Chimaphila
By Timothy F. Allen — The Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica
Chimaphila umbellata, Nutt.
Nat. order , Ericaceæ; Synonyms , Pyrola umbellata, Linn., Chimaphila corymbosa, Pursh; Common names , Pipsissewa, Prince's Pine.
Preparation , Tincture of whole plant when in flower.
Authority.
Dr. S. A. Jones, collection from various sources, Am. Obs., 12, 300.
In one case of ague its diuretic operation was evident; the urine discharged was almost black; it appeared as if a few drops of sulphate of iron had been put into an astringent infusion.
Patient laboring under ascites took a strong infusion of the plant; the following nights he voided more urine than he had in the three nights and days previous put together; "the color of his water has changed from that of brickdust to the exact hue of the infusion drank" (that is, like green tea).
Organic disease of the liver. Tapping necessary; took the infusion. "Its influence on the kidneys was apparent in two days, for the quantity of urine discharged in twenty-four hours amounted to two pints, and was soon increased to three and occasionally four pints; a decided effect was produced upon the stomach which we had not looked for, namely, an increase of appetite; the strength improved daily, the countenance became less sallow, and the abdomen did not begin to fill for several weeks."
A young man, who had drank a pint of the infusion, "would have slept well if he had not been constantly waked by calls to make water."
An agreeable sensation was perceived in the stomach soon after taking it, followed in some instances by an extraordinary increase of appetite.
It has produced sickness at the stomach, so that the patient could not continue its use.
"A young woman, who took the extract, experienced great increase of appetite, as well as augmentation of the discharge of urine of a greenish color. She adds that at the same time she felt a most uncommon sensation in the small of her back in the region of the kidneys, sometimes on one side of the spine, and sometimes on the other, as if something were fluttering within, without occasioning pain or uneasiness of any sort ; she has never experienced the same sensation since she left off taking the medicine."
The bruised leaves, held to the fire until they were as hot as could be endured, were applied to a shoulder affected with acute rheumatism for three hours. "The application produced great heat, irritation, and redness, followed by such sharp pain that profuse sweat over the whole body ensued."
SUPPLEMENT: CHIMAPHILA. Authorities. ( 2 to 4 , Essay by John S. Mitchell, Philada., 1803).
2 , W. M. Walmsley took 40 grains of fresh leaves of P. mac. at 10.30 A.M. (pulse 80); 3 , Dr. A. Gregg, Jr., took 55 grains of same plant, with no effect; 4 , grains of fresh leaves of P. umbel., after twenty minutes 20 grains more, pulse 70, at 1.30 P.M.; 3 a , same, took 25 grains at 11 A.M., pulse 72; 3 b , same, took at 9 A.M. 30 grains, pulse 76; 4 , Dr. Mitchell applied the bruised leaves of P. mac., wet occasionally with vinegar, to one arm, without result, as when given internally; at the same time applied P. umbel. in same way to the other arm; 5 , H. P. Gatchell, Am. Hom. Obs., vol. xiii, New Ser., 3, 1876, p. 73, proving of P. rotund.; 6 , H. P. Gatchell, Am. Hom. Obs., vol. xiii, New Ser., 3, 1876, p. 75, proving of P. mac.; 7 , ibid., another proving.
MIND
- Very nervous, cannot bear anything at all; hot, irritable, restless; thinks diseased state of the blood irritates the skin, as before the eruption of erysipelas, scarlet fever, or measles; itches terribly, 7.
- Melancholy, 5.
- Stupid and sleepy, 5.
- Becomes partially unconscious, feels like fainting, as if brain paralyzed, mind gone, 5.
HEAD
- Some dizziness in the head (after seventy minutes), 3a.
- Head heavy, feels as if he would fall down on it, 5.
- Wants the head pressed, 7.
- Slight headache (after forty minutes), 3b.
- Headache, with pain in the bowels, 7. [10.]
- Feeling of weight, as if in brain, along the brow, 5.
- Sharp pains and heat in interior of head, unfitting for exertion, 7.
- Pain in and above the forehead, 7.
- Dull heavy pain in the whole front and top of the head, 6.
- Pain over right eye, 5.
EYE
- At first eyes clear, now they burn; lids feel sore, 5.
NOSE
- Nose runs, 5.
MOUTH
STOMACH. [20.]
- Extreme gnawing hunger, 7.
- Slight nausea at the stomach (after fifteen minutes); nausea stationary after repeating the medicine (after twenty minutes), 3.
- Feels drunk, and as if stomach burnt up with liquor, as if hard, dry, and tough, and as if rennet would be good for it, 5.
- Burning in stomach, 5.
ABDOMEN
- Sharp pain in right hypochondrium, 5.
- Liver feels as if enlarged, 5.
- Bowels hard and swollen; thinks the glands are swollen; bowels very painful, sore, and hard; feels as if dropsy of abdomen, 7.
- As if bowels were sore and swollen on right side, 5.
- Coliclike pains between the pubes and navel, 7.
- Pain in bowels, 7. [30.]
- Uneasy sensations in his bowels (after one hundred minutes), 3.
STOOL
- After the colic pains a diarrhœa, not very weakening, 7.
SEXUAL ORGANS
- Aching in vagina, as if labia inflamed, 5.
- Sensation of swelling in labia, 6.
- Stinging in labia, as if boils there, 6.
- Excitement of sexual system, 7.
PULSE
- In five minutes, pulse 80; ten, 80; fifteen, 80; twenty, 80; thirty, 79; thirty-five, 79; forty, 80; sixty, 80. No increase either in fulness or force, 2.
- In five minutes, pulse 74; ten, 84, fifteen, 88; twenty, 75; twenty-five, 76; thirty, 79; thirty-five, 76; forty, 74; forty-five, 71; fifty, 71; fifty-five, 70; sixty, 65; sixty-five, 66; seventy, 69; seventy-five, 66; ninety, 64; one hundred and five, 64; one hundred and twenty, 60. Pulse somewhat weaker (after one hundred minutes), 3.
- In ten minutes, pulse 66; fifteen, 66; twenty, 64; twenty-five, 62; thirty, 62; forty, 60; fifty, 60; sixty, 62; seventy, 60; eighty, 57; ninety, 60. Pulse fuller (after ten minutes); weak (after seventy minutes), 3a.
- In five minutes, pulse 76, ten, 76; fifteen, 78; twenty, 80; twenty-five, 80; thirty, 80; forty, 78; fifty, 76; sixty, 76; seventy, 72; eighty, 73; ninety, 72; one hundred and five, 76; one hundred and fifteen, 76. Pulse fuller and harder (after twenty minutes), 3b.
NECK AND BACK. [40.]
EXTREMITIES
- Limbs feel full, as if distended; feeling like that from erysipelas, 7.
- Sensation of swelling in the arm-pits, 6.
- Pain from armpit to scapulæ, 6.
- Right arm as if paralyzed, 7.
- Pain in bones of forefinger, 7.
- Needlelike pains in the hip-bones, 7.
- Legs and arms weak, 5.
GENERALITIES
- Seems to run all through the blood as a stimulant, 5. [50.]
- Thinks it a very penetrating medicine, 5.
- Feels like fainting, 5.
- Whole system utterly relaxed, not strength, no vigor, 5.
- Pains as in all the bones, 7.
SKIN
- A great deal of inflammation, which continued for six or eight days, accompanied with intolerable itching in the part, and succeeded by desquamation; this was considerably different from the vesication produced by Cantharides; for besides that the cuticle was very little raised with water, the inflammation extended to a much greater distance round the part, and the next day the blister was circumscribed with an eruption, which continued to increase for some time, having very much the appearance of a ringworm, 4.
SLEEP
- Continued to be drowsy, with very weak feeling in head, 5.