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                                J
Section,

JV'o 
 
 
^witAh^L***.
NEW   REMEDIES:
THEIR
PATHOGENETIC EFFECTS
AND
THERAPEUTICAL  APPLICATION
IN
HOMEOPATHIC    PRACTICE.
BY
EDWIN  M. HALE,  M. D.,
Late Lecturer on Materia Medica and Therapeutics in Hahnemann Medical College |
 Author of "Monograph on Gelseminum;" "Abortion and its Homoeopathic Treatment j" ..
     Corresponding Secretary of the Western Institute of Homoeopathy, etc.
/2

               DETROIT, MICHIGAN:

   E. A. LODGE, HOMOEOPATHIC PHARMACY, 266 JEFFERSON AVENUE.
  HknryTcrner ft Co., 77 Fleet street, E. C, London. Hewry Turner ft Co., Manchester, England.
TPm. Radde, 550 Pearl Btreet. J. T. S. Smith ft SONS, 48* Broadway. C. T Hurlburt, 43 7 Broome St., N. T.
     F. E. Bcerioke, 635 Arch street. A. J. Tafel, Ninth street, below Arch street, Philadelphia.
        Otis Clapp, Boston. H. C. G. LrnrriEg, St. Lonis. John B. Hall, Cleveland.
            0. S. Halsey, Chicago. Smith ft ToRTHiWOTON, Cincinnati.
          3. G. BaCkofbk ft Sow, Pittsburgh. E. B. Sfrague, Owego, N. T, 

. v
ttlfiln
 1864-
        Entered according to the Act of Congress in the year 1864 by

                   E D.WIN A.  LODGE,

In the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the United States for the District
                         of Michigan.
                     Detroit:

ADVERTISER AND TRIBUNE STEAM PRINTING ESTABLISHMENT 
TO THE
HOKEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS
AMERICA
This Volume is Respectfully Dedicated
THE AUTHOR. 
 
PREFACE.
v
PREFACE.
   The object in the  preparation of  this  work  has  been  to
furnish  the  physicians and  students of the  homoeopathic  school
of  medicine,  with  full  and  accurate  information relative  to
a class of remedies, mostly indigenous, but few of  which have
had  any place in  the  published  Homoeopathic Materia Medica.
Some  of the  provings  have  been incorporated  into  the  Symp-
tomen  Codex  {Phytolacca,   Podophyllum and  Sanguinaria),
others  have  been  published  in  the  various journals of  our
School  {Rumex,  Cimicifuga,  Cornus  c,  etc.),  but  the  great
majority have never  been  proven  until  now,  and  the  only
mention of them  has  been  in  occasional  clinical  or  empirical
suggestions.   To  the  first   and second classes I have  added
many  pathogenetic  symptoms  gleaned from various sources,
re-provings,  poisonings, etc.,  and added  also  all  the  clinical
observations  that  could  be collected  from reliable  sources.
The latter  class  may  be  divided  into two others; namely;
those  which  have  been  proven, and those of which we  have
only empirical data  upon  which to base  clinical use, and  sug-
gestive or  theoretical  deductions.
    As  we  gather  experience  in the use of these remedies, and
institute accurate provings, the necessity  for these  suggestions
and theoretical deductions will be done away.  Each physician
should consider  himself  bound  to  collect  all  the symptoms
which are really pathogenetic, and  note down all reliable cura-
tive  experience  belonging  to  these  medicines,  and  faithfully
report  the  same  to our journals.
    The  causes  which  led  me to investigate  the  properties and
virtues of  the  remedies mentioned  in the following  pages, will
be  patent  to every progressive mind. After  using for many
years  those  invaluable remedies found  in  our standard Materia
Medica, most of  which  were handed  down  to us  by  Hahne-
mann and  his colleagues, I  found  that  although  their curative
scope  was  very  wide,  it  did  not  apparently  include  many
symptoms  and  diseases.  I was led  to  investigate  the field  of
indigenous  remedies  for  these reasons: (1)  the  suggestion  of 
VI
PREPAC E.
Teste,* that plants are  adapted  to  cure  the  diseases which
infest the same localities:  and (2)  the many  cures  which  had
come  under  my   observation,  made  by  these  remedies  in
the  hands   of   eclectic   and  domestic   practitioners   (some
of  the  cases  will  be   mentioned   in  the  body  of   this
work).   These  reasons, together  with a natural  ambition to
enlarge  the  sphere of  homoeopathic  Materia  Medica,  induced
me to  throw  away all prejudice,  and devote my energies to the
task of  introducing,  by  provings  and clinical experience,  the
indigenous medicines which so largely abound  in  the United
States.  A few others  had started before  me,  and  Cimicifuga,
Cornus,  Podophyllum, and Sanguinaria had been  proven,  and
their  pathogeneses published.  But from  some cause  they  have
not attracted  the  attention which they deserve.   After several
years spent in  the investigation  and study of the  new  reme-
dies, publishing from time to time items  from  my experience
with them,  I  was induced to attempt the work of collecting
all  that  had  been published  concerning  the  indigenous plants
of  this  country,  and to add  to  such  all the ^.knowledge, clin-
ical  and  theoretical,  which  could  be gleaned  from  my  col-
leagues,  together with my  own.
   To  this  I  have taken the liberty  of  adding the testimony
and  empirical  experience of  physicians  of  the  allopathic  and
eclectic schools, relative  to the  medicines under  consideration.
If any object  to  this  method,  I  would  refer  them  to  the
writings  of  Hahnemann and  his  colleagues,—Dudgeon,  Mad-
den  and Drysdale, of  England;  Teste and Roth, of  France •
and  Joslin, Marcy,  Hempel,  and  others of  this country.   I
contend  that  the experience of others,  besides  members  of
the Homoeopathic  school, is often useful in  building  our patho-
geneses,  and adding to reliable clinical  knowledge.
   I  shall  not be held  responsible for   the opinions  of  any
writer quoted  in  the  following  pages.  Let  each  be  judged
upon his own merits.   I do  not  claim  that this  work is in
any  way complete.   Indeed,  I shall  be  satisfied if it  is  oniv
pronounced by the profession  as  eminently  suggestive. Many of
the  provings   are  very  imperfect, and  some of  the  Clinical
remarks,  open to criticism.  Let  the wheat be separated  from
the  chaff by  the  inexorable test  of honest  trial.
* " Introduction of Materia Medica." 
INTRODUCTION.
   He  who   undertakes  to write a  Materia  Medica  which
shall come up to the high  standard  necessary  to  meet the
scientific requirements of the  Homoeopathic School of Medicine,
has before him a really herculean task.   The work even of expung-
ing worthless  symptoms,  will compare with  the  cleansing  of
the Augean  Stables.
   The  Allopathic Materia Medica, is not susceptible  of much
improvement,  so  long as that school  adheres to the  dogmas
which form  the  basis of  that system  of  practice;  the Homoe-
opathic, on  the  contrary, is  capable of immense improvement.
   I  have  found that   the  task of  writing a monograph  on
any one drug, as Gelseminum, was  really  a laborious  under-
taking;  and  the work of collecting,  compiling and arranging
the material  for the elucidation of several drugs, is, of course,
proportionately greater.
   That the profession may see  how high  an  appreciation I have
for a scientific Materia  Medica, and  how much  this work has
fallen  short of my ideal, both  in  the matter, and the manner
of its  composition,  I will  insert  an extract  from my intro-
ductory to a course of  lectures, delivered to  the  class  of
Hahnemann  Medical College, in the  winter of  1863  and '64:
    "Since the time  of  Hahnemann,  nearly  all  our works  on
Materia Medica,  have been  moulded  upon the  same plan, not-
withstanding the progress of  all the sciences  which properly
pertain  to  medicine;  and  while  a  knowledge of  chemistry,
pathology, and physiology is deemed  essential to every homos-
opathic  physician.
   "The  o-reat desideratum  of our  school  at  this  time is a
purely   scientific  Materia Medica.  Hahnemann laid the  foun- 
vrn
INTRODUCTION.
 dation upon the imperishable rock  of natural  truth.   Let  us
 build  upon  it a magnificent  temple,  which  time  nor  change
 can   ruin,  but will  ever increase its  grand  proportions  and
 massive  solidity.
   " Gentlemen:—Would you  have  my individual conception  of
 an  '■Ideal Materia Medica''   With  a  few preliminary remarks
 on   the  action  of  medicines, I  will  give  it you.   All drugs,
 and  by  this I mean all  substances which  can by any  possi-
 bility  be  used  as  remedial  agents,  have  three  modes  of
 action upon  the  animal  economy.
   "First—Mechanically.—This  action  is  only by  virtue  of
 their physical  conformation.    This  includes  bulk,  and the
 shape  of the particles  which compose  the  medicine.
   "Second—Chemically.—The chemical  action of  nearly all
 medicines,  when  given in  appreciable  doses,  is  fully admitted
 by  every  authority;  thus, we  have  acids,  and alkalies, and
 numerous compounds, which,  by their  chemical union with the
 solids  and  fluids, effect   changes  in  the   constituents  of the
 body.
    " Third—Dynamically.—This  method   of action may be
 entirely  independent  of   the  two  former.    But  a medicine
 may have  at the  same time a  mechanical,  chemical,  and  a
 dynamic  action; or if properly administered,  it  may  have  only
 the  latter  action.    It   was   a  knowledge   of this  dynamic
 action that  Hahnemann  strove to  attain.   This he  attempted
to do by  stripping his  remedial  agents of all  material forms
or chemical  power, and so diluting  them as  to  leave  nothing
but   the  'spirit' of  the  drug  wherewith  to  oppose disease.
   "Now, it is an  indisputable fact,  which I  shall point out
to you more fully  in my course of  lectures,  that our* Materia
Medica abounds  with symptoms  due  to the  mechanical  and
 chemical   effects  of drugs, and  these   are  so mixed up  with
 the  symptoms having  a dynamic  origin, that they  mislead us
 when we are engaged in  the selection of a remedy.   Upon
 almost every page  of  our Materia  Medica,  is to be  found  too
 many  of the  natural  sensations   to  which  every  person  is
 liable.
   "In view of these facts, I would  have  a rational  revision
 of   our   Materia   Medica,   expunging  all   but   undoubted 
INTRODUCTION.
IX
dynamic symptoms; and  I would have these symptoms  arranged
in natural  groups,  in strict   accordance  with  their  rise  and
progress.
    " In order to  elucidate  more  clearly  my views in relation
to drug proving, we will  suppose that a society is  formed,  by
a  number  of patient,   conscientious, and  self-sacrificing men,
whose  object is to  make  a perfect  and  complete  proving of
a drug or number  of  drugs.
    We  will  suppose that  the  drug  selected  be Phosphorus —
that  most  excellent of  all polychrests,   The  first  desideratum
would  be to ascertain the exact physiological  and  pathological
condition  of each  person  who intends  to  experiment upon  his
 own  person.    We  should  ascertain if every  organ  performs
its   functions   properly ;   whether   any  organic  disease  be
 present,  and if so, what  is its  character.   We should  inquire
 into the nature  of  all the  secretions  and  excretions,  aiding
 our  investigations by  the use  of  the microscope, and  those
 delicate tests which  science has applied  to  such uses.   If the
 prover  is in perfect  health, the  fact  should be noted;  if  not,
 his condition and  symptoms  should  be carefully recorded.
     "The drug  selected should then be taken  by  each one,  in
  similar quantities,  and  at  the same  time.   The  quantity of
  the  drug  should  be   just  enough to  induce  symptoms  and
  pathological changes in  the  organism,  by its dynamic  influ-
  ence,  and   not  by  any chemical action.    It  would  be   next
  to  impossible  to  administer Phosphorus  in  sufficient quantities
  to   set  up any  mechanical action;   but with such  drugs  as
  Mercury,  Stannum or   Podophyllum, such effects might readily
  be  obtained.
     "The  chemical action  of Phosphorus  upon the  surfaces  with
  which it  comes  in contact,  would be the  most  important  to
  be  guarded  against.   It  is  doubtful  if  inflammation of  the
  stomach could be produced by minute quantities of this  drug;
  but  we  know that material  doses  will cause  gastritis,  by  its
  actual combustion while  in contact with the  mucous  coats  of
  the  stomach.   Such   chemical symptoms  would  be worthless
  to  us, when  obtained.   Only the   specific,  dynamic  affects  of
  a  medicine  are   of value   in a strictly  therapeutic  point  of
  view. 
X
INTRODUCTION.
     " Immediately  after the  ingestion  of  the drug,  the   first
 symptoms  should  be  watched  for  and  carefully noted;  then
 all  the  unmistakable  drug-symptoms which  arise,  should  be
 recorded in  the  natural  order  in  which  they appear.    The
 objective and  subjective  symptoms   should  be considered  of
 equal  importance.    It  matters not  how  minutely the  subjec-
 tive  symptoms,  the aches,  pains, and sensations  be  recorded,
 but we  insist that  all the objective  phenomena, should  have
 an  equally  conspicuous  place.   Hahnemann  himself   once
 insisted  upon this  very proposition,  for in  speaking  of Bella-
 donna particularly,  he  says:—'We want  to know what organs
 it  deranges  functionally, what  it  modifies in  other ways,  what
 nerves it principally benumbs  or excites,  what  alterations  it
 effects in the circulation and  in the  digestive  operations,  how
 it  affects  the  mind,  how the  disposition,  what  influence  it
 exerts  over  secretions, what   modifications  the muscular  fibre
 receives  from it,  how  long  its  action  lasts,  and   by  what
 means it is rendered  powerless.'
    "Now, the investigation of  the properties  of a medicine in
this way would  leave nothing to be desired.  Could Hahnemann
have availed himself of the labors of  a  Brown, a Sequard,  a
Lehmann, or Rokitansky, what  a complete  Materia Medica  he
could have  written.  But this requirement was far  beyond  what
his  times  afforded,  and he  did  the  best  that  was  possible
under  the  circumstances.
    "Dr.  Dudgeon   asks:  'Ought we  not  to  strive  to attain
the  theoretical standard proposed  by  Hahnemann ?  And  how
is this to be obtained ?'  I answer, by  a more scientific charac-
ter  to  our  Materia  Medica; by   treating  our  pathogenetic
provings   in  a thoroughly  physiological manner;  by  brino-in£r
to  bear  on  the  action  of  medicines,  the  aids  and  appliances
of  the  microscope,  chemical   analysis,  and  the  ascertained
principles {not the  theoretical  surmises) of  modern physiology
This is  now  being done  by  some  members  of  our  school •
and if  we  were  all  animated  by  the  same  noble  zeal  we
 should   soon  rescue  the  school  from  the  reproach  of its *
 unscientific  character, which is  so continually  urged against it
 by adherents of so-called  rational medicine.
    "When   we   shall  have  recorded  all  the subjective  and 
INTRODUCTION.
XI
objective symptoms  in the manner above stated, we  shall have
what  we  will  term  a   true  physiological proving.  But we
must  consider that  it would endanger the life  of any individ-
ual, to  carry  our experiments  so far as to get all the  objec-
tive phenomena desirable.  What shall  we  do  to perfect  our
pathogeneses ?  I  answer, by  subjecting  to  the  slow action of
drugs, some of the lowest  animals, after the  manner of  some
of the greatest  physiologists of  the  age.  Already have  Curie
in  France,  and  some   members  of  our  profession  in  this
country,  begun  the laudable work.  Such experiments I  would
term  pathological provings.   By  such  investigations we  could
learn  the ultimate effects  of  drugs;  what  structural  changes
they  cause  in  the   tissues, and  what  extreme  organico-patho-
 logical  conditions they  can  induce.   The  experiments of the
 physiologists of the  allopathic  school  were  crude  and unsatis-
 factory.  They destroyed  life  with huge mechanical  or  chemi-
 cal doses of  drugs,  and  the  results  are of little  value  to our
 school.  Our aim should  be,  not only  to  cause  death,  but to
 cause disease,  of longer  or  shorter  duration,  and then  by a
 careful  scientific analysis  of the  artificial  malady, classify it,
 and  determine its character, in  order that we  may use  it as
 a  guide in the  selection  of a remedy  wherewith  to  combat a
 similar,  and ascertained  disease, existing in the human body.
    "Do  not  deem  these views Utopian in  their  character!
 Much more  than is here advised will yet be attained, and some
 of you will live to see the day when just such provings shall be
 made.  Aye,  more!   Some of you may live to  look upon the
 realization of a  dream  which  has haunted  me  for  years—an
 Inconographic Materia Medica.  Let me illustrate.  Going back
 to our  first proposition  of a proving  of  Phosphorus, we will
 suppose  all the  subjective and  objective symptoms recorded in
 strictly  scientific  language,  but in  addition  to  this  written
 pathogenesis we have correct drawings of all  the pathological
 changes; of all  the  organic  alterations  in  various  organs and
. tissues,  upon which  the  drug  exerted  its  poisonous influence.
 Let   us  call  to our  aid the  photographer and  the  painter,
 and  invest  the  delineations  of morbid  specimens,  with  all
 the   wonderful   similitude  which those  arts   are capable  of
 creating. 
XII
INTRODUCTION.
   "With such  an illustrated  Materia  Medica would  not the
Art  of  Healing be so far  perfected as  to leave  little  to  be
desired,  and   so   enhance  our  skill  in  the   management  of
disease  as to  rob  it  of half its  terrors ?
   " We  will  now suppose  such  a Materia Medica attainable,
we  will  also  suppose  the  existence of works  on  Diagnosis and
Pathology, similarly illustrated,  or,  that  all  are combined in
one  complete  work, in beautiful  and massive   volumes.  What
then would be the status  of the  practice of  medicine ?
   We  will   imagine  the  young physician just  returned from
his  visit  to  a  child,  ill  with  malignant  scarlatina.  He  turns
to his library and  finds  written   down   the   subjective  symp-
toms  of similar  cases;  and  he  also  finds  a   written  descrip-
tion  of  the   objective  symptoms,  the  latter   illustrated  with
colored  plates,  the whole  giving  a  striking   portrait  of the
case  he  has  just visited.
   "He  now  turns  to his Iconographic  Materia Medica, and
finds, it  may be,  in the   pathogenesis  of Belladonna  or  Apis,
all the  subjective  symptoms of  the  case;  and  more  satisfac-
tory still, he  finds that   the  objective  symptoms  correspond,
and  the  conditions of  the skin,  the throat  and the  mucous
surfaces,  are  in every  way similar  to  the case under  inves.
tigation.
   " What,  I  ask,  would  be the  result  of this  method  of
study ?  What the consequence of this  correspondence between
the malady, the illustrated pathology and pathogenesis of a drug
in the  materia medica?
   "Would  it  not be  the selection  of a  remedy whose action
 would   be  eminently  specific  to  the   totality  of the  symp-
toms,   and   therefore   curative  f   Would   it   not   elevate
medicine  to   the   position  of   one  of  the  exact  sciences?
Would  it  not  strip  disease of  half its terror,  and much of
its fatality?"
*      *       *      * 
INTRODUCTION.
xm
    In  the  British  Journal  of  Homoeopathy,  number   87,
will  be found a  Review of  Coe's  "Concentrated  Medicines,''
in which  the  writer, Dr.  Stokes,  seems  to  have the idea that
the  book  belonged  to  the  literature   of   the  homoeopathic
school,  at   least  one  easily  gets  such  an  impression  from
some remarks the writer  makes,  relative to   certain  opinions
and  assertions put forth by Dr.  Coe.   I cannot  account  for
the  stupidity  which  could  entertain such  an idea.   Dr.  Coe  is
a  sort  of  mongrel, half  allopath,  half  eclectic, and  quite  an
enthusiast in  regard to indigenous  remedies.   When  Keith &
Co.  established their manufactory  of concentrated  medicines in
New  York city,  Dr.  Coe was selected  by them as  a  proper
man to   set  forth  the  merits  of  indigenous  remedies  in
general,  and  their  preparations  in particular.  Consequently,
Dr. Coe's  work  abounds in   extravagant  assertions  and unre-
liable opinions.   I  consider  Keith's medicines  generally  unfit
for  use  in homoeopathy.  Their concentrated  powders  do  not
come  up  to  the  required  standard of  chemical purity.  Tinc-
tures  are to  be  preferred.  In the  provings,  more  symptoms
were elicited  from  tinctures than  from  the  resinoids  of  the
same plant.  The tinctures  should be  carefully prepared  from
the  fresh  plants. Tinctures of the  allopathic  pharmaceutists,
made from  old  dried herbs,  etc.,  are,  for  homoeopathic  uses,
always unreliable  and  unsatisfactory. 
    Note.__It  will be  noticed  that  after the few first pages of this work, the  word
 "female" is not  used,  but the term " woman"  is substituted.  This was not  done
without considerable deliberation, and from  the best of motives.  This alteration was
suggested to me by the talented authoress,  Mrs.  Sarah  J. Hale.   While on  a  visit
 to  Philadelphia,  in  June,  1864,  I  visited  my  gifted   relative,  and   in   the
 course  of  a  conversation,  I happened  to  use  the term  " female"  as  applied
to  woman.   Mrs.  Hale  called  my attention to  the impropriety  of this  mode of
expression.   Is it not  a  little   strange,  that men  of education,   scholars,  divines,
and others, should have overlooked this matter  so long?   Yet, writers and speakers
have  used the  term  "female"   instead of "woman,"  for the last  several centuries,
and the thought of its  impropriety never  occurred to them;  or  if it did, they failed
to mention  it.    To Mrs.  Hale, is due  the  honor of  arresting  the improper use
of '' female,"  as  a  synonym for  " woman."   In  the   " Lady's  Book,"  for July,
1856,  will be  found  her able and  incontrovertible  arguments  against  the  practice.
I  will state a few,  enough to  convince any  person of their importance:  1st.—
" The  word " female"  is   only  used twelve times  in   the  Bible,  and  in  contra-
distinction to man, as male, while the word " woman" is  used over  thirteen hundred
times, and  in  each  case  as   designating   the  human  feminine.   Any  one   will
immediately recognize the impropriety of  using the term  "female,"  if he substitutes
it,  in any of  the latter  instances,  thus: " Man  that  is born of a female,  &c."
A female  what—Dog,  Horse,   or Sheep?   How  absurdly it  sounds!  This brings
us to the 2nd.—" The term  " female,"  does not  imply  anything  pertaining  to a
woman,—it cannot be construed to mean a  lady,—it  does not even imply anything
feminine,  for  feminine  means—literally—pertaining to woman.  The word  female
 then,  should never be used  except in contra-distinction  to man as a male.  Its appro-
 priate place is to  designate the  sex of an  animal.   To  use  this  term in  any
 other  way,  is to  degrade  woman.   "The  poets  are  the  best  expounders of
 language, because they must use the most appropriate words in their  truest sense
 which is  their noblest  signification,  in  order to  exalt,  beautify,  and  perfect  their
 themes of song."   If we take a  few examples,  changing  the style  in  regard to
 woman,  to the vulgar  word of "female," the following  will  be the result:
           " For  none of female born shall  harm  Macbeth."—Sliakspeare.
           "0! female  in  our  bowers of ease."—Milton.
 The  intense absurdity  is  at once apparent. 
LIST OF  MEDICINES TREATED OF IN THIS WORK.
JEsculus Glabra, Buckeye.......................................... 17
jEsculus Hippocastanum, Horse Chestnut......................18 and 439
Albtris Farinosa, I Unicorn  root...................................... 34
Apoctnum Androsemifolium, Bog-bane............................... 36
Apocynum Cannabinum,  Indian Hemp................................ 41
Arum  Triphtllum, Indian Turnip.................................... 56
Asclepias  Syriaca,  Milk weed....................................... 58
Asclepias Tuberosa, Pleurisy root........._......................... 63
Baptisia Tinctoria.  Wild Indigo..................................... 69
Caulophyllum  Thalictroides,  Blue Cohosh........................... 84
Chimaphila Umbellata, Pipsissiwa .................................. 96
Cimicifuga Racemosa,  Black snake root...............................101
Collinsonia Canadensis, Bard luxck,  Stone root.......................125
Cornus Circinata,  Green Osier......................................132
Cornus Florida, Dogwood...........................................139
Ctpripedium Pubescens, Large yellow Ladies'  slipper..................143
Dioscorea Villosa, Colic root..............................146 and 435
Erigeron  Canadense, Canada flea-bane..............................150
Eryngium  Aquaticum,  Button  snake,root..............................156
Eupatorium Aromaticum, Wliite snake root...........................157
Eupatorium P erfoliatum,  Boneset...................................158
Eupatorium Purpureum, Queen of the  Meadow........................165
Euphorbia Corollata,  Milk weed. Spurge...........................167
Gelseminum Semper Virens,  Yellow  Jessamine........................173
 Gossipium, Cotton plant  ---..........................................217
 Hamamelis Virginica,  Witch Eazel...................................221
 Helonias Dioica, False Unicorn root..................................237
 Hydrastis Canadensis, Golden Seal...................................247
 Iris  Versicolor, Blue Flag..........................................263
 Leptandria Virginica, Black  root....................................284
 Nuphar Lutea, Small flowered yellow pond-lily........................'.302
 Phytolacca Decandra, Poke........................................307
 Podophyllum  Peltatum, Mandrake..................................327
 Polygonum Hydropiper, Smart-weed..................................351
 Rumex  Crispus, Yellow  dock.........................................354
 Sanguinaria Canadensis,  Blood root.................................368
 Sarkacenia Purpurea, Huntsman's  Cup..............................384
 Scutellaria Laterifolia,  Scull cap..................-...............389
 Seneoio  Gracilis, Life root..........................................390
 Silphium Laciniatum, Compass weed..................................395
 Sticta Pplmonaria, Lungwort........................................396
 Trillium  Prndulum, Birth root......................................403
 Veratrum  Viride, American Hellebore................................408
 Xanthoxylum Fraxineum, Prickly ash...............................429 
DIRECTIONS  TO  PHARMACEUTISTS.
    All  the medicines treated of  in  this book can be  prepared  in
Tincture,  and this form  is generally preferable.
    JEsculus  Glabra, Msculus  Hippocastanum, and  Arum  Triphyllum,
are also frequently required in form  of Trituration.   Triturations are
also made of the Kesinoids Aletrin, Asclepedm, Baptism, Caulophyllin, Comin}
Cypripedin, Bioscorein, Eupatorin, Eupurpurin, Gelsemmin,  Hydrastin, lrisim,
Phytolaccin,  Sanguinarin, Senecionm,  Trillin,  and Xcmthoxylm.
    Some have  prepared tinctures of  the  resinoids, such  as  Aletrin,
Baptisin,  Caulophyllin, etc., etc., but  these  are very  unreliable  pre-
parations.  They will never produce all the symptoms upon  the healthy,
that the  tinctures  made  directly from  the fresh  plants will  develop,
and  are  consequently not as  potent for  the cure of  disease.  The
tinctures  should be prepared  from fresh plants,  gathered  during  their
time of  flowering,  soon after  the  dew has dried off  and when  they
are tree from dust.  They should be collected  where indigenous, and
should not  be made  from cultivated  plants.
    We make use  of----
    Roots.  Aletris, Apocynum  a.,  Apocynum  c, Arum t., Asclepias  s.,
Asclepias  t.,  Caulophyllum, Cimicifuga, Collinsonia, Cypripedium,  Dios-
corea, Erigeron can., Eryngium, Euphorbia c, Eupatorium aromat., Eupa-
torium purp.,  Gelseminum,  Gossipium,  Helonias,  Hydrastis c,  Iris  v.,
Leptandria, Nuphar 1., Phytolacca,  Podophyllum, Rumex  c, Sanguinaria,
Silphium,  Trillium  p., Veratrum viride.

    Whole Plants.  Baptisia,  Chimaphila u.,  Eupatorium perf.,  Poly-
gonum hyd.,  Sarracenia, Scutellaria 1.,  Senecio g., Sticta p.

    Nuts. JEsculus glabra,  JEsculus hyppocastanum.

    Barks.  Cornus c, Cornus  f.,  Hamamelis  v., Xanthoxylum f. 
          vESCULUS GLABRA (OHIOENSIS).

                           (Buckeye.)

   This tree is so well known, that it does not need  description.
It grows on  the banks of streams, in rich alluvial soils.   The fruit
contains  its  most active poisonous principles, although the leaves,
bark, and roots possess active toxical powers.
   It is often eaten by domestic animals; cattle, in particular, are apt
to partake freely of the fruit.  In my boyhood,  I have seen a great
many cows fall  victims to their careless imprudence in  diet.  Even
when a student of medicine, I have witnessed deaths in cattle from
its effects; and it is a matter of sincere regret,  now, that I did not
make a careful post mortem examination of the animals.  The gen-
eral  symptoms  exhibited in cases of poisoning in animals may be
summed  up  as follows:
   1.  Distention of the stomach and abdomen; staggering; reel-
ing ;  apparent loss of sight; constipation.
   2.  Falling ; paralysis of the  hinder extremities;  " Palsy ; wry
neck ; convulsions ; fixed eyes, and death."
   There have been cases of poisoning in men and children, who
ate of this fruit, but I have not  been able to obtain any account of
the symptoms exhibited.  Two  of my pupils  once  attempted to
prove  the Buckeye, but  did not continue the  experiments, on
account of the apparent gravity  of the  few symptoms which mani-
fested themselves.
   It caused—
   1.  Vertigo,  severe, with reeling  like drunken  men; vertigo
with  nausea ;  vertigo with dimness of sight;  fullness  and  heavi-
ness  of the head ; confusion of ideas;  a confused  stupor ; " thick-
ness" of speech ; loathing of food ;  nausea; cramp in the stomach ;
sensation of  fullness of the stomach.
   2.  Great weakness; trembling  of  the  lower limbs; a strong
tendency to  contractions of the legs ; constipation.
   It seems  to stand in relation both to Opium,  and Nux vomica,—
possessing some of  the narcotic  properties of the former, and the
cerebrospinal  affinities of the latter.  It may be  called a cerebro-
spinal irritant.
   The fruit is used to stupefy fish, by the  Indians—a decoction ol
the nut is thrown into the  water.
       3 
18         NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
   Dr. McDowell, who tested  the properties of the rind of  the
fruit, says,  " Ten grains  of it are  equivalent to three grains of
Opium."
   The following theoretical and  clinical remarks are all that we
have to offer in relation to this medicine :
   1.  It should prove curative in some forms of vertigo, conges-
tion or gastric cephalalgia, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting and consti-
pation.
   2. In  some severe brain affections the symptom "wryneck"
in animals is quite suggestive.  Wry neck  is  not  always a rheu-
matic affection.   It  may  arise  from irritation at the  base of  the
brain, or in the cervical  region of the  cord.  It is  a  symptom of
tubercular meningitis, apoplexy, meningitis, and many other, brain
diseases.   When  this symptom occurs, during these affections, the
iEsculus glabra will be indicated.
   It will probably prove useful in paralysis of the lower extremi-
ties, when Nux vomica fails to cure.
   It has been used in the treatment of some typhoid symptoms.
   But its principal  use up to this time has been in hemorrhoidal
affections.  It is a popular belief with many of the country people
in Ohio, that the fruit of the  Buckeye, carried  in  the pocket, or
worn as an amulet, will act as a prophylactic and curative remedy
against the piles.
   Dr.  Hill  (Surgery, p. 371,) says, "A number  of cures have
been reported to us, effected by the use of the Buckeye, taken in
repeated small doses."
   Dr. J. S. Douglas  considers it quite specific in some severe
hemorrhoidal diseases.
   I  have prescribed  it  in constipation and piles, and  in some
instances got good  effects from its use; in other cases it did not
seem to cause any curative action.   I gave the l-10th  and l-100th
dilution.
             iESCULUS HIPPOCASTANUM*

                         tHorse- Chestnut.)

                    BY H. M. PAINE, M. D.

   History.—The horse-chestnut is a highly ornamental tree, and
is greatly admired for its  majestic proportions, and for the beauty
of its flowers and foliage.  It grows rapidly, and often attains the
height of forty or fifty feet.  It is a native of middle Asia, but flour-
ishes well in the temperate climates of both hemispheres. Its crenus
comprises about twelve known species, the genus cesculus, however,

  ♦Although the ^Esculus hippocastanum is not indigenous to this m™tnr „„t «,<,u
has been naturalized, and proven by American physicians^fhave ttouiht best t^in^lude
remedy™      " * "^    ^  ** ^SCU*U8 *labra,' »d wUldoultless prove a viable 
JESCULUS  HIPPOCASTANUM.            19
is incomparably the finest, and is the only one found in the North-
ern States, and this even is not indigenous in  New England.
   It was  introduced into Europe nearly three centuries ago by
Baron Ungnad, ambassador of the Ottoman Porte, who, in the year
1576, sent  the seeds of the common horse-chestnut to Clausius, at
Vienna.  It is now extensively cultivated as  an ornamental tree in
Europe as well as in this country.
    The name aesculus  was originally  applied to a species of oak,
also to a tree which bore esculent  fruit, and probably is derived
from esca—" food."  It was transferred  to this genus  by Linnaeus
to the exclusion of the earlier and more appropriate name of  " hip-
pocastanum" {horse-chestnut),  on account of  the resemblance of
the large seeds  to chestnuts,  and because the Turks often  grind
them into a coarse flour, which is mixed  with other food, and  given
to horses which are broken-winded.
    In the  Southern and  Western States there are several species,
 which bear the name of buckeye, from a resemblance of the seeds
 to the eye of that animal.
    Botanical Description.—In the language of flowers this tree
 symbolizes luxury.
    The beauty of the  horse-chestnut consists chiefly in its inflores-
 cence—surpassing that of almost all our native trees;  the huge '
 clusters of gay  blossoms, which every spring are distributed with
 such luxuriance and profusion over the surface of the foliage, and
 at the extremity of the branches, give  the  whole tree the aspect
 of some monster  flower, than  of an  ordinary tree of the largest
 size.  Early in  June this beautiful  tree puts forth large pyramidal
 racemes or thyrses of flowers, of pink and white,  mottled with red
 and yellow—finely contrasting  with the dark green of its foliage,
 which  has great grandeur and richness in its depth of hue  and
 massiveness of  outline.
     Order,—IIippocastanacae (sapindaceae, Gray,) ; genus, aesculus;
 species, hippocastanum.   Leaves  opposite, digitate,  of  seven
 obovate-cunate,  acute, toothed  leaflets,  serrate and straight-veined.
 Flowers showy, in larcre terminal  thyrsoid racemes or panicles;
 pedicels  articulated.   ^Calyx campanulate  of five united sepals.
  Corolla spreading white, spotted with purple and yellow, and com-
 posed  of  four  or five petals, which are irregular, unguiculate, and
 nearly hypogynous.  Stamens  usually seven, unequal, inserted on
 the  hypogvnous disc.   Ovary  large,  round, echinate when young,
 dehiscent, loculicidal, three cornered, three celled, crowned with a
 single filiform,  conical style, containing two  ovules  in  each  cell,
 onlv one of  all  of which, sometimes  two or even three  matures.
 These seeds are very large, shining, roundish, coriaceous, mahog-
 any-colored,  with a broad, round, pale hilum, without albumen.
     The^Esculus Ohioensis {Ohio buck-eye) differs from the aesculus
 hippocastanum  in  having five  leaflets—stamens red, curved, much
 longer than the  corolla, which consists of four upright  yellow
 petals.  Fruit prickly when  young, but smooth at maturity, about
 half the size of the hippocastanum.   This tree is small in  size,
 and exhales  an unpleasant odor, particularly while in flower. 
 20        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

    Medicinal  Properties.—The timber  is  not valuable.  The
 large  farinaceous   seeds   contain   a   considerable  amount  of
 nourishment,  which is  rendered  unavailable,   because of  the
 intensely bitter  and  narcotic  principle  with  which  they  are
 charged.   Common horse-chestnuts,  nevertheless,  with  some
 precautions,  are largely  and advantageously nsed in Switzerland
 for  fattening  sheep.   They are also  eaten eagerly  by deer,
 horses  and oxen.   Starch  prepared from them, is superior  to
 that of wheat, and  excels as an article of diet,  that of the potato.
 Paste prepared  from them is preferable  to any other, not only be-
 cause possessing great  tenacity,  but also  from the fact, that  no
 moths or vermin will attack anything  cemented  with it.  They
 have been recommended as  a substitute  for  coffee.  They contain
 sparingly a saponaceous principle.
    The  young leaves are aromatic, and have been used instead of
 hops in brewing beer.
    The  roots  contain  a mucilaginous  and saponaceous matter,
 which is thought to be  poisonous. Active  and poisonous proper-
 ties prevail in the root, seeds, bark and foliage.
    The bark  has little  odor, but  an  astringent and bitter, though
 not disagreeable taste.  It contains, among other ingredients, bitter
 extractive and tannin, and imparts its virtues to boiling water.  Its
 active constituent  is supposed  to be  tannin, hence  it has  been
 employed in tanning.  It is recommended as a tonic, astringent, nar-
 cotic, and antiseptic; in fevers as a febrifuge, for gangrene, and as
 an errhine.  A strong decoction is recommended as a lotion to gan-
 grenous  ulcers.
    It has attracted much attention in  Europe, as a substitute for
 Cinchona, although it certainly cannot be considered comparable to
 Peruvian Bark in  its power over intermittents.   It is  at present
 seldom used, and never in this country.  The bark of the branches
 from three to  five years  old is considered  the best.   It should be
 collected in spring.
    The powdered kernel snuffed up the nostrils produces sneezing,
 and has  been  used  with advantage as a sternutatory in complaints
 of the head and eyes.  In Europe the oil  at present is  a fashiona-
 ble  remedy for gout and rheumatism.   Maceration in an alkaline
 solution  removes the bitter principle.  iEsculine is the name given
 to the extractive matter.
    Hahnemann  thus speaks of it:   " We can, from the morbid
 effects which  the  bark is able to  produce,  form a just estimate of
 its medicinal powers, and determine whether it is  suitable for pure
 intermittent fever, or some  of its  varieties.  The sole phenomenon
 we know belonging to it is, that it produces a constrictive feeiin^
'in the chest.   It will accordingly  be found useful in (periodical^
 spasmodic asthma."
    Digest of Sijmp>toms.—T\vz  following digest of the  symptoms
 have been  arranged from provings made  by  Dr. Woodward
 Warren, and  by Dr. O. A.  Buchmann, upon himself and six other
 persons—four females and three  males, all in middle life • 
              ^ESCULUS  HIPPOCASTANUM.            21

   In each instance the mother tincture or crude  drug was em-
ployed, in doses of from five drops to twenty grains.
   Dr. Buchmann introduces the provings in the following words:
"Horse-chestnuts have been occasionally used as a popular remedy,
and the favorable results heard from their use in glandular swellings
of horses, in chronic catarrhs of the respiratory passages and of
the intestinal canal, determined me to undertake a careful proving
of them on the healthy, in order  to ascertain if their vaunted cura-
tive powers were on the homoeopathic principle."*
   Symptoms.—Compiled from eighteen provings, by eight persons.
The figures represent the number of times the preceding symptom
was mentioned by the  provers.
    General Symptoms.—Feeling of extreme illness.  Great weakness.
Totters when  walking (2).  *"Weariness  (3).   Fatigued  feeling,
as from a  long walk.   Sensation as if she  would  faint.  General
feeling of malaise.
    Duration of action, from two to six hours.
    Sleep.—Inclination  to sleep.  Yawning  and stupefying  sleepi-
ness.  Constant  yawning  (2).  Falls asleep when  sitting.   Sleep
for a quarter of an hour.   Slept wTell.
    Fever.—Chilliness and goose-skin.   Attack of rigor, lasting  ten
minutes.   Cannot get  warm.  Rigor  for half  an  hour.  Rigors.
General perspiration.   Heat in the whole body.
    Sensorium.—On waking  cannot  recognize what  she  sees;
knows not where she  is; nor whence come the objects about  her
(2).  Inward cheerfulness and placidity of temper.
    Head.—Feeling as  if  a board were on  the head.  Aching in
the forehead.   Feeling as during a cold in the  head.  Sensation as
if intoxicated.  Confusion of the head (2).  Giddiness.  Vertigo,
with sensation of balancing in the head.  Formication  in the front
of the temple.   Heaviness in the head.  Heat in the head and eyes.
Headache over the left eye  (2).  Headache over  the  right eye.
Dull pains in  the head, here and there, chiefly  in the  right temple
and occiput, followed  by dull stitches in the  forehead and left tem-
ple.  Dull pressure in  the forehead.   Throbbing in the right frontal
eminence.   Fine stitches in the left temple.  Dull  pain m the left
temple.  Sharp pressing pain in the right temple.   Dull stupefying
pain  in the head.  Dull pain  in the occiput (3).   Bruised feeling in
the occiput.   Heat in the  integuments of the  occiput (3).  Heat
 extending from the occiput to the ears (2).                    ,
    Eyes—Burning in the  internal canthi.   Burning and  stinging
 deep  in the  left orbit, as if the  pain  surrounded the eye-ball.
 Weight and heat in the eyes.  Coldness in the left eye.  J ™u§
 in the right eve.  Quivering of the lids. Lachrymation (2).  Ihck-
 ering before "the eyes (2).   Can see  well  at a distance ; can read
 without spectacles, which she could  not do  before.
    Ears.—Burning of the ears.  Heat  in the occiput, extending to
 the ears.
    Uose _Severe fluent coryza (8).  Burning in the nostril.  Raw
*See British Journal of ffbmcropathtj, Vol. XVIII., pages 88-194. 
22         NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
feeling  throughout  the whole nasal cavity.  The nasal mucus
becomes watery.  Thin mucus from the nose, causing a frequent use
of the pocket-handkerchief.  Dry feeling and sensation of heat in
the nose, especially its  point, as when a severe eoryza is about  to
come on.   Disposition to sneeze.  Feeling as after  having taken a
pinch of snuff.   Formication in the nose (3).  Sensitiveness of the
nasal mucous membrane  to the  respired air (3).  The respired air
causes a feeling of  coldness in the nose (2).  Drawing in the right
nostril, as in violent eoryza.  Twisting sensation in  the front part
of the nose.  Shooting pain in the head.
   Face—Looks ill.   Pale miserable appearance (2).  Flying heat
and  redness  of the  left side of the face (.2).  Burning in the left
cheek.
   Mouth—The taste was something like that of aloes.  Bitter taste
(3).  Coppery taste, acting as  an astringent  in  the  mouth and
oesophagus ; at  first  bitter, then sweet.  Sweetish  taste (6), as after
taking  Dulcamara—like liquorice.  Burning  in  the  mouth (3).
Biting and stinging at the tip of the tongue.   Increased flow of
saliva (9), producing an inclination to swallow.
   Throat-—Contractive pain in the throat (2).   Sort of constricted
scraped sensation, causing a disposition to  hawk.   Irritation in the
throat and oesophagus.  All the throat was excoriated and con-
stricted.  Dryness and contraction of the  throat.  Dryness in the
throat.  Burning in  the throat (12), like fire, when  swallowing;  at
one time slight, then severe; with raw feeling.  Constant shooting
and raw pain in the  throat.  Scraping  sensation in the throat.  The
mucus in the throat becomes thinner.  Hawking of  thick (2), after-
wards watery mucus.   Frequent call to expectorate mucus, which
becomes watery.  The mucus in the throat excites a cough.  Tick-
ling in  the throat  (2), causing  a cough.   Inclination to  swallow.
Formication  in  the fauces.  Dull  pressing and pricking in  the
fauces.  Biting and stinging pain in the fauces.  Stinging and burn-
ing in the  soft  palate  and posterior nares.  Increased pain in the
throat, after eating a grape.
   Stomach.—Nausea  (15).  Retching  (2).  Inclination to vomit.
Violent vomiting.   Burning in  the stomach (4).   Heart-burn for
half an hour. Water-brash. Eructations of wind (16); of mucus;
of thick mucus ; of viscid mucus (3); empty eructations.   Flying
heat before the eructation.  Fullness of the stomach (3).   Periodi-
cal tightness in the  scrobiculus cordis, with  labored breathing.
Twisting in  the scrobicults cordis.  Aching and rumblino- in the
stomach.   Cutting  stomach-ache.   The aching  in the  °stomach
extends.  Comfortable feeling in the stomach.  Hunger.
    Abdomen.—Constricted feeling in the bowels.   Cramp-like con-
striction m the bowels, followed by stool (the fourth time)   Grip-
ing in the bowels (2).  Cramps in the bowels.  Motions preceded
by pain m  the bowels.   Pinching below the navel.   Fine pricking
pains around the umbilicus.  Pain from the bowels  to the  small of
the  back.  Burning in the bowels.   Pressing downwards in the
abdomen.   Rumbling in the bowels, half an hour, without  pain
Distention of the abdomen.  Pain in the hypochondria, through t0 
AESCULUS  HIPPOCASTANUM.            23
the back, especially on inspiration.  Tearing pain in the right side,
above  the  hip, deeply seated.   Colic, with  pinching pains  in  the
right hypochondrium.  Stitches in the right hypochondrium. Stitches
in the left side.  Fine  stitching in  the  left  hypochondrium.  Cut-
ting in the left inguinal region.  Rumbling in the hypogastrium.
    Stools.—Eructations of wind, with desire to go to stool.  Three
moderate foecal evacuations  half an  hour after  taking  the drug.
Four loose evacuations within a quarter of an hour.   In  two hours
several thin evacuations.  In two hours after taking  the  drug, two
moderate evacuations.  Constant urging to stool, after two hours.
Pressure  in  the rectum, with desire to go to stool.  Ineffectual
efforts to stool. Difficult scanty stool. Difficult hard  stool, followed
by burning and constriction in the  rectum.  Constriction  in  the
rectum (2).  Itching in the  anus (2); with raw  feeling.  Stool of
a mixed  character.   Two liquid  motions, preceded by  griping.
Motions preceded by  pinching in the bowels.  Frequent expulsion
of flatus (2.)   The usual stool did not take place (2).
    Urine.—Shoots in the orifice of the urethra.  Call  to  urinate.
On two occasions, at short intervals,  urging to urinate.
    Genital Organs.—Leucorrhcea.   Burning in the mammae.
    Larynx.—Hoarse  voice;  speaking brings  on a  cough.   Short
cough, increased by swallowing and breathing deeply.  The mucus
in the throat excites a cough (2).   Tickling in the  larynx, causing
a cough with mucus  expectoration.  Cough from irritation.  Dry
cough.  Repeated cough.  Dryness  in the larynx.  Frequent  call
to expectorate mucus, which  becomes watery.   Pressure in  the
throat-pit, as if something had stuck there which required to be
 expelled.
    Lungs.—Hot feeling in the  chest,  with cold rising up  (2).  Burn-
 ing and heat in the chest.  Raw feeling in the throat and chest (2).
 Warm feeling in the chest.  Shooting pain in the sternum.  Pains
 in the sternum,, as if a piece were torn out of the  chest.  Sudden
 stitches throughout the chest.   Pains in the right scapula, and in
 the left side  of the chest, increased on inspiration.  Rheumatic pain
 in the right  scapula.   On the right side of the chest a sensation as
 if the lung painfully moved up and down at  each respiration  (2).
 Increase of the pain on  drawing a deep inspiration.  Pain in the
 chest, alternating with pain in the  abdomen.  Stitches leave the
 left side of the chest and go to  the right.  Twitching from the
 chest  to the left shoulder.  Tightness in  the chest  (6).  Labored
 breathing (2).  Palpitation  of the heart (4); severe, periodic, fre-
 quent, with great anguish.                      ,,..,,
     Upper  Extremities.—The arm and hand of the left side become
 strikingly warmer, and  feel as if they were heavier and  swollen
 Heat  in the shoulders.  'Burning in the palms  of  the  hands  and
 soles of the  feet.   Constant jerking in the right arm.  Paralysis of
 the right arm—cannot raise it.
     Back.—Pains in the small of the  back, and lame feeling.  -Fain
 extending from the abdomen to the small of the back (2).   Weari-
 ness in the small of the back.  Tearing pain in the back.   Lame-
 ness and sensation at if strained in the right lumbar region, extend- 
24
NEW  HOMCEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
ing to the gluteal  muscles.  Heat in the back of the neck and
shoulders.  Weariness in the back of the neck.   Lameness  in the
back of the neck (2).


                      SUMMARY.

   General Symptoms.—Weariness, faintness.
   Sleep.—Sleepiness.
   Fever. —Rigors; chills.
   Head.—Confused, dull, aching pain, as if from a cold.
   Eves<—Burning heat, as if from a cold.
   Nose.—Severe fluent eoryza.
   Mouth.—Increased flow of saliva.
   Throat. — Burning ; raw ; stinging ; dryness.
   Stomach.—Eructations ; nausea.
   Stools.—Diarrhoea ;  burning, constriction, pressure, tenesmus,
and itching in the rectum, indicate  the utility of this drug in
haemorrhoids.
   Larynx.—Laryngitis f
   Lungs.—Bronchitis?  Asthma?   Palpitation?
   Back.—Pains and lameness in the small of the back.
   These symptoms indicate  a  wide range of  influence.   They
exhibit decided action upon the mucous surface of the air-passages,
upon the stomach, bowels, and rectum.
   The chills and rigors,  stupifying sleep, confusion and dullness of
the  head,  congestion of the liver  and  spleen, palpitation and
impeded respiration, indicate an accumulation of blood in the central
parts of the organism.
   The burning in  the eyes,  fluent eoryza, water  in the  mouth,
burning in the throat, nausea and  eructations, the evident bronchi-
tis, and hemorrhoidal disturbance, indicate congestion of the cap-
pillary vessels, chiefly, we believe, venous congestion.
   Dr. Buchmann thus concludes his article: " I trust  these prov-
ings may induce others to institute more provings, and to test the
therapeutic action of this  drug.   I may merely add, that  I  have
succeeded  in curing radically a chronic cough  with emaciation—
which had long been treated without effect—by daily administra-
tion of  as much powdered  chestnut as would lie on the point of a
knife;  and that I have heard from persons on  whom I could rely,
of the rapid cure of a chronic diarrhoea, in which many remedies
have been  used in vain, by  a single dose  of powdered  horse-chest-
nut."
    Let these abundant evidences of its usefulness  become  an
incentive to renewed diligence in developing and perfecting the path-
ogenesis of this important  remedy.
    It is  usually prepared by grating  the nut, after removing the
shell.  When dry it can  easily be reduced to a fine powder.  Tri-
turations are made as  of any other homoeopathic remedy.  [It is
also prepared in the form of tincture.—Ed.] 
^ESCULUS  HIPPOCASTANUM.
25
                      PROVINGS.
       PROVING BY C.  W. BOYCE, M. D., OF AUBURN, N. Y.
            Read before the Oneida County Horn. Med. Society.

   August 24.  Took ten grains  of the  first  decimal  tritura-
tion  at 9 a. m.  Nausea immediately. Constant desire to swallow,
with feeling of dryness and stiffness of the throat when swallowing.
   August 28.  At 11 a. m., took ten grains of the same  prepara-
tion.  Nausea immediately.   Constant nausea.  Feeling of dryness
and roughness of the throat, as if from taking cold.
   At 5 p. m., took ten grains more. Nausea. For two following
days, constant tendency to diarrhoea. Almost constant  inclination
to stool, but without any, or very slight evacuations.
   September 12.  At 9 a. m., took ten grains of the same prepa-
ration.  Nausea immediately. Sick feeling  in the stomach all day,
with increase  of appetite.
   At 4 p. m., took ten grains more.  Nausea.  Salivation.  Metallic
taste in the mouth.  Sensation and dryness of the rectum.
   At 8 p. m., took ten  grains  more.  Nausea.  The thought  of
the medicine is unbearable.   Dryness of the  throat. Dryness and
itching in the rectum,  with feeling of stiffness of the skin and adja-
cent cellular tissue, continuing for several days.
    September 24.  At  3 p. m.,  took ten  grains.  Nausea  imme- ,
diately.   Diarrhoea for twenty-four hours following.
    September 26.  At  4 p. m.,  took ten  grains.   Nausea imme-
diately.   Increase of saliva.   The  taste of the drug remained  in
the mouth several hours.  Diarrhoea of ingesta.  For several days
following there was a  sensation as  if the mucous  membrane of the
rectum was thickened, obstructing the passage of faeces.  Dryness
 of the passage for several days, followed by a secretion of moisture.
 Soreness of the rectum, with a feeling as if  something  would pass
 off all the time  I induced several other persons to make a few
 trials, but with no result except  increased  salivation.
    October 3.  At 3 p. m., took ten grains of the first decimal tri-
 turation.  Nausea immediately, and continuing  all the afternoon.
 Dryness of the throat.  Dryness of the rectum.
    October 4  At 1 p. m., took ten grains.  Nausea.  Increase of
 saliva.   Dryness  of the  larynx, with tickling  scraping feeling of
 the  laryngopharyngeal mucous membrane.  Sensation  of swelling
 of the nasal mucous membrane, as if from  taking cold.  Sneezing.
    October 5  At 9 a. m., took ten grains.   Sensation of dryness
 and stiffness of the  glottis, and  all the pharyngo-laryngeal mucous
 membrane.   Slight nausea.                               .
    At 2 p  m., took ten grains.   Increase of the dry feeling in the
 throat, followed by secretion of mucous, quite like the second stage
 of catarrh.   Dry uncomfortable feeling m  the rectum, which feels
 as if it were  filled with small sticks.
    October 6.  At 2 p. m., took  ten  grams. Painful dryness of
 the throat, lasting six hours.  Feeling of prostration of the whole
 system.  Great repugnance to the drug.
        4 
26         NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
   October 7.  At 10 a. m., took ten grains.  Nausea.   Increase of
 the saliva.  At 4 p. m., took ten grains.  Nausea,  Desire for  a
 passage from the bowels without result.  Desire to remain at stool
 a long time, with straining.   Excessive dryness of the rectum, with
 feeling of heat.  At 9 p. m.,  took ten grains.  Nausea immediately,
 with  ineffectual attempts to evacuate  the bowels.  Feeling in the
 rectum as though folds of the mucous membrane  obstructed  the
 passage,  and as if, were the effort  continued, the rectum would
 protrude.
   October 10.  There  has  been during the past three days sore-
 ness in the rectum, with  increased secretion of mucus.  Frequent
inclination for and ineflectual efforts at stool.  At 3 p. m., took  ten
 grains.   Nausea as soon as the drug was taken.  At 8 p. m., took
 ten grains.  Nausea.
   October 11.  Early in the  morning a feeling of emptiness and
gnawing  in the stomach.  At  10 a. m., took  ten  grains.  Nausea.
Dryness of the throat after eating.  After eating the stomach feels
full, as if the walls were greatly thickened.   Considerable pain in
the stomach for four or  five  hours  after eating, which continues
until  after taking food  again.  Dyspepsia.  Quite severe pain in
the right side of the head above the temple.   Metallic taste in the
mouth.   Increase of secretion from the submaxillary glands.  Good
appetite.  Dryness and soreness of the rectum.  At 3 p. m., took
ten grains.  Soreness of the tip of the tongue, like  that produced
by ulcers.  Thinking  of the drug always produces nausea.   The
dryness of the rectum  is followed by increased secretion of mu-
 cus.
      proving by w. warren, m. d., of deerfield, n. y.
         Read before the Oneida County Homoeopathic Medical  Society.

   Dr. Woodward Warren, aged thirty-six, nervo-bilious tem-
perament, subject to bilious and gastric derangements.
   May  22.  Took  two  grains  of  first  decimal  trituration at
4 p. m.  In half an hour felt a dull, pressing  and  pricking in the
fauces, with a sensation  of fullness in the epigastrium, with empty
eructations,  followed immediately by burning  in the stomach and
bowels.  At 4.45, dull pains in the head, here and there, but princi-
pally in the  right temple and occiput, followed by dull  stitches in
the forehead and  temple.  At 5.30, colic, with  pinching pains in
the right hypochrondrium; empty  eructations.   At  6.30, fine,
pricking pains around the umbilicus.
   May 29.   Took two  grains of second decimal trituration at 2
p. m.  At 2.25,  felt a dull pressure in the  forehead, with a slight
feeling of nausea in the  stomach, followed immediately  by stitches
in the right  hypochondrium.  At 2.45, bruised feeling in the occi-
put, with  feeling of lameness in the  back of  the neck  At 3 30
pressure in the rectum with inclination to stool, with empty eructa'
tions.   At 4.45, ineffectual efforts to stool.   At 8.25, feeling of con-
 striction in the rectum.                                 s
   May  30.  At 6 a. m., difficult scanty stool.   At 8  a. m., took
three  grains of  first decimal trituration.  In ten minutes coppery 
^SCULUS  HIPPOCASTANUM.            27
taste  in the mouth, with  increased flow of saliva.  At ^ 8.30, dull
pain in the occiput, extending to the  ears ; fine stitches in the left
temple, with slight feeling of nausea in the stomach.  At 9 o'clock,
feeling of  lameness and  weariness in the back  of the neck, and
small of the back.  At 10 a. m., empty eructations.
    May 31.  Took two grains of second trituration at 8.30 a.  m.
At 9, copious soft stool, followed by burning, and a feeling of swell-
ing and  constriction in the rectum.  At 9.15, empty eructations.
At 9  30, slight burning and nausea in the stomach, with  increased
flow of saliva; fine stitching in the left  hypochondrium.  ^ At 9.45,
confused feeling  in the head;  giddiness.  At 10, dull pain in the
occiput,  with  flushes of  heat in the  integuments  of the occiput,
back of the neck, and shoulders.  At 11.25, burning in the ears.
    June 1.  Took five grains of second decimal trituration at  12
am   At 12.30, coppery  taste, with increased flow of saliva, anda
dull, pressing pain in the left hypochondrium.  At 12.45, dull pain
in the left temple; giddiness  and confused feeling  in the head;
sharp, biting, and stinging pain in the fauces and tip of  the tongue.
At 1 p. m., rumbling in the  hypogastrium, with  cutting pains
 around the umbilicus ; burning and stinging deep in the left orbit,
 as if the pain surrounded the ball of the eye, with a feeling of cold-
 ness in the eye.   At 1.15, heat in the integuments of the occiput,
 extending to the ears. At 1.30, cutting in the left inguinal region;
 slight nausea with empty eructations.   At 2 30  genera  feeling  o
 malaise, with dull, stupefying feeling in the head.  At 4  p.m., dull
 pain in the occiput, and lame feeling in the sma   of the, back
    June 8  At  7 a.m.,  difficult, hard stool, followed  by burning
 and  feeling of constriction in the rectum   At  9  a.m., took three
 grains of  fecond trituration.  At  9.45, stinging  and burning in the
 loft  palate and posterior nares; bitter taste and increased flow of
 saliva  vAt 10, vertigo, with  sensation  of  balancing in the head,
 throbbing in the right frontal eminence.  At 10.15, empty eructa-
 tions wfh burning in the stomach,  and fine, pricking pains around
   he umbilicus.   At 10.20, sharp, pressing  pain m ^^f^
 At 2 p.m., lameness, and sensation as if strained in the right lumbar
 region,  extending to the gluteal muscle.

        PROVING  BY  H.  M. PAINE, M. D., OF  CLINTON,  N. Y.
           Bead before the Oneida County Homoeopathic Medical Society.
     September 28.  In usual health. Took ten drops of the pure
  alcoholic  tincture at 10 p. m.
     September 29.  Took ten drops  at 10 p.m.
     September 30.  Took thirty drops at 10 p. m.
     October 1.   Headache,  general,  through the whole head.  A
  sensation of fullness  in all the upper part of the head.  Veitigo,
  verv annoying all the afternoon.   General malaise.
     October I  Experienced a repetition of similar symptoms aga n
  to dav   Disappeared after  4 o'clock, p.m.  Took  forty drops  at
  1% m.   ObseTed^few  minutes after a quicksevere,  griping
  pain in the epigastric region.   It continued about half an hour. 
28        NEW  HOMCEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
   October 8.  Feel miserably, cross, disinclination to perform any
labor.  Headache in the upper part of the head.  The pain is uni-
form and constant.   The sensation is that of fullness and pressure
rather than acute pain.  Vertigo, quite troublesome.  The  above
symptoms continued till toward evening, and then disappeared.
At 10 p. m., took forty drops.  Experienced a severe griping pain
in the epigastrium a few minutes after taking the drug.  It con-
tinued until I fell asleep—about half an hour.  It extended from
the stomach to the umbilical region, and appeared to be produced
by flatus, as there was at the same time quite a perceptible sensa-
tion of motion in the bowels.
   October 4.  Few abnormal sensations to-day.  No headache.
Slight vertigo.  Took forty drops at 9 p. m.
   October 6.  Sore throat, quite troublesome in the forenoon;
none in the afternoon.  For  the first time since  commencing the
proving had rather a difficult stool.   Took forty drops at 9 p. m.
   October 7.  Slight soreness in the pharynx  during the day.
Rather a difficult stool about noon, followed for an hour by a slight
soreness, aching and fullness in the rectum, indicating piles.  Took
fifty drops at 9 p. m.
   The taste of the  drug is at first  intensely bitter, and is peculiarly
unpleasant  and nauseous.  The bitter taste is soon displaced by a
pleasant, sweetish flavor, very similar to that of ordinary liquorice
root.  This sweet taste remains about an hour.
   Immediately on  taking the drug there is  a sensation of scrap-
ing, irritation, or burning, extending from the mouth to the stom-
ach.   It usually  passes off in an hour or two.  It remains longer in
the stomach than in the throat.
   Another very unpleasant sensation experienced immediately on
taking the  drug is nausea.  It is transient, recurring at short inter-
vals, and usually disappears  in about half an hour.
   Clinical Notes I. P.—Have been subject for several years to
occasional  attacks  of haemorrhoids, attended with  little  haemor-
rhage,  although considerable  pain, aching,  swelling, and rigid
hardness of the rectum.  The paroxysms usually accompany consti-
pation.   The  pain commences about an hour after  an evacuation,
and continues from two to six hours.
   About  ten grains of the crude nut, finely  pulverized, were
placed in a half-ounce vial of alcohol and water, in equal parts.  Of
this ten or twelve drops were taken  nearly every  evening for
about five  weeks—commencing August 11, 1860.
    The piles were uniformly relieved  after  three or  four doses.
Observed  on two  or three occasions, that when the  remedy was
discontinued  for a few days, the  symptoms soon returned.  It is
now  four months since all symptoms of  the  disease disappeared.
 IN o other effects were discovered.
    II.  R----Had been suffering severely from hemorrhoids for
tenor twelve days, with a constipated state of the  bowels,  and
 severe pain m the tumors-making it very unpleasant to stand on my
 feet  or walk.  Also more  or less nausea, loss of appetite, furred
 tongue, a  sensation of fullness about  the navel, flatulent pains in 
^ESCULUS  HIPPOCASTANUM.
29
 the bowels, and  very dark stools.  About two  weeks previous to
 the attack of haemorrhoids, had  a severe attack of bilious  colic,
 which was relieved by Colocynth,  Chamomilla,  and Mercurius sol.
    On the morning'of June 13, 1860, took 200 pellets of  the sixth
 centesimal attenuation  of ./Esculus.  The only  symptom  referable
 to the drug was irritation of  the throat and oesophagus—a sort of
 constricted, scraped sensation, causing a disposition to hawk.  This
 occurred about an  hour after  taking  the  drug,  and continued  for
 several hours.
    Continued the remedy for  several mornings in succession.   The
 piles are entirely relieved; the bowels  act regularly ; the appetite
 fair; nausea and  flatulence gone; and, in short, enjoy  my  usual
 standard of health.
    Dr. L. B. Wells, of Utica, has employed this  remedy in all cases
 of haemorrhoids occurring in his practice during the past two years,
 and generally with very good  results.
    Dr. Wm. M. Cuthbert, in  N.  A. Journal for February, 1864,
 Bays :  " I proved the drug to a limited extent on my own person,
 not being subject  to piles, using the first potency.  The effects
 produced  being a painful weakness of the loins, with dull, aching
 pain, accompanied by severe tumors  around  the  anus.   These
 symptoms becoming so  severe as to interfere  with  professional
 duties, I was  reluctantly  compelled to end the  proving,  and  one
 dose of Nux vomica antidoted in a few hours all the painful symp-
 toms, since which I have experienced  none of them."
    Cases referred to by Dr. Cuthbert:
    1.  Man; aged 37 ; mechanic.  One dose of  third potency not
 only entirely relieved  the piles, but also  enabled him to  lay off a
 truss which he had worn for years for an inguinal hernia.
    2.  Mrs. M.  Piles  (protruding at times) of ten years' stand-
 ing, cured with three doses.   It is now three years since,  and she
 has never had any symptoms of it in that time.
    3.  Mr. B.  External  piles.  Promptly cured with one dose;
 Nux vomica never having any effect.
    4.  Mr. L.  Blind bleeding  piles  of twenty years' standing,
 cured with three doses, one every two weeks.
    A cerate has been prepared from the iEsculus, which has  been
 found a very efficacious and convenient external  application to pile
 tumors.

                 PROVING BY  W.  H. BURT, M. D.
    The  following  thorough  proving  by  Dr.  Burt, of Lyons,
 Iowa,  I present  to the profession without any clinical  remarks.
 It speaks  for itself.  The  ^Esculus h. seems likely to prove a  val-
 uable remedy.—{Hale):
    March 14th, 1864.  At 10  a. m., took  10 grs. of the first dec.
trituration  of the  dried nut; 11a. m.,  neuralgic  pain in the region
of causality (right) darts towards the left, with a constrictive feel-
ing of the skin of the forehead, followed by flying pains in  the
epigastric region (lower right lobe  of the liver);  constrictive feeling
of the fauces;  12  m., neuralgic  pain in the region of the heart lasted 
30         NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
one minute, with frequent pains in the epigastric region.   Dull,
aching pain in the small of the back, very much  aggravated by
walking; 1 P. m.,  there has  been very frequent neuralgic pains in
the region of the apex of the heart and stomach, with a severe, dull,
aching pain in the lumbar  region;  4 p. m., constant, dull,  aching
pain in the small of the  back, aggravated by motion—took 20 grs.;
5 p. m., slight  frontal  headache, acrid constrictive feeling  in the
fauces—there  has  been frequent  sharp pains in the region of the
apex of the heart and stomach, constant, quite severe, aching pain
from the pit of the stomach to the right lobe of the liver, slight
back-ache, knees ache severely; 10 p. m., there has  been frequent
flying pains in the forehead and temples, feeling as if something had
lodged in the  fauces that produces a constant inclination to swal-
low, good deal of distress in the stomach, and flying pains in the
bowels, very severe and constant backache, knees ache severely—
took 20 grs., no stool.
    15th.  Called up  three  times through the night, back ached
very hard all  night, and is still aching; 7 a. m., took 20 grs.;  12
M., dull frontal headache, fauces  feeling very dry and constricted,
burning  distress in the stomach, frequent  eructations of air, very
tired and languid,  back aches severely; 9 p, m., there has  been
frequent pains in the umbilical and hypogastric regions all day, but
they were not very severe, dull backache; no stool.
    16th.  Up most of the night with  the sick; very hard and dry
stool at 7 a.  jr., followed by colicky pain  in the  umbilicus, and
severe  cutting pains in the anus.  Took 10  grs.  at 9 A. m. 10:30—
For the last hour there  has  been  constant burning distress in the
epigastric and umbilical regions,  with a very severe aching pain in
the lumbar region, very painful  when trying to walk;  occasional
neuralgic pains in the forehead and  apex of the heart; dry feeling
of the  fauces with frequent inclination to swallow.   11 a. m.,  dull
frontal headache;  severe  constrictive feeling of the  fauces, with
frequent inclination to  swallow; constant  burning distress, with a
constrictive feeling of the lower part of the chest; "frequent pains in
apex of the heart; constant dull, aching distress  in the umbilical
region, with a very severe headache ;  walking  is very painful. 12—
Pulse 68, soft and weak ;  dull frontal headache, with fluent eoryza;
constant burning distress in the stomach ; dull,  aching pain in the
lumbar region ; took 40 grs.  3 p. m., slight frontal headache, with
great tightness of  the  skin of  the  forehead.   At 1 p. m.  there
was great constriction  of the fauces, with great irritation of the
epiglottis that produced a dry hacking cough; does not trouble me
now; there has been constant burning distress in the  stomach and
bowels with a severe fluttering sensation in the pit of the stomach,
lasting five minutes at a time; came  on five different times;  empty
eructations; frequent dull aching pains in the right hypochondriac
region ;  dul 1 pains in the umbilicus, sometimes they are very sharp;
constant dull backache; weariness in the small of the Wk • 3
pains in  the  small of the back  and hips when iaMn^earinif
with famtness at the pit of the stomach.  5pm  ZV ZTh
frequent neuralgic pains in the fauces, with frequent inclination to 
^ESCULUS  HIPPOCASTANUM.
31
swallowf constant burning distress in  the stomach; severe  aching
pain in the lumbar region.  9 p. m.—Frequent twitching of the mus-
cles under the left eye ; stomach and bowels distress me very much.
   17th.  Was up all night with my wife who has a violent attack
of diphtheria, compelled to  stop  my proving; feeling very much
prostrated; back  aching  violently; walking  is almost impossible;
great desire for  stool.   At  5 a. m., a very hard and dry  knotty
stool, voided with great difficulty; violent backache all day; almost
impossible to get up after sitting down.
    18th.   Slight backache all day; no stool.
    19th.   Hard stool, followed by a prolapsed feeling of the anus.
    20th.   No stool.
    21st.  Natural stool.
    22d.  Feeling well; took 20 grs. of the  pure pulverized nut at
 10:30 a.m.   11a.m.—Severe smarting of the eyes;  tongue feel-
 ing as if it had been scalded, with great constriction of the fauces ;
 constant dull pain in the region of the navel.  11:45 a. m.—Severe
 neuralgic pain in  the region of the heart;  it is  so painful  that it
 arrests the breathing; lasted 10 minutes; dull aching pain in the
 right  hypochondriac region; back  commencing to ache severely.
 12 m.—Dull frontal headache, with a constricted feeling of the skin
 of the forehead;  great dryness of the fauces, with frequenlj incli-
 nation to swallow; dull burning distress in the stomach; severe neu-
 ralgic pain in the right inguinal region ; constant backache, affecting
 the sacrum aud hips, very much aggravated  by walking and stoop-
 ing forward;  pulse 70.   3  p.  m.—Slight frontal headache; great
 dryness of the fauces;  constant and severe burning in the stomach,
 with a very severe backache in the lumbar region.   6 p. m.—There
 has been frequent flying pains in the forehead and temples all day;
 fauces feeling constricted, with frequent dull pains on each side of
 the tonsils; they look very dark and congested; frequent eructations;
 constant burning distress in the stomach ;  frequent  and long, last-
 ing, dull pains in the  right hypochondriac region; dull backache.
 9 p. m.—Great distress  in  the umbilical and hypogastric regions,
 and a very urgent desire for stool, with rumbling  in the bowels; a
 very large and hard stool, voided with great difficulty, followed by
 severe pains in the anus, with  a feeling  as if a portion of the anus
 was protruded, accompanied with  dull  pains in the  umbilical and
 hypogastric regions; this feeling lasted all night  and until late in
 the morning, with a very severe backache in the lower part of the
  lumbar and sacral regions.
     23d.  Slept soundly;  feeling  quite well, excepting a  feeling as
  if a portion of the anus was prolapsed,  with a dull backache; flat
  slimy taste in the mouth.  9  a. m., took 30  grs.   11a. m— Fre-
  quent flying pains through the temples;  profuse secretion of mucus
  in  the nostrils, with eoryza.  The acridity in the mouth and fauces
  is very slight; constant and severe burning distress in the stomach,
  with an inclination to vomit;  constant dull, aching pain in the right
  hypochondriac region,  and region of the  gall bladder;  burning,
  aching distress  in the umbilicus; constant dull pain across the hips
  and  sacrum; sharp pains in the region of the apex of the heart. 
 32         NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

 3 P. m.—Feeling very depressed  and low spirited; constant dull,
 burning, aching pain in the epigastric and umbilical regions;, the
 greatest pain is in the pyloric  portion  of the stomach;  at  4:30
 p. M. took 30  grains.  6 p. m.—Great  congestion of the tonsils
 and  soft palatet frequent  sharp, neuralgic  pains in the region
 of the  heart,  with a great burning  in the same  region;   con-
 stant and very severe burning in the stomach and  bowels;  very
 hard to endure the burning distress; feeling faint and weak;  very
 severe backache, worse by motion.  9 p. m— Frequent flying pains
 in the temples; constant dull, burning pain in the pyloric portion
 of the stomach;  constant dull  pains in  the  right hypochondriac
 region, aggravated by walking;  dull pains  in the umbilicus;  very
 urgent desire for stool.   7 p. ^r.—Very hard, dry stool, followed by
 pain in the anus; frequent stitches in the region of the heart;  dull,
 aching pain in the sacrum.
    24th.  Slept well, but awoke three times and found I had a
 dull, burning pain  in the stomach;  sweet, flat, slimy  taste in the
 mouth; tongue  very much coated yellow; fauces congested; con-
 stant dull pain in the cardiac portion of the stomach; very severe
 pain in the small of the back and hips when getting up, not much
 after moving a minute or so ; pulse 76.   10 a. m.—Severe  burning
 distre*s in the stomach (superior cardiac portion).  Took 30 grs. 12
 m.; pulse 72; constant burning,  aching distress in the epigastric
 region, with constant dull, aching pains  in the right hypochondriac
 region; constant dull backache; frequent pains in the region of
 the apex of the heart and between the shoulders.   2  p. m.—Great
 desire for stool; stool,  first part black  and hard, the  last  part
 about the natural consistence, but almost white as milk, showing
 that the  secretion of bile is almost completely  suspended;  the
 stool was followed  by severe tearing pains in  the  anus ; constant
 burning  distress in  the  epigastric  region; the small of my back
 aches so severely that it is almost  impossible to stoop down, or
 to get up  when sitting down. 4 p. m.,  took  40 grs.  6  p. m.—
 Severe congestion of the tonsils and soft palate, with a constant
 aching distress in them;  constant aching, burning distress in the
 epigastrium; constant dull, aching distress  in the right lower lobe
 of the liver; the backache is very  severe when moving.   9 p. m.—
 Constant aching  distress in the  tonsils and fauces, with frequent
 inclination to swallow; the burning, aching distress in the epigas-
 trium is almost unendurable, it makes me feel very faint and weak;
 constant dull, aching distress in the right lobe of the liver; great pain
 in the back and hips when trying to move; legs aching  severely,
 feeling so weak that I must lie down all the time.
   25th.   Slept soundly; feeling  so  weak, and my back pains me
so much when  trying to move,  that it is with great difficulty
that I can get up;  moving produces violent pains in the sacrum
and  hips;  very  severe frontal  headache; flat, bitter  taste in  the
mouth; tongue  coated yellowish  white;  tonsils and soft palate
very much congested, but no enlargement; constant pain in  the
cardiac portion of the stomach;  dull, aching distress in the right
liver; urine very high colored; good deal of dull, aching  pain be- 
^SCULUS  HIPPOCASTANUM.
33
tween the shoulders.   12 m., have had a very hard frontal head-
ache all  day; back and legs have  ached so severely that I was
compelled to lie down all the forenoon; feeling very feverish, hands
hot and dry; pulse 66, soft and weak; disposition to stretch and
yawn all the time; feeling as if  I  had the ague;  great deal of
distress in the epigastrium and liver.   3 p. m.—Feeling very weary
and low-spirited.  Took 30 grs.  6 p. m.—Constant distress in the
stomach, with  frequent pains through  the  bowels;  back  pains
severely when moving.  9 p. m.—Great desire for stool; stool about
natural consistence, followed by a prolapsed feeling of the anus.
    26th. Slept soundly; back pains me  when first moving, other-
wise feeling well.  10 a. m.—Slight  pain  in the epigastrium ;  took
60 grs.  11 a. m.—For the last half hour there has been a constant
dull, aching, burning pain in the region of the heart; pulse 66, soft
and regular;  constant aching distress in the tonsils ; frequent incli-
nation to swallow; constant pain in the stomach and right lower lobe
 of the liver; very severe pain in the lumbo-sacral region when stoop-
 ing ; dull, aching distress in the  dorsal  region; feeling very faint
 and weak.   5 p. m.—Dull pain  in the tonsils, with  frequent inclina-
 tion to swallow;  the  tonsils are congested of a very dark  color;
 constant dull and very  severe aching pain just below the pit of the
 stomach, which produces a very weak, faint feeling; it is very hard
 to endure the distress; constant  dull, aching distress in the right
 lobe of the  liver, and between the shoulders along  the  dorsal
 region ; dull pain when moving in  the lumbar in the lumbar-sacral
 region; frequent rumbling  in  the  bowels.  9. p. m.—Stool about
 natural consistence, but  very white, showing  a  great deficiency
 of bile; constant  dull pain in the liver  and back.
     27th.   Slept well;  feeling  quite  well  excepting good deal of
 pain in the lumbar-sacral region when moving.  7 p. m—For the
 last two hours there  has been constant very  severe  pam  about
 and iust below the pyloric extremity of the stomach; severe pain
 in the  sacrum and hips when  moving;  a  very dry  stool at 9 p.
 m., voided with  difficulty; dull  pains  in the right lobe of the
 liver and  dorsal region.                       .
    28th. Back is feeling very stiff  when  moving;  dull pains in
 the small of the back and sacral region ; constant  dull,  aching pain
 in the  ri^ht  hypochondriac region, with  frequent  pains in the
  stomach &. day, with constant desire for stool; had two soft stools,
  without giving relief to  the desire for  stool; feeling very sad
     29th.   Slept well; constant dull, aching pam  m the right lobe
  of the liver all  day,  with frequent  pains in the stomach and bow-
  els, and  constant desire  to stool;  stool  at noon very black and
  soft, without  relieving the  desire  for stool.
     April  1st.   There  is still  a good deal of pain  in  the  lumbar
  region, with soft, mushy stool.                 .
     I believe if I had used nothing but the first trituration it would
  have  produced large hemorrhoidal  tumors, the large doses that 1
  took  kept the bowels too loose.   Not one of  our  remedies pro
  duce  so many and so strongly marked symptoms of hemorrhoids
  aTthe esculus.   I would alto call the  attention of our physicians
         5 
34         NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

to the powerful effect esculus has on  the liver.   I  intended to ex-
periment on 'animals with the esculus, but could not get  the time
to do it, but  hope I will  soon.  It is a  remedy  that  will  well
repay us for all our trouble.              W. II. Burt, M. D.
              ALETRIS  FARINOSA.
                    (Unicorn Root,  Stone Grass.)

   This plant is the true Unicorn,  as  distinguished from the false,
Helonias dioica.  From all accouuts  it possesses  many  properties
in common with the latter.  The root is  the officinal part, and is
with difficulty  distinguished from the Helonias.
   Aletri?i, or Aletridin, the active principle, is an  Oleo-Resin,
and is said to possess the medicinal virtues of the  plant.
   General Effects.—No proving of this plant has yet appeared,
and the  clinical experience  of our school, is  very meagre.  The
eclectic school however, speak highly of  its value.
   "Inthe recent state, and in large  doses it is considerably narco-
tic, with emetic  and cathartic  properties.   When  dried  these
properties are  destroyed, and it becomes a bitter tonic."  {King)
   " The aletris is tonic, stomachic, narcotic, discutient, emetic, ca-
thartic and expectorant.  In large  doses it  is  said to produce
nausea, vomiting, purging, dizziness and other unpleasant effects,
which would seem to indicate that it  is possessed of acro-narcotic
properties.'' {J. and  S. Mat. Med.)   " It is believed, that no Ame-
rican plant exceeds the Aletris, in  intense  and permanent bitterness.
In this respect it is not inferior to aloes  or quassia.  It seems to
be a pure bitter, having also some emetic  and cathartic properties.
As a tonic stomachic,  it is not surpassed by any of our  indigenous
plants, and for this purpose it is extensively employed as a popular
remedy and in regular practice.   It  has  long been held  in  high
repute among the Indians.  There is  some reason to believe, that
it possesses narcotic properties.   Rafinesque, who seems  to  have
experimented  a good  deal with  it,  says, that " only  small  doses
must  be used, because large ones produce nausea, dizziness  and
narcotic  effects, and that the powdered root should not be given in
larger doses than twelve grains.  Its  uses  are the same as  gentian
and quassia.  In some parts of the country it  is used by botanies
as a remedy for dropsy, dysentery and colic.  We regard  it as an
alterative  tonic, very similar  to  hydrastin."—{Prof  Lee.)   It is
highly probable that  a thorough  proving of this medicine would
develop  its value, and make  it almost an equal  with  Helonias, or
perhaps  China, although  it does not  appear  to possess the anti-
periodic properties  of the  latter drug. It  has, however,  some
reputation in Intermittents, and one  of the common names of the
plant is " ague root." 
ALETRIS  FARINOSA.
35
   Special Effects.—Sensorium,  Head,  etc—Vertigo;  dizziness,
with vomiting ;  purging; sleepiness; and even stupefaction.
   Clinical  Remarks.—Theoretically, I would suggest that it
may be useful in certain  congestions of the  head, when the above
symptoms are present.  In certain cases of Meningitis, in children
and adults, the disease is ushered in by a  similar train of symptoms.
A high dilution  of the tincture of the fresh root  might in  such
cases prove  curative.  It is  highly  recommended  by Dr. King
(" Diseases of Females ") in hysteria.
    Gastric Symptoms—Vomiting; purging;  excessive nausea, with
giddiness, etc.
    Clinical Remarks.—Small doses are  said to  promote  the
appetite and assist digestion.   It is used in cases of flatulent colic.
It is highly recommended in cases of dyspepsia, with much general
debility.  All drugs  which derange  the digestive  organs  are, of
course," homoeopathic  to some form  of dyspepsia, or  gastric  dis-
order.  Until we have a proving of Aletris,  the indications for the
use of this remedy cannot be given.  It may,  however, be  used
empirically  as a dernier resort when other remedies fail.  A case
treated by me,  may throw some  light  on  its probable sphere of
action.  A lady in the fourth month of pregnancy became very
much debilitated ; had nausea, but  no  vomiting; disgust  for all
food ; the least  food caused distress in the  stomach ; very consti-
pated ; frequent attacks of fainting, with vertigo;  sleepy all the
time; emaciated.  I used Pulsatilla, China,  Iron, Sepia, Nux vom-
ica, Ignatia,  and many other  remedies  with no apparent  result.
Discouraged at  the result of my treatment,  she declared her inten-
tion  to procure some  "bitters.''  She  "knew some bitter tonw
would help her."  I happened to have a drachm of Aletridin in the
office.  This I dissolved in four ounces of sherry wine, and ordered
a teaspoonful three times a day.  In a week she came into my office
exclaiming,  "Your bitters have  cured me."  The improvement
was  really  great, and no other medicine was used.  A constant
pressure and pain in the uterine region was  also removed  by the
medicine.   In a similar  case I have  since used the  first dilution
with apparent good results.
    Female Generative Organs.—Colic in the hypogastnum.   Pres-
sure in the  region of the uterus.  Labor-like pains  at the time  of
the menses.   Weight in  the  uterine region.  Premature and  pro-
fuse menses.  Abortion.  Leucorrhoea.
    Clinical Remarks.—The Aletris, is  by general  consent  of
Eclectic physicians, considered to possess  specific  relations as  a
curative remedy, on certain  diseases of the  Uterus.   I quote some
of  the testimony :  " The root exerts a tonic or stimulating  influ-
ence upon  the  reproductive  organs of the female.   In amenor-
rhoea, dysmenorrhcea, and engorged  condition of the  uterus,  it
will be found  of especial  benefit,  removing  the  difficulties by
restoring  the  uterus  to its  normal  condition.    It  will  also
be   found   advantageous  in  those instances when there  is
an   habitual  tendency to abort, not depending  upon syphilitic
taint   or  other  causes  independent of   the   reproductive 
36         NEW  HOMCEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

organs.   I  have  found  it  useful  in prolapsus uteri, and am
inclined to believe that  it exerts a peculiar influence upon the
uterine ligaments, having  cured several severe cases of uterine pro-
lapsus  by  this agent  alone, without the aid  of any mechanical
means."—{JYing^s^Obstetrics, page 638.)   " The Aletris is recom-
mended in diseases peculiar to females, as  an article of great value.
In cases of frequent abortions, or when  a disposition to abort
exists, and uterine derangements in general.''— {J. & S.Mat. Med.)
If the aletris possesses the power of preventing recurring  abor-
tions, it  is certainly worthy our  investigation.  A  fragmentary
proving even may establish the basis upon which this recommenda-
tion  is based.  Several physicians have verbally given me their
testimony in favor  of its power of preventing abortion, even after
pains and haemorrhage had set in.  I have been  assured that it has
been used in domestic practice, to produce abortion in the  early
months.  It  is evidently  homoeopathic to abortion when  accom-
panied by the symptoms named above, as arising from over doses
of the fresh root; also in cases which seem to depend upon a want
of tone  in the uterine tissues and general system.
     APOCYNUM  AOR0SEMIF0LIUM.
                 (Bog-bane, Milk Weed, Bitter Root.)

   This in an indigenous, perennial, herbaceous plant, from three to
six feet in height, and abounding in a milky juice which  exudes
when any part of the plant is wounded.  The stem is smooth and
simple below, branched above, usually  red on the side exposed to
the sun, and  covered with a tough fibrous  bark.  It grows in all
parts of the United States, from Carolina to Canada ; is found alono-
fences, in wet places, the skirts of woods, and flowers in June and
July.  The  leaves  are  opposite,  petiolate,  ovate, acute,  entire,
smooth on both edges and two or three inches long.  The flowers
are white, tinged with red and grow in  loose nodding, terminal or
axillary cymes.   The peduncles are furnished with very small acute
bractes.  The tube of the corrolla  is larger than the calyx,  and its
border spreading.  The fruit consists of a pair of long, linear, acute
follicles, containing numerous imbricated seeds, attached to a central
receptacle and each furnished with a long seed-down.  The root is
the part employed, and is large, and like other parts of  the plant,
contains  a milky  juice.  Its  taste is  unpleasant  and  extremely
bitter.
   Great care should be taken not to confound this plant with  the
apocynum cannabinum, which it closely resembles ;  for the medicinal
effects of the two are very different, and the use  of the one for the
other might hazard the lives of our patients.
   The  allopathic  and eclectic  schools have used it in a  crude
empirical manner, as an emetic, alterative, tonic, aperient, diuretic 
APOCYNUM  ANDROSEMIFOLIUM.          37
detergent, deobstruent, diaphoretic and  anthelmintic, &c, much as
they use  other drugs, especially those of whose virtues they know
the least.
   What little we do  know of its real sphere of action,  and its
pathogenetic effects,  have been ascertained by Dr. J. H. Henry, a
Southern homceopathist, who proved it upon himself and two ladies,
in pretty large doses, ranging from 50 to 1,800 drops of the mother
tincture, of the fresh root.   (The tincture must have  been  a  very
weak preparation.) All the provers were well when they commenced
taking the  medicine, with the exception  that one of the ladies had
suffered  from leucorrhoea,  and Dr. H.  himself had suffered from
haemorrhoids.
    May 14th.—Each person took 50 drops fasting in the morning.
Two of them felt cramps in the bottoms of the feet; the third had
violent heat of the bottoms of the feet, with profuse sweating of the
 whole body.
    May 15th.—Each took 100 drops.  All felt cramps and burning
 in the bottoms of the feet, most severely in the right foot,  with
 severe pain in the joint of the left big toe, and heat in the right leg
 and knee.   One of the ladies and Dr. H. complained of great fulness
 and  pain in the  head, of an  indescribable character.  The  next
 morning the three persons  complained  of constipation of the
 bowels.
    May 16th.—All took 150  drops, and  experienced  about the
 same symptoms as on the 15th.  Dr. H.'s  feet tingling pains in his
 toes, sharp pains in the middle;  trembling  of the body in  two
 provers;  most delightful taste in  the mouth of each.  Everything
 smelled like honey to  Dr. H.   All complained of pains in  different
 parts of the body, and Dr. H. of much pain in the knee and  right
 shoulder.   The  ladies complained of pain of all the teeth of the
 lower jaw, left side.
     May 17th.—Each took 200 drops.  Neither, except Dr. H. felt
 cramps in the bottom of the feet.   All  experienced  symptoms like
 those felt on the 16th; pains  and stiffness in the back of the  head
 and neck; dull  heavy pain when breathing  seeming  to  go from
 above downward.
     May 18th.—Each took 250 drops.  Dr. H. and one of the ladies
 sufferred  from painful bilious  diarrhoea.
     May 19th.—Each took 300 drops, and experienced heaviness of
  the body, with a great desire to sleep; flying pains in different parts
  of the system; pain in the head and back of the neck, swollen sensa-
  tions of the face and body, violent itching of body and face.
     May 20th.—Each took 350 drops, and experienced  all of the
  above symptoms, with profuse flow of clear urine ; pulsating pam in
  back of the head, and between the right hand and elbow, consti-
  pation of two persons; diarrhoea of the third, with much pam and
  rumbling, only  two  evacuations, but copious and  affording  much

      May  21st.—Each took 400 drops and experienced much pain all
  over the head; stiffness of the neck ; pain  on turning of the left 
38         NEW   HOMCEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

side; itching and burning of the face, much lassitude, frequent pass-
ing of clear urine.
    May 22d.—Each took 450 drops, and felt all the previous symp-
toms, together with great sneezing,  twitching of the  face, most
violent pains in all the joints,  great  itching and irritation in  left
nostril.
    May 23d.—Each took 500  drops.  Violent pain in  the  left
zygomatic process, chilliness, lassitude, heat of head and neck, in-
ability to sleep at night, violent dreams, sleep  not  refreshing, pain
in the left groin of a shooting character.
    May 24th.—Each took 550 drops.  Ladies suffered from profuse
menstruation, lasting eight days, with violent  pressing pain; other
symptoms as before.
    May 26th.—Each took 650 drops.   Some efforts to vomit; pain
increased in back of neck, and  extending to  front; pains severe
above each wrist.  One prover had four bilious evacuations, another
ten, and another, constipation.
    May 27th.—Each took 1,800 drops.   All sick; vomiting, purg-
ing, great prostration and trembling of the body.
    1 his was truly heroic proving, bringing out  boldly the character-
istic symptoms of the drug.
    General  Symptoms. — Nerves  of  Sensation. — Although  the
remedy produces a  great many pains, and pain  implies that  the
nervous system is involved, still it would seem that these were  not
simple nervous pains or neuralgias, but rather  simulated  rheumatic
or dyscratic pains.   It may prove useful in rheumatic-neuralgias.
    Nerves of Motion.—It produces cramps in the soles of the feet,
pains and  stiffness in back and neck, sneezing, twitching of the face,
etc., yet it seems to  act far more specifically upon the fibrous tissues
and nerves of sensation, than upon those of motion.
    Fever  and Inflammation.—It causes violent heat in the  bottoms
of the feet, with  a profuse sweating all over;  heat  and pain in the
toes, legs, and knees.  Swollen sensation  of the face and body, with
violent itching of those parts ; pulsatory  pain  in head and back of
neck, and between   the right  hand and  elbow; chiliness,  heat  of
head and neck, so that one cannot sleep at night.
    Clinical  Remarks.—According  to  Dr.  Henry, it has been
much used in the South, in bilious diseases and  fevers; in the marsh
fever of the rice plantations, in yellow  fever, in colds and inflamma-
tion of the bowels and lungs, in dysentery and  diarrhoea, of all these
it seems  most homoeopathic to bilious  fever, when attended with
bilious diarrhoea, in  rheumatic catarrhs, dysenteries and fevers.
    On the Fibrous  Tissues.—This seems to be  the great field of its
action.  It has produced cramps in the feet, probably in the muscles
and tendons; great pain in the joint of the big toe ;  heat in the rio-ht
leg and knee ; tingling  pains in the toes, pains  in different parts* of
the body, but especially in the  knee and right shoulder; pains and
stiffness in back of head and  neck;  dull heavy pain in the chest
while breathing; flying pains  all over the system ;   most violent
pain in all the joints, etc.
    Clinical Remarks.—All the above  prominent  symptoms were 
APOCYNUM   ANDROSEMIFOLIUM.         39
brought on by tangible doses of the drug.  They seem to have been
specific, for all the provers felt them.
   In Rheumatism and Rheumatic Gout.—it  is perhaps the most
homoeopathic  remedy that we  are yet acquainted with ; it may be
most suitable in bilious subjects, or when there is a prominent bilious
disorder in connection with the  rheumatism.  It seems to be ab-
sorbed into the system and to penetrate into the innermost portions
of the body,  similarly to  the  rheumatic poison, and even to pro-
duce those critical evacuations from the bowels, skin, liver and kid-
neys, which terminate an attack of rheumatism; and according  to
the law of  "Similia,''   it ought to  be specific for that protean
disease.
    Mucous Membranes.—We have no decided proof that it acts
specifically  upon  this tissue,  although it produces  sneezing and
itching of nostrils, still  it would seem homoeopathic to catarrhal
affections of a rheumatic character.
    Skin-—It causes profuse  sweating when  taken  in large  doses;
also swollen sensation of the face and body, and  itching all over,
and burning itching of face,  etc.
    Clinical  Remarks.—It may prove useful in those disagreeable
perspirations  which attend  or follow  rheumatic fever; and is cer-
tainly indicated in prurigo, especialy when attended with derange-
 ment of the liver.
    Head-—Great fullness and pain in the head  ; pains and stiffness
 in back of head and neck, pain in head and back of  neck.   Pulsatory
 pain in back of the head,  and between the right  hand and elbow.
 Pain all over the head with  stiffness of the neck.  Heat of head and
 neck, and chilliness, lassitude, sleeplessness and troublesome dreams.
 Great pain in all of left side of head with pain above each wrist.
    Clinical  Remarks.—It is homoeopathic to bilious, rheumatic,
 and congestive headaches, especially when attended with  rheumatic
 pains in other  parts,  preceeded  by  constipation,  followed  by
 diarrhoea attended with swelling and itching of the face, and  ter-
 minating with  profuse  flow of  urine, or perspiration.  It  is  also
 indicated in rheumatic or neuralgic hemicrania.
    Eyes  and  Ears.—No symptoms involving these organs have yet
 been evolved, but judging from its general effects, it ought to prove
 useful in rheumatic affections of those  organs.
    Nose—With the pains all over, had severe sneezing with great
 itching and irritation in nostril.  Everything smelled like honey.
    Clinical Remarks.—With the  country people this plant  in
 decoction, is  considered a specific for worms and verminous fever,
 and in one case I saw good effects from it after Cina and Santomne
 had failed.   Its moderate use expelled large quantities of ascarides.
 The above symptoms of the nose,  are such as often  indicate  the
 presence of worms,
    Face and Teeth.—Swollen sensation of the face and body; vio-
 lent itching of bodv  and face; itching and burning of face,  twitch-
 ing  of the face.  Pain in all the  teeth of the lower jaw, left side.
     Clinical Remarks.—The sensation of swelling of the face and
 body is also  caused by  aconite,  and  is probably a purely nervous 
40         NEW  HOMCEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

sensation.  The itching etc., is like that caused by Opium and Mor-
phia, is probably of a nervous character,  not like that  caused by
Rhus, which  indicates an impending eruption.   The twitching  of
the face and pain in the teeth, point  it out  as a remedy  in  those
rheumatic neuralgias of a similar character.
   Gastric Symptoms.—Most delightful taste in the mouth of each.
Nausea and efforts to vomit.  Vomiting, purging and great prostra-
tion.  Nausea with constipation, bilious vomiting.
   Clinical  Remarks.—So uniform is its  emetic effects  in large
doses, that it was named by  the Botanies,  American Ipecac.  It
generally caused profuse vomiting of bile.   When we have bilious
vomiting with or without diarrhoea; but with pains in the limbs,
cramps in the feet, etc., then the Apoc. Andros. will prove  a specific
remedy.  In cases of gastric' irritability and debility  from habitual
biliousness, it will improve the tone of the stomach.
   Stomach and Bowels-—Flying pains in the stomach, fullness and
pain in right side, (region of the liver,) with  feeling as if something
would  pass the  bowels,  with slight   nausea.  Constipation  (from
small  doses  50 drops.)   Bilious and painful diarrhoea.  Diarrhoea
attended with pain and rumbling, but only two  large evacuations,
giving much  relief; 650  drops  caused four bilious evacuations in
one prover, two in another, and constipation in a third ; constipation
and diarrhoea every alternate day.  The largest dose caused sickness
vomiting, purging, prostration, etc.
   Clinical  Remarks.—It  is indicated  in  bilious  diarrhoea  with
pain in the bowels and region of the liver; in constipation like that
caused by jaundice when the bile does  not find its way into the
bowels, but is retained in the blood and tissues.  It is indicated in
bilious headaches; also in bilious fever, when there  is much  heat
and pain in the head, great tendency to drowsiness, or restlessness
with troublesome dreams, and either  bilious diarrhoea or  constipa-
tion, with pains in the limbs.
   Urinary Organs-—Profuse flow of clear urine.   Frequent passing
of clear urine.
    Clinical Remarks.—Previous to a bilious attack some persons
have profuse flow of clear, limpid  urine,  with chilliness, headache,
etc.   This remedy would seem homoeopathic to such symptoms.  It
has been used successfully in dropsy from diseased liver.
    Genital Organs.—Profuse menstruation lasting eight days, and
attended with violent pressing down  pain.   One of the ladies was
troubled with leucorrhoea before  taking the medicine.  She was
cured, and has not since had a return.                            '
    Prof. Lee says, "The Choctaw Indians use it  extensively for the
cure  of venereal affections,  for which they regard it as specific.
They chew the fresh root, swallowing only the juice.  There  is no
doubt of its efficacy in secondary and tertiary syphilis."
    Back and Extremities.—It caused severe pains in differeut parts
of the body, back of the head, arms,   legs, feet, shoulder,  and  vio-
lent pains  in all the joints.  (See " General  Symptoms"  and
" Fibrous Tissues."                                 *
    Clinical Remarks.—No remedy seems more indicated by  its 
APOCYNUM  CANNABINUM.
41
pathogenesis, for muscular and articular rheumatism, than this.  It
seems the analogue of Bryonia, Cimicifuga, Aconite, Phytolacca and
Colchicum.
         APOCYNUM   CANNABINUM.

                        {Indian  Hemp.)

   This should  not be confounded with the A. Androsemifolium,
which it resembles only in appearance.  The medicinal properties
of the two are widely  different.
   It is a perennial plant, stems herbaceous, erect, branching, of
a brown color, and two or three feet in height; the leaves are op-
posite, ovate, oblong,  acute at both ends,  and somewhat downy
beneath ; the cymes are pedunculate, many flowered and pubescent;
the corolla is small and greenish, with a tube not longer than the
calyx, and with an erect border,  the internal parts  of the flowers
are pinkish or purple.   The pod, or follicle is from three to five
inches long, and. resembles the pods of the asclepias syriaca, or com-
mon silk-weed, but are much smaller.
   The stalk  and root abounds  in a milky juice which concretes
into a substance closely resembling  caoutchouc.  It  is the juice
which contains the active principles.
   The root, which is the officinal part, is horizontal, five or six feet
in length, about one-third of an inch thick, dividing near the end
into branches,  which terminate abruptly, of a yellowish brown
 color when young, but dark chestnut when old, of a strong  odor,
and a nauseous, somewhat acrid,  and a permanently bitter taste.
    It grows in  damp places, by marshes and running  streams, and
is indigenous to nearly every part of the United States.
    The tincture should be dark red and intensely bitter.  It is said
by old authorities to be emetic and cathartic, sometimes diuretic,
and like other emetic substances, promotes diaphoresis and expec-
toration.
    When it does cause nausea, it is persistent and intense; it then
diminishes the frequency of the pulse, and appears to induce  drow-
 siness independently of the exhaustion consequent  upon vomiting.
    These crude notions however, convey  but a faint idea of the
 qualities of this plant. No thorough and systematic proving of this
 plant has been made.   A fragmentary but  suggestive  proving was
 once made by Dr. Peters. ' My own observations of its effects, en-
 able me to record many of its pathogenetic symptoms.
    Dr. Peters took half wine-glass full doses of Hunt's decoction,
 three times  a day—morning,  noon and  night.  For  the first few
 days he noticed no perceptible effect, except an increased inclina-
 tion towards constipation.  (This decoction must  have been very
        6 
  42         XEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

 weak, for a table  spoonful of a decoction such as I  have made,
 would have acted  on him as a powerful cathartic.)  He  noticed  a
 decided scantiness of urine: occasionally there was some flatulence,
 and slightly uneasy sensation in the bowels.   About the fourth
 dav, decided distention of the abdomen began to  occur.  Espe-
 cially after a moderate dinner,  all the sense  of fullness  seemed
 about the stomach, liver and spleen, while  the lower bowels did not
 seem more flatulent than usual.
   The sense of oppression  about the epigastrium and chest  was
 so great, that there was  often the  greatest  difficulty in  getting
 breath enough to speak with any comfort,  and this happened after
 lighter meals than  ordinary.  He was confident that his urine di-
 minished to one-third its usual quantity, but  there was  no pain or
 uneasiness about the kidneys or bladder, on the contrary these or-
 gans felt remarkably comfortable;  they seemed simply  torpid; the
 little water that was passed, flowed as easily as if it were oil, and
 there seemed to be but little  expulsive power about the bladder.
 The  urine was generally of a light golden  sherry-yellow color, not
 depositing any sediment on exposure to cold.  "This toipid action
 of the kidneys was rather peculiar as the weather was severely cold,
 and I was much exposed to it, and in my ordinary state, my  kid-
 neys act frequently and  rather freely.  It is right to add that dur-
 ing the  experiment I was growing very stout,  and had just recovered
 from fever and ague, which may account for  the oppression of the
 chest and flatulence.'' {Peters.)  This may be, but his own experi-
 ments afterwards  brought on similar symptoms, even when  the
 drug was taken in  minute doses.  The symptoms observed by him
 and others, will be found under their appropriate heads.
   General Symptoms.—Weakness, lassitude.   "I took  for 6 days,
 5 drops, three times daily, of the 3d dilution.  No unusual sensa-
 tions were observed until  the fifth morning  of the proving, when
 on waking we felt  a sinking at the stomach, dryness of  the mouth,
 thirst, nausea, irresistible disposition to sigh, short and unsatisfac-
 tory  respiration, short and  dry cough, scanty expectoration of white
 mucus.  These symptoms continued during the  day, and  on retir-
ing, we  had in addition unusual heat of the  skin, general restless-
 ness  and desire to sleep without the ability to do so.  During  the
 entire day, urine was natural  in quantity, and gave the  same color
to test papers as in  health.  The night of the  fifth was one of great
 restlessness and little sleep.  On the morning of the sixth day we
 awoke at about five o'clock, unrefreshed by our sleep, and with the
 same symptoms as  on the fifth day, with the exception of a dimini-
 nution of the quantity of urine.  During this day we were  unable
to detect any alteration in  the composition  of the  urine, either by
 test paper or  with  acids.  The symptoms  of the seventh day and
 night were a continuation of the sixth,  on the  eighth day  the
 stomach and chest  symptoms  had diminished, but the  urinary se-
 cretion had increased in  quantity and much lighter in color than in
 health.  On the evening of the eighth  day  we  experienced an  un-
 usual heaviness of the head, with dull aching pains in the small of
 the back and limbs.  There was no tenderness of the region of  the 
APOCYNUM   CANNABINUM.
43
 kidneys on pressure, but a slight soreness of the parts when bring-
 ing the muscles  into action, indicating the muscles as the seat of
 the pains.   From  the  ninth day the symptoms  continued very
 gradually to decline until the thirteenth day, after which no further
 abnormal phenomena were observed.   {Marcy.)
    Clinical Remarks.—The above fragmentary proving, is a very
 suggestive one.   The groups of symptoms resemble those  of non-
 inflammatory  dropsy, having a rheumatic or congestive origin.  We
 often meet such  symptoms in practice, where  it is  difficult to give
 a satisfactory diagnosis. Before we can know the real action of apo-
 cynum, we shall have to make pathological provings of the  drug.
    In  cases of  general  debility,  from a watery condition  of  the
 blood and poor digestion, if at the same time there is scanty urine,
 apocynum will restore the strength and tone of the system.
    Skin.—Unusual  heat  of  the  skin.  Cold  skin—with nausea,
 vomiting, etc.  Copious sweating.
    Clinical Remarks.—In nearly all the dropsies, the skin is dry
 and harsh.   When from  natural processes  or from the action of
 medicines the  skin becomes moist and soft, we may be  pretty sure
 that improvement will soon  follow.   Whenever I have  been suc-
 cessful in the use of apocynum, the skin became moist before  the
 urinary secretion became more  abundant.  It has been found use-
 ful in some inveterate eruptions, as psoriasis.
    Sleep.—Desire to sleep without the  ability to do so.   Great
 restlessness with little sleep at night.  On retiring unusual heat of
 skin;  waking unrefreshed about 5 a. m. induces a tendency to
 sleep.   Sleepiness with heaviness of the head.
    Clinical  Remarks.—In  nearly all dropsies, especially post-
 scarlatinal,  the patient is feverish at night,  and very restless.  This
 often occurs before the dropsical effusion is noticed.  In this stage
 the apocynum will prevent the malady from being established.
    Fever.—Unusual heat of the skin with general restlessness and
 desire to sleep with  inability to do so—at night.  Pulse very slow,
 with nausea.
   Clinical Remarks.—Dr. Trent claims for the apoc. anti-periodic
 virtues, but he gave it combined with oil of black pepper.  Such
 observations as made by the allopathic school are perfectly worth-
 less, yet upon such flimsy foundations does their vaunted  materia
 medica depend!   It is probably not useful for the ague properly,
 but is of value in the dropsical  sequelae which so often follow that
 disease.  It is homoeopathic to the thoracic oppression, the  bloat-
 ing of the stomach and bowels after eating; the oedema and even
 night sweats;  in all  of which I have used it with advantage in the
 2nd  and 3d dilutions.
   In catarrhal fever with nightly exacerbation, short dry cough with
 scanty expectoration of  white mucus,  and oppression  of the chest,
 it will be found curative.
   Head.—Heaviness in  the  head.  Heavy stupid  headache with
 drowsiness.
   Clinical Remarks.—It is undoubtedly slightly narcotic  in its
effects.  The drowsiness  which- it causes is very similar to that 
44         NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
which occurs in all dropsical affections which  have reached a high
degree  of intensity.  In such cases sleepiness is  an unfavorable
symptom, and should warn us to be on our guard against coma and
apoplexy.  In  such conditions we have in this  medicine a prompt
and reliable remedy.  Several times in the course of my practice
have I rescued my patients by giving promptly the apocynum.  If
the dilutions foiled of effect, as they sometimes will in cases marked
by such torpidity,  I have not hesitated to resort to the decoction,
for I have ever considered  the life  of my patients to be of more
importance than a blind adherence to established forms. We should
recollect moreover that the tincture is not always the best prepara-
tion.  With many  valuable plants the decoction is the best method
of administration, because hot water alone, is  capable of extracting
all their medicinal virtues.
   In a case of supposed  hydrocephalus in a child of Prof.  Ren-
wick, of New  York, aged  16 months, after all other remedies had
been given up and the  case regarded  as hopeless, the use  of a
decoction of Indian hemp was followed by perfect recovery. " The
sutures of the  head were opened; the  forehead projecting consid-
erably ;  the sight of one eye totally lost; the other slightly sensible;
the child lying in a stupor, with constant involuntary motion of one
leg and  arm.   The urinary secretion had  ceased for more  than
twenty-four hours.   A tea of apocynum was prepared by dropping
pieces of the root into a coffee cup until nearly full, covering  with
water, and steeping for half an  hour : of this  a  teaspoonful was
given every hour.  In the course of a few hours free action of the
kidneys was restored ; the sight of both eyes were  perfect;  stupor
and  insensibility passed away.  The child steadily  convalesced,
though  the  hemp was given for  a fortnight, gradually diminishing
the dose, until but half a teaspoonful was given in 24 hours.''   This
was undoubtedly a  case of hydrocephalus, and the apocynum as
undoubtedly cured it.   The lower dilutions may have done as  well,
perhaps as the higher ; but in such a case, of a generally fatal disease,
what conscientious physician would  hesitate to use other prepara-
tions?  The dose given was not more than 10  or 15 drops of a 1st
decimal  dilution would contain, and no pathogenetic symptoms
were caused. One cannot but be struck with the similarity between
the symptoms  cured, and those for which Hartman so confidently
recommends Helleborus.   In  fact, the  two  medicines are  very
nearly allied.  Some undoubted  cures of hydrocephalus have been
made with Helleborus, but we have given it faithfully and in various
potencies in that disease ; and yet the little patients died. What phy-
sician has not lost patients with that dreaded malady in spite of Bel-
ladonna, Hellebore, Sulphur and Zinc ?  How  gladly we would have
resorted to  any remedy, in any form, if we thought it would restore
health ?  Let  a fair trial, then, be given to the Apocynum.
    Eyes.—"I  was once waked up early in the mornino- with severe
irritation of the left eye, as if several sharp grains of sand were in
it, attended with much heat, irritation  and redness, often  lasting
several hours.  This  disappeared  as suddenly  as  it came on not
leaving a trace behind; although the symptoms were severe enough 
APOCYNUM   CANNABINUM.
45
to make me believe I had an attack of catarrhal rheumatic ophthal-
mia, which would last at least three or four days.''—Peters.
   Clinical Remarks.—The above symptoms would indicate its
usefulness in some forms of ophthalmia.
   In the  case of hydrocephalus, it restored  sight to one eye.  It
may prove very useful in many  diseases  of the eye and  disorders
of vision due to effused fluids in the eye or brain.
   Ears.—In hydrocephalus there is often more or less deafness, for
which condition this remedy will prove curative.
    Nose.—" A very peculiar catarrhal attack  was experienced, viz:
without  any other sign  of having  taken cold, I would  wake
up in the morning with  the nostrils and throat filled  with  thick and
well cemented, yellow mucous, as if I had had a severe catarrh for
at least seven or ten days, and which had skipped its first  stage and
commenced in the second."—Peters.
    Clinical Remarks.—The action of apocynum on the mucous
surfaces  is  not  yet fully understood.  I have cured one case of
obstinate nasal  catarrh  with  the 1st dil.  It  seems to cause catar-
rhal states similar in nature to those induced by Pulsatilla, Sumbul,
Copaiva and Paris  quadrifolia.
    Mouth.—Dryness of the mouth, with nausea, thirst, &c.   (See
general symptoms.)  Dryness of the tongue.
    Throat.—Throat filled with thick, well concreted yellow mucus
in the morning.  Unpleasant degree of heat in throat.
    Clinical Remarks.—Some  persons  are  much  troubled  with
hawking of yellow  mucus from the throat and fauces every morn-
ing.  In such cases the  apocynum will probably give relief.
    Stomach.—Distention of the stomach after meals.   Sense  of
great oppression about the  epigastrium, with great  difficulty of
getting breath, after lighter meals than ordinary,  Occasionally a
sense of shiking was experienced at the  pit of the  stomach, with
general but transient debility.  Sinking at the stomach (this is a
prominent symptom  of the drug).  Intense nausea, but cannot
vomit.  Severe vomiting (from very large doses).  Violent vomit-
ing, with  prostration  and  drowsiness.   Increases the  appetite and
digestion  (curative).
    Clinical Remarks.—It causes symptoms  of the stomach simi-
lar to those which are nearly always presented in cases of impend-
ing or existing  dropsy.   It should be tried  in  that  troublesome
symptom—" Sinking at the stomach''—which occurs  in women at
the climacteric period.  In diabetes this symptom is nearly always
present, and may be relieved by this drug.  It seems quite homoeo-
pathic to the vomiting  which occurs in the first  stage of hydroce-
phalus, for " violent vomiting with drowsiness ''  is quite  pathono-
monic of that  disease.   Dr. Freligh cured with it an  " irritable
stomach so bad that the patient  could not retain even  a draught of
water," which occurred as  a complication of dropsy.
    Abdomen.—Decided  distention of the abdomen, especially after
a moderate dinner. The upper bowels seemed distended—the low-
er not at all. Occasional flatulence, with  slightly uneasy sensations
in the bowels. 
46         NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
   Clinical  Remarks.—Of  the great  value  of  apocynum in
ascites we  have an immense amount of proof from the allopathic,
eclectic, and homoeopathic physicians.  All unite  in pronouncing it
a generally useful remedy, a veritable " vegetable trocar,"  as  Dr.
Rush called it.
   The mass of evidence in its favor would  fill many pages, and
we will only record a few of the most prominent cases.
   The first accounts of its great value in ascites were from the
reports of  Dr.  Griscomb, in the Amer. Jour, of  Medical Sciences,
Vol. XII.  Afterwards, Prof.  Merrill, Dr. Knapp,  Dr. Valentine
Mott, and Prof. Lee, and many others bore testimony to its great
usefulness.
   Prof Merrill related to his class a case of ascites in a boy of 12
years old, which was promptly relieved by this remedy, after every
other treatment had failed, and  the disease had  progressed so far
that a time had  been fixed  for the operation  of  tapping.  The
extract was given, first in doses of one grain, afterwards increased
to ten grains,  three  times  a day.  The  effects were, moderate
catharsis of a bilious and feculentc haracter, free diuresis, without
being profuse, and copious perspiration.  Great relief and  relaxa-
tion was obtained in the first 24 hours, and in five days there  was
no hydrophic condition  remaining.''  (Other cases of ascites  will
be found under the head of " General Dropsy.")
   To  Dr. John F. Gray, of New York, is due the the  credit of
fairly introducing  this remedy in the treatment of dropsical affec-
tions.  He  could, if he would, make known hundreds of cases  suc-
cessfully treated by the Apocynum.   But with advancing years he
has an  invincible dislike to making his great and varied experience
public.   Happily, other homoeopathic  physicians have reported
cases of anasarca, &c, of great value to the profession.
   Dr. Jas. T. Alley, in the N. A. Journal, reports a case of ascites,
supposed  to  be  caused by cirrhosis or  hobnail liver.  In  this
instance it was used in conjunction with apis and  nitro-muriatic
acid.   He  bears testimony to  its value  in cases  of dropsy  " wiien
there is no  organic derangement to impede its action." Even when
there is, he thinks it may aid  other  and more specific  remedies.
In " abdominal  drosy from hob-nail  liver, I believe it to be a sure,
though not rapid  remedy.''   He  gave quite  large doses,  " as
much,'' he  says, " as could be perfectly well borne without disturb-
ance to the digestive organs.
   In Hull's  Jahr is reported a case of ascites caused by Quinine,
cured  by Apocynum.
   Dr. Freligh  (N. A. Jour., Vol. IV., p. 519,) reports several cases
of ascites cured with this drug:—
   " Mrs. C, aged 49, and  Miss M., aged 23.  The former  was
referable to a cessation of the menses, and the  latter arose' from
congestion  of the liver and portal system.
    " Within  six months I treated an aged  lady,  who  had been
under  treatment for the best part of eight months  by one of the
professors of our city, who pronounced the case  ' incurable organic
disease of the heart,' cured with apocynum." 
APOCYNUM   CANNABINUM.
47
   I once cured a notable case of ascites with this remedy.  The
patient was a lady, aged 45.   Her climacteric period had  passed
without much disturbance.   She caught a severe cold in the month
of March ;  had some fever and pain in the bowels, and was treated
by an eclectic physician for " inflammation of the bowels."  When
I first saw her  she was  much  emaciated, very weak, no  appetite,
red tongue and sore throat, abdomen slightly distended, and the
seat  of  a great  deal of  heavy,  " bruised "  pain. The urine was
scanty,  high  colored;  bowels  costive.   The  treatment was com-
menced with Arsenicum 30th.  No improvement following in a
week, the  3rd,  and finally the 1st  trituration was given, but the
ascites rapidly  increased.  For six  weeks various remedies were
tried, among which were Kali carb, Helleborus, China, Colchicum,
Cantharis, Cannabis, and Kal. iod, but no benefit accrued from any
thing.   The effusion had now increased to  an enormous extent.
She was obliged to sit erect in a chair  all the time.  Lying down
brought on fits  of suffocative dyspnoea.   Her body and extremities
were  exceedingly emaciated.   No  oedema  of  the  feet.  Urine
nearly suppressed ; only one or  two ounces a day.  Bowels very
constipated, moving only every four or five days.  At this time, an
experienced allopathic physician  was called  in, who advised blue
pill,  gamboge, and a resort to tapping.  This treatment was not
tried.  I then gave Apocynum 1st, for two  days; no effect; then
10 drops of the tincture every two  hours  for two days.  She got
worse.  Then I made a decoction  of the dry root, half ounce to
one pint of water.  Of  this she took a tablespoonful  every four
hours, but no  effect was noticed.  I proposed tapping to save her
life, but she decidedly refused  to submit to the operation.  I then
procured some  of the fresh root  (in  the month of July), and  made
a decoction (one ounce  to one pint of water).  She took a  table-
spoonful of this  every two hours.   In  12 hours the urine became
more profuse, the bowels moved  freely, the skin became moist, no
nausea or pain was produced.  In a  week she could lie down and
sleep all night.   Under the use of similar doses, four times a day,
she ultimately recovered, and in two  months was considered as
healthy  and strong as ever.
   Bowels.—From small doses; loose feculent bilious stools, with
slight uneasiness in the abdomen.   Loose,  but not very copious
bilious stools.   Sensation  as  if diarrhoea  would  occur.  From
very large doses; copious  watery  discharges with severe griping
pains, nausea and vomiting, slow  pulse,  cool  skin  and copious
perspiration.
   Clinical Remarks—In  moderate doses  it does  not seem to
irritate  the bowels much.  The best Allopathic authorities do not
deem it necessary  to  produce  its hydrogogue  effects, in the
treatment of  dropsy; Prof. Lee says it  need not be given, even
to nausea, all  its best cures  have been made without giving it
to the  extent of causing watery evacuations. It has even  cured
dropsy,  while  the  bowels  remained obstinately costive  and the
6tools light colored.  Dr. Payne, of Albany,  states that it has been
used  successfully for diarrhoeas and intestinal hemorrhages, and 
48
NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
suggests it in cholera morbus, and cholera-infantum.  Its analogues
are  Elaterium,  Helleborus  niger, Euphorbia cor, Colocynth and
Arsenicum, yet it has a specific effect upon the kidneys which these
have not.                       .
   Kidneys and Urine.—Dull aching  pam in the region of the kid-
neys, with increased secretion of straw-colored urine.  No tender-
ness'in the region of the kidneys on pressure, nor was the composi-
tion of the  urine changed any.  (Marcy's proving  with  3d dil).
Decided scantiness of urine.  Urine  diminished  to one-third  the
usual  quantity, but no  pain or uneasiness about  the  kidneys  or
bladder.  The little water that passed flowed as easily as if it were
oil, and there  seemed to be but little expulsive power about  the
bladder.  The urine was  generally of a light  golden sherry-yellow
color, not depositing any sediment  on exposure  to cold.   Very
peculiar torpid action of the kidneys. {Peter's proving with  crude
doses.)  Very profuse,  light colored  urine.   Several  quarts, and
even gallons of urine were passed every day.  It causes  copious
diuresis when given in dropsy.
  Clinical Remarks.—In all the provings, so far,  it has caused no
particular pain in the urinary organs, but a  decided scantiness of
urine.   Probably the experiments were not thorough enough.  My
experience is, that it is the most reliable diuretic in use.  No drug
may be more confidently relied on to produce profuse urination,
when given in disease.
  Dr. Freligh says,  " I have found it equally efficient in urinary
difficulties, particularly dysuria, strangury and  anury, and it appeared
quite  immaterial, judging from its effects, whether  the symptoms
depended upon  common  catarrh of  the bladder, diseases of the
prostrate, or upon a morbid irritation of the bladder, and whether
from gravel, or from a  want of tone in the  parts  concerned in its
evacuation.  I have never known it to fail even in cases of retention
depending upon paralysis, having used it successfully, in a case of
paralysis of the inferior extremities, caused by injury to the  spine.
Every remedy had been tried in vain, and the catheter afforded the
only relief, which had been used once and sometimes twice a day for
a fortnight.   The first dose had the  desired  effect, I have treated
many other interesting  cases of urinary difficulty  successfully with
the apocynum.  The doses administered in the case  referred to, were
from two  to five drops of the tincture, (never more than seven) in a
tumbler two-thirds full of pure cold water, a  desert spoonful  o-iven,
for the dropsical affections, every four hours; in urinary difficulties
every hour until relief was afforded.
    Dr. Freligh  reports  several cures of dropsy effected with the
Apocynum:
    " Mr.  L. aged 64, who  had been under  medical treatment  for
several months,  and gradually grew worse, until his symptoms were
of the most alarming character, and threatened immediate suffocation.
I found him laboring under  the most agonizing difficulty of breath-
ing, being supported in the  sitting position in bed, by two or three
persons alternately.  His stomach was in such an irritable condition
that he could not retain  even a draught of cold water  countenance 
APOCYNUM   CANNABINUM.
49
expressive of anguish, abdomen distended, urine entirely suppressed
and very  extensive oedema.  This case was  denominated organic
disease of the heart, by his physician.  In a fortnight from the time
I recommended the treatment, he rode out with ease and comfort,
and now  appears perfectly well.  If the  diagnosis of the other
physician  was correct,  the apocynum will not only cure  dropsy
depending upon  organic disease  of  the  heart, in a less time than
would appear credible, but also  the primary  or original disease,
pronounced incurable."
    "Mr. G. aged 62, ascites, and anasarca, and oedema of the inferior
 extremities, succeeding typhus.  His abdomen very much distended
 and painful, pulse small and irregular, skin dry and  husky, urine
 high-colored, diminished in quantity, voided with difficulty, breath-
 ing very laborious.''
    " Master P. aged 8, post-scarlatinal dropsy, face  much swollen,
 also neck, chest and extremities.  When I was called they thought
 him dying; he was gasping for breath and could not utter a syllable
 although perfectly conscious and would  answer by signs.  "Dr. F.
 adds that during the  last seven or eight years he has used the
 apocynum with  the  most decided  success in almost  every form of
 dropsy.  He has succeeded with it in hydrothorax,  ascites and gen-
 eral anasarca, when Arsenicum, Apis, Hellebore, Digitalis and Kali
 iod, with vapor  baths, &c, have failed.
     Dr. Peters  has reported several  interesting  cases: —
     Case 1. A gentleman aged 70, over six feet high and splendidly
 proportioned, became dropsical.  The urine became scanty, bowels
  constipated, feet, legs and abdomen grew slowly larger, and gradu-
  ally great  difficulty in breathing  from the  slighest  exertion or on
  lving  down ensued.  From the thickness of  the abdominal walls,
  andtiie great quantity of fat in the omentum, fluctuation in the abdo-
  men was long masked, but finally became very distinct.  The thick-
  ness of the walls of the chest also  rendered  the  physical  signs ot
  hydrothorax  indistinct for a long time, but they  finally became
  very manifest.  The action of the heart became very feeble, but was
  always  distinct, the pulse  often vanished down to a mere thread,
  was often almost imperceptible for  several beats, frequently so com-
  pressible that  slight  pressure would obliterate for the time,  and
  altogether so strangely irregular, weak and intermitting, that the
  sudden death  of the patient was  expected as a matter ot course.
  These symptoms progressed steadily in spite of the use ot Arseni-
  cum, Hellebore, Scilla,  Digitalis,  China, &c. He was finally put
  upon the use of Hunt's decoction of apocynum.  At the suggestion
  of Dr. Gray, commencing with tea-spoonful doses every two or three
  hours.  In less than 48 hours the  patient was comparatively com-
   fortable,  was able to lie down and sleep with pleasure, whereas pre-
   viously he had looked forward to the approaching night with tne
   utmost  dread and horror;  the  urine increased moderately and
   steadily, and in a few weeks, the patient who had been ill for up-
   wards of four months, was  not only well, but felt better than he had
   for years.  The  bowels  remained  sluggish under the use ol tne
   Hemp   This improved state of things lasted for more than a year
          7 
50         NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 then a relapse was speedily cured by Hemp; a third attack was cured
 by Apis; a fourth by Digitalis, Squills and Mercurius; and a fifth
 by Iodide of Potash.  During  the larger portion of this  time the
 patient had contracted a most invincible  dislike to Apocynum ;  but
 in a sixth attack, all the other  remedies failing, he was persuaded
 to resume the Hemp, after his condition was almost hopeless, and
 distressing in the extreme, from excessive oppression and difficulty of
 breathing, &c, hydrothorax  and oedema of the  lungs, inability  to
 walk or step without being thrown into the most violent suffocating
 attacks, and in short from the numerous and complicated symptoms
 of general anasarca,  ascites, hydrothorax, hydro-pericardium,  &c.
 After using the apocynum three or four days, in  doses  of one-third
 of a wine-glass full three times a day, the urine increased from less
 than a pint in 25  hours, to  fully three quarts, with a  progressing
 diminution of all the symptoms.   This case  has since died without
 any return of the dropsy."
    Case 2.  " A  man  aged 32, had  sufferred with anasarca, ascites
 and  commencing  hydrothorax for  many  weeks,   under  active
 Allopathic treatment by means  of Cream of Tartar and  Digitalis,
 Eleterium, &c.   When I first saw him, his largest pantaloons had to
 be cu t open and tied with strings, to accommodate his elephantine
 limbs; he was utterly unable to lie down or sleep ; urine especially
 scanty  and  bowels costive.  The apocynum  was  commenced in
 table-spoonful doses, gradually increased to a wine-glass full everv
 four hours, by night and day; this was continued for upwards of
 ten days without any unpleasant symptoms, the urine  slowly com-
 menced to increase, and finally became  enormous in amount.  In
 less than a month he was entirely  well; was soon able to go to sea,
 and remains well until  this day,  upwards of two years after.
    Case 3. A gentlemen  aged 67,  had  gradually  been growing
 dropsical for eleven months; he had first  been treated homoeopath-
 ically in the country, by an exceedingly  able, but excessively high
 dilutionist; he then fell into the hands of two of the most distin-
 guished Allopathic profession of this city; then he was again treat-
 ed with high dilutions for several weeks by one of our  oldest  and
best-known homceopathists, finally  he came into my hands and was
 immediately put under the use of Apocynum.  One desert spoonful
 per dose, every four hours; his  urine which  had been  excessively
 scanty for months and finally  had  decreased to a small half pint, in
 twenty-four hours,  thick yellow and turbid,  as if yellow clay had
been dissolved in it, increased to upwards of two quarts in one
night; two large chamber pots full were passed in one day.  In less
than 48  hours after commencing the apocynum the urine also became
 clear and of a light straw-yellow color; all  the signs of ascites  anas-
arca, hydrothorax, and oedema of the lungs disappeared in less than
 ten days, after using about one pint of Hunt's  preparation of Apocy-
 num, (about one-half oz. of mother tincture).
   Case 4.  A gentleman, aged about 50, was attacked with  in-
 flammatory rheumatism, and treated by an eminent old school phy-
 sician for about eight weeks, when he became discouraged from the
 severity of his sufferings and  placed himself under  our care  He 
APOCYNUM  CANNABINUM.
51
had taken the usual routine medicines of the other school, Colchi-
cum, Mercury, Iodide of Potash, Opium, etc., etc., and when he came
into  my hands,  was reduced  by the combined influence  of  the
disease, and the drug to the following condition :
   Severe rheumatic pains in the back, shoulders, elbows and wrist
joints, dull  pains   and great  stiffness,  and  immobility in  the
lower  extremities,  oedematous condition of both   legs,  effusion
of water in the chest and abdomen, excessive dyspnoea with con-
stant  sense  of  suffocation, acute pains in the  cardiac  region at
every  respiration,  pulse  rapid, feeble  and very irregular, almost
entire suppression of urine, dry and hot skin, thirst, dull headache,
excessive  anxiety  and constant dread of suffocation, inability to
assume the recumbent  position, dryness of the tongue and  mouth,
inability to sleep from  constant feeling of suffocation, short dry and
painful cough.  For this group of symptoms we prescribed the first
dil. of Bryonia every hour.  After a few hours  the rheumatic  and
cardiac pains were ameliorated, and the oppression of the chest and
difficult breathing  were  somewhat better.  At the  expiration of
ten hours we prescribed Aconite  1st, in alternation with  Bryonia
every hour.  During the  night, some ten hours after the first dose
of aconite, the patient had profuse perspiration  for several hours,
followed by an amendment of the entire condition.  These two re-
medies were continued for two days longer,  but caused no further
improvement.  The first dilution of apis, was next ordered in drop
doses, every two hours.  This was continued for three days with-
out any notable improvement.
    The patient was now  ordered to  take a teaspoonful of Hunt's
apocynum every two hours.  In a few hours the urinary secretion
was  much  increased and it  continued for  several days, until the
dropsical effusions, and the oedematous condition of the limbs, had
entirely disappeared.  While under the use of apocynum occasional
scarifications were made upon the legs and feet, giving exit to much
serum. As the dropsical effusions diminished, nearly all of the
symptoms, first enumerated, gradually  disappeared, until finally the
patient complained of debility, and occasional paroxysms of palpi-
tation of the heart, the remains of the rheumatism.  After a few
weeks the patient returned to his home in the West,  remained in a
 comfortable condition for several months, was again  attacked with
dropsy and after an illness of about two months, died. {Marcy.)
    " Apocynum is  utterly useless in  Bright's disease, except to re-
move the dropsy.   I ought to add that albuminaria was  present in
none of the above cases.  It is also comparatively useless when in-
 flammation is present."  {Peters.)      ^                        .
    "I have seen it very effectual in ascites in the hand ot Dr. Ofcie
 of Providence, and  have seen it remove the  dropsical accumula-
 tions in Bright's disease, but never knew it to cure the disease."
                                                   (Watson.)
    Dr. Wm. P. Fowler says he prolonged the lives of three drop-
 sical  patients, in which the disease was hepatic cirrhosis, (proved by
 post  mortem) for several years, by the use of apocynum.
    In  Dropsy  after  Scarlatina  the  apocynum has not been  as 
52         NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
thoroughly tested as it  should be.  Before I became acquainted
with its value, I relied almost entirely upon Apis, Colchicum and
Digitalis, and  with very good success.  But now  and then a case
would occur, marked by bloody urine,  very scanty, with  general
oedema, which  would utterly resist the action of these  remedies.
My first case treated with apocynum, was a little girl, aged  about
2 years, who had been given up to  die by the allopathic attendants,
who had given squills, calomel, cream of tartar, etc.  No urine had
been voided for 24 hours, and all that had passed for several  days
previously was thick and black  (from blood).   I commenced with
apocynum, 10 drops of the tincture in  half a tumbler of water, a
spoonful every hour.  She  was cured  in  a week, of the dropsy.
The urine became profuse  in 48  hours.   Since  this case, I  have
treated twenty or  thirty, and  with uniform success.   I  never got
much effect from the 3d. dil.   Sometimes the tincture, even in drop
doses failed to  act, but  a resort to a weak decoction  of the  fresh
root always had prompt effects,  (one-half oz. of fresh  root to one
pint hot water, steep an hour  or two.)  In several cases marked by
excessive debility, and typhoid symptoms, I gave 10 drops of a
tincture prepared  with  spirits nitre dulc. instead of alcohol.  It
acted, beautifully.  I am inclined to think this  mode of preparation
a good one.
    Prof. Lee, who  claims to  have had large experience with this
 drug, says : " It is more certain as a diuretic, if the skin is kept cool,
and cool drinks used. As the chief  causes of dropsies are certain pre-
 existing lesions of certain organs, as the  heart, liver, and kidneys,
we,  of course can  only expect our remedies to act as palliative,
 unless these organic lesions can be removed.   In cases of idiopathic
 dropsy, when the  exciting causes are external or physical agents, as
 cold, conjoined with moisture,  malaria, suppression of  eruptions,
 or accustomed discharges, excessive depletions, etc., etc., we may
 expect  curative effects from apocynum, aided by other  remedies
 adapted to the pathological state."
     In chronic and asthenic forms of dropsy,  connected  with a wa-
 tery, non-albuminous state of the blood, and  general weakness of
 the system, the apocynum is most efficacious, in small and frequently
 repeated doses.   In cases dependent on mere  debility and mal-nu-
 trition, this remedy aided by suitable  diet, will often effect a per-
 manent cure.  In advanced  stages of albuminuria when there is
 considerable effusion, great relief may often  be obtained from its
 use.
      Case 1.  "General dropsy in a man  of 68, of plethoric habits,
  brought on by exposure  to  cold.  Small  doses of the  decoction
  were given, and in  a short time all the dropsical symptoms disap-
  peared."
      Case  2.  A lady of 58, of a  full and plethoric habit, subject to
  congestion of the brain, and  paralytic seizures of a hemiplegic na-
  ture, in which repeated bleedings had  been practiced with apparent
  good effect, but  followed by serous effusion  into the pleural,  peri-
  cardial, and peritoneal cavities,  and cellular tissues generally, the
  effusion was successfully removed by small doses of the decoction." 
APOCYNUM  CANNABINUM.
53
    Case 3.  A gentleman of 66, a gentleman  of spare habit and
accustomed to luxurious  living, began  to be affected with  cough,
shortness of breath and symptoms of aqueous deposit in the pleural
cavity followed by oedema of the extremities.   The  apocynum was
found to exercise complete control over the disease for many years.
He finally died of dropsy.
   Dr.  Griscomb  reports many cases of the  same character,  in
which  the apocynum was  successful.   In idiopathic  dropsies it
generally  effected a cure, while in dropsies depending on disease of
the liver, heart or kidneys,  its effects were mainly  palliative, pro-
longing life for years.  Probably, had it been aided  by proper re-
medies, homoeopathic to the pathological conditions present, per-
manent cures might  have been effected.
    From  the  foregoing, the  physician should get a pretty plain
idea of the sphere of action  of this valuable drug, in the treatment
of  dropsical affections.   As  the result  of my individual expe-
rience, I would lay down the following rules for its  administration.
    1)  In cases of acute idiopathic dropsies, use the  dilutions be-
ginning with the highest and  descending more or less rapidly, ac-
cording to the progress of the disease.
    2) In chronic or  atonic  dropsies, {secondary)  use the tincture,
or if necessary the decoction, in one or  tioo dram doses.
    Sexual Organs.—The few experiments which have  been made
with the hemp, have not developed any pathogenetic symptoms of
the male sexual organs.  None of the provers were females, and its
action on the uterus, is only  known by some curative effects- noticed
by D. II. Marsden, M. D., who gives the following  cases :
    He  says—"For about ten years, I have been in the habit of
using the apocynum  in arresting menorrhagia as well as some other
forms of uterine haemorrhage."
    Case  1.   " A lady was laboring under alarming uterine haemor-
rhage.  It was her regular  catamenial period, the  flow had been
moderate for a day or  two,  and then suddenly  set in with so much
violence that she soon  became too weak to be  out of bed.  She
was about 25 years of  age, the mother of three children ;  in  her
last labor she had  haemorrhage previous to delivery.  When I
arrived at the bed side  she  was almost pulseless and disposed to
faint, whenever she attempted to raise her head from  the pillow.
There  was  great irritability of the  stomach, and vomiting.  The
hemorrhage which ceased at intervals, always resumed when the
vital  powers rallied, and the heart resumed  in  some  degree its
wonted action.  The blood was usually expelled  in  large clots, but
sometimes was fluid.   I prescribed one after the other, all  the re-
medies laid down in the books, but with no good  results.   Several
days  had  now  elapsed,  and  I   now  resolved to  try  the
Apocynum  cann.   I  prepared  some  extempore  tincture from
the fresh root.  Hastening to the bedside, I found the haemorrhage
still going on undiminished. I prescribed one  drop  of my tincture
(of uncertain  strength) every  hour.  Almost immediately after
commencing the medicine the flow became less profuse, and regu-
larly and rapidly declined, without a single recurrence of  its  vio-
lence." 
54        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
   Case 2. The patient was a house-keeper, about 40 years of age,
accustomed to hard service, and  but little careful  of  her health.
She was the mother of one child, born about 15 years before.  She
had been sujfering from the most exhausting menorrhagiafor about
six weeks, and had been taking medicine from an allopathic physi-
cian, but without benefit. I  found  her greatly debilitated, pulse
feeble  and quick, palpitations very  troublesome  whenever she
attempted to move about the house, stomach  excessively irritable.
She had been obliged to leave off her occupations, and passed her
time for the most part in bed, or seated on a chair by the bedside.
The discharge was fluid, and still  undiminished.  I left apocynum
to be taken in drop doses at an  interval  of two hours (same tinc-
ture as used in first case.)   The next day she had severe vomitings.
Her stomach  was too irritable to  bear the dose I had prescribed,
and which was probably unnecessarily large.   The discharge seem-
ed, however,  to  be diminished.  After givivg some medicines to
allay the irritability of  the stomach, I again gave the  hemp, a few
drops in a teaspoonful of water.   I believe I decreased the strength
more than once, before the remedy could be borne without creating
nausea. The flow, however, still continued  to diminish, and in
about a week  from the time of my first visit was reported to have
nearly  ceased.  It was, of course, some  time before  the patient
regained her strength.   Upon inquiry made  some months after-
wards,  I was  informed that at one or two periods immediately sub-
sequent, the  flow  was  somewhat above the normal  amount, but
soon subsided spontaneously, and that then she was  as regular as is
usual at her time of life.
   Dr. Marsden says he could furnish many other cases in his own
practice equally striking, but will only give the following, reported
to him  by his friend and former pupil, Dr. W.  H. Cook :—
   "Mrs. N., aged 38  years, was taken ill in June, 1863, with
uterine haemorrhage, and  was attended by an  Allopathic physician
until about the middle of December following.   During this period
she experienced the most frightful floodings, as  she termed them,
and for more than three months of the time the flow  was contin-
uous, requiring her to keep her  bed  for weeks together.  After
having haemorrhage for several weeks, she expelled a mass of mem-
brane,  (as she has since informed me,) which I supposed  to  be the
deciduous lining of the uterus.  But, even after this the  haemor-
rhage  continued, and  in exhausting quantities—so much so, that
there was not a blood-vessel perceptible upon the  surface  of the
body, and the emaciation was extreme.  She had only had a cessa-
tion  of a couple of weeks together, and but  two  or  three times
since the commencement  in June.  The flow was excessive at the
time of my first visit.  I  saw  her at 12 m., and after inquiring into
the case, I left her four grs. of the 1st dec. trit. of apoc.  can. (bark
of the  root) to be dissolved in 2  oz. of water, a teaspoonful to be
taken every hour until  the haemorrhage should cease, or I  should
see her again.   By 12  o'clock,  midnight, the haemorrhage had
almost entirely ceased,  and she left off the medicine.  I then wave
her other remedies to assist in recruiting her  almost exhausted 
APOCYNUM   CANNABINUM.             55
system, under the use of which she improved  rapidly.   In about
two weeks the haemorrhage set in again, when I left her the same
prescription, and  in less than  24 hours all was  right.  Since  that
time there has been no  return, except  at her catamenial periods,
and  then not excessive.   I  am  now, (April, 1864,) treating her,
with a prospect of success, for an ulcerated os tincae.  I also gave
the same prescription  as  the foregoing to  another lady who had
suffered  with uterine haemorrhage about three-fourths of the time
for several months.  Some three months have since passed, and she
now reports herself entirely rid of the trouble and regular.  When
I first  employed  the Apocynum, as above stated, I had seen no
proving  of that  drug.  In my own practice, however, I have seen
enough of its pathogenesis to satisfy me that it  is homoeopathic to
uterine haemorrhage. On two different  occasions, when I gave it to
a lady past the turn of life, in doses of ten drops of the tincture three
or four times a day, for ascites, it had  not the slightest perceptible
influence on that  affection, but was followed in both instances, after
a few days, by the return of the catamenial flow, very much in the
natural manner.   I also  remember the case of a young  girl, in
whom the catamenia had ceased without any apparent cause.  She
still retained her health and  usual appearance.   After  taking  the
medicine in pretty large doses for a few days, she was reported  all
" right."  By the way,  I would suggest that in cases where amen-
norrhoea depends not upon deranged health, but upon some strong
revulsion diverting the female circulation into other channels, this
remedy  might be  legitimately used, with the  hope that by  its
primary effects  it would  restore the accustomed  discharge, and
break  up the abnormal condition of things.
   larynx,  Bronchia,  and Chest.—Unpleasant  sensation of heat
about  the fauces and larynx.—{Freligh.)  Irresistible disposition to
sigh.   Short, dry, cough, and scanty expectoration  of white mucus
hfthe morning.  Oppression of the chest on  waking.—{Marcy.)
Sense  of oppression about the epigastrium and chest.  It was diffi-
cult to breathe enough to speak at times.
   Clinical Remarks.—Eclectic physicians use it  constantly as an
expectorant.  They expect the same effects from it which the allo-
path gets from his Ipecac, Squills, or Tartar Emetic.  It undoubt-
edly increases  the natural secretions of the bronchial surfaces.
Such hints may be made useful. It indicates that we may use it in
hoarse, loose coughs,   with  heat  of  the fauces;  or cough with
oppression of the chest; or short, dry  cough, with scanty expecto-
ration.  Accompanying hydrothorax, and even ascites, we generally
find a short, dry  cough with  oppression, and in  such cases  Apocy-
num is doubly indicated, both  for the  cough  and dropsy.  It  has
cured many cases of  hydrothorax, and relieved  many cases of
dropsy from heart disease.  As it causes the pulse to  be  slow, it
probably quiets the action of the heart—a very important desider-
atum in hydro-pericardium.
    Back and  Extremites— Unusual heaviness  of  the head, with
dull, aching pains in the small of the back and  limbs.   There was
no tenderness of the region of the kidneys on pressure, but  a slight 
56
NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
soreness of the parts when bringing the muscles  into action, thus
indicating the muscles as the seat of the  pains.—{Marry.)  Hard
achinc was felt several times in both knees, sufficiently severe to
make°me fear that an attack of inflammatory rhematism was com-
ing on.
  Clinical Remarks.—It may be found useful in some rheumatic
affections, but probably more for  the other  effects, as oedema.  In
synovitis, after the acute  stage has passed, it will probably help to
cause absorption of the effused  fluid.  It has been found  useful in
oedema of the feet and ankles remaining after typhus.
            ARUM   TRIPHYLLUM.

                 {Indian Turnip, Jack in the Pulpit?)

  The  A. triphyllum of the  United  States corresponds  closely
with the A. maculatum of Europe; both have very similar effects.
Our native species is found  throughout North and South America,
growing in rich, shady woods and swamps.  The cormus is an inch
or two in diameter,  and covered with brown, wrinkled  epidermis,
and internally white, fleshy and solid.  The whole plant, when re-
cent, has a peculiar odor and violent acrid taste ;  the root, when
chewed, causes an insupportable burning and biting sensation in
the mouth and throat, continuing for a long time.  This acrid prin-
ciple is very volatile, and  is expelled by  heat.   Hence they  are
roasted and ate by the Indians.  The acrid portion is not imparted
to water, ether, alcohol, or olive oil.  By drying, the root loses all
its activity.   The medicinal qualities of the root  reside  principally
in this acrid, volatile principle.  Owing to its  unstable nature, it
will be found very difficult to procure any preparation in which
it will  be retained.   I would recommend, as the  most probable
way of  preserving this volatile principle,  that the juice of  the
fresh root,  be rapidly triturated with sugar of milk,  (according
to  the  decimal scale)  and the trituration kept  in bottles sealed
hermetically, and guarded from the  light and heat.
    The  acrid principle has been called  Aroine, and becomes an
inflammable  gas, by heat  or  distillation.  Prof.  Lee says :  " The
only way to preserve the  active principles of the root is to bury it
in dry sand, by which method it may be preserved for a year."
    General Effects.—" The Arum  may well  be ranked araonc
our most active alterants, for besides being a powerful local irritant
when  taken internally, it  stimulates all the secretions, particularly
those of the skin and lungs.  It also quickens the circulation  and
rouses the nervous energy, so that there is no organ  or function
but feels its influence."—Lee.
    " It has been advantageously given in asthma, pertussis, chronic 
ARUM  TRIPHYLLUM.
57
catarrh, chronic rheumatism, and affections connected with a ca-
chectic state of the system.''— Wood.
   The fresh root grated, or reduced to a pulp, with three times
their weight of sugar, is palliative to flatulence, cramp in the stom-
ach,  asthmatic  and consumptive affections; and also in lingering
atrophy, debilitated habits, great prostration in typhoid fevers, deep
seated rheumatic pains, etc."—Rafinesque.
   All writers agree that it is  a remedy which  may be  used  to
advantage as a stimulant.
   We have  no proving, except  that which  relates to  its local
effects upon the mouth and throat. Its analogues are allium sativa,
and cepa, phosphorus, capsicum, etc.
   General  Symptoms.—The fresh root, in doses of four or five
grains, causes  a sensation of burning  heat  in the stomach and
oesophagus, which seems rapidly to spread all over the body.  Then
follows a quickening of the circulation, heat of the skin with warm
perspiration, and some exaltation of the nervous energy.  All the
secretions are somewhat increased.
   Local Effects.-MouUi, Throat, Tongue, etc.—The fresh root, when
chewed, causes an insupportable burning and biting sensation in the
mouth and throat, continuing for a long time.  The sensation experi-
enced in the mouth, throat,  and  tongue is absolutely indescribable.
I never felt any sensation so tormenting and unbearable.  The fol-
lowing narrative of the effects  of  the Arum maculatum, copied
from the British Journal, Vol. xvi., p. 321, so nearly  resembles
the effects of the Arum tryphyllum, as I have observed and felt
them, as to be nearly identical:   " After chewing a young leaf-
stalk for  a few seconds, a  very intense, prickling, stinging  pain
was felt  upon the tongue and mucous membrane of the lips and
throat, accompanied with a flow of  saliva, which seemed to relieve
the pain a little—the pains were as if a hundred little needles had
been  run into the tongue and lips.  A friend, who followed my
example,  had,  in  addition  to these symptoms,  constriction and.
burning  in  the larynx,  his tongue was swollen, and  its papilla
injected and raised.  The mucus membrane of the throat  and lips
was inflamed.   The pains on the tongue and lips were increased by
pressure with the teeth.  In  two or three  cases the  leaves have
been  eaten by children, and have produced very distressing effects.
In one instance, three children  partook of them.  Their  tongues
became swollen, so  as to  render swallowing difficult, and convul-
sions followed: one died  in twelve, and another in sixteen days ;
the third recovered."  Some cases of  dangerous  poisoning have
been  reported, as occurring from eating the A. tryphyllum.
   Clinical Remarks.—Although the local effects of Arum are
very notable, yet we have no clinical experience to show its practical
usefulness in cases of disease effecting the mouth and  throat.  Dr.
J. S. Douglas recommends it in Quinsy and Angina.  Dr. Hill, in his
Surgery, proposes it in similar affections.  If we could preserve the
volatile,  acrid principle   intact in  our preparations,  we might
expect good results from its use, perhaps, in cases to which  it is
homoeopathic.   It is indicated in the  following affections:  Glos-
        8 
 58        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

 sitis, when the swelling is rapid and  accompanied with prickling
 and burning pains.   Stomatitis, in its most acute form, with great
 tumefaction of the lips, mucus membrane of the mouth, etc., fol-
 lowed  by  superficial  ulceration.   GUdema of the  Glottis.—The
 symptoms of Arum-poisoning present many points of  resemblance
 to this fearful disease. The rapid tumefaction of the tissues, the
 pains and many  other local symptoms, are  very similar.  It may
 prove more useful than Apis, Belladonna or  Rhus, but we cannot
 expect much from any preparation of the Arum, unless it contains
 the acrid principle mentioned.  Mercurial or Idiopathic Salivation,
 in some of its forms, may be met  with this remedy;  also, Inflam-
 mation of  the mucus follicles of the throat, with  exudation of
 mucus,  constant  " hawking,"  and  profuse  secretion  from the
 diseased tissues.  Acute and Chronic Catarrh of the fauces and pos-
 terior nares, may come under the curative range of this remedy.
 It has been used  with advantage in enlargement of the Tonsils.
   Respiratory Organs.—The Arum has a time-honored reputation
 in Coughs.   In  dry coughs the dried root  is valued highly. It
 promotes expectoration and mitigates the paroxysms, and has even
 cured some obstinate cases.  In loose coughs, occurring in children
 and aged persons, when there is inability to expectorate the accum-
ulated  mucus, this medicine is said to act in a beneficial manner.
 In  this respect it  resembles  Squills, Phosphorus, etc.   Asthma
humidum has been relieved and notably palliated by the powdered
 dry root.  In all  these affections the lower triturations of the dry
 root will be the best preparation.
  This  is one of  those peculiar  remedies which can  never  come
into  extensive  use, because of the evanescent  character  of  its
effects, and the difficulty of making a thorough proving of  it. Its
 sphere  of action is limited, being but a faint  analogue  of its great
prototype Phosphorus.
            ASCLEPIAS   SYRIACA.
                         {Milk-Weed.)

   This milk-weed  is one of  our  common  plants, growing by
roadsides  and in dry sandy fields, from Canada to the Gulf of
Mexico.  The stem  is simple,  and  from three to four feet  high,
surmounted by  numerous umbels,  or balls of flowers, of a pale,
purple color.  The leaves are oblong, lanceolate, petiolate, pointed
at the end and whorled, the under surface covered with a  short
matted hair ; segments of the corona, five; petals and sepals reflex;
corona erect.  The seeds are enclosed  in oblong, pointed,  rough
pods of from two and a half to three inches in length ;  each seed
is attached to a mass of long, silky fibres, which  can  be  made 
ASCLEPIAS   SYRIACA.
59
into a beautiful  thread.  The whole plant yields an  abundant
milky juice.
    This  plant  has not  been  used much in the  dominant school,
but several eclectic physicians have claimed to use it successfully
in dropsy, colds, catarrhs, and  lung affections.  They call it  ex-
pectorant, diaphoretic,  alterative,  anodyne, &c.   In acute rheu-
matism,  Prof. Lee says  it bears a close resemblance to cimicifuga.
Of six cases of acute rheumatism which he treated with asclepias
eyr., the average duration was eight days; the inflammation con-
fined to  the large  joints, with  considerable pain and swelling.
It had a remarkable effect in relieving the  pain.
    Dr. Pattee, a progressive allopath,  has  made some physiolog-
ical experiments  with the plant,  which may be  considered as a
good " fragmentary " proving.  It is to be regretted  that  all the
symptoms were not noted.
    He says:  " Two ounces of the cold  infusion, made from the
fresh root gathered after the leaves had  fallen; taken once every
4 hours,  proved  diuretic; two oz. of  the  warm  infusion, taken
every 2  hours, proved  diaphoretic;  15  drops  of the  saturated
tincture,  taken once  every 3 hours, had well marked alterative
(?) effects; and one drachm of the saturated tincture, repeated once
every three  hours, until  8 drachms were taken, cause headache,
drowsiness  and  sleep.  In all the experiments,  it increased  the
bronchial secretion.
    "The first experiment was made upon myself.  The urine  for
three days immediately preceding the experiment was as follows:
    35 oz. per day ; specific  gravity 1019.7; solid matter 568 gr.;
pulse 68.
    After 12 oz. had been taken the first day, the  quantity of urine
passed in that time was 128 oz.;  specific  gravity 1020; solid mat-
ter 600 gr.; pulse 67.
    Second Day.   There was but a small increase of water.  The
specific gravity and solid matter  about the  same; pulse 66.
    Third Day.   (Quantity of medicine same as  preceding days).
Quantity of urine 130 oz.; specific gravity 1019.97;  solid  matter
608  grs.; pulse 63.
    On the 4th, 5th and 6th days, the quantity of  urine passed
averaged 135 oz. per day, and the amount of solid matter 700
grs. each day; pulse  60.  The diet and exercise were  not mate-
rially altered  from what it  had  been for a month  past.  The
medicine  did not seem  to cause  any derangement of the  health;
the urinary organs were not irritated in  any way; the only per-
ceptible  effect it  had  upon the brain was to cause a calm, quiet
feeling, perhaps a little  drowsiness towards night.''
   "The subject  of the second experiment  was a young man  18
years of age, of good health; pulse 75.   At 9 p. m., gave him 3
oz. of warm  infusion; the young man in bed;  in half an hour
commenced sweating; in an hour he was  sweating profusely, and
continued to do so the rest of the night,  the infusion being given
every two hours.
   The effect it had  upon the brain was an agreeable sensation 
60         NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
at first; after that had passed off he expressed himself as " awful
sleepy."  When he awoke the next morning, said he had " slept
rather hard," but felt no inconvenience through the  day.
   It produced the same  effect the following night. The  third
day, I gave him  one  dram of the  saturated  tincture, made  from
the dryroot, one every three hours, commencing at 6 p. m. At
9 p. m.  said  his head felt a little dizzy, and had some headache;
slept  sound  through  the night; skin quite  moist;   passed  4 oz.
more urine than  usual, in the  morning.  After continuing this
for four more days, had to discontinue it on account of the de-
rangement it caused to the system;  he had  but little relish for
food; appeared dull and stupid; bowels had  moved oftener than
usual; the tongue was covered with  a white  fur ; pulse 64.  In a
few  days  he was well as ever.''
   " In cases where the pulse had  been  from 50 to 60, they have
increased  to 65 and 70.  Large doses in  any form  will  produce
nausea, vomiting, and, in  some  instances,  ardor xirinoz.  If the
medicine does not produce diaphoresis, diuresis, or  catharsis, vi-
olent headache will sometimes ensue, but  when  given in medical
doses and for disease, we do not see much headache."  (The italics
are my own.   I will refer  to the subject  hereafter.—H.)
   If this  experimenter had understood  the  value  of recording
the characteristic symptoms evolved  by the medicine, we should
have  a much clearer  view of  its pathogenetic  action.  As  it is,
however,  the  fragment is a  very  suggestive one,   and  we may
draw some really valuable  conclusions from it.  Arranged after
the Hahnemannian  method, the symptoms would stand as follows :
   General Symptoms.—Sensation of calmness  and quietude of the
whole system.  In  rheumatism, its  action  was very  favorable.  It
had  a remarkable effect  in relieving the  pain.
   Skin-—Profuse  sweating all  night (from the warm infusion);
in a low  state  of typhus fever  it  has produced a moist state of
the skin,  when other diaphoretics  had  failed, and  convalescence
was  at  once established.  The milky juice that  exudes  from the
stalk has  been used externally for warts.  A poultice of the  fresh
root, boiled, has considerable reputation  for  the cure of carbun-
cles, felons, and  boils.  (No specific effect is here  produced—a
poultice of ulmus fulva would do as well.)
   Sleep-—palm, quiet feeling, with drowsiness  towards  night.
Great sleepines, with profuse sweating; sensation in the  morning
on waking as if he had " slept hard.''
   Fever-—It does not seem to cause febrile  symptoms, as  a pri-
mary effect, but  it is said to cause the pulse to rise from  50 to
70, with increased  heat of skin, when it does not  cause diuresis
or diaphoresis.
   Clinical Remark.—It  would seem indicated in  cases of fever
from suppressed  perspiration;  with  scanty urine, headache, and
pulse at 75.
    Head—The only perceptible effect it  had upon  the  brain  of
one of the provers, was to cause a calm,  quiet feeling perhaps a
little drowsiness towards night.  The other prover said  it caused 
ASCLEPIAS  SYRIACA.
61
" an agreeable sensation  at first," afterwards sleepiness; vertigo,
with  headache.  When the medicine  does not cause  diuresis  or
diaphoresis, violent headache will sometimes ensue; dull and stupid.
   Clinical Remarks.—From  the  above it  would  seem  to  be
homoeopathic  to  sleepiness,  which has followed upon  any  excite-
ment  of the brain of an agreeable  nature;  also,  headache with
vertigo.  But  it promises to  be most  useful in those  cephalalgias
which occur after  suppressed perspirations, or which  arise from
the retention of effete matters in the system which  ought to have
been  carried off through  the skin or kidneys.  It  will certainly
prove  useful in nervous headaches, which are followed  by profuse
diuresis;  in this respect it  resembles ignatia, pulsatilla and gel-
seminum.  Headache with dullness and stupidity.
   Gastric Symptoms, etc—Tongue covered with  a white fur; had
but little relish for food;  bowels moved oftener than  usual; diar-
rhoea  with persistent nausea, and with vomiting.
   Kidneys, etc-—The following table  will best illustrate its action
upon  these emunctories:
Quantity
  of
 Urine.
Specific
Gravity.
Total
Solids.
Increase
  of
 Urine.
Increase
  of
 Solids.
Normal Standard..............
Asclepias Syriaca
First Day.....................
Third Day....................
Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Days.
 38 oz.

128 oz.
130 oz.
135 oz.
1019.7

1020
1020
1020
568 gr.

600 gr.
608 gr.
700 gr.
 63 gr.
 95 gr.
100 gr.
 32 gr.
 40 gr.
182 gr.
    By this it will be  seen that the asclepias syr. notably increases
the solid matters of the urine.  This is an  important fact, for from
the careful  experiments of Dr. Hammond  (Hammond's Physiolog-
ical  Memoirs),  it  appears that  colchicum actually increases the
organic  and inorganic solids of the urine, while digitalis, squills
and juniper increase only the inorganic matter.   Now, as it is the
organic matter which  is generally considered as contaminating the
blood in disease, it is evident they (digitalis, squills and juniper)
exert no effect  whatever in depurating the blood, but on the con-
trary are positively  injurious.
   Clinical Remarks.—Asclepias syriaca then, is a congener of
colchicum, and as such  must be found  useful in many diseases in
which the latter drug has been successfully used.
  In  Scarlatina, when the head symptoms correspond, it  may
prove a useful auxiliary  remedy.
   In  Scarlatinal Dropsy, I predict it will be found as  useful as
colchicum (which I have found one of our most important  reme-
dies), apis, apocynum,  hellebore or arsenicum.
   It is now fully established that the dropsy, which follows scarlet
fever is caused by the scarlatinal  poison which, in its passage into
and through the kidneys, sets up  an  "acute  desquamative ne-
phritis."
   Dr. Todd ("Urinary Diseases,'' page 120) says:  "There are
three conditions, which  I  imagine  gives rise to the production of
the dropsy.   These are:   1st, a  peculiar  irritated  state of the
kidneys; 2d, an analogous  morbid state of the skin; and,  3d,  a 
 62         NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 certain depravity of the blood—by which I mean not only a de-
 ficiency in the amount of red  corpuscles of that fluid, as well as of
 the  solids  of the  serum, but  also the  unnatural  presence  of
 certain poisonous matters which interfere with its proper nutrient
 changes.''
   It is this "poisonous matter which irritates the skin and kidneys
 and causes the dropsy."
   Now, it will be recollected, that the asclepias syr. causes " violent
 headache, increased rate of pulse, vertigo, dullness and stupor,"
 when  it did not cause diuresis or perspiration.   That is, when  the
 impression which the drug, after  pouring into the blood, caused
 upon the nervous centres, did not react upon the kidneys and skin;
 the brain felt the force of the medicinal action.  (Similar condi-
 tions occur from the use of alcohol.)   Also, when the scarlatinal
 poison in the blood, is not carried off through the kidneys  or skin,
 the brain and nervous system suffers, and convulsions more or less
 fatal ensue.
   Asclepias syriaca, seems to be a more rational remedy for this
 condition than any other, not even excepting colchicum, and I pre-
dict that its use in scarlatinal dropsy will bear me out in my belief.
It will  also relieve, I think, those rheumatic pains which often  oc-
cur after that disease.  I would advise the patient to be placed  in
 bed, and this remedy administered as follows:  a few drops of the
 2nd, 1st, or even the mother tincture, in an ounce  of warm sweet-
ened water ; the dose repeated every hour, until the skin and kid-
neys begin to  act normally. (Apis,  Hellebore,  Apocyc, or Colchi-
cum, should be given  in the same manner.)  If more  convenient,
give a  weak warm infusion—1 dram of the root to 1 pint water.
   In Dropsy, especially when arising from suppressed perspiration,
or some forms of renal disease, it will be useful. We do not know
 what are the peculiar pathological changes which  it can cause  in
the kidneys, and we  are equally ignorant of the pathological ef-
fects of Apis, Apoc. c. and most  of our best remedies for  dropsy.
But it  may be considered a general rule, that a  drug which prima-
rily causes  diuresis, will secondarily cause dropsy.   In proof of
this, we may cite the provings of Canth., Apocynum c, Arsenicum,
Apis., and all the so-called diuretics.  They first excite the kidneys
to abnormal action ; then the reaction follows, and we have suspen-
sion of function, and consequent effusion.
   Asclepias syr. then is truly homoeopathic to  renal dropsy.  Dr.
Pattee says: " It has in  my hands  certainly proved useful in  the
removal of dropsical  effusions.  Dr. Smith relates the  case  of a
man of 80, who  had general dropsy, caused by taking cold ; he was
 enormously swollen ; he commenced taking 2 oz of the cold infu-
 sion every two hours; in 24 hours he had passed over three gallons
 of water,  and in a week, all the dropsical symptoms had disap-
 peared."
   I once treated a case of general dropsy from disease of the heart.
 In the  advanced stages, after all  the usual remedies had one after
the other  failed  to give  relief, I resorted to the Asclepias syr.;
 not having any tincture, I ordered an infusion—1 oz. to  a quart of 
ASCLEPIAS  TUBEROSA.
63
water—the fresh root was used; a tablespoonful of this prepara-
tion was given every two hours.  Under its use the urine increased
to nearly a gallon a day, and the breathmg was much relieved. The
patient was made comfortable by its use for many weeks, but finally
died of the cardiac disease.
   Dr. Pattee says, in  large  doses it will produce ardor  urince."
The persistent use of small doses will have the same effect; in fact,
all'"diuretic" medicines have the same effect.  By the  continued
irritation which they keep up in the urinary organs, inflammation is
finally induced.   This inflammation may lead on to organic disease,
and consequent anasarca.  Here we have the  foundation for a gen-
eral rule, viz.: That all diuretics  are secondarily homoeopathic  to
the various forms of renal dropsy.
   Uterus, etc.  In the case of dropsy from heart-disease, referred
to above; the patient's menses had not appeared for 4 months; she
showed no signs of pregnancy; indeed, it was deemed  impossible,
that such condition could exist.  Such was the general oedema that
no vaginal examination could be made.
   About 24  hours after she commenced the  use of the Asclepias
syr.; and after diuresis had set in, she was taken with severe labor-
like pains; pressing down  from small of the  back to the hypogas-
trium, with a scanty discharge of pale red blood.  These pains in-
creased with each dose, but disappeared a few hours after suspend-
ing the medicine.  Upon resuming  it, the  pains again  appeared.
The experiment was tried several times  with similar results.  In
her feeble state, it was  not  deemed  prudent  to  carry the experi-
ment further.
   Clinical  Remarks.—In this case,  whether pregnancy was
present or not, the Asclepias syr. manifested a decided specific ac-
tion upon the uterus.  It caused intermitting, bearing-down, labor-
like pains, which but few drugs will do.  (Macrotis, Caulophyllum,
Uva ursi.)  The uterine pains caused by Ergot,  Tanacetum, and
others of that class are more constant, remitting.
   In domestic use it has some reputation as an emmenegogue, and
abortivant. It has been employed in dysmenorrhea  and amenor-
rhoea by eclectic physicians with alleged success.
   The above experiment would  go to show,  that it  was homoeo-
pathic to dysmenorrhea and threatened abortion.  Especially when
there  is copious discharge of urine.  Dysmenorrhoea is often ac-
companied by diuresis, in  which case  this remedy would be per-
fectly indicated.
           ASCLEPIAS  TUBEROSA.
                        {Pleurisy Root.)
   The root of this variety  of Asclepias  is perennial, and  gives
origin to numerous stems which are erect, ascending, or procum-
bent, round, hairy, of a green or reddish color, branching at the top,
and about 18  inches in height. (It rarely exceeds this, although it 
64
NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
is stated to be three feet by some authorities.)  The leaves are scat-
tered, oblong-lanceolate,  very hairy, of a deep rich green color on
their upper  surface,  paler beneath, and supported usually on short
foot stalks.  The flowers are of a beautiful reddish-orange color, and
disposed in terminal  or lateral corymbose umbels.  The fruit is an
erect, lanceolate follicle, with flat ovate seeds, connected to a longi-
tudinal receptacle by long silky hairs.   This plant differs from other
species of Asclepias in  not emitting a  milky juice when wounded.
It flourishes from Massachusetts to Georgia, and when in full bloom,
in the months of June and July, exhibits a  splendid appearence.
The root is the part used in  medicine.  This  is  large, irregularly
tuberous, branching,  often somewhat  fusiform;  externally brown,
internally white and striated, and in the recent state, of a sub-acid
nauseous taste.  When dried it is easily pulverized, and has a bitter,
but not otherwise unpleasant taste.
   It is considered by the eclectic school and others to be diaphore-
tic and expectorant, and  in large doses cathartic.   It is employed
in regular practice and domestic use, in catarrh, pneumonia,  pleurisy
and  consumption.  It is held  in  high estimation  in dysentery,
rheumatism, and in cardialgia from flatulence or indigestion.
  The following proving, if such it can be called, was communicated
to the Jour, de la Societe Gallicana de Med,  Horn, by A. Savery,
M. D., who, it seems was a pupil of Dr. B. Mure, of Brazilian prov-
ings " notoriety."
   I insert the  "proving,"  in order that no accusation of unjust
bias can be made against me.  At'the same time I  must enter my
honest  protest against the manner in  which the experiment was
made ; and state  my conscientious belief of the utter worthlessness
of the proving.  I will state the grounds of my objections.
    Only two drops of the tincture was taken; no repetition of the
dose was made, and all the symptoms, sensations, &c, felt by the
prover, for the ensuing forty days were recorded.  It  is stated that
at the commencement of the proving, the prover was sufferring from
irritation of the respiratory organs and stomach.
   Now when we consider that the Asclepias is a mild, unirritating
medicine, except in large doses, much milder in its action than Ipecac,
or Apocynum; that in domestic practice it is common for those hav-
ing catarrhs, fever, or any simple  ailment, to drink  a  pint of the
decoction, and feel no other effects than gentle diaphoresis, and com-
plain of no after symptoms;  that eclectic physicians use it in almost
every disease, in large doses  of the fluid extract, or even the active
principle asclepin, and note no bad effects ; and finally, when I state
that I have taken the tincture in 10 and 20 drop doses four  times a
day and never noticed any unpleasant effects—any such symptoms as
Savery records,  it seems incredible that the long list  of serious
symptoms should be  caused by only two drops of the tincture.
   We must remember, too,  the admission that the experimenter had
" respiratory and gastric irritation," when he took the first dose, and
this alone should lead us to look with suspicion upon the proving.
    It is with a good deal of hesitation that I have  admitted °this
"proving" into the  volume,  for it is a very  grave and important 
ASCLEPIAS  TUBEROSA.
65
matter to give a proving, which may be instrumental in determining
the life or death of a patient.
   Suppose the proving of Veratrum alb. had been  unreliable and
false ?  How many thousands of cholera patients would have gone
down to the grave without an administration of the proper remedial
specific.  We hold in our hands, oftentimes, the lives of our patients,
and it behooves us to be solemnly conscientious in the selection of
those remedies which We use at the bedside of the sick.  We should
neither be swayed, by theory, prejudice, or the dictum of other men,
but carefully weigh the value of a pathogenesis by the light of rea-
son and experience.
    I copy the proving as it was translated and arranged by Dr.
Rhees, and published in the Amer. Horn. Review, vol.  2, and will
not offer any clinical remarks of my own with this proving, but let
it stand by itself, and if any physician  sees fit to accept the patho-
 genesis as a reliable one, let him do so upon his own responsibility.
 The symptoms enumerated bear some resemblance to those which
 have been cured by asclepias tuberosa; but throwing aside all other
 circumstances, this  proving should be substantiated by others before
 it could be received.   I fully agree with Prof. Small, that the  true
 test of the reliability of all provings is the  multiplicity  of experi-
 ments.  If they all evolve the same or similar symptoms,  we cannot
 hesitate to  accept them.   (The numerals indicate the  days after
 taking the medicine.)

                     DR. 6AVERT'S  proving.

     General  Symptoms.—Sensation of numbness in  the whole body.
 Excessive weakness in the morning  in bed.  Walking  seems im-
 possible.  Sensation while walking as if he run but forward toward
 the left  side. Aching in the bones, and rheumatic pains in the ex-
 tremities, principally in the joints;  those pains appear  in one  arm
  and in the opposite leg at the same time; thus if the left  arm  is
  affected the right  leg suffers in sympathy,  and the  left leg with the
  right arm;  this circumstance was almost constant.  Quivering and
  twitching of the muscles in different parts ; emaciation.
     Skin.—Pimples, vesicles or pustules began to appear on the  15th
  day,  and spread gradually over almost the whole body, but particu-
  larly on the arms, legs, and in the face; they are  very painful and
  itch  excessively,  and continue more than eight days.  A red  in-
  flamed spot on  the upper part of the right thigh, as large as a dol-
  lar, painful and itching, continuing several days, and leaving a  dark
  stain (23).  Many  vesicles on the lips (23).  Pock-like pustules on the
  arms.
     Clinical Remarks.—We  believe it be a powerful  anti-psonc,
  useful for cutaneous eruptions.—Savery.
     Sleep.—Difficult and late sleep at night, with great sleepiness in
   the morning, and through the day.   Confused and anxious dreams.
     FeTer—Feverish the first day, the pulse being at first 55,  after-
   wards  10.  Sometimes  much thirst, sometimes  none.   On  the
   eighth day, pulse 92.  Pulse thready, 65, during  diarrhoea.
     Mind and Sensorlum.—Excessive dejection (15).  Weakness ot
          9 
66         NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 memory (2).  Difficulty of thinking, collectedly.  Feeling of drunk-
 enness after smoking very little, with weakness of vision.
    Head-—Pain in the forehead with a feeling of heaviness in  the
 side, continuing the whole day, (1).  Headache is  present almost
 daily, generally more severe early in the morning.  Headache in  the
 morning, while rising, with weakness, that he must lie down again;
 it continued the whole day, and all the following night, (7).  Prick-
 ing as with nails in the head, and at the same time in other parts,
 (2).  Pains in the scalp, in the left side of the occiput, like touching
 a pustule, (16).   Falling of the hair, (39).
    Clinical Remarks.—It has  proved useful in  Cephalalgia;
 gastric headaches, neuralgias.—S.
    Eyes-—Transitory pain behind the left  eyeball, in a few minutes.
 Broad dark  spots before the eyes, with  slow pulse of  55, (1).
 Itching in the angles and lids of the right eye, (3).  Inflammation of
 the conjunctiva for many days; (this, however, is not an unusual
 symptom  with  the prover).  Pain in the  eyes,  by gaslight.  The
 eyes look lanquid and fatigued.  Feeling as if sand were in the
 eyes.   The lower lids are  painful as if ulcerated.
    Face-—Yellowness of  the face, (15)  Facies  hippocratica (after
 violent diarrhoea on the  15th day).   Yellow  coating on the teeth.
 Pain in the right inferior molars, (24).
    Mouth.—Itching of the lips.   Lips inflamed and  covered  with
 herpetic vesicles.   Gums very pale  and almost yellow ; they bleed
 easily  and repeatedly.   Yellow,  tough coating on the  tongue,
 putrid taste.
   Pharynx.—Transitory  constriction and stinging  in the  throat,
 extending to the larynx, (1). Pains in the throat.  Soreness of the
 throat, (26).
   Appetite, <fcc—Deficient  appetite, especially in  the  morning,
insatiable hunger, (2).  Eructations   on the  first day, less frequent
on the second.  Nausea in the morning on  rising, (17).   Taste  of
 blood in the mouth.
   Stomach.—Burning in the stomach (after 25  minutes).  Pains in
the stomach; nervous, even amounting to violent gastralgia; also
cramp-like.  Sensation as if the stomach would burst, while laugh-
ing.  The pains in  the stomach continue, almost without a day's
intermission until the 42nd day.
    Clinical  Remark.—Gastralgia.—S.
   Abdomen-—Throbbing  in the left hypochondria.  Pains in the
intestines, (after 20 minutes) subsequently  attended with burning in
the right hypochondriac  region and stomach.  Much  flatulence,
smelling like the medicine, with colic-like pains, with a  sensation
when walking as if the belly would drop.  Violent pain in the
hypogastrium as if the region were ulcerated  with  tenderness  to
pressure.  Colic, while going up  stairs; while  walking; after one
o'clock, (8-14) and also in the morning, during each stool.
   Clinical  Remarks.—It is  indicated and useful in enteritis.
 (Jaundice), etc                                        Savery.
    Stool.—Fluid, painful stool (2) of very strong smell (37).  Clammy
 stool, of green  color, and  smelling like   spoiled  eggs, follow«d 
ASCLEPIAS   TUBEROSA.               67
by pain  in  the arms.   On the  14th day, at 1 o'clock at night, a
painful and copious stool with violent colic,  and  a  sensation  as
though the bowels would come out;  half an hour afterwards, small
but very painful stool; at 2 o'clock the same kind of stool, but with
increased pain,  (Verat. 8, relieved the pain). At 11 o'clock, another
stool almost black in color, clammy, with many ascarides, and yellow
spots like fat, attended with  a feeling as if a stream of fire passed
through the abdomen.   In the afternoon, a stool of intense yellow
color, with green and yellow flakes.  In the evening, a stool exactly
like the white of an egg, with no  foecal matter whatever.  The  fol-
lowing day the faeces are entirely enveloped in froth.  Tenesmus.
   Clinical Remarks.—We have found it curative in acute  enter-
itis ; and it is indicated in dysentery, diarrhoea,  etc.            *
   Urine.—During the first 12 days the urine  is red to saturation.
On the 17th day it looks as if mixed with blood; after  standing a
short time, small, dark red, almost black points of the size of a pin's
head rise on the surface, and much mucus is deposited on the bot-
tom of the vessel.   The urine is more red than normal all the time.
   Male  and   Sexual  Organs.—Painful stitches  in  the  urethra,
repeatedly.   Ulcerous  excoriations on   the   glans,  resembling
chancre, with a pus-like secretion, (disappearing in a few days from
washing in urine.)   [The prover  had chancre  10  years ago.   One
year ago, while proving this  medicine, on the  3d day a  chancre
appeared on the left side of the prepuce, then  on the  right, lasting
two  days.  Copious perspiration of the genitals.
   Clinical Remarks.—We have  employed  this medicine with
uniform success in constitutional syphilis, and it is indicated in ven-
ereal diseases.                                               *
   Catarrhal.—At first dry, then  fluent eoryza during the first few
days, with much  sneezing.   Subsequently a blowing out of some
blood from one nostril for several days.
   Clinical Remarks.—It may  prove useful in asthma and affec-
tions of the nose.
   larynx and  Chest, Heart.—Pain in the larynx.  The breath  smells
like  pepper.  Necessity to  inspire  hurriedly, followed by a  sensa-
tion  of oppression.  Want of breath  like asthma, often very  great,
particularly after  eating and smoking.  Pain  in the right  lung.
Pricking pain in the region of the heart.   Contracting pain in  the
heart.
   Clinical Remarks.—We have employed it successfully in cases
of phthisis and  asthma.  It seems indicated in carditis.          *
   Back  and Extremities.—Stinging,  transitory stitches between  the
shoulder blades.   Pain in the loins like  lumbago.  Pain in  left
shoulder, soon after, in the  right,  like rheumatism.  Pain in bones
of left arm.  Rheumatic pain in fore arm down to fingers.  Numb-
ness of right hand.  Violent itching  in  hands and fingers.  Pain in
hips like coxalgia.   Rending pain in knees up to  the hips,  when
walking  and rising.  The ankle feel  as if sprained. Pain in  bones
of left ankle, drawing in soles and in the toes.   Violent itching on
the legs  up to the knees. 
68         NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
   Clinical  Remarks.—It  seems  to  be indicated in articular
rheumatism and bone pains.  Lumbago, &c.                  *
   Remarks.—It is to be regreted that the foregoing experiment
was  not conducted differently.   Had  the dose  (2  drops)  been
repeated every  4 or 6 hours, and other persons joined in the proving,
something reliable might have  been evolved; but in  this case we
are at a loss to  know whether any of the symptoms resulted from
the medicine,  or  whether the  " gastric and respiratory irritation''
which the prover had when he commenced, was not the cause of the
long array of symptoms.
   I am free  to admit that the symptoms of the stomach, chest and
bowels, are similar to those which 1 know to be caused by asclepias
tuberosa, but we should have further provings before we blindly
accept this one.  I will briefly mention  the conditons for which I
have prescribed the asclepias tub. with apparent benefit.
   Generally, it is very appropriate in diseases of children.  In this
respect it resembles Ipecac,  also in asthmatic persons, and  those
subject to  catarrhal affections;  and many diseases which owe their
origin to cold and damp weather.
   (a.)  It  is useful in the  coughs  and colds of  children; in a
loose  rattling  cough with difficulty  of  breathing;  in  those
nasal   catarrhs which children suffer from ("snuffles").  I have
known   a  child cured of hoarse  croupy cough,   tightness  of
breathing, and fever with hot but moist skin, by half a teaspoonful
of weak infusion, administered by the mother, every hour; no vomit-
ing or nausea was caused.  (The dose in this case was about equal
to a drop of the 1-10 dilution.)   I once treated a case of pleurisy in
a child 12 years of age with  Asclepias t. 2nd; the symptoms  were
much pain  of a cutting character in the left side, during inspiration;
some dyspnea, fever, and hacking cough. No  other medicine was
given and  on the fifth day the patient was convalescent.
   Such confidence have the country people in this remedy, that I
have known parents treat their  children for catarrhal fever,  pneu-
monias, etc., with this  plant, giving it in warm infusion, rather
than run the  risk of placing them under  the care of allopathic phy-
sicians.  It is not necessary to  induce its nauseant action, in order
to get its beneficial influence on the organs of respiration.   This fact
the eclectic school now acknowledge, as  does the allopathic school
in relation  to Ipecac and  Tartar emetic. There is certainly a large
amount of testimony in  favor of the specific action of Asclepias
tuberosa, upon the respiratory organs.   We will quote some of the
most important authorities.
   Dr. Wood  says, " it has long been employed in  catarrh, pneu-
monia,  pleurisy,  consumption  and  other pectoral affections,  and
appears to be decidedly useful if applied in the early stages.
   Dr. Bigelow writes, "I am satisfied  of its utility as an expector-
ant medicine, and have seen no inconsiderable benefit arise from its
use as a palliative in phthisis.
   Dr. Beach declares, "its action on the lungs is specific, assisting
 suppressed expectoration, and relieving the difficult breathing of
 patients who are laboring under attacks of pleurisy, which circum- 
BAPTISIA  TINCTORIA.
69
stance has obtained for it one of its popular names."   It relieves
difficulty of breathing in general, together with pains in the chest.
   Several writers have  stated that they " have used it in many
cases of pleurisy and pneumonia with the most marked advantage,
and this too, in nearly every stage  of  these complaints.   *  *  It
not only operates favorably as a diaphoretic, but is an expectorant of
trancendent value, invariably increasing the freedom of breathing,
and  exerts a specific control over inflammation  of the thoracic
viscera."  " It has been used with benefit in asthma,'' etc.
   (b.) I have found it useful in vomiting  of mucus, and gastic de-
bility.  Pro.  Lee says, " It is useful in atonic dyspepsia, restoring
tone to the stomach,  and relieving gastric pains and flatulence.''
Any drug which  is  capable of causing irritation of the  stomach,
induces weakness of  that organ ;  deranges the digestive  function,
and thence dyspepsia. Asclepias tub. then cures this condition in
small doses because it causes it in large.
   (c.) In the colic from  flatulence,  or  from intestinal irritation, in
children or adults, or in catarrhal diarrhoea, this remedy will be
found useful.   In this respect  it resembles Chamomilla. I have
found it useful in the dysenteries occurring in the  autumn months,
when the nights are  cold and damp. Dr. Parker, of Mass., employ-
ed it for 25 years in  dysentery, and had the greatest  confidence in
its powers.  I have known it to cure in a few hours, severe rheuma-
tic pains from a cold, with chilliness alternating with heat.  I have
generally used the tincture in doses of two or three drops, or the
1st or 2d dil.,  in  same doses.  I have no  doubt but  the  higher
dilutions would act equally well especially in young children.
                 BAPTISIA TINCTORIA.

                   {Wild Indigo.  Horsefly-Weed.)

   This plant is indigenous, growing in most part of the  United
States, in dry and poor soils, in woods and on hills.  It  blooms in
July and August, having bright yellow flowers, in small loose clus-
ters at the end of the branches.  It resembles a shrub, and grows
from one to two feet high.  The fruit is an oblong  pod of a bluish
black color.   It contains  indigo,  tannin, an acid, and baptisin.
When the  whole plant or any portion of it  is dried, it becomes
black and affords a blue dye, inferior to Indigo.  In some parts of
the country the young shoots  are used as a substitute for  aspara-
gus, to which  they bear  some resemblance, and they occasionally
cause  drastic  purgation, especially if eaten after  they assume a
green color. Alcohol  and water will  take up  its active properties.
Its medicinal virtues reside principally in the  bark of the  root.
This agent  promises fair to  become  one of our most powerful and 
70         NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

valuable polychrets.  We have several provings of it, made by Drs.
Burt, Hill, Douglas, Thompson and others.  But the proving of Dr.
W. II. Burt, is the most thorough and suggestive.   Dr. B. is one of
the most correct and enthusiastic provers in the homoeopathic ranks.
Eclectic writers utter their usual indefinite phrases, in relation to
this agent. Without any clear idea of its physiological action, they
assert  it  to  be anti-septic,  astringent,  tonic,  emetic,  cathartic
and alterative.   One only wonders  that they did  not use  all the
rest of the terms  found in Materia Medica.  Not a few of that
school consider it a " febrifuge," and many deem  it to be  power-
fully  "depressant"  in  its action over the nervous   and vascular
systems, while King says it is a  " stimulant."  It is only by a study
of the general and special symptoms  elicited  by our provings, that
we can arrive at any correct conclusion as  to  its  real  effects upon
the healthy organism.   There is one property which the physicians
of the eclectic school allege  the Baptisia to possess, which should
command our attention and investigation.  I  allude to its asserted
antiseptic power.   Applied in the form of a wash,  to ulcers,
mucous surfaces, etc., when  there is a  tendency to putrescency of
the fluids  and solids, gangrenes, foetid discharges, etc., it is  said to
correct the conditions alluded to, in  a very prompt manner. It is
therefore  advised in "malignant sore mouth and  throat, mercurial
sore mouth, scrofulous or syphilitic ophthalmia, erysipelatous ulcers,"
etc.   My  experience,  and that  of some  of my colleagues in  the
homoeopathic school, would seem to verify some of these assertions.
Its action seems to be somewhat analogous to the chlorine com-
pounds.
   General Symptoms.—"If given in very large doses it causes a
very disagreeable  prostration  of the  whole system.''—{King.)
Lying in one  position for a few minutes, as upon the  back, caused  •
the sacral region to become exceedingly painful, as though I had
lain on the hard floor all night, and inducing the  conviction that a
short continuance of  the  same position, would  cause bed sores.
When turning on the other s'ide, the same sensation was produced
on the hips, obliging me at last to turn on my face to  relieve those
parts. (D) (Arnica causes the same symptom, and  it  is very com-
monly met with in typhoid  fever.—Hale)   Intolerance  of pres-
sure on all parts upon which pressure was made.  Felt weak and
tremulous, as though recovering from a fit of sickness.  Incapable
of making any vigorous mental or  physical  exertion. An indes-
cribable sick feeling all over, with great languor.  Stiffness of all
the joints  as though strained.  Rheumatic pains and  soreness all
over the body.
   Clinical  Remarks.—All these symptoms, indicate clearly that
the Baptisia is an analogue  of Rhus, Mercury, and even some of
the " nervous-sedatives."  It powerfully lowers the vitality of the
organism.
   Characteristic  Symptoms.—All the  symptoms increased by
taking a glass of beer.  The pains are of a pressive, drawing char-
acter ; aggravated by motion, relieved by rest and excitement. The
right side of  the body is most affected. 
BAPTISIA  TINCTORIA.
71
   Nervous System.—The hands felt large and were tremulous,
with a peculiar  thrilling sensation through both hands and feet,
somewhat like "going to sleep," a want of circulation.  Intolerance
of pressure on all parts of the body—it caused soreness. (D) Arms
and legs tremble.  Numb sensations all over the  body.  Sensation
of paralysis of the eye-lids.   The general action of the Baptisia,
upon the nervous system, is that of a sedative.   It seems to  cause
a degree  of paralysis, both  of sensation and  motion.  In  this it
resembles Rhus, Aconite and Gelseminum. It may cause a peculiar
erethism, of the nervous system, but this condition is due  to debi-
lity and not stimulation.
   Lymphatic  System.—Swelling of the inguinal  glands.   Swelling
of the tonsils.—{Burt.)  Like Mercury and Phytolacca, the Bap-
tisia seems to  stimulate or  rather irritate* the glandular system.
Allopathic writers decree  that Mercury is a stimulant to the lym-
phatic and glandular  system, although it depresses all the other
functions of organic life.  This  is the general belief of the adhe-
rents of  that  school.   It   is not  a  healthy stimulation,  but
rather an irritatiou.   Phytolacca and  Baptisia have the same
action.  They are therefore homoeopathic: primarily, to irritation
of the glandular system, anc? secondarily: to indolent atonic states
of that system.   It may be as well in this place to  quote  the  tes-
timony of eclectic writers, as to the specific action of Baptisia upon
the  glands.   "It acts powerfully upon the  glandular systems,
increasing all the glandular secretions.   The leaves applied in
fomentations have discussed tumors and swelling  of the female
breast, resembling schirrus."—{King)    "It  has been used with
advantage as a deobstruent, in visceral obstructions and 'engorge-
ments."   (J. &  S. Mat. Med.)   " Baptisia is a sure and  powerful
alterative, and may be employed with confidence in all affections
of the glandular system.  In scrofula and cutaneous disorders  few
remedies are more beneficial."—(Coe.)  I have khown it  used in
phagadenic ulcerations of glands with excellent results.  In several
cases of ulceration of the tonsils, after scarlatina, or in diphtheria,
it has, in my hands,  surpassed my expectations.   I used it both
internally and locally.
    Mucous Membranes.—By examining its special effects as recorded
 in the proving, it will be seen that the Baptisia  causes ulcerations,
 of many mucous surfaces,  particularly  of the buccal cayity.   In
 this  respect  it  resembles  Mercurius, Nitric acid, Phytolacca, and
 Cornus cir.  It is specifically indicated  in discharges from  mucous
 surfaces having a foetid odor, and a sanious excoriating character.
 The particular indications for its use will be given under appropriate
 headings.                                             .
    Vascular System,  Fever, etc—Feeling  of  greatly  increased
 compass and  frequently of the pulsations  of the heart; pulsations
 seem to fill the chest; the pulse (usually but little over 70) 90, full
 and soft.  Uncomfortable burning heat of the whole surface, espe-
 cially the face.   Tongue felt dry, smarted and felt sore, as if burnt.
 The heat compelled  me  to  move to a  cool part of the  bed, and
 finally to rise  and open a window, and  wash  my face aud hands; 
72        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
with these symptoms there was a peculiar feeling of  the head,
which is never felt except during the presence of fever ; a sort of
excitement of the brain which is the preliminary, or rather begin-
ning of delirium.  For a short time, slight febrile, chilly horripula-
tions on the lower limbs  and back.   (D)  Burning sensation over
the body, followed by perspiration, vomiting, and diarrhoea with
dark stools, debility slow, round, full pulse.  (Beckwith.)  Thirst
and flashes of heat over the  face.  General heat after going to bed.
Heat and burning in the lower extremities, so intense as to  prevent
sleep.  Chili  all day with fever at night, with rheumatic pains and
soreness all over the body.  Pulse at first accelerated; afterwards
became very  low and faint.  Surface of the body chilly.
   Clinical  Remarks.—The careful investigator, cannot fail to
be struck  with the evident  fact, that Baptisia,  if long continued
in large doses, would  be capable of inducing a condition  of the
blood similar to the " typhus crasis''; and a state  of the fluids of
the body,  nearly identical with that occurring in low fevers.  Its
action on the nervous system also would  tend to set up a typhoid
erethism, and its effects upon mucous surfaces would indicate its
power to cause those peculiar intestinal lesions which constitute the
characteristic of typhoid fever.  Before  giving  the  experience of
our school in the use  of Baptisia  in fevers, I will present the
testimony of eclectic  physicians.   King says it  is indicated in
typhus, and all cases when there is a tendency to putrescency. He
uses it in the low stage of typhoid fever, and in all typhoid condi-
tions, occuring in other  diseases.  Jones  asserts, that it has been
used successfully in cases of typhoid and typhus fever, whenever
there is a  tendency to putrescency.   It  is resorted to  by eclectic
practitioners  in low fevers, with the same confidence, that we admi-
nister the mineral  acids, Rhus, Bryonia, etc.  Under its use, they
claim that the disease is materially shortened in duration, and rob-
bed of its intensity; but they unluckily compound it so often with
other drugs,  that we must look to homoeopathic authority for clear
proof of its usefulness.   The following cases, related by Dr. Hoyt,
in the North Amer. Jour. Vol. 6, p. 226, were  the  first to  bring
the Baptisia  to the notice of the profession.  It was used by many
physicians however, before the cases alluded  to were  published:
Case 1.—Mrs. C. was taken with typhus fever, and treated allopath-
ically.   She became so reduced that her life  was despaired of, and
after  the  continuation  of the fever for thirty-one days, as a last
resort,  Mr. C.  prepared a  decoction of the Baptisia; taking  a
piece of the  root about  three  inches long, and f th inches  thick,
steeping it in £ pint of water.  He commenced by giving her 5 or
6 drops of the decoction once in 15 minutes, increasing till he gave
nearly a teaspoonful at a dose.   In about one and one-half hours
the surface of the patient presented an appearance  as  though  she
had been  literally scalded, so red was the skin, accompanied with
a most  intense superficial heat; at the  same time noticing large
drops of sweat standing on he  forehead, the medicine was discon-
tinued. In a few moments a profuse perspiration appeared all over
the body, which continued for nearly 12 hours, or till she was bathed 
                  BAPTISIA  TINCTORIA.                73

freely with  brandy and water.   From this  time she  began to
improve, and with the occasional administration of a drop or two
of the remedy, got well, without any febrile symptoms. It is worthy
of remark that immediately upon the administration of the remedy
she became quiet and fell asleep;  she had been restless and delirious
for three weeks previous.   Cases  2  and 3.—Mr. and  Mrs. S. being
very unwell, I was called, and found them suffering with symptoms
of  continued  fever.   After prescribing Aconite,  Rhus  tox,  etc.,
without  much effect, and  my patients growing rapidly worse,  I
was  induced to use the Baptisia in decoction,' as in  Case 1.   I
remained to watch the operation of my remedy.  To my great sur-
prise in about an hour, the perspiration appeared upon the foreheads
of my  patients, and  it gradually covered  the entire surface.  In
about  six hours they  were thoroughly bathed with tepid water,
and the next morning  scarce a  vestige of the  fever remained, and
a rapid recovery followed.   Case  4.—Mr. R. was taken with typhus
fever, and had the usual homoeopathic remedies for several days.
An unfavorable prognosis was given, and the Baptisia was decided
upon.  It was administered and its effects watched.  In this case,
drop doses of an  alcoholic tincture were  used.   The fever  was
reduced more than one-half in a few hours, and by a continuation
of the remedy he was saved. A fierce delirium was present in this
case, but it  rapidly gave way under the action of the medicine."
Several other cases of undoubted typhoid fever have been reported
as arrested, by the use of Baptisia.  Indeed some physicians  are so
enthusiastic that they assert its power to " break up " a continued
fever, in  any of its stages.   Were it necessary to substantiate the
value of Baptisia in continued fevers, with typhoid symptoms, I
could record the testimony of scores of homoeopathic physicians,
who have related their successful  experience with this remedy.  I
have used it for nearly six years in my practice,  and  consider it
equally important with Rhus,  Phosphoric acid,  and Arsenicum,
when indicated.   The  following are,  in brief,  the  characteristic
indications for its use : Chilliness all day; heat at  night;  chilliness
with soreness of the whole body; heavy, dull, bruised sensation in
the head, stupefying headache, confusion of ideas, delirium at night,
heavy sleep with frightful dreams, dry red tongue,  or brown coated
tongue, sticky mouth, foetid breath, foetid sweat, and great foetor
of the  discharges, (urine  and stool), great debility and nervous
prostration with  erethism; ulcerations  of a bad character,  etc.
I usually use the mother tincture, or the lower dilutions a few drops
in water, every one, two,  or three hours.   It acts well, when
alterated with phosphoric or muriatic acid, and may be used with
benefit in nearly all the stages of  a typhoid, and even in the  pre-
monitory or forming stage. I am certain,  that its timely use has
prevented the establishment of the fever, if given when the  first
symptoms of languor, chilliness  and  soreness of the whole body
begin to appear.  It is doubtful if Baptisia is indicated in all fevers.
It is one of the misfortunes of all schools of medicine, that when
a new remedy comes up, it  is  seized upon by certain enthusiastic
members of  the profession, and  they, losing  sight  of its  specific
       10 
74        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 indications, proceed to laud it in the most extravagant terms, as a
 panacea in all diseases.  This has been the case  with several  new
 remedies  lately  introduced in the  homoeopathic materia medica.
 Rumex crispus, a really valuable remedy for pulmonary affections;
 an analogue of Phosphorus ; was so highly lauded, that physicians,
 not finding it equal to the task of curing every kind of cough, threw
 it aside, and is now too much neglected.  Some  practitioners like
 Dr.  Wolf, have gone stark mad  about Apis  mel.\  others upon
 Aconite,  Gelseminum and Atropine.  Such has been the fate  of
 Baptisia.   Dr. Hill, does  not hesitate to  recommend  it in nearly
 every type and variety of fever. (See " Epitome.'') This wholesale
 recommendation, has been  an  injury to the  reputation of the
 medicine, and indirectly an injury to our school, and our patients.
 The range of action of Baptisia is  as limited as  any  other fever-
 remedy.   It may sometimes be indicated  in catarrhal, bilious,
 rheumatic, or congestive fevers ;  occasionally in the exanthematous
 fevers,  when they assume an adynamic type ; but only when the
 symptoms  and conditions resemble those caused by the medicine.
    Mind.—Restless,  uneasy,  frightful dreams—gloomy and  cast
 down for several days."—{Burt.)   "Troublesome dreams, mental
 excitement bordering  on  delirium."  Indisposition and  want of
 power to think ; unhappy ; mind seems weak.  (D.)
    Clinical Remarks.—The above symptoms are similar to those
 which precede a typhoid fever.  I  have  often given the Baptisia
 one-tenth in these premonitory states, with  the  apparent effect of
 preventing the establishment of the fever.
    Sleep-—"Slept two or  three hours and waked  with difficult
 breathing,  a kind of night-mare, dreams  of laboring hard in the
 snow,  suffering with  heat from the exertion  and finally being
 smothered  in the  snow; unusually sound sleep, dreams  about fight-
 ing  and disputation, always come off second best."—{Douglas.)
 Drowsy, stupid, tired feeling.  Very restless after midnight. Rest-
 less night with frightful dreams.   Restless until 2 a. m., then sleep
 with frightful dreams.  (B.)  Dreamed of being  bound down with
 a chain across the mouth.
    Clinical Remarks.—The symptoms above noted bear a close
 resemblance to those  occurring in  typhoid fevers.  The restless
 nights, with delirium, and frightful dreams, all point to its specific
 applicability in many low fevers.
   Head.—" Feeling  as if the skin of the forehead would be drawn
 to the back part of the head, great tightness of the  skin of the
 forehead, with pain in the right eye, frequent pressive pain in the
 right temple.  Sharp pains in both  temples, dull  pressive pain in
 the forehead, feeling  as if the forehead would  be  pressed in, dull
 heavy, pressive headache, very much aggravated bv motion.  Feel-
 ing as if the head was too heavy, numb feeling of the head and
 face."— {Dr. Burts Proving)  Dullness of head.  Vertigo. Con-
 fused feeling in the  head, swimming sensation very like that  one
 experiences before the operation  of  an emetic"   {Dr.  Thomson's
proving, Jj. A. J. Vol. V. page 547.  " Peculiar feeling of the
 head, which  is never  felt, except during the presence of  fever, 
BAPTISIA  TINCTORIA.
75
excitement of the brain, such as precedes delirium. Dull feeling in the
occiput with slight pain and fullness, vessels of head full, head feels
large.  Dizziness, severe frontal headache, heat in forehead, soreness
in front part of head, soreness in  the brain, worse when stooping.
" Brain feels numb with occasional  stitches or shocks  in  various
parts of the head, bruised feeling  in forehead.  Vertigo.  Sharp
pain over right eye, then over the left, dull pain in both  temples,
growing more intense, dull stupid feeling all  over the  head with
severe pain in the occiput.   Head  feels heavy as though I could
not sit up, headache day and  night,  causing a sensation of wildness,
noise increases  the  headache.''—{Provings  by Prof.  Douglass,
and Beckwith, Messrs. Rowley, Smith, Hoyt  and Sapp, N. A. J.
 Vol.  VI, pages 228 and 234.
   Clinical Remarks.—The head-symptoms of Baptisia resemble
those caused by Bryonia, Gelseminum, Arnica and  Muriatic acid.
It is indicated in the headache which precedes and  accompanies
typhoid fevers;  and  is useful in some bilious, nervous and  rheum-
atic  cephalalgias.  I have often given it in the febrile paroxysm of
an intermittent, when the headache was similar  to  that  caused by
Baptisia.  In such cases it not only relieved the head, but often
hastened the critical perspiration  and shortened the hot stage.  My
former pupil Dr. Rogers, of Laporte, Ind., thinks very highly of it
in similar instances.  He prescribes it at the commencement of the
cold stage, and continues it through all the stages, and claims that
it modifies the paroxysm, but has no anti-periodic power, in  pre-
venting further attacks.  He  claims also to have used it with bene-
fit in his own case, during an attack of " cerebro-spinal fever,'' which
was epidemic in his  locality.   The Baptisia has  many symptoms
which resemble very much, those which are said to occur in  the
so-called " spotted fever."  We  would suggest to our  colleagues
a  careful comparison of the symptoms of this dreaded  malady,
with the proving of Baptisia.  It may be found to be a valuable
remedy in the treatment of that fatal epidemic.
   Eyes.—" Feeling as if the  eyes would be pressed into the head
with  great  confusion of sight;  cannot place anything till after
looking at it a few seconds; everything seems to be moving. Ver-
tigo attended with sensation of paralysis of the lids, eyes smart and
ache severely."  (B)  "Bloated feeling of the eyes; eyes unusually
glistening;  disposition  to have the eyes  half closed;  soreness in
front part of head upon moving the eyes or turning them upward;
soreness  of  eyeballs,  eyes feel swollen  with burning  and slight
lachrymation ; congestion of  the vessels of the  eye, they look  red
and inflamed."—{Doug, et al)
   Clinical Remarks.—Many of the eye-symptoms  of this medi-
cine are similar to those caused by Gelseminum and resemble those
sensations which in the eyes are premonitory to typhus.  It is
evidently homoeopathic to some varieties of ophthalmia.  King  and
others recommend it internally, and as a " wash," in scrofulous  and
purulent ophthalmia.
   Nose.—" Thick  mucus discharge from the nose."  (T) " Severe 
76         NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

drawing pains along the nose."  (B)  "Catarrh, dull pain at the root
of the nose." (D.)
   Clinical Remarks.—Internally it may be found useful in some
forms of catarrh and  ozrena, as a topical application.  I  know the
infusion, or dilute tincture to be serviceable in obstinate foetid dis-
charges from the nasal passages.
   Ynce.—Burning heat of face, face flushed  and hot;  external
vessels of face distended and full, flashes of heat over the face, feels
flushed  and very hot,  cheeks burn." (D)
   jjari.—Deafness, or dullness of hearing.   Roaring in the ears,
with confusion of the  mind.
   Clinical Remarks.—Dullness of hearing is  a common symp-
tom of debility, particularly the debility of typhoid states. Baptisia
is indicated when deafness occurs during  a low fever.  It is useful
as an injection in foetid, corrosive otorrhcea.
   Mouth, Tongue, etc.—"Profuse flow of saliva; well developed
ulcers in the mouth ;  long, continued flow of  saliva.  Tongue feels
as though it had been scraped." (T) " Tongue coated yellow along
the centre;  flat bitter taste in  the mouth."  (B)  Tongue feels dry
on rubbing it against  the roof of the mouth,  smarted and felt sore
as if burned, slight, dry burnt feeling of the tongue. Saliva  abund-
ant, somewhat viscid  and flat tasting, appetite somewhat  impaired,
food does not taste quite natural.  Filthy taste with flow of salivia
loss of appetite, slight yellow coat on the  tongue ; two  days after-
ward, tongue coated whitish and slightly congested. Tongue coated,
at first  white with reddish papilla here and there, followed by a
yellowish brown coating in  the centre, the edges being red and
shining; tongue feels thick and swollen, numb pricking  sensation
of the tongue, bad taste in the mouth.  Teeth and gums feel sore.
Oozing  of blood from the gums.
   Clinical Remarks.—The above symptoms of the buccal  cavity>
afford excellent proof of the law of " Similia" as a law of cure.
They show that the Baptisia will cause conditions of the mucous
membrane of the  mouth, etc., similar to those for which it is  so
much used in eclectic practice.   An  exhaustive proving  would
undoubtedly develop symptoms  of a more  aggravated  character,
as putrid  ulcerations, etc.  King speaks  highly of the Baptisia  as
a wash  to malignant,  ulcerous sore  mouth ; mercurial sore  mouth,
and many other pathological  conditions of the buccal  cavity.   It
causes salivation and  ulceration ; I have used it for many years  in
chronic, mercurial sore-mouth, when the gums were loose,  flabby,
dark  red or  purple, and the breath was  intolerably foetid.   Next
to chlorate of potash, it is the  best remedy we  have  to remove
and palliate that disagreeable condition.  It  is indicated in  stoma-
titis materna ; cancrum oris ; and nearly all diseases of the  mouth
and tongue, characterized by ulceration, putrescency, etc.   But in
all these diseases,  it should be used topically as well as  internally.
Like  chlorate of potash, the mineral acids, hydrastus,  etc., the cure
is materially hastened by the local  application of  the diluted tinc-
ture, or watery infusion.  I usually prescribe it as follows : Baptisia
 root one drachm, hot water one pint, or, Tincture Baptisia one drm. 
BAPTISIA  TINCTORIA.
77
cool water four oz. This may be used as a wash, gargle, or local appli-
cation in any form, when it is indicated.  At the same time, the tinc-
ture or the dilutions may be given internally, at  suitable  intervals.
In  typhus  conditions we find many of the above pathogenetic
symptoms, in nearly every case.  They afford  special indications
for the selection of this medicine.
    Throat.—"Soreness  of the throat with  scraping and burning.
Raw sensation in the pharynx with  a large amount of viscid mucus
Constrictive feeling in the throat, causing frequent efforts at deglu-
tition.   Pricking sensation in the  upper part of pharnyx.  Slight
angina, throat feels swollen or full;  tonsils  and soft palate injected
with pain in the root of the tongue when swallowing.
    Clinical Remarks.—The action of Baptisia  upon the throat is
quite marked.  It irritates the tonsils, uvula, and follicular glands.
It is homoeopathic, and has been found  curative in ulcerating sore
throat,  suppurating  tonsils, catarrhal angina, etc.   If the an-
gina tends to assume a putrid character, the ulcers dark, and breath
foetid,  the Baptisia is particularly  indicated.  Many of my  col-
leagues as well as myself value it very highly in the treatment of
diphtheria, as an  auxiliary to Merc,  iod, Kali bichrom. or Kali bro.
It is indicated when putrescent symptoms appear, when the nerv-
ous system becomes  depressed,  and there  is   much prostration.
The premonitory symptoms of diphtheria, bear a  strong resemblance
to many of the  symptoms of Baptisia.   It should be  used  as  a
gargle.
    Stomach. —"Good deal of distress in  the stomach, severe  pains
every few moment in the cardiac region of the stomach ;  disposition
to vomit, but no  nausea.  Dull pain in  the epigastric region,  fre-
quently recurring and aggravated by turning over, constant pain in
the epigastric and hypochondriac regions aggravated by  walking ;
burning distress in  the epigastrium"  (B.)   "Frequent  eructations
of flatus; nausea"  (T).   "Gone,"  empty feeling of the  stomach.
Slight nausea, followed  by vomiting; pain in the stomach; pains
and cramp in the stomach; feeling as if there was a hard substance
in it.   Stitching  pain in cardiac extremity of stomach.  Slight
nausea  with want of appetite  and constant  desire  for water."
{Doug, et al).
    Clinical Remarks.—Typhoid and bilious fevers are ushered in
by symptoms  which resemble those above  given.   Baptisia  seems
to act specifically on the  gastric mucous membrane. It is highly
probable, that it causes the same  lesions  in that tissue, which it
causes in the mouth and fauces, namely, inflammation  and ulcera-
tion.
    Dr. Coe, says he found it very servicable in certain  forms of
dyspepsia, particularly those cases accompained with irritability of
the stomach, acid eructations, griping pains and looseness of the
bowels, with frequent, small, and offensive stools.
    Abdomen.—" Constant pain in the right  hypochondriac region ;
sharp shooting pains all through the  bowels.  Severe colicky pains
in the umbilical and especially in the hypochondriac regions; the
pain comes on every few  seconds, with rumbling in the bowels and 
78         NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

desire for stool.  Constant dull pain in the umbilical region;  shoot-
ing pain in  the umbilical region,"  (Burt).  " Pain in  the abdomen
on pressure; dull heavy aching pain in the lumbar region on going
to bed at night. Loud borborygmus, with diarrhoea, fullness  of the
abdomen, flatulence.  Pain  in the hypogastrium, soreness  of the
abdominal mucles as if from  cold or coughing severely," {Doug, et
al.)  "Distension of abdomen, feeling as though it  would be a
relief to vomit, rumbling in the intestines " {T).   (In a cat, poison-
ed with Baptisia, Dr. Burt found the small and large intestines con-
gested and filled with bloody mucus).
   Clinical Remarks.—It  is highly  probable that the Baptisia
causes similar intestinal lesions to those observed in typhoid fever.
It is a drastic cathartic, and  is homoeopathic to profuse, dark, foetid
diarrhoeas, sub-acute enteritis, colics, and other bowel affections.
   Liver, <fcc—Pain in the right hypochondriac  region, aggravated
by walking ;' constant dull pain in the region of the gall-bladder;
pain extends to the spine.  Soreness in the region of liver, pain in
the liver.
   Clinical Remarks.—King says it arouses the liver to a normal
action.   Coe declares that in hepatic derangements it will  be found
a valuable  auxiliary  to other remedies.  Dr. Burt found  the  liver
congested in a cat poisoned with Baptisia. Its pathogenetic symp-
toms show  that it is homoeopathic to some disorders of the  liver, the
exact nature of which, further provings, and  clinical experience can
only decide.
   Stools  and  Rectum.—Rumbling in the bowels  and desire for
stool, soft,  papescent  stool with a good deal of  mucus, soft  mushy
stools with rumbling in the bowels, " constipation, severe  constipa-
tion with  hemorrhoids,  diarrhoea two  days before, bowels loose
which is uncommon with the prover.   Bowels costive for two days.
Vomiting  and  diarrhoea with dark  stools. Bowels  constipated
during whole   proving."    {Douglas  et al).    [A  cat  poisoned
with Baptisia had bloody mucus stools.  The intestines were found
congested and filled with bloody mucus.]  In large doses  Baptisia
is a drastic cathartic;  and in  smaller doses a laxative.  The stools are
generally dark, offensive, mucous, and even bloody.  In quite small
doses it rather constipates.   This, however, is an effect of all cathar-
tics when given in  small quantities.   Baptisia  then,  is primarily
homoeopathic to diarrhoea,  dysentery and acute mucous enteritis ;
secondarily,  to constipation, with   indigestion,  torpor of  liver
and  haemorrhoids.   Coe  says,  "in the  treatment  of  ulcera-
tive inflammation of the bowels and stomach, and chronic diarrhoea,
and  dysentery, its use should never be omitted ; also, that it is use-
ful in " acrid faecal discharges, and " frequent, small and  offensive
stools.''   Thus it is that both allopathic and eclectic schools of medi-
cine, use remedies successfully for the very symptoms they cause,
thereby unwittingly treating their patients homoeopathically.  It is
indicated particularly in  adynamic diarrhoea and dysentery,  with
the general condition of the system usually present.  But  it has
been found useful in those affections even when sthenic in character.
In  its action on  the bowels it resembles Leptandria, Arsenicum, 
BAPTISIA  TINCTORIA.
79
Nitric Acid and Rhux-tox. Dr. Burt, one of the provers of Baptisia,
thinks highly of it in dysentery.  He reports the following:   Case
1st. A pregnant woman was attacked with dysentery.  It brought on
labor, after which the dysentery grew  worse.   A council was to
he held at noon, but on the morning of the same day Baptisia, (4
drops of the tincture every hour) was given; at noon she  was much
better, and  her convalescence was rapid.  Her  symptoms were
violent colic-like pains before every stool, and great tenesmus.  Stools
every five or ten minutes. They were pure blood,  with a very little
mucus, pulse 20, soft and full.  Aconite, Bry, Colocyuth, Merc.
 Veratrum alb. were given for four days without any benefit, while
the Baptisia cured her  perfectly in four hours."  In ten cases of
dysentery I  have never seen medicine act better.   They all had vio-
lent colicky pains  in the hypogastric region before a stool, the stools
were mucus and  blood, great tensemus which was relieved by the
Baptisia in two or three  hours, better  than by any remedy I have
ever used; the cases were not generally attended by much fever.
    Urinary Organs.—Urine high colored, not very copious, but of
 dark  red color.  A sort of burning  when urinating"  {Doug, et
 al).  Shooting pains in the region of the left kidney.  The urine
 increased in  quantity during the  proving,  and continued  acid
 throughout.
    Female Genital  Organs.—Increased  menses.  Menses too soon
 and too profuse.  Abortion.
    Clinical Remarks.—This medicine has not been proven upon
 the female organism.   But it has been  known to  cause  the above
 symptoms.  Its real action upon the uterus, ovaries, etc., has yet to
 be accurately determined.
    Dr. Coe, says, "Baptisia is possessed of more energetic emmen-
 agogue properties than the plant has generally been accredited with.
 We have employed it with gratifying  success in  the treatment of
 dysmenorrhoea and  defective menstruation.  Also in cases of vicarious
 menstruation, in combination with Podophyllin, with signal success.
 In the treatment of vicarious menstruation, particularly those cases
 accompanied with periodical diarrhoea, we have found the following
 combination entirely successful when administered  during the inter-
 menstrual period: Baptisia grs. xx, Podophyllin grs. x. Caulophyllin
 grs. xx.  Mix and divide into ten powders. Give one every night or
 every other night according to the condition of the bowels."
    One of the most ridiculous things in the old school practice, is the
 custom of prescribing a farrago of drugs like the  above, and then
 giving to one of them the credit of curing the malady.  Who knows
 which drug was the curative agent ?  If Baptisia  is  a specific for
 vicarious menstruation, its administration simply will prove its virtues.
 Coe adds that it "should not be used during the period of utero-gesta-
 tion  as it is capable of producing abortion, for which purpose we
 have known it to be used by quacks and empirics.  The danger to
 the general health  is very great, when used in sufficient quantities
 to produce  this result."   It  follows, then, that  Baptisia is homoeo-
 pathic to abortion  when occurring  as  a consequence of debility,
 physical or  mental  depression, nervous prostration,  etc, as in typhoid 
80         NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

fevers, and other adynamic conditions.   It is a  useful application,
in the form of injection, in cases of virulent leucorrhoea, ulcerations
of the  os uteri and vagina,  with acrid foetid  discharges; also in
unhealthy lochia! discharges,  and those peculiar putrid discharges
which  occur  after an abortion,  and  depend  upon the presence of
shreds of membrane, or pieces of the placenta, remaining in the
cavity  of the uterus.  In these cases  the Baptisia, injected in the
form of infusion or dilute tincture, will remove  the foetor and pre-
vent mischief from the acridity of the discharges.  The chlorate of
potash, or still better the permanganate of potash will prove more
effectual in grave cases.   As there is  usually present in all  these
cases, a general debility of the system, and a sort of crasis of the
blood,  the Baptisia should be given  internally, in the lower  dilu-
tions, in conjunction with a nourishing diet, wine, etc.
   Larynx, Trachea, etc.—Hoarseness to such  an extent  as  to
require the utmost effort to be understood.  Tickling in the throat,
constantly  provoking   a  cough.   Great  hoarseness.   Complete
aphonia.
   Chest.—Difficult breathing,  increased  compass and frequency of
the pulsations of the heart, pulsations  seem to fill the chest.  Diffi-
culty of breathing, the lungs feel tight and compressed, cannot get
a full breath.  Tightness of the chest, feeling of want of power in
the respiratory apparatus such as is felt  during fever {D).   " Con-
striction and oppression of the chest,' {Burt)  Oppressed  respira-
tion, sharp pains in the chest when taking a long breath, throbbing
in the heart so as to be distinctly heard.   Awoke with great  diffi-
culty of breathing, the lungs  felt tight and compressed ; could not
get a full breath, felt obliged to open  the window, to get my face
to the fresh air.
   Clinical  Remarks.—It may prove  curative in some  varieties
of asthma, also typhoid pneumonia.   I am inclined to the opinion,
however, that  many of the symptoms of oppression, are due to
nervous  atony, and resemble the anxious oppression which occurs
during the low stages of fevers.
   Back.—Dull heavy pain in the lumbar region very much aggra-
vated by walking; back and hips are very stiff and ache severely;
chills up and  down the  back as if ague were coming on ; dull heavy
aching in the lumbar region on going to bed at night, flashes of
heat from the small of the back in all directions," {Douglas et al).
   Upper Extremities.—Stiffness of the joints as if strained, twitch-
ing in the left deltoid, also in latissimus  dorsi of left  side.   Sore-
ness of the muscles of the neck, muscular debility, feeling of weari-
ness especially in the right arm and shoulder, hands feel too large
and are  tremulous with a peculiar  thrilling  sensation, somewhat
like going to  sleep or a want of circulation,'' {D)   " Drawing pains
in arms." {B)
   Lower Extremetles.—Dull drawing pains  in the right groin and
testicle.  Drawing pains in the  legs especially in  the knee joints.
Severe drawing pains in the calves of the legs; legs are very weak
and  tremble."  {B)   " Burning heat of the feet with feelino- of
pulsation, sacral  region and hipsexceedingly painful; feet become 
BAPTISIA  TINCTORIA.
81
painful from resting on the floor; dull pain in the sacrum, compound-
ed of a  feeling as from pressure and fatigue from long  stooping,
soon extending round the hips and down the right leg; weariness of
the lower limbs especially the right.  Aching in limbs, heat  and
burning in the lower  extremities so intense as to prevent sleep
most of the night.   Soreness in the anterior part of the thighs worse
after sitting awhile;  darting pain in the left knee and malleolus of
left side.  Extremities  feel hot  except the feet which are  cold,"
{Douglas).  "Sensation of weakness in lower  limbs with weak
knees."   Cramp in the calves when walking.

               DR. BURT'S PROVING OP BAPTISIA*

    Oct.  12th.  Am in perfect  health.  Took  10 drops at 10 a.
m., at  12 m. feeling of tightness across the forehead, with pain
over the right eye.  At 3 p. m. severe pain every few minutes in the
cardiac  portion of the  stomach.  Took 15 drops, 4 p. m.  Skin of
the forehead is feeling as if  it was  drawn very tightly over the
forehead, with sharp pain over the right eye; quite a number of
times there has been sharp shooting pains all through the bowels.
Took 20  drops, 8 p. m.—Frequent pain over the right  eye of a
pressive character.  There has been  constant pain in the region of
the gall bladder, very severe when walking.   Dull pain  in  the
epigastric region.  Dull drawing pain in the right groin, legs ache.
Took 25 drops.
    Oct. 13th.  Slept well until midnight, then could not sleep any
more.   Frequent pain in the epigastric region, very much worse by
turning over which I had to do all the time; dreamed  of being
bound down with a chain  across the mouth;  drawing pains in the
arms and legs.  Slight rumbling in the bowels.  Tongue • coated
yellow along the centre.  7 a.  m.—Took 30 drops, 10 a. m.  Dull
pressive pain in the forehead.   Sharp pains in both temples ; dull
pain in  the  right hypochondriac  region.  Slight rumbling in the
bowels  with a mushy stool.   Dull pain in the  small of the  back;
drawing pains in the legs. Took 35 drops, 2 p. m.  There has been
constant pain in the epigastric and right hypochondriac regions, very
severe when walking, the  pain is of a drawing character.  Took 40
drops, 9 p. m.  Have suffered constantly and severely all day, with
pain in the liver and stomach, the pain causes a numb feeling to pass
all over my body.   Dull pain in the forehead.  Drawing pain in the
calves of the legs.   Urinated 40 oz. acid.
    Oct.  14th.  Had a  very  restless night, with frightful  dream.
Good deal of dull pain in  the liver, stomach and umbilical  region.
Tongue coated yellow.  9 p. m.   Have had constant pain  in the
umbilical  region with  slight  rumbling of the bowels all day.  Soft
stool.  Urinated 26 oz., acid.
    Oct. 15th.  Had restless night,  with  frightful dreams.  9 a. m.
Feeling quite well.   Took 40 drops.  2 p. m. Have  had constant
pain in the stomach and right hypochondriac region. Took 50 drops,
5 p. m.  Skin of the forehead feeling very much  contracted.   Slight
*rhis proving was made with the mother tincture, and crude bark.
     11 
82         NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
 pain all day in the stomach and right hypochondriac region, the pain
 in the right side is  very severe  when  walking.  Severe  drawing
 pains in the right groin and testicle and right foot.  Took 60 drops,
 9 p. m.  There has been  constant pain  in the stomach and  right
 hypochondriac region.  The pain was of a dull aching character and
 extended to the  spine, very much  worse by motion.  Took 60 drops,
 slept until 2 a. m., then could not  sleep any more.  Took 40 drops
 at 4 a. m.   Had  a good  deal of pain  in the  epigastric region all
 night.  Urinated 28 oz., acid.
    Oct. 16th. Feeling quite well.  Injected  10  drops under the
 skin of the left arm over the biceps.  I first  held chloroform  on
 my arm for five minutes, it was more painful than the making of the
 incision through  the skin; ten minutes after, the skin of the forehead
 felt as though it would be pulled to the back part of my head, with
 a numb feeling of the forehead and face; in fifteen minutes, feeling
 as if I would vomit but no nausea,  with severe shooting pain in the
 left kidney and left side of the umbilicus. Thirty minutes,  feeling
 as if the forehead would be pressed in.  Slight pain in the stomach
 and right hopochondriac region and umbilical, frequent gulping up of
 air.  At 10 a. m.,  slight pressive headache and dull pain in the loins.
 The  part  where the incision was made became so  numb that I
 could cut the skin without the least feeling of pain.   I can assure
 my readers that the most painful part is holding the  chloroform
 bottle on the arm.  Took  100 drops, 2 p. m.   Dull heavy pressive
 headache; by  spells sharp  pains in the temples; heavy aching pain
 in the stomach and liver, with a very hot sensation in the same parts.
 Soft stool.   Took 120 drops 9 p. m.  Feeling very weak and trem-
 ble a good deal.   Pressive pain in the forehead, constant dull aching
 pain in the stomach and liver. The  pain in the liver extends from the
 right lateral ligament  to the gall-bladder—it is almost impossible to
 walk it makes the pain so  severe in the region of the gall-bladder.
 Severe drawing pains in the calves  of both legs.   Took 106 drops.
 Urinated 42 oz., acid.
   Oct. 17th.  Slept well until 2 a.m., then very restless until
 morning; frightful dreams.  Dull heavy headache in the forehead,
 constant dull aching pains in the  umbilical region, aggravated by
 a full  inspiration.  Dull aching  pain in the lumbar region, very
 severe when walking.  Tongue coated yellow along the  centre.
Flat taste in the  mouth,  9 a. m.  Took  150 drops,  12 m.  Head
feeling very heavy, sharp  pains by  spells in the right and left
temples, constant  dull pain in  the region  of the gall-bladder, very
severe when walking.  Took 200 drops, 3 p.m.   Skin of the fore-
head feeling very  tight, with  sharp pain in the temples.  Constant
pain in the stomach and  liver, quite sharp at times.  Fearing  that
all the medicinal properties of the drug was not in the tincture I
was using, I concluded to take the  green bark of the root and chew
 it.  Took 30 grs.   Had a  natural  stool, 9 p. m.,  constant burning
 distress in the epigastrium, with  severe colicky pains in the umbili-
 cal  and especially in the  hypogastric  region, every  few seconds,
 with rumbling in the bowels and desire to vomit,  but no nausea; 
BAPTISIA  TINCTORIA.   <
83
soft stool;  drawing pains in the right hip and  calves of both  legs.
Urinated 31 oz., acid.

                    PROVING  WITH  BAPTISIN.

   Oct. 18.—Slept until 3 a. m., could not sleep any more, but had
to toss about constantly.  Had a dull hard headache, very much
worse by moving.   Sharp  pains in the temples very often.  Con-
stant aching pains in the  umbilical region.  Took 40 grs. at 4 a. m.
Tongue coated yellow, flat bitter taste in the mouth.   Tonsils con-
gested.   Drawing pains  in the legs.  11 a. m.  There has  been
great distress in  the stomach  and bowels  all  the  forenoon,  with
desire to vomit.  Soft mushy  stool.  Took 55 grs. 1 p. m.   Eyes
feeling as if they were being pressed into my head, with great con-
fusion of sight, cannot place  anything until I look at it for a few
seconds, everything appears to be moving;  partial  paralysis of the
eyelids, it is very difficult to keep them  open; fauces and tonsils
good deal congested.  Great distress in the epigastric and umbili-
cal region, with good deal of rumbling.  Cramp in the calves of the
legs whenever I move them; am very weak and  faint.  8 p. m.  Have
had  frequent pains in the right temple.  Eyes smart and ache severe-
ly.  Tonsils vere much   congested,  with  frequent inclination  to
swallow which  produces pain in the root of the tongue.  Constant
aching distress in the stomach and umbilical region, with great deal
of pain in the region of the gall-bladder.  Rumbling with desire for
stool.  Stool papescent with a  large quantity of mucus, but no real
pain. Am very faint and weak, legs tremble and ache.  Urinated
33 oz., acid.
   Oct.  19.  Had a very restless night.  Frequent pain in the right
temple;  dull heavy headache.   Tongue coated yellow, with flat
bitter taste.  Tonsils and soft  palate  good  deal congested.  Dull
aching  distress in the bowels.  Back and hips are very  stiff and
ache severely;  drawing pains in the left leg.   4 p. m.—Tonsils and
soft  palate look very red, but do not pain any,  good deal of distress
in the umbilical region all day.  Back aches severely, aggravated
by walking.   Frequent  drawing  pains in  the calves of the_ legs.
Urine is of a whitish  color  and does not  change  blue litmus,
and  has no effect on red  paper.
   Oct.  20th.—Slept  well.  Tongue coated  yellow.  Teeth and
gums have been very sore for two days, by pressing on them with
my finger, large quantities of blood  oozes from the gums.  Tonsils
and  soft palate congested.   Slight back-ache.  Had a natural stool
this  morning,  but none  yesterday.  Felt very gloomy for several
days.  Bowels moved regularly once a day—perfectly natural.
   Oct.  28th.—Feeling  well.  Took 4  grs.  at 10 a. m.  Had a
severe pain in the region of the gall-bladder lasted one hour ; con-
stant slight  pain in the umbilical  region; natural stool.  Took 6
grs.   All the evening had a dull  frontal headache,  with smarting
of the eyes and a drawing pain down the nose.  Constant dull pain
in the  umbilical and hypogastric  regions, by spells the pain in the
hypogastric region was very sharp.
   Oct. 29th.—Slept  well.  Feeling quite well.  10 a. m.—Took 10 
84        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
grs.  3 p. m.—There has been constant dull pain in the umbilical
region.  At times drawing pains in the right wrist and left ankle.
Took 14 grs.  Constant dull frontal headache, and dull pain in the
bowels all the evening.
   Oct. 30th.—Slept well until 1 a. m.  Awoke with severe cutting
pains in the hypogastric region, with loud rumbling  of the bowels,
very restless after; had frightful dreams.   Tongue coated yellow,
along the centre;  flat bitter  taste.  Soft papescent  stools.  The
inguinal glands of the left groin are very much swollen, one of them
as large as a common sized hickory  nut.   Is this an effect of the
medicine, or the  effect of a cold?  I have no symptoms of a cold.
They are very painful when walkinsr, 10 a. m.
    J                          ^        W. H. Burt, M. D.
  CAULOPHYLLUM  THALICTROIDES.

                   {Blue Cohosh. Squaw Root.)

   This is a smooth, glaucous plant, purple when young, with a high
round stem, from one to three feet high, simple, from knotted and
matted rootstalks, and dividing above into two parts, one of which
is  a triternate leaf-stalk,  the other bears a biternate leaf, and a
racemous panicle of small yellowish-green flowers, which appear in
May and  June.  Panicle  small, darker than  the  leaves.  Pericarp
thin, caducous, dark blue, resembling berries on thick stipes. Seeds
one or two  about the  size  of a large pea, erect and  globose.   It is
a handsome perennial plant, growing all over the United States, in
low, moist,  rich grounds, near running streams or on grounds which
have been overflowed with water.  The  seeds ripen in  the latter
part of the  summer and  are said to form an excellent  substitute
for coffee, when  roasted.   The fruit is dry,  sweet, insipid, and
resembles that of the Vaccinium.  The officinal part is the root,
which is sweetish, somewhat pungent and aromatic, and affords a
yellow infusion or tincture.  The resinoid, active principle of this
root, is called Caidophyllin, and may be used instead of the tinc-
ture in nearly all cases.  In the following clinical experience, it will
be stated which preparation was used in  the prescription.  In  our
school Caulophyllin has been most used.  I  believe I was the first
to call attention to this remedy. The original article was published
in the North American Journal, Vol. 6, p. 373; since which time
it  has  been quite extensively used  The first  mention  that
I find  of it, by  any medical writer, is  in the  work of John
Thomson—author of the  so-called " Thomsonian Practice ;"  who,
after mentioning its employment by the Indian females to expedite
delivery,  and to relieve uterine pain  and  spasm,  reports  a case of
inflammation of  the  uterus, cured rapidly by a decoction of the 
          CAULOPHYLLUM  THALICTROIDES.          85

root.   It  is also highly spoken  of by Smith, Matison, Beach and
other " botanic" writers; but the best description of the  plant,
and resume of its properties and uses, is to be found in King's Dis-
pensatory. He says : " It is principally used as an  emmenagogue,
parturient and anti-spasmodic ; but it  likewise  possesses diuretic,
diaphoretic and  authelmintic properties.   It has been successfully
employed  in rheumatism, dropsy, colic, cramps, hiccough, epilepsy,
hysteria, uterine inflammation, etc.  It is a valuable  agent  in  all
chronic uterine diseases."  Other  writers, as Jones and Scudder
(Mat. Med.) and Coe, (Cone. Org. Med.) give the same  statement
of its virtues.   If I were to compare any of our well-known  reme-
dies with  it, I  should name Asa f., Platina, Secale, Murex, and per-
haps Pulsatilla.
   General Effects.—Sensation of comfortable languor and dis-
position to sleep.  A fine prickling sensation all over  the  body.
Increased  mental and physical vigor.   Tremulous weakness of the
whole system.
   Nervous System.—The action of Caulophyllum on  the nervous
system is similar to that of Cimicifuga. It is sedative to the nerves
of motion, and is secondarily homoeopathic to spasms, cramps and
even  convulsions—especially when they arise from reflex irritation,
originating in the ovaries or uterus.  Its primary action  is antago-
nistic to Ignatia, Nux  vomica or Secale.  It causes, secondarily,   *
conditions which those drugs cause primarily.  The  nerves of sen-
sation, are not directly influenced by this remedy.  It relieves pain
by arresting the cramp or spasm by which the pain is caused, or  by
some specific influence over  the pathological condition  known  as
rheumatism.  I have not known of its successful use in neuralgia, nor
do I think it indicated in that  disease when idiopathic. "Eclectic "
writers class it with the " anti-spasmodics." It has an extensive repu-
tation in that school, in hysteria and other nervous affections. " It
appears,"  says Jones, " to impart a vigorous and  healthful energy
to the nervous system.  It has been found useful in epilepsy, chorea,
tremors, spasms of the stomach, bowels etc."  (Ec. Mat. Med.)  If
homoeopathic to epilepsy, at all, it must be in that form known as
"Menstrual"  or "Uterine Epilepsy."  In Idiopathic Epilepsy,
neither Caulophyllum or anything else is of much  service;  while
in the epileptiform  spasms which occur during or near the menses,
or in hysterical convulsions,  connected  with   dysmenorrhoea, the
caulophyllum is the most appropriate remedy, and has been  useful
in such cases, in my own  practice. ^ Cimicifuga, (Macrotys) and
Bromide of Potash  are also  suitable in such  cases.   In Chorea, it
has proved as useful as its near analogue Cimicifuga.  Several cures
of that malady  by the  use of Caulophyllin, one-tenth have  come
under my  own observation.  Nearly every case  occurred in young
girls, and had their  origin  in  some menstrual irregularity.   One
case, however, was  of a decidedly rheumatic origin.  It is  useful
in the  tremors  of  nervous women, and  drunkards; also in the
cramps of pregnant females.
   Mucous Membranes.—It  seems to act upon the  mucous  mem- 
86         NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
branes of the mouth, fauces and vagina.  It has been found curative
in aphthous conditions of those surfaces; also in leucorrhcea.
    Muscular Tissues.—It appears to  have a specific  relation to the
muscular and fibrous tissues, but, whether directly or through the
nervous system, is not yet determined.   Its efficacy  in rheumatism
is undoubted, but  it is not used in that disease  as much  as the
Cimicifuga; indeed it is hardly mentioned in relation to that affec-
tion in works on " eclectic " medicine.   The homoeopathic  school,
have used  it successfully in certain forms of rheumatism, as the
following cases will show :
    Dr.  P.  H. Hale, of Hudson, Mich.,  reports  as follows: " A
plethoric man,  of nervous temperament,  was attacked with rheu-
matic swelling  of both feet.  In a few days the swelling shifted to
the knees, and from thence to the wrists  and hands. No percept-
ible benefit accrued from the administration of Pulsatilla, Bryonia,
Rhus, or Aconite.   One night about the third week of his  illness,
I was called in great haste to see him.  The pain  and  tumefaction
had suddenly  left the extremities, and he was  suffering from
excruciating pain in the cervical and dorsal regions, with spasmodic
rigidity of the muscles of the back  and neck ;  could not bear  to
be moved, slight twitching of the muscles of the arms ;  paroxysms
of quick, panting breathing;  complained of great oppression of the
chest; high fever, severe delirium, and great nervous excitement.
The ;,tincture of Caulophyllum was  administered, 30 drops every
half hour.   In  a few hours the  symptoms rapidly gave way, and
from that time the patient  rapidly improved, and in a week was
attending to his usual avocations.  I have also  found it  useful  in
rheumatism  of the uterus."  Dr. R. Ludlam contributes the follow-
ing interesting experience relative to the use  of  this remedy.  " A
clergyman had  inflammatory rheumatism, which became fixed  in
the carpal and metacarpal joints of the left upper extremity.  No
remedy seemed to  be of any  benefit.  The  pain was severe and
constant.  Caulophyllin was administered and a  rapid amelioration,
followed by a prompt  cure, was the result."   " A young  lady had
inflammatory rheumatism of the hand, after using the usual reme-
dies with unsatisfactory results, Caulophyllin was given, and a rapid
subsidence of the disease was the gratifying result."  Rheumatism
of the Uterus is a common cause of  dysmenorrhoea,  and many
other painful affections of that organ and its ligaments.   Caulo-
phyllin will be found very useful in such  conditions.  Cimicifuga is
also indicated, but the former is more useful in rheumatic affections
when spasmodic symptoms are present; that is the chief diagnostic
difference between the two remedies.
   Sleep.—More sleepy than usual during the day.  Sounder sleep
at night.  Disposition to sleep in the evening.  (Primary).  Sleep-
lessness at night, from a kind of nervous  relaxation.  Wakes fre-
quently during the night. (Secondary).
  Clinical  Remarks.—Some  eclectic physicians decree the Cau-
lophyllin to be narcotic, while others as Coe, deny that it  has such
powers.  It has a calming effect upon nervous subjects, and the
provings show  that it disposes  to sleep in  healthy subjects.  A 
           CAULOPHYLLUM  THALICTROIDES.        87

remedy may cause sleep however, indirectly, by acting as a sedative
to irritated nerves.  Dr. Ludlam reported the following case, illus-
trative of the  action of Caulophyllin to insomnia.  I abridge the
case from my pamphlet on  " abortion," page  17.  A lady aborted
at the third month; she had terrible floodings, which so shattered
her nervous system as to render her very miserable.  Her pulse
was  feeble, threadlike, and at  times  imperceptible;  skin cool,
extremities, upper and lower, as  well as her features, and  cellular
tissue generally, oedematous, and her nerves in the most pitiable con-
dition imaginable; the most prominent  feature of which derange-
ment consisted in complete insomnia.   She could not sleep.  Night
after night passed and not a wink of sleep.   All  the  usual reme-
dies were tried, but without avail.  Apis relieved  the  odcema, and
under occasional doses of Arsenicum, her pulse approached a normal
state. Upon the recommendation of Dr. P. H. Hale, I gave her Cau-
loph. 2.  A few doses sufficed to break the spell, and I have never
since failed to procure her the most refreshing sleep with this agent.
   Head.—Slight mental exhilaration, swimming in the head, a sort
of vertigo, with dimness of  sight.  Sensation of  fulness  of the
head, with pressure behind the eyes,  and  fulness  of the temporal
arteries.
   Clinical  Remarks.—It is useful in  rheumatic and neuralgic
headaches, the latter, when dependant upon  uterine disorder, or
spinal irritation.
   Eyes.—Dimness of sight.  Pressure behind the eyes.
    Mouth.—Sensation  of dryness in  the mouth, or as if scalded.
Heat in the mouth and fauces.
   Clinical  Remarks.—King says: " Combined with equal parts
of powdered  Hydrastis, made into an infusion, and sweetened with
honey, it forms an  elegant  and effectual  wash for apthous sore-
mouth and throat."  Caulophyllum alone will cure aphthae  of the
mouth,  especially in pregnant and nursing females, and even in
children.  A weak solution of the tincture in water, used as a wash,
and  taken  internally,  will   often prove curative  in quite severe
cases.
   Stomach.—Heat in the  stomach.   Slight  nausea.  Fullness in
the stomach.   Empty eructations.
    Clinical  Remarks.—I  have found the Caulophyllum useful in
some of those reflex affections of the stomach occurring in females,
such as spasms, cardialgia,  spasmodic  vomiting, excessive nausea
(when attending  uterine  irritation).  King does  not  mention its
use  in gastric affections, nor  does any other writer, except Dr.
 Coe, who asserts that "it is an admirable remedy in some forms of
dyspepsia,  particularly those cases attended with spasmodic symp-
toms.  When there is gastric irritability with vomiting of food, it
may be employed with advantage.''
   Abdomen,  etc.—Distention of the abdomen.   Fullness of the
abdomen with some tenderness.  Rumbling in  the  bowels.  Con-
stipation.   Stool only every other day.  It is said to expel worms.
   Clinical  Remarks.—" Combined with drastic purgatives, such
as Aloes or Podophyllum, it prevents tormina better than any other 
88         NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
known drug."—{King) It is said to relieve attacks of spasmodic
and flatulent colic.  Caulophyllum is undoubtedly applicable when
there is spasmodic action of  the  muscular tissues of the intestines,
arising  from the irritation of the  motor nerves,  or from rheuma-
tism.                            .  .
   Urinary Organs.—Copious emission of pale, or straw  colored
urine.   Slight pain in the neck of the bladder after urinating.
   Clinical  Remarks.—This remedy is recommended in  spasmo-
dic retention of urine,  such as  occurs in  nervous and  hysterical
females.  Dr. Scudder says he has employed it with advantage  in
chronic nephritis, albuminuria, cystitis  and urethritis, but we have
only his bald assertion.   He gives no cases  to substantiate  his
testimony.
   Female  Sexual Organs.—Sensation as if  the uterus was  con-
gested, with fullness, heaviness and  tension  in  the  hypogastric
region.  Drawing in the groins—(uterine ligaments.)   Menses too
soon—3 days.  Labor-like pains.  Abortion with little or no flood-
ing.  Intermittent uterine contractions.  Relaxation of the os uteri.
Profuse secretion of mucus from the vagina.  Increases the natural
pains of labor.   Spasmodic  pains  in  the uterus, broad ligaments
and various portions of the hypogastric region.
   Clinical  Remarks.—It may be  interesting to  those unac-
quainted with this medicine, to  read the statements of  medical
writers of the eclectic school, concerning it.  I quote from the most
prominent: " It is principally used as an emmenagogue and  par-
turient,  *  *  a  valuable agent  in all chronic  uterine diseases,
appearing to exert an especial influence upon  the uterus, and has
been  found serviceable in uterine leucorrhoea, amenorrhoea,  dys-
menorrhoea, etc.  When used for several weeks previous to  the par-
turient period,  it is said to  facilitate  that  process.  It acts as  an
uterine tonic.   In  the  more  common  unhealthy conditions of this
organ and its appendages—even  passive menorrhagia and  con-
gested cervix, it is equal to, if not surpassing  the  Cimicifuga.''—
{King.)  Dr. Kindleberger writes to Dr. King that he  has used it
with much advantage in after-pains, menstrual suppression, and in
dysmenorrhcea, *  *   it is far superior to Ergot, both in  its act-
ing more mildly and with more certain results.  " In neuralgia and
rheumatism of the uterus it has frequently been administered with
benefit. * * It expedites delivery in all those cases when the delay
is owing to fatigue, debility or  want  of uterine energy ; the  con-
tractions it occasions, more nearly resemble the natural ones, instead
of the continuous, spasmodic contractions effected by Ergot, *   *
When there has been a tendency to haemorrhage  from  relaxation
of the muscular fibres  of the uterus, after delivery," it will cause
firm contractions, and arrest the bleeding.—King's Obstetrics,p. 650).
" Amenorrhea—that is—simple  amenorrhoea  is successfully treated
with Caulophyllum.  If there be hepatic aberration alternate  with
Podophyllin; if Anaemia—with Iron. In dysmenorrhcea, it is  an admi-
rable remedy, both for the relief of the present symptoms, and for the
radical alteration  of the  derangement.   It  relieves  the  distress
attendant upon dysmenorrhcea,  and its continued use  during the 
           CAULOPHYLLUM  THALICTROIDES.         89

inter-menstrual period, and when the menses are present, with Eri-
geron, Trillium, or Lycopus.  For the relief of after pains it will
be found efficient in a large number  of cases.  As a parturient, it
quiets and harmonizes the action of the uterus, and  the  nervous
system generally, relieving cramps and other unpleasant symptoms.
—{Coe's Cone.  Org. Medicines).  "We have used it often, and
known of its  being frequently used by others, for a few weeks,
prior to confinement as a preparatory measure to the  important
changes which take place at that time, with great apparent advan-
tage.  In many instances, when the females have  been invariably
the subjects  of tedious and  difficult labors, by the use of Caulo-
phyllum for two or three weeks before confinement, all the antici-
pated difficulty vanished, the labors were rapid and easy, and the
recovery speedy,  when compared  with  previous  confinements.
" Although it may be somewhat difficult  to  assign a satisfactory
reason as to the effects stated, or in other words its therapeutic
action may be difficult of explanation, yet the effects have  been so
apparent, that any one knowing the character of different labors,
would be forced to ascribe the different results to  the use of this
remedy.  We have known  many  highly intelligent ladies,  who,
after having used it once, could not be prevailed upon to  dispense
with its use in subsequent pregnancies.  It  has appeared  to us to
afford great relief in that  restlessness, and disturbed state of the
functions, which generally obtains in the advanced stages of preg-
nancy.  It allays false pains, if we can rely upon  the  testimony of
those who have had the greatest opportunity to test its virtues."—
{Jones  & Scudders Mat. Med).  Bating a little for the enthusiasm
which eclectic physicians have for indigenous  remedies, the above
is a pretty fair enumeration of the virtues  of  Caulophyllum.  The
testimony of the homoeopathic school is decidedly in concurrence
with the above, as the following reported cases  will show.   My
own experience, during the sixjyears which I have used this remedy,
has been such as to  entitle me to speak decidedly as to  its  cura-
tive  virtues.   A   thorough knowledge  of  the  physiology   of
the   female   organs of generation;  the pathological  changes
they undergo ;  and the  reflex disorders they often  give rise  to,
when  diseased,  is  quite necessary,  in  order  to understand
and appreciate  the therapeutical powers  of  this medicine.   The
uterus, in its healthy  condition,  possesses  the qualities known
as normal tone, contractility, etc.   But when that organ is diseased,
we have either atony (arrest of function) or abnormal irritability,
 (re suiting in painful cramps, contractions, etc). These purely func-
tional derangements of the uterus may exist with or without organic
changes in that organ.  Caulophyllum causes primarily,  increased
action  of the uterine-motor nerves.  In healthy  conditions of that
organ any  action beyond  the normal contractility, as to force and
period, is a diseased state.  Abnormal  activity  of any  organ is
disease. The uterus then when aroused by Caulophyllum, takes on
increased action, which manifests itself in the form of painful con-
tractions, congestion, undue irritability, and many other conditions
of irritation,   which are not confined to that organ alone, but extend
        12 
90         NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
to those contiguous,  and  connected.  This  remedy  is  therefore
primarily homoeopathic to dysmenorrhcea, uterine cramps,  conges-
tion, spurious labor-pains, abortion, premature labor, after pains,
when these diseases are caused by exaltation of natural function, or
hyper-stimulation.   When administered for these conditions, small
doses will be found most applicable, (the 3d or 6th dilution  or trit.)
Prolonged stimulation may wear out  the normal irritability of any
organ or tissue; we then have atony, a condition  simulating para-
lysis, or, irritation from atony, which closely simulates  the irrita-
tion from hyper-stimulation.   These latter conditions are caused by
the secondary action of Caulophyllum.  Hence it may  be indicated
secondarily in the above named disorders,  from causes opposite to
those named  in connection with them, also  in such affections, as
menorrhagia and metrorrhagia from deficient contractility,  as after
abortion and labor;  habitual  abortion, from  uterine debility, a
variety  of pains,  cramps, etc., during pregnancy,  etc.   When
administered for its secondary effects, the doses should be somewhat
larger—(the lower dilutions).  I have not found it as useful in Amen-
orrhoea  as many other remedies,  and am of the opinion that it is
seldom indicated in that affection, unless accompanied by spasmodic
action, or extreme  atony.   The following cases marked "H," were
originally published by me in the N. A. Jour,  of Horn.
   "Miss N. aged 17, plethoric, nervous, lymphatic, menses sup-
pressed  two and a half months.   When I  called to  see her, found
her in spasms,  evidently  hysterical,  but  resembling  epiliptiform
spasms,  affecting the chest, larynx and  uterus.  She  was  uncon-
scious.  For three  hours, under the administration of Bell. Hyos.
and Lobelia— (which latter relieved the spasm of  the chest  and
larynx  somewhat)  and even  chloroform, and the hot bath—she
remained in those peculiar and frightful spasms.  As a last  resort,
after giving no medicine for an hour, I gave Caulophyllum 1-10  one
half a grain.   In fifteen minutes the spasms ceased ; the patient lay
in a stupid condition,  free from  pain.  In the course of the night
the menses came on, and in a few days she was about  the house,"
(H).   The Cauloph. was eminently  indicated in this case, and it
evidently acted as a prompt curative  agent.   In my " Monograph
on Abortion," page 18, Dr. R. Ludlarn,  of Chicago, gives  his ex-
perience with Caulophyllum in menstrual irregularities.
   " Still another indication for the use of this  remedy will be found
in menstrual irregularities, occurring subsequent to, and consequent
upon miscarriage.  They are frequent and sometimes very perplex-
ing cases, when neither Puis.  Secale, Sabina  or other  remedies
appear to be especially indicated, and we have either of the  follow-
ing symptoms:   Spasmodic, bearing down pains, with  scanty flow;
sympathetic cramps and spasms of neighboring organs,  as of the
bladder, rectum and bowels, or, the motor power of the uterus seems
almost entirely gone, and when  we  may  reasonably  suppose  the
menstrual flow is  retarded from a simple lack of the  excito-motor
force, either in the Fallopian  tubes, on the parietes  of the uterus
itself; the Cauloph. will afford  almost instantaneous  relief.  In a
case of  this  kind, post-abortive,  when the spasmodic pains were 
          CAULOPHYLLUM  THALICTROIDES.          91

located in the right lumbar region,  occupying a limited  space, say
about the size of a silver  dollar, and there was  almost a total sup-
pression of the catamenia, the Caulophyllin,  3d, dec. trit., repeated
once in three hours, afforded prompt and permanent relief.   We
know of no other remedy which is so efficacious under these circum-
stances.  It seems in general practice, to be indicated in many cases
of suppressio-mensium, approaching dysmenorrhcea in some of its
features,  being always accompanied by the above named characteris-
tic  pains and sufferings  of a  spasmodic nature.   Our experience
would render us very loth to attempt the treatment of these  and
kindred cases, without a frequent resort to Caulophyllin."  In Dys-
menorrhcea, the testimony in its  favor  is  very  large.   My corres-
pondence with homoeopathic physicians convinces me that it is one
of the most successful remedies, in that distressing affection, now in
use.  It should be given  in  appropriate doses, once or twice a day
during the inter-menstrual  period, and every  few hours, in  the
attack.   In Menorrhagia, it is indicated for  about the same symp-
toms as  Ergot  and Cimicifuga, and under some circumstances is
superior  to both.  Dr. Williams reports several interesting cases of
flooding  after abortion, when ordinary allopathic and homoeopathic
remedies had been used in vain, but were promptly cured by Caulo-
phyllin 1-10.  The  haemorrhage was passive, had lasted several
weeks, and was probably due to deficient  contractility, or profuse
involution of the uterine  tissues.  When similar conditions obtain
after labor, immediately as in  part  portem haemorrhage;  or more
remotely, as in profuse lochia, and that form which comes on several
weeks after confinement, after every exertion of  the patient, I have
found the Caulophyllin as useful as any other medicine.  Its action
is not as  rapid as Erigeron or Sabina, but more permanent.  Caulo-
phyllin will  cause abortion, in the  later months of pregnancy.   Of
this, I have conclusive testimony.  As a remedy in threatened abor-
tion it has no superior.  " Mr. S. has had several abortions at about
the third  month.  Each  preceded for a week or  more by a sensa-
tion of weight and pressure in the pelvis.  When I saw her, labor-
like pains  had already set  in, and the os uteri  was partly open.
Gave Caulophyllum first, one drop  every half hour. In a few hours
the  pains abated.  She  has since  given  birth at full term to a
healthy child," (H).  In  uterine pains  during pregnancy—"false
pains," etc., there is no remedy upon which  we can rely with more
confidence than Caulophyllin.  It has never failed to give relief, in
my  practice, and its effects are so apparent that my patients are
unanimous in its praise. I usually give the 2d decimal trit. every three
or  six hours, as the case demands.   It is equally useful in too severe
and spasmodic pain occurring during parturition ; also in  deficient
or absent labor-pains.   In the former case, however, it should not
be administered lower than the 3d, and even the 30th might be
efficacious ; but in the latter condition the one-tenth trit. frequently
repeated, is the most advisable.
    Deficient  Labor.—Mrs. E., a primipara, had been in labor twenty-
four hours—a midwife attending her. I found the os uteri about the
size of half a dollar, (the membranes had broken during the first hours 
92        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
of pain,) hard, rigid and unyielding, vagina dry, the pains frequent
and spasmodic.  Gave Belladonna and Pulsatilla and ordered warm
fomentations.   Twelve hours  afterwards there was scarce any
alteration in the condition of the patient, except that she had some
fever, and was a little  delirious.  Gave Aconite, 1st.  Six hours of
agonizing pain and no progress ; by auscultation I discovered the
child to be dead; it was alive  twelve  hours before.  I began to
fear for^my patient.   Ergot  was plainly  inadmissible owing to the
yet rigid condition of the os.  I therefore  gave  Caulophyllin,  one
half grain every 15  minutes.  In one hour the os uteri had become
soft and dilatable,  the vagina  relaxed  and moist; fever abated,
moist skin, pains less  agonizing, but strong and expulsive,  and in
one hour more she was delivered of a dead child, weighing 10 1-2
lbs.  The mother had a good recovery.  I do not think any other
medicine could have  produced  so favorable a change  in so brief a
time.  As an agent for inducing premature labor, after rupturing
the membranes,  it is  invaluable.  It is always safer, and in many
cases, superior to Ergot," (H).  The chief danger, both to mother
and child, when Ergot is administered, is the  powerful continuous
contraction which it causes.  It has been  the cause of rupture of
the uterus and perineum, and death of the foetus by  pressure  on
the cord, etc.  These casualties are avoided by  giving Caulophyl-
lin.  In Suppression  of the Lochia, with symptoms simulating
inflammation, such as  pain, cramps, distention, and some tenderness,
the Caulophyllin aided by  warm fomentations  of Hops, or Poly-
gonum (smart-weed) will restore the discharge in a short time.  To
sum up the curative properties  of this medicine—I do not doubt
but it is homoeopathic, primarily or  secondarily,  to all the  morbid
states mentioned by eclectic authors. It only needs an exhaustive
proving to establish the special  indications for its use.  I can bear
testimony to its value  as a preparatory remedy, in case of difficult
labor.  My experience with  it in such cases has been very satisfac-
tory.
   Caulophyllin   in   Paraplegia.—During  the session of  the
Western Institute  of Homoeopathy, held in Chicago,  May, 1864.
Dr. Burbank, of Illinois, related a  remarkable  case of Paraplegia
which he cured with this remedy.  The patient was a  middle aged
lady.   On the sixth day after her confinement  she was attacked
with  Metritis—so called by her Allopathic physician. Under the
usual treatment of the old school, the affection apparently subsided,
but left her nearly completely paraplegic.  There was partial loss of
sensation, and complete loss of motion; could not move the limbs in
bed, or  stand  upon them.    There was considerable  emaciation,
anaemia, and general  debility.  When Dr. B. first  saw  the case,
two years had elapsed since the  seizure, and  she was growing
worse.  After consultation with some of the most eminent physicians
of Chicago, he gave her Cocculus, Nux.  vom.,  Citrate of Iron and
Strychnia, and  several other  medicines. Upon examining the
uterus it  was found  retroverted,  congested  and enlarged.  The
patient was put upon the use of Caulophyllin 2nd, and its use was
persisted in until the paraplegia was cured.  Improvement set in 
CAULOPHYLLUM  THALICTROIDES.
soon after taking the medicine, and in a few weeks she was able to
move her lower extremities, and now—six months  after the com-
mencement of the treatment—is as well as ever.  The uterus, even,
has assumed  its normal position and  condition.  This case is one
that demands our careful consideration.  It is probable that  real
metritis never existed at all.  My impression is  that it was originally
a case  of  retroversion of the  uterus,  existing before the  process
of involution had taken place.  After the retroversion, a certain
degree of inflammation may have existed ; the  process of involution
was arrested, and the uterus remained in a congested or engorged
condition.   The case was one of reflex paraplegia, and the abnormal
state of the uterus its real cause. Such being  the ease Nux. vom.,
and the other remedies given, were not appropriate, but Caulophyl-
lin, by acting in a specific manner upon the uterus,  restored it to a
normal state, and the  paraplegia disappeared of itself.  I predict
this remedy  will be found a very useful one in many cases of par-
alysis of the lower extremities.
    Male Organs  of Generation.—This remedy does not appear to
have been used in any of the diseases of the male genital organs.  I
can only find it recommended in one disorder— Gonorrhoea.   But
a remedy  capable of affecting  so profoundly  the sexual  organs of
one sex, must assuredly affect those of the  other.  I predict that it
will sometimes be found useful in some diseases of the testes, etc.
Even  if the Caulophyllin, like Ergot,  acts  upon these organs
through the spinal cord, it would not affect the above conclusions.
    Respiratory  Organs.—No chest symptoms have been elicited in
any of the fragmentary provings.  It may prove useful in certain
spasmodic affections of the the thoracic organs, idiopathic or reflex,
such as hooping cough, hiccough, asthma, spasms of the  chest and
lungs,  and even cardiac derangements.
    Back and Extremities.—Pain in the small of the back, like those
of labor;  Weight in the region of the sacrum;  General lame  feel-
ing in  the whole length of the  back.  Lassitude and weakness of
the legs;  Trembling of the lower limbs; Aching in the joints.
Cramps.
    Clinical Remarks.—Dr.  R. Ludlam reports  two  cases of
inflammatory rheumatism of the joints of the hands, cured rapidly
with Caulophyllum.
    Note.—Since the above was prepared for the press, I received
a proving of Caulophyllum, accompanied by the following letter.
                                     Lyons, May 2nd,  1864.
    E.  M.  Hale, M. D.—Dear Doctor: Having received no word
from you since I last wrote, I have concluded to send you my short
proving of Crulophyllum.  I have taken it, until I have become so
used to the drug, my system fails to give out  any more symptoms.
I think you will be surprised to see what massive doses I  took for
such a few symptoms.  I do not like to make provings with the
active  principles, so-called. They never give me half as many symp-
toms as the tinctures do. This is  the first proving I have  ever
seen of Caulophyllum,—I am disappointed with it.   As it has  such
a great influence over the female organs of generation, I expected 
94        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
that it would affect the male  organs also, but not so.   My genital
organs were not affected in the least. Please tell me, if my proving
corresponds with the provings of others, if you have them. I could
not get any of my female friends to prove  it.  AH the  symptoms
produced  were of a rheumatic character.  It appears  to arrests
the secretion  of  bile  in  a  marked manner.  The watery  stool
I cannot account for.         Truly yours,        W.  H.  Burt.

            DR. BURT'S PROVING WITH CAULOPHYLLIN.

    April 28th, 1864.  Am in perfect health; tongue  not coated;
tonsils are natural;  good appetite ; bowels move once a day ;  urine
acid;  temperament sanguine-nervous; age 27; weight 148 lbs.;
pulse 75.  4 p.  m.—Took  10 grs.  of pure resinoid.   5 p. m.—Dull
frontal headache, with a contracted feeling of the skin  of the fore-
head ; drawing pains  in  the  thighs, knees, legs and ankles; very
sharp pains  in the left  knee joint, inside ; elbows  and wrists ache.
5 40.—Very hard  pains  in the forehead, with a sensation  as of
needles being stuck into the forehead.   6  p. m.—Constant flying
pains in the arms and legs, first in  one part and then  in  another,
remaining only two or three minutes at a time in a  place.  Severe
drawing pains in the inside of the left thigh ; very hard dull frontal
headache;  distress in the fauces that causes frequent inclination to
swallow; dull backache in the  lumbar region ; every few minutes
sharp stinging pains in the glans penis.   9 p. m.—Severe frontal
headache;  severe colicky pains every few  minutes in  the umbili-
cus ; very severe drawing pains in the sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle,
that draws the head to the left  side; severe drawing pains in the
joints of the arms and legs;  the ankle and toes of the  left foot are
very painful;  dull backache.
  April 29th.   Slept well until 3 a. m. ; after  that I was very rest-
less; skin was hot and dry; severe drawing pains in my hips, knees,
ankles and feet, wrists and fingers.  Shutting my hand  produced
severe cutting  pains in the second joints of all the fingers, they
were very stiff; frequent colicky pains in  the umbilicus, relieved
by  emissions of flatus ; severe drawing pains over the left eye.  10
a. m.—Have the same symptoms. Took 15 grs.; had a natural stool
at 7 a. m.   12 m.—Distress in the stomach and bowels, with draw-
ing pains in the right hypochondrium; drawing pains in the fingers,
legs and feet; the pains are very severe  in the feet.   4 p. m.—Dull
frontal headache, by spells there is  a very severe pain in the temples
that  produces a feeling  as if both  temples would   be crushed
together ; frequent slight colicky pain in the stomach and umbilicus;
slight dull backache;  drawing pains in the right side over the liver;
severe drawing pains in  the  legs  and feet, but more  especially in
the feet; drawing pains in the fingers ; natural but  dark stool.  2
p. m.—Took 25 grs. 6 p. m.—Dull  headache;; profuse flow of tears;
drawing pains in the nose ; good deal of pain  and distress in the
stomach and umbilicus ;  dull pains in  the  lumbar region; severe
drawing pains in the ankles and feet;  severe pain in the wrists and
joints of the fingers.  9 p. m.—Slight frontal headache; good deal
of distress in the stomach, and small intestines; constant and severe 
CAULOPHYLLUM  THALICTROIDES.        95
drawing pains in the wrists and fingers, ankles, feet, and toes ; the
left ankle pains very severely ;  took 30 grs.
  April 30th.  Had a restless  night; there was so much pain in
the joints of the fingers ; they look red, and are very stiff; closing
the hand is very painful; slight frontal headache;  teeth all feeling
sofe and elongated ;  slight dull pain in the umbilicus when moving,
relieved by emissions of flatus ; drawing pains in the knees, ankles,
feet and^oes; walking produces severe pain„in the metatarsal bones;
natural but hard stool.  10 p. m.—Feeling quite well, excepting
my knees are very weak when walking; another rather soft stool,
followed by slight pain in the umbilicus; took 50 grs. 12 m.—empty
eructations; sligh  distress in  the stomach; drawing pains in the
knees and toes, very sharp by spells.  5 p.  m.—Feeling  weak and
nervous;  dullness of the  head;  slight  burning  distress in the
stomach;  slight drawing pains in the wrists and fingers, ankles,
feet and toes ; took 75 grs.  10 p. m.—Frequent  gulping  up of a
very sour, bitter fluid ;  frequent spells of vertigo ; slight burning
distress in the  stomach;  drawing  pains  in the fingers, ankles,
feet and toes, but more  especially in the toes ;  knees feeling  very
weak when walking; eyes aching with a  feeling of  something
under the lids; profuse secretion of tears.
    May 1st.   Slept  well  until 1  a. m., then awoke  with a  great
rumbling in the bowels, and a very urgent  desire  for stool;  stool
mostly of water that ran a perfect stream from my bowels, passed
a great quantity. There was no pain. 8 a.  m.—Feeling quite well;
tongue coated white ; canine hunger; fingers are  quite stiff;  slight
backache; drawing pains in the toes ; want to drink a great deal
of  water.   8 a. m.—Frequent  slight pain in the umbilicus; drawing
pains in the elbows, wrists, fingers, knees, ankles,  feet and toes; all
of  my joints crack frequently  when walking or turning.
    May 2d.  Restless night; my  fingers,  ankles, feet  and toes
pained me so much; fingers are very stiff.  7 a. m.—Soft  stool," very
white showing a great deficiency of bile in the excretions.
    Remarks.—The urinary or genital  organs were not affected in
the least; the pulse remained about natural all the time ;  its  great
 centre of action on myself was the small joints; (the fingers and
 toes ; the carpal, metacarpal and phalangeal; tarsal, metatarsal and
phalangeal joints.)
                      DR. HALE'S REMARKS.

    I know of no more remarkable  substantiation of the truth  of
the law of Similia, than the above graphic proving.   How per-
fectly Dr. Burt describes the  rheumatic affection, so similar  in its
character to that variety in which Dr. R. Ludlam found the Caulo-
phyllum curative?   I  know of no coincidence in my  experience
 which has ever given me greater satisfaction. To settle  any pos-
sible cavil or doubt in the minds  of the most suspicious, I will say
that Dr. Burt did not know of the use of Caulophyllin  in rheum-
atism, much less had he any knowledge of  Dr. Ludlam's experience
with the remedy in that disease.   I append Dr. Ludlam's  report  of
 the cases. 
96        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
                                   Chicago, May  4th, 1864.
   E. M.  Hale, M. D.—Dcar Doctor:  Meeting my friend, the
Rev. Dr. C----, socially in  the autumn of 1860,  he inquired if I
had ever prescribed the Caulophyllum for rheumatism ?  I replied
in the negative.  He then told me that he  had once suffered from a
very severe and protracted attack of articular rheumatism, in which
the pain and swelling finally settled in the wrist and fingers of one
hand.  The usual remedies were tried but without avail.  His phy-
sician finally prescribed, as a dernier ressort, a decoction of the Cau-
lophyllum. In a short time he was perfectly relieved.  " I  would
not," said my friend, " spend a night without the Caulophyllin  in
my house for half  the  city of Chicago !"   It so happened that I
was at the time treating an inveterate case of rheumatism affecting
the metacarpal joints of the left hand of a servant girl in the family
of D. S----Esq.   The remedies  which I  had prescribed  did little
good, and all concerned were impatient the girl should be well and
at work again.  I gave her empirically two  grains  of the; second
decimal  trituration  of the Caulophyllin.  She was  ordered to take
a powder of that size and strength every two hours  until relieved.
The poor sufferer had not slept for two or more nights.  After tak-
ing the second dose she fell  asleep, and her pain vanished from that
time forward.  There was no metastasis of the complaint, and in
two days she was down stairs at work.  While she remained in the
family—two years—she had no return of the  disease.  Since the
above result was obtained, I have frequently prescribed the Caulo-
phyllin for articular rheumatism  affecting the  smaller joints, and
several times with  as  signal success.   It has  however, appeared
more effectual in case of females than of males, who were ill with
this painful disease.      Very respectfully,        R. Ludlam.
              CHIMAPHILA UMBELLATA.
                          {Ptpsissiwa.)

  This plant, known also as Prince's pine, ground holly, etc., is a
native of this country, but grows in many parts of Europe and Asia.
It is found in moist, shady places, and in a loose sandy soil; it flow-
ers in June.  The dried plant has scarcely any odor, with a sweet-
ish, somewhat astringent and pleasant taste.  It yields its medicinal
virtues to boiling  water  and alcohol.  The leaves are  the officinal
portion, but it is probable the root has  some virtue.  Chemical
Analysis:—Dr. Holff obtained  from 100 parts of the  plant, 18.0,
bitter  extractive;  2.04,  resin;  138, tannic acid.  The remainder
was woody fibre, a small  portion of gwn and some calcareous salts.
Its medicinal virtues are  decreed to reside in the bitter extractive,
resin and tannin; but it may be that some of its medicinal powers
reside in  the calcareous  salts—said salts  may consist of Calcarea, 
               CHIMAPHILA  UMBELLATA.             97

Sulphur and the Phosphates,  each  of which are powerful curative
agents.  King  says the plant contains an acrid aud volatile princi-
ple—and saline substances.  The great reputation which this plant
has in chronic scrofulous and psoric affections may suggest the idea
that its curative properties in this direction maybe due to the anti-
psoric substances residing in the plants.  I shall  refer to this sub-
ject when treating of Rumex crispus.
    General Properties.—Wood  (Therapeutics,  vol. 1, p. 133)—
says—" The fresh leaves bruised and applied to the skin, are said to
be rubefacient and even vesicating. Internally they are mildly astrin-
gent and tonic, with the property of somewhat increasing the secre-
tion of urine, to which they probably impart some degree  of  reme-
dial power.  It is, I  think, scarcely doubtful that their  peculiar
active principle, through which they stimulate the kidneys, passes
off, either  unchanged or changed,  with the urine."  "Pipsissiwa
was much  employed by the aborigines of this country, to whom  it
owes the name  by which it is now generally designated.  From the
Indians the medicine passed into popular use, whence it was adopt-
ed by the profession.   It was used  chiefly in scrofula^ rheumatism,
and affections of the kidneys,  and urinary passages.  King says it
is diuretic,  tonic, alterative  and  astringent.  Jones &  Scudder
decree it to be diuretic, tonic,  astringent,  diaphoretic and altera-
tive.  Lee, Coe, and other  allopathic and eclectic writers entertain
similar views.
    General Therapeutic Effects.—It  has  been  found curative in
chronic diseases, among which is  Scrofula.  Prof.  Wood  says:
" In Scrofida it is, I think, a valuable remedy.  The late Dr. Joseph
Parish used it very extensively in this affection, and had great con-
fidence in its powers.   I have myself been in the habit of employ-
ing it in cases of external scrofula during the whole  period  of my
practice, and have found few remedies which have appeared to me
more efficacious.  *   *  *   It has seemed to me to exercise a fav-
orably alterative influence  in scrofula, independently of its astrin-
gency and  tonic power;  but it is extremely difficult to discriminate,
in affections of this kind, between the course of nature and the effects
of remedies, so that it is proper to  speak  of the latter  with  some
reserve.  Fully aware of the necessity of this caution, I  am still of
opinion, as the result  of considerable experience, that pipsissiwa
deserves to rank next to cod-liver oil, and the preparations of Iodine
and Iron in the treatment of Scrofula.  In order  that its full effects
maybe obtained, it should be long continued,  with interruptions
now and then should any considerable degree of fever supervene (?).
In cases attended with ulcers of an indolent and  flabby character, it
may be used with advantage as a wash."  These are  the deliberate
statements of one of the  best authors in the allopathic  school, and
are entitled to  some weight.   They should stimulate us to  make a
thorough proving of  this plant.  It may become a  valuable  anti-
psoric.  Other writers give their testimony in its favor in  scrofula.
Prof. Lee  quotes Wood, expressing his " entire confidence in the
opinions so strongly set forth.''  He has advised this remedy for a
long time in the same class of cases, both in city and country prac-
       13 
98        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
tice, and with marked success :  " It is a tonic-astringent of pecu-
liar efficacy in the whole class of cachexia."  The late Prof. M itchell,
of New York, made  it  the subject of his  inaugural  thesis  (Phil.
1863):  " In Scrofula it has proved eminently useful, and with some
practitioners is held in very high repute in the various forms of this
disease both before and  after ulceration.   Some  have thought it
possessed of specific powers and hence it has acquired the title in
some parts of the country, of the ' King's  Cure:  Dr. Justice, of
North Carolina, informs  us that he "has known it to effect perfect
cures in several obstinate cases of Scrofula, without the aid of other
means?'    (Jones &  Scudder's  Mat. Med.)    This  last assertion
which I  have italicized, is of great  import  to the  homoeopathic
physician.   The  true test  of  a  remedy in  disease, is  its effects
when given singly.   The Illinois  Homoeopathic  Medical Associa-
tion, and the Western Institute of Homoeopathy,  which held their
sessions in Chicago this year (1864), each  appointed a Bureau of
Provings.  The Chimaphila has been selected by  this Bureau as a
proper medicine to  investigate, and obtain its pathogenesis.  I am
sanguine that the profession will gain a valuable remedy in  the
Pipsissiwa.
   Fevers.—In several instances in which  I  have administered this
medicine, the following symptoms have been observed :  About half
an hour after  each dose  (of the 1st dil.) a flushing  of the cheeks,
with some general heat, and accelerated pulse.   Wood seems t o im-
ply a caution not to use the Pipsissiwa when fever  is  present.   It
may be homoeopathic to  some form of fever, probably those having
a hectic character. " During the Revolutionary War it was used ex-
tensively by the army surgeons as a tonic  and  diaphoretic in typhus
fever.''  {Lee.)   Prof. Mitchell relates  many  cases of intermittent
fever effectually cured by it.
   Rheumatism.—As a popular remedy in this disease, i thas always
been in high repute.  It is chiefly in chronic  rheumatism that its
curative powers have  been most noticed.  A proving, however, is
necessary to show the particular variety for which it is indicated.
   Special Effects.—In the absence  of any proving I shall not ven-
ture any theoretical  suggestions as to its influence on special organs
and tissues, or portions of the body. I deem it proper, however, to
note the large amount of testimony given by the allopathic and
eclectic schools, in favor of its specific action upon, and curative in-
fluence over disorders of the
   Urinary Organs.—Dr. Wood says it has  been chiefly used  in
affections of the kidneys and urinary passages:  " Its  diuretic
powers have recommended it in dropsy.   In cases of this disease
attended with debility, but little reliance  can  be placed upon its
efficacy; and at best it should be used only as an adjuvant to other
more powerful diuretics." Dr. Lee  says :  " In Germany it has long
been deemed  one of the best remedies  in abdominal and  renal
dropsies, increasing the urinarysecretion and the depurating function.
We have employed it  to a considerable extent for  many years
especially in the treament of dropsical affections, in broken-down
constitutions and intemperate subjects, and generally with manifest 
CHIMAPHILA  UMBELLATA.
99
advantage.  It has tended to carry off the dropsical accumulations,
while at the same time it imparted tone and vigor to the digestive
system.  In Albuminuria also,  its effects have proved decidedly
beneficial.   It  ranks with Buchu, Uva  Ursi and Pareira Brava,
all tonics, and all exerting a specific influence over the genito-urinary
organs.  Dr. Barton extols it highly for its anti-lithic properties,
and ranks it with Uva Ursi.   It may, however, well be doubted,
whether  it has any specific powers of this kind."  Dr. Coe says  it
is useful in dropsy, (especially ascites) gonorrhoea, strangury, gravel,
and syphilis, when these affections are attended with  torpor  and
debility.   "It exercises a specific influence over the  urinary appa-
ratus, increasing the renal secretion,  and at the  same time it  is
thought by some to  lessen the quantity  of lithic acid,  or lithates
secreted.   It is  especially serviceable in  chronic  diseases of the
genito-urinary mucous membrane, as in chronic  catarrhal affections
of the bladder ;  chronic nephritis, or urethritis, attended with a pur-
ulent or profuse mucous discharge.   It is also beneficial in calculous
and  prostatic affections; diabetes;  in  the advanced stages  of
albuminuria ; and in other disorders of the urinary organs attended
with local debility.   In atonic or passive  dropsies it has been found
useful."  (Jones & Scudder Mat. Med.)  The last paragraph con-
tains, in  my opinion, the best resume of the  curative properties  of
the chimaphila,  as  regards  its action on the  urinary organs.  I
believe a proving will establish its homoeopathicity to the affections
named.
   I  will now give  my individual  experience  in the use of  this
remedy.   My attention  was  first called to it in a  case which
happened  in  the  early  part  of my  practice.   A young  woman
applied to me for a distressing dysuria which had  troubled her for
several weeks.   She was plethoric, hysterical, had disorders of the
digestive organs, constipation, haemorrhoids, and scanty menses.
The urine was scanty, but was voided frequently, with much pain
before, (passing), during (scalding,  smarting) and after.   (Vesical
tenesmus.)  The urine was  high-colored  and deposited  a copious
mucous  sediment.   I gave  her Cantharis, Cannabis, Pulsatilla,
Capsicum, Copaiva,  Sepia, Terebinthina and many other remedies,
which seemed indicated, for several weeks, but they  only palliated
the difficulty.  Cool hip baths, the wet bandage,  mucilaginous
drinks, and Nux Vomica, Sulphur and enemas for the constipation,
etc.,  were  tried, without much  effect.   An examination of the
vagina and uterus was instituted, but elicited only a tenderness  of
the anterior portion of the  vagina (bladder)  and urethra, some
prolapsus, and slight leucorrhoea (uterine).  At this juncture, an old
nurse proposed the use of the  "Prince's Pine."   I assented, having
no prejudice against  the plant, and  hoping it might benefit my
suffering patient. A decoction of the plant (of uncertain  strength)
was prepared, and a wine-glassful administered three  or four times
a day.  In a week I called to  see what the effects of the medicine
had been.  To my surprise, I  was informed that improvement  had
set in the next day after the remedy was commenced.  Not only
was the dysuria nearly removed, but the sediment had almost  dis- 
100        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
  appeared from the urine ; and, stranger still, the constipation was
  cured,  and the digestive organs were in  a normal condition.  In
  two weeks she was as well as ever.  The  prompt cure  which the
  Chimaphila effected in this case led me to use it in many cases of
  strangury, catarrhal affections of the bladder, etc., and in many  in-
  stances I  found it act certainly.   It failed in some cases, probably
  because it was not truly indicated.  I was once called in counsel to
  a case of chronic renal and vesical affection, in which the amount of
  sediment  of a thick, ropy, character, and a pink color  (the  color
 was found to be o«ving to blood) was really enormous in amount.
 The patient, a young man, was debilitated, anaemic,  dyspeptic, had
 hectic fever and night sweats, and altogether was in a bad condi-
 tion.    Various  remedies,  including  China,  Phosphoric   acid,
 Cannabis, etc., had been given.  Uva Ursi was  tried with  good
 results for a time.  At my suggestion  the  Chimaphila was used, a
 few drops of the fluid extract in a glass of water, a spoonful every
 two hours. He improved rapidly under its use, and in a few weeks
 was able to resume his usual  avocations. A relapse occurred  after
 six or eight months.   He was again benefited  by the  medicine,
 since which time I have not heard from  the patient.  It has one
 generally uniform effect, namely : to cause mucous sediment to dis-
 appear from the urine.   I believe it will be found curative  in al-
 buminuria, as  well as catarrhal affections of the urinary organs. In
 that distressing symptom, vesical tenesmus, occurring from prolap-
 sus or retroversion, it is an excellent palliative, before the uterus is
 replaced;  and  curative  after that operation.
    I have used it successfullyin two cases of long lasting gleet. Under
 its use  the discharge  disappeared, and the general health  im-
 proved.  I have noticed the followmg pathogenetic symptoms from
 its use:
    Copious discharge of clear limpid urine.
    Frequent and profuse urination.
    Urging to urinate after voiding urine.
    Pressing fulness in the region of the bladder.
    Loose stool, three or four times a day.
   For the above symptoms, which me primary effects, I have found
 the 6th attenuations most useful. In chronic disorders and catarrhal
 affections of these organs, the lowest dilutions seems  to  act  more
 beneficially.  I have not tried the high potencies.
   Case illustrating its value in irritable bladder :—
   A married lady, aged 34, had been troubled for many years with
prolapsus uteri, leucorrhoea, ulceration of the neck, etc., but who is
now somewhat better of those  difficulties, applied to me for the
follows    °bstmate vesical irritability.  Her symptoms were as

   Frequent  desire to  urinate  during the  day.  At niaht  the
urging was so constant as to deprive her of all sleep-   She had to
get up and urinate as  often as every hour.   The urine was high
colored, deposited  a copious light-colored sediment (mucous)   and
there was considerable smarting, burning and pricking pain during
its  emission.   The quantity  of urine voided was not  larger thaS 
CIMICIFUGA  RACEMOSA.            101
normal.  The patient was  constipated, an evacuation only  every
third day.  Some tenderness over the hypogastric region.  She had
a severe, racking, dry cough, but no indication of pulmonary diffi-
culty.  The prolapsus was aggravated by the cough.
   April 2.  Inserted an India rubber inflatable pessary.  This
relieved the prolapsus, and stopped  the cough altogether, but the
vesical irritation was not alleviated, at the end of five days.
   April 6.   Gave Cannabis 1st (4 pills No. 5, dry,) every four
hours.  The effect  of this remedy was prompt in  relieving the
irritation, and indirectly causing sleep.  She declared it acted as a
direct anodyne.  This improvement continued for five days,  when
the medicine ceased to give any relief, and  she  grew worse than
before.
   April 11.  Gave Chimaphila first decimal dilution, 10 drops in a
spoonful of water,  every four hours. For  several days no  effect
was noticeable,  except a flushing of the cheeks for  about  twenty
minutes after each  dose.   On the fourth night,  however, she was
able to sleep all night, and next  day she noticed that  the  usual
copious sediment was notably lessened, and the dysuria and frequent
urging rapidly gave way.  The bowels began to act regularly; the
tenderness of the bladder disappeared, and at this date, April 20th,
she is more comfortable than for many months previously.
   Several things relating to the action of this remedy are worthy of
note:
   1.  The pathogenetic symptoms mentioned above.
   2.  Its power  in relieving dysuria.
   3.  Its influence  in  lessening the sediment  (there was an
evident vesical  catarrh.)
   4.  Its curative action in constipation.
        CIMICIFUGA  RACEMOSA.
               {Macrotys racemosa. Black Snake-root.)

   This powerful medicinal plant has been used more or less since
the settlement of New England by the whites.  It was  much used
by the Indians, under the name of Black Cohosh or Squaw Root, for
rheumatism and diseases of their women.  It  thus  became intro-
duced into domestic, and finally, to some extent, into regular practice.
Still it has always been most in use among the eclectic school, who
value it as we do our Bryonia and Pulsatilla.  It is a tall and stately
plant, growing in shady and rocky woods, rich grounds, from Maine
to Florida, flowering from June to  July.  The root is the  part
generally employed in medicine, though probably the seeds will be
found active ;  the root should be gathered early in the autumn and
dried in the shade.  It consists  of a thick, irregularly bent,  or con-
torted  body  or  caudex, from  one-third of an inch to  an inch in 
102        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

diameter, often several inches in length, furnished with many slender
radicles, and rendered extremely rough and jagged in appearance
by the remains of the stems of successive years. The color is external-
ly, dark brown, almost black; internally a yellowish-white; the odor
is feeble and disgreeable, and the taste bitter, somewhat astringent,
leaving a slight sense of acrimony.  It yields its virtues partially to
boiling water, but wholly  to alcohol.  The taste  of the tincture
reminds  one strongly of that of laudanum.  From the  root is
obtained  the  concentrated  principle Macrotin,   which  contains
most of the essential properties of the plant, and is often used in  the
place of the tincture.   The stem is simple,  herbaceous, smooth,
furrowed, from 4 to 8 feet high.  The leaves fine,  alternate, one
nearly radical, large, decompound, and tripinnate; upper one bipin-
nate.  The leaflets are ovate, oblong, sessile,  opposite, three to
seven, incised and toothed.   The flowers are foetid, white, in a long
terminal  raceme, with oftentimes one or more shorter ones at base.
The fruit or capsule is ovoid, dry, with one cell, containing numer-
ous flat, smooth seeds, which are packed horizontally in two rows.
In the late autumn,  and  winter, any motion of the plant, causes a
rattling of the seeds,  so much  resembling  the alarm of  the rattle
snake as to cause the  hunter to start—hence  the  country  people
call it Rattle-weed.
   The following pathogenesis which is pretty  complete, is made
up of the provings of Drs. Marcy, H. M. Paine, Hill, Douglas  and
others.  The provings were made with doses  of the crude tincture,
the dilutions, (3d and 6th) and many of the symptoms are from its
poisonous effects.  Altogether it is probably as reliable  a proving
as any of our polycrests, and I predict that in a  few years it will
rank as high in  the estimation of our school, as any remedy  we
possess.  I have  taken pains to collect all the reliable clinical facts
which have appeared in the records of any school,  in relation to its
curative action in disease.  My own experience with it  has  been
large.
   General.—Feels very  tired.  Nervous  weakness during  the
afternoon.  Great sensitiveness to the cold air, which seemed to
penetrate the system.  Continual restlessness in the afternoon,  de-
sire  to move  about,  not  knowing what  to do or  where to  go.
General feeling of illness;  weak, trembling exhausted sinking feel-
ing,  with slight nausea.   Easily fatigued, as after great exertion.
Miserable dejected  feeling. Tremors; so weak and trembling aa
not to be able to go out or study; believes the condition to be  but
one remove from maniaapotu.  Desire to lie down and close the
eyes.  General bruised feeling  as if sore.   Sensation as from severe
muscular exercise, especially in the small of the back.  It effects the
left side most.   Feeling which only those know  who " spree " —
or watch  all night with the  sick.  Soreness and stiffness of  the
whole body, as after hard labor.
   Clinical Remarks.—No particular indications are proper under
this head.  The  general symptoms of a drug  may be primary—as
when the nervous system  is profoundly impressed—and the local
affections, the result; or, they may be secondary, as when particu- 
CIMICIFUGA  RACEMOSA.
103
lar organs are first affected, resulting in constitutional disturbance.
I would classify its general action as follows :
   Nervous System.— Wood classifies it with the " Nervous  Seda-
tives," and I am inclined to think its primary action in pathogenetic
doses  is in that direction.  How it effects the nervous system is
beyond our ken.  We know that it causes all those symptoms known
to the profession  und«r the name of  " nervous prostration,"  and
even  extreme conditions which  resemble dilirium tremens.  This
malady is defined  by  Watson to consist essentially of a state of
" nervous irritation."  He thinks this is as  good a name as any for
a state which  we know  exists.  He  contends that the nervous
system can be irritated, as well as any organ in the body.  It is also
proper to designate certain conditions as states of " nervous exhaus-
tion "—" nervous excitement."   Cimicifuga  seems to cause all these
states of the nervous system.  When given to a healthy person it
causes first nervous excitement,  which  soon leads to irritation and
finally exhaustion.   Some observers have  the  folly to state  that
" very large doses cause no alarming effects." I have seen not only
alarming, but dangerous effects arise from dram doses of the "fluid
extract." administered to  a girl,  by a botanic quack.
   •Nerves of Sensation.—It seems to exercise considerable  control
over this system, independently of its action on the  vascular system.
It cures many of those purely neuralgic pains to which females are
liable.  Our provings show it to  be capable  of causing various aches
and pains of a similar character.
    Nerves of Motion.—It causes " nervous tremors "— with great
restlessness—(See general symptoms.)  It seems to exert a peculiar
and specific action upon some of the diseases of the nerves of motion,
especially in chorea.   Not only  in that variety  which  arises from
rheumatic irritation, but when arising from other causes.  A great
number of cases of chorea treated  successfully  with this remedy
have been reported,  a few of which we collect.
    Case 1st.   A boy aged 11,  had had Chorea for four months;
one side was  affected,  and  in almost constant motion,  except
when asleep ; he had been under medical care all the time without
avail.   He then  took one teaspoonful of  pulv. black snake  root
every morning for three days,  then omitted it three,  then resumed
it again until he had taken it nine times.  When he had taken six
doses he  was almost well;  when he had taken nine doses he was
perfectly well, and remained so for at least four years.—Dr. Young.
    Case 2nd.  A girl sick with Chorea for a month ; after  taking
three doses  she was very much improved; six doses cured her
entirely.  It caused pricking  all over  every time  it was taken.—
Ibid.
    Case 3rd.  A lady, aged 19  had Chorea for two weeks; her left
side was almost constantly in motion;  it  did not prevent her sleep-
ing ;  her general health was perfectly  good, and no cause could be
detected.  She was dosed with  Calomel, Jalap, Tartar emetic and
Cream Tartar,  for seven days, when  Dr.  Young  was startled, for
he found  that  the Chorea had  extended to the right side and was
tenfold aggravated.  Her  arms, legs, head, face, tongue and every 
104       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 muscular part, was in continual and irregular motion; she could
 with  great difficulty speak intelligibly.  The power of swallowing
 was lost to a great degree, she could not walk one step, nor stand
 up without support, nor could she sleep day or night on account of
 the constant twitching and jerking of the muscles.  A teaspoonful
 of the powdered root of Cimicifuga  was given three times a day ;
 in five days she was much better, could walk 300 or 400 yards,
 could speak and swallow as well as  ever; slept well at night;  her
 legs had but little irregular motion, her head was steady, and the
 muscles of her face scarcely agitated; her arms were more affected
 than any other part.  In seven days more she was quite well.  It
 neither vomited, sweated, purged or acted on her kidneys; the only
 sensation she had was an uneasy sensation, almost amounting to an
 ache,  through all her limbs, after every dose, and  continuing three
 or four hours.  Dr. Physic cured several cases with ten grain doses
 every two hours.  Dr. Wood cured a case after the failure of purga-
 tive and  metallic  tonics; also a  case of  periodic  convulsions
 connected with uterine disorder.
    Case Uh.  A girl aged 9, whose mental faculties were  much
 disordered, and who had  lost nearly all power over the left arm
 and leg; bowels irregular, headache, and pain  frequently shooting
 down the left arm.  Was cured quickly.  A very intractable case
 was cured by Dr. Otto.  A girl aged 18—Chorea with considerable
 gastric derangement,  with suppression of menses for five months.
 Five grains of the pulv. root every 3 hours ; no improvement for
 nearly a week; then improved rapidly and was  well in three weeks.
 Dr. Davis says we can no longer doubt its efficacy  in Chorea, in all
 cases  arising from  undue  irritability or mobility of the nervous
 system, especially when induced by exposure to cold; in short, when
 Chorea arises from a rheumatic irritation of the motor nerves, and
 muscles,  or  of the  anterior column  of the spinal  marrow.  In the
 various Eclectic Journals, there have been reported from time to
 time very many cures  of Chorea, made with Cimicifuga.  In some
 cases the powdered  root was used; in others the tincture, resinoid
 (macrotin), or the fluid extract.  According to  my experience it is
 most useful when the disease occurs in  females,  is aggravated at
 the menstrual periods, and seems to be somehow connected with
 derangement of the  generative functions.  The first decimal of the
pulv. root seems to  act more promptly in these cases, although  the
first dec. dilution is quite reliable.   Physicians are in duty bound
to report their failures  as  well as their  cures. I have given  the
 Cimicifuga in some cases without deriving any benefit from its use.
 One case was a child about 10 years of age. The first symptom was
 a "catching" of the lower limb, like the disease  called " spring-halt"
 in horses; afterwards  came twitching of the mouth, arms,  fingers
and feet.  Cimicifuga 1st or 3d trit. did not cause any  improve-
ment in ten days.  Agaricus was tried a week ;  but Nux vomica 2d.
dil. fivedrops three'times a day arrested the malady.  A similar case
 also resisted its action, probably because it was  not strictly homoeo-
pathic, but when the citrate of Iron and Strychnia was given, a rapid
 recovery was the result.  This last medicine was selected because of 
CIMICIFUGA  RACEMOSA.
105
the anaemia  which  indicated Iron, and  the peculiar  spasmodic
symptoms called for Nux vom.   One grain of the first decimal was
given three times a day.   Improvement  immediately set in, and
continued until the recovery was complete—about four weeks.
   Fever.—Chilliness during the forenoon.   Occasional cold chill.
Coldness and chills, particularly  of the arms and  feet soon  after
waking.   At 3 a. m., the whole  surface became cold.  Slight cold
perspiration, and sensation as if  it would  become profuse, continu-
ing for an hour, accompanied by lancinating pain along the cartil-
ages  of the false ribs, left side,  increased by taking a long inspira-
tion.  Disposition to perspire at night for three weeks;  irregular,
usually three or four times a week, occurring about 3 a. m.,  com-
mencing while asleep, and disappearing a few minutes after waking,
never profuse.  During the first week the surface was cold with the
perspiration,  but during the last  ten days  the perspiration was
accompanied by heat rather  than coldness; pulse  too slow, every
third or fourth pulsation intermitting.   In  three quarters of an
hour, increased heat of the face; slight inclination to  sweat;  pulse
rather full, 90 in the minute, it being  80  before taking the  drug.
In three quarters of an hour after taking the second dose, pulse
weaker and very irregular, 80 in the minute.  At  the  end  of an
hour pulse 80 and irregidar.  Pulse quick and weak.  In  morning
pulse feeble, with weakness and trembling. Drowsiness, with creep-
ing chills upon the back during the evening, followed by frequent
wakings during the night,  and desire to throw off the bed clothes,
although the thermometer was below zero.
    Clinical Remarks.—The febrile symptoms developed during a
proving of Cimicifuga are  very slight.   Careful obsevers have
almost  uniformly found it  to lessen the force and frequency of the
pulse, at the same time soothing pain and allaying irritability. Dr.
Davis says, it causes a depression of the pulse, which remains for a
considerable time. Dr. Marcy says : " Like many other drugs which
exercise  a specific action  upon the nervous system, the primary
effect of actea, when given in small doses, is  slightly stimulating to
both the nervous and vascular systems, causing a slight increase  in
the force and frequency of the pulse, and followed  speedily by a
permanent depression of the circulation.  When administering it
for mild attacks of rheumatism,  we have  in several   instances
 observed this primary and secondary action.  Among the secondary
 effects which are strongly marked, are, diminished nervous irritabil-
ity, and disposition to sleep." In Rheumatic fever, it is  a valuable
 remedy.  It will sometimes  act promptly in reducing the force of
the pulse, and  bringing on a healthy perspiration.  Some severe
 acute attacks of inflammatory rheumatism have been cured with
 Cimicifuga in a very short time.  But  it has  been  usually given in
too large doses, by the dominant school, (30 to  GO drops  of the
tincture every two or four hours).  Such doses are useless and injuri-
ous.  I  have succeeded with five drops of the first dilution, and rarely
resort to the tincture.  Five drops  every hour should be the max-
 imum dose.
    In Yellow fever, it is recommended by some writers.   It  would
         14 
106       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 seem to be somewhat homoeopathic to the severe and peculiar "pains
 in the bones," as sufferers term it, but probably bears no relation to
 the real condition present.  In nearly  all fevers  it may be indi-
 cated  for  certain  conditions which may arise.   Thus in many
 fevers, the nervous system, the brain, may and does become very
 irritable and irritated, and a  train of symptoms, such as  will be
 found  under the head of  " Brain," will arise.  In such cases  small
 doses will remove the symptoms, and permit remedies more appro-
 priate  to  the  general condition, to  act untrammelled.  Although
 this remedy is to a certain extent an analogue of aconite, yet it does
 not seem to control febrile diseases as promptly.
    Skin.—Eruptions of  white pustules over the  face  and neck.
 Sometimes large, red, papular.
    Clinical Remarks.—The above is a curative symptom, although
 it has been recorded in some of our works as a pathogenetic.  So
 far in our experiments we  have failed to  develop any skin symp-
 toms.  It is indeed doubtful whether it is an eliminator like arseni-
 cum, or a cutaneous irritant like sulphur.   Dr. Hill, in his Epitome,
 highly recommends its use in Small Pox, but his indications are not
 based on any relation it has to the eruptions, but  to  the peculiar
pains,  etc.,  which accompany the fever.   Dr. D. S. Smith, of Chi-
 cago recommends it very highly in Variola and Varioloid, and
 asserts that it  decidedly modifies the disease, preventing  pitting,
 and even the development of pustules.   It may prove useful, indi-
 rectly, in some exanthematous diseases.   Thus :  Urticaria often
 depends upon rheumatic irritation of internal organs ; some erup-
 tions are  excited  by menstrual derangements.  Cimicifuga being
 homoeopathic to the exciting causes, will, by removing them,  remove
 the cutaneous  irritation.   Dr. Lee says, "it sometimes appears to
 have a specific action on the skin, causing a sensation  of prickling,
 itching and heat on the whole surface.'' This  may be (by its action
 on the  terminal nerves) attended sometimes by a slight eruption.
   Sleep.—Very restless at night.  Restless at night after three or
four hours of good sleep.   Restlessness early in  the morning, con-
tinuing for  a week.  Disturbed, restless, unrefreshing sleep,  from
3  to 5 a. m.,  with disposition to fold  the  arms  over the head;
unpleasant  dreams  of being in trouble, of being in a sad  plight;
 Somnolency.
   Clinical Remarks.—The sleeplessness and nightly restlessness
caused by this drug belong to its power of causing nervous irrita-
tion.  In delirium  a potu, sleeplessness  is one of the most trouble-
some symptoms, one which the  dominant school try to subdue with
enormous doses of opium.   Opium is sometimes homoeopathic to
this condition, also Cannabis ind., Coffea, Arsenicum, etc., but  none
more so than Cimicifuga, unless it be Digitalis, which  latter medi-
 cine is just now used with such success in delirium tremens.  In
typhoid states, hysteria, and those conditions brought on by mental
 excitement and  labor, we have to deal with insomnia of an obstinate
 character.  In many of these instances this  remedy will assist us
in our treatment of the difficulty.  I  have given it in the sleepless-
 ness of children during teething, or when no apparent cause for the 
CIMICIFUGA  RACEMOSA.
107
symptoms existed.  A few pellets of the 3d, seemed to palliate as
well as Coffea.
   Mind and Sensorium.—Not disposed to fix the attention on any
subject; vertigo; impaired vision ; dizziness; dullness in the head;
vertigo; fulness and dull aching in the vertex ; ten minutes after
taking the third decimal dilution, a sort of delirium, with an incli-
nation to run over the subject on which he was reading.  Miserable
dejected feeling; mind  dull and heavy.  Feels grieved,  troubled,
with sighing; next  day a feeling  of tremulous joy, with  mirthful-
ness,  playfulness and  clear intellect.  Considerable  exhilaration.
Pleasurable excitement.  Cimicifuga soon shows its action  on the
sensorium,  when administered  to sensitive persons.  Dr. King
made casual mention in his dispensatory, that this drug had caused
symptoms simulating delirium tremens.  To get at the real  history
of such action  I wrote  to Dr. King, who  kindly favored me with
the following statement: * * "I did not pay that attention to the
symptoms as  one of your school would  have done, but  merely
noticed them in the aggregate.   In the cases referred to, I gave the
tincture for the cure of rheumatism, in ordinary doses of  20 to 30
drops, every hour, but finding the symptoms resulting therefrom to
be  similar to  those  of delirium tremens,  I omitted the  medicine
until they had disappeared, and again administered it, but in smaller
doses, and so  continued until I found that even two or three drops
would be followed by the same symptoms, and  was therefore  com-
pelled to cease its use altogether in such cases.  I have not met with
this effect in but three cases, and in the first one that  occurred, so
positive was  I from the symptoms of the patient, that his wife had
allowed  him the use of some liquor, that I came very near being
discharged on account of the scolding I administered  to  both the
patient  and his wife.  In fact, I did not believe  in that case that
the tincture produced the effects, nor until I met with the other
cases.   As near as I can recollect  there were nausea,  retching,
dilated pupils, tremor of the limbs, incessant talking and  changing
from one subject to another without any order, though  perfectly
sensible when the attention was aroused by any person addressing
them, or conversing  with them, but soon relapsing into their vaga-
ries when  not disturbed; great wakefulness,  imagining strange
objects upon the bed, and in the  room, as rats, sheep, etc.  Some-
times arousing from their incoherent talkativeness as if startled,
and  inquiring3regarding persons  present:—'Who  is that man?'
'AVhatdoes  he want here?'  'Tell  him  to go home,'etc.  With
quick, full pulse, a  wild look  of the eyes, and the peculiar inde-
scribable expression of face commonly observed among those who
labor under  delirium  tremens."  I can corroborate Dr.  King's
experience with the Cimicifuga.   I once gave the tincture to a girl
who had dysmenorrhcea.  I ordered her  to take one drop every
two hours during the premonitory stage, and when the pains, which
were intense, painful,  like labor-pains, and  extended  to  the  hips,
thighs and ovarian regions had become severe, to take  one drop
every half hour.  By some misunderstanding she took five drops
every half hour for six hours.  When I saw her she had no pains, 
108       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
but said her head felt "strange and wild ;" her pupils were dilated,
she talked incoherently, and exclaimed that she saw rats, mice, and
insects, on the bed  and on the floor and ceiling.  She also com-
plained of a roaring in the head, very distressing.
   Clinical Remarks.—In its effects on  the sensorium, (brain)
Cimicifuga is  analogous to Arsenicum, Belladonna, Hyoscyamus,
Opium,  Stramonium, and a few other drugs, but it has important
points of dissimilarity which should be considered in the selection of
the drug.  I treated one mild case of delirium  tremens with this
remedy?  It seemed to remove the  condition.  When the symp-
toms above narrated occur in typhoid, or hysteric states, the Cimi-
cifuga will act beneficially.  A few drops  of the 3d dilution  in
water every hour seems the most appropriate method of admin-
istration.
   Head.—Heaviness and dullness of the head; slight fulness of the
head; slight dull pain in the head; acute pain generally through the
head during the day, at times more  severe  on the left side; slight
pain in the "head in the evening; remittent headache of long stand-
ing, more or less severe every day, but increased every second day;
dull pain deep in the forehead; dullness of the head and pain  in
the forehead and occiput; dull pain in the forehead in the after-
noon ; dull, boring pain in the forehead,  over the left superciliary
ridge, continuing for two hours, from 10 a. m ; pain in the forehead
and occiput, with heaviness of the head after one hour; pain from
the eyes to the top of the head, which seemed as if the nerves were
excited to too much action, lasting three hours—under large doses,
it lasted six hours; pain over the eyes; pain over the  left  eye,
extending along the base of the brain to the occiput; slight pain in
the forehead; dryness of the pharynx;  aching in the eyes, apparently
between the eyeball and orbital plate of the frontal bone. At 10 p. m.
occasional transient pain in the forehead, over the  right eye ; dull
pain in the head; fullness in the forehead,  over  the  eyes; severe
pain in the head, particularly in the forehead and eyeballs ; severe
pain in the forehead over the right eye, and extending to the temple
and vertex with fulness, heat, and throbbing, and  when going  up
stairs, a sensation as if the top of the head would fly off; fulness in
the vertex;  aching pain in the vertex and occiput in paroxysms, at
times quite severe, immediately after rising.  Pain in the vertex
during the afternoon and evening ; sensation as if the temples were
compressed occasionally through  the day;  dull,  heavy  headache,
more in  the left  temple; slight pain in the left side of the head;
aching  pain in the  head, particularly in the occiput,  experienced
only  while indoors, relieved by the  open air—it increased  during
the afternoon, and was quite severe in the evening; about 9 p.  m.,
it disappeared entirely after a walk in the  open air;  constant dull
pain  in  the head, particularly in the occiput, and extending to the
vertex, during the forenoon and part of the afternoon.  The pain
in the head is always relieved by open air ; dull  sensation through
the head as though he  had been on a " spree" and was getting over
 its effects.  Brain feels too large  for the cranium;  brain feels com-
 pressed.  Awoke at 2 o'clock a. m., with excruciating, though dull 
                CIMICIFUGA  RACEMOSA.             109

pain in the forehead, extending to the temples, with coldness of
forehead; pain in the eyeballs.  Dull pain  in the region of moral
organs—a pressing outward and upward, as if there was not  room
enough for the upper portion of the cerebrum.  This pain was very
oppressive  and  intolerable; it began about 5  o'clock p. m., after
taking the second dose, and continued unabated  till morning,  when
it was relieved in thirty minutes by a dose of Bryonia.
   Clinical  Remarks.—There  is  no  remedy  in  our Materia
Medica which so promptly and uniformly causes headache as the
Cimicifuga—with the exception of Glonoine.  It is homoeopathic to
a variety of  headaches,  particularly  the nervous,  rheumatic and
menstrual.  It effects the brain in a  manner similar  to Digitalis.
Some of its symptoms resemble Nux., Ign., Glonoine, Spigelia and
Belladonna.  It has cured  a headache with "severe pain in the
eyeballs, extending into the forehead, and increased by the slightest
movement of the head or eyeballs,'' also " dull pain  in the occipital
regions with  shooting pains down the back  of the neck.''
    Case 1st.  A lady aged 35, has  suffered from dyspepsia  for
several months,  and for nine days past from severe pain in the fore-
head over the right eye, and extending to the temple and  vertex,
with  fullness, heat and throbbing, and when   going  up stairs  a
sensation  as  if the top of the head  would fly off.   Coldness and
chills, particularly of the arms and feet; faintness in the epigastrium ;
pain and regurgitation of food  after  eating.  Cimicifuga first, three
drops three times a day, afforded prompt and  permanent relief.—
Paine.
    Case 2nd.   Mrs.  W.  aged 47, has not yet passed the critical
period, and  suffers from various neuralgic pains incident to that
time.  Now suffers from  severe pains in the head, particularly in
the  forehead and eyeballs.  Cimicifuga second, afforded  prompt
relief in a few hours.
    Case 3rd.  Dull pain in the head; fullness in the forehead and
eyes; pain in  the eyeballs, increased  secretion  of tears;  fluent
watery eoryza; frequent sneezing; soreness of the throat; cough at
night, caused by tickling in throat—cured in two days by Cimicifuga
2.  (Dr. Paine).  This is a well marked case of catarrhal headache.  I
have found it useful in similar cases.   Dr. B. L. Hill states that the
pains in the head caused  by Cimicifuga are all from within out-
wards.  It is particularly useful in headaches of delicate, nervous and
hysterical  females, when  the headaches occur at or near the  men-
strual periods, during pregnancy, and at the change of life. ("Sabina.")
It is useful in the headaches of drunkards, occurring after a debauch;
in  the headaches of students and literary  men, after mental  labor,
and that peculiar heaviness, dullness and gloominess which results
from want of sleep. (Nux.)  Children,  during  teething, or  in the
course of many diseases, frequently show symptoms of irritation of
the brain.  This is denoted by peevishness, wakefulness, flushed-
face, injected eyes, etc.   In such cases  eclectics claim the Cimici-
fuga has a calming influence, and  prevents cerebral congestion,
spasms, etc.
    Eyes#—Aching of the eyes,  at 10  a. m.   Heaviness of the eyes* 
 110       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

 as if caused by cold.  Dull pain in both eyeballs.   Pain in both eye-
 balls.  Pain in the centre of the eyeballs, and  also sensation as if
 pain were situated between the eyeball and the orbital plate of the
 frontal bone, in the morning, on  rising, continuing all day, but not
 severe as in the morning; aching pain in the centre of both  eye-
 balls, rarely in one alone, continuing for three weeks after discontinu-
 ing the drug; aching pain in both eyeballs through the day ; aching
 in the  eyeballs, in the evening; on going  up stairs, eyeballs painful
 for a short time;  pain in the eyeballs ;  increased secretion of tears;
 pain in the eyeballs, in  the  left more than in the right, and sensa-
 tion as if they were enlarged—most severe in  the morning ;  severe
 aching pain in  the right eyeball, after retiring at night;  constant
 dull aching pain in right eyeball, and across the forehead, accom-
 panied with nausea.  Pain extending from the right eyeball through
 to the  right side of the occiput, slightly affecting the ear, at  night;
 Stinging in the eyelid, stinging in the eyelids, an hour after taking
 the drug; stinging of the eyelids, dulnessand  heaviness of the head
 and eyes, as if produced by cold;  inflammation of both eyelids; sen-
 sation  of swelling  of right eyelid, with heat  as if inflamed, after
 four hours.  Pain in the right  eyelid when closing it, in the after-
 noon.  (The above is from Marcy's proving.)  Redness of face and
 eyes; eyes feel as if swollen; black specks before the eyes.  Myopia
 increased.  During the  headache the eyes were so congested as to
 attract the attention of every one, although there was no  disagree-
 able feeling in them.   (Hill's proving).
    Clinical Remarks.—Few medicines cause  such intense and
persistent pains in the eyeballs.   The pains  are principally aching.
 (Bell., Digit., Merc, Hepar., Cupr., Crocus., Coca)  The pains caused
by  this drug  simulate  rheumatic and neuralgic affections of the
 eyes.   It will probably be found useful in  " ocular  hyper-aesthesia"
 —a condition of irritation and over-sensitiveness of the optic nerves.
 It appears to  effect the  eyes  in a manner somewhat similar to
 Spigelia  in causing intense  pains in the eyeballs.  A young lady
aged 20,  of light complexion, had suffered for several weeks from
 ophthalima, pain  in  the eyeballs—a  sensation as if they were
enlarged — most  severe in  the morning; prickling in  the inner
canthus,  aggravated by  reading;  inflammation of  the  eyelids;
slight secretion of mucus early in the morning; sore throat; reading
causes  headache.   Cimicifuga first, three drops, three times a day,
entirely removed all the pains in  the eyeballs and  head.    (Paine.)
It seems to be indicated in Amaurosis, but we  have no clinical ex-
perience  in this disease.   Dr. King (eclectic) says, " In doses of one
dram of the tincture  every hour,  it has effected thorough  cures of
ophthalima conjunctiva,  without the aid of any local application."
   Nose.—Stinging sensation in the nose in the evening ; obstruction
 of the  left nostril, in the evening; inclination to sneeze twice in
the afternoon.  Frequent  inclination to sneeze, in  the afternoon;
sneezing; headache; sneezing several times, at 10  a. m.;  frequent
sneezing  and fluent eoryza during the day.  Fluent eoryza;  fluent
eoryza of whitish  mucus during the day; constant coryzaj'during
the day ; abundant watery eoryza; copious eoryza; copious eoryza 
CIMICIFUGA  RACEMOSA.
Ill
during the forenoon; fluent eoryza; aching and soreness in the nose
during the day.  Fluent watery eoryza; frequent sneezing; soreness
in the throat, causing difficulty in swallowing.  Profuse  eoryza in
the forenoon; aching pain in the head; pain in both eyeballs, many
times through the day. Very profuse greenish and slighty sanguine-
ous eoryza, after rising; fulness of the pharynx, and constant inclina-
tion to swallow; dulness of the head, and  pain in the forehead and
occiput ;  fluent eoryza, more so than for many weeks, as  if caused
by  cold; dryness  of the pharynx ;  sneezing, at 4 p. m.   (Payne's
proving).  Stuffed condition of the nostrils, which was soon followed
by an open moist condition, with great sensitiveness to cold air, as
if the base of the brain were laid bare, and every inhalation of  the
brain brought the cold air in contact with it.  (This is exactly
similar to that produced by a sudden change of weather in winter,
from cold dry, to damp thawing, as by a south  wind which melts
the snow).   (Hills proving).
    Clinical Remarks.—Some authors say that they have never
known it to produce a perceptible increase of any of the secretions ;
others again say that it operates powerfully upon the  secreting
organs and absorbents, and  that it is expectorant  and diaphoretic.
From the above symptoms it would  certainly seem to have a specific
affinity for the nasal mucous membrane, and causes a real catarrhal
state.  In acute rheumatic-catarrhal attacks, with pains in  the
limbs, head, face, eyeballs, chilliness, heat, and fluent watery eoryza,
it is certainly indicated ;  and in one epidemic influenza I found it
useful for such conditions, also in the cough  and  sore throat  by
which it  was accompanied.
    Face, Jaws and Teeth.—Severe pain in the left jaw.   Heat  on
one side  of the face, with lassitude all over.   Very severe pains in
the face,  more in under jaw, lower teeth, and articulations of lower
jaw.  The pains in the head  and face constant, and very  severe.
Pain in the right superior maxillary  bone, and teeth.
    Clinical Remarks.—The above are just  such pains  as  are
nearly always present in  catarrhal-rheumatic attacks in the  winter
and spring.   I once took five drops  of the first decimal for  similar
symptoms occurring  in myself.  The one dose seemed  to cut short
the attack, at least it mitigated the pains.
    Mouth.—-Offensive breath ; dryness  and  soreness  of the lips;
dry lips; small ulcer on the inner  surface of the lower lip.  Un-
pleasant  taste in the  mouth, accumulation of thick mucus upon  the
teeth; spitting of thick saliva which seemed to stick to the  mouth
and throat, and to be detached with difficulty.  Mouth dry  in  the
morning. Swelling of the back part of the tongue.  Root of tongue
and fauces swollen.
    Clinical Remarks.—In many cases of rheumatism, the gums
and buccal mucous membrane became swollen  and tumefied.   In
such cases this remedy may be found useful,  used as a weak wash
to the inflamed surface.
    Throat.—Dryness of the  pharynx; sneezing, at 4 p. m.; dryness
of the pharynx and inclination  to swallow, during the night;  fulness
of the pharynx and constant inclination to swallow; soreness of the 
112        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

throat when swallowing; sensation of fulness high up in the throat
with fulness in the  vertex and stiffness of the neck; sensation of
rawness in the throat;  slight difficulty in swallowing;  hoarseness,
which increased towards night; constant unpleasant fulness in the
pharynx.  Palate and uvula red and inflamed.   Inflammation of the
uvula and  palate,  fifth day more  severe  than the day before;
copious eoryza.   Hoarseness, roughness and scraping in the  throat;
roughness and dryness of the throat, with thirst ; dryness  and sore-
ness of the throat on swallowing, and on pressure worse on the left
side.
   Clinical  Remarks.—It  has cured Chorea when attended with
almost complete loss of the power of swallowing.   In  sore  throat,
and cynanche maligna a decoction of the root  is recommended by
Dr. Barton. Dr.Marcy says it is an excellent  remedy against dryness
of the throat, or a dry spot in the throat causing cough {Lachesis),
also in dry  coughs  proceeding from irritation and tickling at the
lower part of the larynx.   In a late number of an Allopathic Journal,
it is highly recommended by a Boston physician as a most excellent
remedy in Diphtheria, used in decoction as a gargle.
   Appetite and Stomach.—Eructations tasting of the medicine;
eructations and slight nausea, immediately.  Pain and regurgitation
of food after eating.  Loss of appetite; no  appetite  for supper;
repugnance.  Nausea for fifteen minutes half an hour  after taking
the drug ;  nausea   with loathing, soon after the  dose;  sense of
internal tremor in the stomach, after  breakfast; sensation as if too
much food had been taken into the stomach  ; acute darting pain in
the epigastrium,  after a light supper; slight pain in the epigastrium,
extending to the left hypochondrium,  with  faintness and  sensation
of emptiness; faintness in the epigastrium,  with repugnance to
food,  which, however, did not prevent his partaking of a  moderate
breakfast; faintness in the epigastrium, generally in the  morning
before eating, particularly if the medicine had  been taken over
night, n6t  preventing eating, which was  followed by a sensation
of repletion,  as if too much food had been taken ;  faintness  of the
epigastrium ;  faintness of the stomach;  slight faintness in the epi-
gastrium, during the  forenoon; faintness of  the stomach two or
three times, of short duration; violent retching and vomiting, with
pain in the head. In a " proving," which Dr. Hill reported to the
N. A. Journal of Homoeopathy, he copies  the above, with  a few
additions, and appropriates them to himself. The fact is, that proving
(in  vol. 7)  is nearly all taken from Dr. Paine's original proving.
Hill and Douglas also state that in their proving " all the stomach
symptoms were produced on females; the  drug producing no dis-
turbance in the stomach of males."  But  in Dr. Paine's  provings,
men and women were alike affected  with nausea and  vomiting.
The statement of Dr. Hill, reiterated in his  "epitome," is  therefore
unreliable.   It was probably originally put forth to  favor the
idea that Cimicifuga was specific to nearly all diseases of females,
morning sickness, etc.
   Clinical  Remarks.-—That Cimicifuga may cause  sympathetic
nausea and vomiting, by  its irritating influence  over the female 
CIMICIFUGA  RACEMOSA.
113
organs of generation, I do not deny. But it is by no means a specific
in " morning  nausea''  of  pregnant women.  If the uterine and
general symptoms correspond, the remedy may be found useful for
that distressing symptom.  I have in a few  cases  found it useful,
but no more so than Nux vom., Ipecac, Puis., or Oxalate of Cerium.
Like its analogues—Digitalis,  Belladonna, Opium, etc.,  this medi-
cine may cause vomiting through its irritating effect upon the brain.
Powerful  vomiting  is  often  the  first   symptom of Meningitis,
Hydrocephalus and  other brain diseases, and the so called "nervous
sick headaches," which are accompanied by severe vomiting, prob-
ably consist eventually of cerebral irritation. It is in this type of
" sick headache " that Cimicifuga is useful and not in the headaches
which proceed from derangement of digestion.
    Abdomen.—Flatus; rumbling in  the lower part of the abdomen,
at 10 a. m.  Flatulence, causing a sensation of fulness in the abdo-
men, rumbling of flatus below the umbilicus, at 10  p. m.  Fulness
and pressure in the lower part of the abdomen.  Increased pressure
in the lower part of the abdomen with some pain.  Acute cutting
pain in the  umbilical region,  which,  although acute, was not so
severe as to prevent attending to his usual business; uninfluenced
by eating and continuing during the afternoon; wandering pain in
the bowels, slight pain in left iliac  region; afterwards severe pains
in the bowels, mostly below the  umbilicus, with weight and pain in
lumbar and sacral region; soreness of abdominal muscles, on taking
full inspirations.  Dull  griping,  twisting at the   umbilical region,
more towards the left.  Pain in the left hypochondriac region, worse
on motion, and on taking a deep inspiration. Periodic  colic  with
inclination to bend forward, relieved after stool.
    Clinical Remarks.—There are three diseases of the abdominal
structures, in which this remedy may  prove useful: (1)   Rheuma-
tism of the muscular structures; (2)  Neuralgia; (3)  Peritonitis,
especially puerperal.  I have found it useful in the first and second,
but have never used it in the third, nor have we any clinical experi-
ence of its use in that affection.
    Stool.—Evacuation regular and  natural during the proving, but
for  a month  afterwards,  alternate constipation  and tendency to
diarrhoea; disposition to diarrhoea, in the evening; slight disposi-
tion to diarrhoea, after rising.  Constipation; faeces hard and dry.
Large papescent stool with general indisposition.  Scanty diarrhoea
with tenesmus.  Copious papescent stool in the morning.
    Clinical Remarks.—We have no proof  that this drug has any
laxative or cathartic effect.  It cannot be homoeopathic to abnormal
intestinal discharges, at least we have no clinical  testimony to that
effect.
    Urine.—Disposition  to  frequent urination.  Increased flow of
urine.   Increased  secretion of  pale urine; retention of  urine for
eighteen hours followed by frequent micturition.  Profuse flow of
pale watery urine.  Stitches in urethra in the morning.
    Clinical Remarks.—The dominant school assert the Cimicifuga
to be a diuretic.  It does increase the quantity of urine, but prob-
ably not from any influence it has over the kidneys primarily.   All
        15 
 114        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 drugs which bring on depression of the nervous system, will cause
 something akin to "nervous diabetes."  In hysterical  states,  and
 many forms of uterine disorder, we find this  condition:—a profuse
 flow of watery urine, with nervous prostration ; sinking sensation
 at the stomach, chilliness, headache, over the eyes, in the eyes ;
 lowness of spirit, and sometimes aching pains in the limbs.  With
 this state of the system, it is supposed by physiologists, there occurs
 a waste of phosphorus—which is eliminated by the kidneys in the
 form of phosphates.   Loss of phosphates indicates innervation.  Dr.
 Lee says, " In some instances it acts as a renal hydragogue, increas-
 ing to a considerable extent,  the amount of urinary secretion;  but,
 in a majority  of cases,  this result cannot  be  anticipated with  any
 considerable degree  of confidence.   We  are rather disposed to
 regard it in the light of a renal alterative ;  increasing generally the
 amount of solids in  the urine,  without any great increase in the
 amount of water.  To  eliminate solid  matters from  the blood,
 whether lithates, phosphates, or animal  matters, the cohosh, with
 the free use of diluents, may rank among our most  efficient agents.
 Cimicifuga, has a similar action, over the renal organs, to Aconite,
 Asclepias syr. and Colchicum, all of which increase the solid consti-
 tuents of urine.   This condition is admirably met, by  the dilutions
 of the remedy.  It may be found useful in spasmodic retention of
 urine, from  a cold, mental emotion, or as a symptom of rheumatism.
    Genital Organs of Men.—Pain and retraction of the right sperma-
 tic cord; drawing pain  along the right spermatic cord; pain  and
 tenderness of the testicles.
   Clinical  Remarks.—It is said to cure old standing cases of gleet
 and spermatorrhoea.
    Genital Organs of Women.—Leucorrhoea; monorrhagia; suppres-
 sion of the menses ;  feeling of heaviness ; weight bearing down in
the uterine region, with feeling of heaviness and torpor of the lower
extremities ;  appearances of  the  menses eight  days before their
time ; labor-like pains during pregnancy;  abortion in  the fourth,
eighth and twelfth weeks  of  pregnancy; cold chills and prickling
sensations during the day—in the mammae; prickling  sensations in
the breasts.
   Clinical Remarks.—No remedy stands  higher in the estimation
of the eclectic school, for the treatment of  diseases  peculiar to fe-
males, than the Cimicifuga, and its concentrated principle—Cimici-
fugin.   It is used by them in all uterine diseases, of the most oppo-
site character.   Dr.  King, one  of their  highest authorities, says
(Amer.  Eclec.  Disp.)" it is useful in amenorrhoea,  dysmenorrhcea,
leucorrhoea and other uterine affections.  As a  partus accelerator, it
may be  substituted for ergot.   It brings on  expulsive action of  the
uterus speedily and powerfully.   After labor it will be found effec-
tual in allaying the general excitement of the nervous system and
relieving after-pains." In  " King's Amer. Obsts. "  he recommends
it, in addition, for menorrhagia, amenorrhoea, prolapsus  uteri   etc.
"It does not produce the  powerful  and continuous contractions of
the uterus  which follow the use of ergot, and, consequently, is  not
as dangerous to the child; neither does it lessen the susceptibility of
                  4 
CIMICIFUGA  RACEMOSA.
115
the organ to subsequent doses, as is apt to be the case with ergot;
it appears to excite the uterus to a normal  activity only."  Jones
and Scudder, in their " Mat. Med.," reiterate the above recommen-
dations.  The writings of that  school are full of clinical experience
relative to the usefulness of this remedy in diseases of females.   The
homoeopathic school are beginning to realize the value of this agent
in similar affections, and although the pathogenesis which we have is
meagre, and the recorded symptoms of the drug, so far as relates to
its action on the reproductive organs, few in number, yet those who
have used it much, upon the indications derived ex uso in  morbis,
are enthusiastic in its praise.  I  will proceed to give what I  con-
ceive to be its peculiar sphere of action,  and point out the indica-
tions for its use in the various affections arising from derangements
of the organs of generation.  In amenorrhoea, or delayed appearance
of the menses in young girls, from deficient nervous energy in the
ovaries, and when the abnormal nervous influence is directed to
other organs, giving rise to chorea, hysteria, nervous headaches, etc.,
the Cimicifuga  will restore the functions of the reproductive organs
to a normal state.  Should there be, at the same  time with the
above conditions, a chlorotic state, Helonias or Ferrum should be
alternated with this remedy.  In suppression of the menses from a
cold, mental emotions, and febrile symptoms, when rheumatic pains
in the limbs, or intense headache, or uterine cramps,  are  present,
this remedy will be found very useful. In dysmenorrhcea, the Black
Snake root has been used successfully by all schools. The eclec-
tics consider it a sort of panacoea.  Many of our own school speak
highly of its value.  Dr. Hill, in his "Epitome," advises it in all
cases, and in alternation with Caulophyllum.  It is not a general spe-
cific, yet will benefit a majority of cases.   It is most useful in rheu-
matic and neuralgic cases, but is often of benefit in  congestive, dys-
menorrhcea, when alternated with Veratrum viride, or Belladonna.
The best method of administration in these diseases, is to give Cimici-
fuga, first decimal or one hundredth, three or four times a day during
the inter-menstrual period, and every hour or thirty minutes dur-
ing the severity of the pain.  The Cimicifugin, second or third deci-
mal trituration, will in some cases act  more satisfactorily than the
tincture.  Several of my colleagues have reported cases of dysmen-
orrhcea  cured or very much relieved.  Dr. Ludlam  thinks more
highly of the Cimicifugin in the neuralgic type, than of Caulophyllum.
The latter is  more  indicated  in  cases complicated  with  uterine
spasms or general hysterical convulsions.  Dr. Williams sends me the
record of two severe cases of dysmenorrhcea, probably of a rheumatic
origin, which were apparently cured under the action of Cimicifugin,
first.  I have treated many cases of difficult and painful menstrua-
tion,  arising  from  various  causes,  and  while  in all there was im-
provement, in many the morbid condition seemed to be permanent-
ly removed.  I consider the following symptoms  as indicating its
use: Before the menses the peculiar headache, similar to that caused
by this medicine;  during the menses, aching  in the limbs, severe
pain in the back, down the thighs and through the hips, with heavy
pressing-down, labor-like pains,  weeping mood, nervousness,  hys- 
116        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
teric spasms, cramps, tenderness of the hypogastric region, scanty
flow of coagulated blood, or profuse flow of the same character;  be-
tween the menses  debility, nervous erethism, neuralgic pains, tend-
ency to prolapsus, etc.;  in menorrhagia,  when the flow is  profuse,
but more of a passive character, dark, coagulated, and accompanied
by the above mentioned pains.  The Cimicifuga does not primarily
cause haemorrhage,likeSabina,Erigeronor Crocus, but secondarily,
by  impairing the  tonicity and  normal vitality of the uterus.  In
Leucorrhaia,the eclectics speak highly of its efficacy.  The late Dr.
Morrow, to whom is mainly due the introduction of the remedy into
that practice, gained much celebrity by his treatment of leucorrhoea,
with the internal and  local use of  the black cohosh.  He gave it
until it produced  and kept up its peculiar  action on the brain in a
slight degree; a decoction of the  root was to be used as an injec-
tion every day.  Leucorrhoea may be vaginal, cervical,  or uterine.
In the  present state of our knowledge of the action of the drug,  we
cannot point out accurately the particular form of leucorrhoea  for
which it is indicated.  It may be beneficial in all varieties ; the gen-
eral symptoms of the patient must, to a great extent, be our guide.
Dr. Hill mentions a "leucorrhoea of long standing cured during a
week's proving," and another case of " leucorrhoea, and  chronic in-
flammation and congestion of the uterus, cured during the proving,
while no other symptoms were  observed on the provers until  the
disappearance of  the uterine  disease." Believing in the  local, as
well as general  action of a drug, I would advise it to be used both
topically and internally. The lower dilutions seems  to act  most
beneficially.  It is now more than sixty years since it was claimed
by Stearns' in the American Herbal, to have an especial affinity for
the uterus, particularly over the menstrual function, and Dr. Tully
regards this claim as well established by the experience of  New
England practitioners.   As a parturiefacient, it was in general  use
among the Indians in the early settlement of this country.  Bigelow
speaks of it as  an active agent in facilitating parturition;  and Tul-
ly says he has known many cases where it has produced abortion in
pregnant females, when prescribed for a cough.  The evidence on
this head is far more full and satisfactory than in regard to its  em-
mennagogue properties.  Prof. Lee says:   " It is believed to exert
a specific influence on  the uterine contractions lasting longer than
that of  ergot, and followed  by less torpor and greater suscep-
tibility and capacity for action in the uterus than before its employ-
ment.   Its operation,,' also,  is not attended by that deleterious and
stupefying influence on the foetus which often follows  the adminis-
tration of spurred rye."  It is doubtful if the ergot acts medicinally
upon the foetus at all.  It is the continued, unintermitting pressure
of the uterus upon the  child, or the cord, which causes the coma or
asphyxia in the infant, before birth.  "After delivery,  also, it has
been extensively  used for the purpose of inducing firm uterine con-
traction, expelling the  placenta, and checking post-partem haemorr-
hages.  For this purpose a drachm of the  saturated alcoholic tinc-
ture should be  given every half hour, or oftener, until the desired ef-
fect is produced,"  This knowledge of the uterine-raotor  action of 
CIMICIFUGA  RACEMOSA.
117
Cimicifuga should be appropriated by homoeopathists.  They are
capable of making much more valuable use of such knowledge than
the adherents of other  schools  of  medicine.  The homoeopathic
school gladly avail themselves of the use of ergot, in slow and diffi-
cult labors arising from an atonic condition of the uterus, or perver-
ted function. I cannot give my assent to those mythical relations of
the effects of Secale third or thirtieth,  in causing uterine contrac-
tions when deficient during labor—the proof is not sufficient.  I con-
sider the Cimicifuga, as well as Secale, Caulophyllum and other drugs
possessing similar powers, as being secondarily homoeopathic to con-
ditions  of uterine inertia.   To explain:  The primary action of
ergot in moderate medicinal doses is to cause contractions, more or
less persistent of the muscular tissue of the uterus.  Under the con-
tinued action of  the  drug these contractions will become more
intense and firm, until, from over-stimulation, an opposite condition
or muscular atony obtains.  Now, this latter condition, with  its  ac-
companying symptoms, is a secondary  effect of the drug, as much
due to pathogenetic action as was the primary.  When,  in practice,
we meet with similar conditions, i. e., when the uterus, after vain
and powerful efforts, becomes exhausted, ergot is the proper remedy,
if the primary  symptoms corresponded with those of the drug, viz.,
persistent and unintermitting contractions.  But if the uterine atony
be caused by ergot, then that medicine will not answer  our pur-
pose, and we must resort to Cimicifuga, Caulophyllum, Uva ursi, or
galvanism.   Secondary  states  of uterine muscular atony may be
brought  on  by  all the  last named agents,  and for  this  reason
they  will all  be  found  useful  in similar  morbid   conditions.
The dose which should be used in such cases  should be as large as
can be given with safety to the patient, and just large  enough to
arouse the torpid muscular tissue.  My theory of dose,  and which
experience strongly substantiates, is, that for symptoms which simu-
late the primary effects of the medicine selected  as the remedy,
minute doses should be  administered; but larger doses  for symp-
toms simulating its secondary effects.  In resorting to the Cimicifuga,
in atonic  labors, we need not give the massive doses of the eclectic
school—doses which tend to bring on secondary exhaustion.  I have
found five to ten drops of the mother tincture, every fifteen or twenty
minutes, to be amply sufficient to bring back or arouse the deficient
vitality of the uterus.  But there is an opposite condition  of  the
uterus  which sometimes obtains during labor, a state of  hyper-
excitation, in which the normal uterine contractions are  spasmodic,
painful,  and intensely powerful,  but intermitting, sometimes with
cramps in the extremities, and a tendency to  general convulsions.
Here the Cimicifuga is primarily homoeopathic, and a small quantity
of the third or sixth attenuation  will suffice to restore  the  normal
parturient action.  This medicine will  be found useful after labor,
in producing firm contraction of the uterus, expelling the  placenta,
or checking  post-partem haemorrhage.  But I think for this purpose
the Secale is to be preferred, because of its power  to cause firmer
and  more persistent  contraction.    After-pains are  often  readily
relieved by small doses of Cimicifuga second or third, or Cimicifugin 
118       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
third.  I have used it with signal  benefit in those cases which
seemed to  be kept up by a neuralgic disposition, or mental and
nervous irritability, and the patient was sleepless,  restless, sensitive
and low spirited.
   Suppression   of the  Lochia  is  treated  successfully  with
this  remedy.   When  from a  cold or  mental emotion the dis-
charge is arrested, uterine spasms and  cramps in the limbs sometimes
occur, accompanied with headache, and even delirium.  A  case of
this character which came under my treatment, was relieved in a
few hours by Cimicifuga second  trit., two  grains every half  hour.
Warm fomentations were  applied to the abdomen and vulva, as
should always be the practice in such instances.  It is useful to
relieve  those  bearing-down pains, indications of prolapses, which
women frequently suffer after severe  confinements.  It is eminently
homoeopathic to a tendency to abortion.  It has caused abortion in
many instances, and is  commonly resorted  to for that purpose by
reckless women, and advised by still  more reckless physicians.  It
has been used successfully in those instances of " habitual abortion,"
with the result of preventing the usual miscarriages  in the second
and third months.  But unless the general  symptoms correspond,
Caulophyllum, Sabina, Tanacetum  or Helonias will have  to be
selected.  When the chill, uterine pain, tenderness of the hypogas-
tric region, and  flooding have already set  in,  and the loss of the
foetus becomes imminent, the Cimicifuga,  in small doses, may arrest
the progress of the morbid process, provided the membranes have
not become  extensively  detached.   If  the separated portion be
slight,  and the patient be kept quiet,  and  the proper remedy given,
I believe it possible to prevent a further separation.   If all hope of
saving  the foetus  be abandoned, and the  uterus is deficient in
expulsive power, then this medicine may be given, as recommended
for uterine  atony in labors.  But no physician should  rely alone
upon  medicinal action in such cases.  The placental forceps and
blunt hook should be used early and efficiently, to effect  the entire
removal of the  contents  of the uterus.  In prolapsus  uteri, the
Cimicifuga is recommended by all eclectic authors.  But here, as in
other diseases, it can be no general specific.   When the prolapsus is
due to  congestion, general or cervicatl, cervical leucorrhoea, or comes
on as a result of abortion, or getting up too soon after confinement;
and  when  a deficient  innervation seems  to lie at the root of the
difficulty, then this medicine will be found an excellent remedy. Dr.
Morrow, who probably used this agent more than any other physician
in this  country, was very  successful in  the  treatment of prolapsus
by its internal and local application.   It already stands high in the
homoeopathic  school in the treatment of  uterine  displacements.
(Podophyllum, Caulophyllum, Helonias and  Asclepias tub. will also
be found useful).  In Ovarian diseases, it  will undoubtedly be found
valuable.  A medicine which exercises such  profound influence over
the reproductive organs must of necessity influence  powerfully the
ovaries.  Dr. Cleveland recommends it for  Ovaritis, and  spasm of
the broad ligaments (in the latter affection Caulophyllum and Mag-
nesia mur. are  specifics).   In  irritable  uterus, next to  Platina, 
CIMICIFUGA  RACIMOSA.
119
Sabina, Aconite or Caulophyllum, it will be found the  most useful
remedy we posses.  Some writers recognize  a variety of epilepsy,
having its origin in uterine disorder—the epileptic convulsion being
due to reflex action.   This form of epilepsy generally occurs at or
near the menstrual period.  In  such cases Cimicifuga has effected
cures.   It has also broken up the tendency to hysterical attacks oc-
curring during the menses, also hysterical spasms due to uterine dis-
placements  after  the  womb  has  been  restored to its  normal
position.
   In  puerperal mania it has been found curative.   In part 43,
Braithwaite's Petrospect, Prof.  Simpson reports a case of Puerperal
Hypochondriasis  treated with tincture Cimicifuga.  "Alady, the
mother of several children, was  twice the subject of the most painful
mental despondency a month  or two after delivery.   On  one of
these occasions she was confined in London,  and had the advice of
several eminent physicians;  but the disease took a very long and
tiresome course, seeming to defy all remedies, and gradually and very
slowly terminated.   On the last occasion on which the attack occur-
red, this patient was  confined under my care here, and went home
to England some weeks subsequently, perfectly well.   She returned,
however, in about a month, to Edinburgh, in the lowest possible state
of depression, a perfect picture of mental misery and unhappiness.
I tried many plans to raise her out of this dark and gloomy  state.
All failed.   At last, fancying from some of her symptoms and com-
plaints  that there might be a rheumatic element in the affection,
I ordered her fifty drops of tincture of Actea, thrice a day.  After
taking one dose she refused to continue it, as the drug had a taste
so similar to Laudanum, and as all opiates made her worse. On being
reassured that there was no opiate in the medicine, she recommenced
it, without any faith, however, in the results,  as she had in a great
measure lost faith  in all medicinal means.  When I saw her next,
some eight  or ten  days afterwards, she was altered  and changed in
a marvelous degree, but all for the better.  On the third or fourth
day, as she  informed me, the cloud of misery which had been
darkening her existence suddenly began to dissolve  and dispel, and
in a day or  two more,  she felt perfectly  herself again, in gaiety,
spirits, and energy.  But nothing would iriduce her, to give  up the
Actea for six or eight  weeks longer; and the last  time she passed
through Edinburgh, she told me that she had prescribed her own
remedy to more than one melancholic subject with  nearly as great
success as she had used it in her own case."  The successful treatment
of this case was rather a piece of luck than otherwise.  It is doubtful,
first, whether there was any "rheumatic element" in the case at all;
and second, the medicine did not cure by anti-doting  any  " rheu-
matic element," but by virtue of its power of causing a similar state of
the brain, and of inducing similar symptoms.  This medicine has
always had great reputation, not only as an accellerator in childbirth,
but as a preventive of painful and difficult labor. Wishing  to test
its value in  these cases, I have often given it to ladies  whose
previous labors had been slow and difficult, and   generally with
excellent results.   It is best to begin three or four weeks  before 
120        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
the time of the expected confinement, and have the patient take a
few drops of the first or second decimal dilution, or trituration,
three times a day.  During the last week, the  doses may be given
every four hours.   One case will illustrate the  success attending its
administration, as it is the type of many others.  A lady, the mother
of three children, expressed great anxiety regarding her expected
confinement.  She  was in the eighth  month  of pregnancy.   Her
previous labors  had been unusually severe,  very tedious,  painful,
and  accompanied  by fainting fits,  cramps, agonizing  pain,  etc.,
before the birth, and  flooding, syncope, and many unpleasant symp-
toms after the expulsion of the placenta.  She  took for nearly three
weeks, about ten "drops of Cimicifuga first dec. dil. four times a day.
Labor came on at the proper period, lasted only six hours; was not
painful nor difficult; there  was  no  flooding, no  fainting, and no
cramps, and  both  patient and friends  were  agreeably surprised.
She got up in nine  days,  and  had a better convalescence than ever
before.  If this remedy was useful in this condition alone, it would
still be invaluable  to the profession.  The  editor  of the  London
Lancet, writes:  " We are disposed to admit the correctness of the
observations of American Physicians who allege that it has a pecu-
liar action on the uterus.  In the irritable condition of that organ,
often  observed in  patients for  some  time after menstruation has
ceased, or irregular when about to cease, and  marked by  pain more
or less periodical in  the  lumbar region,  Cimicifuga affords rapid
relief.  In neuralgic pains, often met with in such patients in other
localities, it is equally beneficial.  Females at the  period  of life we
are speaking of, frequently  suffer from  a distressing  pain in the
upper part  of the head, recuring with greater  severity at night.
These cases are very satisfactorily met by this remedy.  Pains in
the mammae also, whether referable to  uterine disturbance or to
pregnancy,  are  relieved by  the Cimicifuga  very speedily.'*
   In phlegmasia  alba   dolens,  I would advise it on  theoretical
grounds; not having  used it in that disease.  Some of the symptoms
of the drug simulate  that disease very closely.
   Larynx.—Hoarseness, after rising ; hoarseness; unpleasant ful-
ness in the pharynx ;  constant inclination to cough for half an hour,
caused by a tickling sensation in the larynx, at  7£ p. m. An attempt
to speak is followed by an inclination to cough; slight dry  cough
four or five times,  produced by tickling in the larynx;  hoarseness
in the evening ;  short dry cough, several times during the evening,
caused by tickling in the larynx; fluent eoryza; cough, particularly
at night, caused by tickling in the throat; very troublesome, hack-
ing cough, of some month's standing.
   Clinical Remarks.—The two last symptoms mentioned above
are marked  " curative'' in one of the provings.  In my  experience
it has been used beneficially  for coughs.  It  is well known  that
many laryngeal symptoms result from uterine irritation.  The mor-
bid excitation is transmitted  through  the medium of reflex action.
The Cimicifuga is especially indicated  in such cases, or when cough
arises during pregnancy, or from amenorrhoea, etc.  It is also use- 
                CIMICIFUGA   RACEMOSA.             121

ful in those  spasmodic actions of the larynx occurring in hysterical
females.
   Chest.—The pain in the head continued for ten days, followed
by eoryza, with sore throat and a gradual  extension of the  disease
to the bronchial mucous membrane; dry, short and hacking cough,
night and  day,  continuing two weeks, which is  uncommon, the
prover not  having had a catarrh or cold  for  several years; acute
pain in the right  lung, extending from apex to base, about  two
inches to the right of the sternum, aggravated by every inspiration,
continuing for two hours,  and gradually  diminishing in intensity
until after retiring ; similar pain the next morning for half an hour,
but  much less severe; lancinating pain along the cartilages of the
false ribs, left side, increased by taking a  long inspiration, soon af-
ter waking  at three p. m.   The same pain, very severe and piercing,
bo as almost to prevent inspiration for a  short  time, immediately
after retiring, between ten and eleven p. m., and continuing for half
an hour ; soreness  of the chest; cold chills and prickling sensations
during the day, in the (female) mammae; prickling sensations in the
breasts.  Dr. Tully says it causes cardiac palpitations, which, though
transient and fugitive, are often quite severe, with neuralgic  pains
through the chest.  In Drs. Hill and Douglas' proving, we find—
 Stitches in  the region of the heart, or in the heart; pain in  the left
 side of the  chest.
     Clinical Remarks.—Dr. Lee says "the Cimicifuga has  been
 found a useful remedy in certain chronic affections  of the pulmon-
 ary organs.'' Dr. Garden, of Virginia, was the first writer who call-
 ed the attention of the profession to this article in this class of cases.
 Having observed  its utility in domestic practice, he was induced to
 resort to it in his  own  case, which he considered one of " gastro-
 hepatic, or dyspeptic phthisis," though the physical signs are not
 given.   The principal symptoms were: a pulse  of one hundred  to
 one hundred and twenty,  harrassing cough, purulent expectora-
 tion, pain  in the right breast  and side, hectic  paroxysms, loss of
 flesh and strength, frequent hamoptysis, and great derangement in
 the functions of the stomach and liver. No other medicine was taken
 except the Cimicifuga, and to this, aided by a suitable regimen, the
 cure, which was  completed within a few months, was  wholly attri-
 buted.  Other cases  of tuberculosis are given where striking bene-
 fit was derived from its use, and where the disease was evidently ar-
 rested by it. Dr. Garden used it in his own and other cases in doses
 of  "an ounce or  two of the tincture of the root once or twice a day.
 The tincture was prepared with good rye whisky."   He considers
 its  effect on the head is the test of the extent to which it should be
 carried.   Such gross abuse of a valuable remedy is worse than fool-
 ish.  Just in the  same manner does the dominant school advise Qui-
 nine to be given until it effects the head unpleasantly.   But it is as
 unnecessary in the one as in the other.   A  few drops of the mother
 tincture, or lower dilutions, frequently repeated, will have a  better
 and more lasting  effect.  Dr. Hildreth (allopathic) says: " In nearly
 every instance the  pulse was reduced to near the natural  stand-
 ard, the hectic symptoms disappeared, and with  it the cough and
         16 
122        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
 other signs of phthisis.''  In acute phthisis, uncomplicated with much
 inflammation, Dr. H. states that he has often seen the most prompt
 action from the decoction, in throwing off febrile excitement, or the
 hectic paroxysms, allaying cough, reducing the rapidity and force of
 the pulse, and inducing gentle perspiration; also, he has found  it of
 the greatest benefit  "in those intermittent congestions and inflam-
 mations, so frequent in the second and third stages of*phthisis from
 atmospheric exposures.''  Prof.  Lee says, " there is every reason to
 place considerable confidence  in Cimicifuga in the early stages  of
 tuberculosis, when there is a frequent hacking cough  and other
 signs of the malady.  We have  used it for many years in such cases
 with much benefit, and have come to regard it as possessing almost
 specific power in allaying pulmonic irritability, thus abating cough,
 while it proves invigorating to  the digestive organs.  It speedily
 checks  the diarrhoea and night sweats  of phthisis."  Dr. Wood
 thinks it proves useful in pulmonary complaints  only by its allaying
 irritation through its sedative properties.   Prof. Chapman has rank-
 ed it under the head of expectorants.   This is all old school experi-
 ence.  But we have  good reason, judging from our provings, to
 expect  much  from this  remedy in some pulmonary complaints.   It
 cures cough, pains in  the chest,  dyspnoea,  fever, night sweats,  and
 even diarrhoea.  My own experience with it in this class of diseases
 has not been extensive, yet I have cured some  harrassing coughs,
 with pains in the chest, difficulty of respiration and general debility,
 with the lower dilutions.  In diseases of the lungs, bronchia, etc., it
 ranks with Aconite, Bryonia, Arnica, and Veratrum viride.  In pleu-
 rodynia it has  been used successfully in many cases.   A  student
 came to me complaining of a severe stitch between the sixth  and
 seventh ribs of the right side.  It had seized him suddenly and  was
 agonizingly intense.   He stated that such attacks generally laid him
 up several days.  He had usually taken Bryonia for it.  Cimicifuga,
 first decimal, ten drops every half hour, effected a cure in twenty-four
 hours.  For those obstinate pains in the left side, which females so
 often complain of, this remedy is as nearly a specific as anything can
 be.  Dr. Simpson (Obstetric memoirs, vol. l.p. 27) inapaperonthe
 diagnosis of uterine diseases, mentions those " sympathetic pains in
 different and distant parts of the body, " which  are really  reflex
 pains or neuralgias,  caused by uterine irritation.   Amono- these re-
 flex pains are—"pain in one or both mammaes"—"pain  under  the
 left mammae and upon the edges of the rib on that  side"—" pains
 in the right side "—pain in some of the vertebrae of the back—pain
 in the sacral and lumbar regions—pains in the abdominal parietea
—and pains in the joints extremities, head and face."   For all these
 reflex pains, when dependent on  uterine or ovarian disorder,  there
is no more useful remedy than Cimicifuga.  But  it  is peculiarly use-
ful in the "pain under the left mammae." It occurs more commonly
in unmarried females, and is probably as frequent in cases of ute-
 rine  affections, as pain in the shoulder  is in cases of hepatic affec-
 tions.  The pain is sometimes diffused  along the side,  but more
 usually it is limited to a small spot not larger than  a  half-dollar.
 When it is not severe it is not affected by the act of respiration, but in 
CIMICIFUGA  RACEMOSA.
123
more severe cases it is increased by deep inspiration, and many a poor
patient has been bled, blistered, leeched, etc.,  over and over again,
under the idea that it was an indication of pleuritic  inflammation."
Dr.  Simpson used  the Cimicifuga in some of these  severe  and ob-
stinate cases, and the pain rapidly subsided under its use.  Diseases
of the heart may be cured or greatly palliated by Cimicifuga.  The
functional disorders  of  that  organ,  the palpitations, irregular ac-
tion, etc., dependent on rheumatic or uterine irritation, are benefited
by this   remedy.  In  cases  simulating angina pectoris  I  have
found it useful.  In one instance, the pain, or rather  intense anxiety
about the  heart, with  pain  in  the  shoulder  (left)  and extending
down the left arm, (the shoulder and upper arm feel as if " bound to
the side")—all subsided  under  its action after  taking three drops
three times a day for a week.  It has  occasionally appeared since,
but  promptly disappears after a single dose  of Cimicifuga.  In one
case of pericarditis following  an attack of inflammatory rheumatism,
Dr.  Marcy observed excellent  effects from the use of the third
dilution.  It is better than Digitalis in heart affections, for while
it controls abnormal action it invigorates the  nervous  system and
the  general dition of the patient.  It does not interfere with diges-
tion as  does Digitalis.
   Back,—Stiffness of the neck ; drawing pain in lumbar  region;
pulsating pain in the lumbar region; in the morning, on  bending
the neck forward, he experienced a severe drawing, tensive  pain, at
the points of the spinous processes of the three upper dorsal verte-
brae, which continued for several hours;  trembling and weakness
iu the back;  weak trembling; pain in the small of the back; same
tired feeling in the back, extending from the region of the kidneys to
the sacrum, relieved by rest and increased by motion;  dull, heavy
aching in the small of the back, extending to the sacrum; dull pain
behind the right scapula;  stitches  in the  back, below the right
scapula; dull pain in the  region of the  lower  dorsal and upper
lumbar  vertebrae; pain below the left scapula; pains as of boils
on the back and extremities ; cramping in the muscles  of the neck
on moving the head, first  in  the left, afterwards in the right side ;
occasional  slight pain in either scapula and right shoulder; weight
and pain in the lumbar and sacral regions, sometimes extending all
around the body,  somewhat below the crest of the ileum; rheu-
matic pains in the muscles of the  neck and back; a feeling of stiffness
and  contraction;  feeling  of weight in the small of  the back;
drawing pain in a single muscle between the right scapula and spine
for some hours.
   Clinical Remarks.—The Cimicifuga exercises an undoubted
influence over the spinal cord, or its membranes,  and for this reason
is capable of curing many  affections  arising therefrom.   In  true
spinal irritation, which is a functional disease of the spinal marrow,
this medicine is of great value. In this disease the spinal tenderness,
and all the painful symptoms, is accompanied by no organic change
in the cord or the vertebrae.  The cause of this disease, says Wood,
is not well understood.  It occurs most frequently in women,  and
especially during the menstrual  period.  It would seem, there- 
124        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

fore  to have some connection with the uterus.  Of  the exciting
causes, changes in the  weather are probably among  the most fre-
quent.  Mental disturbance seems to be capable of inducing it. The
most rational view of the nature of the disease, is, th at the affection
is seated essentially in the  ligaments of the vertebra,  and is gene-
rally of a rheumatic  or gouty character.  It is readily  conceived
that irritation may be propagated from this structure to the nervoua
tissue of the cord, or at least to the nerves which proceed from the
cord, and receive as they pass an envelop of the diseased tissue.''  In
this affection I use the remedy internally and externally.  The Cimi-
cifuga in drop doses of the first decimal—or Cimicifugin  first decimal
or one hundredth, and apply a lotion of one part of the tincture to
ten of water.  Dr. C^veland  considers it specific  for that painful
affection— crick in  the  back.   This may be only a  symptom of
lumbago,  but is  in some  cases  due  to a  rupture  of  some  of
the fibres of  those  ligaments  which  connect the  spinous pro-
cesses.   Dr.  Simpson  and the  editor  of  the Lancet  consider
the Cimicifuga almost  specific in lumbago.    Our provings give
us ample  basis upon which to  select this  medicine.   It causes
nearly all the symptoms of lumbago,  as well as  rheumatism of
the dorsal and other muscles of the back.  It  is homoeopathic to
that  affection which Dr. Inman so correctly describes  in his work
on  "Spinal  Irritation" — a  weakness  (atony) of  the muscles
attached, to the spinous  processes, etc.  With regard to  the dose
to be resorted to in  these affections,  I  would advise the lowest
attenuations, for the reason that the rheumatic or  neuralgic affec-
tions are caused by Cimicifuga, secondarily. I have never received
much benefit in  those  diseases from any dilution or trituration
higher  than the third.   The  physician  should not  hesitate  in
obstinate cases to resort to drop doses of the  mother  tincture.  If
we do get up a slight medicinal aggravation,  it cannot do as much
harm as the continuance of the disease we are trying to combat.
   Superior Extremities.—Dull pain in the right arm, deep in the
muscles, extending from the shoulder to  the  wrist, continuing dur-
ing the next day;  itching and redness of the  dorsal surface of the
right hand, in the afternoon, and especially in the evening; a single
pimple  on the dorsal surface  of the left hand, secreting  a little
pus at the apex, disappearing in three or four days; itching of the
dorsal surface of the left hand  and wrist, particularly on the dorsal
surface of the thumb,  in the evening; small red  papula first ap-
peared, becoming, after  slight  irritation, a diffused redness, which
disappeared in a few hours, but could be reproduced at  any time
by slightly irritating the surface.  This symptom gradually disap-
peared  in a  few days.  Dr. Tully says it  causes neuralgic pains in
the extremities.  It has caused some pains  in the  arms, with a
numbing  sensation, as if a nerve had been compressed. These pains
were first felt in the shoulder, and passed down the arm and  then
the forearm, producing  a very peculiar, lame, numb, and sometimes
cramping sensation, as in heart disease.   Similar pains in the legs,
but more severe  and  constant in the upper part of the thigh, about
the hip joint and inguinal region.  (Sciatica.) 
COLLINSONIA  CANADENSIS.           125
   lower Extremities.—Stinging in the left great toe, for a moment,
on the lower surface, and afterwards on the upper, in the afternoon;
dull, aching, burning pain in the second joint of the right great toe,
extending up the limb, continuing an  hour, from eight to nine p.
m. ; the same pain, less severe, on  the third  evening.
   Clinical Remarks.—It has been used with benefit in Sciatica,
and  other rheumatic affections of the extremities.  Dr.  Marcy
writes:  " We have  been  in  the habit of employing this remedy
occasionally in rheumatic affections, during the past  eighteen years.
We have prescribed all doses, from the nauseous  decoction of the
old school, to the highest homoeopathic attenuation, and good re-
sults have followed both forms of  the  medicine—although  experi-
ence has long since taught us to rely upon the latter form.  It is
most serviceable in articular rheumatism of the lower extremities—
with much swelling and heat in the affected parts, and pain on mov-
ing the parts.   Like Bryonia, it  exercises a special control over
inflammation of serous membranes; but its range of action, and con-
sequently its applicability in rheumatic affections,  are decidedly
inferior to this drug."  The Cimicifuga may be inferior to Bryonia
in its action on  serous tissues,  but it  is  far  superior to  that
drug in its influence on nervous tissues, or rather the neurilemma
or fibrous portion of nerve structure.  Bryonia does not  cause
or cure rheumatico-neuralgic  pains, while Cimicifuga does,  in an
eminent degree.  Bryonia has no influence over reflex-nervous
pains, cramps, etc., while Cimicifuga controls many such abnormal
manifestations.
      COLLINSONIA  CANADENSIS.

            {Ox-Balm.  Knot-Root.  Hard-Hack.  Stone-Root.)

   This plant is found in the Eastern and Northern States.  It is
herbaceous, with broad, cordate, ovate, smooth, opposite leaves;
the flowers in terminal panicles of a yellowish violet color; flower-
ing from July to September.  The whole plant has a peculiar bal-
samic smell, which is milder and pleasanter in the flowers than in
the root, this having a somewhat rank, disagreeable odor.  It  has
a warm and  pungent taste.   The plant grows to the height of two
feet, with a  perennial, knotty root.   It  contains a volatile oil,—a
resin, tannin, gallic acid, starch gum, sugar, and a peculiar, bitter,
neutral principle,  Collinsonin.   "The  medicinal virtues of this
plant has been pretty extensively tested in domestic, if not in regu-
lar practice, and is regarded as tonic, astringent, diaphoretic, and
diuretic.  With some practitioners, it ranks very high as an altera-
tive, especially in chronic affections of the genito-urinary organs, as
cystitis, catarrh of the bladder, gravel, leucorrhoea.  By the com- 
126        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

mon people it is highly esteemed  as a remedy for headache, colic,
indigestion ; Avhile many cases  of dropsy have been  reported to
have been cured by it.  Its influence over the secernent and absorb-
ent systems is strongly marked.   Like all  aromatics, it  produces an
agreeable feeling of  warmth  in the stomach, increasing the force
and frequency of the pulse, and the warmth of the surface ;  while
it diffuses  a pleasant glow  over the system, without  any special
influence on the cerebral functions.  Its effects seem rather  mani-
fested on  the organic and sympathetic systems and the  capillary
circulation."—(Prof.  Lee—Allopathic.)  This is about as definite as
an old school writer usually writes about  any medicinal agent. It
leaves the student in a state of  profound uncertainty as to the
real nature of its action.  Let us be sincerely thankful  that Hahne-
mann gave us a system  of  drug-proving, whereby we may escape
from the uncertainties of old medicine.  I have not  been able to
get an extended proving of this plant, but have noted some character-
istic symptoms from its use, and have collected a good many clinical
observations, which may serve us as a guide until we obtain a good
pathogenesis.  " In the mountains and hills of Virginia, Kentucky,
Tennessee and  Georgia,'' says Rafinesque, " this genus is consid-
ered a panacea, and used outwardly  and inwardly in many disor-
ders.  It is used as a poultice and wash  for bruises, sores, blows,
falls, wounds, sprains, contusions, and taken like tea for headache,
colics, cramps, dropsy, indigestion, etc."   It is therefore used much
as the common  people in Germany use Arnica, which it somewhat
resembles  in fome of its general effects on the system.
    Head.—Slight fullness of the head; throbbing in the head.
    Clinical Remarks.—I am  inclined to think  it only useful in
gastric and hsemorrhoidal headaches.  In headaches from indiges-
tion, I have known relief to follow promptly upon its administra-
tion.
    Gastric Symptoms.—Vomiting (from small  doses of the fresh
root); vomiting, with pain and heat in  the stomach ; cramp-like
pain in the stomach, with  nausea; sensation as of flatulence in the
stomach;  rumbling in the  stomach and  bowels;  agreeable feel-
ing of warmth  in the stomach, with general glow of the system;
increases the appetite ; excessive appetite.
    Clinical Remarks.—In indigestion, from want of tone of the
stomach,  and associated with  constipation and  haemorrhoids, it
rivals Nux vomica.  Both eclectic and allopathic physicians con-
sider it a valuable remedy for the expulsion of flatulence and  the
relief of spasms of the stomach  and intestines.   Coe says (Cone.
Org. Med.) " no better remedy can possibly be  had for the relief of
cramp in the stomach, flatulent and bilious colics,  and all spasmodic
affections of the stomach and back.  Drs. Fowler and Carroll have
found^ it promptly curative in  many cases  of indigestion, loss of
appetite, etc.
   Intestines, Stool, etc.—Constipation, with a  good deal of flatu-
lence ; sluggish  stool, with  distention of the abdomen;  heat and
itching  of  the  anus; haemorrhoidal  tumors;  the  haemorrhoids 
COLLINSONIA  CANADENSIS.
127
re-appear while taking the medicine for pulmonary haemorrhage ;
loose, papescent stool; diarrhoea, with nausea.
  Clinical Remarks.—It has a reaHy wide reputation in affections
of the bowels and rectum.   Coe says, " in diseases of the bowels
and rectum it stands unrivalled.   We have experienced its sanative
influence in diarrhoea in our own person."  It is useful in diarrhoea,
dysentery, and cholera-infantum.  The specific homoeopathic indi-
cations for its use in intestinal disorders are about as follows:  In
diarrhoea, when the discharges are mucus, or papescent, or watery,
with cramp-like and spasmodic pains  in the  bowels, also vomiting
or nausea.  In the diarrhoea of children,  so apt to be accompanied
with colic, cramps, flatulence, etc., it has proved an excellent reme-
dy (in the 3rd  dilution).  In the so-called  haemorrhoidal dysentery,
it has proved curative in  the hands of many of my correspond-
ents.   The  discharges  are  of  bloody  mucus,  and  are accom-
panied with  tenesmus, spasmodic  tormina, expulsion of scybala,
coated with  bloody mucus,  heat and  burning  in  the rectum.
In   Constipation,   it   has  been   used  very  successfully   by
some  of  our best  practitioners.    Dr.  Carroll  writes  (N. A.
Jour., vol.  5, p. 546,) :  " In  cases of  habitual  constipation
it is  invaluable,  producing not  a  mere  transient relief, but  cor-
recting,  apparently in  a permanent manner, the morbid  condi-
tion of the digestive system.  I say apparently, for, although I
have tested  its virtues with  success in a good many instances, I
have only known of it for a year, and consequently cannot say how
enduring  its remedial  action  may prove.  I may only say, that  in
my  own  case, having been  for  fifteen  years suffering  from the
reactive effects of a series of cathartics  administered with syste-
matic cruelty during my infancy, I succeeded a  little more than a
year ago in overcoming, by a month's use  of the Collinsonia, the
existing condition of affairs, and since that time I have not been
obliged to recur to it for aid."  Indeed, it has so far proved  invari-
ably  remedial in all  troubles  depending  on  constipation.  Dr.
Fowler, in Cases I, II,  and III, recorded below, gives  its excellent
results in obstinate and  habitual  constipation,  associated  with
haemorrhoids.  I have used it in several similar cases, and so far  with
the best results. "The most remarkable influences of the Collinsonia,"
says Coe, "are observable in haemorrhoids and other diseases of the
rectum.  The most inveterate and chronic cases are  relieved, and
frequently cured, by this remedy alone.  We  have known it to act
promptly in  suppressing hemorrhage from the bowels (?),  and  in
relieving those distressing pains  characteristic of haemorrhoidal
 affections."   We  have also from homoeopathic sources some valu-
 able  testimony relating to the  curative  power  of Collinsonia  in
 haemorrhoids.  Dr.  E. P. Fowler (North Amer. Journal of Homoeo-
pathy, vol. 6, p. 80,) writes :   " Some two  years since I remarked to
 a friend and  patient that I was honored  with a number of cases of
 obstinate hemorrhoids, and  that I really wished  that I possessed
 some means  of  curing them, without danger of entailing some
 more serious disorder.  My friend replied that he could  tell me of
 a remedy, and remarked that two or three  years ago he  was an 
128       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
absolute martyr, in fact crippled with haemorrhoids."  The remedy
was Collinsonia, and this patient was cured by the following prepara-^
tion :  A small handful of the chopped root was put into a quart of
water, and it was boiled down to a pint.  This he took three times
a day,—a small  wine-glass full.  He  was cured in two  weeks.
This gentleman added that he  " had made some most 'remarkable
cures  among  his friends."  Dr. Fowler adds :  " Upon his descrip-
tion of the root, I remembered having in early boyhood gathered
from the woods some of the same  kind of  root for an old  gentle-
man, who was  by its use fully freed  from haemorrhoids of over
twenty-five years standing."  Dr. F. reports the following cases :
  Case 1.  " Mr. J. E. J.,whose sufferings from haemorrhoids rendered
his life almost a burthen, and completely disabled him from  busi-
ness.  I gave him two or three  handsful, and directed him to use it
in the manner described  to me by my friend.  He commenced  its
use, but found that it acted as an emetic.   I then told him  to take
a dessert spoonful twice a day.  This he did without disturbance
to the stomach, and in somewhat  less than three weeks reported
himself to us, to use his own words, 'the humble  and grateful sub-
ject of a real  miracle—cured.'  About  two months after he had a
slight return of the  old trouble, but after taking  the Collinsonia
four days, was again  well. My attention was attracted to another
feature in this case.  For years the patient had  been a victim of
most resolute constipation, and never had relief without the aid of
enemas; and as these could not be administered without irritation
and pain,  the consequence was, that about  four or five days  were
allowed to intervene between each time.  The patient said that  he
was not  more surprised at the  rapid cure of  such an old chronic
complaint  as the haemorrhoids,  than by the fact that the remedy
had established  a free and natural daily action of the bowels, which
continued  after the use of  the medicine was suspended.  Before
the second attack  he became  again constipated, and was again
relieved as before.  He  also attributed  a cessation  of dyspeptic
troubles and an increase  of appetite, which was never more than
indifferent, to the use of the drug. But, whether  this may  have
been owing to the direct  action of  the drug upon the stomach, or
whether it may have been a secondary effect  from relieving the
intestines, is,  of course, difficult to decide."
   Case  2.   " Was  a gentleman  afflicted with  ' flowing  piles,'
who had submitted to almost  every kind of treatment, both local
and that addressed through the system, and invariably leaving the
successive doctors' hands in a more miserable condition than  he
entered  them.  He had, in fact, come to  consider medicine as a
downright humbug, and  came  to me in a state of incredulity, only
by having heard of some  of the cures that  I had made with Collin-
sonia.   This patient  was troubled  with alternate constipation and
diarrhoea,  and  the haemorrhage  was  incessant,  though not pro-
fuse.  He was  light  complexioned, thin, nervous,  and dyspeptic.
I  put  him  on  one  tablespoonful  of  the   decoction  three
times  a day.  For  the first  week the  action  seemed  to  be
almost wholly confined to the kidneys, and just as I was upon the 
               COLLINSONIA  CANADENSIS.           129

point of considering the case non-amenable to the remedy, the renal
action ceased,  and the  haemorrhoids began to be relieved.  Gradu-
ally the bowels gained a regular, normal,  peristaltic action, the
appetite and power of  digestion became improved, and at the end
of eight  weeks, the patient pronounced himself in every respect
well—in mind, as well as body.
    Case  3rd.    "Was an engineer of extreme bilious,  nervous
temperament.   He came to  me for Varicocele, which was  consider-
able, and  at times irritable.  He  had extreme  constipation, and
from various indications I deemed his  complaint consequent upon
constipation, and having observed the effect of Collinsonia in this
respect, I gave it to him in the same manner as I had done to the
preceding cases.  I do  not remember the exact length of time that
he was under my charge; it was less, however,  than  four weeks,
the action of the bowels became regular and natural,  and the vari-
cocele disappeared.  This was about a year ago and he has remained
well since."
    Case 4th.  " This case was  a lady who  sufferred  from a bad
form of hemorrhoids, also from terrible dysmenorrhcea.  Gave her
the Collinsonia, as I had given  it to the others, and at the end of
six or seven weeks the hoemorrhoids were  gone, and she had been
exempt from dysmenorrhcea.  She has since had one or two slight
returns of haemorrhoids, but which have rapidly yielded  to a two
day's use of this remedy.  In this case there was almost constant
diarrhoea and loss of appetite; the diarrhoea ceased, and the appetite
became, as the lady thought, ' quite indelicate'."   Dr. Fowler found
it " an excellent remedy for the  tenesemus of dysentery."  " So far
as my experience goes, this root seems to be a  prime remedy for
haemorrhoids, dysmenorrhcea, constipation, and dyspepsia, in fact
it seems to be soothing to all inflammation  of the lower viscera."
    Urinary Organs.— " For the first  week its action seemed to be
almost wholly  confined to the kidneys.—"(Fowler).   Probably in
increasing the  amount of urine, as it is a diuretic.
   Clinical Remarks.—King says, "it is used in gravel, catarrh
of the bladder, and  urinary disorders."  Jones & Scudder record
that it is esteemed  diuretic, and has been used in dropsies, and
chronic diseases of the urinary passages; it is reputed lithontriptic,
but  we doubt its  capability  of dissolving  urinary  concretions,
although it may be serviceable  in allaying the irritation caused by
them."  Prof. Lee says it is a " valuable alterative in chronic dis-
eases of the genito-urinary organs."  Some patients of mine have
related to me some  extraordinary cures by means of this remedy,
of " gravel," of which they were once victims.  What the  real dis-
order was I could not determine, although from  the description of
the patients it must have been some chronic affection of the kidneys
or bladder, in which calculi was present.  We may safely deduce,
from our actual knowledge of its virtues, that it will be found more
useful in chronic than acute affections of the urinary  organs.  It will
probably prove useful in chronic cystitis, urethritis and nephritis;
also in affections of the bladder arising from diseases of the rectum.
17 
 130        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

    Genital Organs of Women.—Dr.  Carroll thinks that it is capable
 of producing abortion in the early months of uterine gestation.
    Clinical Remarks.—It is said to be curative in some forms of
 leucorrhoea.  It has cured, in the hands of homoeopathic practitioners,
 leucorrhoea, prolapsus,  dysmenorrhoea,  etc.,  as the following cases
 will show.  It will strike  the critical reader, however, that nearly
 all the abnormal conditions of the  uterine organs were really de-
 pendent upon disease of the rectum or  bowels,  as constipation or
 piles, and that when the Collinsonia removed the latter  diseases,
 the uterine disorder disappeared.   It is too often  overlooked by the
 careless and unobservant physician, that a prolapsus or retroversion
 may  be caused  by  constipation;  a pruritus or leucorrhoea, by
 haemorrhoids, and even a congested cervix by an acute or chronic
 dysentery.  It seems very probable that it will be found curative in
 vicarious menstruation,  when the substitutive  bleeding  is  from
 the haemorrhoidal veins.  In Amenorrhoea from  congestion of the
 uterus aud pelvic viscera,  it may be found beneficial.  In menorrha-
 gia from the same cause,  it will  prove equally  useful.  Abortion
 may be prevented by it use, when that accident is impending, as a
 result of constipation, piles, etc.   I am not prepared to  believe,
 however, that its action on the uterus is direct. Dysmenorrhea.—
 We cannot find any  recommendation for the  use of this drug in
 painful menstruation in the literature of the allopathic schools, but
 it appears to  have been used successfully by homoeopathists in that
 affection.  Dr. A. L. Carroll, of New York, {N. A. Jour, of Horn.
 Vol. 5, page 546,)  says :   " In dysmenorrhcea its action is  most
 powerful—so powerful  that I am led to believe it capable, during
 the early periods  of utero-gestation,  of producing abortion.  In no
 instance that has  fallen under my notice, has it  failed to  relieve
 promptly this menstrual derangement, which  is so common among
 all classes of women  in our climate,  and I am convinced that when
 more extensively  known it will be found a specific in this form of
 disease."  Dr. Fowler, "case  four"—under the  head of Haemor-
rhoids reports a cure of dysmenorrhcea, complicated with piles, loss
of appetite, and constant diarrhoea.   Dr. Snelling adds his testimony
to Dr. Carroll's, in regard to its efficancy in dysmenorrhcea.  " There
is  no doubt," he remarks, " that  it  exercises  a strong  specific
influence over the female organs of generation, as we have also  seen
distressing symptoms of pruritus,  and prolapsus of the womb yield
under its use.  " A lady aged  about 35, unmarried, had  sufferred
for a long time past with all the  distressing symptoms of a uterine
prolapsus, complicated  with  pruritus,  dysmenorrhoea, and  most
obstinate constipation.  She had been for some time under the  care
of a distinguished practitioner for the prolapsus  uteri, who,  after
relieving the more urgent symptoms, and restoring somewhat the
tone of her system,  told her that her only safety lay in avoiding
 constipation ; and to this end prescribed a cathartic pill, which was
 to be taken  as  occasion  required.  Under this  course she  was
 gradually but steadily retrogading.   Each  recurring menstrual
 period brought its days of acute suffering, and confinement to tho
 bed.  Every movement of the  bowels was accomplished only by the 
COLLINSONIA  CANADENSIS.
131
aid of a strong cathartic, and this had come to be an act of suffering
and dread from the painful prolapsus  of the womb at these times.
The bowels refusing to act, it became necessary frequently to repeat
again and again the opening pills, before their torpor could be over-
come, and then a quick succession of copious and debilitating liquid
stools would leave her prostrate for days.  She thus alternated be-
tween a state of absolute inaction of the bowels, with its train of
attendant evils, and the exhaustion consequent upon hypercatharsis.
April 3d.—She was put upon three grain doses of Collinsonia  can.
one quarter trit, three per diem, with directions to abstain from the
use of the habitual cathartic as long as was possible for her to do
so ; no other change whatever was made.  Twenty-four hours had
elapsed since the bowels had moved.  Slight pains at times in  the
back and uterine regions, with distressing pruritus.  Appetite small,
pulse normal.   April 5th.—Natural movements of  the bowels
without other assistance.   No  other effects.  April 7th and 8th.—
Healthy movements from the bowels. April 10th.—Much improved
in  every respect;  constipation  entirely removed ;   symptoms
altogether so marked better that the medicine  was discontinued
for one week.  During this week the monthly turn passed  over,
with much less than the  usual  amount  of suffering, though  some
imprudence in diet was followed by colicky pains in the abdomen ;
these, however, passed over.  At the end of the week the constipa-
tion having somewhat returned the remedy was resumed, followed
in twenty-four hours by a natural movement from the bowels.   The
medicine was continued for one week and then given up.   The
relief was  complete and  permanent.  No subsequent  symptoms
made their appearance, and a few days since she expressed herself
as perfectly and entirely well, " without an ache or a pain."  Dur-
ing the course of the administration of the remedy, the pruritus,
dysmenorrhoea, and symptoms  of prolapsus uteri, were quietly and
completely removed."  It may be that Collinsonia does not  act
specifically and directly upon  the uterus, but  cures  congestions,
pains, prolapsus, etc., by removing diseased conditions from other
pelvic viscera.
    Genital Organs of Men.—It has proved useful in gleet.  It is indi-
cated in spermatorrhoea from haemorrhoids and constipation.   Dr.
Fowler (case 3rd) cured a case of varicocele from the above men-
tioned causes.
    Respiratory  Organs.—We  find  no mention  in  Allopathic or
eclectic tharapeutics, of the use of Collinsonia  in affections of the
pulmonary organs.  It has, however, been used in the new school
with success.  The  following case illustrating the use of Collinsonia
in pulmonary homorrhage was reported by Dr. Heboid, of Newark,
N. J., in the North  American Journal, vol. 7, page 494.   " On the
evening of the 11th of August last  I was called in haste to  the
bedside of Mr. G., an American about forty years  of age, who had
just the third attack of pulmonary hemorrhage  under Allopathic
medication,  in the space of four days.  He had lost about a pint of
moderately fresh looking blood each time, but this time more than
previously.  The history of the case was, that he had  "inflamma- 
132       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
tion of the lungs " two years ago treated allopathically.   Up to this
day he was comparatively well, and could assign no cause for his
present sickness.  On the first day he got sick he passed blood per
anum too, but not subsequently.  With a short  hacking cough, he
raised almost without  intermission, and spat very tough and dark
coagula of blood, as large as a bean, enveloped in  viscid phlegm.
Of course he felt somewhat uneasy in his chest, but had no pain.  I
put him on Hamamelis Virginica  for the next three days but the
hemorrhage returned twice,  on the 12th and 14th, although  dimin-
ished ; the spitting of blood remained about the same. Then I gave
Ferrum-aceticum;  for  twenty-four  hours, some  hemorrhage.
Lycopus virginicus for twenty-four hours.
    August 16th.  No  better.  Complains  of great  inconvenience
from constipation.  Gave Collinsonia Canadensis one-fourth,  one
powder every three hours (having in view only its gentle laxative
power).  The next morning I was greeted,  " Well, Doctor,  that
is the right remedy,  that will cure me,'' and so it did almost. I say
almost, for  notwithstanding he took it up to the 25th, " by and by
at longer intervals,'' there appeared for the last four days, two or
three times blood in his sputa.  The cure was completed by Conium
first, in two days.  Saw him  well to-day.   The Collinsonia  can.
acted  in  this case not in the least on the bowels, more on the
kidneys, but developed an  admirable carminative power.  So also
said a lady who took  it for dysmenorrhoea, and who called them
only  by  the name of "wind-powders."  Mr. G.  never  had
hemorrhoids."
             CORNUS  CIRCINATA.

                {Round-leaved dog-wood.  Green Osier.)

   This is a shrub from six to ten feet high, with  warty branches,
large, roundish, pointed leaves, waved on their edges  and downy
beneath, and white flowers disposed in depressed cymes.  The fruit
is blue.  The  bark, when  fresh, is  of a bright green color;  when
dried, is in quills, of a whitish  or ash  color ;  its taste is bitter,
astringent and aromatic.   The plant grows on hill-sides and banks
of rivers.  It flowers in June and July.
   Wood, Lee, and  nearly  all the allopathic authorities make but
slight mention of this variety of Cornus.  With characteristic want
of accurate knowledge, they assert  that all the varieties of this
plant possess  the same medical virtues.  The general effects  of all
may have a general resemblance, but each has a peculiar action  of
its own upon  the human system.
   Generalities.—Dark and  bilious stools with  griping and tenes-
mus ; dysenteric symptoms; bowel complaints generally, with pains 
CORNUS  CIRCINATA.
133
in the bowels  before, during,  and after  the discharges; general
debility, and  impaired  mental energy, with  great drowsiness;
bilious derangements; dull, heavy sensation in the head; shooting,
aching, or throbbing pains in the head; disposition to perspire on
slight exertion ;  nausea, loss  of appetite,  bitter taste, lassitude ;
symptoms resembling jaundice ; cholera'infantum; diarrhoea, with
excessive debility and nervous  excitability; chilliness, followed by
flushes of heat and  sweat; sleep  unrefreshing, and  disturbed by
unpleasant  dreams; diarrhoea, with   great prostration  of the
whole body.
   Clinical Remark.—Dr. Marcy found it curative in  all the con-
ditions mentioned above.
   Skin.—Itching of the scalp, legs, and feet, increased  by scratch-
ing or  rubbing,  and succeeded by a painful burning sensation;
aggravation of an habitual scurfy eruption of the scalp; amelior-
ation  of a long standing herpetic eruption while under the influ-
ence of the  drug ; occasional  paroxysms  of itching of  the skin of
the back, legs, and feet, mostly at night; fine  scarlet rash on  the
breast, attended with  itching; itching  in various parts of  the
body; burning sensation over the whole face; skin covered with
a copious clammy perspiration; itching around the genital organs;
itching and  burning sensation  over the whole body; pricking sen-
sation in the arms and legs.
   Clinical Remarks.—These symptoms would seem to bear out
the popular belief that it is a good "  blood purifier."  Dr. Beach,
a veteran of  the Botanic school,  says:—" it  is  valuable in salt-
rheum, scrofula, cancerous humors, itch, and all cutaneous diseases.''
A sweeping assertion truly!  It might be classed among our anti-
psorics.
   Fever.—Flushes of heat, followed by easy general perspiration;
chilly sensations, succeeded by transient flushes of heat; congestion
of blood to  the head and face;  throbbing pains in the temples and
vertex; flushes of heat and coldness  in alternation; followed by
cold  perspiration;  soreness of the scalp; aching pains  in the eye-
balls ; rumbling  of wind in the bowels ; stitches in  the chest and
under the scapula ;  sense of debility and fatigue; heaviness of the
head; drowsiness ;  nausea; dull pain in the forehead and vertex ;
copious  general  clammy perspiration,  succeeded by general chil-
liness ;  transient  flashes  of heat pervading  the  whole body, with
shooting pains through the brain; heaviness of the eyelids; peevish-
ness ;  aversion to meat and bread; and itching of the legs, thighs,
and around the  genital  organs; head and  face hot; coldness,  fol-
lowed by flashes of heat and  perspiration; general itching of the
skin ; loss of appetite; drowsiness ; and griping pains in the bowels.
   Clinical Remarks.—In certain forms of bilious remittent fever,
if the gastric  and  intestinal symptoms correspond, this medicine
will be found useful.  Professor Ives says this  variety of Dog-
wood, resembles the pale  Peruvian Bark.   (C. Lancifolia.)  It is
used  in domestic practice as  an anti-periodic.  (See C. florida)
   Sleep.—Profound sleep during the  night; drowsiness and lassi-
tude ; very great  drowsiness, and disposition to perspire; sleep 
134        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
disturbed by frightful dreams; very sound,but unrefreshing sleep;
very great disposition to sleep, with  entire loss  of mental  and
physical  energy ;  sleep disturbed by  fulness and  pressure in the
head; sleepy,  and weak during the day, with  dull pains in the
head, back^ and limbs ; stupid and sleepy feeling with  nausea, and
burning of the face, hands and feet.
  Clinical  Remarks.—Those physicians who have had to  deal
much with bilious disorders, will recognize the above symptoms as
bearing a striking similarity to those which precedes a bilious fever,
hepatic congestion, jaundice, or even an ague.  Should  the totality
of the symptoms correspond, it is quite likely that the use of the
Cornus c. will prevent  the  establishment of either of those affec-
tions.
   Mind  and Sensorium.—Drowsiness ;  confusion of ideas ;   indif-
ference with respect  to subjects which usually interest; drowsi-
ness, with  entire  disinclination  to mental  or corporeal exertion;
depression  of spirits; difficulty  in fixing the mind, and in attend-
ing to ordinary business ; mind confused, stupid, with  inability  to
concentrate  it upon any subject—worse  toward night; lightness
of the head;  great  depression of spirits,   and petulence;  very
great disposition to sleep, with  apathy and indifference;  feeling
of  indolence,  and loss  of energy; lassitude,  confusion  of  ideas,
vertigo;  giddiness, and lightness of head, worse on  shaking it  or
on stooping ; dread of making any exertion.
   Clinical Remarks.—The suggestions offered under the pre-
ceding paragraph,  are also applicable here; the stupor, indifference,
etc., all resemble the  premonitory symptoms of disordered  condi-
tions of the  liver.  In hypochondriasis it  will be  found curative,
when arising from hepatic torpor.
   Head.—Dull, heavy pain in the whole head, with drowsiness, the
headache  increased by  walking, stooping or shaking the  head;
sense of fulness in the head relieved by a copious stool;  dull  pain
in the  forehead; aching pains through the  temples, and on the
top of the head ; confused feeling  in the head, and sense of fulness
in the  brain, with unusual heat  in the head and face;  congestion
of blood  to the head and face ; throbbing pains in the vertex, and
soreness  of  the  scalp; heavy, aching pains in the  head,  with
almost irresistible desire to sleep; drawing sensation (pain)  from
the back of the  head to the nose ;  dull throbbing pains in the
temples and side of the head ; deep seated,  pulsating pains  in the
occipital and parietal  regions; deep seated, dull pains under the
centre  of the  skull;  dull pain  in the back of  the  head;  pul-
sations extending  from  the front to  the  back part of the head ;
Severe pulsative pains in the temporal regions, which passed  off
during the evening and  night; heavy, confused feeling in the top
of the head^; slight, tensive aching pains through the whole brain ;
slight pain  over the right supra-orbital  ridge; dull  pain in  the
forehead  and vertex; flushes of heat  in the head and face ;  heat
in the top  of the head; head  feels   light and giddy,  worse  on
shaking the  head, or on stooping; shooting pains through the
whole brain ;  drawing pains in the back part of the head, and  in 
CORNUS   CIRCINATA.
135
the nape of the neck; sense of fulness and pressure in the head,
preventing sound sleep.
   Clinical  Remarks.—Dr. Marcy  found  it curative in cases
when there was—"Dull  heavy sensations in  the  head;  shoot-
ing,  aching or  throbbing pains in  the head."  It  would seem
to be indicated in various forms of bilious  headache.  One  partic-
ular form of bilious cephalalgia is well represented in the symptom
—"Sense of fulness  in the head, relieved  by a  copious stool."
Allopathic physicians, noticed long ago that some forms of head-
ache were relieved by free evacuations from the bowels, occurring
spontaneously.   This led to the use and abuse of cathartics in head
affections generally.   I have treated  many cases of habitual head-
ache, which were relieved naturally, by diarrhoea, in  which the
pains in the head and the subsequent diarrhoea symptoms corres-
ponded well with the above.  In such cases it should be tested.
    Eyes.—Aching pains  through the eyeballs; heaviness  of the
eyelids; eyes  sunken;  yellowish  tinge of the  conjuctiva; hollow-
ness of  the  eyes;  dark circle under the  eyes;  sense of weight
around the eyes ; very dull sensations over the eyeballs ; sense  of
contraction around  the eyes;  eyes dull and heavy, as after  a
 debauch ;  sore pain in the eyeballs.
    Clinical Remarks.—The " aching pains  through  the eyelids,"
 are with some patients always premonitory of an attack of ague, or
 a bilious fever.  We find it prevents a jaundice and bilious headache.
 The " yellow tinge of the conjunctiva " is often one of the  first
 symptoms of jaundice.  Dr. Marcy found  it useful in " symptoms
 resembling jaundice."  (See remarks under "stool.'')  Dr. Beach
 says it  is useful for " inflamed eyes."  This is about as  correct an
 indication as  Botanies  usually  have.    Theoretically, I  would
 strongly recommend it in ulcerations of the cornea;  ulcers of the
 conjunctiva,  from scrofula, or apthous ophthalmia; also for herpes
 of the eyelids.  It  should be used internally, and a wash  or col-
 lyrium.   (See remarks under the head of " mouth.'')
     jfose,—Itching of the nasal  mucous membrane; eoryza  early in
 the morning;  prickling sensation in the nasal  canal; severe prick-
 ling sensation in the bony part of the nose.
     Mouth and Throat.—Tongue covered with a thin, yellowish fur;
 insipid taste  and clammy mouth; tongue covered with a whitish
 fur, with  dry mouth and throat;  pungent taste in the mouth;
 bitter taste in the mouth ; smarting in the mouth  and throat; bad
 taste in the mouth,  with  loss of appetite; white fur on the tongue,
 with desire for cold,  drinks.                                  .
     Clinical Remarks.—The  above symptoms are those found in
 bilious affections generallv.  But  it is a little  remarkable that no
 symptoms of ulceration, inflammation,  or apthae  of  mucous mem-
 brane  of the  mouth  were  elicited  in  this  proving.   Perhaps
 stronger doses would have caused more decided lesions. During the
 early part of my practice  I was surprised, and sometimes mortified,
 at the facility  with which my patients would cure " sore mouths,'
 with the decoction of the bark of the green osier, after I had vainly
 used mercury,  nitric acid, sulphuric acid and other remedies laid 
136        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 down in our books.  In apthous stomatitis of children, and even in
 stomatitis materna, I have known it to effect a prompt cure after
 all other means had been used in vain. Even in mercurial salivation
 it will  arrest the diseased process,  but not so  surely  and per-
 manently as chlorate of potash.  In ulceration of the buccal mucous
 membrane from a cold, or gastric derangement, and in  that affec-
 tion sometimes called "bilious sore throat and mouth,'' it has, un-
 der my observation, proved specific.  Persons of a  scrofulous habit
 are  often troubled with frequently recurring ulceration of the
 tongue, gums, and mouth generally.  Such  patients I have  known
 who always resorted to  this remedy with a certainty of absolute
 relief.   One patient in particular  always carried some of the inner
 bark in  his pocket, and chewed it as a substitute for tobacco, alleg-
 ing that if he suspended its use the " sore mouth" very soon return-
 ed.  Another patient had this " sore mouth'' occasionally, alternated
 with ulcers on the conjunctiva and cornea. At my suggestion he used
 the cornus as a collyrium with the  happiest result.  It  may prove
 one of our most valuable  remedies in all ulcerations of mucous sur-
 faces.  The infusion is generally  made by pouring hot water upon
 the bark, in the proportion of one ounce of bark to one quart of water.
 For  homoeopathic use, this method might answer  in case the tinc-
 ture was not readily obtained. A few drops of the mother tincture
 in half a teacup of water, would be about the proper proportion. I
 have rarely used the tincture, as the infusion is so  easily made and
 readily administered.  In order to test its virtues, in minute  doses,
 I once gave a child, suffering under apthous ulceration of the mouth,
 the cornus c. prepared as  follows :  One drachm of the inner bark
 was placed in a vessel containing one quart of hot water.  This wras
 left standing one hour, then filtered.  Nitric-acid,  Chlorate of Pot-
 ash,  Borax,  had been previously used internally and locally.  In
 twenty-four hours  after using the  medicine the mucous membrane
 began to assume a healthier appearance, and in about  a week, was
 quite well.  The child was in ill health,  and  had had diarrhoea  for
 weeks, and had become quite emaciated. Under the use of the rem-
 edy the  diarrhoea ceased,  and the general health decidedly improved.
 The  dose was one teaspoonful of the above preparation  every four
 hours.   (No attempt was made to wash the  mouth).
   Eclectic writers call it an " Anti-scorbutic," and so far as my
 observation goes, it seems worthy the appellation.  In this respect it
is the analogue of the mineral acids, Baptisia, Kali Chlor., Mercur-
ius and Hydrastis.
   Appetite and Stomach.—Nausea, with bitter taste, and  aversion
to all kinds of food ; empty feeling in  the stomach, with  tasteless
 eructations; aversion to  food, and  desire for sour drinks; burn-
ing sensation in the stomach, which lasted an hour and a half;
 flatulent distension of the stomach; nausea; bitter taste,  and a
gnawing,  faint  feeling in the stomach; heavy pulsations in the
stomach, with nausea and impaired appetite ; pain  at the pit of the
 stomach during dinner, with distension of the stomach and bowels,
relieved  by a  copious stool  after dinner;   nausea,  with  great
 debility  and eructations;  fulness and oppression in the stomach, with 
CORNUS  CIRCINATA.               137
bad taste and dry mouth;  nausea, with bitter eructations and loss
of appetite;  smarting  and burning in the  mouth, throat  and
stomach, with desire for  stool;  weakness  of the stomach,  with
bitter taste and nausea; sensation of faintness in the stomach  and
bowels;  drawing pains from the stomach to the lower part of the
abdomen.
   Clinical Remarks.—Many of the symptoms of this drug, es-
pecially the  gastric, closely resemble  those of Nux vomica.  It
stands somewhere between Nux  and China in this respect.  It has
been used successfully in vomiting of pregnancy and dyspepsia. ^
   Abdomen.—Slight griping pains  in the  abdomen,  accompanied
with rumbling of wind; the pains penetrated the whole abdomen,
but  were  most severe in  the  vicinity of the umbilicus; pressing
 down pain in the rectum during  stool;  slight  burning pain  in the
 rectum during  an  evacuation; pressing  pain in the rectum, and
 smarting at the anus in the morning, during and  after  a thin and
 scanty stool;  tenesmus at stool,  with griping in the umbilical re-
 gion rumbling of wind and large discharge  of  offensive  flatus ;
 urging to stool, with fulness and uneasiness of the bowels; vague
 pains and general sense  of uneasiness in the bowels; slight tenes-
 mus, and considerable burning at the anus, after a bilious discharge;
 abdominal pains more acute during stool; urging to stool,  (sensa-
 tion in the rectum) in  the morning, at five  o'clock; on  taking
 more of the druar, this bearing-down sensation extended  to the bow-
 els, increasing the disposition to  evacuate.   Stool accompanied with
 some tenesmus and burning at the anus; distension of the stomach
 and bowels with wind; constant working in the bowels, as  if their
 contents were all in motion; shooting pains from the centre of the
 thorax to the lower part  of the  abdomen,  the  pains  coming  on
 severely at intervals, and then remitting; distension of the bowels
 with wind, relieved by a copious, dark and bilious stool; immediately
 after dinner;  sense of weight in the lower part of the abdomen;
 burning sensation in the stomach and bowels, with same desire  for
 stool; urging to stool very early in  the  morning,  but unable to
 accomplish anything satisfactory, the discharge consisting of a few
 slimy lumps, with pressing and smarting at the anus;  sensation of
 emptiness in the stomach and bowels;  drawing sensation from  the
 stoniach to the lower part of the abdomen.
     Clinical Remarks.—No drug, except, perhaps, mercury, pre-
  sents a more formidable  array of " bowel symptoms."   Dr.  Marcy
  says " its chief action appears to be upon the liver and intestinal
  canal.  A marked influence is likewise exerted upon the brain,  but
  whether the action of the drug is direct upon this organ, or whether
  the head symptoms proceed from the  bilious derangement induced
  by it, is a question.  We have found it curative in all the intestinal
  symptoms found under the head of " Generalities.''   " It was first
  introduced into practice as  a  remedy for  bowel complaints,  by
  Prof. Ives, of New Haven, some thirty years ago. Its empirical use
  in  the hands of this gentleman, proved it to be a valuable remedy in
  bilious diarrhoea,  dysentery,  cholera, infantum, and  against  the
  diarrhoeas peculiar to abdominal typhus."  If it  so promptly cures
         18 
 138       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 ulcerations of the mouth and fauces, why should it not prove just
 as much a specific for the intestinal ulcerations, which are peculiar
 to this form of typhoid fever?  The result most  to be feared in all
 inflammatory affections  of  mucous surface—as in  inflammatory
 diarrhoea, dysentery, abdominal typhus, etc., is ulceration.  Had the
 experiment been carried far enough by the provers, we have  no
 doubt this pathological condition would have occurred.  The dys-
 entric symptoms did not proceed so far as to cause bloody discharges,
 yet any  physician who reads the above will perceive that  it was
 only a question of time ;  blood  evacuations would  have soon been
 obtained if the  drug had been continued in large doses, and if  the
 prover had still persisted, ulceration would have certainly resulted.
 We cannot come at any  other  conclusion than that the Cornus  cir.
 will prove as valuable in a certain  class  of diseases as Mercurius,
 Leptandria, Podophyllum, or Nitric acid.  In one case of dysentery,
 in a child, when there was  unmistakable ulceration of the mucous
 membrane of the rectum, the mother, by my permission, used enema
 of a weak infusion of the green-osier.   After using it a few times
 the pus disappeared from the stools, and the child suffered less.   It
 had not improved under the  use  of Merc, cor.,  6th, and subse-
 quently Nitric acid, 3d.   Would it not  be well  to try this form of
 application,  as  well as internally, at the  same time ?
   Stool.—Slightly loose stool  in  the morning,  accompanied with
 slight pressing-down pain in the rectum ; Stool, thin and scanty,
 with burning at the rectum, and at the anus, during the discharge;
 thin, scanty and slimy stool, attended with griping in  the umbilical
 region; tenesmus, rumbling of wind, and large discharge of offensive
 flatus; copious,  thin and bilious  discharge, succeeded by some tenes-
 mus and burning at the anus which lasted half an hour; dark green,
 thin, and very offensive stools,  accompanied by copious emission of
 offensive flatus; bilious and slimy stool,  with much wind, some ten-
 esmus, and  severe, burning pain at the anus, and  a short distance
 within the rectum, whichcontinued after the motion; dark, thin and
 moderately copious stool, with some tenesmus, and  a burning at the
 anus; frequent, small, dark and slimy stools with much offensive
 flatus; copious, dark stool of the natural consistence, attended with
 pressing-down sensation in the rectum; large emission, of very offen-
 sive flatus; hard, dry and scanty stool, with pressing in the rectum;
 stool, consisting of a  few thin and slimy  lumps, with  pressing and
 smarting at the anus.  (See  remarks under " Abdomen.")
  Urine-—Urine, scanty and red or  pale ; sensation of fulness and
 weight in the region of the bladder; urine, scanty and high-colored,
 and frequent inclination to pass water.
   Genital Organs.—Strange and persistent erections  through the
night; increased sexual  desire  during the evening  and night, with
 diminished power.
   Larnyx and  Chest.—Stitches in the  chest and back;  stitches  in
 the chest and under the right scapula; a  fine scarlet rash upon the
 chest, attended with itching ;   sensation of dragging or bearing
 down on each side  of the thorax, with accelerated pulsations  of the
 heart; a sore,  bruised feeling  in  the  chest and  back;  shooting 
CORNUS  FLORIDA.
139
pains from the centre of the thorax to the lower part of the abdo-
men, severe at times and then remitting; choking sensation in the
upper  part  of the  thorax;  smarting  in the  mouth  and throat;
frequent inclination to take a long breath.
   Back.—Dull pain in the small of the back, with drowsiness  and
lassitude; stitches in the back and chest; pain in the lower  part
of the back ;  sore pain  in the  lumbar region, worse on bending
forward or to either side; occasional paroxysms  of itching in the
back, especially in the evening.
   Upper Extremities.—Burning and itching sensation in the hands
and arms ; coldness of the hands following a loose stool; prickling
Bensation in the arms; stretching sensation in the arms, mostly in
the evening and at  night; sense of weakness and  fatigue  in the
arms.
   Lower Extremities.—Weary feeling  in the legs; itching in the
legs;   weakness and  weary  feeling in  the legs;  weakness  and
trembling of the legs ; itchings on the legs and thighs, and around
the labia; burning sensation in the feet; coldness of feet follow-
ing a  loose stool;  tired  feeling in the legs when  walking or
ascending stairs: prickling sensation in the legs;  paroxysms of
itching in the legs in the evening.
               CORNUS  FLORIDA.

                        {Dogwood, Boxwood).

    Common throughout all our forests ; conspicuous in spring-time
 by its festoons of large, white blossoms, and equally so during the
 autumn, from  its clusters of scarlet berries ; a handsome little tree,
 usually about  fifteen to twenty feet high,  is the Cornus  florida of
 the United States.  In this genus of Cornacee, there are  about
 twenty species, of  which America has, north  of Mexico, eleven.
 The Flowering Dogwood is the most  beautiful and showy plant of
 its genus.  It is too well known to need description.   The bark is
 officinal, though that of the root contains the  greatest amount of
 the active princiole.   " The principle  obtained from it is  called
 cornine, and has all the properties of Sulphate  of Quinine."   This
 loose assertion must be taken cum grano salis, like all similar asser-
 tions of the  dominant school.  No pathogenesis of  the Cornus
florida  has yet appeared.  I  propose,  therefore, to collect  what
 has been written of its therapeutic uses, and gather the few patho-
 genetic symptoms which are scattered through the pages of various
 authorities.  We can, by these means, get some idea of its sphere
 of action, which will lay the foundation for rational clinical experi-
 ence, and stimulate us to prove the drug, as Hahnemann did its
 great analogue, China.   Prof.  Lee {Jour, of  Mat. Med., vol. 1.,
 p. 294,) thus speaks of it:  " The physiological effects of the Cornus 
140       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
bark are similar to those of the vegetable  bitter tonics  generally,
viz., increased frequency of pulse, exalted temperature, diaphoresis,
sensation of fulness or pains in the head, and gastric derangement.
Of these, the most strongly marked  are the increased temperature
of the skin, and the  general perspiration.  Some  experimenters
have observed a constant  tendency to sleep, which  has  continued
for several hours.  This,  as occurs in many other cases, does  not
indicate  any specific narcotic  properties, but  is the result of  the
cerebral  fulness."  Dr. Blackie says that it causes " severe head-
ache, quickens the pulse, and produces violent pains in the bowels."
Other  writers give testimony to the above statement.  Here we
have good evidence that the Dogwood will cause febrile  symptoms
of a peculiar character. Who can doubt its ability to cause a type
of intermittent, bilious, or remittent fever, with gastric  and intes-
tinal irritation ?   Just such types of fever are found in  the West,
and may be treated successfully with  Cornus.   We  have consider-
able testimony in favor of its value in intermittents.  Eberle states
that thirty-five grains of the bark are equal to thirty of  Cinchona.
Its effects are closely analogous to those of the cinchona bark, for
which it may often be successfully substituted.  Lee says : " Our
own experience with this article has satisfied us that most cases of
our periodic or miasmatic fevers will yield to its judicious use."
Prof. Barton says:  "That it may be asserted  with entire safety,
that as yet there has not  been discovered within the limits of the
United States any vegetable so effectually to answer the purpose of
Peruvian bark in  the management of intermittent  fevers, as  the
Cornus florida."  Dr. Morton, who experimented largely with the
bark, declares that in an extensive practice of many  years he used
no other remedy in  intermittent and remittent fevers."   Dr.  Coe
writes  :  " Its anti-periodic powers render it of peculiar value in the
treatment of intermittent and  other periodic fevers.   In such fevers
we have employed it with much success.  It is certain that Comine
has cured fever and  ague when quinine  has failed, and  that in all
cases when the latter cannot be employed, the Cornine answers as a
substitute."  In domestic  practice, I have observed for many years
that it was often more successful than quinine in certain types of
ague.  The country people generally make an infusion of uncertain
strength, and drink of it during the apyrexia.  If taken during the
paroxysm, it  causes  an aggravation of the fever,  headache,  etc.
From its known effects when taken in large doses, as  well as certain
observations of my own, I would lay down the following indications
for its  use  in miasmatic fevers:  Paroxysm preceded for days by
sleepiness;  sluggish flow of  ideas;  headache of a  heavy,  dull
character;  nausea;   vomiting;  loss  of  appetite; and  sometimes
bilious or watery diarrhoea ; chill, with cold, clammy skin;  nausea
and vomiting, and violent pains in the bowels ; fever,  with violent
headache ; hot, but moist skin ; stupor;  " cerebral fulness ;" pulse
quick  and hard; confusion of intellect, etc.  Apyrexia—Debility,
gastric  irritability;  painful diarrhoea.  In  bilious  remittent,  and
even typhoid fever, it may prove a  useful remedy.   It seems to
occupy an intermediate position between China and Podophyllum. 
CORNUS  FLORIDA.                141
Lee admits that it will aggravate an existing febrile condition, but
resorts to the usual false logic to explain its curative action:  " A
person in health may take the Cornus, as well as any of the other
vegetable tonics, in moderate doses, and for a long time without
any marked effects on any of the functions ; but taken  in the same
manner and the same quantities,  in certain pathological states, as a
general lowering of the vital forces and nervous energy, independ-
ent of organic disease, or when miasmatic poison has caused a
tendency  to  paroxysmal  attacks, the  therapeutical  influence  of
Cornus will be promptly manifested in a general invigoration of the
vital forces and suspension of the paroxysms.  Here, as in regard to
Cinchona, we must be satisfied  with the result, for the manner  in
which it is brought about must ever remain a mystery.  In certain
morbid conditions, as hectic fever or great debility, attended with
frequency of pulse, and cold, colliquative sweats, the Cornus would
seem to possess the power of a  sedative, as manifested in decided
lowering of pulse, and abatement of perspiration.  This effect  is
common  to all neurotic tonics, in certain pathological conditions  of
the body.  It depends on their imparting increased tonicity to the
muscular fibres of the heart through  the  organic  nerves, thus
enabling  the central organ of circulation  to  throw out a greater
quantity  of blood at each  contraction.  The cardiac irritability
also is lessened by the temporary increase of tonic power and vital
contractibility.   On the contrary, if Cornus and other analogous
substances be given  in acute and  sthenic conditions  marked  by
those phenomena which are characteristic of inflammatory action,
the circulation will be correspondingly increased by an increase of
inflammatory  action;  in  both conditions, however,  acting as a
stimulant."  The above is open to much just criticism.   We will
take up a few of his  propositions.   1.  A person in health cannot
take Cornus, or any other vegetable  tonic, for a long time, without
any marked effect.   His own statement regarding the  effects  of
Dogwood disprove it.  Besides,  the slightest knowledge of physio-
logical processes teaches us that no tonic can be taken with impun-
ity by a healthy person.  We soon have an exaltation of function,
then derangement of function, and,  finally, more or less depressed
condition of the vital powers. 2. We are not obliged to remain in
mystery  relative to the action of Cornus and  Cinchona.  Hahne-
mann discovered that the latter cured disorders like  those it was
capable  of causing;  and the Cornus  acts in a  similar  manner.
Trosseau and  Wood—highest  allopathic authorities—admit  this
virtually, but cloak the real fact, under the term, " Substantiation."
3.  Cornus cannot be a sedative, and at  the same time a stimulant.
The  terms  are  contradictory,  and used in the  manner above,
causing no idea at all.   The whole truth is, that the Cornus, like all
other drugs, have two series of actions—primary and secondary.
The primary action is, to cause exaltation of the functions of the
vital organs, thence fever, congestion, inflammation.  The second-
ary effects  are  nearly  opposite, such as  depression  of the vital
forces, loss of tonicity in the heart  and muscular  fibre generally,
irritation of the various  tissues,  coldness,  colliquative  sweats. 
142        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
 Prof. Lee's facts are not to be disputed,  but his  theory of the
 action of the medicine is untenable.  Cornus is  homoeopathic to
 both the  primary and secondary symptoms above enumerated, in
 doses varied  to suit the existing conditions ; and  it can cure such
 pathological  states  only  by virtue  of its power  to cause similar
 ones.  4.  Cornus and its analogues will not aggravate  existing
 inflammatory conditions, if  given  in proper quantities. Adminis-
 tered  in minute doses, it  will promptly remove inflammations and
 congestions,  if indicated  by the symptoms, and if  tfie quantity is
 small enough, no aggravation will follow its use.  Prof. Lee, King,
 and other authorities assert that the tincture of Cornus will cause
 " violent pain in the bowels, purging, derangement of the digestive
 organs, vomiting, nausea, gastric  derangement," etc.;  yet all are
 equally free to admit, and even advise its use in similar conditions.
 They say, " It  will promote the  appetite  and digestion, and is
 useful in atomic and enfeebled conditions of the stomach ;  and will
 act as an  anthelmintic, by improving the functions of the alimen-
 tary canal, and correcting those conditions of the  digestive organs
 which favor the production of worms."  And yet, if it was suggest-
 ed to these worthy writers that the medicine might  act  according
 to  the law of  similia,  they would reject the proposition  with
 contempt!  It is just possible that  many of the  indications laid
 down for the Cornus circinata maybe applicable to this medicine ;
 to be exact we ought to have a scientific proving.  But most Hom-
 oeopaths are not aware that, although it is asserted by both schools
 that the varieties of Cinchona  bark differ  considerably in their
 action, yet our pharmaceutists use the C. augustifolia and  C. lan-
 cifolia almost indiscriminately.  To meet the demands of a per-
 fectly  scientific  materia  medica, each variety of Peruvian bark
 should be separately proven.  It is quite suggestive, that authorities
 recommend Cornus florida in about the same cases and conditions
 for which Hahnemann used  China, viz: general debility from loss
 of fluids, or  in the convalescing stages of  acute  diseases; hectic
fever,  night  sweats, indigestion, lientery, etc.  A tincture made
from the berries when ripe, is considered  by some as being most
efficacious in the above conditions.
   Reports of cases of ague successfully treated by the late E. J.
Bates, M. D., with Cornus florida, will be found in American Hom-
oeopathic  Observer, Feb. 1864, page 29.
   Cornine.—This is the so-called active principle, of the C. florida,
and stands in the same relation to the bark, as does Quinine to the
Cinchona.  Some prefer  the Sulphate, as the best preparation.  I
have not used the Cornine extensively.  In a few cases  of  debility
from loss of fluids, when  China, Quinine, and Phos. acid failed to
act beneficially, I used the  first trituration  with  apparent  good
effect.   Those of the eclectic school  who use it largely, declare it
to be a prompt remedy for the cure of the usual types of intermit-
tent fevers.  They assert  that it does not affect  the head as do
 other preparations of the bark; nor does it  cause  gastric or intes-
tinal derangements.  Here let me call attention to  one notable fact
in relation to  all these so-called " active principles,"  resinoid alka- 
CYPRIPEDIUM  PUBESCENS.           143
loid, or whatever they are called.  While they retain  to a consid-
erable extent the specific  properties of the drug, they are destitute
of many of its more important virtues.   Thus Quinine possesses not
all the curative power of China;  Macrotin does not represent all
the properties of  Cimicifuga; and  Leptandrin has no such specific
effect upon the  brain as the  tincture of Leptandria.  So  with
Cornine;  it represents only a part  of the qualities of the original
drug.  These " active principles " ought to be subjected to separate
provings.   But we are partly justified  in using them ; for, it may
be asserted with truth, that, while they do not possess all the virtues
of the tincture of the bark, etc., they do not differ in their action.
They have lost something, but have gained no new qualities.   Thus
we may use the Cornine in states of general debility, although the
bowel symptoms which indicate the Comws, are not present.  Dr.
 Coe says,  " for ague, Cornine should be given in three to five grain
 doses every three hours, preceded  by,  or alternated with Leptan-
 drin."  I  would  advise  the lower triturations instead, and know
 they are  just  as  efficacious.   The same  writer  teaches  that,
 "although  Cornine  does not  possess  the power of neutralizing
 acidity of the stomach, yet it is of exceeding utility in those cases
 of indigestion, in which that symptom is a troublesome feature.   It
 gives almost instant, immediate relief in that distressing symptom
 called  " heartburn,"  and its continued use  will prove a sure pre-
 ventive of  its  occurrence,  by restoring the tone of the  stomach,
 and so obviating the tendency to fermentation.
       CTPRIPEDIUM   PUBESCENS.

                   {Large Yellow Ladies' Slipper).

   There are eight varieties of Cypripedium  indigenous to this
country, but the C. pubescens from some cause  appears to have
been selected as the variety to be the most used in medicine.  It is
known by the common names of American Valerian, (this name is
Smith's, applied to the Scutellaria,) Nerve-root, Yellow moccasin
flower etc   For  minute  description  of  this and other  varieties
see King's Dispensatory.   The root is the officinal portion  The
roots of all these varieties  are undoubtedly  collected, sold, and
used  with  the  officinal  article  indiscriminately.  Homoeopathic
pharmaceutists should therefore be very careful  m the selection of
the root.  This plant has  always been a favorite remedy in  domes-
tic and  " botanic " practice.   As a " true nervine," it meets  a great
many indications in the treatment  of  females and  children  and its
harmlessness commends it  to general use.  It is  an analogue of
Valerian, Coffea,  Thea, Chamomilla,  Scutellaria,  Senecio  gracilis,
and Ambra-grisea.  The Eclectic school thus estimates its  proper- 
144        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
ties:   Dr.  King says it  is  " Tonic, stimulant, diaphoretic, and
antispasmodic.   Useful  in hysteria, chorea, nervous headache, and
all cases of nervous  irritability ; has proved useful  in neuralgia,
delirium and hypochondria.  Combined with nepeta, and  Scutel-
laria,  it has permanently cured headache (nervous) not dependent
on acid stomach.  An infusion is said to be beneficial  in the pains
of the joints following scarlet fever.""  Jones and Scudder, (Mat.
Med.) write—"In numerous affections termed neuropathic,  we
have  employed the  Cypripedium  with  decided  advantage.   It
equalizes and  energizes the nervous  powers, lessens excitement,
allays nervous irritability, alleviates pain, and appears to invigorate
both  body  and  mind,  leaving the patient more  cheerful and  lively
than when  any  of  the narcotics, or many of the anti-spasmodics are
prescribed. The  diseases in which it is indicated are hysterical
affections, hypochondriasis, delirium tremens, epilepsy, chorea, hem-
icrania, neuralgia, ataxic or nervous fevers, etc.  In low fever
accompanied with morbid nervous  excitability, or irritability, as
manifested  by  ruthlessness,  vigilance, watchfulness, with  great
sinking of the  vital  powers, the  Cypripedium produces  a calm
or tranquil  state of mind,  invigorates the system,  and  favors
sleep.  It is not so important in the relief of spasms or convulsions
as many other agents, yet its peculiar nervine  and stimulant quali-
ties admirably  adapt it to  the  relief of that morbid state of the
cerebro - spinal  system,  upon which  spasms depend."  Dr. Coe
places about the same estimate upon the medicinal powers of this
plant.  He says:  "As a substitute  for paragoric, Godfrey's cor-
dial,  etc.,  it is most advantageously employed in alleviating the
disorders of children, requiring the  use of an anodyne.  It posses-
ses, however, some  narcotic power, and many times roill be found as
inadmissible as opium."  This last admission is quite  an important
one, and throws some light on the  action  of this remedy.  I have
noticed this narcotic effect upon the persons of some of my patients
who were in the habit of using this plant to excess.   In  country
practice, it is not unusual for the practitioner to find  persons who
are as strongly  addicted to the habitual use of  the Cypripedium, as
others are  to the  use of Opium.  They are generally persons be-
yond  the middle age, whose nervous systems have once been shat-
tered by some  serious illness, and they have resorted to the lady-
slipper for  palliative relief.  Such individuals,  under the influence
of the  drug, are lively and  talkative, disposed  to work, and are
really capable of making unusual exertions without much  fatigue.
They are tranquil, feel no pain, and altogether  very  comfortable.
But when the use  of the drug is suspended they become irritable,
irascible, fretful;  their motions are  hurried and uncertain; they
are agitated by the least contradictory word, a noise, or any excite-
ment  of those  around  them; they  cannot  sleep, and even have
jactitations, pains, and hysterical spasms.  These are  the primary
and secondary  states and symptoms which are directly caused by
the pathogenetic action of the Cypripedium.  I do not think the
plant  has  any  specific  influence over the skin  or mucous  mem-
branes. 
               CYPRIPEDIUM  PUBESCENS.            145

  Clinical Remarks.—My observations and experience with this
remedy has given me the following impressions relative to its true
sphere of therapeutic action.  (1.)  Its action on the brain, is sim-
ilar to that of Tea, Coffee, Cannabis indica, Cocoa, and a few others
of that  class.  Its pathogenetic action does not extend as far as
that of Agaricus, Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, Stramonium, and others
of that group.  I do not believe  its toxical effects go beyond the
causation of functional  irritation.  It is therefore  not homoeopa-
thic to congestion,  inflammation, or  apoplexy of the brain and
spinal cord and  its membranes, but only to conditions of morbid
irritability,  or hyperesthesia of the  nervous  tissues.  I  do  not
doubt its ability to cause serious brain affection in young children,
for the nervous mass in infancy is so delicate and sensitive, that any
agent capable of causing  simple irritation,  (tea, coffee, bright
lights, noise, fright,  etc.,) may induce a condition, which readily
runs on to serious disorder.   In young children, irritability of the
brain often appears many days or weeks before more serious disease
sets in.  Proper remedies will often arrest this  condition, and pre-
vent congestion  and inflammation.   Children  thus  afflicted are
noticed to be more lively than usual,  more  inclined to laugh and
play at unwonted hours, even in the night; will often laugh in
their sleep, or are very  wakeful and  excitable.  If the little ones
are urged to play, are excited by light, noise and laughter—all these
tend to fix the irritation  more  strongly upon the over-sensitive
brain, and soon the child is  attacked  with  spasms or convulsions,
and a meningitis closes the scene.  It  is  in these premonitary con-
ditions,  or  states of simple irritation, that  the Cypripedium and
Scutellaria,  as well as Coffea and Cannabis  indica are really indica-
ted ; and in my hands, the first named remedy has acted admirably,
and  in  a highly satisfactory manner.  To  very young infants I
usually administer the third or sixth dilution in water,  or pellets, as
often as the case seems  to demand.   On the Nervous System gen-
 erally,  of children  or adults, it  acts as a pure hyperaestheseant;
primarily, elevating  the  excitability and  activity; and secondarily,
decreasing the strength, and awakening  a morbid irribility of a low
grade.   It is not therefore homoeopathic  to neurotic  diseases due to
inflammation, congestion, or any organic change, but  to a peculiar
irritability such as I have described above.  In  many cases of Neu-
ralgia, " the pain is the disease."  In such  instances  the Cypripe-
dium will be found  curative in many cases.  The same observation
will apply to  chorea, epileptiform symptoms, hysteria, etc.   I have
used it with good effects in the watchfulness, and nervous agitation
of low fevers; but only  as a palliative,  for  the drug is manifestly
not homoeopathic to the pathological conditions which  are pres-
ent.  In the  treatment of diseases of  females its use will  give
satisfaction to the practitioner who adapts it to the symptoms for
which it is  truly homoeopathic.  The  Dose  is  to be graduated
according to the age of  the patient, and whether the symptoms are
primary or secondary, ranging from the 6th dilution or trituration,
down to drop doses of the  mother tincture.
19 
146       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
                         CTPRIPEDIN.
   This is the active principle of the Cypripedium pub., and for all
practical purposes,  or  until  we have a  thorough proving of  the
plant, may be used instead of the tincture  and dilutions.  I have
used the triturations, and find  this  preparation curative  in about
the same conditions, and for the same symptoms, as the prepara-
tion  from the crude root.   It is, of course, much more  powerful
than the tincture, and the dose should be selected accordingly.  I
have  never given it to children, but in adults  it may be given in
the sixth ox first triturations, without fear of aggravation, if not too
long continued, or inappropriately applied.
            DIOSCOREA  VILLOSA.

                      {Wild Yam.  Colic-root.)

    This is an indigenous plant, growing in most parts of the United
 States,  but in most  abundance  in the  West and South.   It is a
 slender vine, growing in thickets and hedges, and along-side fenees,
 flowering in June and  July.  The root which is  the part used in
 medicine, is long, from two to four  lines  in  thickness, wocdy  and
 contorted.  It is of a yellowish-brown color externally, a slight, not
 unpleasant odor when bruised, and sweetish, slightly bitter taste.
 Water and alcohol extract its medicinal qualities.  Dioscorein, the
 active principle of the  plant,  is much  used,  instead  of the  crude
 preparations; but generally it is most successful  when  given in
 infusion, one ounce  to  one pint of boiling water.   Of this, one to
 two fluid ounces are given at a dose.  This is one of those remedies
 principally known for certain specific effects upon  one  organ or
 tissue.  I  will here give the estimate of the eclectic school concern-
 ing its properties, together with the theories concerning its modus
 operandi,  in order that we may have the testimony before  us, to aid
 in our further investigations.   Wood does not mention it in any of
 his works, neither do other strictly allopathic  writers.   King calls it
 an anti-spasmodic, " successfully  used  by  eclectics in bilious colic,
 in doses of half a pint of the decoction, repeated every half an hour
 or hour; in fact, no other agent seems necessary in this disease, as it
 gives  prompt and permanent relief in the most severe cases.  It  will
likewise allay nausea, also spasms of the bowels."  Of the Dioscorein
 he says:  "It is undoubtedly as much a specific in  bilious colic, ag
 quinia is in intermittent" (i. e. only specific to some cases ?)   " In a
 severe case of bilious colic, pronounced past hope  by  several physi-
 cians, four grains, rubbed up with a tab.'espoonful of brandy, afford-
 ed  prompt relief, and  a repetition of the dose in about twenty
 minutes from the time of taking  the first, effected a cure.   In
ordinary cases one or two grains of Dioscorein may be administered 
DIOSCOREA   VILLOSA.
147
every five, ten or twenty minutes."  It  is useful  in cramp of the
stomach, flatulence,  and even uterine cramps.   Coe (Cone,  Org.,
Med.,) says:  "The  wonderful efficacy  of this remedy in the cure
of bilious colic, renders it an  indispensible agent to  every practi-
tioner  of the healing act.  In this complaint it is as near a specific
as any remedy can well be.  The relief  it affords is  both prompt
and certain.  But its entire value does not  relate to this disease
alone, as it has been found useful in  cholera morbus, nausea attend-
ing pregnancy,  spasms,  coughs, hepatic disorders, after-pains,
flatulence, dysmenorrhcea, and in all  cases where  an anti-spasmodic
is required."   " In our experience of the management of cholera
morbus, as well as vomiting from other  causes,  we have found that
small doses, frequently repeated, will oftentimes  control the symp-
toms, when large doses fail," (one-fourth grain of Dioscorein.)  " In
conclusion, we would reiterate the fact that Dioscorein is eminently
anti-spasmodic, and  diaphoretic, and that its  power of  relieving
spasms, relates more particularly  to the  stomach and bowels, in
the disorders of which  it has become to be looked upon by many as
nearly a specific.  We  speak of our own knowledge when  we state
it to be the  most reliable remedy yet discovered for bilious and
flatulent colic, and intestinal spasm and  irritation generally.  It is a
safe and harmless remedy, but in over-doses will produce vomiting.''*
The italics above  are our own.   If it will cause vomiting in over
doses, why may it not  cause spasms,  cramps, irritation, and  other
phenomena of bilious and flatulent colic, for which it  is so  specific ?
I do not doubt its power of inducing these affections, when long
given in pathogenetic doses.   "Jones and Scudder assert that it acts
as " a very gentle diaphoretic, without  exciting the  action of the
heart and  arteries, or  increasing the temperation of the body.  It
has been  but little used, however, for  this  purpose,  although it
might undoubtedly to employed with much advantage.  It appears
to act as an anodyne and anti-spasmodic, and  likewise as an anti-
emetic, in the diseases in which it is principally employed.  The only
affection in which it has been used sufficiently to  give it a fair test
to its virtues, is bilious colic.  In many instances it has appeared to
act with great promptitude  in  allaying nausea  and vomiting, and
relieving the pain and spasmodic action  invariably present in that
disease.  " In various cases of great  severity, when other remedies
had been faithfully and perseveringly employed,  and when all had
proved unavailing, the nausea and vomiting, severe pain and spasms
continuing unabated, with a dry and  husky state of the surface, the
Dioscorea has afforded entire relief in every respect,  in twenty or
thirty minutes, and  the patient has fallen into a comfortable  state
of repose, and slept quietly the first time since the attack."  Of the
Dioscorein, they add, " We  have used it in bilious colic with much
success; and as an anti-emetic in other cases.  In  the cholera-infau-
tum of children, it is one of our most efficient agents; combined with
Leptandrin, we have succeeded in curing cases which  were consid-
ered hopeless.  From our experience with this agent, and it has
been somewhat extensive, we believe it  has a specific action  upon
the liver, not  only increasing,  but changing the  character of the 
148       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
bilious secretion."  The above is better and more definite testimony
than we usually get from allopathic sources.  We can  afford to
laugh at the name " anti-emetic," when their own authorities admit
that it causes vomiting.  Yet they will not see that it cures accord-
ing to the law of similia.  Doubtless they would seek to explain its
action upon some  other  hypothesis  even if was known to cause
intestinal spasms.  Dr. I. G. Jones, late professor of practice in the
Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, and author of an  extensive
work on Practice, writes concerning  this medicine :^  "The  remedy
upon which I rely in the  treatment  of bilious  colic is Dioscorea
villosa.   I  have used it with entire success in all the cases that have
come under my care.  In one case that had been previously treated
forty-eight  hours  with  injections,   fomentations,  anodynes,  and
cathartics,  without success, the patient was relieved in half an hour
by  taking one dose of Dioscorea.  In another case, to which I was
called in the night, the patient, who had been suffering severely for
twelve  hours, was perfectly relieved in a few minutes and soothed
into a quiet sleep.  It has never been known to fail, and I should
rely upon it with entire confidence in all cases of this disease.   The
philosophy of its therapeutic  action  may not as yet be  fully under-
stood, or clearly explained.  That it is eminently adapted to the
case is very certain, and that, after all, is the main point in practice."
It may be interesting to us to know  what condition Dr. Jones calls
" bilious colic." He think it does not depend on hepatic disturb-
ance at all.  The symptoms are gastric derangement; furred  tongue;
constant pain, aggravated by regular paroxysms of increased suffer-
ings; pain located  at first in the  centre of, but gradually diffused
over the  whole abdomen;  febrile reaction, vomiting,  distended,
tender and sensitive abdomen, etc.  The clinical experience of the
homoeopathic school, with Dioscorea and Dioscorein is not extensive.
In fact I find no published record, and can only give the statements
of my intimate colleagues.  Dr. P. H. Hale,  of Hudson, Michigan,
informs me that he has used the tincture and lower dilutions success-
fully in  cramps  of the stomach, flatident  colic, bilious coUc,  and
cholera morbus. Dr. A. R. Smart, who administered the remedy at
my solicitation in the same affections,  writes me  that it seems to act
curatively  in cases in  which  Colocynth, Nux vomica and  Chamo-
millaare usually given.   Dr. C. A. Williams, reports the  following
cases :  " Mr.----, aged 50, subject to severe attacks of cholera
morbus, attended with vomiting, diarrhoea,  painful cramps in the
stomach,  bowels and extremities, from which,  under allopathic
treatment, he would not recover for  several  days.  I was called  in
the night to see him after the attack had lasted about an hour.   He
was suffering intensely from the above symptoms and supposed he
was to have an illness of several days duration.  Wishing to  test the
alleged virtues of Dioscorein, I gave him about two grains of the first
trituration every fifteen minutes.  After the third dose he became
easier, and before the sixth dose, expressed himself as quite comfort-
able.  He shortly fell  asleep, and in the morning went  about his
usual avocations."  To this I will add my own observations.   I have
used the 1st, 2nd and 3rd dilutions,  and triturations, in the above 
DIOSCOREA  VILLOSA.
149
affections.  In cramps of the stomach, (Cardialgia) the first decimal
dilution often acts more promptly and satisfactorily than Nux vom.
In the  dioscorea-gastralgia there is generally a great tendency to
erucate, and the pain is paroxysmal.  In spasmodic colic, it seems
to be indicated when we usually give Colocynth  and Chamomilla.
In these cases  there is usually much  flatulence,  rumbling, and
paroxysmal pain.   In the colic of children, accompanied or not by
diarrhoea, and attended witb screams and cries, and  emission of
flatulence, the second and third triturations have been useful.  The
true sphere of its action,  whether  upon the muscular  or nervous
tissues of the abdomen, etc., cannot yet be defined.  I  am inclined
however, to the opinion that  it  acts more  specifically upon  the
former.   Its action is probably confined to the stomach  and intes-
tines.  If useful in after-pains, or hepatic disorders,  it must be
because they depended upon some intestinal derangement.  I once
treated a gentleman for several years, for  an  anomalous disease of
the abdominal organs, of which I could never  form any satisfactory
idea.  He had been troubled with it from early youth.  The pain,
for that constituted nearly the  whole of the  malady,  appeared at
irregular intervals, sometimes once a week, at others once a month,
and lasted several days.  I never prescribed anything, nor did any
other physician, which seemed to give him any relief.   Anodynes
dulled the pain for a time, but gave no permanent benefit.   It was
a crampy spasmodic pain, commencing near the crest of the ileum,
and extending to the lumbar region and hypogastrium.  Physical
or mental labor would bring on  an attack.   It would gradually
increase for days  and end in an attack  of vomiting; or  at other
times affect the head.  When it did leave, it was always suddenly.
Lying on the left side and  back,  only,  was  endurable.  My  im-
pression was that it was a spasmodic* disease of the vermiform pro-
cess, excited  by some matters introduced into that portion of the
intestine.   A travelling  " Spiritual Doctor,"  prescribed for him  a
medcine or compound which gave him more relief than anything he
had  ever  used.    The  chief ingredient  in this mixture was
the  Dioscorea.   The  clairvoyant insisted that the  malady was
"piles in the bowels.'' (?)—a  disease which  is not down  in  our
nomenclature.  I have been promised  a  proving  of this unique
remedy, but it  has not come to hand.  I know of no  drug that
would better repay a trial, and none that would aid more in estab-
lishing the universality of the law of Similia, if we got a  patho-
genesis verified, wherein we could see a picture of those painful
affections, in the cure of which it has gained such empirical reputa-
tion.  I have repeatedly taken the tincture and first dilution several
time a day for several days, but never elicited any notable symp-
toms.   I have also tried it in several patients,  affected with other
than gastric complaints, but with no better   results than in myself.
   If this work should be so fortunate as  to reach a second edition,
we hope to give a proving of Dioscorea.    At present,  we can only
treat this, as we have many other drugs, namely : make such men-
tion as  will stimulate our co-laborers to investigate its pathogenetic
powers, and curative virtues. 
150       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
          ERIGERON   CANADENSE.

                   {Canada Fleabane.  Colt's Tail.)

   This plant is common to the northern and middle portions  of
the United States, growing in fields and meadows, by road-sides,
and in waste places, and flowering in July and August.   It  is  an
indigenous, annual plant, with  a high, branched, furrowed and
bristly, haired stem, from six inches to  nine feet  high.  There are
several other varieties—as the E. annuum, E. strigosum, etc.,  all
possessing  similar properties.  The  whole  plant is officinal and
should be collected while in flower.  It  has a  feeble but  agreeable
odor, and a bitterish, acid, and astringent taste, and yields its prop-
erties to water and alcohol.  It may be prepared  and used in the
form of tincture, or the dilutions made from  the volatile oil.  In
most cases the Oleum Erigeroni is the best preparation from  which
to prepare the dilutions.  It is decreed to be " tonic, astringent and
diuretic."  King says it is  useful in the  form of infusion, in diar-
rhoea, gravel, diabetes, dropsical  affections,  dysuria of children,
painful micturition, etc.—" The volatile oil, acts  as an astringent,
and may be  used as a local application to hemorrhoids, bleedings
from small wounds, etc., also in rheumatism, boils, tumors, and sore
throat.''   But it  is in hemorrhages that the oil has been  most
strongly recommended; and the testimony relative to its successful
use in this condition is so  large that we must  accord some specifio
virtues to it.  It is considered by the country  people as being quite
infallible in its power over hemorrhages.   The usual practice is to
apply the bruised  fresh plant to  the wound, binding it  on  with
a compress.  I have known it thus applied to arrest quite  alarming
arterial bleedings.   In its general action, it is an analogue to Tere-
binthina.  Its primary action is  similar to Turpentine, in causing
intense congestion of the kidneys, etc.  It  is primarily  homoeopathic
to active arterial hemorrhages, with congestion, and  even inflam-
mation ;  secondarily, to  passive  hemorrhages,  with relaxation,
ulceration, etc. Large quantities cause a large stimulating  effect,
increasing the heat of the body and the force of the pulse.
   Skin.—When the oil is applied to the skin  it " causes a burning
sensation, much resembling that produced  by Capsicum, but will
not vesicate.   It is a powerful rubefacient, but we never remember
to have  seen it vesicate."—(Coe).  Dr. White, however, says that
it causes " slightly elevated, sharply defined vesicles.''
   Eyes.—Applied to the conjunctiva it causes redness,  swelling,
inflammation,  with profuse muco-purulent discharges. Yet  Jones
and Scudder,  ' Mat. Med.,' say  that the infusion  is useful, as  a
local application, in ophthalmia, after the acute symptoms have sub-
sided.  It will form  a useful  application to  ecchymoses  upon
the eyeballs, or around the eye, from a blow, etc.   It should  be
given internally, and  a  weak dilution  of the  tincture applied
locally.
    Nose.—It is a  useful remedy in epistaxis. It may be applied
locally by injecting  a weak dilution in  water, or saturating  lint 
ERIGERON   CANADENSE.
151
with it, and plugging the nostrils.  But it is undoubtedly useful in
epistaxis,  when administered internally.  A few drops  of the first
or second decimal dilution of the  oil, given  every  fifteen minutes,
will often  arrest profuse bleedings from the nasal passages.   When
given for active hemorrhage from the nose, accompanied with  con-
gestion of the head,  febrile action,  red  face, etc., it should be
given in  the third or  sixth  dilution,  and in  alternation Aconite,
Belladonna or Veratrum viride.  But, when the hemorrhage is pass-
ive, occurring in debilitated subjects,  or  is chronic, and associated
with  ulcerative  catarrh, the one-tenth,  or even  the  tincture, in
drop  doses, may be resorted to with benefit.
   Mouth, Throat.—In  bleeding from  the  gums, profuse bleeding
from the cavity after a tooth has been  extracted, it has been used,
locally, with benefit.  Dr. Coe says, " as  an application to inflamed
and enlarged tonsils, and inflammation  and ulceration of the throat
generally, the remedy has few superiors. It  should be  applied
with a probang, of the strength of one dram to two ounces of alcohol.
It should be applied externally to  the throat at the same time."
This  recommendation  will remind  the practical physician  of the
popular use of Turpentine in similar cases.  Indeed, it is  quite cer-
tain that in the  early stages of Tonsillitis, the  latter remedy will
arrest the disease, when applied to the external  throat over  the
situation  of the tonsils.  Its  local curative  action is  as  strictly
homoeopathic  as that of Nitrate of Silver, for either remedy when
applied to the mucous surface will cause  inflammation, and even
ulceration.
   Stomach, etc—Nausea; violent ietching and vomiting, with burn-
ing  sensation of long  duration in the stomach ; sensation  of  heat
in the stomach.
  Clinical Remarks.—It should be useful in haematemesis.  Vom-
iting of blood may be  caused (a) by erosion of the mucous  coats of
the  stomach,  (b) inflammation  of the  stomach  and consequent
ulceration, (c) rupture  of an artery, (d) cancer, (e) disease  of the
liver and  spleen.   In all these cases the Erigeron will prove a  val-
uable auxiliary  to  such remedies as  Hamamelis,  Sulphuric acid,
Ipecac, etc.  When the vomiting is the  result of  acute inflamma-
tion  the  higher  dilutions will be  most appropriate, but when it
proceeds  from ulceration, rupture of an  artery, or when the blood
is black and grumous, then  the  lowest  dilutions  will  prove most
efficient.
    Abdomen, Intestines, etc—Cathartics, with  burning  sensation
throughout the  alimentary canal; thin,  papescent  stool, with
burning in the bowels  and rectum; burning in  the margin of the
anus.  (The experiment  of Dr. Burt, in which he injected  the oil
under the skin of a cat,  throws some light on its action on the bowels.
He  got  the following  symptoms  :  Undigested  stools  of meat;
stools loose and streaked with  blood.   Autopsy showed the colon
and rectum much congested, and in which was  dry faecal  matter,
agglutinated to the surface so firmly as  with  difficulty to be re-
moved.   All these svmptoms, and the  pathological  condition, point
to an inflammation of  the mucous coats of the colon and rectum). 
152        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
   Clinical  Remarks.—It has been found curative in diarrhoea
and dysentery.   In some portions of the country it is  considered a
specific for "bloody flux."  In domestic practice I have often knowu
it to be used  in  the form  of an infusion, with astonishing  results.
Taking the   hint from  this observation, I have given  the lower
dilutions in dysentery, with  excellent  results. ^  Several of my col-
leagues bear testimony to  its curative  action in this disease.  It is
indicated when the urinary organs are sympathetically affected,
and we find dysuria, or suppression of urine.  The stools are small,
streaked with blood,  accompanied with tormina, burning in the
bowels and rectum.  The appearance of scybala (lumps of indura-
ted faeces) in the discharges would  be a  further  indication  for the
Erigeron.  In hemorrhoids,  especially in the bleeding variety, this
remedy  is specifically  indicated.  In  profuse bleeding from the
hemorrhoidal tumors, we  should not rely entirely upon its internal
use, but apply the diluted tincture locally.  In hemorrhage from the
bowels, the Erigeron will probably  prove as valuable as Terebinth.
to which it bears so close analogy.   Both remedies  are  capable of
causing inflammation and ulceration of the intestinal mucous mem-
brane. In typhoid fever, dysentery, and  several  other  diseases,
ulceration occurs, resulting in copious and often  fatal  hemorrhage.
The  usual remedies are Nitric and Sulphuric acids, and Turpentine.
These remedies arrest the bleeding, and heal the ulceration. Erig-
eron I believe to  have a similar curative  action, and should the
above medicines fail, I should resort to the first  or second  decimal
dilution  in ten  drop doses, repeated every hour, with a confidence
in the result.
   Urinary Organs.—The  Erigeron has a  specific affinity  for the
urinary apparatus.  Dr. Burt found the  cortical substance of the
Kidneys, (in a cat poisoned  with the  oil)  slightly congested.   At
first  the  urine was suppressed,  then increased.  In this its action
resembles Cautharis,  Cannabis, Copaiva, Turpentine, etc., when
given in  large doses.  The pathogenetic symptoms in men are:   (1)
Complete suppression  of urine, with pain  in  the  region of the
kidneys; urging to urinate, with emissions of only a  few  drops of
burning urine (large dose).   This condition was  followed in a day
or two  by copious emissions  of  pale  urine, smelling of  the oil.
(2).   Small and repeated doses caused frequent urination, with
burning in the  urethra when urinating; discharge of mucus with
urine.
   Clinical Remarks.—Dr. Ring was the first to introduce this
remedy  to the homoeopathic schools for the treatment of urinary
affections.  In  the N.  A. Journal  of Horn., Vol. V.,  page  282, he
writes :  " Recently I have  had two  cases of dysuria in teething
children, which yielded  to no remedy until I made use of drop doses
(two or three drops every two or three  hours) of a tincture of the
Erigeron c.   The symptoms in the two cases were more particularly
—pain so as  to cause a great deal of crying on voiding urine, the
calls for which were  frequent.  The  secretion was abnormally
increased, and had a very strong odor.  The parts externally—both
were female children—were  in  both cases  very much inflamed, or 
ERIGERON  CANADENSE.
153
irritated, with considerable mucus discharged.   The children were
very fretful at all times.  Several remedies  we tried in  both cases
without any  benefit,  but prompt relief followed  the use of the
fleabane."  Nearly  every writer upon  indigenous remedies  has
recommended the Erigeron for similar cases, as well  as for other
affections  of  the urinary organs.  King says  it  has been found
efficient  in  gravel,  diabetes,  dropsical  affections,  dysuria  of
children, painful micturition,  and also  many nephritic affections.
" It has been used  with benefit  in diabetes, nephritis, cysitis, and
to subdue the irritation arising from the presence of calculi in the
bladder;  also, in gonorrhoea and  gleet."—(Jones and Scudder).
Several cases are reported in the  Eclectic Journal  of  its successful
use in haematuria, also in chronic vesical catarrh.   Coe says he has
used the Erigeron in gonorrhoea with the most marked and benefi-
cial results :  " It allays the scalding of the urine, and assists mate-
rially in cutting short the disease.  It is of much service in inflamma-
tion of  the kidneys and bladder."  All  this testimony is eminently
suggestive to  the homoeopathist.  In the study  of  a medicine, it  is
most important to  ascertain  its  specific affinity for any particular
organ or tissue.  This inquiry settled, we may rationally prescribe
it in affections  of  those structures, even before we  know the
peculiar pathogenetic symptoms  which it  causes in those organs.
We have ample  testimony that the Erigeron has a specific affinity
for the urinary organs, as much so as Cantharis or Turpentine ; and
although its characteristic  symptoms may  differ from those medi-
cines, yet we know it will prove useful in nephritis, cystitis, haema-
turia, dysuria, etc.  A good proving should be made; but, if we
can have such careful observations  as that  of Dr. Ring, we can be
guided materially in our selection of the drug.
   Genital Organs  of Women.— Uterine hemorrhage, with violent
irritation of the rectum and bladder; hemorrhage  from  the uterus
and bladder ; abortion, with profuse hemorrhage, diarrhoea, and
dysuria—(from very large doses); scanty menses.
   Clinical  Remarks.—We have at command a  large amount  of
clinical testimony,  from the most reliable  sources, both allopathic
and homoeopathic, as to its curative action in hemorrhages  from the
uterus, and other abnormal discharges from the  sexual  passages.
Beach  says  (Mat.  Med.):  " The oil  is  an infallible  remedy  in
hemorrhages,  in doses of from five to ten drops.''  King (Obstet-
rics)  says it  "  exerts a powerful influence in menorrhagia and
uterine hemorrhage.  From two to ten drops, on sugar, or  dissolved
in alcohol, and  mixed  in  a little  mucilage or sweetened  water,
repeated  every  ten or twenty minutes,  usually  acts promptly.
It may possibly have some  other influence in checking uterine
hemorrhage  than that of a mere astringent; for, without  the mus-
cular fibres of the  uterus are  caused to contract, I do not believe
the hemorrhage after delivery can be checked."   King's  theory of
the action of  Erigeron is doubtless correct. In tympanitis, the gas
cannot  be expelled, unless there is a contraction of the  muscular
coats of the  intestines.  Turpentine has the same effect in tympa-
nitis that Erigeron does in uterine hemorrhage, namely : causing
        20 
154        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
 contraction of muscular  fibre; but  Erigeron must have also the
 general power of causing contraction of the muscular coats of the
 arteries, else it could not  be so specific in all forms of hemorrhage
 (arterial).   Coe  (Cone Org.  Med.)  writes:   " Although not  a
 specific, it is undoubtedly the best agent we  possess for the relief
 of uterine hemorrhage.  The dose of the oil, in these cases, is  from
 five to ten  drops, repeated  every thirty or sixty minutes.  It will
 act more promptly, being rendered more diffusible, by being pre-
 viously dissolved in alcohol.  In addition to its internal administra-
 tion, it may also be applied locally with the best results.  A  case
 occurred under  the observation of the writer, over  twenty years
 ao-o, in which the patient, from excessive loss of blood, was reduced
 to a comatose condition, and incapable of swallowing.  A piece of
 cotton wool, saturated with the oil, was introduced into the vagina,
 and placed  in close contact with the mouth of the uterus, when an
 instantaneous  stop was put to the bloody flow.  During the  past
 season we  were consulted in a similar case, in which we advised
 the adoption of the above plan, and with complete  success."   Coe
 says,  " it allays the spasmodic pains accompanying leucorrhoea, and
 restrains, without suppressing, the  menstrual  flow  when too  pro-
 fuse."  Cases  have come under  my  observation, however, where
 the Erigeron in small  doses, has undeniably restrained the menstrual
 flow, when not too profuse.  One cannot read  the above  testimony
 from Eclectic  sources, without noting the similarity of its curative
 action with  that of Sabina.  In fact, it is a very near analogue to
 Sabina.  Both cause, in poisonous doses, abortion, hemorrhage, etc.
 Both are indicated  in nearly the same conditions.  Like  Sabina, it
 is capable in toxical doses of causing congestion, inflammation, and
 even hemorrhage from the kidneys and uterus.  We have, in addi-
 tion to the  above, some reliable homoeopathic  testimony as to the
 specific curative action of Erigeron  in uterine hemorrhage.   Dr.
 White (Trans. 111. Horn. Med. Ass., vol. 9, p. 55,)  states :  " I  have
 used the volatile oil  in the first, second, and third att., as well as the
 crude oil.   In uterine hemorrhage, it  is the first remedy  I have
 recourse to.  It has never failed me.   I have given from one to ten
 drops of the 1st, and  the  same internally, as an injection into the
 uterus, in  extreme cases."  Dr. Rogers reports  to  me the follow-
 ing cases :   (1). A lady, aged thirty five, had an abortion, followed
 by profuse  and. alarming hemorrhage, which continued for six
 weeks, in spite of all  the efforts of her allopathic attendants,  who
 used all  the  astringents, etc.,  at their  command.    She became
 almost exsanguined, nearly catamose; could  not  move without
flooding; and the case was given|up  as hopeless.   Erigeron, 1st
 dil., was  given in ten drop doses, every  hour.  A piece  of cotton
wool was wet in the same, and applied to the os uteri.   No more
hemorrhage took place after the first six  hours, and  under the use
of appropriate nutriment, &c, the lady made  a good  recovery.
 (2). A case of profuse and alarming flooding after labor  was
promptly arrested by the internal administration of  Oleum Erig-
 eron 1st dil.  Dr. P. H. Hale used it  in a case  of post-parturient
hemorrhage.  Cold  applications, posture, etc.,  were tried without 
ERIGERON   CANADENSE.
155
perceptible effect, but the  flooding ceased  soon after  giving  the
patient the oil of Erigeron, 1st dil. in fifteen drop  doses, every thirty
minutes.   I might add the testimony of a score of other homoeo-
pathic physicians, as to its  efficacy in hemorrhage from  the uterus,
but  enough  has been adduced to show that  it is a valuable and
important  remedy in  such conditions.  It will  hereafter prove  a
powerful auxiliary to  such remedies  as  Sabina, Trillium, Crocus,
Secale, Platina, and others  of similar  virtues.  The following may
be considered a good  resume of its curative indications in diseases
of women  :  (a.) In profuse and frequent  menses,   (b.) In dysme-
norrhoea with  menorrhagia.   (c.)  In  hemorrhage after labor, or
after an abortion,  (d.) In threatened abortion with flooding,   (e.)
In hemorrhage previous to labor,  (f.)  In profuse lochial discharges.
(g.)  In profuse uterine and  vaginal leucorrhoea.  It has  been found
useful in palpitation of the heart, when arising from uterine irrita-
tion.  It is alleged to have been used " with remarkable success
in those peculiar  headaches which  accompany defective menstru-
ation."
    Organs  of Generation  of Men.—(See Urinary Organs.)   It  has
been found curative in gonorrhoea and gleet.
    Respiratory  Organs.—Jones and Scudder (Mat. Med.) say:  " In
coughs and chronic  bronchial affections,  when  attended with
copious mucus  or purulent  secretion, and  in the  incipient stages of
phthisis attended with bloody expectoration, this agent,  used in  the
form of a  syrup or infusion, will be found to answer an excellent
purpose.   It is of value in haemoptysis."  King records his estimate
of its value in haemoptysis, also various other eclectic writers.

      DR.  BURT'S  EXPERIMENT WITH ERIGERON  CANADENSE.

    Sept. 5.  4  a. m., injected five drops of the oil under the skin of
the foreleg of  a cat.  Quarter of  an hour  afterwards  mews con-
stantly ; runs about;  appears restless, uneasy.  5  p. m., lies quiet,
with eyes half  closed.   7 p. m., injected  thirty drops of oil.  After
half an hour appears in great distress.  Profuse secretion of saliva.
At 8 p. m.  is quiet, with mouth open.
    Sept. 6.  Passed four stools, natural, during the night; the last
slightly streaked  with blood;  has  not urinated;  refuses to  eat.
9 a.m., injected fifty drops under the skin  of the foreleg; followed
by great agitation as  before.  10 a. m., ears and  legs  very cold ;
excessive trembling.   4 p. m., has had two  undigested  stools, and
urinated.   6  p. m., injected  forty drops ;  one hour after unable to
get up; trembling excessively.
   Sept. 7.   Appears quite  natural;  has  passed stools and urine
during the night.  Injected thirty drops under the  skin of side.   5
p. m., very weak; has been trembling all day.  1 p. m.,  injected fifty
drops;  tries to walk, but is unable to do so.  8 p.m., injected thirty
drops.
   Sept. 8.  Just  alive.  Injected 30  drops.  Ears and legs very
cold.  Died at 9 a.m.
   Autopsy.—Nine hours after death,   encephalic  and  thoracic
viscera natural; liver much congested; also, the colon and rectum, 
156        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

which were filled with dry, faecal matter, agglutinated to the intes-
tines so firmly as to be removed with difficulty.  Kidneys, cortical
Substance, slightly congested.  Bladder much  distended;  other
abdominal viscera natural.
          ERYNGIUM   AQUATICUM.

                       {Button Snakeroot.)

   This plant is a native of the United States, growing in  swamps
and wet lands, from Virginia to Texas, and especially on the prairie
lands.  The root is the officinal part.  Water and alcohol extract its
properties.  (For full botanical description, see King's Dispensatory).
No proving of this plant has yet appeared, and the clinical experience
is very scanty.  King says:  " it is very useful in dropsy, nephritic
and calculous affections ; also, in scrofula and syphilis ; it is said to
be diuretic, stimulant^ diaphoretic, expectorant, and, in large doses,
emetic. It has been recommended as  a  substitute  for  Senega."
" The pulverized root, in doses of two or three grains, has proved
very effectual in hemorrhoids, and prolapsus ani.  Two ounces of
the pulverized root, added  to one  pint of good Holland gin, has
effected cures in obstinate cases of gonorrhea and gleet (one or two
fluid drachms three or four times a  day).   By some practitioners
this root is employed as a specific in gonorrhoea,  gleet and  leucor-
rhoea.  Howard speaks of it as a powerful  diuretic, and says he has
cured asthenic dropsies with it.  He has also used it with benefit in
gravel. The only mention made of this remedy in the literature of
our school, is to be found in Hill and Hunt's Surgery, page 400.  In
the treatment of Spermatorrhea, after  referring to various reme-
dies, they propose the Eryngium, and give two "remarkable cures"
made by Dr. Parks, of Cincinnati.
   Case 1st.  "A  married man injured  his testicles by jumping
upon a horse; this was  followed  by  a discharge of what was  con-
sidered semen, for fifteen years,  during which time he was treated
allopathically and homceopathically.  Dr. P. exhibited a number of
the usual  remedies without permanent  benefit.  He then gave  a
half grain dose, three times a day, of the third decimal trituration
of Eryngium aquaticum. In five days the  emissions were entirely
suppressed, and  have not returned  to this time  (over two years).
The  emissions were without erections, day or night, and  followed
by great lassitude."
    Case 2nd.   " A married man, not conscious of having sustained
any  injury,  was troubled for eight or ten years  with emissions at
night,  with erections.   The semen also  passed by day with the
urine.   The loss of semen  was followed  by great  lassitude and
depression for twelve or forty-eight hours.  There was also partial
impotence.  He had been treated allopathically.  Dr. P. gave him 
EUPATORIUM  AROMATICUM.           157
Phos. ac.  for  two weeks without  material  benefit.   He then
exhibited the Eryngium as above, with like excellent and prompt
result."
   It does not do as well in the hands of others, for several physi-
cians have  informed me they never found it of benefit in similar
cases.  I have tested it in several instances with like poor success.
That the remedy has some specific affinity for the urinary and
genital organs appears probable,  but we want a pathogenesis to
guide us in its selection.
       EUPATORIUM  AROMATICUM.
                      {White  Snake Root.)

   This is  an indigenous plant,  growing from Massachusetts to
Louisiana.  The root, which is the officinal part, has  a  pleasant
aromatic odor, and a bitterish taste. " This species of Eupatorium
(see Eclectic Mat. Med.) is anti-spasmodic, nervine, diaphoretic, and
expectorant.  It is esteemed a valuable nervine, and anti-spasmodic,
and one peculiarly adapted to many cases of debility and irritability
of the nervous system, such as hysteria or hysterical affections,
chorea, tremors,  convulsive,  or  spasmodic   diseases,  subsultus
tendinum, restlessness and morbid watchfulness, etc., occurring in
the advanced stage of fevers.  It  is diaphoretic and expectorant."
The  only mention  of this medicine  in  our literature  is  the
assertion of Dr. B.  L. Hill in his epitome that it is a specific for
apthous stomatitis in females and children.  We can nowhere find
that he has given any reason for this recommendation.  Judging,
however,  by the perfect reliability of that gentleman's teachings,
we should perhaps have all confidence in his dictum.  Some of our
physicians say that they have found it useful in nursing  sore mouth
and in apthae of infants.  It may be worth a proving,  but so long
as there are such drugs as Trillium and Leptandria to  be proved,
we shall not recommend it.
   Dr. Wm.  Huntington says: "My use  of  Eupatorium aroma-
ticum is  quite limited.  I have derived considerable benefit from
its use in  alternation with Hydrastus c. in nursing sore  mouth.  It
acts as a palliative  only.   I have  also used it with good results in
apthons affections  of the mouth   and  throat closely  resembling
nursing sore mouth, but the most  benefit that I have ever derived
from its use has been in those cases of burning at the  stomach so
often  met with in pregnant females  for a few weeks  previous to
confinement.  In such cases it seldom fails to give very marked
relief."
   Dr. Smith Rogers has  found the Eupatorium  aromaticum
effectual in curing°aptha3  and  nursing  sore mouth without giving
any other drug in connection with it.  Dr. Lodge states that many
other physicians have made similar reports. 
158       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
       EUPATORIUM  PERFOLIATUM,

                      {Bone-set—Ague weed.)

   There are at least sixteen species of Eupatorium in the Northern
States alone.  The stem of the Eupatorium perfoliatum is  villous,
hirsute, cylindrical; the leaves, opposite, connate, perfoliate, oblong,
tapering, acute, senate, rough above, tomentose beneath, heads about
ten-flowered. The root is perennial,  horizontal, crooked,  sending
up many erect stems, which are simple at base, branched above,
round, hairy, and of a greyish-green  color.   The whole plant  is
officinal.  The whole plant is  intensely bitter, having  a  peculiar
flavor,  but without  astringency or acrimony.   Its odor is but
slight, and it yields its sensible and medicinal properties  to water
and  alcohol.  It  is supposed to  contain a  resinoid  Eupatorine
which is  said to contain the specific virtues of the plant.
   General Effects.—It is decreed by the old  school to be diuretic,
diaphoretic, purgative,  emetic, alterative,  expectorant,  and tonic.
It proves emeto-cathartic when given in large doses.  (Therefore,
it is homoeopathic to vomiting, with diarrhoea—bilious).   Prof. Lee
gives his testimony in favor of its successful  use in intermittents,
but doubts its asserted anti-periodic power.  It was in general use
among the  aborigines of this country, on  its  first discovery,  as a
remedy for intermittent fever, and was accordingly adopted by the
whites for the cure of the same disease.  " Whether it proved suc-
cessful or not depended very much on its  mode of  administration.
Sometimes  it would arrest  the disease, if freely given in warm
decoction just before  the expected recurrence  of  the paroxysm,
proving emetic, or emeto-cathartic, and in other cases it would
prove successful if given in cold decoction,  or the powdered plant,
at frequent intervals between the paroxysms;  but in a majority  of
cases it failed to subdue the disease'' (because it was not  homoeo-
pathic to a  majority of the cases, any more than is quinine  or any
other medicine).  Prof. Lee says:  " With regard  to  the use of
this plant in Influenza, whether  sporadic or epidemic, we have
proved it possessing great efficacy—relieving  the pain in the back
and limbs, as well as the general lassitude,  with great promptness;
for although in this disease the skin is often bathed in perspiration,
yet it is of  a  morbid character—the surface being pale,  and  mor-
bidly sensitive,  and the excretion of a  passive kind.   When the
secretions are of this morbid nature, and the  pulmonary system  is
involved, the Boneset  has  proved in our  hands a most valuable
remedy,  inducing a healthy and free perspiratory discharge, and
replacing the chilly or febrile sensations with a uniform or  healthy
glow."   (Yet the Eupat.,  in  large  doses,  will cause  the  same
unhealthy perspiration  and state of the skin  which  Dr. Lee men-
tions, so that he uses it homoeopathically after all.)   "As it has but
slight influence  in augmenting the action of the heart and  arteries,
it may be employed with advantage in almost every variety of in-
flammatory action."  " In the atonic forms  of dyspepsia and general
debility it is relied on by many practitioners as an efficient  remedy. 
EUPATORIUM  PERFOLIATUM.          159
In that form  of indigestion consequent  on the  use  of alcoholic
drinks, it has proved highly beneficial, as well as in that of old people."
"Its  efficacy in certain forms of dropsy has been dwelt upon by
some writers.   Dr. Thatcher, who has tried it extensively in various
diseases, says that in anasarcous  swellings of the extremities, de-
pending on general debility, it may be safely recommended as an
excellent tonic."  Dr. Zollickoffer thinks it possesses medicinal vir-
tues which are  admirably adapted to  a variety of affections, and that
in conjunction with sup. tart, potassa, it is one of the most valuable
remedies in tinea capitis.
    p0SE#—in old school practice, the concentrated tincture or fluid
extract is given in  doses of one to four drachms.  The Eupatorine
in doses of two or three grains.  The Infusion, (one  ounce to one
pint of boiling  water) in doses of two to six ounces, the latter dose
causing emesis and catharsis.  In homoeopathic practice, it has been
used successfully in agues, in drop doses of the first dilution ; also
in ten-drop doses of the tincture; and teaspoonful doses of a cold
infusion (vide  Trans. Amer. Ins. of Horn.).
    jieyer.—Chilliness through the night, and in the morning, with
nausea from the least motion; aching pain and soreness, as if from
having been beaten in the calves of the legs, small of the back, and
 in the arms, above and below the elbows ; nausea as the chill goes
 off;  aching in the  bones of the extremities, with soreness of the
 flesh; chilliness, with excessive  trembling and nausea; chilliness
 in the morning, heat through the rest of the day, but  no  perspira-
 tion.  The patient  feels worse in the morning  of one  day, and  in
 the afternoon of the next day.  Nocturnal sweat, with chilliness,
 from motion,  or removal of  the  covering.  A  greater amount of
 shivering during the chill than is warranted by the degree of cold-
 ness.  Retching   and vomiting of bile;  vomiting  after  every
 draught;  trembling  in  the  back  during fever;  thirst  several
 hours  before  the chill;  chilliness  from motion;  pungent heat
 attending the  perspiration at  night;  alternate chilliness and flashes

     Clinical Remarks.—The Eupatorium is recommended byDrs.
 Jaynes, Neidhard, Gray, Williamson and Douglas, in  intermittent
 fevers, quotidian,  tertian, and quartan.   The general and  specific
 indications for its use are said to be: (a.) The paroxysm generally
 commences in the morning.   Thirst several hours  after the chill—
 which continues during the chill and heat.  It  has proved curative
 when  the symptoms have been -.—Chill at seven  o clock  in the
 morning,  preceded by thirst,  and attended with moisture  of the
 hands; vomiting at the conclusion of the  chill;  chill  in the
 morning; heat during the rest of the day; slight perspiration in the
 evening;  heavy chill early in the morning of one day  and  a light
 chill about noon  the next day, and so on successively;  chill pre-
 ceded by pain above the right ilium,  with thirst and disposition to
 yawn ; pain in the bones early in the morning before the paroxysm;
 the chill is induced or hastened by taking a drink of water; head-
  ache,  backache and  thirst during the chill; coldness, with a great
  deal of trembling, attended with  nausea;  coldness and stinging 
160       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 and pricking, as from pins, in both feet, at the commencement of the
 chill; aching in the bones of the extremities, in the latter part of
 the chill and in the beginning of the heat;  stiffness of the  fingers
 during the chill;  aching pain, with moaning throughout the chill.
 (b.) Throbbing headache during the chill and heat; violent pain in
 head and back  before the chill;  distressing pain through the
 scrobiculus cordis throughout the  day;  chill and heat;  flushed
 face  and  dry  hot  skin  during the  fever;  fever,  accompanied
 with sleep and moaning,  and  followed by slight perspiration;
 nausea   and sickness at  the stomach at  the commencement of
 the heat, with violent throbbing headache; headache and trembling
 during  the heat;  fever in the forenoon,  preceded by thirst
 early in  the  morning,   but no chill;  attended by  fatiguing
 cough,  and not followed by perspiration;  great weakness  and
 prostration during the  fever,  with faintness  from motion;  the
 patient cannot raise his head from the pillow while the fever lasts;
 the heat goes off with moderate perspiration, during  sleep in the
 evening; the thirst continues during the chill and  heat, with vom-
 iting after each draught of water; vomiting of bile at the close of
 the hot  stage;  nocturnal perspiration,  with coldness;  fever, with
 despondency of mind, morbid sensitiveness of the skin and sleepless-
 ness, (c)  Loose cough in the intermission; cough in  the  night,
 previous to the paroxysm;  thirst  throughout the night, before
 the paroxysm,  (in tertian ague).
   " I have for  many years  applied the Eupatorium, in cases of
 intermittent fever, when there was little or no sweat, at  any time
 during the disease ; and consequently in those forms closely verg-
 ing upon the remittent type."—{Dr. Gray).
   The  above clinical symptoms I select from the proving published
 in " Trans, of Amer. Ins. of Horn."  They are there marked  with
 an *, and are the result  of the clinical experience with  the remedy,
 contributed by Drs. Neidhard, Williamson, and others.   The cases
 from which they were taken I give in full:—
   Cases op Intermittent.—Dr. Neidhard has observed the most
 decided effects from the Eupatorium perfoliatum in the treatment
 of certain cases of intermittent fevers, in two of which the following
symptoms were present:  Violent thirst before the chill, and slight
 during it;  nausea and sickness of the stomach (in one case vomiting)
at the commencement of the heat, with violent throbbing headache;
 tastelessness of food;  want of appetite;  tongue  coated  yellow;
the chills set in in the morning and lasted for one or two hours;
heat during the  rest of the day, and  slight perspiration  in  the
evening.   Type certain.   In one case the sulphate  of  quinine had
 been  administered  without preventing  the recurrence  of the
paroxysms.
   Dr. Williamson  has  exhibited it successfully in various cases
of fever.
   Case 1st: The chill generally began at nine o'clock in the morn-
ing, and lasted four hours from the time, when they commenced, and
continued about seven hours, and was seldom followed by perspira-
tion.  The next day there was a lighter paroxysm, which  usually 
             EUPATORIUM  PERFOLIATUM.           161

commenced at twelve o'clock and ceased about the same time in the
evening, as the  heavier on the day  preceding.  The paroxysms
continued to occur thus alternately with but little variation for  the
space of twenty-three days, notwithstanding my unceasing efforts to
arrest them by  the administration of a number of  remedies.   On
the 12th of December the following symptoms were present: Chill
commenced at nine o'clock in the morning, and lasted four hours,
attended with a good  deal of  shivering and  trembling;  raging
thirst before the chill, and during the chill, and heat; vomiting of
whatever was taken into the stomach, and of bile, with distressing
pain  in the  epigastrium;  distressing headache during the heat;
fever ceased about eight o'clock in the evening, and was followed
by inconsiderable perspiration.  Eupatorium perfoliatum  first, in
water, a teaspoonful every hour, in the apyrexia,  cured the case,
without the  occurrence of another paroxysm.
    Case 2d:  Bilious diathesis; tertian ague; chill at nine o'clock
[in the morning,  which lasted  an hour and a half;  thirst  in  the
night before the chill; raging thirst during  the chill and  heat;
 violent headache throughout  the paroxysm;  some  perspiration;
 retching and vomiting during the chill, immediately after drinking ;
 vomiting of bile. Eupatorium perfoliatum first, five drops  in  as
 many teaspoonfuls of water, of which she took a teaspoonful every
 two  hours on  the alternate  day.   Early on  the  morning of the
 expected chill, Eupat. perf. tincture  four drops, in eight teaspoon-
 fuls of water, a  teaspoonful every hour.  The paroxysm did not
 return.  This  patient had  been subject to  frequent attacks of
 intermittent fever for  several years,  and had always suppressed
 them with sulphate of quinine, but  since the above  attack, now a
 period of four years, she had no return of the disease.
     Case 3rd:  A girl  of fourteen  years  of age;  tertian  inter-
 mittent fever;  thirst before the chill; became stretchy and looked
 pale at nine o'clock in the morning; felt  cold and chilly, but did
 not shake; walked about the house crouched np; was very thirsty
 during the  chill  and beat, but took only a  little sup of water  at
 a time; headache and trembling during the heat; the  coldness
 lasted one hour, and the  heat  about two hours, followed  by very
 little perspiration.    Eupat.  perf. tinct. a  few  drops in  water.
 Dose, a teaspoonful every three hours.
     Case 4th:  At eight o'clock in  the  morning was attacked with
 pain  above the  right ilium;  thirst and  a  disposition to yawn;
 fingers became  stiff, with slight coldness;  upon taking a drink of
 water shuddering commenced immediately; chill  lasted two hours
 and a half; headache, backache,   and thirst during the  chill;
 nausea as the  chill  was going off;  the  headache was increased,
 but  the thirst was diminished during the heat; sensation of great
 weakness during the fever,  so much so that she could not raise
 her head  from the pillow; trembling in the  back,  with  faintness
 from motion during the  fever; the  fever terminated by moderate
 perspiration during sleep  in the evening.  She  felt pain in her
 bones early in the morning before the attack.  Eupat. perf. tincture
 in water  a  teaspoonful every three hours.
         21 
162        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
    Case  5th:   Tertian  ague,  for  two weeks,   sickly,  sallow
 countenance ;  chill at eight o'clock in the morning; thirst through-
 out  the  night previous to chill; thirst  during the chill and heat,
 and vomiting  immediately after each draught  of water; vomiting
 of bile at the  close of the hot stage, which was followed by incon-
 siderable perspiration.   Eupat. perf. tincture, in water, a teaspoon-
 ful every three hours.  No more chills.
    " Nearly half a  century  ago,  there  prevailed  throughout the
 United States, but particularly in the State of Pennsylvania,  a pecu-
 liar Epidemic, which, from the constancy of the attending symptom
 of " pain in the bones,'' was called break-bone fever.   The Eupat.
 perf., though a diaphoretic, so signally relieved the disease, not-
 withstanding copious perspiration was a frequent attendant, that it
 was familiarly  called  bone-set,  a common  name by which it is exten-
 sively known.  " In all cases of  typhoid disease, attended  with
 hot, dry skin,  it is reputed to be an estimable medicine."  " It was
 used with  great success in  an epidemic  of Influenza  and  lake-
 fever, which prevailed  a  few years  ago  in  the neighborhood of
 Lake Ontario."  " In miasmatic districts, along rivers, at fisheries,
 on marshes  and their several neighborhoods,  where  intermittent
 and  remittent fevers have prevailed  epidemically, the Eupatorium
 has been a favorite remedy with the most successful  practitioners,
 as well  as a deservedly popular one in the hands of the people,
very often  superseding  the  necessity of  calling  in medical aid.
 In 1812, it  was substituted  for Peruvian  bark, in the  treatment
 of intermittent fevers, in the New York  Alms House, and  with
 uniform success."  Dr. Williamson recommends it in gastric fevers,
 remittent fevers  of typhoid  character,  bilious fever, etc.  It is
 highly recommended as a prophylactic against agues.
   Head.—Headache with a sensation  of soreness internally, better
in the house; aggravated when first going in the open air; relieved
by conversation; pain extending from the forehead to the occiput,
greatest  in  left side;  throbbing headache;  beating  pain  in the
nape and occiput, better after rising;  darting  pains  through the
temples,  with  sensation of blood rushing across the head ; distress
on  the  top and  in  the back part of  the head;  shooting pains
from left to right side of the head; painful soreness in the right
parietal protuberance; heat on  the  top  of the head, with pain,
which is relieved by pressure; thumping in the side of the head,
above the right ear; soreness and beating in the back part of the
 head.
  Clinical Remarks.—Besides those symptoms which are itali-
cized above,  the Eupatorium has cured certain forms  of periodical
 headache, namely:   " A headache with nausea,  every other  morn-
ing,  when first awaking,  which continues all  day, with  loss  of
 appetite during the day, but good appetite  during the intervening
 day."  Nux vomica  will  cure such headaches when  they occur
 every day.   Eupatorium has also cured a  " pain in the occiput  after
lying, with sensation  of a great weight in  the  part, requiring the
 hands to lift  it."  This kind of headache  is common  in ague
 patients. 
              EUPATORIUM  PERFOLIATUM.          163

   Eye».—Soreness of the  eyeballs; intolerance  of light; red-
ness of the margin of the  lids, with glutinous  secretion from the
meibomian glands; increased lachrymation; pain and soreness in
left eyeball.
   Clinical  Remarks.—Soreness  of  the eyeballs is one of the
most common and permanent symptoms of ague, and usually pre-
ceeds an attack for several days; this symptoms would  be a good
indication for the selection of this medicine.
   Face.—Sickly, sallow countenance ; flushed face ; redness of the
cheeks, with dry skin ; pale face.
   Mouth-—Paleness of  the mucous  membrane  of the  mouth;
tongue coated yellow;  white coated tongue; sores in  the cor-
ners of the mouth; dryness of the  throat; soreness of the fauces
with catarrh.
   Appetite-—Insipid  taste  in the  mouth;  tastelessness  of food.
Want of  appetite; distaste of food;  nocturnal thirst for some-
thing cold;  thirst for cold water; desire  for ice-cream; great
appetite.
   Clinical Remarks.^-When the Eupatorium is taken in small
doses for a few days, the appetite is first increased; a still further
continuance gives rise to unnatural hunger, accompanied by dis-
orders of digestion, and finally to  complete loss of appetite, and
loss of taste for food.   This remedy is  homoeopathic to the canine
hunger which  attends or precedes ague; also  when arising  from
abuse  of quinine.  It is  also indicated (secondarily) in the loss of
appetite and  indigestion from the same causes.  It will be found
useful in many  forms  of dyspepsia,   anorexia  of drunkards,
loss of appetite, etc.  (See general effects.)
   Stomach.—Belching of tasteless  wind, with a feeling of obstruc-
tion at the  pit of the  stornach;  sensation of something in the
stomach  that  ought to  come up, without the ability to raise it.
General  shuddering proceeding from  the stomach;  sensation of
fullness in the stomach;  beating in  the epigastrium—in the night;
heat  in the stomach;  nausea;  nausea  and vomiting of  food;
vomiting  of bile ; vomiting of mucus  and bile ;  vomiting of bile
with trembling, attended with pain in the epigastrium, with nausea
and  extreme prostration, almost syncope;  distressing disposition
to vomiting;  nausea and  vomiting with free perspiration, and
expectoration; qualmishness from odors,  the smell of food, cook-
ing,  etc.
   Clinical  Remarks.—When a  warm  infusion or decoction of
this  plant is administered, it  invariably causes profuse and long-
continued vomiting, nearly always of bile.  Hence its  reputation
as a domestic remedy for bilious affections and  fevers of that type.
Its use is resorted to with a great deal of confidence in the forming
stages,;of a bilious fever, and it seems to have the power of arrest-
ing the attack.  It is eminently homoeopathic to vomiting of bile,
of food, and even of drinks, as soon as taken.
   Liver.—Soreness around the waist; tight  clothing is oppressive.
Soreness and  fullness in the region of the liver; tightness in the
left hypochondrium. 
164        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
   Intestinal.—Purging stools, with smarting and heat in the anus.
Four or five watery stools in the day;  tenesmus,  with 6mall dis-
charge of loose stool; morning diarrhoea; constipation.
   Clinical Remarks.—While the warm  infusion causes vomiting
only,  the same  preparation  when  taken cold acts as an  active
cathartic, causing  profuse bilious watery stools, with  nausea and
severe colic, prostration and relaxation.  Catharsis is a primary
effect of Eupatorium,  constipation the remote, secondary.
   Urinary  Organs.—Urine  scanty  and  high  colored; copious
evacuation of limpid urine; dark, brown,  scanty urine, depositing
a whitish clay-like sediment;  voided but once in twenty-four hours.
Dark colored, but clear urine; itching of the mons veneris.
   Clinical Remarks.—It seems homoeopathic to the dark colored
urine met with in bilious disorders;  also the watery urine observed
during intermittents.  It is said to have been very successful in the
treatment of a peculiar herpetic eruption, affecting the anus and
adjacent parts, as the scrotum and thighs,  and also extending its
ravages to the rectum.
   Catarrhal Symptoms.—Flowing  eoryza;  sneezing; hoarseness,
with  roughness  in the voice;  hacking  cough in  the evening;
cough with soreness and heat in the bronchia; cough aggravated
in the evening.
   Clinical  Remarks.—The Eupat. per. has an extensive reputa-
tion in colds, influenza, and catarrhal fevers.  In domestic practice
it is usually given in small doses of the warm infusion, and produces
copious sweating.  Some physicians consider it almost specific  in
colds, etc.  In homoeopathic practice, it has cured, in  small doses:
" Hectic cough from  supposed intermittent  fever; nocturnal loose
cough ; hoarse  rough cough with scraping in the bronchia; vio-
lent  cough with soreness  in  the chest;  cough with  flushed face
and tearful eyes—the  patient supports the chest  with the hands;
cough preceding  measles;  cough  following measles;  disposition
to cough with dyspnoea."  The above are  quite prominent symp-
toms, and  show  this  remedy to have quite a specific action upon
the bronchial mucous membrane.  In eclectic  practice it is  highly
esteemed as a  "cough remedy."  Its  effects on the  respiratory
tract, seems somewhat analogous to Phosphorus, Tartar emetic, and
Causticum.   It has been found useful in epidemic influenza.  (See
General Effects.)
   Chest-—Difficulty of breathing, attended with  anxious counten-
ance ; perspiration,  and  sleepiness;  pain/ful irritation  of  the
pulmonary organs with heat in the chest;  aching pain under the
left  breast; inability  to lie on the left  side; soreness in the chest
from taking a full inspiration;  grating sensation in the chest at
every deep inspiration.
    Clinical Remarks.—It  has been used successfully in asthma,
bronchitis and even pneumonia.  It has given relief in a case when
 the  " Dyspnoea  was very  great, obliging the patient to lie with  his
 head and shoulders very high," also the two symptoms italicized.
    Back—Weakness in  the  small of the back;  deep  seated pain
 in the loins, with soreness from motion;  pain  in the back as from 
              EUPATORIUM  PURPUREUM.           165

a bruise ; beating pain in the nape of the neck; pain in back and
lower extremities.
   Upper Extremities.—Soreness and aching in the arms and fore-
arms ;  stiffness of the arms; painful soreness in both wrists,  as if
broken or  dislocated;  stiffness of the fingers with obtuseness  of
the sense of touch ;  heat  in the palms  of the  hands, sometimes
with moisture.
   Lower Extremities.—Pain in a spot not larger than a pea, over
the left hip, with  soreness ; pain with extreme sensitiveness in the
left glutei muscles, passing around in front of the trochanter major;
burning in  the  skin,  on the inner side of the thighs of a female;
flagging of the  muscles  of the left thigh, as if they were falling
off the bone.  The pains  are  worse from  ten  o'clock, a. m., until
four o'clock, p. m. Pain and soreness of the upper part of the left
foot, with increased sensibility of the left big toe; the pain in the
foot is increased by standing on it.   Stiffness and general soreness
of the  lower extremities when rising to walk; calves  of the legs
feel  as though they  had been beaten;  soreness and  swelling  of
both feet, when standing on them, in a gouty subject; pain in the
first  joint  of  the left  great toe, which suddenly  moves to the
corresponing joint of the right one; pricking in the  soles of the
feet; aching pain in  the right hip, while sitting; lameness in the
right hip  and lower  extremity,  when  walking; soreness  and
aching of the lower limbs;  throbbing  in  the right foot;  rheu-
matic pains on the inside  of  the left knee; dropsical  swelling  of
both feet and ankles ; heat in the soles of the feet in the morning.
   Clinical Remarks.—Dr. Williamson considers  it  indicated  in
Rheumatic affections, accompanied by perspiration and soreness  of
the bones.   Also  in  Gouty affections.  It  is said  to  have cured
" Gouty inflammation of the left knee and  right elbow.''   " Drop-
sical swelling  of both feet and ankles," also symptoms  recorded
above.
        EUPATORIUM   PURPUREUM.

                 ( Queen of the Meadow.  Gravel root.)

   This plant, known all  over  the United States by the common
names above given, grows abundantly in low wet ground.  It flow-
ers in August and September,  and the root, which is the officinal
portion, should be collected in  the  fall.  The active  principle,
Eupatorine, or Eupurpurin, as it is  sometimes called, is said to
contain, in a great degree, the medicinal properties of the root.
Probably no plant has such an extensive reputation among the peo-
ple in diseases of the kidneys and bladder, and  such a  popularity
must be  found  upon some reliable foundation.   In an extensive 
166       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
country practice for many years, I found it used successfully in the
most obstinate cases of dropsy, gravel (so-called) and chronic  renal
and vesical diseases.   It is from these popular uses that the eclec-
tic physician has gained his empirical knowledge of this  remedy.
It is decreed to be diuretic,  stimulant, astringent, tonic, and anti-
lithic.
   "There is no doubt but what this agent exerts  a specific  influ-
ence upon the kidneys, increasing  the quantity of urine secreted,
and to some degree the amount of solids excreted in  it.   It has
been employed  in atonic  dropsies,  chronic  nephritis, catarrhus
vesicae, attended with ulceration; chronic irritation of the  bladder,
attended with increased mucous secretion.  It has also been  em-
ployed in haematuria, gleet, leucorrhoea, and other  forms of female
weakness, rheumatism and gout, with  success.  It is a  popular
remedy in gravel,  and said by some  to  possess  solvent  powers;
although we cannot award it any positive powers of that kind yet, as
it increases the amount of water excreted,  which is acknowledged
to be the best solvent for stone, and always allays irritation of the
bladder, we must consider it at  least the equal of Uva ursi  and
Chimaphila.  We have used the Eupurpurin, and consider it among
our most efficient curative agents in diseases of the kidneys, blad-
der, and urethra.  In one case of marked albuminuria, when other
agents had failed to produce any relief,  the continued  use of this
remedy for two weeks entirely relieved the patient.  In two cases
of Diabetes insipidus, its use was attended with the same results.
We have also employed it  in incontinence of urine, especially in
children, with good effects.  It is of the  most importance, however,
in allaying irritation  of the bladder; in many cases of this  kind
caused by displacement or chronic inflammation of the uterus,  or
arising during, or after pregnancy, we have  obtained more benefit
from its use than from any other agent."  (Eclec. Mat.  Med.)
   Dr. King says: " It is  used  with excellent effect in dropsical
affections, strangury, gravel, and  all  chronic urinary disorders,
haematuria, gout and rheumatism."
   It is in the class of diseases just named, that I know it to be more
useful.  I have  known  it  to remove symptoms  of the  urinary
organs, that had resisted the use of Canth., Cann., Copaiva, Pulsa-
tilla  and Thuya.  My experience with this variety of Eupatorium
has been quite extensive, and my observation of its use  are equally
so.   It seems to be a close analogue of Uva ursi, Cannabis, Chima-
phila, Pulsatilla, and Copaiva.  I have known it, when taken exces-
sively, as it often is by the country people, to materially aggravate
renal difficulties, and even give rise to the very symptoms for which
it is so strongly recommended, and so really useful.  To be more
speoific, I have cured with this remedy a severe case of strangury,
in a female, due to uterine displacement; the usual remedies  had
been used without benefit.   In a case of excessive  irritation of the
bladder, with large deposit of lithates in the urine, it removed all
the symptoms in a week.  Several minor cases might be mentioned.
Next to Apocynum cann., I consider it the most powerful remedy
we possess, for the alleviation, and even permanent cure of Dropsy. 
               EUPHORBIA  COROLLATA.            167

It is even superior to that medicine,  for its action on the kidneys
is of a more pervading and profound character, i. e., it is capable of
modifying the various tissues of those organs, to a greater degree
than the Apocynum.  One of the most intractable cases of dropsy,
due apparently to renal disease, that  ever came under my care, I be-
lieve to have been  permanently cured by the  tincture of this root.
I usually use the mother tincture, and lower dilutions ; a few drops
at a dose, every two or six hours, as required.
          EUPHORBIA   COROLLATA.

                  {Go-Quick.  Milk-weed.  Spurge.)

   This plant is as yet but rarely used in Allopathic or Homoeopa-
thic practice, but our Eclectic colleagues have made extensive trials
with it in disease for many years, and thus indirectly given us some
valuable pathogenetic hints.  But, much as it is used by that school,
their literature  contains but little in its reference to therapeutic
power. With physicians of that school it supersedes the use of Lobelia
or Ipecac, as an  emetic or diaphoretic; and is substituted for the
Podophyllum, Jalap, &c, as an active cathartic.   But in the doses
in which it is administered, it is often productive of unpleasant and
even dangerous symptoms, and  capable of doing much injury to the
gastric mucous membrane.
   I have never administered it in disease, save in a strictly homoeo-
pathic manner, but I have experimented upon myself, testing the
effects of the dried root in grain doses ; and I have often had  op-
portunities of observing its immediate and remote effects upon the
persons of the patients of eclectics.
   The Euphorbia cor.  belongs to the Nat. Ord. Euphorbiaceae,
with the  Euphorbia  off., of  Hahnemann;  and the Euphorbia
ipecacuanha of American writers.  There are two other varieties,
the Euphor. maculata, and E. hypericifolia but as their effects are
quite different from the former, they cannot properly belong to the
same group of remedial agents.
   The E. off., of which we have a proving by Hahnemann himself,
is one of the most irritating and powerful agents  known, in its ac-
tion upon the skin and gastric mucous membrane.  It is said to have
an irritant effect  upon the brain.  It is seldom if ever used internal-
ly by the old school, because of its severity of action.  Its principal
use is externally as a rubefacient or vesicant.  Hahnemann, although
he does not give a picture of its general effects upon the skin, men-
tions its causing erysipelas of the face of a severe character.  But its.
real sphere of action is more like that of Croton tiglium, than any
other drug.  It causes a most intense inflammatory cezema,  which
often puts on an  erysipelatous appearance. 
168        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
   In Hahnemann's proving, sufficient prominence is not given to its
effects upon the stomach and intestines, although he gives a few of
the symptoms indicative of its peculiar action in  that direction.
The E. Ipecacuaha has been used by American botanic physicians,
and by the country people in domestic practice, for  many years, as
a prompt and easy emetic.   It is the mildest of this class, causing
free and copious emesis and catharsis, with little pain, except when
given in large doses.  Yet the milky juice of this variety will, when
applied to the skin, produce vesication and eczematous  inflamma-
tion.  It is used by the eclectics as an emetic, diaphoretic, expec-
torant, and epispastic.   They claim that it is superior to  Elaterium
as a hydragogue in dropsy; that it will bring on the menstrual dis-
charge when given in cathartic doses ;  and  is useful in hepatic tor-
por, bilious colic. &c.
   Probably it is not specifically indicated in any of these diseases
but may  prove homoeopathic to some form of eczema, gastric  dis-
order, with irritation of the mucous coat of the stomach and bow-
els.  But it is the Euphorbia corollata which I prefer to consider,
as being  the more powerful remedy, and perhaps more  capable of
attaining a position in our Materia  Medica,  by the  side  of the
E.-off.  This plant is incorrectly termed by Wood, King, and other
writers as  the "large flowering  spurge."  In  their  botanical
descriptions, the peculiarities of the different varieties are mingled
together, so  that I can nowhere find a correct description of the
E.-Corollata.  It grows in waste and sandy places all over Canada
and the Northern States, flowering in July and August.  It has
several straight stems  rising  from a small  yellowish root, which,
when broken, yields a milky  juice which irritates the  skin when
applied to it  for a few minutes, creating a pustular eruption.   The
stalk contains the same juice,  but of less strength.  The bark of
the root is the officinal part, and, together with the whole root,
inodorous and tasteless/  Its  virtues  are imparted to water and
alcohol.  The  tincture of  the powdered bark, or the bark itself,
triturated with sugar or milk  after the  usual manner, is the  best
method of preparation. Being destitute of taste, it is easily given
to children, should  it  be  necessary to use the lower triturations.
Pellets saturated with the mother tincture,  the first  trituration or
the strong  tincture, or powdered bark, should be used in provings.
Its action  on the system is intense and peculiar.  It is called by
the country people  by the expressive name of Go  quick, referring
to its quick and prompt  action.  I am  indebted  to Dr. A. R.
Brown, of Litchfield, Mich., for many interesting facts relating to
its action.  It is considered by those who use it, as the most power-
ful " revulsive agent"  in their Materia Medica, in all cases of local
congestion, especially of the lungs and head ;  also in inflammation
of the pleura, lungs and  liver, and it is  used as  a  substitute for
bleeding and Calomel.  Its  admirers allege that it  will certainly
arrest the progress of the  above  affections  in  a  few hours,  and
break up  all simple fevers.  This is of course  erroneous, but  it
reminds one of the Helleborism of the ancients,  so graphically
described  by  Hahnemann.  In fact  no  drug  with  which I am 
EUPHORBIA  COROLLATA.
169
acquainted so much resembles the Veratrum album.  It will be seen
that its  near analogues  are  also Jatropha, Elaterium, Croton-tig.
Arsenicum, Tartar-emetic,  Verat. viride;  and will undoubtedly
prove as useful in practice.
    Dr. Brown, who has repeatedly  tested the pure effects of the
root upon his own person, thus describes the action.   After taking
the dose (twenty-five grains of the  powdered  root) and while  in
good  health no  effects were noticed for about  one hour and a half,
when suddenly, with no premonitory symptoms of pain, a distress-
ing sense of deathly nausea set in, accompanied in a few minutes
by  faintness;  then suiden and powerful vomiting  of, first the  food,
etc., in the stomach, then of large quantities of water mixed  with
mucus,  then clear fluid like rice-water.  In less than a minute after
the vomiting commenced, great commotion in the  bowels, followed
immediately  by  copious watery evacuations, set in.  This simulta-
neous vomiting and diarrhoea continued for nearly  an hour, at  short
intervals,  or  intermissions, all the while accompanied  by  great
anxiety, a death-like sense of faintness and exhaustion; cool-skin—
covered with beaded sweat; cold hands, feet, and nose, and   great
weakness. In about two or three hours all these symptoms passed
away, leaving only weakness as from hunger, no  pain or distress,
only a peculiar languor.  During the height of its action the pulse
sank  to forty. After taking  fifty  grains the effects were  much
more intense,  but lasted  only  a little longer.   It  resembled more
nearly a severe attack of sea-sickness, or cholera morbus, than any-
thing the  doctor  could imagine. Taken in doses of two or  three
grains every two or  three  hours, it causes languor, perspiration,
and softness of the pulse.
    King  (Dispensatory), says, "fifteen or twenty grains of the
powdered root  will  excite emesis,  rarely occasioning pains or
spasms, and giving rise to very little previous  nausea  or  giddiness.
Four grains  given every  three hours, will act  as  a diaphoretic.
When given in large doses it  is apt to induce inflammation of the
mucous coat of the stomach and bowels, with hyper-catharsis.   It
causes distressing nausea with prostration."
    Wood, (Therapeutics, Vol. II,  p. 442).  It is not like Ipecac-
uanha, safe in over doses, but when taken too largely acts with great
harshness, causing much nausea, violet vomiting, hypercatharsis,
and symptoms of general prostration.   Other medical writers speak
of  it  in much  the same manner; but the  most extended notice of
its  virtues which has  yet appeared, is from the pen of Dr. Grover
Coe,  in a  work on " Concentrated Organic Medicines."   Were Dr.
Coe a homoeopathist, he would appear in a much better  light in his
essay on  remedial agents, as  it is, he makes  himself obscure and
sometimes ridiculous, by seeking to account for the modus operandi
of  certain medicines, upon vague  and theoretic grounds, and by
ignoring the law of Similia.
    Of Euphorbin, the  concentrated principle of  the E.-corrollata,
he  says:  " The Euphorbia is a reliable acquisition to our indigenous
materia medica, and fulfills many important indications.  In  small,
repeated  doses it acts as a diaphoretic, inducing  free perspiration,
        22 
170        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
  deterges the raucous coats of the stomach and bowels, stimulates the
  functions of the liver, and  corrects the tendency to  colliquative
  diarrheal discharges." (!!)   "When administered as an  emetic,
  it will generally vomit without exciting any previous  nausea, while
  at other times considerable prostration of the muscular system with
  lingering  nausea will be observed; paleness  of the  countenance,
  and cool, moist state of the skin, from which, however, the  patient
  rapidly recovers, as soon as the medicine has operated  on  the
  bowels."  "We deem  the  Euphorbia  one of the most powerful
  and at the same time, safest revulsive remedies  that can be admin-
  istered for the relief of cerebral  congestions.   It excites powerfully
  the absorbent and  venous systems, and is therefore frequently em-
  ployed for the removal of dropsical effusions, removing them when
  other means fail."   [This is  all vague theory.   It acts similarly to
 the Elaterium.]
    After stating pretty fully its irritating action  on the mucous
 coat of the stomach and bowels, this author, strangely enough, goes
 on to say :  " We have found the Euphorbin of much ability in the
 treatment of cholera infantum, diarrhoea, and dysentery. (!) It seems
 to exercise a peculiar  control over the  glandular structure of the
 intestinal canal, correcting and  giving tone to  the action  of  the
 secreting vessels, and promoting the  assimilation  of  nutritious
 matters."  All of which is mere  nonsense.  It acts by virtue of its
 power to cause similar pathological conditions  in healthy persons.
 Is it not strange that allopathic writers should labor  so hard to
 cover up the real action  of drugs,  when the  actual  law of their
 remedial action  is  so  apparent to  every sensible  mind ?   With
 a full knowledge  of  its power to cause " hypercatharsis with
 inflammation  of  the  bowels,  cramps,  and vomiting,"  he  says:
 " We (I) have administered it in cases  of cholera infantum,  when
 the alvine discharges were watery, copious, and offensive, and had,
 as the result  of its operation, well-digested stools without foetor."
 Then, to gloss this, to him  incomprehensible  power,  he resorts
 to unworthy special pleading, thus:  "We have been unable  to
 discover that the Euphorbin acts as a special irritant upon the
 bowels, but, on the contrary, esteem it as a corrector of irritation."
 (In small doses.)  " Our observations  of its operation  have led us
 to the conclusion  that the irritation sometimes  observable  is the
 result of an increased activity on  the part of the eliminating vessels
 of the alimentary canal, and  the  consequent depurition of certain
 morbid and acrid materials from the blood, which being brought in
 contact with the mucous surfaces, constitute an extraneous cause of
 excitement."   This language reminds one of the obscure and  foggy
reasoning that our medical  grandfathers indulged in a few centuries
 ago—a jargon of unmeaning phrases.
   The   Euphorbium-cor.  causes, like   the  Verat.-alb.  and  its
analogues, a  decided  and  profound depression  of the  vitality
of the nerves  of the stomach and bowels, and an  utterly relaxed
condition of  the intestinal capillaries.   It induces  a  patholog-
ical  and  pathogenetic state,  which presents  a picture  resem-
bling with wonderful fidelity cholera morbus, cholera infantum, 
EUPHORBIA  COROLLATA.             171
colliquative diarrhoea, sea-sickness, and many other forms of lesion
affecting the digestive tube.  It may act in large doses as a direct
local irritant,in the same manner as Tartar-emetic; for the juice of
the root will  produce vesication and  pustules upon the skin, and
perhaps upon the mucous membrane.  But it certainly  possesses a
dynamic power, which exercises a profound influence through  the
medium of the nerves.                                        ?
   Pathogenesis.—A resume  of the symptoms after Hahnemann s
method would be as follows:
   Head &c—Vertigo;  Swimming in the head,  with faintness,
dimness of sight,  and prostration;  everything seems to be whirl-
ing around ; vertigo, with ringing in the ears; he fears he is going
to die; death-like sensation, with  anxiety of miud; no desire to
live unless relief comes soon.
   Digestive  Tract, <fcc—Burning in  the mouth and on the tongue
after  taking  the  dry powder; vesicles on  the *> lips  and  tongue
after taking the fresh root; sudden nausea one hour  after taking
the powder,  followed in  a few  minutes by  sudden and forcible
vomiting and diarrhoea of watery  (rice-water) fluid, with sinking,
anxious feeling at the stomach, faintness, slow and week pulse (40),
cool skin,  cool hands and feet,  which  become affected with painful
cramps; profuse  colliquative discharges from the bowels, like  the
evacuations in cholera,  with painful spasms of the  intestines;  cold
sweat on the body and extremities; spasms of the legs and feet.
   Pathology-—I had intended to make some experiments on  ani-
mals, with the view  of showing its pathological effects upon  the
mucous membranes of the  stomach and bowels, but  have been una-
ble to devote the necessary time.  I hope to present the profes-
sion with the results of such experience soon.  This article is pub-
lished to  call the attention of my  colleagues  to  this important
remedy, and ask their assistance in perfecting its pathogenesis.  If
we may be allowed to judge from analogy, we can safely affirm that
its physiologico-pathological effects are similar to those caused by
the Elaterium, Verat. alb. and viride,  Jatropha curcas., and perhaps
Aconite.
   Clinical  Remarks.—This remedy is perfectly homoeopathic,
judging from its pathogenetic symptoms and its known effect in
disease, to many morbid conditions of the digestive tube ; many seri-
ous and severe diseases of  the  stomach and bowels,  as well as some
affections of the liver, kidneys, and skin.   In some forms of aphthe,
accompanied  by vomiting or diarrhoea, and that condition of  the
alimentary mucous  membrane  characterized  by   any aphthous
exudation extending from  the mouth  to the anus. This condition is
often  seen in children and nursing women, and  vulgarly known as
"thrush."   In this affection I  should  advise the lower  dilutions of
the tincture  of the plant.  After this,  Hydrastus,  Rhus-vernix,
Borax, and Arsenicum  or  Tartar-emetic may be tried.  In weakly
subjects Phosphoric and Sulphuric acids will prove useful. Chlorate
of Potash is an admirable remedy in some cases.  Sea-sickness and
the severe vomiting of pregnancy will be benefitted by the medium
dilutions of the  tincture of the  dried root.  It is useful in  the 
172        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
vomiting which arises  from fright, over indulgence in ices, fruits,
etc., or  from the effects of acrid  matters in the stomach, such as
large doses oflpecac, Antimony,  Lobelia, etc.  In cholera  morbus
and cholera infantum  we have abundant  proof of its utility.  I
have known it to cure these affections after the usual remedies had
entirely failed.   In such  conditions, if the  evacuations  be  acid in
their nature, the acidity should be corrected by small quantities of
Carb. soda or Magnesia,  otherwise the prompt curative effects of
the Eupborbium will not appear.  This is a point too often ignored
by homoeopathic physicians.  Hahnemann  taught that these chemi-
cally altered conditions of the fluids were  the result of actual acid
fermentation of the contents of  the stomach  and intestines, and
must be met by remedies which  act in a chemical manner.  Many
remedies,  apparently well chosen, will not act beneficially in  such
conditions, but act promptly upon its  removal,  the acid  in  such
cases antidoting,  perhaps destroying, its medicinal  principle.  In
acute enteritis, gastritis,  and other  inflammatory diseases  of the
gastric  and intestinal mucous membrance,  I should consider it
admirably indicated, if the other symptoms correspond.  In toxical
doses it undoubtedly causes active inflammation of their structures,
and then, instead of watery evacuations, we may have mucous and
bloody  discharges, accompanied  by  pain and tenesmus.  In these
diseases the higher dilutions would be preferable.   The colliquative
diarrhea of consumptive and typhoid patients may be benefited by
this remedy, as also those obstinate chronic diarrhoeas which are
prevalent among soldiers in camps, and are probably caused by bad
food and worse water.  It will undoubtedly prove useful in many
of the diseases  of children, such as sympathetic or irritative fever,
worm fever ; in fact, all febrile action when caused by irritation of
the bowels. Dr. Coe says: " We value it exceedingly in the treat-
ment of the indigestion of children, and for the removal of  all that
train of symptoms which  is usually supposed  to indicate the pres-
ence of worms.  These are: loss of appetite, or it may be variable,
voracious  at times, and  none at  others; furred tongue; feverish-
ness; foetid breath ; bloating of the stomach ; constipation, or, on
the contrary,  a  troublesome diarrhoea ; emaciation ; peevishness ;
wakefulness, etc."  In such cases I  had the best  effects from the
first decimal trituration of the root-bark, or the third trituration of
the Euphorbin. But Santonine is  the most reliable specific.  Finally,
it may prove  useful in some of  the exanthemas,  such as eczema,
pustular ring-worm, erysipelas, and milk-crust of children when asso-
ciated with diarrhoea. I do not know whether its internal administra-
tion will cause its peculiar effects on the skin; my experiments were
not carried far enough to test the matter.   We may safely suppose
however,  that  it may thus act,  similarly to Croton, Rhus, and
Tartar-emetic.   In all  affections  of the  skin, its external use as a
lotion,  Cerate, or Glycerole should  accompany its external admin-
istration.    I earnestly solicit a trial of its remedial  virtues in the
 above  mentioned diseases;   and  careful  provings on   healthy
persons, and the lower animals. 
GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.          173
      GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.

                       {Yellow Jessamine.)

   The Root is the officinal part, and yields  its virtues to water
and alcohol.
   Description.—This plant is likewise known by  the  name  of
Field Jessamine, and Woodbine; it is the Bignonia Sempervirens
of Linnaeus, and the Gelseminum nitidum of Michaux and  Pursh.
It is named the Gelsemiwm nitidum by some authors.  It has  a
twisting, smooth, glabrous stem, with opposite, perennial  lance-
olate, entire leaves, which are dark above, pale beneath, and  which
stand on short petioles; the flowers are yellow, having an agreeable
but rather narcotic odor,  and stand on  axillary peduncles; the
calyx is  very  small,  with five sepals; the  corolla  is  funnel-form
with a spreading border, and five lobes nearly equal; stamens five;
pistils  two; capsule  two-celled, compressed,  flat, two-partible;
seeds flat, and attached to the margins of the valves.  The  berries
are black.
    This  is  one  of the  most  beautiful  climbing  plants  of our
Southern States, ascending  lofty trees, and  forming festoons from
one tree to another, and in its flowering season, in the early spring,
scenting the atmosphere with its delicious  odor.  On account of
its gorgeous  yellow flowers, and the  rich perfume which they
impart, as well as the deep shade  it affords, it is extensively culti-
vated in  the gardens of the South as an ornamental vine.  It grows
in the North as an exotic.   It begins to blossom about the  first of
March, and its blossoming season lasts until the end of May. The
root is several feet in length, with scattered  fibres, and varies from
two to  three lines in diameter, to nearly two inches.  The internal
part of the root is woody, and  of a light yellowish color, the
external part or bark, in which the medicinal virtues are said prin-
cipally to reside, is of a light snuff color, and  from half a line to
three lines in thickness.
    A vine, the root of which is sometimes gathered for the Gelsem-
minum,  resembles it  very much in  appearance, though  it is of  a
lighter color, and  the  outer  bark is covered with white specks or
marks somewhat similar to those on young  cherry or peach limbs,
and the lower part of  old vines become rough  and  have small ten-
drils that fasten upon the bark of trees, and which are never seen
on the Gelseminum.  The bark of the vine is also more brittle, and
the leaves are always  on long footstalks, which are opposite,, at the
end of which are two opposite leaves, almost exactly resembling the
Aristolochia Serpentaria.   The root  is  almost  white, very  tough,
straight, and about the same length of the medicinal root,, and ha&
a slightly bitter, disagreeable nauseous taste.  I never  saw any of
the flowers, though they  are said to resemble the oth«rs in shape,,
but are snowy white, with a slight, unpleasant odor.  The  vine  is
called  the White Poison Vine and  White Jessamine.
    I am thus  particular in giving a  correct description  of this
plant,  in order that there  shall  be  no mistake about the matter. 
174       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
Homoeopathic pharmaceutists, above  all others, should  be scrupu-
lously  careful to prepare the medicines we  use  in  their utmost
purity.  The Gelseminum, more than any other vegetable remedy,
demands the  most careful  preparation.  It is not known to me
whether the leaves possess any medicinal  qualities.  But I  should
suppose from analogy that they possess as much comparitive power
as the  leaves, etc., of Aconite, or Veratrum viride.  The tincture
made from the flowers is comparatively inert.
   Toxicological Effects.—We do not find any well authenticated
report of any case of fatal poisoning from the use of Gelseminum,
and do not know therefore what pathological changes it produces in
the human body.
    Case 1.—This  is said by King to be the  first known  case of
poisoning  by Gelseminum;   and  that  by it,  the  plant was  first
brought into notice.  " A planter on the Mississippi, while laboring
under a severe attack of bilious fever, which resisted all the usual
remedies, sent a servant into his garden to procure a certain medi-
cinal root and prepare an infusion of it for him to drink.  The serv-
ant by  mistake collected another root, (the  Yellow  Jessamine,)
and gave an infusion of it to his master who, shortly after  swallow-
ing some of it, was seized with the following—
   Symptoms.—Complete loss of muscular power; was unable  to
move a limb, or even to raise his eyelids, although  he could hear,
and was cognizant of circumstances  transpiring around him.  His
friends, greatly alarmed,  collected around him, watching the result
with much anxiety, and expecting every minute to see him breathe
his last.   After  some hours  he gradually recovered, and  was
astonished to find that his fever had left him."—{King's Disp)
   In this  case no treatment was reported to have been given, yet
the man recovered perfectly, besides being rid of an obstinate fever.
No one can compare the above symptoms with those of Catalepsy,
without remarking the striking resemblance.  It ought to  prove a
specific for that malady.
    Case 2.—Several deck hands of a steamer on  the  Mississippi
river, tapped a barrel of tincture Gelseminum which they supposed
to be whisky. All  who drank of it  were more or less  affected.
The symptoms were about the same as in  case ].   It was reported
that two out of these three died, but Dr. H. H. Hill, who was
present, says they were saved by the employment  of Quinine and
Capsicum in large doses, aided by external stimulation.
   He makes the following report of these  cases :  " In the sum-
mer of 1853, late in June or  early in July, I  had  five barrels of
tincture of Gelseminum shipped from Vicksburg, Mississippi.  The
boat grounded on a sand bar on the Ohio river  near night.  I hap-
pened to see the barrels on deck, they having been  taken out of the
hold in shifting freight.  I requested the mate to  have the barrels
lowered again as they contained medicine, and  it was  not safe  in
case the hands should get  at them.   The next morning another
boat made its appearance, and  the  captain told us we had better
get aboard of that boat  as  it was of light draught.  As  we were
getting aboard, I  heard  two physicians  say  to the  captain  that 
             GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.          175

some of his men had been drinking alcohol or some poison, and two
or three of them were about  dead.  They told the captain to
give them  an  emetic.  Being well  convinced what they had been
drinking, I told him not to do so, as they were already  too much
relaxed,  and that they needed  stimulants.   During  the night
they had opened  a barrel and drawn a bucket full, as I learned
from the  men, and had drank it from tin cups, it was supposed
from half a pint  to  a pint  each.  They looked very much  like
dead men, their  eyes were closed; circulation very feeble; no
pulse  perceptible; and breathing so low  that it  could  hardly be
perceived at all.   Two of  the  men were  taken on board the
other boat and the other  three  were left.   I  went up  the  river
with the  two men and gave them stimulants, and in less than
two hours they were able to walk.  They  recovered.  When I
got to  Louisville, I  learned that there  was  a statement in the
Louisville Journal that it  was  supposed that the three men who
were left behind were dead, they having been left in an apparently
dying condition.   Some three days afterwards the boat got up, and
another statement appeared in the paper that stimulants  had been
given to them and they had recovered."
    Case 3.—A lady  aged 24, suffering from Typhoid Pneumonia,
took ten drops of Tincture Gelseminum; in  an hour eleven more ;
and in two hours after twelve drops.  Shortly afterwards appeared
the following—
   Symptoms.—She could  not see any one in  the room, although
persons  stood close by the bed.  Her eyes were wide open, pupils
dilated,  pulse regular and  full, skin  natural and healthy in color,
feet and hands cold.  She  seemed to know all that was going on ;
described  her symptoms ;  said she felt faint;  felt as  though her
blood had ceased circulating and that her head  felt very  light.
   Treatment.—She was given a teaspoonful  of Aromatic spirits of
Ammonia in water, and repeated in  fifteen  minutes.  At  the  expi-
ration of half an hour she said she felt perfectly well, complained of
no pain whatever; the fever was subdued, and in four  days she
was quite able to rise from  her bed.—{Dr. Lungren, of Franklin,
N.  C)
    Case 4.—Dr.  B------, a practicing physician in one of the
upper counties in Georgia,  while  suffering  from a severe nervous
toothache, took what  he guessed was  about thirty drops of the
tincture.
   Symptoms.—In ten minutes he said, " I cannot see you."  His
eyes were wide open,  pupil dilated; pulse eighty to ninety.  He
attempted  to walk, and staggered  like one intoxicated.  (He was
immediately given a dose of "ipecac, as an emetic).   He wrote with
a pencil on paper, for he could not speak, "I am very sick ; wish
to vomit  but cannot."  In  a few  moments he vomited, but the
discharge passed through the nostrils.  His hands and feet became
icy cold, pulse regular, eighty to ninety.
   Treatment.—Warm bricks were applied  to his feet, his hands
and ankles were chafed ; strong Aqua ammonia was placed to  his
nose and upon his chest.  In an hour he was able to  speak.   The 
176        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 next he complained  of being very  faint;  took aromatic spirits of
 Ammonia, and the next day rode home a distance of twenty-three
 miles.   It is needless to say the toothache  left him—[lb.]
    Case 5.—A convict  in  the  N.  H. State Prison swallowed one-
 and-a-half ounces of the fluid extract, with intent to poison him-
 self. The effects were, great prostration, nausea and vomiting, dila-
 ted pupils, inability to speak or  move, coldness  of the surface, feeble
 pulse, etc. The effects passed off, with proper antidotes, in about
 twenty-four hours.—{Dr. Pattee, in  Tilden's Journal.)
    In this case we  observe nausea  and vomiting, which is a rare
 effect of the drug.
    Case  6.—" In one  case a  lad  of twenty-seven years of age
 swallowed six fluid  drachms of  the  tincture without any permanent
 injury."—{Dr. King.)
   Antidotes.—Unless  the person is  seen immediately after the
 drug is  taken  emetics,  it is  said, are not safe or  advisable, on
 account of the additional prostration they  may cause.  In fact none
 but the most stimulating emetic substances would  have  any  effect
 upon a stomach paralyzed by a  large dose  of Gelseminum.  Proba-
 bly the best emetic  remedy is mustard,  a teaspoonful of the ground
 seed in half a cup of warm water.   Ammonia is a valuable anti-
 dote to  the prostrating  effects  of  the drug, as  also  are  Quinine,
 Capsicum, and Brandy.   Dr. King  states  that a piece of common
 coarse salt, about the size of a pea, chewed  and  swallowed, will
 produce a restoration in  five or ten minutes in many instances.  A
 spoonful of salt and water may be given, if the patient be too  weak
 or insensible to chew it.   Electro-Magnetism is a powerful antidote
 to its paralyzing influence.  In bad cases it should be perseveringly
 used.  A strong preparation of Xanthoxylum  would prove a reli-
 able stimulating antidote.  The  Homoeopathic antidotes against the
 primary symptoms of prostration, etc.,  are Aconite, Verat. viride,
 Verat. alb., Arsenicum album,  Secale,  Chloroform, Carbo veg. and
 China.   Against  its specific effects on the head and eyes, Opium,
 Bellad.,  Stram., Hyos.,  Agar.,  and  Spig. are indicated in small
 quantities. The proper antidotes to its secondary symptoms, con-
vulsive, spinal,  etc., are  Nux  vom., Ign.,  ^Esculus g., Cuprum,
 Agar, and iEthusa.   The warm bath, mustard to  the extremities,
and cool applications to the head and spine would be valuable  palli-
 ative means.
   General Effects, on  the  Nervous System—Nerves of Sen-
 sation.—Gelseminum does not exert the decided  and specific effect
 upon the nerves  of sensation that we  witness from the effects of
Aconite.   It causes  none of the numbness, tingling, pricklino- and
 crawling sensations which mark  the  action  of that poison    °
   The pains which may be caused  by Gelseminum are not in my
 opinion,  caused by a primary  affection of the nerves of  sensation,
but depend upon  a certain morbid  condition of the nerves of mo-
tion   Such pains  are caused by  cramp-like  contractions of muscles
and tendons, constricting certain nerves or blood-vessels or thev
may arise as in case of Aconite from irritation  of the  "anionic
nerves, about the blood-vessels-many  are probably congestive  in 
              GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.          177

 their nature, like the pains in the head and eyes.  In pure Neuralgia,
 this  remedy can be of but  little service; although it may be very
 useful in removing many  consensual symptoms,  such  as excessive
 nervous irritation,  drawing and twitching of the muscles  of  the
 affected parts,  etc.  Dr.  Douglas, however, declares  that   "A
 majority of all  cases of Neuralgia  will be promptly  relieved  by
 Gelseminum but it sometimes requires to be given in pretty large
 doses, repeated every  half  hour till the pain  is relieved."   He
 says:   "My  experience does  not  perfectly  coincide  with your
 remark  upon the  action  of the Gelseminum  upon  the  nerves
 of sensation. It does not, certainly,  ' cause  the numbness, ting-
 ling, prickling and crawling sensations'  of Aconite, but in my indi-
 vidual  experience,  it causes  the  pains.  In my own  provings,  I
 have frequently experienced a succession of acute, sudden,  darting
 pains evidently  running along single  nerve branches in almost every
 part of the body and limbs, sometimes so  sudden and acute as to
 make me  start.  At one time a quick succession of  these acute
 sudden  pains coursed down the outside and front of  the tibia for
 over half an hour, leaving aline of considerable tenderness marking
 its track.  These pains  which seemed clearly neuralgic, gave  me
 the palpable indication for its employment in this disease.  And it
 has certainly been successful.  But  while  it has promptly cured
 some distressing cases of neuralgia, in which Aconite had been fully
 tried without benefit, there  have occurred some other cases in
 which it has failed and  Aconite has  succeeded.   What  is  the
 explanation of this?  If we suppose  that  in some cases of this
 disease   there exists a  real  inflammatory  state of  the  nerve,
 and in  others a  mere  excess of sensitiveness, the  explanation
 is easy:  Aconite cures the first, and Gelseminum the last."  Dr. P.
 P. Wells, says,  "we  feel warranted  in  predicting that the class of
 fevers to which Gelseminum will be found related, is that based on
 blood dyscrasia,  with a tendency to decomposition of its haematine
 and globules,  or to fevers of  a miasmatic origin, which Aconite
 seldom or never is."
    Nerves of motion.—Gelseminum,  like Nux vomica,  Angustura,
 ^Esculus, Ignatia and Strychnia, does primarily affect the nerves of
 motion, but in an  opposite manner.  It depresses and  paralyses
 these nerves  which they excite and irritate.  But while the  action
 of Gelseminum differs from that of  Strychnia in this  respect; in
 another it affords a remarkable resemblance.  Both cause hyper-
 aemia of the spiual marrow, which may increase to actual engorge-
 ment or extravasation.  This  condition is not  brought  about as
 soon by Gelseminum as  by Nux vomica, but the condition when
 obtained has very nearly the same results.   But  while the  active
 congestion  of the  spinal  marrow  caused by  Nux  vomica,  is
 accompanied by  an  exalted and tense state of the motor nerves,
 even to  tetanic spasm;  the passive  congestion of Gelseminum is
 accompanied by  a paralytic or debilitated state of those nerves, or
 a condition  exactly opposite to tetanus. Gelseminum  may cause
death by prostrating and  exhausting primarily the  energies and
vital power of the  nerves of voluntary and  involuntary motion.
       23 
178        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
While Strychnia,  Nux vomica,  etc., would produce death from
the  same  cause,  but the  fatal  prostration  would be  secon-
dary;   the exhaustion  being   preceded   and  caused  by  the
primary  irritation  and  spasmodic   action  of  those  nerves.
Gelseminum may  also cause  death by  congestion and apoplexy of
the brain and spinal marrow.  Nux, Ignatia and Strychnia may also
cause death by producing such a congested condition  of the spinal
cord and its membranes as to lead  to fatal hemorrhage into those
important tissues.
   Clinical Remarks.—The primary homoeopathicity of Gelsemi-
num to  paralysis from  loss  of motion  will  be discussed in other
places.  Its use in very many forms of Convulsiotis may here be
alluded  to.  The other schools of medicine, viewing this drug as
a powerful  anti-spasmodic, would see it indicated in nearly all forms
of convulsions.  It has  been used in both clonic and torfic  spasms; in
Epilepsy, Chorea,  Hysteria, etc.  I gave it in one case of severe
Hysterical  Epilepsy,  a young girl  after suppressed menses had
attacks  every evening,  lasting an hour or two, during which time
so severe was the spasm of the glottis that asphyxia seemed really
impending.  The attacks had been every day for two  weeks.  Five
drops of the tincture were given at t hree and again at six, p. m.
At seven, the usual hour, no  spasms appeared, and did  not return
until the next menstrual period, when the  remedy had no  effect; and
Asafcetida,  in one  grain doses, every four hours was resorted to,
which brought on the  menses and cured the spasms.  I have treated
many cases of Hysteria from  various causes with  Gelseminum, and
I know of none more generally useful.
   Eclectic writers claim to have cured cases of  Chorea with Gel-
seminum.   In the three cases treated by me, one recovered, one was
benefitted,  and  one,  a case  of  years continuance, seemed to be
aggravated.
   In Tetanus, it would seem to be one of the most powerful anti-
pathic remedies, yet I cannot find a single recorded  case treated
with this remedy.  After testing the medicines homoeopathic to the
disease, like Nux Vomica, Ignatia, Aconite,  etc., I should resort to
the Gelseminum with a good deal of confidence.  We  know that it
produces its peculiar prostrating effects, even  to an extreme degree,
without causing any  local lesion.  Now  it often happens that no
material traces of  disease can be discovered either  in  the brain
and spinal marrow of persons who have died of Tetanus.  Dr. Gerhard
declares that of the twelve  cases  he  examined no  lesion whatever
could be detected.  Some of the  secondary symptoms of Gelsemi-
num strongly  resemble this disease.   Some months  after writing
the above, we have the following report from Dr. O. G.  Strong "I
tried the Gel. two weeks since, in a severe case of Tetanus.  I gave
ten drops of  the mother tincture, fifteen  minutes apart.  After the
third dose,  the spasmodic action  entirely ceased,  and the patient
recovered.  It produced the most satisfactory specific action of any
remedy I ever tried in such a case."
    In Hydrophobia,   also, no appearances have been  found which
could account for the fatality of the disease.  In this terrible malady, 
              GELSEMINUM   SEMPERVIRENS.          179

 Gelseminum ought to be found useful if not curative.  In material
 doses, it relaxes all the muscles, calms the fury of nervous excite-
 ment, relaxes the glottis and prevents spasms.  Why should it not
 be valuable in Hydrophobia ?   The spasms in this disease are brief
 and clonic, similar to the secondary  ones  of Gelseminum.  The
 circulation  is much  disturbed  (excited).  A dog killed with it
 could  not  drink while under  its influence.  Were I  to become
 hydrophobic, I should take Gelseminum and "await the end."
    Since writing the above, several of my colleagues have reported
 to me cures of spasmodic croup in children, made with Gelseminum,
 used according to my suggestion.   I have no doubt  but it will
 prove an invaluable  remedy  in  that  malady, named by Wood—
 "Infantile Spasm of the  Glottis.''  It is  known in medical  works
 under the name of Laryngismus stridulous,  Asthma of  Millar, etc.
 The essential nature of the disease is a general morbid  excitability
 of the nervous system, directed  especially to the muscles of the
 glottis, which contract spasmodically.   It has been said to arise
 from irritation or inflammation of the cervical portion of the spinal
 marrow, (that portion most irritated by Gelseminum) the presence
 of worms  in the intestines,  etc.  From  whatever  cause it may
 arise,  the Gelseminum, if not a  curative remedy, properly, will be
 a  valuable  palliative, used in drop  doses of the first dilution or
 mother tincture, frequently repeated;  it must procure relief in the
 majority of cases, while during  the intermediate time, it should be
 alternated with Bell., Hyos., Ars., or Moschus.
   Muscular System.—The most prominent of all the  effects  of
 Gelseminum is to induce a profound and intense prostration of the
 whole muscular system.  Its effects are  first manifested on  the
 voluntary muscles, afterwards on the involuntary,  No remedy so
 suddenly and surely destroys the tone  of muscular  structure; but
 it acts not by causing any disintegration or  disorganization, but
 by impairing the vitality of those nerves  which supply it with life.
 This property of Gelseminum can be made subservient to the phy-
 sician in many  ways.
   In cases  of obstinate tonic convulsions and cramp-like rigidity,
 full doses,  sufficient to bring the muscular system under its patho-
 genetic action, will promptly remove such morbid conditions.  There
 is no danger  in this method of administering  the remedy, for one
 of the peculiarities of its action is, that there is  no permanent injury
 done to the  tonicity of muscular structure, unless its use is  long
 persisted in, and  wantonly abused.  In this  respect it acts wonder-
 fully like chloroform.
   Like chloroform, it  will be  found very useful to the Surgeon,
 when in cases  of dislocation or fracture, reduction  is rendered
 difficult or impossible by a  rigidity of the  muscles of the part.  In
 such cases  the system may be brought  under its influence very
readily. It does not, however, give that insensibility to pain which
is the prominent effect of chloroform.
   It is freely used by some obstetricians in cases  of rigidity of the
os-uteri, or external parts.  King  advises it in all such cases as
being  much  superior to Lobelia,  as well as pleasanter, as it does 
  180        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

  not nauseate nor cause that sense of deathly prostration so peculiar
  to that drug.   I have used it successfully in such cases, as well as
  for those severe spasmodic pains which sometimes come on in labor.
  In such instances it must be given in appreciable doses, of five, ten
  or fifteen drops,  repeated if required; a slight dimness of sight is a
  good indication that the remedy is acting.
     Dr. Moore, of Illinois, reports  to me, relative to the  curative
  action of Gelsemenum in muscular pain (Myalgia), from great over
  exertion.  He  stated that after a day's fatiguing  walking, such as
  usually laid him  up with lameness and  stiffness for several days,
  he took thirty drops of a common tincture of Gelseminum.   In half
  an hour the peculiar weakness and  pains in the limbs  and muscles
  were ameliorated, and  he shortly fell  asleep.  In the morning,
  much to his surprise, he  awoke feeling as  comfortable as though he
  had  not walked so unusually the day before.   He had no lameness
  or soreness, as usual.   This  case illustrates the specific affinity of
  Gelseminum for the motor nerves and the voluntary muscles under
 their control.  It should prove one of the best remedies for acute
 Myalgia which we possess.
    Vascular System—Heart and Arteries.—Pulse frequent, soft, weak,
 —so feeble as to be sometimes imperceptible;  fluttering pulse ;  pulse
 full 120; pulse slow and full, or slow and soft; sensation as  though
 the blood had  ceased to circulate;  pulse  reduced from 112  to 55
 in twelve hours; heart's  action  slow and  feeble; the beats of the
 heart cannot be  felt;  the action of the heart  and  arteries much
 depressed, with cold  hands  and feet, chills and pain in the head.
 —{Douglas).
    Dr. P. P. Wells  (Amer.  Horn.  Review, Vol. 4  p. 84,) states
 that  from the twelfth  dilution he  had the following spmptoms:
 "A peculiar irregular action of the heart which had never  been
 experienced  before; this was a sensible motion of the heart as though
 it had attempted its beat, which it failed fully to accomplish, and the
 pulse then each time intermitted; this occurred at irregulr intervals,
 and more frequently when in repose than when in motion, the worst
 and most frequent attacks being in the evening and worst of all on
 lying down in bed when retiring  for the  night, and  these attacks
 aggravated  by lying on  the  left side.''   These symptoms lasted
 eight or  ten days.  Dr.  Finke  stated to  me that he experienced
 similar  symptoms  from a higher dilution.   In  Philadelphia,  Dr.
 Lippe, Henry and others are using the Gelseminum in the thirtieth,
 two hundredth and one thousandth potencies, with apparent good
 results; ^ I notice  this, fact  however, that they find these  high
 attenuations curative for the primary smptoms of the medicine.
    Clinical Remarks.—In diseases of  the heart, particularly in
 those in which the chief indication is to diminish the action of that
 organ, Gelseminum will  be found a valuable remedy.   In  some
 forms of functional derangement it will often effect a  cure.   In ma-
terial doses it will  alleviate  those cases of excessive action of  the
heart from plethora, congestion, neuralgic or  rheumatic irritation,
or hysteric palpitation.
   Like Aconite  and Veratrum viride, Gelseminum is not homoeo- 
GELSEMINUM   SEMPERVIRENS.          181
pathic or curative in any organic affections of the heart; but like the
above named remedies and"Digitalis, it is a very valuable auxiliary
in the treatment of those maladies.
   It is an excellent palliative in those troublesome symptoms which
affect the head and eyes during the progress of heart disease. The
sensation of fulness, heaviness, giddiness,  throbbing, jerking, etc.,
the dimness of sight, and other amaurotic symptoms, are admirably
met by small doses of Gelseminum or its resinoid.
   Fever.—Within a few minutes, sometimes within two or three, a
marked depression of pulse, which  becomes ten,  fifteen  or twenty
beats less in the minute, if quiet, but greatly disturbed by movement;
chilliness, especially along the back; pressive pain in the head, most
generally of the temples, sometimes  in  the occiput, at others over
the head.  The  chilliness  is soon followed by a glow of heat  and
prickling of the skin, and quickly succeeded by perspiration, which is
sometimes profuse and disposed to be persistent, continuing from
twelve to twenty-four  hours.  As soon as the reaction  takes place
after the chill the pulse rises as much above the normal standard as
it was before depressed below it.  With these symptoms is a puffy,
swollen look, and feeling of fulness of the eyelids, slimy and disagree-
able or bitter taste in  the mouth,  languid feeling in the back  and
limbs and sleepiness.—{Douglas)   Febrile chilliness, cold extremi-
ties, especially the feet, heat of head, and face with headache ; pulse
uniformly depressed and rendered less frequent with chilliness, cold
feet, heat and pain of  the head.—{Hull's  Jahr.)   Have felt chilly
all day, particularly in the morning.  This statement regarding the
pulse is erroneous.  I have found that in both men  and  animals,  it
often increased  the rate and  frequency of the pulse.  Sometimes
even the volume of the pulse seemed increased, but generally it  is
diminished.  An explanation  of this phenomenon will be found in
the paragraph "Head." Derangement of circulation as shown in the
fluctuations of the pulse from seventy to 120; chilliness with vertigo;
headache and coated tongue; cold  extremities; inclination to "hug
the fire," with chills following each other in rapid  succession from
sacrum to  base of occiput.—{Dr. F. L. Vincent)
    Dr. M. E. Lrzarus, a well known painstaking prover, could not
get any such prominent symptoms as recorded by Dr. Douglas.  He
however experienced a languor, with inclination to stretch, some
slight chilliness, with feeble flashes  of heat.  He suggests that per-
haps Dr. Douglas is very susceptible to the action of Gelseminum.
My impression would be the same, as I have given it to healthy per-
sons, in all manner of doses, yet never heard any one mention such
decisive symptoms as those of Dr. Douglas.  Still it is undoubtedly
primarily homoeopathic  to the  pathological  conditions upon which
all real chills depend ;  and secondarily  homoeopathic to febrile con-
ditions or  the reaction which follows those conditions.  In this
respect it  is somewnat similar to Aconite, and others of the same
group.   But it  is only a general, not a particular resemblance.
    Dr. J. S. Douglas says:—" You and Dr. Lazarus remark that you
have not been able to elicit such marked symptoms in your provings
as were  experienced by me.  The symptoms  particularly referred 
 182        XEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 to are the chills, the reactive febrile heat with headache, and sweat.
 Dr. L. suggests that I am probably very susceptible to the action of
 this drugT  This remark suggest an important fact which has grad-
 ually unfolded itself in my successive fragmentary provings on some
 seventy persons, and  on myself.  The fact, of which I have  at
 length  become clearly convinced,  is this:  The degree of chill, of
 febrile  reaction, of headache, and  of neuralgic pains, bear a very
 uniform ratio to the nervous sensitiveness of the patient.  My tem-
 perament is decidedly nervous and sensitive.  In all the subjects of
 a nervous, sensitive temperament, the above symptoms are strongly
 marked.  In  those of an opposite, insensitive  temperament, while
 the pulse  is depressed, and the extremeties cool or cold, there is no
 chill, or it is very slight, little or no headache, and slight febrile re-
 action, and  consequently little sweat.  In several highly sensitive
 subjects the chill has been equal  to a respectable fit of ague, the
 reaction and pain of head corresponding, and the  sweat profuse.
 These symptoms have been most strongly developed in some female
 provers  of  highly  sensitive temperaments,  by  half-drop doses.
 Some persons seem almost insensible to its  effects.  One man who
 had taken several drugs  for proving, without any marked  results,
 took three  teaspoonsful in one day of the strong tincture, which I
 know to be good, and reported the next day no symptoms."
   (There is one form of rigors, or "nervous chills," as they are some-
 times called, in which, with shivering and chattering  of the teeth,
 there is no sensation of chilliness.  It is an irritated condition of the
 nerves of  motion, and is seen in hysterical subjects, or appears dur-
 ing a fright or other mental emotion in healthy persons.  It is often
 seen during parturition, and is said to attend relaxation of sphincter
 muscles.  Now,Gelseminum causes just such rigors by establishing
 similar conditions as the above, and a small dose of the tincture will
 control readily such morbid manifestations.)
   In Simple  Fever, without functional disturbance, Dr. Douglas
 declares it to be specific;  given at the onset of any fever of  simple,
 uncomplicated character, it will undoubtedly arrest  it very promptly'
 It seems peculiarly adapted to the fevers of children and sensitive
 women, while Aconite and Veratrum viride are more applicable to
 adults of robust and rigid constitutions.
   In  the so-called Irritative Fever, it will be found a valuable rem-
 edy.  It is more capable of meeting the majority of the symptoms of
 that malady than any remedy which I have  used.  It  corresponds
 with the excessive nervous irritation; the tendency to irregular con-
vulsive action; the periods of wakeful debility; and the Secessions
 ot feverish stupor.  In cases however complicated with hepatic or
 gastric difficulties it will  have to be aided  by Mer., Pod., Ipecac.
 Tart  emet   Should the Jungs be implicated it might answer alone,
 but Phosph, Bry. or Antimonium cru iem will be of service.   If the
 bowels are effected, Pulsatilla, Mercurius or Chamomilla may have
 to be given although  some of the provings seem  to indicate that
 Gelseminum affects  the  intestinal functions.   Wood, with doubtful
 propriety, classes infantile remittent, as well as worm fever, with
irritative  fevers.  There  may be some general affinity, as Gelsemi- 
             GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.         183

num has proved useful  in each.   Since I have treated infantile
remittents with this remedy, I have conducted them safely through
their course with better satisfaction than before.
   Dr. Neidhard reports the following case ;—A child, aged ten, was
cured by Gelseminum first dil. two drops every four hours, of a kind
of bilious fever, characterized by the  following symptoms :  Giddi-
ness, dull, aching pain in  the forehead and over the eyes.  She can-
not concentrate her mind on anyone thing; cannot read; is very
irritable; very  thirsty; and has slight  chills, followed by much
fever;  extreme  weakness.  Was completely cured within  eight
days.
   Dr. R. Ludlam, in his article on the "Therapeutics of Infantile
Remittent Fever," in theN. A. Jour, of Horn., says:—"Excepting
the Aconite, there is certainly no remedy with which the profession
is at present  familiar which promises so much as  the Gelseminum
in the  treatment of this variety of the remittents of infancy and
childhood."
   " From personal observation (and these hints have their origin in
this source only) we  should be inclined to recommend Gelseminum
in those remittents which are primarily characterized by excessive
irritability and  erethism, either of the general or special  nervous
systems. There is perhaps no single  means which, under the vari-
ous circumstances which  ascompany and give good evidence of the
aforesaid pathological condition, promises  so much as  this.  We
havejjsometimes failed with Aconite, with Chamonilla, and withBel-
ladona, to allay the excessive restlessness and disquiet occasioned
by what the old nurses style an 'inward fever' in  a little juvenile,
and at  other times  have succeeded  at once in its relief by a few
doses of Gelseminum.''
   "This remedy appears also to be well adapted to the relief of
those attacks of this fever which border closely upon intermittents,
examples of  which might readily be mistaken for a masked fever
of that peculiar type.  In such cases, as well as those which toward
their close  degenerate into ague, in one or another of its protean
forms, we may prescribe a low attenuation of the Gelseminum with
the confident hope of success.  In our hands, indeed it has proved
almost a specific for those remittents, the diagnosis  of which, from
a more definitely paroxysmal form of fever  was not readily made
out.  We have also cured several well marked intermittents with it,
but its sphere of usefulness would appear to lie  somewhere along
the boundary between these and the  purely idiopathic  remittents
of which we  have  been speaking.''
   The real value of Gelseminum in  intermittents is not yet to a
certainty ascertained.  Some homoeopathic physicians, among them
Holcombe, Ludlam  and Douglas, assert that  it  will cure agues.
Holcombe with characteristic boldness, gives us the following odd
prescription for a homoeopathic one : Forintermittents with cerebral
symptoms, with hyperaesthesia predominating—Sulphate of Quinine,
ten grains,  Gelsemin, one grain ;  divide into five parts.  Begin six
hours before  the expected paroxysm, and give one  part every hour.
" Indications for use; when  the   paroxysm  has  been marked by 
NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
violent pains, referable to the cerebro-spinal, rather than the gangli-
onic system, and by correspondingly intense burning fever, great
nervous restlessness, sensitiveness to light and sound, mental agita-
tion or anxietv,  delirium, sleeplessness, curious sensations of falling,
swimmino- from  giddiness,  partial blindness  or deafness, especially
applicable to nervous, excitable subjects, and to  mild fresh cases,
without  prominent  gastric or hepatic symptoms, in short, before
any visceral complication has been engrafted on the nervous phe-
nomenon.''
    (This last clause, I (Hale) regard as well indicating the sphere of
action of  Gelseminum in agues, but in  the " indications "  proper,
Holcombe has mixed up the primary with the secondary symptoms
of the drug, which rarely appear together.  The dose, however that
he advises is very nearly of the proper  quantity.   Of the quinine, I
think he  prescribes  altogether too  much.  In very similar cases, I
have succeeded  admirably with one-fifth or one-tenth grain doses
of Quinine, alternated  with  one-tenth  or  one-twentieth grain of
Gelsemin, or two or three drops of the mother tincture. Holcombe's
prescription would undoubtedly arrest the paroxysms promptly, but
it would be apt to give rise to visceral complications, which  smaller
doses would avoid, and  at the same time be equally as efficacious).
Dr.   Ludlam  writes  me—"Perhaps in  the whole range of its
clinical virtues there is no more satisfactory and really valuable use
which can be made of the Gelseminum  than in the treatment of
those intermittents which might properly be styled post-typhoid.  It
is to this especial form of intermittents, which succeeding upon an
adynamic condition of system, are characterized  by a want of dis-
tinctness in  their several stages, and which are of a  masked  type
and intractable in nature, that the Gelseminum has in our experience
seemed to be particularly  applicable.   We have  remarked  the
evident tendency in patients  suffering with enteric fever, and who
had but  recently removed  tothe  city [Chicago]  from  miasmatic
districts, to  sequelae of this  order.   Scarcely any such patient has
ecsaped this characteristic convalescence, and in none of those cases
in  which we have  ordered  this  remedy have we failed  to  witness
the best results from its employment, while in years past,  such cases
were especially perplexing and tedious, we are free  to express our
pleasure  in  and appreciation of a  means so entirely successful.
These patients were all from the Southern States."
   John  C. Morgan,  M. D., author  of a short  proving  in  Dr.
Shipman's Journal  of Materia Medica, writes  as  follows:  "It
seems worthy  to be called a specific for fresh cases of Intermittents,
and  will modify even old cases, changing  double to single  tertian.
My dose is one-fourth drop in a teaspoonful of water, usually. I send
a few clinical cases.''
   {a)  "W. S.,   a swarthy soldier  of large frame,  on going into
camp, May 11, had no blanket; slept on straw under leaky shed ;—
the night being  cold, awoke early  in the  morning  with a severe
chill, —but little  shaking; fever ensued.    Took at a dose ten drops
common  tincture Gelseminum; fever  augmented  with   slight
delirium.  Took five drops—some aggravation.   Daring the after- 
GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.          185
noon and evening took  fractional drop doses; no fever at night.
The next day took one-fourth drop every two hours.   He had  no
other paroxysm.''
   Remarks.—This may not have been an attack of Intermittent.
Such chills, followed by fever, are often the result of exposure, or
of getting wet.   Still had it not been for  the Gelseminum, it might
have resulted in some form of protracted fever. (Hale.)
   {b)   "A soldier of  sanguine  temperament had Diarrhoea and
rheumatic pains, with symptoms of Intermittent;  took for  several
days one-fourth drop tincture Gelseminum, and was cured."
   Intermittent Fever—Case  1.—"In one  case I  had used all the
usual  anti-periodics,  as Cornine Salicine,  Quinine,  etc., without
success.  Even after producing the constitutional effects of Quinine
the chills would sometimes, return every day for awhile, then every
other day.  Thus the case continued for several weeks, until I des-
paired of success with the other anti-periodics, so I determined to
try the tincture of Gelseminum. Accordingly, I left an ounce of
the tincture of the fresh root, directing it to be given in doses of
thirty drops every two or three hours, until the eyes were affected;
then the medicine was to be suspended until that  passed off,  then
again resumed as before, and  so  on  until the fever was broken.  I
saw the patient just as the chill was gone off, and commenced the
tincture of Gelseminum  immediately.   The fever  did not rise very
high, nor continue long, nor did the chill  ever return.   The patient
recovered from the time he commenced the medicine, and was soon
up at his usual avocation. Now,  what still more astonished me was,
that the  medicine never  affected his eyes  in the  least,  yet  it
suspended the chills  immediately.  I had frequently combined the
tincture  of Gelseminum with  the other anti-periodics before  and
met with very prompt  success, yet  I attributed it to  the other
articles; but this time I determined to try the Gelseminum alone.''—
[Sensible!—Hale.]  (Dr. Goss, Eclectic Medical Journal)
    Case 2. Nov. 4.—Intermittent Fever (tertian   type).  Has been
affected six months; has pain in the head, and pains over the body,
when he has  no  chill;  tongue  not  much coated; other  symptoms
common to the  disease.  Treatment—Alkaline bath once a day;
tincture  Gelseminum,  one-half  dram three times a day.   Nov. 17,
discharged, cured.—Newton's Clinical Reports.
    The above are the only two published cases of Intermittents cured
by this medicine alone.  Very many cases are reported of pretended
cures by Gelseminum;  but,  as it was always given so mixed with
Quinine,  Hydrastin, or other drugs,  no reliance can  be placed
upon the reports.
   Dr. Holcombe writes me that the Gelseminum was the basis of
several celebrated patent medicines, noted at the South for the cure
of remittent and  intermittent fevers; that it certainly was the prin-
cipal ingredient in "Speed's Tonic," which at one time was popularly
considered an unrivalled febrifuge, but,  failing to cure those cases
attended with organic complications, it fell into  disfavor, although
it is still used by many people in the South.  "From  large  doses
I have seen blindness, partial deafness, singular  torpor, stupidity
     "  24 
186        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
of feeling, inability to open the eyelids, and nervous prostration;
Such  svmptoms as would follow a  si ate of nervous  excitement,
or hvperaesthesia.   In  small doses I  have found it valuable in the
opposite condition.  I  class it  with  Aconite,  Bell, and  Cham.  I
have  used it in the summer months, for weeks at  a time,  as I
would Aconite.  I believe, in  addition  to its febrifuge  power, it
has a specific  anti-periodic influence.''
   Dr. Douglas praises the Gelseminum, in drop doses, very  highly
in simple, uncomplicated  Intermittents,  when  indicated  by the
symptoms, and speaks of having met with much success  in its use.
Dr. Ludlam has cured several  well-marked cases of Intermittent
fever with  the low dilutions.   Several  of my  colleagues  report
cases of Ague, successfully treated  with Gelseminum.   I  have used
it frequently in Intermittents, and have  succeded in some  severe
cases in curing the disease, after it had been arrested with Quinine,
but  showed an obstinate  tendency to return.   These cases were
reported  in full in the August number of the North  American
Journal of Homoeopathy for 1861.  It can be used both during the
apyrexia, and  in the paroxysm.   In larger doses  during the former
state, than  during  the latter.  It will  be found to  control the
painful nervous sensations  which arise during the fever, better than
Aconite, if indicated.  An Eclectic physician, engaged  in a large
practice  in the State of Ohio,  informed me that except  in  severe
congestive cases, he relied altogether  upon Gelseminum to break up
the paroxysms of Fever and  Ague.  He stated,  however, that he
always gave a sufficient quantity to  cause almost complete blind-
ness during  the apyrexia.   lean  hardly  doubt the veracity of my
informant, but  I suggested to him  that he might  break the patient,
as well as the ague.  He had no  fears  of that result, however.
   I am  not aware  that any  Homoeopathist has advised, or used
Gelseminum in Typhoid fever.  But its pathogenesis and physiolog-
ical action has many points of resemblance to that form of Typhoid
designated as Nervous fever, i. e., when there is no intestinal lesion
or any particular local complication.  It is specifically indicated in
those cases in  which the patient, from some great excitement, or
over-exertion,  suddenly sinks into  a  low  typhoid state, with great
prostration of all the vital  forces, and when he experiences strange
sensations in the head,  with morbid condition of  the motor nerves,
manifested by local paralysis,  or continued jactitation of certain
muscles.   Women  are more subject to  this variety than  men.
With the former we have many hysteric symptoms, such as nervous
dysphagia,  even  hysteric spasms,   sleeplesness,  aberration of
sight, etc.
   Gelseminum should here be cautiously given in drop  doses, or
pellets of the 2nd or 3d.
   In true  enteric fever, I should  not  place  much  reliance on
Gelseminum.   There are  other  remedies  which pathologically
correspond,  and are consequently  more  specific; among  these are
Bapt., Rhus tox., Phosp. acid, Ars., Terebin. and  Mur. acid.
   In Yellow Fever, Gelseminum has not  been used by the Homoeo-
pathic school, I believe.  Drs. Holcombe, or Davis, make no mention 
             GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.         187

of it in their reports to our Homoeopathic Journals.  They relied
upon Aconitum, Belladonna, Arsenicum, Lachesis, and Argentum
nitricum. The Eclectic and Allopathic schools have used it to some
extent, but the only  published report I can find relating to it, is a
pamphlet by Drs. White and Ford, of Charleston, S. C. This report
was entitled the " Bradycote (whatever that may mean) treatment
of Yellow Fever by Gelseminum sempervirens."  They prepared a
tincture from the  fresh root,  as follows:—Radix Gelsemini, four
ounces; Alcohol (95 per cent.) and Aqua communis, each eight
ounces.  To adults they gave of this twenty or thirty drops; to chil-
dren from  five to twenty,  every hour for the first  four hours;
then at longer intervals, and with doses half as large.  Total num-
ber treated with Gelseminum twenty-five; all of which recovered.
Of  these, fifteen  were males  and  nine, females;  adults twelve;
children twelve; whites twenty-two; blacks two.   Of the  whole
number  treated, two vomited black vomit, five passed black vomit
downward.  In three cases hemorrhage occurred from the tongue,
gums, or nasal passages.  One woman was in the sixth  month
of  her  pregnancy,   and did  not  abort.   Average  duration  of
treatment; about eight  days.
   No marked prostration was caused  by this remedy; the pulse
being,  however, much  less quickly reduced than by Veratrum
Viride.  In  few cases was the  heart's  action fully lowered in less
than twelve hours, and it was well controlled throughout the rest
of the disease,  in the  majority of cases.  The concurrent treatment
was the same  as  with Veratrum.   Mercurialization was complete
in ten cases; incomplete in fourteen cases.  In  a few instances a
marked  redness of the tongue  was  observed, a condition that was
not distinctly noticed during the administration of Veratrum. [This
symptom has  been often noticed  in  my provings.—Hale\.  The
Gelseminum appeared to produce  a general calming influence, even
during the early period of  its administration, but was not  found  to
possesss any marked narcotic properties.  It seemed to promote the
action of the kidneys, and during its use only, in several cases, an
erythema of the skin was noticed.  This drug appeared to influence
the volume of the  pulse, before it  affected its frequency,  and  in
most cases for  the rest of the disease to control both conditions  in
an equal manner.   Emesis was not observed to  ensue upon the
administration of  this medicine;  the gastric irritability peculiar to
the disease being moreover, to all appearances, favorably influenced.
There were treated by  Veratrum  viride 117 cases, of which fifteen
died.  Of six treated by the ordinary method [without Veratrum or
Gelseminum] three died.
   In Scarlet  Fever  the Gelseminum bids fair to rank with  Bella-
donna.  Besides being indicated in the peculiar, intense fever, with
nervous  erethism, its  well known action on the skin will render it  of
value in  impelling the eruption to the surface. It causes a peculiar
erythema, which has some resemblance to the eruption in Scarlatina
as well as some forms of Purpura.   Its analagous  relation to both
Belladonna and Aconite, strongly commends it to our favor, and if
we are to judge  its  curative powers from its pathological effects, 
188        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

it will be be found efficient, alone, where the former remedies are
indicated.   Dr. H. W. White speaks very  highly of its effects in
Scarlatina.   He asserts that it  will control the pulse, calm  the
nervous  erethism,  determine  the eruption toward the surface,
relieve pain, and lessen the cerebral congestion, in a manner superior
to Bell., or Aconite.  Cases which seemed quite formidable at their
commencement, soon  assumed a  milder character, and  terminated
safely.   He  considers  it effectual,  alone,  to control the majority of
cases.  Should the disease assume a malignant character, Dr. White
alternates it with Amm. carb., Carbo.veg., Mur. acid, or Ars.  Its use
should be suspended if symptoms  of prostration set in.
   In Measles the Gelseminum appears  to  be specifically indicated
during the forming and inflammatory stage  [the eruptive]. Among
its pathogenetic symptoms we find prominent catarrhal  conditions,
as " chilliness, watery discharge  from  the  nose,  hoarseness, with
feeling of soreness of throat, and in the chest, cough,  etc." Among
its effects upon the skin we find  "a papulous eruption,  very much
the color of measles,  which it closely resembles, but the papulae are
more distant and distinct.   It  appears most frequently upon  the
face."  Relying upon these fragmentary, yet prominent indications,
I  have treated  several  cases of Rubeola with this remedy, and
apparently with good results.  It seemed to prevent  a continuance
of the cough beyond its proper limits, and  to act  as  a prophylactic
to chronic catarrhal affections, bronchitis, or pneumonia.
   Dr. Douglas considers it quite capable of modifying the disease
in a marked manner, when given in the first stages, after  which
Pulsatilla, Euphrasia, and Sulphur will be more  useful.  Dr.  Lodge
states that he has used Gelseminum in measles, in some cases to the
exclusion of any other remedy, and is satisfied that  it is a valuable
medicine in this disease.
   In the treatment of Erysipelas, Gelseminum may be found of
unequivocal benefit.  It is certainly  homoeopathic to the  febrile
symptoms, if not to the peculiar eruption  or  external manifesta-
tions of the disease ;  yet, Gelseminum causes an erythema, which
certainly  bears  a resemblance to some of the milder forms of
Erysipelas.  It is also homoeopathic to those dangerous, and often
fatal congestions, or internal metastases, which often  complicate the
malady.   I  gave it  one severe case of Facial Erysipelas, in alterna-
tion with Rhus.  The case progressed  very favorably.  Dr.  Coe
advises it as a topical  application:  " We have  found the tincture
beneficial as an  outward  application  in  erysipelatous affections.
Diluted with from four to eight parts of water, we have applied it
with excellent results.  The  parts should be  kept covered  with
cloths wetted in the diluted tincture.  It abates the  local inflamma-
tion, and has a very soothing and pleasant influence."
    In  Variola the Gelseminum may prove as useful  as Aconite and
Bellad., in allaying  the intense and painful fever which accompanies
that disease.  It  has been used advantageously in Varioloid.
    In  all eruptive  fevers,  especially in  children, there  is a strong
tendency to convulsions, at or about the time of the  appearance of
the eruption.  I  know of  no remedy  which is so likely to prevent 
             GELSEMLNUM   SEMPERVIRENS.          189

that  unpleasant, and  often  fatal complication,  as  the one under
consideration.
   In the treatment of Rheumatic Fever, and Rheumatism gener-
ally,  Gelseminum has its advocates in the Homoeopathic school of
the North-west, or that portion of them which  have  adopted the
use of the remedy.
   The  Gelseminum  is highly praised by  some practitioners, in
Hectic fever, and  there are some reasons for  supposing it to be
peculiarly adapted to that form of fever.
   Venous System.—Dr. Marcy declares Aconite to be " homceo-
pathic to intense or excessive venous congestion, with entire paraly-
sis, or depotentization of all the arterial activities, carried up to
the  point of  actual  cyanosis." I  [Hale]  once  supposed  Gel-
seminum to be  homoeopathic to the same  condition, but recent
investigations have satisfied me that Holcombe's remark is true, that
" Gelseminum holds a position midway between Aconite and Bella-
donna.''  It is rather difficult to  define exactly what this condition
is, but it is certainly more homoeopathic to arterial congestion than
Aconite or Veratrum viride.  Still, one of the  effects of Gelsemi-
num  in moderate doses, is undoubtedly similar to Aconite; for, like
it, it " depotentizes the arterial  activities."
   It needs further trial and investigation to determine the exact
relation of Gelseminum, to the venous system.  It may be asserted,
however, that while Aconite and Veratrum viride are only homoeo-
pathic  to primary passive venous  congestion,   Gelseminum is
primarily  homoeopathic to that form of intense passive congestion,
of both veins and arteries, in which an irritation of the  congested
organs sets in, nearly as severe as though the congestion  had been
active.  This condition may be  attended by inflammation or  hem-
orrhage, and may  end in active arterial congestion, etc.   Eclectic
writers  seem to be  aware of the danger of using Gelseminum in
some cases.  King says, " It is contra-indicated in congestive fever,
in cases where there is great muscular and nervous prostration with
relaxation, and  when  there exists a determination to the brain or
other important viscus."
   Lymphatic  System.—Although Coe, and some other writers,
crudely declare Gelseminum to be  an  "alterative,"   we  have
no direct proof of  such action.   I have never seen  any indications
of its action on the glandular system, nor can I imagine any  such
action, unless it be from congestion  to certain large and impor-
tant  glands, which it may induce.

                        local  effects.
   Mind.—Irritable and impatient mood; incapacity to  think or
fix the attention ; confusion  of mind ; stupid, intoxicated  feeling;;
dulness  of all the mental faculties, in one case  great mirthfulness;:
inability to concentrate the  mind ; depression of spirits ; anxiety  ;;
incoherency of  thought.  The sensorial modification consisted of a
mistiness  within the  brain,  not  much  affecting  the lucidity  of
thought, but somewhat confusing perceptions, so that I experienced
some^difficulty in attending to the physical details connected with 
190        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

my practice.  There was at  first a cheerful, careless morale, after-
wards depression of spirits.  Rather dull and stupid for some days,
with  disinclination  to  conversation.   This was  remarked by  my
friends who knew nothing of my taking the medicine.   Aversion to
study ; melancholy and depending mood.  I found  it to affect the
power of concentration very materially.  I could not  fix my mind
on the contents of  a newspaper, although  the  matter was of an
exciting character.   I could  not pursue one  train of thought  for
any time ; ideas would vanish and leave a vacancy of mind which
was quite annoying.
   Clintical Remarks.—Gelseminum is particularly recommended
when there is excessive irritability of body  and mind, in  mental
derangement with vascular excitement.  No remedy is more useful
in the causeless  nervous excitement  of hysteric patients; or in
those feverish conditions  accompanied by great restlessness, tossing
about, sleeplessnes and irritable mood.  In those conditions, one or
two drops of the tincture every hour, will be the  most  proper mode
of administration.  It is indicated in  those attacks of frenzy, atten-
ded with congestion or  inflammation  of the  brain; also  in those
stupid, comatose  conditions  attending  typhoid fever, and in a  low
muttering delirium of typhus.   Here we should give drop doses of
the second or third  dilution.
   I have found it homoeopathic, or curative, to  that state of semi-
stupor, with languor and physical prostration, caused by protracted
night-watching ; also in  that mental  apathy which follows intoxica-
tion from use of ardent spirits.
   Hysterical insensibility is much more readily controlled by this
medicine than with Opium or Cann. indica.   Hysterical catalepsy is
a similar malady, and one in  which Gelseminum is primarily  indica-
ted ; also many other hysterical states of body and mind, while Plati-
num, Asaf., Val., and Scut., are secondarily homoeopathic to  similar
states.
   Head.—Pain in the  head across the forehead;  after breakfast ex-
perienced a dull aching pain in the head in region of occiput, which
increased in severity as the day advanced ;  excruciating headache,
accompanied by slight  nausea ; the pain seemed  slightly mitigated
by shaking the  head, but the relief thus obtained was not marked.
Headache extending from occiput to os frontis ;  great heaviness of
the head;  sensation as  if the brain was heavy; heaviness of the
head with dulness of mind;  dimness of sight and vertigo ; pain in
the head  quite constant, dull, stupifying, and pressive; most fre-
quently in the forehead and temples; bruised pain above and back
of the orbits; tightness of the brain  ; often more or  less headache
with  nausea; giddiness is pretty constant;  an intoxicated  feeling
and  tendency to stagger, often with dizziness and imperfection of
vision, aggravated by  smoking; heaviness, with  sense of fulness in
the head, which  increased to a severe headache relieved on  the
third day of the  proving by copious urination, after which a pleas-
ant languor pervaded the system for some  hours;  dulness  in  the
head  with stupor; dry mouth, coated tongue, bitter taste; pulse full,
and 80 ; intoxication, vertigo unto falling ; sort of mistiness  within 
GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.          191
the brain, not  much affecting  the  lucidity of thought, but  some-
what confusing perception; staggering like one  intoxicated ;  swim-
ming  sensation  in the head; head felt very  light, with vertigo.
He could not hold the head erect.  Pain over the whole top  of the
head, extending back to  the occiput; general  dizziness, and disa-
greable pain in the head;  a  band-like pain which  surrounds the
head, with shooting pain in  each jaw and parietal bone; pain  in
left side  of head, extending from the prominence of the parietal
bone to the mastoid process of the temporal  and is periodical in its
nature ;  dull headache in right ride of head ;  in the  morning on
rising a dull pain  in  occiput, and a slight tendency to throbbing in
right side of head; headache in the top of the  head, in the left
occipital region, then changing to the sides and vertex ;  a settled,
dull,  dragging  headache, mainly in  the occiput,  mastoid,  and
upper  cervical region, extending  to the shoulders;  relieved when
sitting  by  reclining the head and  shoulders on  a high  pillow.
These last symptoms delineate  a form of headache very often
met with, and  in which Gelseminum is a specific remedy.  No
remedy has a greater influence over the circulation of the blood in
the vessels of  the brain.  It causes intense  hyperaemia  of that
 organ, which stops just short of inflammation.   But its paralyzing
influence on the great reactive forces  of life, prevents that termina-
 tion by destroying  the  reactive power  of the  system.   In this
 respect it differs from Bellad.,  Stram., and Quinine.
    Clinical Remarks.—It is homoeopathic to that intense and
 overwhelming congestion of the brain which often attacks children
 during the period of dentition.  In these cases  the nervous energies
 600n lose their integrity.   No reaction comes  on, and the  patient
 dies  comatose,  or in feeble  convulsions.  Owing to its primary
 homoeopathicity to this condition, Gelseminum should be used in
 the second or third decimal  dilution,  repeated every  fifteen
 minutes.                                                 .
    It is also homoeopathic to  Coupde soliel, a condition very similar
 to the above.  In the so-called " brain fever " of children and adults,
 it will be found beneficial in  alternation with Aeon., Bry., Bell., or
 Hyos.   In inflammation of the membranes of the brain, it  will  be
 found a valuable auxiliary to other well-known and reliable remedies
 in that affection.  It is homoeopathic to many varieties of  headache,
 in which it has been successfully used,  both by homoeopathic and
 allopathic physicians.  In nervous headaches,  where the pam com-
 mences in the  cervical portion  of the spinal  column, and  spreads
 thence over the whole head,  it will afford prompt and timely relief.
 Dr Pattee says:  " Headache of  the nervous kind may often be
 relieved and I have found  no one medicine so  useful in this  trouble-
 some disease."   Hemicrania when accompanied by abnormal symp-
 toms of the eyes, such as dimness of sight or double vision, or with
 great sensitiveness to all sounds, will be promptly relieved by it.
 The so-called nervous sick headache, will generally be arrested by
 a few doses of a low dilution of  Gelseminum, while the  true sick-
 headache, which arises  from gastric derangement  will  only  be
 palliated  by this remedy; a cure can only be effected  by pioper 
 192       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 diet, and the  patient use of Puis., Iris vers., Nux vom.,  Pod. and
 Sanguinaria.
    Those who wish to understand the specific action of thi drug in
 causing and curing these nervous affections of the head, will find an
 admirable  explanation on page 12 of Peters' Ruckert on Head-
 ache- Gelseminum undoubtedly causes a weakened and debilitated
 state of the great sympathetic nerve ; and thence arises  the pain,
 heat, congestion, &c, of the head.  It is primarily homoeopathic to
 those headaches which come on suddenly, with dimness of sight, or
 double vision, with  dizziness, followed by great heaviness  of  the
 head,  semi-stupor, dull, heavy, expression of the  face, great mus-
 cular relaxation, slow, full pulse, etc.  Allopathists claim to  cure
 chronic headaches of long standing with Gelseminum.
    In  Coma and Apoplexy: it is homoeopathic to these disorders
 when  they arise from intense  passive congestion, with nervous
 exhaustion, and as these are the primary conditions caused by Gel-
 seminum, it  must be  given  in very small  doses.  If the  apoplexy
 depends on active arterial congestion, in persons of tense  fibre, the
 doses must be larger.
    I have found Gelseminum very useful against those distressing
 pains in the  head which often follow fever and ague.   These pains
 are of a crampy, drawing, or tearing character, and are aggravated
 by study or  exertion.   They generally occupy  the  region of  the
 occiput. Also for those sensations and pains which in some persons
 precede attacks of ague, such as drawing, or shooting, dull pains in
 the  region of the mastoid process.
   Eyes.—Great heaviness of the lids; difficulty  of opening the eyes
 or keeping them open ;  eyes closed in spite of him, on looking steadily
 at an object; fullness  and congestion of the  lids; diplopia when
 inclining the head towards  the shoulder, but vision  single when
 holding the head erect; dryness of the eyes; misty or glimmering
 appearance before the  the  eyes;  pain in the orbits, sometimes
 excessive ; diplopia which  I could correct by an effort of the will;
 distant objects seemed indistinct as I rode or walked, and one eve-
 ning I could  read but with difficulty.  These symptoms are char-
 acteristic, as  my sight is perfectly good, and I never have anything
 the  matter  with  my eyes.  Dilatation   of pupils;  amaurosis;
 diplopia;  blindness;  dimness  of sight: Stitch,  traversing  the
 eyelids on the right side, vertically; vertiginous sensation,  followed
 by confused vision, especially  of  distant objects; the sense of sight
is  tardy in  following  the movement, things appearing for several
 seconds to  be  blurred,  and the remaining  unfixed  in  its new
 direction but  no sensation of gauze  or film.   It  is  accompanied
by a disposition  to partially close the eyes as if to steady  the
 balls.  Confusion of  sight with  heavy  looking   eyes.  [Similar
 to  that produced by alcohol. |   Pain in both eyes ;  particularly
the left ; dimness of  sight ;  drooping  of the eyes; indistinct
vision; in the evening, eyes felt quite sore, and  as if there was
some foreign  substance  irritating  the  conjunctiva.   At night
eyes quite  sore; not  much  pain,  but  merely   soreness with
sensitiveness to light and lachrymation; Eyes yellow.   Eyes much 
GELSEMINUM   SEMPERVIRENS.
inflamed and weak, with great  flow  of tears at intervals; great
heaviness of eyelids.   Pains of a shooting character in the frontal
sinus, extending to the eyes and jaws.  The pain in the eye is of a
pricking character, extending from the bridge  of the nose to the
eye.  Pains deep in the ball of the left eye, extending from above
downwards.  Pain in the eyes is of a pricking character, extending
from the centre to the angle.  The pains seem  to wind  round the
right  eye.  Pain extending from the bridge of the nose to the eye.
Deep-seated pain  in the eye of the left side, extending from above
downwards.  Smoky appearance before the eyes, with pain above
them.  Total blindness ensued  in a very short time after taking
thirty drops with violent dizziness.
    Clinical   Remarks.—Gelseminum has a remarkable  and
peculiar affinity for the organs of vision.  No other remedy except
Bell,  so promptly and  so specially affects the eyes.    It  must
become, in  time, a valuable homoeopathic remedy for many serious
internal and external diseases of these organs.
  Before   its  relaxing  effects  are felt in  the general  muscular
system, its local effectfs  upon   the  eye-lids  become  apparent.
The lids feel  heavy, and are  lifted with difficulty.   After a  time
complete paralysis of the lids obtain.   This constitutes an affection
designated by opthalmic writers as Ptosis. It may arise from paral-
ysis of the levator muscle, or  from an affection of the  third pair
of nerves.  Gelseminum  may cause Ptosis  by  inducing either of
those conditions.   But there is some reason  to  believe that the
Ptosis caused by this drug  may have a deeper seated  origin.  Mac-
kenzie (Diseases of the Eye) says:—" The cerebral variety may bo
either sudden or slow ; the sudden, arising after fatiguing exertion
violent mental excitement,  exposure to the  direct rays of the sun,
intoxication, blows on the head, concussion  of the body, etc.  The
slow,  from organic changes going on in the brain.  The disease
often wears an apoplectic aspect.''   Mackenzie gives  several cases,
evidently caused by congestion of  the brain.  It is to such cases of
Ptosis that Gelseminum will be found curative.  It  will probably
be found efficient in the Ptosis of drunkards, from exposure to the
sun, and the so-called rheumatic variety.  It is eminently homoeo-
pathic to  those cases caused by paralysis of the  third pair of
nerves.
   Diplopia is another prominent and primary effect of Gelseminum.
Double vision, according to Mackenzie, may proceed  from paralysis
of some of the  muscles  of the eyeballs.  Doubtless Gelseminum
causes such a form of this disease, and would be found curative to
paralytic cases.  But diplopia often proceeds from a congested  state
of the encephalon.  I suspect that Gelseminum  is homoeopathic to
such a morbid state, as also to the Diplopia caused by alcohol and
chloroform, to which it seems to have a great resemblance in many
respects.   Gelseminum is homoeopathic to asthenopia or debility of
the eyes;  in those cases of weakness of sight caused by exhaustion
of the nerve from over-exertion of the eyes, especially when accom-
panied by dimness of sight; feeling of weight in the head and  eyes,
with some dryness and double vision.  It is not indicated in chronic
        25 
 194       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 cases.   In these, China, Iron and Nux vomica will be found useful.
 In one case the prover complained of having Strabismus, and a con-
 stant inclination to squint.  It may be useful in some paralytic cases,
 but probably not curative in the strabismus which comes on in  the
 course  of hydrocephalus.
   The Amaurotic symptoms  caused by Gelseminum are many
 and distinct.   It seems  peculiarly indicated in that malady, and if
 we  can ascertain the exact sphere  of its action, may prove useful to
 the oculist  in relieving amaurotic  patients.   It is undoubtedly
 homoeopathic to  many forms of amaurosis, viz: to those caused by
 apoplexy of the retina; congestion of the brain, apoplexy,  and even
 those cases which arise from the presence of worms in the intestines.
 When administered for the cure of amaurosis it should be given in
 small doses. The medium or even high potencies will prove efficient.
 The  following case is reported by Dr. Kenyon.  It  is illustrative
 of the curative powers of Gelseminum in some forms of Amaurosis:
 " Rev. Mr.----, aged about 35 years, nervous bilious temperament,
 previously suffering from intermittent fever, and had taken Quinine,
 largely, complained of being tormented with a constant floating of
 spots before the  eyes, at times black, and even dazzling—no other
 symptoms.   I gave him Belladonna,  and  did not see him again in
 three weeks, when he said the trouble was slightly relieved for a
 day or  two, and then  increased; he  ceased  taking  the  remedy,
 thinking it might  be an aggravation, but the trouble continued to
 increase, and after a week he resumed the remedy with no effect.
 The sight is gradually growing dim, so that he cannot read or write;
 the words all run together, and  he cannot  tell a person  across  the
 room.   There is considerable heat in the eyes, and extending into
 the forehead;  the floating spots  are all black ones  now; the pupil
 of the eye slightly contracted; with this exception perfectly healthy
 in appearance, and there is no indication of former troubles.  I then
prepared and gave him of the 6th and  30th dilution of Gelseminum—
 a dose of the 6th each morning,  and  of the 30th each evening.  I
did not hear from  him again in several weeks, when  he wrote  me
that in two days from the time he commenced the remedy  he could
 see an improvement, wdien he, according to my directions, omitted
 the remedy; and  in two weeks every trace of the trouble was
 removed.  I  saw  him  months after, and he remained perfectly
 well."   (Seventeenth Annual Report Amer. Inst, of Homoeopathy).
 Dr. D. W. Rogers,  of Quincy, Mich., relates a case  in the North
American  Journal, (August, 1861, p. 104) where the  Gelseminum
was useful in a case presenting  symptoms of intense heaviness of
head; stupid  drowsiness; dimness of  vision; also double vision ;
vertigo; throbbing of the carotids; pulse slow and weak.  Other
cases could be reported, but sufficient has been  presented to direct
the attention  of physicians to  the great value of Gelseminum in
this affection.
   I have never noticed that it caused  anything like  photophobia.
 On the contrary, it  frequently causes a thirst  for light,  It might
 cause photophobia as one of its secondary or remote effects. I judge
 so from the fact  that I once removed permanently a  fear of light, 
             GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.         195

more especially candle or lamplight, which had resisted Phosphorus
and Conium, and was probably caused by an idiopathic over-sensi-
tive state of the optic nerve, as there was no trace of inflammation.
I used drop doses of the tincture, however.  Dr. Peters declares
Belladonna  to be  antipathic  to  photophobia.  It  must  resemble
Gelseminum in this particular symptom, and probably many others.
   Under the  action of Gelseminum the pupils  are  always dilated.
I have never witnessed contraction. Aconite  on the contrary, gen-
erally causes contraction of the pupils.  It will be well to bear this
fact in  mind,  as it  is an important diagnostic  symptom  in many
cerebral diseases.
   Ears-—Rushing and roaring in the ears; sudden and temporary
loss  of  hearing;  the pains which ascend from  the back to the
occiput  often affect the ears; digging in the right ear;  stitches;
pain behind both ears.
   Clinical Remarks.—There are no instances on record of  its
being used in affections of  the  ear.  One  of the symptoms  of
catarrh  in the head, or a common cold, is roaring in the ears, with
sudden deafness.  In such cases it might prove  of benefit.  It may
be found of service in neuralgic  otalgia, also in paralytic deafness.
Coe says, " The diluted tincture  dropped into the ear will  soften
the accumulation  of  hardened   cerumen, and  relieve the ringing
roaring, from  diseased secretion."
   Nose.—Watery discharge from  the nose; sneezing  with dull
headache; tingling in nose; bloody mucus discharge.
   Clinical  Remarks.—Dr. Douglas considers it a specific for
colds in the head accompanied by a discharge of watery fluid from
the nose, hoarseness, cough, soreness in the throat and chest. Dr.
D. W. Rogers prized it  highly  in  an  epidemic  of  influenza in
which  he  tested it.   It  has  been  a  valuable  remedy  in  my
practice in mild  and severe  attacks of  influenza, with loss of smell,
eoryza, headache, etc.  Dr. Pattee says, "In eoryza, or cold  in the
head, this  is  one of the best remedies I have  ever used; it cures
the severest cases in from twelve  to forty-eight hours."
   Face.—A papulous eruption on the  face, very nearly resembling
measles;   erythema of  the face and  neck;   heavy,  besotted
appearance of the face; sensations of stiffness in  the muscles of
the jaws;  the muscles of the face seemed to  contract,  especially
the orbicularis oris, somewhat impeding  speech; numbness of  the
face; pale face;  cold face,  covered  with perspiration.  [Toxical
effects.]   Itching of small points on the face; pimples on the tem-
poral ridge;  yellow  complexion.
    Clinical Remarks.—It  has been  used successfully by myself,
and some other  homoeopathists, in the treatment of facial neu-
ralgia.   It cured  one  case of neuralgia of the infra-orbital nerve,
which did not yield to Aeon, or Bell.  One drop of the tincture was
given every  hour, and the diluted tincture rubbed  on the affected
part.  Dr. Coe says, "Neuralgia,  when arising from functional dis-
turbances  of the nervous system,  is  successfully treated  with
Gelseminum." It is best indicated, when, in connection with the pain,
there are contractions and twitching of the muscles near the portion 
196       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
of the face affected ; also in those cases accompanied with extreme
general nervousness, and loss of control over the voluntary muscles,
giving rise  to  odd, irregular  motions.  Dr. Douglas has found it
curative in several cases of prosopalgia.
   Prof.  Ludlam writes me, "In some cases of orbital neuralgia,
characterized by distinct paroxysms of acute pain,  of a quotidian
type, located along the superciliary ridge, especially over the left
eye, with contractions  of the eyelids,  and a  peculiar expression in
the eye of the affected side—the organ appearing to the observer
as if the  patient were laboring under a maddening delirium, the
opposite eye appearing quite normal, meanwhile — we have given the
Gelseminum  with good effect.   In  one example, where Quinine
had failed at the hand of another physician, the Gelseminum afford-
prompt relief.  In most cases thus remedied, the relief of suffering
has been gradual, the pain tapering off quietly and  imperceptibly.
We have never employed it locally in this disorder.  To speculate
upon its modus operandi would perhaps be of little service, but that
it  has  the property of interrupting certain nervous disorders,  of
which  the more prominent system is their periodicity, there can be
no question.  The introduction of the element of time,  into the
organism, whether viewed in a physiological  or pathological  light,
is one of the most marvelous and entertaining phenomena connected
with the history of the species; and any remedy capable of relieving
abnormalities of this function—if such we  may style it—in any of
their protean forms, merits our study and  most earnest attention.
If it be demonstrated by actual experiment that the Gelseminum is
capable of palliating  and removing a local  hyperaesthesia of the
supra-orbital nerves, or  indeed  of any other nerves, the profession
should be made aware of this fact; and it is for this reason that we
are led to record our  own limited experience in the direction indi-
cated."  It may prove useful against erythema of the face, also to
certain palpulous eruptions of  the face,  not of a constitutional
character.  The sensations of tension, stiffness, and contraction of
the muscles of the face and jaws, would seem to indicate that it
might  be useful  in some  cases  of Trismus.   (Scutellaria causes
similar symptoms.)  Acting upon this suggestion I once gave it to
a female patient, who, in a hysterical attack of unusual severity, had
such rigidity of the muscles surrounding the mouth and jaws, that it
resembled an attack of tetanus.   The jaws could not be forced open,
nor hardly the  lips.   I succeeded in  getting two or three  drops
between her teeth.   In eight or ten  minutes the jaws began  to
gradually relax, and in a short time  had assumed their normal con-
dition.  In Erysipelas of the face, the internal and external  use of
Gelseminum is sometimes of much benefit as a palliative remedy.
   Teeth  and Jaws.—Stiffness of the  jaws;  difficulty  of  opening
the mouth;  on the right side, pain  extends from the last back
tooth up to the temple ;  pains of a shooting character in the frontal
sinus, extending to the eyes and jaw.
   Clinical Rem arks.—In some cases offacialneuralgia, especially
in nervous females, when the jaws seem to be spasmodically affected,
Gelseminum  may be useful in  combating  that  symptom.  In 
             GELSEMINUM   SEMPERVIRENS.          197

 Odontalgia from a  cold, or when purely nervous, Gelseminum may
be useful.   It is said that a bit of cotton wet in the tincture and
applied to the tooth, or pushed into a cavity, will relieve  the pain.
   Mouth and Tongue.—Dryness of the mouth; astringent sensation
in the mouth ; thickly coated tongue; painful dryness in the fauces;
tongue red; tongue  red, raw, and painful; sensation as if the tongue
was paralyzed, impeding speech ;  partial paralysis of the glottis and
tongue.  (Toxical effects.)  Tongue coated with light, whitish coat;
several times during  the day saliva  was found colored yellowish,
and  all the latter part of the day a bad, foul taste  and breath;
yellowish white fur on tongue; yellow coat on tongue.
   Clinical Remarks.—From  its effects  upon the  tongue and
glottis, we may find  it curative in many cases of irritation, or paral-
ysis of those parts.
   Throat.—Dryness; irritation and soreness of the fauces;  difficulty
of swallowing; paralytic dysphagia; when vomiting, the fluids passed
through the nostrils; acute sensation of heat and astringency. (Tox-
ical effects.)   Painful sensation of something having lodged in the
oesophagus.
   I once observed the following symptoms, which occured in a
woman, to whom it  had been given to arrest daily hysteric convul-
sions.  The patient had never experienced similar symptoms before.
The  tine. Gels, was  given in doses  of ten drops every four hours.
The spasms  were much relieved,  and  their periodicity broken up,
but on the second day of its administration there appeared dryness
andburning of thefauces ; red tongue inflamed in the middle; severe
burning in the oesophagus, from  the  mouth to the stomach ; spas-
modic  sensation, and  cramplike  pains in oesophagus; hawking up
of bloody matter.  During the spasms,  bloody, brown foam would
run out of  the  mouth.  The burning sensations at times seemed
intolerable;  deglutition was painful;  food and   drinks, warm,
aggravating.  At   this  juncture  I was   called, and  for  the
relief of these symptoms gave Arsenicum 3d, then Carbo vegetabilis
3d, with mucilaginous drinks, but without much benefit.  A more
careful study of the symptoms determined  me to try Phosphorus.
Pellets of the second  dilution were  given  with prompt  success;
relief followed in a  few minutes  after the first dose, and in a few
days the symptoms disappeared.  In this case there must have
existed OEsophagitis,—a true inflammation of its mucous tissue. As
the Gelseminum was taken largely diluted with water, it must have
been a specific and not a mere local effect.
   Clinical Remarks.—It may  be  found a valuable  remedy in
inflammation and irritation of the oesophagus, from  acrid secretions
of the stomach.    Dr. White, of  Coldwater,  Mich., praises the
Gelseminum highly  in Tonsilitis, and inflammation of the pharynx,
palate, and uvula,  He considers it equal to Belladonna in Scarla-
tinous Angina.  I have  only used it in slight catarrhal inflammations
of the fauces and tonsils,  in which  it seemed to act favorably.  It
would seem to be perfectly specific to paralysis of the glottis, and
all other portions of the  organs  of deglutition.  In all the above
affections, the medium or high dilutions are best indicated, especi.-. 
198        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

ally if the patient be susceptible to the action of the drug ;  if not,
large  doses must be used.   Its  action on the  throat  resembles
very  much the effects of Belladonna.   Dr. Douglas advises it in
inflammation  of the tonsils,  and other throat  affections.   In the
spasmodic affections of the throat, so frequent in hysteric females^ it
is superior to  any other drug, but will have to be given in material
doses.
   Dr. Lodge, reports, that the Gelseminum has proved very useful
in cases of paralysis succeeding diphtheria, particularly in paralysis of
the organs of deglutition and  aphonia.  He relates the following
case:  "A young man of 18 who had been treated for diphtheria by an
allopathic  physician was found  with  the following  symptoms:
great prostration; partial paralysis of the right side; desire for food,
but difficulty  of swallowing, and vomiting after taking ever so little ;
cannot speak  above a whisper; great difficulty in articulation; cough
with expectoration  of  frothy mucus  streaked with  blood; severe
pain in different parts of the  body, immediately  after lying down,
preventing  sleep; pulse 120,  and small.  He  had been kept up by
stimulants.   Treatment—Gelseminum tincture, five  dops in half a
tumblerful  of water ; teaspoonful  every  hour.   Commenced the
medicine at 3, p.m.; rested better  the following  night; pains very
much less;  next day could swallow easier; in four days could swal-
low well  and  partook moderately of roast turkey, with relish. The
improvement continued  under the  use of the Gelseminum,  all
the symptoms disappearing,  except those of bronchial irritation,
which Gel.  did not remove.  Phosph. and the ordinary remedies were
then resorted to, and the cure completed.  This  youth is now in the
enjoyment of good health.
   Taste, Appetite, Gastric affections, <fce.—Thirst during the  sweat;
mawkish taste; clammy  feverish taste; great hunger;  eructations,
nausea; hiccough;  yellowish-white coating of  the  tongue, with
foetid breath ; alternate increase and loss of appetite, slight nausea;
sour eructations; bitter taste; bad, foul, spoiled taste and  breath,
with frequent need to rinse the mouth, or spit; raising of tasteless,
semi-solid matter in the oesophagus, with flatus.
   Clinical  Remarks.—It is homoeopathic to loss of appetite from
debility of the stomach, or a paralytic state of the organs of digestion,
or increased  appetite caused  by active hypoeremia of the  coats of
the stomach.   It does not seem to be homoeopathic  to many gastric
conditions,  as it rarely causes nausea or eructations.  It does not
induce vomiting, like Verat. viride, Ipecac, or Tart. emet.   It only
causes vomiting when taken in large quantities ; then it irritates by
its bulk and  acridity only.  If useful in any variety of vomiting, it
is in that form which arises from  atony of the stomach, in which
case Nux vom., Iron, and China are better.
   Stomach.—-Feeling  of emptiness and weakness in the stomach
and bowels ; distension of the stomach with pain and nausea  ; sensa-
tion as of something wanting in the epigastric region; rumbling, and
dull pains in  the epigastrium, relieved by expulsion of flatus; burn-
ing in the stomach extending up to the mouth.
    Clinical Remarks.—Sensations of great weakness, emptiness, 
             GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.         199

"goneness" at the stomach, arises from a debilitated  state of the
great sympathetic nerve, and may be uncomplicated with any other
morbid  state,  in  which case Gelseminum may be useful, in small
doses.   It may, however, arise from congestion  of  the portal sys-
tem, and a torpid state of the liver, in which case  Nux vom., Aeon.,
Lept., Pod. or Mer. would be applicable,  alternated with Gelsem.
It is often caused by uterine congestion,  or prolapsus, when Cimi-
cifuga, Helonias, or Sepia must be given.  Ignatia, Coffea, or Thea,
in cases caused by mere nervous excitement, or sudden emotion.  It
is primarily homoeopathic to accumulation of flatus in the stomach,
distention, eructations  and dull pain, probably caused by want  of
tone in the muscular fibres of that organ.   For such symptoms the
2d or 3d dilutions will suffice.  It is  secondarily homoeopathic to
many forms—gastralgia, cardialgia, cramps in the stomach, and  all
spasmodic conditions of that organ. It is homoeopathic to congestion
of the stomach, with hyperaemia of its mucous lining.   The symp-
toms indicating its use are: sensation of a heavy load, with weight,
tension, and dull pain;  sometimes with  empty, faint,  sensations
in the epigastrium,  and. a false hunger—a  kind of gnawing.  Of
late, the Gelseminum is much  used in  all  active hemorhages,  by
the  Eclectic and  Allopathic schools.  They rely upon  its  sedative
power.  Many other remedies, however, will prove more useful in these
affections. In active haemorrhages, Hamam., Ipecac, and Erigeron;
in the passive variety,  Trillium, Terebinthina, and Sulph. acid, will
be found efficient  remedies.
   Abdomen  and  Stool.—Rumbling and  rolling in the abdomen,
with emission of flatus above and  below; periodical pains in the
abdomen, with yellow diarrhoea coming on in the evening ;  pain in
the left iliac region; bowels loose, but great difficulty to discharge
anything; there seems to be great strength in the  sphincter muscles;
dull pain in bowels, which becomes quite  severe  towards morning ;
dull aching  pain in the  umbilical region; palpitation of muscles
of the abdomen, which continued about three minutes; slight pain
in   the  transverse colon;  gnawing  pain  in the  transverse
colon.  Seventeen hours after taking the drug,  was awakened  by
severe  gripings in the lower abdomen,  soon followed by a very
natural stool, but followed by no diminution of  pain until another
large,  deeply bilious disoharge';  followed by instant relief of pain.
Evacuation of flatulence both  ways;  movements  of flatus in the
lower bowels; slight colicky feeling,  as if the bowels would  be
moved, and constant eructations of wind and bland fluid. At break-
fast, dull-ache on  the right side of the head ; gastric oppression; had
to loosen the waistbands ; after which  colicky sensations to the
left  of  the navel,  as if a stool would shortly be passed ; slow stool,
leaving a sensation of more remaining to  be passed,  and of abdom-
inal repletion.  Pain behind the fifth rib, to the  left of the stenum,
from flatus relieved by eructation.  Stool at first consistent, then
papescent,  bilious,  homogeneous, preceded all the  morning  by
flatulence.  Coincident with the  intoxicated feeling, gastralgia and
colic.   Colicky pains below the navel, extending  to  the testes, and
causing flatus; relieved by its  expulsion;  stool  of a deep yellow 
200        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 color and papescent; soft, bilious stool, preceded by threatenings
 of diarrhoea; Colic; attempted stool, much wind only passed ;  tea-
 colored, semi-solid stool; dull pains in the abdomen;  sharp pains in
 the bowels with stools of a light creamy color and  pappy consis-
 tence ; sleep  disturbed by  lancinating pains in abdomen, relieved
 by copious discharges of flatus ; intoxicated feelings, with painless
 but slightly diarrhoeic stool;  tenderness of the abdominal parietes.
   Writers of the  dominant and  eclectic schools  have decreed
 that Gelseminum does not act as an internal irritant, or a purgative;
 they assert that it is not known to  increase any of the intestinal
 secretions.   Homoepathic provings  seem to lead  us to  different
 conclusions, as many of the above  abdominal symptoms demon-
 strate.
   Clinical  Remarks.—If Gelseminum be homoeopathic to Colic,
 it is to the spasmodic and flatulent.  As either of  these varieties
 may run into and induce the other,  we  will consider them in one
 paragraph.   Flatulence  is  generally  caused  by  the  imperfect
 digestion of  articles of food,  some  kinds  of  which, such as  raw
 vegetables, and substances of a fermentable nature, are more prone
 to have that effect.  But in a perfectly healthy state of the diges-
 tive organs, all varieties of food may  be eaten with impunity.  The
 powers of digestion then, must be morbidly enfeebled before flatulent
 or spasmodic  colic can ensue.  Any cause, therefore,  which is capa-
 ble of debilitating digestion,  may act as a cause of flatulence. In
 Peritonitis, we cannot expect much specific benefit from Gelseminum
 except from its power to control the fever, and the nervous erethism
 from excessive pain.   While it might not be as valuable as Aconite,
 it would be better than Veratrum viride or Tartarus emeticus.  An
 external application  of the tincture  in peritoneal inflammation
 might allay the  pain somewhat.   I have used Aconite for that  pur-
 pose  with  the best  results.   In Enteritis  it may prove more
 valuable.  As it causes congestion and hyperaemia of the intestines,
 it may prove homoeopathic to the first stages of acute Enteritis.  It
 will  probably be useful to restrain  the spasmodic  action of the
 bowels, which is often a distressing  symptom of this disease.   In
 Neuralgia of the Intestines I have found the tincture, in single drop
 doses, given every fifteen minutes, to  be a successful remedy.   The
 symptoms were acute, lancinating pains in the  bowels, with great
 agitation and restlessness, cold hands and feet, rapid pulse, and a
 tendency to general spasms.  In Strangulated Hernia, the Gelsem-
 inum in sufficient pathogenetic doses, ought to be  a most valuable
 aid.   More relaxing  than Chloroform or Lobelia, or Opium, it  is
 surprising that physicians and surgeons of the other schools have
 not resorted to its use. It would be the first medicine I should resort
 to, and no remedy holds forth greater promise of usefulness in such
dangerous  accidents.  Its  internal administration  would be aided
 much by external  application.  In  Diarrhea,  Gelseminum  may
 prove useful when the  stools are bilious, papescent, and  accom-
panied  by  much flatulence; also when there is much  nervous
prostration—more  weakness  than the discharge  could cause.   It
will not be found useful in diarrhoea with watery, mucous, or profuse 
             GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.          201

discharges;  or  in looseness from indigestion.  Dr. Morgan noticed
that while proving the drug,  any exciting news would bring on
"threatenings of diarrhoea.''  This fact is  suggestive.  We know
that in certain  impressible  people,  whose nervous system  has
become enervated, any fright, excitement, or emotion will cause a
temporary looseness of the bowels.  Now, the effects of Gelseminum
on the system are just such as would make it homoeopathic to such
conditions and its effects.  Dr. Lippe,  of Philadelphia, reports  to
me, several cases of diarrhoea, caused by fright, grief, and depress-
ing emotions, treated with the 1000th dilution, a single dose sufficed.
   In Dysentery, so far as my experience goes, the results attained
are very similar to those noticed from the use of Aconite, viz: sub-
sidence of the inflammatory symptoms, disappearance of blood from
the  stools, less fever, and a mitigation of  the tenesmus.   I have
treated many severe cases with it, in alternation with Merc, Podoph.,
Ipecac, and Aloes.  Besides its  internal administration, I adopted
the suggestion of Coe and others, and used the tincture in an enema,
in the proportion  of  ten drops to four ounces of warm starch or
gum water; injecting all at once, and  repeating every few  hours.
It mitigated the  severe tenesmus.  In Constipation, Gelseminum
does not appear to be primarily indicated, in  many cases.  It may
be useful in simple retention of stool from deficiency of tone in the
muscular coats of  the intestines [in 2d and  3d  dilution].  It may be
useful, also, in constipation, from spasm of the muscular coats at some
point in the intestinal  tubes, in drop doses of  tincture.  In the
Southern States it is  much used, in infusion, as a  domestic remedy
for intestinal worms, and with alleged success.  Dr.  Coe advises the
Gelseminum in half or one grain doses,  two or three times a day,
combined with Podophyllin and  Santonin, and says it has proved
effectual in expelling  the ascaris lumbricoides and  tricocephalus dis-
par.  I have had unusual success  in treating worm  affections with
the Gelseminum,  2d trituration, alternated with Podophyllin 1st or
2d,  and Santonin one-tenth, each in grain doses, two hours apart.
After two  or three  days  the worms  are  either expelled in large
numbers, or the verminous  symptoms  all disappear.  A weak dilu-
tion of the  tincture injected into the rectum,  will often bring away
large quantities of ascarides.
    Liver and Spleen.—The provings of Gelseminum so far do not
 show any pains or abnormal sensations referred to the hepatic or
 splenic regions.  Its  effect upon the  alvine evacuations,  however,
 show that it has some effect upon  the liver.  For instance, we have,
 " large, deeply bilious discharge;  bilious, papescent stool;  stool  of
 deep yellow color, and papescent; soft bilious stool;" all denoting
 increased action  of  the liver.   We have  also, "tea-colored stool;
 stool of a light creamy color, and pappy consistence,'' indicating a
 deficient amount of bile in the evacuations.
     Clinical Remarks.—Judging from these symptoms,  we may
 consider it primarily homoeopathic to some forms of bilious diarrhea,
 probably from a relaxed condition of the biliary ducts, or the ductus
 communis  choledochus, or it may be hepatic  hyperaemia.  It is
 probably primarily homoeopathic  to passive congestion  of the liver,
        26 
202        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
denoted by prostration, and a languid circulation ; languor, dullness,
drowsiness, or depression of spirits; dimness  of  sight, and  dull
headache.   Jaundice, with   prostration, clay-colored  stool, etc.
There are two symptoms above mentioned, viz.: tea-colored, [slate-
colored ?] and  creamy, papescent stool, which indicate  that  Gelse-
minum  causes  either deficiency or retention of bile.  Now, from
what we know  of  the action of the medicine, it is hardly to be
supposed that it can cause, primarily, any excessive secretion of bile ;
but  it may cause deficient secretion,  from  atony of the liver,  in
which case the  yellow coloring matter of the bile would  fail to be
eliminated from the blood, and its accumulation in the circulation
would be a necessary consequence.  This, Wood believes to  be the
most common origin of Jaundice.   Gelseminum, 3d  dilution, alter-
nated with  Merc,   Leptandria, Podophyllum,  would  be  most
applicable in such conditions.
   The  Gelseminum seems to have a specific effect upon the  nerves
and muscles of the rectum.   Dr. W. H. White has seen it cause
paralysis of the sphincter ani, with tendency to prolapsed  rectum.
   Urinary  Organs.—Urine rather increased in  quantity; clear and
watery;  frequent  micturition;   frequent emission  of"  clear and
limpid urine, with  seeming relief to the dullness and heaviness  of
the head; urine  at  times clear and  limpid,  at  times  milky and
turbid.  Urine  much increased  in quantity.    [Bird,  " Urinary
Deposits," p. 210, says that it is characteristic of phosphatic urine to
be pale  and colorless;  also that such urine  deposits pale urate of
ammonia, nearly white.  Phosphatic urine is often  foetid).   " The
effects of Gelseminum were dissipated  within a few hours.   As  I
have remarked  an augmented secretion of urine, I suppose my kid-
neys eliminated the drug rapidly, and so prevented its action on the
divers organic spheres."  I [Hale] have noticed symptoms  similar
to the above, whilst under the influence of the drug; and in nearly
every instance the profuse  emission of watery urine was accompa-
nied  by transient chilliness, tremuloussness, and an evident  alleviation
of the sensations  of heaviness of the head, dullness of mind, and
dimness of sight.   Several persons who made partial provings for
me, noticed  the same  symptoms, with the alleviation.  Contrasting
the effects of Gelseminum on the urinary organs, with some of the
phenomena of disease, and they become interesting and significant.
In real Diabetes, Gelseminum cannot  be of much  service.   It is
probably  not pathologically indicated.   In Nephritis,  Cystitis,
 Urethritis it may  be used as we would use Aconite  in similar dis-
eases, viz : to reduce the  local hyperaemia.  In these affections we
must rely entirely upon the secondary action of the drug; using it
in larger doses.
   In my practice it has benefited some cases of frequent urging to
urinate, with scanty emission, attended with tenesmus of the bladder.
   In Enuresis, Gelseminum ought to prove as valuable a remedy as
Belladonna, for like that drug, it induces  a paralytic  state of all the
sphincter  muscles.  Those  cases, then, of involuntary micturition
depending  on  a  relaxed or  paralytic  condition of the sphincter
muscles of the  neck of the  bladder, may be  much benefitted,  or 
              GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.         203

 cured by the use of the dilutions of Gelseminum.  Gelseminum will
 probably prove useful in spasms of the ureters from the passage  of
 Calculi.  In this most painful affection, the object is to produce,  in
 the promptest manner possible, a relaxation of the ureters.  This is
 generally accomplished  by the use of hot sitz baths, Chloroform,
 and Lobelia or Nux vom.  Gelseminum, if  properly administered,
 would  prove  as  efficient as  either of  the above means,  and
 secondarily more homoeopathic to  the  condition.  In that most
 distressing  affection,  Spasm  of the bladder, it would certainly
 prove useful,  by promptly relaxing the circular  fibres  of that
 organ.  This disease is often, in the case of females, confounded
 with  uterine  spasm, and in males  with spasmodic  colic.  But  in
 either disease Gelseminum will prove a valuable  remedy, aided
 in some cases by Cauloph.,  Cimicif.,Colocynth, or Nux vomica.
    Case reported by Dr. Neidhard:—" Mr. T. S., one of the most
 celebrated artists in the United states, upwards of  eighty years  of
 age, was afflicted for more than four months with a constant invol-
 untary discharge of urine, every quarter to half hour, day and night.
 The disease seemed to consist  in a relaxed, paralytic condition of
 the sphincter muscles of the neck of the bladder.  It was impossible
 for him to hold his water.  Cantharides, Bromide of Potash, Dul-
 camara,  and  some  other remedies were prescribed, without the
 slightest beneficial  effect.  It  was  now thought best to  omit all
 remedies for several weeks, but without any improvement.  Having
 lately studied the pathogenetic effects of Gelseminum nitidum,  it
 was resolved to try it in the above case.  Five drops of the 2d dil.
 were administrred three times  a day.  In a few days its beneficial
 effects were already perceptible, and in the  space  of a week the
 whole disease was conquered, and has not returned  now within six
 months.''
    Genital Organs.—(1) Men.  Some irritability of the right testis,
 and afterwards dragging pain in the same, extending to both groins,
 and the hypogastrium, followed by escape  of flatus; irritation of
 sm#ll spots on the mucous surface of the prepuce, with surrounding
 congestion; painless redness about the orifice of the  urethra;
 agreeable sensation during micturition, throughout the course of
 the uretha; involuntary emission of semen,  without an  erection.
 One of the most  careful and  conscientious  provers in our ranks,
 writes me as follows:—" A seminal  weakness, formerly removed by
 Conium, returned during this proving, and  was the chief reason
 why I discontinued it."  This statement throws much light on the
 action of this remedy upon the male  generative system, and accounts
 for its alleged usefulness in seminal emissions.   My own provings
 of  Gelseminum developed the following symptoms :   In connection
 with  the  general prostration, accompanied by diuresis, there was
 always much flaccidity with coldness of  the genital organs.
    Clinical Remarks.—Gelseminum is primarily indicated in im-
potence from muscular paralysis and atony;  in seminal  emissions
 with or without amorous dreams, but caused  in all cases by direct
 debility of the genital organs, or,  rather, of the great nerves upon
 which depends their healthy condition.  It is  also secondarily horn- 
204        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
ceopathic to seminal emissions from excessive irritation of the organs
of generation, either from emotional or local congestive causes,  and
when accompanied by a condition similar to Satyriasis.
   In the former cases, small doses of the dilutions mayprove efficient,
but in the latter, large quantities will have to be administered—two
or three drops of the tincture every two hours. I have used the first
trituration of Gelseminum in cases  marked by local itritation,  and
succeeded in effecting a cure, when other remedies had failed. Cases
from allopathic authorities. Coe says:—"For spermatorrhoea, in
connection with tonics we  have found it of exceeding utility.  It
many cases it is  better to administer the Gelseminum  alone for
several days, or until a remission of the symptoms is induced,  and
then follow with tonics—Cerasin, Lupulin, or Hydrastin."
   Case 1.—From Keith's Journal, in a letter from a physician:—
"About four years ago,  I was badly afflicted  with  spermatorrhaea,
and had nearly despaired of finding relief, for I had  tried every plan
of treatment suggested  by my medical friends.  I  acceded to your
advice to try Gelseminum  and  took but four doses [of how much ?]
before the emissions ceased ;  and by continuing the medicine my
appetite returned, the peculiar cadaverous hue of  my face yielded
to a more healthy color, and, as subsequent  years have  proved,  I
was cured of my disease."  In another number we have the following
statement: " We believe it to be, in the treatment of spermatorrhoea,
as near a specific  as any medicine can be.  Administer the following
powder each night, on  retiring:—Gelseminum,  one-half grain ;
Lupulin, three grains; mix.   Gradually diminish the dose  as the
patient shows signs of  improvement.   We   have cured  several
cases with from six to ten doses."   The above prescription could
only benefit those cases belonging to the irritative variety, due  to
some  local congestion,  or exalted  state  of the  nerves of those
organs.  The  Lupulin alone has a deserved  reputation  for curing
similar  cases of  the disease.
    In Gonorrhea the Gelseminum has been much  used, and highly
praised by some enthusiastic eclectics. According to Coe,  " Gelsemi-
num has gained considerable repute in the treatment of Gonorrhoea.
We have employed it for some three years past, in  that disease, but
have never relied on it exclusively.  Our principal object in employ-
ing it, is to overcome the urethral inflammation and prevent chordee,
and for these purposes we have found  it  reliable.   We usually
 administer it at bed time, finding that the patient is more apt to enjoy
 a quiet night's rest thereby. We cannot say with certainty  whether
 the Gelseminum  possesses any specific alterative value in the above
 disease, or not, but we believe it does.''   He advises it in two  grain
 doses, but small powders of the first decimal trituration, or repeated
 doses of the first dilution, will probably be found as useful, and less
 hazardous than the one large  dose.
     Case.—Dr. J. S. Douglas  states that some thirty years ago a
 patient came into  his  office with Gonorrhoea, of several months
 standing, which  had been improperly  treated.  One of his pupils
 begged him  to  allow him to treat the  case, saying he  could cure
 the most  obstinate case in a few days, with the root of Yellow Jes- 
             GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.          205

samine,  A small handful of the root was put into a common junk
bottle of whiskey, and the patient ordered, in a day or two, to take
a tablespoonful of the mixture night and morning.  He took but a
few doses when he became much alarmed with the effect upon his
eyes, thinking the medicine had destroyed his vision. Every symp-
tom  of gonorrhoea had, however, disappeared, and the cure was
permanent.  Since that time he has  treated many cases with it,
and invariably with the same  success.  Dr. Morgan writes me:—
"The Gelseminum is in repute for the cure of spermatorrhea ; and
an allopath of my acquaintance uses the tincture in the very largest
doses in Gonorrhoea with, as he asserts, perfect success, even in old
cases.
   (2.) Women.—Besides  the  few pathogenetic  symptoms which
I have  observed, none of the provei-s of our school give us any
symptoms of Gelseminum upon the organs of generation of women.
The  following  symptoms  came under my  notice: Sensation of
heaviness in the uterine region, with increase of the white, leucor-
rhoeal discharge;  a  feeling of fullness in the hypogastrium  [in a
girl of 17]; slight uterine  pain (to which she had not been sub-
ject); aching  across the sacrum—a  sensation as when the  menses
are coming on.   [These symptoms appeared from taking five  drops
of the  tincture every two hours—in a pregnant female in the  ninth
week.  On examination, the os was slightly open, and somewhat
patulous.   Notwithstanding the small amount of  experience which
the profession possess relative to the action of the  Gelseminum on
the organs of generation of women, there seems to be  considerable
unanimity of opinion among Eclectic  authors, regarding its effects
in that direction.  We will examine the testimony.  Dr. King, who
seems to understand its sphere of action very well, and who has had
much  practical  experience  in the use of the medicine, says:  " In
obstetrics it  has  been efficaciously employed in  dysmenorrhcea,
gastralgia,  cramps, and odontalgia  during pregnancy;  in rheuma-
tism of the uterus, rigid  os uteri, hour-glass contraction, retained
placenta, and puerperal fever, puerperal convulsions, etc.
   We will  examine  its  merits in  the above affections briefly in
detail:
   In Dysmenorrhea of a neuralgic or spasmodic character, the
Gelseminum would undoubtedly prove beneficial in material doses ;
minute doses would fail  to reach  the malady,  because  dysmen-*
orrhoea is not one of the primary effects of the drug.  Its neuralgic
and  spasmodic  symptoms  are  secondary.  But in  the  congestive
form the dilutions will be  useful.  In the inflammatory form,  King
advises it,  in connection  with  tincture of  Aconite, both in  large
doses.  Coe asserts that " for relieving the pain of Dysmenorrhcea
we know of no  single remedy equal to it.''   He gives one-half grain
of Gelseminum every  two hours, and frequently alternates Caulo-
phyllin or Viburnin  with it; both of the latter remedies I know to
be valuable in this affection.  He further says:—" When caused by
functional derangement  we  deem it  specific; we have  earned the
gratitude of many sufferers by its employment."  I would advise a
candid trial of the  remedy in the hands  of homoeopathists.  In 
206       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
Amenorrhea, Coe advises it, and says the  menses will  frequently
return under the use of half grain doses of Gelseminum, three times a
day.  In the congestive variety, induced by a cold, it will undoubt-
edly  prove of service.  In Abortion, King recommends it on the
ground that it will have the same effect as blood-letting in prevent-
ing that accident.  Coe says :  " The opinion has been entertained
by some that the Gelseminum is capable of producing abortion, but
our experience with it, inclines us to the contrary belief.  As before
stated, when administered in small doses, it gently stimulates uter-
ine contraction, but  when given  in large  doses, it will arrest the
progress of labor with much certainty.   Still, we are unable to say
that  it will not  produce  abortion  under some circumstances,
although we have never  seen any evidence of its power to do so,
and we have administered it to women at all the different stages of
utero gestation."   Drs. White and Ford thought that when used in
Yellow Fever, the Gelseminum rather  prevented abortion, as one
woman so  treated, was in the sixth month of pregnancy, and did
not abort.   Still,  my observations convince me that under  some
circumstances the medicine  may be capable of causing abortion.
The pathogenetic symptoms above noticed  would go far to sub-
stantiate such  a  belief.  Let it be borne in mind that anything
which has  a  severe  depressing influence upon the nervous  and
vascular systems may cause miscarriage.  Thus, profuse  bleedings,
a chill, debility from acute disease, grief, fright or other  depressing
emotions, will in some constitutions tend to such an accident.   Now
the effects  of this  drug on the female organism, are very similar to
the above,  and may therefore under similar circumstances  bring on
the same results.  Its general  action on the uterus will be con-
sidered further on.  In the vomiting and gastrodynia of pregnant
females, when  of a spasmodic character,  Gelseminum  may prove
beneficial..   Some  writer  has  called  attention  to the  similarity
between this  vomiting and sea-sickness.  It is  a curious fact that
the remedies found  beneficial in one, are those most useful in the
other. Thus Nux vomica, Cocculus, and Chloroform are the remedies
for sea-sickness, and I have found them equally reliable in the severe
vomitings  of  pregnancy.   As  Gelseminum  bears a remarkable
resemblance to the last mentioned agent, I would advise its use in
single drop doses, in cases where the usual medicines had failed to
give relief,  and where there was present considerable nervous, debile
irritability. The troublesome cramps of pregnancy, although gen-
erally amenable to the usual  Verat. alb., Coloc, and Nux  vom., may
be controlled as  readily by the  use of Cauloph., Vibur.,  and Gel-
seminum.  Dr. King in his  Obstetrics,  speaks  of it in  hour-glass
contractions, and inversion of the uterus, in order to aid manual
operations, but doubts its  safety under all circumstances.  In those
cases it would be expected to  have many of the effects of Chloro-
form, especially relaxation.  He  also strongly advises  its use in
puerperal convulsions.
    Cases reported by Dr.  J. S. Douglas :
    Case 1st.—On the night  of the 3d  inst., (Nov. 1861)  a young
married woman, of highly nervous temperament, and seven months 
GELSEMINUM   SEMPERVIRENS.          207
pregnant with her first child, was attacked with violent convulsions,
frequently  repeated, and soon followed with complete unconscious-
ness, and the wildest delirium.
   This  state of things continued till  the afternoon  of the 5th,
when she was delivered of a dead  foetus.  The  convulsions now
ceased,  but she continued in a  state of wild delirium, incessantly
talking and without a moment of sleep for three  days  and  nights.
During the next half day her delirium was somewhat more sub-
dued, the incessant talk less furious, and she seemed to sleep once
or twice for a minute  or two.  During all  this  time, the arterial
action was  inclined to be excessive, as in acute inflammatory disease,
though no  such state could be detected.  This excessive action was
successfully controlled by the frequent use of Aconite.
   I now resolved to try the  effect  of Gelseminum.  She accord-
ingly took tea spoonful doses of a  mixture of three drops,  third
dilution, in  one-half a tumbler of water.  During  the night, after
two or three doses, she had three sleeps of from  one to two hours,
and in the morning gave the first evidence of consciousness.   This,
however, was of short duration.  A few minutes of mental effort
seemed to  exhaust  the power  of the brain and she relapsed into
wakeful  delirium.  But whenever  she has become delirious and
sleepless, the  Gelseminum, in the above doses, has uniformly and
promptly procured quietness and sleep.  The  intelligent  nurse has
come to rely implicitly upon it whenever needed.  The patient has
Bteadily  improved  from the above  date  to the present,  Nov. 23d,
though it has been necessary to give occasional intermediate  doses
of Aconite, which alone has controlled the excessive arterial activ-
ity.   She now leaves her room, though her mind is  weak, and wan-
ders when too long excited.
    In this case  it is evident that Gelseminum has uniformly and
perfectly succeeded  in quieting excessive nervous irritability and
delirium,  and procuring  sleep, where  Aconite, Bellad.,  Cham.,
Coffea, Hyos., Ign., Puis., Strain., etc., had proved powerless.   _
    Case 2nd. —On  the 5th inst. I was  called to see  a  lady eight
months  pregnant,  the mother  of four  children, the  two  last  of
which had been born at about the same  period (of eight months).
All her labors had been  exceedingly tedious, from three to six or
 seven days, apparently from the great rigidity and unyieldingness
 of the os uteri.   In her last confinement she had  violent  puerperal
 convulsions.  When I was called on the  5th she had  had  regular
 labor pains for three days, but, accustomed to  protracted  labors,
 she had not thought it time to send for me till she was seized with
 a convulsion, which was repeated before  my  arrival.  I  found  the
 pains quite active and frequent, but on making an examination  not
 the least  result  was observable.  The os uteri was not in the least
 developed, but rigid, and perfectly closed.
    With the vivid  recollection of her last two labors, at the same
 period of  eight months, their extreme tediousness, the violent and
 alarming convulsions  which now  bid fair to be  continued  through
 a labor of days-perhaps many days ; of all the exhaustive appli-
 ances formerly  employed to subdue the convulsions and to stop or 
208       XEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 hasten  the premature labor, with nearly  all my time necessarily
 occupied with the case  above related, no one will  marvel at my
 extreme anxiety and perplexity.   On reflection, as all other known
 means had, on the former occasions, proved so  fruitless, I resolved
 to try the effect of Gelseminum.   It might, by its great  sedative
 power,  subdue the spasms; it might allay and put  a stop to the
 premature labor pains.  If it failed, of accomplishing these objects,
 it mio-ht relax the rigidity of the  os uteri, and  thus  facilitate the
 labor.  She was not of a nervous, but a  bilious temperament.  I
 gave five drops of the tincture, directing  it to be repeated  after
 each spasm, or, if no spasm occurred, every hour  unless the  pains
 were abated,  or   she  experienced  some of the  characteristic
 symptoms of the  drug.  After three doses I saw her.   No more
 spasms  had occurred.  The pains were unchanged.   Directed one
 drop every two hours.  Six hours after, the pains were nearly the
 same, but a very palpable change  was  effected  in  the state of the
 os uteri, which was now  soft, relaxed, and  sufficiently dilated to
 admit the finger easily.  I had no doubt the labor would now go
 on, and from the much more rapid relaxation of the os uteri than
 on former occasions, would be much less tedious.  I left to call
 again in six or eight hours, or to be notified if needed sooner. At
 my next visit the pains were much less frequent and much  lighter.
 No  symptoms from the  drug.   Continued one drop  every  four
 hours.  On the following day,  the pains  had altogether ceased and
 the patient was feeling entirely comfortable. Three days since she
 was in her usual good health and attending to her  usual duties.
 She  was safely delivered at the proper time, and after  an easy labor.
 Others  can  draw their own inferences from this case, and I will
 not comment upon  it, except to say it is obvious that Gelseminum
 accomplished in it what every hitherto known means  had entirely
 failed to  effect,  on two precisely similar occasions, with the same
 patient.
   Case reported by  Dr. C. A. Williams:—Mrs. S------, a  large
 woman  of plethoric habit, about twenty-eight years  of age, in her
 sixth month  of pregnancy, was taken, April 25th, 1864, With flow-
 ing.   It  not  being very  severe,  the patient,  from  some cause,
 allowed  it to continue to the 28th, when, thinking she was about to
 be confined, sent for me.   (I attended her through a case of the
 same kind the year  previous.)  On  calling I found the above his-
 tory, with  the following condition: considerable  flowing, but no
 pain. On examination, I found the os slightly dilated, and at once
 proceeded with the usual remedies, to check the hemorrhage, but
 with no  success, and the discharge continued until the eve of the
 29th, when the waters  were  expelled.  Immediately previous to
 the  last act,  she had had two or three quite  severe pains.  On
 examination I found  the  os uteri rigid, with the orifice about the
 size of a three cent piece.  As she was free from pain I put her on
 Caul., two grain doses every two hours.  I  continued  this until the
30th, 11 am, when, on examination, I found  no  change.   The
patient had been comfortable, with the exception of slight nausea;
 I then gave  her Caul., first dec. trit., three grain doses every two 
GELSEMINUM   SEMPERVIRENS.         209
hours, until the eve of the same day.   Still no change.  I then gave
her Gelseminum fld. ext., two, drop doses, every hour. The follow-
ing morning, May 1st, I  called again.  She had rested well, had
flowed but very little, and concluded  she was no  better.  I made
an examination and found the os fully dilated, and the head of the
foetus'partly expelled.  I very soon delivered her, and cut the cord ;
the child lived nearly  an hour.  The placenta was retained, and
about ten minutes after the child was expelled, the os had  con-
tracted, and was rigid as  before.  I again  gave  her Caul., in its
various potencies, with no success.  I then gave Ergot, but got no
effect except nausea.  This occupied the time from May 1st, until
the 3d, Friday, the os still  rigid.  I  gave Gelsem. as before, and
with the  happiest results, as in a few hours the os uteri was fully
dilated, and the placenta expelled.  Mark, that  during the whole
course of this case there  were no pains, except the few before the
liquor amnii was discharged.  The patient progressed finely, and in
a few days was convalescent.  The discharge was quite  light after
confinement, and of  a pale color.
    In the treatment of the  form of puerperal convulsions  depend-
ing on  Uraemia, I  should  place  much  reliance on  the  remedial
powers of Gelseminum.   It will be found of much service in mod-
erating  the violence of the  fits/as well as to run  off by  its diuretic
effects, some of the urea and carbonate of ammonia upon which the
primary morbid condition depends.  Of the use  of Gelseminum in
rigid os uteri, Dr. King says :  " It has within the last few years,
been recommended to overcome this difficulty, and I have admin-
istered it. in a considerable  number of cases with benefit.  It pos-
sesses an advantage  over  Lobelia in not causing  nausea and vomit-
ing, but as a general rule its influence is not so readily experienced
 as with that drug, and when once effected is of a more permanent
 character."  (Do not give so much then, Doctor.)  Prof. Cleveland,
 Dr. L. E. Miller, and many  other writers eminent in the Eclectic
 and Allopathic schools speak very highly of the use of Gelseminum
 in difficult labor, from rigidity of the os or  vagina.  They consider
 it much more  efficient, and its administration attended with  less
 suffering  and danger than Chlorof., Bellad., Lobelia or  artificial
 dilatation.  \ think  that Gelseminum, in rigidity  of the oa uteri, is
 superior to any remedy usually recommended  in our school.   It
 may be applied locally to the os, in  the form of the glycerole  of
 Gelseminum;  one or two drams should be rubbed into the rigid os,
 with the finger.   Croserio advises  the administration of  a few
 pellets  of the  30th [!]  of Belladonna.   Jahr says,  " If the neck
  should  remain closed, and a hard rim should be  felt  all around the
  orifice,   three globules of  Belladonna dry upon the tongue will
  bring about the regular evolution of  the progress of labor,"  or  " if
  the dilatation of the vagina proceed too slowly, or be too painful, a
  few doses  of Coff., Sec,  Puis., or Nux  vom., will remedy this
  trouble."  This latter prescription is much more scientific than the
  former  for Coff., See. Puis,  and  Nux vom.  undoubtedly  cause
  rigidity of the vagina and os uteri, as a primary effect.   But there
  is not a particle of proof that Bellad. does.  On the contrary, the
          27 
210        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
well-known and invariable primary effect of Belladonna is to cause
paralysis or relaxation  of all  the sphincter  muscles.  Gelseminum
has many points of resemblance to Belladonna, but none more sim-
ilar than its  effects on  the sphincter and circular muscles, all  of
which  are primarily  relaxed, and even  paralyzed.  It dilates the
pupil, paralyzes the glottis, relaxes the sphincter of the bladder and
rectum, and those muscles of  the os uteri and vagina, upon  which
their  contractile  power depends.  While,  then, it has a similar
action to the Belladonna, it can be used with greater safety, for its
effects  are generally transient, and may be controlled, if excessive,
by  such a  general remedy  as common salt;  or specific, such  as
Secale  or Caulophyllum.  The large doses of Gelseminum advised
by Eclectics, are not necessary.  From  two to five  drops  of the
tincture, or even first dilution, if good, will, in most cases, be found
sufficient. There is  one  other argument for  the  use of Gelsem-
inum in some  difficult  labors, which, if made reliable by the test of
observation and experience, will bring the medicirffe into deservedly
high repute.  I allude to the statement made by several prominent
writers, but particularly by Coe, whom I quote, as follows :   " Some
division  of opinion  exists  in relation to the true action of this
remedy upon the uterus.  We have had  considerable experience in
the treatment of female disorders, and have  used  the preparations
of Gelseminum quite extensively.   For  five years past we have
employed it as a parturifacient, and with better satisfaction than
any other remedy.  We use it for the purpose of  relieving cramps,
or other spasmodic  difficulties, vertigo, nervous irritability, wake-
fulness and other symptoms accompanying gestation.  It seems  to
prepare the system for the  parturient  effort,  and labor is com-
pleted  in an unusually short period of time.  When  administered
in small doses, it gently stimulates uterine  contraction, but when
given in large doses it will arrest the progress of labor with much
certainty."   The  same  writer  seeks to  account for this and other
peculiarities of its action as follows :  " Gelseminum is one of those
medicines which are  peculiarly governed in their action, by the
quantity administered.   Thus, in small doses  it acts as a gentle stim-
ulant  and tonic to the  nervous system, giving vigor and harmony
of action ; while  in large  doses  it proves a powerful  relaxant,
completely prostrating the  muscular system, and by over stimula-
ting the brain  and nerves, produces irregular and disturbed nervous
action."  This sentence undoubtedly embodies the real sphere of
action of this wonderful remedy, as well as the true rationale of  its
curative powers in disease.   The explanation is worthy the staunch-
est  disciple  of Hahnemann,  for it indicates as strongly as words
can, that it cures according to the  law of Similia, i. e., it cures in
small doses, that which it causes in large.
   Air Passages.—Paroxysms of hoarseness, with  dryness of the
throat; voice seems weak; sneezing followed by tingling and fulness
in the nose; sneezing with dull headache; tingling in  nose; paraly-
sis of the glottis, with difficulty of swallowing ;  ineffectual efforts to
articulate; voice  thick,  as  if the tongue was  too large; cough from
tickling and dry roughness of the fauces; burning in the larynx and 
             GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.          211

down in the chest, under the  sternum;  a sensation of soreness in
the chest when coughing.
   Clinical Remarks.—Dr. Douglas considers it almost a specific
for ordinary catarrhal fever, with the usual symptoms of sneezing,
watery eoryza,  soreness of the throat, and cough,  with rawness in
the chest.   During the winter  of 1860-61 I treated a great many
cases of severe influenza, then epidemic, in which the  symptoms
much resembled  the  above,  only  more intense,  often  nearly
approaching to acute  bronchitis.  Gelseminum was the principal
remedy relied  upon.  It seemed to act  very favorably in cutting
short, or modifying  the disease.   Only  a few cases needed Phos.
or Mercur. iod. in alternation.  In Acute Bronchitis it will doubt-
less be found as useful as Aconite or Tart. emet.  In Aphonia from
catarrhal paralysis it is  fully indicated,  in small doses.  (See case
reported under head of " Throat.")
   Thoracic Organs-—Stitching sensations in the region of the heart;
constrictive pain around  the lower part  of the chest;  short parox-
ysmal pain in the superior part of the right lung, on taking a long
breath with stitches from above downwards. The pain in the lungs is
one of the most prominent symptoms. Periodical pains in the pec-
toral muscles;  offensive breath;  slow breathing and slow  pulse,
(primary),  followed by rapid breathing, and quick, weak pulse
(secondary).  Sudden sensation of suffocation, as in hysteria; respi-
ration almost imperceptible; sighing respiration.  (In men)  Breath-
ing unnaturally slow; heavy and labored respirations; inspirations,
were of a  sighing, catching character;  slow  breathing with rapid
pulse (primary).  Respiration hurried and seemingly painful; inspi-
rations ; long with croupy sound; expirations sudden  and forcible.
    Pathology.—The following pathological appearances have been
observed by Dr. Miller and myself, in animals poisoned by Gelsem-
inum :  Active hyperemia of  the  lungs; lungs highly congested;
heavy, sinking in water, but  evidently not inflamed; lungs bluish
at the base, crepitating but little, and filled with venous blood.
    Clinical Remarks.—But few painful symptoms of the chest
have been observed by the provers of Gelseminum.   This I presume
can  be accounted for  on the supposition which  the pathological
appearances seem to  uphold, that it  does  not  cause  inflamma-
tion, or any disturbance of the nerves of sensation of the thoracic
organs.  In this resDect it ranks with Aconite and Veratrum viride.
It undoubtedly first attacks the nerves  which control the respira-
tory movements, acting primarily as a  sedative,  causing more or
less paralysis; and secondarily, irritating the same respiratory nerves
into  irregular  and spasmodic action, with concomitant hyperemia.
The venous congestion, I imagine to be  the resnlt of an inability of
the veins  to return  the blood to  the heart, from paralysis.   The
 secondary symptoms shown by the dogs, were evidently of a spas-
modic  character,  as  regards the respiratory efforts,  while  the
primary respiratory  symptoms,  were as  evidently the  result of a
sedative influence on the nerves.
    The  therapeutic sphere of Gelseminum  in thoracic affections
may be briefly summed up :   It is primarily indicated in paralysis 
212       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
or debility  of the lungs, of a nervous origin;  and in passive con-
gestion ;  it is secondarily indicated in all affections of the lungs and
pleura, which  are marked by erethism, or vascular irritation;  or
when congestion is to be feared, or is already present; also  in  all
spasmodic affections of the lungs and diaphragm, such as convulsive
hiccough, certain  forms of asthma, spasms of  the air passages,
convulsive coughs, etc.  In real Pneumonia and Pleurisy, it is not
truly homoeopathic, but may  be used with benefit.   Dr.  J.  S.
Douglas, says: "A word in regard to the homceopathicity of Gel-
seminum in inflammations, as pneumonia,  etc.,  etc  In  all inflam-
matory diseases, there is a forming or congestive stage, character-
ized  by chilliness, depressed pulse, etc.  According to my view, to
this stage, and this only, is Gelseminum homoeopathic   When this
stage is passed, and congestion gives  place to inflammation,  the
indication for Gelseminum ceases, and that for Aconite begins.
This is the clear distinction which I make between these two valu-
able  drugs.  I do not, however, mean to  exclude Aconite from the
congestive stage of inflammatory diseases, but  I believe  Gelsem-
inum still more strongly indicated."
   The remarks of Dr. Marcy, relative  to  the action of Aconite
on the lungs, are perfectly applicable, it appears to me, to Gelsem-
inum :—"It is highly probable, as I have already observed, that many
of the pulmonary  symptoms, produced by Aconite, are due to its
Bpecific action upon the brain, rather than any direct impressions on
the lungs.  Normal respiration and circulation can only be sustained
by an unimpaired condition of the  brain.  Even when the impres-
sion  upon this organ is slight,  we observe an immediate change in
the action of the heart and lungs.  The  inhalation of Chloroform
or Ether, for example, which exercises a specific influence upon the
brain, causes an almost immediate  acceleration  of respiration and
circulation—the pulse  often rising to 140, and  the respirations to
26 or more, in the minute."
   I have called attention already to the similarity of Gelseminum
to Chloroform.  It is probable that  as  soon as the Gelseminum
produces a decided impression upon the brain, the symptoms of
pulmonary sedation cease, because counteracted by the cerebral
influences, and we have acceleration of the respiration  and circula-
tion. Let it  be borne in mind too, that in some spinal  diseases,
various spasmodic affections of the lungs set in.  The  influence of
Gelseminum on the spinal cord may induce similar symptoms.   Dr.
Douglas, says:  "In the first stage of the disease (Pneumonia) as in
most other inflammatory diseases, Gelseminum is capable of breaking
up the disease in the  first twenty-four hours, by producing free
perspiration.  Repeat it as occasion requires till the fever and pain
abate.   Gelseminum is more prompt and effectual than Aconite and
 Bryonia if given  at an early stage."
    Back and Neck.—Dull, aching pain in back, particularly in lum-
bar  and sacral region ;  pains in the neck, which confine themselves
 to the upper part of the sterno-cleido mastoid muscles directly back
 of the parotid glands ; dull pain under scapula of left side; pain in
 the  back  as in the cold stage of ague, (in  many cases);  chilliness 
             GELSEMINUM  SEMPERVIRENS.          213

and chills running up the back from the loins to the nape of the
neck; rheumatic pains in the left side of the neck; contractive sensa-
tions in the right side of the neck ;  a settled, dull, dragging head-
ache,  mainly in the occiput,  mastoid  and upper  cervical region,
extending to the shoulders, relieved when sitting, and by reclining
the head and shoulders on a high pillow ; aching in the left anterior
part of the trapezius muscle;  aching in the sacro iliac and lumbar
regions,  and the lower part  of the left thigh, as  when a fever is
commencing.
   Clinical Remarks.—No remedy so certainly causes Myalgia
by its seconadary action, than  Gelseminum, and no remedy is more
certain to relieve such pains, temporarily, at least. (See Dr. Moore's
case on page 180).  It is  most  useful in the acute variety; when
chronic, myalgia must be treated by  China, Nux, Helonias, etc.  (See
Inman's treatise on myalgia.)  It is homoeopathic and curative, as I
have often  verified, in many of those aches and pains in the back,
shoulders, neck, and  occiput,  which so often precede or follow
attacks of ague or nervous fevers; also when these or similar pains are
of a neuralgic nature,  arising from  some form of spinal  irritation;
or come on as the result of a cold, having somewhat of a rheumatic
character.  It will doubtless prove to be homoeopathic to many of
those anomalous cases of spinal irritation, or chronic myelitis, which
resist the usual remedies.  In  paralytic conditions of the lumbar
or sacral muscles, it is especially indicated.
    Upper Extremities.—Deep  seated, dull aching pains  in upper
and lower extremities, and joints  generally;  severe  pain in both
upper extremities;  seemed to be deep-seated in muscles ; the pains
were most in left arm and fore-arm;  severe aching pain in left
elbow;  rheumatic pain in extremities;  sharp  shooting in  last
phalangial joint  of right  thumb;  dull  pains in muscles of right
arm and  shoulder, and some of the  time in the left arm;  sharp pain
in right wrist; weakness and  numbness of both  arms; coldness of
the wrists and hands: itching  about  the  elbows and fore arms;
Bome heat and dryness of the hands ;  the palms feel hot and dry;
drawing-ache about the left elbow.   From large doses the arms
become powerless, with loss of voluntary motion; sensation remains
intact.
    In dogs, poisoned with Gelseminum, the fore legs were not par-
alyzed until some time  after the hinder limbs.   In attempting to
walk—dragging the posterior  extremities—the fore legs tottered as
if weak, and finally gave  way; then clonic contractions seized them.
    It would seem to be homoeopathic to paralysis of the  arms, with
loss of motion, but not sensation (the  reverse is true of Aconite),
also when the paralyzed arms are affected with cramps and contrac-
tions.  It may be found  useful in some forms of rheumatism of the
arms, induced by a cold, and  not inflammatory,  attended with loss
of motion.
    Lower Extremities.—Dull pain in the left thigh; dull pain in left
humeral region, also  in lowTer  extremities—these are deep-seated
in the muscles; rheumatic  pains in bones and joints of extremities,
and in the back; deep-seated aching pains in muscles of extremities. 
214       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 relieved by motion; severe pain in calves of both legs; paroxysmal
 pain in the left lower extremity ; shooting pain in calf of right leg;
 violent shooting pain in the leg, _ which comes  on in paroxysms ;
 every one is more violent; the pain is half way between the knee
 and ankle; pain in hip of left side, confining itself tothe joint;  it at
 times extends to the outside of  the thigh ; the pain is of a drawing,
 sharp character,  and much  worse on motion; pain in little finger
 and the one next to it; pains in left foot and  ankle, with spasmodic
 contraction  and drawing  pains  in  the toes;  excessive drawing,
 contracting, and crampy pains in  the  lower limbs, extending from
 the thighs to the toes—the pains seem to  proceed from the bones
 as well as the muscles; excessive crampy pains  in the whole right
foot; during and after a walk, the symptoms are much aggravated;
it seems as if the limbs could not be made to  move another step;
when the pains are felt above the knee, they are not felt below, and
vice versa; excessive drawing and contracting pains  in the gastroc-
nemius muscle of the left leg; the other pains in the limbs all abate
while sitting; this does not;  no position seems to relieve it; drawing
and aching pains, which  seem to come from  bones;  heaviness and
feeling of weight in the limbs; coldness of the  extremities, especi-
ally  the  feet,  often  severe; feet  feel as if in cold water, aguish
feeling, with pain in the legs; pain in popliteal spaces; aching in the
left rectus femoris muscle,  and drawing in  the right calf; transient
crampy pain in the inner part of the thigh when  walking:  rheumatic
pain in the right knee, and left side of the neck—the  latter when
lying down; the former when walking; while walking, a feeling
in the knee joint as if the relation of the bones  were deranged, and
 did not fit, as in partial luxation ; pains in  the left thigh and knee ;
sudden  catch or  twist in the  inside  of  the  patella.  Paralytic
symptoms made themselves manifest throughout the entire muscu-
lar system—first experienced in  the  knee, and then in the inferior
tibial region, increased  unto  falling.  Loss of voluntary motion in
the lower extremities; fatigue of the lower limbs after slight
 exercise;  soreness in the  gastrocnemii muscles as if they had
been beaten.  The paralysis caused by  Gelseminum is first mani-
fested in the lower limbs, which become weak and then powerless,
but with no loss of sensation, at least not until the near approach of
 death.
   It seems to be homoeopathic to rheumatic (myalgic) pains in
the legs, accompanied by crampy sensations and weakness of the
knees.—(See case reported under heading "Throat.")
   Skin.—The Gelseminum  produces a very marked eruption in
most of the cases.  It appears on  the  face  most frequently,  but
sometimes also  upon the back, and between the shoulders.   It is
papulous, very much the color of measles, which  it closely resembles,
 but the papulae are more  distant and distinct.  Though very con-
 spicuous, they are attended with little or no  sensation—the patient
 being unaware  of any eruption until he  happens to see himself.
 Persons have  frequently been asked what was  the matter,  or if
 they had the measles, when they were  not aware of the eruption.
 It generally appears the second or third day of  the proving, and 
             GELSEMINUM   SEMPERVIRENS.          215

continues one or two weeks more.  An eruption of vesico-pustules
—painless, but having  no other analogy with measles—appeared,
during proving, on the inside of the thighs.
   Intense but transient itching of small points on the face,  at the
edge of the hair, and on  the scalp; pimple, quite sore, having the
areola  embracing the diameter of a pea, red and inflamed (such an
eruption not experienced at  any other time).  The pimples appeared
on the forehead and neck, sore to the touch, and seemed like a small
cutaneous induration, or minute  furunculi.  They finally disappeared
without  suppuration.   During  its use in  yellow fever a constant
erythema of the skin was noticed, and a  redness of the  tongue;
neither appearing during the administration of Veratrum viride.
   Clinical Remarks.—Its action on the  skin is at once specific
and  peculiar taking into  consideration its catarrhal symptoms, we
may consider it indicated  in measles, as well as some other painless
non-suppurating eruptions.  Its use in erysipelas and exanthematous
fever, has already been alluded to.   Dr.  Coe writes: " We have
found  the tincture an excellent remedy for poisoning  by the Rhus
toxicodendron, and Rhus  radicans.  Dilute  the tincture with from
four to eight parts of water, and apply as  directed  for erysipelas,
keeping the parts constantly moistened with it.  If there be any
febrile excitement present, administer the tincture internally at the
same time.  *   *   *   We have experienced the value of this  rem-
edy in our own person, and can recommend it as reliable.  Other
practitioners have used it with  success. *   *   Many forms of skin
diseases [what ?~\ may  be  benefited and cured by the internal and
external application of the tincture."
    Sleep.—Very restless; during the night was very restless  with
unpleasant dreams after midnight; but  little  inclination to sleep;
when  it does come on, dreams  much  of business, etc.; disposition
to sleep; a sort of stupor ;  cannot keep the eyes open ; is obliged
to lie down and sleep.  Drowsiness and long sound  sleep are  very
general symptoms. Drowsiness  with dimness of vision ; kind of
drunken stupor ; heaviness of  the eyes as after night watching; at
first it seemed to cause drowsiness; afterwards aggravated the
habitual sleeplessness; unusually  sound  morning sleep, with  diffi-
cult, weary waking (after taking twenty-five drops the day and even-
 ing previous) ; languor and  drowsiness when trying to study;  slept
 an hour in the afternoon, and on being roused felt unwilling at first
 to move;  eyes  transiently  bloodshot.  It  cannot be considered a
 narcotic, ranking with opium.   Still  it has some narcotic traits, in
 common with Aconite, Chloroform, Alcohol, or Hyoscyamus.  Un-
 less taken in large quantities, it rarely induces  sleep by  its direct
 effects, but it may give  sleep  by removing nervous erethism.  It
 more  resembles the so-called nervines,  Scutellaria, Cypripedium,  etc.
     We have the following opinions  of writers of  other schools :
 Professor Tully considered it  a narcotic,  and places it in a group
 with Spigelia.   " It must be borne in mind that Gelseminum is nar-
 cotic.  Some division of opinion exists as  to whether the Gelsem-
 inum has a narcotic property.   We should think that a very slight
 experience would be sufficient  to decide this question.  When the 
216       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 patient is brought fully under its constitutional influence, the symp-
 toms are so marked that we cannot conceive how the remedy should
 be deemed otherwise.  On attempting  to move about, the patient
 appears as if intoxicated; the muscles  refuse to obey the mandates
 of the will, while the head is dizzy  and the senses confused.  In
 some respects the symptoms much resemble those produced by Stra-
 monium, and in like manner pass off as soon as the remedy is dis-
 continued ; at other times the patient appears as if under the influ-
 ence of Alcohol, and evinces a decided disinclination to motion, and
 tendency to sleep, from which he awakes invigorated and refreshed."
 (Dr. Coe.)  " Whether it is a narcotic, is not  yet satisfactorily estab-
 lished." {Dr. King.)
    Clinical  Remarks. — In  those comatose states caused  by
 cerebral congestions,  we shall find it a valuable  remedy.   I have
 called attention to its usefulness in the stupor attending the fevers
 of children.  [Infantile remittents.]  It will be  equally useful in
 the stupor of  typhus  cerebralis, or any form of typhoid, when
 coma is a prominent symptom, and  the  other  symptoms  cor-
 respond.  It may also be beneficial in the low delirium of  typhoid
 fever.  When used for the above, the low dilutions are advised.  In
 that peculiar stupor, or drowsiness, felt  by students and persons of
 sedentary  habits, especially  in hot  weather,  and not caused  by
 hepatic torpor, this remedy in small doses, continued for many days,
 is as capable  of affording relief as  any drug I  have ever used.
 When depending on  hepatic derangements, it  is removed  by
 Podoph., Lept., or Nux Vomica.  In Delirium tremens, or morbid
 wakefulness of drunkards, large doses (five or ten drops) of the
 tincture repeated as often as necessary, will be  found as useful as
 opium, in some cases,  and more efficent in others.  No remedy so
 happily controls the sleeplessness and agitation of teething children,
 students,  persons  laboring under mental excitement, or  hysteric
 females.  The first dilution will usually  suffice.
    Case.—Reported by Dr. Lodge. A commercial  traveler asked for
 advice under the following circumstances:—He said that he was en-
 gaged during the day taking orders,  settling accounts, etc, nerves
on the stretch all the time; that at night he would  go to bed with a
feeling of exhaustion, and great desire for sleep but without obtain-
ing any rest;  the transactions of the  day would be  turned over in
his mind again and again—repose coveted but not  gained.  I  gave
 him a drachm vial of tincture of Gelseminum, with directions to take
three or four drops in water when retiring.   The prescription was
 successful.  A few months afterwards he reported  that it was only
necessary  to  resort  to the  Gelseminum  occasionally, but that
when he did use it, it calmed his nervous system, produced  slight
prespiration and  quiet refreshing sleep.  In  sleeplessness,  from
nervous irritation, it is invaluable.
    General Symptoms.—Weakness and trembling through the entire
system; listless and languid; great lassitude ; feeling  of lightness
m the body;  fear of falling; easily fatigued;  general  feeling of
illness as in fever, so prostrated that he can neither move hand  or 
GOSSIPIUM  HERBACEUM.
217
foot; no power over any muscle;  strange, indescribable feeling
through the entire system.
  Clinical Remarks.—The only symptom in the above which we
need to notice in this place is the one in italics.  It very frequently
appears in persons suffering  from  spinal  exhaustion,  particularly
when caused by onanism.  This fact I have observed in several
cases.  A very few other remedies in our Materia Medica have this
symptom.   (Ambra-grisea.)
         GOSSIPIUM  HERBACEUM.

                         {Cotton  Plant.)

   The Cotton plant is a native of Asia, but is extensively cultivated
in this country.                                           .
   No proving of the Cotton root has been made, and its medicinal
effects  are so uncertain and  unreliable that it will be mentioned
merely to call the  attention of the profession to the agent, and
stimulate some one to institute provings on the healthy, in  order
that we may have some reliable data for its use.
   Dr.  Bouchelle, of New Orleans, I believe, was the first to call
attention to its powers as a uterine motor-stimulant.  He published
his observations in Southern  medical journals,  and other physicians
substantiated his statements. He says :-"The inner bark of the cotton
root has a special  affinity for the  sexual  organs, modifying  their
functions in a remarkable manner; it not  only possesses oxytocic
properties,  invigorating feeble contractions of the  uterine fibres,
but it  originates expulsive contraction at any period of gestation,
and will induce immediate abortion when taken in the proper quan-
tity, and without any detriment to the  health of  the female."  He
asserted that it is "habitually resorted to by slaves in the South as
an ecbolic, for the criminal purpose of inducing abortion a tact  which
I have  had named  to  me a number of times by Southern practi-
tioners "  Dr. B. infers, from its influence on women, that the use
of it destroys the generative capacity, rendering the person sterile,
without impairing the health. Dr. King, in his Eclectic Obstetrics,
quotes the above, and says:  "Should this eventually prove  to be
the case, this  agent will become a most  important article ot our
Materia Medica, a boon to physicians, and likewise to females with
deformed pelves."   It is used in strong decoction—four ounces ot
fresh bark to one quart of water, boiled down to a pint—dose, two
fluid  ounces  every  twenty-five or thirty minutes.  He adds:— A
tincture of the bark in spirit of nitric  ether,  and administered in
doses of from thirty to sixty drops, several times a day, has produced
the  most decided  and prompt relief in Amenorrhea owing to a
torpid condition of the uterus, or  a mere derangement of its iunc-
        28 
218        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   TROVINGS.
 tions, not connected with disease of other parts.   It  has likewise
 proved efficacious in cases  of recent dysmenorrhcea.  I  have suc-
 cessfully used it in a few cases of uterine hemorrhage, in  combina-
 tion  with ergot  and cinnamon."  How mercilessly would Hahne-
 mann have criticized this last statement!   How can a sensible phy-
 sician write  such a sentence?   Which  was the  efficient  agent?
 Which had any  power over the hemorrhage ?  Yet, of such loose
 statements is the ordinary Materia Medica of the opposite schools
 made up!
    Drs. Jones and Scudder place the Cotton root among the Em-
 menap-ogues, but at the same time  assert that it is  " not Abortiva
 or Parturient in the slightest degree." They say,  "It may be emmen-
 a^ogue; at least, in some cases in our practice,  the warm infusion,
 drank freely, with other auxiliary  measures, has  reproduced the
 menstrual discharge.  It is hard to determine, however, in such
 cases, how much to attribute to the  agent, as any warm fluid, taken
 freely, with the use of the warm foot and hip bath, will sometimes
 be sufficient to  reproduce the discharge."
   Coe's statements are  all  loose, and are of no reliable character.
 He recommends it for all sorts of uterine diseases.   (His employers,
 Keith & Co., manufacture the Gossipin,  and wish it lauded in the
 highest terms.)  I commenced experimenting with  the Gossipium,
 about eight years ago;  I have given it in  small and  large doses, to
 the healthy and the diseased, and have yet to see the first symptom
 of pathogenetic or curative action arise from  its use.  I have
 ordered it in strong decoction in Amenorrhoea, and also in the third
 dilution of the tincture; I have prescribed  the Gossipium in massive
 and minute doses, in dysmenorrhcea, uterine hemorrhage, etc, but
 never noticed the slightest effect; nor have I ever seen anything
 which would lead  me to suspect it was an abortivant or parturient.
 Dr. Holcombe, of New Orleans, and  other Southern physicians,
 inform me that they have no confidence in its alleged virtues.  On
the contrary, we have the testimony of many Eclectic and Homoe-
 opathic physicians, that the Cotton root  is a remedy  which really
does  exert an influence  over the generative  organs of women, and
has been found useful in uterine pains, cramps, hemorrhages, atony,
 amenorrhoea,  and as an  efficient  agent in  difficult labor pains.
   " Mr. Shaw, of Tennessee,  writing  to the  Nashville Journal,
says :   * I consider this root one of the very best emmenagogues of
 the materia medica, and I think it  should be so classed.  My reasons
 for considering it such, are grounded upon the different experi-
 ments which I  have made with it, within the last twelve months.
 I sometimes  use  a decoction,  and at others an infusion, but most
 generally a decoction, prepared  thus:  Cotton  root, four ounces ;
 water, two pounds. Boil down to one pint.  S.—A wine glass full
 every hour.  This produces the most salutary effect in dysmenor-
 rhcea ; it acts as an anodyne in allaying the pain, and as an emmen-
 agogue  in aiding or augmenting menstruation; its action is very
 speedy; after its exhibition, in this case, it  produces  an effect which
 indeed,  appears almost  natural,  that is, almost  without pain ; the
 patient, after its exhibition, feels but little  inconvenience from pain 
GOSSIPIUM   HERBACEUM.
219
which soon subsides, and menstruation is immediately augmented,
without acceleration of the pulse or gastric  uneasiness.   There are
few other emmenagogues that can claim this feature.
   "'Its action in amenorrhoea I think superior to any other emmena-
gogue belonging to the materia medica, though it would be proper
to pay some attention to the general health of the patient before
exhibition.   It  is superior to anything that I have  tried  in  the
way of emmenagogues.  I have had cases in which I first tried
the usual emmenagogues, with but  little effect, or success, when
I would determine on  trying the decoction of this  root, which
would far surpass my expectations, by  acting with the most marked
effect;   menstruation  being produced on  the following  day after
its  exhibition.   All  of the  symptoms disappeared on  exhibition
of this medicine. I believe this to be the best emmenagogue that
we can employ in mere suppressio mensium, where there is no other
disturbance in the general health.
   '"With the usual emmenagogues, I was unable to produce the
catamenia  on a young  lady, which continued  for about twenty-
four hours, then suddenly became very sparce and painful;  and
in a few days after  this period had passed, I employed the infu-
sion of the cotton root as a means of exciting this function, which
it did on the following  day, a plentiful discharge being produced,
which  continued for five  or six days.  She has  been regular _ at
every period  since that time, and has  enjoyed  good  health with
the exception of a few simple attacks, which caused no derange-
ment of the  menstrual  function.   For  about  twelve months pre-
vious to the exhibition of this medicine, her health was very much
impaired, but  she  commenced improving, and soon recovered her
health.   I  could detail other cases similar, in  which I have tried
the decoction with the same  effect, but I  deem  it unnecessary to
mention its action in each individual case.
    "'Asa parturient agent, I think it superior to ergot in one sense
of the word, and in another about its equal, its action being about
as prompt as that of ergot, and attended with much less danger.
I have tried both in parturition, and found the  cotton  root decoc-
tion to act with fully as much efficacy as ergot.  In some cases in
which  I have tried  it, the pain was to some  extent allayed, and
labor promoted with as much speed as when ergot was administered.
It appears to be perfectly harmless, from the fact that its action is
almost unattended with pain.  It causes neither gastric distress, or
acceleration of the pulse-if it does,?it is not perceptible—both ot
which are occasioned by ergot to some  extent.
    " 'Ihave witnessed its action in retained placenta with good effect,
which was an expulsion of the mass in about twenty minutes after
the exhibition of the  first dose.  It  may be proper to say, that  1
 gave two doses before the placenta was thrown off.  I believe  it to
be safer as a parturient agent, or an emmenagogue,  or at  least as
 safe, as any other article of the materia medica.
    " 'It should have a fair and impartial trial by the profession gen-
 erally, because  it  will prove itself worthy of the time  and labor
 spent in its investigation.  It is handy to all, and  free of expense. 
220        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
A few trials  by the profession will confirm the truth of this short
essay.   Give it a trial, and it will prove itself in some cases of amen-
orrhoea,  dysmenorrhcea, or  probably in some  lingering  case  of
labor, which  may require  the  assistance of medicine, to produce
contraction of the uterus for the expulsion of the child.  I think it
worthy of the attention of the profession, in the above cases.
   " ' Tincture of Cotton Root as a Tonic.—There is a condition of
the system in which this tincture  acts  as a valuable  restorative.
These cases are of a leuoco-phlegmatic temperament of both sexes,
but it is  to  the female sex that I wish to draw the attention of
the reader.   Where there  is general bad health, accompanied with
tardy menstruation, I have  used it with  the happiest  effect;  in a
few  cases of  emansio  mensium,  caused  by anaemia, where the
patient was troubled with  pains in the loins and giddiness of the
head, with a derangement of the digestive organs, such as anorexia,
accompanied with an uneasy, depressed  feeling  at  the scrobiculus
cordis, every month, which was promptly relieved by the tincture,
but not with  the effect of producing the menstrual flux, which was
afterwards produced by the decoction, I find it necessary to continue
the tincture from two to four weeks.  The strength of the tincture
that I have been in the habit of using, is prepared thus:—Bark of
the root (dry), eight ounces; diluted alcohol, two  pounds; digest
fourteen days, then filter and give  it in one  drachm doses, three or
four times a day.  The tincture  which  I used was prepared by
myself; and as I have seen no account of its use, I claim the first
preparation  of  it,  as well as  the first  experiment with  it.   My
brother, Dr. H. J. Shaw, has  since tried it, with the same good
effect; in fact, his experience coincides with mine throughout.'
   " 'The cotton  seed has acquired considerable reputation as an
anti-periodic in cases of intermittent fever, the use of which origi-
nated with a planter in South Carolina, who says :—'I  have never
failed to cure a patient, with a  single dose of it, even where large
doses of quinine have failed.'
   " 'It is, however, in the peculiar active properties, of the root, that
the profession will be  chiefly interested.  The,  oftentimes, great
danger  in administering  ergot,  prevents  its  use, even when its
specific  effects seem to be called for.  If these  specific effects can
be  obtained  by the use of the cotton root, and this too, without
the liability of  injury to the  general system (and these have  been
attributed to  it), the  profession would do  well  to give it a
thorough  and extensive trial.''—{Tilden's Journal).
   I here leave the consideration of this plant for the investigation
of my colleagues. 
HAMAMELIS  VIRGINICA.
221
          HAMAMELIS   VIRGINICA.
I" ■                      {Witch Hazel.)

   This is an  indigenous shrub,  sometimes called Winter-bloom,
Snapping-hazlenut,  Spotted  Alder,  etc.   It consists of  several
crooked, branching trunks, from  the  same root,  from two to six
inches in diameter, ten or twelve feet  in height, and covered with a
smooth, gray, and spotted bark.  It is a much larger shrub than the
edible hazle-nut,  which  has  a straight trunk,  not spotted,  but
brownish.  The Hamamelis vir., grows in almost all sections of the
United States, especially in damp woods, flowering from September
to November, when the leaves are falling,  and maturing the seeds
the next summer.  The bark and leaves are the parts used in medi-
cine ; they have a pleasant, aromatic odor,  and a bitter, astringent
taste, leaving a sense  of  pungency and sweetness in the  mouth.
Water  extracts their virtues.   The shoots are  used as "divining
rods'' to discover water and metals under ground, by certain adepts
in the occult arts.  They have been used, also, by certain superstitious
quacks, for the cure of old ulcers, etc, by rubbing them  on the
diseased surface.   Strange as it may seem,  cures  are alleged to have
been made in this manner. There has always been a large  amount
of superstition  connected with this shrub.  The popular preparation
known  as " Pond's Extract of Hamamelis," is made from the leaves
and twigs, by a process of distillation.  It is used by all the schools
of medicine as an anodyne application.  It cannot be expected,
however, that it will relieve or benefit all the diseases mentioned on
the extensive labels of the manufacturer,  and the  physician  who
pins his faith thereupon will be disappointed.  This remedy, like all
others,  has its limited sphere of usefulness.
    General Application.—Allopathic authors deem it hardly  worthy
of mention.  Wood barely notices it in his Dispensatory, as a  mild
astringent, and discutient. Eclectics make more mention. King
says it is tonic,  astringent, and sedative; useful  in haemoptysis,
hasmatemesis, and other  haemorrhages ; also diarrhoea,  dysentery,
and excessive  mucus  discharges:—" It  has been  employed  with
advantage in incipient phthisis, in which  it is  supposed  to unite
anodyne influences with its others; used as an application to painful
tumors, and external inflammations; also, as a wash for sore mouth ;
 an injection in  bowel complaints, prolapsus ani  and uteri,  leucor-
rhoea, gleet, piles, and ophthalmia."  These authors  say that the
 decoction may  be taken internally, in any quantity,  and applied ex-
 ternally of any strength.   No fears  are  entertained that it will
 prove injurious.   The Hamamelis has been used in homoeopathic
 practice for twelve or  fifteen years.  Several physicians claim the
 honor of introducing it to the profession, among whom are  Hering,
 Okie, and Preston.  I believe Dr. Okie was the  first to write  con-
 cerning the medicine, although he says Dr. Hering  was the first to
 call his attention to the  remedy.  Dr. Hering,  it  seems,  became
 acquainted with its virtues while attending Mr. Pond, the  proprie-
 tor of the Extract, who informed him what it was.  Dr. Okie says -. 
222       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
" Hering proceeded at once, by scientific trials, to discover for him-
self whether the remedy did, or did not, possess any or all of the
virtues attributed to it by its proprietor."   Hering informed Dr.
Cushing that he had used Pond's Extract in " chronic effects from
mechanical  injuries,"  painful  and bleeding  haemorrhoids,  and
" severe pleuritic stitches supervening on tuberculous phthisis." He
considers it a " union of Aconite  and Arnica."  It is a little strange
that no reo-ular proving has been made.  If Dr. Hering has  made
any proving the profession has  never seen it.  Dr. Preston made a
fragmentary proving, which was published in the Philad. Jour,  of
Horn. vol. 1-, page  460.   We  shall have to make use  of that, and
the pathogenetic and clinical notes  scattered through the various
journals.
    Vascular  System—Arterial System.—Hamamelis does not seem
to affect the heart and arteries directly.  It does not appear to con-
trol arterial inflammation, or  congestion,  or haemorrhage;  but,
according to all observers, its sphere of action is especially upon the
Venous System.   Of  the few pathogenetic symptoms we  have,
not many point  unmistakably to an affection of this system.  But
we have abundant clinical experience to prove that this remedy is
one of the most prominent we  possess for  inflammation of veins,
venous congestion, haemorrhage,  etc. In Dr.Preston's proving will
be  found the pathogenetic symptoms in full, such as " crowding
fulness of blood in the head and  neck; sense of suffocation,  etc.;
also " uterine haemorrhage," " Epistaxis.''
    Clinical Remarks.—As early as 1851, Dr. Preston writes :
" It has been used by many physicians in Rhode Island, in cases  of
venous congestion, and haemorrhage, with great success.''  "Ex uso
in morbis,'' I have made many trials of the efficacy of Hamamelis.
Have given it successfully in a number of cases of Epistaxis, some
of which were of an alarming  character,  and the  cure has been
prompt and effectual. One case of active uterine haemorrhage, caused
by a  fall, was promptly  relieved by it, but its particular sphere
seems to be in passive  haemorrhages and  venous  congestions.  I
have cured many cases  of passive  uterine haemorrhages with it, and
have given it with success in a few cases of pulmonary haemorrhage.
But the crowning  point of its virtue rests in its peculiar,  prompt
action in cases of phlegmasia alba dolens, and in varicose veins.  In
old cases of varicosis I have never seen its equal, and have  cured
many cases of varicose veins of the leg and foot, which have resisted
all other treatment for years."  Dr.  Preston states that Dr. Henry,
then of Selma,  Alabama, was the first to recommend the Hamam-
elis to our use, and thinks he might furnish us with  valuable thera-
peutic and pathogenetic information, but I have not been  able  to
find anything from his pen on the subject.   Dr. Okie estimates the
Hamamelis highly, in phlegmasia alba dolens, varicose ulcers, and
varicoses.  He  has  used  it successfully  in  haemoptysis,  epistaxis
purpura, bleeding and painful piles, etc. (Phila. Jour,  of Horn vol
1, p.  536).                                                "
    Dr.  Belcher reports the following cases, which I have  some-
what abridged:^ 
HAMAMELIS  VIRGINICA.
223
   Case 1st.—Vomiting and purging of blood (see "Intestinal").
   Case 2nd.—A boy, aged fourteen, growing rapidly, with a good
appetite, has had Epistaxis at irregular  intervals  of from four to
twenty-four hours, by which he has become pale and much enfeebled.
Ham. 3rd, one-eighth of a drop twice a day was given, and since the
first dose to the present time, three months, he has had no return.
   Case 3rd.—Melena (see "Intestinal").
   Case 4th.—A case of Varioloid. At a  certain stage of the
disease there came on Epistaxis, which lasted about an hour, ceased,
and returned in a few hours,  and. continued.  " The blood was  dark,
discharging freely in drops; the pulse rapid; breathing hurried; lips
and mouth dry;  the face and body were covered (besides the  papu-
lae,  which seemed to  me  not  to have progressed, but  to  have
shrunken) with a dusky red erythema, with purpural spots, varying
from  the size of a pin-head to that of a three-cent piece, here and
there—but over the abdomen, which I more particularly examined,
occupying one-third of the surface.   The vessels of the conjunctiva
were so congested, as at first sight  to appear like chemosis.   Gave
Hamamelis, three drops of the first dilution in a tumbler of water,
of which a table-spoonful  was given  every fifteen minutes.  In
twenty minutes the hemorrhage had ceased entirely, and  returned
no more.  The medicine was then continued every hour.  The next
day  he had one ejection of a  dark, bloody  character,  but the
purpura had not increased, and he had. slept some.  Gave Rhus. 2,
and  Ham. 2, alternately every hour. In two days he was out of
danger, and convalesced  rapidly—(N.  A. Jour. vol. 3, page 463.)
Dr. Belcher  states that  " hemorrhage with asthenia or anaemia, or
from asthenic tendency, is of itself an indication for the use of Ham-
amelis."  He considers  sulphuric acid  an analogue of Hamamelis,
but its  action is not so  prompt.   Further notice of its action in
venous diseases will be mentioned under other heads.
   Head.—A crowding fulness of  blood  in the  head and  neck.
The epistaxis was accompanied with a feeling of tightness  of the
bridge of the nose, and considerable crowding pressure in the fore-
head, between the eyes, with a benumbed sensation over the whole
os frontis.—{Preston)  A painful fulness of the brain, especially at
the top, with a desire to hear lofty, sublime conversation, attended
with perfect indisposition to talk, myself;  feeling as if a bolt was
passed  from temple  to  temple through the head,  and tightly
screwed, accompanied by a feeling as if  she ought to be reverenced
by all around her.—{Burrett)
   Clinical Remarks.—The above  symptoms  would  seem  to
indicate a condition  of passive congestion, or venous stagnation,
resulting in hemorrhage from the overloaded vessels.  In headache,
arising from congestion, and resulting in epistaxis, this may  prove
an excellent remedy.  Many cases  are only relieved by bleeding
from the nose.  The Hamamelis acts by removing the cause, and in
this  manner arrests  the bleeding, if present,  and removes the con-
dition upon which it depends. We have but little clinical testimony
as to its value in Cephalalgia.  It will  probably never be found  as
useful as Belladonna, Aconite, or Geiseminurii. 
224       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
    Nose.—Epistaxis, with a feeling of tightness  of the  bridge of
 the nose, and considerable  crowding pressure  in the  forehead
 between the eyes.  (This was caused by one drop of the  3d, in Dr.
 Preston, who never before had bleeding from the nose.)  Profuse
 Epistaxis (ten hours after taking one drop of the 3d).
    Clinical Remarks.—We have found in the  various Journals,
 over one hundred cases  of epistaxis, some of them of an alarming
 character, which were promptly arrested by the use of Hamamelis
 in  some form.  A few  of these cases have been given under the
 head of " Venous System," and others, of a notable character, are
 given  briefly  below.  Dr. Belcher cured a  severe case in  a boy
 aged fourteen,  with Hamamelis  3d,  one-eighth of a drop.   The
 bleeding had not returned several months after.  Dr. Preston in an
 article on venous hemorrhages writes:—" Epistaxis, or bleeding
 from the nose, forms the most common hemorrhage of childhood,
 and in a great proportion of cases is simple and perfectly harmless.
 When it is dependent upon active congestion  it is usually arterial,
 and proves  its own remedy; when  it is  the result of mechanical
 congestion, or forms one of the developments of the hemorrhagic
 diathesis, it  is  passive  and probably venous."  Dr. P.  gives  an
 interesting case, illustrating its treatment with Hamamelis.
    "An  old gentleman, hemiplegic, who had  been subject  to
 occasional attacks of haemorrhage from the nose, often profuse and
 very debilitating, and on several  occasions requiring Mr.  Aber-
 nethy's operation of plugging the  nostrils,  before it  could  be
 stopped.   He had now  been  afflicted at intervals of several days
 with slight oozing of very dark blood from the schneiderian  mem-
 brane, particularly three  times a day and shortly after meals, corres-
 ponding to the rhythmical  exacerbation of the  pulse ;  after  the
 afternoon meal the bleeding was very profuse.  He was able  to
 walk about,  but complained of feeling very weak  and faint,  with
 occasional vertigo or confusion of  ideas; his countenance was pale,
and his pulse decidedly hemorrhagic.  I ordered him home, and to
keep perfectly quiet; to  use a strong nourishing diet, with wine at
each meal, and gave him China and Hamamelis 3rd, in alternation
 every two hours.  I was sent for to his house in the afternoon and
 evening,  and the  bleeding had been almost constant, but, slowly
 oozing from  his nose since he got  home;  by  evening he was  too
 weak and faint to set up, but lay in bed with his head raised; gave
 China  and Hamamelis 1st.  The  hemorrhage increased  however,
 all  the next  day,  when  small  pieces of linen were wet  with
 Hamamelis tincture, rolled up in the shape  of a funnel, and pushed
 as far into the nostrils as possible.   The next morning the bleeding
had been very slight, exhaustion much less, and all other symtoms
improving.  In three days he was  able to go about his business."
Dr. Burnet,  of N.  O.,  reports " a lady of plethoric habits, had
 epistaxis  twenty-four hours, which all ordinary means had failed
to relieve.  At a previous attack she came near bleeding  to death •
 I gave her  Hamamelis 3rd, and a wash of diluted tincture for her
 nose.  The  hemorrhage was  arrested in  a  few  moments,  but 
HAMAMELIS  VIRGINICA.
225
returned, by coughing, the next day.  It  was again arrested by
the same means, and did not return."
    Mouth.—Dryness of the mouth;  burnt sensation on the tongue.
    Clinical Remarks.—I have used the Hamamelis satisfactorily
in bleeding from the buccal cavity,  bleeding and spongy gums, and
haemorrhage from the cavity after extraction of a tooth. In cases
of burns of  the tongue and lips, from hot drinks, a  weak solution
of this medicine held in the mouth gives prompt relief.
    Eyes.—It has proved curative in  painful  inflammation  of the
eyes; excessive congestion of the  conjunctiva and bruises  of  the
orbits.   It  is useful  in  extravasations under the conjunctiva,  and
painless  sugillations on the  eyeball.   During pertussis  the  eyeball
sometimes becomes congested, and the minute vessels are ruptured.
A wash of Hamamelis quickly dissipates the extravasations.
    Throat.—Dry, thirsty feeling of  the throat, which water would
not relieve,  lasting full twenty-four hours.—{Burritt)   Fulness in
the neck ; have to sleep with the neck free of any covering.
    Clinical Remarks.—There is  a condition of the fauces,  and
throat,  which might  not inaptly be  designated as varicosis,  the
posterior fauces, uvula, and pharynx are of a blueish hue, caused by
distended veins  which ramify on the surface;  this  causes a fulness,
with  cough, and pain in swallowing, and  sometimes hawking of
dark  colored  blood,  mixed with mucous.   In one  case  of this
character the  internal  and topical  use of  Hamamelis  proved
curative.
    Stomach  and Bowels.-Hematemesis, Constipation, Hemorrhoids.
    Clinical Remarks.—The  primary  effect of Hamamelis  in
material doses, is to diminish the secretions  of the mucous surfaces
of the intestinal tract; a form of constipation is the result.  In none
of the fragmentary provings which we possess is there  any symp-
tom relating to  congestion, or haemorrhage from the stomach  and
bowels, but our clinical experience is rich in cases of such haemor-
rhage. Dr. Burnett in Am. Horn. Review, vol. 1, page 512, reports :
"a lady who had  been  expected to die for several days, from
haematemesis.  I had none of the Hamamelis  by me, and ordered a
decoction of the bark—a teaspoonful  every three hours.  It cured
the patient immediately." Writing of haemorrhage from the bowels,
or melaena,  Dr.  Preston says:  "I have given Hamamelis  with-
success in arresting  haemorrhage, when  I knew the  bleeding pro-
ceeded from carcinomatous ulceration,  as  well as where it arose,
from simple  mechanical congestion  of the  portal circulation.  To
show that others have  had like success with the same remedy, I
relate a case of melaena, probably of the latter kind, reported to me
by  my brother-in-law, Dr. George S.  Green,  of Hartford,  Ct.
July, 1855, Mr. M----, aged twenty,  light  hair, dark eyes, spare
figure, etc., came home from his business with a violent headache,
and took a dose of Calomel at night, followed by one of  Castor Oil
in the morning; this he did on his own  responsibility, and the
consequence  was  a severe diarrhoea,  for  which Dr. Schae  was
called upon to  prescribe.   Dr. S. attended  him  ten  days,  and
reports  his discharges to have  been  very profuse  and  watery, as
       29 
226        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 often as every half hour, accompanied with more or less fever, but
 no pain.  After ten days the Dr. left him  convalescent, but quite
 weak, and, intending to leave for his home in Massachusetts.  Two
 days after, quite early in the morning, he had a very large discharge
 of dark clotted blood, and within  an hour, two more  discharges,
 the three  filling a large-sized  chamber pot;  very offensive but
 attended by no pain.  At this time I first saw him, in consultation
 with Dr. S.  I examined the discharges; found the patient pale and
 much exhausted, aware of danger but not frightened; pulse 120-130,
 weak intermitting, haemorrhagic; no tenderness on pressure in any
 part of the abdomen ;  no enlargement of liver or spleen that could
 be felt; no pain, nothing but great weakness, and occasional faintness.
 A week previous to this haemorrhage he had two discharges  from
 the bowels, that were liquid, and brick colored, with a greasy scum;
 his appetite had been unusually good, but his countenance pallid
 and sunken.  On the seventh  day after this attack, when I was
 called, he had another discharge from the bowels, of dark, grumous,
 offensive smelling blood, which  continued  to pass away from him
 with a gurgling noise, until three large sheets were saturated.  On
 the next day he passed about a tea-cupful of bright red blood, and
 the haemorrhage ceased.  He was sick  in the house eight weeks;
 his hair  fell  off,  and  he was somewhat  anasarcous in the lower
 extremities, but from the first, had no pain, and, after the haemor-
 rhage, no  fever; his recovery, perfect.  The only  remedies used
 were stimulation,  China, and  Hamamelis virginica.  This  case
 was unquestionably one of  mechanical congestion  of  the portal
 circulation, and the haemorrhage was  probably caused by the action
 of the  powerful cathartics  taken in the  commencement.   It is
 unnecessary for me to say, that in my opinion,  both the diarrhoea
 and haemorrhage might  have been avoided  by judicious treatment
 in the beginning, because the congestion might have been removed
 without such  violent result;  but the symptoms having been  caused,
 the treatment  certainly proved successful."   We  might relate
 several other  cases of melaena, as well as of  haematemesis,  depend-
 ant upon other causes  besides  mechanical congestion, in all of
 which Hammamelis was of great service in arresting and preventing
haemorrhage,  which otherwise  would probably  have proved fatal.
 George E. Belcher, M. D., of New York, reports the two following
 cases:  Case 1.,  James (a porter), aged about thirty, a well-built, mus-
 cular Irishman,  after complaining about  three  days (as near as I
 could ascertain) of fullness,  and grumbling, aching pains in the
 abdomen, and irregular febrile flushes, was attacked with vomitin «•,
 and purging of  blood,  which gradually increased.  In the moraine
 of the day the haemorrhage began, his employer sent him Nux  v. 3,
 and Aeon. 3;  to be taken alternately; but, as by evening there was no
 improvement, I  was sent for, and gave Ipec. 1, and Merc. sol. 2,
 alternately, every hour.   Early on the following morning I received
 information that the haemorrhage continued, and that he was faint,
 cold, and sweating profusely. I found him so, indeed, with a weak'
 rapid pulse, restless, and complaining of the fullness and grumbling
 in the abdomen; but, owing to the imperfect domestic arrangements, 
HAMAMELIS  VIRGINICA.
221
I could not ascertain how much blood had been vomited or purged.
I gave Hamamelis,  two  drops  of the tincture dissolved  in half a
tumbler of water,  of which a  dessert-spoonful  was  given every
fifteen or twenty minutes, until improvement took place.  This was
very apparent, when I called two hours afterwards; a  reaction was
moderately but firmly established, and the patient felt better.  He
had vomited once only, and but  a  small quantity  of blood;  and the
melaena from this time diminished, so that it disappeared, nearly, if
not entirely, in two or three days.  I substituted Chin. and. Merc, for
the Ham.  in about twenty-four hours after improvement had begun,
and continued them, on account  of the apparent hepatic congestion,
to convalescence.
    Case 2.  W. A. B.  A man  aged about forty, temperate, of a
spare habit, after complaining two or three days  of fulness through
the  hypochondria, and  attacked with  diarrhoea, on account  of
which he called at my office, and for which I gave him Ars. 3.   The
next  day,  not being relieved, I  was sent for;  found him feeble,
with blank, dingy-reddish countenance; thirst; frequent pulse; and
having a loose evacuation about every three or four hours, which he
described  as offensive, and of the color  of dark rosewood.   Not
seeing it, I concluded that it must be  melaena,  and gave Ham. and
Aeon.; a  solution  of two or  three drops of  each in tumblers  of
water, of table spoonful doses, were directed to be given alternately
every two hours, until better.  The next day  I  found him feeling
decidedly  improved, having had  but one small discharge  since.
From this time he rapidly convalesced.
   Dr. L. Pratt communicated  to  the Chicago  Horn.  Medical
Society, 1859,  the following case of Intestinal hemorrhage.  A
young man whose  health had been injured by  ague  and  quinine,
was  attacked, during the course  of  a typhoid fever, with copious
bleeding from  the  bowels.  The  blood passed by  the  rectum
amounted to at least two quarts before I saw him.  He had  stools
of blood about once  in fifteen minutes; it was of a dark grumous
nature.  Four  drops of the mother-tincture of Hamamelis, in a
tumbler of water, a desert-spoonful to be taken every ten  minutes
until the discharges were arrested, for an hour—omit for an hour—
then  to take  one dose more.  Afterwards omit until  a  relapse
occurred.   The next day ascertained  that  the bleeding had  twice
returned, but  was at once arrested  by a single drop each time.
The patient recovered under the use  of Arsenicum and China.  In
this case the bleeding probably originated in ulceration of some
portion of the intestines ; was of a passive character, and perhaps
venous.  It would seem from the  above  cases, that Hamamelis  is
curative in several forms of hemorrhage from the bowels.
    (1)  That caused by portal congestion.
    (2)  From a ruptured vessel.
    (3)  From ulceration of the  bowels.
    (4)  From a hemorrhoidal vein.
   In Dysentery, the Hamamelis is indicated  when the amount  of
blood in the stools, is unusual in quantity, and  amounts to an actual
hemorrhage.  The blood in such cases is generally dark, in small 
NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
clots  or  patches, scattered through the mucus.  Dr. Dunn, of 111.,
(111. State Horn. Ass.,  1858) said he  "had not found Mercurius so
effectual  in the treatment of dysentery, during the past summer, as
it had formerly been ; but he had been highly successful with Ham-
amelis in cases of dysentery, in which the alvine evacuations were
largely loaded with blood."
   In the so-called hemorrhoidal dysentery, this remedy is almost
specific   alone, although it may sometimes have to be alternated
with Aloes  or Podoph.  In my practice benefit has accrued both
from  the internal and topical  application.  A few drops  of the
tincture  or  lower dilutions, every  hour or two, internally;  and an
enema of one drachm of tincture Hamamelis to four ounces of cold
water or starch water.  The decoction of the bark (one oz. to one
qt. water) is even better than the above preparation for an enema,
both in dysentery and bleeding hemorrhoids.
   In Diarrhea, the Hamamelis is said to have been found useful,
but the indications for its use are not  ascertained.  It will  require
more extended provings  and  clinical experiments, to establish  its
applicability  to diarrhoea.  I would suggest that it may be useful
in mucus and serous discharges.  It is in Hemorrhoids, that the
Hamamelis has achieved some of its greatest victories.   It seems to
have extraordinary power over  this disease, not only as externally
manifested in the form  of hemorrhoidal tumors, but against the
primary cause, which is often located in the portal system.  It has
been used in this affection from the earliest history of the country.
The  aborigines first imparted a knowledge  of its curative virtues
to the first settlers.  It is mentioned  as  a remedy for piles, used
externally, in the works  of  the  early  " Botanic''  physicians.
When Pond first sold his Extract, it was  recommended particu-
larly for  this complaint.   Dr. Hering was Pond's family physician,
and was  induced by him to try its  efficacy in  some diseases.  In
1850 Dr. Hering informed Dr. Cushman, a pupil of Dr. Okie, that
he had used it successfully in " painful and bleeding hemorrhoids."
Dr. Okie was then induced to  test  its virtues, and in  a  letter to
Hering, published in 1853, he says:   "I next  made use  of the
Hamamelis  in a  number of cases  of painful  and bleeding piles.
Those cases in which it has proved most beneficial in my hands, are
characterized by burning, soreness, fulness, and, at times, rawness of
the anus; in the back a weakness  or weariness, or as the patients
graphically express it,  ' Doctor, my back feels  as if it would break
off.'  The hemorrhage is generally profuse, and I have in  several
instances seen this latter  symptom  cured completely, with shrink-
ing of the over-loaded hemorrhoidal vessels, so  that the full, pout-
ing look of the  anus was changed to  its own more natural and
demure  pucker, while the burning  and itching,  depending  more
upon cutaneous irritability, or some herpetic taint, still remained.
I have here likewise made a wash of the remedy, applying it exter-
nally while giving it internally in  the  more dilute form.   Mr T  a
highly respectable agriculturalist,  somewhere  in the  fifties',  had
been  troubled with painful and  bleeding piles for a number of
years. On  examination  I  found the anus surrounded with a crop 
HAMAMELIS  VIRGINICA.
229
   of tumid hemorrhoidal veins, bluish in color, and the whole anus
   encircled by a red erythemic halo.   I found he suffered with ' back-
   ache,' has a ' pasty mouth,' digestion tolerable, was not much con-
   stipated; I  gave Hamamelis first dilution  six  drops night  and
   morning and applied a lotion,  one-third of the  remedy, two-thirds
   distilled water.  In a fortnight he called again  and I found  him
   much relieved.  I repeated the prescription, to be  taken once a day.
   Since which time he has remained well."
      Dr. Davidson, {Monthly Horn. Review, London,) reports  a case
   of " burning,  painful  hemorrhoids,"  in a  lady,  who had  been
   subject to attacks of piles for the  last  ten  years.   Her  symp-
   toms were  " great suffering from weight,  and  pressure, at the
   anus; hemorrhoids protruding;  great exhaustion from  frequent
   hemorrhage from the rectum ; bowels constipated ; severe frontal
   headache; restless nights; mouth parched  and  dry  on awaking.
   Hamamelis  6, ten drops in six ounces of water; one  table spoon-
   ful three times  a day.   The third day after,  the hemorrhoidal
   symptoms were much relieved, but she complained of  severe pains
   in the back.   Continued  the medicine.  Five days  after, the hem-
   orrhoids were painful and protruding.  A new  symptom had  also
   developed itself.  My patient wished  me to examine  her arms, as
   during the past two days she had suffered severely  from a peculiar
   pricking pain, from  the wrist to the shoulder, which pain  is
   increased on pressure.  On examining  the arms,  I  found  that the
   patient indicated the direction of the pain along the course  of the
   superficial veins.  Ordered Sacch.  lactis  to  be  continued the next
   three days, when the pricking pain had quite left her arms; but the
   hemorrhoids were still troublesome.   Hamamelis 6—thirty  drops
   in six ounces of water, to be used  as a lotion.  A pledget  of lint,
   saturated with this, to be  applied to the protruding  hemorrhoids
   every night.  Six days  after  she reported  herself well.  Six
   months  after, the same  patient applied again.  She was  suffering
   from protruding hemorrhoids, acoompanied by severe inflammation.
   she also had catarrhal symptoms, and was very desponding.  Ham-
   amelis 6 was given as above, and the  lotion used  as  before.  She
   took only five doses, because,—' after  the fourth  dose she became
   very much alarmed by a pricking pain  in the region of the heart.
   The hemorrhoids, however, were  much relieved.  Ordered Sacc.
   Lact.  Two days after, the pricking pain "about the heart" was
   still very severe ; it was also now felt in the courses  of the super-
   ficial veins  of both arms. These pricking pains continued for  a
t  period of ten days, increasing  in  intensity  during  that time.  At
   length I prescribed  Arnica 12,  three times a  day.   Two weeks
   after  the patient states that she feels better  than  she  has done for
   years; and the piles, to use her own  expression,  ' have been com-
   pletely vanquished.  I must  not forget to record, that while under
   treatment, this patient  had been relieved, by the Hamamelis, of a
   peculiar tightness of the chest, from which  she had suffered from
   childhood."   This oase  presents  some  interesting  peculiarities,
   namely: the apparent pathogenetic symptoms caused  by the Ham-
   amelis, simulating inflammation of the veins, and  even the heart. 
230       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 The  question might  arise, would not  the same pains,  etc., have
 arisen during the course of an attack of inflammation of the hem-
 orrhoidal veins, had the Hamamelis not been administered ?  How-
 ever, Hahnemann would undoubtedly have placed  these  symptoms
 in the pathogenesis of Hamamelis, and we may do the same; still,
 we could wish that further experiments  would substantiate the
 reliability of these symptoms as purely belonging to the drug, in
 which case they would be  very important  as indicating, unmistak-
 ably, its sphere of action.
    Urinary Organs.—Scanty, high-colored  urine.
    Clinical Remarks.—The  Hamamelis has been found useful  in
 hematuria. Several cases presenting the symptom—bloody urine-
 have been reported, cured by this remedy.
    " In Haematuria "—writes Dr. Preston—" China and Hamamelis
 are the principal remedies, unless there be ulceration of the prostate,
 or neck of the bladder, "when these  should be  alternated with As-
 terias-rubens.  In all hemorrhages dependent upon Scirrous,  or
 carcinomatus ulceration, we have used  Hamamelis to control the
 hemorrhage, and Asterias rnbens to arrest  the ulcerative process,
 and we have had  more than ordinary success with these remedies
 in a number of cases.  In urethral and  renal hemorrhages, China,
Cantharis, Mezereum, and Terebinth,  are recommended, but we have
 had cases of congestion  of the tubuli uriniferi, following Scarlatina,
 and attended with discharges of black blood from the kidneys, when
neither of them, nor Dig. Hamamelis, Zinc, and  a host  of others,
 had any good effect, that were cured in two or three days by the
 use of Gallic acid, in three grain doses three times a day."
   Dr. Belcher reports the following case, which perhaps can be
 classed among renal  effections: "A lady, who, while  pregnant,
 had alburminaria and  general anasarca, with occasional vaginal dis-
 charges of blood.   She was prematurely confined, when  about  six
 and a half months advanced, and then had adherent placenta, which,
 until detached, caused her to flood so profusely as to be faint and
 fainting for four or five hours.  About  twelve  or fourteen days af-
 terwards  she was attacked with dysentery, which lasted four  or
 five days ; about ten or  twelve days after this,  with the ague and
 fever; after this, flooding again, which  last attack was controlled
 without difficulty  by the Hamamelis second,  repeated every three
 or four hours."
   Organs of Generation of Women.—Hemorrhage from the uterus,
of bright and fresh blood, not coagulable, about midway between
the menstrual periods, (from one drop of the third—(Dr.  Preston).
Active  uterine  hemorrhage in a young  lady.   (See  Preston's
 fragmentary provings.)
   Clinical Remarks.—Dr. Preston, who reports the pathogenetic
symptoms referred to above, remarks that in the first  case, that " a
leucorrhea which the ladv had been troubled with for years ceased
as soon as she began taking the  Hamamelis, and has  not  again ap-
peared. # It is a common and popular domestic remedy in form  of
a decoction, used  as a  vaginal enema, and  generally with con-
siderable success.   Eclectic writers  recommend it in leucorrhoea 
HAMAMELIS  VIRGINICA.
231
with relaxation of the vaginal walls, but consider its action that of
an "astringent."  True, the Hamamelis contains tannin in quite an
appreciable quantity, but even tannin is homoeopathic—secondarily—
to some forms of  leucorrhoea.   Hamamelis, used internally and
topically, is one of the most useful medicines in those varieties of
leucorrhoea which similate a hemorrhage, and constitute a drain on
the  system as severe as a  bleeding.  In most cases, however, it
should  be  alternated with Pulsatilla,  Sepia, Helonias or Senecio
gracilis.
   Dr. Okie, in his  letter to Dr. Hering, says he found it useful in
Ovarian Disease:  " My first use of the remedy was in the case of
a colored girl, twenty-two years  of age, of plethoric habit, who at
the  age of eighteen,  had  received a violent  blow over the left
ovarian region, and  since that time  had suffered with violent pains,
at times concentrating themselves in the seat of the original injury,
and again producing a diffused and agonizing soreness over the whole
abdomen;  the touch aggravated  these sufferings intensely ;  the left
ovarian region was  swollen, flat  on percussion ; the menses were
irregular, very painful, with exacerbation of all the sufferings at the
catamenial  epoch.  Examination per va<>inum, disclosed exquisite
tenderness  of the canal, a swollen and tumid os uteri, which was
likewise extremely sensitive ; passing the finger by the side of the
neck of the womb, and pressing upward  toward the left ovarian
region, likewise  caused  extreme suffering.   This  patient was
frequently  afflicted with retention of urine, and I had been obliged
to use the catheter for several days together.  I made use of the
Hamamelis in this case, both internally and externally.  I made use
of Pond's  extract.  After using it she was much relieved ; could
bear pressure  upon the swollen part (the  swelling having notably
diminished); the  diffused soreness was less marked.   She bore the
vaginal examination with more ease.  A gradual  return  to health
set in, from the time the Hamamelis was commenced."   Dr. R. Lud-
lam informs us that he has found  this  medicine a most important
remedy, internally and locally, in all ovarian diseases,  accompanied
with swelling and tenderness  of those organs. He advises compresses,
wet in the dilute tincture, constantly applied to the sensitive locality.
It was  found very useful by Dr. Burnett, in  varices  during preg-
nancy.—" A woman  in  the fourth month of pregnancy with her
seventh child.  She was compelled to labor for her livelihood; suf-
fered almost always with varicose veins; at this time she was very
lame ; suffered much pain and could  scarcely move about. I gave
twelve globules of Hamamelis  third  dil, and a wash of diluted
tincture.   She took four pills at  a dose, two doses a day.  The first
day she felt entire  relief from pain, and  could exercise with ease.
She required  no further treatment; I attended her in her confine-
ment and  found  no trace of her former malady."  "A lady preg-
nant with  her fourth child.  She complained of a painful  stiffness
and a sensation  of swelling and  weakness in  her left leg, which
 continued  to some extent during pregnancy;  but  the Hamamelis
 gave her prompt relief, and there was no return of it after confine-
 ment.''  " A womau pregnant with her fifth child.  During her last
I 
232        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
three pregnancies she had been troubled severely with varicose veins,
which, after the fifth month, had burst above the ankle and bled
profusely.  When I was called to see her,  she was only four mouths
advanced in pregnancy, but the bleeding had commenced, and  she
was anticipating a serious time.  I gave her Hamamelis three times
a day, diluted tincture for a wash.  She had no more bleeding, and
is now well."  Dr. F. Burnett, of New Orleans, found the  Hama-
melis useful in Dysmenorrhoea:—"A colored woman aged thirty-five.
Two years previous, at the time the menses should have  appeared,
she experienced severe pain through  the lumbar and  hypogastric
regions and down  the  legs; fullness of the bowels and brain, with
severe pain through  the whole head, resulting in stupor and deep
sleep, lasting twelve to thirty-six hours, from which it was impossible
to arouse her; after which she gradually returned to  her natural
state, and so remained till the time for the next menstrual period,
when the same suffering was repeated.   She was brought to me at
the commencement  of  one of these  paroxysms; the  pain  in  the
back, pubic region, and  head, had already commenced. I gave eight
globules of the fifteenth dilution  of Hamamelis, to be taken in two
doses, four  hours  apart,  which established her  menses perfectly
without any further  medication, and  she  continued  to menstruate
regularly afterward.''  "An Irish girl, aged eighteen, strong, robust
make. She had never menstruated, but had suffered instead with
haematemesis, constant constipation and varices of the legs.   I gave
her Hamamelis fifteenth, to be taken three times  a day. Her menses
appeared immediately, her legs got well, and I knew of her perfect
health for three years afterwards, during which  time she became a
mother.'' This case illustrates its curative virtues in vicarious men-
struation, when the condition is in correspondence with that caused
by Hamamelis.  An interesting case of vicarious menstruation is
reported by Dr. Kenyon (Amer. Horn. Review, Vol. 2, p. 412):
" Mary F., aged fourteen, has  always enjoyed tolerable health until
the last eighteen months, when she menstruated.  The  first time
there was considerable  pain in the back and head, for several days
preceeding  it, with nausea, vertigo, etc. The flow was natural,  and
recurred two succeeding  months quite regularly, and without any
of the unpleasant  sensations which preceded the first.  When  the
fourth period came round, there was no indication of menstruation,
but in place of it,  quite free epistaxis; this continued for several
months, increasing in severity each month.  She was emaciated very
much;  no  color in the cheeks or lips; pulse 140,  and feeble; ac-
tion of the  heart very labored, but not giving any signs of organic
lesion ;  extremities considerably bloated; stomach very irritable ;
bowels constipated; urine scanty and  clear; some cough, and great
dyspnoea.   It was  the day when the bleeding was to  return and I
watched the case ; there was over a quart  of blood lost; it was thin,
forming very slight coagula.   I gave her the sixth and thirtieth dil!
in alternation, two doses of each in the twenty-four hours,  which was
all  the medicine she got during the month following, except a  few
doses of Arsenicum for dyspnoea, when it was troublesome.  When
the next month came round, she menstruated regularly, and had no 
HAMAMELIS  VIRGINICA.
233
more bleeding, and from this time she went on rapidly to a perfect
recovery, under the use of Hamamelis."   In   Uterine Hemorrhage,
it is highly extolled by some physicians.  Dr. Preston cured a case
of " active uterine hemorrhage caused by a fall; it was promptly
relieved by it;" but, he thinks, " its particular sphere seems to be in
passive hemorrhages and venous congestions." He has "cured many
cases of passive uterine  hemorrhage with Hamamelis."   Dr. W. E.
Payne states, that  he has not used the Hamamelis successfully in
uterine hemorrhages, except when the blood flowed steadily, was
venous in its character, and  xoithout uterine  pains.  My own expe-
rience accords with that of Dr. Payne's;  therefore, I  would not ad-
vise the use of this remedy  in hemorrhage after labor, for here we
want a remedy like Secale  or  Erigeron, which causes contraction
of the muscular tissue of the uterus, and perhaps of the arteries.
Erigeron is antipodal to Hamamelis.  It is as directly indicated in
active, arterial hemorrhage, as the  latter  is  in passive venous
bleedings.
    Organs  of Generation of  Men, etc.—We are not in possession of
pathogenetic symptoms relating to these organs, but  it has been
used in some diseases  affecting the  veins, testes, and contiguous
tissues.  Dr. Preston, in an able paper on " Diseases  of the veins "
(N. A. Jour, of Horn. 1857.) says.  " The homoeopathic treatment
of Circocele. (Varicosis of the  spermatic veins) is very much the
same as for varicose veins in the leg, and in a number of cases under
my own  observation has been found successful.  To illustrate this
treatment,  I prefer to give the following report of a case, sent me by
Dr. Geo. Barrow, of Taunton,  Mass.—" A friend  of mine, about
thirty years of age, a merchant of Chicago, of scrofulous tendencies,
was taken some three months since  with drawing pain in the left
spermatic cord, with swelling heat, redness and pain in the cord
and in the left testicle, for which an allopath treated him four or five
days with  warm fomentations  and laudanum applied to the part.
The testicle swollen four or  five times  its usual size; very hard and
painful, was closely enveloped with collodion frequently applied {to
support the tumor?) while seidlitz powders were given to keep the
bowels open.   As this treatment gave no relief, but the symptoms
rather grew worse, my friend was  easily  pursuaded to  abandon  it
and try the homoeopathic plan.   In consultation with Dr. Smith, of
Chicago, where I happened to be  present on a visit,  I gave the
patient, Bell., Puis., and.  Clematis, for a week, with very little benefit
when  I proposed to try  Hamamelis.  I  accordingly  obtained  a
bottle of " Ponds' extract," of which I  administered  drop doses
every two hours, and enveloped the scrotum in a bandage wet with
a solution of the  same medicine, one part of the tincture to about
ten parts of alcohol and water.  In twenty-four hours he was free
from all pain, the swelling gradually disappeared, and with the help
of a silk suspensory bandage, he  was able to resume his business
in a few days, and now  is entirely well."  The  Hamamelis was at
one time highly lauded as an excellent remedy in the treatment of
Gonorrhea. It was advised to administer the remedy internally,
and use the diluted  tincture (or  Ponds'  ext.) as an injection.  Dr.
       30 
 234       NEW  H03I0E0PATHIC  PROVINGS.

 Small informs me that in the first stage of this disease it has appeared
 to be of benefit, in allaying pain and inflammation.  It may be useful
 in all stages, but cannot be looked upon  as a specific remedy.  I
 have advised it in long standing cases of Gleet, with apparent bene-
 fit.  In Orchitis, it is highly praised by Dr. Ludlam.   He  states
 that under its external use the tumefaction and pain rapidly subsides.
 He  considers it  to have some specific power over inflammatory
 affections of the testes and ovaries.
    Thoracic Organs.—Return of inflammation of the diaphragm with
 the  following symptoms :—labored respiration;  opressive tightness
 of the lower part of the thorax, inability  to  make  a deep and full
 inspiration ;  when  attempting to assume the recumbent posture
 breathing became  almost impossible;  a crowding fullness  in the
 neck and head, and a sense of suffocation so as to prevent his lying
 down; unable to make a deep inspiration when standing up. {Preston.)
 Pricking pain in the region of the heart; felt also in the superficial
 veins of both arms.  The pricking pains in the heart continued for
 ten days, increasing in intensity all the time.   (Arnica twelfth  was
 then given, and the pains disappeared.)— Davison.
   Clinical Remarks.—Hamamelis has cured cough, and haemop-
 tysis, with taste of sulphur in the mouth, and dull frontal headache."
 Also " tickling cough, with taste of blood on waking."  In Hemop-
 tysis, it is considered by some as a remedy par excellence, applicable
 to nearly all cases ;  but this is going too far.  It can never take the
place of Aconite.  Dr. Preston (Diseases of Veins) says :—"In gene-
ral we look upon Hamamelis as  a specific for passive venous hem-
 orrhages, and we have seen it successful in arresting this particular
 form of bleeding from the pulmonary mucous membrane; but we
speak from only a few years experience, and that a few observers, and
therefore we must be impartial enough to mention  a few of those
remedies which other practitioners have recommended as useful in
the  cure of some  forms of  haemoptysis:—Aconite, Ipecac,  Ferr.,
 acet., Arnica, Millefol, etc. Dr. E. M. Payne (U. S. Jour, of Hom.Vol.,
I. p. 730) reports  the following  case:—A young lady aged sixteen,
was seized while  at school, and without any premonitory symptoms,
with blood-spitting.  The patient was of slender build,  light hair,
blue eyes,  fair complexion, lax  fibre, and   phthisical  diathesis;
menses regular and normal.  The blood-spitting commenced with
a slight hack, and continued, with scarcely a moment's intermission
up to the time of my visit, a  period of nearly an hour.  I found her
lying upon a sofa, calm, with a napkin in hand nearly saturated with
 apparently pure venous blood, and spitting about the amount of a
tea-spoonful at intervals of one or two minutes.  The blood came into
the mouth without any effort.  She  described it as issuing  about
ten inches below  the right clavicle, in a warm current, making
 apparently a tortuous course, and at the same time there was a sensa-
tion in that region, as from  the  pressure of a hard body.   Pulse
 somewhat  accelerated, eighty-five.   Ferrum aceticum was  given
 but caused no improvement in three hours, Millefolium, Aeon., Ipecac
 and Belladonna caused no  amelioration.  Hamamelis, four drops of
 the tincture to half a tumbler of water. A spoonful was given.   The 
HAMAMELIS  VIRGINICA.
235
bleeding immediately ceased, and did not afterwards return. I have
never used the Hamamelis successfully,  in cases of blood-spitting
when the blood was of light fluid red, frothy  in appearance, and
raised by much cough."  Dr. Okie reported an interesting  case in
which haemoptysis  was present,  in  a complicated lung affection.
Hamamelis controlled the bleeding, but was powerless  to cure the
patient. A girl, aged, nine, was said to be in a dying state.  She was
sitting upright, supported by pillows, her breath greatly oppressed.
She had been ill about two years, dating her first loss of health to
a cough, which was said to have resulted from swallowing a small
piece of straw; since that period, she  had been tormented  with
incessant cough.  She bled from the lungs pints at a time. She had
raised large quantities of offensive matter ; at onetime "nearly a
tumblerful."  Examination elicited general anasarca, great swelling
of the lower extremities;  the abdomen swollen from  the  areolar
infiltration ; face much puffed, closing the eyelids; a number of spots
resembling purpura  were found  upon the lower extremities; she
had been troubled with profuse epistaxis.   Auscultatory examina-
tion elicited the presence of a very long cavity, extending from the
mammary region to near the base of the right  side.  The respira-
tion in the left lung was puerile, with a mingling of  rhonci and
mucous rales.  The urinary secretion was almost null, the urine itself
of a deep brandy color, depositing a heavy lateritious sediment.  I
feared a fatal result,  and speedily.  The scant urinary secretions and
pleuritic pains, the hydropic tendency, and the state of the thoracic
organs, led me to fear the superventon of anaemia and serous effusion
into the pleural sac.   Iodine was given; for about a fortnight she
improved; the urine was much increased; the dropsy lessened; the
respiration easier ; petechiae did not appear ; cough about as usual.
At  this time she was seized with Epistaxis and Hemoptysis pulse
full, etc.  Hamamelis checked the hamorrhage promptly, and there
was no recurrence.   The strength, appetite, and general health of
the patient improved, so that  she was up, and about her usual avo-
cations.  .She lived about eighteen months, but finally died from pul-
monary abscess.—Philal. Jour. Vol. l.p. 538.
    Back.—Tearing pain across the small of the  back, with fulness
of the joints of the legs.—(Burritt.)
    Clinical  Remarks.—It  has been  found  useful as  an external
application to  lumbago, "crick in the back," myalgia, bed-sores, and
petechia.
    Upper and lower Extremities.—Pricking pain in the superficial
veins of both arms, extending from the wrists to the shoulder.
{Davison)   Painful  fulness of the  joints of  the legs, as if they
would burst, which soon extends to all the joints of the body; after
the fulness of the joints disappear, then there was a dread of mov-
ing the limbs, as if it would cause suffering, with a weary, stiff,  full
feeling.
    Clinical Remarks.—The greatest triumph of Hamamelis, has
been in the treatment  of  varicoses of the limbs.   Dr. Preston,
writing of varicoses  remarks:—" Homoeopathy has, as in many
other  cases,  directed  us to a  specific  remedy,  which  in  my 
236        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 practice, as  well  as in that  of a number  of my  colleagues in
 this   section  of  the  country,  has  been  attended  with   uni-
 form   success  in   the   treatment   of  this  annoying  disease.
 "Since 1851 (six years) I have prescribed Hamamelis in upwards of
 fifty  cases of varicose veins of the lower limbs, and in no single
 instance has it failed to make a decided curative impression; but in
 the great majority of cases, it has, thus far at least, proved a radical
 cure.  My pian is, first, to bandage the  limb tightly from the arch
 of the foot to a little above  the knee, or to the  hips, if the varices
 are above the knee,  and the  best bandage,  in my opinion,  is an
 elastic silk stocking, manufactured for  the  purpose.   Under this,
 compresses of linen are laid over the  dilated veins, and kept wet
 with  Hamamelis tincture,  or  Pond's  extract.   I give the 3d dil.
 internally, two or three times a day.   Some few cases, with  large,
 indolent ulcers on the tibia or malleolus, have been under treatment
 a year, but most of them have been cured, or  at least have disap-
 peared, in less than  half that time.    The crowning point of its
 (Hamamelis) virtues, rests in its peculiarly prompt  action  in  cases
 of phlegmasia alba dolens,  and  in varicose veins.  In old cases of
 varicosis, I have never seen its equal;  and have cured many cases
 of varicose veins of the leg  and foot,  which had resisted all other
 treatment for years."   Dr. Belcher reports several cases of varices
 in pregnant women,  cured by Hamamelis.  (See cases under " Or-
 gans of Generation of Women."  Dr. Barrows found this medicine a
 valuable auxiliary in the treatment of a child,  with the following
 symptoms:—"Inflammation of the femoral vein, with the erysipela-
 tous spot near the  groin, and over the  vein, spreading over nearly
 one half of the thigh, with flexion of the leg; swelling of the entire
 leg and foot, with tension; heat and pale appearance of the limbs ;
 scanty urine, stiffening the linen (albuminous);  tympanitis ; oedema
 of the whole body, limbs, and face. Calc, Hepar and other remedies,
 were  used.  (See case  in full, in N. A.  Journal, vol. 6, page 317.)
 Dr. R. Ludlam informs me that  he considers the Hamamelis of the
 greatest advantage in all cases of articular rheumatism, with swollen
 and painful joints; as a local application it  seems to possess decided
 anodyne properties.  He  advises that cloths, or cotton wool,  wet
 in the dilute  tincture, be applied constantly to the painful parts.

   Note.—Just as this paper was ready for the printer,  I received the "Horn. Review," for
April, 1864, which contains a case of Phlebitis, reported by Dr. H. Robinson, Jr., cured by
Hamamelis. The symptoms were: "Greatpiin in right leg, from the knee to the hip; legmuch
swollen, and quite sensitive to the touch. The cutaneous veins were hard, knotty, swollen, and
painful.  The skin erysipelatous ; pulse small and wiry ;  much thirst; no appetite ; bowels
costive; urine red and scanty, veins of abdomen, hard, like cords, red and painful.  Gave
 Hamamelis 1., five drops in half a goblet of water." Cured in ten days. 
HELONIAS  DIOICA.
237
               HELONIAS   DIOICA.

                       {False Unicorn Root.)

   This plant is known  by the  names of  Drooping  Starwort,
Devil's Bit,  etc.   It is indigenous to the United  States, grow-
ing in woodlands, meadows  and moist situations.   It  is found
in Canada, and as far south as Georgia and Louisiana.  "The plant
is sometimes mistaken for the Aletris Farinosa, but may  be identi-
fied by the  leaves  of the Aletris being sharply pointed,  with a
straight, slender spike of scattered flowers,  while the Helonias is
not so sharply lance-shaped in its leaves, and has a  thick plumose
dioical spike.  The root is  the officinal part;  it is tapering, fibrous,
about an inch  and a quarter in length, and from  two to six-eighths
of an  inch  in diameter,  very  hard,  transversely wrinkled, and
abrupt or praemorse at the end, appearing as though it had been cut
or bitten off.  There  has been, and still exists, much  difficulty
among druggists, in determining the difference between the roots of
the Aletris  farinosa and  Helonias dioica.  It has often been the
case that these roots have been indiscriminately bought and sold."—
{King.)  King, in  his Dispensatory, gives a very minute description
of the root of the Helonias, which I would advise our pharmaceutists
to examine,  for it is highly important that the preparations used by
our school,  should be genuine.  It is quite probable that much of
the  fluid extract  and active  principle, Helonin,  made  in this
country, is prepared from both plants  mixed.
   General Properties.—" The  Helonias is tonic,  diuretic, and
vermifuge;  in large  doses, emetic; and  when  fresh, sialagogue.
The plant is said to  kill cattle feeding on it,  and the decoction to
kill insects.  In doses often or fifteen grains  of the powdered root,
repeated three or four times a day, it has been found very bene-
ficial in dyspepsia, loss of appetite, and for the removal of worms.
It is reported beneficial  in colic, and atony of the  generative
organs, etc."—King.   " It is tonic,  stomachic, diaphoretic,  and
pectoral; it is adapted to atonic states of the system  ; it has been
recommended in cases of  chronic rheumatism, jaundice, strangury,
etc., also in colds, and coughs; it has been used as a remedy in low
grades of fever, as  a stimulant, with success, etc.''—Jones  and Scud-
der.  "It is alterative, tonic, diuretic, vermifuge and emmenagogue,
used in prolapsus  uteri, amenorhoea, dymenorhoea, leucorrhoea, to
prevent miscarriage, dyspepsia, worms,  etc."— Coe.  We can glean
but little information as to the general sphere of action of this medi-
cine, from the above farrago; that it has been used with benefit
in the above mentioned diseases and conditions, I do not doubt, but
we are still at a loss for  any special indications; those which can
only be obtained from  a thorough proving.
    The great majority of medical men of  other schools do  not
realize the  value  of physiological experiments.   They rely  more
upon uncertain  empirical  data, judging  of the curative virtues of a
medicine by its effects upon  the sick.  That this method has its 
238        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

value, we do not dispute;  indeed, we may always feel confident
that, a medicine which will cure a given  group of symptoms, will
cause similar ones,  in healthy persons.  We, therefore, look upon
curative  effects, as indication of pathogenetic effects.  We have
but a meagre proving of Helonias, and that only on the male.  This I
re«ret very much, for its action on the organism of women is notable
and peculiar.  I shall be able to present to the profession, however,
some suo-o-estive clinical facts, which will throw some light upon  its
remedial action.  The  following symptoms are  obtained  from  a
fragmentary proving sent  me  by Dr. C. H. Burr, of Portland,
Maine.  The proving in its original form, appears at the end of this
article.
   General  Symptoms.—An unnatural degree of languor and  a
feeling of weariness and weight in the region of the kidneys; gene-
ral weariness. (Burr.)   "Decided increase in muscular power which
continued as long  as  the remedy was taken" (in large doses).—
Dr. Close.
   Clinical Remarks.—This medicine is a peculiar and powerful
"tonic," or, as Headland would have it "restorative." It is considered,
particularly indicated when the disease has proceeded,  (1) from dis-
ease of the generative organs, (2) or from functional disorders of the
stomach; hence it is considered valuable in anaemia and chlorosis,
in alternation with Ferrum ;  and in  dyspepsia, in alternation with
Nux vom., if indicated.  It does not belong to the China group,
because it has  no anti-periodic powers ; nor does it cause a hyper-
stimulation of the nervous and vascular systems like that powerful
drug.  Neither does it have much more affinity for the Nux vomica
group, for it does not  excite or irritate the  spinal system.  It is
more nearly allied to Ferrum than any other article of the Materia
Medica, while, at the same time, it has some points of resemblance
to the members of both groups above referred to.   China and Nux
vomica, together with their analogues, cause a condition, which may
be described as increased tonicity of muscular fibre.  China brings
about this condition, through its  influence upon the processes by
which the blood is formed;  it probably tends to augment the quan-
tity of that fluid, and to render it richer.   Thus, by its own opera-
tion upon the nutrition  of the heart, and through the agency of the *
enriched blood, it gives greater energy to the contractions of that
organ; and  hence  the fuller and stronger pulse, not unfrequently
resulting from  its  moderate  and continued use.  But in cases of
anaemia, chlorosis, and  some other conditions of the system, China
will not improve, apparently, the condition of the blood, or at least,
the tissues do not respond to the stimulus of the  improved blood.
Then it is that Ferrum, or Nux vomica,  given alternately with it,
will  place the diseased tissues in a condition to  be benefitted by
the circulating fluid,  and a  cure  is soon effected.   Nux  vomica
increases the tonicity of tissues,  mainly through its influence upon
the spinal system.  It is a spinal stimulant, and nearly all its thera-
peutic effects arise from this action.  In a great many eases of atony
of any  organ, or tissue  of the body, this medicine will, alone effect
prompt and permanent cures; but, like  China, it will sometimes 
HELONIAS  DIOICA.
239
fail, unless superseded or assisted by the action of China or Ferrum.
There are also other instances wherein China, Ferrum and Nux will
fail to  improve  the  abnormal  conditions  for  which they  seem
indicated, and the Helonias will  here  come in play, and be found
very useful.  Helonias enriches  the blood,  through its influences
upon the nutritive processes; not as iron does, for iron is a metallic
substance, and a vegetable substance cannot act in the same manner.
But Helonias does not act like  China  or  Quinine,  for the latter
stimulates by its direct primary action, while the former does not.
   Mental Symptoms-—Mind dull  and  inactive.   The  previous
cheerful state was followed by dullness, and  gloominess; irritable;
could not endure the least  contradiction, or receive any suggestions
in relation to any subject;  all conversation was  unpleasant; desire
to be left alone; he desires to find fault with every one around him.
(This state of mind lasted  several days—see proving.)
   Clinical Remarks.—One cannot help being struck by the sim-
ilarity of the above symptoms, to those  mental  states common  to
diseases of the genital organs in  both sexes, particularly in women.
Such symptoms  are  quite common to  uterine disorders, and  to
unhealthy pregnancies.  In  disorders of digestion  we  also meet
with a similar group of symptoms.  I consider such symptoms to
be an excellent guide, in default of other pathogenetic ones, to the
selection of Helonias in uterine disorders, etc.
    Cerebral  Symptoms.—Slight pain through the temples, with  a
feeling of fulness in  the  head, and vertigo; a feeling of pressure
from within  upward to the vertex, aggravated by looking steadily
at any fixed point;  pain  in the occiput, with pulsative pain in
the vertex—increased by stooping, attended with vertigo; pain in
the forehead as  if a  band about an inch wide was drawn across
from temple to temple.  (Iod., Merc, Stann., Nit. ac.)
    Gastric, etc.—Wakes every  morning at 5 o'clock (an  unusual
 hour) with the lips, tongue and fauces dry,  and a bitter taste in the
 mouth; appetite  not  as good as usual.  Soon after  taking each
 dose sensations of pain, tightness, and pressure felt in the stomach,
 which  was  partially  relieved by the  eructation of tasteless gas;
 cramp-like pain in the stomach ;  motion and rumbling in the intes-
 tines, as if diarrhoea would come on.  " In  Ohio, and many of the
 Western States, it is in very general use as a common emetic, opera-
 ting  with great certainty, but with more  activity than Ipecac, or
 Eupatorium."—Lee.
    Clinical Remarks.—Dr. Coe says the " Helonin will be toler-
 ated by the  stomach when other tonics are rejected.  It invigorates
 the appetite, promotes digestion and depuration, and so improves
 the  qualitv   and  increases  the  quantity of the  blood.   In  this
 way the foundation for a cure is laid, by improving the tone  of the
 entire  system."  A thorough proving would doubtless show that
 this medicine produces a long train of gastric symptoms, beginning
 with Ayjoer-stimulation, and ending in  atony.   I have found it very
 useful  both  in  idiopathic functional diseases of the stomach, and
 especially in  those  sympathetic gastric disorders,  which accom-
 pany  diseases of the uterus.   Loss  of appetite,  eructations ful- 
240        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
ness, cramp, and painful congestion, with lowness of spirits, are the
chief indications for its employment.   Dr. Close  (Tilden's Jour, of
Mat. Med., vol. 2, p. 297) reports  the case  of a  woman _with
general dropsy:   " Her stomach was  in a very  irritable condition,
rejecting her food and medicines.  After giving Helonias (ft. ext.)
I remained and watched with no little solicitude its effects, expect-
ing it would be likewise rejected;  but instead, I had the satisfaction
of seeing it retained, and in a little time she became less restless, the
moaning noise which she  had been  accustomed to  make almost
constantly, ceased, and at the end of  half an hour after it was given
she fell asleep; the pulse became decidedly softer, and slower, than
it had been for along time.  When she awoke there was a decided
increase of muscular power."  (Dose of fl. ext. one to three drachms,
according to Tilden.   Dr. C. probably gave as much.)
   In Dyspepsia, etc., I have generally used the lower dilutions and
triturations.
   Urinary Organs-—Kidneys  somewhat  stimulated, and  a  larger
amount than usual, of clear, light  colored urine has been voided.
   Clinical Remarks.—It  is deemed to be a diuretic  by medical
writers:   " In the treatment of the   various forms of dropsy, the
Helonin has proved of remarkable utility.  It operates in a general
manner, and- is, seemingly, a powerful resolvent.   The only manner
in which it proves evacuant, is, in some cases, as a diuretic—except
when given in over-doses, when it is emetic."—Coe.
   There are few forms of  dropsy which are not due to an asthenic
state of the system, or which do not  bring on this condition during
their course.  Therefore, not only do  we need to  use in dropsy such
remedies  as Apis, Apocynum,  Colchicum, which act specifically
upon  the kidneys, but possess no  "tonic" power;  but we are
obliged to resort  to  such  medicines as China, Arsenicum, Phos-
phoric acid, etc.   Indeed, these latter medicines  have, alone, cured
many cases of general dropsy by their influence over the general
system.  The Helonias will be found valuable to the homceopathist
in that class of cases,  when there is anasarca, with general debility,
and an atonic condition of the generative organs, such as chlorosis,
amenorrhoea, dropsy  from uterine hemorrhage, etc.
   Generative Organs.—Pain in lower part of the back, through to
the uterus, like inflammation,  piercing, drawing ; breasts  swollen,
very tender, and will  not  bear the pressure of  even  an ordinary
dress ; nipples very  sensitive  and painful;  great uterine  hemor-
rhage came during the  proving, and   continued  until the medicine
was discontinued.  [The above pathogenetic symptoms were noticed
by Dr. E. Clark, of Portland,  Me.   He states  he has  noticed the
same train  of symptoms in six or eight cases.   The medicine was
given  at  the  first  trituration (Helonin).  These symptoms were
received after the following was written.]
   Clinical Remarks.—The Helonias is one of those  indigenous
medicines, which from the earliest days of medicine in this country
has had a peculiar reputation—first with the Aborgines, then with
the  early white settlers, and finally with the medical profession in
the country—as  being a remedy, even the remedy, for those disor- 
HELONIAS  DIOICA.
241
ders generally termed "uterine," and  which depended upon an
atonic condition of the  organs of reproduction.  I regret  exceed-
ingly that I cannot present the profession with a proving upon the
organism of women.  I have given it to  healthy  women, but never
observed any notable symptoms.   Primarily, it always increases the
tone and physilogical activity  of the generative organs.   I there-
fore consider it secondarily homoeopathic to  those diseases or  con-
ditions for which it has been used so successfully.  Were it not so,
it never could have been  used successfully in  the doses  usually
administered by the opposite school of practice.   It would have pro-
duced aggravations, and been by  them considered contra-indicated.
Before giving the clinical experience of our own school, I will quote
the opinions and clinical remarks  concerning this remedy, which  I
find in the records of allopathic literature.
    Prof  G. A. Lee writes (Tilden's  Journal of Mat. Med. II., p.
123):—" Numerous trials have satisfied us that it has a specific
action on the  uterine organs,—an alleviative, regulating influence
over  their functions.  Hence, in  Amenorrhea marked by  general
atony,  and an  anaemic and torpid condition of the  system this,
plant proves of great service; giving tone to the digestive organs,
favoring nutrition  and sanguification, and promoting the secretions
generally.  So, in Leucorrhea, associated with similar conditions of
the general system, it will be found equally  serviceable.  Its influ-
ence  as  an  uterine tonic  is  also well  marked  in cases of
atonic or passive  Menorrhagia.  Here, by imparting tonicity to
the muscular fibres of the  uterus,  and  by a  stimulating power
over  the plexuses of  organic  nerves,  which  supply  the pelvic
viscera, the exudation  of blood is  checked, and  he  predispos-
ing,  as well  as the  proximate  cause  of the  disease, removed.
If it  has  the  power of obviating sterility and impotence,  as is al-
leged by some writers,  it  must be by a similar mode of operation.
It may be slightly aphrodisiac,  but there are no well-attested  facts
bearing on that point.  It is very probable, however, that it  may,
in  common with Senecio  and other uterine tonics, produce  such
effects; but if it does, I have no proof of the fact, except what may
by drawn from  analogy.  It is very probable, also,  that in  cases of
dysmenorrhea and liability to abortion from atony of the repro-
ductive organs, it may prove highly advantageous by a similar mode
of action, just as we find in the case of Iron, and other tonics which
improve  the  general  health.  But, in  addition to this, it would
seem to be endowed, to a considerable extent, with  specific proper-
ties and powers.  Dr. Coe (Cone. Org.  Med.) is very enthusiastic,
he says :—" No agent of the  Materia Medica  better deserves the
name of  uterine tonic.    The  remarkable success attending its
administration in the diseases peculiar to females, has rendered it an
indispensible  remedy to those acquainted with  its  peculiar virtues.
Like the Senecin,  it is alike appropriate  in the treatment of diseases
apparently calling  for dissimilar properties, as, for  instance, amen-
orrhoea and  menorrhagia.  Its alterative and  tonic influence will
account,  in a measure, for its  utility in those  complaints.  In the
treatment of amenorrhea, it will be found most beneficial  in those
        31 
242        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 cases arising from, or accompanied with, a disordered  condition of
 the digestive apparatus, and an anaemic habit.   It has  an especial
 influence on the organs of generation, independent of its general
 constitutional influence.  For this reason it has  proved of eminent
 value in the cure of prolapsus uteri, tendency to miscarriage, and
 atony of the generative organs;  sterility and impotence  have also
 been relieved  and  cured  by this remedy.  Certain writers have
 classed  it  as  an aphrodisiac, and  stated that  its  continued use
 induces an abnormal desire for sexual indulgence.  Such a statement
 could only have been made in the absence of actual knowledge, and
 as the legitimate fruit of a prurient imagination.  We have probably
 used the Helonin  quite  as extensively as any other practitioner,
 and we must confess to a want of sufficient penetration to discover
 any such results from  its employment.  The only  aphrodisiac we
 recognize,  is the natural   proclivity of a  sensual mind.  That the
 Helonine is a special tonic to the organs of reproduction we are
 well aware, but only to a normal and healthy extent.  Did its action
 extend further  than this, it would be a disease-producing, and not a
 disease-curing remedy.  When a medicine so acts upon a diseased
 organ as to restore it to a physiological condition, we very naturally
 conclude that said organ will manifest the fact of its restoration by
 the resumption of its functional activity.  This is precisely the case
 when the Helonin  is employed.  If administered for the cure of
 indigestion, the appetite  improves, the food is  digested, absorbed,
 and assimulated, and thus the curative action of the remedy  mani-
 fested. If, on the other hand, the case be one of amenorrhoea, sterilty,
 menorrhagia, or impotency, secretion  is  restored,  tone imparted,
 and  the  healthful flow of returning  stimulus is  manifested by the
 usual physical signs.  The sexual  appetite is sequent, and not the
 antecedent of the restoration of the ability of  the  organs to per-
 form  the functions assigned them by nature."
   A portion of Dr. Coe's remarks, namely, that which relates  to the
 effects of curative doses of medicines, is in the main correct.  But
his general  statement contains one great, fundamental  error,  which
has  ever been   the  glaring fault  of  allopathic, therapeutics.  He
 states that Helonin is a special tonic to the organs of reproduction,
 but only to a normal extent; did it extend beyond this, he remarks
it would  be a disease-creating remedy.  The old school of medicine
has always  been wilfully blind to the truth, that all medicines may
be disease-producing.  That a medicine is a "special tonic" to any
particular organ, is  the strongest  proof that  it  is capable, if lono-
continued, even in  small doses, of causing disease in  that orgam
If, then, Helonias be given for uterine atony, and acts curativelyj
when that organ has regained its tone, if the remedy be continued'
it will urge  or elevate the physiological functions  of that organ and
induce an abnormal  condition, the result of hyper-stimulation.  If
Helonias is a special tonic to the organs of reproduction, we do not
doubt, that if given to a healthy individual, it would cause an excess
of sexual desire, congestion of the uterus, ovaries,  etc., and  even
 amenorrhoea, or menorrhagia, dependent on active congestion • then
 after a time  the  irritability of these organs would be  worn out and 
HELONIAS  DIOICA.
243
according  to a well-known physiological law, we shall have an ex-
hausted or atonic condition of the tissues previously over-stimulated.
The conditions and diseases enumerated by Dr. Coe, as within the
curative range  of Helonias, are those which  it would cause by its
secondary action.  It is capable of causing an almost equal number
by its primary action.  My theory of Dose, accounts for the curative
operation of the material doses used by the allopathic schools.  The
curative action  of  Helonias in the lower attenuations, is chiefly
directed towards those atonic  states  which it causes  secondarily.
But if given for its primary effects, it must be given in the middle
or higher attenuations, else, we should get up  injurious medicinal
aggravations.
   Resume.—The Helonias is primarily homoeopathic to the follow-
ing diseases, when occurring in persons of plethoric  habit, strong
digestion, and  great muscular  power:—Active congestion of the
uterus,  causing, besides the usual symptoms of that condition, sup-
pression of  the  menses, (congestive amenorrhoea);  menorrhagia,
from active congestion; prolapsus or retroversion from congestion;
abortion from undue afflux of  blood  to the uterus.   The special
symptoms which would indicate in these  diseases, can  only be  ob-
tained  by a thorough  proving.  Helonias is secondarily indicated,
and has proved eminently curative to diseases of the  reproductive
organs, occurring in persons of a lax, or anaemic habit, and in which
there is a loss of normal tone.  As diseases of the same name may
be caused by opposite states, so  the primary amenorrhoea of Helo-
nias may be due to congestion, while the secondary amenorrhoea is
due to lack of blood  and normal activity of the uterus, etc.
   The clinical experience of our school with this remedy is not large,
but quite successful.   Dr.  C. II. Burr, of Portland, Me., says :—"I
have given it in similar cases of prolapsus  uteri with very satisfac-
tory results; also in cases of frequent and profuse  menstruation,
when the patients lose more  blood than  is  manufactured in the
inter-menstrual period, with pain in  the back, and frequent palpita-
tion of  the heart; in such cases it will seldom disappoint those who
are disposed to use it."
   Dr. Geo. S. Foster, of Meadville, Pa., reports  to me the following
cases:—"Mrs.----, aged thirty-two, had prolapsus uteri and ulcer-
ation, for nine years, up to the summer of 1862, with  all the symp-
toms incident thereto.  All the physicians in town during that time
had  been trying to cure her;  the usual pessaries and cauterization,
and all  they could do, with no success.  When I took the case in
hand in September,  1862, I gave her but  little encouragement, as
you  may suppose. I examined  her; found ulceration of neck of
womb,  constant  dark, bad   smelling discharge; great irritation
of vagina, so much that a soft sponge pessary could not be retained;
she had lost her  " reckoning," the discharge  being constant, with
flooding on lifting a  bucket  of water, or anything  of weight;
countenance  sallow, and such  an expression as one would have
from  the  suffering she had  endured; could with difficulty, walk
up the stairs, or across the room; the  least exertion would bring
on flooding.  I did not keep an account of my prescriptions,  but 
244        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
prescribed  remedies for symptoms  present—the principal, Nux.,
Bell., Secale., Sabina, etc.  I repeatedly replaced the  womb;  the
treatment was very discouraging to myself;  but  symptoms would
give  wav to  the action  of the remedies readily.  About seven
months ngo,  I  procured  the Vaginal  Syringe, and had  her use
it with wafer  and Tannin.  About  six months ago I replaced the
womb for the last time, and did not prescribe again  for four or
five months, when she called on me, informing me that it had not
been down since my last services, then five  months; but still she
looked rather badly, and  still  a dark, ugly discharge, pain in the
small of back, etc.
   " December 19.—Helonin seond dec.; three a day, for two days.
   "December 21.—Improving; twelve powders, about one grain,
three a day.
   " December 25.—Reports marked improvement in general health
the discharge had changed to a bright red—more like  the men-
strual.
   " December 30.—No discharge  for five days ;  she could  dance,
run up and down stairs; her cheeks have the bloom  of health,
and in spirits she equals the youngest.  So you may see what a
few doses of the Helonine has done; finished up the case in grand
style, very much to my own and her gratification.
   " Case 2.—A young woman who has hadtwo abortions at four
months;  she  was in her fourth month again,  with all symptoms of
again aborting.   Left Secale;  saw  her again in a day or two;
it was then  time  for her courses,  and I was fearful  that would
augment her  trouble;  she was  suffering the usual pain as in such
cases.  I left her  Helonine second dec, and saw her in town yester-
day ;  she had walked  in ;  has had  no trouble since taking the last
prescription.   You may  be able  to  glean but  little from the
foregoing;  but   it still points to  the remedy as sure to be the
foremost in the  rank of uterine remedies."
   The following cases came under my own treatment, and I have
Bince  used the Helonin in similar cases with good results:
   Case 1.—A woman, aged 25, .the mother of two children, and
enciente with a  third.   The usual symptoms of pregnancy were not
present, but  in their stead, a peculiar prostration  of  the nervous
and  muscular system obtained.   She was  anaemic—pulse  small
and  feeble; skin sallow and pale; digestion bad ; no desire for any
kind  of food, and all kinds of food caused distress  and epigastric
oppression.   She became emaciated, debilitated,  and  very  low
spirited.   There was also present constipation, and almost constant
uterine distress  and pain, of a pressing down character; also leu-
corrhoea.  China, Sepia, Pulsatilla,  Ferrum, Nux, and Ignatia were
given, with  but slight benefit. Upon purely  empirical data, I
prescribed  Helonias,  five drops of the mother tincture,  one hour
before each meal.  The effect  was surprising.  In  a few days her
appetite increased; all  dyspeptic symptoms disappeared; strength
returned rapidly. The blood improved in richness, as was manifest
by the returning color, and healthy complexion.  The  uterine dis-
turbance ceased, and a normal pregnancy resulted. 
HELONIAS  DIOICA.
245
    Case 2.—A lady, aged 45, at the climacteric  period  suffered
much from frequent and repeated floodings,  profuse  serous leu-
corrhoea, and dropsy.  She had also much uterine and ovarian pain.
Her complexion  was very sallow, unhealthy looking, earthly, and
pale.  She had taken muriated tincture  of iron from  an allopath,
for some months,  but grew  worse under its use.  A report of the
treatment of the whole case would be of interest, but want of space
prevents its  narration.   The floodings subsided under the  use of
Trillin one-tenth;  the dropsy and ovarian pain  was removed by
Apis. 2; the uterine pain was palliated by Sepia and Macrotin. But
Bhe still remained weak, emaciated,  and  the  complexion did not
improve.  Leptandrin 2nd improved it somewhat; the  icterus had
disappeared.   Helonias 2nd dec. trit., two grs. every four hours was
then  prescribed.  Under its use the nutritive  functions rapidly
recovered their tone; strength and increased vitality returned, and in
a few weeks  she felt quite well.
    Back,  etc.—A  feeling of weariness and weight  in the region of
the kidneys ; sharp, spasmodic pain in the back, running to the crest
of the left ileum;  severe rheumatic (?) pain in the right hip joint,
worse during motion ; pain, and a feeling of lameness, in the whole
back; pain in lumbar region, about the upper portion of the sacrum,
and pelvis; the pains in  the back are  more troublesome during the
night.  (See generative organs.)
    Clinical Remarks.—Pains  in  the back,  also lameness, stiff-
ness, etc., located in the sacra-lumbar region—a common symptom
in all uterine disorders,   and even in diseases of the male organs  of
generation.   Helonias  seems to cause these pains in quite a notable
degree; they often simulate rheumatic pains, and may  be mistaken
for them.
    PROVING OF HELONIN, BY DR. C H. BURR, OP PORTLAND, ME.

    The preparation used in this proving was a solution  of thirty grs
of Helonin in one ounce of alcohol, diluted with half  an ounce  of
water.  It was thought  best to commence with  small doses, and
increase hourly, until decided symptoms were produced, and Oct.
15th, in accordance with this idea, two drops  were  taken  at 10,
a.m., four gtt., at 11; eight  gtt. at 12 m.   Soon after taking each
dose, sensations  of pain, tightness, and pressure  were felt in the
stomach, which was partially relieved by the eructation of tasteless
gas.  At  1  p. m., twelve gtt. were taken; at 2,  sixteen^ gtt.; at  3,
twenty ott.;  motion and rumbling in the  intestines as if diarrhoea
would come on.   At 4, thirty gtt. were taken; at 5,  forty gtt.;  at
8,  fifty gtt.  Slight   pain  was now felt through the  temples,
together with a feeling  of fullness in the head, and vertigo.  At 10,
p. m., took fifty gtt.
    October 16th.—The symptoms produced yesterday were not of a
decided character.  Took at 7,  a. m., forty gutta;  at  9, fifty gtt.;
at 11, sixty gtt.; at 12, sixty gtt.  Still, but little effect is produced,
and I should be unconscious of being under the  influence  of any
remedy were it  not for an  unnatural degree  of languor,  and a
feeling of weariness, and weight, in the region of the kidneys.  At 
 246       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 2, p. m., sixty gtt.: at 3, sixty gtt.  At this stage of the proving, the
 alcoholic preparation was put aside, and an aqueous one substituted;
 Helonin  twentv drains, water one ounce; of this, forty gtt. were
 taken at 4, p. m.';  at  7,  fifty  gtt.  The  symptoms mentioned as
 occurring in the head, are more decided;  the sense  of  fulness
 increases, and  there is a feeling of pressure from within, up to the
 vertex; the latter feeling  is  aggravated by looking  steadily, at
 any fixed  point;  the  kidneys  have been  somewhat  stimulated
 and a larger  amount than  usual of clear, light-colored urine has
 been  voided during  the last twelve hours; the  pulse  ranges at
 eighty-four, full, and  a little irregular. At 9,  p. m., took  sixty
 gtt.; no new symptoms.
    October 18th.—No medicine was taken during the 17th, until eve-
 ning,  when at 7, half a drachm  was taken; at 9, half a drachm  ;
 at 12,  half a drachm.   In the afternoon  and evening, there was a
great  deal of weariness, and feeling of weight in the region of the
kidneys, and with much more general fatigue than usual; mind dull
and inactive.
    October 19th.—Took at 8, a. m., half a drachm; at 12, half a
drachm;  pain  in the  vertex; the pain  in the head is  increased by
stooping, and attended with  increased vertigo; sharp,  spasmodic
pain in the  back, running to the crest of the  left ilium.  At 5 p. m.,
took half a drachm.  Have awoke every morning since the proving
was commenced, at  5  o'clock, an unusual hour,  with tongue and
fauces dry, and a bitter, disagreeable taste in the mouth.   The
symptoms during the day have been more marked, and principally
confined to the head and back; the appetite  has not been as usual.
    October. 21st.—Tookat 12, m., one drachm. Soon after taking this
 dose felt a cramp-like pain in the  stomach.  At 8,  p. m., took one
 drachm ;  severe, rheumatic  pains  in the right hip joint,  worse
during motion ; pain  in the forehead,  as if a band  about an inch
wide was drawn across  from  temple to temple; pain and  feeling
of  lameness in the whole back, and dryness, and bitter taste in the
mouth.
    Oct. 22nd.—Took at 9, a. m., one drachm; at 12, m., one drachm.
Last  evening  was engaged  in singing until 8 o'clock, at  which
time I took one drachm.  Previous to taking the  remedy, I never
felt better, more cheerful, or in  better spirits.   Ssoon after taking
it, there was an entire change in surrounding circumstances; I very
soon  became  dull, gloomy,  and irritable; could not endure the
least contradiction,  or receive any suggestions in relation to any
subject;  all conversation was unpleasant, and what I most desired
was, to be  left alone, reserving to myself the privilege  of finding
fault  with  every one  around me.   I consider that this  moral
condition was not  accidental, but purely  a pathological state, pro-
 duced, and kept up by the action of the medicine.   Previous to the
 22nd, this state assumed  an intermittent  form, but  after that
 date,  it  was  unchanged for  several days,  and  was one  of the
 most  constant and marked effects.
    October 26th.—No medicine  has been taken since the 22d. Pain
in  the lumbar  region, about the  upper part of the sacrum and 
HYDRASTIS  CANADENSIS.             247
pelvis.  These pains  during  the last twenty-four hours have been
more  constant and severe  than at any other time; the pain  in
the back seems more troublesome at night than during the day."
          HYDRASTIS  CANADENSIS.

                           {Golden Seal.)

   This well-known plant  is indigenous.  It has a perennial root,
which is the officinal portion.  It consists of a tortuous, knotty cau-
dex, with numerous long fibers, and is of  a bright  yellow  color
internally.  The plant is found growing in shady woods, in rich soil,
and in damp meadows, in different parts of the United  States, but is
more abundant west of the Alleghanies.  It flowers  in  May and
June.  The root in its  fresh state is juicy, and  when dried looses
much of its weight. Its odor is strong  and somewhat narcotic,
with a very bitter taste.   Its virtues are imparted to  water and
alcohol.   A peculiar nitrogenous, crystallizable substance called
Hydrastin, is considered the active principle of this plant. In homoeo-
pathic practice we use five different preparations of this agent.
   (1.)  A tincture and  dilution  of the fresh root.  This should  be
made with diluted alcohol.
   (2.)  A trituration of the pulverized root.
   (3.)  A trituration of the Hydrastin.
   (4.)  A glycerole made with the tincture.
   (5.)  A cerate.
   The Hydrastin is not considered to possess all the virtues of the
root.  It stands in the same  relation to  it, as Quinine  does  to
Peruvian Bark (China).  It possesses all the tonic properties of the
root, but not all the peculiar specific action on the mucous tissues,
which is possessed by the preparations of the root.  We ought to
have a good proving of both preparations.
   General Effects.—There is no medicine in use in eclectic prac-
tice about  which there is such  a general unanimity of opinion as
to its therapeutical effects.  The unequivocal testimony is that it is.
   (1.) A  mild, certain, and permanent tonic ;
   (2 )  An alterative to all the mucous  surfaces, and indeed to all
tissues with which it is brought in contact.   When  we come to
speak of special indications, its various applications m disease will
be fully considered.  I hope to be able to show that this agent, so
truly valuable even in empirical  practice, is realy homoeopathic to
nearly every condition  for which it  has  been used successfully by
eclectic physicians.  The allopaths seem to know or care but little
about this remedy.  Wood thus mentions  it in his Dispensatory.
" It probably possesses the ordinary virtues of the vegetable bitters, 
248        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 and is said to be employed as a tonic in some parts of the country.
 In the form of infusion, it has been used in the Western States as a
 topical application in ophthalmia, and the Indians are said to employ
 it in the same  manner, in old ulcers of the legs.   The  notion of
 its efficacy in cancers, originating in a report which reached the late
 Professor Barton, that it was used  in the cases of this complaint by
 the Cherokees, is probably altogether groundless."   In his " Thera-
 peutics" and  "Practice" Wood does not mention it.   In homoeo-
 pathic practice it has been  used for a  few years, but only  upon
 empirical data.
    General SvMPTOMS.^-The universal'testimony of those who have
 had experience in  the use  of Hydrastis, is, that it increases in a
 marked manner the physical strength, and elevates the functions of
 the stomach, as regards digestion, assimilation, etc.   It probably in-
 creases the appetite, and acts in many ways as China does when
 given during convalescence from disease, or in diseased states char-
 acterized by debility.
    This is to the Eclectic, what Quinine is to the Allopath, and China
 is to our own  school. The  first-named  school look with surprise
 upon the indifference with which this, their favorite tonic, is treated
 by  their rival  school.  I have known  eclectics in large  practice,
 rely upon it almost to the exclusion of Quinine or Salicine, in inter-
 mittents and other  malarious fevers.  They usually prescribe one
 drachm of the tincture or fluid extract, or one or two grains (even
 as high as six grains) of Hydrastin,  every one, two,  or four hours, as
 the case seems to demand, and assert that it always acts as a  pure
 tonic, and that its effects are not attended with any stimulation of
 the circulation, or congestion of  the brain, as  is the case  with
 Quinine. Yet, curiously enough, English homoeopathists assert that a
 " few drops of the mother tincture  will cause a sensation of physical
prostration." It could not do this by  its primary action, like china—
its scondary effect may be prostration. Drs. McLimont and Marston
 state that " one of us has for upwards of a month at a time, endeavor-
ed by experiment, to ascertain its pathogenesis; but we have  been
unable to elicit  any very decided symptoms, except upon  the sen-
sorium and heart, which were affected  for.a very  short  time, by
 doses of half an ounce and upwards, smaller quantities  appearing
to pass off without any effect at all."  The tincture used by the gentle-
men must have been of a  very poor quality, or half an ounce would
have shown its effects in quite a decided manner.  They state, how-
ever, that they  "know of no medicine which has caused so great an
improvement m the  general health of our  cancer  patients as has
this, an improvement which, in most cases, has become visible in the
bettered expression  of the countenance, to all  who had previously
known the patients."                                 r       3
   It is appropriate  in this place, that I should give some account
of the use of Hydrastis in cancers by our English colleagues.  In the
October ]So  1863,  of the British Journal of Homeopathy we
find an article  entitled, "Cancer;  its  Pathology,Tt^tyVs!
McLimont and Marston.  After  mentioning other remedies as
Arsenicum, Aurum, Hyoscyamus, Conium, and Carbo. veg, they pro- 
HYDRASTIS  CANADENSIS.             249
ceed to notice the Golden Seal.  They say:  " We are not sure who
it was that first adopted and recommended the use of Hydrastis c,
but have reason to believe that this application of the root was first
made in America."   We have looked through the various works
published in this country, in which this plant has been noticed, but
do not recollect that it is once mentioned as having been  used  in
cancerous affections.  King, Jones and Scudder, Kost,  and others,
mention that it possesses a marked action  upon mucous surfaces,
and is curaturein ulceration, chronic inflammation, etc., of those sur-
faces ; also old ulcers on the extremities, etc.  In domestic practice
it is used somewhat as we use Arnica, as an application  to  bruises,
abrasions, and sprains.  The first  mention of the use of Hydrastis
in cancer is found in the earlier numbers of the British Journal.
Dr. Bayes  and Dr. Pattison  both reported cases cured with an
external application of the drug. But Dr. P. published his cases in a
pamphlet, much as the cancer doctors of  this country publish their
wonderful  cures, and there was much room left for doubt, as to the
 genuineness of the statements.   Drs. McLimont and Marston  do
 not, however, rely  entirely upon the  use of Hydrastis alone, but
 consider it necessary to " enucleate" the tumor.  This process of
 enucleation is described in  full (see page 628).   Hydrastis was
 applied to the tumor, after it had  been incised.  But it will seem
 strange to American homoeopathists, who have always  loked upon
 their English  brethren with something akin to reverence, when they
 learn the manner of its application.  " A piece of lint is applied to
 the surface, spread with  equal  parts of a paste composed of a
 strong decoction of Hydrastis root, chloride of zinc, and, flour, and
 siramoniurn 'ointment."  Shade of Hahnemann, have mercy upon
 English homoeopathists!   Is  this  Homoeopathy?  What, in the
 name of common  sense, can  a mild,  non-caustic medicine  like
 Golden Seal do, mixed up with such caustics and narcotics as chip-
 ride of zinc and stramonium?  Is the British Journal  so  badly in
 want of original articles, as to be obliged to publish such absurdity
 under the  name of homoeopathy ?  It is equally ridiculous with  old
 school practice.  If the Hydrastis was to be tested, why not do it
 in a proper manner, by applying it in a concentrated form  to  the
 diseased part?  In  some of the  cases reported,  a "lotion"  of
 Golden Seal was applied with apparent good effect.  Of the consti-
 tutional treatment  they say:   "This"—the  Hydrastis—"is  the
 medicine upon which we chiefly rely in our treatment of  cancer,
 usually putting our patients under a  course of it for a month or so,
 before commencing the enucleation of the  mass.  Our doses vary
 from one or two drops of the sixth dil,  to drop doses of the mother
 tincture;  the lower forms being used chiefly in those cases in which
 the cachectic condition is fully marked ; and we must  confess that
 we know  of no medicine  which has caused so great  an improve-
 ment in the general health of our patients as has this.  We con-
 tinue the medicine during the whole of the treatment, and for some
  weeks after.   " In some cases, however, the ulceration has extended
  into such parts as to prevent much treatment by the application of
  the paste, and here we have obtained much good from the Hydras-
         32 
250       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 tis lotion, combined with its  internal administration;  the  pain
 decreases, the fcetor diminishes, the discharge is  lessened, and the
 ulceration progresses less  rapidly.  *   *  Our experience, on the
 whole seems to lead to the conclusion, that for the most part the
 health (as connected with the disease)  improves more rapidly under
 Arsenicum  than  under   Hydrastis,  while   on  the other hand,
 the local condition participates more decidedly in this amendment
 when  Hydrastis is  taken."  Several  example cases are given to
 illustrate'the curative effects, a few of which we conek^se:
    (jase i.—A lady had observed for some years a hard substance
 in her right breast, which, for a few  months  before coming under
 treatment had rapidly increased in size, and had become  so painful
 as to prevent all rest by night.   On examination, a tumor of strong
 hardness, and about the size of  a duck's egg, was discovered in the
 upper portion of the left breast.  It was non-adherent, but the skin
 was slightly puckered, and the nipple retracted.  Anotijer physician
 had called  the  tumor  a malignant one.  Hydrastis  sixth  was
 administered in drop doses. The  pain was at once relieved.  The
 enucleation of the tumor, however, was decided" upon,.;'The wound
 speedily cicatrized, and  the patient  remains  perfectly free from
 disease.
    Case 2.—"A lady had suffered for six months from<"« swelling in
 the left breast.   The pain—which was compared to knives thrust
into the part—had become almost unbearable, and the patient was
 already beginning to assume that  worn appearance so characteristic
 of the cancerous diathesis. The tumor, which attained a consider-
 able size, was  hard, heavy, and  adherent to the skin, which was
 dark, mottled, and very much puckered, the nipple also being much
retracted.  The patient was at once advised  to come" to town for
the enucleation  of the tumor.  This, however, her circumstances
prevented, aud without any expectation of affording  much relief, a
lotion of Hydrastis was ordered, with the internal use of the same
 medicine.  The pain almost immediately ceased, and the tumor so
 speedily decreased in size that  at the end of two months it had
 altogether disappeared, leaving  but the  puckered skin, which  had
otherwise regained its natural appearance.  When we last heard of
this patient she continued perfectly well.  It is needful to state that
her health  rapidly improved under the treatment,  and  that  her
countenance regained the aspect of health."  This is a notable case,
and if the Hydrastis will always act as well, it will prove a great
boon to humanity.
   Ten cases are given, in which the Hydrastis was used.  In most
 cases it  relieved the pain, and in some it checked the progress of
the disease.  The writers  claim that it failed  to give relief in no
case.   They predict great advantage from  the use of  this medicine.
But we protest against its combination with powerful caustics  and
 anodynes, if we are to have all  the  good effects of the  " paste"
attributed to the Hydrastis. I would suggest that American homoeo-
pathists test the pure paste of Hydrastis (pulv. root) applied to  the
 " incised " tumor, or the  lotion, or  even a strong cerate, giving at
 the same time  the remedy internally.  The Hydrastis is also recom- 
HYDRASTIS   CANADENSIS.
251
 mended for Lupus.   Three  cases,  says Drs.  McL.  and M., have
 been treated successfully with it.
    I have been treating a case of scirrous of the breast by the use
 of Hydrastis.  The  lady had a scirrous tumor extirpated from the
 right breast six years previously.  Three months before I was con-
 sulted she noticed a small induration, or tumor, near the site of the
 one which  had been extirpated. It gradually increased in size and
 became very painful.   The pain was lancinating, and extended  up
 to the shoulder and down the  arms.  I applied a lotion of Hydrastis,
 one-tenth in water, and ordered her to take five drops  of the one-
 tenth three times a day. It is now one month since she  commenced
 its use.   The  pain  ceased  the first  week, and  the  tumor has
 decreased rapidly in size.  Dr. H. M. Saxton, of St. Joseph, Mich.,
 writes me that he has  had  considerable experience in  the use of
 Hydrastis as an external application;  and gives the following cases
 illustrating its use:
    Case 1.—A girl seven or  eight  years of age fell,  and lacerated
 the scalp above the left temple.  The wound was several inches in
 length, in the form of a crescent.  It  suppurated, and became a
 troublesome sore.  After cleansing the surface, the Hydrastis, in fine
 powder, was  applied.   It checked  the  suppuration, allayed the
 inflammation, and. under its use, the ulcer healed in a few days.
    Case  2.—Was an ulcer from  a burn, on the back  of a child's
 hand.  It was much inflamed, very painfal;  she could hardly move
 her wrist.  The powdered Hydrastis was applied lightly.  Although
 the child irritated it a good deal, it soon healed, and left the cuticle
 smooth, and without a cicatrix.
    Case 3.—Infantile  Intertrigo.   "Excoriation in the folds of
 the neck."  The dry powder  was applied, and it healed in three
 days.
    As a  wash,  one  part  of the  tincture  to  ten of water  I
 have found more  useful in obstinate excoriation of the skin,  in
 children, than Arnica.   Glycerine is a better vehicle than  water.
 The Glycerole of Hydrastis is used  with great advantage in cases
 of intertrigo, sore nipples,  and ulcerated surfaces.  While Arnica
 seems  specific for  contusions, with extravasations,  and  Calendula
 for incised and lacerated wounds, even  when unhealthy suppura-
 tion ensues, the  Hydrastis  seems  the  best remedy for chronic
 ulcers, arising from  either of the  above causes, or from  burns,
 scalds, or some diseases of the skin.
    Skin-—Enough has been  said  above to indicate the conditions
 of the skin,  etc., for which Hydrastis is indicated.  It is  probably
 not specific against any idiopathic diseases of the skin, but only for
 some of the effects  of such  diseases.   It  has been  found useful
against lupus, psoriasis, rhagades, and  excoriations.  It may be
employed as a simple lotion, a glycerole,  or in the form of a cerate.
 If the general condition of the system is cachectic its internal use
will be found beneficial.
   Sleep-—Awakened  several  times  during the  night  by  severe
pains in the  small of the back, and  hypogastric  region, with dull
pain in the umbilicus. 
252        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
   Fever.—Chilly sensation all night, notwithstanding abundance of
covering;  chilliness, with aching in the back and limbs.
   Clinical Rkmalks.—Its use  in Intermittent fevers has already
been alluded to.  It is most serviceable in quotidians, when there
is considerable gastric disturbance, jaundice, and a general cachectic
condition.  Also in cases  where mercury  and  quinine have been
used injuriously.  In the debility which follows gastric, bilious, and
typhoid fever, it will be found very useful.
   Mind-—Feel very sad and gloomy.
   Head-—Dull, heavy frontal headache ; constant  dull headache,
with pain in the  hypogastrium and  small of the back  of a  dull
aching character; dull frontal headache present most of the time.
   Clinical Remarks.—I have  found it useful  in  headache from
gastric  difficulties, those   arising  from dyspepsia,  and  in those
frontal headaches  which  occur  in  chronic catarrh.  It  has been
found curative in headache from habitual constipation.
   Eyes.—Mucous membrane of the eyelids much  congested; dis-
charge of  large quantities of thick white mucus; profuse secretion
of tears ;  eyelids agglutinated together; mucous membrane of lids
congested ; smarting of the eyes; burning of the eyes and lids.
   Clinical Remarks.—We find here distinctly manifested,  the
specific action of Hydrastis.  It affects all mucous membranes, that
of the eyes seems  to be prominently affected by the  pathogenetic
influence  of the drug.  We also find that this remedy has been
used very successfully by  eclectic  practitioners, in  diseases of the
eyes.   In  catarrhal conjunctivitis, after the acute stage has passed,
it has been used as a  collyrium with unequivocal  benefit.  King
advises it  in opacity of the cornea.  Jones and Scudder assert that,
" A decoction of it is very useful as a detergent and antiphlogistic
application to the eyes, either in acute or chronic inflammation; in
acute ophthalmia we have  obtained much advantage from  applying
a poultice of equal parts of Hydrastis and ulmus fulva,  wet with
cold water; it  relieves the  pain and burning, and in many mild
cases will effect a cure without any other application.  In the
chronic form of the disease we employ it without the ulmus fulva,
directing  a large poultice to be  applied to the affected eye upon
going to bed, and retained on through the night, wetting  it occa-
sionally with  water if it becomes dry."  Were it not for the sense-
less combinations which they use, some valuable  clinical  experience
might be  gleaned from the works of writers on eclectic  medicine.
From the  above testimony as to the use of Hydrastis in Ophthalmia,
we may deduce some practical suggestions.  The "  eye symptoms"
noticed by the  provers show that Hydrastis is an analogue of Pul-
satilla,  Euphrasia,  Hepar sulphur and  Sepia.  The two  former
correspond more particularly to acute  catarrhal inflammation, while
the latter, and Hydrastis  are more appropriate  to the chronic con-
dition.  (^Ethusa effects the  eyes similarly to Euphrasia.)  Pulsa-
tilla is  but indicated when the  discharge  is thick,  mucus  or even
muco-purulent,  and there may be superficial ulceration of the con-
junctiva.  But  the discharge  for  which  Hydrastis  is indicated,
proceeds  from  a more obstinate catarrhal inflammation, in which 
HYDRASTIS  CANADENSIS.
253
ulceration is  a prominent symptom.  It is a little strange that the
above mentioned writers do not  mention or advise the use of this
remedy internally  in Ophthalmic diseases.   It may be remarked,
however, that  the  older  allopathic writers do not  mention the
internal use of Pulsatilla or Euphrasia, although they used them as
topical agents, in the same diseases for which we use them.
   Dose, etc.—In  acute conjunctivitis give the third  dilution, and
apply about  the same  attenuation, (in distilled  water), to the
eyes.  In  the chronic, attended with  ulceration, use the one-tenth
or one-hundredth internally and  as  a collyrium.
   Nose.—Very much stuffed up; constant discharge of thick white
mucus from  the nose ; constant eoryza with profuse secretion of
tears;  obstruction of  the nasal  passages with  frequent eoryza;
constant eoryza with frontal headache; (B) " excessive secretion
from  the  mucous membrane of  the  nose, so much so  that the
secretions were removed   in long tenacious shreds  or pieces."—
{King)
   Clinical Remarks.—This last symptom, which I find in King's
Disp.,  shows very clearly  the sphere of action of  the drug ;  also
that the mucous membrane of the  nose is specifically affected; this
symptom was caused by internal administration.   For several years
I have been  in the habit of treating chronic nasal catarrhs, ozaena,
and diptheritic affections  of the nose, with Hydrastis.  In simple
catarrh, the  second  dil. may be given internally and used as an
injection into the nostrils,  two  or three times a day.  When there
is ulceration the first dec. trituration will afford more satisfactory
results.    In Ozaena, it may be used  still  stronger, and  in alter-
nation  with  injections  of Baptisia,  giving  at  the same  time
internally,  Iodide  of  Arsenic, or Nitric ac.    In  acute eoryza,
with copious secretion ot  white  mucus and tears, nightly chilliness,
despondency, etc., I would suggest the use  of  the high potencies.
Its internal  and topical application may prove of benefit  in nasal
polypi.  If its asserted power  of discussing scirrous  and other
tumors  be but substantiated, it  may prove useful in  cancer of the
nose.
   Mouth.—Large apthous sore on the mucous membrane of the
under lip; flat taste in  the mouth;  " excessive secretion  of  tena-
cious mucus from the buccal mucous membrane,  so profuse that it
may be  removed in long tenacious shreds."—{King)
   Clinical  Remarks.—We   have here  the same  blenorrhagic
symptoms noticed under " Nose."   Hydrastis has  always been a
favorite domestic remedy in "sore mouth.''   Many physicians use
it in all forms of stomatitis with  alleged success.  It has been found
useful in common apthous stomatitis of children ; in simple ulcera-
tion of the buccal mucous  membrane ; in mercurial sore mouth; and
in stomatitis materna. I have witnessed the most obstinate varieties
of these affections, yield to the local  application  of  Hydrastis in
decoction or powder, after the mineral acids, astringents, nitrate of
silver of the  old school, and even homoeopathic remedies had been
tried in vain.  The best method of application is to put one drachm
of the tincture  into half a pint of water, use this as  a wash every 
 254        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

 four hours; enough will  be swallowed  or absorbed,  to  exert  its
 specific constitutional action.
   In  Dr. Ludlam's report on "stomatitis  materna.  (Trans. 111.
 Horn.  Society) mention is made of the use of this remedy in that
 disease.  Dr. Murch has been very successful in many cases, using
 it as a wash, and the dry powder applied to  ulcers in the mouth.
   Fauces,  Throat, etc.—Tingling and  smarting  in  the throat ;
 hawking up of tenacious, yellow or white mucus, with rawness of
 the fauces ;  some pain on swallowing, as from excoriation.
   Clinical Remarks.—It is a favorite  remedy with many homoe-
 opathic physicians  in the West,  as  a gargle in  cases of simple
 ulcerated sore  throat; also in Angina with ulceration, when accom-
 panying scarlatina;  it does not, like Baptisia, remove the foetor in a
 direct  manner, but its curative effect over the ulceration tends to
 remove any putrefactive condition.  I  consider  it  as  useful in
 Diphtheria, as any remedy we are acquainted with.   (Use as
 directed under " Mouth.'')   The pathogenetic symptoms  are quite
 similar to those for which Dr. Gray, of New York, so highly recom-
 mendsMerc. Iodatus; and the pathological condition,namely, inflam-
 mation and engorgement, with profuse secretion of mucus from the
 mucous follicles of  the throat, very much resemble the condition
 which  Mercurius causes. In some varieties of  Chronic Angina,
 we find the mucous membrane of the fauces studded with round,
 protuberant spots, 'of a red color, as if injected with blood, and the
patients complains  of an aggravation from the least  exposure to
 cold.   For this state of the throat  Hepar  sulphur  is generally
 prescribed, but its  permanent curative effect is much aided by the
 internal and local use of  Hydrastis.   Syphilitic Angina,  has  been
 benefited by the use of this  medicine ; indeed, in its action on the
 glands of  the mucous membrane, Hydrastis is an analogue of the
 mercurials.  There  is a kind of  sore throat, which often attends
 dyspepsia; it is sometimes known as "bilioussore throat,"although
 the name is inappropriate; it is a  sympathetic disorder,  arising from
 irritation of the stomach  and lower portions of oesophagus; for this
 troublesome affection, the  Hydrastis  internally  is  an  excellent
 remedy.
   Gastric  Symptoms.—Eructations of sour fluid ; faint  feeling at
 the stomach; dull aching pain in the stomach, which causes a very
 weak, faintish feeling ; burning pain in the umbilical region, with a
 faintish " goneness " in the epigastric region; cutting pain in the
 stomach.
   Clinical Remarks.—This remedy seems likely to  prove as
 prominent a remedy for  those conditions which are known under
 the name of dyspepsia, as Nux vomica, Sulphur, or Pulsatilla.   We
 will glance at the testimony of eclectic physicians on this subject:
 " It is  successfully administered in dyspepsia and chronic affections
 of the mucous coats of the  stomach ; in chronic inflammation of
 the stomach it is very valuable; it will be  found of especial advan-
 tage in the treatment of persons who are intemperate, gradually
 removing the abnormal  condition of the stomach, and in  many
 instances   destroying  the   appetite  for liquor.—{King)  "In 
                HYDRASTIS ' CANADENSIS.              255

anorexia,   indigestion,   and  general  debility,  arising    from  a
languid, or atonic state of the stomach, it  is unsurpassed, restoring
tone to  the  stomach,  promoting  the appetite, and. acting  as  a
general restorative.   It  may also be employed  in those cases of
chronic gastritis and chronic irritation of the stomach with altered
secretion, which constitute the worst and  most persistent forms of
dyspepsia.  In  acid indigestion the  Hydrastis, associated  with
calcined magnesia or prepared charcoal, will be found truly valuable,
especially when  attended with a  torpid condition  of the  bowels.
In those sympathetic diseases of the digestive organs, arising  from
uterine disease, we have obtained more benefit from this than  from
any other agent.—{Jones & Scudder Mat.  Med)  "The cases in
which  we have  known  this plant  used with most success,  were
atonic  dyspepsia, attended with torpidity  of the liver;  languid
circulation,  and  constipated bowels."   {Professor Lee, Allopath.)
The few pathogenetic symptoms which we have,  point to its use
in dyspepsia with acidity, and dyspepsia  from atony.  The faint
feeling, is quite suggestive of congestion of the portal system ; but
we should  be guided, perhaps, more by  the  general action of
Hydrastis upon mucous  membranes.   We know that it causes (1)
Menorrhagia; (2) excoriation and ulceration  {superficial ?); and  a
condition simulating chronic inflammation. I have used this medicine
in gastric disorders, for several years,  and my experience, together
with  a knowledge of its  general  effects, lead  me to consider  it
homoeopathic to the following conditions; I use the nomenclature
of Dr. Chambers—(see Disorders of Digestion):
    (1) Mucous Flux (chronic.)
    (2.) Excess of epithelium (chronic).
    (3.) The Anaemic state.
    (4.) Chronic  Inflammation, (mucous).
    (5.) Ulcer of the stomach.
    (6.) Deficiency of gastric juice.
  It may prove of value in  cancer, or scirrous of the stomach,  if
the experience of our English colleagues should  be  verified ;  it
palliates  those  symptoms  of  flatulence, distention, and painful
digestion, so  common to dyspeptics.
  Stomach and  Bowels.—Slight pain in the umbilical  region,  with
a hot  sensation  in the  same parts;  severe  cutting pain in the
hypogastric  region, extending into the  testicle, where  it is  of a
dull aching character, occurring after stool and  accompanied  by a
very faint feeling; constant distress in the umbilical region,  with
loud rumbling in the bowels; dull pain in the hypogastrium and
small of the back; dull pain in the umbilicus, aggravated by moving,
and accompanied by great rumbling in the  bowels; severe pains
in the  hypogastrium with  very faint feeling following stool;  con-
stant  dull  pain in  the right side  of  umbilical region; constant
dull aching pain in  the  stomach that produces  a gone, or  faint
feeling ; constant pain  in the cardiac portion of the stomach, that
produces a very weak, faint feeling ; severe cutting pains in the
stomach and umbilical region ; at intervals sharp paiu in the region
of the spleen, with constant dull pains  in the stomach and  bowels, 
256        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
accompanied by a hot burning sensation; the aching  pain in the
umbilicus prevents my sleeping; great deal of pain in the umbilical
and  coecal regions, continuing all night, with pain in the wnoto
bowels  all the following day; sharp pains in the region ot tne
caecum.                                            .    .     ,
  Clinical Remarks.—It will be well  here, to  inquire  into tne
general action of Hydrastis  upon the intestinal  tube.  It is not
considered as  a cathartic, yet I have known large doses  of the
powdered  root to act  as a purgative.   This, however, may have
been in part owing to the irritating  effects of the woody fibre  in
the powder, as the tincture does not, in quite  large quantities, have
that effect.  King says that  in some  instances " it proves  laxative,
but without any  astringency,  and seems to  act  in therapeutical
action between Rhubarb and bloodroot."   Prof. Lee says it "proves
laxative to the bowels.''  Dr.  Burt, who made a portion of this
proving, writes  me  that  he did not have any very  loose stools
during the experiment; that he  did  not  notice  any mucus  in the
evacuations ; the burning pain  in the bowels was quite troublesome;
but his proving was  not  continued a sufficient length of time to
develope  its  peculiar  blenorrhagic   effects  upon the  intestinal
mucous membranes.   We feel safe in asserting that Hydrastis is
not primarily or  directly homoeopathic to diarrhea, unless in the
catarrhal, in which it should be used highly potentized ;  but it is
decidedly homoeopathic to the following conditions :
   (1)  Chronic mucous flux  of the intestines.  (This condition has
been  treated under the name of intestinal catarrh, blenorrhoea  of
the bowels)   It seems to be a near analogue of Ammonicum niuri-
aticum in its effects upon mucous surfaces.
   (2.)  Erosion, chronic ulceration, etc., with "defective  absorp-
tion;'' it is also  homoeopathic to flatulent colic;  and pain  in the
bowels when accompanied by  faintness.
   Stool-—Soft stool, followed by severe cutting pain in the hypo-
gastrium, with dull aching in the testicles, accompanied  by a very
faint feeling; soft, mushy stool, with great rumbling in the bowels.
(Burt).  Obstinate relaxation  of the  bowels; griping pains in the
bowels; tenesmus.
   Clinical Remarks.—Prof.  Lee (allopath), says  this  medicine
has been used with most success in atonic dyspepsia, attended with
languid circulation,  torpidity  of the liver, and constipated bowels.
If it really proved curative in material doses, in constipation, it must
be secondarily homoeopathic to that condition.  The reports of our
English colleagues seem  to support this theory  by actual  cases.
Dr. Hastings,  Surgeon (British Horn. Journal, Vol. XVIII, pa«-e
317,) writes: " My assistant, Mr. Clifford, uses it extensively in very
chronic and obstinate cases of constipation, and says that a drop of
the mother tincture,  in water,  first thing every  evening  has been
most effectual in these cases."   The following cases, illustrating the
use of Hydrastis can. in constipation, were reported by Dr Roo-er-
son in the  British Journal, Vol. XVIII., page 526;__      '    °
   Case 1.—" Margaret Shaw,  aged thirty-eight,' came to the dis-
pensary, with the following symptoms:-for the last ei^ht years 
HYDRASTIS  CANADENSIS.
257
she had been troubled  with constipation, during which  time her
bowels had never been moved more than once or  twice a week,
and then only by the aid of opening medicine.  Castor oil and pills
generally  had been taken, consequently she complained of constant
headache, more especially in the morning; bad taste in the mouth;
foul tongue; pain in the back  and shoulders ;  a sense of ^ constric-
tion in the  hypogastric   region, which was only  relieved  by
opening medicine;  rather bilious;  yellow complexion; skin smooth
and dry; great pain after each stool, which was of a hard nodula-
ted consistence, and of a brown or gray color.  I now ordered her
to take Hyd. c, every morning and evening, and to  leave off taking
all opening  or purgative medicines;  after four days had elapsed,
her headache, pain in the back and  shoulders,  were much better ;
the bowels having moved.   Four days afterward, the headache had,
entirely disappeared; free from pain; stool quite easy and healthy;
yellow hue disappearing from the  face;  the appetite much better,
and at the end of four weeks she reported herself quite well."
    Case 2.  " Sarah Howarth, aged twenty-nine,  complaining  of
sore neck and throat, the latter much relaxed  and inflamed, more
especially the posterior part; headache, cough and  spit;  pain in
side while stooping and rising  from a recumbent position; breath
bad; tongue foul and coated" with a thick white fur; appetite bad ;
and bowels for some  seven or eight  weeks very  much confined;
had been obliged to  resort to opening medicines every Saturday
evening; they were generally moved  three or four times  every
Sunday, and not  again until  the  medicine was repeated on  the
following Saturday. She was ordered Hydrastis c. every morning
and evening; one week afterward, she felt  rather better;  breath
not so bad; tongue moist  and more healthy; appetite increasing;
bowels moved every day since she commenced taking the medicine;
 continued the  Hydrastis;  one week later she feels  nearly well,
 excepting a slight pain while  swallowing any food; bowels free
 from all uneasy sensation, and move every day;  appetite greatly
 increased and gaining strength every day ; continued the medicine,
 which resulted in  a perfect cure at the end of two weeks longer."
    Case 3.—Thomas Oscar, aged forty-six.  Has  been for several
 months troubled with general anasarca—difficulty in making water,
 which was  of a high  color, depositing  a cloudy sediment  while
 standing;  and having been in active  service  during the Crimean
 campaign was  accustomed to sleeping  out in  the open  air, and
 being so exposed for  a series of  weeks and months, suffered from
 an acute attack of rheumatic  fever,  which laid the foundation  of
 his present  illness; his bowels for the last two months having been
 very much  confined, so much so, that he was necessitated to resort
 to opening medicine  once or twice a week.  On my first visitmg
 him,  however, on the twenty-first of April, I prescribed Hydrastis
 every morning and evening.
    April 29th.—Has, since taking  the medicine,  had  his bowels
 moved  two or three times every day; he also makes much more
 water—more freely and of a better color ; continue Hydrastis.
    Mav 4th.—His bowels have  been moved every day, with  the
          33 
258       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
exception of yesterday; his water increases ;  tongue better ;  sleeps
very well, and feels  in every respect  great relief from his former
sufferings ; continue Hydrastis  every morning.            #
   May 26. Bowels more quiet, regular; swelling much diminished;
water freer, clear and copious;  feels now nearly well;  continue
Hydrastis every other morning."
   "The  above cases are only a few of the many in which 1 have
tried  it with great  success; it seems to act most  beneficially on
those who have undergone,  or constantly resort to  a  course of
opening  medicine; it also seems to  act best  on those who have
spent an active life, but have become of sedentary habit."  It is to
be regretted that  Dr. Rogerson did  not give the  doses he  used.
Hydrastis  is indicated  in  some forms  of dysentery; in  mucous
enteritis  when  of  a catarrhal  character, and  the inflammation
sub-acute,  the Hydrastis at the third dilution will  prove curative.
In chronic enteritis, when the discharges are tenacious, slimy, and
accompanied with tenesmus; or when the faeces  are  in the form of
hard balls, coated over with yellowish, tough mucus; this medicine
will  be of service in the  first and second potency.  The topical
application of the  remedy must not  be forgotten in these cases.
Enemas of Hydrastis will be found useful, and will bring about a
cure unaided, or at any rate  materially aid  its internal action;
Avhen the disease is located in the rectum, this form of application
will be found particularly beneficial.
    In Ulceration  of the rectum, occurring  after bad cases of
dysentery, the  local  application of Hydrastis  will effect prompt
cures; also, in  fissure  of anus.  (The  cerate will  be the best
preparation in these cases).
    In Hemorrhoids, this plant has  some  reputation.  Reliable
practitioners have  assured me that they  have  cured the   most
obstinate cases by the alternate use of Hydrastis and Podophyllum,
using enemas of Hydrastis every night.
   In Excoriations of the  anus, as it  occurs in  little children, or
even  adults, in diarrhoea  and dysentery, no  better  remedy can
be advised; it should be used in the  form of glycerole.
   liver.—Our provings do not  point to any particular symptoms,
relating  to the liver, but it is considered valuable in  hepatic dis-
orders, by the  Eclectic  school.
    Coe says:—"Upon the liver it acts with certainty and efficacy ;
as a chologogue and  deobstruent it has few  equals ; it is of  inesti-
mable value in the treatment of chronic derangements of the liver
and  portal  circulation; it  seems to exercise  an  especial influence
over  the  portal vein, and  hepatic  structure, generally;  resolving
biliary deposits; removing obstructions; promoting secretion, and
giving tone to the  various functions.  It  may be relied upon with
confidence for the  relief of hepatic torpor.  In  intermittent  fever,
we have • found it  most  reliable in  those  cases in which the
prolongation of the disease depended upon a disordered condition
of the functions of the liver.'' King does not mention its applicability
to hepatic diseases.   Other writers,  however,  recommend  it  in
affections of that organ.  If the liver eliminates the principle of the 
+
                HYDRASTIS  CANADENSIS.            259

Hydrastis, we may safely assert that it will  disorder its functions.
I have quoted the above, to draw the attention of our school to its
alleged uses.  There is one condition of the liver, however, in which
I consider  the  Hydrastis homoeopathically indicated;   I allude  to
to " catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the
gall bladder, biliary ducts, etc.
   Urinary Organs.—Dull, aching  sensation in the region of the
kidneys; dull, heavyweight in the lumbar region;  urine increased
from twenty-eight to sixty ounces per day, and changed from an
acid reaction to neutral.''   (B).
   Clinical Remarks.—No mention has been made of the diuretic
action of Hydrastis, yet it would seem to have such  effect; it needs
confirmation, however, and  further  provings may clear up the
matter.  From analogy, it is more than probable, this medicine has
the same effect upon the mucous membranes of the urinary organs,
that  it has upon  the  mouth, nose, and fauces, above  alluded to.
The resinoid principle  of the drug,  may be eliminated through the
kidneys, the same  as  Turpentine,  Copaiva  and others; if so,  it
would  undoubtedly cause those  blenorrhagic conditions of the
bladder, urethra, etc.,  for which it  is considered almost a specific.
King, and every other Eclectic writer  on therapeutics, assert its
 "grea't  value  in  gleet, chronic  gonorrhoea, incipient  stricture,
 spermatorrhea  and inflammation  and ulceration of the internal
 coat of the bladder."   " Many cases of ulceration  of  the internal
 coat of the bladder have been cured by the decoction of Hydrastis
 alone. It must be injected into the bladder, and held there as  long
 as the patient can conveniently retain it—to be repeated three  or
 four times a day, immediately after emptying  the bladder.   It
 mav be prepared as follows:   Tincture Hydrastis,  c, one drachm;
 hot  water, one pint;   inject  about  blood-heat.  Its internal  use
 alone would undoubtedly cure the disease, but it would require a
 longer time.   (I have  cured cystic blenorrhoea with Copaiva,
 Chimaphila, and Uva-ursi internally.)
    In Gleet, it is beneficial, used in the same manner as above recom-
 mended.   Dr.  Hastings, U. S. Marine Hospital, San Francisco, Cali-
 fornia, reports in the Pacific Journal, his treatment for  Gonorrhoea.
 Patients in the acute stage are freely purged; kept quiet; placed on
 half rations for three  days; after which they are allowed full diet
 The urethra from the  time of the  reception, is injected night and
 morning with a saturated infusion  of fresh Hydrastis    He is first
 directed to urinate, and after the injection, to he on his back for
 an hour or so to retain it.  After the first purgation no medicine is
 given  internally.  This treatment  allays the chordee  and  ardor
 urinae immediately, and in the course of a few days the disease is
 removed   Dr. II. says that, having used all kinds of treatment, he
 finds this  produces a quicker cure, with less pain to  the patient,
 than any other.  Dr. Hastings has also employed the Hydrastis as
 an injection into  the  bladder in  Cystitis.   For this purpose, the
 temperature should be brought to blood-heat, and about four ounces
 thrown in daily.  The pain on micturition is remarkably relieved.
 From this crude  treatment, we may draw some practical sugges- 
260        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
tions.  We can use the Hydrastis in minute quantities, with just as
good effects as are  gained from massive  doses.  Dr. Coe, says, it
should be given  internally in small and repeated doses in chronic
inflammation of the blader.  In congestion of the ureters, chronic
suppression of urine, and  gravelly affections,  also in incontinence
of urine, and diabetes, it will be found highly useful."  This  may
be taken cum grano sails.
   Generative Organs  of  Men.—It is homoeopathic to  chronic
gonorrhoea, gleet, balanitis, balanorrhcba, etc.   For the debility after
spermatorrhoea it is an admirable remedy. (See urinary organs.)
   Generative Organs of Women.—We regret that we have no prov-
ings of Iris v. upon women.  But the clinical experience  relating to
use in  some disordered states  of the reproductive organs,  is quite
extensive.   From its peculiar,  specific action  on  other  mucous
tisues, we should consider it homoeopathic to conditions  marked
by  abnormal secretions, such  as  uterine and  vaginal catarrh, or
mucus leucorrlma (which according to Tyler  Smith is a hyper-se-
cretion of the glandular portion of the cervix uteri).  In this form of
leucorrhoea the discharge is tenacious, sometimes hanging from the
os, in a long viscid  string.  It  should  also be useful in epithelial
abrasion of the os  and  cervix uteri, and vagina, especially when
superficial  xdceration is present.   When these  conditions are ac-
companied with  considerable debility, and disorder of the digestive
functions, I have found the Hydrastis one of the best of medicines.
It should be given internally, in the lower attenuations, and used as
an injection, of about the strength of one drachm of the tincture to
one pint or quart of water.   The enema should be retained five
minutes, repeated twice or three times a day.
   The following Eclectic testimony may  not be inappropriate
in this place:—"It  is of singular efficacy in leucorrhoea when the
complaint is  complicated with  hepatic  aberration."— {Dr.  Coe.)
   " In those sympathetic affections of the digestive organs, arising
from uterine diseases, we have obtained more  benefit from it than
from any other agent.  Not only does it exercise a tonic influence
upon the  digestive  organs,  but  if there is one agent more than
another that deserves the name of uterine tonic, we believe  that
this is the agent.  As a vaginal injecion in leucorrhoea, or inflamma-
tion  (J. & S. Met. Med.,) of the cervix uteri, it has no superior."
   Dr. H. M. Saxton, of St. Joseph, writes me that he has used it
very successfully in various forms of leucorrhoea. Very many other
practitioners of our school consider  it indicated  in this  class  of
affections, not from  any special affinity for the generative organs,
but by its general sphere of action, both as a restorative, and from
its power to influence the conditions of mucous membranes.
   Catarrhal Symptoms, etc.-Dull,  frontal headache, with frequent
™Z? T5 ?}?8tIU* secretion of tears;  nose very much stuffed up;
ThlZ nf't^  g°i  the larynx, with a  dry harsh cough;  chilliness
itching of the back and limbs; eyes  smart  and bum;  scranin"
sensation m the larynx; constant rough, hacking cough       x  °

meTSLitTnAL^nMAARKS-~Alt50Ugh our eclectic cogues recom-
mend it in "all  chronic, and even acute inflammation?  of mucous 
HYDRASTIS  CANADENSIS.             261
membranes," yet they make no mention of its use in catarrh of the
air passages.  The above pathogenetic symptoms point directly to
its effects on the respiratory tract.  It causes many notable catarrhal
symptoms.  I would reccommend it, theoretically, in acute catarrhs-
nasal, laryngeal and  bronchial (in the sixth dil.), also in  chronic
catarrhs of those passages.  It is homoeopathic when the discharge
is thick,  yellowish, very tenacious,  " stringy,"  and  profuse.  In
these  cases  the low  attenuations should  be  used, aided  when
practicable by the topical application in the form of injection. In the
bronchial catarrh of old people,  with debility, loss of appetite
cachectic conditions, it should prove very useful.
    Back and Upper  Extremities.—Aching  in  the  lower  region;
weariness in the arms.
    Clinical Remarks.—I  once treated a  lady, during her clima-
cteric  period, whose chief complaint was  an intense aching pain in
the small of the back.  This pain sometimes changed to a burning.
The profuse menses, were  lessened with  Platina;  the  nervous
symptoms by Lachesis and Pulsatilla, but neither these nor Sepia
relieved the pain in her back. Upon the recommendation of a nurse
she drank a  decoction of Hydrastis, with the  effect of removing
the back-ache in a few days. The cure seemed permanent.
    Lower Extremities.—Legs feel very weak, and ache; pain in the
 small  of the back; severe pain in the right knee, lasting all day, and
 much  aggravated by  walking; dull aching in the loins.
    Clinical   Remarks.—In  irritable ulcers   on   the legs, this
medicine may be used in the  form of a  very weak wash, also
internally.  In indolent ulcers,  a  stronger  preparation, even  the
pure tincture would be more useful.

                DR. BURT'S  PROVING OF HYDRASTIS.
    Nov.  9th.—Feeling well, bowels regular  once  a day; urine
 natural; took ten grains  3. p. m., all day constant, slight pain in
 the umbilical region, with a hot sensation in  the same parts,  7. p.m.,
 soft stool, followed by severe cutting pains in the hypogastric region
 and dull aching pains in the testicles, accompanied with a very faint
 feeling; eructations of sour fluid ; dull-heavy weight in the lumbar
 region.
    Nov. 10th.—Feeling  well, 9.  a.m., took twenty grains 12 m.;
 dull, heavy, frontal headache; constant distress in the umbilical
 region, with loud rumbling in the bowels;  dull aching sensation m
 the region of the kidneys; took fifteen grains  5. p.  m., dull head-
 ache ; slight constant, pain  in the umbilical region ;  dull pain in the
 region of the kidneys ; took forty grains  ; constant dull headache,
 with great deal of dull pain in the hypogastric  region and small of
 the back; slight stool, with a faint feeling afterwards ;  legs feeling
 very weak, and ache ;  urinated twenty-eight oz. acid.
    Nov. 11th.—Awoke several times in the night,  with severe pam
 in the small of the back and hypogastric region, and dull pain in the
 umbilical region, aggravated by motion, with great rumbling m
 the bowels;  stool at 6. a.  m.,  soft, papescent,  followed by a very
 faint  feeling and severe pains in the hypogastric region; dull head- 
262        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

ache; eyes secreted large quantities of thick white mucus; mucous
membrane of the eyelids good deal  congested; nose very much
stuffed up; slight hacking cough, with a scraping  sensation in the
larynx; took fifty grains at 10. a. m. 5. p. m., constant  dull frontal
headache-  nose secreting constantly a thick white  mucus; constant
rough hacking cough; soft mushy stool at 2.p.m. with great rumbling
in the bowels; constant eoryza; my right knee has pained me very
severelv all day—walking aggravates it very much; took sixty grs.
9. p. m., there has been constant dull headache;  frequent  eoryza
with  profuse secretion of tears; nose  running constantly a thick
white mucus;  constant, slight, hacking cough; constant dull pain
in the umbilical  region; soft mushy stool; urinated forty-two oz.
acid—heat has no effect upon it.
   Nov. 12th.—Slept well; eyelids agglutinated together; mucous
membrane  of the lids congested;  obstruction of the  nose with
thick mucus;  frequent   eoryza;  slight,  hacking, rough cough;
constant dull  pain in the right side  of the umbilical  region; soft
mushy stool; dull aching in the  loins; apthae-like sore on the mucous
membrane of the under lip; took seventy grains at 10. A. m.,  12. m,.
there is a constant, dull, aching pain in the stomach, that produces a
gone  or faintish feeling; dull, frontal,  headache 5. p. m.,  there has
been  constant pain  in the  cardiac portion of the  stomach, that
produces a very  weak, faintish feeling;  soft mushy stool; feeling
very sad and gloomy; took eighty grains; constant pain  in the
stomach and umbilical region all the evening; dull heavy back-ache;
urinated thirty-six oz., acid.
   Nov. 13th.—Awoke a number of times  with severe cutting
pains in the stomach and umbilical  region;  nose  stuffed  up;
apthae is better; soft papescent stool;  10. a. m.,  took 100 grains;
12. m., constant dull pain in the umbilical region by spells quite sharp
pains in the region  of the  spleen; feeling very  gloomy; all the
afternoon, dull pains  in the stomach and bowels, with sharp pains in
the region of the spleen, accompanied with a hot sensation ; 4 j». m.,
took seventy drops of the tincture;  constant dull burning pains all
the evening, cramps in the  umbilical region, with smarting  of the
eyes ; urinated forty-one oz., slightly acid.
   Nov. 14th.—The dull, heavy aching pains in the umbilical region
prevented me  from sleeping, most of the night; dull heavy head-
ache ; eye-lids agglutinated together ; mucous membrane congested;
nose  stuffed up;  soft mushy  stool;  9. a.  m., took  fifty drops  of
Tildens fluid extract; 12. m., there has been constant, dull, burning
pain in the umbilical region, accompanied with a faintish  goneness
in the epigastric region; dull frontal headache ;  burning in the eyes;
took  seventy-five  drops;  same  symptoms  twere  present all day;
urinated sixty-one oz., slightly acid.
   Nov. 15th.—Was very chilly all night, notwithstanding I had
an abundance  of clothes  over me;  great  deal of pain  in the
umbilical and ccecum region all night; pain all day in the  whole
of the bowels ;  soft,  mushy stool; urinated fifty oz.
   Nov. 16th.—Feeling quite well. 
,   IRIS  VERSICOLOR.
263
               IRIS   VERSICOLOR.

                          {Blue Flag.)

   Description.—This indigenous species  of Iris has a perennial,
horizontal, fibrous root, and a stem two or three feet high, round
on one  side, acute  on the other, and frequently branching.  The
leaves are sheathing at the base, sword-shaped, and striated.  The
flowers are from two to six in number, and are usually blue, or pur-
ple, though varying much in color.  The capsule has three valves,
is divided into three cells, and when mature, is oblong, three-sided,
with obtuse angles, and  contains numerous  flat seeds.  The Blue
Flag is found in all parts of the United States and Canada, flourish-
ing in low wet places, and flowers in June.  The root is the medic-
inal portion  and yields its virtues to water, but more especially to
alcohol.
   Medical  History.—It  is probable  that  its employment  as a
remedial agent, was first suggested to the profession by the Indians,
who, it is said, value  it as  one of their most powerful medicines.
Indeed, so important a place does it hold in their estimation, that a
traveler among the  tribes in Georgia and Florida, mentions having
seen an artificial pond in almost every village, covered with a lux-
uriant growth of the Iris, and which was constructed especially for
its cultivation.  In times of prevailing sickness, they would partake
freely of a decoction of the root, which, together with  prayer and
fasting, they considered an efficient guard against an  attack of the
epidemic. In allopathic  practice it has been considered  useful in
dropsical affections, on account of its power as a diuretic, but  it is
more especially mentioned in  the books as a cathartic and emetic,
and is highly spoken of by some physicians for the  promptness and
certainty of its action in  the  direction its  classification indicates.
Dr. Bigelow states that he has found it  efficacious  as a purgative,
though  inconvenient from the distressing nausea  and  prostration
which it is apt to occasion.
              DR. WM. H. BURT'S PROVING WITH IRIS.
   May 15th.—Took three grains of the green root at 3 p. m.; the
acrid property was strongly marked; back  part of the mouth and
fauces felt on fire  all the afternoon, with profuse  flow of saliva;
8, p. m., took three more  grains; slept well, but had a discharge of
semen with amorous dreams, something I am not accustomed to.
   May  16th.—Mouth and tongue feel  as though they had been
Bcalded, natural stools ; anus feels sore, or as if sharp points were
sticking  in  the  parts; 8 a. m.;  took ten  grains; so acrid it was
with difficulty that  I could  get my breath; constant discharge
of ropy saliva dropped from my mouth  during conversation ;  con-
stant  distress in the anus, feeling  as if  it was prolapsed.  1 p.  m.;
took twenty grains of the dried root; no  acridness  to  it, great
distress  in the stomach half an hour after taking  it; lasted two
hours;  no other symptoms.
   May 17th.—Took thirty drops of a poor tincture; no symptoms,
except that the next morning I awoke feeling  very  irritable. 
264        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
     May 18th.—Took forty grains of the green root; fifteen minutes
 after, profuse flow of saliva and tears;  mouth and stomach feel on
 fire; almost impossible to breathe,  it is so acrid ; one half hour of
 great pain and distress in the stomach;  it is awful to  bear ; con-
 tinued all the afternoon and evening ; it is not a sharp pain, but an
 awful, burning distress; appears to  be  deep in the region of the
 pancreas, cold water does  not touch it;  profuse  flow of saliva all
 day ; constant eructations of tasteless gas ; sleep; very restless all
 night, with bad dreams.
    May  19th.—Awoke at  4  a.  m.,  with  great rumbling and
 distress  in the umbilical and hypogastric regions, and with  great
 desire for stool, followed immediately by a copious, thin, watery
 stool, which could not be retained a  moment without much pain ;
 mouth  feels as if it had been  scalded jongue thick and rough.
 8 a. m.,  another  thin, watery stool,  with great rumbling in the
 bowels; no appetite;  loss of taste.  11 a. m., took forty grains;
 acridness not felt so much.  1 p. m., in great  distress in the  epi-
 gastric region ; the distress is  horrible  to  endure;  profuse flow
 of saliva.  2.30 p. m., the distress in the  epigastric region is still
 increasing;  very restless;  cannot be still one moment; think  I
 cannot  live;  very  much  frightened;  copious discharge of thin
 water from the bowels, but no abatement of the awful  agony in the
 epigastric region; inhaled chloroform,  which gave  a  little relief.
 3.15, p.  m., another large stool of water,  tinged with  bile; the
 water ran from the bowels in a  continuous stream; nearly two
 quarts of water passed; there was great  rumbling in  the bowels,
 but no pain; this gave great relief; felt quite well at  bed-time;
 sleep, very restless;  amorous dreams, with discharges of  semen.
    May 20th.—Very irritable through  the  day;  otherwise quite
 well.  I had constant eructations of tasteless gas durnv  the whole
 period.
    June 9th.—Took fifty grains of the  green root,  chewed it
 and swallowed the juice, at 11.30  a. m.; immediately  a great
 burning  distress iu  the epigastric  region, but not much in  the
 mouth;  profuse  flow of saliva; the burning in  the  stomach is
 awful; cold water  does not seem to reach it.  2.30 p  m  large
 yellow,  papescent stool; with great rumbling, but no  pain- five
 minutes more, another  large watery stool; the burning in the'pan-
 creas is fearful to endure ; constant rumbling in  the bowels but no
 sharp pains.  2.45, p. m., another watery stool  with colicky pains
 m the epigastric region ;  flow of saliva abating.  5.30,  p  m there
 has been severe colic in  the epigastric and umbilical region'for the
 last two hours; every  few  moments copious  watery stool, with

fhTLweTs foi!om ifl bOWf1S'  6 " *' gFeat P&in Md di^esT n
the bowels followed by a large watery stool; still the pain  con-

 rmuL   IZVf "T/31111  ^  eXVted' kne-  "nd
tiemble.   6.30,  p.  M., another watery stool;  anus feels on fire   7
p. m. another watery stool, with disposition to strain and bear down '
great burning m the anus ; food  rises very sour.  9, p. JT anXi-
watery stool  wi h spraining; anus  feels on  fire;  becoming  verv
much exhausted I was compelled to retire.  At 4 1  m  glfrumb 
IRIS  VERSICOLOR.                 265
ling in  the bowels, with desire for stool; had a profuse one of a
watery nature; followed by great straining, with the passage of a
little  mucus.  5  a. m., another watery stool, followed  by great
straining, with  the passage of blood and  mucus.  5.30 a. m.,
another stool of mucus, streaked with blood, with great tenesmus.
7 a. m., stool of water and  mucus with  great straining; mouth
tastes flat; tongue feels thick.   9 a. m., another copious stool of water
and undigested food, with great straining; have become very much
exhausted;  eyes much sunken in ; teeth feel too long, and are very
sore ; dull, heavy headache;  very hoarse;  urine very scanty—deep
reddish color; stomach very sour; bowels very tender on  pres-
sure ; loss  of appetite. 10.30  a. m.,  another stool of mucus  and
water, with  great  tenesmus, and rumbling  in the bowels;  dull
heavy headache in the forehead ; calves of the legs pain very much
when walking, especially the  right; thick flat taste in the mouth.
12.45, p. m., small stool of mucus, with great  tenesmus; constant
rumbling in the bowels; almost impossible  to walk, my limbs are
so weak and painful;  for the last six hours the mucous membrane
of the anus has been prolapsed with great smarting pains.  3 p. m.,
another small stool of mucus, with severe tenesmus; urine  very
scanty, and burning when voided; constant eructations of sour gas;
flying pains all through the bowels.
    June 10th.—Dull, heavy  headache in the  frontal region ; flat,
thick taste in the mouth;  quite hoarse; urine very scanty, red and
burning the whole length of the urethra for half an hour  after
voiding it;  inflammation of  the glans penis; it  is  very much
swollen and red;  severe   back-ache;  teeth all  feel  sore  and
elongated.
    June 11th.—Feel  quite  well; little hoarse;  inflammation in
glans penis about gone.
    June 13th.—At 4 p. m., natural stools, urine about natural.
    June 15th.—Very hard lumpy stool; anus  feels  prolapsed;
pained all day.
    June 16th.—Very severe^back-ache,but otherwise well; for two
 weeks  occasionally,  severe, shooting pains  would pass  through
 my  temples several times  a  day.  I  was surprised  that  no
 constipation followed such  a  long  course of diarrhoea.

                DR. BURT'S  PROVING WITH IRISIN.

    May 26th.—At 11a. m., took four grains  of the first decimal-
trituration.  12 m., dull, heavy headache in the forehead; by spells
 sharp pains in the temples ;  tight constrictive feeling of the scalp;
 3.15, p. m.,  food rises very sour;  4.30 p. m., took eight grains;
 10 p. m., soft papescent  stool without pain, but rumbling in the
bowels ; dull headache in the frontal region; very restless night;
 dreams of fighting, etc.
    May 27th.—Great deal of rumbling in the  umbilical  and hypo-
 gastric regions, with desire for stool; had a  soft, papescent stool,
 without pain; flat taste in the mouth; teeth feel elongated and sore;
back, upper, and lower molars—dull, heavy,  aching pain  in them
 for three hours; pain in the  forehead and left  temple; pain in the
        34 
266        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 temple very sharp by  spells; passed  water but twice during the
 day—very red  color;  restless  night; discharge  of semen, with
 amorous dreams.
    May 28th.—At 9 a. m., took ten grains;  frequent eructations
 of tasteless gas; rumbling all the afternoon in the umbilical region;
 pain in  the right kidney—lasted three hours ; teeth still feel elon-
 gated  and sore; great desire to sleep in the day time ; fell asleep
 while reading ; dreamed of dissecting a woman  hanging up by the
 heels in my  office ;  awoke very much frightened ;  made several
 attempts to get up to shut the door, but could not; it was a regu-
 lar night mare.  4.30, p. m., took fourteen  grains; soft  papescent
 stool at 9 p. m. ; hands hot and dry all day; dreamed  of snakes, and
 every  thing bad; discharge  of  semen; restless night; teeth still
 sore.
    May 29th.—Took twenty grains at 9 a. m. ; hands hot and dry
 all day; cannot fix my mind on  my studies ; constant eructations
 of tasteless gas ; great diminution of the secretion of urine; made
a very little water morning and night,  followed  by great burning
in the  urethra for half an hour after voiding  it; dull heavy head-
ache in the forehead and temples; by spells the pains in the temples
are very sharp and shooting; dull heavy pain in the lumbar  region
all day;  soft papescent stool at 2 p. m.  At 5  p. m. took thirty
grains;  restless night;  horrid  dreams;  great  rumbling in the
bowels all the time;  discharge of semen, with  amorous dreams.
   May  30th.—Mouth  tastes flat;  tongue  coated   white;  dull
heavy  headache in the forehead and temples;  at times the pain in
the temples is very  sharp ; constant pain in  the  lumbar  region,
aggravated by motion ;  urine very scanty and high colored ; very
soft, yellow stool, with great rumbling in the bowels but no pain.
   May 31st.—Took forty grains at 8 a. m.; dull, heavy headache
all day;  great pain in the lumbar and sacral regions ;  almost impos-
sible to walk.  12  m., took eighteen grains; soft, mushy  stool at
evening, with  great  rumbling, but  no  pain;  restless night;  bad
dreams.
   June 1st.—Dull, heavy headache; back pains me very severely;
very much worse by walking.  8  a. m., soft, papescent stool with
great rumbling in the bowels;  constant eructation of gas.
   June 2d.'—Took five grains of the  pure  Irisin; good  deal of
pain in the forehead and  temples.   5 p. m., severe  colic in the umbil-
ical region; pains come on every  few minutes; lasted two  hours ;
great rumbling in the bowels;  soft, papescent stool in the evening;
restless night; dreampt of digging up dead people, and finally fell
into the grave which  awoke me, feeling very much frightened.
   June 3d—Top of the head has twenty-six pustules on it,'some
of them as large as a three-cent piece ; the pustule is situated upon
an  inflamed  base  of a rose color;  with  red  streaks  running
from one to the other ; they contain  yellow matter; very tender to
the touch ; gradually disappeared in  four days. Took teh grains at
4 p.m.; dull heavy pain in  the forehead and temples; grfat  rum-
bhng in  the bowels; very restless night;  dreampt of the dead, as
usual; discharge of semen. 
IRIS  VERSICOLOR.
267
   June 4th.—Flat taste in the mouth ; teeth sore;  natural stool;
took twenty grains at 9 a. m.; dull heavy pain in the forehead and
temples; the pain in the temples is very sharp at times ;  very rest-
less night;  awful dreams of the dead ;  discharge of semen.
   June 5th.—Flat taste in the mouth; headache  is very trouble-
some to-day ; dull, heavy pain in the lumbar region all day.  5 p. m.
soft, papescent stool with pain in the umbilical  region ; restless
night with bad dreams;  discharge of semen.
   June 6th.—Dull, heavy headache;  back pains  me very  much;
had  the soft, painless stools, with great  rumbling in the bowels;
great increase of urine ; urinated eleven times profusely.
   Juue 7th.—Natural stool; backache all gone, but voided urine
in large quantities.
   June 8th.—Feel well, but pass urine  in large quantities; stool
natural.
   I would advise Allopaths to use Irisin for constipation, if they must
use cathartics to cure it. In the last number of Braithwaite's Retro-
spect is a short notice of Irisin.  It states that "theeffects of Irisin
are very similar to  those occasioned by a  combination of blue  pill,
rhubarb, and aloes.  It seldom fails to produce  a  mild catharsis
with bilious evacuations, and appears  to possess the advantages (1)
of not requiring the  addition of murcurial, (2) not irritating  the
rectum as aloes is  apt to  do, (the green root  does irritate  the
rectum very much); and (3) it  has  no astringency and therefore
does not produce subsequent constipation, like rhubarb when given
alone.  (This last statement is correct, constipation does not follow
the  use of Iris.)  In  a  sluggish state of the bowels, arising from
torpidity.of the liver, or when the  stools  are pale,  particularly as
we find them in the intervals of overt attacks in gouty persons, we
have found the Irisin one of  the best aperients,  much gentler than
Podophyllin, and more reliable when a slight cholagogue  action is
required,  to be  maintained for a  lengthened period." {Lancet,
 Aug. 30, 1862, p.  239.)
                PROVINGS BY J. G. ROWLAND, M. D.
    The following provings, with one or two exceptions,  were made
 from the tincture prepared in the customary manner.  The attenua-
 tions used were made on the decimal  plan.  No.  1  used the third
 and first dilutions, and the mother tincture; No. 2 and No. 3, same;
 and No. 4, the first trituration.                     m        .
    No. 1.—About fifteen minutes after taking the  third dilution,
 an uneasy feeling was experienced in the scorblculis cordis, together
 with rumbling in the lower part of the abdomen ; these symptoms
 increased  until the lower part of the  sternum seemed protruding ;
 nausea and eructations of wind; dull paiu  in the light  parietal
 protuberance, which increases steadily until it becomes  a hammer-
 ing pain, and so much aggravated by  motion, that for  the moment
 it appears unbearable, but  by  continuing movement  it gradually
 abates, returning again when at rest; rheumatic pam m  the right
 shoulder,  worse on motion, especially by raising the arm; a dispo-
 sition  to  feel  displeased with  everything and everybody, which 
268        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
gives place to a feeling of liveliness and activity, immediately after
taking the first dilution ;  sneezing; nausea and slight vomiting of
watery and extremely sour fluid ;  about two hours  after, stitch in
inferior part of occiput, more on the right than the left side; severe
rheumatic pain in the whole  right arm and right knee joint, worse
on  motion, and continuing  when at  rest; acute  and_ extremely
severe borino-  pain in right  parietal  protuberance, causing  him to
bend down his head ; pain in the left side, as though the ribs were
were pressing hard upon  the lower portion of the lung; unable to
take a long breath, for the pain in the left lung, which was of a
sticking and cutting character ; a short dry cough, excited by tick-
ling in the  larynx; slight toothache  in a warm room ;  headache,
much  aggravated by coughing;  rumbling and uneasiness in the
stomach, accompanied by diarrhoea, with little  pain  ; stools lumpy,
brown, and very offensive; sweat over the whole body, particularly
in the groin ; dry cracked lips ;  a sharp cutting pain in the urethra,
when  commencing  to  urinate; after  taking  medicine  five days,
several small vesicles appeared on  the right wrist, which gradually
formed into pustules, having a depression in the centre; these dried
up in the night, leaving crusts, which remained  nine  days before dis-
appearing.  (The  prover thinks  it proper to  state he  had  been
attending a severe case of small pox.)  Half an  hour after taking
nearly  half an  ounce of the  mother tincture, a feeling of rawness
in the throat;  general languor ; ill-humor; inability to fix the mind
on any subject; when writing, mind will wander to other things;
diarrhoea, with colic; nausea, and  vomiting of  a thin watery fluid,
of an exceedingly sour taste; constant nausea for  more than  an
hour,  and  vomiting several times; diarrhoea, with rumbling and
cutting in the  lower  part of the  abdomen; heat over  the  whole
body, then chilliness, with cold hands  and  feet; head  feels very
heavy, the eyes dull, with pain directly over  the left superciliary
ridge; severe  burning pain  in the internal  canthus of the  right
eye ; the eye filling with  tears ; sensation of fulness of  the  head;
head feels hot, and face  flushed;  whenever attempting  to laugh a
sensation as though a band were drawn tightly around the forehead;
the  day after taking mother tincture, feeling of sleepiness, with
great  chilliness, only at  all comfortable when near a hot fire, and
even then, cold,  chilly sensations  are felt down  the back; violent
tearing pain in the right hip-joint, knee and shoulders, very severe,
indeed ;  the most severe only lasting about three minutes;  vomit-
ing  of the sour matter  before mentioned; and great chilliness over
the  whole  body  the whole  night, although abundantly covered;
weakness; despondency; thinks he is going to  be  very sick, then
a disposition  to  laugh  at his fears, which, however, soon return;
dreams  of suffocation and fire; cutting and  sticking in  the ure-
thra when making water, with coldness and itching  over the  geni-
tals, the itching being  worse on  scratching;  six dysenteric  stools
during the night, with pajn and rumbling in the  lower part  of the
 abdomen; also great lassitude ; after these symptoms have abated
there  remains a  sore-throat and slight headache.
     No.  2.  Feeling of weakness and weariness  in  the  lower part 
HIIS  VERSICOLOR.                  269
of the back; pain of a dull, aching character, in right hypochon-
dria when walking ; pains in the right, then in the left knee when
walking; feeling of weariness in the back for several days; sharp
pain near outer side of left arm, when moving it; swelling of gums
on  the  inner surface of left side of lower jaw, under the molar
teeth; pain in  left hip joint, when walking; redness of the  con-
junctiva, as if from cold; for a day or two much fetid flatulence;
pain in abdomen, which is  relieved by discharge  of flatus; sharp
pain in first joint of great toe of right foot, when walking, renewed
frequently  during  the day; pain in last joint of middle  finger  of
left hand ;  a number of shooting, shifting, and momentary pains in
the phalangeal and metacarpo-phalangeal articulations, all of these
pains coming on more during the  evening, and being  worse on
motion ; boils on  back, face and hands; pain along posterior part
of cristi ilium of the  right side;  urine more copious; the pain  in
first joint  of great toe occurs, during walking, for a number  of
days; pain in left thigh; pulse accelerated; after increasing  doses
more frequently renewed, empty eructations, and pain in the  stom-
ach;  unusual restlessness  during the  night; sleep  disturbed by
startings;  aching pain in the stomach before breakfast; pains ten-
sive and sticking in right shoulder during  motion, particularly  on
raising the arm.  (This symptom set in soon after commencing the
 proving, continued  six weeks after discontinuing  the  medicine.)
 Pains in the metacarpal joints of both hands, muscles of right arm,
 and  pectoralis-major, mostly during motion,  and  in the evening;
 woke two hours earlier than usual, with  no disposition  to renew
 sleep;  pain in the bowels, going off by discharge of flatus; feeling
 of a greasy coating over mouth and tongue, early  in the morning ;
 aching pain in  the stomach  after  drinking cold   water;   pains
 through the day in most all the limbs; urine increased in quantity,
 tensive, momentary,  and  constantly recurring pains  in all the
 joints, but mostly the smaller; which shift rapidly_ about, mostly
 in the evening, that is, from supper to bed-time ;  pain in abdomen
 above the  crest of the ilium, both sides; after breakfast a diarrhoeaic
 stool, with subsequent pain in  the epigastrium;  in writing, pains in
 phalanges of right hand, and in  the end of index finger of same
 hand.  (Observed several weeks after proving.)  Pain in left thigh;
 shooting,  sticking pain in the right foot; continuous  sharp pain
 along the left side of first phalanx of middle fingers of right hand ;
 sharp pains  in the middle fingers of left hand succeeded instantly
 by a similar pain in  the axillae of same side.  (Occurring frequently
 during about five minutes.)  Sudden diarrhoeaic stool after supper ;
 sharp, cutting pain, frequent in  the metacarpo-phalangeal articula-
 tion of thumb of right  hand;  vexed, irritable mood, disposed  to
 find fault.   (Proving No. 2 was made  by the same  individual, at
 three different periods.)
     No. 3.—Pulse somewhat accelerated; headache for two  days;
 the third day he was seized with  a peculiar headache; the pain
 shot, as he  describes it, like an electric shock, from the right tem-
 ple to the left part  of occiput, and continued about half an  hour;
 headache  with great depression  of spirits and  general debility ; 
 270        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 crampy pains in right lumbar region  in  the  evening, continuing
 several hours, and causing a sweat to break out; woke up unusually
 early, with dry mouth and general depression ;  headache occurring
 irregularly during several days ; observed a pimple on middle finger
 of left hand ; the next  day the inflammation was extended over
 the hand ;  the day after it became  more violent,  and occasioned
 great pain, and was afterwards opened to obtain relief; no pus was
 found, but it was subsequently formed, and discharged through the
 opening, which penetrated as  far as  the bone ; a  fungous growth
 meanwhile had taken place around the edges; pain extended from
 this hand up the arm; there was much  swelling and pains*  in the
 part affected, which had  much the appearance of a  malignant boil;
 there  was a disposition to a similar  formation  on the index finger
 but the inflammation  subsided after a time, and finally disappeared;
 during the proving the urine was very  copious, and  had a strong
 disagreeable odor; restlessness for five nights in succession;  head-
 ache  with pain in the bowels ; sickness of stomach  in the evening,
 obliging him to lie down; pain in left side of chest.
    No. 4.—Colicky pains during the evening and  night, obliging
 him to bend forward for  relief, and attended  with loss  of appetite
 and great restlessness during the night; this colic continued the
 next day, but was immediately removed by a dose of Nux vomica;
 no appetite the next  day; restless at night, with troubled dreams ;
 several pimples on lower extremities and  other parts of the  body,
 like mosquito bites ;  constipation several days ;  languid and  fever-
 ish in the afternoon ;  no  disposition to mental or physical exercise;
 next day flushed face, fever, drowsiness and loss of  appetite;  weak-
 ness and languor, with rumbling in the bowels; the morning after,
 a thin watery diarrhoea, continuing through the day;  debility and
 loss of appetite; diarrhoeaic stools the next day, succeeded  by pain
 in the umbilical region ; colic in the afternoon, ceasing at night.
    Characteristic Peculiarities.—The symptoms appear mostly
 in the  evening and at night.  (In myself the symptoms  appeared
 mostly in the day time.)  Pain aggravated by motion; right side
 most effected.

       EFFECTS upon animals,  experiments of DR. BURT.
    June 5th.—Gave   a young  female cat, weight three and  one-
 fourth pounds, a decoction of Iris ver.; at 2 p. m., five  minutes nau-
 sea and vomiting of frothy mucus; stares at it as if frightened ;
 ten minutes after, constant nausea,  nothing  but mucus vomited'.
 Quarter after 2, lies on the lounge and appears quite natural;  gave
half an ounce of tincture  (wasted a little); six minutes after  veiv
 restless, crying fearfully;  nausea and vomiting.  Twenty minute's
 after 4, nausea and retching; mewing;  eyes  half closed; respira-
 tion very  rapid; restless.  Half past 4, mewing and efforts to
 vomit; lies still thirty-six minutes; running across  the floor  with
 efforts to vomit; mews; saliva  runs  from mouth constantly   For-
 ty-three minutes after, desperate efforts to vomit  but cannot   Ten
pain in the finger waa accompanied by perforation, although the weather 
IRIS  VERSICOLOR.
271
minutes  to  5, nausea and mewing;  saliva running profusely.  5,
retching; throws  her head  up  and mews fearfully; respiration
seventy-two; mouth  wide open.  Ten  minutes  after, nausea and
moaning. Quarter-past 5, retching and sneezing; head hangs  to
the floor. Half-past 5, nausea and vomiting; very restless ; mew-
m<r ; respiration fifty-six ; does  not notice anything; mouth wide
open;  saliva running profusely; mews and appears in great dis-
tress.  6, the nausea continues, with  great  efforts to vomit; saliva
runs from  the  mouth  constantly ; groaning  and appears  in great
distress ; nose rests on the floor; mouth wide  open.   7, still sick at
the stomach ;  saliva runs in great  quantities; respiration forty-six ;
gave half an ounce more ; died in five minutes without a struggle.
    Post-mortem one hour after  death: pupils dilated; the brain
was not examined ; lungs very  much congested;  the upper lobes
filled with dark venous  blood ; heart  filled with black blood; stom-
ach natural color, but very much  distended  with  gas, _ with a
quantity of meat undigested  ; pyloric extremity covered with bile ;
also the duodenum and  jejunum was covered with bile and watery
mucus • liver is very much congested, of a  black color, bleeds pro-
fusely when cut into ; gall  bladder half full of bile; the  pancreas
is very pale; all other organs natural.
    June 23d.—Gave a female kitten, four  months old, at 2 p. m.,
 forty grains of Irisin; wasted a good deal.   Half-past 2, profuse flow
 of saliva; mouth wide open; wants to  lie  down all the time; res-
 piration very  rapid; mews  constantly.  3 p. m.,  mews most fear-
 fully ; appears to  be in  great pain; rolls from one side to the other;
 mouth wide  open;  great difficulty  in breathing;  appears to be
 dying ;  secretion  of  saliva  is very  limited.   Quarter-past  3, still
 lying  in the same position, mewing  at  every  breath; mouth filled
 with froth ; walked two feet, staggered very much; dropped on its
 side;  respiration  forty-eight.  Half-past  3, tries  to Walk  but falls;
 mews at every breath.   4 p. m., cannot stand ; lies on its side ; res-
 piration thirty-six; mouth open, filled with froth.   Quarter-past 4,
 respiration forty-eight.  5  p. m., gasping for breath; respiration
 twenty-four; if spoken to mews fearfully, but cannot get up; in ten
 minutes crawled  two  feet; went into  a spasm, lasted one minute ;
 the spasms  were in its fore legs and back; respiration eighteen ;
 pupils dilated.  7 p. m., on its side gasping for breath; respirations
 eighteen; cannot stand when lifted up; ears  and legs cold; mews
 fearfully by spells, as  if suffering great pains; kicks and scratches
 at a fearful rate.   Half-past 8, appears in  great  pain; mews every
 breath.  Half-past 9, went into spasms, the forelegs and spine ; had
 a watery passage from the bowels and  died.
    Autopsy  ten hours after  death.—Upper lobes of the  lungs
 very much congested ; heart, auricles  and ventricles all filled with
 dark  venous blood ;  liver very much congested, especially the  left
 lobe- gall bladder half filled with  gall; stomach  almost ready to
 burst  with  gas; part of the  medicine in it; color natural; little
 food  in it; pancreas red  with blood; more congested  than  any
 other  organ; the whole of the intestines are  filled with mucus,
 water, and gas; no bile to be seen ; all the other organs  natural. 
  212        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

    General Symptoms.—Nervous; irritable, with prostration  of
  the whole system;  weakness, so that he  can hardly stand ; nearly
  all the symptoms are aggravatd by motion.
    Clinical Remarks.—Nearly all the conditions for which Iris is
  applicable, are characterized  by unusual lassitude, prostration and
  lowness of spirits; it is most useful in persons of bilious  tempera-
  ment, subject to gastric and bilious disorders.
    Skin.—Several vesicles on the right  wrist, gradually forming
  into  pustules, which dried up in one night, leaving crusts which
 remained nine days; malignant sore resembling a boil, on middle
 finger of left hand, forming a cavity reaching to the bone; pimples
 resembling mosquito bites, on body and extremities ; small boils on
 the back, face  and hands.—{Rowland).   Twenty-six pustules  on
 the scalp, (vertex) some as large as a three-cent piece; the pustules
 are situated  upon a rose-colored, inflamed base, with  red streaks
 running from one to the other; they were painful on pressure, and
 filled with yellow pus.—{Burt).
    Clinical  Remarks.—It has  been highly  recommended for
 scrofulous affections, and skin-diseases; it would seem homoeopathic
 to certain pustular eruptions.
    Case.—Reported by  Dr. Burt, treated  since  he  made the
 proving.  "A child aged eight months; the vertex and sides of the
 head  covered with  a thick crust from the exudation of lymph •
 under the scab it looks red, and  bleeds if the incrustation is dis-
 turbed.  There are also scabs at the back of both ears, which look
 red and  bloody. Gave Iris versicoler, ten drops  of the  mother
 tincture  m a tumbler full of water, one  teaspoonfull three  times a
 day;  a cerate of the same remedy to be applied twice a day; the
 head  to  be washed  once a day with castile  soap.  The  one pre-
 scription cured it in  two  weeks.   It is  now nine weeks, and there
 is no return of the eruption."
   Sleep.—Feeling of drowsiness; sleepiness  with chills;  unusual
 restlessness during  the  night; waking  much earlier than  usual;
 startings during sleep ; restless every night; dreams of suffocation
 and nve.-{Rowland.)  Very restless at  night; bad dreams  during
 the whole proving;  dreams of the  dead   every night; amorouf
 ofTbT^f n°^UrDalemiSSir'  (fr0m  Iri«v).  DreLs of snakes
 of the dead;  of dissecting a body; awoke very much  frightened •
 tried  to  get up and shut the door, but could  not.  (Thm attack
 I™^htmare)-  D~f %^ing; amorous dSs (from

   Mind.—Desponding; low spirits;  easily vexed, and put  out of
 humor; afraid he is going to be very sick, and  afterwards laughs
 at his  fears, which soon return, succeeded by blindness and activftv
{Rowland.)-Very irritable; confusion of the mind  Lflnesof fife'

^^^f^^rd on *-^" 
IRIS  VERSICOLOR.                 273
indication for its use  in  hepatic disorders, and perhaps in sperma-
torrhoea ; it would  seem  particularly applicable to the night cries
and "terrors" of children, from intestinal irritation.
   Fever, etc-—Sweat, from violent pain in the finger; sweat over
the whole body, but particularly in the groin ;  heat over the whole
body, followed by chill,  with  cold  hands  and feet;  desire to be
close  to the fire, and  even then, chills along the back; chills over
the whole body at night, although abundantly covered; feverish,
during pains in abdomen;  pulse accelerated.—{Rowland).  Dry,
hot skin; hands hot and dry; pulse slightly accelerated  (during
the whole  proving).—{Burt).
   Clinical Remaks.—It is used by eclectic physicians in bilious
fevers, much as the allopath  uses calomel; it is considered a sort of
"vegetable  mercury," causing  copious bilious  evacuations, saliva-
tion, etc.  Dr.  Kitchen, (North Amer. Jour,  of Horn. Nov. 1851),
recommended the Iris v. very highly in typhoid fever. He reports
several cases:
    Case 1.—"A boy, twelve years of  age, had typhoid fever.  I
had given a number of remedies without effect;  he ha 1 fever;
muttering  delirium;  yellow, watery,  foetid diarrhoea; involuntary
passage  of  water and faeces; coated  tongue, dry, brown,  crusty ;
edges red;  sordes on the gums and teeth ;  foul breath, and all the
marked symptoms of this disease.  I gave the Iris, third dilution.
It certainly produced a very marked  change,  showing  its effect,
first on the tongue and bowels, and thence extending its beneficial
action to other parts.  It was on the tenth day of the  disease when
I gave it, and in five days he was convalescent, although I had no
idea he could possibly recover ;  the tongue became moist; diarrhoea
eased off, fever subsided;  delirium  ceased;  and he  soon became
rational, slept well, and  had a rapid convalescence."
    Case 2.—"An  old lady aged  eighty-three, had fever ;  stupor;
black,  stinking, involuntary diarrhoea; tongue  dry and  brown;
foetid breath.  Cured (?) in 48 hours."
    Case 3.—" A middle aged  woman.   Fever; intense headache ;
pain  in small of the  back;  black  dysenteric passages ; nausea and
efforts to vomit; cured in four days.  (After she took a  few doses
she lost all  power over her lower extremities;  had  cramps  of the
legs, nausea, aud some  retching.)"
    Case 4.—"A  young man,  aged  fourteen, with  an attack of
bilious pneumonia ;  could not  retain even a mouthful of water on
his stomach; continued easy through the subsequent course of the
disease."
    The provings  here  given  show Iris to be homoeopathic to all
the above  symptoms in each case.
    Head.—Dull, heavy headache in the forehead, acccompanied by
weakness, nausea, and even vomiting (from Iris); heavy headache
in  the forehead  and temples—at times sharp,  shooting pains in
the  temples,  (this pain occurred as  often  as  every half hour
during the  Avhole proving); pain  in the forehead  and  right temple;
constrictive feeling  in  the scalp (from Irisin); dull pain in the
rio-ht parietal protuberance; {Bart), becoming a hammering pain,
        35 
 2 74       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 aggravated by motion, which if continued relieves it—but it soon
 returns when at  rest (see  Rhus);  severe  stitch in  the  lower
 part  of the  occiput, more  on the  right side; extremely severe
 boring pain in the right parietal protuberance, causing him to bend
 the head down; headache  aggravated by coughing ;  sensation of
 fullness in the head; head and face feel  hot; when attempting to
 lau<>ii, sensation of  constriction around the forehead; head feels
 heavy ; lancinating pain under outer extremity of right eyebrow;
 pain  shooting from  the  temple to  left occiput, compared  to  an
 electric shock.—{Rowland)
    Clinical Remakes.—The Iris-headache occupies  generally the
 forehead and  right side of the head ; aggravated  by rest, and  on
 first moving the  head, but relieved  by continued  motion:  accom-
 panied  by lowness  of spirits, nausea, and  even  vomiting.   Dr.
 Kitchen, who published  the first  clinical  experience with this
 remedy, says of its use in " sick-headache :'' — " It is  the most prompt
 and  effectual  remedy I have ever given in this  truly annoying
 malady.  The first dose will arrest the trouble, in some  patients.
 I  have experienced  this  effect in  several  cases. I  have made
 comparative trials with it and  other remedies, telling my patients
 to observe, and let me know which number would  relieve them the.
most  speedily ; they have  invariably, on the attack, sent  for  the
number attached  to Iris ;  this I consider conclusive respecting this
 complaint, so that I need not comment on it further than to recom-
mend it very highly, so far as my experience goes.  Let it be tested
by others."
   The Iris has been  tested by  many homoeopathic  physicians,
in sick-headache,  and  the testimony is generally in  its  favor;
from  our knowledge of the sphere of action of the medicine, it
would seem most likely to be indicated in those "sick-headaches"
of a gastric or hepatic origin ; in the purely " nervous sick-headache''
or that variety arising from congestion, other remedies may prove
more useful.  This matter, however, can only  be decided by careful
observation.
   In Neuralgia of the head, eyes, etc., Dr.  Kitchen recommends
the Iris:  "A lady afflicted at intervals with  this most  distressing
complaint,  and who   had  swallowed the  whole  allopathic  and
homoeopathic  Mat. Med., with  only  partial benefit, has  been more
relieved by the Iris, than by any remedy I have yet  administered
to her.  It is usually in the head, temples, eyes, etc., and attended
with  most  distressing vomitings,  of  a  sweetish  mucus; and
occasionally, when with much straining, with a  trace of bile.  It is the
only medicine  which has much control over  the stomach 'arresting
the vomiting in the few trials I have made with  it, very soon  aud
allaying in  some degree,  the violent pain  of the* head, so  that I
have been asked by her whether I  had not given her morphine  I
have been asked the same question by patients in bowel affections
they frequently going to sleep after its administration ;  this is easily
accounted for by the  cessation of pain, which  is  almost invariably
followed  by sleep."                                           J
   Eyes-Redness of the conjunctiva, as if from a  cold; the eyes 
                    IRIS  VERSICOLOR.                 275

feel  dull, with pain over  left superciliary ridge; severe burning
pain in internal canthus, with effusion of tears.—{Roioland)  Eyes
sunken, with blueness around the eyes.—{Burt)
   Clinical Remarks.—Dr. Kitchen relates that while giving the
Iris to a  child for summer complaint, the mother said  to  him :—
" Doctor, you have not only relieved the diarrhoea,  but you have
cured my child  of inflimed eyelids, which  it  has been troubled
with  for some  time."  He states that he has  tried it in  several
cases of that affection, and with success.  The cases  in which it
seemed to be of benefit, were those of simple  palpebral inflamma-
tion, apparently arising from a cold—nothing that I could perceive
of a scrofulous taint—they did not adhere in the morning, at least
very slightly.
   Ears.—Singing and buzzing  in  the ears (in  a lady—after two
grains of Irisin  second, given for bilious diarrhoea, which it cured
after Chamomilla, Pulsatilla  and Ipecac had failed).—{Burt).
    Mouth, Fauces, etc.—Greasy feeling over tongue and gums on
rising in the morning; feeling  of rawness in the  mouth;  slight
soreness of throat; dry mouth ;  slight toothache in a warm room ;
dry, cracked lips;  swelling and soreness of gums, inner part below
molar teeth of left  side.—{Rowland)  Back part of mouth and
fauces feel on fire (constant symptom);  tongue  feels as  though
it had been  scalded;  flat taste in  the mouth ; constant discharge of
saliva—it dropped from the mouth during conversation;  tongue
coated white ; diminution  of taste; teeth feel sore and elongated ;
ulcers on the mucous  membrane of the cheeks  [Iris] ;  dull, heavy,
aching pains in all the teeth; teeth feel very sore and elongated ;
severe pain  in the back upper and lower molars, lasting three hours,
[Irisin].—{Burt)
    Clinical Remarks.—The Eclectics class this plant among the
"sialagogues," Dr. Burt, who proved the fresh root in large doses,
does not doubt  that it would produce sloughing and deep ulcera-
tion, if continued for a long time.  There is a rather curious and
remarkable  similarity between  the  action of the Iris  and  that of
Mercury; this  is all the more singular when we consider that the
former  is a vegetable  remedy;   not only does this Iris affect the
mouth in a similar manner to Mercury, but this similarity of action
extends throughout the whole glandular and mucous systems^ and
perhaps, all  the tissues except the osseous.  I  have  taken patients
from off the hands of Eclectic physicians, avIio were  so completely
salivated by the Iris, that were it not for the absence  of the peculiar
fetor, I should have taken it for a mercurial salivation.  Even the
sympathetic  fever which the Iris causes,  has  considerable  resem-
blance to that  of Mercury.  Dr.  Coe  (Cone. Org.  Med.), thus
speaks  of  the Irisin:—"Irisin  is  justly  esteemed  as  one
of our most valuable alteratives. It  is  eminently resolvent, and
exercises a  marked influence  over the  entire  glandular  system.
It increases  the  salivary  flow,  and has the  reputation of pro-
ducing   ptyalism.   But  a careful  distinction must  be  made
between  the  effects   produced   by vegetable  agencies  upon
the  mucous and  salivary glands, and mercurial salivation; the 
276        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

former  are nothing  more nor  less  than  manifestations  of a
quickened  physiological  activity—evidence of special therapeutic
stimulus, constituting  oftentimes  a critical conservative effort—
No loosening  of the  teeth ; no sponginess of the gums ;  no
putrefactive odor;  no  sloughing of the soft parts;  increased,
but not disordered secretion.  On the other hand, Mercury induces
a pathological condition of the vital constituents of the blood and
fluids, and  favors the formation of vitiated products; altering from
good'to bad, and from bad to worse; giving rise to congestions,
lesions, putrefactive conversions, and disorganizations of the organic
structures.   In the former  case we have the evidence of a direct
therapeutic stimulus, operating upon the vital impressibility of  the
secretive apparatus, promoting increased activity of the functions
for the purpose of eliminating legitimate products.  In the latter
instance we have an augmented flow of morbid material, resulting
from the destructive conversions of the vital constituents by  the
remedy itself, and which are not the legitimate products of organic
metamorphoses.  In the former case, the remedy itself is the motor-
stimulus, while  in  the  latter  instance  the mercurial corruptions
constitute the stimuli of excitement.''
   To the  superficial student of medicine, the  above reads very
well, but to the physiologist it becomes  simply absurd.   Only  one
conclusion  can be drawn, namely, that  Dr. Coe is ignorant or
dishonest.  Nothing but the gravest ignorance of  the elementary
facts  of physiology andv pathology, could  lead  to  such special
pleading.   He must be  aware that any departure from a not mat
physiological state, constitutes a pathological condition.   Given to
a person in perfect health, the Iris causes  abnormal activity of  the
glandular and mucous systems: Mercury does as much.  The main
difference between the actions of the two medicines is in degree.
The poisonous  effects of Mercury are more pervading and  more
malignant  than the pathogenetic  effects  of the Iris.  Both  cause
actual pathological  conditions,  having  their  peculiarities  and
characteristic  symptoms.   When  given in  disease, if homoeo-
pathically  indicated, and administered in proper doses, they both
restore the tissues, for which  they have an affinity, to  a healthy
condition.
   If Dr. Coe was dishonest in his statements with the intention to
prejudice the reader against Mercury  his conduct degenerates into
downright  meanness.  Mercury, when administered according to the
law of similia,  is a benificent, and valuable curative agent.  When
given in this manner, it never causes any pathogenetic symptoms,
gives rise  to  no morbid products, and  disorganizes no tissues or
secretions.   On the contrary it tends to prevent the very calamities
which Dr. Coe so much dreads, and which he could cause, to a certain
degree, by  the  abuse  and prolonged use of even the Iris.  I would
here make  an observation relative to the  action of  Iris, namely: it
is not owing to the acridity of the fresh root acting topically, that
the pseudo-mercurial symptoms  are due,  but to a  specfic dynamic
 action of the drug on the constitution.  It is true that the Iris does
contain an acrid principle, but from the fact that the dried root, 
IRIS  VERSICOLOR.
277
and  even the alkaloid, causes  the above-named condition when
taken into the stomach, is proof that those effects belong to the
whole  drug.  If this  was not sufficent  proof, we  could  refer the
physician to the fact that this peculiar action may be caused by the1
dilutions of the remedy, up to the third, and perhaps higher.
   Therapeutic Deductions.—It  is  a strange comment on the
practice of the opposite school, that they should recommend the Iris
highly  in  mercurial  cachexy, syphilis, etc).   No  drug is more
thoroughly homoeopathic  to diseases of  the  mouth,  similar to
those caused by Mercury, and in the few cases in which I  have used
it, it has  acted  well.   Even in mercurial salivation  it  has  been
found useful, but it cannot be relied on with as much confidence
as the Chlorate of Potash.   In Stomatitis, with or without ulcera-
tion (canker), when there is painful burning in the mouth and fauces,
Iris  is  strongly indicated.   In these cases I  would  advise  the
tincture of the green root, administered in the  third or sixth
attenuation.
    Gastric  Symptoms.—Loss of appetite; nausea and  empty eruc?
tations ;  nausea, and  vomiting of a watery and extremely sour
fluid; constant  nausea and vomiting for an hour; aching in the
stomach before breakfast, and on drinking cold water; sickness of
stomach obliged him to lie down.—{Rowland)
    Eructations of tasteless gas ; rising  of water, very  sour; great
burning distress in the epigastric region; it could not be allayed by-
drinking cold water;  colicky pains every few  minutes in the epi-
gastric  region;  Intense burning in the  region of the pancreas
 (this was a constant symptom during the whole proving— {Burt.)
 Severe and  profuse  vomiting; vomiting with much  pain in the
 stomach; distressing nausea and vomiting ; vomiting and purging ;
vomiting with  diarrhoea,  accompanied with  great   prostration ;
 burning in the mouth, fauces, and oesophagus.
    Clinical Remarks.—The Iris  has  probably an irritant action
 upon the gastric mucous membrane, as seen upon the mouth, fauces
 and oesophagus.   By  refering  to Dr. Burt's heroic provings, this
 action will be seen portrayed in strong colors.  I know  of no one
 of the new remedies which promises to be more useful in gastric
 disorders, than the  Iris versicolor.  Even now  we  have  some
 valuable clinical observations.
    Dr. Kitchen in  his paper on Iris, says it is useful in  vomiting:
 "Effectual  in almost all  kinds—simple  sour,  bilious,  of food,
 with or without pain.  In every case of vomiting or sick stomach
 in which I have yet given it, it has been successful, and, in severe
 cases, on the administration of a few tea-spoonfuls. Such has been
 my experience.  I have recomended it in some cases  in which the
 other usual remedies  had failed, and in no  case in which I have
 given it, have  I been obliged  to  abandon it, and resort to  other
 remedies.  Such, 1 again say, has been  my experience thus far, but
 I would not be understood as  saying that  this will always be the
 case in future. No doubt it, like all other remedies, has its appropri-
 ate sphere, which it will take time and opportunity to make out and
 define correctly.  I merely state what I have  discovered up to the 
 278        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

 present, with the limited opportunities I have had  of testing it  in
 different forms of disease.  I have for some years attended a little
 girl, now  about  nine  years  of age, who has periodical  vomiting
 spells, coming on once* every month or six weeks, sometimes not
 for three or four months, but certainly three or four times in the
 course of a year.  I have tried in  various attacks, all the different
 remedies usually successful in such cases, but not with much benefit;
 the  attack would last two or three days, and would seem to  wear
 itself out.   A single tea-spoonful of the  Iris arrests it at once.   It
 comes on with vomiting of the ingesta, then sour fluid, and at last,
 bile, yellow and green, with great heat of the head, some general
 fever, and great prostration ; the perspiration is warm, caused by the
 efforts of straining and vomiting."—{N. A.Jou. of Horn)
    The Iris is eminently homoeopathic to some varieties of gastritis
 (mucous), esophagitis,  duodenitis, and many of  those disorders  of
 digestion which  go under the general name of dyspepsia. In many
 points it resembles Pulsatilla, especially the tendency to "acidity  of
 the stomach," and " rising ofingesta;'' also the sympathetic disturban-
 ces having agastric origin. The peculiar and severe symptoms elicited
 by Dr. Burt, and referred by him to the pancreas (see proving,) and
 which, in all probability, were really in the gland, point to its appli-
 cability to inflammation, and  other  disorders of that important
 organ.  In that disease known as "Pancreatic salivation" it ought
 to prove,specific.   A thorough knowledge of the physiology of the
 pancreas will lead us to define pretty clearly the derangements likely
 to be caused by the  Iris.  The  pancreas  is usually regarded as
 belonging to the group of salivary glands.   "The pancreatic juice
 is analagous to saliva.  It acts upon starch even more energetically
 than saliva, transmuting it into sugar and lactic acid; and upon fats, by
 forming them into an  emulsion so that they are readily absorbed.
 —{Draper)  It  is  generally  conceded  that  a  normal pancreatic
juice (as regards quality and  quantity), is necessary for the diges-
 tion  of fatty food.   Many of the  derangements  of  digestion, are
 undoubtedly due  to deficiency, and  unhealthy conditions of this
juice.  There  can be  no rational  doubt  of  the action of Iris upon
 this  gland.  Even had  we not Dr. Burt's suggestive provings, we
 could judge of its effects upon that gland from analogy.  A remedy
 which irritates and stimulates  the salivary  glands, "must  have  a
 similar action on the pancreas—a  similar tissue, possessing  similar
 functions—(Puis., Merc, Iodine, Podoph.)
   Prof. Lee (Allopathist) says:—"It acts as a stimulant  to the
 liver and pancreas."  Our list of pancreatic remedies are  five in
 number, and the symptoms they possess, directly referring to that
 gland are  quite  indefinite.  The Iris promises  to  prove  very
 valuable for  the removal of morbid states, induced, directly cr
 indirectly,  by functional diseases of that organ.  Dr. Burt succeded
 in killing several cats with the tincture of Iris versicolor.  One of
 the most noted morbid appearances noticed on examination was  a
 highly congested condition of the pancreas.  A  portion  of one
 pancreas was sent,  through  me, to Dr. Ludlam of this city, who
 subjected it to a critical  examination, which proved the  presence 
IRIS  VERSICOLOR.
279
of intense congestion of the  minute vessels,  and even a rupture,
and extravasation of blood into the tissues of the gland.
   Dr. Kitchen says he " cured a case of gastrodynia characterized
by violent pains in the epigastric region, coming on at  intervals"
with Iris.  The Iris relieved him at once, and he had no  return.
He has also relieved and cured, " vomiting of food an hour after
meals,'' with Iris.
   Liver, Hypochondria,  etc.—Pain in the right hypochondria-
worse on motion ; pain above the  cristi ilii on both sides, first  on
the right; crampy pains in the right lumbar re'igon.—{Rowland)
Cutting pains in the region of the liver.—{Kitchen)
    Clinical   Remarks.—Prof. Lee (allopathic)  says, the  Iris
" stimidates the  liver."
   A writer in the London Lancet, asserts the Irisin to be a power-
ful and efficient cholagogue.
   King  intimates that it acts upon the liver in a manner similar
to the mecurial preparations; not as active as Podophyllin but more
lasting.   The opposite school believe it stimulates the liver, increas-
ing the secretion  and excretion of bile, by  virtue of its  general
stimulative action on the glandular system.   Dr. Kitchen (homoeo-
pathic) says:—"May  it  not  be administered beneficially in some
affections of the liver ?  It undoubtedly acts on this organ.  I have
had full evidence  of that in several cases, producing a manifest
secretion of healthy bile.''
   Abdomen, Stool, etc.—Uneasy feeling in the  scrobiculis cordis;
rumbling in lower  part of abdomen ; lower part of sternum seems
protruded; cutting pain in the lower part of the abdomen, relieved
by discharge of flatus; colic,  obliging  him to bend forward  for
relief;  foetid  flatulence; diarrhoea with slight  pain,  accompanied
by rumbling and uneasiness in the stomach ;  stools lumpy, brown,
and  very offensive; diarrhoea with  colicky  pains ; diarrhoea with
rumbling  and  cutting  in the  lower part of the  abdomen ;  six
dysenteric stools at night, with rumbling and pain in abdomen, and
great lassitude ; sudden liquid evacuation after supper; constipation
for some  time, succeeded by  thin watery diarrhoea.—(Rowland).
Colicky pains  every few  minutes  in the epigastric and umbilical
reoions, with  desire for  stool  (during the whole  proving); four
yetlow, papescent stools, with rumbling in the bowels; fourteen thin
watery stools, followed by two stools consisting of water and mucus,
with tenesmus;  watery stool; copious running from the bowels  in
a continuous stream ; stool tinged with  green ; stool of undigested
food ; stool of blood and mucus, with great tenesmus, and a sensa-
tion as if  the  anus was  on fire;  anus feels as if sharp points were
stickino- in  it;  mucus  membrane of the rectum prolapsed; great
smartino- and burning of anus after  every stool.—{Dr. Burt, from
Iris)  Swelling of the stomach and abdomen.-{Kitchen)  [The
Irisin produced severe, intermittent colic in umbilical region, with
soft mushy stool;  also soft, papescent stools,  with rumbling, but no

PM Clinic\l  Remauks.—The Iris is  esteemed by the  opposite
schools as a powerful cathartic, but one  which, they assert, does not 
280        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

leave constipation after its cathartic action.  Dr. Burt sustains this
assertion by the results of his own proving of massive doses.  Prof.
Lee  says:—" As a cathartic it is  said  to act  on all parts of  the
canal, but more particularly on the upper portion.    It  has  been
rejected by  some  as unsafe and  dangerous; but  it was probably
administered in  over doses.''  Iris  undoubtedly  causes bilious
discharges from the bowels.   Dr.  Burt thinks he has seen evacu-
ations  of pure bile follow its use.   The burning  and  smarting,
however, at the anus and rectum, noticed in the proving, is rather
the  result  of its  acridity,  than  the effect of bilious  fluids,  the
sensations in the  rectum  are probably due to the same cause as
the burning in the mouth and fauces.  Regarding its therapeutic
action, we cannot do better than quote Dr.  Kitchen's  experience :
   Colic—"Some  cases I have relieved.   The  colic of infants is
benefited  by it.   There  is a peculiar condition  of the  abdominal
region of the  adult also, which  may come under this  head, and
which may be termed a grumbling bellyache.  It is most prevalent
at^ the changes  of the seasons, Spring and Autumn, and  appears to
be owing to a vitiated secretion of the liver,  and mucous membrane
of the bowels, and consists in an  almost constant uneasiness and
grinding in the bowels; a kind of sub-colic; a mushy passage once
or twice a day,  in some cases, but in  the  generality of cases, a
very foetid  discharge  of wind, of a coppery smell,  attended  occa-
sionally with an  involuntary escape of fluid, soiling the  shirt, and
sometimes  a passage of scybalous  matter,  together with fluid,
mucoid foeces of an offensive,  putrid, and coppery odor.  It was a
case  of this  kind which first led me to a use of  this remedy.  I had
tried several medicines without the least  relief, for nearly a  week,
and administered  the Iris at random, never  having given it in any
disease.  To my surprise the patient was shortly relieved, and had
no return; his bowels soon became healthy and  regular, and  he
praised the good effects  of the remedy very  highly.  The sphere of
the Iris appears to be chiefly the stomach and abdominal  contents.''
   Diarrhea.—"I have not  yet been  able  to obtain with any
degree of accuracy, the symptoms of those cases in which it proves
to be the most appropriate.  I think, however, that burning in  the
rectum and anus, after a  passage,  is one  state which  it arrests
almost immediately.   It also  seems to be appropriate to cases in
which there are  pains,  and green discharges, relieving  the  pains
very frequently in a short time, and  changing the  green passages
after some  doses  have  been given.  There  is one  very curious
feature which I have frequently observed, which is, that when  the
diarrhoea is  not  arrested after a  few  doses, it seems, after  the
administration of it for twenty-four or forty-eight hours, to produce
an aggravation ;  there is an increase of pain and several  free foetid
passages, and then the diarrhoea ceases.   This generally has  taken
place about two or three o'clock in the morning.  Whether I have
given it in too  low  dilutions, generally from  second to sixth  I
cannot tell, but  such a feature  I have  frequently observed  and
have administered it with perfect success in a few cases of periodical
night diarrhcea,  attended  with  pain,  and two  or  three free 
IRIS'  VERSICOLOR.
281
discharges  towards morning.   I have  also cured all my cases  of
cholera infantum with it this summer, and  some of them in a few
days.  I look upon it as a very valuable addition to our remedial
measures in this complaint.
   " In Cholera morbus, I have- succeeded in every case in which I
have yet administered it, even the most violent. A single teaspoonful,
of a few drops in a half  tumbler of water, has in many very severe
cases, put immediate stop to the vomiting.   I consider it a specific
in this form of  disease, and I would earnestly request physicians  to
try it in the first cases  of Cholera Asiatica, which may fall  under
their  notice, and give  the result  to  the  profession.   In  cholera
morbus, it arrests the pain which is so violent in many cases at the
pit of the  stomach, or around the navel, or,  in some cases, still
lower  down in the abdominal region, at or  before every fit  of
vomiting or purging.  In fact, it seems, as far as I have as yet been
able to judge, the more appropriate the more violent the pain, and
in some  cases,  acting, as the patients and bystanders express them-
selves, ' like a charm.'
   Dysentery.—" Some  mild cases I  have cured with Iris, but it  is
not  the  remedy in  this disease.   The cases which  seemed to  be
benefited were of the nature of dysenteric diarrhoea, attended with
green discharges, or slimy mucus, without blood, or much straining.
(Dr. Burt's proving elicited  these very symptoms, however, and
quite severely.)  In  one case it evidently acted  favorably on the
secretion of the liver, producing a free flow of healthy bile,  and  an
immediate  abatement of  the unhealthy passages. In  those cases
in which there was bloody flux, I did  not rely on it, not knowing
sufficient of its curative  powers.''  The  pathogenesis of Iris points
directly to its sphere of usefulness in  some varieties of dysentery,
probably in bilious-dysentery;  yet  there can  be no doubt of the
power of Iris to cause acute mucous enteritis, but  the inflammation
may be  located  higher in  the intestinal  canal, than  in ordinary
cases  of dysentery.  (Here it appears the opposite of aloes and
podophyllum, which affect the  lower portion of the canal, rectum,
etc.'')   It will  be seen  by the proving, however, that it has many
symptoms  analogous to Podoph.—the  prolapsus  of  rectal mucous
membrane,'' " pricking  in anus,'' etc.  Dr. Kitchen's successful use
of Iris in abdominal typhus,  proves its applicability in  some quite
severe forms of intestinal inflammation, and perhaps in organic lesions
of that canal. {See Ferri). I would simply add,  by way of testimony
that many homoeopathists, with  myself, have found  the  Iris a
valuable remedy in nearly every disease of the  bowels for which
Dr.  K. recommends it.  I  would also suggest its use  in  hemor-
rhoids, bilious  colic,  fisure of the anus, fistula in ano, etc.
    Urinary and Genital  Organs.—A sharp cutting pain in  urethra
when  beginning to  urinate;  urine copious; strong,  disagreeable
smell to the urine ; cutting and sticking in urethra when urinating;
coldness and itching of  the genitals.—{Rowland)  Dark red urine,
 with burning  in  the urethra  for  half an hour; increase  in  the
quantity of urine;  nocturnal emissions  with  amorous  dreams
(from  Iris):  profuse urination—eleven  times  a  day—for three
        36 
 2S2        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 days; nocturnal emissions,with  amorous dreams for seven conse-
 cutive nights; glans penis much swollen and red,  (from Irisin).—
 {Burt)  '                                             ...
    Clinical Remarks.—The Iris seems to have a  special affinity
 for the  genito-urinary organs, causing not only irritation, with
 increased secretion, but symptoms of inflammation even.  Eclectic
 physicians have elevated this plant to a high position, as a remedy
 for affections of these organs.  King says  it  is a diuretic.^  He
 recommends it  in  dropsy,  but advises it to  be  given  until its
 hydrogogue effects are obtained. Although such a course will often
 run off the dropsical effusion,  yet  it is unnecessary and  injurious.
 As with the Apoc. cann., the Iris, if appropriate, will eliminate the
 serous fluid through the kidneys, without any action on the bowels.
 The  dropsies in which Iris will be  found  curative, will probably
 be found to  be  hepatic in their origin, generally.
    Syp>hilis.—Not  only  King, Jones,  and other  eclectics, but
 Coe  and Prof.  Lee,  positively attest that " In Syphilis, either
 primary or secondary, it acts as a powerful and efficacious agent.
 In eradicating the syphilitic virus, and  correcting the  diathesis of
 the system, it is not only  powerful,  but positive, and  certain.  In
 the secondary or tertiary forms of syphilis,  after mercury in all its
 forms  of administration   had  proven  abortive, this  agent has
 restored patients to  perfect health.  A gentleman who had studied
 medicine, but abandoned the practice for the ministry, informed us
 that he  had  used, and heard  of others prescribing it with entire
 success in a large number  of syphilitic cases, after the disease had
 passed into  the secondary or tertiary stages, and often after mercury
 had been liberally used for a  long  time.  The dose in which he
 employed it was  one or two fluid drachms of the  tincture, six or
 eight times daily." — {Jones  and Scudder's Mat. Med)   If these
 recommendations of Iri3, in that terrible malady, are reliable—^and
 we have  no  reason  to doubt  the  veracity of the  above named
 authors—this  remedy would  be far preferable  to its  metallic
 analogue, Mercury.  The  general sphere of action of the Iris, as
 developed  by our provings, would  certainly point us to its use in
 Syphilis and Gonorrhoea, even if  we had no previous intimation of
 its use in those diseases. Some homoeopathic author remarks that
in  no  proving of Silicia,  Calcarea, etc., do we get those ulcers,
 abscesses, etc., for which those  remedies are so  specific.   So it is
 with Iris.   It would be carrying the provings  of  this medicine
 beyond proper bounds to produce the ulcers, and other character-
 istic symptoms of Syphilis, even if it were  possible  so  to do.  Dr.
 Headland's theory of eliminative action may explain why Iris, and
 some  other medicines  cure  Syphilis, namely: by eliminating the
 virus  through the proper glands, thus ridding the system of  the
 poison—not antidoting it in  the system.   Neither my colleagues—
 so for as I can learn—nor  myself, have had any  experienceln the
 use of Ins in syphilitic affections.
    In   Gonorrhea  it  would  appear by its pathogenesis to  be
 indicated. 1 used it in one case, with apparent good result*.  It was
 given at the first dilution, five drops four time a day 
IRIS  VERSICOLOR.
283
   In Seminal Emissions, when accompanied by amorous dreams,
it  is very appropriate.  When  consulted  in a  case of  spermator-
rhoea, the first  question  to be  asked is, "Do  you have amorous
dreams, with emissions?"   If  the answer is in the affirmative, I
consider the case one of irritation, and treat it  with Phos., Canth.,
Cann., Puis, and Iris.   If a negative answer is received, the case_ is
classed with those arising from want of tone, and lack of vitality
and which call  for such remedies as Kali brom., Conium, Phos.
acid, Agnus castus and Caladium.  This method of ascertaining
the pathology of this  affection, was  first  laid down  by the astute
Lallemand, whose  researches in this direction have been so valuable.
No proving of this medicine upon the  female  organism has been
made.  Judging from  its effects  upon the male organs, we can safely
consider it capable of deranging the female organs of  generation.
Eclectic physicians  claim  to  find it useful  in the treatment of
"leucorrhoea,   congestions  of  the cervix,  ulceration,  and  other
disorders of the  uterine  system."  Coe thinks it ^ " particularly
indicated in uterine leucorrhoea, in which affection  it seems to be
of almost specific value.''  As  this variety of  leucorrhoea  is  the
result of a hyper-secretion of the glandular follicles of the cervix, it
is quite probable the Iris may act curatively,  as its primary effect
is to cause a similar condition  in glandular tissues.  " A  physician
who had used this article extensively, and had had  ample oppor-
tunities of  testing its virtues, informs us that he had found it more
effectual in hemorrhages, particularly menorrhagia, than any other
a^ent he had  ever tried."—{Jones  and  Scudder Mat. Med) _ If
the  Iris should prove a true  homoeopathic  remedy for  syphilitic
affections, it will be found useful  in  many diseases of the vagina,
uterus,  and ovaries, caused by  that pervading poison.
    larynx and  Chest—Short, dry cough ; excited by a tickling m
the larynx ; pain in  the left side,  as though the ribs were pressing
 against the lungs ; unable to take a long  breath for the pain in the
left chest, which was of a cutting and sticking character; pain in
the left chest.-{Rowland)  Hoarseness  and  ringing  in the ears;
soreness and rawness of the fauces.T(i?wr£.)   Taken in  connection
with the above  symptoms, the  experiments of Dr. Burt on animals,
are  quite suggestive.                            .
    Back—Constant  pain,  aggravated by motion, in  the lumbar
and sacral region, was a  constant symptom when proving Irisin.

 ~(Up7er Extremities.-A  sharp, tensive pain in right  shoulder;
worse  on motion, especially by raising the  arm, and continuing a
long time; this pain occurs  most  in the evening ; severe pains;
shooting, momentary, and  shifting about rapidly  in  the phalangeal
 and meta-carpal-phalangeal articulations ; and  also in the sides and
 ends of the fingers, of both hands-these pains more in the evening ;
 sharp pain in   the end of middle fingers of  left hand, succeeded
 instantly by a similar pain in axilla of left side  ; pains in  phalanges
 when writing—(/Sow****)  Hands  hot  and  dry all the  time.-
 {Burt.)  Dr. Rowland advises the Iris in rheumatism ot the shoulders,
 wrists, and hands. 
284       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
    Lower Extremities.—Pain in the right knee joint, worse on
motion ;  violent tearing  pain  in  right hip and knee joints;  sharp
pain similar to those in the hands, in right hip, right and  left knee
joints, and in right foot, especially in the first joint of great  toe—
all worse on motion.—{Rowland)  Trembling and weakness of the
knees; calves  very painful, when walking, especially  the  right.—
{Burt.)   "After she took a few doses, she  lost all power over her
lower extremities, but regained it during convalescence.   (This
can  hardly be considered a pathogenetic symptom, as it  occurred
in a patient with typhoid fever.)  Pain in lower extremities and
cramps  in calves of  legs, with nausea and retchings''.—{See Dr.
Kitchen's  notice of  Iris.)   The Iris  appears  homoeopathic to
rheumatalgia of the lower as well as upper extremities.  Dr. Burt
says it caused paralysis of the hinder extremities, and spasm, of the
fore-legs, in cats. Its action on  the spinal cord may be more intense
than we  are now aware of.  In many of its symptoms, especially
the pains in the chest and extremities, the Iris strongly resembles
Bryonia  alba.   I close my  notice of  this undoubted polychrest,
with  the  hope  that from the materials here given, the profession
may reap some important benefit.
          LEPTANDRIA   VIRGINICA.

                   {Black root.—Culver's Physic.)

   This is the Veronica virginica of Linnaeus.  It is an indigenous,
perennial  plant, with a simple, straight, smooth, herbaceous  stem,
from two to five feet  in  height.  (For  Botanical description  see
King's Dispensatory.). This plant grows throughout  the United
States, in limestone countries, in rich moist places, woods, thickets
and barrens, and flowers in Juty and  August.  The  root, which is
the officinal portion, is about the thickness of the finger, six or seven
inches in length, of a blackish color externally, and brown internally.
The powder is dark brown, with a faint odor, and a bitter, nauseous
taste.   Its virtues are impaired by age.   Alcohol and water extract
its medicinal properties.   The root should be gathered in the  fall
of the second  year.  There has been no accurate  analysis  of this
plant.  King says it contains  " an  essential  oil, bitter  extractive,
tannin, gum, a resin, and woody fibre."   To the resin the name of
Leptandrin has been given, but  there are  other medicinal  princi-
ples, as the Leptandrin does not contain all the  therapeutic proper-
ties of the root.
   It will be seen by the following proving and remarks, that there
are three forms in which this plant may  be  used.  Each  prepara-
tion will have different medicinal effects, i. e., one preparation will
possess qualities which the others do not: 
LEPTANDRIA   VIRGINICA.
285
   (1).__The tincture of the fresh root, which will contain all  the
medicinal virtues of the  plant.
   (2).—The tincture, or triturtion, of the dried root which  will
contain only a portion of its virtues, as the narcotic and acrid prin-
ciples are probably volatile.
   (3).—The Leptandrin, which possesses about the same proper-
ties as the dried root, with perhaps less of its irritating qualities.
   General Effects.—King thinks the fresh root is too drastic
and uncertain for medicinal  use, as  it produces  vomiting, bloody
stools, dizziness, vertigo, and in pregnant  females, abortion, unless
used with much care.  (He should  give it in minute doses.)   The
dried root is decreed to be " laxative, tonic, cholagogue, and altera-
tive.  * * It exerts a powerful influence over the absorbent system,
* * It is thought  to possess narcotic properties.  Leptandria  is
by the same  author said to be a " powerful  cholagogue,  with  but
slight laxative influence."  Prof. Hill, when an Eclectic, thought it
to°be " aperient, alterative, and  tonic."  Dr. Coe regards it as
"alterative,  deobstruent,  cholagogue,  laxative,  and  tonic."  No
remedy  is held in higher estimation by  the Eclectic school than
this; and they use it profusely, in all diseases, with the same disre-
gard for special indications, that the Allopaths use mercury.  The
following proving, and clinical experience, though meagre, may do
something toward showing  the  real  pathogenetic  and curative
power of this agent:
    Mucous  Membranes.—" No remedy with which we  are acquain-
 ted, is more to be relied upon in chronic affections of the  mucous
 surfaces."—{Coe)  The fresh root, especially,  seems to  have  a
 peculiar irritating effect  upon mucous surfaces.  This may proceed
 to inflammation.  It  may cause pseudo-membranous  inflammation
 in  the  intestines, as  occurs  in acute enteritis.  Coe says  Leptan-
 dria is curative in this condition when it occurs in chronic diarrhoea
 and dysentery.   It causes an increased secretion and discharge of
 mucus  from the  intestinal surfaces  (the  mucous follicles), and in
 higher   grades of its toxical  action,  the  secretion  is so much
 increased that the discharges are  profuse  and  watery  It  may
 even cause ulceration, sloughing,  and gangrene.  (See  Intestines,
 Stools, etc.)                                    .
    Serous Membranes.—It seems to have some action on these mem-
 branes, but probably only indirectly.
    Nerves  of Motion and Sensation.—Its action  upon  the  nervous
 system is probably not direct or notable.        .  ,  ,.    ,    ,.
    Glandular System—" The glandular svstem  including the skin
 partakes of its healthful impress."—{Coe)   GatchelUays it causes
 pain in the sub-maxillary glands.   In Dr. Burt s  proving it seemed
 to cause pain  in  the  inguinal glands.  Its  action upon the  liver
 seems to be well attested.  It arouses its secretory  and excretory
 functions.   It probably irritates  the  whole intestinal glandular-
 apparatus, when given in large doses.  In small  doses, used homoe-
 opathically, it restores these glands to a healthy action.
    General Symptoms-Languid,  tired feeling■; fed very weak and
 faint ■ very weak and languid, can hardly walk; faintness from tne 
2S6        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

severe nausea at night;  general relaxation  of the system ; great
prostration ; great  lassitude, with disinclination to talk ; talking is
very  laborious;  physical  and mental depression, with vertigo and
drowsiness.
   Clinical Remarks.—Notwithstanding the assertion  of Eclec-
tic  physicians, Leptandria in large doses, depresses the general
strength of the system.  It is only when it is used in proper medic-
inal (T. e. homoeopathic) doses, that this medicine acts as a tonic.
It is a tonic in the same manner as Arsenic, Nitric acid or Mercury,
by  removing  abnormal  conditions.   Dr.  Gatchell says  " a  char-
acteristic indication for its  exhibition is excessive debility."   Dr.
Coe declares that  " one great advantage  possessed by the Leptan-
dria is its tonic power.  It never debilitates, but, on the contrary,
invigorates while it deterges."   Yet he admits that its operation is
frequenty  attended with considerable  prostration.   I  have  wit-
nessed cases in which a decoction of the fresh root had been admin-
istered, where the  prostration was  excessive, and resembled   that
caused by mercury.
   Fever-—Pulse diminished in frequency; feet and legs from knees
down  feel cold  and  numb; pulse  full, but reduced  from sixty to
forty; great  lassitude; languor  of the  whole  system ; disinclina-
tion to talk, which  is very laborious ;  chilly sensation at the shoul-
ders  and down the  back;  tendency  to shiver;  sore and  lame
feeling in the small of the back.—(Gatchell.')   Skin  hot and dry ;
pain  in the bowels with chilliness  along the spine.—{Burt)   Uni-
versal chilliness.
   Clinical Remarks.—Coe remarks  that when the Leptandria is
given in disease, and  the patient is fairly brought under its  con-
stitutional  influence,  " the  skin, which was  before  hot,  dry, and
constricted,  becomes  soft,  moist, and  flexible;  expectoration
becomes easy, the  arterial excitement is lessened, and the patient,
before restless, wakeful, and delirious, becomes calm, rational, and
inclined to sleep."   He considers it a valuable remedy in typhoid
fevers, and in this  opinion King, Jones, Morrow, and others concur.
Some homoeopathic practitioners, as Hill, Gatchell, and many  of
my correspondents, place the same high estimate upon its curative
powers in typhoid  states, when  there is  present, great prostration,
stupor, heat and dryness  of the skin, color mordax,  or coldness of
the extremities;  dark, fetid, tarry or watery  stools, mixed  with
bloody mucus, and an icterode condition.
   In Intermittent Fever it is a favorite  and much-used medicine
by nearly all  Western physicians, of both schools, who combine it
with  Quinine.  They assert that it renders the action of Quinine
more certain, and prevents  the liability to a return of the disease,
at least for the season, and is uselul in periodic diseases generally,
of an obstinate character, in which  Quinine alone produces little or
no result.  In my  experience, which was at one time very  large, in
diseases of the character referred to, the Leptandria did really act
in a very beneficial manner.   My method was  to use  it in alterna-
tion with Quinine, China, Nux vom., or any other medicine indica-
ted, and always in  acordance with what I  always  considered  to be 
LEPTANDRIA   VIRGINICA.
287
its homoeopathic applicability.  I do not consider  that it has any
real  anti-periodic power, as some drugs undoubtedly have, but it
removes conditions of the liver which often  tend to keep up a con-
tinuance of intermittent maladies.  I usually gave  it for the follow-
ing symptoms : considerable prostration; loss of appetite ; heavily
coated  brown  tongue;  bitter taste in the mouth;  constipation,
or diarrhoea, with  dark foetid stools; jaundice; yellow, saturated
urine.
   In Bilious fevers, I have given it for nearly the same symptoms,
using Leptandrm second or third dec. trit.
   in Infantile remittent, I have had some excellent results from
its use,  administering the second or third dilution of the tincture,
or the third and fourth trit., as seemed most proper.
   Mind,  Sleep. —Gloomy; desponding; sleep  disturbed  by  the
pains in the head and boWels, sleep more disturbed after midnight;
very gloomy  and irritable all day; drowsiness;  a kind of stupor of
of the mental faculties.
    Clinical  Remarks.—It causes  symptoms  of the  mind, similar
to those occurring during disordered conditions of the liver, such
as hepatic torpor, congestions, and the like.  Some writers consider
the fresh root to possess  narcotic properties.  It seems  homoeopa-
thic to the drowsiness attending hepatic torpor,  or that occurring
in typhoids.
    Skin.—Skin hot and dry, with frequent pains in the bowels.
    Clinical Remarks.—It is probably not  homoeopathic to any of
the  various affections of the skin.  But may be found useful when
they are aggravated by the retention of bile.  In the intolerable
itching of the skin, occurring  in jaundice, in will  prove  useful,
 (See Liver.)
    Head-— Constant, dull, frontal headache, worse in the temples ;
 slight frontal headache, with a dull aching sensation in  the  umbili-
 cus; dull frontal headache, apparently deep seated in the cerebrum;
 slight  frontal  headache, with  neuralgic pains in  the right temple;
very severe frontal headache, made nearly unbearable by walking ;
very dizzy while walkiing ; feeling as  if the hair  was being pulled
 at;  vertigo.
    Clinical Remarks.—With the knowledge we now possess of the
 action  of this medicine, especially  on  the liver, we can very prop-
 erly decide the above-described headache to be the so-called "bilious
headache."  It somewhat resembles the cephalalgia caused by Nux
 and Bryonia.  A "bilious headache" is  usually accompanied by
 constipation, furred tongue, bitter taste, indigestion, yellow urine,
 languor, and depression of spirits.  A free discharge  from the bow-
 els, of  dark-brown,  or  greenish, feculent matter,  usually dissipates
 the pain.   Such headaches are relieved, and even  cured, by the use
 of Leptandria, second or third  trituration.
     Eyes.—Eyes smart and ache very  much (this  symptom  was
present 'during the whole  of  the proving);  eyelids  agglutinated ;
profuse secretion of tears; eyes  smarting constantly, with  dull,
 aching pains  in the eyeballs; painful sensation in left  eyelid;
lids and balls feel constricted.—{Dr. Gatchell) 
 288       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

    Mouth, Throat, etc.—Tongue coated* yellow  along the centre;
 pain in sub-maxillary glands.
    Gastric Symptoms.—Tongue coated yellow along the centre; flat,
 pappy taste in the mouth; nausea, with deathly faintness upon rising
 in the night; painful distress in the stomach, with rising  of food,
 very  sour; canine  hunger;  nausea,  with  faintness; nausea fol-
 lowed by vomiting ;  severe vomiting, accompanied by diarrhoea.
    Clinical Remarks.—Among the Eclectics, it is considered a
 "valuable remedy for dyspepsia^'   This  phrase is continually used
 in reference to Leptandria.  But " dyspepsia '' may be caused by
 many various morbid states,  both of the stomach and liver,  thus:
 it may depend upon an  excess or a deficiency of bile; on gastric
 catarrh, and degeneration of the gastric glands; atony of the sto-
 mach ; deficiency of gastric juice,  etc.,  etc.  My experience with
 Leptandria inclines me to the opinion that it is chiefly homoeopathic
 to those varieties of dyspepsia which depend upon disordered states
 of the liver, and atony of the stomach.  I have found it very useful,
 used  in alternation  with Nux  vomica,  in men,  and Pulsatilla in
 women.   If there is present constipation,  headache, jaundice, and
 bitter taste in the mouth, I prefer the first  decimal trit.  If there is
 diarrhoea, rising  of sour ingesta, nausea,  pain in the bowels and
 debility, the third or sixth trituration.
   Stomach.— Constant  distress in  the  lower part  of the epigas-
 trium and upper portions of umbilical regions; sharp, cutting pains
 at intervals in the same parts; constant aching distress in the stomach
 and umbilical regions;  constant aching, burning sensation in the
 stomach and  liver, aggravated  by drinking  cold water;  severe
 aching pain in the stomach immediately after rising, and continuing
 all  the forenoon;  dull,  aching  pain in the cardiac  portion of the
 stomach;  great distress  in the stomach  and small intestines, with
 great desire  for stool, that could  not be  retained  one moment;
 Weak, sinking sensation at the pit of the stomach.
   Clinical Remarks.—It would seem homoeopathic to some forms
 of gastralgia, cardialgia, pyrosis, and some of the various  pains
 and  distressing  sensations which  accompany indigestion.    The
 " sinking  sensation at the pit of the  stomach," caused by Leptan-
dria, is probably due to portal  congestion,  for which condition it
 is one of the most valuable remedies.  It  should be administered
 at the  2d  or 3d dec. trit.
   Liver.—Dull aching pain in  the lower  part of the right hypo-
 chondriac region, near the gall-bladder, with dull aching pain in the
 umbilicus, and rumbling in the bowels; dull aching in the whole of
the liver—the pain extends to the spine, but is worst near the gall-
bladder ;  constant dull, burning distress in the epigastric and hypo-
 chondriac regions; dull, aching burning distress in the region of the
 gall-bladder, with frequent chilliness along the spine; profuse, black,
 undigested stool, followed  by great distress in the region of the
liver, extending to the spine; the pain is  of a hot, aching character,
with chilliness along the  spine ; sharp,  cutting pains near the gall-
bladder; great burning distress in the back part of liver, and  in the
 spine;  pain in left shoulder and arm. 
                LEPTANDRIA  VIRGINICA.            289

   Clinical Remarks.—The eclectic school of medicine, and even
the allopathic, claim for Leptandria, that it possesses a specific affini-
ty for the liver; that it profoundly modifies its functions in various
ways.  King says of Leptandria: "It is a cholagogue.  It causes
the liver to act with great energy,  and without active catharsis, and
is employed with success in all hepatic affections  * * It is indicated
by an inactive state of the liver, and all functional diseases of that
organ.''  And of Leptandrin he says : "It is the only known medi-
cine that efficiently stimulates and corrects the hepatic secretions,
and removes functional derangement of  the liver, without debilita-
ting the system  by copious alvine  evacuations.''   Other writers  of
that school reiterate the same statements, and all eclectic practition-
ers use it with unhesitating confidence.   It is to that  school what
" blue mass " is to the allopathic, while the Podophyllin is considered
to take the place of calomel.   But the wide recommendation of Lep-
tandria in "all functional derangements of the liver,'' is too sweep-
ing, and resembles the assertions of the allopaths, that Mercury is the
only remedy in " all hepatic derangements."  We are aware  that the
researches of Inman  and  Thudichum  seem to render it doubtful  if
Mercury acts directly upon the liver; but the great mass of the al-
lopathic school still use it, and probably will, for the next ten gene-
rations.  Dr. Burt's admirable proving of  Leptandria, which we
herewith present the profession, establishes the fact beyond all con-
troversy, that this medicine does  exercise an influence of no doubt-
ful power over the liver and its secretions.  The hepatic symptoms
are well marked, both the subjective and objective,  and the  whole
experiment  goes  to  prove  what I have  so  often  asserted in  my
writings: that all the remedies successfully used by the allopathic
schools, are  used strictly in accordance with the homoeopathic law of
cure; and being administered under that law, do effect cures, not-
standing the large doses in which they are given—doses which very
often produce needless and painful, and sometimes injurious medicinal
aggravations.  In  regard to the real action  of Leptandria on the
liver, and its secretions, I do  not  propose to hazard any  decided
opinion, inasmuch as the  action of Mercury even,  upon that organ,
is  involved  in considerable mystery.  The same  may be said of
such analagous medicines as Iris versicolor and Podophyllum.  But
I may throw out a few  suggestions, which  can be taken for what
they are  worth; "Calomel,"  says  Draper, " increases the fluid, but
diminishes the solid constituents of the bile."  It is my impression
that  Podophyllum and Iris versicolor act in a similar manner.  Lep-
tandria, on the contrary,  seems  to  increase the solid, and decrease
the fluid  constituents of that secretion;  or, in other  words, Leptan-
dria may have the power  of facilitating the elimination of the proper
excrementitious portions of the bile, or  an excess of the  non-excre-
meutitious  portions.   It is at present believed that the retention
of cholesterine in the blood is very injurious.  That substance acts
somewhat after the manner of Urea,  namely: as a direct poison to
the nervous centres.  Its non-elimination  causes headache,  vertigo,
languor,  depression of spirits, painful  sensations  in various  portions
of the  body, etc.  Now,  it  is highly  probable that Leptandria
       37 
290        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 increases, directly, the elimination of this substance, for under its
 action, when given in proper medicinal doses, the symptoms enume-
 rated above, are rapidly dissipated.  The  retention of other excre-
 mentitious constituents of the bile cause various morbid conditions,
 and the Leptandria,  by its peculiar action, seems to be the remedy
 most  likely to be of benefit when we  wish to eliminate such sub-
 stances through the  liver.  As  it does not appear  to increase the
 fluid constituents of the bile, as does Podophyllum and Iris v., its ap-
 parent tonic effect, even in  material doses, may thus be  accounted
 for.  Mercury, however, seems to  have in some instances, a similar
 action with Leptandria.  In  minute doses, in  certain states of the
 system, it acts as a  tonic,  i. e., it removes the morbid state by its
 homoeopathic action,  and the vital powers resume their normal sway.
 Some further suggestions relating  to the action of Leptandria may
 not be amiss,   lis primary pathogenetic action seems to be that of
 a stimulant, or irritant of the hepatic cells.   Chambers states that
 "Mercury, Nitro-Muriatic Acid,  and Manganese, cause an increase
 of yellow matter in the cells  of the liver."  Podophyllum may have
 the same effect; so also Leptandria.  As a consequence of this pri-
 mary stimulation or irritation, we have the increased elimination be-
 fore mentioned, and sometimes acute congestion  and inflammation.
 Leptandria therefore is primarily homoeopathic to an irritable condi-
 tion of the liver, in which the discharges are  of the peculiar charac-
ter described under " Stool,"  and the pains and  abnormal sensa-
tions are  similar to those under '.'Liver."  The secondary  effect of
 Leptandria is ower-stimulation, or a condition of exhausted irritabili-
 ty,  in which the hepatic cells  refuse to perform their office (particu-
larly that of eliminating the excrementitious substances from the
blood?).   In such cases we have  the following conditions, namely:
Jaundice from retention of biliary  matters in the blood ;  so - called
"bilious symptoms;'' congestion of the liver, and  even chronic in-
flammation of  that  organ, with  its complications  of enlargement,
abscess, and various other structural changes.  Leptandria is there-
fore secondarily homoeopathic to the last-named pathological states.
The size  of the dose, let me remind the reader, will depend on its
primary or secondary homoeopathicity.
    Abdomen.— Constant, dull, aching distress in the umbilical region
 with ocasional, sharp, cutting pains in the same  region:  pain and
 distress in the bowels, preventing sleep; dull pain in the lower part
 of right hypocondriac region and near the gall-bladder, with dull,
 aching distress in the umbilical region, and rumbling in the bowels ;
 great distress in the  whole  of the bowels ; sharp, cutting pains, with
 rumbling and desire  for stool; stool followed by very weak feeling
 in  the bowels  and rectum;  constant, dull, aching distress in the
 umbilical  and hypogastric regions,  with sharp  pains  every few
 minutes—the pains make me feel very faint; constant, dull, aching
 pains in the right inguinal region, passing  down  to the  testicle;
 dull aching in the lumbar  region ; great  rumbling and distress in
 the hypogastric region, with a  profuse, black, fetid stool, followed
 by  slight  pains in the  bowels;  great  distress in the  hypogastric
 region, with great desire for  stool—the pain is aggravated bydrink- 
LEPTANDRIA  VIRGINICA.
291
 ing cold water; a good deal of distress in the stomach and bowels,
 with a burning sensation ; stool followed by very  severe, cutting
 pains in  the small intestines;  distension  ot abdomen; sense  of
 vermicular motion in the colon;  sense of coolness in the alimentary
 canal; pain  in the left iliac  region;  rumbling  in  the intestines;
 flatulence.
    Clinical  Remarks.—The  Leptandria  is homoeopathic  to^a
 variety of chronic enteritis, especally that form which is so common
 in camps, and among the lower  class  of our population in cities.
 It  should be  useful in  bilious enteralgia, and the colics  from
 flatulence, etc.
    During  the course of cases  of typhus  abdominalis, symptoms
 will often arise, which call for its administration. Every practitioner
 has met with cases in which the icteric symptoms, the prostration,
 and  frequently the  abdominal pain, and  the character  of the
 intestinal  discharges, resemble very  closely these found  in the
 provings of Leptandria.  It is not suitable  for  conditions of such
 intensity as call for the use of Arsenicum, but for those cases where
 the derangement is still functional, and there is yet no real decom.
 position  of  the  fluids and solids,  no  ulcerations,  etc.,  such  as
 Arsenicum causes.  I have used the second dec. trit., in a few  cases
 of  typhus abdominalis, with unequivocal benefit.
    Stool.—Hard, black, and lumpy; afterwards soft and mushy stool;
 stool soft and mushy, and followed by  a very weak  feeling in the
 bowels and  rectum; great rumbling  and distress in the hypogas-
 trium, with a profuse, black, and very fetid papescent stool, followed
 by  slight pain in the bowels;  great desire for stool; very profuse
 black stool, of the  consistence  of cream, and  partially  digested,
 followed by  great  relief; profuse, black, fetid  stool, preceded by
 severe pain in  the umbilical and hypogastric regions ; inability to
 retain the stool, which is followed by great relief; great distress in
 small intestines and desire for stool, followed by a soft very  fetid
 and black  stool; watery stool, followed by severe cutting pains in
 the small intestines; inability  to retain the stool, which is  very
 profuse,  fetid,  and  watery, with large quantities  of mucus, and
 followed by very severe pain in the hypogastrium;  desire for  stool
 with great rumbling in the  bowels, followed  by profuse stool of
 watery mucus intermingled with a yellow matter—the  evacuation
 was followed by very severe pain in the umbilicus; profuse, thin
 stool, with large quantities  of mucus, followed by sharp, cutting
 pains, and great distress iu the umbilical region.
    Clinical Remarks.—It  is a stereotyped  phrase of eclectio
 writers that  the Leptandria causes " copious, dark, tar-like dejec-
 tions from the bowels.''  They teach that when this symptom occurs,
 after the  administration  of  Leptandria  in  disease, it is a  very
 favorable  symptom, and recovery is confidently predicted.   This
 assumption is based upon  the  well-known fact, that similar evacu-
ations do often occur during the  course of bilious and other fevers
hepatic diseases, etc., and seem to be of a " critical" character, i.e.,
they relieve  the system  of certain morbid  matters, which  had
caused the malady.  I  have treated many  malarious fevers  of a 
292        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
 pernicious character,  when these tar-like discharges ocurred under
 the homoeopathic use  of Arsenicum and Rhus, and when the peculiar
 evacuations were not due to the medicine, but to the vis medicatrix
 nature.    I  have known  them  to occur  during  an attack  oi
 supposed portal  congestion, when no  medicine had been taken.
 But this pathognesis of Leptandria proves that those peculiar dark
 discharges, are not always the result of natural disease—m other
 words  that  this  medicine is not  alone  an eliminative  of such
 morbid matters, but actually cures such  evacuations, when given to
 healthy persons.  Eclectic writers erroneously teach that when the
 Leptandria causes black evacuations, it shows that the system was
 being poisoned with "vitiated bile," or some other morbid matters.
 It is this belief that has led them to the  indiscriminate routine, and
 injurious use of this remedy in many diseases.  They did not stop
 to ask  themselves the question, whether  the tar-like discharges,
 might  not be due to the poisonous  action of  the drug ?  I have
 known  patients under eclectic  treatment  to be  kept under the
 action  of Leptandria day  after day, until  the  third stage  of
 poisoning—namely, that  state when watery mucus  and  bloody
 Btools occur ; because the physician supposed he must continue the
 administration of the  medicine until  the black  discharges  ceased.
 When they  did cease, then the disease  was  said  to  "run into
 dysentery;" but it was the dysentery of Leptandria.  So much for
 the blind adherence to pervading opinion, which is the curse of all
 medical schools.   There are some interesting peculiarities in relation
to the  symptomatology of the evacuations  caused by Leptandria.
 The catharsis caused by it may be divided into four stages:
    (1)  Discharge of black, thick, tar-like, foetid substances.
    (2)  Thinner, brownish, often foetid evacuations.
    (3)  Stool of mixed mucus, flocculent, and watery matters, with
 yellow bile, or blood.
    (4)  Mucus, bloody stool,  mixed  with  shred-like  substance—
 often pure blood is  discharged.
    Now, to prescribe  a  drug  successfully, we  should  know  the
 different stages of its  pathogenetic  action.   This is just as impor-
 tant as to know the stages of disease. The catharsis of Podophyllin
 differs materially  from that of Leptandria,  and although it causes
 some  of the  varieties of stool, they occur in a different order.   If
 we are called upon  to prescribe for a  diarrhoea, we  should  investi-
 gate its history ; if that history corresponds  in  order and  nature,
 with the Leptandria-disease, then that drug is the specific remedy.
 In the treatment of a dysentery the same rule holds good;  dysen-
 tery occurs in the  fourth stage of Lcptandria-poisoning, while it
 occurs in the second stage of podophyllum-intestinal-irritation. With
 some drugs, scanty, bloody, and mucus stools, occur, as  a  primary
 symptom, as in cases where the rectum is the seat of inflammation.
    Teste  was the  first  to  call attention  to  the importance  of
 selecting remedies upon this data, and the practitioner will find the
 rule a valuable one.
    Dr. P. P. Wells, of New Tork has lately called the attention
 of  the profession to the importance of the characteristic symptoms 
LEPTANDRIA  VIRGINICA.             293
of drugs;  those symptoms  which make it differ from all  other
drugs.  Thus,there are many remedies for "black  stools," but  not
all  will remove that condition;  the collateral  symptoms  must
correspond.  This subject will be noticed in another place.  In the
subject of the proving of Leptandria, it should not escape the notice
of the physician, that the evacuations per anum are accompanied
by some peculiar symptoms :  The pains  in  the intestines usually
occur after stool;  in the podophyllum diarrhoea they occur before,
while the diarrhoea of mercury, and many others, the pain is severe
during the stool.   It will also be noticed  that the  evacuations are
not followed by tenesmus.  The proving here  given does  not
mention it, nor do I find it mentioned in  any article refering to its
action.  In practice I have  not found it useful when there was
marked  tenesmus  attending  the  disease.   Such  remedies  as
Podophyllum, Aloes, and Mercurius are more applicable.
   I am inclined to believe that Leptandria does not have any direct
specific effect on the rectum.  Its  action on the  liver and portal
system, undoubtedly  causes it  to effect  the  rectum  and  hem-
orrhoidal  vessels  but this  action is indirect.  If  we  carefully
Btudy the  symptoms of Leptandria, after the  method  proposed
by Dr. P. P. Wells, we  shall find  it  a drug possessing a distinct
itdividuality, as much as any other drug  in our Materia Medica.
   In Acute Diarrhea,  we shall find  this medicine often indicated,
and it will prove a  valuable specific when administered for the path-
ological  conditions  in  which it  is indicated—those,  and  the
symptoms, are well shown by the proving.
   In  Chronic  Diarrhea, this drug  is even more reliable for the
general condition, which is shown  by the  following extracts from
my lecture on  Leptandria,  delivered before  the class of Hahne-
man Medical College, in the winter of 1864 :—                _
   "The three principal  varieties of chronic  diarrhoea,  in  which
Leptandria will be found useful, are:
   " {a) From  chronic  inflammation or  irritation of the mucous
membrane.
   "(b) Dependent on hepatic derangement.
   "(c) Diarrhoea of debility.
   "Some of the  indications for Leptandria in  the first-named
variety, I have already  given.  But  I will here call your attention
to one form of this affection,  which bears the common _ name of
" Camp Diarrhoea."  This  disease is usually contracted  in  oamp,
where the  soldiers  are  illy  protected from atmospheric changes,
and are exposed to  cold, dampness, and  foetid  exhalations, from
refuse matter,  decaying  vegetation, etc.  These, together with
improperly cooked  food, and  bad water, are  the  principal causes
of this malady.  Its onset is sometimes  gradual,  lasting for days
and weeks  before  the  surgeon's  attention is called to it by the
patient;  but it often attacks its  victims suddenly,  and assumes the
character of a cholera morbus, or  acute  enteritis.   It is one ot the
most intractable diseases  with which our army has to contend.
Under allopathic treatment it is almost  incurable, and sometimes
resists all medication,  so long as the man remains in camp or bar- 
294        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
racks, exposed  to the same influence which  caused it,  and obliged
to subsist upon  the  usual hospital diet.  In the  acute stages, the
following treatment  will  be found most  applicable: If it is evi-
dently caused  by a cold, or exposure to  dampness,  Dulcamara,
Aconite  or Pulsatilla will be found most efficacious.  When caused
by bad diet, and improper food or water, Pulsatilla, or Podophyllum
will be most useful.  If hepatic derangement  is evidently present,
Mercurius, Podophyllum, Leptandria,  or  Iris versicolor will be
indicated.' If the attack is choleraic in its  character, Arsenicum,
Veratrum alb, or Euphorbia cor., and perhaps Aconite,  should be
selected.  But when it assumes  a chronic character, and persists
in spite of altered diet, change of location, etc., then  Leptandria or
Leptandrin  will be found an invaluable remedy.  In many cases
its persevering  use will  alone  effect a cure, although  there are
cases in which we may be obliged to resort to the auxiliary aid of
Phosphoric acid,  Nitric  acid, Arsenicum,  Sulphur,  or  Mercurius
corrosivus.
   "It is in most cases absolutely necessary that the  patient (the
subject  of Camp Diarrhoea)  should  be removed from  camp, or
barracks,  as soon as  possible, and transferred  to  some healthy
locality.   For obvious reasons, a return to  the patient's home is to
be preferred.  Here  his military dress should be changed for his
former civilian's apparel and his diet should consist of plain, nutritious,
easily-assimilable substances.  My experience has been that patients
do the best upon a milk diet; plain bread and milk  being the best
form  of its use.  In addition,  he should  have  a certain limited
amount of good fresh beef, mutton,  or game, every day.  Taking
the hint  from the practice of an eminent Russian military surgeon,
who  successfully adopted the  treatment   in  the great military
hospitals, I have  advised the use- of raw,  or  nearly raw,  beef,
and in most instances, with the most satisfactory results.  Tender,
lean steak should be  selected, and chopped very fine,  a very small
quantity of salt may  be added  if the  patient insists.   Of this an
adult may eat one or two ounces,  three times a day, with his  bowl
of bread and milk.  Potatoes, salted meats,  warm bread, raw  fruit,
pastry, coffee, preserves, and liquors, should be prohibited.  Mode-
rate  exercise will be  of advantage;  too  much,  injurious.  If the
chronic  diarrhoea  depends  for  its  continuance  on debility, and
resembles  the  colliquative diarrhoea of phthisis, accompanied by
hectic fever and coiliquative sweats, the Leptandria is still useful,
but should  be given  in alternation  with  Phosphorus, Arsenicum,
China, or Ferrum.  The two latter  are especially  indicated if a
lientery is developed, and the food passes the bowels unchanged,
or in a state of putrefactive fermentation.
   "In some cases such is the debility and relaxation of the mucous
membrane, that the  serous and  even fibrinous parts  of the blood
escape, attended sometimes with  more or  less of the red coloring
matter.   An  increased  degree of the same  affection constitute!
passive hemorrhage.    It  is  not  unfrequently  associated  with a
watery state of the blood, which becomes incapable of sustaining a
due energy m the extreme vessels.  In such conditions, Leptandria 
LEPTANDRIA   VIRGINICA.
295
is still useful, but  should be  aided  by those remedies which are
capable of bringing back  the blood to a normal condition. First in
importance  stands Iron.  The preparation I prefer is the Phos-
phate,  given in the form of syrup of super-phosphate  of Iron,
thirty drops after each meal,  or a  few grains of the first decimal
trituration of the  Pyrophosphate.   Next in Value are Hydrastin,
Helonin, Muriatic acid,  and sometimes Nux vomica.  The Citrate
of Iron and Strychnine is often one  of the most  efficient remedies
for chronic  diarrhoea when we have two  conditions ; namely,  an
impoverished state of the blood, and an atonic state of the mus-
cular tissues of the  intestines.    When these  states  obtain, we
usually find alternate constipation and  diarrhoea,  deficient  diges-
tion, accumulations of flatulence  and haemorrhoids.
   Dr.  Small is very  successful in the   treatment of Chronic
Diarrhoea: he relies upon Nitric Acid and Arsenicum.
   " Chronic ulceration of the intestines often  occurs during the
course of  a  chronic diarrhoea.  Dr. Chambers says :  ' There is no
disorder  in which  emaciation is so marked a feature throughout
its  whole course,  as  chronic  ulceration of  the small intestines.
Ulcerations of the  coecum and colon, tubercular or not, produce as
much, nay,  often more diarrhoea; but they are not,  by any means,
bo distinguished in their power of  reducing the  patient.  In this
lesion of the ilia, even the parts  which are not the actual seat of
disease, seem incapacitated  from absorbing nutriment,  and the
victuals pass  through the alimentary canal in  the  same state  as
when they left the stomach, except being made putrid by chemical
decomposition.   All the stages of digestion are equally suspended.'
   "These  lesions are  more common  during  infantile  life, and
thousands of children are yearly  carried off by thi3 malady in every
large city.   In this affection Arsenicum,  Merc,  cor.,  Sulphnr,
Nitric acid,  and Phytolacca  are indicated.  The Leptandria has
also been of use in  my hands, when, with the usual symptoms, there
was present a jaundiced  hue of the skin, sallow complexion,  pain
in the region of the liver, lack of bile in the evacuations, and great
debility.   In such a condition I would advise you to use, for adults,
the first decimal trituration; for children, the third trituration.
   " When the ulceration is tubercular, you will have to resort to a
different class of remedies, prominent among which I would advise
the hypophosphate of lime  (calcis  hypophosphis),  which has  all
the curative properties of calc. carb., together with the recupera-
tive qualities of phosphorus.  The  second  or third dec. trit. will
prove the  most  satisfactory.  Leptandria may be called for,  even
in this disease, if we find disorder of the  liver complicating the
case.  I believe  it  increases the absorbent action  of the intestinal
mucous membraue,  and thus prevents the  excessive emaciation.
In respect of the  action of  Leptandria  on the mucous membranes
of the intestines Dr. Coe, gives  a case  which is quite interesting.
He says:   ' No remedy  with which we  are acquainted, is more to
be relied upon  in  chronic  affections of the  mucous  surfaces.  Its
value in this  respect  is  peculiarly  apparent in  chronic dysentery
and  diarrhoea,  and other diseases  of the bowels.   When  false 
 296        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 membranous  formations have occurred  in  the smaller intestines
 produced by the gradual exudation of plastic lymph., the  Leptan-
 dria nmv be relied upon for their removal,  with great confidence.
 * * * We have also used  it  with great success, in  the  cure  of
 constipation and  piles.  We recently treated a case of the latter
 complaint, accompanied with  frequent hemorrhage  from the
 rectum, of twelve years  standing.  A short  time after commencing
 its  use,  the  patient  discharged  considerable quantities  of false
 membrane, in shreds and patches, and a number of pieces several
 inches in length, forming complete tubes.  The evacuation of this
 matter was attended with an  amelioration  of all  the symptoms,
 and at  the present time the patient  declares himself well.  The
 bowels  are regular, appetite good, the hemorrhage has ceased,
 and the distressing pain, so  long experienced beneath the sacrum,
 entirely gone.'
   This  is quite an important  clinical   fact,   and although the
 cases were treated  with massive doses two to four grs. twice  or
 thrice a day, we cannot doubt  that the remedy was  homoeopathic
 to the disease mentioned.
   In Woods' Practice, article " Chronic Enteritis," we find  that
 "occasionally portions of  false membrane are discharged, and  in
 some rare instances, tubes of considerable length, obviously the
 result of a plastic inflammation, throwing  out coagulable lymph
 upon the surface of the mucous membrane.''
   Dr. Cumming of Edinburg has given an account of a peculiar
 variety of pseudo-membranous inflammation of  the  bowels (quoted
by Wood).  In  this variety, Dr.  Simpson used Arsenic, a  remedy
 homoeopathic to the disease, and Dr. Cumming used tar and electro
 "galvanism,'' successfully.
   Believing, as I do, that all  medicinal remedies cure only under
the law of similia, it seems highly probable to me that Leptandria,
in the case given by Dr.  Coe, caused the expulsion of the membrane
 and effected the cure, by virtue of its power to cause a similar
 pathological state.
    Chronic Dysentery is  often associated with chronic enteritis,
 and it is not always easy to determine, how far the two portions of
 the bowels are  severally involved in the inflammation, nor is the
 decision  a matter  of much importance. Chronic Diarrhoea and
Dysentery are very nearly allied in their anatomical character, and
we  often find  cases  where the  symptoms of both  maladies are
intimately blended.   But chronic dysentery, when  not thus com-
bined, is distinguished from chronic diarrhoea by the frequency and
comparatively small quantities of the evacuations, their character,
and  the  tenesmus  with which they  are attended.   The  greater
number of the stools consist  chiefly of mucus, sometimes mixed
with pus-like matter or blood.   Occasionally, however, feculent  or
bilious matter is  mixed with  the proper  dysenteric discharge.
When the disease occupies the rectum and  lower portions of the
colon, the feculent discharge is often  consistent,  and instead  of
being uniformly mixed with mucus, is  either irregularly pervaded
by it  in layers  or  streaks, or enveloped in a  thick coating of  it, 
LEPTANDRIA  VIRGINICA.
297
derived from the surface of the bowel with which the foeces lay in
contact.  There is usually more or less tormina, and tenderness on
pressure; the pulse, skin, and appetite  are affected as in chronic
diarrhoea,  and there is  nearly the  same emaciation.   Chronic
Dysentery  is  seldom an  original  disease, but  when  it occurs, is
almost always in consequence of  an acute attack.  It is very often
a result of acute attacks of " camp dysentery," and  even " camp
diarrhoea'' may ruu  into a chronic dysentery.  In this disease we
have in Leptandria  a valuable and efficient remedy, but it is more
applicable to those cases in  which a chronic enteritis  complicates
the disorder.
    In  Cholera Infantum it has proved a very useful remedy.  Dr.
King (Eclectic), says:—" In cholera infantum, a disease which some-
times sets at defiance all the skill of the physician, I have met with
excellent success by the following combination :  Leptandria six grs.,
Quinia three grs., Camphor one and a half grs., Ipecacuanha three-
fourths grs., mixed and divided in twelve powders, of which one
may be given every two or three hours, and its use continued thus
for several days.  Its action at first  is to increase the alvine pass-
ages, and apparently augment the disease, but  in a  few days the
character of the  evacuations change,  become more  and more
normal, as well as more regular in their appearance;  after which,
one or two  powders per day for a week  will render  the cure
permanent."
    I have quoted the above, to show that this mixture, absurd as
it is, really cured the disease homoeopathically.
    Leptandria, the main ingredient, is eminently homoeopathic to
the disease in most cases, as the proving shows  conclusively.
    Quinia, for which we  substitute  China, is indicated by the
general  condition  (prostration from loss of fluids), and  by the
special symptoms (copious, dark, or light, watery stool, etc).
    Ipecac, is one of our best remedies, when there occurs vomiting
with the diarrhoea, and Camphor, as shown by  Hahnemann is quite
homoeopathic to choleraic symptoms, with considerable prostration.
By the use of Leptandria third trit., China second dil., and Ipecac,
first or second, with Camphor tenth, as an intercurrent remedy, the
homoeopathist, can cure his  patients, without the danger  of doing
injury to the organism, especially in cases of children, that is apt
to occur from such massive  doses  as is advised by King, who
admits that the disease  is apt to be aggravated at  first by the
medicines.
    Dr. B. L. Hill, when  an Eclectic, wrote as follows concerning
 the action of Leptandria, in dysentery.
    "In the epidemic dysentery which has prevailed for the last two
seasons (1854,55,) in many parts of our country, this article has
been of great service.  It was usually given  with the best success,
after  evacuating the bowels freely, with a  combination  of Podo-
phyllin and Leptandria, or Rhubarb.  For this purpose give from
one-half of a grain to a grain every hour,  gradually lengthening the
intervals as the discharge becomes darker.  Though it may not be
38 
298        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
  applicable in all cases of dysentery, it is doubtless one of the most
  useful articles in this dangerous disease."
     The epidemic referred to was of an adynamic character, quickly
  prostrating the patient, and often ran into a typhoid  condition.
  For the same epidemic, Dr. Hill would now advise and use with as
  good results, minute doses of Leptandria, Podophyllum, Arsenicum,
  and Baptisia. It may be remarked  here that Podophyllum is indica-
  ted for a much  higher grade of inflammation and  irritation  of the
  bowels, than Leptandria.  The following was Dr. Hill's estimate
  of the action of Leptandria:—" It  is not  strictly  cathartic.   It is
  aperient, alterative and tonic.  In cases  of children affected  with
  summer  complaint, where there is evidently a lack of the proper
 biliary secretions,  but when  owing to  the already irritated con-
 dition of the bowels, the ordinary  remedies for arousing the liver
 are inadmissible, this article seems to be the very thing needed.  While
 it acts freely upon the liver, instead of purging, it  seems  to change
 the discharge from the light, and  watery, or slimy condition, to a
 darkened and apparently bilious state rendering  them  more and
 more consistent, until  they  become  perfectly  natural, without
 having been arrested entirely, or at  any  time  aggravated.   It at
 the same time seems to  act  as a  tonic, restoringthe tone of the
 stomach, and increasing the strength and activity of digestion."
    Dr. Hill  the homoeopathic, values the  Leptandria as  highly as
 did Dr. Hill the eclectic, but he  accounts for its action in a  more
 rational manner.   As  the latter he gave  one-fourth to  one  grain
 every hour or two, in acute cases, or one to two  grains  three times
 a day in chronic cases;  as the former he  finds one-tenth or  one-
 hundreth of a grain equally servicable.  In  those  severe cases of
 disease which clearly resemble the primary symptoms of  poisoning
 with the fresh root of Leptandria, the thirtieth, if prepared from
 a good tincture, would  doubtless act curatively.
    Trine.—Urine  at first slightly acid,  then neutral  and rather
 scanty;  urine very red,  and does not affect litmus paper; dull,
 aching pain in the lumbar region.
    Clinical Remarks.—King says " it exerts a powerful influence
 upon the absorbent system, and in combination with  cream  of tartar,
 has been successfully used in obstinate cases of dropsy."
    If Leptandria is homoeopathic to any  variety  of dropsy, it is
 probably that dependent on disease of the liver.   In order to  test
 its value in dropsy,  or, indeed, any disease, it should be given alone.
 To  combine medicines is to lose  all  data concerning the real action
 of any single agent.
    It is doubtful  if Leptandria  exercises any specific action on the
functions of the kidneys, yet a medicine may be useful in dropsy
without being a  diuretic. It may act curatively by a certain general
restorative power.  Thus  China, Iron, Helonias, etc.,  may remove
dropsies by bringing the organism up  to a normal condition.   Any
cause which obstructs the circulation in the portal system  of veins,
 will induce dropsy.   Chronic tumefaction of the liver, and organic
diseases of that  organ ;  also inflammation of the portal vein  are
the principle causes of the varieties  of hepatic dropsy. 
LEPTANDRIA   VIRGINICA,
299
   Thorax.— Soreness in left side of the thorax, especially about
the cardiac region.
   Clinical Remarks.—In affections  of the liver, we  may  have
sympathetic  disturbances  of  the  heart's action;  so  also  from
dyspepsia.
   Indirectly  the Leptandria may prove useful  in  some derange-
ments of the functions of the heart.
   Back-—Sore and lame feeling in the small of the back.
   Upper  Extremities.—Both  wrists  are  very lame,  and  ache
severely, lasting some hours ; pain in left shoulder and arm; chilly
sensation at the shoulders and down the arm.
   Clinical Remarks.—Pain in the left shoulder is a symptom of
disease of the posterior portion of the liver.
   Lower Extremities.—Feet and legs, from the knees downward,
feel cold and numb.

              DR. BURT'S PROVING OP LEPTANDRIA.
   January  29th,   1864.—Am  perfectly  well;  good appetite;
bowels regular, once a day; urine acid.   My temperament is san-
guine-nervous, with a little  of the bilious.  Took one grain of
Leptandrin, at 10 a. m.;  10.15,  natural stool; 12 m., constant, dull,
frontal headache, worse in the temples;  constant distress in the
lower part of the epigastric region, and umbilicus—by spells  there
are sharp, cutting pains, in the same parts. Took two grains, 3 p. m.;
slight, frontal headache, with a dull, aching sensation in the umbili-
cus.   Took three grains, 5  p. m. ;  constant, dull, frontal headache,
very severe, deep in the regions of causality; constant, dull, aching
distress in the umbilicus—at times there are very sharp pains in the
same region.   Took four grains, 9 p. m.; the frontal headache has
been  very severe;   eyes smart, and  ache very much; constant,
aching distress in the umbilicus, with sharp pains at times; feeling
very gloomy.  Took 5 grains.
   January 30th.—Feeling very tired; slept middling well; awoke
several  times, and  found  that I  had a severe  frontal headache.
Took six  grains at  7 a. m.; 10 a. m.,  slight, dull headache, with
slight distress in the bowels.   Took eight grains,  12 m.; constant,
dull headache, very much worse in the regions  of  causality; eyes
sore, and smart severely; constant, aching distress in the stomach ;
with great distress in the umbilical region.  Took ten grains 2 p. m.,
had to  ride ten miles on horseback, did not notice any particular
symptoms.  At 6 p.m. took  fifteen  grains; 9 p.m., slight, frontal
headache; eyes  ache, and smart severely; constant,  aching dis-
tress in the epigastric and umbilical regions, with sharp, cutting
pains, by spells; urine slightly  acid; no  stool to-day.
   January 31st.—Had  a restless night after midnight; the pains
and distress in the bowels prevented me from sleeping; feeling very
languid; dull pain in the lower part of the right hypochondriac region;
tongue coated yellow along the center.  Took twenty grains at 8 a.m.;
stool, first part hard, black, and lumpy, afterwards soft and mushy;
12 m  slight,  frontal headache; eyes smart very much;  frequent,
dull  aching pains in the lower right hypochondriac region, near the 
300        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 gall bladder, with dull, aching distress in the umbilical region, and
 rumbling in the bowels.  Took  twenty-five grains,  2 p. m. ; dull,
 aching distress in the whole of the liver that extends to the spine;
 the most distress is in the region of the gall-bladder ;  great distress
 in the whole of the bowels, with sharp, cutting pains, rumbling, and
 desire for stool; stool, soft and  mushy, followed  by  a very weak
 feeling in the bowels and rectum ; 5 p. m.,  frontal headache; eyes
 smart a great deal;  constant, burning, aching distress in the region
 of the stomach and liver; dull, aching distress in the umbilical and
 hypogastric regions.  Took twenty-five grains, 9 p.m.; dull, frontal
 headache that is very deep in  the  cerebrum;  eyes smart very
 much; burning distress in  the whole epigastric and hypochondriac
 regions; constant, dull, aching distress in the umbilical  and hypo-
gastric regions,  with very sharp  pains every few minutes; makes
me feel very weak  and faint; constant, dull, aching pain in the
right inguinal region,  that passes  down to the right testicle ;  it is
very  hard to endure  the pain in  the testicle; dull  aching in the
lumbar region; urine rather scanty, and does not affect blue litmus
 paper.
   February 1st.—Had a  restless night after  midnight;  skin was
very hot and dry, with frequent pain in the bowels ; eyelids agglu-
tinated ; unpleasant; flat taste in mouth; tongue coated yellow, along
the centre;  great rumbling and distress in the hypogastric region,
with a profuse,  black,  very foetid,  soft,  papescent  stool, with
slight  pain  in the  bowels  afterwards; feeling very languid.  At
6 a.m., took thirty grains;   11  a.m., frequent, dull,  aching dis-
tress in the  umbilical and hypogastric regions.  Took forty grains,
2 p. m.; for the last two hours I  have been  in awful pain  and dis-
tress in the epigastric, umbilical, and hypogastric regions;  drinking
cold  water  aggravates the  pain and distress  very much;  dull,
aching, burning  distress in the  region  of  the gall-bladder, with
frequent  chilliness  along  the spine;  great  distress in  the hypo-
gastric region, with great desire for  stool;  very profuse, black
stool,  about the  consistence of cream, with undigested potatoes in
it.  This gave great relief, but was followed  by great  distress in
the region of the liver, extending to the spine ;  it is of a hot, aching
character, with  chilliness along  the spine; 5  p. m., slight, frontal
headache; there has been constant distress  with very sharp  pains
by spells, in the lumbar region;  10 p. m., slight frontal headache,
with sharp pains in  the temples ; there has been constant distress,
with pains in the whole of the abdomen, since 5 p. m., but, for the
last half hour, the pains in the umbilical  and hypogastric regions have
been awful to endure, with rumbling  and great desire for stool; a
very profuse, black, foetid stool, that ran a stream from my bowels,
and could not be retained a  moment; this  gave great relief, but,
did not stop the  pain  altogether; urine very red,  does  not affect
blue litmus  paper.
   February  2nd.-Slept  soundly;  feeling very languid; both
wrists  are very lame and ache quite  severely tiie left one aches
the most pam lasted until noon; tongue  coated, yellow along the
centie; flat taste in  the  mouth.   Immediately after getting up, a 
LEPTANDRIA  VIRGINICA.
301
very severe, aching distress came  on in  the epigastric region.  At
10 a. m., the distress in the stomach is  constantly getting  worse ;
I cannot sit or stand still, it is so severe ; food rises very sour;  12
m., the painful distress in the stomach has been unendurable all the
forenoon ; it is a hard, aching, burning sensation, and appears to be
in the stomach ; 9 p. m., the painful distress in the stomach  has not
been so hard, but have  had severe pains in  the  umbilical region
all the afternoon ;  urine  neutral; no stool to-day.
   February 3rd.—Slept soundly;  awoke at 5 a. m., feeling very
hungry, with great distress in the epigastric region, and continued
until  I had  breakfast;  frequent pains  in the  epigastric  region
all  day.
   February 4th.—Slept well;  feeling  quite well;  great desire
for  food; stool,  first part natural, last part soft and mushy.
   February 5th.—Awoke  at  2 a. m., feeling very hungry^  have
a great appetite ;  11 a. m.,  took twenty  drops of the fluid  extract
of Leptandria;  12 m., dull, frontal headache; profuse secretion of
tears; dull, aching distress in  the stomach and umbilical  region;
3 p. m., slight headache;  constant, aching distress in the  umbilicus
with  sharp pains  by  spells;  sharp, cutting  pains near the  gall-
bladder.  Took  thirty drops,   4 p. m., dull, frontal headache, with
a sensation as if the hair were pulled at; good deal of distress in
the stomach and bowels, with a  burning sensation; 6 p. m., dull,
aching distress in the umbilicus.  Took forty drops;  10 p. m., there
has been  a great deal  of distress in  the umbilicus, with a great
burning distress in the back part of the liver and in the spine; soft,
mushy stool; took fifty drops.
    February 6th.—Slept well; arose once in the  night; immediately
I became sick at  my stomach, with  a  deathly faintness;  tongue
coated yellow; flat taste in my mouth;  7 a. m.,  took six drops; 10
a. M., slight  headache; great  distress in the small intestines, and
desire for stool; stool  soft, very  foetid,   and  black.  Took  seventy
drops;  noon, dull, aching distress in the umbilical region,  with
very  sharp pains  by spells.   Took  eighty  drops; 3 p. m., slight
frontal headache;  eyes  smart  a  good deal;  constant, dull, aching
pain in the cardiac portion of the  stomach ; great distress in the
umbilicus.  Took  one  hundred  drops;  10  p. m.,  slight  frontal
headache, with neuralgic pains in the right temple; eyes smarting
constantly, with dull pains in  the eyeballs;  have had very severe
pains in the stomach and  small intestines, with great distress and
desire for stool; stool  soft, very foetid, and mushy ;  have been very
gloomy  and very  irritable all day.  Took one hundred and twenty
 drops.
    February 7th.—Up all night with a very sick patient; had
frequently severe  pains in the umbilical and hypogastric regions ;
stool,  3 a. m., that  run  a  stream from  my bowels,  followed
by very  severe cutting pains in  the small intestines; 8 a.  m., very
 severe  frontal  headache, walking makes it almost  intolerable;
 great distress  in the stomach  and all of the small intestines, with
 great desire for stool, that could not be retained one moment;  run
 a stream from my bowels,  very  foetid, with large quantities  of 
302       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
mucus in it, followed by severe  pain in the hypogastric region ;
Took one hundred and sixty drops.  10 a. m.,  there has  been con-
stant and very  violent  frontal headache;  great distress  in the
stomach and small intestines, with frequent pains in the umbilicus
that make me feel very faint and weak; great rumbling  in the
bowels;  stool that  could  not be retained,  consisting  of  water
and  large  quantities  of  mucus and  a  little  yellow matter,
followed by very hard  pains in  the umbilicus ; very dizzy while
walking;  quite weak and languid, can hardly walk;  12 m., severe
frontal headache; constant,  dull,  aching, burning distress  in the
whole of the  bowels, with frequent pain and rumbling,  and great
desire for stool; stool of water and mucus, followed by very hard
pain in the hypogastric and  umbilical region;  2 p. m., another very
profuse, thin stool, with  large quantities of mucus; great  frontal
headache; very weak and languid, compelled to go to bed ; 4 p. m.,
slept two hours,  awoke  with  great distress  in the whole  of the
bowels, and great desire for stool;  profuse, watery stool  mixed
with mucus   that  could  not be  retained;  5  p.  m., another
stool of mucus  and water, with part  natural  faeces,  very foetid;
6 p. m., another stool,  with large quantities of mucus in it, followed
by  sharp, cutting  pains, and great distress in  the umbilical region;
feeling very weak and  faint; 9 p. m., another profuse  stoofthat
could not be retained, followed by severe pains in the bowels; very
severe frontal headache.
    February  8tb.—Slept soundly, feeling  very languid;  tongue
coated yellow  along the centre; dull, aching distress in the bowels;
during the night have  had frequent pains in the umbilicus, with
much rumbling all day ;  no stool;  great appetite.
    February 9th.—Lost  my  sleep last night,  and  am feeling very
bad to-day;  have had frequent pains  in my bowels all day, with
severe headache; no stool.
    February 10th.—Slept well; feeling  very well, excepting fre-
quent pains in  the umbilical  region;  soft, yellow, papescent stool,
preceded by pain in the umbilical region.
NUPHAR   LUTEA.
 {Small flowered, yellow Pond-Lily.)
   This well-known  plant  is  found all over  the United States,
growing in ponds and stagnant waters, is of a similar habit to the
white pond-hly—the leaves always floating in deep water,  and
are erectin shallow.   The petioles are semi-cylindrical; color of the
root and flower, deep yellow.  Dr. Marcy says the species used by
Dr. Petit, the prover, was the smaU, and flowered, yellow pond-lily 
NUPHAR  LUTEA.
303
n. lutea, not the large-lowered, common yellow lily-—from  which,
however, it is said to be sometimes difficult to distinguish it.
   This  proving  was made  with  the fourth, sixth, seventh and
eighth dilutions, by Dr, Petit,  and translated from the Jour, de la
Societe Gallicane,  and may be found  in  the North Amer. Jour.,
Vol. 3, p. 250.  I have arranged the pathogenesis according to the
general plan herein adopted.
   General Symptoms.—'Weakness;  restlessness; diminution of the
strength;  and flush, healthy complexion.
   Emotive  Sphere.—Excessive  moral sensibility, giving one great
pain on  witnessing the  suffering of animals; great impatience at
the slightest contradiction.
   Skin.—Toward the end often  or twelve days which  followed
the commencement of the proving (first), there appeared, on differ-
ent parts of the body, a number  of red blotches, tolerably regular
in outline, oval or circular,  prominent, and covered  with  little
scales, of a  silvery white; in short, resembling psoriasis.  There
were a few on the posterior surface of the arms, but they were  most
abundant on the anterior surface of the legs ; they itched violently,
especially in the evening.   Friction removed the little scales, which
were rapidly reproduced;  remained a few days, then fell off again
from the scratching induced by the itching.  This eruption lasted a
month  and a half.  As  it disappeared, and the scales ceased to be
reproduced, the skin at the place of each blotch became pale, red or
yellowish.  It would be impossible  to mistake the character of pso-
riasis in these symptoms.   Were they pathogenetic or unconnected
with the remedy."—{Petit)   Aggravation of a moderate ptyriasis
capitis, of several years standing; morning and evening, especially,
the  itching  is  intolerable, and the  comb  bring3  away  a  great
 quantity  of hair (second proving).  (Dr.  P. doubts whether this
was a drug symptom, as the pityriasis was constitutional with  him.)
 Sensation like flea-bites in different  parts for several  days; a red,
 slightly prominent patch, covered with little white scales, and itch-
 ing  violently, on  the interior surface of the right arm, near the
 axilla; a red, oval, prominent patch, as large as a five-cent piece, on
 the  internal surface of the left arm, exactly like a patch of psoriasis,
 covered with silvery  scales, falling off, and renewed again  every
 few days, itching violently especially in the evening.
     With very  commendable  frankness  Dr.  Petit offers the
 following:                          .
    Remarks.—" We have seen during my first proving, an  erup-
 tion like psoriasis appeared  on my lower limbs.  Although of an
 eminently psoric constitution,  manifested in childhood by tempo-
 rarv enlargements of the cervical lymphatics, chilblains, catarrhal
 inflammation of the  eyelids, etc., and in adult  life by symptoms
 resembling at one time,  the commencement of tubercular consump-
 tion  and°which  only yielded  to  homoeopathic  treatment,  it was
 nevertheless the first occasion in which I had been affected with an
 eruption of this nature.   It  continued for a month and a half.  In
 the second proving,  subsequently  instituted a few months  after,
 there was no eruption.   But  in the  third, five months afterwards, 
304        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
 two patches appeared  on the internal surface of each arm. ^ Four
 years afterwards, while an interne at the Hospice de la Salpetridre,
 and brought every morning in contact with some hundred patients
 affected with itch, I was seized with a general psoriasis,  which
 lasted  more than  a month, without  being in the least affected by
 any medicament,  and  only  yielded,  at  the end of three or  four
 weeks,  to the alternate  use of manganum and nitric acid.  Every
 year since  has  been marked by the appearance of twTo or  three
 patches of psoriasis.  Quite recently I again proved the Nuphar I.,
 and in less than a fortnight the patches of psoriasis appeared on all
 sides.     *     *    *     What  conclusion  shall we draw  from
 these facts ?  Did the Nuphar act three times in succession to pro-
 duce the eruption ?  Or did it simply act by awaking the patholog-
 ical susceptibilities  of the economy, and depressing the vital func-
 tions, and  thus  favor the appearance of the disease ?  Or  is the
 whole thing a mere coincidence?  I shall willingly adopt  the  latter
 conclusion as the wiser one, until further provings, and an extended
 clinical  experience shall have thrown more light upon  the subject."
    This conclusion does honor to his judgment.   Let further pro-
 vings on healthy persons be made.
    Head-—Pressive headache in the  forehead and temples, ceasing
 in the open  air;  boring pain in transitory attacks in the left anterior
 part of  the forehead, in  the  evening;  dull, or teasing  pains, some-
 times in the forehead,  at others in the whole  upper part of the
 head ; heaviness in  the whole  head, in the middle of the day; dull,
 deep lancinations behind the left frontal eminence ; dull pain in the
 left anterior central lobe ;  very painful, bruising, shaking in the
 brain at every step when walking ; dull pain  and  sensation of pain-
 ful weight in the orbit all day, in the right anterior cerebral lobe,
 and right side of the occiput; painful  heaviness in the orbit, at the
 base of the brain—a very frequent symptom since the beginning of
 the  proving; lancinations in  the left anterior part of the brain;
 Weight  in the temples in the morning.
 ,   Clinical Remarks.—The pains  about  the  orbital regions are
 peculiar.  Dr. P. is of the opinion that its action is deep, direct and
 primary on the nervous centers.
    Eyes.—Dull pain, and sensation  of weight in the orbit; discol-
 ored eyes, {around the eyes f II.)  (For  other  symptoms of the
 orbit, see Head.)
    Face.—Face pale; discolored eyes; though otherwise as well as
 usual.
    Gastric and Intestinal Symptoms,—Sweetish taste several times a
 day; sense of weakness; slightly painful over the whole anterior
 surface  of the stomach; soft stool, preceded by some  colic, for sev-
 eral days;  diarrhoeaic  stools, morning and evening, preceded by
violent colic pains in the rectum; six stools from 8 p. m., to 6 a. m.;
 diarrhoeaic stool  during  the  day, after breakfast and another  after
 dinner;  yellow diarrhoea, especially in the morning, for three  days,
five or six stools a  day, without colic or  epigastric trouble,  except
at times a sense of weakness in  the epigastric region; the stools
are always  more  numerous  toward  five  or six o'clock,  a. m. ; 
NUPHAR  LUTE A.
305
emission of flatulence  in evening, with wind  colic; smarting, and
burning  pain  at the  anus,  after every  stool; stitches,  as from
needles, in the rectum.
   Clinical Remarks.—" In the chronological order of the symp-
toms, those which are  seated in the digestive  organs do  not com-
mence until a number of days after the disturbance has been  mani-
fested in  the nervous  functions.  Their seat,  so far as can now be
judged, is in the lower part of the digestive canal.   Thus the pains
which accompany or precede the stools, are  principally seated in
the rectum.  The appetite is not at all disturbed, still the strength
is not renewed, nutrition languishes, the face becomes pale, the eyes
dark colored.  The stools  are  sometimes  soft, generally languid,
yellow, most frequent between  four  and  six  o'clock, a. m.  It is
indicated in acute  or chronic cases of  entero-colitis.,  when  the
aggravation takes  place, in  the early morning, and generally in
cases  where there  is depression of the virile  functions."—{Dr.
Petit)
    Case  1.—" M. B.,  et. twenty eight, had had a  morning  diar-
rhoea for three months. He had to rise every  morning towards five
o'clock, several times for this purpose of going to stool—never any
colic.  Bryonia and Sepia,  did no good in a fortnight; the  diar-
rhoea continued of the same character, and the slightest error in
diet aggravated it.   Nuphar cured it rapidly.—{lb)
    Case 2.—" M. Louis B., et. twenty-one, Professor of Literature,
had scarce  returned from the country,  towards the end  of last
autumn, when he was taken with a morning  diarrhoea, with colic.
Between four and six, a. m.,  he had two or three  stools, and com-
monly one in the evening.  This state had lasted eight days. After
first dose of Nuphar, taken at  night,  the diarrhoea ceased.''
    Case 3.—" M. L., et.  forty-three, musician, had suffered three
years from entero-colitis, contracted by excesses  at the table, and
venery, and domestic troubles.  He had exhausted the resources of
the old school,  and of quackery, without benefit; and  when he
consulted me, towards the end of last November, he presented the
following case:—Appetite good,  sometimes excessive; frequent
regurgitations  of  an acrid  and corrosive taste;  digestion slow;
 colic and rumbling every night, awakened several  times from  five
 to seven, every  morning,  to go to stool, which was liquid or  soft,
 yellowish, and either sour or foetid ; the least excess, of any  kind,
 produced an aggravation  of this state, and generally obliged him
 to remain in  bed for a day or two—ordinarily he was enabled to
 attend to his affairs; his sleep was agitated;  heat in the palms of
 his  hands ; frequent pulse; at times a dull  pain in the left renal
 region, which was sensitive to the touch.  From the first doses of
 Nuphar he derived more benefit  than he had previously experi-
 enced from any treatment, and in two  months he was well."—[lb.)
    Case 4. — "M.  D., a jeweler, et.  thirty-three,  had  had a  diar-
 rhoea for a fortnight, which obliged him to get up  several times for
 stool, towards five or six, a.  m.  He  had no colic, but  experienced
 burning at the anus, together  with general depression.  The  diar-
 rhoea ceased from the second day."—{lb.)
        39 
306        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
     Case 5.—" M. B., et.  thirty-seven, wood carver, consulted  me
 on  the  26th of May.  He had been sick for three  months.  His
 tongue  was white, "mouth pasty, and his stomach  the scat of a
 painful sensation of weariness;  digestion slow.   He had wind colic,
 principally early in the morning, with liquid or soft, sour-smelling
 stool.  For several years the  virile functions had been badly per-
 formed; he had tolerable frequent pollutions  during  sleep; con-
 stant itching of  the scrotum and perineum; small desire for coitus;
 infrequent  and  feeble erections;  the diarrhoea, colic, digestive
 troubles, and general weariness, were aggravated  on the day suc-
 ceeding sexual connection.  I prescribed  Nuphar, and eight days
 after the first consultation, the patient not coming to. visit  me, one
 of his friends told me  he  was better."—{lb.)
    This remedy  has much resemblance to Iris v., in the character
 of the intestinal  symptoms, and also the  seminal emissions, but is
 not  so active and intense  in its action.
    Urine.—The  urine  deposits  a  copious, reddish  sand, which
 adheres  to  the vessel.
   Generative  Organs  of  Men.—-Diminution of lascivious thoughts
 and  the  sexual inclination for ten days; opposite effects during  the
 succeeding  days;  complete  absence of  sexual  desire; penis con-
 tracted ; scrotum relaxed ; entire absence of erections and sexual
 desires;  the voluptuous ideas which fill the imagination,  do not
 cause erection;  lancinations in the right  testicle; dull, transitory
 pain in the  right  testicle  for  several days in succession; a  similar
 pain at the extremity  of penis, right side ; severe lancinations  in
 left testicle, with pains in  extremity of penis, left side;  an  interne
 en pharmacie, of the hospitals  of Paris,  took for several  days a
 quantity of tincture of this drug,  and remained for two  months
 without  perceiving  either propensity or  power of performing the
 generative act.
   Clinical Remarks, etc.— Nuphar  possesses  a  remarkable
 power of modifying the vital  forces, particularly in the  matter of
 the  generative functions, as was  already  known to the ancients.
 {Dioscorides, Pliny, etc)  This action is exhibited in depressed
 phenomena, more and more marked, and lasting  sometimes  as long
 as thirty days.   The reaction then commences,  and proceeds, but
 with considerable slowness.
   Case  1.—Having administered a dose  of Nuphar 6th dil., for
 several evenings  in succession,  to a  patient convalescing  from
 typhoid fever,  whose  feeble state  was aggravated  by nocturnal
 emissions, these latter diminished in number from the first day, and
 gradually disappeared.
   Case  2.—Gave the drug to a man who,  for nine years, had had
involuntary  seminal losses, during  sleep, at stool, and  when urina-
tmj?' t'1? £oraPlete absence of erections.  He was pale and languid,
and  had been  treated  in vain, for several months by Opium
 Quinine,  etc. The  first evening he had violent  headache,  accom-
 panied by vertigo, as if from intoxication, extending into a part of
 the  night;   with soreness, nausea,  epigastric  pains,  and  bitter
 mouth; the next  morning  general bruised feeling, as if it had been 
PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA.
307
beaten with a club.  (There is a connection between these  pains,
and  the  bruised  pains  produced  by Nuphar in  the  brain  and
thorax, which are sensibly aggravated by the shock of every step.
(P.)  During the  following evenings, the patient, who was taking
the remedy twice a day, experienced heaviness in the head, vertigo,
as if from intoxication (similar, he declared, to those he  had felt
while taking opium), and  bitterness in the mouth.   For a month he
took the Nuphar, at two different times.  His paleness diminished,
his general  weakness disappeared  by degrees, and his digestive
functions took a new start.  At  the  same  time the pollutions
ceased, erections  came on, accompanied by a decided propensity for
the generative act,  and before the thirtieth day of the treatment
he was able to satisfy it with success, and without fatigue."—{P)
   Thorax.—Painful sensation behind the sternum when running, as
though the subjacent organs were violently shaken.
   Back and  Extremities.—Deep, dull pain at the lowest part of
the left  lumbar region, and in the  posterior superior part of the
external iliac fossa;  it coincides  with a  similar, but not constant
pain in the internal iliac fossa of the  same side; weakness of the
limbs in the evening.
           PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA.

                             {Poke.)

    This  plant is indigenous, growing in nearly  all parts of the
United States, in fence corners, and cleared land not under cultiva-
tion.  The root is collected in November, cut in slices and dried in
the sun; the leaves  are  gathered  just  before the  berries ripen,
and the  berries when fully  ripe.   An active  principle  termed
Phytolaccin has been obtained from  the  root, and is much used in
place  of the tincture, or  pulverized root.  The tincture should be
made with purified alcohol, from  the green root—the  dried root
tincture  is comparatively  inert.  Phytolacca is  asserted to  be
emetic,  cathartic,  alterative and discutient.  It  acts as an emeto-
cathartic, and exhibits some acro-narcotic powers,  such as impaired
vision, vertigo and drowsiness.  In over doses it  is said  to cause
excessive  vomiting  and  purging,  with  great   prostration,  and
occasionally convulsions.  " While the most prominent effects of
Phytolacca  appear to be  produced on the stomach and bowels, the
skin the nervous system, and the urinary and genital organs of both
sexes  share largely in its influence. When given to animals in large
doses it  produces vomiting,  purging, bloody  stools, perspiration,
drowsiness or stupor, cough, tremors, convulsive motions, increased
urination, and  distention of the  abdomen.  The flesh  of  wild
pigeons and other birds which eat the berries, acquire a highly red 
308        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

color, a disagreeable flavor, and is destitute of adipose substance ;
and in some instances whole families have been excessively purged
by eating game which has fed upon these berries, although children
frequently eat the  berries without any bad consequences.  Phyto-
lacca has been successfully used in veterinary practice, for discussing
tumors, fistulous ulcers, and  in a disease called 'yellow water.' "—
{Trans. Amer. Ins. Horn)  The Phytolacca is  an  analogue  of
Mercury, Iodide of Potash, Iris versicolor, Podophyllum, Arsenicum,
and  other  drugs.   It is  a little strange  that a vegetable remedy
should be so analogous in its action to the Iodide of Potash ; one
symptom is quite notable—the loss of adipose tissue in birds which
have  eaten of the, berries.  Kali hyd.  has this power of  causing
absorption of adipose in a great degree ; so also both  are useful in
periodica], mercurial, and so-called syphilitic rheumatism.
   Two provings are here given,  (one  found  in the Trans. Amer.
Inst, of Horn. Vol.  II. ; the other lately  made by Dr. W. If. Burt):
   General Symptoms.—Many  of  the  symptoms, especially  those
about the head and throat, are better after breakfast,  while the heat,
and many of the abdominal  symptoms are worse in  the afternoon ;
dryness of the fauces, most in the morning ; some of the abdominal
symptoms disappear in  the  night; the symptoms of the chest are
worse after midnight, better  in the afternoon, and most of them on
the right side; the pains in the head  are chiefly in the forehead,
and  worse  after   dinner;  dullness, giddiness and  vertigo; the
prominent feeling in the eyes is that of  smarting ; the symptoms of
the eyes and eyelids are worse in the morning, but the vision is worse
in the evening ; increased sense  of hearing, the right ear is  most
affected ; sensation of a lump in the throat; the symptoms of the
stomach, throat, and mouth are worse in the morning.  The first
appearance of  the pain  in  the right  hypochondrium was in the
afternoon, but afterwards it was  always worse before daylight in
the morning; griping pains without diarrhoea ; pain  in the  left iliac
region ; the symptoms of the  lower extremities are worse in the
afternoon;  the  pains  are  sometimes  followed  by  itching and
burning; the pains shoot inwards and  upwards;  transitory  pains.
Many of the symptoms are  attended with heat; neuralgia in the
perinseum in the middle of the night; the cough is  worse towards
morning; sudden  translation of internal  pains to the extremities.
During one of the  provings, the symptoms of the eyes became so
severe, that Sulphur was taken as an antidote, and all the subsequent
symptoms  appeared on  the  left side.—{Trans. Amer. Ins. Horn)
Great prostration  accompanying the vomiting and pureine: much
debility.-{Dr. Burt)                               *  h
    Mucous Membranes.—This medicine appears to act as virulently
upon  mucous tissues as Mercury,  and the preparations of Potash.
Like  them it  appears  to cause  something  like false membranes
(throat), and  severe ulceration and inflammation in the intestines,
stomach, etc.)
    Muscular  Tissue.—It seems to exercise a marked  influence over
this tissue.   ^ caUses  muscular pains (myalgia)  and rheumatic
Bymptoms, and has been found very useful in the latter disease  No 
PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA.
309
remedy is  more  popular in domestic use, for chronio rheumatism,
than a rude tincture of the ripe berries in whisky.  I have observed
several marked cures of obstinate cases from its use.  "The extract
of the root is an  excellent remedy for the removal of those severe
pains attending mercurio-syphilitic affections (ostea-copus), in which
it is  more beneficial than Opium."—{King)  This would seem  to
indicate that it affected the periosteum.
   Nervous Tissue.—The Phytolacca has been  known to cause
convulsions in men and children. Dr. Burt's experiments on  animals
elicited many convulsive symptoms.  According  to Dr. King, it
causes " a tingling and prickling sensation over the whole surface.''
In its pathogenesis we found many neuralgic pains, which are clearly
distinguished  from the  myalgic.  No  post-mortem examinations
have been made of men or  animals—poisoned with this  plant—■
with  sufficient  accuracy to  point out  the peculiar pathological
conditions it causes.
    Vascular System.—Heart,  Fever, etc.—Neither of our provings,
contain any mention of the effects of Phytolacca upon the vascular
system.  I find no "fever symptoms,'' and  but one " heart symptom."
"Occasional shocks of pain in the region of the  heart; as soon as
the  pain  in  the heart ceases, a similar  pain appears in the right
arm.''  This  is  quite  a valuable  symptom,  as it appears in  some
rheumatic affections, and may indicate grave  cardiac  disease.   I
find no mention of its use in any form of fever;  it is quite probable,
however, that a remedy of such power will be found useful in some
febrile diseases.   (Enteric gastric, etc.)
    Glandular  System.—It is  esteemed very highly in glandular
affections. In our pathogenesis we find the following symptoms :—
"A very peculiar tension and  pressure in the parotids;  hardness of
a gland on the right side of the neck ; suppuration of a tumor behind
 the right ear, with a discharge of matter  and  blood."  Dr.  Burt
found the Phytolaccin to cause swelling and  inflammation of the
tonsils. Several homoeopathic physicians, with myself, have  found it
 useful in swelling  and induration of glands ;  it  seems to have a
 specific affinity  for the  mammary glands (see " Generative Organs
 of Women".)   According  to  King,  " the root excites  the whole
 glandular system,  and  has  been  highly  extolled  in  syphilitic,
 scrofulous, and cutaneous diseases. It is said to hasten the  suppura-
 tive  process; it has been used with alleged success in bronchocele.
    Cancer, Scirrous,  Ulcers, etc -King  says :  "An  inspissated
juice of the leaves has been recommended in indolent ulcers, and as
 a remedy in cancer."   According to Coe :  " Phytolaccin has  been
 much employed  in the treatment of carcinomitous affections.  It is
 undoubtedly as efficient an alterative as can be  safely employed in
 that disease; its beneficial  effects  are most apparent in cases of
 open cancer.  The patient's system should be freely brought under
 its constitutional influence, and the dry Phytolaccin applied to the
 ulcer.  The  Phytolaccin applied either in the form of a paste with
 water, or in strong alcoholic tincture, has been found quite effectual
 in that species of cancer known  as lupus,  when  used  in the early
 stages."   Other eclectic physicians advise the Phytolacca in old, 
310        XEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 indolent, and  fistulous  ulcers,  both as  an  external and  internal
 remedy.   I  have found it fully equal to our best  anti-psorics,  in
 the treatment  of old ulcers, even when  of a syphilitic nature;  in
 this  respect it is a congener of Silicia, Lachesis,  Arsenicum, Kali
 hyd. Kali bichrom,  and Sulphur.
    Skin.—A small boil  behind the right ear; suppuration of painless
 tumors; drawing in cicatrices; pustule behind right ear; a painful
 boil  on the right side of the back;  eruption of spots on the chest,
 of the size of lentils,  elevated, with  great  itching.—{Tra?is. Amer.
 Horn. Ins.)
   We have a large amount of testimony  from  various  sources, in
 relation to the curative  action of Phytolacca in cutaneous diseases.
 King asserts its usefulness, and advises an ointment of  the pulver-
 ized  root  or  leaves in  psora,  tinea  capitis, etc.,  in connection
 with its internal administration.  Scudder  says:—"In ringworm,
 scabies, shingles, etc., it may be regarded, almost in  the light of a
 specific. At all events it has but few equals." Coe states that "Salt-
 rheum, itch, and other  cutaneous eruptions  have been cured  with
 Phytolaccin ; it is to be employed not only internally but externally."
 With the country people it has considerable reputation for the  cure
 of obstinate cutaneous  diseases. It  seems most  successful in  itch,
 psoriasis,  and  certain scaly diseases of the  skin.  An ointment is
 usually made by stewing the bruised root in lard ;  this is applied
 several times a day.   I  have known   this to  cure an obstinate and
 disgusting disease  of  the scalp,  resembling tinea.   When  the
 ointment  or  concentrated  alcoholic tincture is  applied  to  the
 healthy skin, it produces " burning  and smarting pains," and  may
 even  cause inflammation, vesication,  and ulceration.   It would seem
 to  act  homoeopathically even  when  applied  locally,  like  other
 escharotics.  Many homoeopathic physicians value  this  medicine
 highly in the treatment  of chronic  skin diseases.   It  is to be
 regretted that we  have no  exhaustive  proving with  small  and
 diffusible  doses.  I predict that it will  prove a valuable anti-psoric
 as well as polychrest.
    Sleep.—Yawning; frequent gaping in the daytime; drowsiness;
 sleepiness; very wakeful at night;  restless sleep at  night;  he  lies
 on the stomach ;  nausea on being woke out of sleep at night; great
 inclination  to  sleep;  sleep is very sound ; restless at night from
 pain in the bowels;  awoke crying from  a very sad  dream.  It is
 said to  be  narcotic  (aci o-narcotic); it will be  indicated  in  the
 stupor which accompanies some diseases  of  the bowels,  brain or
 typhoid fever.
   Sensorium.—Sensation of soreness in the interior of the head,
deep in  the brain;  dullness  of  the  head; stupefaction; transient
giddiness ;  vertigo with  dimness of  vision;  head  feels very li<dit
and hollow.                                               J  3
x.  ?6a?'TTPains througfiout the head ; aching;  dull feeling in the
head; dullness, with the sensation of weight  in the forehead-  dull
pain in the forehead ; slight pain in the fore part of  the head! with
th^r^Tl  heaTg; du"' steady>ach^Pain, principally in
the forehead; heavy aching pain about the forehead, after dinner; 
PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA.            311
aching pain along the lower half of the right orbit; slight  pain  in
the tuberosities of the  forehead ;  headache,  with sickness of the
stomach  from walking; one-sided  pain  just above the eyebrows,
with sickness of  the  stomach ; the  pain is  increased by  looking
down and by stooping ; headache ; slight fullness of forehead with
constant  gaping;  heaviness in the  head and  especially in the
temples;  pain  in  the  region of   time and mirthfulness,  on the
right side in the top of the head,  and a sensation  as if the  brain
were bruised* when stepping from a high step to the ground ; pain
in the left temple, followed by burning in the skin in the left region
of time ; in  the left region of combativeness; cold  in the head;
pressure  in the temples and over the eyes; in the temples ; in the
forehead, after dinner, in the glabella ;  on forehead and upper part of
both  eyes, painful;  on the temples and constrictive feeling at the
praecordia, like the feeling  that  precedes sea-sickness;  slight pain
across the forehead, with gaping; sore pain over the head, worse  on
the right side and in damp weather, as if an attack of sick headache
were approaching; slight constriction across the forehead ; drawing
sensation above the  root of the nose ; drawing pain in the right
temple;  moving transitory pains in various parts of the head, almost
constantly, generally on one side at a time, but  more frequently and
most severe on the right  side; shooting pain  from the left eye to
the top of the head, which passes off and returns at short intervals;
heat in the head.—{Trans. Amer. Ins. Horn,, Vol. II) Dull, heavy
headache in  the forehead—a constant symptom;  sharp, shooting
pains in  right temple.—{Dr. Burt)
    Clinical Remarks.—Phytolacca  promises to prove  useful  in
 some varieties  of rheumatic, catarrhal, and nervous  headache.   It
 will probably be found useful in those terrible cephalalgias to which
 syphilitic patients are liable.
    Eyes._Shooting  pain from the left eye to the top of the head ;
 pressure" in the eyes ; pressure  around the eyes in the afternoon, as
 if the eyes were too large ; pressure  over the  eyes ;  some painful
 pressure on the upper parts of both  eyes  and forehead; burning
 and smarting  sensation in the left eye with  great flow of tears ;
 sensation in  the eyes like that caused  by horse-radish ;  smarting in
 the left  eye; sandy feeling in the  eyes; itching  at internal cantln
 of the eyes, very severe, which caused the application of the finger
 to rub the eye—the bal1  became  veiT Painfal frorn the  slightest
 pressure;  sensation  as if  a  grain  of  sand were  lodged under  the
 left eyelid, causin■■<■  a  secretion and  flow of tears from that eye;
 smartino- in the internal canthi of both eyes, but worse m the left
 one, and very much aggravated by gas-light in  the evening; feeling
 in the eyes and nose as if a cold would come on; soreness on closing
 the  eyelids;  reddish-blue  swelling of the eyelids, worse on the left
 side and in the morning; cannot close the eye  without pain all  the
 forenoon,  better  in the  afternoon;  agglutination of the eyelids
 durino- the night; flow of tears all the time from the  eyes, relieved
 in the  open air; photophobia in the morning; dimness of sight;
 longsightedness.—{Trans. Amer. Ins. Vol. II)
    Great smarting in  the  eyes and lids—(constant  symptom); dull, 
312        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 heavy, aching  pains  in the eyeballs, aggravated by motion, light,
 and especially by reading { sensation as if there was a feather over
 the sight;  eyes agglutinated every morning.
    Clinical Remarks.—The Phytolacca  has a large number of
 symptoms  of a prominent  and  suggestive  character, relating to
 the eye, and affecting its various tissues;  it is  eminently indicated
 in  rheumatic, catarrhal)  scrofulous,  mercurial  and even syphilitic
 opththalmia.  I have used it with success in one case  of rheumatic
 pain  in  and about the eye, and another of chronic  conjunctivitis
 with granulation.  In the "Chicago Medical  Examiner" is found
 the following  mention of the curative  virtues of  Phytolacca in
 Granular  Conjunctivitis.  Although from allopathic  sources, the
 testimony is worthy our consideration.  In this case as  in all others,
 the pathogenesis of the medicine proves its homceopathicity to the
 disease:
    Dr. C. S. Fenner, of Memphis, Tenn.,  in  the N.  A. Med.
 Chirurg. Review, January, 1857, highly extols  the efficacy  of the
 Phytolacca in preventing relapses of inflammation  in granular lids.
 "Regarding,"  he  says,   "these exacerbations, accompanied with
 circuraorbital pain,  soreness in  the  periosteum  and scalp, as of
 rheumatic  origin, about two years ago,  I was induced  to try the
 poke, from its well-known efficacy in rheumatic inflammations,  and
 the result has far exceeded my most sanguine expectations.  With
 the aid  of this remedy, I have been enabled to effectually cure
 Cases of granular conjuctiva, that, without it, would have resisted
 all my efforts;  indeed, with me it has almost  proved a specific for
 the exacerbations  attending this  Complaint.  Patients fully under
 the influence of the Phytolacca, often expose themselves, and take a
 severe cold, without affecting the eyes in the  least.  I use the root
 in the form of  a strong decoction  or tincture, and give it in large
 enough doses to produce fulness of  the  temples and head; I have
 not yet  seen a Severe recurrence of acute inflammation in this
 disease, where the patient was  kept  fully  under the influence of
 the Phytolacca."
   An allopathic physician claims  to  have effected  several  cures of
fistula lacrymalis, with Phytolacca.  I cannot find  the paper which
 makes mention of it in  such cases, and  therefore the  manner in
 which it was used, is  not  known to  me.  But, as  in granular con-
 junctivitis, it was probably used topically  and internally.
    Ears.—Shooting pain in  the right ear, very quick;  pain in both
 ears,  worse in  the right  one; irritation in one of the eustachian
 tubes; a sensation of  obstruction in the left eustachian  tube with  a
 rushing sound  in the ear  of the same side, and a feelino- as if the
 hearing were dull, while at the same  time  it is sensitive to the most
 minute  sounds; increased sense of hearing with pain in the fore-
 head.— {Trans. Amer. Inst. Horn., Vol. II.)
    Kose.—Drawing sensation above the root of the nose;  feeling in
 the nose and eyes as if a cold would come on; cold in 'the  head •
 stoppage of  the right nostril;  eoryza;  flow of  mucus from one
 nostril while  the other is stopped;  discharge of  mucus from one
 nostril at a time, sometimes  one and sometimes  the  other • total 
PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA.
313
obstruction of the nose when riding, so that one is forced to breathe
altogether through the mouth, and cannot relieve himself by blowing
the nose.-—(Trans. Amer. Inst. Horn., Vol. II)
    Clinical Remarks.—Persons engaged in pounding or grinding
the root  are generally affected with symptoms like severe eoryza.
Even those engaged in making the second and third triturations of
Phytolaccin are similarly affected.  It is a powerful irritant  to  the
nasal mucous membrane ; it is indicated in acute and chronic  nasal
catarrhs; in ozaena, and syphilitic ulceration  of the nose.  It  has
cured a small cancer on the ala? of the nose.
    Face.—Palenesss of the face; heat in the face after dinner; heat
on the left  side of the face in the afternoon ; heat with redness of
the face,  and a sensation of fullness about the  head, and coldness of
the feet; eruption on  the upper lip, left  side ; aching pain along the
lower half of the right  orbit.—(Trans. Amer. Inst, of Horn)
    Clinical  Remarks.—The  inspissated  juice  of  the  berries,
applied to cancerous or scirrous  tumors, and ulcers of the face  and
lips,  has  effected  cures  of such  ulcers, etc.   It  has been  found
useful in  prosopalgia and rheumatic pains in the bones (periosteum)
 of the face.
    Mouth,  Teeth, and Tongue.—Small ulcers  on the inside of the
 right cheek, like  those caused by mercury;  tenderness and heat in
 the roof of the mouth and on  the tongue; flow of saliva into the
 mouth; mouth fills with water; the  saliva is  yellowish, and has a
 metallic  taste; dryness of the  palate in the morning;  swelling of
 the soft palate ;  slight feeling of smarting and coldness towards
 the tip of tongue.   Shooting  pains in  the  molar teeth  of  the
 upper and lower jaws of  the right side;  disposition  to bite the
 teeth together; irresistible inclination to bite the teeth together.
 —{Trans.  Amer Ins. of Horn)   Tongue feels rough, with blisters
 on both  sides, and a very red tip;  great pain in the root of the
 tongue when swallowing;  teeth all ache, and  are very sore,  and
 feel  elongatod (the same symptoms were caused by Phytolaccin;)
 metallic Taste in the mouth.—{Dr. Burt)
    Clinical Remarks.—Some of the  symptoms of the medicine
 strongly resemble  those of  Mercury, even to  the  metallic taste,
 and  soreness of the  teeth;  it  has  been used with benefit in
 mercurial  ptyalisim,  and mercurial pains of  the teeth; it is  indi-
 cated in inflammation (rheumatic) of the gums, and buccal cavity ;
 rheumatic odontalgia, ulceration of the  buccal cavity, and various
 forms of sore mouth are amenable to its action.
    Pharynx and (Esophagus—Sensation in the pharynx like  that
 caused by eating choke-pears;  pressing pain in the right side of the
 throat;  sore throat,  aud swelling of the soft palate in the morning,
 with a thick, white,  and yellow mucus  about the fauces, after the
 removal of which the throat feels better, and  still  better  after
 breakfast; soreness  of the throat, and a  feeling when  swallowing
 saliva as if  a lump had formed there ; the same sensation is felt
 on turning the head  to the left side; the  throat  feels very dry and
 sore, especially on swallowing  in  the  afternoon; general  soreness
 of the  posterior fauces, and  apparent extension of  the irritation
         40 
 314        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 into  one of  the  eustachian  tubes;  roughness in the  pharynx;
 unpleasant  sensation of dryness in the pharynx towards morning,
 which makes him cough;  gre:it  dryness of the throat;  dryness  of
 the throat on going to bed ;  dryness  in the  throat, worse  in the
 morning; sensation of dryness of a spot in the fauces on the left
 side  in  the  morning, continuing  until after  breakfast.—{Trans.
 Amer. Ins. of Horn) Great dryness of the throat; roughness  in
 the pharynx (constantly);  sensation as of a lump in the throat that
 causes a "constant inclination to  swallow; sensation as if  an apple
 core had lodged in the throat;  great congestion and  swelling  of
 the soft palate and tonsils; the  right tonsil is half as  large  again
 as the left;  both are of a very dark red ; feeling as if a ball  of red
 hot iron had lodged in the fauces, and whole length of the oesopha-
 gus, when  swallowing; the pain was so great that  I could eat
 nothing  but fluids for two days,  constant choking sensation ;  rough-
 ness and rawness of the throat; tonsils and palate congested,  and  of
 a dark  purple  color; great  pain in  root of  tongue, fauces, etc.,
 from Phytolacca and Phytolaccin; {Dr.  Burt.)
    Clinical Remarks.—One of the most prominent symptoms
 observed in  all cases  of poisoning with Phytolacca, is "inflamma-
 tion of  the fauces;" it seems  to have a decided affinity for these
 tissues.   Dr. Burt wrote me during the time  he was proving the
 drug, that it would certainly prove a valuable remedy in diphtheria,
 and his prediction  has  been  verified.  A few  weeks  after his
 provings Dr.  Burt had  an opportunity of testing the virtues of
 Phytolacca in that disease.  He  reports the following cases for the
 " Investigator,  Vol. I, p. 30 :
   " Miss. B., aet twenty.  November 8th had  a  severe  chill at
night, with great pain in the back of the head,  back and limbs, fol-
lowed with  fever and sore throat.  10th, was  called  to see her;
found her suffering very much, with great headache; worse in the
back part; back and limbs aching fearfully; both tonsils very much
swollen,  and  covered with a grayish pseudo-membrane;  tongue
very red at the tip, coated  white; great prostration ; cannot stand;
if she raises up in  bed, she immediately faints away.   Prognosis
unfavorable.  Gave Phytolacca, four drops at  a dose  every  hour,
and a gargle of the  same between.  Morning,  decided  change for
the better.  Continued the same treatment for three days, when the
false membrane came off, and the fifth day discharged  her cured.
She took a large spoonful of beef tea  every two hours.  She had
no  other remedy.   It was  remarkable  to see how  quickly the
fever abated under its influence.
   " Mrs. B., aet. thirty-one.  November 16th.—Throat commenced
to feel sore in the morning, followed by high fever all  day;  right
tonsil very much swollen; at noon  commenced  to see  white sub-
stance forming on the  tonsil.   I was called 10 p. m. ; found the right
tonsil covered completely  with a white pseudo-membrane; fauces
and soft-palate very  much inflamed ;  deglutition almost impossible;
loss of appetite ; great frontal headache;  bowels moved every two
hours, with severe pain in the umbilical region ; great prostration •
vertigo is so great  that she cannot  walk.  Pulse 1273 soft.   Gave' 
PHYTOLACCA   DECANDRA
315
Phytolacca, four drops every hour, and a gargle of the same every
hour, consisting of fifty drops in a tumbler of water.   18th.—Very
much better; pulse 100; throat does not feel  near  as sore; false
membrane beginning to come off; back and limbs ache but slightly ;
headache  nearly  gone;  continued same  treatment three days.
Discharged her cured.  The diarrhoea stopped the second  day.
   " Miss. H. aet., twenty-five.   December  3d.—Had a severe chill
in the night followed by high fever and sore throat.   Took Aconite
and  Belladonna all  day, but continued to  get  worse.  Midnight I
discovered patches of pseudo-membrane on the tonsils;  she  com-
plained most bitterly of the back of her head and neck ;back  and
limbs aching. Pulse 120; bowels costive; loss of appetite. Gave
Phytolacca, three  drops every  hour, with a gargle of  the same
between. 4th, noon.—Feeling better; continued the same treatment.
5ta.—Xo fever; feeling quite well, but thinks  her throat is more
sore; both tonsils are swollen and covered in patches with false
membrane;  continued the same treatment, giving  six drops at a
dose. 6th,—Feeling a great deal better ; pseudo-membrane is off of
the  tonsils;  continued same remedy every two hours for  two days,
 when  I discharged her,'cured.
   "A. Snyder, aet. thirty-nine.  November 10th.—Throat commenced
 to feel sore, with severe headache; back and limbs aching severely.
 1 lth.—Was  called to attend him, and found the  following symptoms:
Throat very  sore; both tonsils covered with a grayish pseudo-mem-
 brane, soft  and swollen;  palate  and fauces  violently  inflamed;
 deglutition  impossible; severe frontal  headache; back and limbs
 aching severely; high fever; pulse 128; delirious at times; bowels
 costive;   has not  slept  through the  night.   Ordered  fat  salt
 pork to be put around his  neck;  beef tea every two  hours, and
 gave Phytolacca  every half hour; four drops at  a dose, with  a
 gargle of the same.  13th.—Decided change for the better; pulse
 ninety-eight; head, back and limbs do not ache so hard as they did
 yesterday ;   throat feeling very sore, but the false membrane does
 not seem to be spreading; continued the Phytolacca every hour.
 13th—Feeling much better;  pseudo-membrane commencing to tall
 off  leaving great holes in the tonsils, that  bleed a little ; continued
 same treatment.   14th.-Pseudo-membrane all off; tonsils are very
 much swollen, and look very red and ragged;  continued the Phyto-
 lacca for three days, once  in  two hours, when I  discharged him
 cured. I have given the Phvtolacca  in two cases  of children and
 two in adults, where the pseudo-membrane was well formed (but
 there  was not so much  fever), with the same gratifying result.
 These are all the cases I have had this fall,  and  Phytolacca has
 cured every one  of them.  I believe there is  no  medicine in the
 Materia Medica to be  compared to it  in diphtheria, if the respira-
 tory  organs are not involved.  I  had no  cases where the  air
 passages were involved, to know its effects."
     Other cases reported by Dr. Burt to the  " American Homeo-

 ^l^Z.^enty-six, Jan. 4th. 9 P.M.-Slight pain in the left
 tonsil when swallowing; rested  well  until 2  a.m.;  awoke with a 
316        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 severe frontal  headache; back  and legs aching very hard, with
high fever and sore throat; could  not  sleep any more;  8 a.  m.,
 pulse 120 and very soft; head, back and legs are aching violently;
 throat very sore;  left tonsil very much  swollen  and covered  with
 a grayish false membrane; right tonsil has patches of the pseudo-
 membrane on it; delgutition is almost impossible ; great prostration;
 can stand up only a few moments at a time, it makes  him so  faint
 and dizzy.   Gave Phytolacca, four doses every hour,  with a gargle
 of the same, consisting of fifty drops in a tumbler of water.  5th.—
 Feeling very much better;  fever nearly gone; head, back and legs
 do not ache half as much as they did yesterday ; pulse 100 ; throat
 is feeling very sore; left tonsil is very much swollen and still covered
 with the pseudo-membrane; the  right one looks very red with small
patches of membrane on it; deglutition almost impossible;  contin-
ued treatment.   6th.—Feeling much better; pseudo-membrane is
off from  both tonsils ; they look very red, and the  left one is still
swollen;  no fever; slight appetite ;  continued treatment.  7th—
Feeling quite well, but  throat pains hiin when swallowing;  dis-
charged  cured.
   "Mrs. G. aet. twenty-one, nursing a babe.   Jan. 11th—Throat
commenced to feel sore; had a very restless night.  12th.—Slight
headache with,  a severe pain in her back and legs; very chilly "all
the time; throat very sore; both tonsils  very much Bwollen, and
covered in patches with a dark-colored pseudo membrane; degluti-
tion very difficult; face very much  flushed;  great  prostration;
cannot sit up any, she is so faint and weak ;  bowels regular.   Gave
Phytolacca, four drops every half hour, with a gargle  of the same.
13th.—Feeling very much better;  fever all  gone;  back and  legs
do not ache any; throat is feeling very sore; tonsils very red and
swollen,  and covered  in  patches with  the   pseudo-membrane;
deglutition is very painful.  Continued same  treatment once  an
hour.   14th.—Feeling quite well; pseudo-membrane is off  from
both tonsils; there are large holes eaten  into the  tonsils;   can
swallow  quite well. Continued same treatment every two hours;
discharged her cured the next day.  The babe nursed her all the
while, and did not  take the disease.  I attended  a lady once before
who nursed her babe through  the disease, and it  did not take it.
   "Miss. K. aet. 9. December 12th.—For the last two days has had
a fever, with chills all the while;  throat has been verysore, and is
getting worse all the time; head, back and legs are aching con-
stantly;  pulse; 130; very weak and soft;  soft palate, and tonsils are
violently inflamed and swollen; both tonsils are covered with gray-
ish  pseudo-membrane;  cannot swallow  anything;  very  weak ■
cannot sit up; has not eaten anything for two days, neither can she
be pursuaded to take  any kind of nourishment.   Gave  Phytolacca
two drops every hour;  morning feeling a little better; pseudo-
membrane looks about the  same;  continued treatment  morning
feeling quite well;  false membrane is all off, but the throat, isfeelin-
very  sore; continued same treatment one  day more, and  then
discharged  her cured.
   " Little Henry,  aet. 4. For two days has had a little fever and 
PHYTOLACCA   DECANDRA.
317
sore throat; says he is  cold  all the time; refuses to take food;
both tonsils are as  large again as they ought to be, and covered in
patches with a whitish false membrane; pulse 118;  very weak; he
lies on the lounge all the time.   Gave Phytolacca,  ten  drops  in a
tumbler one-half full of water ;  cured in two days."
   A young lad was taken with diphtheria, and treated by an  old
school physician, and died.  His sister, twenty-eight years of age,
was taken with it, three days after, and treated by  an eclectic, and
died the fourth day.  A young lady who waited on  them was taken
down  with  it  four days  after  the  death of the sister.  I was
sent for, found her with a very sore throat, and the tonsils and soft
palate covered with the false-membrane, of a greenish color; both
tonsils were twice as large as  they  ought to be;  neck was very
stiff;  pulse 128.  She  was very much  frightened, was  sure  she
would die; hands and limbs trembled constantly.   I tried to quiet
her, and gave Bellad. and Iodide of Mercury, every  hour, in alterna-
tion.   Morning found her very much worse; left tonsil was swollen
so much that  she could not swallow; fever  the  same;  and  still
trembling.  I  gave one  dose of Aconite, and then a gargle  of a
tincture from  the green root of Phytolacca,  every half hour, and
gave internally about six drops of the same every hour.  Remained
with  her through the day, and all night; morning,  she  was  not so
nervous, and the disease  had not made  any  progress; continued
the same treatment; next  day  about  the same;  continued same
treatment, but made it a little stronger.  Morning, decidedly better,
the pseudo-membrane looks as if it would soon drop off; continued
 same treatment.  Morning, feeling quite free from  fever, and about
 a quarter of the membrane has come off; she has a fine, scarlet erup-
 tion  all over the body and limbs, but more on the legs than there
 is on the body; urine is albuminous; continued the same treatment
 every two hours.  Morning, one tonsil (the right) is free from the
 membrane, but  looks very raw, and burns a good  deal; continued
 the same.  Next morning, false-membrane all gone ;  swe ling has dis-
 appeared excepting the left tonsil; continued Phytolacca.  1 his
 case  was cured in a few days.  Dr. Burt says he has succeeded with
 Phytolacca in thirty-two  out  of thirty-four  cases  of Diphtheria

  ^ Case of Scarlatina, with Diphtheritic complications reported, by
 Dr  Geo F Foster; "I had  an opportunity last week ot trying the
 Phytolacca dec, in a case  of diphthera with  better success as to
 time of curing patient than with Bell. Iod. Merc.  etc.
    The patient  in the  room with a scarlatina patient, was taken
 sick; high fever, headache etc., not complaining  of throat for two
 days,  when the  child's mother told me she complained of her
 throat. I examined it and, sure enough, there was the trouble■ ;  both
 sides covered with the membrane, with rash on the body. I stopped
 Aeon, and  Bell., and gave the Phyto.  dec. (tinct  root)  fif e n
 drops in one-third glass of water two teas-poonsfull at a dose eveiy
 hour with o-argle of same, three drops to a glass of water. It was
 the  quickest cure of the disease I ever made.
     Dr  G.  C.  Brown  says: "I have been  experimenting a 
318        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
 little with Phytolacca in enlarged tonsils, and  so  far have  found
 it  very beneficial.   In two cases they  were so  much  enlarged
 as to  materialy interfere with deglutition, and had surface ulcers.
 Were speedily reduced by  the use of Phytolacca, a few drcps of
 the tincture in a tumbler of water; a tea-spoonful every two hours."
    Dr. C.  W. Boyce reports that he has found the  Phytolacca
 universally beneficial in diphtheritic sore throats.
    Dr. Stearns, uses the thirtieth attenuation, of Phyto., in diph-
 theria, with striking curative results.
    Appetite and Taste-—Taste like nuts in the  mouth—bitter at
 first,  but  leaving  a slight  feeling  of  smarting  and   coldness
 toward the tip of  the tongue; raging appetite;  hungry soon after
 eating; diminished appetite ; the usual appetite  remains, notwith-
 standing the nausea of the stomach.  {Trans. A. Inst. Horn)
    Gastric Smptoms-—Eructations;  eructations  with  spitting of
 water; eructation, with  flatus; violent pressure in the stomach on
 walking in the morning, with accumulation in the mouth—disap-
 pears after rising; constrictive feeling at the praecordia, with pres-
 sure in the temples; sickly feeling in the stomach; nausea on being
 awoke out of sleep in the night;  feeling of sickness, as if he would
 vomit; sickness of stomach accompanying the headache; vomiting,
 with  but little  distress in the stomach.  {Trans. A. Inst. Horn)
    Stomach.—Cutting in the pit of the  stomach, and in the abdo-
 men ; tenderness to  the touch of the  pit  of the stomach ; pain in
 the region of the pylorus {Trans. A. I. II);  eructations of  air;
 eructations of sour fluid ; great distress in the 6tomach and bowels;
 pains in the cardiac portion  of the stom'ach, aggravated by  a  full
 inspiration and by walking; nausea  with  a  very  faint  feeling;
 nausea  with severe pain  in  the umbilical  region; slight nausea
 with  prcfuse vomiting, without much  pain attending it, but good
 deal  of distress in  the  stomach; nausea  and violent  vomiting
 (in dogs). {Burt)
    Clinical Remarks.—The vomiting caused by Phytolacca comes
 on  slowly,  preceded by nausea,  much prostration, and sometimes
 fainting and convulsions.   When  the  vomiting does set   in it is
 intense, thorough, and composed of bile,  mucus, ingesta, worms,
 and even blood.  This medicine  ought to prove useful in a variety
 of gastric affections, and  disorders of digestion.
 .   Liver, Hypochondria-—Digging pain in the right hypochondrium,
 in the upper and  lower  portion  of the liver, preventing  motion;
 first felt at two o'clock in the afternoon, then every morning before
 daylight;   some soreness remaining  through  the  afternoon  and
 evening; pain in the region of the pylorus; 'cannot  lie on the right
 side after  midnight, on account  of penetrating  pain  in the  rbdit
 hypochondrium; violent dull, pressing  pain  in the  left hypochon-
 drium, in  the  evening, so that he cannot remain in  the sitting pos-
ture, he lies on the painful side all night and the  pain is gone  the
 next morning;  'soreness  and pain in the right hypochondrium
 during pregnancy.  {Trans. A. Inst. Horn)
   Clinical  Remarks.—The  Phytolacca  is recommended  in
 cnronic hepatic disorders,  also  in  diseases of the spleen  It 
PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA.            319
undoubtedly has some influence over these organs^ by virtue of its
tendency to irritate all glandular structures.   It  has cured "sore-
ness and pain in the hypochondrium during pregnancy.
   Abdomen-—Boring pain to the left and a little above the umbili-
cus, continuing but a few minutes; deep-seated,  but  not severe
pain, in the left iliac region ;  neuralgic pain  in the left groin j  cut-
ting in the abdomen) griping pain, as before a diarrhoea;  griping
all day long, followed by the  passage of offensive flatus;  the  gri-
ping disappears in  the night;  sensation in the bowels, as if a diar-
rhoea would follow; rumbling  noise in the bowels j  frequent passage
of wind downward.  {Trans. A. list. Horn)
    Stool and Anus-—*Constipation  of long standing; hard stools\
three stools during the day ; the first one is hard, and preceded by
griping, and the others  with  pains moving about in the abdomen ;
continual inclination to go to  stool; mushy stool; diarrhoea atten-
tended with a sickly feeling in the bowels, but no tormina  or tenes-
mus ; copious  discharges of bile from the bowels;  in the middle  of
the night, neuralgic pain shooting from the anus  and  the lower  part
of  the rectum along the perinseum, to the middle of the penis, fol-
lowed in a few minutes by a neuralgic pain in the  right  big  toe,
{Trans. A. I.  H)  Constant  dull pain  in  the umbilical region,
worse by  motion; severe, colicky pains in  the umbilical region;
rumbling in the bowels, sometimes with desire for stool; burn-
 ing distress  in  the umbilical region;  bowels very  tender  on
 pressure,  and  pain  severely  when walking; stool natural;  stool
 soft and  mushy,  with  undigested food  in it,  sometimes  with
 straining;  stool  of mucus,  with  straining; dark, lumpy stool j
 soft papescent stool, followed by a very faint feeling; wind passes
 the bowels constantly, of a very  fetid nature;  emissions of flatus
 relieves the pain  in the bowels ; loss of appetite j  canine  hunger ;
 vomiting of worms (in  animals); pain in the left  hypochondriac
 region when walking; loss of appetite; hiccough with great  incli-
 nation to vomit, but no nausea; nausea and  violent vomiting  (in a
 dog);  great rumbling in the  bowels, with  pain  in the  umbilical
 region; great pain in precordial region, very much worse by walk-
 ing;  great distress in the umbilical and  hypogastric regions;  stool
 soft and mushy;  dark, papescent  stools  with undigested food if
 them;  pain in  the  umbilical region with desire for stool. {Burt)
 Toxicological effects, trachea and lungs filled with mucus; stomach
 highly congested at the base; colon and rectum appear congested;
 liver highly congested ; kidneys appear very much congested.
    Clinical  Remarks.—The  Phytolacca is  an  emeto-cathartic.
 It  causes   many  of the  symptoms of a severe attack of cholera
 morbus.   It  is homoeopathic to  some forms of cholera, diarrhoea,
 dysentery, and hemorrhoids.  In  piles it has been found curative
 (by eclectics) in many  cases, applied locally, and given internally.
 It  is also homoeopathic to enteritis and colic.  It has cured a case of
 " constipation of  long standing."
    Urinary Organs-—*Urgent desire  to  pass water;  copious noc-
 turnal urination;  weakness,  dull  pain  and soreness in the region
 of the kidneys, most on the right side, and connected with  heat; 
  320       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

  uneasiness down the ureters;  a chalk-like sediment in the urine ; a
  gurgling sensation in the prostrate gland, repeatedly  in the after-
  noon;  *pain in the region of the bladder, before and during urina-
  tion; *dark-red urine which  stains the chamber of a  mahogany
  color, and which is hard to get off.—Trails. Am. Inst.  Horn.
    The urinary  secretion  was  at  first  diminished,  afterwards
 increased.  The  urine remained acid and became decidedly album-
 inous.   The specific gravity became greatly increased.   rlhe bottle
 used to measure the urine became completely  covered with a
 white deposit, about one-sixteenth of an inch thick.—Dr. Burt.
    Clinical Remarks.—The  urinary  symptoms in  the  original
 proving were  quite notable, but those elicited by Dr. Burt, are
 really of great importance.   The urine, under the usual tests, was
 decidedly albumninous.  When we consider how important album-
 inaria becomes, in Scarlatina and Diphtheria, we can  easily realize
 the full value of Phytolacca in those maladies.  It is  indicated in
 many renal and cystic disorders.
    Generative Organs of Men.—Complete loss of all  sexual  desire
 for two  months; no erections during the whole proving; sexual
 organs  unusually relaxed.
    Clinical Remarks.—It would seem quite homoeopathic  to
 Impotence.   It seems likely to prove a valuable remedy in Syphilis,
 although our provings do not bring out any  objective  symptoms.
 " The Cherokee Indians, is is said, used to dress the venereal sores
 with the powder of the dried root; and some physicians aver that
 it will  cure syphilis without the aid of mercury"   If we are to
 credit the  testimony of eclectic physicians, it has not  only been
 found curative in primary syphilis, (chancre, etc ) but in  secondary
 and tertiary syphilis, (ulcers,  eruptions, throat and nasal diseases,
 bone pains,  etc.)  " For the  cure of syphilis, and mercurio-syphilitic
 disorders, the Phytolaccin is quite equal to any other organic rem-
 edy.  *  *  The severe pains attending tertiary-syphilis and mer-
 curio-syphilitic complications are more effectually relieved by the use
 of this medicine, than by any other remedy."—(Coe.)   It is said  to
 be  particularly useful in cases of chronic and  obstinate gonorrhoea
 and gleet.  Dr. Small thinks highly of it in some forms°of syphil-
 itic rheumatism, and I have  found it promptly  curative in many  of
 the conditions mentioned above.   It has cured  Orchitis.
    Generative Organs of  Women.—* Metrorrhagia ; *menstruation
 too copious  and too  frequent; painful menstruation; violent  pains
 in the abdomen during menstruation, in  a barren female • *leucor-
 rhcea; 'inflammation swelling and suppuration of the  mammje.—
 {Trans. Amer. Inst. Horn)
    Clinical Remarks.—All the above  symptoms are marked with
 the asterisk, in the original proving.  I have no means of ascertain-
ing  whether they were  originally  pure pathogenetic symptoms.
The asterisk implies they were; but  had  been substantiated  by
curative effects.  The proving  in Symptomen codex, is  not accom-
panied by the name of any  prover, or  those physicians  who con-
tributed clinical notes.  In the clinical observations I find the fol
 lowing :  " Being given in a case of chlorosis, when the leucorrhoea 
               PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA.            321

had  been cured  by Pulsatilla,  it brought the leucorrhoea  back
again."   (Possibly ?)  It always  appeared  surprising that eclectic
writers  should say so little about the Phytolacca  in  diseases of
women.  I find no mention of its use in that class of diseases, in
King, Scudder, and others, yet the extensive range of action of the
medicine precludes the idea that it will not  be found useful.
   In my estimation the sphere of action  of Phytolacca is princi-
pally upon (a) the glandular system, (b) the serous  and fibrous tis-
sues, and (c) the mucous membrane.
   Phytolacca has a specific effect upon the thyroid and mammary,
also parotid, and  other glands of the throat,  and by analogy ought
to act  powerfully upon the ovaries, and glands of the uterus (also
the testes).  Accordingly it ought to prove curative in ovaritis, and
other affections of the  glands, such as neuralgia,  etc.; in uterine
leucorrhoea,  or that variety which  proceeds  from the  glandular
portion  of  the  cervix.  Its  powerful  influence  over ulceration
should make it curative in ulcerated os-uteri,  whether of a  non-
specific, or  specific character.   Finally, it  should  cure rheumatic
affections of the uterus.  The metrorrhagia and frequent menstrua-
tion mentioned above, may have proceeded from ulceration of the
 os;  the dysmenorrhcea from rheumatic  irritation,  and the leucor-
 rhoea may  have had a glandular  origin.  In  organic affections of
 the uterus, as tumors, cancer, scirrous, ulceration, I would strongly
 advise  the Phytolacca, internally and locally  applied, and its use
 persevered  in for  some time.  The action of Phytolacca on the
 mammary glands is specific  and decisive.   In No. 84, page 201, of
 the British Journal of"  Homoeopathy, will  be found an article from
 my pen, which covers this subject as much  as the present state of
 our knowledge will permit.  I would  urge upon physicians to test
 its virtues in the various diseases of the mammae.   Since the article
 was published, I have used it successfully  in many cases of mam-
 mitis as well as tumors and nodosities  in these  glands :
     " It is the intention  of the writer to  call attention to only one
 particular use of this remedy; viz., in certain diseases of the mam-
 mary glands.
     "The various writers on Materia Medica  of the dominant and
 other schools not homoeopathic, while they  recognize its value  in
 diseases of the glands, do not mention this particular sphere of, its
 action.  In the homoeopathic proving above referred to we find the
 following:—
     "'Inflammation, swelling,  and suppuration of the mamme.'
 But I am not aware that this symptom has ever been put to prac-
 tical test by homoeopathists, with  the exception  of Dr. Hill, who
 recommends it  in some  diseases of  the breast.  (See Hill and
 Hunt's Surgery)  My experience with the drug dates back  nearly
 fifteen  years, before I had seen the proving referred to, or indeed
 anv published statement of its value as a medicine.
   "" When 1 was  a student of medicine  in my father's  office (he
 was then an allopath), a neighbor had  a valuable cow, which, after a
 clandestine  confinement, was brought home from the woods with
 a  most enormously swollen udder.  It  was as hard as  a stone,
         41 
 322        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 intensely hot, painful, and sensitive, and not a particle of milk could
 be drawn.   In his anxiety the owner came into his office, and asked
 my father to suggest something to discuss the swelling and engorge-
 ment.   A doseof Epsom salts was administered, but after twenty-
 four hours  the  cow  was worse than before.  At this juncture an
 old woman of the neighborhood brought in a  piece of a large,
 white  succulent looking root, which she called seoke, and ordered
 the farmer  to  cut  a  portion of it up finely and give the animal in
 some "bran mash."   Another, the larger portion, was made into a
 decoction, and the cow's udder  washed with it  frequently.  The
 effect was magical!  In less than twelve  hours the milk could be
 drawn, the gland softened, and in a few  days the  morbid condition
 was removed.
    "This incident  was nearly  forgotten until a  few years after,
 when I was  engaged in practice, and was having  trouble with mas-
 titis and abscess  of the breast  in  the ^persons of my patients.  I
 found the remedies laid down in our  books  notoriously and obsti-
 nately inefficient. In  spite of Aconite and  Belladonna in high  and
 low attenuations, the inflammatory engorgement would run on to
 suppuration.  I then tried larger doses and  other  remedies, among
 which the Kali hyd. was most valuable; also topical  application of
 Belladonna,  Arnica, Iodine, etc., after the manner of the dominant
 school, and  will  give them the credit of preventing much suffering
 and deformity.   But I determined on making a trial of the virtues
 of the  Phytolacca, and  before I commenced its use, made inquiry
 among the farmer's of my acquaintances, and found to my gratifica-
 tion that it  was considered a specific in all cases of inflammation
 and engorgement,  "  caking" of the  udder of  cows,  and  even
 mares.
    " The next case  of engorgement  of  the mammae which came
 under my care was an aggravated one.   The woman, the mother
 of several children, had had "broken breasts" with every confine-
 ment, and the cicatrices in the glands bore testimony  to  the truth
 of her assertion.   About four days after delivery she had  a severe
 chill followed by some fever, and in a few hours both mammae were
hard, swollen, and painful.  The child  made ineffectual efforts at
 nursing, the  nipples became very  sensitive,  and she was  in  much
 distress for  fear  of  the  inevitable sufferings apparently in store for
 her. Here was  a case wherein to test the efficacy of the Phy-
 tolacca.  Ten drops of the first decimal dilution were administered
 every hour, and a lotion was prepared by adding one-half oz. of the
 tincture  to  one-half pint  of warm water.   This was applied con-
 stantly by means of folds of cotton cloth laid upon the breasts.   In
 the course of the next twenty-four hours I had the satisfaction of
finding  some signs of resolution.   The heat, pain,  and swelling
became less, and in a few days, with the  aid  of low diet, and care-
ful extraction of  the milk, the woman recovered  with only a small
abscess at the site of an old cicatrix, instead  of extensive  suppura-
tion, as usual.  Since that time I have used  it in very many  cases,
 with the same excellent results, and it is only in the severer forms, 
PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA.
323
accompanied with  erysipelatous  inflammation, that I  have had  to
resort to Belladonna internally and externally.
   " But this Phytolacca is not only useful in simple and inflamma-
tory engorgement, causing rapid resolutions, but it is valuable  in
those cases where  suppuration  hat  already  commenced.   Here it
reduces the inflammation, increases the  activity  of the absorbents,
and will often condense an apparently large abscess into the small-
est dimensions.
   "It  is  often the case that neglected or ill-treated mammary
abscess  degenerates into ill-conditioned, fistulous ulcers.   In such
cases I have seen the best effects follow the judicious use of this
remedy.
   " Case  1.—A young woman, a primipara, very corpulent, with
very large  mammary glands, was taken with chills and fever a few
days after  confinement.  The  family  were poor, and lived^ a long
distance in  the country; no physician was called, and nothing was
properly done, but very improperly the breast  was  poulticed  for
nearly  two weeks, when several large abscesses opened sponta-
neously and discharged enormous quantities of unhealthy pus.  Six
weeks afterwards she came to me for advice.  The breast  affected
was a most loathsome  sight, long, pendulous, distorted, the seat of
several  large fistulous ulcers,  discharging a watery, foetid, ichorous
pus;  the gland was full of hard, painful nodosities,  of the size of
a  walnut and larger.   I suspended the breast by the  application of
long strips of adhesive  plaster, placed in various directions across
and around the gland,  and prescribed ten drops of Phytolacca first,
four times  a day;  also  a preparation of one-half oz. of the tincture
to  eight  oz.  of distilled water, to  be  thrown into  the  fistulous
canals with a small glass syringe ; this  treatment, together with a
better diet and a little  wine, so much improved the case in a week,
that but one small ulcer remained  open; and in a  fortnight  the
treatment  was  suspended.  The gland will never   return to  its
normal  condition, but will probably  retain its irregular shape and
knotty  feel.
    "  Case  2.—A woman, aged 40, applied to me to be treated for
what had  been declared an  " open cancer" of the breast.  It
originated  one year previously after the birth of her  seventh child,
and was the result of a neglected abscess.  The ulcer was an inch
in diaraeter, gaping, angry, filled with  unhealthy granulations; a
probe passed obliquely downwards until it reached a  hard sensitive
tumor about the size of a hen's  egg ; the discharge  was  offensive
and sanious.   The case was treated by suspension and compression,
and the use of Phytolacca as above.   Cured in two weeks.
    "Many similar cases might be  cited, but  these  will  suffice,
as they  are  good examples  of the many cures made  with this
remedy.
    "It  may here be mentioned, that the local  application  of  this
remedy is  useful in cracked and excoriated nipples.   It should  be
given at the same  time internally. If the fissures are syphilitic m
their origin, this remedv is still  useful.  I once  treated  a case of
irritable tumor  of the "breast as described by Sir Astley Cooper. 
324        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 It had been  present several years, and was very sensitive and pain-
 ful, most especially at the menstrual periods'; the  pain  extended
 down the arm  of the  affected  side, and  at times causing a sympa-
 thetic enlargement of a gland in the axilla.   I administered Bella-
 donna,  Conium, Phosphorus, and Iodine, but without any good
 result, and the  patient left me.  A few  months after, I learned to
 my  intense mortification, that an old  woman had cured it  with  a
 plaster of the inspissated  juice of the berries of the Phytolacca.
 Since that occurrence I have treated several cases successfully with
 the Phytolacca internally, giving the lowest dilutions, and some-
 times the mother tincture.   In  one case.I permitted the patient to
 use  a " salve" of the  juice of the  berries  mixed  with mutton
 tallow.  This she applied  constantly over the site  of the  tumor.
 Whether it hastened the cure or not I cannot say, at least its appli-
 cation did no  harm, although  it seemed  capable of causing some
 vesications of the skin.
    " The same old lady above mentioned had quite a reputation for
 curing " cancers," and with no  other application, as I was assured,
 than the extract of Phytolacca.  I have known the finely powdered
 root, when applied to fungous growths, have the effect of changing
 such abnormal into normal or healthy ulcers which soon healed.
    "I have  found it useful in  encysted tumors;  in  recent indura-
 tions; and even in scirrous of the breast;  nor should I be surprised
 if further trials should show  it  to  be  useful in cancer  of  the
 mammae.
   " In those cases of irritable  mammae where there is no swelling,
 induration, or tumor, only a painfulness  at  the menstrual  period, I
 have found  it specific  in  a few cases.  The menses became more
 natural, and  the pain in the mammae ceased.  The  question here
 arises:   Why will it not prove valuable in certain diseases  of the
 testicles  or  the ovaries?   When we consider the  physiological
 relation of the ovaries to the mammee, we  should  incline to predict
 it will found useful in many ovarian diseases."
   To the above article I would add, that the root  is in general
 use among dairymen in this  country, to regulate  any abnormality
 m the milk of cows.  If the milk be scanty, thick, watery, curdy
 (flocculent), or contains blood or pus, or becomes in any way unnatu-
 ral, they  give the green root, or a decoction in small quantities, and
the effect upon the milk is generally favorable.  This should suggest
its use in abnormal conditions of the milk  in women, giving it in
 the lower dilutions.   The higher might  be tried  in some peculiar
cases.                                                  r
   larynx and Cough.—Tickling in the left side of the larynx, with
hacking cough, and aching in the right side of the breast and great
dryness of the  throat; sensation  of roughness in the bronchia;
cough towards  morning,   from  dryness  of  the pharynx;  dry
bronchial  cough, with  the  sensation  of  roughness  and  slight
increase of heat in the trachea and  bronchia; hacking cough-
 {Trans. A. I.  H)                                    &     6
   Clinical Remarks.-R  seems to  be Dr. Burt's  opinion that
when the diphtheria membrane invades the air passages, the Phy- 
PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA.
325
tolacca  is  of  less value,  or  none at all, but this remains  to be
proven.  If it is specific to  the  disease, it  may be curative of it,
let  it be  located  where  it  will.  It is  said to have been used in
asthma, and chronic coughs, with benefit.
   Chest and Respiration.—Shortness of breath ;  aching pain in the
right side of the breast; pain in the  right side of the  chest about
the region of the nipple, passing through to the back, felt on taking
a long breath, and on  bending the shoulder backwards, better in
the afternoon ; pain in the right side of the chest, so bad after
midnight as to prevent sleep, aggravated by  lying on the right side,
disappears after getting  up in  the  morning;  tenderness of the
muscles of the chest, as if they were bruised ;  occasional shocks of
pain in the region of the heart, and as soon as the pain  in the heart
ceases, a similar pain appears in the right arm.—{Trans. A. I. H.)
   Clinical Remarks.—Some eclectic writers suggest its  use in
pulmonary turberculosis, and  analogy might suggest its  use in ulcer-
ative diseases involving the  lungs and bronchia, but  we have no
clinical records of its successful use in such cases.   I found it bene-
ficial in one case of intercostal rheumatism of several years' stand-
ing.  It ought to prove curative,  as the symptoms  indicate in some
rheumatic and neuralgic affections of  the thorax and heart.
    Back-—Pain  in the left lumbar region, followed  immediately by
severe itching ;  a lasting pain in  the left shoulder-blade, as  if from
a blow ;  an occasional sensation  as if a small piece of cold  iron
were pressed on the  painful shoulder-blade ; sensation of weight
and  pressure  on both shoulder-blades,  as after  carrying a heavy
load; stiffness  in the  right  side of the  neck, worse in bed, after
midnight;  a very peculiar pressure  and tension in  the parotids;
hardness of the gland on the right side of the neck ; suppuration of
a tumor behind the right ear, with a  discharge of  matter  and
blood; severe pain between the  scapulas, when  walking; constant
dull, heavy pain in the lumbar  and sacral regions, aggravated by
motion ; the back is very stiff every morning.—{Dr. Burt)
   Clinical Remarks.—It is indicated by the symptoms, and has
proved curative  in cases of " stiff neck," lumbago, and  even  spinal
irritation.
   Upper Extremities.—Dull  aching pain and tenderness along the
top ot the right shoulder, along the superior edge  of the trapezius
muscle, increased by pressing upon the part and by contracting the
muscle ; pain throughout the muscles of the left  shoulder;  pain in
the humeral insertion  of the left deltoid muscle; slight drawing
pains in the right upper arm  ; pain appears in  the  right arm after
a similar pain ceases in the heart;  tenderness in the outside of the
left arm just above  the  elbow, when pressing upon it, and when
extending the  arm; dull aching pain  and excessive tenderness, as
if from a bruise  in the muscles of the outside of the right upper
arm, most severe for about two inches above  the elbow, felt partic-
ularly when the part  is pressed upon and  touched, and when
extending the  arm; twitching and fluttering of the muscles of the
right upper arm, while it is resting on a table; weakness  and
aching in the bone of the  right arm  above the elbow,  aggravated 
826        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 by motion and extension ; rheumatic drawing in the right forearm ;
 rheumatic drawing in the left forearm along the ulna, and the same
 sensation  in the right leg; rheumatic pains in the hands and  feet,
 sometimes in the arms and Jegs; drawing pain in the right hand,
 now and then, by shocks upwards to the elbow ;  rheumatic feeling
 in the little finger of the right hand, very  annoying when writing;
 rheumatic pain, first  in  the  left hand, and afterwards  in the right
 one; shooting, like  needles,  in the  left thumb ;  violent  shooting
 pain in the fleshy part of  the left  thumb, lasting  about half a
 minute; lancinating pain in the little and  ring-fingers of the  right
 hand; neuralgic pains in the palm of the right hand ; occasionally
 frequent sudden pricking  in the points of the fingers,  as if from
 eclectic  sparks;  shooting  in the finger-points,  sometimes in  one
 hand and sometimes in the other.—{Trans. A. I. H.)   Arms ache;
 ends of the  fingers  all  throb  and  ache, as if they were going to
 suppurate, (this symptom lasted three days).—{Dr. Burt.)
    Clinical  Remarks.—Dr. Burt  recommends the Phytolacca in
 whitlow, felon,^ etc., because of the remarkable  similarity of the
 symptoms.  It is a popular domestic  remedy in those troublesome
 affections  (the green root is  applied raw or boiled).   Indicated in
 rheumatic  affections  of arms  and hands.  Dr. Burt has cured warts
 on the hands with the tincture locally applied.
    Lower  Extremities.—Sciatica; neuralgic pain  on the outer side
 of the left thigh ;  neuralgic pain in the external part of the right
 thigh; neuralgic pain in  the external part of the left thigh ; neural-
 gic pain in the left groin; heaviness in the knee joints, tired from a
 little walk ;  heaviness in the  lower  extremities,  as  if they were
 asleep, in the afternoon  ; rheumatic pain in the right knee, in the
 afternoon,  increasing in the open air, and especially on a damp day;
 rheumatic  drawing  in the  right  leg  and  in the  left  forearm
 along the ulna; rheumatic  feeling in the left knee, with  the sensa-
 tion of shortening the tendons behind  the knee when walking;
 rheumatic  pains below the knees and in the arms;  pain on the dor-
 sum of the right foot at  four o'clock in  the morning- coldness of
 the feet with increase of  the capillary  circulation about the face and
 head;_ free sweating  of  the  feet, most under the toes ; neuralgic
 pain in the  right big toe, in the middle of the  night;  pains at a
 spot on the ball of the right foot, which had been frost-bitten years
 before, and in a corn never painful before.—(Trans. A. I. II) Legs
 ache  and  feel very stiff  about the  knees, aggravated by walking;
 weakness ; could walk with difficulty.—(Dr. Burt)
•    Clinical Remarks.-It  is  stated that from the application of
 the juice of the root to corns "the whole toe became inflamed  and
 turned black  like gangrene."   It seems almost incredible that  this
 should have been a direct result  of the  Phytolacca.  It has been
 used successfully in chronic rheumatism of the  lower extremities;
 for chronic inflammation  of the knee joint, with or without effusion
 and m  sciatica and  nightly  pains  in the  limbs.   Syphilitic  and
 mercurial rheumatism (periostitis) generally selects theI tibia, as the
 chief point of its operations.   I have  used it successfully  in nightly
 pains m tibia, with nodes, and even irritable ulcers  on  the legs  It 
PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM.
327
will  be found useful in nearly  all those  cases in which Iodide of
Potash is so freely used in allopathic practice, and strangely enough
is quite as successful as that salt.
   Characteristic Peculiarities.—The pains all partake of the nature
of neuralgia ; they are pressing and  shooting, sometimes  sore,
drawing and aching; the pains are all made worse by  motion and
by pressure;  the pains in the extremities  are always in the outer
portions of the limbs ; the secretion  of tears, saliva, bile* urine and
the menses is increased ;  irresistible inclination  to bite the  teeth
together;  vomiting attended with but little distress in the stomach;
the diarrhoea appears to be kept Up by the increased action of the
liver, and  consequent  redundancy of bile, with  but little tormina
and tenesmus; with the increase of the secretion of bile, there is a
dry, irritative cough, and almost constantly recurring transitory
pains in different parts of the head.   We find the symptoms pre-
dominating in the right  side of the head and  neck, the  right upper
extremity, the right side of the chest, and the right lower extrem-
ity ; when enumerating  the symptoms of the eyes only, we find the
left one most frequently mentioned ; in the above extract there are
forty symptoms located  on the right side,  and thirty-one on the left.
In  several instances, the symptoms appeared on the left side first,
and either passed over to the right,  or the next symptom  occurred
on the right side.—{I'rans. Am. Inst. Horn)
        PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM.

                          {Mandrake.)

   This plant is also  known by the common name of May-Apple.
It is so well-known  that  no description  is  here necessary.  It is
found in great  abundance in all parts of the United States.   1 he
fruit is eaten and  much liked by some persons, but extremely dis-
agreeable to others.  It is slightly aperient, and popularly supposed
to cause an eruption of boils. The pulp only should be eaten    The
fleshy portion contains much  medicinal power, but inferior to the
root, which  is  the officinal  portion.   It was well known  to the
Indians before the whites settled the country, and was one of their
most active purgatives.   It should be collected soon after the
ripening of the  fruit; its active  principles are readily taken up by
alcoholl it contains  a resinous principle, called Podophyllin.   Ike
preparations used  in homoeopathic  practice should be the tmotuie
from  the fresh root, a trituration  from  the dried root, and  fiom
Podonhvllin;  and dilutions  made in the  usual manner from the
third trituration of the last-named preparation, or the tincture.
   Toxical Effects.-The entire plant in its recent state is an irritant
poison, producing vomiting, hypercatharsis, tormina, stupor, and 
328        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 bloating of the body; the root recently dried, operates as a drastic
 cathartic and emetic, when given in large doses, but the violence of
 its action is materially modified by age.   Several cases of poisoning
 by the fruit, in children who had eaten the rind, have been brought
 under my observation, but in no instance  was a fatal result induced.
    The following narrative of cases by Dr. D. C. Owen, which I take
 from the "  Chicago Medical Examiner," are of interest, as showing
 the  principal  toxical effect of  the  medicine:—"On  the  4th  of
 August, 1860,1 was called upon to visit two children of H. C, who,
 the messenger said, were vomiting themselves to death.  I inquired
 what the children had  been eating or taking ; he  replied, that the
 parents thought the vomiting was caused by May-apples, which the
 children  had eaten in the morning.  I drove briskly on, and arrived
 at the place in, perhaps, half an hour,  where I found  two very
 pretty little girls, aged respectively, six and eight years, stretched
 upon their  beds; bathed  in cold perspiration; their faces pale as
 corpses;  eyes sunken in their  orbits; noses  pinched ; pulse very
 weak, and scarcely perceptible at the wrist; great thirst; and the
 stomach  contracting so hard and  rapidly,  in efforts to vomit, that
 the wrenching pain would cause them to utter sharp screams, one
 after another, for five  minutes at a  time.  I was told that the
 vomiting had been going on for the last four hours, almost without
intermission, it being now 12 m.   On examining the matters thrown
 from the stomach, I found  them  to consist, for the most part, of
 seeds, pulp, and  membraneous  covering of  the  ripe May-apple,
having the peculiar odor  of that fruit.  I asked them if they had
eaten the rinds of the apples.   They said,  no; but they had used
their teeth  to rupture the rinds.  I informed the parents that the
recovery of the oldest child was  not  to be  expected, owing  to the
prostration  already produced ; but that the chances for the younger
were much better.   I  gave the  oldest,  one gr.  sulp. morphine,
 covered the epigastrium and entire abdomen, which was tympanitic
and very tender, with a blister; invited the blood to the extremities
with hot flannels and sinapisms;  gave carbonic acid water, in small
 quantities, to allay thirst; and, as the bowels had not been moved
 since the vomiting begun, ordered  an  enema  of castor  oil and
molasses  in warm water.  To the younger I gave, perhaps two-
 thirds gr. morphine, and ordered the same  course as for the other
 except that for the blister I substituted mustard.  They were now
 kept as quiet as possible for, perhaps, an hour and a-halfi when the
 younger child was sufficiently under the influence of the narcotic to
 fall into a quiet sleep  The oldest now vomited again bilious matter
 mixed with blood-the  bile dark green  and very thick, the blood
 dark and coagulated   She complained frequently of burning sensa-
 tion  in the throat.  Finding that the  injections had failed to move
 nfnV Zt  \  Ti?Ve  Hydrargyri  sub-  m«r,  gr. xij., Morphine
 sulph.,gr j   fhey were  now both getting warm  extremities, the
 youngest still sleeping   I left powders of morphine and  camphor,
 one ot which was to be given after each act of vomiting, should i

 fZwU7 ^:*°^ner 6ach St°01'  Sh0uld the b0^l« act too
 freely.  I directed the parents to do  everything in their power to 
PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM.           329
maintain the proper amount of heat in the extiemities;  and, if the
means they were  then using were  not sufficient to keep up the
warmth  of the body, to use brandy by enema.  For the  youngest,
I left similar powders and directions, should she require them.
   " Called  August 5th, at 7 a. m.—Found the oldest past all hope—
the eyes glazed and  motionless, the death-rattle in  her throat, the
abdomen swelled almost to bursting, and the under jaw fallen.  At
half-past eight o'clock she expired.   I  learned that  she had con-
tinued to vomit thick bile, with more or less blood mixed with it,
about  every hour through the night.   The  youngest child was
considerably better, although  there  was considerable  tenderness
over  the stomach, to remove  which I  applied a  blister;  gave
Dover's  powder to keep her quiet, slippery-elm  water for drink,
kept the bowels solvent  with  sulphate of magnesia; and, by the
morning of  the  8th, she was convalescent.  I have endeavored to
give a simple  statement of the facts in the above cases, as they
occurred ; and I will decline making comments, more than  to say,
that, after seeing the deleterious effects of the May-apple in these
cases,  I would not recommend  them as  being the healthiest article
of diet that we can procure; and I have also kept an eye single on
the  action  of   podophylline."   In the  hands of incautious  or
ignorant physicians, the Podophyllum and its active principle have
been productive of an immense  amount of injury to the  people of
the  West.  I have  treated  many painful,  severe,  and  incurable
diseases  of the stomach and intestines, uterus,  and urinary organs,
which could be dated distinctly to over dosing with this  potent
drug.  Next to Mercury,  it is capable of inflicting more injury to
the human organism, when abused, than almost any other drug in
common  use;  yet eclectics denounce  Mercury  in  all its  forms,
while  pouring this poison down their patients.   The original and
only proving which has yet appeared, was made by Dr. Williamson,
of Philadelphia, and published in the " Trans. Amer. Inst, of Horn.
Vol. I.''   I shall make that the  basis of this article, and add thereto
the pathogenetic and clinical  symptoms which have been collected
since that publication.  It has been used more extensively, perhaps,
than any of the  new remedies,  and is already looked upon  by our
school as a valuable polychrest.  I  am indebted to Dr. E. J. Frazer,
of Chicago, for the peculiar arrangement of the symptoms  of this
medicine.  Under  my directions  he has placed the primary and
secondary symptoms in  their  proper   order, as  nearly  as our
knowledge of the action  of the drug will permit.   This should be
done with every medicine, in   order to  iacilitate the study of its
effects, and guide us in the selection of the  proper  dose.  Eclectic
physicians, and of  late many of the allopathic  school, have come to
look upon the Mandrake as a sort of panacea for nearly all acute
diseases, and useful in almost all  chronic affections.  With its en-
thusiastic admirers it ranks with Calomel.  Medical adjectives have
been exhausted in describing its powers  and virtues.  It is said to
be cathartic, emetic, alterative, anthelmintic hydragogue, siatogogue,
deobstrueut, febrifuge, anti-periodic, diuretic, etc.,  etc., etc.   It is a
fact  that like Mercury it penetrates every nook aud cranny of the
       42 
 330        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

 organism, and there is scarce an organ or tissue of the body but
 feels its malign influence, when it is introduced into the system  in
 toxical doses.  It has  been used in nearly  every disease in the
 nomenclature, and is said to have proved curative in  those of the
 most opposite character.  I shall try to show in my clinical remarks
 the causes of its great popularity,  and attempt to define  its real
 sphere of action.  I  will here remark that I shall use the  statements
 relative to the Podophyllum and Podophyllm, indiscriminately—as
 I believe both to  act in a similar (perhaps identical) manner upon
 the system.  The  latter may not have as wide  range of action as
 the former, because it does not  contain all the medicinal constituents
 of  the plant.  To meet  the  requirements of an exact science, such
 as  homoeopathy aspires  to be,  there  should be a proving  of both
 preparations, but until we  reach that desideratum we  must do the
 best we can.  In  the clinical  remarks I shall designate as far as
 possible which  preparation was prescribed,  in order that the phy-
 sician  may use the same in similar cases.  (I  shall, for the sake  of
 brevity, adopt the abreviation "Pm" for the one, and "Pn." for
 the other preparation.)
    General Effects.—Nervous System.—Podophyllum  does not
 act specifically upon the  nerves, as  does Aconite or Nux vomica.
 In  this respect it ranks with Bryonia, Aloes,  and other  medicines of
 the same class.   The pains induced by the Mandrake  are probably
 myalgic in their  character.  In idiopathic  neuralgia,  or  indeed
 neuralgia in any form, it is of doubtful utility.
    Muscular System.—We have not sufficient proof, nor do we find
 anything in the pathogenesis, which would lead us to suppose that
 Podophyllum  acted  directly upon the muscular fibre, as does Bry-
 onia, Mercurius, or Helonias.   To fully  understand  the action  of
 Mandrake, and other similarly  acting and  depressing drugs, one
 should read that instructive book, " Inman on Myalgia."  I would
 suggest that Podophyllum causes pains, cramps and other sensations
 and affections of muscular  tissue by (a) its irritating action upon
 mucous membranes,  and (b) by its depressing action upon the  vital
 power.   According  to  Inman, all drastic purgatives may  cause
 myalgia, and even cramps, and wasting  of  muscle.  Viewing the
 action of this medicine as I do, I cannot consider it indicated  in
 rheumatism affecting muscles  or tendons.  If it  has  been found
 beneficial in that disease, it has  been from some indirect action, and
 not from any specific effect.  I have known it to cause severe myal-
 gic  pains and soreness, and have found it curative in similar condi-
tions, but never in true rheumatism. The Podophyllin has  the power
to cause other pains besides those referred to the bowels, stomach and
 other portions of the  digestive tract.  I have known it to cause pains
in various parts of the system, but I believe them to be generally
myalgic.  Dr. Coe, whose  testimony is sometimes valuable, says:
 " Podophyllin is sometimes very tardy  in its  operation, not  acting
under eighteen or twenty hours, and frequently it will operate more
freely during the second twenty-four  hours,  than  during the first.
 In cases of chronic disorders of the liver, spleen, and other viscera
 considerable pain  will frequently  be experienced in the diseased 
PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM.           331
organs during the operation of the medicine.  Sometimes the pain
will be in the liver, at others in the spleen, again in the kidneys,
(medicinal aggravation), also in the back of the neck and head, in
the pleura, intercostal muscles, etc., (myalgic), but these symptoms
will subside with the operation of  the medicine."   He thinks these
are favorable  indications,  "showing  that  the remedy  is at work
arousing the dormant energies of the  system."  It is not necessary,
however, to cause these pains, etc.
   Mucous Tissues.—In its  action  on  mucous  membranes it ranks
with Mercurius, Iris v., Veratrum  album., and  other drastic  cathar-
tics.   It is powerfully irritant to the tissues, especially those of the
digestive tract.  It is not directly specific in its  action upon the
mucous membrane of the respiratory and urinary passages.   It will
however irritate and inflame any mucous surface  when  brought in
contact with it, sometimes acting as a powerful escharotic.  Of its
power to cause inflammation of any and  all portions of the mucous
membrane  from the mouth to the anus, there  can be  no  doubt.
Such effects have been too often observed  in practice, by all phy-
sicians who have had opportunity  to notice its action when  admin-
ministered  in  material doses.  It even causes  ulceration  of this
tissue, and may be said to act as Dr. Freligh asserts of mercury—
" as a solvent of the living solids," but not to the extent of  the for-
mer poison.  Mandrake is  homoeopathic  to enteritis, gastritis, etc.,
and  even to bronchitis and urethritis, under certain circumstances,
which will be noticed under appropriate  headings.
   Serous Tissues.—It is said to affect, by its " alterative  action,"
the serous membranes of the body, and prove  curative in pleuritis,
peritonitis,  synovitis, and  even meningitis; but  its action  in  this
direction, is not, in my opinion,  specific or direct, as  is the case
with Bryonia.
   Glandular System-—It is here that  mandrake is a close analogue
of Mercury, Iodine, Iris versicolor, etc.  When taken up into the
circulation,  it  is eliminated by the  glands, and is thus rendered
capable of causing irritation, inflammation, and even suppuration of
almost  any  glandular organ or structure.  To  those who would
thoroughly  understand the action  of that class of medicines termed
" Eliminants,"  I  would advise a  careful perusal of  that masterly
work, " Headland  on the  Action of Medicines."  According to
Kino- and others, " It produces a powerful and lasting impression
upon the glandular system and secretory organs, unequalled by any
other article "   It is  highly recommended  and  habitually  used in
scrofula, induration, and swelling; also  inflammation and suppura-
tion of glands.   It would be useless to waste our space in recording
all the laudations of eclectic physicians  in relation  to its  curative
action upon the system.  Like the praises the allopathist bestows
upon mercury, they are too  often  based upon  an unsubstantial

 °U Vascular System, Fever.-Chilliness while  moving about during
fevei "md in the act of lying down,  with perspiration immediately
afterwards : chilliness when first lying down in the evening, followed
by fever and sleep, which is disturbed with talking and imperfect 
332        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
wakings;  fever attended with constipation; fever with  incoherent
talking  ('W);  slow  pulse, scarcely perceptible pulse ;  pulselessness
and collapse.   The primary action of toxical doses is to depress tne
vital energies of the whole system, and therefore lower  the action
(tone) of the heart and arteries, in a manner similar to \ erat. alb.
and its analogues.  This will be  seen by reference to the case ot
poisoning recorded on a previous page.  Dr. Coe makes  a sugges-
tive remark on page  245 of his  work  (Cone. Org. Med): " Podo-
phyllin exercises a remarkable control over the sanguiferous system,
removing  capillary obstructions, and equalizing the circulation.  Its
exhibition is frequently followed by a decided increase of tempera-
ture on the part of the skin, and patients sometimes imagine that
the medicine  is going  to induce  a fever.  Many  who  have been
troubled with unequal circulation and  coldness of  the  extremities
for months, are permanently relieved by a single dose."  The symp-
toms  I have put in italics, would seem to show that the Mandrake,
like mercury, had the power to cause a fever peculiar to itself, a
real irritative fever.  This fever sometimes resembles the mercurial
fever, as it is often accompanied by perspiration, and pains all over
the system.  Taking the ensemble of the symptoms, we  have in the
coldness, chilliness, heat, pain, sweat, etc.,  a very good  picture of
a febrile attack.
    Clinical  Remarks.—Eclectics  and other admirers  of Podo-
phyllum in the " regular '' school, make the sweeping assertion that
it is useful in the treatment of all fevers, and place in the same list
those of the  highest  and lowest grade, the  sthenic  and asthenic.
This is so manifestly absurd, that  it were useless to spend time to
show its absurdity, but the opposite schools of medicine are so  prone
to deal in generalities that  we can expect nothing  better of them.
Podophyllum is indicated and has been found useful in  the follow-
ing varieties of fever.
    Intermittent Fever.—When the following symptoms are present:
" Chilliness when lying down—or in the evening;  chill in the  morn-
ing a 7 o'clock, with pressing pains in both hypochondria,  and dull,
aching pains in the knees and ankles, elbows and wrists; back-ache
before the  chill; the  shaking and  sensation  of coldness  continues
for some time after the heat commences; some thirst  during the
chill,  but more through  the heat; the patient is conscious during
the chill, but cannot talk, because  he forgets  the words he wishes
to  employ; delirium  and loquacity during  the hot stage,  with
forgetfulness afterwards of all that passed ; violent pain in the head,
with excessive thirst during the  fever; sleep  during  the perspira-
tion ; loss of appetite during the apyrexia."  The above symptoms
are given  by Dr. Williamson, who does not inform us whether they
are purely curative  symptoms, or pathogenetic and curative.  He
further  says Podophyllum  is indicated  in quotidian tertian and
quartan  organs,  and for  "periodical  diseases"  generally.   The
practitioner, however, must not expect too much of this remedy in
Intermittents.  It  cannot be ranked  with Nux.,  China, Quinia,
Cornus flo.,  or any  of  the  " anti-periodic " group of medicines
which act curatively by virtue  of that  power, but rather  with 
               PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM.           333

Mercurius, Leptandria,  Iris, etc., which act as curative  agents in
Intermittent fevers,  by another power, namely, of correcting the
condition of particular organs, as the liver, and  thus  removing the
obstacles  to a  recovery.  In my practice, which was at one time
extensive, in a district cursed with ague, I had ample opportunity
to observe the action of Podophyllum in this disease.  I never
found it of benefit unless the hepatic, intestinal, and  gastric symp-
toms  corresponded with those of the  fever; when  given  for the
symptoms of the fever alone, enumerated above, it was not curative.
In fact it would remove all the  other symptoms, and the paroxysms
of fever would still  occur in a  modified  form. But if alternated
with Ipecac, China, Cornus, or  Nux vomica (in quotidian), Arseni-
cum, Cedron, or Quinia  (in tertian), the cure would be prompt and
permanent.  Those who are opposed to alternation of remedies can
use the Podophyllum first, and the appropriate remedy afterwards.
As the   testimony   of eclectic  physicians may  be  interesting
on this  point, I  will  quote:   " In  bilious fevers,  either remit-
tent or  intermittent, it  not  unfrequently arrests  the  diseases,
at  the  first  prescription,  if  given  in  the  proper  manner,  or
it  so far  modifies the  attack  that  the  case  becomes mild
and manageable.''   (King).  Dr.  Morrow makes the same state-
ment,  but  says  it  is  only  indicated  when there  is  evident
hepatic torpor or congestion.  "During the  early stages of most
febrile  diseases,  particularly  intermittent and  bilious remittent
fevers, podophylline is an  agent  of  superior efficacy.  A single
dose  often  arrests the  severest attacks  of fever."   (Jones  and
Scudder).  " In the  treatment  of feVer   and ague,  we   almost
invariably  precede  the  employment  of the  other   remedies by
the free exhibition of Podophylline.  By so doing, in this climate,
we cut  the  disease  short at  once, and  oftentimes  have  no
occasion  for  further medication.  We have  known  many cases
of  intermittent fever  yield  to a single dose of the  Podophylline,
and, we have no doubt, but the credit of the cure is frequently due
to this agent, where it  is attributed to other means."  (Dr. Coe.)
The  above   embodies  the  general estimate  of the  eclectic
school, as regards the value of this medicine in agues.  No writer
pretends that it has any actual anti-periodic  power.  It has been
noticed in many of our provings, that certain febrile and even pain-
ful symptoms were  decidedly aggravated, or had a tendency to
recur at certain hours in the day, or on alternate days.  This pecu-
liarity renders a drug an "anti-periodic."  In the proving of Podo-
phyllum,  we  find that certain febrile and other symptoms, tend
to occur in the morning, but this I consider rather an indication of
its remittent action.   Future experiments  will  decide.  In Bilious
Fevers,  this  medicine  is  an  excellent homoeopathic  remedy.
No  other drug  so  often  corresponds  with^  the  symptoms,
particularly  when  there  is much  intestinal  irritation.   It  is
admirably indicated in  the  various  forms  of remittent  fever;
which in  the west are generally considered " bilious " in character.
The febrile   symptoms  are   quite strongly   marked,  and may
afford some  data for the selection of this drug, but we  should 
334        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
be  guided  principally  by the   general  symptoms.  As above
stated,  eclectic  physicians,  and  of late  many  allopathic,  _ are
enthusiastic  believers in the power of Podophyllum, when given
at the onset of  nearly all fevers, in  cathartic  doses, of arresting
or  " breaking  up" such  attacks.   But  I  need  not acquaint the
homoeopathic  physician  that  such practice is  sometimes  fraught
with  the  most  deplorable  consequences.   When the patient is
strong  and  robust,  the  vitality of  the  organism  may  rally
from  its  depressing   action, or  medicinal  aggravation  of the
malady;  but  if such  reaction does  not  take place  the fever,
which may have been  mild  in  its  character, is changed  to a
serious  and  intractable  one.   The  intestinal irritation which the
Podophyllin  sets up,  will  go on and  withstand  all the  rude
means of the  eclectic to arrest.  In  this  way  I  have   known
simple  remittents  changed  into   enteric  or  typhoid fever.  In
irritative  fever,  and infantile  remittent,   no  remedy will  give
better satisfaction,  not  even  Mercurius.  But it should  be  used
with  caution  in  all fevers accompanied  or caused by intestinal
orgastic irritation.  In  these  cases it  is primarily homoeopathic,
and should be used in the fourth and sixth dec. dil., should the symp-
toms  denote  inactivity  of  the  liver  and glandular system of
the intestines,  and constipation,  with jaundice  exist, then the
second  or third dil.  may  be used  safely.  In  Typhoid  and
Typhus fevers, (enteric) the Podophyllum  is often indicated.  It is
quite as homoeopathic  to the  irritation,  inflammation, and  even
ulceration of Peyer's glands, as   Mercurius  and Arsenicum, but
it is not  so well indicated  by the  general  symptoms;  namely,
the  condition of the  blood,  etc.,  as  Baptisia,  Phosphoric  and
Muriatic  acids,  or even Leptandria  or Iris.   Dr. Hill, (Epitome)
says  Podophyllin  is  the  best   remedy for  the  diarrhoea of
typhoids,  but  homoeopathists  can  accept  no  such  whoselale
assertion.  If the diarrhoea,  in a  case of  typhoid,  corresponds to
the Podophyllum-diarrhoea then,   and  only then  is it a  specific
remedy.  The best writers  in the  eclectic school  are aware of
the  danger of  giving  large  doses  of Podophyllin  in  typhoid
and other low fevers, and all are  particular to warn the physician
not to  use  it  when  there  is much  prostration  or intestinal
irritation  existing.   Notwithstanding this, the physicians of that
and the  old  school,  are  generally  so ignorant of disease, and
so reckless  of consequences,  as to  give  this powerful  drug  in
typhoid fever.   The consequences are that but few patients, under
that  treatment,  have  vitality to  resist the toxical  effects of the
drug and  the  disease.  If Podophyllin  is prescribed   in  true
enteric  (or  typhoid) fever, it should  be  only  the  middle  and
higher  potencies—the tenth and upwards.  The Podophyllum may
be used  lower,  in the  third or  sixth.  These  general remarks,
I  deem sufficient to point out the  applicability of the  remedy
in  the  various  forms  of fever.  They  will serve  to guide the
practitioner in the  selection  of the  drug  by  the  special symp-
toms.  Even the exantliematous fevers form no exception.
    Sleep.—Sleepiness in the day time, especially in the forenoon ; 
PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM.
335
sleepiness early  in  the evening;  restlessness  the fore part of
the night;  distress  after  the  first  sleep in the  evening;  rising
up in the bed, during  sleep without  waking; moaning in sleep
with eyelids half closed; *restless sleep of children, with whining
at night; unrefreshed by  sleep on  waking in the morning; too
heavy sleep at  night; drowsy and difficult to wake in the  morn-
ing,  *a feeling  of fatigue  on  waking in the morning.
   Clinical Remarks.—Stupor and even coma  occur in cases
of poisoning with Podophyllum.  The  above symptoms form a
group very  often met with in persons who are supposed  to be
" bilious," or have " liver  complaint."  In other words, they  are
common to  "hepatic torper, and are premonitory to many kinds of
fever.  The  symptoms marked *, are said by Dr. Williamson to
have been cured by  this medicine.
    Skin.—*Sallowness of the skin in  children; *moistness  of the
 skin with preter-natural warmth.
    Clinical Remarks.—The  two symptoms above,  are the  only
 ones recorded as skin symptoms,  and those appear to  be curative.
 I have  never noticed any irritation  or  eruption of the _ skin
 appear from its internal use.  It is probably  not homoeopathic to
 any cutaneous disease.  Its topical  application, by virtue of its
 escharotic power, results in redness, vesication and even pustulation
 and ulcers.  It forms an ingredient  of the " irritating plaster " of
 the eclectics.  In this manner of application  it may prove  locally
 homoeopathic,  as does Argentum nit.,  etc.  I have known its abuse
 and prolonged use to cause jaundice, but that symptom  more pro-
 perly belongs to another paragraph.  Like mercury,  it causes  a
  peculiar  irritative  fever,  characterized by heat of the skin  with
  moisture (fever with  sweat).  This symptom may be of value, in
  aiding us in the selection of the medicine.  Coe says  the  resinoid
  "possesses a degree  of escharotic power,  and when  applied to
  fundus growths will dissolve them down.  It produces  a rapid
  pustulaton, which appears first in the form of minute  vesicles  filled
  with a serous fluid  which  speedily  changes to a whitish or  yellow-
  ish hue.  This superficial  inflammation is  at  the  same  time  quite
  severe.   The pustules are slow in healing.
     Mental Symptoms-Depression of spirits; imagines he is going
  to die,  or will be very ill.
     Clinical  Remarks.—According to Dr. Williamson it has been
  found curative in the  delirium of fevers.   Beyond  this we know
  but little of its homoeopathic use in mental or emotional disorders
  It is evidently indicated,  judging from its  sphere of  action, and
  has been found  useful, in  depression of spirits, and hypochondriac
  state of mind arising from hepatic disorder.
     Head —Giddiness  and  dizziness, with the _ sensation  of full-
  ness  over the  eyes ;  momentary darts  of  pain in the forehead
  otic/inTone to  shut the  eyes;  dullness  and  headache  with
  sieemness  in the  morning;  *mornmg  headache  with flushed
  Si on the top of the head  when rising in  the morning ;
  morning headache with  heat in  the vertex ;  pressing pain in the
  temples in  the forenoon, with drawing in the eyes as it stra- 
 336        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 bismus  would  follow;  stunning  headache through the  temples
 relieved  by pressure ;  sudden  pain in the forehead  with  sore-
 ness of  the  throat in the  evening;  heavy  dull  pain  in the
 forehead, with  soreness over the seat  of  pain ;  headache alter-
 nating  with, diarrhoea;  vertigo  while   standing  in  the  open
 air;  pain in the left  frontal   protuberance   aggravated  in the
 afternoon ;  vertigo  with  inclination  to  fall  forwards ;  * pers-
 piration  of the head  during sleep,  with  coldness  of the  flesh
 while  teething;   face  pale as  a corpse's  with  pinched  nose
 and  a cold  perspiration.
    Clinical  Remarks.—Dr. Williamson  found the  Podophyl-
 lum   curative  in  " rolling  of  the   head  during  difficult  denti-
 tion  in  children;''  also  the two  symptoms  marked with the
 asterisk.  The  head symptoms  are  quite  notable,  particularly
 the   " morning   headache''   so   common  in  bilious  affections ;
 also  the  " headache alternating  with  diarrhoea''—one  of  the
 most  frequent  symptoms is  hepatic difficulties.   We  have no
 proof that  this drug  will cause  inflammation or  congestion  of
 the  brain or its  meninges,  but  the symptom recorded above as
 cured by Dr. Williamson  "rolling of  the head,"  etc.,  together
 with another—wrongly  placed under the head of teeth ; namely,
 " grinding  of  the  teeth   at   night,  especially  with  children
 during  dentition,"  would  seem  to point to irritation  of the
 brain, whether  idiopathic  or reflex, we  cannot decide, but would
 suggest  an intestinal origin.  Podophyllum has been  much used
 against brain affections by  electic physicians, but  in  such large
 doses as to  act  as  a " revulsive"  or  " derivative"  as  they
 express it.  I would  not  undertake  to decide that it could not
 cause  disease of  the brain  : it  would need  a pathological  pro-
 ving to  elucidate that  point.   I  will  quote  some  eclectic testi-
 mony as to  its value in their hands in  brain affections, and the
 reader may judge of the  nature of its action  for himself.  Prof.
 Morrow says :  "In no  class of  cases has the medicine manifested
 a higher  degree of value,  so far as I have  been able to observe
 its  effects, than  in  those cases  marked  by strong determina-
 tionof bloody to  the brain,  producing either congestion or incip-
 ent inflammation  of  that organ.  In several cases of this descrip-
 tion, in the  treatment  of  which I  have witnessed its  effects, I
 was   agreeably  surprised  to  find   every trace  of  congestion
 eradicated by one or  two  thorough operations  of this article.
 It seemed to exercise a more  completely controlling  influence
 on  this  pathological condition  than any  medicine  I  have  ever
 used for this same purpose.''  It was given  of course, in  strong
 cathartic  doses.   Still a mere cathartic would not have such a
 "controlling  influence,'' and it  may after  all have  exercised
 some specific  curative  effect upon the condition of the  brain ;
i. e.,  the  small  amount of  the drug  which was  absorbed by
the  stomach.  Dr.  Coe, strangely  enough  does not  say much
about  its use in  brain  diseases, as  he  considers it  specific for
almost every  other class  of maladies.  He says it does  good
as a  revulsive  cathartic, in  congestion  of the brain  and  apo- 
PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM.
337
plexy.   He mentions one case however, where it acted mechan-
ically with good results, and if  no  better agent was at hand
—castor oil,  etc.,—the homceopathist might  use  it  legitimately.
" In a child  eight  months old '>  he  says,  " we  removed  by
means   of  lobelia  and  podophyllin  one  and a half pints  of
solid casein.   This  matter  so expelled was  in  a high state of
putrefactive fermentation.''  This  case he says was  pronounced
" congestion  of the  brain," but with the removal  of the  mor-
bid  material  from the  stomach,  all the symptoms  abated,  and
the  child  recovered.   In  a case of  Jaundice, which   had
advanced so far as  to cause comatose sleep,  and partial insens-
ibility,  after every  usual  homoeopathic  remedy  had been  tried
without much  effect,  the  Podophyllin,  one  grain  of the  first
trit., every  half hour,  removed  all  the  dangerous  symptoms.
Improvement commenced  about  the time frequent  bilious stools
appeared.   No bile  had  passed the  bowels  for  nearly  two
weeks previously.
    Eveg%—Smarting  in the eyes; drawing sensation in the eyes,
 accompanying  pain  in the head ;  heaviness  of  the  eyes,  with
 occasional pains on the  top of  the  head ; pain  in  the  eye-
 balls and in the temples,  with heat _ and throbbing of the tem-
 poral  arteries.  Eyes sunken in  their orbits.
    Clinical  Remarks.—In  a conversation with the  venerable
 Dr. Hering, relating to  this  remedy,  he  referred  me  to a
 remark of Dr.  Barton  (Allopath) ; namely,  that he had noticed
 that frequently after administering  the  Podophyllum—no symp-
 toms  appeared on  the same day, but the next  morning the
 eyes would  appear  inflamed.  This, according to Hering, would
 seem  to  imply that Podophyllum was  indicated in ophthalmias
 which  appeared, or were aggravated, in  the  morning.  It has
 been  used  as a collyrium  in  chronic  opthalmia  or  ulcers  on
 the cornea,  and  is probably _ as useful  as any escharotic, for
 all act upon the law of  Similia.         ^
     Teeth.—* Grinding of  the teeth  at  night;  the teeth  are
 covered with  dried mucus  in the morning.
     Clinical  Remarks.—The first  symptom   above   recorded
 should perhaps be placed  under the " Head"  symptoms.  How-
  ever,  children often grind the teeth (adults also)  from  a disor-
  dered state  of the  stomach,  indigestion  acidity, and  even
  hepatic disorder.  I once  noticed in  a child to whom Mandrake
  had been administered by  the  parents that  each paroxysm of
  nausea and griping was preceeded by " grinding  of the teeth"
  In this case there was a  reflex symptom  proceeding  from  the
  intestinal irritation. The teeth are said to become loose under the
  action  of this medicine.   (See  mouth  symptoms.)
     Mouth.-Copious salivation;  "offensive  odor from the mouth;
  *offensiveness  of  the   breath  at  night - perceptible  to  the
  patient   the  taste of fried liver in his mouth at night;  sour-
  ness  of the mouth and  tongue  on waking  in  the  morning.
  2 white  fur  on  the  tongue  with  foul taste ; putrid taste  in
  the mouth.
        43 
338       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
     Clinical  Remarks.—Dr.  Williamson  contributes  the  cura-
  tin  symptoms  marked  Avith  a star.  The  effect of  Mandrake
  upon  the  mouth  is quite specific and note-worthy.   All  writers
  agree  that it  will cause symptoms like salivation. I have known
  it to  cause severe ptyalism  in  numerous  cases, when  abused
  by electic physicians.  Even in the  3d  trit., this effect is  quite
  noticeable  in  persons who  are  subject to  stomatitis, or  have
  been mercurialized.  Dr.  Coe says : " It  has  been said that  Pod-
  ophyllin  is capable of producing  ptyalism, but  we have  never
  seen any evidence of the  fact  in persons  who  had never taken
  mercury.  The   only  symptoms  of  salivation   we   have  ever
  observed have   been  in those  cases where mercury has  been
 taken  at some  previous time.  Podophyllin  is powerfully resol-
 vent, and by  its peculiar   excitation of the glandular system
 will  sometimes  dislodge deposits  of  latent mercurial  atoms, and
 so bring  about a season of mercurialization.   Lobelia,  Irisin and
 Phytolaccin will frequently do the  same.''  This  is a  species of
 special  pleading, often resorted to by eclectic  practitioners, but
 it  is untenable. If these  drugs will  cause  ptyalism  when  mer-
 cury is in  the  glands it will cause  the same  symptoms  when
 mercury  is not present.  The  only difference will be  that the
 presence  of  mercury  renders  the  glands  more susceptible  to
 the action  of  these  agents.  Podophyllin  is  homoeopathic  to
 ptyalism,  even  mercurial;  to  stomatitis  and  many   inflamma-
 tary  affections  of  the  gums and  buccal   mucous  membrane.
 It  has  been found  curative  in  "nursing  sore mouth,"  "canker
 in  the  mouth.''  I  have  cured  with the  dilutions,  used as a
 wash, a case of chronic  inflammation  of the  tongue, which  was
 red,  dry,  cracked, and  often  bleeding,  and  somewhat swollen.
 It  seemed idiopathic,  as  no  greater  derangement was notice-
 able.
    Throat-—Sore  throat, commencing  on  the  right   side  and
 then going to the left;  soreness of the left  side of the throat,
 especially painful when  swallowing  liquids,  and  worse in the
 mornmg;   dryness  of  the throat;   soreness  of the  throat
 extending to  the ears;   *rattling  of  mucus   in  the throat;
  goitre  ;  *sore  throat, commencing on the right  side and going
 to  the  left.                                              b   &
 t*  S^?^  REMARKS.-The three curative symptoms are from
 Dr. Williamson    The  first  is  due  to   the  excited  secretory
 T~°!   ♦ Mandrake  "Pon  the tonsils and   mucous  follicles of
 tne throat.  This medicine has made  undoubted  cures  of Goitre
 ThL  t-      °f ho°1.oeoPathic  as  well   as  eclectic physicians.
 «.v tWT?  °U  thlS  P°int  aPPearS inclusive, but  I  cannot
 say that 1 have ever  seen much  benefit from  its use  in  my
 hands, at  least  no  such  decided  effects  as follow the use of

n°aveni  founTi? "f  ^l ^  e.Ven in  minute ^ses.   Nor
have^ 1  round  it  of much  value  in  tonsillitis,  in  which  it  is
inferior  to Phytolacca or  Iris versicolor.
    Appetite.—Voracious appetite ;  regurgitation of food •  loss of
 appetite;  indifference to food;  satiety from a small  quWfty of 
PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM.           339
food, followed by nausea and vomiting; desire for something sour;
thirst towards evening ; putrid taste.
   Clinical Remarks.—The  effects of Podophyllin in small doses
(one-tenth of a grain) is, according to  King and others, to cause
increase  of appetite, and healthy digestion; but, in large doses, it
causes disgust for food,  which if  taken is regurgitated.   Dr.
Williamson cured many cases of dyspepsia  in  which  the  above
symptoms were prominent.  (See Gastric.)
   Gastric  Symptoms, and Stomach.—Regurgitation of  food; food
turns sour  after  eating; sourness of the  stomach;  acid  eructa-
tions ; belching of hot  flatus  which is very  sour;  acidity  in the
afternoon,  with  an unpleasant, sickly sensation in the stomach ;
nausea and vomiting,  with fullness in  the head; vomiting of food
an hour after a meal, with a craving appetite immediately after-
wards ;  extreme nausea, continuing for several hours;  vomiting of
food with putrid taste and odor; heart-burn ;  water-brash;  heat in
the stomach;  sensation of  hollowness in the epigastrium;  throb-
bing in  the epigastrium, followed by  diarrhoea; gastric affection,
attended  by depression of spirits;  heat in stomach;  vomiting of
hot frothy  mucus;  stitches in the epigastrium  from  coughing.
(Williamson.)  The nausea begins about two or three hours after
the medicine, in  material doses, is taken; it continues sometimes
with great severity, and with vomiting of  ingesta,  mucus, and
bile, for twenty-four  or forty hours  even.   (Hale.)  Great thirst,
and the stomach contracting so hard and rapidly in  the effort to
vomit that the  wrenching  pain would  cause them to utter sharp
screams, one  after another,  for five minutes at a time ; vomiting of
bilious matter mixed with  blood, the bile,  dark green and very
thick, the blood  dark and coagulated; vomiting of thick bile and
blood for eighteen hours."  (Dr. Owen.)
    Clinical  Remarks.—From  its effects in  the case  of fatal
poisoning, we should judge  it indicated in  acute Gastritis, when
the  paiif  and vomiting  is  unusually  "severe,  and   the   matter
ejected consisted of bile and blood as described above.   The nausea
which attends the action of Mandrake,  is particularly distressing.
It is "lingering and  death-like, something  like that  caused  by
tobacco." It is attended generally with severe and painful vomiting
of bilious matter, as well as copious bilious and  watery discharges,
and severe griping pain in  small intestines from the bowels, when
the  dose is large.  The critical physician will readily see by the
pathogenetic  and curative  symptoms  above, that Podophyllin is
indicated in many conditions  of  gastric  irritation, and even inflam-
mation.   Eclectic writers, particularly  mention that  it is  contra
indicated  in  gastritis,  which observation implies to the homoeo-
pathist, that it will prove  a valuable remedy  in some forms of that
disease    Some physicians value it highly as a homoeopathic remedy
for many forms of dyspepsia.  (See curative symptoms above.)   In
its effects upon the gastric mucous membrane  it  is analagous to  ins
versicolor,  Mercurius,  Arsenicum,   Nux  vomica,  Pulsatilla,  and
others  and will rival them in the various affections of the stomach.
    Abdomen —Fulness in the right hypochondrium, with flatulence. 
840        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

Colic with  retraction of  the  abdominal  muscles;  pain  in  the
transverse  colon at three  o'clock in the  morning,  followed  by
diarrhoea; rumbling of flatus in  the ascending colon ; pain in the
ascending colon; pain in the bowels at  daylight in  the morning
which is relieved by  external warmth and by bending forwards
whilst lying on the side, but is aggravated by lying on the back ;
the pain iiTthe bowels is at first attended with coldness, which is
followed by heat and  warm perspiration ; sensation of heat in the
bowels,  accompanying the  inclination to go to stool; sensation of
flatus  in the left  hypochondrium; faintness with sensation of
emptiness in  the  abdomen after stool;   cramp-like pain  in the
bowels,  with  retraction of  the abdominal  muscles  occurring at 10
o'clock in the  evening, and again at 5 o'clock in the  morning, and
continuing  until 9;  sharp pain  above the right groin, preventing
motion in the last months of pregnancy; distention  of the abdo-
men ;  enormous  swelling   of  the  abdomen  (in  case of fatal
poisoning).
   Clinical  Remarks.—The  pains  which are  caused by Podo-
phyllum  are  not confined  to  the intestines,  but extend  to the
muscles  of  the abdomen.  According to Inman irritation  of the
mucous   coat  of the  intestines  may, and  does generally cause
myalgic pains and  spasm.  There is some similarity in the pains
caused by Plumbum and Podophyllum ;  but,  the former drug acts
directly upon the nerves which  govern the contraction  of muscles,
while the latter causes  pain and spasm in the same  muscles by
irritating a contiguous mucous membrane.   Williamson recommends
the Podophyllum  in  Colica pictonum  (lead colic),  and Eclectics
claim to cure that disease with Mandrake.  Perhaps the similarity
of the two diseases may be sufficiently clear to empower  the one
to cure the other.  I once attended  a case of poisoning by Podo-
phyllum, when the rectus  and  other  muscles were  drawn  into
lumps or knots; the pain was relieved by  " doubling up" and very
hot applications.  Colocyhth did but little good ; Gelseminum, in
drop doses, gave some relief; I  did not try Plumbum, having none
at hand. The colic caused by Podophyllum  is generally attended
with diarrhoea or dysentery, and often with bilious vomiting and
diarrhoea.  In Peritonitis, I do  not consider it indicated, unless in
exceptional cases.   Certain intestinal and myalgic disorders sim-
ulate true  peritonitis and  may be mistaken for  it; in such cases
the Podophyllum may be  useful.  Eclectic physicians  consider it
almost specific for Puerperal Peritonitis,  but it  cannot be anything
but injurious  in that disease, given in the heavy doses in which they
present it.  ^ The allopathic  treatment  of this disease  shows some
strange  discrepancies.   Some writers  claim  that  blood-letting,
Verat.  v.,  Antimony, etc., are  the only reliable  remedies;  others,
rely wholly upon Opium, and narcotics;  and still another portion of
that school place their faith upon Turpentine.  It is very probable
that Podophyllin acts similarly to  the latter drug.  According to
Inman (see Treatise on Myalgia), inflammation of serous membranes,
as the pleura and peritoneum is  not necessarily accompanied with
pam, and, that myalgia or paralysis of the muscular  parietes of the 
PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM
341
abdomen is  often  mistaken for Peritonitis.   We have  the same
intense burning pain in certain localities, (the attachment of muscles)
the same exquisite  tenderness, and the same  distention, noted as
belonging to  puerperal peritonitis.  Any treatment, says  Inman,
which will give tone to  the  muscles, causing contraction of the
muscles involved, will  restore the patient.  This statement accounts
for the benefit which  has accrued  from the use  of stimulants,
tonics. Opium, and even  Turpentine and  Podophyllin.  The two
first give tone to the  muscles—Opium gives them rest, which is so
necessary  to  a  cure; and  the two  latter by a certain  specific
influence which  they  seem  to  have over  our muscular fibre; for
turpentine cures tympanitis, in  small doses, too small to irritate the
bowel, {it  causes   tympanitis),  and  Podyphyllin causes  all the
6ymptoms of Peritonitis, as will be seen by reference to the cases
of  poisoning above.  In the fatal case,  Enteritis could  not  have
been present, for the time was too short, and if the peritoneum was
affected it was by the direct toxical action of the poison.   No  post
mortem having been made of the fatal case, we do not know whether
peritonitis was present, and the symptoms may have been due to
some other lesion.
    Liver  and  Spleen-—(1.) Fullness  in  the  right hypochondria;
hypochondrium  with  flatulence;   stitches  in the  right  hypo-
chondrium,  worse  while  eating;  twisting  pain  in  the  right
hypochondrium, with  sensation of  heat in the part;  * fullness,
with  pain  and soreness in the  right  hypochondrium;  chronic
hepatitis with costiveness ; pains  in the region of the liver.  (2)
Sensation  of weight and dragging  in the left hypochondrium, close
under the ribs; sensation of  flatusin  the  left hypochondrium;
pains in spleen.
    Clinical Remarks.—It is  difficult  to decide whether all the
pains above mentioned are myalgic or really in the organs referred
to  in  the headings.    Some of  the symptoms  are  undoubtedly
myalgic.   The  curative symptoms  of fullness, etc., has been so
often verified by Dr. Williamson and others of our  school, that
we may safely say that it  indicates hepatitis, or congestion of the
liver.  The " chronic  hepatitis  with costiveness,'' is also a valuable
observation.   It is  not  necessary, however, that constipation
should be present; it is  as useful  when that disease is attended
with  diarrhoea, or the two states  alternately.  From many years,
experience  with,  and observation  of, the  use  of Podophyllin in
diseases of  the liver,  I  feel qualified  to venture  the  following
observation relative  to  its  pathogenitive  and  curative  action
upon  that  organ.   I   believe   the  Podophyllum  and its active
principle to be a direct stimulant of the  liver.  I am aware  that
some of the most  astute  investigators  of the  allopathic  school
deny that Mercury has any direct or specific action on that organ.
They would probably allege the same of the Mandrake, but there
are certain reasons which I shall give further on, why I consider
the arguments  against Mercury not valid in the case  of Podo-
phyllum.  The primary action of Podophyllum  in  large doses  is
generally  to  cause vomiting  and  diarrhoea of undoubted bilious 
342        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
  matters. I have examined the evacuations caused by Pn. in case of
  jaundice, which before its administration were completely free from
  bile,  and found that the green color was  actually  due to that
  secretion.   The examination was made with the most approved
  chemical tests.  The patient felt the action of the drug upon the liver,
  before it nauseated or caused any intestinal  irritation.   (The  dose
  was one-fourth of a grain of the pure resinoid, triturated with ten
  of sugar of milk).   In still smaller doses, third trituration,  it wil
  cause  bile to  appear  in the  previously clay  colored stools.   I
  consider this medicince therefore primarily homoepathic to acute
  irritation,  congestion  and  inflammation  of  the liver,   bilious
  diarrhoea, and hepatic pains.  A further proving is needed to give
  special indications.  The  powerfully irritating effect  which this
  drug  has upon the secretory functions of the liver, enables  it  to
  cause  such excessive   action  as may  pass  over into  passive
 congestion,  chronic  inflammation,  suspension  of function  from
 exhaustion,  suspension of biliary secretion, and  even  retention  of
 that  fluid.  Podophyllum  has  been abused  in  the  hands  of
 eclectics  as badly  as Mercury in the  allopathic  school.  I have
 known it  to cause chronic  hepatic diseases, as  jaundice, enlarge-
 ment, and  even some  organic  affections.   There is   scarcely an
 acute  or chronic disease of  this important  viscus, in which this
 medicine may not, in some of its stages, be found useful.  A careful
 study  of our proving, together with the observations of physicians
 of both schools, will give us much information as to its sphere  of
 action.  The dose in hepatic diseases, is a matter of great  import-
 ance.  I believe an adherence to the  following  rules will give the
 physician greater success with the medicine than  he could attain
 without them.   (1.) For the primary (acute)  conditions, similar to
 those caused by large doses of Podophyllum, give the  highest and
 middle attenuations.  (The third or  eighteenth of Podophyllum,
 and  sixth or thirtieth of Podophyllm.)   (2.) For Symptoms and
 conditions (chronic)  simulating  the  secondary effects,  give the
 lower  actenuations, and in  rare cases, even  the one-tenth  of the
 resinoids.  (3.) In a few cases, as in retention of bile from obstruc-
 tion of the gall duct., or in case of gall-stones,  we must have the
 direct  mechanical  effects of Podophyllum.  In such cases  crude
 doses are required.  This is best illustrated  by the following case
 of  expulsion of gall stone," reported by me to the North American
 Journal, Vol. 12, p. 258:
   "In Vol. 7, 304, of this Journal, my industrious colleague Dr
 Marcy, made  mention of 'An  Empirical Remedy for gall stones '
 and  says:  'For the violent spasmodic pains which  accompany
 their passage to the  intestines, we have found  the following treat-
 ment, derived from an empirical  sourse, eminently efficacious • As
 soon as the pains have declared themselves, we give the patient six
 ounces of tepid Olive-oil, and  then prescribe ]f„x andTonTte  n
 alternation every half hour.  We also apply hot watef fomenta-
tions and occasionally a warm  bath, when the  paroxysmTs  not
speedily ameliorated '  The case which I will now report Ts a very
interesting one.  The patient, a  young lady, residing   at No 53 
PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM.
343
Carpenter street, had been  subject, for several years, to attacks  of
supposed gastralgia, which would pass off  in a few days under the
use of anodynes, leaving her slightly jaundiced.   This  attack had
been much more severe, and she had been under the care of two
professors in the allopathic colleges in this  city for six weeks when
I was  called.  They pronounced  her  disease " neuralgia  of the
stomach."   The character of  the pain had not changed, only to
grow more severe  since  its  onset.  She had  been drugged with
Blue-mass,  Calomel,   Opium,   Dover's-powder  and Chloroform,
and received only temporary benefit  from  their use.  I found her
emaciatied, jaundiced,  (her  skin of the  hue of bronze), tongue
coated white;  no appetite ; headache most  of the time; pulse
quick and hard, but small; urine very scanty, a yellowish brown
color, and was found to contain bile when the usual tests were
applied.  The pains in the epigastrium extended to the right side,
region of the gall-bladder,  and were remitting i. e., there were
paroxysms of  great intensity,  but  some  pain  all  the   time;
excessive  nausea,  when  the pain becomes severe;  constipation
and diarrhoea  alternated, and in either condition the evacuations
were now, and had been destitute of bile for several weeks.  At my
first visit I was undecided as to the pathological condition  at  the
bottom of the difficulty, but gave Aconite and Nux-vomica.  The
next  I decided  that the malady originated from the presence  of
gall-stones in  the gall-duct,  obstructing completely the passage of
bile  into  the  intestines, and giving rise  to the interior pain; no
relief had been obtained from  the  remedies, and she  had been
obliged to resort  to  Chloroform all  night.  I now resolved  to
try Dr. Marcy's treatment. Six  ounces  of tepid Olive-oil were
ordered, but  she could  only be induced to swallow three.   This
was at 3  p. m. ;  at 9 p. m. , the  other  three ounces were adminis-
tered.  Nux and Aconite were continued as before.   Third day—
no improvement.  She took Chloroform about  half the time to get
relief from the  intense  spasmodic pain;  urine  more scanty, and
of a deeper color; slimy, white  diarrhoea, not a trace  of bile  in
the discharges;  vomiting of mucus ; no  bile had been vomited
for several weeks.  I ordered a  hot bath.   In the attempt to take
it, a very severe chill  set in with fainting; this was followed by
some  fever.  In the evening she became stupid, would not  answer
questions, and I feared she would go into coma.  Dr. Coe, (Cone.
Org. Med., page 247) gives the following treatment for gall-stones  :
He gives at bed-time a  powder composed  of Podophyllin, grs. ij.,
Euphorbin, grs. j., Caulophyllin, grs. ij.  The next  morning, ' as
soon  as the nausea attending the operation  of  the powder  has
subsided,  administer eight ounces  of pure Olive-oil.'  ' We  have
known," he asserts, ' as many as two hundred of these concretions,
varying in size  from that of a small pea to that  of a hazle-nut, to
be passed after the administration  of a single  dose of Podophyllin
and  the Oil.'  My patient was rapidly sinking, and I knew that if
the obstruction was not soon  removed, the  blood would become
irretrievably poisoned with bile.  I did not deem it necessary  to
follow Coe's practice.  Podophyllin is the real agent which dislodges 
344        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
the  concretions from the gall-duct.  This it does,  I believe, by
increasing  the expulsion  power or peristaltic action, so to speak,
of the gall-bladder and its duct.  The Olive-oil may aid in relaxing
and  dilating the duct, and carries the concretions off through the
bowels,  after  they have  been  expelled.   I  accordingly gave
one  grain of Podophyllin in the evening ; she was allowed Chlo-
roform during the night.  In  the morning she  swallowed three
ounces  of  Olive-oil, at 6  o'clock.  At 9 o'clock she vomited bile;
at noon she  had a free evacuation from the bowels,  of  a bilious
appearance.   At  3  p. m.,  another bilious  stool, and with it a
discharge  of several  gall-stones—they fell into the vessel  with a
metallic sound—as  the nurse informed me.   All pain ceased about
the time she vomited, and did not return.   The concretions were
round, about the size of a cherry, rough  externally, yellowish, and
when broken in two, showed a radiating appearance from a common
centre.   No account  was  kept of the number passed,  as the nurse
was  somewhat negligent, and failed to collect  them.  In a few
days, under the use of Aconite and Nux, the jaundice  had nearly
disappeared; her appetite returned, and in  two weeks she was able
to ride into the country, and has since  enjoyed  good health.  In
the words  of Dr. Marcy,  I  assert that  ' this  affords  us example
where the consistent homceopathist  is  justified in  employing a
chemical and  purgative  agent  to rid  the  system  of foreign
substances which nature is struggling to throw off.  It is not disease
which we are to remove;  not a therapeutic  agent which we are to
administer.'  I recognize  three methods of restoring health ; viz:
the chemical* the mechanical, and the homeopathic.   By the  first
we  can  remove an  irritating cause of disease, as  by the use of
Nitric-acid, in Oxalic-acid  urine by the  second, we can  expel
a biliary calculus with Podophyllin and Olive-oil; and by the last—
the  only  law of cure—we  can remove, with  Aconite and Nux,
the  hepatic  inflammation  consequent   upon the passage  of the
Btones.   I maintain that  my  treatment was  as  rational  and
cientific as that of the surgeon who removes the spiculae of bones
or tb^e musket-ball, and  then uses his  specific  remedies,  and his
surgical apliances."
  It is amazing to witness the vast confidence which  the  eclectic
physicians have in Podophyllin in nearly  every disease of the liver.
They use  it  almost  indiscriminately in  the most opposite states
and  conditions, and in functional organic affections of that organ.
I have not  space to quote their observations and praises, but would
refer the reader to their works on Practice and  Materia Medica.
In congestion of the portal circle, this medicine  appears to have
an immense  curative  power, in  which it is  only  equalled  by
Mercury and Leptandria.  In Diseases of the  Spleen,  the Podo-
phyllum  has  been  found  useful.   It  may  be tried in  acute
inflammation, or chronic enlargement.
   Enteric  Symptoms.—Stool earlier in the morning than usual, but
natural; frequent stools during the day, but of a natural  consis-
tence ; six  soft yellow stools  a day,  with some  griping:  (from
grain doses of the third trit); profuse  diarrhoea, worse in the morn- 
PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM.            345
ing;  very  frequent  papescent,  yellowish  stools  for  forty-eight
hours; diarrhoea early in the morning, which continues  during the
forenoon, followed by a natural  stool in the evening ; evacuations
of green stools in the morning; diarrhoea immediately after eating
or drinking ; *extreme weakness and cutting pain in the intestines
after  stool; *painful diarrhoea,  with screaming and  grinding of
the teeth, in children, during dentition; white slimy stools; *hot,
watery evacuations ;  stools watery, frequent, profuse, and  attended
with prostration and cramps as in cholera; stools muco-gelatinous,
small and infrequent,  with flatulence,  and pain in the region of the
sacrum; after  an evacuation of  a large  mass of  gelatinous sub-
stance, like  white  of  egg, the severe tormina ceased and did not
return; *food passes  the bowels  in an undigested state; copious
evacuations, with blueness under the  eyes; *evacuations  which
consist of dark, yellow mucus, which smells like carrion; frequent
chalk-like stools,  which are  very offensive; *with  gagging  and
excessive thirst in children; *constant  pain in the lumbar region,
which is  worse  during evacuation,  and particularly  after  stool;
stools yellow, green  or watery  and  brown;  stools streaked with
blood ; evacuations in the morning, attended with strong  urging in
the bowels, with  heat and pain in the anus; flashes of heat run-
ning up the back  after a stool; sensation  at stool as if the genital
organs would fall  out, (in  a female); too  much bearing down at
stool, as if from inactivity of the rectum; severe and painful tenes-
mus after a watery stool; *chronic diarrhoea, worse in the  morning ;
diarrhoea  with prolapsus ani at every stool, (in children); *descent
of the rectum from a little exertion, immediately followed by stool,
or a discharge of  thick, transparent mucus, sometimes of a yellow
color, and mixed  with blood; the prolapsus ani occurs  most fre-
quently  in  the morning;  secretion of  mucus from the anus; the
 anus feels very sore,  sensitive and swollen ;  aggravation of existing
hemorrhoids;  several hard,  painful  hemorrhoidal  tumors around
the anus,  one  of which  bleeds profusely, (primary  symptoms):
 constipation for two  days after the diarrhoea; constipation with
headache and flatulence; the faeces are hard and  dry, and voided
with difficulty ; constipation, with hemorrhoids and prolapsus ani;
 alternate  constipation and diarrhoea, (secondary symptoms): hard
 stool, coated with yellow, tenacious mucus.
    Clinical Remarks.—It will  be seen  that I have arranged the
 above symptoms in a peculiar order,  different from that adopted in
 the original proving.  The plan of  arranging the  symptoms  of a
 drug without reference to  its primary and secondary action is much
 to be deprecated.  The entire  symptoms (" stool," etc.)  of all our
 drugs begin with " constipation."  Now, no  one supposes that this
 is the first  symptom of all  drugs. On the contrary, frequent and
 loose evacuations are the rule.  The  first  symptom from even small
 doses of Podophyllum is  diarrhoea.  It is  not until the  purgative
 action has subsided,  or the irritability of the intestines exhausted,
 that we  have constipation.   In  fact this  medicine rarely  causes
 constipation, and  then only secondarily.   To avoid repetition, I have
 designated those symptoms cured by Williamson  and Jeanes with
        44 
346        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 an asterisk, but all of the other symptoms are of equal importance,
 and  have all been  verified by clinical experience.   I will  briefly
 enumerate the disorders of the bowels in which this drug is indica-
 ted,  without  a useless repetition of the symptoms.  In acute  or
 chronic mucous or follicular enteritis, it is specifically and primarily
 indicated.  No drug,  not even  Mercury, so surely causes  these
 conditions. Whether  the disease be present in children or  adults,
 the Podophyllum will  be found promptly curative.  Diarrhea, in
 nearly all its varied  manifestations, finds a similimum in the patho-
 genesis of this  potent drug.  Drs. Hering, Jeanes, Pretchs, and
 many others lay much stress on the tendency to morning aggrava-
 tion of the intestinal, and indeed all the symptoms of Podophyllum.
 There are only two forms of diarrhoea in which this medicine  is
 secondarily indicated.  I allude to that form  which accompanies
 complete jaundice, and in which the evacuations are clay-colored
 and offensive;  and the diarrhoea which alternates with constipation,
 in  some  chronic hepatic disorders.  In  these varieties it  will be
 found necessary to use the lower dilutions and triturations, while in
 the former affections the middle and  highest potencies will act
 curatively.  Dr. Jeanes has cured many cases of relaxed  bowels,
 when the stools  were  too frequent  but natural, with the  highest
 attenuations  of  this  remedy.   Acute  and  chronic  Colitis is a
 disease which calls  for the Podophyllum.  The symptoms  of the
 drug and disease bear a remarkable resemblance, as  a  comparison
 will show.  Dysentery is one of the  diseases in which this medicine
 has been found most useful.  An abuse  of this  drug, and even  its
 moderate and careful use, in some cases, is sure  to bring on symp-
 toms of acute dysentery.  It is useful in chronic or acute  dysen-
 tery, and in many  cases  will  be found  more beneficial in all the
 stages, than any  other  agent.  One peculiar feature of the Podo-
 phyllum-dysentery, is the  almost invariable presence of prolapsus
 ani, or a tendency thereto.  I once attended two children, aged res-
 pectively three and six years, who had been dosed with Podophyllin
 by  an Eclectic.  Dysentery was present  in both patients, and also
 prolapsus recti.  The mucous  membrane of the rectum  was red,
 inflamed  and  exquisitely sensitive.  Drs. Jeanes  and Williamson
 noticed similar  pathogenetic  effects.  I  cured the  children with
 Nux  and Nitric  acid.   Many cases  of prolapsus  recti have been
 cured  with Podophyllin,  even when of six  years'  standing, and
 accompanied all that time with  diarrhoea.  Dr.  Gatchell, gives the
indications for  this  remedy  in dysentery, " commencing   with  a
watery  diarrhoea,  terminates in  a  muco-sanguineous  dysentery,
 accompanied with sickness at the  stomach.  If the diarrhoea, which
preceded  the dysentery, especially manifested itself early  in  the
morning, the case will be all the more appropriate."  He advises six
 drops  of  the tincture  in six ounces of water, a teaspoonful at  a
dose ; which is  to be repeated after each stool, until improvement
commences. This prescription will cure  many cases  of dysentery.
This remedy is chiefly indicated in the  so-called bilious dysentery
 in which the stools look like pea-soup, and consist of a  yellowish'
greenish, or bloody mucus, having a disagreeable odor, and  accom' 
PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM.
347
panied with violent pains  in the  region of the colon, rectum and
anus ; it causes and aggravates hemorrhoids, and severe tenesmus,
with prolapsus ani, especially  in  children; sometimes  nausea  and
vomiting go with the above symptoms.  The active principle, or
Podophyllin, at the  third trituration, is  often more effectual  and
prompt in its action, than the tincture.  Altogether, it is one_of the
best remedies  we possess  for the  cure of dysentery, enteritis, and
many other inflammatory diseases  of  the intestinal  track.—H)
Dr. G. also advises Leptandrin in typhoid dysentery, and mentions
that Dr. Morrow  was very successful with it, in that formidable
form which appeared after the cholera of 1849.  " In the practice of
the  writer, the second and third  trituration, has often been used
successfully in  low conditions  occurring  in dysentery, chronic
diarrhoea  (especially the obstinate diarrhoea of soldiers), and in
typhoid fever."—Amer. Mag. Horn., vol. 1, p.  370.   In Cholera
morbus, is sometimes treated very successfully by the use  of  Podo-
phyllum.   It  causes, in large doses,  similar  wratery, flocculent dis-
charges, very profuse and exhausting, accompanied with cramps in
the  abdominal, and flexor muscles of  the  extremities. In  this
respect it is the analogue of Elaterium, Jatropha, Euphorbia cor.,
Arsenic,  and Veratrum.  Asiatic  Cholera,  in some  of its phases,
ought to find a specific remedy in this medicine.  So  abundant are
the alvine evacuations of serum caused by Mandrake, that Eclectics
use it as a hydrogogue cathartic  in  cases of dropsy.   In Cholera
Infantum it was found by  Dr. Jeanes  and Williamson to be emi
nently useful.  I have used it in a good many cases of this disorder,
as  well  as diarrhoea from teething, and nearly every  intestinal
disease to which children are subject, and have found it  as  useful
as Mercury, Chamomilla, or Pulsatilla.  In the bowel complaints of
children the practical physician is cognizant of the colic with spas-
modic retraction of the abdominal muscles,  the  spasmodic  tenes-
mus, and  tending  to prolapsus ani;  all  strong indications for this
medicine.  Hemorrhoidal affections are admirably under the con-
trol of Podophyllum.  The specific affinity which this drug has for
the liver, portal system, and rectum,  as shown  in the pathogenesis,
enables it  to  cause hemorrhoids from  portal congestion, chronic
hepatic affections,  and primary  irritation,  congestion,  and even
inflammation of the veins  and mucous membrane  of the rectum.
It will be  found useful in internal or external piles—for thosewhich
bleed and  those which do not.   The sensations it causes   in the
rectum, anus, and hemorrhoidal tumors are similar to the effects ot
aloes, of which it is a congener.                               m
    Urinary Organs-—*Euuresis;  involuntary discharge of urine
during sleep;  *frequent  nocturnal urination during pregnancy,
(primary effects);  pain in the region  of the kidneys, followed by
flow of urine with calculi sediment;  *dimmished secretion of  urine ;
♦suppression   of  urine;  scanty  urine,  with frequent  voidings,
(secondary effects).
    Clinical Remarks.—All the  above symptoms  are marked by
Dr Williamson as curative. They are also pathogenetic, as I propose
to show by Eclectic authority. I quote such testimony because it 
348        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 may throw some light on the action of Podophyllum on the urinary
 apparatus.   King says it has been found  useful in " incontinence
 of urine, and some affections of the  bladder;" a very ambiguous
 kind  of testimony.   Jones says it is  almost specific  in  " inconti-
 nence  of urine,  and useful  in  some renal difficulties."  Dr. Coe,
 writes,  " in the suppression and retention  of urine, we have found
 the Podophyllin of exceeding  utility,  as  a radical remedy.   We
 remember one case in which the catheter had  been used, on an
 average, twelve times in twenty-four  hours, for four weeks, and
 which was promptly and permanently relieved by a  single  dose of
 Podophyllin, rendering the further use of the catheter unnecessary.
 In all derangements of the urinary apparatus, Podophyllin  will be
 found one  of the best  alterative diuretics that can  possibly be
 employed.   It operates  not so  much  by increasing the flow of
 urine as by restoring the secreting power of the kidneys.  It is
 very effectual in removing uric acid deposits, and corrects the dia-
 thesis.  Frequently during its operation, considerable  pain  will be
felt in the  region  of the kidneys,  followed  by a flow of  urine
 highly charged with calculous sediment.  It possesses also diuretic
 properties."  If this last observation is reliable, it would seem to
 show that Podophyllin has some specific action  upon the  renal
 organs.
   Organs of Generation of Men.—Sticking pain above the pubes,
 and in the course of the spermatic cords.
   Clinical Remarks.—The Podophyllin has seemed to produce
 but few symptoms, nor has it been used in homoeopathic practice in
 any of the affections  of these organ.  In the eclectic school,  how-
 ever,  it is used quite extensively for Syphilis, Gonorrhea,  Gleet,
 and diseases of the  prostrate.  We are left in doubt, however,
 whether the medicine has any specific relation to those diseases, or
 was  used in a spirit of blind  empiricism, and the  maladies  got
 well in spite of the medication.
    Organs of Generation of Women.—Retarded menstruation; sup-
 pression of the menses in young females, with bearing down in the
 hypogastric and sacral regions,  with  pain from motion, which is
 relieved by lying down; pain in the region of the ovaries, especially
 in the right; after-pains, with  strong bearing down; leucorrhoea;
 discharge of thick, transparent mucus ; leucorrhoea,  attended with
 constipation and  bearing down  in the genital organs; prolapsus
 uteri; symptoms of prolapsus  uteri, continuing for several weeks
 after  parturition,  with rumbling of flatus in the region of the
 ascending colon; symptoms of prolapsus uteri, with pain in  the
 sacrum; flatulence unfrequent; muco-gelatinous stools.
    Clinical Remarks.—Besides the symptoms marked as  cura-
 tive  and pathogenetic,  above,  Dr. Williamson  and  Jeanes   have
 cured the following:  " Prolapsus  uteri—many cases;  numb, aching
 pain in the  region of the left  ovary,  with heat running down the
 left thigh, in the third month of pregnancy; ability to lie comfort-
 ably only on the  stomach in  the earlier months of pregnancy;
 swelling of  the labia during pregnancy; after-pains,  attended with
 flatulency.'   Other  homoeopathic practitioners  have found  the 
PODOPHYLLUM   PELTATUM.           349
Podophyllum useful in many  of the diseases of women, especially
when involving the  uterus  and ovaries.  It  is  still  an unsolved
question  in  what  way the medicine affects  the  uterus; in some
cases it  would seem  to do  so by  its  action on the  bowels and
rectum, as is the case with aloes.  It is  well known that any drug
which powerfully irritates the lower bowel will cause  congestion
and  even inflammation of the womb, by  extension of effect through
contiguous tissues; thus, aloes may cause  the above, as well as
uterine   cramps,  menorrhagia,  prolapsus,  etc.  It  is  thought by
some that Podoph. has a similar action, but it  would  seem from
our proving, as well as numerous clinical cases reported, that the
medicine must have some direct action  on the uterus and ovaries.
Prolapsus   Uteri  et  Vagina—Case 1—A lady who  had lately
given birth  to a still born child, of large size, with a serious loss of
blood, and  had, undoubtedly, the symptoms  of a severe prolapsus
of the womb; Arnica was given a few days, followed by China and
Carbo veg.; these greatly increased the strength of the patient,
after which  I gave Mercurius 3. four powders, and Podophyllin 3.
four powders,  on alternate  days.  In four or five days she  was
completely  cured.—Dr.  Prowell, Amer. Mag.  Horn., vol.  i. p. 70.
 Case 2.-A lady had been confined about four weeks previously, but
 had been suffering ever since, with violent bearing-down pains in
 the region of the womb;  intolerable pain  in the  back; great
 degree°of  weakness;  apthae;  and several  scrofulous  swellings
 about the neck.  On  examination,  I found a moderate degree of
 prolapsus, swelling and induration  of the os uteri,  a profuse exco-
 riating leucorrhoea,  and great ardor urine.  I gave, in this case,
 Mercurius sol., and Podophyllin, in  alternation daily, which  relieved
 in ten days the prolapsus, and reduced  the os uteri to its normal
 size The apthae yielded at the same time, to a great extent, Bella-
 donna,  relieving this symptom; Sulphur, Sepia,  and Merc.  iod.,
 removed the leucorrhoea, and swelling of the glands, in three weeks
 time.  The 3d attenuation was used.  (Ibid).  Case 3-Prolapsus
 uteri, brought on by a violent  strain, seven years  ago;  she was
 emaciated from violent suffering, loss of appetite,  cold and debili-
 tating   night sweats, violent  burning in  hypochondriac  region,
 extreme lSw spirits.  Merc. viv. 3d  removed the night sweats perma-
 nently; Podophyllin  3d removed the  other symptoms, with  the
 prolapsus,  and she remains cured—more than one year.
     Induration of Os Uteri.-Dv.  Gatchell  mentions, incidentally,
 that Dr. Brown, of  Cincinnati,  cured with a trituration of Podo-
 phyllin, an induration of the os. which had resisted the efforts of
 the distinguished Prof. Morrow,  until he abandoned the case in
 despair. This remedy  is used extensively by  the eclectics in all
 diseases of the liver; uterus, and in dysentery;  diarrhoea^ate and
 chronic; glandular enlargement; scrofulous  and venereal  d*ease .
 {Amer. Mag. Horn., vol. i. p. 63).  According to some P^omi*,
 Podophyllin is useful in swelling and  inflammation of theovaries
 its general specific action on the  glandular system would ead  us to
 suspect it  of the power of causing disease of those organs.  1 once
 found  it  beneficial in  a case of chronic  ovaritis, with symptoms 
350        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

like those in the proving.  It is also  useful in  many of the disor-
ders of pregnant females, especially when caused  by a congested
condition of the pelvic viscera; the morning sickness, or excessive
vomiting  of pregnant  women, will  often be relieved by this medi-
cine.   Eclectic  physicians  praise  * it  highly  in  simple, recent
amenorrhoea,  but they use it as the  allopathist uses aloes, not  hom-
oeopathically ;  in congestive  amenorrhoea, however, it is homoeo-
pathic  to  the  condition, and  in  minute doses will act curatively.
   Larynx.—* Cough, accompanying remittent fever; * dry cough;
* loose, hacking cough;  * hooping  cough, attended  with  costive-
ness and loss of appetite.
   Clinical  Remarks.—All the  above  symptoms seem to be cura-
tive.  We are left in doubt as to the power of Podophyllin in  caus-
ing laryngeal affections.  Dr. Coe states that  he seldom  employs
any other medicine in the treatment of croup, when called to  treat
the disease in its incipient stages;  but, he applies cold water to the
throat, and alcoholic baths,  and then gives a " full dose''  of Podo-
phylin.  This practice it is needless to  say is needless torture, and
the children who escape  such practice are lucky indeed.   It is too
much like the allopathic treatment of croup with  "full doses'' of
Calomel and Castor oil.
   Chest.—Pains in the  chest, increased  by taking a deep inspira-
tion ; snapping in  the right  lung,  like  breaking a  thread, when
taking  a deep inspiration; inclination  to  breathe deeply;  sighing;
shortness  of  breath ;  sensation in  the  chest as if the heart  was
ascending to  the throat; sensation  of suffocation when first lying
down at night; palpitation of the heart from exertion or mental
emotion;  * palpitation of the  heart  with a clucking sensation rising
up to the  throat, which obstructs respiration;  sticking pain in the
region  of the  heart; * palpitation of  the heart,  from  physical
exertion, in persons subject to a rumbling in  the ascending colon ;
heavy sleep, and a  feeling  of fatigue on  waking in the morning,
followed by drowsiness in the forenoon.
   Clinical REMARKS.-^-The first curative symptom above was a
case reported by Dr. Ward.  It is  to be regretted that a  physical
examination of the heart was not made,  that we might know the
condition  of that organ.  Such  omission is to be deprecated in all
clinical reports.  The last heart-symptom is not marked  with an
asterisk in the original pathogenesis.  Dr. Hempel, however, placed
it in the Symptomen Codex, probably  upon good authority, in fact,
the remark in  parenthesis in the  original,  (" Jeanes'  numerous
cases'') would seem to imply that he had cured that symptom in
numerous cases, although  it might imply only that it had  been
indicated  as  a pathogenetic symptom.   The  condition   of the
heart which gave rise to those symptoms, needs  elucidation; taking
the collateral  symptoms into account,  we should  say it was a
sympathetic derangement of that organ, from  disease of the liver,
occurring in a debilitated subject.   I do not imagine that the Podo-
phyllum is capable of curing or causing  any organic  disease of the
heart.  In pulmonary or pleuritic  affections it does not seem to be
often indicated. 
POLYGONUM   HYDROPDPER.           351
   Back.—Pains in the small of the back when walking or stand-
ing, with the sensation of the back bending inwards; pain in the
lumbar region, with the sensation of coldness, worse  at night and
from motion;  pain in the loins, increased  by a  false  step and
walking over uneven  ground;  pain between the  shoulders, with
soreness, worse at night  and from  motion;  pain under  right
shoulder-blade; stiffness of the nape, with soreness of the muscles
of the neck and shoulders; pain in the nape, with soreness increased
by motion;  pain between the shoulders in the morning.
   Clinical Remarks.—Upon a  careful analysis of the above
symptoms, guided by Dr. Inman's treatise on Myalgia, I pronounce
them of a myalgic character, not rheumatic.   I  do not consider
Podophyllin capable of causing or curing rheumatism, like Bryonia,
Colchicum,  etc. It causes myalgia by its debilitating influence on
muscular fibre. The pain under right shoulder-blade may  have
been from hepatic  derangement.
   Upper  Extremities.—* Rheumatism in the left  forearm and
fingers; weakness  of the wrists, with soreness to the touch. _
    Clinical Remarks.—My estimate  of the sphere of action  of
 Podophyllum  would  lead me to  doubt if  it cured a  veritable
rheumatism of the left forearm and  fingers, inasmuch as Inman
proves  that myalgia of the muscles of the arm is often mistaken
 for that disease; the last symptom is purely myalgic.
    Lower Extremities—Pain  and  weakness  in the  left  hip, like
 rheumatism, from  cold, increased by going up  stairs; pains  in the
 thighs, legs, and  knees,  worse from standing;   weakness of  the
 joints,  especially the  knees;  slight paralytic weakness of the  left
 side,  of  one  years duration; cracking in the knee joints from
 motion; heaviness and stiffness of the  knees,  as after along walk;
 stiffness on beginning to move;  aching of the limbs, worse at
 night; pain in the left knee, leg, and foot; sharp pain in the outer
 and upper portion of the left foot; coldness of the feet;  perspira-
 tion of the  feet in  the evening.
    Clinical REMARKS.-Here again, as above, I consider all tne
 above  pains as  myalgic, arising  from muscular  debility.  Dr
 Jeanes, reports the cure, in a girl eighteeen years of age, of  slight
 paralytic weakness of the left side, of  one years duration.
        POLYGOHUM  HYMOPIPER.
                          {Smart-weed.)

   This is a very common  indigenous plant, known by the  above
vuWnanie  and also as Water pepper.,  It is found in rich moist
grogundrabout barns, stables, and out-houses, and along small water 
 352       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 courses,  in most  parts  of the United States.  It has but a slight
 odor, and a pungent, acrid taste.  It yields its medicinal properties
 to water  and alcohol.

                       GENERAL EFFECTS.
    In allopathic works it is generally classed as an Emmenagogue,
 but is said  to  be "diaphoretic,  diuretic, stimulant,  antiseptic,
 rubefacient, and discutient."  Probably no  indigenous plant is in
 such  general, almost  universal use, in domestic practice  in the
 country and  city, and  no remedy is so popular in a great variety
 of complaints.   It may be one of  the many popular delusions, but
 certain it is,  that the remedy gives satisfaction to the patient in a
 majority of  cases.  In the country it  is  almost useless for the
 homoeopathic physician to attempt to prohibit the external use of
 the Polygonum; and, as its use is no more objectionable than Arnica
 applications,  and prevents officious friends from  applying some
 worse article, it  may as well be permitted, and eyen  advised, as a
 fomentation in internal inflammations, spasms, pains, etc.
    The  green   herb,  bruised, and applied to  the  surface, acts
 promptly as a rubefacient. Anti-septic properties have been assigned
 to  it, and from  the testimony in  its favor, we doubt not it may
 be  advantageously  employed as a local   application  for  that
 purpose.   " It constitutes an important fomentation  in  hysteritis,
 cystitis, nephritis, peritonitis, pneumonitis, pleuritis, articular rheum-
 atism, local  pains,  sprains, bruises, indolent and painful  tumors,
 etc., one  of the best in use.''—{Eclectic Mat. Med)
    Dr. B. L.  Hill, when an eclectic, reported a " protracted case of
 epileptic  fits  entirely  cured by the  use of  the extract, made into
 pills." "In  combination with  Sulphate of Iron and  Gum Myrrh,
 it is  said to have  cured epilepsy—probably dependent on  some
 uterine derangement.*'—{King) Which cured?  "The infusion, or a
 fomentation of the leaves, has been beneficially applied  in chronic
 ulcers, hemorrhoidal tumors; also as a wash in chronic erysipelatous
inflammations and as  a  fomentation in tympanitis  and flatulent
 colic."—{D>) It has quite a reputation  as an  external  application
 in poisoning  by the different varieties of Rhus.
    Dr. Small informs me that a proving of this remedy was  once
 made by himself, aided by some of the students of the Philadelphia
 Homoeopathic College, when he was Professor in that institution.
 The records  of that proving, are, however, unfortunately lost.  He
 6tates that its  general sphere of action is quite similar to that of
 Pulsatilla.   It  acts upon the mucous membranes, skin, and sensory
 nerves. _  It has a great reputation in acute  catarrhal affections, to
 which it appears  to   be homoeopathic; also to some  rheumatic
 disorders.  We  append  to this  notice  of the  Polygonum,  Dr.
 Joslin's  fragmentary  provings.  We 6hall  not arrange  the  symp-
 toms, nor attempt any clinical observations, except as relates to the
    Sexual Organs of Women.—Drs. Tully, Eberle, Wood, and others,
 class it among the emmenagogues.  Dr. Eberle states that it causes
 the following symptoms:—"Warmth, and a peculiar tingling sensa-
 tion  throughout the   whole  system;  in  most instances   slight 
POLYGONUM  HYDROPDPER.           353
aching pains in the hips and loins; a sense of weight and tension
within the pelvis.''   He states that he has  used it in about twenty
cases of amenorrhoea,  and says:—"I can affirm that with  no other
remedy or mode of treatment have I been  so  successful as with
this.  I have seldom found it necessary to continue its use for more
than six or seven days, before  its emmenagogue powers were mani-
fested."  He says that those to whom he recommended it, found it
effectual.  He used it  in the form of a saturated  tincture, in doses
of a teaspoonful three times a  day.  The warm infusion is used
successfully in domestic practice—a wine glassfull every few hours.
I have known this simple treatment to prove effectual after all the
usual remedies failed.
FRAGMENTARY  PROVINGS OF POLYGONUM HYDROPIPER, BY DR. B. F.
                     JOSLIN, OF NEW YORK.
    First Proving.—A  specimen was collected September 12th,
 1854.—A heavy rain  a few days before had washed the leaves.  The
 earth in the vicinity  had not yet become dry, so that no dust had
 since fallen  on the leaves.  The weather  and  time  of day were
 favorable,  all  dew having been removed by the sun shining  in a
 clear sky.   The flowering season of the plant  had  commenced.
 At  noon, immediately after  collecting  the  specimen, a leaf was
 thoroughly masticated and swallowed; the taste  pungent, like that
 of black pepper.                               .....
    Symptom 1.—At  12.30 p. m., momentary pain in  the right
 frontal protuberance, and instantly afterwards in the right occipital
 protuberance,  after half an  hour.  In the afternoon of the same
 day, two dozen of the  leaves were  thorougly bruised in a clean
 agate mortar,  and not  being sufficiently succulent to allow of the
 expression of juice, the mass was put into a vial with alcohol, reduced
 by water to about fifty per cent. At ten in the evening eat another
 1  -P
     2— September 13th.—Intolerable itching at  the left shin, a little
 above the ankle, in the morning at six o'clock.
     3—Severe aching at the fore part of the  left  tibia, about four
 inches below the knee, from one till  two o'clock, p. m.
     4.—Aching in the left shoulder, when  recumbent, about  11 p.
 m., soon after  going  to bed.
     Second  Proving.—On the 7th day of May, 1856, I decanted a
 second time a second sample of the tincture from a specimen col-
 lected September 16th, 1854,  and  prepared m  a similar manner.
 At  1.30 p. m. agitated one drop of this tincture with half an ounce
 of  water, and took it at once.
     1 —At 1 40 p m  painful pressure on the palmar-radial side of
 the right fore-arm, an inch and a half above the wrist, at the spot
 where the  radial artery  is  distinctly  felt,  lasting  seven minutes,
  commencing ten minutes  after the dose.     ..„...,
     2 —Dry cough in the night, excited by  titillation m the upper-
  anterior part  of the  chest, with a dry sensation in the larynx when
  coughing, after about twelve hours.  May 8th.-At 1 p. m.. put one
  drop of the tincture, Polyg., in one gill of water, and after agitating
  it  several times, occupied a minute m sipping  it.
         45 
 354       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

    3,—Sensation of heat  in the mouth and throat within the first
 quarter of an  hour, commencing  at  the tip of  the  tongue and
 extending to much of the mouth, then  to the throat  at the right
 upper part.
    4.—Couo-h excited by a pricking, tickling sensation, behind the
 upper  part of the sternum, at 1.30 p. m, ; i. e., after forty minutes.
    5.—May 9th and  10th.—Pain pressive and remittent, for two
 consecutive evenings, at the anterior-inner surface  of  the head  of
the left tibia.
    6.—On the  9th, in  the evening, the interior of the  anus was
studded with itching eminences, as from  corrugation without con-
traction—a kind of hemorrhoidal tumor; they disappeared within
two days.
   The above is an exact copy of records made at  the time of the
provings.  Short as they are, I call them  two because the  latter
was made after such an   interval  as  precludes the possibility  of
continuance of action.
Note.—It would seem homoeopathic to hemorrhoids. .
                RUMEX   CRISPUS.

                         (Yellow Dock.)

    This plant is a native of Europe, though  naturalized in this
country.   It follows closely the march of emigration, and even
precedes it, so that it may almost be looked upon  as  belonging  to
the  class of indigenous plants.   It  grows in fields, gardens, and
waste places, and is so  well known  that it needs no  accurate des-
cription.   The root which is the  officinal portion, is large, spindle-
shaped and yellow ; it has but little odor, and a bitter and astrin-
gent taste.   It  yields its medicinal properties to boiling  water
and alcohol.  This  is one of four  species of dock used in this
country in medicine, but  of  the others we  have  no provings  or
clinical experience.  To the late lamented B. F. Joslin, M. D., of
New York, the profession owe the valuable and accurate  provings
of this medicine.  He first called the attention of the profession
to it in the first and second volumes of the Philad. Jour., of Horn.,
afterwards in other Journals, and  finally in the American  Horn.
Review, in which he published the " verified symptoms  ot Rumex
Crispus."   The  original provings and clinical  contributions, were
made by  some of the best men  in our schools, namely Drs.  Joslin
Sr.  and Jr., Bowers, Bayard, Kellogg, Houghton, Payne, Rhees,
and others.   We may implicitly rely upon the accuracy of their
observations. I cannot omit in this place to render my tribute
of  respect and  reverence for  the genius,  virtues,  and sterling 
RUMEX  CRISPUS.
355
qualities-of Dr. B. F. Joslin.   He was one of those  representative
men of our profession and school, ranking with Hartmann, Hempel,
Neidhard and a few others whose " mighty footsteps " will
                  " Echo down the Corridors of Time."
   Among his many excellent qualities, the most to be admired were
his industry, honesty, and consistency.  In the domain  of Materia
Medica and Therapeutics, no man has done mor,e  in this country..
He has given us some exact and reliable provings,  and a volume
on "Epidemic Cholera,'' which is one of the finest monographs ever
published in our  school.  He was  rigorously  honest  in that  he
allowed no prejudice to sway his judgment, but examined carefully
the testimony relating to drugs, from any and all sources, selecting
the reliable, no matter from what  source  it  emanated, or  how
obtained.  He also recorded his observations with that truthfulness
and candor which commands  our  highest regard.  Although  a
staunch champion  for the "high potencies," he did not  allowhis
enthusiasm  to degenerate  into  bigotry, or  his preference into
prejudice.   He was thoroughly consistent, always relying upon the
higher dilutions, even in Cholera, and his success in their  cure was
something astonishing, but  probably owing  to his carefulness in
selecting his remedies.  We  can admire such  a man, as much as
we can despise  others, who, constantly harping upon the highest
potencies, habitually resort to the lower, and even cruder drugs.
For myself, who allow the  largest lattitudc, I can sincerely respect
 the consistency of a Joslin, even though I cannot adopt his practice
 altogether.  According to Dr.  Joslin's "verified  symptoms,'  and
 clinical experience, the Rumex c, is closely analogous to Sulphur
 Phosphorus, Causticum, Calc, Mercurius,  and Spongia.  In  tact
 it has many symptoms which are to be found in the pathogenesis of
 these remedies. This may partly be accounted for by a fact too little
 heeded by our school; namely, that the chemical analogue  ot a plant
 is some clue to its pathogenetic  effects.   Rumex  c, contains,
 besides  starch, mucilage, lignio,  etc., Sulphur, and various  salts,
 among which are the phosphate of lime.  Here we have three ot
 our best remedies represented indirectly in the yellow-dock; namely,
 Calcarea, Phosphorus, and Sulphur.  Its use in the  old school, for
 diseases of the skin, and other obstinate affections, all of which are
 covered by the symptoms  of the medicines above  named, and its
 undoubted success, should have led us  without any  proving, to
 decide nearly the sphere of action  of this plant.  The  following
 provings, however, show its real properties, and proves the reliable-
 ness of the above assertion.  The provings were  made with the
 mother  tincture, lower  and higher dilutions; the  thirtieth  caus-
 ing the same or similar symptoms, that were aroused by  the crude

   '* General Effects.—Allopathists have decreed the Ru™e* c''
 to be  alterative,  tonic,  astringent and discutient.   In the farst
 volume of the Philad. Jour, of Homoeopathy, Dr. Joslin  comments
 on the Allopathic use and statements  concerning  this medicine
 As it would be improper to copy his remark* entire I would leter
 the reader  to that article (page 289).  He remarks:- Its only 
356        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
 definite and well-ascertained property was its power of curing itch,
 when administered internally and applied externally.   This was as
 well known to the laity as to the profession."  He  goes on to  say
 that the Allopathist compounds the medical properties  of the  dif-
 ferent varieties of Rumex, and would have us consider their effects
 nearly the same.  Ignoring as they  do  the necessity of proving
 each.drug, in  order  to ascertain its true action, they grope in  the
 dark.   They  reverse  the true  order of  investigation.   "But
 these " he remarks " are not specially the faults of the professor
 (Wood);  they  are almost inseparable from the  school.''   Dr.
 Wood remarks:  "We have placed together the  three officinal
 species of dock (i. e. R.,  aguaticus, R. brittanica and R. obtusifolius),''
 because their virtues are so nearly alike that a separate  considera-
 tion would lead to unnecessary repetition. All the other^ecies may
 be used indiscriminately with those which are considered officinal.
 The  medical properties of dock root are those of an astringent
 and mild tonic.   It is also supposed to  possess an alterative property
 which  renders   it useful   in scorbutic disorders, and  cutaneous
 eruptions,  particularly the itch.   It is  said to have  been useful in
 scrofula and syphilis.   The roots of some  species unite a laxative,
 with the tonic and astringent property, resembling rhubarb, some-
 what, in their operation.''   (Wood.)   " Dr. Payne, in  his judicious
 compend of the  Allopathic Materia Medica, comes to the conclu-
 sion, that Rumex is similar but inferior to Rhubarb.  Our school,
 after  a comparison of the provings, would consider  the difference
 to be more qualitative than quantitative."   {Iodine).
   The eclectic school estimate the docks more  highly than their
Allopathic  brethren.   Jones and Scudder in  their Materia Medica
say:—" The dock appears to exert its  silent alteratve  action upon
the constitution in many chronic cutaneous  eruptions, as scabies,
the different forms of herpes, etc.; syphilis, when it has assumed a
constitutional form, attended with an ulceration of  the fauces,
eruption or ulceration upon the  surface, also in mercurio-syphilitic
disorders, mercurial cachexy, cancerous tumors or ulcers, scrofula—
whether manifested by a general depravation of  the system,
enlarged glands, or foul and indolent ulcers—or in any other form
of ulcer, especially if dependent upon any constitutional  taint.   In
 caries, necrosis or  other morbid conditions of the osseous system, in
scurvy or  scorbutic  affections,  and  in numerous  other abnormal
states, its resolvent, depurative and detergent qualities, render it  an
excellent auxiliary and corroborant, all the agents  desired under
this class  (alteratives)  are  either  associated  or  alternated with
other remedies and not relied upon as  individual curative agents:'
   1 his last sentence  contains the elements  of all the  errors  of
Allopathic  therapeutics.  They mix  a  number of drugs together,
and then affirm certain curative properties of one of  these, because
the compound seemed to cure.  It is in this manner  that the  esti-
 mate of Rumex quoted above is made up.   It is generally given  in
 combination with Stillingia, Iodide of Potash, or some other dru-.
 Nearly all the curative effects above named may be due to the latter
 medicines.   It  is  also  recommended  for  " dyspepsia, debilitated 
RUMEX  CRISPUS.                 357
states  of the  intestinal canal, diarrhoea, and dysentery.''   Dr. J.
Williams, says:—"Boiled in milk, and taken in haematemesis, it is
an infallible remedy.''   It is said to be useful as a wash  or gargle
in spongy states of the gums, ulceration of the mouth, throat, etc.
How much of value there may be in the  above statements, will be
shown by the proving.
   General Symptoms.—General  languor;  general  pulsation or
throbbing through the body; sensitiveness to the open air in cold
weather, or to the cold.
   Characteristics.—Locality and  character.—The  left chest
has more  verified  symptoms than any  other  region ; they are
generally sharp pains.  The  other  regions which afford a consid-
erable, and nearly  equal number  of  symptoms, as  compared
with  each  other,  are the head,  stomach, abdomen,  and inferior
extremities.  The symptoms of the  head are, generally, dull pains
in the frontal region.   The symptoms  generally appear to be either
in a mucous membrane, or in a muscular locality, and to be about
equally numerous in  both.  I leave it for others to decide whether
the latter are neuralgic.  They present about the same  number as
the former. {Joslin)  Conditions.—Headache, worse on movement;
sensation of weight of a  hard substance in the stomach, or pit of
the stomach  after a meal; liquid diarrhoea,  evacuations in the
morning ; pain in the  chest when in bed at  night;  unquiet sleep,
with dreams of danger or trouble,  early  in the morning ; itching
of the skin,  worse  on uncovering,  and exposing it to the air,
especially  on  going to bed in the  evening, or at night.  {Joslin)
    The above careful remarks  by the astute observer, Dr. Joslin,
are very valuable, and quite practical.
    Skin.—Itching in various parts of the body, either in this order :
left portion of the back, left ear, left shoulder, and left loin, or  else
principally on the lower extremities.  On various parts a stinging,
itching, or pricking itching ;  itching on the shoulder in the evening,
with  itching in the lumbar or dorsal  region;  itching  on the  body,
principally  on the lower extremities; itching of the  skin  when
uncovered and exposed to the air;  eruption on the. limbs, first per-
 ceived in the  evening; itching of the  vesicles  on  undressing in the
 evening to go to bed; an itching rash, in which numerous small red
pimples  are developed ;  the eruption itching  in the evening,  and
 worse on exposure to the air.
    Clinical Remarks.—For the allopathic use of Rumex, in skin
 diseases, see " General Effects."   No clinical records of cures of
 skin  diseases, treated with Rumex, have yet appeared in our school,
 but Dr. H.  M. Payne, while experimenting with Rumex, got the
 following  notable  symptoms from  the crude tincture: " While un-
 dressing and for some time after, considerable itching of the surface
 of the lower  extremities."  This  occurred several nights, when he
 8ayS:_" There is no  appearance of an eruption until after irritating
 the  skin by scratching, and then  rather a diffused  redness, which
 soon disappears.  Frequent scratching of the surface has produced
 a number of little sores, (which, however, readily heal,) on the calves
 of the legs, and about the  knees, especially the  posterior surfaces ; 
358       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 the rash is not usually troublesome until after the surface is exposed
 to the air while undressing at night, or on  getting np in the  morn-
 ing ;  the warmth  of the bed  soon  relieves  the  itching."   (The
 contrary occurs in  most cases of skin diseases, the itch especially;
 also  in  the  provings of Mercurius, the opposite obtains.)  Many
 persons  are  troubled with  a peculiar irritability of the skin, like
 the condition above described.  Exposure to air, working in water,
 scratching, wearing flannel  or new cloth, will get up considerable
 irritation,  and even  cause erythematous and other  eruptions.  In
 such  cases  the Rumex will probably form an admirable  remedy.  I
 would also suggest  its persevering use in those  eruptions which
 seem constitutional, and which, when suppressed, or not appearing
 upon the surface, are replaced by cough, hoarseness, and  other lnng
 symptoms.  May not  the peculiar irritation which  Rumex causes
 in the bronchial mucous membrane be analogous  to the condition
 of the skin noted  above ?   The remarks  of Dr. C. Dunham are
 pertinent to this  suggestion.   They will  be found  under the head
 of " chest."
    Sleep.—Great propensity to sleep in  the evening  before the
 proper time; unquiet  sleep at night;  restless and uncomfortable in
 the bed at night; unquiet sleep, with dr( ams of danger and trouble
 early in the morning ;  dream of theft  or burglary ;  an  unpleasant
 dream in the  morning  between  five and  six o'clock, just before
 waking;  unquiet  dreamy sleep, followed by headache,  and  bitter
 taste  on  waking in the morning.
    Fever.—Heat  and  other  symptoms of  fever in the morning,
 preceded by restlessness at  night; increased frequency of pulse;
 sensation of heat, followed by that of cold without shivering.
   Head.—Sensation  of fulness  in  the  head;   headache   after
 awaking  in the morning, preceded by a disagreeable dream;  head-
ache worse by motion; dull  pain  in the head, between  the  time
of  waking and  breakfast, preceded by a  disagreeable dream  in
 the  morning  ;  dull  pain   in the head  in the forenoon,  com-
 mencing  at 10 o'clock; dull pain in the forehead; frontal headache
on awaking in the morning;  pain over the right eyebrow; pain on
the right side  of the forehead in the region of causality; pain  in
the left  temple; darting pain, or  sharp, piercing pain  in the left
 side ot the head,  for half an hour  or less;  dull aching pain in the
occiput.                                           ° l
   Eyes.—Sore feeling in the eyes, without any external sio-ns of
inflammation.                                            °
   Ears—Ringing in the ears; itching in the ears; sensation as if
 the ears were obstructed; constant  roaring in the ears, not relieved
 by pressing the fingers into the ears.
  . Nose—Obstruction of the nose; fluent  eoryza, attended  with
painful irritation  in nostril and sneezing;   epistaxis;  mucus dis-
charge from posterior  nares; violent and rapid sneezing;  sensation
of great dryness in  the nose, day and night; feeling of dryness in
the posterior nares.                               &      J
   Face—Sensation of heat in the  cheeks, within the first hour; 
RUMEX  CRISPUS.
359
heat and redness of the face in the evening; heat and  redness  in
the face with dull headache in the evening.
   Teeth.—Toothache with aching in the head;  grumbling, stinging
toothache  in  right superior molars, while  riding  in  cold wind,
attended with dull aching in forehead.
   Mouth.—Sensation  as from  a burn  or scald on the tongue;
sensation  of excoriation, or  slight stinging,  at edge  of tongue;
flow of saliva within first hour; dryness of the mouth  and  tongue
at night.
   Throat- —Sensation of excoriation in the throat;  sore feeling in
the throat on swallowing in  the  forenoon; sensation as of  a lump
in the throat, not relieved by hawking and swallowing;  raw feeling
in throat, with secretion of phlegm; mucous secreted in upper part
of throat;  aching sensation in the throat,  as if a lump were sticking
fast  in the  oesophagus, aching in the pharynx, with collection of
tough mucus in the fauces.
    Gastric Symptoms.—Awoke with  bitter taste in  the mouth in
morning ; flatulency after meals ; heaviness, or a  sensation of hard
substance in the stomach or epigastrium soon after a meal;  after a
meal has a sensation of weight  in the stomach, like that  produced
by the presence of  undigested food  in it (the first  symptoms in
two provers, with the tincture*).   Tasteless  eructations;  sensation
of fullness or distension in the stomach or scrobiculous  cordis, with
eructations on going to bed or in  evening; nausea in the morning
and forenoon, also in the evening; nausea with eructations;  nausea
either with a  sensation of fullness  in  the abdomen, as  if diarrhoea
were  forming,  or  else with moving in  the intestines as  from a
cathartic;  sharp pain  in the pit  of the  stomach, either  worse on
movement, or occurring while riding out in the open air;  stitching,
then cutting pain in stomach.
    Clinical Remarks.—It has been used with alleged success in
dyspepsia.  Many of the above symptoms would seem to indicate
its applicability in some forms of gastric  derangement.   Dr. Joslin
reports the following'cases  in the  "Review:"—"A  young lady
complained of  shootings from the pit of the stomach  into  the
chest in  various directions; sharp pains in left  chest;  dull aching
in the forehead and  slight nausea;  ordered  her to take  K»mex
thirtieth, morning and  evening.  She called the next day ;  all her
symptoms had  been removed  by a  single dose, and her appetite,
which had been defective, improved; having eaten an  unusually
full dinner, there is  a partial  return of the shootings ; gave Rumex
thirtieth, evening and morning; there was no further complaint.    A
lady about fifty years of age, who had suffered about  three weeks
with pain  in  the  pit  of  the  stomach,  aching in  the left chest,
 flatulence, eructations,  pressure and distention in the stomach after
 meals; was  permanently cured  of these dyspeptic symptoms^ m
 two or three hours  by one dose of Rumex, two hundredth. —  A

  "T^D~, Payne, who experienced thl,.symptom  ™$^^™^^}&£
 weighty the stomach, was accompanied with a pressing se™*u°n a* ™\ "£ediately'returned. 
360       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 young lady has a sensation of fulness and pressure  in the pit of the
 stomach, extending up towards and to the  throat,  and afterwards
 carried down again towards the stomach when she swallows, and
 then rising again to the throat.   This curious alternation has been
 observed in the proving of Rumex.  She was cured by Rumex two
 hundredth."  "A gentleman, not accustomed to the use of tea, took
 a cup of it, very weak,  of the black kind; then followed aching in
 the pit of  the stomach and aching and  shooting  above it  in the
 chest, at, and especially on  each  side of  the  lower end  of the
 sternum.   These symptoms were removed in a few minutes by
 one dose of the Rumex, thirtieth?'
    Hypochondrium.—Pain in the hopochondrium in the afternoon,
 after  dinner; worse on movement, or  occurring  while walking;
 hypochondrium pained by  coughing, rapid walking,  or  deep inspira-
 tion.
   Abdomen.—Dull pain in the  abdomen in day time, continuing
 two hours ; pain in the abdomen in the night; pain in the abomen
 in the morning; pain  in the  abdomen in the morning in bed;
protuberance or hardness, or  else sensation  of   fulness in  the
 abdomen ;  rumbling in the bowels, or much flatus moving obout in
 them; pain in the abdomen, occurring or increasing  during deep
inspiration; moving in the intestines;   flatulent  colic  near  the
umbilicus  soon after  a meal, mitigated by discharge  of flatus;
emissions of  flatus  in the morning;  pain in the umbilical region,
 with eructation, soon  followed  by pain  over  eyebrow; pain in
the abdomen, in the morning, followed by an  evacuation  of the
bowels; griping pain in the bowels below  the umbilicus, which is
partially  relieved by the  discharge of very offensive  flatus, after
breakfast;  sensation  in the  bowels  as  if diarrhoea would  ensue.
 (See clinical remarks under  " stool.")
   Stool  and  Anus.—Dark-colored fasces;  stool brown, or  else
 black; constipation, or else  scanty fasces; sensation in the bowels
 as if a diarrhoeaic  evacuation would ensue, the sensation passing off
without subsequent evacuation;  liquid  diarhoeaic stool in  the morn-
ing ; diarrhoeaic  stool in the morning,  preceded   by  eructations;
diarrhoeaic stool in the morning preceded  by pain in the abdomen •
 sensation as if from pressure of a stick in the rectum; itchino- in the
 anus; discharge of offensive flatus.
   _ Clinical Remarks.—It is considered by allopathists, as similar
 in its  action to Rhubarb,  and  has been used  by that  school in
 diarrhoea and dysentery.  It is homoeopathic to   some  forms of
 intestinal disorder.  Dr. A. E. Small  informs  me that at one time
he found it very useful in the bowel complaints of children.  Dr C
Dunham, writes (Am. Horn. Review, vol. ii, p. 533); " I have noticed
in one case the cessation of a brown, watery  diarrhoea after the
administration of Rumex.  A boy of five years, had brown, watery
diarrhoea chiefly in the morning,  having five stools from 5 to 9 A
m. attended with moderate  griping pain in the lower part of the'
abdomen; this continued several days, notwithstanding  two  pre-
scriptions which I made for it.  Observing  that  the boy  had a
cough, which presented the characteristic features of the rumex 
RUMEX   CRISPUS.
361
cough, I  gave that remedy, and  both diarrhoea  and cough were
speedily cured."   A writer, (" I") in the Hom. Review, reports two
cases. "A lady about the turn of life, had diarrhea, in the morning,
four evacuations, between 6 and 10 a. m. ;  faeces  very thin;  evacu-
tions painless; nausea on  movement in the night,  preceding the
evacuations;  mouth  dry,  tongue  slightly  coated yellow; the day
previous had  dull pain on the right side of the sternum; sharp
pain on the left. Gave Rumex 30th., in solution, once in three hours.
The next  day all the  symptoms were removed.''—"Diarrhea in
the morning with cough—a lady about fifty years of age,  has  had
diarrhoea every morning for four  days; the evacuations, profuse,
offensive,  and thin, and have even become  watery; she is  also
suffering  from a  cough,  excited by  a sensation of tickling in the
throat-pit.  It is usually dry,  but when expectoration takes place,
this is tasteless; the cough shocks  the stomach, and is  attended
with a sensation of  excoriation in the chest; it keeps her  awake at
night. Rumex 30th., every four hours, on 30th of March, in the  eve-
ning the cough was immediately and decidedly improved, so that she
slept all night. Next morning she awoke with the most severe head-
ache she had ever suffered ; it was a continuous aching in the temples,
forehead and eyebrows, and lasted all the morning; the cough and
diarrhoea were removed without any other medicines.  All the above
symptoms, except  the foetor  of  the faeces, have been observed as
pathogenetic  of  Rumex."
    Urinary Organs,  etc.—Urine extremely pale,  or  colorless; very
sudden and urgent desire to urinate; copious discharge of colorless
urine in afternoon;  complete loss of sexual desire for several days.
    larynx.—Pain in the larynx;  in  the  second prover  in a  few
 minutes,  and the  first  rumex  symptom in six years;  tenacious
mucus  in the throat or  larynx, detached  and removed  by an
 expiratory effort, or attended with  a  constant desire to hawk and
 raise it; in the first prover it  was the first symptom in the second
 proving, five years after the first; much mucus in the bronchi, or in
 the larynx; expectoration  made  by  coughing and hawking, or
 attempted by hawking,  worse at  night; scraping and  tenacious
 mucus in the throat, or else  much tough mucus   in the  larynx,
 with a constant desire to hawk and raise  it,  but without relief;
 cough excited by tickling or irritation behind the  sternum; cough
 excited by irritation in the chest;  cough, attended with pain in the
 head.  Sudden  change  of voice at the same hour on consecu-
 tive days; the first  and second of the proving, it becomes  sud-
 denly hoarse at eleven  at night, or else rose several  notes  in
 pitch at two in the afternoon.
     Clinical Remarks.—The Rumex c. seems  to  have a specific
 affinity for the laryngeal and bronchial  mucous membrane; the
 recorded clinical experience  with this remedy  is  quite  extensive.
 Dr. C.  Dunham  makes  some valuable observations concerning its
 therapeutical properties.  I copy a portion of his article (see Amer.
 Hom. Review, vol.  ii., p. 530): "Ihave used the Rumex chiefly in
 acute catarrhal affections of the larynx,  trachea, and bronchi. In
 these cases it seems to me to present a close analogy in its action to
        46 
362       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 Belladonna, Lachesis, Phosphorus and Causticum.  Without assum-
 ing to present an exhaustive analysis of the action of Rumex on the
 respiratory organs, I proceed to state the indications for its use to
 which my studies of it, thus  far have led me.  Rumex diminishes
 the secretions, and at the same time  exalts in a very marked man-
 ner the  sensibility of the mucous membrane of the  larynx and
 trachea, exceeding in the extent  of this  exaltation, any remedy
 known to us.  The cough, therefore, is frequent and continuous, to
 an extent quite out of proportion to the degree of organic affection
 of the mucous membrane.  It is dry, occurs in long paroxysms, or,
 under certain circumstances, is almost uninterrupted.  It is induced
 or greatly aggravated by any irregularity of respiration, such as an
 inspiration alittle deeper or more rapid  than usual; by an inspira-
 tion of air  a little colder than that previously inhaled; by irregu-
 larity of respiration, and motion of the larynx and trachea, such as
 are involved in the act of speech ; and by external pressure upon the
 trachea, in the region of the' supra-sternal fossa.''   The subjective
 symptoms, are,  rawness and soreness in the  trachea, extending a
 short distance below  the supra-sternal fossa, and laterally into the
 bronchi, chiefly the left ; and tickling in the  supra-sternal fossa, and
 behind the sternum, provoking the cough; this tickling  is very
 annoying and very persistent, and is often but momentarily,  and
 sometimes only partially, relieved by coughing.  The  cough occurs
 chiefly, or is much worse, in the evening after retiring, and at the
 time the membrane of the trachea  is particularly sensitive to cold
 air, and to any irregularity in the flow of air over its surface; so that
 the patient often covers the head with the bed clothes to avoid the
 cold air of the apartment, and refuses  to  speak,  or even listen to
 conversation, lest  his attention  should  be  withdrawn from the
 supervision of his respiratory acts, which  he performs with  the
 most  careful  uniformity and deliberation,  and  all in the hope of
 preventing the distressing tickling and the harrassing cough which
 would ensue from a neglect of these precautions.  I have frequently
 witnessed this state of things during  the last three years, and have
 invariably given prompt  relief with Rumex.   In the group of rem-
 edies in  which  I  have  placed  Rumex  (along with Bell., Lach.,
 Phos., Caust.), it stands  pre-eminent in respect  to the extreme
 sensibility of the tracheal mucous membrane.   All of these remedies
 produce symptoms identical in  kind : the characteristic of each is to
 be found  in  the relative  degree in  which each  symptom is pro-
 nounced in the different remedies, quite as much as  in the possession
by any one of them of symptoms not produced by the others. Thus,
Belladonna, Lachesis,  and Rumex produce  each,  a  dry cough,
 induced by tickling in the larynx or trachea, and provoked by deep
 inspiration, by speaking, and by external pressure on the larynx  or
 trachea.   The cough of  each  is spasmodic and  long  continued,
 and is  worse at  night  after  retiring;  but,  apart  from  the
fact that  Belladonna  and  Lachesis  act  more  upon  the lower
part of the trachea,  we  observe that,  in  the case of Lachesis,
 the  slightest  external  pressure  on  the  larynx  or   trachea
 produces  violent  and   long-continued,   spasmodic  cough;  the 
RUMEX  CRISPUS.
363
patient cannot endure the least constriction in that region, not even
the ordinary contact of his clothing. There is, moreover, a sense of
fulness in the trachea and a very painful aching in the whole extent
of the os hyodes.  In the case of Belladonna not only is cough pro-
duced to a moderate extent by pressing upon the larynx, but sore-
ness and pain are experienced with a sense  of internal fulness and
soreness which at once  suggests  the presence of Acute Laryngitis
sub-mucosa.  In Rumex, on  the  other hand, there is no sensibility,
strictly  speaking, of the trachea, but  simply such an instability of
the mucous membrane that cough is produced by the change of posi-
tion induced in that membrane by external pressure on the trachea.
As regards the extent and intensity of this symptom, Rumex holds
a lower rank than the other  remedies  named.  But the  irritability
of mucous membrane by virtue of which cough is induced by hurried
or  deep inspiration, or by speaking, while it is common to Bell.,
Lach., Rumex, and Phosphorus  is produced in the most exalted
degree, as we have already seen, by Rumex, which, as regards this
symptom, takes first rank.  A sensation of rawness or roughness in
the larynx, trachea and bronchia is produced by each  of the  four
remedies above named, but the locality and the degree in which it
is  produced,  vary in  such  a manner  as  to serve in  some  mea-
 sure as a  characteristic of each.  It is  most  marked  in  Phos-
 phorus  and Belladonna, less prominent in  Rumex, and least of all
 in Lachesis.   In Belladonna and Lachesis it is most marked  in the
 larynx; indeed it is almost confined to that region.  Rumex pro-
 duces it in  the trachea and upper  part  of the bronchia, while
 Phosphorus  induces it in the whole mucous tract, from the larynx
 to the  smaller bronchia,  and  bronchi;  and, moreover, in  the
 Phosphorus   proving  this  'rawness'  of  the  air passages  is
 accompanied by  a no  less characteristic  sense  of  weight and
 constriction   across the upper  part  of the  thorax,  which  indi-
 cates an affection of the finer air tubes, and of the air vesicles, ot
 such a character as seriously to impede  the function  ot respira-
 tion.  In considering this last symptom we must mention Causti-
 cum also,  which  produces  'rawness,'   extending  the  whole
 length  ot  the sternum.  All five remedies, again, produce hoarse-
 nes°s:  Phosphorus, Causticum,  and  Belladonna  most eminently,
 Rumex less decidedly, and Lachesis in  a still less  degree.-As
 regards complications, Belladonna and  Lachesis apply especially
 to^those which involve the fauces and pharynx,  and are acute--
 the  one of  a sthenic, the other of an asthenic characters-Phos-
 phorus, those of the  pulmonary tissues  of  a definite inflamma-
 tory character; and,  Rumex,  to certain  affections of thlungs
  and their envelopes of which their nature  is not c early defined n
 the proving.  They are indicated by pairs, generally  sub-acute, in
  he uppei  part of the  lung,  near  the clavicle and axilla, and  more
 ^Kle left than if'the right lung  The following case from
 my  clinical record will  illustrate the character  of  the Rumex
 couch. M., aged twenty-two of feeble constitution, strumous subject
 for &severaltoy ears to  sub-acute rheumaUBm has had a sev ere cod
 for several days, and  is  now  confined to  the bed. The pulse is 
364        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

quick, not hard, one hundred and ten, skin moderately hot and dry;
face somewhat flushed; respiration  embarrased,  not  so much by
any constriction of  the  chest  as by the  violent and long-con-
tinued cough,  which follows  any attempt  to make  a full inspi-
ration.  A physical examination of the chest reveals no abnormal
condition.  The patient complains of roughness and soreness in the
lower  part of the trachea,  and  behind  the upper  third  of the
6ternum, much more perceptible  when she *coughs.    The cough
is dry, slightly hoarse, very violent and fatiguing to the patient.
It  is  provoked by a  tickling in  the   supra-sternal  fossa—is
induced by pressure on  the trachea in that region, and especially
by  talking, and by deep  inspiration or by the inspiration  of cool
air.  This  irritability of the  trachea  increases  very  markably
after  7 p.  m., so  that the  patient  suffers  exceedingly from  the
constant  tickling and violent cough.  Can prevent  them  only by
respiring  with  very  great caution and deliberation, by  avoid
ing all distractions  of speech  and  conversation, and finally, she
draws the bed clothes over the head  in  order  to  avoid  inhaling
the cool air of the chamber.  This patient states that  she has fre-
quently had such coughs as  this,  and they have  proved  very
obstinate, although under skilful  homoeopathic treatment.  I gave
Rumex 12th in solution, a  teaspoonful every two  hours.  After
the second dose there was complete  relief.  The  next  evening
a very slight disposition to cough.  No further symptoms.  I sup-
plied the patient with Rumex 30th, and advised her to use it at once
on  the occurrence of  such a  cough,  and I am informed  that
she always succeeded  in  subduing the  cough within  twelve
hours.  The following cases in the practice of  Dr. P. P. Wells,
of Brooklyn, were communicated  in a letter  to Dr. Joslin, some
years since.  We  regret that these are the only  cases of Dr.
W.'s that  we can at present report, but  hope at some future
time  we  shall be  able  to  publish  more, as the  doctor's exper-
ience with  this  remedy  has  been very satisfactory.  Mrs.----,
had been  subject to eight miscarriages,  all in the  early stage
of  pregnancy, which in  each case  was early attended with dry,
shaking,   spasmodic  cough,  in  paroxysms of  great  violence,
which was regarded by herself  and friends as instrumental in
producing the abortions.  At the beginning of the  ninth  preg-
nancy she  came  to Brooklyn to  be under  homoeopathic treat-
ment.  She had  her cough,  which was very  dry,   harsh,  loud,
shaking, worse at  night, preventing sleep, excited  instantly by
pressure  on the  trachea.  The  cough was relieved  promptly
by  Rumex crispus,  30th.  The  following marked  and  rather
important  group  of symptoms were  relieved  promptly, in the
treatment of the case of oiir friend D., by Rumex 200th.,  Lehr-
man's preparation.   Thinking a  knowledge  of the fact might
interest  you, to whom  we  are  indebted  for our  knowledge of
this interesting drug, I send it.   The cough begins  with  tickling
behind  the top of the  sternum, and  sometimes in  paroxyms of
five to ten minutes duration.  Trachea sore to  outward pressure;
feels excoriated  through its whole extent,  as do also the whole 
RUMEX   CRISPUS.
365
fauces ; cough excited by pressure on throat pit; cough  is violent,
with scanty, difficult expectoration ; shocks  the head  and chest,
as if the  head  would  fly  in  pieces, and  he  feels as if he
might  raise blood at any minute.  He  is greatly exhausted after
the  paroxysms  of  coughing;   head aches  during the  cough.
You have  the  group  above in  the order  as written down for
me  by  his brother,  and  upon  which  I  prescribed  the  medi-
cine, which was  followed  by  the  happiest  results.   Dr. J. M.
Rhees, reports  several cases of Aphonia:  one of  three  months
standing ;  with  sore throat during  deglutition; posterior  surface
of pharynx irritated and  in  places  excoriated,  edges   of soft
palate and uvula red and  somewhat  swollen, and covered with
an   eruption  of  minute red  pimples;  slight  hacking  cough
produced  by   a  tickling  in  larynx  and  upper part  of  tra-
chea.  Under Carbo veg.,  Caust.,  and  Merc, she grew worse;
her  cough became almost constant; tickling  at  the root of the
tongue;  Hyos.  and Rhus, were  given, but gave no relief.   Rumex
 6th  was then given, and she commenced to improve the day  after.
 On  the  third day her cough was  much better, and the  pharynx
 looked almost natural.   The eruption on the palate  had almost
 disappeared, but there was still some redness on the edges, Hurnex
 6th as  before,  cured.   Dr.  B. F.  Joslin, in the first Vol  of
 Philad. Jou. of Horn., reported eleven cases of cough,  cured with
 the 30th dilution of Rumex c.  I  give a brief  abstract of the
 cases -.— Case 1. Dry cough ; tickling in the throat pit;  excoriation
 in larynx and  behind the  upper portion of the sternum; cough
 worse  on working; pain in chest.  Rumex 30th cured the  case;
 three doses only were given.  The cough had lasted several weeks
 before the Rumex was prescribed.  Case 2.  Fluent eoryza, with
 cough excited by tickling in the throat pit; sensation of excoriation
 behind  the upper part of the  sternum while coughing; Rumex
  30th,  morning  and evening.   Cured  promptly.   Case  3.  A
 lady of highly nervous temperament, had confusion of the  head
 Ssenessithe evening;  cough; excoriation behind the whole of
  the sternum on  coughing, and inspirat"V^J  ^dlvs
  fin-ers; Rumex 30th,  three times a day  Cured in  a  few days
  Case 4   Severe, dry cough, excited by an irritated pressure in the
  throat pitf excoriation in the larynx, and chest; Rumex 30th morn
  ing and evening.  Cured in a few days.  Case 5. Cough exci ed by
  ^ssnfg on theg throat,  and attended with excoriation in the larynx
  and chest and hoarseness.  He took one dose of Rumex thirty
  drL in the morning;  in afternoon of same day was much better;
  no cou^h nex^day, nor did it return.   Case  6.  Violent  cough in
  evening  wor  eabout  11 o'clock at night;  aggravated by lying
  down gexdted by a tickling behind the sternum and  attended by
  a s^rainTeachYng near the sternum, and with  accumuation of




  directions ; sharp  pains in the left cnest,  aun auiiub 
366        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
head, and slight  nausea; Rumex  30th,  morning  and evening.
Cured in two  days.  My  own experience with Rumex, has been
mainly with the third dilution I have  cured  many  cases  where
Phos." Merc, and Caust., semed indicated, but failed.  Tim remedy
has not been used as much by the profession, as its merits seem
to demand.
   Chest.—Pain in the chest, right and left; either aching pain in
the anterior portion of both lungs, which  harrassed him day and
nio-ht for five days, or  else raw pain  just under each clavicle while
hawking mucus "out of the throat;  pain in  chest when in bed at
night; pain in outer-superior  part of chest  near the axillas;  near
the left axilla, pain undefined—near the right, sharp; both after the
same dilution ;  first symptom in two provers ;  in one, in ten min-
utes, the first symptom ever  produced in any proving of Rumex;
in the other, two minutes, his first symptom—sharp pain in right
chest; a burning pain in the left chest; dull pain in the left chest;
sharp pain in left chest;  shootings in the left chest; sticking pain
in the left thoracic region ; stitches in the left chest; sharp,  cutting
pain  at or under the left breast; pain in the chest a little below and
to the right of the left nipple; burning, sticking,  or burning, sting-
ing pain in the left chest;  burning—smarting, or burning—stinging
pain  in  the left chest; a very acute  stitch, or burning—stinging
pain   in the left  chest;  shootings, or  else dull pain in the  left
side  near the back, a little  above the  seventh  rib; pain  in  the
left chest  when recumbent; a sticking or stitch in the left chest
while riding in  the  open air; painful sensation  in the anterior
part  of the left  chest, immediately after waking, about two  o'olock
at night, and between five and six hours after taking a low dilution ;
an  acute   stitch  in the sternal  region, or   a  severe   stinging,
which obstructs the respiration;  itching at or near  the sternum;
dull  pain in the region of the heart; burning pain in the region of,
or near the heart; palpitation of the heart,  or  else a sensation in
the left  chest, as if the heart suddenly ceased  beating, followed by
a heavy throbbing through the chest.
   Clinical Remarks.—Some of the provers, especially Dr. Rhees,
experienced some peculiar, and severe cardiac symptoms, which we
could hardly, at first thought, expect from this remedy. Yet we have
no right to judge,  before we prove  a remedy thoroughly, of the
probable effect of a drug.  It does seem, however, if Rumex thus
affects the heart, that of the thousands who have taken the Dock in
large doses, some of them would have had dangerous heart-disease;
but we  hear of no such  instances.  Dr. M. J. Rhees, one of the
original provers of this remedy, furnished the following interesting
case : " Joseph H., aged thirteen years,  subject to  violent  attacks
of Inflammatory Rheumatism.  In the  spring of 1858 I attended
him  in a severe attack, in which the disease concentrated itself on
the heart  with so much violence that I almost despaired of his
recovery.  Pulsatilla cured the disease at that time.  In December,
1858, he was again attacked, but the heart was the principal seat of
the disease from the first.  On  the 24th of December, his symp-
toms were: violent palpitation of the heart, with throbbing of the 
RUMEX  CRISPUS.
367
of
carotid, and throughout the body, visible to the  eye  and shaking
the bed ; pulse 120 ;  violent aching pain in the region of the heart;
great dyspnoea, especially while lying, so that it was necessary to
prop him up in a sitting posture in  bed; face red and somewhat
puffed up, especially  about  the eyes, which were  red, heavy,  and
lustreless ;  tongue coated with white fur, with red tip  and  edges;
excessive thirst;  no  appetite;  bowels costive.  I  commenced the
treatment by giving Aeon. 3rd., and Puis. 3rd., alternately.   Some
relief followed the administration of these  remedies, but the  im-
provement was slow.   From December  28th to January 9th, 1859,
various other remedies were used, as they seemed to be indicated,
but without decided  improvement  on the whole.  On the latter
date the patient complained of  a stinging pain in the region of the
heart, which was  increased by lying down and by breathing  deeply.
In my arranged proving of Rumex crispus the following symptoms
may be found :—"No. 41, burning,  stinging pain in the whole  of
the left side of the chest; suddenly, when taking a deep inspiration
while in the act of lying down in bed at night."—"No.  49, burning
stinging pain in the left chest near  the  heart; came on soon  after
lying down in the bed at night.  These symptoms were fresh  in
my  memory, and I  accordingly gave Rumex  crispus  6th,  in
water, two  tea-spoonfuls every three hours.  January 10th, consid-
erably relieved of the pain  in the chest, and otherwise improved ;
continued  Rumex.  January 11th,  the pain in the chest is almost
removed.  Rumex was continued several days after this, with  the
 effect of entirely relieving the  pain in the  chest; but the improve-
 ment in other respects ceasing, Rumex was  discontinued, and other
 remedies substituted.  Bell. 30th, and Phos 30th;  eventually cured
 the case, and there has been no return of the disease."  This case is
 in  many  respects a marked  one.    But it will  require  further
 clinical experience to prove satisfactorily, that Rumex will  cure
 serious heart-affections.
    Spinal  Region.—Sore or burning pain at or near the sacro-iliac
 symphysis ; chilliness in the back ; sensation of heat in the back;
 pressive or aching pain  in back at  the inferior angle of  scapula;
 aching pain in the back, on the left  side of the  dorsal  spine^ either
 extending  from  the  spine half way to the  side, or else  situated
 under and below the apex of the left scapula; stinging pain in the
 left dorsal  region near  the inferior angle of the  scapula; pain in
 the back in  the evening;  itching in the evening.       #
     Superior Extremities.-Pain  in  shoulder;  either  pain in the
 left  shoulder, and  from  it along  the upper_  arm to the elbow,
 including  the joint, and leaving  the arm with  a sensation as it
 strained! commencing after four  minutes, or else pain  m the  right
 shoulder on waking in the morning, ameliorated by rest, and passing
 off  in two hours! itching on shoulder in the morning; pain in
 upper arm in the evening;  numb sensation in the right hand about
 10Pp. m., or else in  the Teft upper  arm after lying down.nt  bed
 pain at the inner side of the right upper arm;  dull, aching pam in
 tiie left upper arm; pain in the upper arm and elbow,  undefined or 
368        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 dull; pain in  wrist, the left aching, or ulnar half  of the right,
 character undefined.
    Inferior Extrcmlties.-^A sensation  of weakness  or fatigue in
 lower limbs; aching of the lower  extremities; itching on  lower
 extremities when the part is uncovered and  exposed to cool  air;
 stinging or prickling itching at an upper part of inferior extremity,
 either at the anterior part of the left thigh, or on the  nates; pain
 in knee  when in erect posture ; stitch-like pain at  the inner part
 when stepping,  or rending aching  in the flexure of the left while
 standing ; the legs feel weak in the evening, or tired, then, though
 he  had done but little walking; pain  in  an anterior part of both
 lower extremities, either rheumatic pain at the  anterior  part  of
 the  tibife,  or rending in the anterior  part of the ankle joints,
 running down the  insteps; aching  in the calves, or drawing pain
 in the right calf; itching on  the calves of the legs; legs densely
 covered with a rash, composed partly of small red pimples; itching
 worse on exposure  to the air in the evening when  undressing to
go to bed ; aching or rending in  the upper-anterior part of  the
tarsus,  the instep:  sensation  of coldness of the feet  during  the
forenoon.
     SANGUINARIA   CANADENSIS.
                          {Blood-root.)

   This  plant is indigenous,  growing in open woods,  in light,
rich  soils.  It appears early in the spring, and flowers  in April.
The  tincture for Homoeopathic use should be prepared from  the
green root.   The root is from an inch to  two inches in length,  and
half  an  inch  in  diameter, terminating abruptly, as if bitten  off.
When the fresh root is  broken, a light red fluid exudes, resem-
bling blood;  when dried the  root becomes dark brown externally,
contracted, wrinkled, breaking with a short waxy fracture, the bro-
ken extremities presenting an  orange red  color.  Its odor is feebly
narcotic and disagreeable, its taste acrid and  bitter; the powder is
a grayish red.  The active principles of Blood root are  said to be
Sanguinarina and Sanguinarin, the former a pure alkaloid, the latter
an alka-resinoid.  The Sanguinarin  is  supposed to  represent  the
plant more nearly,  and is the one  generally  used in practice.
Homoeopathists  generally  prefer the green root  tincture and  its
dilutions, but triturations of the root or the Sanguinarin are not to
be discarded.
   General Effects.—" Blood-root is an acrid  emetic,  with narcotic
and stimulant properties, it is also expectorant, sudorific, alterative
emmenagogue, tonic, anti-septic, detergent and escharotic, accord-
ing to the mode in which it is employed.   It is  a very active 
              SANGUINARIA  CANADENSIS.           369

agent, and is capable of exercising a powerful influence on the sys-  .
tem.  When given in small doses it stimulates the digestive organs,
accelerates the circulation;  in larger doses it occasions nausea and
consequent  depression  of the  pulse; in  a full  dose  it produces
active vomiting ;  in  overdoses  it causes violent  emesis, a burning
sensation  in the stomach, tormenting thirst, faintness, vertigo, dim-
ness of vision,  alarming prostration and even death. {King's Disp)
" Sanguinaria   is  emetic, expectorant,  diaphoretic,  acro-narcotic,
sedative, alterative, and in small doses, tonic and stimulant ;  in full
doses it  induces  nausea and vomiting, with a sensation of warmth
in the stomach, acceleration of pulse, and slight headache.  It acts
on the fauces, producing an acrid  impression, and in some cases it
proves cathartic.  The leaves and  seeds possess similar properties.
The seeds however are  said to exert a marked influence upon the
brain and nervous system, occasioning  torpor, languor, disordered
vision and dilatation of the pupils; in  large doses the  emesis is
violent, there  is a burning sensation in the stomach, faintness ver-
tigo, dimness  of vision and alarming prostration.   {Jones  and
Scudder's Mat. Med)   Wood,  Tully, Eberle and other writers use
about the same language in describing the general  toxical  effects
of the Sanguinaria.  It is undoubtedly  one  of the  most  powerful
agents in the vegetable materia medica, and ranks as an  analogue
of such potent medicines as Arsenicum, Phosphorus, Tartar emetic
 and Veratrum viride.
    Special Effects.—Nervous System.—The toxical and pathoge-
 netic effects of Sanguinaria  indicates that it has a profound effect
 upon the nerves  of sensation and motion, but the exact nature of
 this action has  not  been  sufficiently  investigated.   Among the
 symptoms we  find—" a quickly diffused and transient, but  at the
 same time a very peculiar  nervous  thrill, which  is often extended
 to the minutest extremity."  In large doses  it causes  " torpor, lan-
 guor and dilatation of  the pupils."
    Mucous Membranes.-There  are a few drugs,  like  Pulsatilla,
 which seem to  affect  the  mucous  tissues  of the  whole system;
 others, like Squills, have a specific affinity for the pulmonary mucous
 membrane ; Sanguinaria is an analogue of the  latter to a certain
 degree,  although it more nearly  approaches the action  of  tartar
 emetic.  It was known as an expectorant, long before the  allopathic
 profession  brought  it into use, and now, both  that and the eclec-
 tic school value it highly for that purpose,  (bee  Resp.ratoiy
 Organs.)   Blood-root does  not seem to  notably  increase the
 mucous secretions from the intestinal or other mucous tissues
     Serous  Membranes-Said to be useful in pleuntis ^ovito.
     Muscular   and  Fibrous  Tissues -Sanguinaria seem  to  cause
 pains of a rheumatic or myalgic  character  It is diMto decide
 which of the two  affections  were cured by  his ^^on how!
 reported  curative symptoms.  I  am inclined to  the  opmion, how-
 ever, that Sanguinaria, although it may  cure some neuraIgia ^U
 not, like Colchicum and  Cimicifuga,  act specifically in iheumatu,
 affections.  (For cases cured see " Extremities.')           ,  h
     Vascular  System.-iW.-Pressing pain in the regions ot the

         47 
 370        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 heart;  palpitation of the heart, with great weakness, (large doses;)
 extreme reduction in the force and frequency of the pulse, together
 with great irregidarity of action, and  palpitation of the heart.
    Clinical Remarks.—We have no  clinical  record  of any  dis-
 orders  of  the  heart treated with this medicine. The symptoms
 would seem to indicate  that it was more adapted to venous haem-
 orrhages and congestions than arterial, (secondarily).
    Fever  Pulse.—I" the evening  in bed, chill and shivering in the
 back; shaking chill with pain under the shoulder blade on motion ;
 chill with  headache;  chill  and nausea; heat flying from  head to
 6tomach ; burning heat, rapidly  alternating  with chill  and  shiver-
 ing ; fever and delirium  (from  the seeds);  pulsations  through the
 whole body ;  a gradual increase in the force and  frequency of the
 pulse, (from small doses); during the vomiting the pulse is frequent;
 6low pulse  with the extreme nausea; strength and frequency of  the
 pulse extremely reduced, with irregularity,  and with insensibility,
 coldness, etc.;  (from very large  doses) suppressed pulse with faiut-

    Clinical Remarks.—Sanguinaria has not been used in fevers,
 generally;   but it has been administered  successfully in  Hectic
 fever.   In the pathogenesis of no  other  medicine, except perhaps,
 Phosphorus and Lycopodium, do we  find the  hectic poroxysm as
 perfectly delineated ; generally the  hectic is associated with cough
 and other  symptoms of lung affection, but  there are  exceptions.
 Dr. Bute, cured —(1.)  In a lady, coldness of the feet in the after-
 noons, at the same time the tongue was painful and sore upon being
 touched, like a boil, and there was stiffness of the knee and finger
joints."   (2.) "Burning of the palms of the  hands and  soles of the
 feet, compelling him to throw the bedclothes off  the  feet  for the
 purpose  of  cooling them.  These paroxysms generally come on in
 the p. m., or evening.'' (3.) Paroxysm of fever in p.  m., with cir-
 cumscribed redness of  the cheeks ;  cough and expectoration."
   Hemorrhages.—Dr.  Morrow  relied on Sanguinaria  as a remedy
 for hemorrhages  in  general, because  of "its  power  of  quieting
 excessive, or  depressing  the natural circulation,''  he advises  it
 particularly in hcemoptysis ;  It has also been used in menorrhagia,
 epistaxis, etc.
   General  Symptoms-—Great weakness; great  prostration of mus-
 cular strength, (by large doses)  ; extreme  weakness and debility
 in the limbs, whilst walking  in the  open air, during the evening of
 the first day; debility with vertigo and pain in the hypochondria;
 great weakness, with vomiting;  great weakness, with  suppression
 of the pulse—with irregular pulse ; weakness and palpitation of the
heart; a quickly  diffused  and transient, but  at the same  time a
 very peculiar nervous thrill, which is  often  extended to the minu-
 test extremity; a slowly shooting pain, with long  continued thrill,
ending  in a grumbling aching  in a  carious molar tooth of the
upper jaw ;  fainting weakness; general sensitiveness and weakness;
 torpor and  languor from the seeds.  * Paralysis of the right side, of
fourteen years  duration, cured  by  the tincture, in the°dose of a 
SANGUINARIA   CANADENSIS.           371
small tea-spoonful every three or  four days; (verbally from Dr. B.
Becker,) convulsive rigidity of the limb.
   Remarks.—We can sometimes comprehend the sphere of action
of a drug, by comparing the ensemble of its symptoms with that
of other drugs;  a careful analysis  of the symptoms and toxical
effects of Sanguinaria show its marked resemblance to those of our
most important medicines, namely: Arsenicum,  Phosphorus and
Tartar   emetic;  more  remotely  it resembles  Belladonna, Verat.
viride and Iris versicolor;  Lycopodium, Sulphur, Kali carbomcum
and  Rumex c, have some  symptoms in common with Sanguinaria.
   Sleep-—Sleeplessness at  night; he awakens at night with affright
as if he would fall; dreams two nights in succession of sailing on the
sea; dream of a frightful and disagreeable character; he awakens
earlier than common.
   Skin.—Heat and dryness; increased itching of an old tubercle-
like  eruption on the skin; itching  and nettle rash before the nausea.
   Clinical  Remarks.—The  blood-root has  been used success-
fully for scaly  eruption; old indolent  ulcers; ill-conditional ulcers
with callous borders and ichorous discharge; the powdered root is
escharotic, and when applied to fungous growths causes their rapid
disappearance.  I consider it the best application we have for this
purpose ; it has also cured  warts,  and polypi, when given internally
and applied topically.  Dr. Sholl  uses it externally  and  internally
for carbuncle with  alleged  success.
    Mind  and  Disposition.—Extreme moroseness;  anxiety before
the vomiting ; hopefulness ; sanguine of recovery from illness.
    Clinical Remarks.—The  last two symptoms  were observed
by me  several times,  from  the  blood root.  Every physician  is
aware of the peculiarly hopeful condition  of mind in phthisis.   San-
guinaria is quite homoeopathic to that mental state.
    Sensorium.—Vertigo, with singing in  the ears; flatulent eructa-
tion, and then tickling in the throat, which excites cough (immedi-
ately after taking it); frequent vertigo, and diminished vision before
vomiting, after large  doses; vertigo with nausea, long continuing,
with debility and with headache  ; * vertigo  on quickly turning the
head, and looking upward.                                 .
    Clinical   Remarks.—It  has  cured,  "vertigo  on  quickly
turning the head and looking upward."
    Head —Confused and dull  feeling  in the head, which became
better  after eructation; determination of the  blood to the  head,
with whizzing in the ears,  and  a  transitory feeling of heat; then  a
sensation as if vomiting was about to take place, but instead of this
there succeeded slight cutting  drawings in the  abdomen, and then
a stool; heaviness in the head  ; pressing drawing in the forehead ;
pain of a short duration in  the  right side of the forehead, like a
pressing,  only while standing  still,  better while walking; at  the
same time a pain  deep in the ear; headache  as if the  forehead
would split, with chill and with  burning m the stomach; a pain
occurs  suddenly in  the interior angle of  the right eye, and thence
to the forehead ; about five  o'clock in the evening a severe quick-
 dartiug pain  in  the forehead  and temple on the right side, which 
372        NEW  HOMGEOPATIHC  PROVINGS.
 continued for about five minutes;  this  pain  re-appeared in the
 evening about seven o'clock; about  eleven o'clock at night a sud-
 den pain through the forehead, like an electric stroke, of short
 duration ; a  slowly-shooting pain in the forehead ; periodic stitches
 in the  left temple;  pain in all  the upper part of  the head ; in
 the abdomen, pain, like fulness; pain in the fore part of the head;
 pressing in the upper part of the  head, in the region of the anterior
 fontanelle, disappears while walking; boring pain  above, in the fore
 part of the head; severe pain above,  on all the left side of the head,
 especially in the eye; at the same time similar pains in the left foot;
 nausea, disposition to  vomit without  being able to do so;  then
 headache with rheumatic pains and stiffness in the limbs and neck;
 beating headache and  bitter vomiting; headache in the  evening,
 with tickling in the throat; headache, with chill;  headache,  with
 nausea  and chill, then flying heat from the head to the stomach;
 headache, with vertigo and pain in the ear;  the headache occurs
 paroxysmally; feeling as if the  head is drawn forward;  soreness
 of the scalp, on being  touched; feeling of looseness of the scalp on
the right side; sensation of looseness, and drawing in one side of the
scalp, on raising the eyes.
   Clinical  Remarks.—Dr.  Bute  found blood-root  curative in
headacheswith "distention of the temporal veins which were pain-
fully sensitive to the touch," also with " feeling of soreness on small
spots on the  head, especially  in  the temples."   Other physicans
have cured cephalalgias with " pains in the head, in rays drawing
upward from the neck."   Dr. Hering considers it homoeopathic to
the so-called North American  sick headache.  He has cured with
the high dilutions the following symptoms :   " Severe pains in the
head, with nausea, and vomiting, frequently with bilious vomiting,
in attacks, with hebdomadal or longer intervals, from very different
inducements, commonly beginning in  the morning, increasing in
violence through the day, only diminished  by lying quiet, and when
possible, by sleep." {Tran.  Amer. Ins. vol. 1.)   Dr. Hering  also
gives {New Archives, vol. 2, part 2, p 132,) the following indications
for Sanguinaria : " It is the best remedy in most cases of  Migrana
or sick headache.  Still, it must prove most useful  when  the attacks
occur paroxysmally, viz; every  week, or  at  longer intervals; or
when the pains begin in the morning, increase during the day, and
last till evening; when the head seems to feel that it must burst,
or as if the  eyes would be pressed  out, or when the pains are
diffging-, attended  with  sudden  piercing, throbbing lancinations
through the  brain, involving the forehead and top of the head in
particular, and being  most  severe on the  right side, followed by
chills, nausea, vomiting of food, or  bile, forcing the patient to lie
down and preserve the greatest quiet, as every motion  aggravates
the sufferings, which are only relieved by sleep.   Case  1.  A  man
was attacked with frightfully severe headache; the only relief he
could obtain  was from pressing the back of his  head  against the
head-board of the bed. An infusion of Rad. Sanguinaria removed
the headache permanently.   (Hering)  Case 2.—A lady suffered
with frequent and  severe attacks of headache,  with such sensitive- 
SANGUINARIA  CANADENSIS.           373
ness during the paroxysm, that no one  dared to walk across the
room.  Sanguinaria 6th, was given, but the first dose produced
such an aggravation that the patient became almost beside  herself;
after the  second dose, she fell into a pleasant sleep, from which she
awoke refreshed.  Dr. Helfrig always gave Aconite and Belladonna
during the paroxysm of sick headache, and used Sang, thirty, during
the interval, unless some other remedy was  more indicated.  {Ibid).
Many of  the symptoms  of Sanguinaria, are similar to those pains
which Inman discribes as belonging to Myalgic headaches; partic-
ularly  the  superficial sensitiveness, and  drawing pains.    Con-
gestions  of the head  are controlled by this medicine, when the
temporal veins  are  distended.  It  is  probable that it  is also
homoeopathic  to  some of  the varieties of Apoplexy.  Its known
carative  influence  over haemorrhage   from  congestions,  would
suggest  its use in Sanguineous apoplexy.  The symptoms would
seem to  imply  that venous   congestions  (if the  term  may  be
allowed)  are  most under the control of Sanguinaria.
    Face-—Feeling of fulness  in the face;  distention of the veins
of  the face, with  excessive  redness,  and a  feeling  of stiffness;
severe burning, heat  and redness of  the face ; paleness of the
face,  with  disposition  to  vomit;  twitching  of  the   cheeks,
towards  the eyes.
    Clinical Remarks.—It  has aaused the  following symptoms
when  occurring  during other affections:  " A red  cheek, with
burning of the ears;" "redness of the cheeks, with cough,"  "cheeks
and hands livid  in typhoid  pneumonia."   These symptoms are
also found  in the provings  of Phosphorus, Lycopod.,  Sulphur,
and Lacnanthes  tinctoria.                               * .
    Nose-—Heat in the nose;  smell in the nose like roasted onions;
dislike to  the smeli of syrup; much sneezing; fluid eoryza, with
frequent  sneezing;  severe  fluid  eoryza  in the  right  nostril;
watery,  acrid  eoryza, which  renders the  nose  sore;   copious
watering of the right eye;  the eye  painful, especially on being
touched; and soon  afterwards there  occurred a copious watery
discharge from the right nostril;  in the evening two diarrhoeic
stools, and  then  all the  symptoms  disappeared;  fluid   eoryza,
alternating  with  stoppage of the  nose.
    Clinical  Remarks.-No drug  so surely produces intense
irritation  of the  nasal  mucous   membrane,  when  inhaled,  as
the Sanguinaria.   Even its internal administration causes eoryza.
It  is not strange, therefore,  that  homoeopathists have found it
curative for acute  and chronic coryzas, also for " loss ot smeU.
It  has cured "Influenza,  with rawness in the  throat,   pam in
the breast, cough, and  finally, diarrhoea."  This last is a charac-
teristic  peculiarity  of the drug, and as many catarrhal affections
tend to  end in intestinal  irritation, or diarrhoea, the Sanguinaria
 should be remembered in each instance.  Dr. Barton  (allopathic;
 says  he has  "heard  of the application of the powdeyed^ root
to a  fungous  tumor  within  the  nostril,  with  the  effect of pro-
 ducing  detumescence, and bringing away frequently,  small pieces
 of  the   fungous,  which,  in the  first  instance,  impeded  tne 
 3 74        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

 progress  of the air  through  the nostril,  and was supposed  to
 bell  polypus."  Dr. Smith" (botanic) says:  "Applied to fungous
 flesh it proves escharotic, and  several  polypi of  the soft  kind
 were  cured by it.''  Dr.  Becker  (homceopathist)  states  that  a
 polypus of the nose  ceased to grow from the time  the powder
 of the  root was snuffed.   Several physicians of my acquaintance
 claim   to  have cured  nasal polypi  by  the internal  administra-
 tion of the tincture  of  blood-root.  It was  used in the  lower
 dilutions,  in some cases.   The  finely  powdered root forms one
 of the ingredients, of many, of the  " catarrh snuffs " sold  in the
 shops.   It is  often  used as  a  domestic remedy  for  chronic
 catarrhal  affections of the nose.   Dr. Powers, late  of Coldwater,
 Mich.,  was very  successful in the treatment of obstinate  nasal
 catarrhs,  and  ozena.  He  prescribed the  2d  trit.,  of blood-
 root, as  a <; snuff,''  to be forcibly inspired  up  the nose, and
 gave at the same time  Sanguinaria 3rd, or Nitric  acid, inter-
 nally.   It  has  cured  in my   hands,  many  cases  of  ulcerative
 ozam,  also  epistaxis.
   Eyes.—Pain in the  right  eye; pressing pain in the  left eye;
 stitch in the upper eyelid ;  watering and burning of the right eye,
 which is painful on being touched—then eoryza ;  feeling as if the
 eyes were affected by sour  smoke,  afternoons about two o'clock ;  in
 the afternoons dimness of the eyes, and  a feeling as if hairs were in
 them;  very great glimmering  before the eyes; diminished power
 of vision; dilation  of the pupils (by the  seeds).
   Clinical Remarks.—It is  homoeopathic to catarrhal ophthal-
 mia, granular lids, and  even ulcers on the cornea.  I once cured  a
 case oT the latter, very happily,  by the use of Sanguinaria 3rd.,
 internally and  topically.   The case had  proved' obstinate under
 ordinary treatment, and I bethought me of the beneficial effect  of
 blood-root in indolent ulcers.  A wash of about the strength of the
 third dilution was  prepared in distilled water, and  used as a col-
 lyrium.   Under its use the ulcers   healed in a week,  leaving but a
 slight opacity.
   Ears.—Beating under the ears  at irregular intervals, frequently
 only a couple of strokes ; * burning of the ears, with  redness of the
 cheeks ; pains in the ears, with  headache ; singing in the ears, with
 vertigo ; humming in the ears,  with determination of blood ; slow
 stitches in the left  ear during the  pain  in  the forehead ; beating-
 humming in the left ear; painful sensitiveness to sudden sounds ;a
 crackling in the right ear when  he  draws his fingers lightly over his
 right cheek; on the left side this is not the case.
   Jaws.—Stiffness of the jaws  ; pain in the upper teeth ; pain in a
hollow tooth, especially when touched by the food ; toothache from
 picking the teeth;  pain  in  one or  more of the incisor teeth, and  in
 a carious  molar tooth ; shooting  and thrilling pain in a carious
molar tooth of  the upper jaw,  which passes away gradually in that
form of pain which is often termed a " grumbling toothache ;" on
awaking, toothache in an upper carious tooth on the  right side,  at
the same time  headache in the same side;  the toothache is made
worse by cold water,  and  better by drinking warm drink;  pain  in 
SANGUINARIA  CANADENSIS.           375
a carious molar  after cold drinking, two mornings in succession ;
looseness of the teeth; salivation and looseness of  the teeth; he
supposes himself able to take them all out; spitting, with nausea;
feeling of dryness of the lips.
   Clinical Remarks.—Blood-root is useful in expulsive gingivitis,
in cases where the gums become very spongy,  bleeding,  and fun-
gous.
   Throat.—Feeling of dryness in the throat, not diminished by
drinking; heat in throat, alleviated by the inspiration of  cool air;
a  long-continuing  impression in the fauces;  a transitory,  but
marked sensation in the fauces, as if he  had swallowed something
acrimonious; burning in the fauces after eating sweet things;  burn-
ing in the oesophagus; a feeling in the throat  as if it were swollen
up, and would suffocate him, with pain in the throat when swallow-
ing, and with aphonia; in the evening a pain with a feeling of swel-
ling in the throat;  worse  on the right side, and most  perceptible
on°swallowing;  feeling of swelling in the throat when swallowing.
    Clinical Remarks.—Angina, in several  cases,  particularly  a
species of pharyngitis. Ulcerated sore throat.  I was once informed
by intelligent persons, that they  had  been permanently  cured of
recurring3quinsy with ulceration, by using a gargle  of blood-root.
Upon testing it in practice, I found it quite equal to Hepar sulphur
in its power of preventing attacks of tonsillitis  ; also in actual ulcer-
ations of the throat.  The lower dilutions were used.
    Month.—A prickling  sensation on the tongue and roof of the
 mouth, as*after chewing mezereum, but  slighter; crawling on the
 point of the tongue, after which an acerb feeling extends itself over
 the whole tongue, in  the morning on  awaking; prickling on the
 point of the tongue ;  tongue feels as if burned; a feeling ot dryness
 and rawness, as after acrid things; begins on the right side  of the
 toncrue, and spreads over the whole tongue, mornings on  awaking;
 •tongue sore; pains like a  b >il; stitches on the left side  of the
 tonoue; white-coated tongue, with loss  of appetite; loss ot appe-
 tite! with uncertain cravings; * increase of appetite; loss of smell
 and taste; a piece of sugar-cake tastes bitter, followed  by burning
 in the fauces; fatty taste  in the mouth ; slimy taste  in the mouth;
 disinclination for  butter,  which  leaves  a  disagreeable  after-taste ;
 dislike to the odor of syrup; craving for he knows not what, with
 loss of appetite;  craving  for piquant food.       >      .    ..nm
    Stomach.-Pressing in the stomach ; soreness in the epigastrium,
 a-giav™ted by eating; feeling of warmth and heat in the stomach;
 burning in the stomach from large doses; burning in the stomach
 with headache; jerking in the stomach,  as if from something alive
 Teat weakness  of digestion;  loss of  appetite; * strengthens the
 Stomach; excites the appetite, and aids digestion; Rafter eating
 a  feeling of  emptiness  in the  stomach; * inflammation of the

 St° Clinical REMARKS.-By reference to the " gastric symptoms"
 as we" as the above, it will  be  seen how closely the symptoms sim-
 ilate those of Arsenicum, Phosphorus, and Tartar emetic.  It wd
 cure,according to Dr.Tully, "atonic, sub-acute, and chronicinflam 
 376        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 mations of the stomach."   No remedy, however, is more decidedly
 homoeopathic to acute gastritis.  We have the terrible burning, the
 unquenchable thirst, the  pain, vomiting  and  prostration  which
 mark that disease.  In acute gastritis,  the sixth  or  thirtieth should
 be used.  In chronic gastritis, the lower dilutions may be as useful.
 It ought to be useful in xdceration of the stomach.
    Gastric Symptoms-—Severe nausea from large doses;  nausea as if
 vomiting  would succeed ; nausea after eating; nausea which is not
 diminished by vomiting; loss of appetite and periodic nausea ; nausea
 by stooping; nausea  with mnch  spitting;  extreme nausea  with
 great salivation ;  nausea, with flow of saliva, and constant spitting ;
 tono- continued nausea, with chill; nausea without vomiting, then
 headache; nausea  with headache,  with  chill  and heat;  nausea
 before  the nettle rash ; heartburn and nausea;  regurgitation and
 disposition to vomit; flatulent eructation ;  spasmodic eructation of
 flatus;  hiccough while smoking tobacco; frequent flatulent eructa-
 tions of unpleasant  odor, with disposition to vomit,  and  paleness of
 face ; after the eructation of flatus, the dullness of the head becomes
 better.  Vomiting with severe, painful  burning in the stomach, and
 intense  thirst; many  unpleasant  feelings previous to vomiting;
 before vomiting, great anxiety ;  before vomiting, slight  pressure to
 stool; vomiting of  bitter water; bitter vomiting, with  headache;
 vomiting,  with craving to eat in order  to quiet the nausea; vomit-
 ing and diarrhoea;  causes vomiting, without nausea or  perceptible
 weakness.
    Clinical Remarks.—Blood-root is fully indicated for nausea or
 vomiting from irritation of the coats of the stomach.  Allopathists
 have cured vomiting of food and bilious vomiting with small  doses
 of the tincture. It is doubtless homoeopathic to many functional and
 organic  diseases of the stomach, and I would suggest its use in gas-
 tric disorders not  amenable to the ordinary remedies.   Dr. F. W.
 Hunt in an article  on  " Dyspepsia, or  Diseases  of the  Stomach,"
 (U. S. Journal of Homoeopathy, vol. i. p. 190,) thus speaks of the
virtues of Sanguinaria canadensis :  " This is one of the most import-
ant remedies  for various  diseases of the stomach, throat,  liver,
lungs, etc.   In almost every form of  indigestion,  for many years, it
 has given  me satisfactory results.   It is especially useful  in deficient
 gastric secretion,  with  loss of appetite and  periodic nausea; heart-
 burn, nausea, and irregular chills ; torpid state of the liver ; dyspep-
 tic  headache, terminating by regurgitation, and vomiting of bitter,
 greenish fluids; soreness in the abdomen, increased by eating; feel-
 ing of heat in the  stomach; chronic gastritis; red tongue, which
 burns as if from contact with something hot;  lips red and dry;
 throat  hot and dry ; tickling at the entrance of the larynx, which
 excites cough ; cough peculiarly severe, not relieved by expectora-
 tion, with pain  in  the chest and redness of the cheeks.   When
 digestion  is imperfect from deficiency of the true gastric fluid ;
 when the food undergoes chemical decomposition, and gas is evolved
 in large quantities,  Sanguinaria will  generally change the action of
 the stomach,  and  digestion becomes  more complete.   When the 
SANGUINARIA  CANADENSIS.           377
mucous membrane is congested, the flatus formed by fermentation
is retained by a spasmodic constriction of the cardia.  Its irritation
is reflected through the pneumogastric nerve upon the lungs, excit-
ing a feeling of' tickling ' in the entrance of the trachea, with sym-
pathetic cough.  This peculiar, dry cough  does not yield  to expec-
torants, but often persists for hours, and is only relieved by eructa-
tions.   Aromatics and stimulants fail to expel the gas:  they only-
increase the erethism of  the coats of the stomach.  The  Sangui-
naria affords a better resource.   It not only relaxes the constricted
cardia, permitting the flatus to escape, but excites a healthy, hom-
oeopathic reaction on the  whole surface of the fauces, oesophagus,
and stomach, superseding the morbid state by a healthy one.  Dr.
Coe and  others (allopathists) caution against the use of blood-root
when there exists " gastritis and enteritis, and Whenever we have
occasion to suspect ulceration or abrasion  of the mucous surfaces of
the bowels."  This caution suggests to the homoeopathist that the
medicine will cure such conditions, if administered in dynamic
 doses.
    Abdomen.—Severe  and continual pain in the  hypochondria;
 vertigo and debility; *pain in the left hypochondrium, worse  by
 coughing, better by pressure and lying on the left side ;  diseases of
 the liver;  torpor  and atony  of the liver; inflammation of the
 abdominal  viscera; hot  streamings  from the breast  towards the
 liver; beating in  the abdomen; cramps in the  abdomen, which
 passes from one place to another ; sensation as if hot water poured
 itself from the  breast into the abdomen, folio wed by diarrhoea;
 discharges of flatus upwards and downwards by raising  himself up
 on account of the cough, which then ceases; bellyache; paroxysmal
 pain in  the  abdomen ; slight   cutting  drawings in the abdomen;
 colic, with torpor of the liver ; in the night digging pain in  the
 sacrum;  an hour after taking it severe  cutting pain in the bowels,
 followed by a single watery stool;  in the morning, colicky pain in
 the upper part of the abdomen, and then a diarrhoeic stool.
     Clinical  Remarks.—Eclectic  physicians claim  that Sangui-
 naria has a specific action on the liver.  The hepatic  symptoms in
 this proving  were  collected   from  allopathic sources.—{Barton
  McBride and Tully).  It is doubtful if they should  have a place in
  the  proving  at all, as by reference  to the original, (Trans. Amer.
  Ins.) it will be seen that they  were  mere assertions  of the above
  named physicians,  and not pathogenetic symptoms   It may  not
  be amiss,  however,  to  quote the statements of eclectics on  this
  point.   King says it has been used successfully in «jaundice,  and
  other  hepatic affections.  In  torpid conditions of the liver  it is
  very valuable."   Jones asserts that  it " arouses the liver and glan-
  dular  system in general."  Coe admires it in " all cases of hepa.10
  torpor, jaundice, biliary concretions, chronic hepatitis, etc.    ine
  first cuVative symptom above  noted would  seem to point; to the
  spleen as the diseased organ, although it may have been  the long,
  or even a myalgic affection,  accompanied with cough.  It. 1   saitt
  to have  cared "indurations of the abdomen," but no details are
48 
37S       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 given, nor the name of the  observer, and consequently we are at a
 loss to know their character.
     Stool-—Pressure to stool without evacuation, with the sensation
 of a mass in the lower part of the rectum ; this sensation  recurred
 frequently during the  day, without stool; inoperative  pressure  to
 stool, then vomiting; feeling to pressure to stool; in the  afternoon
 frequent pressure to stool, but only  discharges of flatus;  frequent
 discharges of very offensive flatus;  in  the morning a hard stool;
 diarrhceic  stools with great flatulence; purging; after cutting pains,
 stools; after severe  pains, stool  like water;  diarrhoea in the even-
 ing, with disappearance  of the eoryza  and  catarrh;  diarrhoea
 terminated the pain in the breast; dysentery;  the  food  passes
 away undigested in the stool; five natural stools in the day; two
 small but  not fluid stools the first day; the  first  days the stools
 more laxative and frequent, afterwards rather costive; hemorrhoids,
 a twisting  pain on the left side above the groin, equi-distant from
 the symphysis pubis, and the crest of the  ilium; worse whilst sit-
 ting, standing,  or bending  towards  the right side, increased by
 pmsure;  better whilst walking erect; afterwards this pain passed
 towards the  hip,  around and upwards until it  reached posteriorly
 on the short  ribs and remained peculiarly sensible  by bending to
 the  right.
    Clinical Remarks.—The blood-root  does not generally purge
 unless given  in large doses, hence it will  not be  found  often indica-
 ted  in diarrhea.   There  is  one variety of diarrhoea, however, in
 which it has been found curative, by Dr. Bute, namely :  " With
 the  diarrhoea, termination of the  eoryza  and catarrh,'' also, "The
 affection of the breast always ended with the feeling as if hot water
 w.ere poured  from the chest into the abdomen, which was followed
 by diarrheic stool."  The "Dysentery," marked as curative in the
 original proving, is merely an observation of Rafinesque, (botanist).
 Some dysenteric  symptoms, however, are found in the pathogene-
 sis, which may be made use of.  Dr. Bute asserts its curative power
 in hemorrhoids, but gives  no  special indications, nor do we find any
 in the proving.  The last symptoms under " Stool," would seem to
 be misplaced. It  denotes either an affection of the left ovary, or
 was  simply a  myalgic pain.  (Take it  all  in all, the so-called prov-
 ing  of  Sanguinaria, as made up for the  " Transactions  of the
 American Institute," cannot be considered  a commendable  produc-
 tion. Some  of  the  most notable of the  svmptoms marked  *
 (curative) were the mere assertions,  or theoretic   deductions of
 allopathic observers, not verified hy  homoeopathic  physicians.   I
 would  advise the  student  or physician,  before  he attempts to use
 this  drug upon the information obtained  in that proving, to study
 the original, and judge of its merits for himself.)
   Urine-—*Frequent urination, also  at night; large and  frequent
discharges of urine,as clear as water; frequent and copious^noctur-
nal urination ; seminal  emissions during  sleep,  two nights in suc-
cession, after  which he feels very well; gonorrhoea
   Clinical  Remarks.—The first curative  svmptoms  belonged
originally to  the  following group reported  curedTy Dr.  Bute, 
SANGUINARIA  CANADENSIS.           379
namely:   " In a lady, pain in  the left hypochondria, which was
rendered worse by coughing, but was better from being pressed,
and  by  lying  on  the  left  side ; very copious  irritation  at
night."  The whole  group of symptoms may have been of renal
origin.  According to Dr. Coe,  Sanguinaria is very useful in many
functional  disorder of the kidneys.  Our provings are, however,
too meagre to give us  any clue  to its action on those organs.  I
cannot ascertain who reported the curative observation  "  Gonor-
rhea."  Dr. Coe  advises it  for chancras, buboes,  secondary and
tertiary syphilis, but says nothing of its use in gonorrhoea, nor does
any  other  writer.  I can  readily  imagine it might be useful in
phagadenic chancre, used internally and as a topical application.
   Generative  Organs  of Women-—Abdominal pains, as  if the
menses would  appear; abdominal pain the whole  night, like the
menstrual; at times it increases menstruation; the menses  appear
a week too early, with  a discharge  of black blood ;  abortion on
account of too strong operation on the uterus; causes uterine hem-
orrhage ;  amenorrhoea ; the menses appear at the proper time, but
 still much more freely than at other times, with less pain and weak-
 ness in the sacrum, but with pain in the right side of the head and
 forehead, and a feeling as if the eyes would be pressed out of the
 head, worse on the  right side.                     ....    A
    Clinical  Remarks.—Rafinesque used it successfully in Amen-
 orrhea.   Dr.   O'Connor,  (allopathist),  writes:—"For  the last
 twelve years I have used  the  tincture  of Sanguinaria exclusively,
 in the treatment of amenorrhea, and have recommended it to others,
 who speak favorable of its effects.  In  that time I have treated as
 many cases of this  disease, as usually falls to the lot of a village
 practitioner,  and, as  yet, have  no  cause to find  fault with the
 efficiency  of the remedy.  I consider it superior to Eberle's great
 remedy, the tincture Polygonum  hydropiper.  I commence a tort-
 night before the expected return of the menses, and give teaspoon-
 ful doses of the tincture three  times  a day, and a teaspoonful  on
 going to bed (preceded by a warm foot-bath).  If the secretion is not
 festered  at the time, I remit the use of the remedy for a fortnight
 and proceed as before.  When the full  effect of the remedy is
 produced, it is characterized by slight nausea, pains  m the loins,
 extending through the hypogastric  and iliac regions  as;wellas
 down the thighs.  These symptoms sometimes manifest thenuelyes
 once or  twice before the discharge is completely  established  -
  {Cin. Lancet and Observer.)   The symptoms which I have  paced
  in italics are  worthy of being noticed, as purely P^ogenet c  I
  esteem the blood-root  a  good remedy  in  suppressed rnenses,hnt
  chiefly indicated  when  the  suppression, has been followed^or pre-
  ceded by  pulmonary disease.   Its usemsuch cases has  general y
  been attended.with good results.  . Dr. Mil er, W^bf™"  m
  dysmenorrhea, when occurring  in torpid subjects, bu  says^ it,n
  "contra-indicated in patients of plethoric habit." ^*"^™™£
  to us that it would be useful in dynamic doses  ™J/?™™*^
  when menses too frequent in such patients, when there s a  ^ency
  to congestion of the brain or lungs.  It is homeopathic to threatened 
380        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

abortion,  when  the symptoms mentioned by Dr.  O'Connor are
present, accompanied with some hemorrhage.  It is^ used for  this
criminal purpose in  domestic practice, and  by unprincipled  physi-
cians.  Dr. Bute reports the following case  cured with the blood-
root,  " a female who had distention of the abdomen  in the evening,
and flatulent discharges per vaginum, from the os uteri, which was
constantly open, at the same time a pain passing in  rays from the
nape  of the neck  to the head."  This was probably  an instance of
that  rare disease in  which the  lining membrane  of the uterus
secretes a gas.  Dr. Bute also reports cases of affections of women at
the climacteric period, characterized by "burning of  the palm of the
hands and soles of the feet, compelling her to throw  the bed clothes
off the feet for the purpose of cooling them."  Used internally and
topically, (by injection), it  has cured ulcerations of the  os  uteri,
corrosive and foetid  leucorrhoea, and polypi of the uterus.
    Catarrhal Symptoms.—Much sneezing; fluid eoryza, with frequent
sneezing; severe fluid  eoryza in  the right  nostril; watery, acrid
eoryza, which renders the nose sore ;  copious watering of the right
eye;  the  eye  painful,  especially on being touched;  and  soon
afterwards there  occurred a  copious watery discharge from  the
right  nostril; in the evening two diarrhoeic stools, and then all the
symptoms  disappeared, (five  hours after taking it);  fluid eoryza
alternating with  stoppage of  the  nose;  aphonia, with  swelling
in the throat; tickling irritation to cough; influenza; eoryza;
rawness in the  throat;  pain in  the  breast; cough, and finally
diarrhoea.
   Respiratory Organs.—Slight  cough,  especially whilst eating;
tickling in the  throat  in  the  evening, with slight cough and
headache;  a slight cough from  tickling  in the  throat,  many
evenings  after lying  down; a  dry cough,  awakening him from
sleep, which will not cease until he sat upright in bed, and  flatus
was discharged both upwards and downwards; *chronic dryness in
the throat, and sensation of swelling in the  larynx,  and expectora-
tion of thick mucus.— {Dr, Neidhard)   *Continued severe cough,
without expectoration, with pain  in the breast, and  circumscribed
redness of the cheeks.—{Dr. Burt)  *Feels stronger and freer in
the breast in the  mornings,  and in  the  afternoon, and in  the
evening the customary dyspnoea  does not appear.—{Dr. Husman)
A hot, burning, streaming  in the  right  breast,  begins under the
right  arm and clavicle, and draws itself downwards  towards the
region of the  liver, (afternoon  of the  third  day,) acute stitches
in the right breast in the region of the  nipple.
   Clinical Remarks.—Sanguinaria has always had  an  extensive
regulation in the cure of coughs.   The  aborigines of the Eastern
States often   astonished  the  early settlers by the  cures  they
effected with this  remedy. It  is said that the most  obstinate
coughs disappeared  during  the  use   of  the  blood-root.   The
physicians  of  an early day seem to have  used blood-root more
frequently  than   their successors.  Rafinesque, Barton, Tully  and
others, all assert its great curative power in  many varieties of
cough.   1 hey even assert  its power to cure pulmonary  consump- 
SANGUINARIA  CANADENSIS.           381
tion.  Besides  the  above  curative  symptoms the  following  are
reported:  "Cough, with  eoryza;  then diarrhoea;"  "tormenting
cough,  with  expectoration  and  circumscribed  redness  of  the
cheeks."   Several  instances  have  come  under  my  observation,
where the blood root really appeared  to  cure phthisis.
   Breast.—Whooping  cough; hydro-thorax,  (a);  asthma,  (a);
pneumonia, (a); typhoid pneumonia, with very difficult respiration,
cheeks  and hands  livid, pulse full, soft, vibrating and easily com-
pressed, (a); diseases  of the  lungs, (a); pain  in  the  breast, with
periodic cough, (h); pain in the breast, with cough and expectora-
tion,  (h); pain  in the breast with  dry cough, (h);  burning  and
pressing  in the breast, then  heat through the abdomen, with
diarrhoea, (h) ;  slowly shooting pain in  the right side of the chest
about the  seventh  rib; acute  stitch in the right breast; slowly
shooting pain in the left side of the chest near  the axilla;  stitches
from the  lower part  of the left breast to the shoulder; pressing
pain in the region of the heart; stitches in the left side in the region
of the  short  ribs, by moving and turning the  body;  continued
pressure and heaviness in the  whole of the upper part of the chest,
with difficulty of breathing ;  slowly shooting  pain under  sternum
numb pain  the whole length of the scapula, along the inner edges,
which is also increased by breathing; pressing pain  in the breast
 and back;  palpitation of the heart,  from  immoderate doses, with
 great weakness; stitches in both  breasts;  severe  soreness  under
the  right nipple, aggravated by being touched; the nipples are
 sore and painful.
    Clinical Remarks.—The "curative" symptoms  above, which
 are designated (a) are  from allopathic  sources; (h) from  homoeo-
 pathic sources.  Eclectic physicians use  it in thoracic diseases where
 the allopath censiders Tartar emetic indicated. In this they are not
 far  from  the  truth.   Sanguinaria,  in affections of the  lungs,
 occupies a place midway between  Phosphorus and Tartar emetic
 It has  many symptoms in  common with both, and others possessed
 by neither.  I have  used  the blood-root  for many years  in bron-
 chitis,  pneumonia,  and other diseases of the respiratory organs,
 and  have obtained  from it some very  satisfactory results.   In the
 massive doses of the old school given to nausea and emesis,  it  was
 productive  of great  injury, but  in  dynamic  doses its use is
 never attended with any aggravations; a few drops of the mother
 tincture maybe used in some chronic  affections of the pulmonary
 organs, while  in acute diseases, with a high grade of irritation
 the 30th is the safest and best  attenuation.   In the majority of
 cases of  pneumonia, there occurs a group of  symptoms for which
 we have generally  used phosphorus or  sulphur, with good results,
 although  the  convalescence  under  those remedies  is  apt to De
 lino-ering.   But when  those  symptoms and conditions  are  met
 with, under Sanguinaria,  2nd  dil.  (decimal), or Sanguinarin  4th
 trit., a rapid  subsidence  of  the diseased  action occurs. At the
 second, and during  the existence of the third stage of the inflam-
 mation,  we have  as  physical _ signs:  dullness  on F  «J
 bronchial  respiration, etc., denoting the  presence of red, or  even 
382        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

gray  hepatization,  and  purulent  infiltration  of the  pulmonary
parenchyma. Watson considers it doubtful whether recoveries take
place from the third stage of pneumonia ; but under homoeopathic
treatment, I do not believe such recoveries impossible. The general
symptoms indicating Sanguinaria  are extreme  dyspnoea, short,
accelerated, constrained  breathing, the speech  ceases to be  free,
the  sputa becomes tenacious, rust-colored,  and  is  expectorated
with  much  difficulty.  The  position  of the patient  is upon  the
back ; there is not much pain in the chest, unless the  pleura  are
involved, and  then it is of  a burning, stitching character.  The
pulse is quick and  small—the face and  extremities inclined to be
cold,  or  the  hands and feet burning hot, with circumscribed
redness and burning heat of  the cheeks, especially in the afternoon.
Under the use of this remedy, the dyspnoea subsides, the bronchial
breathing disappears, we hear afresh  the  small crepitation, and
first, alone, then mixed with the natural  respiratory murmur, which
in its turn becomes alone audible.  The sputa  becomes again less
tenacious, less red and yellow, and more like the expectoration of
catarrh, and is expectorated  in large,  heavy masses;  the  febrile
symptoms gradually abate, and a favorable  convalescence  is estab-
lished.  I give the  medicine every two hours, generally alone, but
occasionally in alternation with Phosphorus or Tartar  emetic.  In
its power over  chronic, bronchial or laryngeal coughs,  it rivals
Lycopodium and Sulphur.   It relieves, and  often cures,  " coughs
with chronic dryness in the throat, and sensation of swelling in
the larynx ; continual severe cough  without expectoration, with
pain in the breast, and circumscribed  redness of the cheeks;"
" cough, with  eoryza, then  diarrhoea.''   This last symptom is an
important indication for the  use  of Sanguinaria. After a  severe
cold,  or undue  exposure, some persons  are  attacked  with eoryza,
catarrhal  headache,  severe  pains in  the  chest, with tightness
of breathing,  and  dry  harrassing cough, all  of which  subsides
upon  the recurrence  of diarrhoea.  In  such cases Sanguinaria is
eminently indicated, as  it causes a  similar  group of  symptoms.
Dr. Morrow praises it very  highly in  hemoptysis.   In one  case
which  came under my observation it seemed  to  correct the
bleeding, promptly.  Cases have been reported  to me,  where the
tincture of blood-root, cured  spitting of blood,  which had resisted
other means.  It  will undoubtedly be found useful in  some cases
of Asthma, Croup,  Larygnitis, and perhaps Pleurisy,  but we have
no homoeopathic testimony of its effects in those diseases.
   Back.—Pain  in  the nape  of the neck;  soreness of  the nape of
the neck on being touched ;  pain in the left side of the  nape of the
neck; pain in the right side of the neck, as if sprained; stiffness of
the  nape of the neck;  pain in the back; pain in the sacrum and
bowels—(Dr. Bute); *pain in the sacrum from  lifting;  pain in the
sacrum, which is alleviated  by bending forward ; rheumatic pains
in the nape of the neck,  shoulders and  arms; pain in  both shoul-
ders; severe pains in the left shoulder, in the evenings;  pain under
the  sholder-blade,  with chill; pain from  the  left°breast  to  the
shoulder: rheumatic pain in the right shoulder, worse  in the fore- 
SANGUINARIA   CANADENSIS.          383
noon  when she has retained the arm for a long time in the same
position, drawing itself downwards to the elbow; pain on the top
of the  right shoulder;  sudden rheumatic  pains in the shoulder
joints ;  in the upper part  of the shoulder joint, severe pain on every
motion ; * rheumatic pain in the right arm and shoulder, worse at
night, in bed ; cannot raise the arm,—(Dr. Bute); * pain in the right
shoulder, and in the upper part of the right arm, worse at night on
turning in bed.—(Dr. Jeanes).
   Clinical  Remarks.—Nearly  all the symptoms of the back,
etc., are purely myalgic, and  are easily mistaken for rheumatism;
in prescribing this medicine, this distinction should be made.   The
curative symptoms  appear to have been  rheumatic,  all but the
 " pain in  the sacrum from lifting."
    Superior Extremities-—Rheumatic pains in the arms and hands;
 rheumatic pains in the right  forearm, in the evening; severe pain
 in the hand, with aching in the arm when lying  quiet and warm in
 bed ; it is al o often felt  in the left foot, now above,  then  in the
 instep, and  then in the  toes; in the  right palm  near the index
 finger, a  severe pain as from  a boil;  * burning of the palms red-
 ness of the hands,  and  severe burning; *lividity of the hands in
 pneumonia; numb pain  in the ball of the right  thumb; cutting
 pain on the left joint of the  left middle finger;  sticking in the
 point of  the right small finger; stiffness of the finger joints; pam,
 as from a boil, at the root of the  right thumb nail,  then in  the left,
 from this to all the fingers, one after another, from the thumb to
 the small finger,  alike on both hands; * ulceration of the roots of
 the nails  on all  the fingers of both hands.               _
     Inferior Extremities.—Rheumatic pain  in the left hip; pain as
 from a bruise in the  left hip joint, whilst walking, but worse on
 rising from a seat;  * a rheumatic pain on the inside of the  right
 thigh; * a bruise-like  pain in  the thigh, alternating,  with burning
  and pressure in the breast;   * stiffness of the knees; stiffness and
  tightness in the  bend  and sides of the knees; cramp and pain in
  the calf of the left leg;  drawing in the calves and  into the instep
  worse right than left; sticking .pain in the right  ankle; conunual
  stitches under the right exterior ankle bone, as from the stmg of a
  bee; pain in the left-foot, with  headache  and during the pain _in
  the right  arm; sticking  as  from  a needle  in the instep, in the
  morning in bed and in  tiie afternoon ; coldness of  the fee;; *burn
  ing in the soles of the  feet,  worse at night;  burning of the hands
  and feet  in the night; pain  in the corns; great  weakness of the
  Lbs, with pains in the  sacrum whilst walking; * acute swelling of
  the joints of extremities.                            . nnmmatnvxr
     LimbS.-Rheumatic pains in the  limbs;  acute,  inflammatory
  and arthritic  rheumatism;  acute swelling  of  the  joints  of  the
  extremities; stiffness of the  limbs and rheumatic  P™. ™£ h^
  acbe; pain in those places where the bones are least coveied wrth
  flesh  but not in the joints;  on touching the painful  part, the pain
  immediately vanished and appeared in some other  part
      Clinical REMARKS.-Tne clinical symptoms above, ««""»"£
  from homoeopathic  sources.  The physician  can draw his own
  deductions from them. 
384       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
          SARBACENIA  PURPUREA.
                        {Huntsman's Cup.)

    A perennial plant, indigenous to the United  States, with leaves
 of  a singular character.  The  curious pitcher-shaped  leaves " are
 usually half filled with water and drowned insects; the inner face
 of  the hood is clothed with stiff bristles pointing downward.'?   Dr.
 C.  H. Cleaveland, of Cincinnati {Journal  of Rational Medicine),
 says:  "Of  the  Sarracenia,  there  are several varieties.  As  long
 since as the  writer's earliest recollection, an aged female living near
 his  father's residence, was famous for the syrup which she made for
 the cure of chlorosis and other  derangements of the uterine organs,
 and for the relief of dyspepsia and other gastric difficulties.  Not
 all  the ingredients of the syrup were made  known to those who
 purchased of her;  but, after a time, it was discovered that it owed
all its active properties to the Sarracenia, with perhaps the mucilage
 of  the Osmundia regalis.  Within the last five years, I have again
 had my attention called to the  side-saddle plant,  from learning that
 it was used by a Canadian French  doctor as a regulator of uterine
 derangement; and, for several years, I have, with satisfactory suc-
 cess, prescribed it in many  cases of gastric disease, in the form of
 an  infusion,  or in that of a syrup, made from the leaf or the root.
 During the year 1847, Dr. F. P. Porcher, of South Carolina, experi-
mented with the root, or that  portion of the stem which is below
the  surface of the  ground.   He. thinks the  bitter  and astringent
 principles of the plant are imperfectly extracted by w?ter, and  that
 the decoction is even more  destitute  of these properties  than the
 cold infusion.  He made  trial of the  root, in a recent state, as  well
 as of the dried root, on his own person, and gives the following, as
 the  result of one of his experiments :  ' Dec. 4th.—We again com-
menced experimenting with it.  It had become dry, having been
 rolled into pills of three grains each.  Of. these we took sixty  (180
grs.) between ten and  twelve  o'clock p. m., upon a comparatively
empty stomach, swallowing  them at intervals, six or eight at a time.
Its  diuretic  action in this  instance was frequently repeated, the
 secretion being increased in quantity—pure, limpid, and colorless,
 with scarcely any sediment after several hours' standing.   Its action
 on the stomach resembled that following its first employment, being
 attended with the same phenomena.  A feeling of emptiness  was
 produced in the course  of  an hour. After  retiring to  bed, the
whole abdominal region  was  in a state of commotion, extending
 along the track of the ascending and descending  colon, all of which
appeared to participate in a kind of rolling motion produced by it.
To  these were added involuntary rumbling sounds, as if the entire
 alimentary tube was  stimulated,  and  apparently  forewarning a
cathartic effect.  We are led to believe that its astringent property
prevented this result.  There was, also, tenderness on pressure of
the  epigastrium. The feeling  of congestion about the  head,  with
irregularity  of the heart's action, which lasted  several  days, was 
SARRACENIA  PURPUREA.
385
again observed.  Before  morning, the pulse rose to  100 by the
watch, resuming its usual frequency after a time.  We were pre-
vented by sleep, which was much disturbed, from ascertaining posi-
tively the co-existence of strange impressions on the sensorial func-
tions.  The general vigor of the digestive apparatus was increased.
The appetite following, the next day, was unusually active, seeming
to demand much more to satisfy its requirements; but  there  was a
Bense of  pain about the stomach like that following inflammation,
or that felt in the muscular tissue after a limb has been overtasked.'
In the first experiment, in which  Dr. Porcher  took 140 grains  of
the fresh root, the symptoms  produced were very similar to those
detailed  in the above quotation, pointing distinctly to the parts of
the system influenced  by the drug;  namely, the gastric filaments
of the ganglionic or organic system of nerves.   This  produced an
increased action of the circulatory system, and drove the  blood  to
the head.  It also increased  the peristaltic motion of the  entire
alimentary canal, and promoted the renal and other glandular secre-
tions, without any apparent effect upon the nerves of  animal life.
As the experiments of  Dr. Porcher  are  directly  corroborative  of
those made by the writer, and  confirmatory of the utility of the
plant in all cases where  there is a sluggish  or torpid condition of
the stomach, the intestines, the liver, the kidneys, or the uterus—
producing costiveness, dyspepsia, amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhcea, and
the various functional  derangements which are so commonly to  be
met with—it must  be evident that  this plant possesses valuable
properties, which render it well worthy the attention of the enlight-
 ened practitioner.  Within the past year, several articles have been
 published  m regard to it, of such a nature as  to attract  consid-
erable attention ;  and, although  some of the statements made  in
regard to it are certainly erroneous, and others may prove to  be too
 strong and  positive, it  seems  entirely proper to place them  on
 record, and in the way of repeated and thorough tests.''
    The Am. Medical Times  has the  following letter by Fred. W.
 Morris, M. D., Resident  Physician of the Halifax Visiting Dispen-
 sary : "Sir—You have by this time, in all probability, heard some-
 thing of an  extraordinary discovery for  the cure of small-pox,  by
 the use of ' Sarracenia  purpurea,' or Indian cup, a native plant of
 Nova Scotia.  I would beg  of you, however, to give full publicity
 to the astonishing fact, that this same humble bog-plant of Nova
 Scotia is the remedy for small-pox, in all its forms, in twelve hours
 after the patient has taken the medicine.   It is also as curious as it
 is wonderful that, however alarming and numerous the eruptions,
 or confluent and frightful they may  be, the  peculiar action  of the
 medicine is such that very seldom is  a scar  left to tell  the story of
 the disease.   I will not enter upon a  physiological analysis now ; it
 will be sufficient for my purpose to state, that it cures the  disease
 as no other medicine does—not by stimulating functional re-agency,
 but by actual contact  with the  virus in the blood,  rendering it
 inert  and  harmless ;  and  this  I  gather from the  fact  that  if
 either the vaccine or variolous matter be washed with the infusion
 of the Sarracenia, they are deprived of their contagious properties.
        49 
NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
 The medicine, at the same time, is so mild to the taste, that it may
 be mixed largely with tea or  coffee, as I have done, and given  to
 connoisseurs in  these  beverages  to drink,  without their  being
 aware of the admixture.  Strange,  however, to say, it is scarcely
 two years since science and the medical world were utterly ignorant
 of this great boon of Providence;  and it would be dishonorable  in
 me not to acknowledge that had it not been for the discretion  of
 Mr. John Thomas Lane, of Lanespark, County Tipperary, Irelnnd,
 late of Her Majesty's Imperial  Customs of Nova Scotia, to whom
 the Mec-Mac Indians had given the plant, the world would not now
 be in possession of the secret.  No medical man before me had ever
 put this medicine upon trial, but in 1861, when the whole Province
 of Nova Scotia was in a panic, and patients were dying at the rate
 of twelve and a half per cent., from May to August, Mr. Lane,  in
 the month of May, placed the  ' Sarracenia '  in my hands to decide
 upon its merits;  and, after my trials then and  since, I  have  been
 convinced of its astonishing efficacy.  The only functional influence
 it  seemfc to  have, is  in promoting  the flow of  urine, which  soon
 becomes limpid  and abundant, and  this is owing  perhaps to the
 defecated poison or changed virus  of the disease exclusively escap-
ing  through that channel. The  'Sarracenia,'  I have  reason to
believe  a powerful  antidote  for  all  contagious  diseases, lepra,
measles,  varicella, plague,  contagious  typhus, and even syphilis,
 also a  remedy in  jaundice.   I am  strongly inclined to think  it
 will one day play an important part in all these.''
   Report  by Dr. Herbert Miles,  of the British  army:—"Early
in the last winter a small  coasting  vessel landed a portion  of her
crew at an obscure seaboard village a few miles from Halifax, N. S.
These  persons were sick with  small-pox,  and  the disease  soon
spread, first  among the cottagers, with whom  the fishermen mixed,
and subsequently among those from the capital, who resorted to the
village for purposes of trade.   Through the early weeks  of  spring,
rumor constantly asserted that  vast numbers of the seafaring popu-
lation were attacked with the complaint;  but it was not  until early
in March that the large Civil Hospital of Halifax,  by the number
of its weekly admissions for variola, began  to corroborate rumor,
and to authenticate the justice of public  anxiety.  The  disease, in
process of time, extended  to  the  troops in the garrison, but the
proportion of attacks to those among the civil population, was singu-
larly small.  While certain  portions of the  inhabitants  of Halifax
were suffering from the epidemic, alarming accounts reached that
place, relative  to  the terrible ravages of the scourge  among the
Indians, and colored people generally. Variola is the special plague
of the Indians ;  and when they are  invaded  by this pestilence,  it
sweeps them off by scores.  Like the fire of the prairies, it passes
over their encamping grounds,  destroying all of human kind in its
path. On this occasion the most painful details were given of whole
families being carried  off by this loathsome disease.  After some
time, however, it was  said that the pestilence  had been  stayed.
One of the Indian race, it was asserted, had come into the disease-
stricken camp, possessed of a preparation which had the extraordi- 
SARRACENIA  PURPUREA.
ss^
nary power of curing the kind of cases that had hitherto proved so
fatal.   This remedy was believed  by the Indians to be so effica-
cious, that if  given to them when attacked with small-pox, they
looked forward with confidence to  a speedy and effectual cure.  An
old weird Indian woman was the fortunate possessor of the remedy
in question.  She had always been known as the Doctress  of her
tribe, arfd  had enjoyed celebrity for many years in consequence of
her reputed  knowledge  of Medicine, and wonderful acquaintance
with the herbs and roots of the woods.  So well established  was
her fame among the Indians, that when sick they resorted  to her
in preference to the white  doctors,  whom  they considered to be
'No  good.'   Captain Hardy, of the Royal Artillery,  an  accom-
plished and intelligent officer, who has been for years among the
Indians, says that  ' the old squaw's remedy  had long been known
to them  as an infallible  cure for small-pox,'  and that 'the Indians
believe it  to be successful in every case.'   From the information
gathered from the Indians,  the following  observations have been
carefully sifted :  1. In the case of an individual suspected to be
under the influence of small-pox, but with no distinct eruption upon
him, a  wine-glassful of an infusion of  the plant, * Sarracenia pur-
purea,' or pitcher-plant is to be taken.   The effect of this dose is to
bring out the eruption.  After  a  second and third dose, given at
intervals of from four to six hours, the pustules subside,  apparently
losing their vitality. The patient  feels  better at the end of each
dose, and in the graphic expression of the 'Mec-Mac,' 'knows there
is a change within him at once.'   2. In a subject already covered
with the eruption of  small-pox in the early stage, a dose or two
will dissipate the pustules, and subdue the febrile symptoms.  The
urine from being scanty  and  high-colored becomes pale and abund-
ant, whilst from the first dose the feelings of the patient assure hini
that' the medicine is  killing the disease.'  Under the influence of
the remedy, in three or four  days  the prominent  symptoms  of the
constitutional  disturbance  subside,  although  as  a precautionary
measure, the sick  person is  kept in the camp until  the ninth day.
No marks of the  eruption (as regards pitting, etc.,) have been left
in cases examined, if treated by the remedy.  3. With regard to
the  medicine acting  (as is  believed by  the Indians) in the way
 of a preventive, in  those  exposed  to infection, it  is  curious
to note, that in  the  camps where the remedy  has  been used,
the   people  keep  a  weak  infusion  of the  plant  prepared and
take  a  dose  occasionally  during  the  day,  so  as  to    keep
 the  antidote  in the blood.'"                         .
    We find  also that  the following result  of  a trial  of  the
 Sarracenia has   been   communicated  to  the  London  Times
 by  Mr. Cosmo  G. Logie,   Surgeon-Major Royal  Horse  Guards
 (Blue).  Eleven men of  Mr. Logie's regiment, which is stationed at
 Windsor, contracted the disease.  After expressing his disbelief in
 the perfect  protecting  power of vaccination, he writes:    ^°™e
 time ago  seeing  a paper written  by  Assistant Surgeon Miles, ot
 Kyal ArtflleryP, o'n the  efficacy of the  North America!i  plant
 called  the Sarracenia purpurea, or pitcher-plant, in the tieatment 
388        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

of small-pox among the  Indians, my colleague  (Mr. Agnis) and
myself have given this remedy.  Four of the cases in my hospital
have been severe confluent cases; they have, throughout the disease,
all been perfectly sensible, have had excellent appetites, been free
from pain, and have never felt weak.  The effects of this medicine
which I have carefully watched, seemed  to arrest the development
of the pustules, killing, as it were, the virus from Avithin, thereby
changing  the  character of  the disease and doing away with the
cause of pitting, and  thus avoiding the necessity of gutta percha
and  India rubber applications, or opening the  pustules.   In my
opinion, all anticipations of disfigurement from pitting may now be
calmed, if this medicine is given from the commencement of the dis-
ease."
   A proximite  analysis of the Sarracenia  by  Theobald Froh-
wein, of New York, gave :  " Organic elements—traces of  volatile
oil, gum, starch, vegetable albumen, tannin,  resin, bitter principle,
with acid  reaction and extractive matter.  Inorganic  elements—
sulph. lime, carb. acid, sulph.  acid, phosph. acid, traces of lime,
magnes., potass, and  soda, iron and silicic acid.''  A committee of
the New York Med. Society (Allopathic) made a report on Sarra-
cenia, which will be found in full, pages 7 and 19, American Med.
Times, Jan., 1864.  They thus close their report: " Your committee
has endeavored to lay before the Society the history and recorded
experience thus far  in the use of the Sarracenia purpurea, for the
treatment of small-pox; and, in conclusion, would respectfully sub-
mit the following as  their  deductions  from  the  testimony  here
accumulated : — 1st. That the analyses already made of the plant do
not give any active principle or elements which would indicate any
great medicinal  potency.  2d.  That the discoverers and advocates
of the specific remedial power of the  Sarracenia purpurea over
variola have given, apparently, too great credit to the  'post  hoc'
circumstances, as being  ' propter hoc'  influences, (one  reason for
this latter inference being suggested by the loose, unscientific, and
eulogistic style of the communications).  And, 3rd, that the reliable
experience thus far, appears to preponderate  against the remedial
efficacy of this plant in those forms of disease which do not  gene-
rally  recover  under  the administration of  ordinary  remedies.''
From  these allopathic deductions we  dissent.  1. The analysis
showing the presence of sulph. lime, carb. acid, sulph. acid, phosph.
acid, and traces of lime, magnes., potass, and soda, and  silicic acid,
also tannin, bitter  principle, etc.,  would evince that it is a remedy
of considerable power, rather than an inert substance.  2. Although
the reports have been exaggerated in many instances, the recom-
mendations, homoeopathic and allopathic, are too numerous to be
discarded.
   The testimony  relates  to  the empirical use  of  the  plant.
Until we obtain a thorough proving, we shall not have any reli-
able data for its homoeopathic application. 
SCUTELLARIA  LATERIFOLIA.
389
   SCUTELLARIA   LATERIFOLIA.
                         {Scull Cap.)

   This is an indigenous plant, growing in most parts of the United
States, in woods, meadows, and near small streams  and ponds.
There are several varieties of this plant, and  they  should not be
confounded with each other by our pharmaceutists. The whole plant
is officinal; it should be gathered while in flower.  The tincture is
best when made from the green herb. For my estimate of the gen-
eral therapeutic and pathogenetic effects of this plant, I would refer
the reader to my notice of the Cypripedium pubescens; not that I
consider these two remedies as possessing identical properties, but
they are such close analogues, and affect the system  in such a sim-
ilar manner, generally, that many of my remarks applied to Cypri-
pedium, will be applicable to Scutellaria.  I  have used the latter in
diseases of children, and affections of the nervous system, simi-
lar to  those in which I recommended  the former, and with like
good results. That a careful proving would elicit different symp-
toms, I do not doubt.  If I were to attempt a  differential estimate
of the two remedies, I should say that the Scutellaria affected the
spinal cord more, and  the brain less, than the  Cypripedium. I
believe this statement will,be verified by experience and observa-
tion.  As substantiation,  in part, of this opinion, I quote the follow-
ing from Jones and Scudder's Materia Medica: ^  "It has been
found  remarkably  efficacious in  Chorea, or St. Vitus' dance. Dr.
Beach states that he has cured a great number of cases with it. We
have used it in several instances with apparent benefit. In cases of
great nervous excitement, with severe tremors, also in attacks of
delirium tremens, it has in several cases afforded prompt relief."  It
has been highly extolled in  many  of the nervous and spasmodic
affections so very common  among women.   It has attracted much
attention in Hydrophobia,  and at one time  it enjoyed a high repu-
tation in the  treatment  of that formidable disease, although the
same reliance is not now placed on it that was some years ago; still,
it is resorted to, both  as a prophylactic  and  curative agent, in
cases  of canine madness.  Testimony is not  wanting to establish
the fact that many persons  have been bitten by rabid animals, and
 avoided the development of the disease by the free use of Scutel-
 laria;  while others, bitten at the  same time,  by  the  same animal,
 became hydrophobic.   So many circumstances may concur to pre-
 vent the inception of the canine  virus at the time of the bite—as
 the interference of clothes, or the  speedy  removal  of it  from the
 parts bitten and thus preventing it from being absorbed—that  we
 must view manv of the cases said to have been cured by the exhi-
 bition  of this  article, as highly equivocal.  "A physician, bitten
 by a mad  dog, has assured me," says Rafinesque,  " that himseit,
 alone, had avoided the  disease by using it, while others bitten by
 the same dog, died."  Dr. Vandesveer, who is said to have intro-
 duced it to the notice of the profession in 1772, or, rather, to have 
890        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

discovered its prophylactive powers against hydrophobia, is said to
have  prevented 400  persons,  and  1000  cattle from  becoming
hydrophobic ;  and  his son is said to have relieved or cured forty
persons who had been bitten, by the use of the same agent. These
favorable  reports of its efficacy are strongly questioned, and even
denied  by eminent physicians, while many of the reformed school
report very favorably of its  efficacy  in that  disease.   It would
seem that there ought to  be  some grains of truth among  so much
testimony. My observations have not fallen upon any such cases ; but
in one patient  to whom I gave the Scutellaria, first dec, for a ner-
vous affection, its administration was always followed  by the symp-
tom—"spasmodic or constrictive  closing  of the  jaws, and a tight-
ness of the muscles of the face." A proving  might elicit  symptoms
which would account for its efficacy in hydrophobic  conditions.  I
have used it successfully in several cases of tremors, and twitchings
of the  limbs,  in typhoid fever;  also in  mild  form of  hysteric
spasms, nervous irritation  in pregnant females, etc.; doses same as
recommended  for Cypripedium.
            SENECIO    GRACILIS.
                {life Root.  Unkum. Female Regulator.)

   This plant is indigenous, growing in rocky, poor ground, in many
parts of the United States.  The S. aureus and some other species
possess  similar pioperties, though  not  near as  active.  The  whole
herb is medicinal.  The  root grows  just below the surface of the
ground, and runs along horizontally.  It is from half an inch to six
or eight inches in length,  and about two lines in diameter; reddish
or purplish externally, purplish - white internally, with an aromatic
taste, and having scattered fibers.  It is found  in the shops, mixed
with the leaves, etc.  It yields  its best properties to alcohol.  The
Senecin is the concentrated, active principle of the Senecio  graci-
lis. It is a greenish brown powder, of a peculiarly pungent smell and
taste.  We can use the dilutions from the tincture, prepared from
the green plant,  and triturations from the Senecin.
   General Effects.—This  medicine belongs peculiarly  to the
eclectic practice, or  did, until I introduced  it to the notice of the
homoeopathic school a few years since. It has been decreed to be
emmenagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic,  expectorant, alterative, tonic,
and is said to have a peculiarly specific, regxdating influence  on the
functions of the  female generative organs.   We have not been able
to obtain  any reliable proving, but present the following clinical
suggestions and experience. 
SENECIO  GRACILIS.
891
   Nervous  System.—Although its influence on the nervous system
is not mentioned by any writer, yet my observations have convinced
me that it ranks with Coffea, Chomomilla, Valerian, and Amber-
gris, and is in many respects a " nervine.''  It has  been suggested
by those familiar with  its use, that it acts as a nervine, by subdu-
ing the irritation of the uterine organs, and thus prevents the ner-
vous irritation, which might have  been of  a reflex character.  This  .
may be the true explanation of its action.  It has a great reputation
among the country people, who, under the name of " Unkum'' (a name
borrowed from  the Aborigines)  and  " Wild  Valerian,"  use  it
extensively  for nervousness, hysteria, lowness of spirits, and sleep-
lesness, especially when these conditions occur in females.  Under
the head of " Organs of Generation," will be  found a case  which
illustrates its action in this regard.
   Mucous Membranes.—I am strongly impressed with the idea that
this  remedy acts upon the mucous tissues similarly to Pulsatilla.
It causes increased secretion from  the bronchial, intestinal, and vagi-
nal mucous membranes, and has  been found curative in abnormal
conditions characterized by mucous  discharges. It seems to me to
be indicated when a catarrhal affection has appeared in one organ,
and caused, or is consequent, upon  the suppression of a natural
discharge in another; thus, profuse leucorrhoea, or a bronchial, and
even a nasal catarrh will set in upon the  suppression of the menses,
 or appear  in place of the  menses. A  catarrhal diarrhoea often
 appears at such times.  It is in these conditions  that Pulsatilla and
 Senecio  prove so successful  as  curative  agents,  by  curing  the
 catarrhal discharge, and permitting the  natural functions to go on.
 The Senecio has also proved  useful in hemorrhages from  mucous
 surfaces, appearing upon the suppression of habitual discharges.
    Skin.—It causes, in large  doses, free perspiration.
    Sleep.—Has proved curative in obstinate sleeplesness, or rest-
 less, uneasy sleep.                     ,-,.,.   „ v       u ui
    ieYer.—Is considered by some as a "febrifuge," but  probably
 is not indicated in any but catarrhal fever, in which  condition it
 seems indicated.                        .     .          T     ,,
    Head, etc.—From  some experience  with this  remedy I would
 surest its use in catarrhal headache; also in catarrhal affections of
 the eyes, nose, and ears,  particularly if these occur after suppres-
 sed perspiration, or menstrual discharge.
    Gastric  and Intestinal.-It may prove useful in certain.nervous
 affections;  also  catarrhal conditions of the  bowels.  It  is said^to
 have been used successfuly in dysentery and diarrhea (catarrhal).
    Urinary  Organs.-Increased flow of urine; clear, limpid urine;
 freauent and profuse urination.
    CLmicALREMARKS.-This medicine has long had an  extensive
 reputation in domestic practice  as a diuretic  f;npdh,;f,ddearS.S^CA^
 cases of dropsy, suppression of urine, and  irritable bladder    Asa
 diuretic it has been employed with advantage in calculou  affec-
 tions to subdue the irritaU." (H. S^ "It is said to be diuretic and
 specific in  strangury."  (K.)  In those  anasarcous stoteswhuA
 altend chlorosis, or attacks of women  at the climacteric age, and seem 
 392        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 to be caused remotely by some disorder of the generative organs,
 the Senecio  gracilis  may prove a very efficient remedy;  also in
 ovarian  dropsy, or  dropsy occurring after  suppression  of  the
 menses.  The Senecio aureus is said to possess more  specific action
 on the renal organs  than the  S.  gracilis.  Dr. Small  has  used it
 with benefit in  some affections of the kidneys and bladder;  also
 in diabetes.
    Generative  Organs  of  Men-—It  is  recommended  by  some
 physicians for  the cure  of  gonorrhoea, in which it  is asserted
 to  have  been  used  with benefit.
    Generative Organs of Women.—It is upon these organs that
 the  Senecio is reputed to exert its peculiar and specific curative
 influence.  In accordance with the plan I proposed in  the  preface
 to  this  work,   I shall  proceed  to give  the suggestions, clinical
 experience, etc., of  the eclectic and  allopathic schools,  and then
 that  of  our  own school, together  with  my  own.  From   the
 testimony thus  adduced,  the reader can  come to some con-
 clusion as to the value of the remedy.  "It  exerts an especial
 influence  upon   the  female reproductive  organs.  In  Amenor-
 rhoea, not connected  with  some  structural lesion, it  has  proved
 very efficacious.  In  dysmenorrhcea it has also proved  valuable.
 It is serviceable in  menorrhagia, administered both at the time
 of the discharge and  during the interval.''—{King).  "It appears
 to exert  a specific influence upon the uterine  organs,  and  may
 with propriety be  termed  a uterine  tonic.  We  have employed
 it in many  cases of Amenorrhea,  both  in retention  and sup-
 pression,  and almost  invariably with the most gratifying  results;
 indeed,  so  certain  is it  to  restore the uterine secretion, when
 suppression  does not  depend upon  organic  disease,  that  we
 almost  view it  as  a specific.  Its action is peculiar; it seems to
 possess the power  of restoring  the  secretion when suppressed;
 of promoting it when deficient;  of alleviating pain  in dysmenor-
 rhoea, and of controlling or lessening the  secretion  when  redun-
 dant ; hence one of its common  names, "female regulator.''   " We
have  employed  it  to check free  and too long continued lochial
discharges, after other  remedies  had failed,  and with the most
 gratifying  results.  It has  proved a  valuable remedy  in leucor-
 rhoea,  and in displacements of the uterus,  attended with drag-
 ging  pains  in  the   lower   part  of  the   abdomen  and pelvic
region, and  with leucorrhceal  discharges, when combined with
Trillium."  {Jones &  Scudder's, Mat. Med)   " Senecin has  proved
 eminently  successful  in the  treatment  of Amenorrhea.  When
 the  obstruction  has  arisen from  cold, this remedy  in connection
with  warm alkaline  pediluvia  is generally sufficient.  When the
affection  is uncomplicated,  we know of no remedy so  generally
reliable.   It  operates kindly and  without  excitement, and  the
catamenial flow  is restored in a manner  so natural  that  the
patient is scarcely aware  of being under the influence of medicine."
" We  have derived  equally happy effects from  the employment
of  Senecin in  the  treatment  of Dysmenorrhea.   The most
beneficial  results  are  obtained   by  exhibiting  it  during  the 
SENECIO  GRACILIS.
393
intermenstrual  period.   It  acts as  a  special  tonic  upon the
uterine system, invigorating  the menstrual function, and restoring
equilibrium  of action.  If the menstrual secretion be profuse use
Trillin in combination.  If scanty,  Macrotin or Baptisia may be
employed."  (alternated).  "We  have  been  equally  successful
with  the Senecin  in  the treatment  of Menorrhagia.  It may
seem  somewhat  paradoxical  to  the  reader  that we  should
prescribe the same  remedy  in what are  generally  conceived
to  be opposite states  of the  system.  (Here Dr. Coe, launches
out into a verbose  explanation of the reason why this remedy
is  thus  indicated, but  his  logic  is  lame,  and based  upon  in-
correct physiological doctrines.)  "No matter in which direction
the scale may  be turned if we can but  restore  and  equalize
 the functional activity of the  parts,  we shall effect  a  cure.  For
 this purpose we employ the Senecin simply because it possesses
 the power  of recalling  or  restoring lost  or healthful  action.
 This then  explains  the seeming paradox of  giving  the same
 remedy in  dissimilar  derangement of the same organ."   Chlorosis
 is  another of those  incidental  female affections  in  which the
 Senecin  will be  found an excellent remedy.  It is particularly
 servicable  when  the  chlorosis occurs in  a  strumous  diathesis.'
 (Coe's concent org.  med).   The following  case   treated  with
 Senecio gra., is reported to me by Dr. A. R. Smart:   A lady, aged
 forty-eight, presented the following  symptoms: inability to sleep,
 nervous irritability, loss of appetite, coated tongue,  bowels con-
 stipated, constant feeling of lassitiude, disinclined to move about,
 wandering pains  in  the back  and  shoulders; had been  in  this
  condition  six months,  during which time the catamema,  which
  previous to  this, had been  regulari in appearance, h^e: not
  appeared;   has  been  treated  allopathically  for the  last three
  months, with  no permanent  benefit.  I  gave  Macrotm   Sepia,
  Secale   cornutum, Zincum  vol.,  Pulsatilla   Cypripedium  etc,
  with but  little  or no success.  At last the Senecio was  given in
  loses of twenty  drops, three  times per  day; this was followed
  by  a  marked improvement, and after  the lapse of one week
  she reported  herself  able to  sleep well  all night  Under the
  continued  use of the remedy all  the symptoms disappeared in
   he space of  two weeks  longer.  A.relapse presenting the same
  Phenomena,  which occured  about  six months  later,  was in like
  ETcured by the Senecio.  The following  case *»  rcpo red
  by me to  the Amer. Hom. Observer (Vol. 1, No 3).  A  lady, the
  Mother of one child,  had had  an abortion three /ears  ago  and
  another-at the  second month  of pregnancy-four months since.
  Skce the date of the last abortion she had suffered  much from pain-
  ful menstruation, which had not been ^™J™™^1-J£
  menses came on too soon-every three weeks;, were very profuse
  lasting eight or nine days; and were accompanied with a gieat aeai
  of pi, of a cutting, grinding character, ^«$**£ fSTJi
  theP sacrum, hypogastrium and groins.  She ™ pale wea^a
   "nervous," and had a slight  cough, generally at night   A™™8
   this a good case in which to test the vaunted virtues of the S.necio
          50 
894       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
  gracilis, I prescribed five drops of the mother tincture three  times
  a day, and continued its use until the next menstrual period.  To
  the patient's gratification and my own,  the menses appeared  at
  their proper time (in 29 days), and were  normal in  quantity, and
  unaccompanied with pain or suffering of any kind.  Since reporting
  the above case I have treated several cases of a similar nature, and
  with  success.  In  one case  the  first  dec.  dilution  was used;  in
  another the first of Senecin, and in still another the second decimal.
  I have used it in but one case of Amenorrhoea ;  Pulsatilla failed  to
  restore the discharge,  but  Senecin  second, apparently had the
  desired effect.
     Respiratory Organs.—Increased  secretion from  the  bronchial
  mucous membrane ; loose cough ; rattling  in the chest.
    Clinical  Remarks.—It  affects the respiratory  organs  in  a
  manner somewhat similar to  Asclepias tub., Dulcamara and Pulsa-
 tilla.  " In coughs, colds, and other complaints of the chest, Senecin
 in one of the most valuable remedies we possess.   It is  especially
 serviceable in  mucus coughs." (Dr. Coe.)   "It has  acquired con-
 siderable reputation in chronic coughs, catarrhal affections, haemop-
 tysis,  incipient  phthisis,  attended  with  troublesome cough, the
 result  of obstructed menstruation, with  unequivocal advantage.
 (J.  &  S.  Mat. Med.)  I have used it in  a few cases  of cough
 occurring in females, according to the indication  given above.  It
 seemed to act admirably.  These suggestions may seem  bare and
 valueless, unless backed up by more  pathogenetic  symptoms.  But
 it must be recollected that many of our best remedies started from
 just such  small beginnings.
   The  following  case reported  by  Dr.  Thomas  Irish, to the
 American Homoeopathic Observer, seems  to  prove  that  it ranks
 high  as  a  remedy  in  pulmonary  affections.   "In  the  year
 1822,  in  the  State  of New  York,  I  was  taken suddenly with
profuse hemorrhage from the left lung.   Physicians were  sent
 for;  consultation  took place; they manifested much wisdom in
 endeavoring to stay the red  current of life  by  tapping my
 arm.   The blood refused to  flow in that  direction,  but the lung
 continued to perform its office in opposition  to these endeavors to
 change its current, by cutting the cephalic vein.  All to no purpose;
 the life current continued to flow until it would hardly stain a white
 cloth.  They gave me up as lost without hope, and then gave
 rules and  ordered  medicine  taken.  I refused  to take  medicine.
 I became a living  skeleton; the  dry, hacking  cough, the hectic
 flush and  sleepless nights were my companions for day and night
 for about  five  months,  and  still  living   in  opposition to  the
 wisdom of the prophets,  I was in the daily habit  of wandering
about the  fields on  my father's farm,  and  pulling and testing of
roots and herbs.  The Senecio was before me, near a small stream.
I tasted and was impressed to try its virtues.  I had it gathered,
roots and  tops—a pailful, and prepared a strong decoction, of"
which  I took  half a table-spoonful  four times a  day   Improve-
ment set  m  soon after  commencing the  use of  the  Senecio
In six weeks the cure seemed  complete.  This  was in the fall  I 
SILPHIUM  LACINIATUM.
395
continued well through the winter ; in the spring went to work;
in a month was  prostrated  by  haemorrhage from the  lung again;
continued to work until fall.  Again the life root was taken, chewing
the root  and 'drinking a tea of the same.  Again, contrary to the
expectation of all, health was mine in the spring of 1824.   I came
to Michigan; worked hard all summer; in fall was  taken sick;
continued feeble until spring.  At every attack  of the disease the
lungs would sympathize, so as to have it terminate  in a lung fever
with bloody expectoration.  I employed  no physician, but always
used the  Cure-All,  as  I  often called it.  In the  too free use of the
green root it proved a laxative, which was not favorable to  the
healing process.   At every attack, for eleven years or more, of lung
fever, which were many, I always used the same remedy with the
same success.  I have never known it used in such attacks without
some benefit, and the number would be  hundreds.   I  saw  the
blood spirt the size of a common straw from a cut in the leg.  The
Senecio, roots and tops bruised and  applied,  immediately stopped
the blood; it was the only dressing.  The person was not kept from
his work an hour in all. It was a bad cut, and healed in a few days.
It is the best dressing for cuts, bruises and  sores,  known to me.
It has more power over diseases of the  Uterine  Organs than  any
other medicinal plant, in my opinion.   In Erysipelas it  has with
me proved a useful .remedy,  internally and externally."
   It would seem by  the last  paragraph to have a general cura-
tive influence over  haemorrhage, making  it analogous upon soma
points with Erigeron,  Trillium, and  Lycopus.  With  this I leave
the  consideration of  the plant,  and  hope  my colleagues will
prove it, and at the same time collect clinical  data, illustrating the
sphere of the remedy.
           SILPHIUM   LACINIATUM.
                         {Compass Weed.)

   This is an indigenous, perennial plant, found on the prairies of
the United States, from Michigan southward to Texas.  The lower
leaves present their edges north and south, hence the name " com-
pass-plant."
   Dr. King,  speaking of the S.  gummiferum and S.  laciniatum,
says :   " They are emetic in decoction.   They have effected cures
in intermittent fever, and are beneficial in dry, obstinate coughs.
Said to have cured heaves in horses."
   Dr. A. E. Small, uses and advises it in asthma and moist coughs
with dyspnoea.  Its present use in  our school is quite limited, and
until we have a thorough proving of the plant, we  do not expect it 
396       NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

will be  much  favored.  The  testimony, however, of homoeopathic
physicians, in regard to its curative power in gleet, is  unequivocal.
In the acute stage of gonorrhoea  it does not appear to be of much
service, but in the chronic stage, as well as in blennorrhcea, leucor-
rhoea, and vesical catarrh, it is of great value.
   We hear of  its  use in  allopathic  practice  in  nasal  catarrh,
asthma, and other diseases of the respiratory organs.
   It is doubtless an analogue of Copaiva, Thuya, etc., and possesses
similar properties.  The peculiar  range of action of the Silphium
remains to be developed by future provings.
            STICTA   PULMONARIA.

                          {Lungwort.)

   *Nov. 9th, 1859, I commenced proving  this plant, having pre-
viously prepared  a strong  tincture.  At 7 o'clock,  a.  m., I took
ten drops of tincture.  About one hour after I had  sharp, darting
pains  in the arms, legs, and shoulders, commencing  first  in  the
muscles of the arms, then in the finger-joints and shoulders; next
in the thighs, knee-joints, and toes; also dull sensation in the head,
with sharp, darting pains through the vertex, side of the face, and
lower jaw.  There was a feeling of fulness at the root of the nose
and in the left hypochondriac region.  These symptoms were well
marked ; they continued for two or three hours, and were followed
by a  general  feeling of dullness of two or three hours duration.
    Nov. 10th, 7 o'clock, a. m., took ten  drops.  The symptoms
which followed were similar to those produced by  the first dose.
There was also, a dull, oppressive pain in the cardiac region ; slight
oppression of the lungs;  dull pain in the  right hypochondrium.
Duration from three to four hours.
    Nov. 11th, .took at 7 o'clock, a. m.,  twenty  drops  of  the
tincture.  About   one  hour after,  I  experienced  the previous
dull  sensation  in  the head,  with  dull,  heavy  pressure  in  the
forehead and  roots  of the  nose;  darting  pains  in  the  tempo-
ral region; burning in  the eyelids,  with  soreness  of the ball on
closing the lids, or turning the eyes.   There were burning, biting,
sticking pains all over the body; lancinating  pain in the second
joint  of theiniddle finger; inability to concentrate  the mind upon
any one subject;  a general confusion of ideas.  The  above symp-
toms continued  to  increase in intensity  during the entire day,
and most of them continued until the 13th, without repeating the
drug.
   * Partial proving and clinical observations by S. P. Burdick, M. D., from the North Amer-
ican Journal of Homoeopathy.  (Sticta Sylvatica.) 
STICTA  PULMONARIA.
397
   Clinical  Observations.—1.  A few weeks previous to the
above  experiments, I was attacked  with  catarrh  of the head, to
which I was subject, and had been for five years ; at times it was
very severe, obliging me to keep my room  for a week at a  time.
The above attack was one of  the severest I had  ever  experienced.
I discharged quantities of bloody pus from the nose and throat, and
it left me  with a distressing  cough, and oppression of the lungs,
causing the feeling of a hard  mass collected in  them.   The cough
was  at first  dry and hacking, from tickling in the larynx, which
finally extended to the lungs.  During the day I was comparatively
free from  cough, but it returned every evening about 6 o'clock, and
would continue the entire night, being  almost  incessant.  I could
not sleep  nor lie down.  All treatment failed to  afford  the slightest
relief, and I had become completely worn  out from the cough and
want of sleep.  I now prepared a tincture  from Sticta, and  put a
few drops in  a tumbler of water.  At 1 o'clock,  p. m., I took a tea-
spoonful,  and continued to repeat it every hour during the after-
noon.   At 10 o'clock, p. M.,  my  cough  had not returned, as I had
coughed but once or twice during the evening, but on  retiring that
night  there  was a slight return, lasting perhaps  for  a half hour,
after which I slept quietly all night.  The next day I took of the
medicine  several times, and had no return of cough.
    2.—Some two weeks after, I took a slight cold, which brought
 on catarrh in the head again.  There came with it a slight cough,
 which increased, and in the  evening it was quite troublesome.  I
 took of Sticta two or three times during the evening  ; and, to,  my
 great  surprise,  I  awoke the next morning  perfectly free  from
 catarrh and cough.  These results of trials of  Sticta  on  myself in
 disease, induced me to  attempt the  proving above reported.   The
 following notes  of cases treated by  this remedy may show its ordi-
 nary operations in the forms of disease  in which its  powers have
 been most frequently tested.
    3.—Dec.  12th, Mrs. S------had taken a  severe cold, had a
 hard,' racking cough, aggravated by every inspiration, and there was
 considerable  oppression of the chest.  At 6  o'clock, p. m., I gave
 her Sticta tincture, a few drops in a tumbler of water, a  tea-spoon-
 ful to be taken  every half hour. The next morning  she coughed
 but very little, said she was well, and the medicine was discon-
 tinued.  A few davs after she was caught out in the  rain, got  her
 feet wet, took a severe cold, and coughed  worse  than before.   In
 the evening I gave her Sticta as before;  the cough ceased after she
 had taken a few doses; and the  next  morning  she was  feelmg
 quite well.                               „„   .              a?
     4.—January, 1860, Mr. B------, aged fifty-six years, was  suffer-
 ing from soreness of the throat of long standing, I gave Mercurius
 third, with favorable results. A few days after, I found  him  suffer-
 in^ from eoryza, I gave him Sticta tincture, a few drops in a tumbler
 ofwater, a teaspoonful to be taken every  hour.   But a few doses
 had been taken when great  relief was experienced.   He had oeen
 subiect to frequent attacks of a similar character for  ten or  fifteen
 years  I continued the remedy, night and morning, for a week or 
398        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
  more, as it appeared to affect his throat  favorably.   While taking
  the remedy, he was exposed a good deal, and  took a severe cold;
  but he was entirely free from those distressing symptoms of eoryza,
  which had for many years accompanied the slightest cold.  He had
  been treated by  several homoeopathic physicians, besides taking
  quantities  of allopathic medicines ;  but he had never experienced
  any decided benefit from any of them.  In February following, he
  had a slight attack,  and I gave him Sticta  tincture as before.  He
  said the first dose  gave him great relief.  This was in the  evening.
  The next morning  he was entirely  free  from all  traces  of the
  troubles of the previous  evening.   I  met him almost daily for
  two years  after,  during  which  time  he  had no  return of  the
  disease.
     5-—The next case was that of a young lady who was subject to
  eoryza.  During one of these attacks, which came  on in the morn-
  ing, I  was  requested  to see her.   In the afternoon I found  her
  sneezing almost incessantly, with a feeling of fulness in  the right
  side of the forehead, extending down to the root of the nose, with
  tingling  in  the right side of the nose.  Sticta tincture was given
  as in previous cases.  Two doses effected the  cure,  and the next
  day she was feeling perfectly well.  Previous  attacks lasted from
  three days to a week.
     0.—August 21st,  1862.  Mr. F------, aged fifty years, came to
 me, saying he had  rheumatism all over him, and could get no relief,
 he  said he_ had tried  everything, had  been to two or three allo-
 pathic physicians, but was getting worse every  day.   His troubles
 commenced  about six months ago, with sharp, darting, lancinating
 pain, first in the knee-joints, then in the  elbow and shoulder.  The
 finger-joints were next involved, and it gradually extended to every
 joint in the body ;  the pain in the neck and head were intense.  At
 the present  time the joints  are  all swollen and stiff.  He  cannot
 sleep for the pain, and can scarcely walk.  By comparing the above
 with the provings of Stictapulmonaria, I found a perfect type of the
 disease before me in this drug, and I at once determined to test  its
 curative power; the following are the results :—I gave Sticta  1st,
 five drops:to a tumbler  of water, a table-spoonful to be taken every
 hour.  August 23.—Mr. F----reports himself greatly improved;
 pains not so severe—has slept better.   Sticta 1st, as before.  Au«-
 -6th.—Reports a great  deal  better; can walk  better than at any
 time during the past five months ; pain in the head and neck gone ;
 all the pains are less severe, and the joints are not so much swollen.
 Continued Sticta,  1st,  as  before.  Aug. 28th.—Reports  himself
 entirely well; has no pain ; swelling all gone ; says he  feels  better
 than at  any time  during the past nine months; stiffness  of the
joints an gone; he is getting young again, and  walks as sprightly
 as a young man.                                        r  &   J
    7—At the time the above was under  treatment, I was  also
wriSil   ShpGTT-Kaged aj>outfo^' ^ rheumatism of the
wnst-jomts   She  had  been under  treatment   for  nearly  three

&Stti7f  Uttle'/  ^ imP"»t.  The wrfsts  and
nauds, with little if  any  redness ; very painful on moving them.  I 
STICTA  PULMONARIA.
399
had given her nearly all the remedies that are usually given in rheu-
matic troubles;  none of them had afforded  relief to any extent.
After the results produced in the last case by Sticta, I determined
to try it in the case of Mrs. G------.   I accordingly gave her five
drops, first, in a tumbler of water, a tablespoonful every two hours.
On the second  day after, I called, and on entering the room, she
exclaimed, " Doctor, you have  done it this time!"  To  my great
surprise,  I found her sewing.  Tne pain and swelling  were nearly
gone.  Sticta, first, was continued for a few days, and the cure was
permanent.   (This last case is reported from memory.)
   8.—Aug. 20th.  Mrs. M------ came to me,  complaining  of
headache with severe pain in the eyes, which  felt  very sore  on
closing the lids or turning the eye-ball.   The pains and soreness as
she described them, were very similar to those I experienced while
making the above provings, and I prescribed Sticta, first, five drops
to a tumbler of water, a tablespoonful to be taken every two hours.
Aug. 27th.—Reports greatly relieved  soon after taking the medi-
cine.  Sticta continued  as before.  Aug.  28th—Reports  perfectly
well.
   9.—In the month of February, 1862, while treating  a patient
very susceptible  to  the influence  of medicine, I had administered
Sticta  one-tenth.  Very soon after taking it she said, " Doctor, I
feel  that medicine all over me."   In a few months after, she said
her  leg  felt as  though it was floating in the air, feeling light and
airy, without any sensation of resting upon the bed; this continued
for some time, and gradually passed off.
    10. — Mrs. F------, age about  forty years, had hemorrhage of
the bowels.  She had lost large quantities of blood during the pre-
vious weeks, looked pale and ghastly, and  could  scarcely  walk, she
had become so  reduced.   I gave Hamamelis, which  arrested the
hemorrhage ; but she could not sleep, and had not for over a week;
saying that as soon as it came night, her feet and legs would dance
and lump around in  spite of her; so  that she  was compelled to
either hold them down  on  the  floor with her own hands, or  have
some one hold them for her; and  as soon as  she would he down,
her limbs felt as though they were floating in the air as /light as
feathers.  This brought to  mind  what had  happened to the last
patient, and I administered Sticta, first, a few drops in a tumbler of
water.  To commence taking a tablespoonful  as soon as the above
symptoms should re-appear, and repeat every  hour.  The  next
morning at about six o'clock, the dancing commenced   The  medi-
cine was  repeated every hour until eleven o'clock, when  she slep
for  the first time in over a week, did not awaken  until seven next
morning.  Medicine discontinued  during  the day.  Next evening
Tymtoms returned,  but not so  severe? _ Medicine repeated every
hour.  Fell asleep at 10, p. m.  Slept quietly  until awakened next
morning   Next  evening slight recurrence.  Two or three doses of
S were given, and the V  quietly all night  Next evening
no recurrent;  Sticta one or two doses ;  slept  at  7  p. *->™ ™t
awaken until the next morning.   Medicine discontinued.   Recovery
rapid without any further medication. 
400       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
     11.—A lady about  fifty yeaas of age, complaining of attacks of
  great anxiety about the heart.   Very nervous.   Had  had a good
  deal of mental  trouble.  Ignatia and Digitalis afforded great relief;
  but after two  or three  months she  called, saying that she was
  troubled  at  night by  awaking with a strange sensation about the
  heart, and for a few moments after she would feel as though  she
  was floating in the air.  A few doses of Sticta first, effected a com-
  plete cure.  In coughs  and colds, it has proved very efficient.  And
  I have never used a remedy which has  been so efficacious in procu-
  ring quiet, refreshing sleep  as  Sticta.  I have  given  it when all
  other remedies  have failed, and have  never, save  in  one  or  two
  cases, had it  disappointed  me;  and now if I  have a patient who
  cannot sleep, it  is  my first resort.  I  have reported two cases of
  rhematism which it has cured almost by magic.   I have also given
  it in several cases  in which it produced not the slightest effect; but
  in these cases there was not a perfect representation of the  drug in
 the disease.   The  following cases are  from  the Case Book of the
 Northern  Homeopathic Dispensary, New York, where  this rem-
 edy has acquired some  reputation :
    1.—Ellen  Murphy, aged nineteen, scrofulous; had  hemoptysis
 three years  ago.  Every  cold, damp spell brings on cough  with
 expectoration of dark  blood.   Suffers  now  with loose  cough  in
 the  morning, expectoration less free during the  day; pain in left
 side below the  scapula, foul taste  in  the mouth, tickling  in the
 larynx   and  bronchia;  costiveness; courses regular.  Bry.  3rd.
 Aug. 5—Pain in the left  side less, other  state the  same.  Sticta
 first. Aug. 8—Great relief.  Aug. 12-Nervous headache which
 she  complained of in  the  temples  improved.  Cough steadily
 improving.  Sticta.  Aug.  20—Cured.
    2-—Anna  Ernst, aged  fifty-one, oppression in the pit  of the
 stomach; great thirst, no appetite, tongue  clean, disgust for food ;
 soft cough with expectoration.  Vertigo,  restless at night.  Bry.
 third.  Aug. 5.—Some relief.  Bry. twelfth.   Aug.  9—Coucdi the
 same.  Morning cough.  Symptoms of change of life.  Sticta first.
 Aug. 19—Cough improving.  Raises more easily, especially mor-
 nings.  Sticta first.  Aug.  29—Cough  well.  Only some vertigo
 yet.  Puis, sixth.  Aug. 31—Cough all right.  Vertigo the same.
 Cyclamen third.
   3.-Joseph Weidner, aged   forty.  Dyspepsia.  Cannot hear
 anything tight on the stomach.   Vomits phlegm.  Hemorrhoids
 Nux  Aug. 8—Cough raw  and  sore.  Better otherwise.   Sticta'.
 Aug. 11-Cough only after meals.  Bry. Aug. 16—Couo-h  easier
 but  very hoarse  Puis.  Aug.-20-Cough worse,  expectoration'
 tighter.   Bry  Aug. 24—Morning cough continues.  Well  everv
 other way.  Bryonia.      •                                  '
   4.—Ellen  Minaman,  aged twenty-five.  Cough  for  six weeks
Hoarseness;  nightly  expectoration of  whitish  phlegm    Sticta

^tiSa.           J   mpr°Ved-   D°eS  DOt cou^  ne?af so  muct

   5._Ida Hatfield,  eighteen   months old.   Tussis  morbillosa
Had measles two weeks ago.  Sticta. Aug. 8-Greatly TrnprovS 
STICTA  PULMONARIA.
401
Sticta.  Aug. 17—Has whooping cough.  Sticta.   Aug. 19—State
the same.  Worse at night.  Corallia  thirtieth.  Aug.  24—State
the same.  Bell., Ipec.  Aug. 29—Improving.  Bell., Ipec.
   6.—Kate Winkler, aged fourteen.   Nasal catarrh.  Nose always
dry and stuffed up; swollen with tickling in it. Constant dripping
down throat, which  feels and looks  raw.  Tongue clean.  Sticta.
Aug. 9—Improving.   Sticta.   Aug. 12—Discharges a great deal of
phlegm,  with  great improvement.  Sticta.  Aug. 19—Is getting
well. Sticta.
    7.—Martin Wyman, aged two  years, febris catarrhalis.  Aeon.
Aug. 15—Less fever.  Rattling in the chest, eoryza.  Sticta.  Aug.
18—Improving.  Sticta.   Aug.  21—Cured.  We  cured  a  great
many such cases with Sticta.
    8.—Magd.  Hauser, aged forty-two.  Influenza.  Sticta.  Sept.
29—Cough gone; pressure in the chest and abdomen, more  in the
left  side.   Caught cold when her courses were on.  Sticta.  Oct.
1 —Cured.
    9.—Emma Russ,  aged sixteen years, Otalgia, noise and beating
in the back part of the head.  Pimples on the face.  Sticta.  Sept.
11—Well, except the pimples.  Sepia thirtieth.
    10.—Louis  Walker,  aged  thirty-six.  Influenza with  bilious
diarrhoea.  Sticta.  Sept. 7—Improving.  Sticta.   9 th, cured.
     11.—Anne Wiebold,  thirty-five years old.  Loose cough with
free  expectoration.   Worse  from midnight to  morning.   Sticta.
 Sept. 9—Cured.
    12.—William Coleman, aged sixty-six.  Coryza, the  result  of
 sunstroke, comes back every middle of August, when not exposed;
 if exposed to the sun in July, it  comes on then.  Itching  in the
 nose.  When careless, it goes to the chest.  Suffers now severely
 with it in the  chest and  head.   Sticta.  Aug. 31—No  better.
 Aeon. 3rd.  Greatly  improved.  Aeon.  Sept.  5—Cured; never
 cured in so short a time before.
     13.—Stephen McCue, aged four  years, had measles  five weeks
 ago, which never came out well. Cough worse night and morning;
 some emaciation ; restless sleep  on  account of the cough.  Sticta.
 Sept. 15-19—Steadv improvement and cure.   Sticta first.
     14.—John  Holt,"aged seven  years.  Barking cough like whoop-
 ing cough, from catching cold.  Cured by Sticta  in a few  days.
     15.—Rose Caen, aged thirteen years.  Sept. 23—Had small-pox
 a few  weeks  ago, and  has  ophthalmia varilosa  yet.  Conjunctiva
 inflamed.  Says she cannot see  plainly.  Pains worse when shutting
 the  eyes.  Sticta.  Sept  26—Great  improvement.   Ball  clearer;
 vessels in the  lower part of the eye  full yet.  Sticta.  Sept. 29—
 Improvement   continues.    Sticta.   Oct.  3—Caught  fresh  cold.
 Keratitis  and conjunctivitis with great photophobia.  Aeon, fol-
 lowed bv Apis.  Oct. 4-Improving.  Apis.   Nov. 6.  Was nearly
 well, tilf she caught  cold again; has  now  conjunctivitis, burning
 pains, photophobia, hepatic eruption on  the face.  Apis during the
 day, Tr.  Sulph. at night.   Oct. 12—Improvement.  Sulph.  JNov.
 4—Cured.                                    ^      T  „
     16—Peter Weidman,  aged forty-three.   Oct. 1—Influenza,
         51 
402        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
  when cough comes on he can hardly breathe ;  choking sensation in
  the throat, free  expectoration ; slime coated tongue  with indiges-
  tion.   Sticta.   Oct.  2—State  the  same.   Sticta.   Oct.  4-—No
  improvement.  Bry.,  Merc.  Oct. 6 —Cured.
     17.—Philip  West,  aged  seven  months.  Oct.  3—Diarrhoea
  mucosa, and loose cough.  Sticta.  Oct. 5-6—Some rattling in the
  throat  yet.  Cough  and diarrhoea  improving.   Sticta.   Oct.  7 —
  Only restless at night now.  Oct. 9—Cured.
     18.—Julie Eitler, aged nine months.   Oct.  22—Diarrhoea,  den-
  tition,  cough, and rattling  in  the chest. Passages green, like
  chopped eggs.  Oct. 24—Diarrhoea improving, but cough the same
  still.  Sulph.  Nov. 4—Slimy  diarrhoea  again.   Cough abating.
  Sulph.  Nov. 12—Cured.
     19.—Charles  Bennet, aged  twelve years.  Oct. 26—Catarrh of
 the head for four  years.  Sneezing mornings with greenish dischar-
 ges ; frontal headache and epistaxis.  Sticta.  Oct. 25—Less bleed-
 ing from the nose.  Left foot and  right arm often benumbed and
 cold.    Sticta.   Nov.  4—Free  from catarrh, but full of boils.
 Sticta.  Nov. 20—Entirely well.
    The following brief references to the  Sticta are  found in the
 American Homeopathic  Observer, for July, 1864 :
    Dr. F.  W. Bath rick cured a  case of Catarrh  with Sticta, after
 failure with the ordinary  remedies.  He  proposes trying it in the
 form of inhalation.
    Dr. B. M. Pettitt, finding that an epidemic Influenza prevailing
 in Cayuga county, New York, would not yield to the usual reme-
 dies, resorted to Sticta, and had the most gratifying success.
    Timothy Baker, Esq., says, "that Mrs. Baker has been very
 much benefitted by Sticta, used for her cough,  (character of cough
 not reported.)
   Dr. Jno. C. Fall, says,  " I have used the  Sticta pulmonaria with
 very happy effect.  I wish I had  time to write of the remedy in
 extenso,  but may in future."
   Dr. C.  W. Boyce  writes, July  16th,  1864:—" Dr. Lodge,—
 Dear  Sir:—In  the July number of your  'Observer,' I notice a
 reference to Sticta, in Catarrh.  This  remedy has been  of  the
 greatest value in this vicinity, in that troublesome disease.  During
 the past spring,  there was an epidemic influenza which affected
 nearly every one,  and which produced  symptoms  quite  unusual
 here.  These consisted of an extensive dryness of the nasal mucous
 membrane, which  became painful.  The  secretions were so quickly
 dried that  they were discharged after great  effort, in form as hard
 as scabs; the soft palate felt like dried leather; deglutition became
 painful from the  same cause.  Often, the catarrh  extended to the
 chest,  leaving an  irritation lasting for weeks. There was, usually,
a distinct exacerbation  in  the latter part  of  the day, and  fore part
of the night; the  morning hours  were  nearly  free from distress.
 bticta was the only remedy that relieved." 
TRILLIUM  PENDULUM.
403
             TRILLIUM  PENDULUM.

                          {Birth Root).

   This is  but one of eight species of Trillium, growing  in  the
Northern  States.  Few of our indigenous plants surpass them in
elegance and beauty, and they are all endowed with active  medic-
inal properties.  The root of the  T. atro-purpureum, or  purple
species, is generally believed to be the most active.  " The Trillium
has somewhat tuberous roots, having a faint, slightly terebinthinate
odor,  like  cedar, and  a peculiar, aromatic taste.  Tannin,  and  a
bitter extractive, however, form  two of its active ingredients,^ to
which its medicinal effects are doubtless  owing."   (Lee.) _ Nothing
seems more ridiculous  and puerile to the rational physician, par-
ticularly the  homoeopathist,  than the  senseless reiteration,  that
" certain drugs owe their medicinal power to the tannin, or other
chemical principle,  which they  happen  to contain.''   Thus, they
(the allopaths) decree that Trillium arrests flooding, etc., because
it is an astringent, and the tannin is the curative principle;  they
blindly  deny the specific {dynamic) action of drugs, and, therefore,
are obliged to take up with all such absurd subterfuges.  Geranium
mac.  contains more tannin  than  any other plant, yet possesses no
specific control over hemorrhages, which the Trillium undoubtedly
does   (H)  Prof. Lee says:—" From all I have observed, and can
gather  from others, I am led to believe that the Trillium is one
of our most valuable tonics, astringents,  alteratives, and especially
beneficial in most cases of passive, atonic hemorrhages, as menorr-
hagia, etc.  Less astringent than many  other  plants,  it is far more
alterative  and tonic, yet  it has decided efficacy, as an astringent,
when this indication is present."   The late Dr. Williams used the
powdered root in all kinds of active  hemorrhages, m  doses of  one
drachm to  an adult, repeated according to  the  urgency ot  the
symptoms.  Dr. Stone, of Mass., has made very extensive use  ot
it, in  all forms of  bleeding,  especially from the womb and lungs,
and, as he  thinks,  with great  and decided  benefit.  In the-various
forms of scrofula  and cutaneous diseases,  he has also seen great-
advantage from its use.  In popular practice, to**1**™"?™?
in parturition, and is believed to facilitate  the  birth of the child
hence its name. Dr. Lee found it  employed extensively for this
purpose, among the Chippewa  Indians, on Lake Superior,   lhey
LoP believed i! to be  a certain specific for the bite of he rate-
snake.  It seemed to be  their  favorite  remedy m all  female
complaints, especially those attended with  discharges; indeed the
See in itsWin  cases of  vaginal and. uterine^rrho^-
very  strong  and  satisfactory;  also  in  passive  bronchorihoea and
hLLntvsis"  Dr Coe  (Concentrated  Organic Med.) says:  "Its
dyS influences are ihiefly directed towards the  mucous .or-
faces over  which  it seems to exercise a special control.  Though
   Tstly employed in affections of the uterine system, it is neverthe-
mo 
404        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
less, of great utility in the treatment of all diseases involving the
mucous membranes.  It  is decidedly antiseptic, and is useful in
correcting a tendency to putrescency of the fluids, and the foetor of
the critical discharges.  Slight hemorrhages occurring from wounds,
cancerous ulcerations,  etc.,   may be   corrected  by  its  local
application."
   Skin.—Applied to erysipelatous and  other ulcers, it is said to
restrain the  profuse  discharges;  slight  hemorrhages,  occurring
from wounds, cancerous  ulcerations,  etc.,  may be arrested by the
same means.
    Nose.—"A  solution of the Trillin, or  the dry powder, snuffed
up the nostrils,  will  immediately  check an  epistaxis."  {Coe.)
This use of  Trillium is quite common in domestic practice.  It is
asserted,  on good authority, that  epistaxis may be  arrested by
smelling of the recent root.  I found it to act promptly in a case of
obstinate passive epistaxis, after  other remedies had. failed; it was
given in five drop doses of the first dilution and a solution of the
same strength, was snuffed up the nostrils.
    Teeth—A small quantity  of  the  powder, or  cotton  saturated
with the tincture, introduced into the cavity from which a tooth has
been extracted, will effectually arrest the hemorrhage.
    Month.—" It is useful in cancrum oris; putrid sore throat, etc.,
and as a wash or gargle.'' {Coe)
    Stomach, etc.—Heat in the stomach;  burning in the stomach•
thirst; increase of appetite ;  heat  rising up from the stomach into
the oesophagus.
    Clinical Remabks.—The above symptoms  were noticed in
several cases from  the 1st dec. trit.   It is recommended  in dyspepsia
by eclectic physicians.  Theoretically, I would  suggest it in " gas-
tric catarrh;" erosion of the mucous  coat, with hammteniesis.
    Abdomen, Stool, etc.—Constipation ; hard, dry stool.
    Cijxical Remarks.—It  is  undoubtedly  useful  in  chronic
diarrhoea, where the discharges are mainly of mucus, or of bloody
mucus; in  dysentery,  when the amount of blood is considerable,
and the discharges are foetid, after the acute stage, and when the
disease threatens to become chronic. It is evident that a remedy
which  exercises such  specific power over passive discharges from
nearly all mucous membranes, should be useful in  chronic intestinal
discharges of that character.
    Urinary Organs-—It is highly  recommended  in hematuria.  Its
action on the urinary organs is similar to that of Uva  ursi, Chim-

oFTrilS1    ST^  ^ ^ SayS : "An infusion of e<^al Parts
of  Trilliumtand Lycopus  v. has been highly recommended for  the
cure of diabetes."   Dr. Jones (Mat. Med") asserts: " I  have used it
£2 diseatf"'  a^fl°m thG *dvanWes derived from its usTin
lisof onth^6^ lt mentS, a consPicn™s P^ce among the
can be Xced?nPtWf ^TS ^ °n6 ,?P°? which much ^nce
can be placed m that formidable disease."  Judging from its cura-
tive action  m  other  diseases, it  should  Prove\s&eful Tn  chronTc
 oSon^                               ^ even in  om
conditions found in chronic nephritis.   Dr. E. G. Wheeler reports 
TRILLIUM  PENDULUM.
405
the following cases illustrative of its effects in flooding, menorrhagia,
and leucorrhoea.  {Jour, of Mat.  Med., vol. ii., p. 448.)  Case 1.—
Mrs. G., at the third month of  pregnancy, was taken at 6 o'clock,
A. m., with  a bloody discharge from the  uterus, with pain in the
back, considerable sickness at  the stomach,  and occasional  chills.
I was called in at 9 o'clock;  the flooding  had greatly increased
during the last hour, and the patient fainted  as I entered the  room.
The pains had  ceased—os uteri dilated to the size of a  twenty-five
cent piece, but rather tense ; loss of blood very great.  I made a
strong infusion of the Trillium root, and gave her two table-spoon-
fuls every ten minutes ; in half an hour the bleeding  had greatly
diminished;  the infusion was continued, but given at rather longer
intervals, and in two hours  from the  time I  was called in, the
hemorrhage  had ceased  altogether; pains  returned  during the
following night,  and the foetus  was expelled  with but very trifling
loss of blood."  Case 2.—" Was called in at 4 o'clock,  p. m.,  to see
Mrs. S.,  at the full term  of pregnancy ;  os uteri dilated to the size
 of a half dollar; no pains ; flooding  excessive.  Administered the
 Trillium as in  the preceeding case ; it acted promptly, so  that in an
 hour from the  time of  giving  the  first dose, the bleeding had
 entirely ceased.  In about four hours more, labor pains came on,
 and she was shortly  delivered of two healthy children, with no
 more than the usual amount of hemorrhage."  Case 3.—" Mrs. M.,
 at about the  third month  of pregnancy, had  had slight uterine
 hemorrhage, for two or three days previous.  At  8 o'clock in the
 evening  of the third day, she  became alarmed  by sudden and
 excessive flooding.  I was immediately called  in, but her fainting
 turns were so frequent and  so protracted, that I could not give the
 remedy as fast as I desired ; and notwithstanding I brought all the
 means to my  aid,  that I could command, I greatly feared I should
 lose my patient; in about three hours,  however, she had taken an
 infusion, made  with about three drachms of the bruised  root as
  nearly as I could judge, and the hemorrhage was perfectly con-
 trolled.  Thirty-six hours after this,  pains came on, and the foetus
  was expelled without  further trouble.  It may not be amiss to
  state,  that I think I have  found this remedy of decided utility in
  facilitating labor.  I have treated cases of leucorrhoea,  satisfactorily.
  The plant I made use of is  the  Trillium atro-purpureum."   I his is
  allopathic testimony, and better than the average; it is surprising
  that the medicine was given alone.   According  to their  general
  usage, the physician should have given it in combination with Kino,
  Plumbum aceticum, or some powerful drug, and then claimed it as a
  cure with the  Trillium. The  medicine was given in large doses,
  yet not inordinately so-not more than two or three drachms of the
   mother tincture   in each  case. The  specific  curative  action was
  promptly manifested, apparently without inducing any pathogenetic
   effects, showing that no injury was clone by the material doses  In
   the cases which  follow, it will be seen that more minute!^act
   inst as  well.  It  is decreed  by some  writers, that  the Trillium is
   most useful in passive  hemorrhages, but the cases above import*d
   were of an opposite character. We have no proving of this remedy, 
406        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 showing its pathogenetic  action  upon the  generative  organs of
 women, nor can we decide with any certainty, as to the pathological
 states which it would induce in the uterine tissue.  To say it acts by
 giving tone to the uterus would not convey any exact idea, although
 it  actually has that effect;  it stimulates  the uterine  nerves^ to
 healthy action, and as  a consequence,  we have muscular tonicity,
 and a healthy condition of the  mucous  membranes.   Hemorrhages
 from the  uterus, either arise from relaxation, or  laceration of the
 blood-vessels of that  organ,  or from abrasion or relaxation of its
 mucous coats. Any drug, therefore, whose  symptoms correspond,
 will possess the power  of causing just such pathological changes,
 and will, therefore, cure similar lesions.  The analogues of Trillium
 are Terebinthina, Sabina, Pulsatilla, and Erigeron canadensis.   The
 following  clinical cases occurred in my own  practice:—Case  1.—
 Menorrhagia—Mrs. M., aged  twenty-eight, had  been subject for
 several years, to frequent and  profuse  menstruation.  The  menses
 came  on every fourteen days,  and lasted seven  or  eight.  In the
 intervening periods, there was profuse leucorrhoea, of a yellowish
 color, and creamy consistence.  The blood was once bright red,  and
 but  lately,  owing  to her  anaemic condition,  has been  pale  and
 mixed with  a  leucorrhoeal  discharge.  She  took Crocus, Platina
 and  Sabina, but with no apparent benefit.  Trillium second dec.
 was then given, in  doses of one grain, four times a day.  The first
 effect noticed was a diminution  of the leucorrhoea,  then the menses
 delayed one week.  The  medicine was  continued,  and the next
 menstrual period  came  on  at the end  of four weeks, and was  not
 followed by leucorrhoea.   She was then put upon the use of Ferrum
 met.  1st dec.  and  Helonin  1st dec,  one  grain  of the former
 after meals and a similar dose of the latter, before  eating; and in a
 few weeks the strength  and color returned.  Several other similar
 cases  were treated with the same medicine, and  all recovered.
 Case 2.—Metrorrhagia—Mrs. S., aged forty-six,  passing through
 her climacteric, had occasional attacks of profuse flooding, at irreg-
 ular  times,  so profuse as to bring her  down very low;  the blood
 was  thick,  dark,  and clotted,  and would continue  several days.
 The  attacks had been partially controlled by the use of Sabina,  and
 Crocus, but being called during the first day of a seizure, I deter-
 mined to test  the  Trillium.  Ten  drops  of the  1st  dec. dilution
 was  given  every half  hour; in  a few  hours the  flooding  had
 decidedly diminished, and  subsided completely in  two days. This
 was  continued,  in alternation with  Sanguinaria 3d., and she had no
more attacks, but menstruation ceased normally. Case 3.—Mrs. T.,
 aged fifty, had been subject to  attacks, similar to the above,  but
 anaemic, dropsical,  and  much  debilitated.   Apis. 2, relieved  the
 dropsy promptly;  Helonin  gave her  more  strength, and  better
 digestion than she  had had for months ;  and when an attack of
  flooding"  came on, Trillin 2nd  decimal arrested it in two days.
 these attacks were of a  peculiar character ; the discharge was pale,
watery, only slightly tinged with blood, but very profuse, accom-
panied with prostration,  vertigo, dimness of sight, palpitation of the
 heart, and a painful sense of "sinking at the pit of the stomach." 
TRILLIUM  PENDULUM.
407
All these  symptoms, which usually lasted eight  or  ten days under
allopathic treatment,  with Sulphuric acid,  and Mur. tine.  Iron,
subsided in two days,  under the action of minute doses of Trillin.
In  this case the discharge was  really blood  as much as though it
had been red;  but such  was her anaemia,  that the red globules
were very deficient.   She had  become jaundiced,  but under the
use  of Leptandria  2nd   decimal, the  liver  resumed   its nor-
mal functions,  and  her  increased appetite and  digestion, soon
brought some  color to her  hitherto pallid cheeks.  Case 4.—
Hemorrhage after  abortion—-The foetus and placenta came away
properly, but imprudence kept up the  hemorrhage, which was dark,
sanious, and accompanied  with pain in the back, dragging in the
loins, and soreness in the hypogastric  region.  All these symptoms
subsided after  using  Trillin  2nd decimal  for a few days.   "In
the treatment of vaginal and uterine leucorrhoea, particularly when
of an atonic character,  the Trillin will be found one of the most
reliable remedies.''   In foetid discharges from the vagina and uterus,
it may be employed  in  the form of injection, one  drachm  of the
powdered root  to one quart of hot water—used when cool.  " But
among the most valuable of its haemostatic properties, is  its power
of restraining profuse lochial discharges.  * *  * We have  found the
Trillin  exceedingly valuable  in  the treatment of prolapsus  uteri,
particularly  when of an asthenic character,  and dependant  upon
an atonic  condition of the uterine supports.  In engorgements  of
cervix uteri, chronic vaginitis, passive  hemorrhages of the uterus, it
is  an efficient remedy.''   The above is  extracted  from  Dr. Coe's
article " Trillin,"  and is in the  main correct, for it has been used
in similar conditions, in minute  doses,  and  with success.   I have
found the 1st dec.  or even the 3d  trit.  as   successful as  he
claims massive doses are.   Dr. Chamberlain  (N. A. Jour, of Horn.,
p. 438) recommends the  "Trillium, in cases of  uterine hemor-
rhage, and profuse flooding after confinement."   He prescribes half
a tea-spoonful of the powdered root, in molasses,  repeated  every
ten  or fifteen minutes.  Dr.  Freeland has used it for thirty years,
with success.
    Catarrhal Affections.—It is recommended generally for chronic
catarrhal  affections, especially  for cough when dependent upon
chronic bronchitis, or larygnitis.  In such cases it would seem to have
an effect similar to Copaiva, Stannum, or Pulsatilla.
    Respiratory Organs-—Dr. Coe says : " In chronic cough, accom-
panied  with spitting of blood,  the Trillin  is useful, and  may  be
combined with Lycopin.''  It has quite a  reputation in haemop-
tysis, in the eclectic school.  "Trillium has been  found by us, a
valuable agent  in  haemoptysis,  also in the  incipient  stages of
phthisis, with bloody  expectoration;  even  in the  more advanced
stages,   with   copious,   purulent expectoration,   hectic  fever,
troublesome cough, etc., we have found it useful."   (Jones & Scud-
der, Mat. Med.)   It has  even been recommended in asthma (hu-
mid) and whooping cough, but  upon rather  unsatisfactory data.
    Remarks.—I would  recommend my colleagues to test this
remedy in their practice,  carefully noting its  pathogenetic symp 
408        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

toms, and  curative results.  The  above is  mainly suggestive and
clinical, but may serve as  the basis upon which to build a proving.
Mode of administration.—It may be used in the dilutions from the
mother tincture, triturations of the root,  or the Trillin.  I have
usually used the 2nd decimal trituration of Trillin.
               YERATRUM    VIRIDE.

                        {American Hellebore).

    This plant,  known  also  by the names of Swamp Hellebore
 Indian  Poke, and Itch Weed, is indigenous to many parts of the
 United States, usually  growing in swamps, wet meadows, and on
 the banks of mountain streamlets, flowering from May to July.  For
 homoeopathic use a tincture is made of the green root.  The root is
 said to  contain a principle nearly identical with Veratria, but Dr.
 King thinks it  is like Colchicia, a distinct, though  analagous  prin-
 ciple.  From old school and eclectic sources, we glean the following
 estimate of the  properties and uses of this medicine. We have no
 regular and exhaustive proving, only fragmentary ones,  but enough
 to guide us pretty correctly.  Dr. W. C. Norwood, who has  done
 much to bring this plant into notice, states that actual experiments
 made by himself, have proved. 1.—"It is slightly acrid, and confining
 this action  mostly to the mouth and fauces.  2.—Expectorant, and
 unsurpassed  by any other  remedy for  which this property is
 claimed. 3.—Diaphoretic, being one of the most curative belonging
 to the materia medica; often exciting great coolness or coldness ol
 the surface; sometimes  rendering the skin merely soft and moist,
 and at others, producing free and  abundant perspiration,  without
 reducing or exhausting the system.  4.—Adenagic, deobstruent or
 alterative, far surpassing Iodine, and from which much advantage
 may be expected in the treatment of  Cancer  and Consumption.
 5.—Nervine, and never narcotic. This property renders it  of great
 value in the treatment of painful diseases,  and  such as  are accom-
 panied with spasmodic action, convulsions, morbid  irritability and
 irritative mobility, as  in chorea especially, epilepsy, pneumonia,
 puerperal fever,  neuralgia, etc.  And it produces  its effect in this
 respect  without stupefying and torpifying the system,  as opium is
 known to do.  Q.-Emetic ; it is slow  but certain in its operation,
 efficient, rousing the liver to  action during its operation, and vomits
 without occasioning  the prostration or exhaustion  which follow
 the action of most other emetics.  It is also superior to most other
 emetics in  not  being  cathartic.   It is peculiarly adapted as an
metic in hooping cough, croup, asthma, scarlet fever, and in all 
VERATRUM   VIRIDE.
409
cases when there is much febrile or inflammatory action.  7.—Arte-
rial sedative.   This he considers its most valuable and interesting
property, and for which it stands unparalleled and unequalled as a
therapeutic agent.  8.—In small  doses  it  creates  and promotes
appetite beyond any  agent  with which  we are acquainted." Dr.
N orwood was doubtless too enthusiastic in  his praises of this med-
icine, just as the  ancients too highly estimated the value  of the
Veratrum alb., its nearest analogue.  He has reduced the pulse  by
use of the tincture to thirty-five beats per minute, without  exciting
the least nausea or vomiting.  The antidotes to its excessive action,
are morphine, ginger, brandy, and laudanum.  Dr. Osgood says it is
an emetic, and its action violent and long continued.  He denies its
cathartic action.  It  increases most of the secretions,  and when
freely taken, exercises a powerful influence on the nervous system,
indicated by faintnes, somnolency, vertigo,  headache, dizziness of
vision, and dilated pupils.   Prof. Tully regarded it as an excellent
 substitute for Colchicum,  in gouty, neuralgic and rheumatic affec-
 tions, to which diseases it seems  best adapted.  Prof. Wood classes
 it among the " nervous sedatives'' along with Digitalis,  Aconite,
 Verat. alb, etc., and records many symptoms  resulting from  its use,
 which will be found recorded  in the pathogenesis.   We present
 the bold and heroic  proving of this powerful drug, by Dr. Burt.
 It is a faithful record of the symptoms caused by large doses.  In a
 note to the proving, Dr. B., writes. " I am confident that had I not
 assumed the horizontal posture when on the point of fainting, the
 syncope would have proved fatal," he intimates that a " heart-clot"
 would have  formed, but  it  is doubtful  if that effect would have
 happened: paralysis of the heart would have been the most probable
 result.
       PHYSIOLOGICAL EXPERIMENT WITH  VERATR17M  VIRIDE.
                By Wm. H. Burt, M. D., of Lyons, Iowa.
     Dec  21st.—In perfect health; bowels regular, once a day ; pulse
 seventy-four ; respiration twenty ; took thirty drops of the 3d dec.
 dilution  of  fluid extract  of Veratrum  viride, prepared in water.
 At 10 a. m.,  ten minutes after, sharp drawing pain over the left  eye,
 with a contracted feeling  of the  skin of the forehead;   one-half
  after ten, constant, dull, frontal  headache, with neuralgic pains  in
 the right temple, close to the eye ; eleven a. m. dull  pains over the
  eye wtth quite severe drawing pains in the umbilical  region-pulse
  sixty-seven, took  fifty drops; 12 m., slight  frontal headache with
  prickling pains in the region of the heart frequent  drawing pains
  n  the umbilical region ;  pulse seventy,  took sixty drops  2 p. m
  dul drawing pains in the forehead, natural stool  took one hundred
  droos  3 p  m  dull, heavy, frontal headache, with prickling  pains in
  iT-oriS region;  Jok 150 drops; 5 pm. slight frontalhea^
  ache  neuralgic  pains in the  region  of the heart and  cardiac
  "ortion  of  thgeCstomach;  took  200 drops; 7 p.  m.,  very  frequen
  neuralgic pains  in the cardiac portion of the stomach  took 175
  drops- slight, dull, frontal  headache,  neuralgic  pains  in the right
  .ft!Tof tfe  umbilicus,  passing down to the groin;  slight  drawing
         52 
410       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
  pains in the right elbow and calves of the legs ; sharp flying pains
  in the  epigastric  and  umbilical regions, pulse sixty-six.
     Dec, 22d.—Slept well, but had frightful dreams of being on tho
  water,  feeling well, pulse 79 ; 9 a. m., took three drops of fid. ext.
  one-half after nine, pulse seventy-six ; slight, dull, frontal headache,
  with a contractive feeling of the skin of the  forehead ; 10 a. m.,
  respiration twenty ; took four drops;  11 a. m., dull frontal headache
  with neuralgic pains in the temples ;  sharp pains  in the epigastric
  and umbilical regions, passing down to the pubes; pulse seventy-
  one ; 12 m., took five drops ; 2 p. m., very severe frontal headache,
  with dull aching pains in the umbilical region; pulse seventy-four;
  took  six  drops; 4 p.  m., constant dull  headache, pulse seventy;
  took six drops ;  9 p. m., dull frontal headache, with neuralgic pains
  in the right temple ; tongue feeling as if it had been scalded; dull
  aching  pains in the epigastrium; very  sleepy, took eight  drops.
     Dec. 23rd.—Had a restless night, frightful  dreams  of people
  drowning; flat taste in  the mouth ; tongue  coated yellow along the
 centre; soft  papescent stool, at 9  a. m.,  took ten  drops; pulse
 seventy; 10 a.  m., there  has  been constant  and  severe  cutting,
 aching pains in  the umbilical region  with rumbling in the bowels,
 with a soft stool; took twelve drops; dull heavy aching pains in the
 region of the gall-bladder, with dull pains in the umbilical region ;
 arms ache; 12 m., took twelve drops ; 1 p. m., very severe achino-
 in  the back  of the neck; very difficult to hold my head up ; con-
 stant  burning distress  in  the region  of the heart ; am very weak
 and tremble all over ;  pulse forty-six, soft and very weak ; can
 hardly be felt;  mushy stool without  pain; 2 p. m., dull frontal
 headache ; face is very pale ;  nose looks pinched and blue ; con-
 stant  hiccough  with violent and  constant  spasms  of the uppar
 part  of  the  oesophagus;  cannot swallow;  profuse vomitina  0f
 thick  glairy mucus  and  water;   profuse  secretion  of  tears,
 and mucus  from  the nose, also saliva; neck aching severely, pulse
 forty-four, soft  and  very  weak;  twenty minutes after  2,  vio-
 lent vomiting;   with severe frontal  headache  and   hiccough;
 cannot walk; if I attempt it,  I am very faint and  completely blind ;
 obliged  to  keep in the  horizontal  position ;   4  p.  m., pupils
 dilated;  neck and arms  ache  severely; dull aching pains in the
 umbilical region  with  rumbling; cannot walk  across the room
 without  becoming  blind;  pulse forty-four,  soft  and very  weak :
 5 p.  m„  constant   dull   aching  pains  in the  umbilicus,  with
 rnlP^rUrTgKC  P^V?  *he  left groin;  can  walk  about ten
 iodNwhen I  become blind, and  am compelled   to  sit  down;

 SeanHrt81XJ   8  P> M",¥in=  much  better' PuIs*  sixty-one
 soft and  weak  constant dull pain  in  the umbilicus, and  pain  in

    Der^l^P1151^' t00k eiSht drops and retired
 usual  flat   h^  T fUDd' ?ightful dreams  of  the water  as
 Xnt'the c'em p    rT,  V\/he. raouth 5 tongue  coated  yellow
^urfso'ft ZTi^t k^ n^drl T- ^ f^ ?"* V
pains in  the   umbilicus;  by*"pet^they"a e\£ "shL^ani
shooting, dull pains m  the  region of  the gall-bladder" tongue 
VERATRUM   VIRIDE.
411
feeling as if it  had  been scalded; took ten  drops at 10 a.m.;
12  m., dull  frontal  headache; dull pains in the  umbilicus; nat-
ural stool, followed  by  aching in the  rectum;  pulse fifty-five,
soft and  very weak ; took ten drops ;  1 p. m., very severe fron-
tal  headache; hiccough with constant and severe spasms of  the
upper  part  of  the   oesophagus; violent  vomiting of my dinner,
and then a thick glairy  mucus ; the secretion  of saliva, mucus
from the nostrils, and tears is  profuse; dull aching pains  and  dis-
tress in the  umbilical  region; back of  the  neck and arms ache
severely;  almost impossible to hold my head up ; pulse forty-four,
Boft and  very weak; can just  be felt; can walk about four rods,
then  I become   blind  and faint,  but can sit  up  without  any
trouble;   2  p. m., hiccough  lasted two  hours, also  the spasm of
the oesophagus; dull frontal  headache; severe aching in the neck
very  much  worse  by moving; dull pain in the bowels; pulse
forty-six  sitting  or  lying down;  constant dull aching,  burning
pain in the region of  the heart  under  the sternum; ringing in
the ear;  moving quickly  makes  me very deaf;  3  p. m., dull,  hot
aching pain in the region of the  heart, dull pain in the umbilical
region, pulse forty-six, soft and  very weak;  5  p. m.,  pulse fifty-
seven, soft  and weak, burning distress in the  region  of  the
heart; dull pains in  the umbilicus; 6  p. m.,  pulse sixty,  burning
distress in the region  of the  heart; dull pains  in the  bowels;
10  p. m., pulse  sixty-six; dull  pain in the  umbilicus, with desire
for stool, mushy  stool, followed by an  aching sensation in  the
rectum.  Morning, feeling well; pulse sixty-six, small, quick  and
hard.
    Nervous  System.—Wood  places  the Verat  v.,  among  the
" nervous sedatives," and nearly all  writers contend that its  sedative
action on the heart is through the nervous system.
    Nerves of Sensation.—Its action on these nerves is quite similar
to that of Aconite and Verat  alb.; yet, there are points of difference
worthy of being noticed.  It does not actually produce anaesthesia,
but allays pain  and  hyper-catharsis.  When given in rheumatism
and neuralgia the pain abates as soon as the system is under  the
influence of the medicine.  An  external application of the  tincture
to painful swellings,  eruptions,  etc., is said to mitigate the painful
Kpns&t ions
    Nerves'of Motion.— "We have  observed  as a result  of  the
administration  of  Veratrin very  singular  contortions  ot   the
muscular  system, particularly of  the  muscles of the face,  neck,
fingers and  toes;  the head would  be  drawn  to one  side,  the
mouth drawn down  at one corner, and the facial muscles  affected
with convulsive twitchings ; at  times these contortions would tako
the form of tonic  spasms, while  at other times the  action would
simulate a series of galvanic  shocks, frequently of such violence as
to  precipitate the patient  out of  bed;  during  all this time  the
intellect of the patient remained undisturbed, and he was conscious
of all that was going on."-{Coe Con. Org. Med.)   It would  cer-
tainly seem that the Veratrum  was homoeopathic to chorea in some
of  its forms.  The  Veratrum viride  seems to exert a  sedative 
412        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
 influence over the nerves, as specifically as Nux vomica and  its
 analogues irritate them.  Its primary  action is the opposite of the
 primary action of Strychnine.  It is secondarily homoeopathic  to
 convulsive affections.  As a prompt and  reliable remedy I prefer it
 to Aconite in hysterical, epileptiform, or puerperal convulsions;
 also in the convulsions of children.  I have succeeded with the first
 decimal dilution, rarely having to resort to the mother tincture, and
 then only giving it in one and two-drop doses.  The following
 allopathic experience with  the Verat. v. in nervous and  spasmodic
 affections, is  worthy of  place  here:  It is  stated  that animals
 poisoned with the Veratria from Verat. viride " lost the power over
 the locomotive muscles, and after death  the galvanic current did not
 exercise  the same convulsive movements as in cases of death from
 other causes."—{Amer. Med. Times.)  Experimenters all notice a
 peculiar  "weakness and  inability  to  move the  muscles;''  also,
 stiffness  of  the voluntary  musles.   Dr.  Baker, in the  Southern
 Medical  and Surgical  Journal, gives an account of  the  value  of
 the  drug in  the  treatment  of  certain  neuroses.   Case  1 : —
 "The patient was a stout, healthy man of sober habits.  I found him
 sitting on the side of the bed, seemingly well  and perfectly intelli-
 gent, unaware, however,  that he had had convulsions.  All that  I
 could  ascertain of  his  previous history was, that he  had been
 similarly affected  in childhood.  While conversing with him he was
 suddenly, and  without apparent premonition, seized with a frightful
convulsion,  occasioning frothing at the mouth, and  the   most
violent jactitations  of all  the  voluntary muscles.  I immediately
opened a vein  and bled  him  profusely, but without the desired
result; for, after  the lapse of a certain  period, with as perfect a
return of consciousness as before, there  occurred another convul-
sion of equal severity.  In this emergency, the excessive muscular
 relaxation capable  of  being produced by the Veratrum  viride
occurred to my mind, and I reflected that such an effect could only
be produced by an influence  primarily exerted upon the cerebro-
spina  system  of voluntary nerves.   1  administered the Veratrum
in full and repeated doses, desiring, and confidently expecting to
produce  the same train of distressing symptoms that so alarmed
me some  years previously; these were nausea, vomiting, purging,
(rarely observed) muscular relaxation, and  coldness of the surface!
In this I was disappointed ; for, though the convulsions were arrested,
there occurred no other symptom than a relaxed skin, with profuse
n?3n       SlDCJthf I.have administered the  Veratrum in
vpsT^I  t0''868, w- £i*mSl% °f children' with  such satisfactory
lesults as  to establish^beyond aU doubt, the power of  this agent to
STl^Tl810"8-'   Dr- Baker'  in Jun^ 1858' undertook the cure
for tw ™ l°re?«£a y2mg lad^ Xt had been gradually coming on
to IheZ^ Whln ^ Visked' her "ymptoma were distressing
and" tuouf **'  hG eDt^e mUSCular s?8tem ^ing in continued
not^s^                                   ™ to worse,
trpntmpnt  tw       •     assiduous  attention and  energetic
SrLft"^^0^ and  ano^es were exhausted
without avail; the  spine and  nucha were cupped and  blistered, 
VERATRUM  VIRIDE.
413
without benefit; chloroform  was administered internally and by
inhalation ; opium and its preparations seemed to make her worse ;
so, after all the family had given up all expectation of recovery,
upon the suggestion of a medical friend, who had twice used the
Verat. viride, in three cases  of chorea, with  the  most satisfactory
results, " I at once commenced its administration. And as she was
gradually brought under its  influence, the turmoil began to cease;
the face, which had been worked by  its muscles into  the most ludi-
crous  and horrible distortion, became placid and intelligent; the
head  ceased  its everlasting  jerking,  the  extremities lay still,
the  body left off writhing, and  the patient quietly passed  into  a
peaceful and profound slumber.   This sleep was deep and long,  as
it was the first, with few and slight exceptions, that she had had  in
nearly two weeks ; and the quiet that the muscles  now received
was all that  had  occurred, save  during   those few and  short
slumbers.  At a subsequent visit, I  found  the family cheerful and
hopeful, and the  patient quiet and  sleeping, the pulse but little
 depressed; there had occurred  no vomiting—I roused her, and  to
 my great  satisfaction, when awake,  there was no jactitation of the
 extiemities,  and but very little  twitchings  of the  muscles of the
 face.   The Veratrum  was continued, and  for the  first few days,
 if withheld,  the  commotion began  to return; under the quiet
 induced, the sleep was so continuous at  the  outset, that the family
 called the preparation 'the laudanum mixture.'  After a time the
 convulsions  ceased  altogether,   and the patient was  restored  to
 health under a course of tonics."  Dr. Terry reports three cases of
 chorea, in which the Verat. v. was employed.  1 he first was a child,
 et twelve.  "It had  been confined to  bed for three weeks, and
 was reported to have been under treatment for about  six weeks;
 first,  for worms, with spigelia, worm-seed, etc.,  and subsequently,
 for chorea, with cimicifuga rac,  iron, quinine, and the usual routine
 treatment, until the  child was apparently dying. It is  not in the
 power  of language  to convey  a proper  conception  ot the  tiuly
 Eble state In  which I found this child  It had  slept  none,
 neither taken any nourishment  for days. It was evidently dying
 from  exhaustion  and inanition.  The  muscular  commotion was
 violent,  universal,  and  unaffected  by  sleep;   the lips  embossed
  with  foam,  worked  up by  a  continued champing  ot  the teeth
 Three  drops  of the  tincture of Verat. viride  were  administered
  every theeP hours,  the vehicle  being gum water.  In twenty-four
  hours  I had  the   gratification to  see  the   symptoms  great y
  iniproved;  the muscles were  much quieter and the  child  could
  Tallow without difficulty.  The trouble in this  respect had consti-
  tuted the greatest embarrassment in the treatment.  At the rad of

  ordt^
  £TA^  wereJ^v^three^-£S*



  in one arm,  together with jactitation of one leg.   In this 
414        NEW   HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
 six drops of the tincture of Verat. v. were given every three hours.
 The  fourth dose occasioned slight  nausea,  and  after  the  fifth
 dose, the convulsive action  ceased, when  the Veratrum was with-
 held.   In  eiiiht or ten  hours the symptoms returned.  Upon
 resuming the  medicine, they  again  disappeared—the  doses were
 then reduced.   The case recovered.   Dr. Baker also  mentions a
 case  of puerperal convulsions in which Chloroform by inhalation,
 copious bleeding and forceps were employed ;  child dead ; weighed
 eleven and a half pounds.  Patient was left quiet and comfortable.
 Seen after four or five hours had elapsed ; she was found in a most
 violent convulsion, which was said  to be the seventh since delivery.
 Fifteen drops of the tincture of Verat. viride were given, and ten
 more were  directed to  be  given  in  two hours,  after which the
 intervals should  be prolonged to three  or  four  hours.  There
 occurred no more convulsions, and the woman  recovered perfectly.
 She  was not even nauseated, though the  medicine was  given  at
 regular intervals during the whole   night.  Dr.  Woodward,  of
 Galesburg,  Illinois  (Philadelphia M.  and  S.  Reporter), writes:—
 "In  a late  case of puerperal convulsions, I did not resort to the
 Veratrum, but  used the lancet twice, taking away forty-five ounces
 of blood before the  convulsions ceased ; but  in about  four hours
 after the  last  convulsion, the  lady  became  furiously delirious,
 requiring to be held  on the bed. Two doses, of ten drops each,  of
 tincture Verat.,  v.,  quieted her so completely that she slept for
 hours, and had no return of the delirium.''
   Skin.—Coldness of the skin, which is  usually perspiring; the
 sweat is often warm, but sometimes  cold  and clammy; it causes
 vesication of  the  skin,  when  applied externally;  tingling and
 prickling of he skin.
   Clinical Remarks.—We have no proof in our proving, or in
 the cases of poisoning on record, that it causes any  eruptions when
 taken internally; externally  it  causes erythema and  vesications.
 Prof. Lee  says it is an  " epispastic;'' it  causes perspiration, not
 like  Opium, which stimulates the skin, but like Tartar Emetic.   In
 other words, the sweating is passive  from depression of function.
 In Tilden's  Journal we read  that the Verat. v.  has  been  used
 externally in local inflammations. The tincture should be combined
 with Glycerine two parts to six. Apply by saturating lint, and putting
 it on  the inflamed spot.   It  is reported to have cured a case  of
 shingles, applied externally in the   form of diluted  tincture.    In
 chrome  skin diseases, it has been used according to Prof. Lee,
with much benefit.   A  popular ointment for  the cure  of scabies,
tinea capitis, etc., is  made from this  plant, but its  external use in
such cases is not devoid  of  danger.
   Sleep.—Sound sleep every night, but has  frightful  dreams  of
being on the water; restless night,  with frightful  dreams of bein<*
 drowned.                                                     °
   Clinical Remarks.—The above symptoms, are quite commonly
 experienced in  cerebral  congestions.  In  the incipient stages  of
meningitis, or  hyolrocephalus, dreams of being on  the  water  are
not unusual. Dr. Coe  says it is a "soporific," but  decrees that  it 
VERATRUM   VIRIDE.
415
is not a narcotic.   Drs.  Tully and Ives proved  to their own  satis-
faction, that it was possessed of narcotic  properties.
   Fever-—Chilliness with nausea; coldness of the whole body with
cold perspiration, especially upon the hands, feet and face ; coldness,
with pale skin, flabby muscles, and quick  weak pulse ; excites great
coolness or coldness of the surface, sometimes  renders the  skin
merely soft and moist, at other times causes profuse, cold perspira-
tion; cool  skin, pulse reduced from 100 to 60 in fever; coldness  of
the  whole  body,  with  cold sweat; pulse 35 slow  and soft,  with
nausea and vomiting.   When given in  fever it does  not always
cause slowness of  the pulse, but  will render a pulse of 140,  softer
and weak  without diminishing its  frequency;  weak, scarcely per-
ceptible pulse, and reduced from 68 to 52; feeble,  irregular, scar-
cely perceptible pulse, with cold  clammy perspiration.
    Clinical  Remarks.—The  Veratrum viride  belongs  to  the
 group of remedies of which Aconite, Veratrum  alb.  Gelseminum
 semp., etc., are members.   The primary  action  of all these remedies
 when given in medicinal doses, is to depress the circulation, through
 the agency of the nervous system. With this  depression, there is
 always  present  coldness or coolness  of the  skin,  warm  or cold
 perspiration, chilliness or coldness, and, in short all the symptoms
 which  generally characterize the cold stage of fevers. I have not
 been able  to find, in any of the cases of  poisoning  by Verat. v., any
 general reaction following  this cold stage.  The same may be said
 of the other members  of  this  group.  It  is  only in  careful and
 exhaustive provings, with small and repeated doses, that we get con-
 tinuous febrile symptoms.   But we may properly accept this state-
 ment, namely:—that it is with medicinal, as with natural diseases,
 a fact  that a febrile reaction always follows the cold stage, if the
 vital powers do not prevent.  Any cause capable of depressing the
 nervous and vascular system (primarily) will cause excitation and
 Sion of the same systems (secondarily).  The  secondary (reac-
 tive) symptoms will vary in nature, symptoms, and intensity, with
 the cause  Thus, the   secondary febrile symptoms following the
 Primary febrile symptoms of Aconite  are very different from those
 ofTelseminum  or Veratrum.  In fevers  in general, Veratrum
 v ride enToys  the confidence of a great portion of the allopathic
 Ind ecS'c schools of medicine   But  like a 11orter powerful
 medicines, it has its enthusiastic ^^^^^^^^f
 Some very high  authorities are extravagant in then  laudations ot
 ftHafety  efficiency, and curative  power over many other diseases
 b sides?evt:;  a/the same  time, othei■  «^«^JJ™gj ^'





  deaths in one year than chlorofarm ^»^^g& Lee in
  sorry for the sake; of ^*%^ %«^  the  recklessly
  \^XsZ of hb .otST'Aoonite.^Tartor  emetic,  and  Mercury, 
416        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
  are equally dangerous and fatal when used by the dominant school;
  yet, in the  hand  of  the homoeopathist, these  poisonous  agents
  become potent instruments for the  removal  of disease.  He regu-
  lates the dose to suit the over-sensitive, diseased organism, and the
  result  is  that Veratrum  viride, as well  as Verat. alb., Aconite,
  Tartar  emetic, Gelseminum,  and  others,  become  invaluable  to
  suffering  humanity. In simple  Ephemeral fever,  without local
  inflammation, but  accompanied by vertigo,  headache, dimness  of
  sight, nausea, weakness, and restlessness, this remedy is as useful as
  any. (Drop doses of the first decimal dilution.)  In Irritative fever
  it may sometimes  be of great utility.  In  this disease the pulse
  often  runs as high as  140, or even 160.   It differs not  less  in
  strength  and  fulness than in  frequency.  Sometimes it is strong,
  full, and  moderately accelerated, and sometimes small and feeble ;
 and the latter is most apt to be the case when the frequency is the
 greatest.  When the fever is  accompanied  with  a tendency to
 drowsiness, throbbing  of the  temporal  arteries, a  full,  frequent,
 hard pulse, vomiting of mucus and bile,  constipation,  tendency
 to spasms, (as  is frequently the  case in  the  Infantile remittent of
 children),  the Veratrum viride in suitable doses will  soon effect a
 favorable change.   To a person over ten years, may be given five
 or ten drops of the first decimal dilution, every  hour or two; to
 children from  one drop to five  drops will suffice, although in cases
 of cerebral congestion large doses  may be used.  When this fever
 is caused by teething, the irritation of worms, or any cause acting
 through the nervous system, this  remedy is  the best we can use.
 As stated  above, the pulse  is often quick, febrile, and very feeble]
 This  may arise from an  affection of the nervous centres, and the
 pulse may  be the  pulse of oppression and of weakness.  In the
 former case the Verat. viride in the doses above recommended will
 often cause the pulse to become  less  frequent, fuller, and softer
 \\ hen debility is the cause of the small pulse, Phos. ac. and China
 are indicated.   Intermittent fever is  not controlled by any remedy
 of the Aconite group.   They do  not  seem  to possess the anti-
 penodic  power, which  is essential.  I  cannot subscribe to the
 doctrine  taught m  our school, that " any medicine will  cure  ague
 if indicated by the symptoms."   I practiced in a malarious district
 over twelve years, and my experience in the treatment of miasmatic
 fevers led  me to  adopt  this  conclusion, namely, that  there is a
 certain class of remedies which  possess  antidotal virtues, or are
 capable, when introduced into the system, of  antidoting  the
 malarious poison. I believe this poison to be a specific miasm, and
 are IZ xllT'llated/°^e'" as so™ teach.  Not all intermittents
 are due to the action of this poison, and some such fevers may be
 Omen1npyvtherS thaD memberS 0f the China-group, namely:-
 Quinne,  ^ux  vomica,  Arsenicum,  Salicine,  Cornus  florida,  etc
 \ eratrum viride, although not  indicated for  the  disease  itself  is

and^thl^Tr mthe  ^ 8tage' When the taction is  ntense
and the  vascular system is excited strongly.   In such cases  in
adults, we may have congestion of the  brain, delirium  powerful
action of  the  heart, and  a hard,  rapid  pulse; and To Sren 
VERATRUM  VIRIDE.
417
severe spasms  and convulsions.   In these cases  this  remedy is
superior to Aconite or Belladonna.   Under  its  use the intensity of
the paroxysm will soon subside, and the threatened convulsions be
arrested.  I have sometimes given one or two drops of the mother
tincture every half hour to an adult, and half as much  to a child,
with  the  happiest results.  Remittent or bilious fever, when not
dependent on miasmatic influences, will often be amenable  to the
therapeutic influence of  Veratrum viride; but will have to be
alternated with other  remedies like Bryonia,  Mercurius,  Podo-
phyllum or Leptandria, as the symptoms and  conditions demand.
When the gastric symptoms  are predominant, this remedy will
have  to be used in  smaller doses  (2nd  or  3rd dil.) than when-the
stomach or bowels are irritated.  When this form of fever assumes
the character of a, pernicious remittent, the Verat. v. is to be used
with  extreme caution.  It is still indicated, but primarily,  for the
primary action  of the  drug is to cause conditions very similar to
a pernicious fever ;  namely, prostration of the vital forces, with
typhus symptoms, etc.   My  experience in  such fevers has  taught
me that  the best and safest treatment is to use  Baptisia, Verat.
viride, Aconite, or Verat. alb.,  3rd, in  alternation with  a  remedy
 secondarily indicated; namely, China, Quinine, Nitric acid, etc., in
 material doses.  Indeed, it is often necessary in those low condi-
 tions which occur during pernicious fevers, to give Quinine in five
 or ten grain doses, repeated in brandy, every hour.  Those who
 have  had to  combat with these  terrible  malarious diseases will
 know and appreciate the necessity of  resorting  in  some cases
 to such doses; and those who know the least, practically, of these
 diseases,  are  they  who are  loudest in  denouncing  what  they
 term "gross  medication."  In Yellow  Fever, the  Veratrum  has
 been used by the  dominant school, with alleged success.  Drs.
 White and Ford of Charleston,  S. C, treated  many cases with
 Verat v   In  the Charleston  Medical  Journal and Review they
 give the  results of their treatment.  They  gave from eight to ten
 drops to  adults, and from one to six drops  to children, repeated
 every hour or  two.  "By the  administration of the Veratrum in
 this   manner, the pulse was  sooner or later  subdued, and as it
 sank, became   somewhat irregular.   The first doses  were  often
 vomited, in severe cases, but  the  succeeding ones were commonly
  retained, and  the patient did  not vomit again until the pulse was
  reduced, when the effect of  the  remedy was occasionally marked
 by emesis. This  vomiting  was  rarely severe,  ceasing  ot  itseii
 upon a  temporary  discontinuance of  the  medicine  or  yielding
  readily to common  restoratives.  The  reduction  of the pulse was
  accompanied by a notable cooling of the body, by a^well-marked
  diminution of the headaches, pain in the back and limb,,  of the
  restlessness and anxiety, of the frequency  of  the respiration, of  he
  congestion of  the skin, flushing  ot the face  tumefaction  of the
  tongue and injection  of the conjunctiva.  The patient felt  much
  Sved,and  skept tranquilly as soon as the vomiting,  had ceased ;
  nor  would the symptoms tend to recur  for some hour,, asi they
  would always do, however, if the drug were not again preserved.
         53 
 418       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 The pulse was  kept by the Veratrum  fifteen  beats below the
 normal range. If the  pulse was  small  and frequent,  it was given
 in small doses; if black vomit supervened, and the pulse was slow,
 the Veratrum plainly was  not  required ;  if,  however,  the pulse
 was rapid, the Veratrum was continued in doses proportioned to
 its  frequency, which were usually  small, and repeated every  two
 or three hours.  Without regard,  therefore, to  the ordinary acci-
 dents of  the disease, whenever it was required, and  only then, the
 Veratrum was uniformly, or specially administered,  until convales-
 cence  was  declared." "  Together with  the Veratrum, however,
Mercury was given, pushed  to salivation and catharsis; also, saline,
 diuretic and refrigerent mixtures; so that the  results are anything
 but satisfactory to the investigator, who would ascertain the pure
effects of drugs  in  disease.  Of the whole number  treated with
Veratrum; namely, 117, there  recovered  102; died 15.   Adults,
 80, recovered 66; died 14. Children 37, recovered 36; died  1.  The
subjoined table  shows the mean  range of the pulse under  the
Veratrum viride,  as  compared with its  mean  range before the
Verat was given:
Mean Frequency.	Adult Males.	Adult Females.	Children.
	102.5 61.3 52.8	114.2 65.2 64.T	1375 71.0
			74.8
   This table shows the  power which the medicine exercises over
the pulse  and the heart's action in disease, and by it we can judge
pretty correctly of its action on the healthy organism.
   In Typhoid fever, the Veratrum viride has not been used much
in homoeopathic practice;  not as  much, as  in  our opinion, it is
entitled to.  Many  of its  symptoms strongly resemble the  symp-
toms of typhoid, particularly  the  abdominal and cerebral varieties.
The only cure on record in our literature, illustrating the action of
this remedy in  typhoid fever, is reported in the Philadelphia Jour.
of Horn., by Dr. Henry.  He says: " It is the best remedy I have
ever used in the treatment of  those diseases which have a tendency
to assume a typhoid form  of fever.  As far as I have been able to
test this remedy,  in fever of all  descriptions, I must say I am
better pleased  with it than with Aconite."   Case 1.—A little girl,
aged thirteen, had been suffering with continued fever for ten days.
She complained of violent pain in the  back; inclined to sleep most
of the day ;  very sick at the stomach, but not so as to produce
vomiting; black diarrhoea;  pulse varying from ninety-eight to one
hundred and  ten during  the day;  pain  and weakness in the lower
limbs.  I took  the  case to be a mild form of typhus. I immediately
put five drops of the mother tincture in a tumbler half full of water,
and ordered a tea-spoonful to be taken every half hour, until pers-
piration was  produced.  I called  in two hours,  found the pulse
down to eighty-four; the  patient was in a general perspiration;
she recovered without any other remedy, in two days.   Case 2.—
Mr. H., a young man, aged eighteen,  sick two weeks.  Found him 
VERATRUM  VIRIDE.
419
with a very high fever; pulse 120; face very much flushed; ful-
ness, with slight pain,  and great buzzing in the head; gnats and
bugs  fly before the eyes; inclined to jump out of bed; talking at
random; slight bearing down pains  in the bowels,  attended with
black diarrhoea; great weakness of the lower extremities, with
general prostration.  Six drops of the mother tincture of Verat. v.
was mixed with twelve tea-spoonfuls of water, a tea-spoonful to be
taken every  half hour.  In three hours found the  pulse down to
ninety-five; before the day was out he was in a fine perspiration;
no fever for  three days; has now  a slight fever, which lasts two
or three hours a day;  every  other  symptom right.''  There is no
question in my  mind,  but that  a continuance of the pathogenetic
action of Verat. v. would result in  such  lesions  of the intestinal
canal, as  result  in the typhus process.  Rubbed  on the skin,  or
held in  the mouth, it causes erosions and vesicular eruptions, and it
will probably affect,  similarly, the whole intestinal tract.  ^ I  regard
it as secondarily indicated in all fevers of the synochal or inflamma-
tory type, and even in some typhoids.   The above cases have many
symptoms which resemble those caused by Verat.  v.; but Baptisia,
Belladonna, Phosphoric acid, and Muriatic acid, are more generally
indicated.  A large amount of testimony could be  produced from
allopathic  sources, in  regard to the value of Verat. v. in typhoid
fevers,  and many grains of truth gleaned from the chaff, but we
cannot  give the space.   In Small Pox, or  Variola,  when the fever
is intense, with excessive pain  and restlessness, the Verat. viride
will prove as reliable as Aconite, and in some cases,  even more sat-
isfactory.  I have used it in but one case of variola—four drops of
the 1st dec.  were given every  hour,  with the effect of mitigating
the  severity of the fever, and  hastening the occurrence  of the
eruption.  The  recent use of the Saracenia pur., in  this dreaded
disease, now attracts much attention,  and bids fair to supersede all
other remedies.   In Measles, during the febrile stage, and especially
if pulmonary congestion is feared,  the Verat. v. is a most useful
remedy.  Under its use  the dyspnoea,  cough,  and pain  rapidly
subside.   In children,  convulsions often precede the outbreak ot
the eruption.  If Verat. v. is given at the outset,  this accident will
 generally be prevented.  The  next most useful remedies m this
 disease are, Gels., Puis., Euphr., and Merc. iod.  In  Scarlatina, it is
infinitely superior to Aconite, Gelseminum, or any other remedy,
 except Belladonna.   I  allude  to  the Scarlatina simp ex  and S.
 Anginosa, during the first, or febrile stage.  It controls the pulse,
 even when given in the low dilutions, better than any other remedy,
 and hastens the normal appearance of the eruption.  The testimony
 of some of the most prominent  physicians of the homoeopathic
 school  sustain  this assertion.   Dr. Small prefers  it  to  any other
 remedy, when the arterial excitement is intense, and there is danger
 of cerebral congestion, or irritation of the spinal centres.  It is well
 known that  in  this  disease the arterial excitement is more severe,
 the milse more frequent, and the heat of the skin greater than in any.
 othJr  the Verat. v. will sooner modify this condition than Aconite
 or Gelseminum.  It  should  be given in alternation with Bella- 
420        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
donna; the doses must be varied to suit the severity of the case.
For children, the dilutions from the 1st to the  3d (dec); for adults,
drop doses  of  the  mother tincture may be  required.  The best
is, to give enough to control the arterial excitement.  It is useful in
certain Sequela- of scarlatina,  acute rheumatism, dropsy, etc., when
febrile symptoms are manifested.   In Erysipelas, it is often useful.
Besides its specific  action in  controlling  the arterial excitement, it
appears to be homoeopathic to  the  vesicular variety; for the appli-
cation of Verat. v.  to, the skin  often causes an  eruption  closely
resembling that form of the disease, and  even its internal adminis-
tratic n is said to have caused  a similar  eruption all over the body.
When cerebral symptoms occur from a supposed metastasis  of the
inflammation to the brain, and we find  the pulse hard and full, or
hard and small,  we may expect much  benefit from this remedy, in
alternation with Belladonna, Apis, or Arnica.   If the febrile symp-
toms assume a  low, or asthenic type,  Rhus tox., Arnica, Muriatic
acid, or Baptisia, will be more applicable.   The Verat. v. has been
used  as  an external application,  with alleged benefit in cases of
erysipelas—a weak solution—one  drachm to  one pint of water,
may be applied with soft cloths.
    Head.—Headache, with vertigo; dimness of vision, and dilated
pupils; headache, proceeding from  the nape of the neck; heaviness
of the head; sharp, drawing pain  over  the left eye,  with a con-
tracted feeling of the skin of the  forehead ; dull, frontal headache,
with  neuralgic  pains in the right temple, close to the eye; dull,
drawing pains  in the forehead, with  drawing, dull pains in the
umbilical region; very severe, frontal headache, with vomiting;
constant, dull, heavy headache.
   Clinical Remarks.—The  Veratrum v. acts upon the  brain,
similarly to Aconite, and Gelseminum; yet, its effects are far from
identical.  The therapeutic range  of Veratrum  over  affections of
the brain is far greater than that of the latter.  I know  of no
drug, not  even  Belladonna,  so useful in  affections  of the head,
when they are of a  congestive character.   In Cerebral Congestions,
it  is immensely superior to  any  known drug.  This assertion is
made understanding^, and based upon an experience  of  six years
with  the medicine.  It  is most useful when  the congestion arises
from plethora,  vascular hritation, coup de soliel, alcoholic stimu-
lants, teething  in  children,  and  especially  when it occurs  from
suppressed discharges. When the  congestion occurs from rheumatic
irritation, Cimicifuga,  or Aconite  are better indicated.   The symp-
toms  calling for Verat. v.   are,  a sense of fulness;  heaviness;
weight,  or  distention of the head; giddiness; intense headache,
with fulness and throbbing of the arteries, sometimes with stupe-
faction ;  increased  sensitiveness to sound, with  buzzing,  roaring,
etc.;  double, partial, luminous,  painful, dim, or otherwise disor-
ered vision; nausea and vomiting;  tingling, numbness, etc., in the
limbs; mental confusion ; loss of memory;  convulsions, or paralysis
of motion. ^ For these congestions of the head in young children,
from  teething, I have  for several years given  this medicine the
preference over Belladonna,  or Aconite; also in cerebral  oppres- 
VERATRUM   VIRIDE.
421
sion, occurring during the progress of a pneumonia.  I consider it
as perfectly  homoeopathic to  these  before-mentioned  congestive
conditions, as any other  drug in our materia medica, for it  has
caused all the symptoms of such morbid states.  It does  not cure
by " depressing the action of the heart," as bleeding  does.  Those
who denounce the use of Verat. v. in vascular irritation, fever, etc.,
might as well denounce Aconite and Gelseminum, for they all act in
a similar manner.  The increased action of the vascular system is
a secondary effect of these medicines.  In  Meningitis, the Verat.
v. should be used promptly, and in the lowest dilutions, alternated
with  Belladonna,  when  the  latter  remedy  seems  indicated.  I
believe it  to be more useful  in this disease, as  well as Cerebritis,
than Aconite.  In Tubercular meniugitis,  or Hydrocephalus, it can
do  no good, except  in the stage  of active inflammation,  if that
stage  exists; but it  may be palliative in  preventing or arresting
spasms in the later stages.
    Face and  Nose.—Pale, cold face ; face  cold, bluish, and  covered
with cold  perspiration; convulsive twitching of the facial muscles ;
mouth drawn down at one corner; paleness of the lips, and around
the alae of the nostrils ; nose looks pinched, cold,  and blue;  profuse
 secretion of  mucus from the nostrils ; singular contortions of the
muscles of the face.  (See spasmodic symptoms.)
    Clinical Remarks.—We have in the  above facial symptoms
these conditions indicated, namely : collapse of the general system,
 spasmodic or chorectic states, and a congested or apoplectic condi-
 tion of the brain.  It has cured several cases of chorea, and is of
 great  value  in  cerebral  congestion.  The "drawing  down of a
 corner of the mouth" would point to a sanguineous effusion into the
 brain substance.
    Ears.—Ringing in the ears; moving quickly produces complete
 deafness;  dull roaring in the ears ; the ears are cold and pale.
    Clinical Remarks.—Most of the effects of Veratrum upon the
 ears and eye arise from a depressed  state of the circulation.  The
 same condition is  present, as  after  excessive bleedings, or loss  of
 any of the vital fluids.  In high  potencies it may prove usefifl  m
 similar affections.  But Veratrum v. causes, secondarily, congestion
 of the brain, with ringing of the ears.   In low  dilutions, it is one
 of the  best remedies for the latter condition.   It is  well known
 that anaemia and plethora will  produce  nearly the  same array of
 brain symptoms,  although opposite pathological states  are really
 present.   Thus, acute hydrocephalus  is  often  simulated by the
 hydrocephaloid disease, which f.rises from sheer debility.
    Eyes —Profuse secretion of tears; dimness of sight; wa king
 brings on  blindness with  faintness;  dimness of  vision with dilated
 pupils; immense circles of a green color appeared around the candle,
 which, as  vertigo came  on, and I closed  my eyes, turned  to red,
 double vision.                                   .     .__,,,.„0:a
    Clinical Remarks.—It is primarily homoeopathic to Amauiosis
 from amemia, or from loss of fluids,  or from debility during conva-
 lescence (should  be alternated with China, Phos. acid  1st), ana
 oiven in the 6th dilution).  It  is also indicated  in amaurosis from 
 422       NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

 imitation  or  congestion of the optic nerves, when the symptoms
 correspond with its pathogenesis.
    Mouth, Fauces, and (Esophagus.—Tongue feels as if it had  been
 scalded (constant symptom);  tongue coated  yellow along  the
 centre;  flat, bitter  taste  on  the  tongue;  copious  secretion
 of   saliva;   intense  burning   in   the   fauces,  with  constant
 inclination to  swallow;  burning  in  the oesophagus;   spasms
 of   the  oesophagus;  burning  and  spasm  of the  oesophagus,
 with rising  of frothy, bloody mucus  into the  mouth (this symp-
 tom was  intensely disagreeable, lasted  several  days, and  was
 relieved by Phosphorus 3d, after several remedies had been tried
 in vain); sensation as  of a ball rising in the oesophagus.
    Clinical  Remarks.—The yellow coating on the tongue, and
 the  bitter taste, were both noticed in the morning, and point to
 irritation  of  the liver.  The Veratrum v. produces undoubted
 inflammation of the  mucous membrane of the oesophagus,  with
 superficial erosion, spasm, etc.  We have here a truly homoeopathic
 remedy for oesophagitis. It is also homoeopathic to spasmodic stric-
 ture of that tube.
    Stomach.—Uneasy constriction of the stomach, with tendency
 to sickness ;  excruciating pain in the lower part of the stomach, the
 pain extending to about the size of the hand ; the constrictive pain
 is increased  by warm  drinks, which seem to go under  the pain;
 violent nausea and vomiting ;  vomiting of glairy mucus with blood,
 with running from the nose and eyes ;  excruciating pain in the pit
of the stomach, with heat and constriction of the throat; vomiting
 of, first food, then mucus, finally a small quantity of blood;  painful,
 empty retching; sensation of dryness and  heat in throat, extend-
 ing to the stomach, with disposition to hiccough; severe hiccough
 of fifteen or twenty times per minute ; violent vomiting, coming on
 in about ten or fifteen minutes; great irritability of the stomach, the
 smallest quantity of food or drink  is immediately rejected—this
irritation  continued for three weeks (from thirty drops); great
uneasiness, followed by intense pain in the stomach ; the  pain was
 drawing, twisting, and  pressing; the  stomach felt as if drawn
tightly against the spinal column, causing pain in the  back, in  the
dorsal region ; the stomach seemed to press against the spine when
 lying upon the  back ; the pain in the stomach would  culminate
 every five  or ten minutes, with powerful  and expulsive vomiting ;
 the pain was aggravated  by the least noise;  vomiting, not pre-
 ceded by nausea.—(Various sources.)  Vomiting of bile and blood;
 hiccough before and after vomiting; very frequent neuralgic (?)
 pains in the cardiac portion of the stomach ; sharp, flying pains in
 the epigastrium and umbilical region, passing  down to the pubes.
—(Dr. Burt's proving.)  Dr. Osgood—an allopathic  observer-
noticed in his own case, that the vomiting was effected  by a spas-
modic contraction of the stomach itself without participation of the
 diaphragm, and abdominal muscles ; and in another individual was
preceded  by  a sensation as of a ball rising in the oesophagus—the
result no doubt of spasmodic contraction  of the tube.   Dr. Nor-
 wood says:   " We have seen it produce emesis  in very susceptible 
VERATRUM  VIRIDE.
423
persons, and the contractions of the stomach were so rapid as to be
almost continuous, and  uninterrupted''   He also remarks  that:
" there need be no danger apprehended of causing inflammation of
the stomach ; we have given especial attention to that particular.
It is peculiar, and  at the same time interesting in its effects, from
the fact of its acting as a sedative on almost every other portion of
the  system, diminishing the  vascular and muscular  action  and
motion of every other part, and increasing  that  of the stomach."
Dr. N. asserts that it increases the appetite and desire for food.
    Clinical  Remarks.—We have  in the above a notable array of
symptoms, pointing to excessive gastric irritability.  Its action on
the stomach is quite similar to that  of Verat. alb., Tartar emetic, or
Arsenicum.  It  is evidently homoeopathic to cardialgia, gastralgia,
and neuralgic or spasmodic affections of the stomach, when accom-
panied by vomiting, retching and  excessive  irritation.  Dr. Burt
considers it the best remedy in such cases—better than the V. alb.
He uses it at the  3rd  or 6th.  It should not be given lower.  It
should  prove curative in gastritis, erosion of the  stomach,  and
ought to palliate the pain and vomiting  in cancer of  the stomach.
It causes all the symptoms of pyrosis, water-brash, and many of the
symptoms of " dyspepsia.''
    Bowels, Stool,  etc.—Frequent drawing  pains in the umbilical
region; neuralgic  (?) pains at the right side of the umbilicus, pass-
ing down to the groin ;  sharp, flying pains in the epigastrium and
umbilical regions, passing  down to the pubes ; dull, heavy, aching
 pains in the umbilical  region (constant  symptom);  cutting, aching
pains in the umbilical  region, with rumbling in the bowels, and
 desire for stool; soft, mushy stool preceded  by cutting pains in the
 bowels, and  followed by  cutting  pains  in  the rectum  and  anus.
 " At three different times, on the second day of the proving, I had
 severe  neuralgic  and  long-lasting  pains in the rectum; neuralgic
 pains in the left groin; I never had such pains before."—Dr. Burt.
 " The first day after I left off proving the Verat. v. I had neuralgic
 pains in  the  anus and  rectum.  They  came on twenty or thirty
 times a day for three weeks, when there appeared  a large tumor
 which  pained  me constantly.  One-half the tumor was very red,
 the other half dark blue.  I never had piles before in my life.   My
 alvine evacuations were natural all  the time."—Burt.
    Clinical  Remarks.—It is  agreed  by all  allopathic medical
 writers who  speak of this plant, that it irritates  the  bowels much
 less than the Veratrum  alb.  Some, however, claim that it should
 not  be  used in  diseases  where  any intestinal irritation  exists.
  Wood, however,  does not mention it  as  a  purgative.  Dr. Coe
 remarks:  "The employment of Veratrum v. in the treatment of
 diarrhoea and dysentery affords occasion for some remarks in regard
 to the action  of this remedy upon the  bowels.  We have seen it
 stated by some writers, that Veratrum is objectionable on account
 of its irritating influence  upon this organ.  Such has not been our
 experience.   We have employed  it much  in  the  treatment ot
 bowel  complaints, and  with  the  most  happy  results."  Yet  he
 admits that it has an " emeto-cathartic " action, and says it is con- 
424        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
 tra-indicated in  " intestinal  ulcerations."  He says it is useful in all
 cases of " torpor and debility of the abdominal organs," and is of
 utility in  mania, epilepsy, hysteria, convulsions, melancholy, etc.,
 when  arising from " functional obstructions" of the  abdominal
 viscera  and° disturbed  and  discordant action #f the  abdominal
 nervous  plexus."  All this, however, is quite conjectural, although
 it is apparently indicated in  abdominal  congestions.  Dr. Norwood
 says, " it is not cathartic," but he speaks of  " avoiding  its drastic
 effect " and mentions that "the only cases in which we have seen
 it purge, were when given in combination with Tartar emetic.  In
 most of  these cases it excited a violent cholera morbus.   Concern-
 inn its therapeutic effects, he states : " We have found  it of great
 value in  the treatment of typhoid dysentery,  and would feel unable
 to combat  that disease without it, or some other remedy of equal
 power."  It seems homoeopathic to about the same condition of the
 bowels as Verat. alb.;  also to haemorrhoids.
   Kidneys, Urine,  etc.—Profuse urine; increased secretion of pale
 urine.
   Clinical Remarks.—Its action on the kidneys has been pretty
 well investigated  by allopathic observers.   Prof. Lee  says:  " its
 diuretic action has been established by numerous experiments.   It
 is worthy of particular note that it  does not act as  a  mere renal
 hydragogue, but like colchicum it increases the solid constituents of
 the urine.  While it increases the amount of organic and inorganic
 solids, it is not positively established that it augments the quantity
 of uric acid. Like colchicum it increased the amount of urine, as well
 as the total amount of solids eliminated, but it is pretty certain that
 this  is mainly dependent on an increase of organic matter.  Its
 curative  influence in gout and rheumatism may thus  be explained.
 It is said to eliminate lithic acid through the kidneys."  Dr. Abbott
 made some experiments which proved that it  causes a considerable
 increase  in the  amount, and  a  corresponding decrease  in  the
 specific gravity, of the urine.  It would seem to be homoeopathic
 primarily to certain forms of diuresis, enuresis, and perhaps diabe-
tis.  It  is  curative in  acute inflammation  of  the  kidneys  and
 bladder.
   Male  Generative Organs.
   Clinical Remarks.—It is used successfully in severe inflamma-
 tory diseases of these  organs.  Dr. Osgood  considered it almost
 specific for  Orchitis.  It  will probably prove as useful  as Aconite
 in affections of these tissues.
   Generative Organs of Women.—We have yet no symptomatic prov-
 ing  of Veratrum viride upon the female organism.   It  is said to
 have caused abortion  in  numerous  instances, yet  Drs.  Ford  and
 White, who used it so freely in yellow fever, thought it prevented
 that accident.  It may not  cause  abortion directly, as Sabina or
 Cimicifuga, but indirectly, by the great prostration of the general
 symptoms,  the severe  efforts to  vomit, etc.   In  the same  way
 it would cause  hemorrhage  from  the  uterus.   It  is  probably
 homoeopathic primarily   to  passive congestions   of that organ.
 My  experience  with  the Veratrum viride  in this  class of  dig- 
VERATRUM  VIRIDE.
425
eases,  is  confined  principally  to  acute  inflammation  of the
uterus,  or puerperal metritis, in  which  I  place  a  high  esti-
mate upon  its  value.  I think I  have  arrested  the  inflamma-
tion, or materially modified it, by the use of the lower dilutions.
There are certain  conditions attending uterine disorders, in which
the Verat. v. has proved very successful in my hands.  I allude to
those congestions of the head or lungs which occur during uterine
disorders, such  as menstrual congestions of the head  (menstrual
headache), also congestion of the  head  or lungs from  suppressed
menses, suppressed lochia, etc. In these accidents  a few drops of
the  lowest dilutions  has never failed  to prove promptly curative
in my practice.  It is highly recommended by Dr. Miller (eclectic),
in Dysmenorrhea, occurring in plethoric subjects  {i. e. congestive
dysmenorrhcea).  In  anaemic subjects he pronounces  it decidedly
injurious.  It is probably indicated in  this affection,  for  similar
symptoms to Aconite and Belladonna.  It has been found  useful
in  palliating violent attacks of hysterical  convulsions.   Many
allopathic writers, among them Dr. Simpson, of Edinburg, extols
it highly in puerperal fever.  It may  prove useful in the vomiting,
pyrosis, and other symptoms occurring  during pregnancy.  Many
of the  symptoms occurring during the change of life, are simu-
lated by this medicine.  In acute mastitis, with high febrile action,
 and great tumefaction,of the breasts I have used it alternately with
 Belladonna with very satisfactory results.  It has been  used  boldly
 —recklessly—by  the allopathic school, in  puerperal  convulsions
 (eclamsia) as a substitute for blood-letting, but in such  doses as to
 be nearly as injuriously pernicious as the abstraction of blood.  I
 have never used it in that affection, but I have  administered it  m
 cases where I thought convulsions would ensue if not  warded off,
 and with the apparent result of preventing that terrible  array  ot
 symptoms.  In puerperal mania it has proved curative,   (bee a
 case reported by Dr.  Woodward.)  Dr. Atlee  reports a  case  as
 follows •   "The labor had been preternatural, child delivered dead,
 by podalic version.   She did well until ten days after  confinement,
 when she became silent, suspicious, and distrustful of those about
 her, without any obvious cause.  In the hope that the change was
 temporary, opium and  perfect  rest,  with careful watching was
 enioined.  Two days after, symptoms of puerperal mania were still
 more developed; it was impossible for the doctor to come near
 her; his presence seemed to terrify her, and her husband told him
 that since the previous visit, she expressed strong apprehensions that
 the doctor had poisoned her and meditated  her destruction.   She
 had slept little or none, and it was difficult to keep her^confinedI to
 her b«f and her room.   In the hope that some benefit might result
 by controlling the general circulation and diminishing the nei vo is
 excitement, five drops of the tincture were given «v«y three hou^
 as long as it did not produce nausea, vomiting  or  p os*»toon   On
 the following morning, on entering the room, he found hipatient
  y?ngquietly°and calmly on the bed, with a total absence of the
 sinister expression  of the day before.  She answei:ed him slowly
 but in a whisper, put out her tongue, and let bun  teel her  pulse
          54 
426        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
  without resistance.   Upon inquiry  he found  that  soon after the
  administration of the third dose of  Veratrum on the previous
  evening,   she  had  become calm, had  rested  quietly,  and  had
  remained so.  Pulse  fifty-six.  She was cheerful and obedient, con-
  versed rationally  and freely, and without allusion to  her previously
  unhappy condition.  She recovered  perfectly in a few  clays.  Dr.
  Coe (Art.  Veratrin,  Cone. Org. Med.) states that a majority of the
  cases of mental aberration  arise from and are dependent  upon a
  morbidly increased  activity of the nervous structure of the abdo-
  men."  "This," he says, "would  seem to explain why Veratrin is
  of utility in the treatment of mania,  melancholy, and mental weak-
  ness." (Very doubtful, H.)  "Incases of mental aberration,  accom-
  panied with torpor and debility of the abdominal organs, Veratrum
  will be found serviceable."   (Mere theory, H.)
    Chest-—Oppression of the chest;  sensation  as of a heavy load
  on  the chest; anxious  oppression  of the chest;   constant, dull,
  burning pain in the region of the heart, under the sternum; burn-
  ing pain in the region of the heart;  oppression of the chest with
  nausea.  The respiration decreases from 30 and 40 to 16 and 12 (in
  pneumonia;)  respirations 12 to  14 (in healthy persons  under the
  influence of the drug).
     Remarks.—The symptoms of oppression enumerated above are
 due principally to the debility caused by the drug; the  oppression
 comes on just before the vomiting,  and with  nausea.  Dr.  Burt's
 experiments with  the Veratrum  v. on cats, seem to show that it
 causes  intense engorgement of  the  lungs.  We would  refer the
 reader  to his paper,  published  herewith.   In  Dr. Burt's proving,
 made on himself, he makes no mentipn of any pains  which may be
 termed pneumonic, or pleuritic;  the' pain  in the heart,  only, was
 noticed.  It is  a  notable fact,  however, that in the proving  of
 Tartar  emetic, we have the  same absence of acute thoracic  pain;
 yet the latter drug has a high reputation, even in the homoeopathic
 school,  in the treatment  of pneumonia.  It is well  known  by all
 practical physicians that severe  cases of pneumonia may run their
 course  with little or no  pain  at  any time being  present.  The
 Veratrum v. has not been extensively used by homoeopathists  in the
 treatment of thoracic diseases.   Satisfied with that  time-honored
 remedy, Aconite,  they prefer to adhere to that drug.   But many
 of my colleagues, both East and West, agree with me in considering
 the Verat. v. as  superior to  Aconite,  in pneumonia  in particular.
 My own experience with it  has,  so far, been satisfactory.  In the
 incipient stage of  that affection, when simple engorgement only
 exists,  I believe  it has the power of arresting the disease, and in
the later stages it  proves a valuable auxiliary to  such remedies as
Bryonia, Phosphorus,  Tartar emetic, and  Sanguinaria.  I usuallv
give the lowest dilution, ten or fifteen drops of the 1st dec  every
thirty or sixty minutes to adults,  and  half the quantity to children.
In a few cases only have I been  obliged to resort to the  mother
tincture.  In one case, that of a strong, robust man, five drops were
given every  two hours;  after ten hours,  profuse vomiting with
sweating set m;  the  previously intense fever subsided, and did not 
VERATRUM  VIRIDE.
427
return,  and a rapid convalescence  followed.  It was given on the
third day of the fever, when there was bloody sputa,  severe oppres-
sion and pain in the chest (left side), and all the physical signs of
the first stage of pneumonia.  I deem it my duty, in this place, to
give some  of the large amount of allopathic  testimony, for and
against, the use of this remedy; for,  as with their experience with
Tartar emetic, we may gain valuable  hints from their observations.
Dr.  Davidson  (Nashville Journal of Medicine), says:  "I have
followed no other particular treatment for the last two years  in
pneumonia  and pleurisy,  than this medicine, and I am happy  to
say  I  have  never seen a case terminate  unfavorably under the
treatment. I look upon the Veratrum as being worth all the other
treatments combined, for pleurisy, pneumonia, and all other diseases
of an inflammatory  character."  Dr. Wood, in his Therapeutics,
does not give you his personal experience, but says: " The testimony
in  its   favor is so  strong, and from so many sources, that it is
impossible  to refuse  it  credence."   Dr. A. F. Patton  (Tilden's
Journal of Mat. Med.,  vol. i., p. 369,) writes:  "Pneumonia  is the
disease  in  which Veratrum  viride  is particularly  indicated.   It
seems  to have more  controlling  power in this than  any  other
disease, reducing  the inflammation, and favoring  the expectoration
in a very few hours; in some instances, vomiting is induced,  which
is  generally of  tough,  viscid mucus;   the   pulse now rapidly
 declines, if not affected before; the  breathing becomes very easy,
 and the patient  falls into  an  easy sleep, with, perhaps, a gentle
 perspiration—the dose, now,  is to be managed so as to sustain the
 depressed circulation.  I find that, in pneumonia,  it is  better to
 reduce the pulse as soon as possible.  The inflammation being in a
 degree arrested, the lung is saved  from the  more severe  conse-
 quences of the second stage,  or that of red hepatization, for the
 concrete fibrinous exudation  being caused by a peculiar inflamma-
 tory action—thus, the cause being in part removed—this exudation
 is  in a great  degree,  arrested, and the patient, in a majority of
 cases, enters into a favorable convalescence;' I have quoted the
 first authorities that came to hand,  but I have  looked on  the
 immense  amount  of  material,  which  is  to  be found scattered
 through the various periodicals,  etc.,  and the opinions expressed
 above   coincide with a  majority of physicians who have written
 concerning the use of this medicine in pneumonia   There  are,
 however  many of  the most  enlightened  minds  in the  allopathic
 profession, who sturdily and  rationally  oppose  its  indiscriminate
 use   Among the most prominent of these, is Prof. Charles A. Lee.
 His objection can also be aptly applied to the use of Tartar emetic
 an  article so much  abused by his  school in the (mal) treatment of
 pneumonia.  That drug,  and the Verat. v., act in a  similar manner
 In poisonous or  pathogenetic  doses, both  cause engorgement and
 passive congestion  of  the  lungs  (primarily), and  inflammation of
 Ce  organs   (secondarily).   The  allopath who  uses  Veratrum
 viride  foi  pneumonia, in the doses usually prescribed by his  school,
 brings about the  very  conditions which caused the disease, namely,
 congestion.  The homoeopath  who administers this remedy, in  the 
428        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

first stace of pneumonia, in minute doses,—a drop of 1st or 2d dec.
—gives it  upon the law  of Similia, and arrests  the disease, or
notably modifies it.  In the second stage, when the inflammation is
fairly established, it should be given in alternation with Phosphorus,
or Sanguinaria;  but, the moment the pulse ceases to be the pulse
of sthenic action, that moment the Verat. must be omitted.  The
same may be said concerning the use of Aconite or Gelseminum;
or,  if these remedies are administered at all, in such conditions,
only the highest potencies  should be  selected.  No greater error
can  be made, than to give Aconite,  Bryonia, Gelseminum, or
Veratrum,  in the low potencies,  because the pulse is  quick. A
quick pulse must have many other  qualities, to be  the  pulse of
active inflammation, and  to indicate these medicines.   In Pleuritis,
the Veratrum, will probably never be a very useful remedy.  Like
Tartar emetic, it does not seem to affect the serous tissues, as does
Aconite or Bryonia.
   Cardiac Symptoms.—Prickling  pains in the region of the heart;
dull,  aching pains in  the region of  the heart;  constant, burning
distress in  the  cardiac  region;  faintness after rising from the
recumbent  position;  syncope when walking,  only  relieved by
lying down.   (Burt.)   The  heart's pulsations  reduced from sixty-
eight to twenty-four (in health);  and from one hundred and forty
to  thirty-three,  in fevers;  beats of the heart, low and  feeble,
scarcely perceptible  (primary symptoms); palpitation of the heart;
fluttering sensation in the region of the heart; palpitation on taking
the  least exercise; strong, loud beating of the  heart, with  quick
pulse; palpitation with dyspnoea (secondary effects).
    Clinical  Remarks.—It  is generally  believed that the  Verat-
rum viride  acts upon the  heart, through  the nervous  system.
paralysing the nerves  of motion.  It is  supposed that Aconite and
Verat. alb. act  in a  similar manner.  (Gelseminum,  I  believe, to
act more directly upon the muscular structure of the heart.)  The
 Verat.  viride  is  primarily indicated in cardiac oppression,  with
passive congestion;  cardiac  debility,  with fainting  and  collapse
therefrom.   In those heart affections, occurring  during prostrating
diseases,  after hemorrhages, etc., it may be used,  but always in
the minutest doses.  No remedy exercises a more depressing action
on the heart, than the Verat. v.  in  large doses. It is secondarily
indicated in increased activity of  the heart,  after previous depres-
sion.  In carditis, and pericarditis,  it has been used with  alleged
success by allopathic practitioners.  In rheumatic affections of the
heart, it is especially lauded,  but  may do as much injury as bleed-
ing, if used in large doses.   Having  a similar  action to Aconite, it
will, perhaps, be found as useful as that medicine in heart affections.
It does not, however, cause that intense cardiac anxiety,  with fear
 of death, which Aconite does.  It will be found palliative in many
organic diseases of the heart, but should be used with great caution.
It is not a " cardiac tonic,'' in material doses, as the Digitalis is said
 to be.  It  will alleviate,  according to my experience,  those  palpita-
 tions, attended  with faintness,  or dyspnoea, which occur in many
 diseased conditions of the heart, or attend the " change of life '' in
• 
VERATRUM  VERIDE.               429
women.  Some of the symptoms felt by Dr. Burt, resemble those
found in the pathogenesis of Spigelia.  It may be a matter of doubt,
whether  the  " burning sensation,'' experienced by Dr. Burt,  was
really in the heart; the esophagus may have been the seat of the
sensation.
   Back-—Very severe,  and constant, aching pains in the back of
neck and shoulders,  so that it  was almost impossible to hold the
head up.
   Clinical Remarks.—By some practitioners  it is valued  very
highly, as a  remedy for Lumbago, also for neuralgic pains in the
back.  It may prove valuable for some forms of  spinal  irritation,
and even myelitis.   We do not know what pathological changes
it effects in the spinal cord.
   Extremities.—Drawing  pains in the right elbow,  and calves of
the legs; cramp of the legs (Burt); the  fingers and toes cramped
as in  cholera; galvanic  shocks in the limbs, frequently of  such
violence as to precipitate the  patient out of bed (Coe); coldness,
 blueness, and dampness of the  hands, feet, and limbs, with cramps
 of the extremities ;  weakness and loss of  power in the extremities;
 paralysis of the lower limbs; prickling,  and partial loss of sensa-
 tion in the extremities.
     XANTHOXYLUM   FIUXIXEUM.

                         {Prickly Ash.)

   * Nat. Ord.  Xanthoxylaceae.—This  shrub  is known by the
various names of Yellow-wood, Toothache-bush, Northern Prickly
Ash  etc.   It  is an indigenous shrub, ten  or twelve feet in height,
with alternate  branches,  which are  armed with conical, brown
prickles,  at the insertion of the young branches.  The leaves are
alternate  and  pinnate; the leaflets  about five pairs with an odd
one, nearly sessile,  ovate, acute, with slight  vesicular serratures,
somewhat downy  underneath. The  common  petiole is  round,
usually prickly on the  back.  The flowers  are in small  dense,
sessile umbels and  have a somewhat aromatic odor.   Ihe Prickly
Ash is a  native of North  America,  growing  from Canada to Vir-
ginia, and west to the Mississippi, in woods, thickets, and the river
banks, flowering in April and May before the appearance of the
leaves.  The  entire plant  contains medicinal   properties,  the fra-
grance is due to a volatile oil which may be extracted by ether or
alcohol.  Both the bark and  berries are officinal.  Ihe bark nom
which the tincture was prepared for  proving, comes in fragments

     71 Report of the Committee on Materia Medica of the Massachusetts Medical Society.
By Charles Oullis, M. D., Boston, atd contributed to this work by him. 
430        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.
of various sizes, quilled, light or ash-colored  externally, internally
white and glossy ;  it is faintly odorous, and has a slightly aromatic
taste.  The bark of the Prickly Ash has  been found to contain a
fixed oil of a greenish color, volatile oil, resin,  coloring  matter,
gum, and a  crystallizable matter, which has been  named  Xan-
thoxylin.  Dr. King, in his Dispensatory, speaks of Prickly Ash as
"a stimulant, tonic, alterative  and sialagogue.   Taken into  the
stomach, it  causes a feeling of warmth, slightly accelerates  the
pulse, and determines to the skin, causing a gentle moisture.   It
is used as a stimulant in languid states of the system, and as a
sialogogue in  paralysis of the tongue and mouth. It has proved
highly beneficial  in chronic rheumatism, colic,  syphilis,  hepatic
derangements, and wherever a  stimulating alterative treatment is
required.''
   First Proving.—Mr. S., aged twenty-nine, light hair, nervous
temperament, July 9th, 1862, took at 10  p. m., four drops of Xan-
thoxylum tinct.. Immediately a smart peppery taste in mouth and
fauces ;  slept hard all night;  on the morning of the 10th, took  ten
drops followed by the same smarting or prickly sensation in  the
mouth and throat,  which soon extended  to the stomach, followed
by an increased pulse and a degree of heat all over the body.  In
five minutes a dull headache in  space not larger than half a dollar
over the nose ; in fifteen minutes, sharp, shooting pains in right side
(like pleurisy pains) occasionally extending through to the shoulder
blade; these pains increased in severity  and  lasted  half an hour,
during this time there was a continual desire to take a long breath;
in one hour a dull  pain in the right ear,  seeming  to affect the jaw
socket,  the  kind  of pain which  one has when  he doen't know
whether it is his  tooth or  ear that  aches ;  this  pain  lasted two
hours and then gradually wore away.  Two days  after, took twelve
drops at 8 o'clock in the evening, followed by dryness  of both
nostrils, constant desire to take a long breath; flatulence ;  gaping;
one half hour after, throbbing headache over right eye with nausea;
sharp pains  in right side, of a neuralgic  character;  severe pain in
the  right arm, commencing just above  the bend of the elbow;
severe pain in the wrist  and extending to the  thumb;  in  three
quarters of  an hour, ringing in ears, more particularly  in right
ear; throbbing headache, pulse 100; slept hard  all  night; awoke
in the morning, languid and depressed;  no  appetite.  July 14th,
3  p. m., same prover  took  twenty drops; in five minutes severe
frontal headache, with dizziness; continual desire  to  take long  and
deep respirations;  terrible, nervous frightened feeling; head feels
full;  pain over right eye; pain in right"side;  sharp, shooting pain;
decided catarrhal  symptoms;  watering  of  the  eyes  and  nose;
tightness  of the head, with the pain  increasing  over the eyes; in
fifteen minutes increased desire  for long respiration;  flatulence;
pain in right arm;  pain in right knee ; drowsiness all the  evening;
urine  at  night, and the next morning, scanty and high  colored.
September 3d, 8 p. m., took twenty-five drops, almost immediately
experienced  the same  desire for  deep and  long respirations; in
five minutes, pulse 100;  frontal headache; nausea; twenty minutes 
XANTHOXYLUM  FRAXINEUM.         431
after, pulse still at 100, but more feeble; one hour  after, pulse
82, feeble and  irregular.
    Second Proving. — Mr.  A.,  twenty-seven  years  of age,
dark  brown hair, fair   complexion,  phlegmatic   temperament.
July 9th, took  three drops  at  bed-time;  slept hard  and heavy;
dreamed of flying about over tops of houses;  in the morning, felt
pain in  right  leg;  bowels  constipated;  took three  drops, felt
sleepy all the morning; great depression; after dinner  felt a bunch
in the  left side of the  throat when swallowing; after  supper, dis-
charge from bowels; on  going to bed bunch in  throat shifted to
right side.  July  11th,  at 6.30 a.  m., took five  drops; in  fifteen
minutes discharge  from  bowels; also another  after  breakfast;
sleepy feeling all the morning with  headache.   At 6 p. M., another
discharge from bowels;  flatulence;  slight hacking cough.  July
11th, took twelve drops, strong, peppery  sensation  in  mouth and
throat; five minutes after, had a darting pain  under and back of
the right ear;  right nostril  seems  filled up;  sensation of soreness
in right side of throat;  fifteen minutes after, had a darting pain in
the left  temple,  recurring  again  and  again; drowsy symptoms
 appear prominent; also, about the  upper part of the  cranium an
 achy feeling accompanied by flashes  of throb-like pain, as  if the
 top of the head  were  about being taken off;  flatulency; slight
 pain inside  right arm,  just  above  elbow;  one hour after felt
 a good deal of tightening about the  chest, which continued with
 much inclination  to gape.  At 10.30 p.  m., or two  hours after,
 some pain in right  side below ribs ;  continued gaping; head dull,
 and achim?; a flash of pain  in  right thumb,  extending to hand ;
 another in calf of right leg; legs  and feet feel tired. July 12th,
 had a discharge from  bowels before breakfast, and one after; sore-
 ness of throat  with  expectoration of tough mucus.
    Third Proving.—Prover, light  complexion, sanguine-nervous
 temperament,  active habit, uniform health, age thirty-three.  Took
 two drops of tincture followed by these  symptoms:  burning and
 dry feeling in  the mouth and tongue; diffused pain  in the upper
 part of the forehead; worse in the right side; pain extends to the
 base  of the   brain, with soreness;  shaking  the head produces a
 feelino- 0f looseness or quivering of the brain followed  by dizziness;
 rumbling of the abdomen, with soreness on pressure;  discharge  of
 mucus from the nose with congested feeling, as if it were about  to
 bleed; dull, heavy, grinding pain in the left eye; feeling of fulness
 or pre'ssure at the epigastrium;  empty eructations with slight taste
 of ino-esta; slept soundly without dreaming, but  soon  after waking
 at  7  o'clock  next  morning, had  severe  griping abdominal pains
 with  thin brown, diarrhoeic discharge,  mixed with some  mucus ;
 anorexia, could eat but  a  few mouthfuls at breakfast, and could
 only drink a half cup of coffee, which was  vomited soon afterwards;
 gripino- pain continued at intervals, with a general feeling of indif-
 ference and malaise;  discharge of dry and bloody scales of mucus
 from the nose; hoarseness with some husky feeling in the throat;
 obliged to clear the throat frequently. This hoarseness and obstruc-
 tion^ the throat continued some days after the other symptoms
  had subsided. 
432        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

   Provings i;y  Women.—1st. Miss  D., aged twenty-six ; black
hair;  active habit;  good  health.  Took twelve drops of  the tinc-
ture.  In five minutes felt  pressure in the head, with fulness of the
veins.  In ten minutes, dull pain in right knee.  In fifteen minutes,
pain in both elbows, and back of the head, also a bewildered sensa-
tion ;  pain in the lid of the right eye.  Half an hour after sense of
heat all over the veins, with  a desire to be bled; flash of heat from
head to foot.  One hour after  taking the  medicine, pain  in ankle ;
flash of heat; pain in left  heel;  a feeling of  enlargement of the
throat;  pain  in right  side of  the throat; dull pain in  left .elbow,
passing to the palm of the hand, then to the shoulder; pain in left
side;  heavy feeling in the top of  the head ;  pain  in the  left leg
between the hip and  knee; pain in left elbow and left side ot the
head; dull pain in left knee, also in left elbow, extending to the
hand, then in left  side and top of the left foot; a feeling of numb-
ness through  the  whole of the left side of the body from head to
foot, the division  made perceptible  in the head, affecting half of
the nose—this feeling lasted two  or three minutes; pain in left
knee.  Two hours after, pain in left knee, very severe; slight pain
in left side, and under the  left shoulder-blade, also the left hip; the
pain in the left  knee  has  lasted, without cessation, a  little more
than half an hour; pain in lower jaw and  left  side; the whole left
arm  and shoulder numb; pain in  both  feet, shooting up to the
knees.
   2nd. Mrs. H., aged 30.  Took ten drops of the tincture at 9:20
p. m. ; pulse, 80.   Soon after taking it began to experience a feeling
of depression and weakness;  weakness of  the lower  limbs, with
pain in the knees.  At 9:30 p. m.,  pulse  74 soft;  slight  nausea,
with sense  of oppression at  the stomach; nausea increased as did
the pains  of the  extremities,  accompanied with  frequent  chills.
Next evening same prover took twenty drops of the tincture; did
not experience the feeling  of depression in so great  degree as the
night before; the weakness of the limbs and pain in the knees
about the  same ; some pain in the left  side;  menses  appeared
next  morning, being one week before the usual time ; was attended
with a good deal  of pain.
   3rd.  Mrs. J., aged twenty-eight;  light  complexion ;  sanguine
temperament; good health.  Took twenty drops of the tincture at  v
8 o'clock p. m.  In  about twenty minutes noticed a tightening of
the scalp,  and  heavy pains in temples,  with a  twitching in left
knee, and  trembling  in right.   On the following day took at 11
o'clock a. m., twenty  drops; felt same feelings in  head; did not
notice lower  limbs.   2 o'clock p. m., took  twenty-two drops;
felt the same headache, or severe pain and tightening.  3 o'clock
p. m., took  twenty-five drops; increase of head difficulties, with a
great heat and a quiet flowing (menstrual),  being two days in
advance of proper time.   8 o'clock p. m., took twenty drops;  some
headache ;  all the  system quiet, with an unnatural forcing of nature •
went  to  sleep as  usual, and  in dreadful distress and pain, baffling
description; profuse  flowing; the pain (or agony) continued until
noon of next day, when it gradually subsided. 
             XANTHOXYLUM  FRAXINEUM.         433

   Classification of  Symptoms.—Head.—Headache  over both
eyes;  throbbing headache; pressure  over  nose ;  grinding pain  in
head with nausea; head  feels  heavy, particularly the right side ;
pressure in the forehead; pressure and pain over  the eyes ; severe
pain in the top of the head; pain directly over the root of the nose;
feeling of fulness in the head;  head seems as  if divided—the divi-
sion seeming to extend to the nose; pain in the top of the head as if
the top would come off.
    slecp.—Hard;  unrefreshed in the morning; drowsiness ; sleeps
heavy, and dreams of flying about over tops of houses;  annoying
dreams.
    Skin.—Skin feels hot and sore.
    jever.—Fever, followed by great depression;  flashes  of heat
from head  to foot; nausea followed by chills;  pulse quick; face
flushed and hot.                            ......         . ,
    Moral  Symptoms—Great  despondency;  irritability;  anguish
 about the chest; tearfulness.
    Sensorium.—Heaviness of the head; head feels full; vertigo,
 bewildered feeling;  insensibility.                               '
    Eyes —Lachrymation;-pain in the lid  of the right eye; dull,
 heavy pain in the left  eye.                 _
    Ears —Dull pain in the left ear; ringing  in the right  ear
    Hose—Pressure in the nose; fluent eoryza; discharge of bloody
 mucus from the nose,  particularly from the right nostril.
    Jaw.-Pain in the  right jaw socket; dull pain in the left side ot

 theM°outh.-Ptyalism;  tongue coated  yellow;  foul  taste in the
 mouth- tonerue and mouth feel hot.                   •
    C'oat.-Throbbing in the throat; right side of throat feels
 sore; sensation  of  swelling;  hoarseness; soreness of throat, with

  ^Cmact-Fire^gTIhe stomach ; a feeling of heaviness in


  at trepigaitrinm; griping in the bowels ; rnmbhng.w.th soreness

  °" C-Inodorons discharges, with tenesmus; thin, brown dis-
  charges, with mucus.

     r:r £;"»"?i^&a, *>*. * take  *.» inspir-
  ation* S W^roTbreath; tightness of the chest; difficulty to


  iJSZ,Xe elbow ;  jSin in ^X^ ha "^


  sensation in left, arm and fingers.                       .   .Q tne

   cal/^^
   Se to? o/the left'foot; pain in the third toe ot the left foot.
55 
  434        NEW  IIOMCEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

    Generative Organs  of  Women.—Appearance  of the menses  too
 soon.  Profuse menses with violent pains.  Leucorrhoea.
    Clinical  Remarks.—Clinically, I have  used  this remedy in
 Dysmenorrhea and Amenorrhea with marked success. One or two
 cases will  serve for  illustration :  Miss A., aged twenty-five ;  brun-
 ette ;  has  suffered  from  menstrual irregularities since their first
 appearance ; the catamenia appearing in three, four, or five months,
 and at that time her  sufferings  were excruciating.  Her  general
 health otherwise was good.  At the time of consulting me, she had
 not had her catamenia for two months.  I gave  her Xanthoxylum
 1st dilution, five drops three times a day.  In three days her menses
 appeared, and  much to her joy, with little  pain.  Miss B., light
 complexioned,  nervous temperament,  aged twenty-five, consulted
 me for suppression of menses received by getting her feet wet, she
 being then about one week past her time.  I gave  her Xanthoxy-
 lum 1st dec, five drops every three hours.  Her menses appeared
 the next day.   Mrs. C., aged  thirty-two, mother  of ten children,
 a large, fleshy woman,  had not menstruated  for five months, and
 previous to that time had not for  three or  four months.  Gave
 Xanthoxylum 1st, to be taken three times a day.   Menses appeared
 in four days.
    In Dysmenorrhcea, I have used  this drug with very satisfactory
 results.   I will  quote one marked case :  Mrs. D., aged twenty-six ;
 spare habit; scrofulous diathesis ; had  suffered for years from  dys-
 menorrhoea. Her sufferings were so great that she would  be  con-
 fined to her bed for two or three days.  She had tried all  sorts of
 treatment, but without  any relief.   She came  under  my care, say-
 ing the only way she could live through her menstrual period  was
 to drink whisky or  gin until  she was intoxicated.   For  several
 months I treated her with the usual remedies, but without any bene-
 ficial result.  I  then  gave  her Xanthoxylum  3rd dec.; this com-
 pletely cured her. She was extravagant in the praise of this rem-
 edy.  It has never failed to relieve her.
   I think  Xanthoxylum more especially indicated  in females  of
 spare  habit, nervous  temperament, and delicate  organization.   In
 Borne cases of plethoric habit it  has failed me.  In  Leucorrhea with
Amenorrhoea, it has proved very successful.  In after-pains in obste-
tric practice, I  have found  it of inestimable value; also, in profuse
flowing  and threatened abortion.   I have used  it in Opthalmia,
both locally and internally, with excellent results. 
DIOSCOREA  VTLLOSA.               435
APPENDIX.
            DIOSCOREA   TILLOSA.

         [This was received too late for insertion in its proper place.]

                  DR. W. H. BURT'S PROVING.

   May 5th, 1864,  10 a. m.—Took  30 drops of the fluid extract of
Dioscorea.  Half an hour after taking the medicine, commenced to
have pain in the whole epigastrium, and region of the gall-bladder,
quite severe, of a cutting, tearing character,  at times spasmodic.
3 p. m.—Slight distress in the stomach; took forty drops.  5 p. m.—
Slight, dull, frontal headache; frequent empty eructations, constant
dull pain in the epigastric and  umbilical  regions, with frequent
colicky  pains  of a cutting, tearing nature;  great depression of
spirits.   8 P. m.—Slight  frontal headache ; frequent, sharp pains in
the stomach and region of the gall-bladder; frequent, sharp, cutting
pains  in  the umbilical  region, aggravated  by walking; frequent
drawing  pains in the left shoulder and neck; drawing pains in the
knees and ankles, the knees are very weak when walking; constant
dull pain in the lumbar region, aggravated by stooping or walking;
took fifty drops.
   May  6th.—Awoke   three  times  in the  night  with  severe
cutting  pains  in the  umbilicus.   There is constant  dull aching
pains in the umbilicus, with occasional colicky pains; severe frontal
headache; thick yellowish-white coating on the tongue ; rough, flat
taste in the mouth;  black, dry lumpy stool; dull heavy pain in the
lumbar-sacral region, very much  worse  by stooping;  fingers  ache
and are quite stiff;  drawing pains in the ankles and  feet. _ Took
sixty drops, 9 p. m— Slight, dull headache; rough feeling in the
fauces, with  constant  inclination  to swallow;  constant  aching
distress in the umbilicus ; dull aching  pains in the back; drawing
pains in the calves of the legs and ankles.  Took 100  drops, 11 a.
m—Dull, frontal headache; dry, rough feeling in  the fauces, with
frequent  inclmation to swallow;  constant, dull, aching pains in the
whole  umbilical region, with frequent, sharp, cutting  pains  all
through the small intestines;  dull drawing pains in the fore-arms
and wrists ; drawing pain between the shoulders; constant, severe
drawing  pains  in the calves of the legs and ankles; knees are 
436        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.
 feeling very weak ; disposition to yawn and stretch.   3  p. m.—The
 pains are all the same, only more mild, took 200 drops.  5 p. m.—
 Slight frontal headache ; rough feeling in the fauces, with frequent
 inclination  to  swallow;  constant distress  in  the  umbilical and
 hypogastric regions,  with severe  cutting, colicky pains every few
 minutes  in  the  stomach  and  small  intestines;  bearing  down
 prolapsed feeling of the anus; feeling very "weak, hands and legs
 tremble constantly, can hear my heart beating after walking a little.
 Pulse 80; sharp pulsating pain  just  at the top of  the sternum,
 lasting an hour; severe drawing  pains  in my elbows,  wrists and
 fingers,  at times the pain in  the  fingers is  very sharp; constant
 dull aching  pain in the lumbar sacral  region, very much worse  by
 bending the spine;  dull drawing pains in the knees and ankles, very
 sharp cutting pains in the bottom of the  feet and toes; the  right
 ankle and foot has the most pain in it.   9 p. m.—Slight frontal head-
 ache, with occasional  sharp pains in the right temple;  dryness  of
 the fauces;  constant aching  distress  in the whole  of the bowels,
 with frequent sharp cutting  pains in  the stomach and small  intes-
 tines.  Three hemorrhoidal   tumors have made their appearance,
 and are partially prolapsed ;  there is constant dull pain and. distress
 in the anus ; the pulsating pain at the upper part of the sternum
 is still there, it is  very distressing; flying  pains all  through the
 chest and back  (cervical portion); constant dull pain in the small of
 the back, and hips, cannot bear to stoop down, it  is so painful;
 constant, dull, drawing pains in the   elbows,  wrists,  hands and
 fingers ;  the pain in the fingers is very severe, of* a cutting, tearing
 nature; constant, dull, aching pain in the ankles, feet and toes ; the
 pain the toes is of a tearing,  cutting character;  took 150 drops.
   May  Tth, a. m— Slept soundly,  but perspired a good deal, awoke
 at 2a. m., with great burning distress in the stomach; dull frontal
 headache, tongue  coated white; flat  pappy taste ; tonsils  slightly
 congested;  constant aching distress in  the  stomach  and bowels;
 stomach is quite painful when pressed upon; stool, first  part black,
very dry and hard,  last part mushy  and white.  The  stool was
followed by  the protrusion of four hemorrhoidal tumors, the size of
large red cherries, with great pain and distress in  the  anus; con-
 stant dull backache; hands  and  fingers ache  and  are very stiff;
 closing the hands is very painful; ankles, feet, and toes are also very
 stiff, and ache constantly.  After exercising two hours my hands
 and feet felt quite free from pain.   Took  100 drops,  at  10  a. m.—
 Might headache ; constant distress in the umbilicus.   The  haemor-
rhoidal tumours are constantly prolapsed, which is very distressing
and painful; dull aching pains in  the  wrists, hands,  and  fingers!
ankles, feet and toes;  they are feeling quite  stiff.  Took 200 drops.
12 m.—Slight frontal headache; constant aching, burning  distress
in the epigastric and umbilical regions; dull, heavy aching distress
m the right  lobe of the liver ; constant, dull,'  aching pain in the
whole lumbar region; bending the spine produces  sharp, cutting
pains all along  the lumbar  region;  dull pains in  the hands and
ieet; three  ot the  haemorrhoidal  tumors are of the color of the
mucous membrane of the anus, and are the size of very large red 
DIOSCOREA  YILLOSA.
437
 cherries; the other one is not so large, and is of a very dark, livid,
 blu< color.   4 p.m.—Very  severe frontal headache;  feeling  very
 faint and weak;  hands and  legs tremble constantly; vertigo  with
 great faintness ;  have to lie down to  keep from fainting;  seems to
 all centre at the stomach;  great  distress in the stomach, with fre-
 quent, sharp, prickly pains in it; sharp,  cutting  pains every few
 minutes in the umbilical region ; dull, aching  distress in my wrists,
 hands, fingers, ankles, feet and toes.  Fearing that I would  have
 spasms, I  took  three doses  of  camphor with no  relief.  I  then
 inhaled chloroform every few minutes until  7 p. it.  The chloroform
 gave great relief, but would last only a short time, when  the  great
 faintness would  come  on again; at  7 p. m., the  faintness left me.
 9 p.m.—severe frontal headache ; constant and very severe burning
 distress in the whole of the epigastrium ; distress in the umbilicus,
 and desire for stool; very hard, dry, lumpy stool, followed by pro-
 lapsus of the anus, with great pain and distress in the haemorrhoids;
 feeling very weak in the  knees; constant, aching distress in the
 hands and  feet; very weak  in the knees, can just walk;  constant
 trembling of the arms and legs ;  very severe backache.
     May 8th.—Slept well  until midnight, after that, was very rest-
 less until morning ;  skin dry and hot;  pulse 62, while lying down ;
 dull, frontal headache; great distress in the stomach, but not so
 much of the burning;  tongue coated  yellowish white; flat,  rough
 taste ;  stomach is very tender, cannot bear to have it pressed  upon ;
 very severe pain in the upper portion of the lumbar  region, when
 bending the spine; soft mushy  stool, very yellow, at 8  a. m., fol-
 lowed  by a very weak, faint feeling; hands and fingers ache all the
 time ; fingers are very stiff'; dull pain in the ankles and feet, 8 p. m.;
 felt quite  well until 2 p. m.,  when the  great  burning  distress came
 on again in my stomach ;  dull headache; very lame back; the hem-
 orrhoids are very troublesome ;  my hands and  feet have been feel-
1 ing quite  easy all day  after  the first hour; exercise  relieves all of
 the rheumatic symptoms.
     May 9th.—Slept well; awoke at 5 a. ar., with severe pain  in the
 umbilical  and hypogastric  regions,  and great  distress  for  stool;
 very profuse thin, yellow  stool,  that did not relieve the pain in the
 bowels; feeling very faint  at  the  stomach, and  weak ; V  a.  m.,
 another very thin deep yellow stool, which relieved the pain a good
 deal, followed by the great faintness at the stomach ;  eating  would
  not relieve it; 9 p. m., have been feeling  quite  well  all day, but
 since 6 p. m., the great burning distress in  the stomach has been
 constant;  severe neuralgic pain  in the left groin all the evening. _
     May 10th.—Slept well; this morning have the great burning in
 my stomach; slight  distress in the bowels, with a  deep  yellow
  diarrhceic stool; bands and feet are quite stiff; dull back-ache ;  the
  hemorrhoidal tumors are free from pain  and are getting smaller.
  The backache lasted one week after taking the remedy.
     Characteristic   Peculiarities.—The  rheumatic  symptoms  are
  worse at  night and early  in the morning; first  hour the pains are
  very much aggravated by motion, after that, motion relieves them ; 
438        NEW  IIOMCEOPATHIC   PROVINGS.

diarrhoea early in the morning;  all  the pains  are worse  while
sitting still; relieved  by motion.
   Mind.—Great depression of spirits; no desire to move ; very sad.
   Nervous System.—Great weariness  and loss  of strength; con-
stant trembling of the hands  and legs; pain and spasms  of the
bowels; slowness of the heart's action ; vertigo with great faintness
at the  stomach; disposition  to  faint; disposition  to  yawn and
stretch.
   Head.—Constant, dull, frontal  headache, more in  the top of the
forehead;  very severe frontal headache;  sharp cutting pains in the
right temple.
   Month  and Tongne.—Tongue coated  white and yellowish-white;
flat pappy taste in the mouth ; dryness of the fauces  with  frequent
inclination to swallow; rough feeling of the fauces; tonsils slightly
congested.
   Stomach.—Frequent empty eructations ; constant  distress in the
stomach, more in the afternoon and evening; severe  cutting, tear-
ing pains in the stomach  and region of the gall-bladder ; at times
the pains are of a spasmodic character; constant dull pain  in the
stomach; great burning distress in the stomach, with sharp prickling
pains in it and faintness; great faintness at the stomach; stomach
very painful on pressure.
   liver.—The appearance  of the  alvine  evacuations  shows that
it  has a marked effect upon  the liver; sharp,  cutting pains  in
the  region  of the gall-bladder;  dull, heavy, aching  pains in the
right lobe of the  liver; the stools are very black, dry  and  hard ;
large, deep, yellow, papescent stools, showing an increased secretion
of bile, then light, colored stools.
   Urinary and Genital Organs.—No special  effects observed.
   Abdomen.—Constant, dull  pain in the  epigastric and umbilical
regions, with frequent colicky pains of a cutting, tearing character;
frequent sharp, cutting pains in the umbilicus, aggravated by walk-
ing;  awoke three times in the night with  severe colicky pains in
the umbilicus; constant, dull pains in the umbilicus,  with frequent
sharp, cutting pains all through the intestines.
   Stool and Anus.—Black, dry,  hard, lumpy stool,  last part of it
soft,  white and mushy; dry, black stool, followed by prolapsus of
the anus;  the  anus has four hemorrhoidal tumours on it as large as
red cherries; three are the color  of the  mucous  membrane of the
intestine; the other is of a livid, dark, blue color, the prover never had
hemorrhoidal  tumors in his life, excepting one  tumor after pro-
ving the Veratum v. and strong symptoms of it while proving Aes-
ulus.  He considers these hemorrhoidal tumors truly a pathogenetic
symptom  of the  Diosoorea;  obstinate  constipation followed by
bilious diarrhoea; severe pain in the umbilical and hypogastric regions,
with great desire for stool; very profuse, deep yellow, thin  stool,
followed by a very weak, faint feeling,  and  without relieving the
pain in the bowels.  This continued two days, in the  morning, then
was  followed by constipation.   The hemorrhoidal   tumors  were
prolapsed all the time, with great pain  and distress  in  them. 
DIOSCOREA  VILLCSA.
439
   Chest.—Sharp pulsating pain in the top of the sternum ; sharp
stitches all through  the chest and  cervical portion  of the back;
drawing pain between the shoulders.
   Back.—Constant dull pain  in the lumbar  region; dull aching
pain in the lumbar-sacral region very much aggravated by bending
the spine; dull  pain in the small of the  back; bending the spine
produces sharp cutting pains in all of the lumbar vertebra; back is
quite stiff, especially in the morning.
   Arms.—Frequent drawing pains in the elbows, wrists, hands and
fingers; severe, cutting  pains  in  the elbows, wrists  and fingers ;
constant dull pains in the wrists, hands and fingers, with frequent
sharp pains in the fingers;  fingers are very stiff, can hardly close
them, they are so painful.
   Lower  Extremities.—Dull  drawing  pains  in  the knees and
ankles ; very sharp  pain  in the bottom of the  feet and toes; con-
stant dull  pains in the ankles, feet and toes, with sharp pain in the
toes; the toes are very stiff, especially in the  morning.
        ESCULUS   HIPPOCASTANUM.
                 PROVING BY C. H. LEE, M.  D.
     {Received too late for insertion with the other Provings of same Medicine.)
   Prover healthy; temperament nervous—sanguine.
   December 26, 1863.  Took one drop of the third attenuation.
   December 27.  Felt drowsy; tongue coated white.
   December 28.  Very dull and stupid; disposition to sleep all the
time •  felt weak;  very severe lancinating headache at  the base of
the brain as if too full;  white coating on the tongue; borborygmus
and flatus which  was foetid; abdomen swollen and  tymphanitic;
took two drachms.
   December 29.  Same symptoms as yesterday, with sore throat,
which  was inflamed;  throat felt hot;  worse on left side;  left
tonsil very much  swollen and painful  on deglutition;  stools, of a
light brown  color and very  soft—frequent,  but not to extent of
a diarrhoea; no appetite;  no more of the drug taken.
    December 30. Same symptoms as  above, but worse; about 4
o'clock  p m., severe chill  which lasted three hours;  heat of the
fire relieved'me; from 7  to 12  at night, very high fever; pulse
about  130;  no thirst  during the chill or  fever, but rather an
increase of saliva; head aches all over as if it  would burst photo-
phobia  profuse;  hot perspiration with the fever; dyspnoea with
rapid breathing;  lungs feel heavy and as if they were engorged; 
440        NEW  HOMOEOPATHIC  PROVINGS.

heart's action very rapid and heavy—would jar me while lying
down, and could feel the pulsation all  over the body ;  my stomach
felt as if it would fall down into the intestines; urine scanty and of
a mahogany color, and  as it passed through the urethra it burned
like hot°water; a sore spot on  the right parietal bone, which upon
pressure, felt as if a knife was  piercing through; took no medicine
to-dav.
   December 31. Fever gone ; pulse about ninety ; neck very stiff
and swollen;  both tonsils swollen and of a fiery red color;  difficult
deglutition; head not  aching  so much, but is worse on stooping
or o-etting  up from a chair;  breathing more  natural; spitting of
blood on getting  up in the morning;  no  cough; stools hard and
dark brown ; urine not so high colored, with a brown  sediment;
took none of the drug.
   January 1,  1864.  I have  severe  shooting pains in the left
temple; eyes of a  pinkish hue; dull pain in the region  of the
spleen ; stools hard; no other symptoms.
   January 2.  Stools  soft; urine  yellow,  with a  thick, white
mucus sediment;  took four drops of the tincture.    <
   January 3 and 4. Appearance of haemorrhoids like ground nuts,
of a purple color; very painful, and with sensation of burning—
(the prover never had haemorroids before).
   January 6. Felt a  dryness in the soft palate ; a fulness in the
head;  stools natural;   urine  dark, some little sediment; took
eight  drops.
   January 8. Throat dry as if it was scraped, and swollen; bor-
borygmus; flatus foetid;  took  one drachm.
   January 10.  Dryness of the back part of  throat;  severe head-
ache as if the head would split;  desire to pass water  often, but
little at a time.
   January 11. Symptoms same as above; a dry, burning sensation
of the fauces and palate; a quantity of thick, yellow phlegm in the
mouth ; tongue coated yellow ; bowels  loose ; stools brown ; urine
scanty, and dark brown, no sediment;  pulse  hard and frequent;
dull, aching  pain in elbow  joint of left  arm; took  no more  of
the drug.
   January 12. Symptoms begin to diminish.
   January 14. No symptoms. 
CLINICAL    INDEX.
ABORTUS—
    Aletris far. 35, 36.   Asclepias syr. 63.
    Helonias d 241.  Sanguin.  can.  380.
    Erigeron eanad. 153.  Trillium p.  407.
    Cimicifuga, 118.  Veratrum vir. 424.
    Gossipium, 217.
AFTER PAINS-
    Pod. pelt. 348.  Caulophyllum, 88, 89.
    Cimicifuga, 117.
ALBUMINURIA—
    Eupator. purp. 166.   Chimaphila, 99:
AMAUROSIS—
    Gelseminum,  194.   Cimicifuga, 110.
    Veratrum v. 421.
AMENORRHEA—
    Aletris farin. 35.  Helonias dioica, 41.
    Senecio, 392.  Sang. 378. Gelsem.  206.
    Cimicifuga, 114.   Xanthoxylum,  434;'
    Gossipium, 217.
ANiEMIA—
    Helonias, 244.  Hydrastis can. 255.
ANGINA—
    Arum triphyl. 57.  Sanguinaria,  375.
    Hydrastis, 254.
ANOREXIA—
    Eupatorium perfoliatum, 163.
ANURY—
    Apocynum cannabinum, 48.
ANOSMIA-
    Gelseminum,  195.
APPETITE,  EXCESSIVE-
    Collinsonia canadensis, 126.
APTH^E-
    Euphorbia cor. 171.  Eupat. arom. 157.
    Caulophyllum, 87.   Cornus flor.  135.
    Hydrastis, 255. .
APHONIA-
    Gelseminum,  198, 211.  Rumex e. 365.
    Baptisia, 80.
APOPLEXY—
    Gelseminum, 192.  Sanguinaria, 373.
ARDOR URIN^E-
    Asclepias s. 63. ,
ASTHMA—
    Baptisia, 80.  Eupatorium. perfol. 164.
    Arum triphyllum, 58.
ASTHENOPIA—
    Gelseminum, 193.
ASCARIDES-
    Apocynum androsemifolium, 39.
ASCITES—
    Apocynum cannabinum, 46.


BRAIN, AFFECTIONS OF—
    Cypripedium, 145.  Gelseminum, 191.
BILIARY DERANGEMENTS—
    Leptandria, 290, 289.
BILIOUS FEVER—
    Podophyllum, 333.
BILIOUS COLIO—
    Dioscorea, 147.
BRONCHIAL  AFFECTIONS—
    Eupator. perfol. 164.  Eriger. can. 155.
BRONCHITIS—
    Sanguinaria, 381.  Gelseminum, 211.
    Eupatorium perf. 164.
BRONCHOCELE—
    Phytolacca, 300.


CATARRH-
    Arum tr.  58.  Apocynum cannab. 45.
    Hydrastis, 253, 261.  Phytolacca, 313.
    Gelseminum,  195.  Rumex crisp. 361.
    Cimicifuga, 111. Baptisia tinctoria, 76.
    Sanguin. 373, 9/0.  Eupatorium, 164.
    Sticta pulmonaria, 401. Trillium, 407.
    Asclepias, 68.
CANCERS—
    Phytolacca, 313.  Hydrastis, 248, 249.
CAMP DIARRHC3A-
    Leptandria, 294. 
442                 CLINICAL   INDEX.
CARDIALGIA—
    Iris versicolor,  288.  Gelsemin. 199.
    Dioscorea, 149.  Caulophyllum,  87.
CARDITIS—
    Veratrum viride, 428.
CANINE HUNGER-
    Eupatorium perf. 163.
CANCRUM ORIS (See Hydrastis)—
    Trillium, 404.
CACHEXIA—
    Hydrastis, 252.
CEREBRITIS-
    Veratrum viride, 421.
CEREBRAL CONGESTION—
    Aletris  farin.  35.  Sanguinaria, 373.
    Veratrum v.,  420.
CEREBROSPINAL MENINGITIS—
    Baptisia tinctoria, 75.
CEPHALALGIA—
    Esculus glabra,  18.  Apocy. andr. 39.
    Asclepias syriaca, 61. Phytolacca, 311.
    Nuphar  lutea, 304.  Cimicifuga, 109.
    Nuphar 1., 304.  Baptisia tinctoria, 75.
    Caulophyllum  87.
CHANCRE,  PHAGADENIG-
    Sanguinaria can. 379.
CHOREA—
    Gelseminum,  178.    Cimicifuga, 112.
    Veratrum viride, 411, 414, 421.
CHLOROSIS—
    Senecio gracilis,  393.
CHRONIC COUGH—
    Esculus,  24.
CIROOCELE—
    Hamamelis virginica, 233.
COUP DE SOLEIL—
    Gelseminum, 191.  Veratrum vir. 420.
CHOLERA MORBUS—
    Podophyllum  peltatum, 347.  Iris, 281.
    Dioscorea, 148.  Veratrum viride, 424.
CHOLERA INFANTUM—
    Pod. pelt. 347.  Leptandria virg. 297.
    Euphorbia, 170.  Cornus cir. 137, 135.
COLIC-
    Aletris, 35. Iris, 280. Phytolacca, 319.
    Gelseminum,  200.   Leptandria, 291.
    Dioscorea, 147, 438.  Xanthoxyl. 433.
    Podophyllum, 340.
COMA—
    Gelseminum,  192.
CONJUNCTIVITIS—
    Hydrastis canadensis, 253.
CONGESTION OF  BRAIN—
    Gelseminum,  191.
CORYZA-
    Phytolaoca,  313.   Sanguinaria, 380.
    Eupatorium perfoliatum, 164.
CONSTIPATION—
    Jisculus, 18.  Apocynum andros. 40.
    Hydras., 256.  Phy., 319.  Collins., 129.
    Gelseminum,  201.  Hamamelis,  225.
    Chimaphila, 100.
CORNEA, OPACITY OF—
    Hydrastis, 252.
COUGH, DRY—
    Podophyllum  pel., 350.  Rumex, 362.
    Sanguin.  can.,  380.  Asclepias, 68.
    Cimicifuga, 120.
COUGH, LOOSE—
    Podo, 350.   Sen., 394.   Silph., 395.
    Sticta, 400. Apocynum,  55.
COUGH. HECTIC—
    Leptandria v., 164.
COUGH, WHOOPING-
    Pod. pelt., 350.
CRAMPS OF STOMACH-
    Dioscoroa, 148.
CRAMPS OF PREGNANCY-
    Gelseminum, 206.
CROUP -
    Gelseminum, 179.
CUTANEOUS AFFECTIONS-
    Cornus cir., 133.
CYSTITIS—
    Hydrastis, 259.   Erigeron can.,  153.
    Veratrum viride, 424.


DEBILITY—
    Iris, 272.  Helonias, 237.
DELIRIUM  A POTU—
    Cimicifuga, 102, 103, 106.  Gels., 216.
DIARRHEA—
    Apocynum andro.,  40.  Baptisia, 78.
    Cornus c, 137.  Collinsonia can., 127-
    Euphorbia, 170.   Erigeron can., 152.
    Gelseminum, 200, 201.  Hamam., 228.
    Iris, 273, 280. Lept., 293. Nuph., 305.
    Phyt, 319.  Pod. pelt.,  346. Rum., 360.
    Sang., 378.  Trill., 404.   Verat., 423.
DIABETES—
    Senecio,   392.   Erigeron can,  153.
    Eupatorium per., 166.  Trillium, 404.
    Veratrum viride, 424.
DIURESIS—
    Veratrum, 424.
DIPHTHERIA—
    Phytolacca, 314, 324.   Baptisia, 71,77.
    Hydrastis, 253, 254.
DIPLOPIA—
    Gelseminum,  193.
DROPSY—
    Apocy.  an., 40.   Apocy.  c, 43, 49, 51.
    Asclepias syr., 61. Chimaphila ura, 98' 
CLINICAL   INDEX.
443
    Helonias, 240.  Eupatorium per., 166.
    Lept., 298.
DUODENTITIS—
    Iris, 278.
DYSENTERY-
    Apocynum andro., 38.   Baptisia, 79.
    Collins.,  127.  Cornus  cir., 132, 137.
    Euphorbia cor.,  170.  Erigeron, 152.
    Gelseminum,  201.   Iris, 273.  281-
    Hamamelis,  257. Leptan., 292,  297.
    Phyt., 319.  Pod., 346.  Trillium, 404.
    Veratrum v, 423.
DYSMENORRHEA—
    Asclepias, 63.  Bapt., 79,  Cimi., 114.
    Cauloph. thai., 88, 90.  Coll., 129, 132.
    Gelseminum, 205. Hamamelis v., 232
    Hel., 241.   Sen., 392.   Sang, c, 378.
    Xanthoxylum, 434.
DYSPEPSIA-
    Phytolacca decan., 318.  Asclepias, 69.
    Hydras. 252, 254.  Helonias dio., 240.
    Caulophyllum, 87.   Leptandria, 288.
    Phytolacca, 318.  Podoph. pelt., 339.
    Rumex, 359.  Sanguinaria, 376.
DYSPEPTIC PHTHISIS—
    Cimicifuga, 121.
DYSURIA-
    Erigeron can., 152.   Chimaphila, 99.
DY8PNEA-
    Eupatorium perf., 164.   Silph., 395.

ECCHYMOSES ON  EYE-BALLS—
    Erigeron can., 150.
ECZEMA-
    Euphorbia c, 172.
ENURE8IS-
    Podo.  pelt., 39.   Eupat. purp., 166.
    Gelseminum, 202.
ENTE RO-COLITIS—
    Nuphar lutea, 305.
 ENTERITI8-
    Phyt., 319.  Iris, 281.   Euphor., 172.
    Gels.,  200.  Lept,,  291.  Sang., 378.
EPILEPSY—
    Gelseminum 178.  Veratrum v., 412.
 EPISTAXIS—
    Hamamelis vir., 235.   Erigeron, 150.
     Trillium, 404.
 ERYSIPELAS—
     Euphorb, 172.   Gels., 196, 188.
 ERYTHEMA-
     Gelseminum, 195, 196, 215.
 EUSTACHIAN TUBE,
   Ob$truction» of—
     Phytolacca, 312.
 EXCORIATIONS—
     Hydrastis, 251, 258.
EYES, NEURALGIA OF—
    Gelseminum, 196.

FEVERS—
  Bilious—
    Apocynum andro., 38.  Baptisia, 74.
    Lept., 287.   Gels., 187.
  Catarrhal—
    Apocynum andro., 43.  Baptisia, 74.
    Asclepias, 68.  Gelseminum, 211.
  Hectic—
    Sanguinaria can., 370.
  Irritative—
    Gelseminum, 182.
  Intermittent—
    Leptandria, 286.  Gelseminum, 181.
    Eupat. per.,  159.  Veratrum v., 416.
    Cornus c, 133.   Cornus f., 140.
  Rheumatic—
    Cimicifuga, 105.  Baptisia, 74.
  Remittent—
    Gelseminum,  181.  Veratrum v., 416.
    Cornus c, 133.   Podo. pelt., 333.
  Scarlet—
    Gelseminum, 187.
  Typlioid—
    Baptisia, 72, 73.  Veratrum v., 418.
    Dioscorea v., 273.  Leptandria, 286.
  Yellow—
    Apoc. andro,  38.   Cimicifuga, 105.
    Gelseminum, 186.   Veratrum v., 417.
FISTULA LACHRYMALIS—
    Phytolacca decandra, 312.

GALL STONES, EXPULSION OF—
    Podophyllum peltatum, 342.
GASTRODYNIA—
    Gelseminum, 206.
GASTRALGIA—
    Leptandria,  288.  Gelsem., 199,205.
    Dioscorea, 149.
GASTRIC DERANGEMENT—
    Aletris farinosa, 35.  Leptandria, 288.
    Rumex, 359. Trill., 404.  Sang., 375.
    Veratrum viride, 423.
 GASTRITIS—
    Euphorbia, 172.  Iris versicolor, 278.
    Podo. pelt.,  339.  Sang., 376, 377.
 GINGIVITIS-
     Sanguinaria, 375.
 GLEET—
     Hydrastis can., 259.   Collinsonia, 131.
     Hamamelis vir., 234.   Erigeron, 156.
     Silphium, 396.   Eupat. pur.,  166.
  GONORRHEA—
     Caulophylum, 93. Hydrastis can., 289.
     Hamamelis v., 233.  Iris vers., 282. 
444
CLINICAL   INDEX.
    Erigeron c, 156.  Gelseminum,  204.
    Senecio, 392.
GRAVEL-
    Eupatorium purpureum, 166.
GRANULAR CONJUNCTIVITIS-
    Phytolacca decandra, 312.
GONITIS—
    Phytolacca decandra, 326.
GOITRE—
    Podophyllum peltatum, 338.
GOUTY AFFECTIONS-
    Eupat,  pur.,  165.  Eup. pur., 166.
GUMS, INFLAMMATION OF—
    Cimicifuga, 111.
HEMORRHOIDS—
    ,3Escu., 18, 29.   Collins., 126,128, 129.
    Diosco., 438.  Erig, 152.   Ham., 225.
    Hydrastis c.,228.   L^ptandria v., 296.
    Phytolacca, 319.  Podophyl, pel., 347.
    Polygonum, 354.  Veratrum v., 423.
HEMATURIA—
   Eupatorium pur.,  166.  Ham v., 230.
HEMORRHAGES— .
    Erigeron can., 150.  Gelseminum, 199.
    Ham., 234.   Sen.,39L   Tril. p.,404.
HEMATEMESIS-
    Erigeron  canadensis, 151.
HEMOPTYSIS—
    Sanguinaria, 882.  Hamamelis v., 234.
    Senecio,  394.   Trillium,  403,  407.
    Collinsonia, 131.
HEART  AFFECTIONS-
    Leptandria, 299.  Go'seminum, 180.
    Rumex, 367. Cim., 123.  Sang., 370.
HEAVES IN  HORSES—
    Silphium laciniatum, 395.
HECTIC  FEVER—
    Sanguinaria, 370.
HEMICRANIA—
    Eupatorium perfoliatum,  162.
HEPATITIS—
  .  Phytolacca, 318.   Podoph. pelt., 341.
HEPATIC DIFFICULTIES—
    Baptisia, 78.  Podophyllum pelt., 371.
HEPATIC  ERUPTIONS—
    Eupatorium perfoliatum,  164,
HER1ES CIRCINATA—
    Euphorbia corrollata, 172.
HERNIA, STRANGULATED—
    Gelseminum, 200.
HOARSENESS—
    Iris  versicolor,  283.  Rumex c, 363.
    Baptisia, 80.
HYDRO-PERICARDIUM—
    Apocynum cannabinum, 55.
HYDROCEPHALUS—
    Apocynum can., 44.   Verat. v., 421.
HYDROPHOBIA—
    (iclseminum, 178. Scutellaria, 389.
HYPOCHONDRIASIS—
    Podophyllum pelt., 335.  Helonias, 239.
    Senecio gra., 391.  Xanthoxylum, 433.
    Cornus c, 134.
HYSTERIA-
    Gelseminum, 178, 190.  Senecio, 391.
    Veratrum v., 412.  Caulophyllum, 90.

INDURATION  OF OS UTERI-
    Podophyllum peltatum,  349.
INFLUENZA-
    Gelseminum, 195. Eupatorium p. 164.
    Sticta pulmonaria, 401.  Gelsemin. 211.
IMPOTENCE-
    Nuphar 1. 306.  Gelseminum, 203.
INSOMNIA—
    Cypripedium pub. 144.   Senecio, 391.
    Caulophyllum,  87.  Sticta,  399, 400
    Gelseminum, 215.
INTERMITTENT FEVER—
    Podophyllum, 332.   Gelseminum, 183.
    Cornus f.  140.  Eupatorium perf. 159.
INTERTRIGO—
    Hydrastis, 251.

JAUNDICE-
    Gelseminum, 202,  Podoph. pelt. 337.

LARYNGISMUS STRIDULUS-
    Gelseminum, 179,
LEUCORRHEA—
    Aletris far. 35.  Apocynum andros. 40.
    Baptisia tinctor. 80.   Cimicifuga, 114.
    Collinsonia, 130.  Hamamelis vir. 230.
    Helonias  dioica, 241. Hydrastis, 260.
    Phytolacca  d.  321.   Trillium p. 403.
    Xanthoxylum,  434.
LIVER AFFECTIONS-
    Iris versicolor, 279.
LOCHIA,  UNHEALTHY—
    Baptisia,  80.
  Profuse—
    Erigeron  canad. 155.  Trillium,
  Suppression of—
    Cimicifuga, 118.
LUMBAGO—
    Cimicifuga, 124.  Hamamelis vir. 235.
    Phytolacca d. 325. Veratrum vir. 429.
MAMME, INFLAMMATION OF—
    Phytolacca d. 319, 321.  Helonias, 240.
    Veratrum viride, 425.
  Suppuration of—
    Phytolacca decandra, 321. 
CLINICA
L  INDEX.
445
MEASLES-
    Gelseminum,  188.  Veratrum v. 419.
MELENA—
    Hamamelis virginica, 225.
MENORRHAGIA—
    Aletris far. 35.  Apocynum andros. 40.
    Baptisia, 79.   Apocynum cannab. 53.
    Erigeron canadens. 155.  Senecio, 393.
    Trillium 403, 405, 406.
METRORRHAGIA—
    Trillium,  406.
MENSES, PREMATURE—
    Aletris farinosa, 35.
MENINGITIS—
    Aletris farinosa, 35. Cimicifuga, 113.
    Veratrum viride, 421.
MERCURIAL PTYALISM-
    Arum triphyllum,  58. Phytolacca, 313.
  Cachexia—
    Iris versicolor, 277.
MUSCULAR DEBILITY—
    Podophyllum peltatum, 351.
MYALGIA-
    Podophyl. pelt. 351.  Gelsem. 180, 213
    Hamamelis,  235.   Sanguinaria, 383.
MYALGIG HEADACHES—
    Sanguinaria, 373.

NECK,  STIFF—
    Phytolacca, 325.
NEPHRITIS—
    Erigeron can.  153.  Veratrum vir. 424.
NERVOUS SICK  HEADACHE—
    Gelseminum, 191.   Cimicifuga,  103.
NEURALGIA—
    Phytolacca, 327. Cimicifuga,  109, 122.
    Cypripedium,  145.  Gelseminum, 177.
NEURALGIA, FACIAL—
    Gelseminum, 195,  196.
NEURALGIC  HEMICRANIA—
    Apocynum androsem. 39.  Iris, 274.
NIGHTMARE—
    Iris versicolor, 272,
NIPPLES, SORE-.
    Hydrastis, 251.
NODE3-
    Phytolacca, 326.

OPTHALMIA-
    Apoeynum can. 45. Phytolacca d. 311.
    Baptisia, 75.  Podophyllum pelt. 337.
    Hydrastis can.  252.  Xanthoxyl. 434.
ODONTALGIA—
    Phytolacca, 313.   Rumex crispus, 359-
    Gelseminum, 197.
ESOPHAGITIS—
    Iris versicolor, 278.. Gelseminum. 197.
EDEMA OF THE GLOTTIS-
    Arum triphyllum, 58.
ORCHITIS—
    Hamamelis, 234.  Veratrum vir. 434.
OVARIAN  DISEA8E-
    Phytolaeca, 321.  Podophyl. pelt. 349.
    Hamamelis, 231.  Cimicifuga r. 118.
OZENA—
    Phytolacca d. 313.   Baptisia tinct. 76,
    Sanguinaria, 374.  Hydrastis c. 253.

PALPITATION OF HEART—
    Sanguinaria, 370.
PARALYSIS—
    Gelseminum, 178, 213.
  Of Lower  Extremities—
    iEsculus, 18.  Cuulophyllum, 92.
  Of Sphincters of Bladder—
    Gelseminum, 203.
PARALYTIC DYSPHAGIA—
    Gelseminum, 197.
PAROTITIS—
    Phytolacca decandra, 309.
PARTURIENT EFFECTS—
    Caulophyllum, 88.   Gossipium, 219.
PERIOSTITIS-
    Phytolacca decandra, 326.
PERITONITIS—
    Gelseminum, 200.
PERIODICAL HEMICRANIA—
    Eupatorium perfoliatum,  162.
PERICARDITIS-
    Veratrum viride, 428.
PETECHIA—
    Hamamelis virginica, 235.
PHTHISIS  P.—
    Cimicifuga, 122. Sanguinar. 371, 381.
PHLEGMASIA ALBA  DOLENS—
    Hamamelis 236.  Cimicifuga.  120.
PLEURODYNIA—
    Cimicifuga, 122.
PNEUMOMIA—
    Sanguinaria, 381.  Eupator.  perf. 164.
    Gelseminum, 212.   Asclepias tub. 68.
    Veratrum viride, 426.
POLYPI—
    Sanguinaria, 371.
PROLAPSUS ANI-
    Aletris  36.  Podophyllum pelt. 346.
PROLAPSUS UTERI—
    Helonias, 242.  Podophyllum pelt. 348.
    Collinsonia, 130. Cimicifuga, 114,118.
PROSOPALGIA—
    Phytolacca decandra, 313.
PSORIASIS-
    Apocynum can. 43.   Nuphar lut. 303.
PSORA-
    Phytolacca decandra, 310. 
446
CLINICAL  INDEX.
PRURIGO—                      .
    Apocynum andr. 39.   Collinsonia, 30.
PUERPERAL
  Peritonitis—
    Podophyllum pelt. 340. Verat. v. 425.
  Convulsions—
    Veratrum viride, 412.  Gels. 206, 209.
  Mania-                      .   .„_
    Cimicifuga, 119.   Veratrum vir. 425.
PUSTULAR ERUPTIONS-
    Iris versicolor, 272.
PTOSIS-
    Gelseminum,  193.
PTYALISM—
    Podophyllum peltatum, 338.
 PYROSIS-
    Leptandria virginica, 288.

 RECTUM, ULCERATION OF-
    Hydrastis canadensis,  258.
 RHEUMATISM—
     Apocynum and. 39.  Phytol. 325, 326.
     Hamamelis v. 236. Gelseminum, 189
     Cimicifuga, 125.  Sanguinaria, 383
     Eupatorium, 165.  Cauloph. 86, 93.
 RHEUMATICO-NEURALGIC PAINS-
     Cimicifuga, 125.
  RHEUMATIC
    Gout—
     Apocynum androsemifolium, 39.
    Fever—
      Cimicifuga, 105.
    Hemicrania—
      Apocynum andr. 39.  Cimicifuga, 109.
    Neuralgia—
      Apocynum androsemifolium, 40.
  RINGWORM—
      Phytolacca decandra, 310.
  RIGIDITIES-
      Gelseminum, 179, 209.

   SALLOWNESS OF SKIN—
       Podophyllum peltatum, 335.
   SCARLATINA—
       Asclepias syr. 6L   Gelsem. 187,197.
       Veratrum viride, 419.
   SCROFULOUS AFFECTIONS-
       Iris versicolor, 272.  Chimaphila, 97.
    SCABIES—
       Phytolacca decandra, 310.
    SCIATICA—
       Phytolacca dec. 326, Cimicifuga, 125
    BEA  S1CKNESS-
       Euphorbia, 171.
    SICK HEADACHE—
       Iris, 274.  Cimicifuga, 113.
    "SINKING AT THE  STOMACH'•-
        Apoeynum cannabinum, 45.
SLEEP, UNREFRE8HING—          _
    Cornus circ. 134.  Xanthoxylum. 433.
SPASMS OF STOMACH—
    Gelseminum, 199.
SPASMS OF UTERUS—
    Gelseminum, 203.
SPLEEN,  DISEASES OF—
    Podophyllum peltatum, 344.
SPERM ATORRHE A—
    Hydrastus  can.  239. Erigeron, 156.
    Collinsonia, 131.  Iris, 281.  Gels. 203.
    Nuphar, 306.
SPINAL IRRITATION-
    Cimicifuga, 123.  Phytolacca, 325.
STRANGURY—
    Apocynum  can. 48.  Eupator. p. 166.
STRABISMUS—
    Gelseminum, 194.
STR1CTURE-
    Hydrastis canadensis, 259.
STOMATITIS—
    Arum tr. 58. Eupatorium arom. 157.
    Iris versicolor, 277.
   Materna—
    Cornus c. 136.   Eupatorium arom. 157.
     Podophyllum peltatum, 338.
 SUPPRESSED DISCHARGES-
     Veratrum viride, 420.
 SYNOVITIS-
     Apocynum cannabinum, 56.
 SYPHILIS—
     Apocynum androsemifolium, 40.
 SYPHILITIC  ANGINA—
     Hydrastis canadensis, 254.

  TEETH, LOOSENESS OF—
     Sanguinaria, 375.
  TETANUS-
      Gelseminum, 178.
  TINEA  CAPITIS—
      Phytolacca, 321.
   TONSILLITIS—
      Phytolacca, 309.  Gelseminum  197.
       Podophyllum, 338.  Sanguinaria, 375.
     lOMTTfl__
TRISMUS—
    Gelseminum, 196.
TUBERCULOSIS—
    Cimicifuga, 121. Sanguinar. 371 381.
TYPHOID FEVER—
    Podophyllum p. 333.  Baptisia, 72  73
    Veratrum v. 418. Iris, 273. Lept. 286.
TYPHUS ABDOMINALIS—
    Iris, 281.  Leptandria,  291.

 ULCERATIONS—
     Baptiaia tinctoria, 71. Hydrastis 251
     Sanguinaria, 371. 
                      CLINICA

  Syphilitic—
    Phytolacca, 313.
ULCERATION OF MOUTH —
    Baptisia tinct. 76.   Sanguinaria, 375.
    Hydrastis, 255.
  Of Stomach—
    Sanguinaria,  376.
  Of Intestines—
    Eupatorium p. 166.  Hydrastis, 259.
  Of Bladder—
    Eupatorium purp. 166. Hydrastis, 259
  Of Legs—
    Hydrastis, 261.  Phytolacca, 326.
  Of Buccal cavity—
    Phytolacca, 313. Bapt. 77.  Hyd. 255.
  Of Os Uteri—
    Baptisia tinctoria, 80.  Helonias, 242.
    Phytolacca, 321.
URINARY DIFFICULTIES-
    Collinsonia, 129.  Cimicifuga, 114.
UTERINE HEMORRHAGE—
    Hamamelis v. 233.   Apocynum c. 53.
    Erigeron canaden. 153.  Senecio, 395.
    Trillium, 404.
UTERINE CONGESTIONS-
    Veratrum viride, 424.
UTERINE CANCER-
    Phytolacca, 321.
UTERINE SCIRROUS-
    Phytolacca, 321.
  INDEX.                 447

VARICOSES-
    Hamamelis, 222, 235.
VARICOCELE-
    Collinsonia, 131.
VARIOLA-
    Cimicifuga,  106.   Gelseminum, 108.
    Sarracenia, 385. Veratrum viride, 419.
VERTIGO—
    JSsculus, 18.   Euphorbia coroll. 171.
VESICAL CATARRH-
    Eupatorium purpureum, 166.
  Tenesmus—
    Chimaphila,  100.
VICARIOUS MENSTRUATION—
    Collinsonia, 130.  Hamamelis, 232.
VOMITING-
    Eupatorium perf. 163.  Iris vers. 277.
    Sanguinaria, 376.
  Of Pregnancy—
    Euphorbia, 171.


WARTS—
    Phytolacca, 326.  Sanguinaria c. 371.
WHITLOW-
    Phytolacca, 326.
WORMS—
    Euphorbia, 172.  Gelseminum, 201. 
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