Rhus venenata

Volume I — Special Symptomatology

(Poison-Sumach.)

Botanical Description. — The Rhus Venenata or Poison Sumach is also known as Poison-wood, Poison-ash, and inappropriately as Poison-elder and Poison-dog-wood. This has been compounded with the Rhus vernix of Linnaeus, a species which grows in Japan. It is a shrub or small tree, from ten to twenty, and even thirty feet in height, with the trunk from one to five inches in diameter, branching at the top, and covered with a palegrayish bark, which is reddish on the leaf-stalks and ground-shoots.

" Rhus Venenata grows in low meadows and swamps, from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, flowering from May to August. The milky juice which flows when the plant is wounded, is similar in its action to that of the Rhus toxicodendron, and may, according to Bigelow, be made into a beau tiful shining and permanent varnish, by boiling, very analogous to that obtained in Japan from the Rhus vernix. It is more poisonous than the R. toxicodendron, and its volatile principle taints the air for some distance around with its pernicious influence, producing in many persons severe swellings of an erysipelatous nature; sometimes the body becomes greatly

swollen, and the persons unable to move. Some persons are hardly, or not at all affected, even by handling it. The affection caused by it, generally abates after several days, and may be treated in the same manner as named for the poisonous effects of the Rhus toxicodendron." — King. Officinal Preparations. — Tincture of the bark or leaves; dilutions Analogues. — Anacardium, Clematis, Comocludia, Groton tig, Ranunculus, Rhus tax., rad and vernix.

[From provings by Ocheme, Hoyt, and Burt.] Mental Sphere. Great sadness, no desire to live; everything seems gloomy. Absence of mind; cannot concentrate the mind on any particular subject. Mental labor increased the pain.

Head.

*Dull, heavy, frontal headache, aggravated by walking and stooping.

• Dizzy sensations, worse in evenings; intolerable heaviness

of the head.

• Great swelling of the head, face, and hands, with sharp, irritating fever,

• Erysipelas of the head and faee.

0 Vesicular erysipelas of the face and scalp. {Hale.)

Eyes.

• Eyes closed from the great swelling of the cellular tissue

around them.

• Profuse lachrymation; constant dull aching pains in the eye

balls.

Smarting and burning of the eyes. (Edema of the eyelids. Constant irritation of the eyes. ° Chronic inflammation of the eyes.

Ears.

Deafness that is quite troublesome.

• Vesicular inflammation of the ears, exuding a yellow, watery

serum.

Nose.

Great dryness of the nostrils — obstruction of the nostrils. ° Erysipelatous redness of the nose.

Face.

*Face very red, swollen, and covered with vesicles, itching and burning.

• Nose and right side of the face much swollen, especially

under right eye. *Face hot, itching and burning in different parts of the face, especially the left cheek.

Mouth.

• Scalded feeling of the tongue, salty, flat, rough taste. (Hale.)

• The centre and base coated white, the sides are very red. (Ib.)

• Vesicles on the under side of the tongue with a scalded

feeling.

• Mucous membrane of the mouth is very red. (Ib.)

° Red vesicular eruption on the gums of the upper incisors.

Throat.

Constant dry irritative feeling in the fauces.

Tonsils red and congested, with dull aching distress in them.

Throat very sore, red and swollen.

Stomach.

Distress and pain in the stomach and umbilicus.

Loss of appetite, wants to drink a great deal.

° Dyspepsia, with red tongue, and tendency to erysipelas.

Abdomen and Stool. Abdomen much bloated and exceeding painful to pressure. Constant rumbling and griping in the bowels. Constant dull pains in the umbilicus, with rumbling in the

bowels, followed by a soft diarrhoeic stool. Pains always worse before a stool, but an evacuation does not

stop the pain. Stool almost white, thin, papescent.

Pains in the umbilicus, with dry, lumpy, dark-colored stools. Diarrhoeic stools (stopped by tine, juniperus vir. Hoyt). Intolerable itching and burning of the anus; neuralgic pains

in the anus. Pains in the bowels worse in the morning.

Urinary Organs. (No notice taken of any urinary symptoms).

Generative Organs. Intense itching and burning of the scrotum and penis. Glans penis swollen and very sore. Cuticle of the penis and scrotum peels off in patches.

• Scrotum much swollen, deep red color, covered with vesicles.

Back.

• Stiff neck, or " crick in the neck," and rheumatic pains between the shoulders. Constant dull pains in the cervical dorsal and lumbar regions. Back is very stiff.

Itching at night on the back, but in the daytime on the face,

neck and hands. ° Lumbago, from a strain or a cold.

Upper Extremities.

Severe pains in the left elbow joint. Drawing pains in the fore-arms.

.Rheumatic pains in the shoulders and elbow joints, worse during motion.

Wrists and fingers are very stiff, constant aching distress. Constant desquamation of the cuticle of the palms of the hands and fingers.

Violent itching of the palms of the hands, with watery vesicles on them.

Groups of watery vesicles on the fingers. (Edema of the back of the hand. .

Lower Extremities. Knees and ankles ache constantly, with great weakness. Dull, drawing pains and distress in the knees. Ankles very red and swollen, with watery vesicles all over the

ankles, feet and toes, dischargeing large quantities of

water.

Large watery blisters on the sides of the feet. Intolerable itching of the ankles, feet and toes, worse from warmth.

Joints are very stiff in the morning, relieved by exercise. Pains in the ankles are worse in the afternoons and evenings. The itching and burning subdued by bathing in cold water.

Fever.

Chills up and down the back, when warm and in a warm

room, and in bed. Great restlessness, with a dry, burning hot skin at night. Skin becomes tense, hot, swollen, shining and very painful.

Increased temperature of the inflamed parts. 0 Erysipelatous inflammations.

° Typhoid fever (indications the same as Ehus tox., and rad.)

Skin.

Large fissures on the ends of the fingers, that bleed easily. Fine vesicular eruptions on the fore-arms, wrists, back of the

hands, between and on the fingers, scrotum and ankles. Large watery vesicles on the ankles. Upper lip and ears much swollen, covered with vesicles. Boils on the forehead, neck and arms, and right thigh. ° Vesicular and erysipelatous eruptions of all kinds. ° Phlegmonous erysipelas.

Generalities. The symptoms all aggravated before a rain. The joints all stiff in the mornings.

The itching and burning of the skin aggravated by warmth After exercise the stiffness passes away.

Sleep.

Great restlessness at night, with a dry, hot skin.

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

This species of the Rhus has been but little used.

The old school not knowing how to administer it stand aloof from it, and our own school impressed with the idea that it is so much like the Rhus tox. there is no use of making any change.

On this point Dr. Hoyt says :

I have no doubt that its use often affects those on whom the Rhus tox. has but little influence ; at least this is the case with myself, for I handle with impunity the Rhus tox., while, with the greatest degree of caution, I was violently affected with the Rhus ven. Again, in using the Rhus tox. in a case of angina, in which Rhus was almost the only remedy indicated, I had very little response from it, while from the Rhus ven. I obtained a most perfect victory over the complaint.

Another reason why it has not been used is, that we had no extensive provings of it until recently. Our school are naturally skeptical ; they must know the “ range ” of the weapons they use. The attention of the profession was first called to this drug by the published toxical provings of Dr. P. B. Hoyt, of Danbury, Connecticut. It was made by exposing himself to contact with the aroma of the plant. He seems to have been very susceptible to its influence. (The profession will be sorry he did not leave on record a description of himself, his temperament, etc.)

The next proving was made by Dr. Burt, of Lincoln, Illinois, This proving was made by taking the drug internally. He commenced with the third dilution, and finally took the mother tincture until an ounce was taken.

The next published provings were made by Dr. F. G. Oehme, of Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1858-59. These experiments were made both by contact and by taking the drug internally. He made two trials of it, a year apart. He has made use of it in several cases of disease with most happy results. (See his “ Clinical Observations ” upon erysipelas, urticaria, prurigo, erythema, morbilli, scabies, impetigo nodosum, and furunculi.)

He thus sums up his article:

Before closing, we must say that there are but few medicines which will cause so many, so well-marked, and so complete diseases as Rhus vernix (ven.) ; but in spite of this fact, it is very little used. Perhaps some consider its properties of the same nature, but inferior to Rhus tox. This opinion is not correct. I need scarcely say that I have by no means exhausted the list of cutaneous diseases in which this species of Rhus might be used with success, as, for instance, in eczema solare, for which it is frequently indicated.

The first knowledge we obtained of the medicinal virtues of this plant was by hearing or seeing cases of poisoning, or being called to treat the same.

Upon some individuals or temperaments its influence is powerful. Dr. Bigelow considers that the “ following circumstances have considerable influence in varying in the same person the aptitude to the reception of the poison.”

First. — A warm or cold climate ; in Southern more active than in FTorthern.

Second. — Different seasons of the year. The Rhus vernix (he means the ven.) never affects me in the smallest degree, except on very hot days in summer.

Third. — Infancy or manhood ; children are more readily poisoned than adults.

Fourth. — Exposure before or after a meal. Dr. Barton, in his edition of Cullen’s “ Materia Medica,” states that the plants more readily poison immediately after than before a meal.

Fifth. — The presence of moisture ; country people generally believe that the effluvia of plants, when combined with moisture, are most apt to produce the eruption.

Sixth. — A state of increased perspiration at the time of exposure has a most powerful influence in favoring the eruption ; “ if my skin was perfectly dry while collecting the juice of the Rhus vernix (ven.), it had not the least effect upon me.” The most formidable cases in persons subject to this poison usually commence within twenty-four hours after exposure, sometimes longer, more frequently shorter. The symptoms usually begin by itching and tumefaction in the hands and face, the swelling gradually spreading over different parts of the body.

I have used it very little in practice, not because I do not consider it as valuable, or even more valuable, than Rhus tox. and radicans, but from force of habit.

In order to give you a better idea of the rise and progress of the Rhus venenata disease, I will here quote Dr. P. Hoyt’s toxic proving, by which you will see that it is as perfectly homoeopathic to a large number of skin diseases as the Rhus tox :

March 18th, 1857. — Wishing to prepare a tincture of this plant, 1 went into a swamp and procured some sprouts of the Rhus tree. I put upon my hands a pair of buckskin gloves, and carefully kept on the windward side of the plant. Notwithstanding this precaution, in one hour and a half I began to feel a most intense itching and burning of the scrotum and penis ; the burning sensation was rather in the preponderance. The glans penis was very painful ; slight friction relieved the itching for a moment, but not the burning.

19th. — The symptoms continue in the same severity ; at 11 o’clock I scraped off the bark, using great caution to escape its poisonous effects, if possible ; at 3 P.M., itching and burning commenced on the back of my right hand, between the thumb and index finger, also between the index and middle fingers.

20th. — Have been very restless all night. Awoke this morning with itching and burning in various parts of the body, particularly on the palmar sides of both wrists, attended with slight swelling ; slight itching and burning of the face, with a sensation as if it was much swollen; it was red but not shining. Both hands were considerably swollen and very clumsy to use. Feeling of uneasiness in consequence of the continual itching and the burning, which were very severe, almost insupportable, p.m. — The itching and burning were somewhat relieved by exercise. The itching and burning appear on the face, particularly about the eye (right). All the symptoms were aggravated by rest. Hands, face, and wrists became covered with little pimples of the same color as the skin (red) ; when broken, or the points scratched off, they exude a clear, watery fluid. Fingers very stiff and much swollen, feel very much as though they had been scalded ; excessive burning of the face ; right eyelid swollen and stiff. The scrotum is the seat of paroxysms of severe itching and burning. Stool at 2 a.m., loose, which is unusual ; had a stool early in the morning, rather loose, with pain in the bowels before the discharge. Abdomen sore to the touch and pressure.

21st. — Symptoms all increased ; face much swollen, red, and covered with multitudes of little papillae. Dizzy sensation at times, much worse in evening ; wrists

much swollen, the swelling extending half way to the elbow ; arms very red, and covered with innumerable vesicles, which exude a clear, watery fluid. My hands were in the same condition ; the pain was excessive.

22d. — Diarrhoea at 3 o’clock, a copious stool of a lighter color than that of the night previous. Another stool at 7 A.M., not as copious, and again at 9 o’clock. Pain in the hypogastrium before every stool ; have but little warning before each stool. Hands and wrists are much worse this morning ; face also more swollen. The itching and burning continues with unabated vigor-, and are aggravated by the warmth of the bed, and in a warm room. Mental labor increases the pains ; even the recording of these symptoms aggravates them. Mouth feels rough, as though sand was under the mucous membrane, which is very red. I experienced no feelings of despondency at first. For several days previous to my poisoning, a sense of dulness and weight in head. (I notice in the proving of Rhus vernix, given in Jahr, “intolerable heaviness in the head,” as a prominent symptom, which indeed was the case with me after the first week of the proving.) Evening. — My wrists and hands are still more swollen, and excessively painful. Face a little less swollen and rather less painful. Incrustations appeared to-day on the inside of my thighs, extending down one-half the length of the femur. A feeling as if from fleabites, on different parts of the body. Slight dimness of sight ; Lachrymation, and a livid circle under the eyes ; considerable deafness, which is quite troublesome. Chills run up the back, even when warm, and in a warm room, or in bed. The rough feeling in the mouth increases, with redness; same appearance of the fauces ; difficult deglutition ; throat feels sore and swollen ; the eruption also appeared on the gums of the upper incisors. About 9 o’clock, smarting and burning of the eyes, as though washed in Alcohol, attended by profuse lachrymation. Colic quite severe in the umbilical region. Very restless all night.

23d.— Dull feeling in the head ; headache in the forepart of the head ; sore head, so severe that I took Belladonna with some relief. The severity of all the other symptoms had somewhat abated, except the diarrhoea, which is more severe, and the stools of a dark-brown color. (This was the only time they were of this color, although attended with the same pain in the hypogastrium which accompanied the lighter-colored stools.) A feeling of general malaise. The glans penis is much swollen, the prepuce covered with a vesicular eruption, which extends to the inside of the thighs. During the first five days the pulse was increased from ten to twenty strokes. The poison seemed to have a considerable effect in relieving me from dyspeptic symptoms, and also benefited a chronic inflammation of my eyes.