Iberis amara, Linn.

Natural order , Cruciferæ.

Common name , Bitter candytuft.

Preparation , Tincture of the seeds.

Authorities. (Dr. Hale's provings, U. S. Med. and Surg. Jour., 7, p. 297).

1 , Dr. R. C. Sabin took repeated doses of 1st dec. dil. (1 to 40 drops), (same prover took, two days later, increasing doses of the 6th dil. for five days, in all 2 drachms, without result); 1 a , same took tincture, 1 to 10-drop doses; 2 , M. M. Dodge (with rheumatic pains in left shoulder) took the 1/10th, 4 to 20-drop doses; 2 a , same took tincture, 5 to 17-drop doses; 3 , Miss Magee took 6th dil. five days without result, then 4th dil. for three days, after waiting five days took 3d dil., after waiting five days took 2d dil. [In view of the fact that the following provings are still sub judice , we append the following notes: I. "It has come to my knowledge that the greater part of the proving of Iberia is spurious and imaginary, and hence before being incorporated in Allen's Materia Medica a new proving should be made. As I understand the case, the provers were informed that the remedy had a marked action on the heart, hence many imaginary heart symptoms. The spurious symptoms, I am told, were recorded by one of the provers who knew them to be spurious at the time"... T. S. Hoyne, U. S. Med Invest., N. S., vol 1, page 379.

II. "The provings of Iberis were made under my supervision, and I have every reason to believe the majority of them genuine... The provers were not told 'that it had a marked action on the heart.'"... E. M. Hale, U. S. Med. Invest., N. S., 2, p. 96.

III. "As one of the provers of Iberis allow me to deny the imputation of having joined in a conspiracy to perpetrate a gross fraud, etc. I pronounce the three assertions (of Dr. Hoyne), to be scandalous and malicious falsehoods... From my knowledge of Dr. Dodge, I do not hesitate to announce my entire confidence in the reliability of this proving."... R. C. Sabin, U. S. Med. Invest., N. S., 2 p. 201.

IV. The editor publishes these statements in justice to all concerned; he wishes to add that Prof. Samuel Jones, of the University of Michigan, informed him that he had failed to make the slightest impression on the heart by repeated and large doses, nor did the sphygmograph show any disturbance of the pulse. The following not is, however, adduced as collateral evidence: Amer. Jour. Med. Sci., No., 28, N. S. vol. 14, 1847, p. 453 (Prov. Med. and Surg. Jour., July 28th, 1847.) Dr. Sylvester communicated to the southeastern branch of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, at their last annual meeting, a paper on the virtues and properties of the Iberis amara, or Candytuft, a remedy brought to light by the late Dr. Williams during a course of therapeutical researches at St. Thomas's Hospital. Many striking and remarkable cases were related in proof of its salutary power over asthma, bronchitis, dropsy, and more especially cardiac hypertrophy . It seems that it does not diminish the velocity of the heart's action like Digitalis, but that it possesses the property of controlling the violence and sharp action of the organ, and softening the pulse; hence its great value in hypertrophy with dropsy. Dr. Sylvester had prescribed it for years in numerous instances of the above mentioned diseases, always with some benefit, and sometimes with almost magical efficiency. No ill effects followed its use; it occasionally induced giddiness, sickness, or diarrhœa, but these subsided on discontinuing the medicine. Its curative power was not dependent on such occasional consequences of its administration, inasmuch at its control over the abnormal action of the heart was equally evident, whether these effects were absent or present; its influence being like Digitalis, Belladonna, and some other natural agents, of a purely specific character. The dose prescribed was from one to three grains, generally mixed with cream of tartar, which concealed the nauseousness of the taste, and secured a perfect trituration and division of the tough seed.]

MIND

Emotional.
Frightened mood; fears she has taken too much of the drug; in the evening (third day), 3.
Feels frightened; had feelings of dread, as if she had taken a dangerous dose (second day), 3.
Intellectual.
Mind very clear and active (half an hour after first dose, second day), 2.
Mind very clear; things long forgotten present themselves with peculiar distinctness (after half an hour, third day), 2a.
Mind very clear; can remember everything I wish to (20 minutes after second dose, second day), 2.
Inability to fix my mind upon any subject for any length of time (two hours and a half after second dose, second day), 2.
Mental faculties dull (after eight hours and a half, third day), 2a.
Dulness of intellect; cannot remember or comprehend the lectures which I am hearing, at 10 A.M. (fourth day), 1a.
Great dulness and malaise for six hours (after first dose, second day), 1a. [10.]
Mind very dull; do not remember what is said in lecture-room for a minute without an effort to bring the mind to a focus upon it (after two hours and a half, first day), 2a.
Memory very clear and active (third day), 2.

HEAD

Vertigo.
Vertigo, at 3 P.M. (first day), 3.
Slight exertion caused vertigo (after eight hours and a half, third day), 2a.
Vertigo, with headache, at 5 P.M. (first day), 3.
Dizziness in back part of head, or feeling as if occiput were turning round (after four hours, fourth day), 2.
Dizziness, so that she could not sit still; had to return to bed, in the morning (second day), 2.
Dizziness on rising (fifth day), 1a.
Slight dizziness in the upright position, much increased on stooping (after half an hour, first day), 2a.
General Head.
Feeling of lightness and giddiness in the head (after third dose, second day), 1. [20.]
Heaviness of the head, with roaring in the ears and slight nausea (after second dose, second day), 1a.
Heat and fulness of head and neck (twenty minutes after second dose, second day), 2.
Dull headache, at 3 P.M. (first day), 3.
Sharp pain in the head, with vertigo (second day), 3.
Forehead.
Slight frontal headache (second and third days), 2 ; on rising (third day); severe (fourth morning), 1.
Severe frontal headache at 11 A.M. (third day), 1a.
Severe frontal headache, nausea, and loss of appetite (fourth morning), 1.
Dull frontal headache (after second dose, second day), 1a ; in the evening (third day), 3.
Oppressive frontal headache, with frequent nausea and great loss of appetite (fourth day), 1a.
Temples.
Throbbing pain through temples, in afternoon (second day), 3.
Parietals. [30.]
Pain in right side of head (after half an hour, third day), 2a.

EYE

Eyes red (after one hour, first day), 1a.
Feeling in the eyes as of being forced outwards (after forty minutes, fourth day), 2.
Flashes before the eyes (after second dose, second day), 1a.

EAR

Roaring in the ears, with heaviness of the head and slight nausea (after second dose, second day), 1a.
Dulness of hearing and comprehension, at 11 A.M. (third day), 1a.

FACE

Looks sick; feels weak and bad every way (third day), 3.
Face flushed (after one hour, first day), (second day), 1a.
Flushed feeling of face (twenty minutes after second dose, second day), 2.

THROAT

Constant hawking up of thin, viscid, stringy mucus, which was very troublesome, and continued until supper, after eating which at 7 P.M., I felt no more of it (second day), 2. [40.]
Throat dry, as though full of dust (after second dose, second day), 2.
Dry throat, with dust sensation; hawking of stringy mucus; very troublesome (after four hours and a half, third day), 2a.
Dryness of throat and fauces; hawking up of stringy, viscid, white mucus, which is very persistent (after nearly three hours, third day), 2.
Dry condition of throat and larynx, with hawking up of thin, stringy mucus, which continued every little while from 10 to 1 o'clock, until after I had eaten lunch (second day), 2.
Slight constriction in the throat (after one hour, first day), 1a.
Constrictive choking sensation in the throat (one hour after third dose, third day), 1.
Choking sensation in throat, with fulness and heat (after first dose, third day), 2.
Choking sensation in throat and great weakness, at 10 A.M. (third day), 1a.
Choking of the throat (fifth day), 2.
Tickling sensation in throat, with expectoration of stringy mucus (after one hour and a half, fifth day), 2. [50.]
Throat feels full, as though the tonsils were enlarged (after half an hour, first day), 2a.
Dry tickling sensation in fauces, with hawking up of stringy mucus at intervals of every few minutes, which was extremely troublesome, for three hour; this symptom seems always to be relieved by eating (after one hours and a half, first day), 2a.

STOMACH

Appetite.
Appetite somewhat diminished (nearly six hours after first dose, second day), 2.
Appetite much diminished (after four hours and a half, fourth day, 2 ; at noon (third day), 2a.
Loss of appetite (fourth day), 3.
Loss appetite, with the nausea and headache (fourth morning), 1.
Great loss of appetite, with the nausea and headache (fourteenth day), 1a.
Nausea.
Nausea on rising (fifth day), 1a.
Frequent nausea and great loss of appetite, with the oppressive frontal headache (fourteenth day), 1a.
Slight nausea (after eight hours and a half, third day), 2a. [60.]
Slight feeling of nausea and dizziness, on going to bed (third day), 1.
Slight nausea, with heaviness of the head and roaring in the ears (after second dose, second day), 1a.
Slight nausea, with cold, chilly feelings over the body (after second dose, third day), 1.
Stomach.
Sensation in the stomach and bowels as though food did not digest well; sour eructations, which continued for considerable time after eating; quite unusual, as my stomach never troubles me in that way (after five hours and a half), 2.

ABDOMEN

Hypochondria.
Feeling of fulness and oppression over the right hypochondrium (after two hours an a half, fourth day), 2.
Tenderness over right hypochondrium (after five hours and a half, second day), 2a.
Pain over region of liver (after four hours and a half, fourth day), 2.
General Abdomen.
Fulness and distension of the bowels; tenderness over right hypochondriac region (after eight hours and a half, third day), 2a.
Bowels feel tender and oppressed (after four hours and a half), 2.

STOOL

Passed, within ten minutes of each other, three very light clay-colored stools (after four hours an a half, fourth day); thin, whitish clay-colored stool (after three hours and a half, fifth day), 2. [70.]
Passage of thin clay-colored stools twice in rapid succession (after twelve hours and a half, third day), 2a.
Passage of large yellow clay-colored stools (after five hours and three-quarters, second day), 2a.
Passed large whitish clay-colored stools (after eight hours and a half, fifth day): these irregularities I think must be ascribed to the action of the medicine, as I am usually very regular, having but one passage daily, 2.
Soft mushy stool, unusual with me in winter (it was in January); the same was the case yesterday morning, and may be the effects of the drug (fourth day), 1.

URINARY ORGANS

Frequent but scanty urination, at 3 P.M. (first day), 3.
Urine excessive in quantity (second day), 3.

RESPIRATORY ORGANS

Larynx.
Tightness and constrictive feeling in larynx, at 11 A.M. (third day), 1a.
Choking sensation just above the thyroid cartilage (after half an hour, first day), 2a.
Respiration.
Respiration more frequent and laboring, at 11 A.M. (third day), 1a.
Every now and then take a long breath; feel sad, downhearted, and much oppressed; a peculiar inability to fix my mind upon anything (first day), 2. [80.]
Considerable dyspnœa, with stabbing pains through the heart, at 10 A.M. (third day), 1a.
Passed a miserable night; considerable dyspnœa, with pain in the heart, a constant dull aching pain, much worse from lying on left side (fourth night); continuing until about 11 A.M. (fifth day), 1a.

CHEST

Fulness of thorax (twenty minutes after second dose, second day), 2.
Sensation of weight in the chest, and constrictive feeling under the sternum; constant desire to draw a long breath, without relief from so doing, at 10 A.M. (fourth day), 1a.
Continual feeling of weight and anxiety in the chest, at 11 A.M. (third day), 1a.
Walking causes indescribable sensations under sternum at the articulation of the third rib (after five hours and a half, third day), 2a.
Slight pain under the sternum at articulation of third rib, which lasted about three minutes, during the choking sensation in throat and frontal headache (third day), 2.
Fulness and constriction under the sternum, with pains of a lancinating character through the chest (after second dose, second day), 1a.
Feeling of weight and pressure under the sternum (first hour, first day), 1a.

HEART AND PULSE

Præcordium.
Slight pain over region of heart (after forty minutes, fourth day), 2. [90.]
Much pain over the base of the heart (after half an hour, third day), 2a.
A constant dull pain in the heart, worse when lying down (fourth day), 1a.
Sharp pains through cardiac region (after first dose, second day), 1a.
Sharp sticking pain in the region of the heart (first day), 1a.
On turning on left side, a sharp sticking pain is felt, as if a needle were crosswise in the ventricles and pricked at each contraction (third night), 1a.
Heart's Action.
Increase of heart's action to 88 per minute (normal 72); a wavy, tremulous sensation over the radial artery, slightly intermittent at every third beat (after fifteen minutes); 62 (after nearly fourteen hours, first day), 92, wavy, tremulous, easily compressed, intermits at every third beat (half an hour after first dose); 63 (two hours and a half after first dose); 98, wavy, tremulous, slightly intermits every fourth of fifth beat (twenty minutes after second dose); 70 (one hour and fifty minutes after second dose, second day); 100, with peculiar double beats, which seemed to run into each other, full, and easily compressed (after half an hour); 67, except when making ever so slight exertion; this brings on slight palpitation, as upon putting down the window in lecture-room; upon taking my seat, palpitation was quite perceptible for a minute or so; I never had palpitation before that I remember (after fourteen hours and a half, third day), 2.
Heart's action much increased, the force of apex beat being well marked (first dose); apparently depressed for two or three minutes after taking the drug; thumping away at a great rate (ten minutes after second dose, second day); on arriving at the college and mounting the stairs, was seized with a violent palpitation ot the heart, obliging me to lie down on the seat (third day), 1a.
Palpitation for five minutes, on running across the street rapidly (after about eleven hours and a half, fifth day), 2.
Slight palpitation of the heart, with sensation of weight and pressure in region of the heart, with occasional sharp stinging pains in that region, passing from before backwards, and lasting but a short time (after one dose, second day); slight recurrence of the pains in the cardiac region; effects noticed for about an hour (after second dose); palpitation of the heart, with marked increase in the force of the apex beat, almost immediately; still noticed after an hour (after third dose, second day); slightly inconvenienced by the increased action of heart and pains darting through the organ, during the night; worse on lying on the left side (second night); apex beat very strong; the hand placed over the heart outside the clothing being visibly stirred by it; passing of rapidly (after first dose); passing off in an hour (after second dose); same remarkable increase in violence of heart's action, coming on within five minutes after taking the drug, increasing in intensity for about fifteen minutes, and gradually passing off in the course of an hour; the pain is of a dull dragging character, not relieved by any position or by pressure with the hand (after third dose), (third day), .

NECK

Sensation of fulness in neck and head (after fifteen minutes, second day), 2.

SUPERIOR EXTREMITIES

Slight appearance of rheumatic pains in right shoulder (after four hours and a half, fourth day), 2. [110.]
Pain dull and heavy in left arm, first commencing in tips of fingers, with tingling and numbness (after half an hour, third day), 2a.
Dull aching in left arm, as though I had slept upon it through the night (after one hour and a half, second day), 2a.
Dull heavy aching in left arm (after half an hour, second day), 2a.
Tingling and numbness, commencing in fingers of left hand, and gradually extending up the arm (soon, second day), 2a.

INFERIOR EXTREMITIES

Exercise brings on a kind of trembling of the muscles of lower extremities (after twenty-five minutes, fourth day), 2.

GENERAL SYMPTOMS

Trembles, in the evening (third day), 3.
Languid and depressed since taking last dose (six hours after second dose, third day), 1.
Great lassitude, at 10 A.M. (fourth day), 1a.
Weary (fourth day), 3.
Weak, nervous, and exhausted on rising, with nausea and dizziness (fifth day), 1a. [120.]
Loss of strength; wish to lie down (after four hours, fourth day), 2.
Feeling of being tired, wish to lie down (after nearly fourteen hours, first day), 2.
Got up feeling weak, in the morning (fourth day), 3.
Feeling of weakness and debility at noon (after five hours and a half, third day), 2a.
Feel weak, nervous, and very irritable; great desire for some kind of stimulant (after two hours and a half, first day), 2a.
Feel weak, as though I had been working hard (nearly two hours after second dose, second day), 2.
Feeling of inability to move even a finger (two hours and a half after first dose, second day), 2.
General feeling of sickness; cannot remain in lecture-room, heat of room seems to make me sick, feel better in the open air (after one hour and twenty minutes, fifth day), 2.
Feel as though I had been sick a long time and were just recovering (after twelve hours and a half, third day), 2a.
Nervous and irritable on rising (second day), 1. [130.]
Very nervous (after about thirteen hours and a half, fifth day), 2.
Feeling of nervous excitement in whole system (half an hour after first dose, second day), 2.
Had to lie down on account of a peculiar trembling sensation throughout the whole body, especially lower extremities (after half an hour, third day), 2a.
Feeling of lameness and soreness throughout the whole body, as though I had taken cold (after four hours and a half, third day), 2.
A severe attack, like influenza, namely, headache, watery eyes, stuffed nose, cough, with soreness in the chest, fever with chilliness, puffed face, etc., 3.

SLEEP AND DREAMS

Sleepiness.
Sleepiness, at 3 P.M. (first day), 3.
Heavy sleep in the morning (fourth day), 3.
Sleeplessness.
Sleeplessness (second day), 3.
Restless night, with horrid dreams (third night), 1.
Passed a very restless night, with frightful dreams (third night), 1a. [140.]
Very restless all night; tossing about much disturbed by the dull aching pain about the heart (second night), 1a.
Dreams.
Sleep during the night disturbed by all sorts of dreams (quite uncommon with me, as I seldom dream), (first night), 2.
Very much disturbed by ludicrous dreams; restless, and continually turning in bed (second night), 2a.
Restless night, much disturbed by dreams of home (first night), 1.

FEVER

Chilliness.
Skin cool and moist (after forty minutes, fourth day), 2.
Cold, chilly feeling over the body, with slight nausea (after second dose, third day), 1.
Both hands and feet feel cool (twenty minutes after second dose, second day), 2.
Hands, feet, and face cold and sweaty, with sleeplessness (second day), 3.
Heat.
Fever, with chilliness, at 3 P.M. (first day), 3.
Heat and fulness in neck and head (half an hour after first dose, second day), 2.
Sweat. [150.]
Cold sweat on the face and hands, in the evening (third day), 3.

CONDITIONS

Aggravation.
( Night ), the symptoms.
( Lying down ), Pain in heart.
( Stooping ), Dizziness.
Amelioration.
( Afternoon ), The symptoms.
( Open air ), Feeling of sickness.
( Eating ), Hawking up mucus.

Iberis