Guaco

Volume II — Main text

GUACO .

Mikania Guaco, Humb. and Bomp. Nat. Ord., Composite. I. Provings.-1. In 1853 the Mass. Hom. Med. Society selected G. for provings by its members. A quantity ofthe freshly-prepared tinct. (of the leaves) was distributed among them, with printed rules for experimenting. Several negative provings were reported to the Society; and a few well-marked symptoms were obtained, discussed at the meetings, but-so far as I know-never published. A few brief notes, taken at the time, are all I have on the subject, save such facts as still remain in my memory. Dr. W. F. Jackson, after taking at various times 120 dr.,had unusual flow ofurine, which was cloudy,, with excess of phosphates, sp. gr. 1024. He had pain over region of bladder, and feeling ofweight and weariness through hips and lumbar region. Dr. T. B. Wales had some pain and rumbling of bowels, followed by thin watery discharges. The writer took 2 dr. every 4 h. from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and another dose before retiring, for 3 d. On m. of 4th d. he was awakened at 4 a.m. with pain and sudden call to stool ofdark brown fæcal matter, thin and watery ; slept till 6 a.m., when he had another stool, sudden, forcible, profuse, with appearance as of rice water ; some pain in sacrum and back afterwards, with feeling of weakness and fatigue. Tongue was not coated, nor appetite impaired ; no marked change in urine. Med. Hom. TheSoc., vii symptoms disappeared gradually in 2-3 d. (TALBOT, Publ. of Mass. , 259.) 2. Dr. ELB proved G. in doses of 5-20 dr. of tinct. This proving has never been published, but Dr. Elb gives the following account of the symptoms produced, so far as they relate to the spinal cord:-" Guaco produces burning in nape of neck, which extends to shoulders ; tearing stiffness, drawing tearing, extending to axilla ; drawing tearing in and between scapulæ, extending into forearm; frequent fine stitches, tearing and violent drawing pain along spine, worse on bending; aching and pressure forwards in lumbo-sacral region. In connection with these spinal pains,severe aching in occiput,which sometimes extends over upper half ofback. In upper extremities, aching drawing and simple drawing pains ins in deltoid, with aparalysed sensation; tearing ng and luxative pains in shoulders (both these sensations extending into forearm) ; burning in shoulder-joint ; tearing in elbows and fingers. In lower extremities, soreness and pain as if beaten about hip-joint; drawing in thigh ; drawing and swollen feeling in calves; very considerable heaviness in legs and drawing in them ; tearing in ankle-joints ; burning and tearing in soles. All pains inback and extremities Dr. Elb adds :-" The are aggravated by motion, following very constantand continue ashould phenomena long time." not be disregarded, viz. difficult deglutition, there being no inflammatory affection ; constriction of larynx and trachea; deafness ; heaviness of and difficulty ofmoving tongue." He

further speaks of having " experienced during the proving no depression of spirits, no decrease of mental activity, and in general no debility, but rather an excited condition;" of suffering often from headache and heat of head; and of there being clear indications ofa congestion ofthe hæmorrhoidal vessels. (A. h. Z., lxi.)

Volume IV — Appendix

GUACO. (See vol. ii, p. 6a8.)

II. I. A lady took a decoction of G. for sterility nearly 4 mos., without the desired effect } and at the end of said time was compelled to drop the medicine entirely on account of a copious, corrosive, putrid leucorrhoea which bad developed, and which was debilitating her greatly. She told me that sometimes she felt as if fire was running out of the part, and that the inside of her thighs was tanned, and her linen stained yellow. She complained also or a terrible itching and smarting, worse at n. Before taking G. she had never suffered from these symptoms. After leaving it off, and taking kreasote and sulphur, the leucorrhoea soon subsided. (Fornias, Trans, of Penns. Horn. Med. Soc., 1885, p. so.)