Juglans cinerea

Volume I — Special Symptomatology

{Butternut^

Botanical Description. — Th i s is an indigenous forest tree, known in different sections of the country by the various names of Butternut, Oilnut, and White Walnut. In favorable situations it attains a great size, rising sometimes fifty feet in height, with a trunk three or four feet in diameter at the distance of five feet from the ground. The stem divides at a small distance from the ground into numerous horizontal branches, which spread widely and form a large tufted head, giving to the tree a peculiar aspect. The young branches are smooth and of a grayish color, which has given origin to the specific name of the plant. The leaves are very long,

and consist of seven or eight pairs of sessile leaflets, and a single petiolate leaflet at the extremity. These are two or three inches in length, oblonglanceolate, rounded at the base, acuminate, finely serrate and somewhat downy. The male and female flowers are distinct upon the same tree. The former are in large aments, four or five inches long, hanging down from the sides of the shoots of the preceding year's growth, near their extremity. The fertile flowers are at the end of the shoots of the same spring. The germ is surmounted by two, large, feathery, rose-colored stigmas. The fruit is sometimes single, suspended by a thin, pliable peduncle; sometimes several are attached to the sides and extremity of the same peduncles. The drupe is oblong-oval with a terminal projection, hairy, viscid, green in the immature state, but brown when ripe. It contains a hard, dark-colored, oblong pointed nut, with a rough, deeply and irregularly furrowed surface. The kernel is thick, oily, and pleasant to the taste.

History. — The Butternut grows in Upper and Lower Canada, and throughout the whole Northern, Eastern, and Western United States. In the Middle States the flowers appear in May, and the fruit ripens in September.

The bark is used in dyeing wool a dark-brown color, though inferior for this purpose to that of the Black Walnut. It is said, when applied to the skin, to have a rubefacient effect. The inner bark is the medicinal portion, and that of the root being considered most efficient, is directed by the National Pharmacopoeia. It should be collected in May or June.

Officinal Preparations — Tincture of the inner bark (or leaves) ; triturations of Juglandin.

Analogues. — Bryonia, Oolocynth, Ptelea, Oroton tig.. Podophyllum, Iris, Sulphur, Rhus.

Sensorium.

Depression of spirits; mind depressed. Vertigo, with faintness.

Head.

Dull headache on rising, passing off on getting up. Fullness of the head at night. 0 Eruptions on the scalp.

Eyes.

Inflammation, with pustules on the lids and around the eyes.

Ears.

Pain on swallowing, which is deep, drawing, tickling.

Nose.

Coryza from the left nostril. Dryness of the nose.

Face.

Erythematous redness.

Mouth, Teeth and Throat.

Sore throat, with dry lips and mouth moist.

Tip of the tongue is sore, with dryness of the fauces.

• Throat feels swollen, with pain on the right side.

° Chronic inflammation of the throat, with general debility.

{Norton.)

Appetite, Taste, etc.

Loss of appetite, with coppery taste.

Gastric Symptoms. Nausea in the morning; vomiting, retching, with colic. ° Indigestion, with gastric irritability; flatulence.

Stomach.

Sinking sensation at the stomach, and boring in the stomach.

Abdomen.

Deep-seated pain on left side near the kidneys. Pain in the epigastrium. Heat and pain in epigastrium.

Flatulence and aching in the abdomen after dinner. Irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bowels, followed by dysentery.

Stool.

Loose stool which smells like onions. Tenesmus and burning after stool {primary). ° Constipation preceded by diarrhoea (secondary). ° Colic, very severe and prostrating, with purging. ° Diarrhoea of soldiers in camps. (IVeidhard.)

Larynx and Trachea. Rattling in bronchia on coughing, without expectoration. Expectoration of very tenacious mucous and musty sputa.

Chest and Respiration. Pain on the left side, worse on pressure.

Great oppression in the chest, with cutting pains in the lungs. Congestion of the lungs. Stitching pain under the right scapula. ° Scrofulous consumption, with great emaciation. (Small.)

Back.

Aching pain in small of the back on stooping. Aching pain in the lumbar vertebrae. Shooting pain in the lumbar region.

Upper Extremities.

Aching pains in arms and wrists, as if sprained.

Great pain in right axilla, extending down the arms, along the

course of the nerves. Aching in right shoulder.

Lower Extremities. Heat on inner side of the thigh, and in the feet, with cramp like pain in left hip at night.

Skin.

*A peculiar exanthematous eruption, very much resembling the flush of scarlet fever.

• Erysipelatous inflammation of the skin of the body and

extremities.

• Erythematous redness of the face.

• Eruption resembling eczema simplex. {Dr. Martin?)

• Pustular eruptions.

[Dr. A. E. Horton, of East Poultney. Vermont, claims to have extensive experience with Juglans in acute and chronic skin diseases. He claims that it is curative and homoeopathic to the " whole range of skin diseases, from simple erythema to pemphigus." In the second edition of New Remedies, and in the journals since, he has reported many cases of pustular, vesicular, erythematous, and ulcers; also, other lesions of the skin cured promptly with the tincture and dilutions, or triturations of Juglandin. He mentions its successful use in nearly all cutaneous eruptions. The internal administration is aided by a lotion of the same medicine.]

[Dr. Small, of Chicago, reports a case of noli me tangere on the nose and mouth, cured by a cold infusion of the leaves; also, cases of scrofula and scrofulous swelling of the glands.]

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

The bark of the Butternut has been used as a cathartic, and for diseases of the skin, in domestic and irregular practice, for many years. This tree is indigenous to this country, as is the Juglans nigra, or Black walnut, which is closely similar to the Juglans regia or European walnut.

The Butternut has an oblong fruit, about two and a half inches in length by nearly one inch in diameter. The other two have a fruit nearly round. All the three species have many properties in common, but the Butternut is supposed to be the most active medicine.

The provings published in my second edition of “New Remedies/’ were made with tinctures of the bark, root, leaves, and twigs. All portions of the tree are medicinal, but the inner bark of the root is the most active. Eberle says it will “vesicate and pustulate” when applied to the skin. Rafinesque says the “green rind rubbed on tetters and ringworms dispels them.” This I know to be a fact from frequent observations when a boy, and I know, too, that the juice of the green rind irritates the skin intensely, and a drop in the eye causes intense inflammation, lasting several days. Rafinesque says: “The fresh bark of the Juglans cinerea is rubefacient and blistering,” and that an extract is a mild cathartic and almost specific in dysentery, jaundice, etc.

Dr. Clotar Muller recommends the Nux juglans (European walnut) for the same conditions.

A writer in the “Ilygea,” vol. xxii, Nos. 1 and 2, commenting on the pathogenesis of Nux juglans, very aptly describes the sphere of action of all these species. He says:

In the digestive organs it causes derangement and irritation, which simultaneously call forth abnormal symptoms in other organs, especially the head. After this action, which is brief, appear various exanthematous symptoms, which appear late and run a chronic course.

I believe the same may be said of Antimony, Croton, and some other remedies. (Iris, Phytolacca.)

Its action on the bowels is said to be somewhat similar to Jalap, but I think it more nearly resembles Iris. The following intestinal symptoms were noted by provers :

Loose stool, which smells like onions; diarrhoea with burning in the anus before and after stool; tenesmus and burning after stool (primary); constipation (secondary) ; painless diarrhoea ; four hours, without pain or griping.

Clinical Observations. — Dr. Neidhard states that it was found curative in the diarrhoea of soldiers in camp. Although allopaths assert it does not cause irritation of the intestines, it is doubtless homoeopathic to diarrhoea. I know it causes griping, as does rhubarb, which allopaths say it resembles in its action, in not causing constipation as a secondary effect. Every homoeopath knows that

constipation is a secondary effect of rhubarb, and the same may be said of Juglans.

King says it has been found useful in colo-rectis and several intestinal diseases, which it could not cure were it not homoeopathic to them.

The symptoms show it to be homoeopathic to dysentery and bilious diarrhoea, in which I have used it successfully in the 3d dilution.

I would advise you to try it in those morning headaches which resist the use of Nux vomica, Iris, Bryonia, and Chelidonium.

Dr. Horton, of Vermont, reports a case of “ throat disease,” which he calls “chronic inflammation,” cured by Juglandin. He does not give the special symptoms or appearance of the throat on inspection, which renders his report of little value.

The same physician makes quite a specific of Juglans (or the active principle, Juglandin, which he prefers to the tincture) in many diseases of the skin. My own experience has been limited, but Dr. Martin, of Racine, values the Juglans highly in chronic exanthemata. I will give you Dr. Horton’s experience in full. He says :

I take the liberty of sending you some of the clinical experience I have had with the Juglans cinerea, which I consider a real polychrest, so far as diseases of the muco-cutaneous surfaces are concerned. The Juglans has been used considerably by some eclectic physicians, and it was during the period that I practiced that system, that I became acquainted with it ; but thus far I have never seen any reference made to it by homoeopathic writers. Of this much, however, I am satisfied, that it is eminently homoeopathic to the whole range of skin diseases, from a simple erythema to pemphigus, and theoretically, I should say to those of a more obstinate character. It seems to be equally as well adapted to congestions and irritations of the respiratory and gastric mucous membrane, and its use has been attended with such decided success, that I feel anxious to have the profession at large give it a trial.

I give below a few of the cases in which I used the remedy alone, for I used it a long time in combination, as is natural to eclectics, attributing the cures to other ingredients, when undoubtedly they were owing to the Juglans. I have treated cases of lichen and other mild cases of skin disease with the most positive results, but I send only a few of the more important ones, which you may add to your own and others’ experience, if you had any with the remedy.

Case I. — Forrest H., aged two years, had chronic ecthema of three months’ standing ; eruption general and almost confluent, so large and thickly set were the pustules. Those upon the face seemed to be drying somewhat, with the

steady increase and aggravation of those upon the body and extremities. Had been treated allopathically at first, when the parents becoming discouraged with the prospect concluded to employ an old doctress, who professed to do wonders with roots and herbs. Consequently the child had to endure another month of active drugging with the same discouraging result. At this juncture I was called, and found the little patient suffering excessively. He could neither sit nor lie, with any degree of comfort ; worried much of the time ; slept but little ; appetite poor; diarrhoea. I prescribed Juglandin, first decimal trituration, ten grains in half a glass of water, a teaspoonful every two hours. Saw the patient again on the third day, at which time there seemed to be a little improvement. Continued the same treatment. At the end of the first week the improvement was decided ; appetite better ; slept more ; bowels becoming more healthy. The crusts were rapidly drying and falling off. Continued the Juglandin two weeks more, at longer intervals, at which time there was only a few remaining pustules of small size, which rapidly disappeared, until the cure was complete.

Case II. — Jenny H., aged eight years; ecthymatous eruption upon the body, face, and arms, attended with a painful itching sensation that created an almost irresistible inclination to tear off the crusts. I gave her a vial of the first decimal dilution, from a tincture made from the inner bark of the root of the Juglans, to be taken in three-drop doses, three times per day. In two weeks she was cured, with the exception of some slight ulceration upon the arms, the result of tearing the crusts from some of the pustules ; but these steadily healed, and in another week the cure was complete.

Case III. — A. W., adult ; had been out of health some time ; complained of languor ; slight nausea at times, and occasional wandering pains about the limbs ; was seized quite suddenly during the night with acute pain through the right hypochondriac region, darting upwards into the chest, producing considerable difficulty of respiration and some cough. There was also some nausea and considerable fever. For these symptoms I gave Aconite, which produced ready relief. The third day following the attack there appeared on the body and extremities the most general and perfect eruption of erythema nodosum I ever saw ; the patches were numerous and extensive, varying in size from that of a dollar to that of a man’s hand. I gave him Juglandin, first decimal trituration; made three visits afterwards, on alternate days, when the cure was complete, the eruptions leaving the characteristic greenish-yellow color.

Case IV. — John D., adult ; had been somewhat indisposed a week or two ; rheumatic pain in right shoulder, extending to the pectoral muscles, producing inability to draw a deep inspiration ; had a single thickly set patch of impetigo figurata upon the inside of left leg, between knee and instep, which soon became crusted, discharging a purulent ichorous secretion, that irritated the surrounding skin, producing a wide, inflammatory margin ; it was painful and sore, so much so that it was with great difficulty that he could walk. His little daughter had at the same time a considerable number of pustules of the sparse variety of impetiginous eruption upon the arms and hands. I gave him five-drop doses of the dilution of Juglans and three-drop doses of the same to the daughter, to be repeated three times per day. In ten days both were cured.

Case V. — December 15, 1865. Was called to see Flora B., aged eighteen months. Found her as follows : An impetiginous eruption upon her chin, which

had been torn and broken, producing hard crusts, which nearly covered the entire surface ; some scattering crusts of the same upon the hands and arms ; several large aphthous sores upon the inside of the lips and upon the tongue ; bowels very much constipated, altogether making the child very fretful and feverish. The ichorous secretion of the sores had inoculated the mother’s breast (she was still nursing the child), producing similar sores around the nipples.

I advised the immediate weaning of the child, and prescribed twenty drops of the first decimal dilution of Juglans in half a glass of water, a teaspoonful every four hours ; also a glycerole of the same applied to the eruption, three times per day, the same to be applied to the mother’s breast.

December 20. Very much improved ; aphthous condition of the mouth all gone; crusts rapidly drying and falling off; bowels had moved naturally and healthy. Continue the same treatment with half the former dose.

December 29. Saw the father of the child this morning ; said both mother and child were cured.

Case VI. — M. M., aged four years ; had a patch of herpes circinatus upon the chin about the size of a dollar ; had lasted two weeks, and was steadily increasing in size ; gave the second decimal dilution of Juglans three times per day in three-drop doses. In one week the crust came off, leaving the surface healthy but somewhat reddened, which soon assumed its natural hue, and in two weeks the cure was perfect.

Case YII. — In my own case its use has been attended with such satisfactory results that I cannot refrain from giving them. I have been troubled, from a child, with eczema of the hands, steadily aggravated of late years, one attack hardly subsiding before a fresh crop would make its appearance, often passing from the simple to the impetiginous variety, the ichorous and semi-purulent secretion oozing upon exercising ; the hands would crust over again, causing the most intolerable itching and soreness, in fact, I have been awakened many a time from sound sleep, to find myself scratching the skin from my hands, only to make a bad matter worse. I have also for the last five years had dyspepsia, with bronchial irritation and cough. Have used Iris versicolor and other remedies, from time to time, without the least benefit ; have taken Arsenicum a month at a time, in material doses, with but very slight improvement. During the latter part of the past summer I concluded to try the Juglans in my own case. It was at the commencement of a fresh attack. I took three doses of the mother tincture twice a day, and to my great surprise and gratification, the attack completely aborted ; the eruption disappeared in a week. I continued the medicine once a day for three weeks more, when I was equally gratified to find that the bronchial irritation had nearly left me, and that my dyspepsia was cured. I have since remained free from eruption or cough, except occasionally when I am exposed to the night air, when I get a slight return of the bronchial irritability. My appetite and digestion are good, and I can eat anything that is suitable.

Case VIII. — W. M., aged fourteen, was about the 8th of April attacked with what appeared to be a mild case of eczema of the hands and wrists. I was consulted, and prescribed Juglans, 1st decimal dilution, in five-drop doses, three times a day. I did not see him again until the 14th, when I learned from his mother that she had started three days before to carry him away to school, some forty miles ; but when about half way, she found the disease becoming suddenly

and rapidly aggravated, so much so, in fact, that she dare not proceed, but turned about and returned home immediately. She had discontinued the medicine, fearing, as she said, that it was what caused the aggravation, which I could not conscientiously dispute. At the time of my arrival, the second day after their return, as I was out of town, the eruption had become so aggravated that instead of a simple eczema, it had assumed all the characteristics of a fully developed impetigo figurata in its pustular stage. The patches had coalesced, and the eruption had become confluent generally ; the pustules were discharging and crusting over, and there was a degree of tension and pain about them that was quite unbearable. After I had looked the case over, the mother wanted to know if I thought I could cure him ; said she was afraid I could not, as she had a similar attack when a child, which baffled the skill of some half a dozen physicians. I told her that the remedy he was taking was the right one, and would cure him ; if it did not I should be very much disappointed. I immediately took the vial containing it, and made the second dilution from it with water ; told him to take the same dose as before, three times a day. I also made a lotion by putting a drachm of the tincture into half a pint of cold water, and applying cloths saturated in it all the while. This treatment was continued without any variation except to gradually diminish the dose for a period of nearly two months, at which C time the cure was complete and the medicine suspended.

Dr. Paine (eclectic) says :

The Juglandin, as I have previously remarked, acts as a direct stimulant and tonic to the cutaneous surface ; hence, I have used it in chronic eczema, herpes, pemphigus, rupia, acne, impetigo, ecthyma, lichen, prurigo, ichthyosis, molluscum, and all other forms of cutaneous diseases, and have found it to act with more certainty in these affections than any other preparation or single drug that I have used. In chronic herpes and eczema, I have found this remedy, combined with Quinine, almost a specific. My usual method of administering it in these affections is one-sixteenth of a grain of Juglandin and one-half a grain of Sulphate of quinine, four or five times a day. In some cases I have found that a large dose of Juglandin would operate beneficially, while in others a much smaller portion would be all that would be required. In the acute form of cutaneous diseases, the Juglandin appears to be very exciting and stimulating.

In the same paper he says he has known it to cause “irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bowels, followed by a peculiar exanthematous eruption , like the flush of scarlatina.”

Dr. Small reports a cure of “ noli me tangere on the nose and “cases of scrofulous swellings of the glands,” cured by Juglans.