Veratrum album

Volume IV — Main text

VERATRUM.

Feratrwn album, L. White hellebore. Nat. Ord,, Melaitthattit.

1. Prvuings. — i. Hahnemann^ Mat. Med. Pura^ vol. iii of original, vol. ii of translation. Contains 315 symptoms firom self, 154 from 5 fellow-observers, and 247 from authors.

2. Sept. 24th, 8 a.m., 2 gr. of root. No effect, — 25th, 8 a.in., 4 gr. 9 a.m. and later, pressure in sinciput ; repeatedly heat streaming through back into occiput, pressure in ankle-joints and legs, also in shoulders. — 2qth, 8 a.m., 6 gr. 9 a.m., pressure, heat, heaviness in sinciput, compression in r. ankle-joint ; feeling of coldness and burning and shooting in mouth and tip of tongue ; burning in oesophagus and stomach, coldness through back, a peculiar feeling of coolness m head, especially sinciput, stiffness in nape, nausea, heaviness in legs and r. arm as if numb, 11 a.m., repeated vertigo, head hot, numb, and stupefied ; stiffness in chewing muscles ; pulse very slow, even when walking ; pain in muscles of 1., then of r. upper arm ; frequently bright spots fly before eyes ; pupils at first contracted, at noon very dilated, vision sometimes indistinct; stiffness and pain in r. calf, great heavineo in legs i weariness and drowsiness even when walking ; pcrsrstent numbness in 1. arm, with pain and stiffness in its muscles ; twice shifp burning in 1. nostril. Until 2 p.m. very frequent attacks of coolness through head, especially over crown ; boring in upper incisors ; vertigo, especially when rising from seat, with great pressure on crown, pain in arms, loss of sight, coolness through arms, then feeling in head as of i cold wind blowing through it. 4 p.m., symptoms mostly gone, the head remains confused, numbness in arms, coldness in back, hands ve^ cold, very slow pulse. In e. head heavy, confused ; this lasts next d,, and repeated tearing in muscles of 1. leg. — 30th. Stool very costive. — Oct. loth, 2 gr. 9 a.m., scraping in throat, great coldness in back, sharp burning in tip of tongue, pressure in forehead, all which srn>* ptoms disappeared within i h. — Nov. 9th, 8 a.m., 4 gr. g a.m., stiffness in nape muscles, pain in muscles of r. upper arm, burning «** stomach, nausea, heaviness and numbness of head for severJ H- During forenoon repeatedly cold feeling in head, followed by heat—-' loth, 8 a.m,, 4gr. At 8.30 a.m. feeling of heat and burning in stomacb» throat, and tongue, together with a feeling of coolness as from pepper* mint lozenge ; this continues till noon, 9 a.m. and later, coldnes* '"

back. II a.m., feeling of coldness in head, numbness of r. arm. — nth, 8 a.m., 4 gr. Soon burning in stomach, lasting a considerable time, nausea ; great coldness in back, cold hands ; later great heat in back fronn lO till ii a.m., burning in throat and tongue, head confused, hot; this lasts till l p.m. — 13th, 7 a.m., 4 gr. 8.30 a.m., drawing and stiffness in calves, then in muscles of 1. arm ; great heat of head, burning and shooting in tongue. 11 a.m., coldness altern-iting with heat in back, lasting i h. Heaviness, numbness of head, till 2 p.m., attack of vertigo. During all the proving the stool was normal. — Feb. 14th, 1862, 8 a.m., 4 gr. After ^ h. head hot and heavy, pressure in forehead, coldness through back; persistent pain in r. shoulder- Joint ; scraping in throat, shooting and burning on tongue ; feeling of <^oIdness in mouth as from peppermint ; much eructation of air for several h. Constant coldness in back and cold hands, blue nails j the coldness goes from back through shoulders into arms, and occurs fre- S*Jently. 9 a.m., burning in stomach, lasting till 11 a.m. Much saliva in mouth for several h. At noon, numbness of r. arm several ^««nes ; feeling of a cool current of air through head ; weariness when '^'^Iking ; pulse slower even when walking. (Lembke, N. Z./. h. Kim.^

^•'» 73)

1. a. Dr. ScHELLiNG took, 31st Jan., 1844, g p.m., ist dil., prepared from dry root. Long of falling asleep, owing to unusually cold ^^ct J they were warm when he went to bed, but gradually got colder, -^ ftcr 4 hours' quiet sleep woke with cold feet, shivering and drawing up **}e thighs; thereafter cutting burning in cardiac region and pracor- ^»um. Rumbling in belly. — Feb. ist., m., 3J of ist trit. Cold hands ^id feet after breakfast. 8 a.m., shooting and tensive pain in r. noulder. The shooting is first slight, but increases every minute, and spreads from the shoulder to back, making movement difficult, even "•"breathing is painful ; pain relieved by pressing part with hand. On r^rnoving pressure there ensues burning in skin. Pain much increased ^y hawking and coughing. Shooting in r. shoulder and neck, stiff '^^ck. Noon, tight and squeezing pain above both hips and loins when ^alking. E,, after eating peas great discharge of flatus. In bed the ■^ct again became cold, though well covered. Dreams. After midnight tainful sensation from both feet to knees as if a cold wind blew on *"<^m, relieved by rubbing the limbs for a long time with the hand. — ^nd, m., tension and shooting in nape, in both shoulders and between 'Moulders, worse when moving and turning. Secretion of mucus in ^^fauces, and yet dryness and heat there. Watering of eyes. Much

yawning, and eructation of air, often renewed after dinner and

afternoon, with pressure in stomach and tension in

'^>domen. Stomach feels too full after eating but

"alking in the snow great and painful forcing out in

•^mmon hernial distress, with rumbling of flatulence.

^ bitter sour brown mucus mixed with bits of food, 2 h. after a cup oT

C(>flee. Supper caused no uneasiness. Dry stool. At n. hands and

feet warm, noisy discharge of inodorous flatus. Slept quietly from 1 1

till4a.m. Woke in m. with pain in nape and shoulders. — 3rd, 8 a.m.,

hungry ; the attempt to remain without food is prevented by much

upper part of

little. When

bowels. Un-

E., vomiting

yawning and malaise, after taking a cupful of milk and bread he passed all the forenoon without discomfort, except the pain in nape and shoulders. Mucous secretion in mouth and flatulence after dinner. E., cold feet, flatulence. After supper and a glass of wine increase of mucus in mouth. Unusually copious secretion of mucus in mouthy fauces, and throat, he spits up large lumps of mucus without coughing. At n. sleep disturbed by painfully cold feet with frequent waking and change of position. — 4th. Stiffness of shoulders and pain in nape, great itching in thighs, on rubbing them small pointed pimples on skin. On waking the eyelids are stuck together and difficult to open. 8 a.m. and e. a dose of ist dil. Great increase of mucus in throat and fauces, large blue masses like barley-corns are expectorated. Pain in nape and shoulders less. Tensive pain in sacrum and shooting in 4th cervical vertebra. After eating constant expectoration of mucus from mouth and throat. Disposition gloomy, sad, can hardly speak. £., after a glass of wine constant expectoration of mucus for ^ h., with cold hands. At n., though the feet were warm, could not get to sleep for a long time, constantly changes position, the knees commence to get cold. 10 p.m., drawing in thighs, then cold feeling as from snow-water through limbs down to feet, with great restlessness till 3 a.m. In the m. 2 b. of restless sleep. — 5th. On waking violent shooting and tearing in r. shoulder, in neck, and occiput, aggravated by movement. Tension and tearing on r. side of neck, which is drawn awry, and is worse on movement, relieved by pressure. 7 a.m., another dose of ist dil. Great feeling of hunger, frequent diminution of the mucous secretion, pain in shoulder less. After dinner slight pressure in stomach. E., cold hands and feet (after smoking). Sleep restless from 12 to 3 a.m., then pain in shoulder. — 6th. Out of spirits in forenoon, disinclined for work, dull. E., after fatiguing walk and leaping violent cramp in both calves oa their outer side for J h. Sleep quiet, feet warm. — 7th. No symptoms. Pain in shoulders and mucous secretion only in m., and slight. All d. quite well.

b. Jan. 19th, 1856, 2 dr. 12th dil. in water and spirits of wine, 3 tablespoon fuls in the d. Nausea and dulness frequently during d., restless, out of spirits. Long of getting to sleep at n., dreams. — 2ist^ m., needle pricks in r. toe frequently during d. with weakness. Frequent sneezing, catarrh, much mucus in nose, dry, smarting cough, especially e., with shivering; pain in sacrum, shoulders, and back, shooting, tensive. — 22nd. After restless sleep, pain in shoulders, cramp in feet. M. weary, unrefreshed by sleep, .<stupid in head, on attempting to get up sinks back in bed, overcome by sleep, dreaming half-sleep with perspiration and heat. All d. very disinclined for exertion. — 23rd. Headache, giddiness, stupefying pressive pain in head, shooting in 1. side of forehead, little appetite, loathing at food, yawning, nausea, dry cough, with painful stiffness of back, nausea and weariness making him lie down. — 24th, Quiet n. Dreams without perspiration. M, very drowsy, head heavy and giddy on rising. After breakfast tearing pressure in scrob. cordis and middle of chest, with spasm of stomach and eructation. Shooting in temples, burning in eyelids. Irritable humour, disposed to anger, when disturbed at work. — 25th. At noon

ttncommon drowsiness, so much so that when conversing and making »n effort to S|>ealc the head sinks down, the eyelids close, and the thinking power is lost. All p.m. weary, heavy, giddy in head, unfit for all work. More cheerful after a glass of wine. — 26th. Sleep full of dieams at n. In m. weary, also after breakfast and sleepy. Falls islccp while reading, p.m. Diarrhoeicstool, e. (////f. A, Ztg., Ixxxiii, 19.) I 4. Waltl made a decoction of 3ij of the root in _^j water ; of this

^K he took at H a.m. i teaspoonfui. As after j h. he felt no effect he ^H toaic a tabltrspoonful. After 3 h. he fe!t burning hot in his body, in ^B \ h. more he broke out in profuse perspiration, which lasted 5 h. 6 h. ^" >ft«r taking the dose his room appeared quite dark, he could not bear the daylight nor keep his head upright, but must keep it sunk forward on his chest, otherwise he had suddenly violent pain in occiput. Pulse very quick ; he felt sometimes hot, sometimes cold, was uncommonly prostrated ; at length he vomited ten times, and had even more frequent itoojs J his features were sunken, face pale, covered with cold sweat, 'ruly Hippocratic. Quiet n, {Buchner's Rep., xxvii, 75.)

1. I have found that i dr, of the ist dil,, taken n. and m., will produce constipation in 4 or 5 d. The person on whom this was proved *48 a healthy young man. (Sharp, Essays in Aledicine^ p. 725.)

2. B. C. E., in full health, pulse 72 and regular, took 2 dr of tinct. a' 8 a.m. Immediately, hacking cough, soon attended by hoarseness »n<i expectoration. 8.15, distension of stomach with salivation and eructations. 8.25, cold sweat on hands in warm room ; spasmodic cough and tightness of chest. 8.30, spasmodic constriction of throat »nd lungs i involuntary twitching of extremities ; occasional cramps in |*g» -, skin cold. 9, rumbling in bowels with retching, followed by ineffectual desire for stool, 9.15, urgent call to stool, which was copious. 10.15, pulse 90, weak and intermittent ; violent pulsations of ''^art ; occasional rigors and flashes of heat. 10.30, call to stool, loose, w»th nausea. 11, inward heat with thirst and external coldness ; great restlessness. I l.io, stitches in heart, extending to spine, with laboured breathing. 12.30, sharp pains in forehead and temples, extending to *yes, 2, stitching pains in bowels and renal region, followed by urination. 4, pulse 66 ; felt very weak ; occasional numbness and fuQiness on motion. (Dr. A. W. Woodward, Tram, tf Int. Horn. C^nuntion, 1881, p. 34.)

II. Poisonings. — I. Two children, set. i| and 5 years respectively, took V. alb. by mistake, the former 4 gr., the latter 7 gr., doses considered to be fatal. VVithin a few m, both children became cold and fell down ; eyes projecting as in suffocation, and saliva running from mouth. They seemed devoid of consciousness within J h. Tickling tJiroat with a feather failed to induce vomiting, but rather aggravated symptoms. Milk in large quantities had no effect but scanty vomitings which only increased the faintness. Both seemed to be at the point of death. Distorted, projecting eyes, disfigured cold countenances, lax muscles, closed jaws, respiration imperceptible. The infant was the Drone of the two. The impending death by apoplexy, the failing '»ility, at once suggested coffee as an antidote. Warm coffee was itroduced into mouth through the clenched jaws, and in large

quantities as an enema. Within I h. all danger was gone. Heat, consciousness, respiration returned. A long sleep, during which breathing was slower than usual, refreshed them. The children remained weak and emaciated ; and every n. before midnight were attacked with a form of fever, which threatened to prove fatal in a chronic manner. Peruvian bark removed this sequela. Good health then ensued. (Hahnemann, Lesser fVritings, p. 379.)

1. A distiller of Bremen found some dry roots of V., and thinking they were innocuous aromatic roots, he placed them in the retort and distilled brandy over them. After some time he gave this brandy to some members of his household. AH who partook of this spirit became extremely tipsy and felt very ill with vertigo, vomiting, diarrhcra, Afc. His coachman who was employed in driving his carriage drove about town like a madman. An old sempstress who had drunk a small quantity had to be supported by two persons to her house, and watery stools escaped from her involuntarily. All the symptoms ceased soon. (BARKHAUSEN, Med. Zeit. v. Ver.f. Heilk, in Preusien^ 5th Jahrg., 1 836, No. 7, 35.)

2. A shepherdess baked V. root in her bread instead of caraway. Eight members of the family, aged from i to 80 years, ate of the bread and were attacked with pains in abdomen, with a feeling as if the intestines were twisted together in knots ; vomiting (after 8 h., in some only next d.) of green bile, the tongue swelled, the mouth felt as if excoriated, there was vertigo and loathing of food. (Wagner,

Rusfs Mag., xiv.pt. 2y 5^7- 1823.)

1. A girl, act. 15, whose head was infested with vermin, had the powder of V. root sprinkled on her exuding head. She soon began to run about the room in raging mania ; the head was hot, face red, pulse | febrile, eyes sparkling. The head was shaved, washed with soap, and the mania soon passed off. (KocHLlNG, Horn's Archiv^ Ixviii, pt, %, 815. 1835.)

2. Three persons took at 9 a.m. an infusion of V. root in brandy. a. A woman, act. 60, after I h. had violent burning in throat,

oesophagus, and stomach, then great nausea, vomiting of green mucus, urinary tenesmus, soon followed by stiffness and coldness of whole i body ; pulse from noon til! e. could not be felt, respiration quite suspended for some m., then for some m. spasmodic and rattling; face and lips pale, pupils greatly dilated. She seemed to be deprived of reason and sense, was unable to swallow medicine or liquids, ammonia dropped^ on her tongue produced no effect, Strong rubbing with warm clotii^H gradually restored warmth, pulse, sensibility, respiration, sight, an^^ power of swallowing. She got decoction of bark and camphor mixture. The next d. she could answer questions, but usually^ lay in a comatose state, face red, spots like flea-bites on her body, pulse full and strong, headache. She was bled, and various medicines were administered. On the 3rd d. she was out of danger, and only complained of weakness, urinary tenesmus, heaviness of head ; she could take nourishment. L A man, act. 60, thin, of delicate constitution with a tendency to hxmoptysis, complained first of violent burning in throat and stomach, 1 nausea, urinary tenesmus, insensibility, stiffness of limbs, and retracted

mgue. After 15 gr. ipec. he vomited 3 or 4 times. After this the burning in throat and stomach subsided, but towards e. he had great exhaustion, dryness of tongue, dilated pupils, complete blindness, spasmodic, small, contracted pulse, and weak interrupted breathing. After ibeing rubbed with warm cloths and taking tea and lemon-Juice and 'decoction of bark during the n., was quite well next m.

c. An apprentice, zt. 28, after taking a small quantity, complained of burning in oesophagus and stomach, paralysed condition of limbs, mi vertigo ; all the fingers (except I. index and thumb) were paralysed, stiff, and insensible ; he felt like a flash of lightning from shoulder to

I hand; for a short time he lost his sight, pupils dilated. After an emetic of ipec. the symptoms subsided in the e., and he was quite well nextd. {Horn's yfrchh,, xxviii, pt. 3, 1002, 1815.) 6, A fatal case is quoted by Berat from Schuster i Medical yournal. A man took twice as much as could be held on the point of a knife, w« attacked with violent and incessant vomiting, and lived only from n. to n. Gullet, stomach, aud colon were here and there inAamed. (Christison, op. cit.)

1. On Aug. 4th I was requested to see a young married lady who *M in a state of collapse. About 6.30 p.m. she had taken by mistake .jss of the homoeopathic mother tincture, made in Germany from the green root. Immediately after talcing it she felt soothed and quiet, having been exceedingly nervous before. At 10 her hands and feet '>became numb, a sensation which gradually extended over whole body. She attempted to rise, but had two attacks of syncope in rapid succession, and was taken immediately after with violent vomiting. At '0-30 I found her pulseless i heart beating feebly and irregularly; resp. 22, regular; eyes fixed and staring, pupils dilated, almost total loss of sight ; body covered with cold and clammy perspiration ; complete anjESthesia of skin ; voice clear and strong, as in collapse of cholera ; lips of a bright carmine ; mind calm, clear, and collected, though she thought she was dying ; incessant retching and vomiting, ejecta being viscid glairy mucus of greenish hue. There was no purging now; but after 3 enemata of brandy and ammonia, in water, which were retained, it set in violently with severe tenesmus. At i puUc was jKrceptible for first time, 38, feeble and intermittent ; can now see distinctly ; anzsthesia, vomiting, and purging continue, 3, pulse 44 ; temp, normal ; intense thirst. 10, pulse 96 ; vomiting only occasional ; frequent bloody stools ; marked pain at 1. iliac region, extending to 1. hypochondrium, with tenderness on pressure. 6th. — 6 a.m., pulse 100 ; restless n. ; tympanites; marked tenderness of I, iliac region ; nausea, vomiting at intervals ; tenesmus, with bloody itools every h. ; anaesthesia persistent ; thirst intense. By 8th abdominal symptoms were increased, and mouth was affected — tongue dry, furred, and brown ; gums inflamed and tender, bleeding freely at intervals; aphthous ulceration of palate; breath offensive; ptyalism profuse. On 10th state was much the same, though stools were no longer bloody; there was still anaesthesia in lower extremities, and a profuse flow of blood from the uterus occurred during n,, though catatnenia were not due till 22nd. From next d. improvement, continu-

ing up to l8lh, when she was taken at n. with violent tcncs catharsis, bloody stools, &cc., and this attack lasted till end of Septembcf (As, however, " marked insalubrity" of the hotel at which she wa: staying [and from which she was removed Aug. 29th] is mentionrd *' caused by miasma and defective drainage," and as there were tbco ii the same wing as that occupied by her two cases of dysentery, one oj which was "• typho-malarial," this second attack is more probabl)i idiopathic than medicinal. It may be a question, moreover, whether the environment had not something to do with the unusually inflammatory character and prolonged duration of the original symptoms. — Eds,) (E, Peugnet, M.D., N. f. Med. Record, vii, 124.)

1. a. In the summer of i860, 3 members of the same family were affected with symptoms of digestive organs, which terminated in death of the two younger sufferers. Symptoms. — In the last d. of June 01 1st of July Jean J — , st. 23, was suddenly seized with violent pain in epigastrium, intense thirst, vomiting, sensation of heat in fauces and upper part of abdomen, some diarrhoea. These symptoms soon subsided. Some time afterwards they recurred without noticeable cause, but in still greater intensity. When seen (Aug. 29th) his face was thin and had an anxious expression, eyes surrounded by a black circle, no sleep for several n., vision only affected during and after the vomitings no mental symptoms, temperature of skin normal, very weak, anorexia, insatiable thirst, feeling of burning and heat in epigastrium and along oesophagus, acid eructations, frequent vomiting, which was renewed every time he drank ; the stools contained some blackish matter resembling blood ; stools attended by tenesmus. He died Aug. 31st.

b. A younger brother, aet. 22, soon afterwards showed the same symptoms, excepting the tenesmus and bloody stools ; these symptoms persisted, and he died Sept. 14th.

c. Marie B — , mother of the above, an old woman, was on Aug. 24th seized with violent pain in fauces, intense thirst, vomiting ol greenish matter, with pain in epigastric region ; she passed some liquid stools, and had often very painful flushes of heat from the upper part of the abdomen to chest and lower part of neck ; these ended in acid eructations. Seen Aug. 29th she was found to be very weak, noises in ears, sight only affected during the efforts to vomit, she then sees objects through a mist; insomnia, pulse regular, 75; tongue natural, broad, moist; anorexia, thirst not quite so intense as before ; uniform redness of m.m. of fauces and slight swelling of tonsils, the flushes of heat not so frequent, feeling of burning in stomach, accompanied by inclination to vomit and acid eructations, no stool since last n. She was treated medically, and recovered about the 20th Sept. She said that when she was in pain her gait was unsteady, her legs weak, and she had to support herself by the furniture. Chemical and physiological examination of the contents of the stomach in the 2 fatal cases led to the conclusion that all three had been poisoned by Ver. alb. [Gazette Hebdomadaire^ viii, 499.}

1. In excessive dose V. operates as a narcotico-acrid poison, producing gastro-intestinal inflammation and an affection of the nervous system. The symptoms are, violent vomiting and purging (sometiaies

^B of blood), tenesmus, burning sensation of mouth, throat, oesophagus, ^H and intestines, constriction of throat with sense of strangulation, griping ^B pain in bowels, small and in some cases almost imperceptible pulse, ^V &iatness, cold sweats, tremblings, giddiness, blindness, dilated pupils, ^m Jon of voice, convulsions, and insensibility terminating in death. A V ciitaneous eruption has in some instances followed the use of V. I ■ am indebted to Dr. Wm. Raynor, of Stockport, for notes of three cases w of poisoning by the infusion. The symptoms resembled those just r mentioned, except that there was no purging. All three cases rapidly recovered, and there were no after-effects. (Pereira, of>. cit.)

1. Bergius, Briickmann, EttmQller, and others, have described the operation of V. when taken internally. There was often swelling of tongue and soreness of mouth, and in all the cases burning heat in stomach and vomiting were observed, with anxiety, tremor, vertigo, weakness of limbs, faintness, syncope, aphonia, interrupted respiration, a feeble pulse, convulsions, distortion of eyes, dilated pupils, blindness, mental derangement, sometimes prolonged insensibility, and cold sweating of whole body. In not a few instances death resulted, when inflammation of stomach and congestion of lungs were found. When the efiects were not fatal, there often remained for several d. debility, tremulousness, muscular twitching, and a sense of constriction and distress in the pnecordial region. * * * Powdered hellebore applied to the epigastrium may produce vomiting, and, if the cuticle is broken, the further constitutional effects of the drug may be experienced. (SriLLi, ep. cit.)

III. Experiments on animals. — i. Wibmer has given an abstract of the experiments of Wepfer, Courtin, Viborg, Schabel and Emmert, Orfila, Hertwich, and others with V., on various animals both small and large. The effects were nearly the same however it was introduced into the system, and consisted of straining to vomit or actual vomiting, salivation, general debility, a small, feeble, irregular, or rapid pulse, slow and laboured respiration, spasms of abdominal muscles, general tonic or clonic convulsions, tremulousness and a tottering gait, increased urine and perspiration, contraction of pupils, and insensibility. After death the lungs were usually found congested, and, when the poison had been introduced into the stomach, the mucous membrane of this organ was red. (Ibid.)

1. Orfila introduced into thigh of dog 15 gr. of powdered root. It caused vertigo, vomiting and purging, and death in 7 h. P.M. revealed slight inflammation of mucous membrane of stomach, and red patches of this membrane in rectum. {Toxic.y sub voce.)