Calotropis gigantea

Volume I — Main text

CALOTROPIS.

Caloiropis g^antea^ R. Br. Gigantic swallow-wort (source of Indian " mudar '*). Nat. Ord.y AscUpiadacetB.

I. Provittgj,^^!, a. Mr. E. B. Ivatts proved 1st dil. of tinct. prepared with I part of root to 8 of spirit. On e. of Sept. 23rd, 1S72, began to take 10 drops, and continued same twice daily. On 27th, dull occipital headache from 11 a.m. till he went to bed at midnight, very bad at times during e. Reminded him of what he had suffered during a oilious attack ; but he took his usual food well, and bowels were naturally open. Slept well ; next m. headache gone, but head tight, which feelin? passed offafter break^t. Stopped medicine for 2 d. ; recommenced Oct. 1st, as before. -On i3thy about 10.30 a.m., went out for walk. Shortly experienced a depressed tired feeling, which came on gradually. In ^ h. inclination to vomit and to feint. Sat on roadside and drank cold water; rested \ h. and became better. Obtained carriage and drove 4 miles, feeling better, but very cold, so that he walked a mile beside vehicle to keep up circulation. Reached home 2.30 p.m., felt dizziness in head, no pain. Urinated frequently ; eructations were constant. At 5 p.m. attempted to eat a biscuit, but felt faint, giddy, and inclined to vomit, so went to bed. Body was cold, with frequent chills passing up spine ; at same time head and temples hot, and cheeks burning like fire. After a time, with rugs on bed, became very hot, and perspired ; pulse quickened, but he was too ill to count it. Nausea, but no actual sickness till he sipped some strong coffee, when he vomited about a wineglassfid of yellow bile. This was at 5.30, and a lesser quantity was thrown up an h. later. Oppression at chest, and short breathing, but no uneasiness at heart ; lips and throat very dry and parched ; head painful, with throbbing and confusion. Sipped coffee as antidote all n. ; got little or no sleep, tossing from side to side. Haa felt slight pain when moving at inside of r. thigh just below groin 2 d. before ; now felt back or thigh very sore and hard, so as to make turning irksome. Next m. convalescent, but weak $ thigh sore, swollen and painful, so that he could not bend leg in walking, which gave him pain at every step. Travelled 120 miles by train. Toward bedtime chiUs came on again though he was close to fire ; they continued in bed, running from feet up spine, movement of feet seemed to excite them. Alternating therewith were fits of perspiration (as was the case also on previous n.). Restless and feverish, with head and face hot ; breath foul ; pulse weak and thready on going to bed. Unable to sleep, took camphor, which brought relief and repose. Urine dark red, like homebrewed beer, and with strong smell, but no noticeable deposit after 12 h. standing. Cramp-like pains in centre of r. palm when grasping anything, hsting many d.; pain in wrist when moving it; slight soreness and swel£

ine of r. palate, paining on movement of ja%v5, lasting % d. 15th*— Well, save for thigh» which, however, is better. Diffused red blotches have come out on it, elevated and papular (these lasted 3d.): veins of hands unusually small. Drank coffee and took several doses of camphor. iSth. — ^Bctter n. ; thigh not so sore, could bend leg slightly, and walk about house a little ; no pain when sitting or lying 5 when stand* ing up to walk, tingling burning pain. Could go out next d., and symptoms gradually passed off.

h, Sept. 27th| 1873. Had been taking i, diJ. for some d. Slight pain in I* foot, on movement or when bearing upon it ; with tenderness, not superficial, but as \f \n tarsal bone. — iSth, In m. fotmd increased patn on movement, had to keep house. Very bad n,, intermitting cramp-like pain even at rest, must keep foot moving about bed. — 19th, Pain nearly gone by m. save when moving foot; took two do^s of aeon. I,. About 6 p.m. pain when foot was at rest, so severe for an h, that it brought tears to ey«. After coffee this subsided^ and foot became as on Z7th ; instep slightJy red and swollen, but not tender. Could not let foot touch ground, pain was %q acute ; but by putting foot down very gradually, and by degrees bringing weight of body to bear, could ^stand without pain, which returned on taking weight off again. During next 2 d, foot improved, but grew redder; coffee used as lotion sent redness away, but increased pain. On Oct. ist r. foot began to pain, and on $nd was tiic worse of the two. On 4th both were mending, and by 6tn were quite well. (Horn, ff^ortd^ xiii, 16.)

1. The inspissated juice, root and bark have been extensively used in the East for their emetic, sudorific, (alterative) and purgative qualitien. It has been used as a substitute for ipecacuanha. In doses of from 15 to 20 gr. the dried bark excites^ in zo — 60 m.^ fiill vomiting, with much nausea, and, in some cases, purging (PekeiHa, (^. «/., ii, 1, 660.)