Tanacetum vulgare

Volume IV — Main text

TANACETUM.

ToHocttum imlgart, L, Tansy. Nat, Ord., CompMta,

I. Prffvings. — I. Dr. BuRT took t dose per d. of the pure oil, — l»t •^•f4dr. ; 2nd d., 6 dr. ; 4th d., 10 dr. ; 6th d., 25 dr. Was in perfect Wth at commencement of proving. The following symptoms were olwerved : Confusion of thought ; dulness of all senses ; fatigue of mind ^er least mental exertion. Dull frontal headache, with cutting pain "1 temples ; severe frontal headache, with great fulness of head ; con- J^ant dull heavy headache for a number of days. Agglutination of lids inm. ; dull aching pains in eyeballs. Stitches in internal ear; roaring in ears ; sensation as if something closed ears very suddenly. Dryness of nostrils ; profuse secretion of mucus in nose, with frequent coryza. Mouth feels rough, tongue white-coated ; flat insipid taste. Roughness °f throat i constant tickling sensation in throat as though he would 'ough, but he was unable to cough throughout proving. Constant *fu«ations (tasting of oil) for 24 h. ; eructations of sour air at n. ^wing, cutting pains in epigastrium many times ; dull pains in r. 7P0chondrium, sharp pains in 1. ; sharp sticking pains in whole umbi-

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region ; hard dull aching pains in whole of bowels (constantly) ;

"'SUtDt colicky pains at umbilical region throughout d., and especially *f 4 a.m., for 2 weeks ; constant hard drawing pains in 1. groin. ^'rhoea from larger doses, with secondary constipation ; soft papescent 'tools, preceded by sharp cutting pains in umbilicus. At first suppres- "on, followed by profuse flow of urine ; later, constant inclination to "fate, with dull heavy pain in small of back; urine high-coloured pfimarilv, very pale secondarily ; urine very foetid. L. wrist very lame m. ; constant dull aching in lumbar region for 8 d. ; severe

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attack of lumbago all one e. ; great weakness of legs, with general prostration. {Med. Invet.^'y^b'^.)

1. Mrs. B — , rfarlt complexion and fleshy. Jan, j jth, took one powder of 30th <£il. tn m. ; maiv then menstruating. Menstruation ^itopped entirely at noon and did not return ; sleepy all p.m.; tould not apply herwlf to anything; no appetite for supper but intensely thir!ity ; urine very scanty and cloudy. 2 a.ni., woke with hicewifh, which lasted an h. Slept uneasily until m,, and woke with a sharp, darting, stitchin g pain low down in uterine region, which lasted until dressed. 14th. — Another dose of joth J slight rheumatic shooting pains in different parts of body. Exfremi-I v sensitive to noise; very nervous and low spirited; urine scanty; thirst and "\j.c\ness " continued ; confused headache. lyth. — Another powder of joth ; slept well ; appetite better; urine still scanty and thick, pinkish, and cloudy ; great thirst, and

"so lazy;" almost irritable; the children's noise is almost unbearable. i6fh.

Urinary symptoms increased ; thirst continues, also nervousness and " laziness." 17th. — All symptoms wore off. igth. — A reaction came on; felt as gay and ambitious as she had been depressed and lazy before. loth. — Commenced taking 11th dil. Return of the sharp pains in uterine region and the thirst. The dcptt*. cion oi spirits and laziness returned in a two.fold measure ; could neither read, sew, study, think of her patients, nor even play backganimon. Urine took the other extreme and passed in large quantities, yet normal in all other respects. Head fill dull, heavy and confused ; shooting rheumatic pains ; sore mouth, not ouire aphthoin. Jleft sub.maxillary glands swollen and sore. The laziness all througn has not bm a stupor but an uneasy desire to do something, yet nothing was the right thing. (Dr. A. K. Hjl.ts' provings, Horn. Times (N. Y.), viii, +9.)

]. Miss A — .light hair and blue eyes; took one powder of 30th dil. fournicoes* Hive d. Pain and stiffness in r, stcrno-masioid when turning head to 1, ; lameness and soreness in base of brain ; soreness and lamenes.-i in r. leg, from inguinal region to knee; burning sensation in face; intense feverish heat throughout body j dull, darting pain through both shoulders and arms, and in back of neck, rheumatic in character. (Ibid.)

1. Miss A — , blue eyes and brown hair. Jan. 14th, ii p.m. One powder of 30th dil. After about 1 was very rcitles.s ; could not sleep although sleepy ; felt dull pain in limbs and back, and general uneasiness which compelled freoucnt change of position ; felt more comfortable on I. side ; about 5 slept, but dreamea of ridiculouiiy unnatural things. Mouth and tongue vers- dry upon awaking. About 7 woke, with dull pain in hypogastric and iliac region, a.s if menses were about to appear; this pain continued all through m. with slight nausea ; pain around waist and from thence down to knees. Dull pain in temples, particularly r., also in forehead ; rrst of head seemed unusually clear. Some soreness of upper teeth of r. side upon closing mouth. A dull pain also through r, lung from front to shoulder-blade. Lips quite drv, unless frequently moistened with tongue. None of these symptoms as perceptible while walking out of doors as in house. a6th. — One powder of 30th. Sleep quite restless; not much appetite in m., but quite thirsty. Same pain in uterine region. Looseness of bowels, with no pain. About 4 p.m. much headache and great nau«ra, especially in a warm room, which continued until eating, by which the nausea was partially relieved, but not the headache. Symptoms all more marked in a warm room than in open air. More severe pain in uterine region, back, and limbs ; and nausea increased. Feeling of numbness in r. lung, shoulder, and arm. 17th.— Great nausea soon after rising, continuing severe all d., with temporaiy relief from eating. Lips dry and parched ; much thirst for cold water. Thoughts of eating unpleasant, but not eating, except sweet thing*, or soft food, like oatmeal, &c., which increased the nausea very much. Very little appetite for anything. Dull pain over whole head, especially temples and forehead ; headache and nausea much incrca<ied in a close room, with excessive sleepiness. Bowels loose, yet no pain. Urine taiher tcxtitj, Quite severe dull pain in lumbar region. P.m., feeling of sadness, with no caus« whatever, and desire to be let entirely alone. i8th. — Neuralgic pain in muscles of various parts of body, and in muscles of hips and neck a stiffness with every morion, which commenced in morning and continued all d. 19th, 30th, 31st. — Very sleepy much of the time, especially in a warm, cloie room. Still frequent Aoft stool* *nd

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Constant urging in rectum, with pain while passing stool, but relief after ; also contut dull pain in bade and r. side over liver. Feb. ist — ;th. — Still same condition of bowels, which gradually decreased. Same constant dull pain in liver, which waned sometimes to prevent lying on r. side. 6th. — Pain in liver less, and bowels quite natural and free from pain. During all this time a feeling of weakness in abdomen, with disinclination to stand erect, and intense sleepiness, more especially 'wtween 1 1 a.m. and a or ) p.m. Quite thirsty. Mind not as clear as usual. P.m. •o^fc one powder of i »th. 7th. — In m., measrs appeared 3 d. too soon, without much pun and quite scanty. Mind very clear. 8th. — Nausea all d., and increased flow, wC Watery. Stiffness of muscles of r. shoulder and neck, which extended later in d. ^i»^n r. side also. Toothache, dull, in r. lower molar. Mind still very clear j '***»ed able to accomplish anything intellectually. 9th. — Rheumatic symptoms gndually wore off, and at n. were almost entirely gone. Menses very scanty '"^ pale, almost ceasing at times. Toothache of r. side at intervals during ^y- Thirsty. 11 p.m., took another powder of 13th. loth. — Menses very ''^^ty and pale. Slight return of bowel symptoms. Little stiffness in neck ind shoulder still remaining. Weakness of abdominal muscles, also tension, «using inclination to stoop forward. Nausea all d. Menses ceased, nth. — ™other powder of lath. Nausea continued. Increase of bowel symptoms ; sleepy, ''id inability some of the time to think; at other times mind felt unusually clear. 'Mil, 13th. — Symptoms unchanged. 14th. — Felt utterly tired out ; in m. could not <'<> anything, from complete exhaustion. 15th, i6th, 17th. — All this time no relish for any food ; satiety after eating little, but thirsty ; sweets and soft food very ■Unseating. As soon as she had eaten, pain in bowels, and urgent stool, which telieves the pain. tyth. — Twitching in face over 1. malar bone at intervals during irhole d. iSth. — Same twitching in face. Bowels painful, and movement almost immediately after eating. Feels better in e. than in middle of d. Same distaste for food. i8tn-23nd. — Pam in liver and twitching in face continued about the same, then both gradually decreased until a^th, when twitching had all disappeared, and pain in liver nearly. Bowels now rather constipated, yet urging quite frequent after eating, particularly mornings. a5th. — Still considerable pain in region of liver while sitting, not so apparent while moving. During all this time an almost constant pain under r. shoulder-blade. Several d. after this, several small glandular swellings appeared in 1. axilla, which caused slight pain, but disappeared without any discharge. Mo more symptomi of any marked character not easily accounted for in some other nuumer. (iW.)

1. a. Dr. VAN DE Warker took vix of oil in syrup. There was immediate sense of heat in the stomach, and in about 15 m. sense of fulness of head and face, and the sense of warmth diffused itself over whole abdomen. In about ^ h. there was slight giddiness, and a marked diuretic action, urine having a strong tansy odour. The diuretic action continued during the n., obliging him to rise and urinate (very unusual).

t. Two doses of 15 min. each were now taken at 4 h. interval. After 1st dose great heat of stomach and bowels, face flushed, and after about 15 m. very unpleasant sense of fulness within head. In | h. urine passed in increased quantity, high-coloured, with strong odour of drug; pulse 98, temp. 99*5°. Flatulent eructations, tasting strongly of T. Urinated 3 times in the 4 h. After 2nd dose above symptoms were all renewed. Also, in 20 m. ringing in ears and dizziness ; in I h. pricking sensation in extremities, with flushes of heat ; strange fulness and sense of pressure of head, amounting to pain. In i h. 20 m. urine produced slight scalding, and constant desire to micturate was present, but not strangury. In 2 h. there was thirst, and strong desire to draw a deep breath, which, however, did not relieve chest when draMm. Dizziness continued, but mind was quite clear. After

2j h. same symptoms, but dizziness and fulness diminished ; pulse 115 temp. loO'S*^'. After 3^ h. some drowsiness, and in 15 m. more he went to bed, drowsy but restless, the pricking sensation coming and going over extremities and along spine ; weight at stomach, breathing slightly oppressed, sense of uneasiness but not pain in head, still constant desire to urinate. [Criminal Abortion^ Boston, 1872, p. 74.)

1. Women who have used the oil inform me that they find a heat and fulness through the hips, which increase as they persist in its use, until finally they have a "show." {Ibid.^ p, 72.)

2. X. Y. Z., March 12th, 1833, took at 8.55 p.m. 10 dr. of oil on sugar. No apparent effect following, at 9.10 took 20 dr. more. He soon felt a slight glow in stomach, and sense as of thrill through frame. Pulse was fuller and less compressible than usual, but not faster. At q.30 took 15 dr., 45 m. later 16 dr. more, then 17 and ao dr., but with little effect save slight exhilaration, and two loose evacuations. Next m. felt well, save that abdomen seemed full of fluid as after a cathartic. Next d. took of another and different specimen of oil 3ij in all during; an h. Dizziness and confusion of mind set in, as after camphor. In i^ h. some nausea and tremor, but no vomiting. Feeling of confusion increased for 2 h., remained stationary for i\ h., and then began to subside. Two loose stools occurred. During operation of drug his voice had a strange sound in his ears. [Bost. Med. and Surg, jfourn,., x, 30.)

II, Poisonings. — i. Dr. Con ant was called to a young married woman, who had had two children, youngest being 5 — 6 mo. oldJ She was in a semi-conscious state, complaining of " feeling bad," of nausea, and of much pain in 1. side. Husband stated that she was in a " fit " when he had summoned the doctor. No cause could be found for this. She had had a chill before it, and was now hot and feverish. Besides the I. side pain, which extended from ribs to hip, she had severe occipito-frontal headache, backache, and pains in limbs. Aconite, followed by actxa rac, was given ; but next d. headache was worse, and face and eyes red, though back, limbs, and side were better. She was said by attendants to have had five "spasms.'' Bell, and nux v. were now given, and next d. she was better in every way, and had only had one spasm, On the following d., however, she was worse again i and innocently asked if some tansy she had taken could have anything to do with her symptoms. It turned out that, suspecting pregnancy (about which she proved correct), she had taken several large doses of tansy to provoke abortion. This was now stopped , but the convulsions continued for 2 d. more in spite of caulophyllum. Gelsemium then at once brought them down to one a d., and puis, re moved even this. {Horn. 'Journ. of Obstct., Nov., 1882.)

1. A young negress took, to produce abortion, a strong decoction. When seen 2 h. later, she was found with pulse a little retarded, b somewhat full ; tongue natural ; skin moist ; breathing slightly embaT' rassed, 14 ; pupils contracted ) countenance dusky, immobile^ with solemn look ; answers to questions incoherent ; indifferent ; surface cool. Four h. later, coma; pulse 60, resp. 12; skin covered with cold clammy sweat ; accumulation of mucus in larynx and trachea causing

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breathing ; general paralysis of voluntary muscles and of those of deglutition ; vomiting of matters smelling of T, She died 14 h. after taking poison. (PfiNDLETON, jimer. Med. T'lmts^ ii, 177.)

1. A young woman took nearly y%% of the oil as an abortifacient. She was found unconscious ; cheeks bright red ; eyes open and brilliant, pupils dilated and immobile, sclerotic injected ; skin warm ; respiration hurried, laboured, stertorous, embarrassed by accumulation of frothy mucus; pulse was full, strong, 128. At intervals of 5 — 10 m. there were violent convulsive attacks, during which head was drawn backwards, respiration suspended, arms raised and extended in tonic spasm, fingers contracted ; then after some 30 seconds this tetanic state gave way to tremulous motion, often sufficient to shake room. The whole attack lasted about i^ m., until a deep inspiration announced its close. The tongue was occasionally bitten. After each attack face became pale and livid, and pulse was feeble and slow. Trismus persisted during intervals. She died 3^ h. after taking poison. Autopsy

~ fas made 10 h. later. Rigidity marked ; cadaveric patches little deve- }ped and of purplish red. Arachnoid dry j cranial cavity otherwise normal. L. ventricle strongly contracted ; blood very liquid, having strong odour of T. Lungs normal. Gastric mucous membrane brownish at greater curvature, thinned, softened, and at one spot nearly destroyed. Spleen soft and bloodless. Uterus contained a 4 mo. foetus \ all here and in ovaries quite normal. (Dalton, Am. Journ. of Med. ScL, 1852, i, 136.)

1. A woman, took ^ss of the oil. She was seized with spasms, which recurred about every I2 m. They were most violent rigid spasms, not convulsions, coming on instantaneously and generally, and continuing about i m. There was no movement in arms, save a slight tremor ; but these limbs were peculiarly affected, and always in the same way ; they were thrown forward at a right angle with

le body, hands similarly bent at wrists, forearms supinated, points of jgers nearly in contact, fingers straight but slightly bent at juncture with hand. Muscles of respiration were strongly affected during each paroxysm ; air was forced from chest slowly but steadily, and made a slight hissing noise as it escaped from between lips. During intermissions of spasms muscles were perfectly flexible ^ and transition was very sudden. Trismus was more persistent than other spasms at first. As patient grew weaker, spasms were more frequent, but had same severity and duration. During ist h. pupils were closely contracted, but afterwards much dilated. Respiration was laborious, not stertorous, most markedly so after a spasm. She died in 2 h, (H11.DRATH, /bid., 1835, I, 256.) ,

1. A married woman, set. 28, accustomed to 5 dr. doses of oil without inconvenience, now took 15 — 20 dr. Heat and burning in oesophagus ensued ; after 3 h. dizziness and numbness, increasing almost to paralysis ; then convulsions followed by vomiting. Pulse was 90, and pupils dilated. Severe pain was complained of in head. Coma ensued, with cataleptic condition of limbs, and lasted for an h. (BiNKERD, PhiL Med. and Surg. Rep., xxiii, 538.)

boy, jet. 12, took Jss of extract for worms. Great mobility.

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TANACETUM.

makes extraordinary movements and curious gestures, stretches himself draws up his legs, stands on his head ; when remonstrated with he says *' Leave me alone, it does me good; I cannot help doing it." When he draws up his legs, and the muscles will not go farther he pulls them up with his hands and then suddenly stretches them out again. A" the time he has no pains ; it lasts i h., and occurs with each repetition of the medicine. (Hering, Archiv^ xiii, I, 170.)

III. Experiments en animals. — I. In March, 1872, while making biological researches on a series of essences having isomeric relations, I had noticed one resembling in odour that of absinthe. It was the ex tract of a Synanthera, the Tanacetum vulgare. This essence had been very little studied, chemically or biologically. Bruylands has since o" tained from it a kind of camphor, which, curiously enough, has the same atomic constitution as essence of absinthe and Japanese camphor, CjoHjgOj. Putzeys, of Liege, has studied its properties j* but I can a£Fjrm that these arc by no means coextensive with those of the essence from which it is extracted.

a. This is what I ascertained in 1872. When 1 injected 2 dr. of the essence into the veins of a rabbit of medium size, after 20 secon the animal was seized with convulsions as suddenly and violently as lightning-struck. The anal and vesical sphincters relaxed, and ailow< the urine and faeces to escape. The spasmodic and hurried respiration (115 in the m.) was so embarrassed, that each instant one expected the animal to die of asphyxia. These convulsions became less intense for a few seconds, but then returned stronger than ever. A sound near the animal's ear made him start as in poisoning by strychnine; evidently the sense of hearing was more acute. When a stick was brought near his muzzle he bit at it with force, and could be lifted up without letting go his hold. This biting action was voluntary, and quite distinct from a convulsive movement of the jaws. The convulsions lasted 50 — 60 m., or even longer if the doses were raised. If they were too strong the animal died asphyxiated. No higher dose could be borne than 3 — 4 dr. To the convulsive stage succeeded a comatose period of 2 — 3 h., during which the animal appeared insensible to every kind of stimulus. At last the normal state returned, and next d. the animal appeared in no way affected by the violent attack he had undergone. Finally, we ascertained that the essence of tansy is rapidly eliminated, unchanged, by the lungs, which leads to the supposition that it is oxygenated.

b. Nevertheless, the tanacetic convulsions differ notably from those produced by absinthe and camphor. There is no loss of con-^ sciousness ; the attack is of unique character, as is also the long pen'odH of coma which follows it, and the tendency to voluntary biting ; the sensorial functions are rather excited than abolished. In 187b Vf« observed, as very marked, an increase of the convulsions caused by a mirror being held before the eyes. In the phenomena produced by absinthe and camphor, on the other hand, we see a succession of epileptic fits, each followed by its coma ; and one knows that in epilepsy there is complete lc»s of consciousness. Bromide of potassium, givefl

• S«e Bull, dt rjcaJ, reyeU* dt Beigijue, 1878, p. i loi. — Ed(.

beforehand, prevents the occurrence of these, but not so with the tanacetic convulsions. Another difference between the action of these substances is that absinthe and camphor arrest the glycogenic function of the liver ; while tansy has no such effect.

c. We have found in the trachea and bronchi of animals dying of the tanacetic convulsions frothy and sanguinolent mucosities, as in rabies ; and it is to this type, rather than to the epileptic, that we think them conformed. All the symptoms of rabies are found here, — hallucinations, convulsions without loss of consciousness, opisthotonos, spasms of muscles of pharynx, larynx, and thorax generally, abundant Ba]ivati<Hi, asphyxic phenomena, sensorial excitability, tendency to bite, characteristic hoarse cry, diminished sensibility and motility, momentary paralysis, the mucosities in air-tubes, subpleural ecchymoses, and hsemorrhagic infarctions in the liver. We think, therefore, that with absolute truth we may give to the effects of T. the name of rayte$ tanacetiea^ sinuli-rabies. [M. Peyraud has sup(iorted this opinion by using T. as a substitute for the virus of rabies in Pasteurian *' vaccinations," and reports like success.— Eds.] {Bull, dt la S«c. Mid. Horn, dt France^ xxix, 570.)

1. The most marked symptoms of tansy toxaemia are a rapid disturbance of the nervous system, profuse salivation, immobile and dilated pupils, and severe strangury. These symptoms in animals appear rapidly and together. In a dog twice poisoned with the oil, and which died on the second occasion, the nervous centres and their meninges were found highly congested, with much serum beneath dura mater of both brain and cord. The lungs were congested even to hepatisation, as also the kidneys. L. side of heart was empty, r. full. Stomach . and intestines showed no signs of inflammation, but bladder was contracted to capacity of a fluid drachm, and much corrugated and congested, (van de Warker, op. cit.)