Aralia Racemosa

Aralia racemosa, L.

Natural Order , Araliaceæ.

Common name , Spikenard (American name).

Authority.

S. A. Jones, M.D., Hales's New Remedies, third edition, p. 471. At 3 P.M., I took 10 drops of the mother tincture in 2 ounces of water.

On retiring at 12 P.M., felt as well as I ever did. Had no sooner laid down than I was seized with a fit of asthma. I had laid upon my back when the following symptoms had supervened: Dry wheezing respiration, sense of impending suffocation, and rapidly increasing dyspnœa. Very loud musical whistlings during both inspiration and expiration, but louder during inspiration . The attack soon reached its acme, and phlegm began to come up. It was scanty, but each expectoration was attended with a sensation that more would soon follow. My wife now observed that my wheezing was so labored as to make the whole bed vibrate. Could not possibly lie down; felt that I would suffocate if I did not sit up. Phlegm began to come freer and more abundantly; had a markedly salty taste, and felt quite warm in the mouth. Right lung appeared to be more oppressed than the left.

When the worst of the attack was over I lay on my right side, and then it seemed as if all the oppression and discomfort was in the right lung. Shortly after I turned over, and soon it felt as if my left lung was affected, while the right was entirely relieved.

It took a long time for me to "come to." Had a constant desire to clear the chest of something, so that I could inspire better.

All the obstruction seemed to be in inspiration . On making a forcible expiration, in the attempt to clear the chest, had a raw, burning, sore feeling behind the whole length of the sternum, and in each lung, most intense behind the sternum. Slept well all night. After rising in the morning, raised some loose phlegm easily.

I am inclined to asthma, and at first though this one of its attacks; but as the phenomena were evolved, the programme was so different that my drink of Aralia flashed into memory.

On the night of the 28th, I was literally drenched with perspiration while asleep. Was wakened by a patient, when it passed off and did not recur.

29th. I have been annoyed all day by a dread that my right lung is seriously diseased. Could not shake off the fear. Cough now and then, raising a little phlegm, which is involuntarily swallowed. Took 10 drops of the tincture at 1.30 A.M. No symptoms that night. On rising at 8.30, bowels felt as they have done after a large-sized "spree." Faintly defined nausea in throat and stomach, and sensation in intestines as if diarrhœa would set in. At 3.15 P.M., went to closet, expecting from my feelings a loose stool. Evacuation was soft, yellow, about a teaspoonful in quantity, and expelled with great difficulty. Mucous memnbrane of rectum came down like a tumor (Have had hæmorrhoids). After stools, and while sitting on the "throne," an aching pain in the rectum, extending upward, and on the left side.

Feel weak, prostrated, half sick, and filled with a vague nausea.