CACTUS: 
Its History, 
Classification, Proving and Therapeutical 
Application. 
READ BEFORE THE 
iSderttc JHeimal Society of tf)e |£tate of Nho gorfe, 
IN ANNUAL SESSION AT COOPER INSTITUTE, NEW YORK, 
October 33, 1874/) . 
BY 
RICHARD E. KUNZE, M. D.; 
Of New York City. 
ALBANY: 
WEED, PARSONS AND COMPANY, PRINTERS. 
1875. CACTUS: 
Its History, Classification, Proving, and Therapeutical Application. 
Richard E. Kitnze, M. D., of New York City. 
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Natural Order: 43—Cactacece. 
The cactus family are fleshy and thickened; mostly leafless plants 
of peculiar aspect, globular or columnar and many-angled, or flattened 
and jointed, usually with prickles. Flowers solitary sessile ; the sepals 
and petals numerous, imbricated in several rows, adherent to the one- 
celled ovary. Stamens numerous, with long and slender filaments, 
inserted on the inside of the tube or cup formed by the union of the 
sepals and petals. Style 1; stigmas numerous. Fruit a one-celled 
berry, with numerous campylotropous seeds on several parietal pla- 
centae. 
Cactus is a Greek word, signifying prickly, under the name Theoph- 
rastus describes a spiny plant, an article of food, which grew in South- 
ern Europe. It belongs to the consolidated forms of vegetation which 
are formed on the plan of the least possible amount of surface in pro- 
portion to their bulk, and are evidently adapted and designed for very 
dry regions, and in such only are they found. A green rind serves the 
purpose as foliage. This genus consists of succulent plants, perma- 
nent in duration, singular and various in structure, generally without 
leaves, and having the stem or branches jointed; for the most part 
armed with spines in bundles, with which, in many species, bristles 
are intermixed. These bundles of spines are placed on the top of the 
tubercles in the smaller Melon thistle or Cactus mamillaria, which is 
tubercled all over and produces its flowers between the tubercles. In 
the great Melon Cactus (Melo Cactus) the spines are ranged in a sin- 
gle row on the ridge of the ribs. These are of an ovate or globular 
form. The Torch thistle or Columnar Cactus (Cereus), on the contrary, 
are slender, rise up high, are jointed and branched, many of them are 
almost cylindrical, with from fire to ten shallow ribs; some, however, 
are square or three-cornered. The structure of the creeping Cerei is 
the same with these, except that the stems are weak and cannot sup- 
port themselves; they therefore seek support from trees and throw out 
roots from the stem like ivy. In the Prickly Pear or Indian Fig 
(Opuntia) the branches are jointed and flattened like the sole of a 
shoe; the bundles of spines or bristles are scattered all over the sur- 
face, and the flowers are produced from the edge of the extreme 
HISTORY. 2 
branches. In the Epiphyllum the branches are thinner with shorter 
and flatter joints, and they are indented along the edge ; the flowers 
come out singly from the indentures. This genus seldom has any 
spines. Pereskia or Barbadoes Gooseberry has a round stock with 
leafy branches; the leaves are alternate, flat and thick; the prickles 
are large and stiff and come out in bundles on the stock and branches, 
chiefly at the axils ; the flowers are produced several together from the 
axils also. In this and the Prickly Pear Cactus the flowers are pitcher- 
shaped ; in the other genera they are subcylindrical and longer; in 
the Epiphyllum very long. The fruit in some of the sorts is small, like 
currants ; but in most it is larger and shaped like a pear or fig, whence 
their name Prickly Pear or Indian Fig. Cacti thrive in arid regions, 
such as sandy deserts on rocky soil or limestone formation, which we 
find in coral reefs along our South Atlantic and Pacific coast. And 
they belong to such countries as Southern Africa, South and Central 
America, Mexico, California, Arizona, etc., which have a long hot sea- 
son with little or no rain, when their stalks and foliage above and their 
roots beneath being early cut off by drought, the plants rest securely 
in their compact bulbs, filled with nourishment and retaining their 
moisture with great tenacity, until the rainy season comes around. 
Then they shoot forth leafy stems and flowers with wonderful rapidity, 
and what was perhaps a desert of arid sand becomes green with foliage 
and gay with blossoms, almost in a day. 
During the last decade the virtues of Cactus as a remedial agent 
were first brought to the notice of the medical profession; and not- 
withstanding its reputed efficacy in cardiac affections, our works on 
materia medica, new medicines and botany gave but a meager account 
of this valuable drug, and scarcely any general description of the plant 
itself. All of what we knew about it had been copied from homoeo- 
pathic literature, with the single exception of the descriptive part; to 
accord it that position in our materia medica, which its well-attested 
merits deserved, much more information was needed. During the 
past five years I have searched, studied and utilized all the information 
I could find upon the subject, and have been enabled to present, if 
not any new facts, at least a correct history of the plant in a descrip- 
tive, historical and medicinal point of view, also I have given a trust- 
worthy account of what I know myself and that which I obtained from 
my esteemed friend, Mr. Isaac Buchanan, the learned and most exten- 
sive florist of this city, whose large collection of Cacti and unlimited 
freedom of access thereto at his extensive green-houses in Astoria, L. 
I., have assisted me considerably in recording that which our works on 
the subject failed to give. A unique little collection of Cacti, pre- 
sented tome by Mr. I. Buchanan and Mr. Wm. Baker, an amateur of 
tropical and other rare plants, also of this city, have been of much 
value to me in confirming information obtained elsewhere and with- 
out which much of the interest I have bestowed upon it would have 
been lost. 
This curious tribe of plants comprises eight or more genera and 
these are subdivided into 800 different species, most all of them natives 
of America and the West Indies. Cactean plants are divided into the 
following genera: 
Melocactus, 
Echinocactus, 
Ecliinopsis, 3 
Mamillaria, 
Cereus, 
Epiphyllum, 
Opuntia, 
Leuchtenbergia, 
Pereskia, 
Rhipsalis, 
Lepismium, and other sub-genera. 
Description of Genera. 
Melocactns. — Also called melon cactus, or melon thistle, from its 
resemblance to a melon. Habitat: West Indies, South America. 
Echinocactus. — From echinos, the sea urchin, cactus, spiny shape ; 
globose or roundish oblong. Habitat: Mexico, Chili and Brazil. 
Echinopsis. — From echinos, a hedgehog, op sis, resemblance. It 
does not differ much from echinocactus. Shape: ovate globose or 
globose depressed. Habitat: Porto Rico and Chili. 
Mamillaria.— So named from mamilla, a nipple or tubercle, and 
known as ball cactus, being covered all over with tubercles. Shape: 
oblong cylindrical, oval cylindrical and globose subcylindrical. Hab- 
itat: Mexico and Chili. 
Cereus. — From cereus, a torch or taper; from its resemblance of 
the joints to such. Shape: columnar, cylindrical, roundish and 
angular. Habitat: Brazil, Mexico, West Indies and Central America. 
Epiphyllum or Crabsclaw Cactus. — From epi, upon, phyllon, a leaf; 
on account of the flowers appearing upon its leaves. Shape: branches 
are flat, foliaceous, ensiform or obovate truncate, often crenated or 
repandly toothed. Habitat: Brazil, South America, Mexico, and 
Honduras. 
Opuntia. — Generally known as prickly pear and Indian fig. 
Branches resembling the palm of a hand or the sole of a shoe. The 
plant appears like a series of thick succulent leaves, one growing from 
the top of another. Habitat: North, South and Central America, 
Mexico, West Indies, and Southern Europe. 
Leuchtenbergia. —Named in honor of Prince Leuchtenberg, said to 
have had the largest collection of cacti in Europe. Shape: shrub, 
fleshy cylindrical, mamillae, elongated leaf-formed triquetrous truncate. 
Habitat: Mexico. 
Pereskia. — Called Barbadoes gooseberry. Shape : joints ovate, 
oblong or leaves elliptical and fleshy. Habitat: Mexico and West 
Indies. 
Rhipsalis or Coral Cactus. — Resembling a leafless willow branch, in 
allusion to the flexible decumbent branches of this genus. Habitat: 
South America, West Indies and Africa. 
Lepismium.— From lepis, a scale, having such at crenatures. 
Shape: joints elongated, slender, angular, erect or suberect and mar- 
gins crenulated. Habitat: Brazil. 
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES. 
In order to be brief I will attempt to describe a few species only of 
those genera which have been utilized by mankind and serve the inhab- 
itants of countries wherein Cacti grow, not only as an article of food, 
but furthermore, as fuel and various other purposes. That many of 4 
them are medicinal I have not the least doubt, and having tried a few 
new species myself, not heretofore mentioned, I hope to stimulate 
other therapeutists in following up this wide field for the development 
of their remedial effects. 
Cactus melocadus, the great melon cactus or Turk’s cap, appears 
like a large fleshy green melon, with deep rips, set all over with strong 
sharp thorns. When it is cut through the middle, the inside is found 
to be a soft, green, fleshy substance, very full of moisture. The flowers 
and fruit are produced in circles around the upper part of the cap. 
The flowers are bell-shaped and of deep crimson color, the same as the 
fruit, which is rather of an elongated form and of the size of a pigeon’s 
egg. Some of those which have been brought here, have been more 
than a yard in circumference and two and a half feet high. In the 
West Indies there are plants nearly twice as large, and quite recently 
several weighing 600 pounds each were shipped from this port to 
Europe. They grow upon the steep sides of rocks in the hottest parts 
of America, where they seem to be thrust out of the apertures, having 
little or no earth to support them; their roots shooting down into the 
fissures of the rocks to a considerable depth, so that it is troublesome 
to get the plant up. As they delight in such rocky places, they sel- 
dom live long when transplanted into a better soil. In times of great 
drouth the cattle repair to the barren rocks where these plants grow, 
rip them up with their horns, tear off the outside skin and greedily 
devour all the fleshy moist part. The fruit is frequently eaten by the 
inhabitants of the West Indies. It is of an agreeable acid taste. 
Ecliinoca.ctus visnaga. This wonderful plant was found in Mexico, 
at San Louis Potosi, and is one of the largest and most remarkable of 
the cactus family. In its native country it bears the name of'“ Visnaga,, 
signifying a tooth-pick among the Mexican settlers, who use the spines 
for that purpose. The original plant was 9 feet high and 9 and a half 
feet in circumference. It weighed a ton. This specimen had been sent 
to the Botanic Garden at Kew, England, where after a year of appar- 
ent health it exhibited symptoms of internal decay, the inside became 
a putrid mass and the crust or shell fell by its own weight. It 
produces its flowers on the edge of the ribs, not very far from the top 
of the plant. 
Echinocactus Wislizeni is found in Arizona and Mexico, where it is 
called by the Spaniards, “ Biznacha,” and being 20 inches or more in 
diameter, a section of the stem is often employed as a cooking vessel. 
The seeds are small and black; but when parched and pulverized, 
make good gruel and even bread. The pulp of the fruit is rather sour, 
and not so much eaten as the prickly pear. Travelers in passing 
through the cactus wastes often resort to this plant to quench their 
thirst, its interior containing a soft, white, watery substance, of slightly 
acid taste, which is rather pleasant when chewed. Plants may be seen 
on each side of the road, with a large perforation made by the thirsty 
traveler. An Indian, when traveling and wishing to make a meal, 
selects a large plant, three feet or more long and two in diameter, cuts 
it down and hollows it out so as to form a trough ; into this he throws 
the soft portions of the pulpy substance which surrounds the central 
woody axis, and adds meat, roots, seed, meal, fruits or any thing edible 
on hand; water is added, and the whole mixed together ; 'stones are 
then highly heated and dropped into the mixture, and as they cool, 
are taken out, licked clean, reheated and returned to the cooking vessel, 5 
until the mixture is thoroughly boiled. This is a favorite dish with 
the Yabapais and Apaches of Arizona. The Papajo Indians pare off 
the rind and thorns of large plants of this species of cactus, letting it 
remain several days to bleed, when the pulp is pared down to the 
woody axis, cut up into suitable pieces, and boiled in a syrup made 
from the fruit of Cereus giganteus or Germs Thurberi. If a kind of 
sugar which is made by the Mexicans is attainable, it is employed 
instead of the syrup, thus forming a good preserve. These pieces, when 
taken out of the liquid and dried, are as good as candied citron, which 
they much resemble in taste and substance. 
Mamillaria or ball cactus as a genus do not present any very 
striking characteristics, neither are their flowers so gorgeous and large 
as those of the cereus and epiphyllum. Their compact bodies, whether 
round or elongated, are thickly studded with tubercles, from the ends 
of which the spines or bristles project. The small flowers, many of 
which are bell shaped, and*white in color, are produced from between 
the tubercles as well as its diminutive fruit or scarlet berries. This 
latter is about the size of the tubercles. 
Cereus grandiflorus (verus) (De Candolle) Synonyme ; Cactus grandi- 
florus, night-blooming cereus or Vanilla Cactus is the noblest of 
all the cactus tribe, so far as it relates to their flowers, which are 
of remarkable beauty and fragrance. When arrived to a sufficient 
strength, it will produce many exceedingly large, beautiful sweet- 
scented flowers, like most of this kind, of very short duration, scarcely 
continuing six hours full blown; nor do the flowers ever open 
again when once closed. They begin to open between seven and eight 
o’clock in the evening, are fully blown by eleven, and by three 
or four in the morning they fade, and hang down quite decayed ; but 
during their short continuance, there is scarcely any flower of greater 
beauty, or that makes a more magnificent appearance. The calyx of 
the flower, when open, is near a foot in diameter; the inside of which 
being of a splendid yellow color, appears like the rays of a bright star, 
the outside is of a dark brown, and the petals being of a pure white, add 
to the luster; the vast number of recurved stamens surrounding the 
style in the center of the flower make a fine appearance; added to all 
this is the fine scent of the flower, which perfumes the air to a considera- 
ble distance around. There is scarely any plant which deserves a place 
in a hot-house so much as this, especially as it may be trained against 
the wall, in the manner of a vine, not taking up much room. The 
usual season of its flowering is in July, and when plants are large, 
many flowers will open the same night, and there will be a succession 
of them for several nights together. Another strange feature of this, 
as well as other night-blooming cacti is, that its mature flower-buds 
do not emit any fragrance in the daytime. It is not succeeded in culti- 
vation by any appearance of fruit. This, in its native haunts of 
Jamaica, is of a beautiful, violet and yellow color, as long as a good- 
sized plum. The joints or stems are from one half to two inches in 
diameter, seven-angled or more, and from its creeping habit ascends 
any convenient tree or shrubbery, often covering up its neighbor with 
its luxuriant shoots and flowers to such an extent, that it is with diffi- 
culty ascertained whether the object you behold is a cactus or some 
other tree. This holds good with many of the creeping, trailing and 
slender species of cerei, which also for want of a better support, often- 
times overran the ground and rocks above. Here they trail like 6 
serpents over the ground, and twine themselves in knotty coils around 
fallen trunks, and among the crevices of the barren rocks. Others 
hang like ropes from the limbs of over-shadowing trees, and often pre- 
sent impenetrable jungles to man or beast. This Cereus grandiflorus 
is the one so highly extolled as a remedy in certain diseases of the 
heart, of which more hereafter. It inhabits Jamaica, W. I., and is 
cultivated for the beauty of its flowers in adjacent islands, as well as in 
Europe and the United States of America. 
Cereus Bonplandii {Parmet) or white gran diflora is another variety 
of night-blooming cerei, nearly allied to the last-named species, from 
which it differs more in the shape of its joints than in the size and color 
of its flowers. In growth it is not as rank as the other, with stems 
four or five angled, slightly ribbed and not so thickly beset with spines 
as the other varieties, stems rooting. Thickness of joints from one-half 
to one and a half inches in diameter and in color of a deeper green. 
The flowTer proper is from seven to eight inches long, including the 
flower-tube, nearly a foot and it measures fully nine inches in width. 
The sepals of the tube are of a cinnamon color; the outside row of 
petals is of a lemon-yellow and the inner row a pure white. In fra- 
grance it is not excelled by any other variety, and it flowers at night 
very much the same as the preceding variety. The fruit is small. It 
is a native of the West India islands. Of this it may be said that like 
other night-blooming cerei, it can be changed in its habit of flowering 
at night and made to produce flowers of equal beauty and fragrance 
in broad daylight. I will now state what Mr. Schott, director of the 
botanic garden of Vienna, accomplished with one of these plants to 
suit the whim of an emperor, who could not have thought of such an idea 
as to have made a visit to the conservatory by night, for the mere pur- 
pose of beholding a cereus grandiflorus in flower. For three months 
in succession, Mr. Schott caused this cereus to be shaded and finally 
excluded from all light during the day, at the same time subjecting it 
to the action of an electric light at night in such a way, that by this 
gradual change of light into darkness, the habit of the plant was 
reversed so that it flowered between the hours of nine and ten o’clock 
in the morning during the month of July, in ‘the year 1850, giving 
the Emperor Francis Joseph an opportunity to view it at his leisure. 
As a medicine, this species has proved itself to be a valuable acquisi- 
tion to our materia medica, especially in all functional disorders of the 
heart. 
Cereus Macdonaldii {Hooker), is another variety not before men- 
tioned, a magnificent species of cereus from the Honduras, nearly 
allied to cereus grandiflorus, and flowering in the night also. The 
stems are from a quarter to one inch in thickness, are five and six- 
angled ; have short, weak spines, and the intermediate space of the 
spines is concave, giving the deeply-ribbed stems a scalloped appear- 
ance. It is of a dark green color. The flowTer is nine inches in width, 
having a long flower-tube with greenish sepals. The outer row of 
petals are a pale yellow, and the innermost petals a pure white, with 
the anthers projecting fully half an inch beyond the petals. It is fragrant. 
There are still the following varieties, several of which we have not 
had an opportunity yet of examining, viz.: Cereus nycticalus (Link), 
C. Maynardii, and C. albisetosus, all night-blooming varieties. 
Cereus flag ellifor mis or Rat-tail Cactus produces a greater number 
of equally handsome flowers than the foregoing sorts, and very fragant 7 
too. The flowers appear in May and sometimes earlier when the 
season is warm. The petals are of fine deep pink color, both within 
and without; they are not very numerous and the tube or calyx of the 
flower is longer than that of the cereus grandiflorus. These flowers 
keep open three or four days, provided the weather or place where the 
plants stand be not too warm, and during their continuance they make 
a fine appearance. This variety has very slender trailing branches 
which require a support. They are not jointed nor do they extend so 
far as the other sorts. The fruit of this cactus is yellowish, yet it 
seldom ripens under cultivation. It is indigenous in Peru. Its 
rounded shoots, hanging down the sides of the pot-like ropes or cat’s 
tails, give it the appearance of a very ornamental plant. The branches 
or shoots are thickly covered with fine fuzzy spines. When grafted on 
a Pereskia or Cereus serpentinus, it makes an attractive plant. 
Cereus triangularis or Strawberry-pear has very large flowers also; 
the calyx is of a yellowish green, with the points of its sepals tinged 
red. The petals of the outer circle are a fine yellow, and the inner 
circle is made up of large white petals. The anthers are yellow and fila- 
ments white. It bears a large oval purplish-red fruit, containing a white 
or light roseate pulp, which has a deliciously-slight acid flavor, and is 
much esteemed by the inhabitants of Martinique and other West India 
islands. It is the best-flavored fruit of any of the cacti, and resembles 
in taste very much the strawberry, being acid, at the same time sweet, 
pleasant and cooling. The triangular stems of this cactus attain a 
good size and measure from two to six inches in diameter, according 
to the variety. At times some of its stems are quadrangular. Many of 
the crabs-claw cacti are grafted upon the strong stems of this species, 
so as to produce a greater abundance of flowers, from the increase of 
nutrition obtained. 
Cereus Peruvianus, Synonyme (C. octangularis) is another very 
showy variety. The stems are octangular and very thick. The flower 
stem or calyx is green with the points of its sepals pinkish. The petals 
or the flower proper, is white and with the yellow anthers on their 
white filaments m the center of it, make up a large and handsome 
flower. The fruit is red. The woody axis of the stems or joints is 
used as a torch by the Indians, hence the name “ torch thistle ” has 
been given to all of the genus cereus. The wood is also used for making 
fences, beams, posts and door-sills of Indian houses. It is a native of 
Peru and St. Domingo, where it attains a remarkable size. 
Cereus giganteus, the giant or monumental cactus is the largest 
species of any of this genus, its columnar trunks in the valley of the Gila 
river, in Arizona, often reaching to the height of from twenty to fifty 
feet. The Mexicans call it “ Suwarrow.” It grows on the barren hills 
and plains of Arizona, oftentimes four and a half feet in diameter, and 
is deeply ribbed and covered with long, black spines. The ribs near the 
base number about twelve, but further up at the bifurcation of the 
branches the place of greatest diameter, and which is generally fifteen to 
eighteen feet from the ground, the ribs are increased to thirty in num- 
ber. The wood at the stem of old trunks becomes a hollow cylinder 
and from thence to the first branches instead of being solid, it becomes 
a reticulated net-work of bundles of wood. It flowers from May to 
July, and the fruit ripens in July and August. The flowers are pro- 
duced in abundance near the summit of the stems, and the fruit is 
found always near the center of the top. The flowers are from three 8 
to five inches in length, and three to four inches in diameter. They are 
supposed to be open day and night. The color of the petals is of a 
creamy white, that of the sepals a fleshy-greenish Avhite, and the fila- 
ments light yellow. The petals are very thick, fleshy and much curled. 
Its fruit is pear-shaped, of a greenish yellow color, toward the end red- 
dish, with a few small spines scattered over the surface which fall off 
as the fruit becomes thoroughly ripe. The fruit being borne upon the 
highest part of the plant, it is usually gathered by means of long hooked 
sticks or forks tied to the ends of long poles made from the wood of 
the same. The inside of the fruit is of a beautiful red color and looks 
tempting; the rind is pulpy, fibrous, juicy and sweet; the pulp is very 
palatable, and is full of small black seeds, which are also eaten, remind- 
ing one of figs, the only difference being that it has more moisture. 
The seeds are indigestible unless well chewed. The Indians of Arizona, 
Sonora and the southern portion of California consider this one of 
their greatest luxuries, and as long as the fruit is obtainable, care for 
nothing else. To dry this fruit as a preserve, the seedy pulp is placed 
between soft, inner corn-husks, the ends of which are tied, and it is 
then dried in the sun for winter use or trade. It is also put up into 
earthen pots when fresh, secured from the air, and sold in the settle- 
ments. It retains its sweetness for a long time, a sample of it having 
been deposited in the museum of the agricultural department of Wash- 
ington and was yet good after the lapse of three years. Yet there are 
instances when it will undergo a slight fermentation, and its color will 
change to a Vandyke red. A clear light brown syrup is expressed from 
the pulp also, and sold in one gallon jugs by the Indians for from two 
to five dollars. The Papajo Indians are the largest producers of this 
syrup. The Pimo Indians of the Gila river annually prepare a wine 
from this fruit called by the Mexicans “ tiswein,” by taking the fresh 
pulp or the syrup and mixing with it a certain quantity of water in 
earthen vessels and exposing it to the sun for some time to ferment, 
after which it is fit for drinking. It is highly intoxicating, with the 
taste and smell of sour beer; but some time elapses after drinking 
before its stimulating effects are felt. When the wine is ready for use, 
the Indians celebrate an annual drinking festival. These gatherings 
are anxiously anticipated for months and expeditions which have been 
planned against the Apaches while under the influence of drink are 
then carried into execution. A sample of this wine, three years old, 
at the Smithsonian Institution of Washington, has improved by age, 
having acquired a slight sour, muscat taste, but is still very disagreea- 
ble. The juice or flesh of this cereus is quite bitter and must 
contain some medicinal properties. The wood of these large cacti is 
used as fuel, and when made into poles serves as building material for 
Indian huts, as well as for the purpose of detaching the fruit from the 
distant stems. Arrows too are made of it, and it is not an uncommon 
thing to meet numbers of these cacti pierced with arrows, their fruit 
having served as target for the Indian boys, who in missing their aim 
had also forfeited their arrows. Plants raised from seeds are globose 
and retain such shape for many years, being exceedingly slow in their 
growth, as well as delicate. These differ from all other seedling plants 
of cerei, with the exception of Cereus Thurberi, in that the others at 
once grow up in a cylindric or prismatic column. 
Cereus Thurberi, or Thurber’s cactus, named in honor of Dr. George 
Thurber (an eminent botanist of this city, who discovered the first 9 
specimen some twenty years since while on an exploring expedition in 
Arizona), grows in the Papajo Indian country, on the borders of Ari- 
zona and Sonora, ten to twenty feet high, four to six inches in diame- 
ter, and with from five to fifteen stems from one root. It has from 
thirteen to fourteen ribs, very slightly prominent and bears two crops 
of fruit per year. This Cactus is called “ Pitahaya ” by the Mexicans. 
It flowers from late in May to July, and the fruit matures in July and 
August. The flowers are borne usually from six to twelve inches below 
the top of the plant, are three inches in length, a little less in diame- 
ter, and funnel shaped. The petals are stiff, curling and of a cream- 
white color. The stamens are yellow and very numerous. The fruit 
is about the size and shape of an egg, and is thickly covered with long, 
black spines. As it ripens it becomes tinged with red, the spines fall off, 
the fruit splits open and exposes a rich, red, juicy pulp, inclosing 
numerous small, black, smooth seeds. At this time the pulp is rather 
mawkish to the taste; but a few days’ exposure to the sun dries it to 
about one-third of its original bulk, and the whole mass drops out of 
the skin. In this state it has the consistency of the pulp of a dried 
fig, and the saccharated matter being concentrated by drying, it some- 
what resembles that fruit in taste. The Pimo and other Indians col- 
lect the pulp and roll it into balls, in which state it probably keeps the 
whole year, as it was offered to an exploring party of the Mexican 
Boundary Commission, which passed along the route of the river Gila, 
a confluent of the Colorado, in January, 1851. 
This is decidedly better fruit than that of the Cereus giganteus, but 
it is used in every respect for the same domestic purposes. The Papajo 
Indians, in transporting earthen vessels filled with syrup or preserves 
made of this fruit to market cover their jars with a thick coating of 
mud, which renders them less liable to break in handling, and at the 
same time keeps the contents cool and prevents evaporation, the 
crockery used being very porous. The fruit is used in enormous quan- 
tities, and being very nutritious the consumers quickly acquire an 
extraordinary increase of bulk. In making wine and syrup, the seeds 
are easily separated from the pulp by the use of water. They are care- 
fully collected, dried, parched and pulverized, after which process they 
too are digestible and quite nutritious. 
Cereus serpentinus or Snake Cereus is another cactus which is quite 
plentiful in the West Indies, ail'd of very prolific growth. It is ten- 
angled, erect, weak, cylindrical, and has white spines, weak also. It is 
from one to two inches in diameter. The flowers are larger than those 
of the Rat-tail Cactus (Cereus flag elliformis), and are of a white color 
with a greenish flower tube, stamens arranged in circular rows close 
to the petals. The fruit is plum-shaped and of a yellowish color. This 
species contains medicinal properties. 
Opuntia vulgaris, Prickly Pear or Indian Fig Cactus has been named 
after the town of Opus, in the country of the Opuntiani, near 
Lochris of ancient Greece, where it was found plentiful, as well as in 
other countries of southern Europe. Theophrastus is accredited 
with having named it, about which there is some doubt when we take 
into consideration the fact claimed by botanists, that of its having 
been introduced and naturalized in southern Europe, the Amer- 
ican continent and isles being its native habitat. It bears a yel- 
low flower, and its fruit is of a red color and pear-shaped, covered with 
bunches of fine spines. In the 35t]i degree of latitude of this country, 10 
where it arrives like all other varieties of Cacti at its greatest perfection, 
the truit is much used as an article of food by all the Indian tribes. 
Here the plants often attain a height of from ten to twelve feet, a 
spread of many more in circumference, making impenetrable thickets 
to man or beast. Near Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, the Opuntiae are 
used for hedges of enclosures, and there it grows to the height of from 
eight to ten feet. In the West Indies, where fifteen feet is not an 
unusual height of this Cactus, its succulent leaves are used by the 
negroes for washing clothes in place of soap. These juicy leaves when 
bruised and rubbed up with water, make a very good lather. Our sol- 
diers who were stationed in the Gulf States during the late civil war, 
had often substituted it when soap could not be obtained.* It is found 
growing as far north as Massachusetts, but rather dwarfish in habit, 
growing not much over a foot high. In our war with Mexico these 
Cacti became a source of much trouble to the American soldiers, who 
not being acquainted with the nature of the fine spines with which 
the surface of the ground was strewn, endured much suffering caused 
from irritation of the skin by them. 
Opuntia Engelmanni, Rafinesquii, Camanchica and other varieties of 
prickly pear are largely found in New Mexico, Arizona, California and 
Utah. The fruit of all these Cacti are known under the common Span- 
ish name of “tunas,” and much eaten by all the Indians of those states, 
who dry great quantities of them for winter’s use. These plants grow 
in arid desert regions which produce nothing better; the fruit of all 
these are of a bright red to purple color, and large size. They are 
rather pleasant, of sweet, somewhat acid taste, have thin skins and rather 
large seeds, which are discarded. The skin is studded with bunches of 
very fine downy spines, which the Indians brush off with a bunch of 
grass. The Apaches use wooden tongs to gather the fruit, to prevent 
being scratched by these spines or the thorns of the plant. The Paw- 
nees and Papajoes dry the unripe fruit of the Opuntia for future use, to 
be cooked with meat and other substances. The fresh unripe fruit is 
often boiled in water from ten to twelve hours, until soft, when it 
becomes like apple-sauce ; then being allowed to ferment a little, it 
becomes stimulating and nutritious. Some Indians roast the leaves of 
the Opuntia in hot ashes, and when cooked, the outer skin with the 
thorns is easily removed, leaving a slimy, sweet, succulent substance, 
which is eaten. Hunger and destitution frequently compel Indians 
and white men to live for many days on this food. Even the mustang 
and wild asses know how to satisfy their thirst with it — first, by care- 
fully knocking off the prickly spines with their hoofs, and then safely 
sucking the cooling juice. A yellowish white gum often oozes out of 
the leaves of the Opuntia, which is also eaten. The flowers of these 
varieties are nearly all of a sulphur-yellow. 
Opuntia ficus indica is very common in Jamaica, and on it feeds the 
wild cochineal insect. The fruit is large and of a deep purple color, and 
when eaten dyes the urine a bloody color. Its fruit yields carmine. 
* This is easily accounted for when we consider that many of the cacti contain 
a large percentage of alkali, which they take up as plant-food from the soil in which 
they grow. We have this illustrated in the decomposed and dessicated specimens of 
the melon cactus, which are so abundantly found along the shores of the Gulf 
States. In the center of what was once a gigantic cactus you will find a heap of 
granular calcareous powder, the very element which the cactus had appropriated 
from the soil, in the form of a carbonate, and having served its purpose in the 
plant is yielded up again in a new form — an oxalate of lime. 11 
Opuntia tuna, another prickly pear, is much used as a hedge plant in 
the West Indies and South America. 
Between the English and the French three rows of Tuna were planted 
by common consent between the boundaries. The flowers are of a dull 
yellow with a roseate blush on the petals of the outer circle, and of quite 
large size; anthers yellow on long white filaments. The fruit is of 
a sanguineous color and eatable. It is said, when quite ripe, to check 
fluxes by its mild astringency; it is also a powerful diuretic, and some- 
times imparts a tinge to the urine. It is quite abundant in Jamaica. 
Opuntia cochinittifera or Cochineal Fig is the species on which the 
cochineal insect feeds, chiefly at least. Its flower is red or purple, 
and the fruit, which is larger than that of Opuntia vulgaris, is also 
edible. On the top of this fruit is imbedded a little, hard, triangular- 
looking body, the remnant of the style, which, if not discarded, is sure 
to induce severe constipation. Travelers not aware of this fact have 
often had to suffer from this inconvenience, after having partaken of 
too liberal an allowance of this inviting luscious fruit in the arid 
region of tropical America and the Antilles. Mr. Isaac Buchanan 
relates that the remedy given to such self-indulgent mortals is castor 
oil; not the cold-pressed crystal oil, such as is prepared from the beans 
here at the north, but instead, a nauseous, oily mess, containing rather 
more of the fresh bean itself than is palatable, being hastily prepared by 
some plantation negro. This Opuntia is largely cultivated for feeding 
the cochineal insect, because least annoying by its fewer spines than 
other varieties. The plant is called by the Indians and Mexicans, 
“Nopal,” and when cultivated to produce the cochineal, they are then 
called Nopal plantations. There are two kinds of cochineal gathered 
and offered for sale, vastly different in size and quality, which it may 
be interesting here to state. These Opuntias for the cultivation of 
cochineal are planted to a great extent in the country about Oaxaca, 
Guaxaca and Chiapa in Mexico and the state of Guatemala, adjoining 
the former republic. The female insects only are placed upon the 
leaves of the Cactus, generally after the rainy season is over, where, after 
depositing their eggs, they quickly die. The heat of a tropical sun 
very soon hatches out an immense number of the young insects. They 
spread out all over the plant and feed on the same until they are ready 
to be fecundated by the males. These are provided with wings, whereas 
the females have none. After this the females attach themselves to the 
leaves, and although previous to this of very active movements, now 
only increase rapidly in size, and when fully matured, are almost shape- 
less and appear more like excrescences of the plant itself than animated 
beings. At this stage of their development they are detached by 
means of blunt knives, feathers, etc., and a few only left to propagate 
their race. They are then destroyed by dipping them enclosed in a 
bag into boiling water, which causes them to swell to twice their natu- 
ral size, and afterward dried in the sun. Or they are destroyed in the 
first place by the heat of a stove, retaining thereby their bright silvery 
color. The males being much smaller, and only representing only one 
to one hundred or more of females are not gathered. The cochineal 
obtained from the wild Nopal or Opuntia, and gathered by Indians of 
Central and South American States is very inferior in size and quality 
for dyeing purposes. The manner of collecting the wild cochineal 
insect is said to be as follows: On the top of the fruit there grows the 
red flower, and this, when the fruit is ripe, falls down on the top of it 12 
and serves as a covering, so that no dew or rain can wet the inside. A 
day or two after the flower being scorched up by the heat of the sun, 
the fruit opens wide and the inside appears full of small red insects. 
The Indians when they perceive the fruit open, spread a large linen 
cloth, and then with sticks shake the plant to disturb the insects. 
They take wing, but keep hovering over the plant, till, by the heat of 
the sun, they fall dead on the cloth, where they are allowed to lay two 
or three days till they are dry. Six crops a year are sometimes taken 
of this wild cochineal insect, and only three crops are taken annually 
when cultivated. Of the wild cochineal, the male insects mostly are 
thus secured, hence the inferiority. 
Epiphyllum or Crabsclaw Cactus; synonyme, Cactuphyllum is another 
genus of which there are many handsome flowering varieties, all pro- 
fuse bloomers, sometimes producing a hundred or more of gorgeous 
flowers on a single vigorous plant of good size. One of them is said to 
be a niglit-blooming species. The branches of this genus of Cactus 
resemble leaves more than any other kind, and they are mostly without 
spines or bristles, except at the crenatures of these leafy branches, 
from which the most brilliant and gaudy flowers are thrown out, gen- 
erally of a red, scarlet, purplish or white color. The smaller flowering 
varieties, such as Epiphyllum truncatum, produce the flowers from 
the end of their branches only, therein differing from Cactuphyllum, a 
sub-genus. 
Pereskia aculeata, or Barbadoes Gooseberry, was named in honor ot 
N. F. Peireskius, a lover of botany. It bears a fruit about the size of 
a walnut, having tufts of small leaves on it, and within a whitish 
mucilaginous pulp. It is found principally in the West Indies. It is 
much used for grafting other Cacti thereupon on account of its hardi- 
ness, being less liable to rot. 
Rhipsalis salicornoides, or Coral Cactus, does not resemble a cactean 
plant at all. It is a curiously branched, jointed, leafless and prostrate 
plant inhabiting the East Indies. As its specific name implies, resemb- 
ling a leafless branch of a willow. It has a very feAV minute spines on 
the ends of its delicate branches. 
Rhipsalis pendulus is another variety, with long pendant joints, the 
size of a pencil, hanging down from the clefts of the rocks. It has very 
small white flowers, and a Avhitish fruit, berry-like, appears on the ends 
of its long stems. This variety inhabits Jamaica and St. Domingo ; 
and in Brazil some are found as parasites on trees. Several varieties 
of this genus are found in Africa, said to be the only true Cactus found 
in that part of the world, whereas cactean plants are represented there 
by another order, resembling them in having thick fleshy joints, barbed 
with bristles, and, when wounded, pouring forth a miiky fluid, which 
latter distinction separates the Euphorbiaceas from Cactacese. 
Leuchtenbergia principis is a singular cactean plant. Few persons 
viewing it, destitute of flowers, would imagine it to belong to Cacteae; 
the mamillae have rather the appearance of leaves of some aloid plant; 
while the stem, appearing as if formed of the persistent basis of old 
leaves, resembles that of some Cycadeous plant. The blossoms differ in 
no respect from those of the Cereus. 
Lepismium myosurus, or Mouse-tail Cactus, Synonyme; Cereus tenu- 
ispinus is a genus composed of very singular plants in habit. The 
flowers of this species are dispersed from all sides of its rounded pen- 
dulous stems, and the latter are covered with spines. 13 
Many other sub-genera have been added to Cactaceae, which partake 
of previously described single genera and are known as Anhalonium, 
Cactuphyllum, Eucereus, Echinocereus, Lepidocereus, Pilocereus, 
Eumamillaria, Coryphantha, Cylindropuntia, Platopuntia and Steno- 
pun tia. 
It now remains to notice the sources from Avhich some of the infor- 
mation contained in this paper so far has been obtained. Dr. George 
Thurber, Isaac Buchanan, Esq., Wm. Baker, Esq., and Mr. Henry 
Schmidt, all of this city. Loudan’s Encyclopaedia of Plants; Pacific 
Railroad Survey, Vol. IV.; Mexican Boundary Report, Vol. II.; Agri- 
cultural Report, Washington, D. C.; Flora of Africa; Flora Brasiliae 
Meridionalis; Flore Des Antilles; Flora Peruvianae et Chilensis; 
Gray’s Botany; Narratives of United States and Mexican Boundary 
Commission, by J. R. Bartlett and Dr. George Engelmann, of St. 
Louis. 
Properties of Cereus Grandiflorus. 
Before taking np this drug therapeutically, we wish to call the 
attention of the profession to the badly applied use of the nomencla- 
ture of Cactus in general. While we claim no share in the proper 
arrangement of cactean plants, we nevertheless claim the propriety to 
point out existing errors regarding the genus Cereus, this being the 
only kind which as a remedial agent has attracted the attention of the 
physician as well as of the pharmacist. While Cactus grandiflorus was 
a very proper name for the plant known fifty years ago as the Night- 
blooming Cereus, or the Queen of the Night, it does not follow that we 
should ignore the more recent and better arrangements of botanists of 
our day, and for the practical purpose of avoiding mistakes in procuring 
this drug, know it as Cereus grandiflorus only. Besides which there are 
several varieties of Cactus grandiflorus cultivated by florists, one a 
Night-blooming Cactupliyllum, and some five or six species of Night- 
blooming Cerei, thereby increasing the difficulty of procuring the right 
plant. And the opinion of many florists regarding varieties of Cerei is 
very vague and cannot be depended upon, unless they make the culti- 
vation of cactean plants a specialty, very few of them being recognized 
botanists. 
Prof. John King in the Eclectic Dispensatory, edition of 1870, says 
that “ Cereus grandiflorus (De Candolle), which has five or six not very 
prominent angles, contains a milky acrid juice,* and was used at one 
time in Mexico as a popular remedy for various diseases, as irritation 
of the kindneys and bladder, intermittent fever, difficulty in breathing, 
cough, etc. 
It was introduced to the medical profession by Dr. Scheele, of Ger- 
many ; but little attention, however, was given to it until Dr. R. Ru- 
bini, a homoeopathic physician, of Naples, brought it into especial notice 
is a specific in heart diseases. 
Properties and Uses. 
Night-blooming Cereus diminishes the frequency of the pulse, and 
* It contains no milky acrid juice at all, but on the contrary, a clear mucilag- 
inous, subacid juice, pleasant to the taste. All plants yielding when wounded a 
milky acrid juice, belong unmistakably to the family of Eupliorbiacece (some of 
them very poisonous), although they may otherwise resemble cactean plants very 
much in shape. — R. E. K. 14 
increases the renal secretion, and is, therefore, sedative and diuretic. 
It does not appear to weaken the nervous system in the least. In large 
doses it produces gastric irritation, also affects the brain, causing con- 
fusion of the mind, hallucination and slight delirium. It is especially 
useful in diseases of the heart, in which it exerts a very decided action, 
palliating or removing the symptoms, and frequently giving prompt 
relief. This influence upon the heart is manifested whether the dis- 
ease be functional or organic. In palpitation, angina pectoris, cardiac 
neuralgia, rheumatism or hypertrophy, valvular disease, etc., it is of 
much benefit, often giving great relief, even in incurable cases. It has 
likewise been found serviceable in some cases of dropsy, hemoptysis and 
tendency to or incipient apoplexy. Its use should be associated with 
iron in anemic cases, with tonics where great debility exists, with anti- 
scrofulous agents where there is a scrofulous disposition, etc. It has 
likewise been found useful in cerebral congestion, mental derange- 
ments, rheumatism, inflammation of mucous membranes, prostatic 
disease, irritable bladder, renal congestion, oedematous condition of 
limbs, dysmenorrhcea, chronic bronchitis, etc. Its value in nervous and 
organic cardiac diseases is well known, but further investigation is 
required to prove its usefulness in other maladies referred to above. 
It appears to be contra-indicated in inflammatory affections during their 
acute stages.” 
Prof. John M. Scudder refers to this article in Specific Medication, 
edition of 1871, as follows : “ Cactus grandiflorus, or night-blooming 
Cereus. The influence of cactus seems to be wholly exerted on the 
sympathetic nervous system, and especially upon, and through the 
cardiac plexus, etc. It is neither stimulant nor sedative, and rather 
influences a regular performance of function. The Cactus is a specific 
in heart disease, in that it gives strength and regularity to the inner- 
vation of the organ. Its influence is permanent in that it influences 
the waste and nutrition of the organ, increasing its strength. It exerts 
no influence upon the inflammatory process, and hence is not a remedy 
for inflammatory disease. Feelings of weight and pressure at the 
praecordia, difficult breathing, fear of impending danger, etc., are at 
once removed. Thus, in the majority of cases of functional heart dis- 
ease, it gives prompt relief, and if continued will effect a cure. In 
structural heart disease, the first use of remedies is to relieve the dis- 
tressing sensation in the region of the heartland the unnatural fear of 
danger which attends them. In the majority of cases the Cactus gives 
prompt relief. But it will not relieve or cure cases of valvular defi- 
ciency, dilatation of the opening of the heart or fatty degeneration.” 
Prof. Ad. Lippe in the Homoeopathic Materia Medica, edition of 
1866, gives the Pathogenesis of cactus grandiflorus as affecting princi- 
pally the chest, stomach, abdomen, anus, urinary and sexual organs. 
Dr. Wm. L. Breyfogle, in his Epitome of Homoeopathic Medicines, 
edition of 1872, on Cactus grandiflorus, sums up as follows : “Curative 
range—Sense of constriction in throat, chest, heart, bladder and rec- 
tum. Hemorrhages from nose, lungs, stomach and rectum. Chronic 
diseases of heart. Cyanosis in infants.” 
The first provings of Cactus grandiflorus were reported by Dr. 
Rocco Rubini, of the Hospital de Sainte-Marie de la Cesarea, near 
Naples, in October, 1864, in L’Art Medical, Vol. XX. 
In Hale’s New Remedies,, edition of 1867, a homoeopathic work of 15 
considerable repute, we find that the juice of Cactus grandiflorus is 
described also as being acrid and milky.” * The pathogenesis of Cactus 
grandiflorus is given at great length, and we will not take up any more 
space in reiterating what has been said already, but will close with an 
extract from the same work, relating to the publication of the first 
article on cactus. “ Dr. Rocco Rubini, Medical Director of the Homoe- 
opathic Hospital of St. Maria de la Cesarea, near Naples, published a 
pamphlet on Cactus, which was first translated by Dr. Dudgeon, of 
England, and published in the 22d volume of the British Journal of 
Homoeopathy, 1864, with a clinical note bv Dr. J. R. Russell. Dr. Ad. 
Lippe, professor of materia medica in the Homoeopathic College of 
Pennsylvania, not satisfied with the first translation, subsequently 
translated another, which was published in pamphlet form in 1865.” 
Dr. A. F. Potter, an old school practitioner of Boston, recommends, 
in the Medical andSurgical Journal of that city, the Cereus grandiflo- 
rus in affections of the heart. “ It is a sedative to the nervous and 
circulatory systems, and acts on the kidneys; given in the regular 
medicinal doses repeated at proper intervals, it is found to diminish 
the frequency of the pulse, and increase the secretion from the urinary 
organs largely ; it is hence of great service in dropsical diseases. In 
large doses it is irritant to the stomach, and has a peculiar effect on 
the brain, producing mental confusion, hallucination and slight delir- 
ium. In cases of an inflammatory nature, with acute symptoms, it is 
contra-indicated. In chronic cases accompanied with anasarca, and in 
the condition of the heart, which is generally associated with anamiia, 
and in which the tissue of the organ is enfeebled by defective nutrition, 
it is indicated in combination with iron, mineral acids and other ton- 
ics. An important incidental advantage in these cases, frequently, is 
its effects in removing the dropsical effusion, whether in the pericard- 
ium, the other serous cavities or the general areolar tissue. Dr. Potter 
has found it to act very favorably in palpitation, either from plethora, 
anaemia or merely nervous disorder ; but the remedy is applicable only 
to the cases in which the affection has a certain degree of permanency, 
and not at all to those occasional and fugitive attacks which occur 
under passing excitements. Dr. Potter expresses his belief that if the 
profession will test the virtues of the Cactus, few would be willing to 
dispense with its use. He gave from one to five drops of the tincture 
three times a day, gradually increasing if necessary, until unequivocal 
symptoms of its operations are manifested.” 
It will be seen that Dr. Potter is a live sort of a man, having taken 
up this drug far in advance of many of the leading Eclectics ; at least 
we should judge so from articles devoted to the same subject by Prof. 
John King, in the Eclectic Dispensatory, edition of 1870, and by Prof. 
John M. Sc udder, in Specific Medication, edition of 1871. 
Dr. E. H. Millington, of Hancock, N. Y., informs me that he has 
used Cactus grandiflorus very successfully in all cases of palpitation of 
the heart, giving it in doses of one drop of the tincture, frequently 
repeated. 
Dr. John H. Fitch, of New Scotland, N. Y., tells me that he has 
used Cactus grandiflorus quite successfully as a diuretic, and his clini- 
* We have already disproved this assertion, having full proof to the contrary 
in the shape of living specimen plants in our possession.— R. E. K. 16 
cal observations, as well as provings of Cereus grandiflorus, and of 
other Cacti, will be embodied in this paper. 
The Chemical analysis of Cereus grandiflorus, so far as we had leisure 
and the ability to continue investigations up to the time of writing 
this article, we find as follows : A forge percentage of mucilage (gum), 
much oxalate of lime, oxalic and tarta'ric acid in small quantity, lignin, 
chlorophylle, starch and ashes. In arriving at this result we will sub- 
join the tests for each. 
The juice of the stems of Cereus grandiflorus is a thick, viscid, trans- 
parent mucilage, yielding it readily to hot or cold water. Adding 
alcohol to the filtered infusion of the stems, a white opake substance, 
gum, is separated, which is not soluble in alcohol, and therefore pre- 
cipitated. This mucilage renders it a nutritious article of diet, which 
is demonstrated by other varieties of Cacti, such as serve our Indians 
for food, whenever a scarcity of other diet compels them to eat it. We 
find an analogy in the fact of Moors, Negroes and Hottentots, who, 
when gathering gum-arabic, live exclusively on gum during its period 
of collection. 
The amount of oxalate of lime in Cereus grandiflorus is astonishingly 
large. It is in the form of crystals throughout the cellular substance, 
not only visible to the naked eye, but sensible also to the touch, when- 
ever a section is cut from the stem. 
In determining the presence of oxalate of lime, we washed out some 
of this calcareous substance from the green mature stems, and placing 
it in a test-tube adding hydrocholoric acid to excess, it would dissolve it 
after heat having been applied, and hold it in solution on cooling. Thus, 
were it not for the fact of oxalic acid combining with lime in the Cac- 
tus, forming an insoluble salt of oxalate of lime (which is soluble only 
in muriatic and nitric acid), the juice of Cactus would be highly pois- 
onous on account of the large amount of Oxalic Acid present, and an 
adequate idea may be had when it is known that Peruvian Cactus, 
Cereus octangularis, and Old Man Cactus, Pilocereus, synonyme, Cac- 
tus senilis, contain 85 per cent, of oxalate of lime. Oxalic acid has such 
a strong affinity for lime that whenever the acid and earth are brought 
together in solution, an insoluble precipitate of oxalate of lime is 
formed, and hence it is that the proper antidotes in poisoning with 
oxalic acid, are chalk and magnesia, forming inert oxalates there- 
with. , 
The acid reaction of Cereus grandiflorus is easily seen by holding 
litmus paper to the.freshly cut surface of a piece of stem, which will 
redden litmus instantly. A hot infusion does not give such satisfac- 
tory result, because heat drives off the oxalic acid. 
Its tincture is only very slightly acid. Oxalic acid is detected in this 
way. An infusion of this Cereus is placed in a test-tube, lime-water 
added, which, when oxalic acid is present, will yield a precipitate, 
insoluble in an excess of the same acid. We made further proofs of 
the presence of oxalic acid by causing a Avliite precipitate of oxa- 
late of lime with an infusion of Cereus and chloride of lime, known by 
the solubility of the precipitate in nitric acid. Also by causing a blu- 
ish white precipitate of oxalate of copper, by mixing an infusion of 
Cereus with sulphate of copper. And, lastly, by causing a dense white 
precipitate of oxalate of silver when adding nitrate of silver to an 
infusion of Cereus. 17 
Tartaric acid was tested for and found by adding equal parts of lime- 
water to an infusion of Cereus in a test-tube, causing a whitish precip- 
itate or cloudiness, which was re-dissolved by an excess of tartaric 
acid. 
The presence of oxalic and tartaric acid in the juice of Cereus grand- 
iflorus, and probably other varieties, makes it a refrigerant, the same 
as sorrel, and ought to be useful in scorbutic affections. The acid 
juice of Cacti in general is useful as a fomentation in inflammation. 
Their fruits when boiled are given in chest affections. Lignin is 
the woody fibre of the stems of Cereus and ashes are obtained by burning 
the same. Its ashes we have not yet analyzed. 
Chlorophylle is the green coloring substance of the whole plant. 
Starch is present in considerable quantity, and can be detected easily 
by putting a drop of tincture of iodine on the freshly cut surface of a 
piece of Cereus, when, if starch be present, it will strike a fine blue or 
violet color immediately, the result of the formation of iodide of starch. 
The pith of the woody portion of the Cereus will strike this color 
quicker than the cortical or leafy part. 
At some future time we will report further progress in the composi- 
tion of Cereus grandiflorus. The diuretic effect of Cereus is due, no 
doubt, to the mucilaginous principle, the same as in the marshmallow 
root, water-melon seed, etc. 
Clinical Record of Cases Treated with Cereus 
Grandiflorus. 
Georgiana McB., aged nine years, came to be treated March 9, 1869. 
Suffered from enlargement of the heart. Father died from organic 
disease of the heart a few years ago. Patient is of the sanguine-bilious 
temperament, white complexion, dark hair, and of unceasing activity 
during the day, while at night she would toss about in bed, keeping 
her mother awake most of the time. She had sharp pains, with throb- 
bing and increased fulness in the cardiac region, especially so after 
taking unusual exercise, which she persisted in doing until pain con- 
strained further efforts. Pulse 100-110 a minute. R Tinct. Cereus 
grandiflorus gtts. x.; aqua f iv. ; mix and take a tablespoonful every 
three hours. 
Returned March I<53d, feeling somewhat better, with less pain in car- 
diac region and a stronger pulse. R Tinct. Cereus grandiflorus gtts. 
xx.; aqua § viii.; mix and take the same as before. 
Reported progress April 6th, with a still more improved condition 
of leading symptoms, and had enjoyed better rest at night. R Tinct. 
Cereus grandif., aqua, aa. 3 i.; mix and take six drops every three 
hours ; which treatment she continued for some weeks, with all her 
symptoms greatly ameliorating, until she removed from the neighbor- 
hood, and the case was lost sight of. 
John F., aged 30 years, unmarried, presented himself July 9, 1869, 
suffering from irregular action of heart with palpitation. Driver by 
occupation, sandy complexion, muscular, and apparently of robust con- 
stitution. Complained of having had a bad feeling about the heart, 
amounting to fulness, a feeling of impending danger, so much so that' 
he imagined himself fast approaching dissolution. He noticed first 
attack six months ago, getting worse all the while. At times a flutter- 18 
ing feeling about the heart, followed by faintness, from which he would 
seek to recover by taking stimulants. Pulse, intermittent, 100 a min- 
ute. Bowels constipated. $ Tinct. Cereus grandif. 3 ii. Sig. ten 
drops in water three times a day. To regulate bowels, gave him 
podophyllin and leptandrin, reported to me in two days afterward 
with a pulse of 80, and feeling better in every other way. Continued 
treatment, and meeting this patient eighteen months thereafter, he 
stated that he had enjoyed good health ever since. 
Miss Mary J., of this city, aged sixteen years, came for treatment, 
October 25, 1871. Mother had died from heart disease. Could not 
tell exactly the direct cause of her death. She has suffered from a 
similar affection of the heart for three years. Complains of sharp 
pains in cardiac region five or six times a day. Pulse feeble. Auscul- 
tation revealed irregularity of heart’s action. Has had nausea of stom- 
ach once or twice a day regularly for last two years. Appetite good. 
Bowels regular. Constitution rather delicate. Person not well 
developed. Amenorrhoea—never menstruated. I prescribed : 
B Tinct. Cereus grandiflorus, 3 ii. ; take ten drops four times a day. 
For amenorrhoea gave Caulophyllum, Mitchella and Helonias. 
Nov. 1. Had no more nausea or vomiting for the last three days. 
Was also taken with a severe attack of epistaxis, recurring slightly the 
day previous. Gave her : 
B Tinct. Cereus grandiflorus, 3 iv.; take twenty drops four times a 
day. Also continue uterine tonics. 
Feb. 20. Had felt pretty well up to the present time. Complains 
again of cardiac pains. Also renewed attacks of nausea. No menstru- 
ation yet. Gave: 
B Tinct. Cereus grandiflorus, 3 iv.; take twenty drops as before, 
and continue the other treatment. 
Feb. 28. Heart symptoms all gone. No more nausea. Menstrua- 
tion still absent. Continue same treatment. 
March 6. Increased cardiac pains, but feels well in other respects. 
No sign of menstruating. Continue Cereus grandiflorus for heart 
symptoms. For amenorrhoea gave her Senecio and Cimicifuga. 
March 13. No more distress in cardiac region, and her health, with 
the exception that she has not menstruated, first rate. She so con- 
tinued for several months thereafter, until the case was lost sight of. 
In order to test the properties of Cereus grandiflorus effectually it is 
self-evident that no other remedies should fie given with it, if compli- 
cations do not present themselves, demanding auxiliary treatment. 
We have succeeded always in curing palpitation of the heart with it, 
when not associated with dyspepsia. Dr. M. M. Fenner, of Fredonia, 
N. Y., had used it in irritation of the cardiac nerves as long ago as 
1866 * 
The following cases in practice were treated by John II. Fitch, M. 
D., during the summer of 1874. 
Case of Hcemorrhoids. — Mrs. A. McM. had suffered from very painful 
and swollen haemorrhoids since her recent confinement. Says she has 
always been thus afflicted after each confinement. On examination 
find much swelling and oedema. Cannot bear to be touched. Local 
applications of various kinds have been used in vain, as also internal 
treatment judged to be applicable to the case. Gave tincture Cereus 
* See American Eclectic Medical Review, Vol. III., page 111, Sept. 1867. 19 
grandiflorus, sixth potency, with very prompt and happy effect in 
relieving the pain and objective symptoms. 
Case II. Renal Calculi. — Mrs. P., age 67, has suffered about three 
days from bilious vomiting, and renal colic, caused by the passage of 
uric acid from the kidneys, or more especially the left kidney, as this 
is the side on which she experienced the severe urgent pain, and along 
the course of the ureter to the bladder on the same side. The urinary 
secretion was suppressed, three days after which there was some relief 
of the vomiting; but experiences pain. Used hot applications, which 
gave some relief when kept constantly in contact with the seat of the 
pain. 
On the fourth day, or night of the third, passage of urine loaded 
with blood, and a large quantity of uric acid crystals reddening the 
floor of the vessel, and feeling like a coating of fine sand, when the 
finger was passed upon the sediment. Pain still complained of. Gave 
tincture Cereus grandiflorus five drops every hour or two. In two or 
three days the patient was entirely relieved. 
The following is a case of much interest on account of the variety 
of treatment previously used — pretty constantly with no very decided 
results, and the marked and noticeable effect perceived after taking the 
Cereus grandiflorus. 
Case III.— Mrs. E. A. F.; of the bilious temperament, has suffered for 
several years with deficiency in the urinary secretion, accompanied with 
pains in the lower limbs (neuralgic) ; cold feet and oedema of the lower 
limbs, accompanied at intervals with a painful feeling of distension ; 
with at times a very considerable enlargement of the abdomen. Has 
been indefatigable in her efforts for relief through the channels of the 
various schools of medicine; although it must be admitted she has 
been a little too impatient to see results very soon after taking the 
medicine. Diuretics would temporarily relieve. Tonics, except the 
mildest, could not be borne, and cathartics would occasion the same 
amount of loss by debility, thus compensating for the gain of relieving 
the system of retained excreta. Careful examination showed no organic 
change or affection of the kidney. Gave three-drop doses of tincture 
Cereus grandiflorus, with steady and apparently permanent relief. The 
patient is still taking the medicine, and shows no diminution in the 
improvement first noticed. The tincture used I had obtained for trial 
from Dr. R. E. Kunze of New York. 
Properties of Cereus Bonplandii (parmet). 
This variety of the Night-blooming Cereus, which is one of the hard- 
iest under cultivation, is quite a distinct variety, in that its stems are 
generally square, less frequently five-angled, and but slightly ribbed. 
A strong grower, and less liable to rot. 
This Night-blooming Cereus which we were the first to introduce to 
the profession as a remedial agent of great merit was brought to our 
notice while establishing the identity of the previous species. It stands 
unrivaled in the influence it exerts in functional as well as organic 
diseases of the heart. The irregular pulse is readily controlled by this 
drug, as well as palpitation, and that dreadful feeling of impending 
danger we so often meet with in angina pectoris and excited action of 
the heart. 20 
In its curative range it covers a wide field, and from observa- 
tions made by Dr. John H. Fitch, who so kindly made provings 
upon himself, since we took it in hand and had experimented with 
it successfully in angina pectoris, it has been substantiated beyond 
a doubt, that it is a curative agent of great merit not only in 
diseases of the heart, but also in rheumatic affections of the muscles 
and articulations. In some cases under the treatment of Dr. Fitch — 
one in particular being organic stenosis of the left heart, with a nearly 
useless condition of the aortic valves—it gave marked relief by keeping 
the patient comfortable while taking the drug. Dr. S. J. Birch of 
Albany, informs me that he has succeeded in curing a case of muscular 
rheumatism with Cereus Bonplandii alone, which the alkaline treat- 
ment would not even relieve. 
The effect medicinally of Cereus Bonplandii seems to be first and 
principally on the nervous system. The brain and cerebro-spinal 
axis are brought under its influence readily; and paiticularly 
the cardiac nerves, and nerves distributed to the respiratory system. 
These and the morbid effects produced upon the digestive apparatus, as 
well as the other secretory and eliminating organs, the kidneys, skin, etc., 
are due to its effect upon the great sympathetic. From the proving 
made by Dr. Fitch, this drug is known to possess active diuretic prop- 
erties and to be valuable in dropsical effusions. Diminishing the 
frequency of the pulse in nervous disorders, and changing the inter- 
mittent character of the same, entitles it to rank as a nerve-sedative. 
We prepare a saturated tincture, made of the mature stems, without 
any flowers, and let it macerate four weeks. 
In physical properties it resembles the Cereus grandiflorus very 
much, and we only regret not being able to give the chemical analysis 
in this paper simultaneously with the proving made by Dr. Fitch. 
In two cases of angina pectoris, uncomplicated with ossification of 
the coronary arteries, we have used it with marked relief and present 
the following clinical record : 
Mr. George ft. W., of ftidgewood, L. I., called on me for treatment 
July 8th, 1872, suffering from angina pectoris. Age, twenty-three, 
of encephalo-bilious temperament. Had been more or less troubled 
with palpitation of the heart since ten years of age, and in delicate 
health always. After retiring for the night, palpitation increased with 
a gurgling sound at the apex and base of the heart, resembling gas and 
water passing to and fro. For years afterward any severe exercise 
would bring on palpitation. During winter he would be free from 
such attacks for two or three months at a time, but in the summer 
for not more than two or three days. He was a carpenter by trade, 
and had been married two years and a half. The first attack of angina 
occurred five weeks ago and lasted three days. On the first day the par- 
oxysm came on every hour ; the second day every hour and a half; 
and on the third day only three or four times. Has had no more 
palpitation at night since that time, and slept well. On the 29th of 
June was overcome by the heat and has been very despondent ever 
since. Had severe pain in the cardiac region ; a dreadful feeling of 
impending danger constantly ; and complained also of sharp pains 
in the right pleura. We gave him first some Asclepias tuberosa which 
overcame the pleuritic symptoms in three days. He was then given 
the following : B Tinct. Cereus Bonplandii, 3 ii. 
Sig : twenty drops three times a day. 21 
He took it without any water and stated that it went all through his 
body ; diffusing itself like electricity, leaving a tiresome feeling in the 
bones. After the first dose, had not experienced another attack of 
either angina pectoris, or palpitation. Reported again July 20th, feel- 
ing entirely relieved of all unpleasant symptoms. To prevent a relapse 
of the same gave him : 
R Tinct. Cereus Bonplandii 3 ii. 
Sig : ten drops three times a day. 
Had not experienced any further difficulty in ten months thereafter. 
He stated that his mother had been affected with rheumatism of the 
heart, since she had been married. An uncle of his mother had died 
of heart disease; and her own brother died very suddenly in bed from 
the same cause. Her father died of palsy. The medicine in this case 
acted like a charm, and nothing else was used, excepting Asclepias 
tuberosa at the beginning. The heart-symptoms were so strongly 
marked and the action of this drug so equaled the emergency, that in 
our mind there is no doubt of its being a true nerve-sedative. 
Mr. Alfred C. R.. of this city, presented himself for treatment, 
December 29th, 1872. Age thirty-eight; of the sanguine-encephalo- 
bilious temperament, and a cutter by trade. He was suffering from 
angina pectoris, having had two attacks in a month. He used ardent 
spirits moderately and lager beer very regularly with his meals—never 
to excess. This first attack of angina pectoris happened in church 
four weeks previously and lasted ten minutes, almost resulting in 
syncope. It commenced with a feeling of impending danger, followed 
by intense excitement, a difficult respiration, death-like countenance, 
and the heart seemingly tightened or squeezed. Also a choking sensa- 
tion in the prsecordial region. After the attack he had more or less ap- 
prehension all the time, even while at work. Nights restless and 
uneasy—afraid to go to sleep. The second attack occurred the even- 
ing previous while at supper; for which he had taken some compound 
spirits of lavender, followed by temporary relief. He became very 
nervous, frightened, losing all control over himself and passed an ap- 
prehensive night. On auscultation found the heart to labor excitedly, 
yet without any adventitious sound. The pulse was intermittent, full 
and hard in its rhythm, 100 beats per minute. We prescribed : 
R Tinct. Cereus Bonplandii 3 iv. 
Sig: twenty drops three times a day. 
Immediately after taking it, felt a warming, pleasant sensation, with a 
glow of heat on the surface, and followed by speedy relief. The next 
day his pulse fell to 80 beats per minute, soft, full and regular. Con- 
tinued to take all of the medicine in the same way, while there seemed 
to be no urgent need for any more after the third day of treatment. 
Has not been afflicted with a similar attack since, enjoying as good 
health as ever. 
The next case is one of such unusual interest, that we cannot refrain 
from mentioning it in our article on the curative powers of Cereus 
Bonplandii. A piece of the same plant, formerly owned by Mr. Wm. 
Baker of this city, and now in possession of the writer, having been 
given to Dr. R. L. Newbery, Surgeon-Dentist of this city, this gentle- 
man prepared a tincture from it, and obtained the following result, 
which we are permitted to refer to through the kindness of Dr. New- 
bery. Prof. Thomas 0. Upham, holding at the time the Chair of 22 
Mental and Moral Philosophy in Bowdoin College, of Brunswick, 
Maine, put himself under the treatment of Dr. Newbery for blindness; 
having come on to New York for the special purpose of having the 
services of the doctor, four years ago this fall. Prof. Upham, then in 
his eightieth year, and of the nervous temperament, gave the history 
of his case substantially as follows: A day or two previous he was 
taken in the middle of the night with pain and a gone feeling in his 
eyes. Told his wife that he believed himself to be blind; got a light 
and found himself nearly blind. In the morning could only see out 
of the left eye. Transparent part of both eyes next morning partially 
opaque and slightly yellow. Corners of both eyes blood-shot. Could 
bear very strong light. Could not distinguish eight-inch black letters 
on white ground at fifteen inches distance from eyes. Had always 
worn near-sighted spectacles. Had slight chronic redness of the edges 
of eyelids — tarsal cartilages — for which latter the doctor gave him 
Rumex crispus, fourth attenuation. He was taken before Prof. 
Agnew of the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital in East 34th street, who 
pronounced it paralysis of the retina, and predicted that he would be 
blind forever. On the second day after arrival, the eye was more trans- 
parent. Constipated habitually, for which gave Opium in the evening 
and Nux in the morning of the second day. Relieved of constipation 
on third day. Gave him third dilution of Tinct. Cactus (variety 
Cereus Bonplandii) in one-drop doses on the third day, three times 
daily. Continued treatment with C. Bonplandii for three days. On 
the sixth day of treatment could see large objects 24 inches distant. 
For constipation gave Opium and Nux again. In four days returned, 
could see objects 36 inches distant. Bowels all right, and felt in good 
state of health. Continued same treatment with 0. Bonplandii for the 
next two weeks, when he returned, saying that he was quite well and 
could see as well as ever. Needed no more medicine. On last call 
could see and criticise pictures on opposite wall, fifteen feet distant. 
He continued in good health for one whole year afterward, when he 
died. 
Proving 
Of Cereus Grandiflorus, Synonyme, Cactus Grandiflorus, or Night- 
Blooming Cereus, by John II. Fitch, M. D., of New‘ Scotland, N. Y. 
Prover of the bilious-encephalic temperament, age 36, unmarried, 
and in not over-robust health. Commenced proving July 29, 1873, at 
8 o’clock, p. m. ; took seven minims tinct. Cereus grandif. Immedi- 
ately felt an accumulation of mucus in the throat, which was expecto- 
rated. In about a quarter of an hour, sensation of having swallowed 
something unpleasant. About 9 p. m., for some minutes a soapy taste 
in the mouth. For a moment, just before going to my room to retire, 
a slight drawing sensation in the region of the heart.' On retiring to 
my room felt some unsteadiness of gait, almost amounting to stagger- 
ing, a reeling sensation. After retiring, and before going to sleep, a 
drawing pain for ten or fifteen minutes in the left axilla and neigh- 
boring portion of the chest anteriorly affecting the nerves. Slept well. 
July 30. Awoke feeling refreshed; in fact better than usual. At 
breakfast appetite better than usual. No symptoms until about 9 
o’clock ; sensation of a slimy, weedy taste was then experienced, not so 23 
distinctly soapy as last night. Sensation of something disagreeable al 
the stomach. 9 :45, a. m., took eight minims tinct. Cerens grandif. No 
symptoms observed. 12 o’clock, m., took twelve minims tinct. Cereus 
grandif. Had dinner immediately thereafter. 2:15, p. m., took eigh- 
teen minims tinct. Cereus grandif. No very marked symptoms during 
the rest of the day, except that in the evening the muscles did not 
accurately obey the will, either owing to defective vision or other 
causes. Had noticeable ill luck in performing accurately what I un- 
dertook in any thing requiring precision, either on account of imper- 
fect sight or execution. Played a game of croquet very badly. In the 
evening a weedy, slimy taste. Decided repugnance to take any more 
medicine. At night sensation as if the brain was attached to the skull, 
grown fast. For a moment pain in the nerves, running from the left 
axilla to the pectoral region adjoining. 
July 31. Called up on professional business at G, A. m. Had with 
difficulty a hard stool ; afterwards a discharge of fluid blood from the 
anus, which continued to drop a moment or two. 12 :30, p. m., dinner. 
12:45, took twenty minims tinct. Cereus grandif. No symptoms dur- 
ing afternoon. 
Just before retiring, slight priapismal symptoms. On retiring, felt 
some heaviness and pain, not severe, however, affecting the posterior 
region of the brain, increased by lying on the back with the head 
touching the pillow. Instantly relieved by lying on the side, so that 
occipital portion of the skull did not come in contact with any thing 
hard or otherwise. 
August 1. Awoke, feeling splendidly. Took twelve minims tinct. 
Cereus grandif. at about 7, a. m. Ate breakfast at about 10: 30, a. m. 
Stool followed by blood from the piles. Was affected with impulses to 
do something facetious, which was repelled. Took some exercise, felt 
at times pressure in the occiput, not severe, and relieved by quick exer- 
cise or mental activity. Disposition to do deliberately whatever was 
undertaken. Impulses to do something bordering on the grotesque. 
Felt a considerable degree of difficulty in feeling upon any thing I was 
pursuing settled or fixed ; when conclusions were arrived at, how- 
ever, they were to the mind quite satisfactory. Took twelve min- 
ims tinct. Cereus grandif. at 12: 20, p. m., and half an hour later took 
five minims more. No symptoms. 4 p. m., took 195 drops tinct. 
Cereus grandif. Passed immediately about half a pint of urine, having 
the odor of Ireshly-irawn green tea. For the rest of the day felt 
decided impulses to swallow large and unwholesome potions of medi- 
cine. Toward evening, priapisms. Feeling of semi-remorse at having 
done something wrong. Feeling of having done violence to myself. 
Retired in good season. Felt rather drowsy. Stretched myself on the 
bed ; was soon asleep. 
August 2. In the morning found myself lying with my clothes on. 
At about daylight undressed myself and went to sleep. Had an erotic 
dream, with emission of semen. Awoke and dressed myself. Attended 
to my business as usual. 
August 3. Was called up early to visit a patient eight miles away. 
Felt well; no unusual symptoms. At about 12 m., a copious seminal 
emission after strong sexual desire. Was out visiting my patients 
the most of the day. Slept well every night during the whole time 
of the proving. Appetite also was good, better than usual. I noticed 24 
a tendency to congestion to the urino-genital system early in the prov- 
ing. A redness at the orifice of the urethra. Also, in one or two instan- 
ces, strong sexual desire with priapisms. No heart-symptoms were felt 
during the entire proving. During the early part of this proving, felt 
a tendency to constipation, with hard stools and bleeding piles; the 
bleeding after stools. After the second or third day this passed into a 
more loose condition of the bowels, mushy stools, and felt no more 
of the piles. On the third day, a soreness with distension of the 
abdomen. 
I do not know why I felt no heart-symptoms,* except that I had felt for 
a few days a short interval, just preceding the partial proving, a constant 
feeling of weight over the region of the heart, relieved by a deep inspi- 
ration, and returning the moment the chest was expanded. If the drug 
was curative to this symptom, possibly the circumstance that no heart- 
symptoms were noticed, is accounted for. The tincture of Cactus 
which I used in this proving had been obtained from Dr. H. M. Paine, 
who has been supplying homoeopathic remedies to members of that 
faith and practice in the vicinity of Albany. 
Proving 
Of Cereus Bonplandii or White Grandiflora, Queen of the Night, a 
variety of A iqht-blooming Cereus, by John H. Fitch, M. D., of New 
Scotland, N. Y. 
Age 37 years, unmarried and in excellent health and good spirits. 
Commenced proving July 29th, 1874; at 2:15 p. m., took 12 minims of 
tinct. Cereus Bonplandii, made by Dr. R. E. Kunze, of 600 Third 
Avenue, New York. In ten minutes felt sensation of pain of a boring 
nature, extending from the left frontal region, deeper and backward. 
Saliva in the mouth. Sensation of a pressing feeling in the right fore- 
head. Pain extending through the forehead, left side to the occiput. 
Felt a feeling as if the head were suspended from some support under 
the skull and base of the brain. Felt a slight griping accompanied by 
the beginning of a soreness extending through the region of the whole 
portal circulation ; 9 p. m., copious and urgent evacuation from the 
bowels. Felt very well afterward. 9:45 p. m., took six minims tinct. 
Cereus Bonplandii. Followed by slight griping. Saliva in the mouth. 
Sensation of a slight burning feeling extending backward from the 
right forehead. Slept soundly. Did not hear any thing of a heavy 
shower that came on in the night. 
July 30. 8:40, a. m., took three minims tinct. Cereus Bonplandii. 
Reluctance to take medicine. Felt all day an astonishing inclination 
to be engaged in something useful. Felt for two days, more on sec- 
ond day, intolerable itching over the whole surface of the body. On 
the third day it was perfectly unbearable. After annoying me much, 
it gradually left me. There were pustules on the body, more on the 
nates and gluteal region. I noticed for several days a dull heaviness 
* 1 remember that before commencing the proving, I experienced, for a short 
time, this symptom, “ pain at the heart relieved by deep inspiration.” If the 
action of the drug was expended or absorbed in my system curatively, then the 
theory is explained. 25 
to my steps. Each night seemed to be under the influence of some- 
thing powerful. 
August 10. 9 p. M., took six minims tinct. Cereus Bonplandii. Imme- 
diately a slight desire to pass urine was noticed, lasting for a minute. 
Felt a decidedly painful drawing sensation in the occipital region, soon 
subsiding. Momentarily a painful stunning sensation in the right side 
of the os frontis. Light rumbling in the left side of the abdomen. 
Mucus adherent to the roof of the mouth, cleared by a single effort. 
Sensation of saliva in the mouth, which is swallowed — of no particu- 
lar taste. Water in the mouth. Slight desire to evacuate bowels. On 
walking out, descending one or two steps had a severe pain, forcing 
from without inwards in the occiput on a line with the sagittal suture. 
Effort to evacuate bowels nearly or quite ineffectual. Late at night, 
but not sleepy. Experienced an agreeably tranquil frame of mind and 
body. Desire to engage at work. 
August 11. 8 a. m., took twelve minims tinct. Cereus Bonplandii. 
Felt a sensation of coldness, and a metallic taste in the mouth. Slight 
pressive sensation in the right occiput from behind, forward. Clear- 
ing the throat of mucus. Clearing the larynx of mucus. Felt a 
desire to be engaged in useful work, desire to have the time all employed. 
Dislodge greenish discharges from the right nares, similar discharge in 
less quantity from the left. Mucus in the throat, a persistent symptom 
early in the proving, and quantity abundant. Mucus of a pale green- 
ish color, sometimes colorless, or nearly so. It was from the throat, 
mainly, pharynx and top of the larynx. Mucus from the nose as in 
catarrh. Tired feeling in both arms. Disagreeable feeling in the back 
of the head, seeming to pass down over the neck and terminate in a 
disagreeable sensation, an approach to qualmishness at the stomach. 
Sneezing, foetid flatus passed from the bowels. Dry eructations from 
the stomach. Alkaline taste. Stinging in the nose, worse on the 
right side ; watery sensation, not disagreeable, in the mouth, thirstless- 
ness. Pain above the right eye, passing down over the globe of the 
eye. Taste of green vegetables. Stinging in the right nostril. Slight 
uneasiness felt in the throat verging to the stomach, with simultaneous 
congested sensation in both eyes. Sore feeling in eyes as if pained by 
strong sunlight. Slight heavy feeling in the top of forehead. Pray- 
ing or disposition to pray. Slight sensation of pain in the epigastrium, at 
intervals, coming and going in short paroxysms. Headache affecting 
occiput for quarter of an hour, yawning, hardened mucus from the left 
nostril. Urine passed of a slight brownish tinge, scanty and smelling 
strongly after a few minutes. Deep inspiration, as if tired, accompa- 
nied with no fatigue. Chest feels pained or oppressed. Ill at ease, 
restless. Do not know what to do with myself. Sensation as of a 
board bound to the back of the head, more plainly on the left side; 
head felt drawn to the left backward. Desire to be busy. 1 p. m., took 
six minims. Pain in the occiput, running through to the lobes of the 
cerebrum. Pain in the orbits, pressive, from before backward. Pain 
through the ear and head, commencing at a point at the back of the 
left ear and running upward and forward diagonally in the direction 
of the opposite ear and right parietal bone. Slightly painful sensation 
in the left chest in the region of the heart. Deep inspiration. 2 p. 
m., passed urine, less than half the usual quantity, and yellowish. At 
intervals deep inspiration as if the chest were laboring under the effect 26 
of some indefinable oppression. Slight feeling of oppression. Weak- 
ness of the chest with deep inspiration. Slight painful feeling at epi- 
gastrium. Mucus in throat, taste watery, a relish for sweet things. 
Left eyelid slightly painful when the head is bent to the floor. Ten- 
dency to automatically expand the chest (fhis recurs as a symptom 
very frequently). The chest expands itself seemingly to its utmost 
capacity, in an instant collapsing to be repeated. Pain in the upper 
portion of the spine and medulla oblongata, running upward and 
expanding through the brain to near its surface, especially on stooping 
or bending the head forward as in bowing or kneeling. Pain across 
the anterior lobes of the brain just behind the os frontis. Left to right 
drawing pain of right index finger affecting tire bone. Pain in both 
upper arms. Pain running across the inner side of left arm, felt in 
the bend of the elbow after subsiding elsewhere. Feeling of being 
pressed at the left occiput, and immediately afterward a counter pain 
on the left side of the forehead, the latter continuing a moment or two. 
Sensation of uneasiness extended to the back as far as lumbar region 
on taking frequent heavy respiration above described. Pain verging 
around and along left parietal bone from the left occiput. Pain in 
left shoulder like that produced by carrying a heavy weight. Pain 
running along the back down to the arms. Sensation of a thread of 
mucus on the tongue. Taste watery. Pain in the right knee. 4 p. 
m., urinated. Respiration is measured ; no interval between inspiration 
and expiration. Slight pain of sticking character in the region of the 
right kidney. Pain long continued in left kidney as from renal calcu- 
lus. Pain in the left groin sharp and cutting as from impacted calcu- 
lus in the ureter. 9:30 p. m., took 6 minims tinct. Cereus Bonplandii. 
Painful sensation in the sides of the neck, worse on left side and longer 
continued. Pain behind the mastoid process, left side, extending back- 
ward and upward. Pain extending along the external angular process 
of frontal bone right side. Felt a desire to give something quite nec- 
essary to myself, to another. Went to bed feeling miserably. Slept 
all night without undressing, as I had thrown myself down and fallen 
asleep. 
August 12. Arose feeling irritable. Head feels badly. Ate a light 
breakfast. Went out a little before 6 A. m. Passed stool, not easy nor 
sufficient. 8 a. m., took some light exercise; muscular condition good. 
9: 15 a. m., feel a little better. Slight pain in right kidney; sticking pain 
in the right ureter. Feel rather better. Slight pricking pain at the 
heart. Pain through right shoulder blade, through right hip and 
again in right kidney. Pain along the outer side of the right upper 
arm while writing ; in left ulna with numbness. Itching of the nose. 
Great fit of yawning. Pain along the inner side of right upper arm. 
Dull pain in the left elbow and forearm. Itching in various parts of 
the body. Pain in the first metacarpal bone of right hand. Quite 
severe sticking pain in right kidney. Pain with numbness of right 
arm when writing. 9:30 a. m., took twelve minims tinct. Cereus Bon- 
plandii. Passed urine. Pain in metacarpo-phalangeal joints of right 
hand. Pain along right malar bone, running to temple, through to 
occiput. Watery mouth with some shade of insipidness. Clearing of 
the hard palate of mucus. Feel malaise, half sick. Difficult to keep 
employed. Drowsiness on closing the eyes. Perception of a cluster of 
orange-colored spots, round-shaped and symmetrical. Drawing sensa- 27 
tion from the end of the thumb of right hand upward, seems as if 
sprained. Pain quite constant. Painful feeling in dorsal vertebrae. 
On rising up from a kneeling posture, dizziness comes over one followed 
bj sickness at stomach, continuing for some little time. Very irritable. 
3:15 p. m., took twelve minims. Very much disturbed in mind. Feel 
fatigued on riding, especially in the lumbar region. 9:30 p. M., took 
three minims. Not very pleasant in mind. Feel pain in right kid- 
ney ; sore to pressure. Pain in right forehead. Soreness and lame- 
ness in right forearm above wrist, considerable in flexor muscles of 
right arm on contact. “Feeling as if the heart were transfixed by a 
blunt instrument, as on a bolt.” 
August 13. Very dull all morning; pass the time in a listless 
manner. Fetid breath noticed by self (subjective symptom). Pain on 
ulnar side of the left carpo — metacarpal joint. Pain on outer border 
of elbow joint, left arm, back of and at left shoulder joint; sighing res- 
piration. 4 :30 p. m., took six minims tinct. Cereus Bonplandii. 10 p. 
m., pain with lameness in left little finger. Pain in arm posteriorly, over 
ulna, above wrist. Tenderness on pressure along the spines of all the 
cervical and the three or four upper dorsal vertebrae. Tenderness of 
the flexor muscles of both arms (upper). 11 p. m., not sleepy, mind 
disturbed. Tenderness over ribs, left side anteriorly just below the 
heart. Deep inspiration. Painful sensation in the anterior lobes of 
the cerebrum, extended from the frontal bone backward. Pain 
through the globe of left eye and orbit. Tenderness at supraorbital 
notch. Feel very uncomfortable; do not know what to do with my- 
self. 
August 14. 6 a. m., pass a small quantity of yellowish saturated 
urine. Very irritable; act from impulse. Allowed the time to pass 
until 12 M., unoccupied in any thing of importance. 1 P. m., took 30 
minims tinct. Cereus Bonplandii. 2 p. m., took 15 minims. 3 p. m., 
pain in right ring finger. 6 :20 p. m., pain in left ring finger return- 
ing. Pain on inner side of left knee. Pain in right trochanter. Pain 
in last joint of left index finger. Pain in left kidney. Pain on inner 
side of left knee, low down. Pain on dorsum of right hand ; in left 
forearm. Pain in both arms followed by pain in chest. Pain in both 
knees — left little finger. Pain in back of left wrist running to fore- 
arm. Pain in muscles of the back of the forearm; in the muscles of 
the arm above the elbow anteriorly. Sighing respiration (noticed many 
times); pain in chest, left side and through the heart, flanked by a 
painful sensation at and toward the spleen, the latter momentary, the 
former continuing, especially that at the heart. Pain in left great 
pectoral muscle, more aggravated toward the tendon of the lesser pec- 
toral and at coracoid process. Pain in both knees on rising; pain in 
the occiput, high up on the head. In the coracoid of the right shoul- 
der as well as in the hamstring tendons of left thigh there was pain. 
So also in last phalanx of left index finger. On di vesting one’s self of 
outer garments, experience coughing. Breath fetid; noticed by 
others. Pain in the right little finger; somewhat persistent pain in 
the cartilages of the left lower false ribs. Slept pretty well; disturbed 
by dreams of a dog and a fracas very exciting to the nerves. 
August 15. Awoke before 5 a. m., looked somewhat haggard ; expe- 
rienced the long, deep, uneasy respiration of previous days, but more 
intensified, before rising. Thorax acts automatically, not in accord- 28 
ance with one’s whim. Chest feels empty. Pain at heart. Rose 5 a. 
m. A little before G a. m., counted pulse for one minute; found several 
dicrotic beats and intermissions in that time. Went out, passed a 
natural stool. Deep inspiration and expiration ; chest is emptied 
quickly. Sensation of a great stone laid upon the heart; soon after 
sensation as if the chest was broken out just in front of the heart. On 
combing the hair, find it falls out in considerable quantities. Pustule 
on the lip near the left ala of the nose. Pain at a spot in the muscles 
of the back midway between the left scapula and sacrum. 12 m., took 
five minims tinct. Cereus Bonplandii. Pain through the globe of the 
right eye. Pain in right hip and head of right thigh bone. Some- 
what painful sensation in globe of left eye; swimming of the head. It 
is noticed by a professional friend that there are the following object- 
ive symptoms: “ Swimming eyes,” “ a little capillary congestion of the 
conjunctiva,” tongue “ feathery,” too red to be natural, “ a deep, pur- 
plish hue is present over the whole tongue.” Feel headache, occipital 
pain. The hue of the countenance is yellowish. Tongue feeling 
rough. 3 p. m., urination; feel rather relieved. Pain in right ring 
finger, right wrist. Pain in right patella; difficult to touch without 
considerable pain on pressure with the hand. Pain on the left side of 
the neck. Feel worse from the pressure of clothing; desire to be dis- 
solved, especially the trunk. Pain in the metacarpal bone of thumb 
and contiguous bone of right hand. Dorsal region feels lame on 
stooping. Pain in right scapula. Lameness in dorsum of left hand. 
Passed urine at 10 :15 p. m., normal quantity. Stool at 10: 30. Feel 
better on disrobing for the night. 11 p. m., drowsiness ; waked with 
slight sexual desire. Pass a small quantity of clear urine. Feel well. 
Pain in the neck on the left side above and along the clavicle. Pain 
above the right external malleolus. Itching, quite severe, with rough- 
ness of the skin in the right popliteal space. Full of dreams of large 
assemblies of persons, and things relating to scenes forgotten for years. 
Redreamed old dreams in part or whole. 
Sunday, Aug. 16. Arose at 8:30 a. m. Early in the afternoon 
noticed a feeling of flabbiness in the genitalia, which felt small. Felt 
pain in the knees and ankles — dorsa of the feet. Felt a compressed 
feeling from the sacrum down through the limbs terminating at the 
heels. Felt weary ; sighing respiration. 8 p. m., attended church ; 
apathetic. Could not fix the mind on devotional exercises, effort being 
strong. A grateful feeling of dependence on a divine spirit was expe- 
rienced. Voice sounds dim. At night, when retired, felt severe con- 
vulsive pains at the heart; severe agonized pain for several hours, 
which returns toward morning. During the night slept but little. 
August 17. Same feeling in regard to testicles and sexual organs. 
Priapism in the presence of the opposite sex. Severe occipital head- 
ache. Accumulation of mucus in both nostrils. Feel like one recov- 
ering from a cold. 
August 18. Deep colored urine. Eruption of pustules is “ drying 
up.” Itching on the sole of the left foot. Faint feeling, followed by 
nausea, on rising. Feel the effect of an incubus weighing me down, 
affecting more particularly the nervous system. Lower extremities 
have a prickling feeling when kneeled or flexed. 
August 19. Rose suffering severe pain in the eyes. Great sensitive- 
ness to the impulse of light all day (photophobia). Time passed very 29 
slowly. Feel that I am sick. Itching of the right popliteal space. 
Appetite returning. No feeling at sexual organ. Anaesthesia of the 
genital organs. 
August 21. Sore feeling at the eyes; heavy feeling at the eyes as in 
cephalic catarrh. Haggard look. Strong light painful to the eyes. 
Clearing of mucus from throat. Headache, sighing respiration, weak 
feeling and pressure at the heart on reading or thinking consecutively. 
Pulse a little irregular just after dinner. 
Generality. 
When mental symptoms subside corporeal ones are aggravated, and 
conversely. All along felt strong desire to antidote the very powerful 
effect of the drug on the heart and the nervous system. Could with 
difficulty at times restrain the desire to take medicine for that purpose. 
While taking the medicine I lost in weight seven and one-half pounds, 
which I did not regain for some weeks. 
Duration of its Effects, 
The effect on the brain and nervous system passed off in four or five 
days principally. 
The symptoms affecting the heart and chest were mainly gone in ten 
days after taking the medicine. Some symptoms being noted longer, 
as sighing respiration. The effect on the generative functions in about 
the same time. 
Muscular pains were mainly gone in a few days, although echoes of 
the morbid symptoms were perceptible slightly after four or five weeks 
had elapsed. 
The itching of the sole of the left foot perfectly aggravating (much 
more severe than that symptom on the ninth day), on the eighth week, 
in fact as troublesome and presenting as severe objective symptoms as 
any chilblain. Itching of the skin of the right popliteal space returns 
many times after concluding the proving, and is very noticeable almost 
every day of the ninth week. 
Remarks. 
I am now treating a case of retinitis, with nearly entire blindness, 
complicated with a rheumatic condition verging to paralysis, with 
Cereus Bonplandii, with happy results. It is a chronic trouble and 
I commenced with a higher potency than usual. Some of the symp- 
toms of this drug and disease reasonably correspond. 
A case of heart disease, affecting the right heart, pulmonary circula- 
tion, etc., with the most distressing symptoms, which prevailed the 
last ten days of her life, was relieved of all its severity after giving 
this drug, notwithstanding Dr. Swinburne, of Albany, had failed to 
do so. 
Proving 
Of Opuntia albaspina or White-spined Prickly-Pear Cactus, by John 
II. Fitch, M. D. 
October 7, 1874, 6 :30 p. m., took 10 minims tinct. Opuntia albaspina, 
made by Dr. R. E. Kunze, of New York. Horripilation at swallowing. 30 
In a few minutes desire to be at prayer, go there, and in a minute or 
two desire to go out and “tidy” up. Soon thereafter went out on an 
errand down stairs, then come up and go again to prayer. 7:40 p. m., 
urgent desire to stool, evacuation rather loose, pain through the spleen 
and heart, pain in the left arm just below the elbow, palmar aspect, 
sticking pain through the heart. 11:45 p.m., took one dram tinct. 
Opuntia albaspina ; pain in the right testicle; priapism with lascivious 
desire. 
October 8, 8 a. m., took one dram tinct. Opuntia albaspina; heaved 
single respiration. 9:25 A. m., oppression in the chest relieved by a 
single heaving respiration. 9:45 a.m., single violent chest-heave to 
the respiration producing an agreeable feeling at chest; pain in head 
of left fibula; pain at the proximal end of the first and second meta- 
carpal bones of left hand; pain in muscles on the inner side of left 
leg. At night dreams of women. 
October 9. Fit of swearing at evening after coming home. Praying 
in the morning, swearing on disappointment in plans. Fit of rage at 
6 p. m. on thwarting of plans. 6:20 p. m., took one dram tinct. 
Opuntia albaspina. Sensation that the head is transfixed with a lance 
or spear. Urine free. Bowels move oftener than natural. Appetite 
good. Throat feels sore in afternoon, choked or pinching feeling 
around the top of the larynx. Saliva in the mouth. Heaved res- 
piration, which does not give relief of chest oppression. 
October 10, 12:25 p. m., pain in muscles of the neck left side 
anteriorly. Pain in the muscles of the right side of the neck, below 
ear, momentarily on the right side anteriorly of the neck. Pain and 
ache on both sides of the neck below ears, coming and going. Saliva 
in the mouth. 6 p. m., took one dram tinct. Opuntia albaspina. 
October 11. Pale at face. Appetite not first-rate at breakfast. 
Restricted at dinner. Headache of rather a mild form. A tensive 
feeling at the brain. Bad feeling involving the nervous system. 
October 12. Appetite good. Neglect business all day. At evening 
stool, at first easy, afterwards hard. 
October 13. Urging to stool in the morning. Stool soft but difficult. 
Lazy. Diffident in transacting business. Great raising of mucus 
(phlegm from the throat) at 4 p. m. Nervous at night. 
October 14. Bloatedness at the abdomen. Urine increased all day 
in quantity, not in frequency. Afternoon, fit of petulance, angry at 
near relatives. Swearing mood, not at all pleased. Cannot get over 
the thought of injuries done by friends. Very cold and chilly (the day 
is cold and weather changing), considerable mucus from the throat. 
Slight bloody mucus discharge from the left nostril. Bite the inside 
of the cheek in evening on right side. Cold feet, the teeth appear 
sensitive (I may have taken a little cold). The mind appears to be 
much affected and does not appreciate its morbid condition. Much 
tempted to do things one should not do. 4 p. M., loose stool, urine 
increased in frequency, much more copious. Have had for a few 
days an eruption of tubercles on the neck, just back of the left ear 
and covering the mastoid process. Omit the first letter of a word 
in writing. Sometimes transfer the first and second letters, making 
the second first and the first second. Eruption about ear, bleeds 
freely. Cold feeling with ache at the neck just below the ear in the 
sterno-mastoid muscles near their insertion. Petulance and desire to 31 
be at work ; very irritable, cannot stand the least trifle. Transpose 
in writing the two final letters of a word, unless write very slowly. 
Tea tastes very insipid (it is not very strong), yesterday strong tea was 
very agreeable. Omit the first letter of the last syllable of a compound 
word. Respiration Avith a slight heave of the chest, followed by less 
marked heaving respiration, gradually becoming quieted and natural. 
Still chest feels ill at ease. Involuntary blasphemous mood. Atrophied 
appearance of the external genital organs. In straining at stool, 
varicose veins on left side enlarge very greatly. Evacuations smell 
like strong drugs. After kneeling or resting on lower limbs, the latter 
become numb with tingling and pricking. Left nostril discharges on 
picking, a little blood and watery phlegm. Cold feet, feel chilly in a 
warm room. Arranged one of the drawers of my desk. After kneel- 
ing, lower limbs asleep, immovable. (This is a two days old symp- 
tom.) Cold strikes straight through the chest, upper portion. No 
pain experienced about the head, but the mind aberrations. Not 
entirely conscious of the full extent of mental vagrancy. 
October 15. Early pain in the globe of the right eye, continuing. 
Cold feet. Coldness of the body. Not able to wait on urinating. 
Feel an intense desire to be busy. Could scarcely give way to the 
wishes of friends with whom I was associated, went without dinner. 
Toward evening pain through the globe of the eye. Felt remarkable 
freedom in doing what I had to do. Mind pretty clear. 
October 17. Very vindictive at night. Seminal emission. 
October 20. Stopped in the midst of my work, as if by an irresistible 
power. 
Remarks. 
Opuntia albaspina affects the heart fully as strongly as Cactus 
gratidiflorus (verus), but not as powerfully as Cereus Bonplandii. 
I have used it in one case of debility of the stomach with pain in 
the region of the spleen and heart, following a week’s attack of 
diarrhoea, with very marked effect. 
Of Oereus Serpentinus, or Snalce Cereus, Snake Cactus, bu John H. 
Fitch, M D. 
Proving 
October 20, 1874, at 11 p. m., took fifteen minims of a strong satur- 
ated tinct. Oereus serpentinus, made of the whole plant and furnished 
me for trial by I)r. R. E. Kunze, of New York. Immediately a con- 
siderable drawing sensation or pain was felt over the left collar bone. 
After a little while it returns accompanied with pressure and weight 
over that quarter of the chest. Heaviness of the left arm at the elbow 
— a kind of tired feeling. At night remained at a late hour at 
prayer. Intended to remain all night at prayer, but fell asleep. 
October 21. Felt dizzy in the morning, raising with a scraping effort 
mucus from the throat. 8: 40 a. m., loose stool. Pain in the left little 
finger. Feel like one recovering from a cold (cephalic catarrh). At 
dinner bite the inside of the mouth, right check. Afternoon; short, 
sharp pain through the heart. Light, lascivious feeling. 
October 22. 7: 25 a. m., took one-half dram tinct. Cereus serpentinus. 
Much expectoration of congealed mucus from the throat and nasal 32 
passages, through, the course of the morning. Stool at 8:45. Burn- 
ing itching of the left ala of the nose. Itching of the inner canthus 
of the right eye, internal surface of the lid bordering the tarsal carti- 
lage. 10: 20, pain in chest, right side, just below the axilla and shoul- 
der. Pinch in the left deltoid muscle. Itching of the surface of the 
chin covered by the beard, also of upper lip in beard. Mistakes made 
in conversation. Use the word fat for hat. At times considerable 
expectoration of mucus from throat and dislodgment of mucus from 
the nostrils. Angry at trifles. Gfenital organs small and dwindled. 
Tensive pain in the head and brain. 
October 23. Awoke with a yellowish hue of countenance, slightly 
chilly (there is no fire in my room). Pustule on forehead, left side. 
Momentary pain at heart. Thrusting pain at heart, followed by sigh- 
ing respiration. Cold feeling at side of neck below ears. Feel chilly 
easily. 
October 24. Urine increased. Urinate every four hours. Pain in 
back, region of kidneys; sensitiveness to cold. Lameness of right 
shoulder blade, lower portion, dorsum, running to side; thorax 
increased by drawing deep inspiration. Lameness (very bad) of the 
right shoulder, constant for most part of the day. Feel as if a heavy 
load had been carried on it, which had produced a bruised chest. 
Painful feeling in bones, as if a snow storm were coming. (Am very 
sensitive to such influences during the winter months.) Very irritable, 
nervous. Swear a little. Urgency to urinate. Genital organs seem 
small. Tenderness of the cervical muscles. Pray nearly all night. 
October 25. Perspire easily. Genital organs seem small. Much 
tenacious mucus in throat, detached with difficulty. Gas passed from 
the bowels. 
October 26. Pain in the right wrist; pain (sharp) in right elbow. 
Urine the past three days deep colored. At noon in passing urine it 
precipitated a cloudy sediment. Tongue has been dry for two or three 
days. A faint feeling with all the time much saliva in the mouth. 
(This has occurred before during seasons of great despondency, to which 
I have been subject.) Pain in the neck, with perspiration on slight 
exertion. Pain felt, especially on the posterior cervical muscles. A 
good deal of gas passed by the bowels at times and symptoms recur- 
ring again. At evening pain in the right elbow, gnawing pain. Pus- 
tule on the right upper lip, angle of the mouth, on parts covered by 
beard. Very sore spot in the beard just below the left angle of the 
mouth. 
October 27. Pain in the right arm. 
October 28. Severe pain in the right arm in writing. Mucus in the 
throat and nose adhering. Much loose mucus in the throat (pharynx). 
Feel pain at heart after retiring. 
October 29. Pain along the course of the nerves on the inner side 
of the right arm. Pain in the right shoulder. Feeling as if the shoul- 
der were sprained by exertion of the muscles. Feel the effect of mus- 
cular exertion at the heart. Fit of sudden ungovernable rage. Very 
strongly smelling flatus from the bowels. Itching very severe on the 
sole and sides of the right foot, mostly toward the heel. Feel a sensa- 
tion as if a seminal emission were in danger of taking place, with 
absence of any lascivious thought or fancy. Pain in the right lower 
extremity near the knee. Feeling as if the back part of the brain were 33 
detached from the anterior portion and rotten. Insipidity of life, every 
thing mechanical, no enjoyment. 9 :30 p. m., had a stool like a large 
lump ; difficult. Feel better afterward. 10 p. m., pain in the region 
of the right kidney. Drawing pain in the right pectoral muscles, in 
the direction and at tendon of pectoralis minor and at coracoid process. 
Pain on the dorsum and inner side of right foot, drawing in character. 
Feels as if a horse had stepped on it. Pain; slight drawing in right or- 
bit. Remain up very late, retire and have an emission of semen, fol- 
lowed by an incisive and very great urgent pain, first in one and then in 
the other testicle. Passed the time in the evening in prayer with par- 
tial relief. 
October 30. Voluptuous feeling. Toward 10 A. m., a seminal emis- 
sion, which seems as if it passed “like a lump.” Feeling as if a lump 
had passed one. Urine yellowish with a tinge of green. Pain in the 
fifth metacarpal bone of right hand with aching toward wrist extended 
to elbow. Pain with coldness toward the shoulder in a cold room. 
Excited condition of the genital organs. Hyperaemia and hyperas- 
thenia increased by walking. Singing in the right ear. Urine pale, 
tea-green. Lameness of the fifth metacarpal bone of the right hand. 
Unfitness for study. After reading a short time get impression to 
desist. Omit the final part of a word in writing. Paralyzed feeling 
in heart (9:50 p. m.). Have felt for some time as if I had no friends 
or an indifference to those I have. 
October 31. Spent the day reading. In the afternoon much mucus 
in the throat, also in the evening. Prone to lascivious thoughts. 
After kneeling, numbness of the right extremities from the knee down. 
Great apathy for several days. 
November 4. Pain in the right testicle, with coldness. 
November 6. Very sensitive to cold in the chest; feel badly, with 
dwindling of the genital organs. Enuresis. Mucus in the throat. 
Epistaxis. Very irritable, inclined to profanity. 
November 7. Much raising of mucus from the throat and discharged 
from the nose. Clearing of the throat of mucus very often. 
November 9. Feel mixed up, rage, swearing mood. Pain at heart 
after exertion, followed by shortness of breath, relieved after taking a 
full inspiration. 
November 10. Throat cleared of mucus a great deal of the time this 
morning. 
I have had little opportunity to test this drug therapeutically. 
It is a very near analogue of Cereus Bonplandii, affecting the nervous 
system and the emotive sphere especially more powerfully. Its more 
potent action is in affecting the nerves and muscular organs on the 
right side of the body, while Cereus Bonplandii has its most potent 
action on the left. It affects the heart like all the Cacti. Its effect on 
the kidneys is also similar. I should recommend it with much confi- 
dence, jndging from provings in subacute rheumatism or “acute 
chronic,” affecting the upper extremities and chest more especially, 
and right side of the body. I have used it in boils and pustules, skin 
troubles only, with success. 
Cereus serpentinus in its effect on the brain and mind (sensorium) 
are very similar to Cactus grandiflorus (verus). 
Remarks.