MEZEREUM: PORTION OF A PHYSIOLOGICAL 
STUDY. 
By Adolph Gerstel, M. D., Vienna. 
Acceding cheerfully to the flattering request to prepare, as 
a representative of the Austrian Homoeopathic Society, for 
the World’s Homoeopathic Convention, a physiological drug- 
study, I offer a portion of a study of Mezereum. 
The relations of Mezereum are almost exclusively with the 
various membranous tissues (skin, mucous, serous, and tiorous 
tissues), and I have therefore separated the work into four divi- 
sions, corresponding to these tissues. The time at my disposal 
has allowed me to finish only the study of Mezereum in its 
relations to the skin. The continuation of the work will ap- 
pear in the Ally. Horn. Zeitung, Yol. XCI1I. 
Daphne mez. is one of the first twenty-six remedies which 
Hahnemann considered worthy of a more extended proving, 
and whose symptoms appear in his Frayinenta de Yiribux, 
etc., 1805. This collection included only such remedies as 
Hahnemann had found experimentally approved for definite 
diseases in the old practice. It was precisely this circumstance 
which, after he had discovered the law of cure, “ Similia Sim- 
ilibus Curantur,” stimulated him to confirm and define this 
law, by investigating the positive effects of these remedies, as 
well as to find indications based on experience for their use in 
disease. 
We learn from Reil and Trinks, those diligent laborers in 
old school literature [11. y. S., 8, 51], as well asifrom others, world’s homoeopathic convention. 
2 
that it was not the Daphne mez. hut other species of Daphne, 
found in the east, which were used down to the most recent 
period. We must therefore sift the evidence furnished by the 
old school, concerning the action and use of this drug. More- 
over, in accordance with Hahnemann’s directions, we use the 
tincture of the carefully-dried bark, or of the fresh bark gath- 
ered during inflorescence, whereas, in many reported cases the 
fruit, known as Grana gnidii, or Baccae coccognidii, was em- 
ployed. 
Undoubtedly the latter contains essentially the same ingredi- 
ents as the bark; yet its action on the economy is different. 
It is therefore to be regretted that Hahnemann did not, in the 
case of this and a few other drugs, exercise, in this respect, a 
sharper criticism. 
The study of Mezereum is the more difficult, from the fact 
that, in our systematic works on Materia Medica (Jahr, Noack 
and Trinks), the symptoms from these various sources are 
given without reference to their origin ; whereas Hahnemann, 
in the first edition of his Mat. Med. Pura, separated them 
and, in the later editions, gave the authorities. 
These differences are of great importance in Mezereum. 
We shall therefore confine ourselves to the symptoms produced 
by the bark and consider, subsequently, those resulting from 
other parts of the plant. 
In the Fragmenta, Hahnemann cites fifty-six symptoms as 
positive effects of Mezereum. Some of them were unques- 
tionably observed on the sick. Nevertheless these few symp- 
toms contain, with slight exceptions, the pith and substance of 
the Mezereum pathogenesis. The numerous excellent prov- 
ings since made, although adding something new, have served 
chiefly to elucidate and confirm these original symptoms. 
We find the first reproving in Archiv., IV., 2, 110, 1825, 
by Dr. Stapf. Eleven provers took part in it. Hahnemann’s 
symptoms, of the Fragmenta, are included. In his introduc- 
tion, Stapf gives important practical directions for the use of 
Mezereum in disease, and calls attention to its value, which 
Hahnemann emphasized by including it, with some additional 
symptoms, in the “ Chronic Diseases,” second edition, 4, 1837. 3 
MKZEREl'M, 
Jt was therefore much used in homoeopathic practice; and our 
colleagues deemed it worthy of repeated reprovings. 
1838. Dr. Theile, in his inaugural dissertation De viribus 
Mezerei, published a proving by himself and some friends [A. 
JL Z., 2, 14, 105J. 
1857. Dr. Hartlaub [ V. J. S., 8, 1], provings by the Lusa- 
tian Societ}r, 1849 to 1852. 
1860. Dr. Dunham [Am. llom. Rev., 2, 164], published 
portions of a reproving of Mezereum by the late Dr. Wahle, 
Sr., of Koine. We learn, by private letter from Dr. Dunham, 
that with the permission of the son of Dr. Wahle, he copied 
these symptoms himself, in 1856, as well as some of Eupion, 
Kreos. and Myrtis com. 
1867. Dr. Watzke’s reproving on himself, Dr. Etterlin and 
Dr. Karl Wurstl, in 1863 [A. II. Z., 74]. 
From a careful study of all these provings it will appear 
that the seat of the morbid process whence all these symptoms 
proceed, lies in the membranous tissues alone; and especially 
in the skin and fibrous tissues ; to a less degree in the mucous, 
and least of all in the serous tissues. Consequently, the seat 
of the morbific action of Mezereum is the connective tissue 
with the arterial, vascular and ganglionic nervous ramifications 
imbedded in it; this gives rise to many reflex effects. The 
practical application of the drug is, therefore, quite limited; 
and even within the sphere of action above described, its ef- 
fects are evident only in certain directions. 
The old school use Mezereum externally, after the manner 
of cantharid *s, bv bringing the outer surface of a piece of 
fresh or moistened dry .bark, deprived of its epidermis, into 
immediate and long contact with the skin. Redness and pain 
follow, the epidermis rises, serum and, subsequently, pus col- 
lect between it and the cutis. Sometimes, if the skin be ten- 
der, the application causes violent pains and eczema around it. 
Its continued use produces very painful itching, ulcers with a 
profuse watery discharge and peculiarly offensive odor, and 
sometimes surrounded to a considerable distance by a pustular 
eruption. These pustules often break and discharge freely. 
According to Pluskal \_Oeat. Woehenschrift, 1844, p. 1375], a world’s homceopathic convention. 
4 
pale girl, fourteen years old, having been told that the leaves 
of Daphne mez. would give her a color and fatten her, went 
to the woods and rubbed her cheeks with the leaves. The 
whole face, especially the nose, eyelids and front part of the 
scalp, immediately swelled enormously, with burning pain. 
Persistent, violent and painful sneezing, delirium, severe 
dull frontal headache, disagreeable dryness in the throat and 
irritation provoking a dry, racking cough proved that the poi- 
son, by inhalation of the vapor or of some particles of the 
juice, must have reached the nose, the frontal sinuses, the tra- 
chea and pharynx. The face soon presented a picture of ery- 
sipelas bullosam, for on both cheeks there appeared confluent 
vesicles. The nares .became entirely closed, so that she 
breathed only through the open mouth. The pulse was fever- 
ish, the urine burning and red. After using external cooling 
applications (oil and cold-water compresses), the swelling began 
to subside on the second day; in a few days desquamation 
took place. 
She did not, however, regain her health. Weakness, de- 
spondency and indifference, bordering on imbecility, were ob- 
served in her. In a few weeks she fell into a typhoid fever, 
lasting twelve weeks, and thoroughly exhausting her vital 
powers. Nine months after the poisoning, she died of hectic 
fever. In this case, if we consider only the external skin, 
Mezereum produced, not only in the immediate point of ap- 
plication, an inflammation with serous exudation under the 
cuticle, which rises in blisters and then scales off, but also in 
the adjacent parts, eczema and a pustular eruption as well as 
itching and offensive ulcers. The seat of the latter processes 
is-in the parenchyma of the papillary portion, as well as in the 
deeper layers, of the dermis. 
An essential feature, therefore, of this skin affection is an 
unusual serous secretion appearing, not oidy at the place im- 
mediately irritated, but also at distant points. This is the 
visible effect on the skin of the external application of Meze- 
reum. 
We possess many and remarkably accordant observations of 
its action on the skin after its internal use alone. 5 
MEZEREUM. 
I. In his J.esser Writings, published by Stapf (1, 212), we 
find the following observation by Hahnemann: “An other- 
wise healthy man took Mezereum bark internally for some 
difficulty, but, as he continued its use for some time after the 
cessation of his trouble, he got an intolerable itching over the 
whole body, which allowed not a second's sleep. lie stopped 
the drug, and came to me after thirty-six hours, insisting that 
he could no longer bear the hourly increasing itching (the first 
direct action of Mezereum is of very long duration). After 
taking several grains of Camphor, the itching ceased.” 
II. Among the symptoms in the Fragmenta, we find: 
527.* Very obstinate itching for several days over the 
whole body. 236. Pimply, ulcerative eruption on the finger- 
joints, itching most in the evening. (In the original, “ Erup- 
tio cutanea maxime vespere in lecto pruriens.”) 
In Stapf’s reproving [Archiv, 4], there were eleven provers 
besides Hahnemann ; the provings were made with the tinct- 
ure of the carefully-dried bark, or with the expressed juice 
(mixed with equal parts of alcohol) of the fresh bark gathered 
in early spring during inflorescence. From eight to ten drops 
of these tinctures, much diluted with water, sufficed to produce 
in most of these provers very marked and enduring symptoms; 
for some a few drops were enough. Almost identical skin- 
symptoms appear in seven provers. f 
In Theile’s reproving [with eight, twelve to twenty-four 
drops of tincture. Allg. Horn. Zeitung, Vol. 14, p. 114] three 
of the same skin symptoms are repeated : 
III. P—r. a.\ Brownish, miliary rash on the chest, arm 
and thighs (5 d.) 
b. Vesicles full of clear serum on the nose and back skin 
under the ruptured vesicles inflamed; formation of a brown 
scab. 
* The numbers are taken from Chronic Diseases, Vol. IV. 
f These symptoms are given in works on Materia Medica, and especially in 
Allen's Encyclopaedia, to which accordingly we refer the reader—Translator. 
f As the symptoms of the later provings have not yet been collected in any schema, 
we designate them, provisionally, by letters, to distinguish them from those of the 
“ M. M. Pura.” world's homoeopathic convention. 
6 
c. Roughness and sealing of the skin here and there. 
d. Very troublesome itching in a sore, even after it had 
healed. 
IV. E—n. e. Violent itching in almost all parts of the skin : 
neck, chest, extremities ; compelling to scratch and thereupon 
changing location ; worse at evening; lasting several weeks. 
f. Burning, itching and tension on the back of the left ear; 
on scratching, the epidermis peeled otf in patches half an inch 
large. 
V. Theile. g. Burning itching, especially on the nape and 
calves. 
h. Burning, red miliary pustules on the thighs. 
i. Burning vesicles with red areolae on the sides of the fin- 
gers, depressed rather than elevated. They dry up, leaving 
either bright red spots, or the epidermis peels off in round 
scales. 
k. Stitching pains in a scar on the end of the right middle 
finger, in which, for two years, there had not been the least 
sensation. 
We come now to the provings of the Lusatian Society: 
VI. IIartlaub. Hartlaub made four provings on himself 
with the fresh plant, which he inhaled while dividing and trit- 
urating it, and while preparing the alcoholic tincture, and 
took in substance both crude and in the form of tincture. The 
provings were from two to eight days apart. We connect the 
related symptoms. 
l. Itching on many parts of the body : nares, lower lip, vio- 
lent on the wrists, about the anus, scrotum and lower extrem- 
ities (217). 
in. A large sugillation on the dorsum of the right hand 
above the index; a party-colored, not round, spot about one 
inch in diameter, painless; faded the next day. 
n. Violent itching on this hand but not on the spot of sugil- 
lation ; especially on the wrist, so that it was rubbed sore. An 
eruption appeared. Before scratching there were no pimples; 
but afterwards, many small, superficial, dark-brown scabs like 
those in scabies after it has been scratched and has dried. Just 
before falling otf (twenty-two days) they were quite white and 7 
MKZEREUM, 
had become much thicker (conical) and those which had healed 
left brownish spots the size of the scabs, with fading brownish 
areolae. 
o. Violent itching on the lower extremities when going to 
sleep; especially at the hollow of the knee, so that he scratched 
it sore; it became very painful lasting several days. 119. 
p. Often waked at night by severe itching of limbs. 
q. A small pustule in the beard on chin ; a few pimples on 
the chest. That on the chin became a small ulcer with thin, 
oily, sticky discharge ; very painful. 
r. The liver-spots desquamate more than usual and are very 
dark (127, 207.) 
s. The skin, at least of the hands, is dead and rough. 
In three other provings, with the first dilution, by Dr. 
Link, a young man under direction of Dr. Speer, and a lady, 
we find : 
VII. Dr. Link. t. Burning stitching sensations like insect- 
stings on various parts of the body. 
a. Itching at the right eye and the side whiskers. 
Mrs. T—. v. Slight stitches here and there. 
w. Creeping and single stitches on various parts 
VIII. Speer, x. Itching eruption like flea-bites, over the 
whole body ; vanished in three days; lasted longer on the head 
and there looked scabby. 
IX. IIering.* y. Ilis long hair became more troublesome ; 
6eemed more bristly; after some weeks it grew more curly 
and thicker. (Was this aggravation or curative action?) 
3. Small painless pimples, like millet seed, on the fore-liead 
at the edge of the scalp. 
(ia. Dandruff more abundant, whiter and drier than usual. 
bb. Small, red pimples on the forehead, itching but painless. 
cc. Twitching of the eyebrows. 
dd. Constant itching behind the ears; small elevations 
appear after much scratching, which are scratched sore and pain. 
ee. Ilis nose seems to him larger and shiny. 
ff. Severe itching at the edge of the lower jaw (fifth and 
following days.) 
* Some symptoms confirming and completing those in tbe Chronic Diseases. world’s homoeopathic convention. 
8 
gg. Burning in well defined spots at the outside of the wrists 
after using the hands in cold water. 
hh. A moveable, somewhat hard swelling under left knee. 
ii. Painful "walking as from hard tight boots. 
To this symptom Hering remarks: “Rejected from my 
MSS. by Stapf,” we suspect, then, that “ the medical student 
II.” was our honored veteran Hering ; and perhaps W. was 
Wahle, as Dr. Dunham suspects. • 
X. Lembke. Lembke made a truly self-sacrificing proving, 
for about two months, partly with two to twenty drops 
several times daily of the first dilution ; then with the tinc- 
ture, three to fifteen drops several times daily. The skin was 
but little affected ; the fibrous tissues very much. 
kk. Burning itching in the left brow ; itching and biting in 
the skin of the nose. 
II. Burning on the alae nasi, end of nose, in the septum and 
nose, skin of cheeks, of nape, inner surface of forearms and at 
various points of leg. 
mm. Burning and stitching on inside of left arm, evening. 
nn. Burning and itching on inside of thigh and scrotum. 
XI. Waiile. Most of these symptoms of he id and face, are 
from observations on patients. From an observer like Wahle, 
however, they are valuable. 
oo. Head covered with a thick leathery crust, under which 
pus collects and mats the hair. 
pp. Large prominent white scabs on head; ichor forms 
under them, becomes offensive and vermin breed in it. 
<pp The scabs on the head look chalky and spread to brows, 
nape and throat. 
rr. Gray, earthy complexion. 
ss. The child scratches the face incessantly; it is covered 
with blood. Face and forehead red and hot; great restlessness 
and irritability. At night it scratches the face so that the bed 
is smeared with blood. It constantly tears off the scabs from 
the face and on the wounded places great “ fat ” pustules form 
tt. The humor from under the scabs irritates other parts. 
uu. The skin of the face is deep red and the eruption is 
“ fat ” and moist (impetigo.) 9 
MEZEREUM. 
vv. Honev-like crust about the mouth. 
ww. Betwen the buttocks four large scabs on a hard base 
with a dark red areola. 
xx. Itching in the hollow of the right knee. 
yy. The whole skin is covered with white elevated scabs. 
zz. Itching and burning in upper and lower extremities; 
after scratching violent stitching as with needles. 
ana. The fiery-red inflammation on the joints of the left 
foot extends over the instep and calf. Hard pustules form in 
the connective tissue, and itch at the slightest touch, with vio- 
lent burning pain. 
bbb. Vesicular eruption over the "whole body. 
ccc. Pale red eruption over whole body, itching and scratch- 
ing ; the scabs adhere firmly and are depressed in the centre. 
ddd. Ulcers covered with thick whitish or yellow scabs 
under which thick yellow matter collects. 
eee. Throbbing around the ulcer which has a bright red 
areola. 
fff. Burning in ulcer at evening. 
ggg. Fiery, shining red areola around the ulcer. 
/dt/i. Vesicles around the ulcer, itching violently and burn- 
inglike fire. After eight days, these vesicles dry up, leaving 
scabs, the removal of which causes great pain and delays the 
healing. 
in. The affected parts feel, but are not, swollen. 
jjj. The ulcers bleed easily. 
XII. Gerstel. While engaged in this study, 1 have made 
some provings on myself, hoping to learn what symptoms pre- 
dominate, their order and physiological connection. I took, at 
various times, some drops of the first, third and seventh decimal 
dilution, and once some drops of the tincture. Many Mezereum 
symptoms were confirmed. I will at present mention only 
those of the skin. 
kkk. Oft-recurring, severe itching, compelling to scratch, 
now here, now there, on almost all parts of the body, and very 
soon after taking the drug; especially on the scalp above the 
forehead ; in one or the other eyebrow, also under the eye ; and 
especially, a persistent, oft-recurring itching on the external 
ear and in the left concha. world’s homoeopathic convention. 
10 
III. The itching often extended over the whole body ; I felt 
it simultaneously on back, abdomen and scalp, impelling to 
scratch and relieved by scratching. I could perceive no dif- 
ference in the time of day. 
mmm. At times it was a burning itching or a tickling as 
from insects on the chin, the shoulder, the clavicle, the right 
thorax along the lower ribs and the back; also the thumb and 
right middle linger. 
nun. The later the itching began, the greater the inclination 
to scratch. 
ooo. Smarting in the eyes, compelling to rub them. 
ppp. Violent stitching and burning itching on the outer 
aspect of the right shoulder, as if in the flesh, as though an 
eruption would appear there. 
Mezereum contains a so-called acrid matter, daphnin, of a 
bitter and astringent taste and soluble in boiling water, alcohol 
and ether. Mezereum or its active principle, daphnin, may 
thus be readily absorbed and produce general effects corres- 
ponding to those of the local application. 
The normal secretion of the skin is a secretion from the 
arterial blood of the wonderful vascular network of the seba- 
ceous glands. Now, since the external application of Meze- 
reum evidently increases the arterial secretion, producing 
serous, easily coagulating, excretions, we can easily comprehend 
that the Mezereum atoms absorbed into the blood, will act 
similarly, showing, in quality though not perhaps in degree, a 
relationship and similarity to the aggregate of its external 
action. Experiment has showm that it is only the various 
membranous tissues which have a primary susceptibility to the 
action of Mezereum; and the degree is different in different 
individuals. The first appearance and form of morbid action 
on the skin is a pricking itching, compelling to scratch ; i. e. 
prurigo. 
The basis of prurigo, especially prurigo formicans (Bateman), 
is a morbid secretion ; it is always accompanied by white, 
smooth papules so small as often to escape notice, seldom red 
or inflamed unless they have been vigorously rubbed. 
According to other dermatologists, when itching occurs it 11 
MEZEREUM. 
is the result of excoriation. The microscopic Mezereum atoms 
produce on a small scale the same effect as the external appli- 
cation of the bark, that is: increased secretion from the vas- 
cular network of the sebaceous glands and congestion or rup- 
ture. 
This congestion of the capillary network or the dried secre- 
tion producesthe irritation of the sensory nerves felt as itching 
and prickling. 
This prurigo is the mildest and most universal form of the 
Mezereum skin disease. The irritation is general and moderate, 
and soon ceases after scratching, though it may reappear in 
other places. Single localities are especially affected and cer- 
tain nerve-twigs show an affinity for this Mezereum irritation. 
These localities are : the scalp, face, nose and ear ; the stitches 
and itching extending into the ear. The irritation follows 
certain fibres of the trigeminus, especially those of the optic 
ganglion. AVe shall see hereafter that the auditory apparatus 
is affected in another direction. The back, the shoulder, (the 
cutaneous sphere of the plexus cervicalis), the wrist and scrotum 
are also affected. 
The parts affected are especially, if not exclusively those in 
which the pannieulus adiposus is almost entirely wanting. 
The itching is felt particularly at evening and is increased 
by warmth, hence also by the warmth of a bed. 
1 consider burning a higher degree of itching ; it likewise 
depends upon congestion of the smaller vessels without loss of 
nerve sensibility. 
If the seat of the affection be near the epidermis, the almost 
imperceptible vesicles will be removed by the scratching and 
the itching will cease for a while; but if its seat be deeper in 
the cutis the exudation will remain in the cutaneous connec- 
tive tissue, and can only be removed by deeper scratching, i. c., 
until the blood comes {vide 495 and llaubold’s symptoms). 
The second form of the Mezereum skin affection consists of 
visible eruptions. Their forms and modes of origin are di- 
verse, but all tend to loosen the epidermis, to alter and exfol- 
iate it and even to form ulcers. 
1. A pale suggillation which gradually fades out. world’s homoeopathic convention. 
12 
2. An already existing suggillation exfoliates; even in a 
portion of cellular tissue rendered impermeable by a scar this 
tendency is manifested by painfulness (pityriasis). 
3. When the exudation is deeper in the cutis, it is only 
brought out by scratching, and leaves dark-red or brown scabs 
colored by the blood); or it does not come to the surface but 
remains in the skin, forming papules (Wahle). 
4. Herpes on the skin, with inflamed base, exudation of oily 
sticky matter, and exfoliation with brown scabs (Rupia). 
4. Regular pustules form. 
With all these forms there is the characteristic itching and 
burning, worse at night; hence, especially in 4 and 5, the 
scabs are torn off and new eruptions form on the denuded 
spots. 
6. Ulcers, of which we shall speak hereafter. 
In all these forms, and from corroborative observations, we 
must conclude that the morbid secretion induced by Mezereum 
is a pure serum, partly mixed with the coloring matter of the 
blood, resulting partly from rupture or obliteration of the fin- 
est arterial capillaries. If, therefore, we should regard only 
the exudation, the scrofulous eruptions could not be included 
in the sphere of action of Mezereum. But a single symptom 
can never suffice for an accurate diagnosis ; other circumstances 
must be considered in determining the choice of the remedy. 
And in this connection we refer to what Stapf has emphasized 
in his preface to Mezereum. He says: “ Coldness, subjective 
and objective, either general or partial, and especially in the 
extremities, with intense thirst, is a characteristic and note- 
worthy primary effect of Mezereum. It accompanies other 
symptoms, as headache, stool, bone-pains, etc.” 
The symptoms in the “ Chronic Diseases ” which confirm 
this statement are Nos. 45, 280, 482, 587, 588, 580, 501, 505, 
56, 288, 583, 584, 585, 590,' 592, 598, 593, 594, and 601. 
In Ilartlaub’s provings we find : “ Chilly at evening. Feel- 
ing as of a cold wind blowing on the head. Chill runs over 
the body often at evening, also over single parts, down the left 
leg ; pulse at the same time 80 to 90, and rather full. Chill 
runs down over the whole body, at evening, with yawning; 13 
MKZEBLUM. 
though the body and room were very warm, chilly, with cold 
hands and feet, quickened pulse (89 to 90); the skin, at least 
of the hands, dead, cracked and wrinkled, as from long expos- 
ure to cold and as if it would peel off; increased thirst for 
cool water with the chill. At evening he is rather too warm 
and yet chills run over him at the same time, especially down 
the left side of the back and the lower extremities.” 
Theile’s four provers report: “ Constant chills, so that he 
cannot get warm the whole day.” 
I also felt frequently slight chilliness on single parts of the 
body, not followed by heat. We perceive how trustworthy 
were the first provings of Mezereum. This symptom, men- 
tioned in them as a characteristic, is confirmed by all the later 
provers except Wahle. 
Why is this cold feeling a characteristic of Mezereum { 
Chilliness, coldness of single parts, not being precursors of 
fever and not followed by heat, are, as physiology teaches, sub- 
jective sensations, having no necessary relation to the actual 
temperature, which is often not at all modified. These sensa- 
tions result from the immediate action of the morbific irrita- 
tion on the spinal cord, whose reflex action induces contrac- 
tion of the skin, producing cutis anserina, roughness, dryness 
and brittleness. 
From the same cause we may have a simultaneous deter- 
mination of blood to internal parts, producing actual external 
coldness. 
The Mezereum atoms, which, irritating the capillary system, 
determine the sensation of itching, act also specifically, so that 
a reflex action of the spinal cord produces cutis anserina, and 
a chilly feeling may ensue. But the chilliness of Mezereum 
has other peculiarities: 
1. It is accompanied by thirst. Now, according to Budge, 
one of the prime causes of morbidly-increased thirst is a rela- 
tive diminution of the serum of the blood, such as arises from 
its loss in excretory fluids; this loss, as we have seen, is pro- 
duced by Mezereum. We find thus a physiological connection 
in all these phenomena. 
2. The other peculiarity is that there is no need of warmth world’s homoeopathic convention. 
14 
and no dread of cold air; perhaps, in the open air, the tone of 
the cutaneous nerves is altered and the normal condition sooner 
restored; moreover, warmth increases, while cold diminishes 
the itching. 
Chilliness belongs so specifically to Mezereum as to occur 
independently of other kinds of skin-irritation ; it accompanies 
headache, bonepain, etc. But these symptoms are not accom- 
panied by thirst. 
Another characteristic of Mezereum is equally explicable; 
that which, in the skin, is itching, appears in the muscular 
parts as twitching or quivering. Thus we find : 
102. Annoying muscular twitching in the left upper lid 
for eight weeks ; and by the same observer (Gss). 
120. Frequent troublesome muscular twitching in the middle 
of the right cheek (eight weeks). 
224. Muscular twitching in the scrobiculus, and transient 
shocks in that region (Gr., Gss.). 
359. Jerking in the left side of the chest, transient and 
painful like electric shocks (Gr.). 
386. A burning stitch and strong muscular twitching under 
the left scapula (Gss.). 
401. Dull pain and twitching in the shoulder, as after carry- 
ing a heavy load (Gr.). 
491. Transient stitching—jerking on the upper part of the 
left shin-bone—when sitting with the knee bent. 
505. Twitching about the right outer malleolus (W.). 
512-513. Painful twitching, like nervous jerking in the 
great toe, like muscular twitching, or as if vesicles broke (Gss., 
Gr.). 
Hartlaub also had twitching of the eyelid, muscular move- 
ments, shocks in the stomach, abdomen, back, etc. AVe find 
these symptoms uniformly located in those places where the 
muscles are in immediate connection with the firmer connec- 
tive tissue of the cutis, and where the panniculus adiposus is 
wanting. Mezereum seems, then, to act specifically on these 
places; hence the conclusion that it is especially suitable for slim, 
thin persons with rather dry skin and a lack of fat; and, as re- 
gards the itching, especially for pruritus senilis. Mezereum acts 15 
MKZRRKrM, 
specifically on the seal}), and lias manifold relations with the 
hair; as might have been inferred from the action of Mezerenm 
on the muscular structure of the skin, the smooth fibres of the 
arrectores pili being attached at the lower ends of the hair fol- 
licles, into which the glandulae sebaceae discharge. By the 
contraction of these muscular fibres cutis anserina and horripi- 
lation are produced. 
Accordingly we find the following symptoms: 
84. The hair painful as if sore to touch (Gss.). 
85. The hair much inclined to stand on end. 
And in the Lusatian proving, Hering’s symptoms [vide 
XVI.]. 
These are the essential relations of Mezereum to the skin, 
in so far as we can deduce them from physiological provings. 
Let us see how far experience confirms these deductions. 
I)r. Kafka [A. II. Z., 91, 140] reports a brilliant cure of 
pruritus senilis in a man seventy-four years old, a subject of 
marasmus senilis, whose skin was wrinkled and in folds, and 
who could not sleep at night because of the itching. lie was 
weak and dyspeptic. lie could not refrain from scratching, 
feeling as though millions of insects were creeping on him 
compelling him to rub, successively, his arms, legs, abdomen 
and throat. On the parts scratched were innumerable, insular, 
white elevations on a red or reddish base, as in nettlerash, 
which, when deeply scratched, displayed in their centre a drop 
of blood the size of a pin-head and burned as if a bright coal 
lav upon them. 
By day the itching was tolerable, and there was no visible 
trace of morbid alteration in the skin ; the blood spots ap- 
peared as small, brown points on the surface of the skin. 
During the violent itching and burning, the patient was 
chilly, feeling cold along the spinal column and in the ex- 
tremities; and where the itching was most intense there was 
a sensible diminution of temperature. 
After long and ineffectual allopathic treatment, he was cured 
in four weeks by Mezereum8, two doses daily. 
This case confirms the following characteristic Mezereum 
symptoms: the elevations of the cuticle filled with serum, the world’s homoeopathic convention. 
16 
pin-head drops of blood appearing after scratching until the 
itching was relieved, the burning like bright coals and the 
chilliness. 
Kafka mentions that, although many parts of the skin of 
this patient were tolerably fat yet, on the throat, abdomen, 
forearms, legs and face, the skin was not only atrophied, but 
in folds and wrinkles. The temperature of these parts was 
diminished, while that of the fatty parts was normal. And it 
was upon these atrophied parts that the prurigo established it- 
self. This observation confirms thp inference that Mezereum 
affects especially those parts of the skin that are normally de- 
ficient in fat and reveals an essential characteristic of the 
drug. 
2. A case of pityriasis versicolor (Bateman), Noack [A. II. 
Z., 14, 168]. A blond girl, aged eighteen years, of sanguine 
temperament, with scanty, intermitting menses, had, after the 
healing of an axillary abscess, large, irregular, sometimes con- 
fluent, distinctly-defined, copper-colored spots on the inner 
side of the thighs extending to the groin. They were not ele- 
vated, showed no disposition to suppurate, were the seat of a 
distressing burning itching, worse at the menstrual epoch, at 
which time the spots assumed a darker color, especially at the 
edges. This had lasted two years. She had occasional hemi- 
crania, stitches in the spleen, frequent chills, trembling of the 
limbs, and was morbidly fretful. Syphilis was out of the 
question. Graphites and Nitric acid did nothing; Coni- 
um but little. Mezereum3, one drop every three days, made 
a complete cure. The spots faded away, the itching ceased, 
menses became more copious, and the concomitants disap- 
peared. 
3. Pityriasis capitis [A. II. Z.., 81, 144].—Dr. Cooper 
cured with Mezereum, in twenty-seven weeks, a very severe 
case, accompanied by great vaginal irritation. It had lasted 
two years. lie was led to give Mezereum by the pathogene- 
sis in Hahnemann’s Lesser Writings {vide ante). 
4. Wahle [A. II. Z., 14, 116] told Noack that he used Mez- 
ereum with great benefit for a distressing exanthema, burning 
at night, compelling to scratch until the epidermis was re- 17 
MKZERECM. 
moved, and the denuded part was covered with a scab, or there 
was repeated exfoliation.* 
5. Schultz [ V. J. S., 8, 98] used Mezereum with advantage 
in Tetter (Flechten). They were dry, scaby, the scabs small, 
occurring especially in the bend of the elbows (therefore on a 
part destitute of fat) with red spots the size of a thaler. 
The following symptoms from the Fragmenta ascribed to 
Hoffmann, from taking four berries, have been admitted into 
the Materia Medica. 
280. Very large alvine evacuations (hypercatharsis effrina). 
182. Violent burning in the throat. 
009. Violent burning fever. 
532. Exfoliation of the entire skin (with emesis and thirst). 
6. Kreisler [A. II. Z., 29, 153]. A woman had, by inherit- 
ance from her father, a growth as large as a thaler on the mid- 
dle of the forehead, projecting about four lines. It was not 
constant, as her father’s had been, but came and went sponta- 
neously and suddenly. Mezereum11* acted promptly and fav- 
orably. The swelling desquamated and gradually disappeared. 
Two years later it had not reappeared. The characteristic in 
this case was the scaly exfoliation of the skin, which we saw 
physiologically: a, in the case of poisoning cited by Pluskal; 
i, in proving XI. by E—d, symptom /" (q. v.). 
Hartlaub (XIII.) observed : “ Habitual liver spots appear to 
exfoliate more than usual and are very dark.” Liver spots 
and freckles are congenital or acquired organic changes of the 
epidermis, which may appear in the most diverse anomalies. 
We again call attention to the fact that in the cases cited the 
parts of the skin destitute of fat were affected. 
Mezereum has also cured pustular eruptions. 
7. Hahnemann [Introduction to M< zereum, Chron. Kranl'.'] 
cites as cured: “ Moist itching eruption on the head and be- 
hind the ears.” 
* According to the provings contributed by Wahle, Jr. from his father’s legacy 
the characteristic of the Mezereum skin affection should be—itching at evening in 
bed, aggravated by scratching and touch, and changed thereby to burning ; sensi- 
tiveness to touch; ulcers with areola, sensitive, bleeding easily, painful at night; the 
pus forms firmly adherent scabs under which again much pus collects world’s homceopathic convention. 
18 
8. Noack [A. H. Z., 14,16G]: rupia prominens. A delicate 
unmarried woman, aged 63, with weak digestion, addicted to 
the use of coarse snuff, after great fatigue had a group of vesi- 
cles on the dorsum of the nose, itching excessively and dis- 
charging a pale, somewhat cloudy lymph which formed a yel- 
lowish brown acuminated scab, easily separated but reappear- 
ing. The scab at last attained the size of a small bean. After 
using Calcarea, Spigelia and Aurum for three months without 
effect, a single dose of Mezereum15 cured. The scab fell off 
without a new one forming; the slightly-inflamed moist base 
dried in two days, leaving neither tetter nor scar. 
9. Stens [A. H. Z., 55, 29] cured a moist scabby eruption 
with Mezereum. 
10. Fielttz [A. H. Z., 17,1] reports two cases of herpes crus- 
taceus. The leg, from knee to instep, of a woman aged 36, 
had for many years been covered with a thick yellow scab, 
from. cracks in which thick yellow matter oozed on pressure. 
The scab falls off in pieces, leaving the skin deep red, sore, 
itching violently and exuding a thin, clear fluid, forming a 
thin scab under which pus again collects. The skin around 
the scabs is dark red, tense, hot, itching; the foot swollen, 
with painful stitches on beginning to walk. At night intoler- 
able itching and burning in the eruption. The leg emits a 
foul odor. General health undisturbed. Sulphur, Calcarea, 
Lycopodium, Graphites, Rhus, Clematis did no good. Meze- 
reum®, then third, every other day, then every day, almost 
cured the patient within two months, leaving only a few small 
patches of eruption. The patient declined further treatment. 
11. Mentagra.—A vigorous countryman aged 32, had red 
pustules on the chin, very painful when shaving. They broke 
and formed a scab, which in 6 months presented the following 
appearance : The hairy part of the face was covered with a 
yellowish brown scab quarter of an inch thick, from cracks in 
which bloody lymph exuded, producing slight itching in the 
edges. Around the edges a dark red moist areola. The lids 
were inflamed, the lower lids beset with crusts and somewhat 
everted. Sulphur, Nit. acid and Rhus did no good. Mezereum3, 
one drop daily, effected a complete cure of face and eyes 
within six weeks. 19 
MEZEREUM. 
12. A case of mentagra was cured by Elwert [TTyg., 20,103] 
with Mezereum1, six to eight drops every forty-eight hours. 
It had lasted two years and was cured in two months. No 
relapse. 
In the so-called herpes crustacaus reported by Fielitz, the 
following Mezereum characteristics occurred: a, clear or 
bloody secretion ; b, dark brownish scabs from admixture of 
blood [in crusta lactea and in scrofulous eruptions the scabs are 
a bright clear yellow] ; c, the location on parts devoid of fat; 
(f, nocturnal burning and itching. 
Both forms of mentagra have their seat in the hair follicles 
with which, as we have seen, Mezereum has a physiological 
relation. 
In Ilartlaub’s proving [lusatian £oc.] we find this symptom : 
“ a small pustule in the beard, left side of chin ; also small 
pimples on chest at the base of hairs.” 
We call attention to the fact that all of these cases occurred 
in adults, otherwise healthy; we regard Mezereum as scarcely 
indicated in the dyscrasire. 
Certain nerve-twigs have an especial affinity for Mezereum ; 
e. g. the infra-maxillaris, branch of the trigeminus. 
Herpes zoster or zona, which follows the course of one or 
more of the superficial nerves originating in the spinal ganglia 
has found its remedy in Mezereum (vide Baehr). But it can 
only cure when the concomitant symptoms correspond to the 
Mezereum characteristics; we would moreover suggest it, 
when the zoster appears in places devoid of fat or in thin sub- 
jects. It would correspond to the region of the ganglion cbr- 
vicalc. 
Hendricks [Ally. llom. Zeitung, 51, 63] reports that after a 
zona cured by Rhus there remained great coldness of the body 
with burning pain in the seat of the zona. This condition 
was cured by Mezereum. 
Modern pathoiogy regards such skin diseases as caused by 
parasites, which however can only take root when there is, in 
the patient, a predisposing condition. The predisposing con- 
dition may be removed by Mezereum when the concomitant 
symptoms correspond; then, the nidus failing, the seed dies. world's homeopathic convention. 
20 
Von Grauvogl says [All. Horn. Zeitung, 75, 27]: “ Onr 
opponents might for once try the experiment of giving, for 
eczema, Mezereum*0 for several weeks, every two hours four 
or five drops in a teaspoonful of water, and report the result. 
To prevent relapse, the remgdy must be continued some weeks, 
even after the eruption has disappeared; for even a single 
living spore (especially a sexual) remaining in the spiral end 
of a sweat gland or in a fold of the skin might in a few days 
reestablish the eruption, if the condition of the skin-function 
still afforded nutrition for the parasite. The neglect of this 
rule, which many patients will neither understand nor observe, 
misleads physicians into the belief that the remedy used is of 
no avail.” 
Among the cases cited, some may be ascribed to a vegetable 
parasite, e. g., Pityriasis vers., mentagra, etc.; they were cured 
by Mezereum without the favorite modern local treatment. 
13. Wahle (l. c.) says the symptoms observed by him (v. a.) 
indicate Mezereum for crusta lactea, various forms of uncom- 
plicated impetigo and syphilitic and mercurio-syphilitic ulcers 
on the lower extremities, so difficult to cure. He often saw 
the good effect of Mezereum100 in these cases, the lower attenua- 
tions having failed. To this we remark, as regards crusta lac- 
tea, the good effect of Mezereum is confirmed by Dr. Dunham 
in a letter; but, as we have said, we do not consider Mezereum 
indicated in scrofulous eruptions. We think the term orusta 
lactea an insufficient designation, and that Mezereum is indi- 
cated in these cases only where the characteristic itching and 
bloody scratching (as noted by Wahle) are present and the 
exudation is serous rather than lymphatic. As to the ulcers 
the cure of which is reported by both Wahle and Dunham, we 
find in the provings no symptoms describing that condition, 
except Wahle’s {v. a.)\ and it is doubtful whether these were 
observed on healthy persons. They present, however, the 
same characteristic features—vesicular origin, itching and burn- 
ing, scabs under which pus collects—as the pustular Mezereum 
disorder. The ulcer, then, is only a cumulative pustular con- 
dition on a limited space ; such an ulcerated surface results 
primarily from the local application of Mezereum. 21 
MKZKBRUM. 
The ulcer, in which Mezereum is indicated, must accordingly 
present the peculiarities we have noticed in the other skin af- 
fections; the peculiar itching or burning at night, the scab 
formation, the occasional bleeding, the location on parts con- 
taining little or no fat (hence especially on the shin), finally, 
the other concomitant symptoms of Mezereum. 
Where the skin is in almost immediate contact with the fib- 
rous tissue, as on the front of the tibia, it is the more suscepti- 
ble to the action of Mezereum, since, as we shall see, Mezere- 
um affects the fibrous tissues, and especially the periosteum, 
in an equal, if not greater, degree than the skin. Indeed its 
indication in affections of the bones and teeth is only for such 
as originate in the periosteum. 
Vienna, January 16, 1876