaining there. Darting and throbbing in the left temple. A dull pain in the mastoid process. She cannot bear to move. A sense of fullness in the head. Relieved by eating and sleep.
The eyes are heavy and dull; the eyes feel as though one had lost a great deal of sleep. The lids are heavy. The eyeballs have a dull, heavy pain with soreness. A sensation of the eyes being very wide open, with a desire to look at distinct objects, it being disagreeable to look at near objects. Distant objects look very large. Picric acid patients can only see clearly at very close range, often at only five inches from the eye; Natrum sulph. has impairment of vision for distant objects. With Onosmodium the ocular muscles feel tense, tired, and drawn. Pains in and over left eye. Pain in upper portion of left orbit, with a feeling of expansion. The vision is impaired and blurred.
The hearing is impaired. There is a stuffed-full feeling in the ears as after catching cold. Singing in the ears as from quinine, but very slight.
The nose feels dry. There is a stuffed feeling in the posterior nares. The discharge from the posterior nose is whitish and sticky, producing a constant hawking. Constant sneezing in the morning; sneezing when first getting up. The bones of the nose pain.
Flushed face, with relief from headache. That dry feeling of the nose is also present in the mouth and lips. Bitter, clammy taste in the mouth. Saliva is very scant, with the dry feeling in the mouth; cold water relieves. Sore throat. It hurts to swallow or speak. That dryness follows down the throat and pharynx, and is accompanied with severe soreness. Raw, scraping feeling in the throat. When swallowing the pharynx feels constricted. All the throat symptoms are relieved by cold drinks and by eating. The voice is husky. The chest feels sore.
Morning sickness like that of pregnancy. Distaste for water, yet there is a craving for ice water and cold drinks; wants to drink often. The abdomen feels bloated and distended, which is relieved by undressing. The pains in the lower part of the abdomen are also relieved by undressing or by lying on the back. This amelioration from undressing is observed to run through all the symptoms of the drug. A constant feeling as though diarrhœa would come on.
The stools are yellow, mushy, or greenish-yellow, stringy, mushy, with tenesmus. Also, slimy, bloody, stringy stool, with tenesmus. The provers were hurried out of bed in the morning to stool.
The urine is scanty, highly colored, dark straw and brown, very acid, and of high specific gravity. The desire is seldom, or else frequent, with scanty flow.
In regard to the sexual organs we quote from that racy writer, Dr. S. A. Jones, who says: "Onosmodium Virginianum in its primary action seems directly opposite to Picric acid. Perhaps provings of it with smaller doses will oblige me to change this dictum. If they do not, then Onosmodium will occupy the singular position of a remedy that primarily depresses the sexual appetite. If this should ultimately prove to be the case, it will invest this remedy with an unmistakable significance to physicians who are practicing at the tail end of the nineteenth century, for, from our habits of life, it is the end that is showing signs of distress. In estimating the validity of this suggestion, the reader will bear in mind Hahnemann's dictum that only the primary symptoms of a drug afford the indications for its therapeutical application. This is a canon of Hahnemannian Homœopathy, and it is true as regards the infinitesimal dose. Then, this being true (for I will not stop to discuss it), Picric acid will be indicated for the initial stage of sexual debility and Onosmodium for the fully developed consequences of sexual abuse; and this, because the said 'initial stage' is characterized by erethism while the ulterior consequences are denoted by atony asthenia. The erethism of sexual debility is plainly evinced in Picric acid, and the ultimate asthenia is as really discovered in Onosmodium Virginianum."
In the male we find diminished sexual desire. Cold feeling in the glans penis. Nocturnal emissions. Too speedy emissions. Deficient erections with diminished pleasure.
In the female we find severe uterine pains. Bearing-down pains in the uterine region. Uterine cramps. Soreness in region of uterus, increased by pressure of the hand or of the clothing; had to remove the corset. Return of old uterine pains. Dull, heavy aching, and slowly pulsating pains in the ovaries. Pains pass from one ovary to the other and leave a soreness which remains till the pain returns. Ovarian pains increased by pressure. Sexual desire completely destroyed. This symptom I have verified a number of times, and in every case the parties prevented conception. The uterine pains are all better when undressed or lying on the back. Constant feeling as though the menses would appear. Menses early and profuse, but otherwise normal so far as known. Leucorrhœa light yellowish, slightly offensive and excoriating; profuse, running down the legs. Itching of the vulva aggravated by scratching and from the leucorrhœal discharge. Aching in both breasts, but worse in the left. Breasts feel swollen and engorged. Left breast feels bruised and painful on pressure. Nipples itch. In one case where this remedy was given for dryness of the nose and throat, the diminutive almost absent, breasts were restored to their pristine glory, and resulted in the displacement of the cotton batting pads to the exceeding joy and delight of the proud woman.
Pains in the neck, running back from the forehead. Dull aching in the neck. Bearing down pain in the lumbar region. Dull, aching pain in the lumbar region. In the female provers there was produced a pain over the crest of the left ilium. Tired, weary and numb feeling in the legs and popliteal spaces. Feeling of numbness, mostly below the knees. The legs feel as if they were partially anæsthetized. The tendons and joints of the knees have a dull, aching pain. Tremulousness of the legs. Disturbance of the gait in walking, with a sense of insecurity in step. Staggering gait, he cannot keep in the walk. The sidewalks seem too high; he must step high which jars him and greatly aggravates the headache. Dull, heavy pain in the instep of the left foot. Numb, tingling pain in the outer side of both little toes. The legs feel tired, as though they would not sustain the weight of the body. Sensation of formication in the calves of the legs. Ankles swollen.
Pain in the left scapular region, confined to a small spot. Fluoric acid and Lilium tig. have pain confined to a small spot in any location, while Oxalic acid has a pain confined to small longitudinal spots. Magnesia phos. has a sharp burning pain, about an inch in diameter, under the border of the left scapula, as from a hot iron (see also Phos.); with Onosmodium there is a dull, aching pain in the biceps muscle, also a pain of like nature in the elbow joint and wrists. The arms and hands feel tired and weak; they tremble. Inability to co-ordinate the muscular movements of the arms. Pain in the phalangeal articulation.
The aggravations are generally from motion or jarring; from pressure or tightness of clothing.
The ameliorations are peculiar and marked. Better when quiet, when lying down on the back, when undressed, when in the open air, from sleep, from cold drinks, from eating.
In the generalities we find great muscular weakness or prostration and tired feeling over the entire body. A feeling as though one had just gotten up from a severe spell of sickness. Nervous trembling as if from hunger. The least exertion produces a tremulousness. The muscles feel treacherous and unsteady as though one did not dare to trust them. A desire to change position without any definite cause or reason, and without any change for the better or worse. Later in the proving there was a desire to lie down and be quiet, with a drowsy, sleepy feeling. A sensation as if a chill would come on; a tired, aching, stretching, gaping, disagreeable feeling. All sensations are worse in the left side.
In my own experience I have used the remedy from the mother tincture up. I got no results from the tincture. Hardly any from the 30th, but a marked, decided, and very rapid action from the CM. I use nothing lower than the CM, and prefer the higher.
ORIGANUM MAJORANA.
Nat. Ord., Labiatæ. Common Name, Sweet Marjoram. Preparation.—The whole plant without the root, gathered when in flower, is macerated in two times its weight of alcohol.
(A treatise on the "Sexual Passion," by the late Dr. Gallavardin, Lyons, France, contains this item on Origanum):
The person who discovered a remedy that in a certain sense may be considered as a specific against sexual passion was a clergyman of Mizza, the founder of an orphan asylum. This remedy is Origanum majorana (or common marjoram), which proves effective in masturbation and in excessively-aroused sexual impulses. The author uses it in the 4th dilution, as he has not found the higher potencies effective. He dissolves five or six globules of this dilution in four teaspoonfuls of fresh water, and the young masturbator takes of this every two days, a quarter of an hour before the meal, one teaspoonful. If the cure is not accomplished eight days after this solution is used up, the same dose is repeated in the same way. When desired, this remedy can be used, according to the author, without the knowledge of the patient, by pouring a teaspoonful into the soup, milk or chocolate.
The effect frequently appears very rapidly, but sometimes it does not appear.
OXYTROPIS LAMBERTI.
Nat. Ord., Leguminosæ. Common Names, "Loco" Weed. Rattle Weed. Preparation.—The whole plant without the root is macerated in two times its weight of alcohol.
(The following proving of the "loco weed" was conducted by the late Dr. W. S. Gee, of Chicago, in 1887):
Oxytropis Lamberti, Pursh.—Commonly taller, as well as larger, than other varieties (the scapes often a foot or more high); silky,—and mostly silvery-pubescent, sometimes glabrate in age; leaflets from oblong-lanceolate to linear (4 to 16 inches long); spike, sometimes short-oblong and densely flowered, at least when young; often elongated and sparsely flowered; flowers mostly large (often an inch long, but sometimes much smaller), variously colored; pod, either narrowly or broadly oblong, sericeous pubescent, firm-coriaceous, half-inch or more long, imperfectly two-celled. Includes O. Campestris of Hook, Fl. Bor. Am., in part. Common along the Great Plains from Saskatchewan and Minnesota to New Mexico, Texas, etc., and in the foot-hills.—From Coulter's Manual of the Botany of the Rocky Mountain Region.
It is one of the poisonous members of that family. It is found in California and New Mexico.
It is a perennial plant, with herbaceous or slightly shrubby stems, the foliage remaining green during winter when grass is scarce, and so attracting animals that would otherwise probably instinctively shun it. The plants do not appear to be equally poisonous at all seasons or in all localities, and it has been doubted whether the active properties they possess are due to a normal constituent of the plant. No medical use has ever been made of these plants, although their poisonous character has often led to the suggestion that they might be found valuable. No physiological study has been made of the action of the poison, and no complete chemical analysis has as yet appeared.
The stockmen speak of it as causing intoxication in the animals which eat it, and a prominent symptom is the "loco" condition, in which the power of co-ordination is lost or greatly limited. They cannot readily readjust for changes in gait, etc. A horse travels on level ground, but finds great difficulty in changing to pass over an elevation or depression, or, when going up hill, he has great difficulty in starting down hill; it is difficult, when he is still, to impress him that he must go, and as difficult to stop him when desired. The same rule applies to eating and other necessaries. Such a horse is said to be "locoed." Professor Hawkes procured specimens from which Boericke & Tafel made a tincture. To further test the merits of the remedy, the students of the class at Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago kindly participated in a proving.
Professor Hawkes received some reports from his group, but has mislaid his papers, and he is unable to give in detail the symptoms produced. He stated, however, that the principal action corroborated that given above.
During 1886-'87 term I made another attempt, and a few reports were received. The remedy was given by number, that the prover should not know what he took, nor the strength of it. Some were given the θ, others 1xd , 2xd , 3xd , 12x powders, 30x powders, and some higher.
A few reported "no effect" from the θ. The following includes the report from five persons:
1. (Mr. S. P. F., 10 drops of θ.) 2. (Mrs. W., 10 drops of 3xd repeated.) 3. (Mr. G. H. A., 15 drops of 3xd .) 4. (Mrs. P., powders of 12x repeated.) 5. (Mrs. L., powders of 30x.) 6. (Mrs. L., powders of 12x.)
Symptomatology.
Mind.—Great mental depression,1 ,3 . Cannot think or concentrate his thoughts,1 ,3 . Very forgetful of familiar words and names,3 . No life,1 . Disinclination to talk or study,3 . Wants to be alone,3 . Is better satisfied to sit down and do nothing,3 . Feels perfectly despondent,3 . A feeling as if I would lose consciousness,3 . All symptoms worse when thinking of them,1 ,3 .
Sensorium.—Strange sensation about the head,4 . A feeling as if I would lose consciousness, or as if I would fall when standing,5 . Sense of fulness of the head, and of instability, when standing or sitting,6 .
Head.—The head has a feeling of great pressure, especially on moving the eyeballs,4 . Head hot,6 . Was unable to move around on account of this strange, uncertain feeling of numbness, with prickling sensation in left arm and hand,4 . Full, uncomfortable feeling in the head,5 . Slight headache in vertex and occiput in forenoon, over the eyeballs about noon,1 . Pain in the helix of the ear for two or three minutes, then pain commenced between the eyes and went in a straight line up over the head and down to the base of the brain,2 . Pain across the base of the brain,2 ("gone in a minute or two"). Dulness in frontal region, must lie down,4 . Pain in occipital region is constant since 1 p.m.; heavy ache, as if a weight were attached to the lower edge, pulling it back, but pain does not extend down the back,2 ; all stop at 3 p.m.,2 . A pressing headache from 2 to 5 p.m.,3 (on 2d day). Awoke with slight pressing pain in forehead, which increased gradually until about 2 p.m., and then gradually decreased,3 . Pain, dull and heavy, in the head, with sense of pressure,4 . Head very sensitive, < on the side on which I lie,3 . Pressure upon the head disappearing after sleep,4 . Dull, heavy feeling in the head, with uncertain gait and walk, so that she was obliged to lie down, when she fell into a deep sleep and woke up with the metallic taste.
Eyes.—Feel dull and heavy, blurred, pupils dilated,3 ,4 . When reading, it seems as if a light were reflected from a bright copper plate seen at the left side, as if the light were at the end of the room,6 . Pain in the eyeball,4 . Pain over the right eye,6 .
Ears.—Roaring sound in the ears,3 .
Nose.—Very dry; scabs form in the nose,3 . Frequent violent sneezing, with fluent coryza in the evening,1 . Nose feels as if sunburnt; red and shining, especially on alæ,1 . Feeling of pressure over the bridge of the nose,1 . Fluent coryza, somewhat bloody,1 .
Mouth.—Very dry, especially in the morning,3 . Metallic taste in the mouth, strongly marked,1 . Gumboil on left lower maxillary; profuse saliva,1 . Pain in left lower maxillary,1 . Tenderness of all the molars,1 .
Throat.—Slight inflammation of the pharynx, a "husky" feeling,1 . Dry and sore,3 .
Eating and Drinking.—Appetite gradually increasing,1 .
Appetite good; symptoms, < after eating, > after an hour,2 . Loss of appetite,6 (unusual).
Nausea and Vomiting.—Eructations, as after taking soda-water (after each powder), with colicky pains,5 , and looseness of the bowels (constipated before taking the remedy),5 . Eructations, empty, frequent,1 . Slight nausea, all day at intervals,2 (first day). A very tired, languid feeling all forenoon, accompanied by nausea on lying down, passing away on getting up, and returning on lying down again (not at night).
Stomach.—Tenderness in the epigastric region,1 . A kind of pressing soreness,3 . Cold during the chill,2 .
Abdomen.—Sharp, lancinating pains all through the abdomen, early in the evening,5 (observed but once). Sharp pain, running from right to left across the bowels, for several minutes, followed by a very strong desire to go to stool; entire relief after stool; slight griping pain in the region of the umbilicus, working down at 8 p.m., followed at 10 p.m. by discharge of flatus; full feeling in abdomen, causing short breathing after lying down in bed,1 .
Stool.—Symptoms marked and constant. Fæces of the consistency of mush, which slips through the sphincters in little lumps, very similar to lumps of jelly,3 . Stools dark brown, or like jelly,3 . Urgent desire for stool, sometimes removed by passing wind; quantity normal,3 . Sore feeling in the rectum,3 . Crawling sensation in rectum as if little worms were there,3 . Stool inclined to be hard; unsatisfied feeling, as though not done,1 . Stool solid at first, then diarrhœa,1 . Movement of the bowels at an unusual time,2 (6:30 p.m., had moved the morning of same day). Sharp pain from right to left across the bowels, followed by very strong desire for stool,2 . Stool, first hard, then loose,2 . Entire relief from pain after stool,2 .
Urine.—Symptoms very marked,3 . Characterized from the first by a very profuse flow of clear, or almost colorless urine, nearly the color of water,3 . Three to four times the normal quantity,3 ,1 ,4 ,2 . When thinking of urinating I had to go at once,3 . No sediment whatever,3 ,1 . Pain in the kidneys, hardest in right, with some tenderness,1 . At the expiration of every two or three hours after stopping the remedy, there was an enormous flow of pale, straw-colored urine, and with this would gradually disappear the metallic taste which was so marked,4 . Free urination, dark in color, no distress,2 . Urine scanty, and looked like that of a child troubled with worms, light red-colored stain on bottom of vessel,2 (second day). Awoke with a heavy pain in the kidneys,2 (third day). Urine clear on passing, but becomes as above described on standing,2 (third day). During day urine scanty, with considerable irritation, as if the muscles of the bladder were contracting, > moving about,2 .
Male Sexual Organs.—From being naturally of a passionate nature, the desire and ability diminished to impotence,3 . No sexual desire or ability,3 . Bruised feeling in the testicles, beginning in the right and extending to the left—came on after going to bed,1 . Occasional pain, of short duration, in glans penis,1 . Pain in testicles, worse with extension along spermatic cord and down thighs,1 (third day).
Sexual Organs, Female.—At 1.30 p.m., felt a pain in left ovary, like something grasping or holding tightly for about an hour, then disappeared,2 .
Larynx.—Slight accumulation of mucus in the larynx, hard to cough it up,2 .
Breathing.—Short and quick breathing from the full feeling in the abdomen,1 . Hard breathing, as though lungs and bronchi were closing as the chill passes off.
Cough.—A dry cough, from any little exercise,3 (eleventh day). A short, hacking cough, with tightness across the chest,2 (third day).
Lungs.—Oppression at 9 p.m.,1 (first day).
Heart and Pulse.—Palpitation after lying down at night, for 15 to 20 minutes,1 (seventh day). On going to bed, pain, like a wave, over the heart,2 (second day), < lying down. Pulse 84, intermittent,2 (2 p.m. of third day).
Outer Chest.—A warm, tingling sensation over left chest, just under the skin,2 (lasted five minutes).
Neck and Back.—Neck pains. Pain and stiffness of the muscles of the back of the neck.
Upper Extremities.—Stitching pain in right wrist for half an hour, leaving a tired feeling in joint,2 . At 12:30, a sharp, cutting pain running from point of shoulder down front of chest to point of hip bone, going suddenly,2 . Flesh feels as though she had taken a heavy cold,2 . Sharp pain, with coldness, from left shoulder-joint extending down the arm < in shoulder-joint, > sleep; goes away gradually,4 . Prickling sensation in left arm and hand,4 .
Lower Extremities.—Stitching pain in right leg and knee-joint for half an hour, leaving a tired feeling in the joint,2 . Hard pain in the left big toe-joint,2 . Pain inside of left leg from the groin to the knee,2 .
Extremities in General.—Flesh on under side of limbs sore,2 . Sore feeling of all the muscles of the right side of the body,2 . All the pains come and go quickly, but the muscles remain sore and stiff,2 . Frequent fine pains all over the body until 3 p.m., when all disappeared and felt as well as usual,2 .
Position.—All pains better when moving about and when in the cool air,2 . Nausea, heart symptoms and breathing, < lying down,1 ,2 .
Nerves.—At 10 a.m. a very sick, exhausted feeling appeared,2 .
Sleep.—Not very sound,3 . Dreams of a pleasant or lascivious character,3 . Wakes often,2 . On rising feels sad, weary, despondent,3 . Twitching of the muscles on falling asleep roused him,3 (once three or four nights). Dreamed of spiders, bugs,2 (first night), of swimming in water,2 (second night—am not in the habit of dreaming).
Chill.—Chill at 11:40 a.m., beginning in back between shoulders, down over body to feet; stomach feels cold; pains all over body during chill; a peculiar sensation of crawling or contraction of the abdominal muscles, hardest about the navel, lasted about half an hour,2 . As the chill passes off a smarting in the throat and a feeling as though the lungs and bronchi would close up, making breathing very difficult; chill lasted until 1 p.m., followed by perspiration of palms of the hands and soles of the feet; the changeable pains remained until 3 p.m., when all disappeared,2 . No thirst in either stage,2 . Felt badly for three days at same hour as chill,2 . For four weeks on every seventh day had a chill with all the above symptoms; the coldness of the spine was continuous for eight weeks, and was then removed by Gelsemium,2 .
(Dr. W. D. Gentry, while at Las Vegas, New Mexico, made the following summary of the action of the remedy. Homœopathic Recorder, 1895):
For the present I will only give a few of the leading symptoms produced by the Loco weed:
Brain and Mind: Stimulation of mind; pleasant intoxicated feeling. Satisfied indifference to all influences and interests.
Head: Full, warm feeling about the head.
Eyes: Strange feeling of fullness about the eyes, with sight obscured, so that it appears that one is looking through clear water which produces about all of the seven prismatic colors, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and violet.
Paralysis of nerves, and muscles of the eyes, producing amblyopia. Pupils contracted and do not respond to light.
Eyesight lost with feeling as if in consequence of long exposure to strong, arc-electric lights.
Neck and Back: Numb, pithy or woody feeling about and in the spine.
Lower Extremities: Loss of power to control movements of body or limbs.
Swaying, staggering gait.
Reflex action of tendon-patella lost.
General: Weakness and insecurity of all powers of locomotion.
Feeling of intoxication, with almost entire loss of vision.
Amblyopia: sense of touch greatly weakened.
(From the Kansas City Star.)
The loco weed of the Western plains is to vegetation what the rattlesnake is to animal life. The name comes from the Spanish and signifies insanity. It is a dusky green and grows in small bunches or handfuls and scatters itself in a sparse and meagre way about the country. It is in short a vegetable nomad and travels about not a little. Localities where it this season flourishes in abundance may not see any of it next year, nor indeed for a number of years to come.
The prime property of the loco is to induce insanity in men or animals who partake of it. Animals—mules, horses, sheep and cattle—avoid it naturally, and under ordinary circumstances never touch it. But in the winter, when an inch or two of snow has covered the grass, these green bunches of loco standing clear and above the snow are tempting bits to animals which are going about half starved at the best. Even then it is not common for them to eat it. Still, some do and it at once creates an appetite in the victim similar in its intense force to the alcohol habit in mankind.
Once started on the downward path of loco a mule will abandon all other forms of food and look for it. In a short time its effects become perfectly apparent. You will see a locoed mule standing out on the shadowless plain with not a living, moving thing in his vicinity. His head is drooping and his eyes are half closed. On the instant he will kick and thresh out his heels in the most warlike way. Under the influence of loco he sees himself surrounded by multitudes of threatening ghosts and is repelling them.
The mind of the animal is completely gone. He cannot be driven or worked because of his utter lack of reason. He will go right or left or turn around in the harness in spite of bits or whip, or will fail to start or stop, and all in a vacant, idiotic way devoid of malice. The victim becomes as thin physically as mentally, and after retrograding four or five months at last dies, the most complete wreck on record. Many gruesome tales are furnished of cruel Spanish and Mexican ladies who, in a jealous fit, have locoed their American admirers through the medium of loco tea. Two or three cases in kind are reported in the Texas lunatic asylum.
ŒNANTHE CROCATA.
Preparation.—The fresh root is macerated in two parts by weight of alcohol.
(The following paper on Œnanthe crocata was kindly sent to the editor by Dr. W. A. Dewey, of the Ann Arbor University, Michigan):
Œnanthe crocata belongs to the large family of the Umbelliferæ which furnishes us with Conium and Cicuta. It grows in marshy localities in England and France. In Botanical works of the 16th and 17th centuries it was often confounded with Cicuta virosa, an error which has even been made in more recent times, in fact, only one Botanist of the 19th century described the plant with sufficient exactness for its recognition, and that was DeLobel, who published his Botany in 1851. It is one of the largest plants of the family, being 3 to 5 feet high. Our tincture is from the fresh root.
Historical.—Œnanthe was known to Galen and Dioscorides, and numerous citations might be made to show that the drug was used from the earliest times in various affections, affections that nearly every drug was tried in, but it is in the "Cyanosura Materia Medica of Boecler, published in 1729," that we first find a hint as to its true action. "Those who ate much of it were taken with dark vertigos, going from one place to another, swaying, frightened, turning in a circle as Lobilus pretends to have seen."
Hahnemann, in his "Apotheker Lexicon" (Leipzig, 1793), says of the drug: "It is said that the whole plant is poisonous and causes vertigo, stupefaction, loss of force, convulsions, delirium, stiffness, insensibility, falling of the hair, and taken in large quantities will cause death."
He says further: "That, administered with great circumspection, it should prove useful in certain varieties of delirium, vertigos and cramps."
This is interesting coming from Hahnemann at the time when he had discovered the law, but had not as yet given it to the world.
Œnanthe was considered in the last century as one of the most pernicious plants of Europe, especially for cattle, who, having eaten it, can neither vomit nor digest it and they soon die in convulsions; this from the root, however, as they eat the leaves with impunity. It is interesting to note that animals poisoned with it decompose rapidly.
Much of the following study is taken from a series of excellent papers on the drug, which have been appearing for over a year in "Le Journal Belge D'Homœopathie," from the pen of Dr. Ch. DeMoor, of Alost, Belgium.
General Action.—From a very large collection of observations of cases of poisoning with Œnanthe, dating from 1556 to the present time and recorded in "Allen's Encyclopædia," the "Cyclopædia of Drug Pathogenesy," and in the article of Dr. DeMoor, above mentioned, we find that Œnanthe crocata produces, almost invariably, convulsions of an epileptiform character and which are marked by the following symptoms:
Swollen, livid face, sometimes pale.
Frothing at mouth.
Contraction of chest and oppressed breathing.
Dilated pupils or irregular. Eyeballs turned upward.
Coldness of the extremities.
Pulse weak.
Convulsions are especially severe, at first tonic then clonic.
Locked jaws.
Trembling and twitching of muscles.
Œnanthe also produces a delirium in which the patient becomes as if drunken, there is stupefaction, obscuration of vision and fainting.
The Greek name of the plant signifies "wine flower," and so-called on account of its producing a condition similar to wine drunkenness, and there is a difference, so I have heard, between wine and other beverages in this respect. Hiccoughs are also produced by the drug.
There is also great heat in the throat and stomach and a desire to vomit and to have stool, and a great deal of weakness of the limbs and cardialgia. Like other members of the same family, as Conium, it produces very much vertigo, this has always been present in the cases of poisoning with the plant. In a number of cases who had been poisoned by the drug the hair and nails fell out.
Homœopathic Action and Applicability.—The uses of Œnanthe, homœopathically, have been taken from the reports above mentioned; the drug has never been proved, and it is doubtful if one could be found who would prove it to the convulsion-producing extremity. All the evidence in all the authorities shows clearly that the drug produces in man all the symptoms of epilepsy, and it is in that disease that clinical testimony is gradually accumulating. Accepting the theory that epilepsy is a disturbance or irritation in the cortex of the brain, it would seem that Œnanthe crocata, which produces congestion of the pia mater, would prove a close pathological simillimum to epilepsy. Its usefulness in this disease is unmistakable and only another proof of the truth of the homœopathic law.
Let us review briefly some of the evidence of its action: Dr. S. H. Talcott, in the report of the Middletown Asylum, 1893, notes that Œnanthe possesses a marked power in epilepsy, stating that it makes the attack less frequent, less violent and improves the mental state of the patient. He prescribes it in the tincture, 1 to 6 drops daily.
In the Materia Medica Society of New York its use has been verified several times. Dr. Paige greatly benefited a case with the 3x potency.
Dr. F. H. Fisk reports the cure of a case which had lasted two years, with the tincture. This case during the last month before the doctor took it was having from 6 to 10 attacks daily.
Dr. Garrison, of Easton, Pa., reports a case of reflex uterine or hystero-epilepsy in which the 2x acted promptly.
Allen in his Hand-Book mentions the cure of three cases with the remedy.
Dr. J. Ritchie Horner reports that the remedy greatly modified the attacks in a lady who had had the disease over 20 years, and who, for the two months previous, had had a convulsion daily. He used the 3x.
Dr. J. S. Cooper, of Chillicothe, Ohio, reports the cure of a case of 25 years' standing with the 4x.
Dr. Henderson reports the cure of a case of 9 years' standing, where the patient was almost idiotic; the convulsions were relieved and the mental condition was greatly relieved and improved. In two other cases equally satisfactory results were had.
Dr. D. A. Baldwin, of Englewood, N. J., entirely controlled the convulsions in a young man of 16 with Œnanthe.
Dr. Ord reports a case of petit mal cured with the 3x, and in a South American homœopathic journal a Dr. Rappaz reports the cure of a case of three years' standing with increasing seizures with the remedy in doses ranging from the 6 to the 12.
The late Dr. W. A. Dunn reported a genuine cure of a young girl of 16 who had been epileptic for 7 years, latterly having as many as 4 or 5 attacks during a night. The remedy caused these attacks to entirely disappear. The girl commenced menstruating at 12, so the establishment of the menses had nothing to do with the cure.
Dr. Charles A. Wilson, of San Antonio, Texas, reports a number of cases cured with Œnanthe in the 3x dilution, and the same potency greatly lessened the number of seizures in others.
Dr. Purdon, of the University of Dublin, relates a case of epilepsy cured with this drug in 1 to 6 drop doses several times a day.
Dr. F. E. Howard, in a case which had 3 or 4 attacks a week, gave 5 drops of the tincture every two hours, which caused violent pains in the head, but complete recovery followed on reducing the dose.
Several cases of the cure of epilepsy with Œnanthe in alternation with Silicea or some other drug have been reported, but as the question, "which cured?" comes in they need not be given.
In my own practice I have had some marked results from its action and have seen it modify attacks when everything else failed. In two cases, one a boy of 13 who had had the disease 5 years and who had suffered much of many sphincter-stretching orificialists and "lots of other things," the remedy made a complete cure; the other case was in a man of 30 who had the grand mal, the petit mal and the epileptic vertigo. Œnanthe removed entirely the two former conditions leaving only the latter, and that in a very mild degree. It also greatly improved the mental condition of the patient.
I have several cases under treatment at the present time, and some of them are showing a marked effect from its use. The question of dose I believe to be an important one. I used generally the tincture in water, but latterly I have been using the third, and I believe with better effect than I ever obtained with the tincture, and I am now of the opinion that the lower dilutions, say from the 3 to the 12, will be found more efficacious than the tincture, and the higher potencies will suit certain cases. In order to prescribe the drug with accuracy provings will be necessary to develop its finer symptomatology.
PARAFFINE.
Preparation.—The purified Paraffin is triturated in the usual way.
(This proving was made by Dr. Wahle, of Germany, who was the chemist of Hahnemann. He never published it, but gave the manuscript to his son, who in his turn gave it to Dr. Held, now a practicing physician in Rome. Dr. Held at the request of his colleagues translated it into Italian and it appeared in the medical journal, L'Omiopatia in Italia, from which this article is translated and slightly condensed. The remedy is used by the homœopaths of Rome and found to be valuable in uterine and other troubles, indicated by the proving. It is particularly serviceable in constipation.)
Proving of Paraffine.
head.
Weight in the head.
Bruised feeling in the left side of the occiput.
Head heavy and dull; a feeling when leaning forward as if a weight fell toward the forehead.
Pulsation in the head.
Pressing pain in the head, extending from the vertex toward the forehead as if something would come out.
Pricking, stinging in the head, extending to the left temporal bone.
Pain as of a contusion in occiput.
At 9 o'clock in the morning there comes a pain in the left side of the vertex as if a nail were being driven into the head, with extension of the pain to the left lower jaw.
Touching the left side of the head causes pain as if the part were crushed and a feeling as if the whole side of the head were soft and spongy.
Twisting and wrenching in the sinciput so that he must lie down; having lain down a quarter of an hour, and having placed the right hand under the head, there was experienced a feeling of painless shock so that the hand under the head was drawn away and the legs were thrown down from the sofa. Soon afterward occurred severe palpitation of the heart.
Twisting and wrenching in the whole head, as well as the face.
Feeling as of knife stabs under the right temporal bone extending into the right eye and becoming worse on bending over. On the outside of the forehead a pressing pain which seems to thrust inward, passing, in half an hour, into the inside of the head.
Painful pulsation in the forehead, which gradually disappears when lying down, but becomes worse when bending over.
The left side of the head and face suffer most; pains stinging and twisting, often going and returning at the same time.
Twisting in the left side of the head and face; the teeth of the same side ache as if they would fall out.
On touching the vertex the skin pains as if it were suppurating, in the afternoon.
Sticking in the forehead extending into the nose.
The skin of the head feels soft on being touched or as if suppuration was going on underneath it.
Falling out of the hair.
eyes.
Throbbing and sticking over the right eyebrow laterally and from without, extending into the lower jaw and there disappearing.
Stinging pains above the left eye and toward the temple.
Raised spots upon the cornea.
The eyes seem as if there was a veil before them in the morning.
In the morning the eyelids are closed with mucus; dry mucus in the internal angles of the eyes.
Itching in the internal angles of the eyes which ceases a moment on rubbing, but a sore pain remains and very soon the itching returns again.
Pressing pains under the right upper eyelids as if some foreign body had gotten in.
Pain under the upper eyelids as if from the prick of a needle.
The eyelids are red, as after crying.
Pain as of a wound in the external angle of the left eye, in the morning.
Itching of the eyelids, lasting the whole day. Rubbing relieves only for a short time.
A feeling in the eyes as if they had fat in them.
A feeling in the eyes as if they were always moist.
Eyes moist and tearful.
The mucus in the internal angles of the eyes is cold and viscid.
Lachrymation and itching of the eyes in the morning on rising.
In the morning the left eye is closed with mucus and seems to have a veil before it.
A veil before the eyes or they feel as if they contained fat observed on rubbing the eyes.
The eyes are dim, she sees nothing, but feels everything; has sensation as if all the limits were numb for five minutes toward evening.
The eyes are pale; things seem to be seen through a veil. Little black flies are seen before the eyes.
Short vision on account of the many little black flies before the eyes.
On fixing any object for some time the eyes become moist, as if a cold wind was blowing into them, with a gentle itching.
In the open air there seems to be a black veil before the eyes; objects seen seem to be pale, with short vision.
She sees objects as if in a mist.
The white of the eye is full of blood; worse toward the external angle.
face.
Itching in the face as from urticaria, smooth red spots come out on the face.
ear.
Roaring in the right ear like the rumbling of a mill wheel, in the afternoon.
Gurgling in the left ear like the beating of the pulse.
Ringing in both ears, in the morning.
Stinging and twisting in the left ear, with a feeling as if it was stopped up.
The odor of cordials is perceived.
The nose is moist and there is frequent desire to blow it, but without sneezing.
Blood from the nose of a dark red color.
teeth.
Tearing in the teeth on the right side of the jaw, extending to the ear on the same side. It is not relieved until support is given to the painful cheek.
Stabbing pain in one of the left lower molar teeth.
Twisting in the teeth, with stinging in the ear, which after some hours affects the whole left side of the head and face, down to the lower jaw.
Twisting pain in the lower teeth of the left side, affecting also the temporal region, sleep is rendered thereby impossible.
mouth and throat.
In the evening there appeared under the upper lip, upon the gum, a hard painless tumor which broke of itself during the night.
Mouth full of saliva; she was obliged to spit constantly, lasting for twenty-four hours.
Voice hollow and harsh.
Mouth feels sticky.
Dryness of the throat, the fauces are as if they were dried up, but without thirst.
Sense of suffocation in the pharynx.
The mouth is without taste and the appetite fails.
Bitter taste in the mouth.
Tongue slightly coated; dirty-white in color; chill, followed by dry heat with thirst, which is soon followed by sweat, lasting a long time.
stomach.
Acid eructations some hours after eating.
A constant feeling of satiety.
Appetite good, but nothing seems to taste as it should.
Inclination to vomit at 9 o'clock in the evening.
After eating, repeated urging to vomit with expulsion of the ingested food.
Disturbance of the stomach with increase of saliva in the mouth as if emesis must occur, with stinging pains in the forehead and cold over the whole body, without thirst or feeling of heat following.
Hunger almost all the time.
Pain across the stomach as if a blow had been received.
The pain persists even after thirty-six hours.
On account of the severe pain in the stomach can only breathe slowly and carefully.
The pains in the stomach extend to the chest, causing oppression thereof, and then pass into the shoulders, with much belching and alternating pains in the throat and in the spine.
Great sensibility of the stomach; cannot draw the vest together.
In walking, a feeling of relaxation in the region of the stomach as if there was a sore in it which was causing pain.
Smoking soon causes pain in the stomach and tobacco is distasteful.
Pain as if from a beating in the region of the stomach; she wished to gape and was obliged to support the region of the stomach with the hand, thereupon arose a fixed pain in the left hypochondrium as if some of the parts were being twisted.
Chill, heat and sweat, frequently alternating. The stomach swells up like a ball and forces itself upwards; hard and very painful to the touch; there is also very little appetite.
When the pains in the stomach subside, those in the teeth also disappear, as if there was a causal relation between the two.
Weight in the stomach as if there was a stone placed upon it, in the morning, evening and after dinner during the time of digestion, that is from half an hour to an hour after meals.
Sometimes there occurs palpitation of the heart in connection with these stomach symptoms, so severe that he is often incapacitated from doing anything whatever.