Hamamelis virginiana

Volume II — Main text

Hamamelis virginica, L. Witch hazel. Nat. Ord., Hamamelidaceæ. I. Provings.-1 . a. Being in perfect health, I took, May 24th, 1851 , 10 dr. oftinct., between 9 and 10 a.m. I experienced nothing until e., when I had return of symptoms with which I was troubled 15 years before, caused by running till I was exhausted, viz. laboured breathing, oppressive tightness of lower thorax, inability to make full and deep inspiration ; when attempting to assume recumbent posture I found it impossible to breathe in that position, experienced crowding fulness of blood in neck, and such sense of suffocation that I could not lie down, and was obliged to sleep that n. in a rocking chair, with my neck perfectly free of any covering. All these symptoms passed off next m. On June Ist I took a teaspoonful, and experienced return of same symptoms, only more aggravated, and continuing two days and nights without being mitigated by antidotes,-camphor, hyoscyamus, &c. , which I took. At this time I found it very painful to ride or walk. On 12th took a tablespoonful with like effect ; I was unable to breathe comfortably except sitting or standing erect, and even then to make deep full inspiration. b. On Aug. 20th took I dr. of 3rd dil. in e., but thought no more about it, being engaged with an obstetric case all n. Between 9 and 10 a.m., however, my nose began to bleed, and continued to do so for an h., till I smelt ofcamphor and checked it. With the epistaxis was feeling oftightness atbridge of nose, and considerable crowding pressure between eyes, also benumbed sensation over whole frontal bone. This occurrence was quite unprecedented . c. A young man to whom I gave same dose 3 times a d. had after 10 h. profuse epistaxis, which I checked in like manner with camphor. d. Mrs. W-, always regular, consulted me for some slight dyspeptic symptoms, and I gave her I dr. of 3rd dil. 3 times a d. In 2 d. she reported that (midway between two periods) she had been flowing considerably for 24 h., and had lost over a quart ofblood, bright and fresh, not coagulable, unlike her ordinary menstrual discharge, which was dark and generally coagulated. Hæmorrhage ceased (medicine being suspended) in a few h. In 4 d. she came again, and I gave H. as before ; she again commenced flowing 24 h. after taking it, and on leaving it off the hæmorrhage again ceased.* Asimilar thing occurred in a young lady, who for imaginary ailments had same prescription. (Dr. H. C. PRESTON, Phil. Journ. ofHom., i, 460.) 2. a. Dr. BURT, Sept. 16th, 1864, at 9 a.m., took 3ss of 10th dil., prepared with water. At 10 great fulness of forehead, with pressing distress at root of tongue ; distress at umbilicus ; dull aching pain in sacrum and hips, quite severe when walking. First and last sensations earliest perceived, and lasted all d., also great dryness and burning of * A leucorrhœa ofyears' standing ceased when this patientbegan taking H., and did not return .

palms . 17th .- Restless n., whole body feeling dry and hot ; sexual dream with emission, followed by great weariness and severe dull pain in loins ; fingers stiff, with sharp sticking pains in Ist joint of r. index ; soft stool. At 7 a.m. , 3j of same. Fulness of forehead, and severe sharp pains in temples all d., with pressing sensation in pharynx ; back and legs ached severely all d.; very gloomy and sad. 19th.-Feeling well, at 4 p.m. took 50 dr. From 5-9 slight frontal headache, with constant burning distress at lower part of epigastrium and umbilicus ; desire for stool, but with greatest effort cannot accomplish it ; during last h. drawing pain in testicles, rheumatic pains in legs, hands hot and dry. 20th.-Slept well ; sexual dream, but no emission ; r. wrist and fingers stiff ; dull pains in lumbar region. 6 p.m., took 3ss (aqueous dil.) . At 9, slight headache, with severe distress at pylorus and umbilicus ; dull aching in both testicles ; dull pain in lumbar region. 21st.-Slept well ; dull headache ; slight distress in bowels ; dull lumbar pain ; hands and fingers ache, and are quite stiff; stool of natural consistence, but covered with mucus. At II a.m. took 3ss. 8 p.m. , felt all above symptoms, with dull pressive distress in pharynx, and roughness of fauces ; dull pains in r. hypochondrium, and in feet and toes ; very severe dull drawing pains in flexors of right arm . 22nd. -Slept well ; sexual dream, with emission ; stool at 6 a.m., covered with slimy mucus, with distress in bowels ; very severe backache ; hands hot and dry. At 10 took 3ss. All d. had feeling as if something had lodged in fauces, causing constant inclination to swallow ; dryness of fauces ; slight pain in bowels ; very severe backache ; hands hot and dry ; very gloomy ; no disposition to move. 23rd.-Restless n.; throat very dry all n., with feeling as if something large had lodged there ; compelled to swallow every few m., which caused dull pains in tonsils ; much pain on swallowing food this m., and fauces are very much congested and tonsils slightly swollen ; severe backache. At 9 a.m. took 3ss. 9 p.m., tongue has two blisters on r. side, very troublesome ; throat has been very painful; sharp pains in stomach ; drawing pains in groins, passing into testicles, also in hands, legs, and feet. Took another 3ss. 24th.-Slept well ; very languid ; skin hot and dry ; flat, rough taste; very troublesome blisters on both sides of tongue ; severe congestion of fauces and tonsils ; deglutition very painful ; a number of times during d. severedull pains in testicles, with distress in bowels ; hands hot ; very gloomy. 25th.-Slept well ; throat feeling better ; natural stool,but with distress at umbilicus ; all d. frequent dull pains in testicles ; frequent inclination to urinate ; constant backache. 26th .-Tonsils and fauces still congested, but not painful ; tongue well. Last n. profuse cold perspiration all over scrotum, but there only. A number of rheumatic pains to-day in arms and legs.b. On March 6th, 1865, I commenced a proving of the fluid ext. , commencing with 10 dr. a d., and increasing after 4 d. to 50 dr., when Iwas compelled to stop the proving on account of the excruciating pains produced in the testicles. I awoke at 3 a.m. with these, and could sleep no more ; for 4 h. I never suffered more acutely, no position would relieve me ; pain was of dull drawing character, and would

ever and anon change suddenly to stomach and bowels, producing nausea and great faintness. The other symptoms of the earlier proving also recurred, but in greater severity. (Am. Hom. Ots., 1865.) 3. Dr. WALLACE MCGEORGE, æt. 26, in good health, save for a cold in head, took, Sept. 30th, 1867, I dr. of tinct. on retiring. No symptoms save such as the coryza might occasion. 3rd.-1 dr. at midnight. Same result, with (5th-7th) weary aching in r. lower extremity, where are varicose veins, these being larger and more sensitive ; and occasional tendency to nausea and vomiting. Ith.-Another dr. 12th. -Slight headache (that of coryza had gone) ; qualmish feeling, tendency to vomit after every meal. 13th .-Headache over nose and eyes. (Trans. ofAmer. Inst. of Hom., 1874, p. 253.) 4. a. Dr. IsZARD, in good health, took, Nov. 1st, 1873, 5 dr. of tinct. At 10 a.m. dull headache, pain in r. lung. Took 5 dr. more at noon ; felt dull and stupid. At 7, took 6 dr. Increasing headache ; some burning in r. ear ; rawness in throat and fauces ; no desire to study or read ; sleep somewhat disturbed ; increased urination, urine pale. 2nd.-Took 5 dr. at noon ; shooting pains running down r. forearm along flexor muscles into palm ; dull headache ; dimness before eyes ; could not sleep well ; urination profuse, urine pale. 3rd.- 10 dr. at 9 a.m. Dulness in head; some pain in r. lung ; rawness in throat; did not sleep well at n . 4th. Tongue white in m., with bad taste ; still dull headache, and occasionally shooting pain along r. upper jaw, extending to cheek ; pain and full feeling at root of nose. 5th . -Could scarcely sleep at n., heard nearly every hour struck ; some pain running down spermatic cords into testes ; scrotum perspired freely during n. 6th.-Sharp, lancinating pain along molar teeth, extending to malar bone and also temporal ; stitching pain along 1. sciatic nerve ; some pain in l. knee ; feeling as if vermin were crawling along edges of hair ; about 4 p.m. pain along spine on level with stomach. 7th.-Again pain along r. teeth ; indisposition to work. 8th. Itching in l. ear and on covered parts of body ; stitching pain in 1. hip and under 1. patella while walking ; face feeling better ; slept better. During next 2 d. symptoms gradually wore off. b. Gave son, æt. 13, 3 dr. of tinct at noon. It gave him a dull headache, lasting about 1 h .; rawness of fauces, he declared he had a sore-throat, and wanted me to treat it. Next d. throat was better, but he had severe pain in l. great toe. c. Gave daughter, æt. 11 , 1 dr. Immediately feeling of rawness in fauces ; dull headache across frontal bone ; could not read or study ; had sudden pain in r. great toe while running, which she never felt before. (Ibid.) 5. C. J. WILTBANK, in good health, proved 6th and 3rd dils. From former he had bruised feeling in shoulders and upper arms, with gloominess, restlessness, and marked weakness of memory. After some d. bruised feeling seemed to descend into lower extremities, with severe headache and slight fever. From 3rd he had great desire to urinate, with little result ; violent pain at back of r. head ; aversion to water, to think of which makes him sick ; frequent emissions and erections, with constant desire for embrace ; cannot settle mind on

study. After these symptoms had subsided, took a dose of 12th dil., which brought them all back, but in milder form. (Ibid.) 6. A. P. HOLLETT, æt. 23, took, Oct. 1st, 1867, 2 dr. of tinct. at 10 p.m. 2nd.-At 9 a.m. flashes ofchilliness over back and hips, extending down extremities ; dull stupefying headache over eyes and root of nose. 3, general lassitude and feeling of weariness ; limbs ache, with quite a tendency to go to sleep ; irritable disposition ; flow of large quantities of urine, with frequent desire to urinate ; headache all d. 3rd. -Symptoms all aggravated ; unable to study or read. Took antidote, and discontinued proving. (Ibid.) 7. C. H. Evans, æt. 22, on e. ofOct. 1st, 1867, took 2dr. oftinct. 2nd.-Headache in temples, worse in m.; thirst towards e. Slight pain in r. neck, along sterno-mastoid, worse on movement. Took antidote, and discontinued proving. (Ibid.) 8. W. M. JAMES, æt. 19, Oct. 1st, 1867, took 2 dr. of tinct. and retired to bed. 2nd .-Arose at 7.30 a.m. with hoarseness as from a cold ; about 10 throat became slightly sore, causing pain on swallowing, continuing till bedtime. 3rd.-Arose at 8.30 a.m. with soreness of throat increased, also dryness, with thirst, causing him to drink large quantities of water at short intervals of time. 4th.-On rising, soreness of throat slightly better, almost entirely disappearing by e. Took 3 dr. on retiring. Soreness of throat quite gone by next m.; emissions on n. of 4th and 6th, and on 7th, at noon, severe pressing headache over r. eye, most intense while sitting or lying quiet, disappearing while walking in open air. On e. of 8th felt more thirsty than usual, and at 10 headache returned severely. (Ibid.) 9. C. S. COOPER, æt. 24, took, Nov. 20th, 1867, I dr. of 6th dil. After 2 h., dulness in head. 21st.-Feeling of languor all over body ; micturates too often, with continual desire for it; sensation as if brain was swimming around, throughout this d. and on rising next m. 10. I. B. CHANTLER, student, took, Nov. Ist, 1872, at 2 p.m., 10 dr. of 3rd dil., and at 6 p.m. 15 dr. more. 2nd.-20 dr. at 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. During m. very severe sore pain in head of r. humerus, extending down to elbow-joint, with slight stiffness of latter ; very severe frontal headache ; sensation of heavy weight at back of stomach, also as if anterior lobes of brain were too large for cranium ; severe sore pain running down thighs, particularly r. ; soreness ofknee-joints ; very cross and irritable, not wanting anybody to speak to him. 3rd. -Wants to do nothing but smoke and be alone, though smoking seems to aggravate all symptoms ofyesterday. 4th.- 20 dr. at 6 a.m. Frontal headache is intense, can hardly stand it ; pain in r. humerus from shoulder to elbow is very severe ; increased stiffness of elbowjoint ; forgetfulness, especially of words when talking,so that his roommate thinks him crazy. At 2 p.m., same dose ; throat very sore ; general languor and depression ; heaviness at back of stomach increased. 5th.-At 6 a.m., 10 dr. Profuse urination, though only a little at a time ; it feels as if bladder fills up very quickly, urine light-coloured ; very sore throat, every inhalation seems to dry it up ; severe pain in renal region on rising in m.; sore pain in popliteal spaces ; pain in both humeri ; sore pain in r. femur, very severe. 6th .-Dry cough, some

times expectoration of thick yellowish or greenish-grey mucus ; putrid taste ; every time he coughs stinging pain in r. uvula, as if it would break off; slight nausea. 7th.-Terrible frontal headache, worse sittingor standing, better lying ; very severe sore pain on mastoid process of r. temporal bone ; sore pain in eyes ; muscles of face feel very sore and stiff ; soreness and headache all over head ; rubbing forehead relieves frontal headache, pressure also ; spasmodic contraction of sphincter ani ; vertigo, as if drunk ; urine very profuse, pale greasy deposit sinking to bottom of vessel, rising to top when shaken, looking like laudable pus ; no thirst during entire time ; cannot go to sleep at n. for thinking. At 10 p.m. took 10 dr. more. 8th.-All symptoms very much increased ; feel too ill to go to lectures ; fluent coryza daily 4-10 p.m., burning and smarting wherever discharge touches ; sore pain down cervical vertebræ ; stopped-up condition of head ; pain in r. humerus intense. Symptoms yet increased on 9th, but then gradually left, pain in humerus leaving last. ( Ibid.) II. Poisonings.-1 . A carpenter had been taking Pond's extract for several d. for acute rheumatism. Suddenly very alarming hæmorrhage from the lungs set in, from which he recovered under camphor, arnica, and china. ( THOMAS, M. H. R., i, 251) . 2. a. Drs. H. and FRANCIS BURRITT prepared a tincture of the bark, twigs, and leaves, and employed it in several cases of burns with the happiest results. The latter says : " In applying it to my own burnt fingers the suffering was instantly relieved. Some of it running down my hand, I thoughtlessly arrested it with my tongue. It produced immediate coldness of the whole body, and was not followed by any sudden reaction ; no heat or fever followed, but the system gradually recovered its accustomed heat. Immediately after the sensation of heat was felt a tearing pain across the small of the back was experienced, and a painful fulness of the joints of the legs as if they would burst, which soon extended to all the joints of the body ; at the same time a painful fulness ofthe brain was felt, especially at the top, with a desire to hear lofty sublime conversation, attended with perfect indisposition to talk myself. After the fulness of the joints disappeared there was a dread ofmoving the limbs as if it would cause suffering, with a weary stiff, full feeling. There was also a dry thirsty feeling of the throat, which water would not relieve, lasting full 24 h. b. " I afterwards gave a lady, for pain in the hypogastric region, I dr. of H. 15. The same pain was felt across the back, the same suffering of the joints, and the same distress of head as in my own case, with a feeling as if a bolt was passed from temple to temple through the head and tightly screwed. This was accompanied by a feeling that she ought to be reverenced by all around her, and have great respect paid to her opinions. This condition continued for about 1 h. This lady had no knowledge of what she took or of what might be expected from the action ofthe remedy." (Amer. Hom. Rev., i, 511.) 3. Dr. DAVIDSON gave 6th dil. to a woman for hæmorrhoids. These were relieved at first, but after taking medicine 3 times a d. for 6 d., for 2 d. she suffered severely from peculiar pricking pain, increased on pressure from wrist to shoulders. On examination pain was found

to follow course of superficial veins. Six months later she again took H., but after 4th dose had pricking pain in region of heart, lasting 10 d., and accompanied after 2nd d. by similar pain in veins of both arms. (Monthly Hom. Rev., iii, 447.) 4. I was treating a young lady suffering from a complication of disorders, amongst which were almost daily epistaxis and throbbing headache. To check the epistaxis I put a few drops of the tinct. ofH. into a tumblerful of water, and ordered a dessertspoonful to be taken alternately with the china which was being administered for the headache. The first dose of the H. was followed by flushing of the face, with most distressing throbbing, aching, and sense of fulness in head. These symptoms gradually subsided, and the intermediate dose of china was taken without any appreciable result. The 2nd dose of H., however, was immediately followedby the same symptoms as at first, head feeling as ifit would burst. I stopped the medicine, and the epistaxis recurred next m. as usual . In a d. or two I resumed it, giving it in the 3x dil. Again the dilatation of the cerebral vessels took place, though the symptoms were not so severe as on the first occasion. (HUGHES, Brit. Journ. of Hom., xxiii, 256.) 5. H., in to or 15 gr. doses 3 or 4 times a d., has caused violent contractions of the vagina, and a smarting burning sensation, followed by pruritus. In the same doses, administered to a man, I have known it to produce irritation of urethra, followed by a discharge and ardor urina (this last also in women). (PAINE, quoted by Hale, New Remedies, 2nd ed.) 6. A woman of58, using Pond's extract as a gargle for sore and ulcerated throat, had following symptoms :-Lowness of spirits ; dizziness ; coryza ; crampy pains and violent throbbings in stomach ; retchings ; distension of stomach with wind ; nausea ; hiccup ; palpitation ; pain in groin ; soreness of femoral vessels to middle third of thigh . On lying down was compelled to rise 15 to 30 m. afterwards to pass urine in large quantities. (MCGEORGE, Trans. ofAmer. Inst. ofHom., 1874.) 7. In one case a patient informed me that H. invariably caused seminal emissions, which ceased when it was discontinued. (BRUNTON, Pharmacology, &c. , sub voce.)