Solanum Carolinense

Horse-nettle. N. O. Solanaceæ. Tincture of fresh ripe berries.

Clinical

Convulsions / Epilepsy / Tetanus

Characteristics

Solan. car. is a domestic remedy in the Southern States for "convulsions," and it has been tested by several old-school authorities (H. R., xi. 20) in cases of epilepsy with some success. Doses of from 30 to 60 drops were given three times a day, the only unpleasant effects being a "mild diarrhœa" in some cases. Grahn (H. R., xii. 462) relates a case of hysterical tetanus in a young negro woman. She had laughed whilst holding a pin in her mouth, and the pin had lodged in her throat. She had managed to get rid of it by coughing, but had hurt the throat, and the tetanic spasms followed. Passiflor. did good, but the supply gave out, and Sol. car. was given instead. By error of an attendant, maximum doses (two drachms every forty minutes) were given, and a state of dangerous stupor followed. However, all muscles were relaxed, and remained so the rest of that day. Next day a slight return of the spasms was remedied with half-drachm doses of Sol. car. It was several days before the disease was entirely overcome.