FOOTNOTES:

FOOTNOTES:[L]The definite article is used because it is believed to be complete, thanks to the scholarship and courtesy of Dr. Henry M. Smith, of New York. To him, also, am I indebted for the original text ofPothos fœt.from theCorrespondenzblatt.

[L]The definite article is used because it is believed to be complete, thanks to the scholarship and courtesy of Dr. Henry M. Smith, of New York. To him, also, am I indebted for the original text ofPothos fœt.from theCorrespondenzblatt.

Pothos Fœtida Symptomatology.

Translated from theCorrespondenzblattby T. C. Fanning, M. D., Tarrytown, N. Y.[M]

Because the odor is quite like Mephitis it is considered a so-called anti-spasmodic.

Abstract of symptoms from Hering, Humphreys, and Lingen.

So absent-minded and thoughtless that he enters the sick rooms without knocking; pays no attention to those speaking to him. Irritable, inclined to contradict; violent.

Headache of brief duration, in single spots, now here, now there, with confusion. Pressure in both temples, harder on one side than on the other alternately, with violent pulsation of the temporal arteries.

Drawing in the forehead in two lines from the frontal eminences to the glabella, where there is a strong outward drawing as if by a magnet.

Red swelling, like a saddle, across the bridge of the nose, painful to the touch, especially on the left side near the forehead, while the cartilaginous portion is cold and bloodless; with red spots on the cheek, on the left little pimples; swelling of the cervical and sub-maxillary glands.

Unpleasant numb sensation in the tongue; cannot project it against the teeth; papillæ elevated; tongue redder, with sore pain at point and edge.

Burning sensation from the fauces down through the chest. With the desire to smoke, tobacco tastes badly.

Pain in the scrobiculus cordis as if something broke loose, on stepping hard.

Inflation and tension in the abdomen; bellyache here and there in single spots; on walking, feeling as if the bowels shook, without pain.

Stool earlier (in the morning), frequent, softer.

Urging to urinate; very dark urine.

Painful, voluptuous tickling in the whole of the glans penis.

Violent sneezing, causing pain in the roof of the mouth, the fauces and œsophagus all the way to the stomach, followed by long-continued pains at the cardiac orifice.

Pain in chest andmediastinum posticum, less in theanticum, with pain under the shoulders, which seems to be in connection with burning in the œsophagus. Pressing pain on the sternum.

Sudden feeling of anxiety, with difficult (or oppressed) respiration and sweat, followed by stool and the subsidence of these and other pains.

Inclination to take deep inspirations with hollow feeling in the chest, later with contraction in the fauces and chest.

The difficulty of breathing is better in the open air.

Pain in the crest of the right tibia.

Rheumatic troubles increased.

Sleepy early in the evening.

All troubles disappear in the open air.

In attempting to analyze this "abstract of symptoms," to see if the internal evidence tends to show that the recorded effects are genuine results of the drug, it is well to remember that these provings—for we infer that three observers participated therein—were made in the light of the empirical history ofPothos fœt.The said history was on record before the date of these provings, and it cannot have escaped Hering's eye; he was too wide a reader for that. He was, beyond doubt, aware of the pathogenetic effects observed by Bigelow—headache,vertigo,temporary blindness,vomiting,even from small quantities. Having, then, this clue to its physiological action, these symptoms should reappear in his provingif his imagination furnished his symptoms. As only a mild headache is noted in theCorrespondenzblatt, it is evident that these provers did notwork from a pattern. It is also evident that theusus in morbisdid not suggest the Allentown symptomatology, for the anti-asthmatic virtue ofPothos fœt.is one feature on which the greatest stress had been laid, and yet the onlypathogeneticsuggestion of its applicability in asthma is: "Sudden feeling of anxiety with difficult(or oppressed) respiration and sweat, followed by stool and thesubsidence of these and other pains." Who ever heard of anasthma relieved by stool? Who could haveinventedsuch an odd modality? As it stands it is anunicum, and by every rule of criticism this single symptom-group gives the stamp of verity to the Allentown "abstract of symptoms." But there is other and singularly convincing evidence of the genuineness of this abstract. As the reader is aware, Thacher had emphasized the efficiency ofPothos fœt.as an anti-spasmodic in hysteria, although the "key-note" that indicates it in hysteria had wholly escaped his discernment.

Now this very "key-note" appears in the Allentown pathogenesis, but so unobtrusively as to show most conclusively that the prover who furnished it did not recognize its singular import and value. Such testimony is absolutely unimpugnable by honest and intelligent criticism.

It is also apparent that some of the less pronounced of its empirical virtues are reflected in the proving. For instance, Thacher found it efficacious in "erratick pains of a spasmodick nature." Is not this "erratic" feature reproduced in such conditions as:

"Headache, of brief duration, in single spots, now here, now there?"

"Pressure in both temples alternately, harder on one side than on the other?"

"Bellyache, here and there, in single spots?"

Brevity of duration and recurrence "in single spots, now here, now there," are phenomena at oncespasmodicanderratic. It must be admitted that the trend of its pathogenetic action and the lines of its therapeutical application are parallel, and, therefore, that the latter are confirmatory of the former.

With such an anti-hysterical reputation as the empirical use had given toPothos fœt., it might fairly be anticipated that its pathogenesis would be distinguished by a paucity of objectivedata, for only a tyro in pharmacodynamics, or a "Regular," would expect to find a full-lined picture of hysteria in any "proving." And so we have in the "abstract" a flux of subjective symptoms, "erratic" enough for hysterical elements, and still further characterized by an apparent evanescence, as if its phenomena of sensory disturbance were as fleeting and unsubstantial as those of an hysterical storm.

Thewill-o'-the-wisp-likecharacter of its subjective symptoms, and its physometric property (hinted at in the pathogenesis and emphasized in Thacher's case) are the features that will chiefly impress one in studying this distinctively American remedy.

That the "abstract of symptomes" evinces a cautious trial of this drug, and that more heroic experiments will add to our knowledge of its pathogenetic properties, are plain deductions from the absence in the "abstract" of such pronounced effects as Bigelow observed and also from the evidence of theusus in morbis. The remedy needs an efficient proving, especially in the female organism.

FOOTNOTES:[M]Literalness rather than elegance has been sought in the translating.

[M]Literalness rather than elegance has been sought in the translating.

An Application of Pothos Fœtida.

Miss B——, æt. 20; a tall, spare brunette, and a good specimen of Fothergill'sArab type, brainy and vivacious. General health has been good, but she was never robust; could not go to school regularly. Between her thirteenth and fifteenth years grew rapidly in stature, and then she was easily wearied on walking; knees tired and limbs ached. Had good digestion through the growing period, but subsequently became subject to "bloat of wind" in abdomen. These meteoristic attacks came when lying down. A "weight rises from the abdomen up to the heart." She must at once spring up. This condition is relieved by eructating, by liquor, and by drinking hot water. The night attacks of meteorism are by far the worst.She is now subject to them.

[Her grand-mother had such "spells of bloating;" would spring out of bed at night, lose consciousness, and "bloat up suddenly." If she had such an attack when dressed, they had often been obliged to cut open her clothes.]

Patient has found that apples, tomatoes, cabbage and onions disagree with her; no other food. She is constipated—"wants to and can't."

Her hair is unusually dry; scalp full of dandruff; skin, generally, soft and flexible.

She has frequent epistaxis; has had four and five attacks a day. Blood bright red, "runs a perfect stream," does not clot at the nostrils. Has previously a "heavy feeling" in the head, which the bleeding relieves.

In appearance she is "the picture of health;" good complexion, fairly ruddy cheeks, sparkling eyes—in a word, she is an incarnated protest against "single blessedness."

In the latter part of July, 1886, had her first "fit." She had arisen with a headache, which kept on increasing in severity. Just after a light meal had the attack; "Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" and fell insensible. Stiffened at first, then had clonic spasms. Neither bit the tongue nor frothed at the mouth. No micturition or defecation. On coming to, did not remember that she had fallen, but recollected being borne up stairs. Had a "dreadful nosebleed" after the attack. Left her very weak; could hardly lift her feet from the floor. Before the "fit" the headache had become unbearably severe.

Had her second "fit" on August 7th, 1887. Headache came on and kept growing worse; was in temples, beating and throbbing, and in eyes, "light hurt"—also on vertex, "pressing-down" pain. At 4p.m.suddenly fell down insensible. No cry. Tongue bitten. Slight frothing at the mouth. First "stiff all over," then clonic spasms. After the "fit" knew that something had happened to her. Was prostrated for nearly a month, but not so much as after first attack.

December 10th, 1887, third "fit." On the night of the 9th her mother had been very ill, and she herself was very uneasy and alarmed. Had the attack before breakfast. Blurred vision, headache, fall; no biting of tongue, nor frothing. First rigid, then clonic spasms; after attack, nose bled profusely, head ached all day, face flushed and dark. Prostrated as usual.

In none of the attacks was there any involuntary micturition or defecation, nor was it ever necessary to use any force to hold her on the bed.

One other fact I gathered from her brother, namely: during her "fits" her abdomen bloated so rapidly and to such a degree that the family had learned to remove her clothing as soon as possible after she fell.

Of course, Thacher's case, wherein the "abdomen was remarkably tumefied and tense," came into memory at once. The old volume was taken down, and that case re-read. Then followed theEncyclopædia, and then the EnglishSymptomen Codex. No pathogenetic light or corroborationthere. Then Curie's "Jahr." Ah! "Inflation and tension in the abdomen." Only a straw, but a pathogenetic, and I grasped it thankfully. I found also, "aching in the temples with violent arterial pulsation."

It was an open winter; my son dug some skunk cabbage roots in a swamp; a tincture was made; ten-drop doses, four times daily, were taken until six ounces had been consumed.

No "fit" up to date; no epistaxis; only once a slight headache.

I never made a diagnosis in this case; have not reached one yet, nor am I grieving over that omission. I did rashly declare that it was not epilepsy, because Sauvagestympanites intestinalisis a feature of hysteria, but not of epilepsy. But not a word of this was said to the patient. It was not a "mind cure," for I have no "mind" to spare; nor was it "Christian science," for I am not up to that. I had anamnesisin which grand-mother and grand-daughter participated. Nature had put the "key-note" in italics, not only in the patient but also in the drug. Thacher stumbled upon it empirically; Hering found it pathogenetically, and that led to its application under the guidance of the only approximation toa lawin therapeutics that has yet been discovered by any of woman born:similia similibus curantur!

(Anent the foregoing paper Dr. W. C. Campbell sent the following to the same journal:)

Pothos Fœtida, Hysteria.

November 6, 1889, was called in haste to see Miss N——, aged 19 years. Found her lying upon the floor, exhibiting all the phenomena of epilepsy, clenched hands, frothing at the mouth, clonic spasm, etc.

On questioning the family, I learned that she had been subject to such seizures for about two years, and that they were increasing in frequency. She had been dismissed from the various cotton mills in which she had been employed because of them. The father had been informed that she had epilepsy, and she had been treated accordingly by three old school physicians.

The sister informed me that although she had frequently fallen near the stove she had never struck it. Further questioning elicited the fact of her never having injured herself more seriously than to bite her tongue. It was then I became suspicious, and later felt convinced that it was hysteria and not epilepsy with which I had to deal.

I remembered having read inThe Recorderan article by Dr. S. A. Jones, of Ann Arbor, onPothos fœtida, with the record of a case in some respects similar to mine. After again reading it up, I made a tincture of the roots and tendrils gathered at the time, of which I gave her a two drachm phial, directing her to take ten drops three times per day.

On the second day she had a slight seizure while at dinner. After two months she again resumed her place in the mill, where she has since been steadily employed, and is strong and well in every way.

Have usedPothosin epilepsy, also in dropsy, with negative results.

Nat. Ord., Primulaceæ.Common Name, Primrose var. obconica.Preparation.—The entire fresh plant in flower with root is macerated in twice its weight of alcohol.

(Dr. E. V. Ross, of Rochester, N. Y., thus summarizes the various papers that have appeared on this remedy—sources of papers named in his article:)

The following summary of the pathogenetic effects ofPrimulawere produced from handling and in otherwise coming in contact with the plant, and so far as known the poisonous properties are wholly confined to the leaves.

The effects bear a close resemblance toAnacardium,Euphorbium,Ranunculus,Rhus, etc. It is evidently deserving of a thorough proving, and it is our intention to attempt one as soon as a reliable preparation can be had.

References: (1)Syme, British Medical Journal; (2)London Lancet; (3)Homœopathic World, March, 1892; (4)American Homœopathist, 1897, p. 429; (5)New York Medical Journal, January, 1898, p. 68.

(1) 1. Eczema on face.2. Eczema on face and arms.3. Moist eczema on face and forearms, papular and excoriated.4. Severe cracking over joints and fingers as from frost.5. Great itching of the skin.6. Eruption appears at night.7. Eruption and itching worse at night.8. The itching was intolerable at night.(2) 9. Irritable papular eruption on both hands, followed by desquamation.10. Papular eruption on chin.

(1) 1. Eczema on face.

2. Eczema on face and arms.

3. Moist eczema on face and forearms, papular and excoriated.

4. Severe cracking over joints and fingers as from frost.

5. Great itching of the skin.

6. Eruption appears at night.

7. Eruption and itching worse at night.

8. The itching was intolerable at night.

(2) 9. Irritable papular eruption on both hands, followed by desquamation.

10. Papular eruption on chin.

11. Eruption of small papules on a raised base with intolerable itching.(3) 12. Papular eruption (eczematous) on hands, wrists and fingers.13. Skin red and swollen and itching violently.14. At night she became feverish, hands and face would burn, then intolerable itching followed by erythema with small papules becoming pustular.15. Papular eruption itching violently.(4) 16. Confluent blotches on face resembling urticaria.17. Eruption between fingers which resembles scabies.18. Desquamation.19. Purple blotches on dorsal surface of hands.20. Palmar surface of hands and fingers are stiff and unusable.21. Deep-seated blisters form on tip of each finger and above and below each phalangeal flexure.22. Blisters on fingers from which a clear fluid escapes on being pricked.23. Intense itching and burning accompanies the eruption.(5) 24. Eruption preceded by pricking sensation which gradually changes to a smarting.25. Skin tumefied and diffuse infiltration with a red serosity, with here and there small fullæ filled with a limpid liquid.26. Eyelids greatly swollen and covered with large fullæ, eyes half closed.27. Great tension and redness of skin resembling erysipeias.28. Desquamation sometimes furfuraceous, sometimes lamellar, involving all of the epidermic layer in such a manner that in some places the papillary layer was exposed.29. Eyelids stiff and immovable, resembling ptosis.

11. Eruption of small papules on a raised base with intolerable itching.

(3) 12. Papular eruption (eczematous) on hands, wrists and fingers.

13. Skin red and swollen and itching violently.

14. At night she became feverish, hands and face would burn, then intolerable itching followed by erythema with small papules becoming pustular.

15. Papular eruption itching violently.

(4) 16. Confluent blotches on face resembling urticaria.

17. Eruption between fingers which resembles scabies.

18. Desquamation.

19. Purple blotches on dorsal surface of hands.

20. Palmar surface of hands and fingers are stiff and unusable.

21. Deep-seated blisters form on tip of each finger and above and below each phalangeal flexure.

22. Blisters on fingers from which a clear fluid escapes on being pricked.

23. Intense itching and burning accompanies the eruption.

(5) 24. Eruption preceded by pricking sensation which gradually changes to a smarting.

25. Skin tumefied and diffuse infiltration with a red serosity, with here and there small fullæ filled with a limpid liquid.

26. Eyelids greatly swollen and covered with large fullæ, eyes half closed.

27. Great tension and redness of skin resembling erysipeias.

28. Desquamation sometimes furfuraceous, sometimes lamellar, involving all of the epidermic layer in such a manner that in some places the papillary layer was exposed.

29. Eyelids stiff and immovable, resembling ptosis.

30. Dryness and heat in palms of hands.31. Deep infiltration of tissues rendering the parts stiff and immovable.32. Skin symptoms accompanied by pronounced febrile symptoms.

30. Dryness and heat in palms of hands.

31. Deep infiltration of tissues rendering the parts stiff and immovable.

32. Skin symptoms accompanied by pronounced febrile symptoms.

From symptoms Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 23 it would appear the time of aggravation is at night, and the most prominent sensation isitchingand less prominent is burning. This is characteristic of theArsenicumeruption, also ofAnacardium,Rhus tox., and some others. The eruption also bears a strong resemblance to these remedies, and if one may judge from the symptoms enumerated ought to prove a potent rival in erysipelas and eczematous complaints.Rhuspoisoning will no doubt find a new and efficient remedy inPrimula.

Nat. Ord., Rosacæ.Common Name, Mountain ash.Preparation.—The fresh bark is macerated in twice its weight of alcohol.

(We find the following in theAmerican Observer, 1878, credited toNorthwestern Analistand written by Dr. H. P. Gatchell. Allen, in theEncyclopædiahas not mentioned the drug, and we can find no mention in any of the dispensatories consulted. Dr. Fernie, in his excellent book,Herbal simplesdevotes some space to it. We quote: "'There is,' says an old writer, 'in every berry the exhilaration of wine, and the satisfying of old mead; and whosoever shall eat three berries of them, if he has completed a hundred years, he will return to the age of thirty.' At the same time it must be noted that theleavesof the Mountain ash are of a poisonous quality, and contain prussic acid like those of the laurel." The following is Dr. Gatchell's paper, the proving, be it noted, is made from a tincture of the bark:)

My memory of details, never remarkable, except as the details belonged to some system, is not as good as in earlier life, and in the matter of disconnected or partially connected incidents, the widow Bedott could, at any time, have given me five points in ten, and then have beaten me easily.

No. 1 of the provers was a married lady; No. 2 and No. 3 were lads. The tincture of the bark was used, several drops being put in a cup of water, of which teaspoonful doses were given and repeated at, I do not remember what, intervals. Myself experienced some irritation of the eyes; no other symptoms.

No. 1. Feels like crying. Feels as if the knees are immensely swollen, as if the toes the same. Knees and toes ache. Feels constricted around the waist, obliged to loosen the clothes at once. Headache begins over the eyes, left side of head aches terribly, like a tooth ache. Aches everywhere, in every joint. Left great toe feels as if torn from the socket. Sense of prolapsus of womb, bearing down and pressing out, as if swollen, and burning all over. Pains in the head knife-like. All the pains intense, acute. Thinks the conditions that of inflammatory rheumatism as if the lungs were congested, especially at the base. Can hardly breathe, as if cold water in the stomach. Thinks mucus accumulated in the cold stomach. Craves hot teas. Headache extends to the right side. Head feels as if it would burst. Great weight on top of head. Toes burn. Aching at heart. Twinging pains in arms, legs and toes. As if rectum were shrunken, dried up. Bearing down pains and pressing out, like labor pains. Feels gloomy and discouraged, but can't cry. Very cold, shivers internally; thinks she must look blue. Cold creeping all over. Pain in knees subsides, and is succeeded by pain as in the tendons and along the calves. "Oh, such a drawing pain, cutting and darting also, like that in the head." Feels resolute, as full of a gloomy determination. Stomach cold again. Thinks meat bad for her, would not digest; needs soft, mild food. Irritation of bladder and urethra; feels as if prolapsus of bladder. Dreads to move, especially on account of the joints. Sensitive to cold. Stomach still feels as if full of cold water.Sick feeling under right scapula. Thinks bile deficient. Shooting pains in forehead. Feeling as if coldness in stomach extends up under the sternum. Same feeling in the gullet. Excessive aching of bones of toes; seems unendurable. Thinks the stomach very weak, as if it would digest nothing; thinks it is dry and wrinkled. Hypochondriac, not nervous. Feels lazy, as if she would like to lie in bed and be waited on. Selfish. Headache penetrating in temples. Thinks she is clairvoyant, can read character and understand motions; can see into herself; thinks the blood dark blue. Feels pains drawing, rending along posterior aspect of thighs and down to toes. Left side most affected. Feels as if the left leg were drawn up, and would never straighten again. Pains seem to move in meandering lines. Seems to be able to go out of herself for a short distance, to walk around and return into the body. Thinks she is looking down upon her own body. Seems to her that the fundus of the stomach is depressed in the abdomen, as if on fire at the pyloric end of stomach. Thinks there is a red spot there, looking like raw beef, as if the stomach burnt up with raw whisky. Exclaims in a plaintive tone, "Don't get out of patience with me" (of which I had given no indications). Cries, feels babyish. Apprehension; fears something terrible is about to occur. Very chilly. Can't talk loud; voice gone. She feels so weak, as if about to die. Moans and groans, calls for help. Oppression about the heart, as if it had stopped beating, as going into convulsions. Feels as if a spasm of the heart, tetanic. As if the blood too thick to circulate. Thinks she would have died but for theCamphorI gave her. Felt as she did when near dying of hemorrhage. Brain is active, intellect clear, thoughts vivid, the whole being intensified. Next morning, sense of constriction at base of lungs. Some cough. Clammy feeling of skin. Very sensitive to air.

No. 2. Causes a glow all over, hands sweat. Some pain in finger joints. Throat feels obstructed. Some hoarseness. Dry cough, as if pharynx stuffed with cotton. It is an effortto talk. Tongue feels partially paralyzed, cannot direct it. Throws the paper down, has lost inclination to read. Feels indolent, indifferent. Feels chills when air strikes. Spasmodic breathing, like a nervous woman—silly, mystical. Pain in finger joints continues. Feels like crying. Sad, weeping mood. Tears will come. Eyes smart. Heart aches, as from some great sorrow. Eyes feel as if had been crying a long time, as if swollen, burning. Very sensitive to cold, easily chilled. Chills down the back and both legs. Ends with a very tranquil feeling, particularly of consciousness. Next morning, tight feeling of patella. Joints all feel constricted and sore.

No. 3. Very chilly. Can't endure cold at all. Other symptoms not recorded.

In all three, pains and chilliness much increased by moving about.

No. 1. Subsequently her muscular condition was much improved. Her muscles did not ache from work as formerly.

A cut bled less freely than usual, bled scarcely any, and healed very quickly.

Nat. Ord., Salicaceæ.Common Name, White Willow.Preparation.—The fresh aments are macerated in twice their weight of alcohol.

(Dr. John Fearns writes of this remedy inChicago Medical Times, 1896:)

At this writing I wish to speak not of the tonic and antiseptic properties of this species ofSalix, but of its usefulness as a sedative to the generative system. As a sedative on these lines I have had very good results from its use.

In cases of acute gonorrhœa with much errotic trouble. Also in cases of chordee with great irritation; for these purposes I have given it in doses of thirty to sixty drops on retiring, and repeat at midnight or towards morning, if needed; in these cases nothing has given me more satisfaction than this remedy. It answers the purpose, it robs night of its terrors, and it leaves no unpleasant consequences in its train.

In cases of excessive venereal desire, amounting to satyriasis, from experience I would use this remedy first. I have seen it control the venereal appetite in a very satisfactory manner. It can be given in cases where the bromides have always been considered appropriate, and it can be given where the bromides would be very inappropriate and there is no reflex effect on the brain or nervous system.

Nat. Ord., Labiatæ.Common Name, Common sage.Preparation.—The fresh leaves are macerated in twice their weight of alcohol.

(Although scarcely used in the present day sage runs back in medical history to the Greeks, and, according to Fernie, is still held in the highest esteem by country people in many parts of Europe. Quoting Gerard: "Sage is singularly good for the head and brain; it quickeneth the senses and memory; strengtheneth the sinews; restoreth health to those that have palsy; and takes away shaky trembling of the members." The following appeared inEcho Med. du Nord, 1897, concerning this remedy:)

This remedy (in English,Sage) has been almost forgotten in modern medical art, but still remains in high repute as a domestic medicine. Lately, French physicians have called attention to it, and not only for gargling in cases of inflammation of the throat and for washing the mouth in affections of the gums, but more especially as an unfailing remedy for night-sweats in persons suffering from affections of the respiratory organs. In the numerous experiments made with it, there were never any disagreeable concomitant effects. On the contrary, it was found thatSalviaacts even more favorably on the tickling coughs with consumptives thanBelladonna,Rumex crispus, etc., so that preparations ofMorphineandCodeinecould be dispensed with.

Salviashould be used in the form of the tincture, and, indeed, the tincture prepared from the fresh leaves and the blossom tips, as we find it in homœopathic pharmacies. It should be given in doses of 20, 30, or 40 drops, in a tablespoonful of water. The effects manifest themselves very quickly, two hours after taking a dose, and these effects persist for two to six days.

Nat. Ord., Piperaceæ.Common Name, Lizard's Tail.Preparation.—The entire plant including the root is macerated in twice its weight of alcohol.

(The following short notice of this almost unknown remedy appeared in theHomœopathic Recorder, 1895:)

Readers who are interested in the remedies of nature rather than those produced in the laboratory and sold under trademarks will remember that it was Dr. D. L. Phares, of Mississippi, who, over half a century ago, pointed out the wonderful virtues ofPassiflora incarnata, so much used to-day. What Dr. Phares said of the remedy laid dormant until Hale, in his ever perennialNew Remedies, rescued it from the dusty pages of old medical journals, in which so much of value is buried awaiting resurrection. Among such buried remedies isSaururus cernuusor, as it is more commonly known, "lizard's tail." Dr. Phares, who seems to have been an unusually keen observer, usedSaururus cer.in his practice,as he didPassiflora, for many years before he communicated his observations to the medical journals, and theSaururusseems to be quite as important and useful a remedy in its sphere as isPassiflora, and one quite as worthy of a thorough proving. In absence of proving it may be said that Dr. Phares used it for years with marked success in all irritation and inflammation of the kidneys, bladder, prostate and urinary passages. He considered it peculiarly adapted to all such cases if they were attended by strangury, or painful and difficult urination. Dr. Phares used the remedy both externally and internally and he found that the stomach was very tolerant of the rather heroic doses he prescribed.

The plant is an indigenous perennial found in swampy localities, in some parts of the United States, and has been, and is still, used in domestic practice for those conditions for which Dr. Phares commends it.

PREPARATION.—The insect is triturated with sugar of milk in the usual way.

(In the case of a man bitten in the arm by a centipede, reported inNashville Journal of Medicine, 1870, among the striking symptoms was no perspiration in the arm for three months. Dr. Sherman, of California (Med. Advance), reports the following symptoms as prominent in a woman bitten by a centipede:)

Head.—Vertigo, with blindness, worse in the morning.

Stomach.—Nausea and vomiting; unable to retain either food or liquid.

Back.—Terrible pains in back and loins, spasmodic and irregular, at times extending down the limbs. Pains returned every few days for three weeks, commencing in the head and going out at the toes. "Resembled labor pains as nearly as anything I ever saw."

Nat. Ord., Labiatæ.Common Name, Mad-dog skullcap.Preparation.—The whole fresh plant is macerated in twice its weight of alcohol.

(The following proving ofScutellaria lat., fromUniversity Bulletin, 1897, was made, under the auspices of Dr. Geo. Royal, by nine provers:)

No symptom has been recorded unless experienced by two provers. When experienced by two provers, and not often repeated, the symptom is recorded in common type. When often repeated in two provings is found in italics. When often repeated in three provings, or found in four or more, the symptoms appear in black type.

Mind.—Inability to study or fix the attention on one's work.Confusion of mind.Apathy.Irritability.

Head.—A full or throbbing sensation in head.A dull heavy headache mostly in the forehead and temples.Sharp shooting pain in the head. Pain in the occiput. Headache relieved in the open air. Headache relieved by eating. Headache aggravated by motion.

Eyes.—Aching in the eyeballs.Eyeballs painful to touch. Eyeballs feel too large.

Face.—Flushed.

Mouth.—Bad taste;sour;bitter.

Throat.—Sensation of lump in throat which could not be swallowed.

Stomach.—Nausea.Sour eructions.Poor appetite.Vomiting of sour ingesta, hiccoughs, pain and distress in stomach.

Abdomen.—Gas in bowels.Colicky pain in abdomen.Fullness or distension of abdomen.Uneasiness in abdomen.Pain in the abdomen.

Stools.—Diarrhœa.Light colored.Stools preceded by colicky pain in abdomen.

Urinary Organs.—Quantity of urine diminished. Biliary salts increased.Frequent micturition but quantity small.

Chest.—Pain in chest.

Heart and Pulse.—Pulse rate irregular.

Back.—Pain in back.

Upper Extremities.—Sharp stinging pains.Aching.

Lower Extremities.—Weakness.Aching.Uneasiness.

Sleep.—Restless.Unrefreshing.Disturbed.

General Symptoms.—Restlessness.Tired weak feeling.Uneasiness.Languor.

The remedy seems most suitable to persons of a nervo-bilious temperament. All the symptoms seem to be aggravated by work or excitement and ameliorated by sleep.

Nat. Ord., Iridaceæ.Common Name, Blue-eyed grass.Preparation.—The fresh root is macerated in twice its weight of alcohol.

(Dr. W. U. Reed, of Northmanchester, Ind., contributed the following in 1892 to theHom. Recorder, concerning this little known remedy.Sisyrinchiumwas one of the old "Thompsonians." From what Dr. Reed says of it the remedy must be a very powerful one and worthy of full investigation.)

Numerous articles have appeared in our medical journals during the past few months relative to the treatment of persons bitten by venomous reptiles, especially the rattlesnake. Whether the rattlesnakes found in the marshes of Indiana are in any respect different from those found in Oregon, or in the mountains of Pennsylvania, I do not know. The bite of the Indiana rattler has been known to prove fatal to both man and beast. Notwithstanding we have growing in our woodsand fields a small plant, which I believe to be a specific for the treatment of persons or animals bitten by the rattlesnake. From my own experience and observation in the use of this remedy, I believe it to be a positive cure in all cases if exhibited in any reasonable time. I have never known it to fail in a single instance, even where the alcoholic treatment and many other kinds had failed.

The plant referred to, the roots of which are used in the treatment of snake bites; or a tincture made from the roots, is theSisyrinchiumof theIrisfamily, I think, and is said to have been used by the Indians in treating snake bites, by bruising and moistening the roots and applying to the wound. I am not aware of its ever having been used as a medicine by the profession, and, so far as I know, I am the first to prepare and use it in the form of a tincture. By your kind permission I will report, through the columns of your valuable journal, a few cases treated by this remedy, which for convenience I will callSisyrinchium.

Case 1. Bessie A., aged six years, while playing in the yard on a farm, some twelve miles in the country, was bitten in the hand by a rattlesnake which was killed a moment after by the mother of the little girl who was attracted by the screams of the child. Sixteen hours after I arrived, everything having been done in the meantime that had ever been heard of by the parents, even to poulticing the wound with entrails of a black chicken. The little sufferer was, indeed, an object of pity. The hand and arm were swollen almost to bursting, the swelling extending to the shoulder and spine, being of a bluish black color as if dreadfully bruised. This discoloration extended over the back to the hips. Skin hot and dry, face flushed, pulse quick and hard. Child unconscious. I felt that the case was hopeless. But through the earnest entreaties of the mother, I proceeded to do what I could. Saturating a piece of cotton with the tincture I had prepared, I bound it on the wound; then dropping twelve drops in a glass of water I directed that a teaspoonful begiven every hour, the compress to be renewed every hour also, until my return. I confess I had little hope of seeing my little patient alive again, but on my return the following day I was much rejoiced to find a decided change for the better in the condition of the little sufferer. The swelling was not nearly so tense, the fever had subsided, the delirium gone, and the danger seemed past. The treatment was continued, and a speedy and permanent recovery followed.

Case 2. Burt Whitten, aged ten, while out in a marsh with a number of older boys gathering huckleberries, was bitten in the right ankle by a rattler. He was so frightened when he saw the snake, as it bit him, that he ran all the way home, a distance of nearly a mile; although the day was very hot. This patient came to my hands after the usual alcoholic treatment for twenty-four hours by an Allopathic physician, with the patient growing worse all the time. I found this patient in about the same condition as the first. The leg and foot were enormously swollen and of the same general appearance; the foot, calf of the leg and thigh were black; the whole body was very red, hot and dry; face dark red; pulse quick and hard; patient delirious but would cry out if touched. Fifteen drops in a glass of water. Teaspoonful every hour, with cotton saturated with the tincture applied to the wound. In this case the change, I was informed by the father, was quite noticeable in two hours. The boy had been in a wild delirium all night and up to the time he received the first dose ofSisyrinchium. After the second dose he became quiet, and in two hours the delirium had passed away. Under this treatment the patient was able to be out on the streets again in four days, though the discoloration did not disappear for some time after.

Many more cases might be given where this remedy has been given to both man and beast with the same results.

(Some readers may be startled at this name, applied to a remedy, but under that name it came before the profession and the name has stuck. It is the Western Indian's designation of the waters of what is now known as "Medical Lake." The following by Dr. W. D. Gentry appeared in theU. S. Med. Investigator, 1889:)

The water is of a deep amber and almost red in the sunlight. The following is an analysis of the salts, obtained by evaporation of the water; the proportion being in grains per U. S. gallon 231 cubic inches:

Sodic chloride,16.370Potassic chloride,9.241Sodic carbonate,63.543Magnesic carbonate,.233Ferrous carbonate,.526Calcic carbonate,.186Aluminic oxide,.175Sodic silicate,10.638Organic matter,.551———101.463Lithic carbonate,Potassic sulphate,}Each a trace.Sodic bi-borate,

}

The lake has no outlet, but is fed by two enormous springs. It contains no living things with the exception of axolotl, a kind of salamander, such as are found in the lakes of the Mexican Cordilleras.

The medical and curative properties of this remarkable lake was known to the Indians of the northwest as far back as they have any legends or tribal history, and it was held in such reverence by them that the country around this lake was called 'Sahala Lyee Illihe,' or 'Sacred Grounds,' and no matter how hostile the tribes were to each other no Indians journeying to or from the 'Skookum Limechen Chuck,' or 'strong medicine water,' were ever molested.

When the Indians were considering the transfer of theirlands to the government, many years ago, it is recorded as a matter of history, that old Quetahlguin, father of the present Chief Moses, and 'Old Joseph,' father of Chief Joseph, lately a prisoner of war, with the broken remnants of his band, after weeks of deliberation and consideration, with the 'Sahala Lyee,' or Great Spirit, through their medicine-men, or prophets, firmly said: 'We have talked with the Great Spirit and we have slept with his words in our ears. The Great Spirit is our father and the earth is our mother. We have a good home and it was made for us by the Great Spirit; it is a part of us; it is our mother. In Wallowa Lake are an abundance of fish created especially for our tribe. None other of his red children have such fish. In the 'Skookum Chuck' we have a remedy for all our ailments. We only have to bathe in and drink its water and we are made well. If we sign the treaty we will forever offend the Great Spirit; we will sign away our mother and she will cry. Her tears will dry up these lakes and we will be hungry and sick. We will go to the Skookum Chuck only to find that its waters have disappeared.'

The story is told of a Frenchman passing the lake many years ago, before the properties of the water became known to the whites, with a drove of sheep afflicted with a skin disease called 'the scab.' As soon as the sheep saw the water they ran to it, but would not drink. They stood in the water for some time, and in a few days they were well of the 'scab.' The Frenchman was suffering with rheumatism. He concluded to try the water of the lake for his disease. He was speedily cured. The whites were soon attracted to this lake by the stories of marvellous cures reported by the Indians, and by seeing Indians return in health and vigor from the lake, who had been taken there on litters, appearing at the point of death. It is estimated that over 20,000 people have visited this lake since 'Joseph's Band' were driven from that section of the country, and it is fast becoming as popular as any other of our great health resorts.

My attention was called toSkookum chucksome time since, and I procured some of the salts and triturated a quantity, making the first, second, third and sixth potencies. I partially proved the first potency by taking two grains every two hours. The first effect produced was a profuse coryza with constant sneezing, as in hay fever. This continued until the medicine was antidoted by tobacco. My appetite was greatly increased. Some rheumatic pains in limbs, and heaviness about the sacrum. The catarrhal effects were so severe I could not continue the remedy. I have used the third and sixth potency in my practice and have cured a number of cases of catarrh, and am confident that the remedy will be curative in hay fever.

(Later investigation, however, demonstrated that the chief curative action of the salts was in skin diseases. Dr. D. De Forest Cole, of Albion, N. Y., wrote the following to the firm from whom he procured the remedy:)

Some time since I received from you one bottleSkookum chuck3x trit. I had a very bad case of urticaria which resisted the usual remedies asApis,Urtica ur., etc., and I gave her (a girl twelve years old) four powders of about four grains each of theSkookum chuck, instructing her to take one powder in one-half glass water, one teaspoonful every two hours, and she returned in a week free from any urticaria. I gave her four powders more, and no appearance of urticaria since. Besides curing the urticaria the patient's health is in every way improving. I write this thinking you might desire to know of its value in urticaria, as well as eczema.

(The following cases were contributed by Dr. D. W. Ingalls, Bridgeport, toN. Y. Med. Times, 1894:)

Case1. Mrs. D., aged forty-eight years, suffered four years with eczema plantaris, fissured, red and painful, which gave forth a viscid secretion, drying into scales half an inch in thickness. For the past two years the patient had not been able to wear shoes nor walk any distance, owing to the excessive soreness of the feet.

Patient consulted me March 1st, and the following treatment was given: Two-grain powders of the 2x trituration ofSkookum chuckevery two hours, and an ointment applied nightly consisting ofSkookum salt, one drachm to the ounce ofVaseline. In the morning the feet were washed withSkookum chucksoap. April 1st the patient walked to the dispensary in felt shoes. The fissures and greenish tinge of the crusts had nearly disappeared. The two-grain powders were then given every four hours and the former treatment continued. On May 1st, patient walked to the dispensary wearing leather shoes for the first time, the ointment was stopped, the fissures and crevices being hardly perceptible. The patient was advised to wash the feet night and morning with theSkookum chucksoap.

June 1st patient presented herself, stating that she had very little trouble with her feet, except some tenderness upon a misstep. Appearance good.

A powder of the 3x was given every night, together with the continued washing of the feet night and morning. July 1st the patient was discharged cured.

Case2. Mrs. B., aged twenty-eight, eczema of the nose of one year's standing. The usual ointments were given, but without result. March 15th the following treatment was given: Five-grain powder of the 2x triturationSkookum chuckfour times a day, together with theSkookumointment applied nightly. This case was entirely cured in six weeks.

Case3. Mrs. H., aged twenty-three, benign growth in left breast about the size of a walnut; first noticed about eight months previously. Upon strict inquiry, no history of cancer or tuberculosis was given. One-grain powders of the 1x were given, the first week every four hours. Two-grain powders of the 2x were given every four hours the second week. Five-grain powders of the 3x were given the third week and continued seven weeks, when the patient was discharged cured.

Case4. Mr. S. was afflicted with eczema of the scalp, which spread from back of the ears to the eyebrows, coveringthe entire scalp with a squamous or scabby eczema, accompanied with a constant itching and shedding of scales. On March 18th the following treatment was given: Head to be washed four times a day withSkookum chucksoap. A five-grain powder 2x trituration was given every hour during the first week, whenSulphur, third decimal, was given for three days, andSkookum chuck, second decimal, was continued for one week. One-grain powder of the 1x was given in water four times a day for two weeks; then the third decimal trituration was used until June 1st, when patient was discharged cured.

Case5. Mr. J., nasal catarrh, of years' standing. A greenish-yellow discharge having the odor of a slight ozœna. The patient had been so much relieved that he is at present writing very comfortable, and believes that he will be permanently cured.

Case6. Mrs. D., aged thirty-six, prolonged suppuration due to abscess of the axilla; nine months' standing. June 20th the following treatment was given: The abscess was washed four times a day with the solution ofSkookumsalts, five grains to one quart of water, and the 2x given internally every two hours until July 10th, when the abscess was healed. A two-grain powder was then continued, night and morning for one month, with no return of the abscess. To sum up, I have simply verified what Dr. Gentry and others have given us about the remedy. I have used it with gratifying success in all suppurating wounds. It evidently has a great sphere of action, and I hope some day to see a good proving.

(The following was contributed by Dr. B. F. Bailey, Lincoln, Neb.:)

We have many remedies brought to our notice in an empirical way, which soon lose their prominence, first because we have no provings, and second, having no provings, clinical study is not close enough. WhenSkookum chuckwas first written up, I began to use it and watch its effects, that it might be possible to find its proper niche in practice. Thefollowing two cases will, I think, give an idea of the cases in which it may always be depended upon:

Case No. 1.—A married woman of 40 years of age. History and present condition show a lithæmic diathesis. For years has never been free from eczematous troubles. At times suffers much from rheumatism, not infrequently, rheumatism disappears to be immediately followed by hordeoli upon eyelids. Has been treated long and faithfully by Allopaths, and now for some years by our own school. PrescribedSkookum3x—one powder every 4 hours. Improvement was soon evident. Persisted in this treatment for three months, and now for two years patient has been perfectly well.

Case No. 2.—Patient, married woman of about 26 years, comes to me with urine, sp. grav. 1.030, marked uric acid deposits, flushed face upon a yellowish background—so often seen in lithæmic cases. Much difficulty of digestion. Great dryness of skin, especially of scalp, with great trouble from falling out of hair—in short a thoroughly lithæmic case.Skookum chuck3x every four hours. Satisfactory improvement. Has feared head will become entirely bald. Now no loss of hair, and a loss of the heated, congested feeling of face and head. In fact, a satisfactory recovery now of some weeks standing. These cases briefly stated ought to be of interest, in that they show it to be probable that we will find the sphere of action ofSkookumto be in lithæmic cases, and for the treatment of these cases we have but a few clearly defined reliable remedies.

Nat. Ord., Solanaceæ.Common Name, Horse-nettle.Preparation.—The fresh, ripe berries are macerated in twice their weight of alcohol.

(In 1889 Dr. Napier called attention toSolanum Carolinenseas a remedyin the treatment of epilepsy, stating that it was used as a domestic remedy in the South for convulsions and "that he had successfully prescribed it in his practice." Dr. Charles S. Potts, of the University of Pennsylvania, contributes a paperTherap. Gazette, Dec., 1895, on the remedy, giving some new points, from which the following is condensed:)

At the clinic for nervous diseases of the University Hospital,Solanum Carolinensewas tried in a series of twenty-five cases, twenty-one of which were idiopathic, three organic, and one probably so. Of these, eight of the idiopathic cases either did not return after the first visit or else were not under observation sufficiently long to offer a fair test. In the remaining seventeen cases the following results were obtained—viz., five, two of them organic, were not improved. In the remaining twelve the results showed more or less benefit from the use of the drug. The five cases in which no improvement was noted were afterwards placed upon other treatment, either antipyrin and bromide of ammonium or the mixed bromides with amelioration of the symptoms in four; in the remaining one no drug seemed to be of service. The dose used at first was 10 drops. This dose was found to be useless, and after the first few cases they varied from 30 drops to teaspoonful three or four times daily. No unpleasant effects were observed, excepting a mild diarrhœa in some cases. This was also noticed by Dr. Herdman. He also noticed that in large doses the temperature was lowered and the pulse slowed.

In many epileptics diarrhœa is more of a benefit than otherwise.

The conclusions derived from the results obtained in seventeen cases are:—

1. That the drug has a decided influence for good upon the epileptic paroxysm.

2. That this influence is probably not so great or so sure as that obtained by the use of antipyrin and the bromide salts or even of the mixed bromides.

3. That in those cases in which it is of service it relieves the paroxysms, without causing any other unpleasant symptoms, such as are sometimes caused by the use of large doses of the bromides.

4. That the dose ordinarily recommended is too small, and that as much as a teaspoonful or more four times daily is often needed to secure results.

The following are some of the cases in which the remedy seemed to act beneficially:

H. T., male, aged thirteen years. Idiopathic epilepsy; had his first spell when five years of age; averages one paroxysm daily. TheSolanumwas first given in 10 drop dosest. i. d.without effect. When increased to 25 drops the spells were lighter in severity, but occurred about as often. The dose was finally increased to a teaspoonful four times daily. After being put upon this dose he was under observation six weeks, during which time he had six seizures much lighter in severity.

T. H., male, aged twenty-eight years. He had epileptic seizures for the past three years. They followed an injury to the head which rendered him unconscious, but produced no other visible injury. Since this, however, has had almost constant headache. First spell six month after the injury, and have been very frequent since, averaging three to four weekly; they are of ordinary type.Solanumin 40 drop doses three times daily was ordered. Spells at once decreased in frequency and severity. During the last six weeks he was under observation he only had three spells, very mild in type.

C. R., male, aged twenty-one years. Epileptic seizures for past three years following an injury. Had been trephined in right parietal region before coming under our observation. After trephining the symptom improved, but got worse again; when seen by us was having one daily. 40-drop doses ofSolanumcaused diarrhœa, and dose was reduced to 30 dropst. i. d., when diarrhœa ceased. Under this treatment he had no spell for two weeks. In the following month he had three spells; was then lost to observation.

A. N., male, aged thirty years. First spell one year ago;have since occurred every two weeks; good deal of headache. OrderedSolanum30 dropst. i. d.No spells for one month and headache ceased. He then stopped attendance.

J. D., female, aged eighteen years. First spell when thirteen years old; has one spell a month at the time of her menstrual period. About a week before this period was given 40 dropst. i. d., and escaped the usual spell. The following month, however, she had one.

I. K., female, aged twenty-five years. Nocturnal epilepsy for past three years; about one spell a month. While using 40 dropst. i. d.went three weeks longer than usual without a spell. The dose was then increased to 1 fluid drachmt. i. d.; she then ceased her visits.

F. S., female, aged twelve years. First spell five weeks ago; has been having them daily since.Solanum30 dropst. i. d., ordered; this dose was gradually increased to 1 fluid drachmt. i. d.During the three months that she was under observation her spells averaged in number about one a week.

H. B., male, aged eighteen years. First convulsion at age of ten years; then had none until three months ago; has had general convulsions about once daily since.Solanum, 40 dropst. i. d., ordered. He was only under observation nine days, having during that time four spells, much milder in character.

A. C., female, aged fifteen years. First convulsion one year ago; they have been increasing in frequency; now has one about every three days. During the three weeks she was taking 30 drops ofSolanumthree times a day she had one spell, that occurring during the third week.

H. K., male, aged eighteen years. First spell when fourteen years old. Every three or four days has several attacks in succession, an average of about one daily. While takingSolanumin 40-drop—afterwards increased to teaspoonful—doses he had twelve in thirty-eight days, an average of a little less than one in three days, going six without having any.

Nat. Ord.—Cupuliferæ.Common Name—European or English oak.Preparation.—The spirit is destilled from the tincture prepared by macerating the acorn kernals from the Quercus robur, in five times their weight of dilute alcohol.

(The following, from Rademacher, is quoted and translated by Dr. J. C. Burnett in hisDiseases of the Spleen).

I became acquainted with this remedy in a wonderful way. Many years ago (I do not remember the exact time) a working carpenter, who had previously lived at Crefeld, came to seek my advice for his bellyache, which was of long standing. According to his own statement, he had long been under Sanitary Councillor Schneider in Crefeld, who was not able to help him, and so sent him to Professor Günther in Duisberg. Ten journeys thither were likewise in vain.

I tried my usual remedies for seemingly such cases, but to no good; and as I noticed he was a good cabinetmaker, and dabbled a bit in upholstery, I told him it would be a good plan if he were to hire himself out to a country squire as joiner, thinking that the food of the servants' hall would suit his sick stomach better than the beans, black bread, and potatoes of the master carpenter. The good fellow followed my advice, and lived with a squire for many years; and I heard nothing more about him. Finally, he married the parlormaid, and settled here in this town as a joiner. One day when visiting his sick wife I remembered the old story of his bellyache, and wanted to know how it then was. "All right," said he, "I have not had it for years." It seems that a local surgeon, being one day at the squire's, told him to get some acorns, and scrape them with a knife, and then put the scrapings into brandy and leave them to draw for a day, and then to drink a small glass of this spirit several times a day.He did as he was advised, and was forthwith relieved, and very soon entirely freed from his old trouble.

From what I knew of the surgeon, I was very sure he could not give me any intelligent reason for his prescription. I should only have heard that acorn scrapings in brandy were good for the bellyache, or, at the most, I may have ascertained from what doctor, or peasant, or old wife he had got the tip.

But this would have done me but poor service; and as I had in the meantime become much more cunning, I questioned the joiner himself afresh as to the kind of his old pain, particularly as to the part of the belly where the pain waslast feltwhen he had had a bad attack. He was in no doubt about it, but at once pointed to the part of the belly nearest the left hypochondrium. So I very shrewdly suspected that the abdominal pains were really owing to a primary affection of the spleen, in which notion I was strengthened by remembering that the best pain-killing hepatic and enteric remedies had done him no good.

To get as soon as possible to the bottom of the thing, I set about preparing a tincture of acorns, and gave a teaspoonful five times a day in water to an old brandy drunkard, who was sick unto death, and of whom I knew that he had suffered from the spleen for a very long time, the spleen being from time to time painful. He had likewise ascites, and his legs were dropsical as far as the knees. It occurred to me that if the acorn tincture were to act curatively on the spleen the consensual kidney affection and its dependent dropsy would mend. I soon saw that I had reckoned rightly. The urinary secretion was at once augmented, but the patient complained that each time after taking the medicine he felt a constriction of the chest. I ascribed this to the astringent matter of the acorns, and thinking the really curative principle thereof would most likely be volatile I caused the tincture to be distilled. This acorn spirit caused no further constriction, and the urinary secretion was still more markedly increased, thetension in the præcordia became less and less, and this hopelessly incurable drunkard got quite well, much to the surprise of all who knew him, and, honestly speaking, much to my own surprise also.

Having thus put the spirit of acorns to such a severe test, and that in a case that I already knew so well, in which it was impossible to make a mistake as to the primary affection, I went further, and used it by degrees in all sorts of spleen affections, and that not only in painful ones, but in painless ones, in the evident ones, and in those of a more problematical kind. Gradually I became convinced that it is a remedy, the place of which no other can take. More particularly is it of great, nay, of inestimable value in spleen-dropsy. Later on, I found that the volatile curative principle of acorns may be still better extracted with water with the addition of alcohol. [Theaqua glandiumis thus prepared:—One pound of peeled and crushed acorns to the pound of distillate.] Perhaps water alone might extract the healing principle, but it would not keep thus, and so the cures would be uncertain, not to mention the fact that such-like decaying medicines are a great trouble to the chemists. The dose of the spirituous acorn-water (the only preparation I have used of late years) is half a tablespoonful in water four times a day. It has not much taste; some would even say it has none, but the doubter may make a solution of alcohol and water in the same proportions, and he will soon find that it has quite a taste of its own.

I must make mention of two of its peculiar effects. Certain people feel, as soon as they have taken it, a peculiar sensation in the head, lasting hardly a minute or two, which they say is like being drunk.

With a few people, particularly with those who have suffered from old spleen engorgements, diarrhœa sets in after using it for two or three weeks that makes them feel better. It seldom lasts more than a day, and is not weakening, but moderate. Hence it is not needful either to stop the acorn water or to lessen the dose.

I could add many instructive cases of spleen-dropsies and other spleen affections in which the volatile principle of acorns proved curative, but as I have so much more to say on other subjects I dare not be too discursive on this one point; besides, what I have already said will suffice for common-sense physicians. Still I cannot forbear noticing a few bagatelles. For instance, I have found that the acute spleen fevers that occur intercurrently with epidemic liver fevers are best cured withaqua glandium—at least that is my experience.

Furthermore, I am of opinion that the threesplenicsof which I have made mention are curative of three different morbid states of the spleen, and I know well from my own experience that acorns are indicated in the most common spleen affections; and, finally, I am not acquainted with any positive signs whereby those three separate morbid states of spleen can with certainty be differentiated from one another.

(In a later work,Gout and its Cure, by Burnett, the remedy is again brought up as follows:)

For some years past I have been acquainted with a remedy that antidotes the effect of alcohol very prettily, as I will show. I enter upon the subject in this place, because it deserves to be widely known, and also because in the treatment of gout, the alcoholism not infrequently bars the way. The remedy I refer to is the distilled spirit of acorns—Spiritus glandium quercus. My first account will be found in my "Diseases of the Spleen," whereSpiritus glandium quercusis dealt with as a spleen medicine. I speak of set purpose of the homœopathic antidote, because alcoholism is a disease, and as such must be met by specific medication.

Some of Rademacher's patients complained to him that while taking his acorn medicine they felt in their heads somewhat as if they were drunk; but as Rademacher did not believe in the law of similars—indeed, knew but little about it—their complaint had no ulterior significance to him, butstill it struck him as worthy of record. "A few, but not many, of those who take it immediately feel a peculiar sensation in the head, which they say is like they feel when they are drunk, the sensation lasting only a minute or two." Now, in the light of the homœopathic law, this symptom is eminently suggestive, but whether any one beside myself has ever noticed this symptom I am not aware. Rademacher had previously related the following brilliant cure. * * * He says that in order to get a clear idea of the action of the remedy he caused to be prepared a tincture of acorns, of which he gave a teaspoonful in water five times a day to an almost moribund brandy toper, who had long been suffering from a spleen affection that at times caused him a good deal of pain, and who, at the time in question, had severe ascites and whose lower extremities were dropsical up as far as the knees. Our author was of opinion that the affection was a primary disease of the spleen, and reasoned that if the tincture of acorns cured the spleen the kidneys would duly resume work and the ascitic and anasarcous state would disappear. He soon found he was right; patient at once began to pass more urine, but he complained that every time he took a dose of the medicine he got a constriction about the chest, and this Rademacher ascribed to the astringent quality of the acorns, and to avoid this he had the tincture of acorns distilled. The administration of this distilled preparation was not followed by any unpleasant symptom, and the quantity of urine passed increased still more, the tension on the præcordia slowly lessened and this inveterate drunkard got quite well, much to the amazement of everybody, Rademacher included, for he did not at all expect him to recover.

Now, it must be admitted that a remedy that can cure an old drunkard of general dropsy and restore him to health deserves closer acquaintance, and when we first regard it from the pathogenetic side as producing, of course, contingently, a cephalic state, resembling alcoholic intoxication, and then from the clinical side as having cured an abandoned drunkard, it looks very much as if we had a remedy homœopathic to alcoholism. I may add that Rademacher nowhere hints that theSpiritus glandium quercusstands in any relation to alcoholism; he regards it merely as a spleen medicine, specially indicated in dropsy due to a primary spleen affection. At first I regarded it merely in the same light, but when I really gripped the significance of the pathogenetic symptoms just quoted I thought we might find in our common acorns a notable homœopathic anti-alcoholic.

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