Melilotus officinalis

Volume III — Main text

MELILOTUS.

MtHUHus 90icinaiisj L. Yclluw mclilot. Nut. Ord., Ltgnmnnm.

I. Prwit^t. — 1. a. Dr. G. W. BoweN, after taking !n 1851 some tinct. of dried root, bad a violent hradarhc, from which on md and 3rd d. he was almost delirious. On 4th d. blood giished from his nose, and he lost conM:iousneu. Auistancc was obtained, and he recovered. (C. ^. MfJ, anJ Surg, Joum., v., 317.)

1. After 15 years he took one d. at 6 p m. 10 dr. of the ist cent. dil. All that c. had acrid and burning eructations ; slept tolerably well, but felt oppressed, heavy, and tired next m. That afternoon had red face, and felt sleepy and dull. At 9 p.m. after a hard day**- work accomplished with effort, had a horrible oppressive headache, and felt dizzy, taint, and nau^icated. Before 10 had severe pain, apparently in r.lung, vith occasional pain in 1. hip, and twitching of muscles. Before he got to sleep, abdomen became considerably bloated, with crawling sensation as of worms near ftnus. On 3rd d. awoke after sleeping badly with much soreness in chest internally, and oppression as from a great weight. Thrnugh d. much difliculty in breathing, every inspiiation lalHiiin-d, with continued fulness in chest and head. On 4th d. woke with spasmodic cough, in addition to Homc dyspnira, onurrvuon, and fulness of chest. He repeatedly examined his clothes to mtc it they did not constrict him i was extremely nervous, and during this d. the severe, opprc»>ive, heavy and throbbing headache returned, causing feeling as if cerebral blood. vessels would give wray. Easief^t when perfectly quiet. Was obliged to void water very frequently. On sth d. cough was horribly distressing ; very easily wearied, with inability to get air enuueh i head better. Towards m. slight and difficult expectoration, affording a little relief, but was obliged to have fomentations on chest during n., was delirious part of n., and talked almost constantly. Next d. was unable to attend to work, but recovered in a few d. more. (U. S, Iwvest.^ Aug. islh, 1878, p. 156.)

I. Dr. T. C. Duncan chewed portion ot plant. After a h. headache gradually began, confined to 1. supra-orbital region, aggravated by motion, better on lying down; if he allowed himself 10 think hard, which there was a disposition to do, it was worse \ on talking, it quite left forehead and settled in occiput, returning to forehead when he ceased speakings it took alwut 1 in. to travel to and fro, and he could feel the migration; when he walked about whole head was affected, but still worst over I. eye. This headache lasted about i h. [Me J. Imteit., 1874, p. 519.)

II. PotJonittgt, — I. Dr. BowEN placed a lot of the cut plants In a riKim where his wife expected some company. The odour was so heavy that it gave some of them a terrible oppressive headache. Mrs. B. has found that a few sprigs of the plant in ■ bouquet will give her this headache. (U. S. Inves/.f loc. cit.)

a. He gave i dr. of tinct,, in 4 dosek at 3 h. intervals, to a lady afflicted from childhood with sick headaches occurring every a or 3 weeks } she had also prolapsus uteri and inguinal hernia. In a week, looking very pale, she reported effect of medicine to have been a terrible headache, from which she found no relief until her nose began to bleed, which it did at intervals for 3 d. Had had no return of headaches for 7 mo. {Ibid.)

1. A sludent, afflicted from childhood with neuralgic pains in limbs and periodical nervous headaches (1 — 4 weeks), took a few dr. of tinct. Next d. was talcen with Kvere headache, Ix^ting nearly 14 h., then relieved by epLstaxis, which came on freely and recurred at intervals for some 48 h. He had had no return of his usual pains for 5 mo. {IhiJ.)

4, Dr. B. saturated handkerchief of a young lady with i^t dil. After 8 d. he met her, looking pale, and telling what a terrible headache she had suffered from for 3 d.,and how oppressed for bieath, and what a tickling cough, from which she could get no relief until her nose began to bleed, which it did for a d. (/W.)