Caulophyllum thalictroides

Volume II — Main text

CAULOPHYLLUM.

Caulophyllum thalictroides, Mich. Blue cohosh, squaw root. Nat. Ord., Berberidacea .

I. Provings.- 1. Dr. BURT. In perfect health, æt. 29. April 28th, 1864, at 4p.m., took 10 gr. of Caulophyllin. 5, dull frontal headache, with contracted feel of skin of forehead ; drawing pains in thighs, knees, legs, and ankles; very sharp pain inside 1. knee-joint; elbows and wrists ache. 5.40, very hard pains in forehead, with sensation as of needles being stuck there. 6, constant flying pains in arms and legs, first in one part and then in another, remaining only 2 or 3 m. at a time in any place; severe drawing pains inside of 1. thigh; head same ; distress in fauces that causes constant inclination to swallow ; dull ache in lumbar spine; every few m. sharp stinging pains in glans penis. 9, headache severe; sharp colicky pains every few m. in umbilicus ; very severe drawing pain in 1. sterno-mastoid, pulling head round; same in joints of extremities ; ankle and toes of 1. foot very painful; dull backache. 29th.-Slept well till 3 a.m. After that restless, skin hot and dry ; severe drawing pains in mostjoints; shutting hands produced severe cutting pains in second joints of all fingers, which were very stiff; frequent colicky pains in umbilicus, relieved by emission of flatus ; severe drawing pains over 1. eye. Natural stool at 7 a.m. At 10, symptoms same ; took 15 gr. 12, distress in stomach and bowels, with drawing pains in r. hypochondrium, also in fingers, legs, and feet,-in last especially severe. 4, dull frontal headache ; by spells a very severe pain in temples that produces feeling as if both would be crushed together; frec frequent slight colicky pain in stomach and umbilicus ; slight dull backache ; drawing pains as at noon. Took 25 gr. 6, dull headache; profuse flow of tears; drawing pains in nose; good deal of pain and distress in stomach and umbilicus ; dull pains in lumbar region ; severe pains in ankles and feet (drawing), and in wrists and finger-joints. 9, symptoms same, joint pains quite severe ; took 30 gr. 30th.-Had restless n., from pain in finger-joints; they look red, and are very stiff, closing of hand being quite painful ; teeth feeling sore and elongated; other pains as before ; walking causes suffering in metatarsal bones. Natural but hard stool. At 10 a.m., feeling quite well save weakness of knees when walking ; took 50 gr. At noon, emptyeructations; slight distress in stomach ; drawing pains in knees and toes, very sharp by spells. 5, weak and nervous ; dulness of head ; stomach and joint pains slight only. Took 75 gr. 10, frequent gulping up of very sour, bitter fluid; frequent spells of vertigo; stomach and joints as before; eyes aching, with feeling as of something under lids, profuse lachrymation. Slept well till I a.m., when he awoke with great rumbling in bowels, and still a very urgent desire for stool; stool very watery and copious, streaming from bowels, painless. May 1st, 8 a.m., feeling quite well ; tongue coatedwhite; canine hunger; fingers are quite stiff; drawing pains intoes ; want to drink a great deal of water. More or less drawing pain in joints through d.; they crack frequently onmoving or turning. 2nd.-Restless n., fingers, ankles, feet, toes pained him so much; fingers very stiff. At 7, soft stool, very white. (New Remedies, 2nd ed., p. 171.)