Myrica cerifera

Volume III — Main text

MYRICA. M^ricti ctriftrttt L. Baybeny. Nit. Ord, MfricmfUB,

1, Provings, — i. Dr. H. L. Chase proved solution of alcoholic extract of bark of root, 10 gr. to 3J of alcohol. October i8th, 1864, at 6 a.m., took 5 dr. 10, very severe pressing pain in 1. side of noK, lasting about 10 m., then shifting to 1. axilla, where it was sharp and lancinating. 11, sharp pain in 1. forehead, smarting in Keye, dull aching in lumbar region. All d. sharp darting pain in r. maxillaiy joint) trembling and aching in calves, so that walking Is unpleasant; great depression and irritability, does not want to speak or to be spoken to.

Prover took drug at four different times, but could obtain no further symptoms. The depression of spirits in the last proving (in March) was followed by very marked irritability, lasting 3 or 4 d.. (Proc, of Mass, Horn, Med, Sec.^ ii, 397.)

1. a. Dr. Charles Cullis, ;ct. 32, saneuine-ncrvous temp., at 10 p.m. took 10 dr. of same. In 15 m. dull ncavy feeling over eyes, ^J soon followed by constriction across nose. Passed restless n., tossing^H about ) woke in m. with dull frontal headache ; great and unusual ^^ depression of spirits all m. ; after dinner, loose stools with pain and tenesmus ; dinner caused distress ; grumbling pain in bowels all afternoon. 10 p.m., head has ached all d. ; feel gloomy, terribly depressed. This depression of spirits continued for 3 d., and to such an extent

that it was impossible to write j he did not care about anything or for ' friends, and was wretched beyond description. h. Three mos. later took same dose at lo p.m. Slight headache

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soon followed. Severe gripings in bowels during n. j at 6.30 a.m., loose stool with pain and tenesmus. Headache still and depression of spirits. Eyelids were heavy and swollen ; and at 8 both eyes felt <)uite sore, and race was hot and flushed. 8.30, acidity of stomach (break- ^t had been eaten with appetite) ; headache was severcjust over eyes, increased by motion ; nausea. 8.45, pain in 1. upper arm. 9, pain in 3rd and little finger of r. hand ; sharp pain in 1. eye ; no inclination to move. 1 1, head ached severely, particularly over 1. eye ; great dcspondency. 2, pain in back of neck. 8, head better, but depression continued i pain in 1. lung. Next m. 1. eye was sore, and looked inflamed. Depression continued, with some constipation i former lasted 3 — 4 d. (Ihid.)

1. Miss £ — , act. 30, bilious temp., 9 p.m., took jo dr. of same. In 5 m. pain at back of 1. ear and in r. occiput. In J h. nausea ; feeling of coldness; severe pain in 1. shoulder-blade and arm, extending to end of little finger. In i h. sharp shooting pain in r., then in 1. thigh, followed by dull pain in I. shoulder. N. good. Next m. at 7, took 10 dr. In a few m. fulness in 1. eyelids, approaching to soreness. 10, dull pain under both shoulder-blades. 10.30, pain in hollow of r. foot. On following d., at 7 a.m., lo dr. more. In ^ h. severe pain in bowels. Not feeling any other effects of med,, repealed dose at 11. Immediately slight pain in 1. side j heaviness in back of head j pressure in nose. At noon, severe pain in stomach. {Ibid,)

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1. Mrs. H — , aet. 31, nervous temperament. April 2nd , at 7.30 p.m., took 10 dr. ; soon fe]t severe pain in head on both sides, near temples, which settled into heavy grinding feeling in vertex. 3rd. — At II a.m., 10 dr. In 5 m., severe nausea^ followed by heavy headache. 1 1.4-0, sensation as of fermentation towards vertex, very perceptible for 10 m.,then gradually subsided ; drowsiness followed ; nausea continues. 7th. — At 11.40 a.m. took 11 dr. In 10 m., cold chills running over vertex, with tightening of scalp, and slight nausea j these symptoms increased, and in ^ h. settled into dull grinding headache. Drowsiness followed, and she soon fell sound asleep in her chair. At 7.40 p.m. took 10 dr. In 10 m. strange feeling in stomach, no nausea; in ^ h. was again sound asleep in chair. (Ibid.)

2. a. Dr. C. WESSELHOEFTtook, Oct. 25th, 1864, 5 dr. at 10 p.m. Had slight feeling of nausea in stomach, and sweetish taste about palate for \ h. after. 26th. — 5 dr. at 7 a.m. In i h. weak sinking feeling and pressure in epigastrium, sometimes approaching nausea, increasing after breakfast^ and lasting very perceptibly all d., passing off towards e. after rapid walking.

b, Nov. I2th. — At II a.m. took 10 dr. of a tinct. Immediately after taking it, stinging cramp-like sensation in 1. prarcordial region and under ribs. In lO m., while walking, slight stinging and pressure in epigastrium. 2 p.m., colicky pain in umbilical region, in small spot, with accumulation, rumbling, and frequent passing of very offensive flatus. (Two pears had been taken in forenoon, and these always cause flatus with him, but it is inodorous and painless.) In afternoon and e. frequent sensation as of approaching diarrhoea, but without result save in a slight costive evacuation in c. Griping continued at intervals all afternoon. At lo p.m. 10 dr. Good n. 13th, 7 a.m., 15 dr. Slight heat and burning in stomach just after taking it, soon changing into painful griping pressure from I. epigastric region straight to 1. of navel. Soon after, drawing sensation in vertex and empty feeling in head ; 2 h. later, on stooping, dizziness and rush of blood to head and face ; in afternoon and e., until bedtime, dull oppressive headache in r. forehead, at juncture of parietal and frontal bones, with fulness in head. At 10 p.m. 25 dr. Slept well all n., and had no symptoms following d. save slight colicky pressure in stomach, which would hardly have been noticed had not attention been drawn to it previously in the proving. [Ibid,)

1. Dr. F, H, K.REBS, Nov. 9th, 1864, at 11 a.m., took 5 dr. of tinct. In 7 m., sensation of warmth along whole spine, especially between shoulder-blades, followed by slight chill and gentle perspiration, mostly perceptible over dorsal vertebrjc. 1 p.m., slight nausea, pain in stomach, heartburn, with increased saliva, which had to be frequently expectorated ; pain in occiput j tearing pain in 1. arm, principally between shoulder and elbow, but sometimes extending to forearm, with darting pain in middle and ring fingers. 4, again took 5 dr., and felt same symptoms, only somewhat leas marked. lOth. — Awoke in a gloomy state of mind — an unusual one for him y felt very irritable, and had constant desire to find fault ; everything went wrong ; looked upon this world as a place not fit to live in any longer ; considered

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himaelf better than the rest. At noon took 5 dr. Symptoms of d. before returned, but nausea and pain in stomach were less marked. In afternoon felt very low-spirited ; condemned himself for various imaginary faults. Towards n., a severe attack of coryza appeared, and the miserable feelings in general prevented the taking of any more med. Some of the above symptoms lasted for 4 weeks. In Feb., 1S65, took same doses with same results. Proving was continued for 2 d., when another attack of coryza obliged him to omit the medicine. {Jhid.)

1. Dr. J. E. LiNNEiX) ait. 42, nervous temp., subject to occasional rheumatic and neuralgic pains, now suffering somewhat from influenza. Oct. 1 8th, 1864, at 9 p.m., took 5 dr. of tinct. Almost immediately slight dizziness, with repeated yawning ; frequent itching and stinging in various parts. In \ b. smarting in 1. conjunctiva, followed by aching in r. eyeball ; quivering sensation in 1. upper lid ; dull pain in r. eyebrow ; feeling of pressure in both malar bones \ dull pain in middle of r. lung for a few m. ; dry sore feeling in pharynx, as when one has taken cold, succeeded by difficult deglutition. 10, smarting with dry* ness in both eyes, and feeling as of sand in them, making it difficult to close lids ; smarting in larynx and trachea \ pressure and dull pain in forehead and vertex, with throbbing synchronous with the pulse. When lying upon 1. side in bed, feeling of constriction in chest, with increased impulse of heart, so that its pulsations were audible ; symptoms were increased by warmth of bed, disturbing sleep ; burning in soles. 19th. — Woke at 6.30 with dull pressure in forehead, headache, and feeling as though he had not slept enough. Took 5 dr. at 7 a.m. Same evanescent itching, like flea-bites, occurred in a few m., followed by smarting in eyes, dry throat, slight dizziness with nausea, ringing in 1. ear, and aching excoriated feeling in posterior nares as if a fresh cold had been taken. General chilliness on going out of doors, with slight lumbar aching j dizziness all n. with fe'erish acceleration of pulse, reaching its height about 4 p.m. Ac 9 p.m. took 10 dr. ^ same itchings 10 m. afterwards in different localities ^ fulness about face and head, with throbbing j heart's impulse increased^ but pulse, ordinarily 75 — ^o, now 60 only; hot feeling in eyes ; slight griping about umbilicus, with rumbling \ empty eructation ; the itching of the ^e gave way to formication j repeated yawnings. 10, excited feverish feeling, alternating with chilliness ; pain in back, lumbar region. 2och. — Sleep disturbed by bad dreams, and broken by frequent wakings ; did not feel refscshcd in m. ; lassitude, with pain in back ; indescribable bad taste in mouth, with fulness about head. Took 10 dr. at 7 a.m. Appetite for breakfast considerably impaired ; pain in umbilical regjion immediately after. 8, general malaise and feeling of unfitness for duty i heaviness of head and confusion of intellect, could not concentrate thoughts; depression of spirits; frontal headache; nausea; shifting pains i bruised pain in I. heel. Felt through forenoon as though diarrhoea would occur, but nothing came ; general languor and depression ; burning about face and head, especially after being in open air ; feverish feeling, yet pulse (ac noon] was 60. 3 p.m., 10 dr. Soon, 3 or 4 sharp plunging pains in 1. renal region \ heaviness and pressure in head ; ringing in cars ; dull heavy pain in umbilical region i flatulence and

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eructations; soreness and pain in 1. tendo Achillis, worse upon pressure and when in motion. 2ist. — Slept very soundly until towards m., when sleep was interrupted by frequent wakings ; felt dissatisfied with amount of sleep, desiring more. No stool for 48 h., very unusual. At 7 a.m. 15 dr. In j h. pressure in all parts of head, nausea, dryness of mouth and fauces, smarting in eyes; felt irritable and easily provoked. 10, copious soft stool, with tenesmus and crampy sensation in umbilical region ; much lassitude ; weak, sick feeling ^ every kind of exertion was irksome, and required a special effort. 4 p.m., face and head felt hot; eyes burned, and tired easily on reading; fulness in digestive organs, as if food were lingering there. 22nd,-— -Sleep much disturbed by ugly dreams ; woke with pressive frontal headache, bruised pain in back, and feeling as if a severe illness had seized him ; mental state as yesterday ; nausea ; thick yellow coat on tongue ; indifferent appetite. Took a dose of nux vomica. At 9 p.m. 20 dr. 23rd. — Same state at n. and in m. At 7 a.m. 25 dr, In 1 h. pressure with dull pain in head, worst in r. temple ; ringing in ears ; slight vertigo ; exceedingly irritable, the slightest thing put him out; throbbing of cerebral vessels ; dulness of intellect, loss oi energy ; dull pain in stomach. At 8 p.m. 30 dr. 24th. — Frequent waking during n., and could not sleep after 5 ; bruised feeling of head. At 7 a.m. 40 dr. In a few m. nausea and dizziness. In I h. severe pain midway between knee and ankle, outer side; it was contractive, occasionally burning, worse on movement ; soreness to touch. Noon, general lassitude, with soreness of muscles of both thighs ; r. arm felt lame and heavy, especially about wrist ; in afternoon muscular lameness and soreness had become quite general, affecting chiefly, however, lower limbs. Stool about it a.m. (50 h. since last) ; excessive flatulence in afternoon, with frequent rumbling, as though diarrhoea would set in, and urging to stool, without result save in flatus. 7 p.m., pains about limbs now centred in muscular part above knees; continual soreness there, with occasional darting pains. Took 60 dr. at bedtime. 25th. — N. as last, and in m. head, back, and thighs the same. At 7 a.m., 60 dr. Symptoms to-day as yesterday, though perhaps less intense. In addition there was severe chill, with quivering sensation in I. calf, also numb feeling in r. temple, as if some hard substance was strongly pressed against It. At 9 p.m. a teaspoonfiil. In \ h. pleasant exhilaration, followed by excited state of nervous system, precluding sleep for several h. This was accompanied by restlessness, requiring frequent change of position. Pain in back ; sleep disturbed by dreams ; difficulty in urinating, bladder seeming to lack expulsive power. 26th. — At 7 a.m. a teaspoonful. Same exhilaration as last n., succeeded by depression and pressure about head. In afternoon quite severe frontal headache ; semi-lancinating pain in r. throat, near tonsil. 27th. — Irritable, worried by little ihings, everything seemed to go wrong j soft stool this m., with effort. 10.30 a.m., 120 dr. Noon, severe griping at stomach, followed by empty eructations ; weak faintish feeling about bowels ; copious flow of limpid urine ; ringing in ears, with pressure about head. 28th. — Whole buccal cavity, including roof of mouth, was lined with an adhesive coating, very difficult to detach. Offereive breath and foul Caste*

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Pressure about head much increased, causing confusion of thought and staggering gait. Bowels loose ; appettce very much impaired. 19th. — Same symptoms as yesterday, chough less in degree ; 2 or 3 loose stools. Nov. 2nd. — Several pimples in different parts, one quite painful on nose; symptoms generally have disappeared. 3rd. — Restless towards m. No other symptoms. (Ibid.)

1. a. Dr. Leland Walker, in good health, nervo-bilious temp. Nov. 25lh — 27th, 1865, took I, dil. several times daily in doses rising from 10 to 60 dr., without appreciable effect j but on 28th woke with dull heavy pain in forehead and through temples, worse when stooping or moving about ; pulse 51, feeble and irregular. This d. look 4 doses of rinct., 20 — 30 dr. 29th. — Slept well » in m. pulse 60. At 7.30 cook 50 dr. 12.50, has felt dull and drowsy for last 2 h. ; dull heavy pain through front part of head, worst in 1. temporal region ; increased appetite ; unpleasant fulness in stomach and upper abdomen \ felt better in open air. 6, constant hunger, yet sensation of fulness, as after a hearty meal, though he had not eaten since i ; pulse 70, full and strong. II, pulse samej dull pain in head and eyes all c., and drowsy stupid feeling, save when walking in open air. Took 60 dr. before retiring. 30th.— Sleep unusually sound ; woke with same headache and hunger, pulse 56 and feeble. At 8 a.m. took 60 dr. 3. 30, dull aching all through head and in neck; aching in upper and lower extremities; several times during last 2 d. sharp piercing pain on inner side of 1. knee, passing off quickly. 9.40, craving hunger, fulness of stomach and abdomen; head symptoms less severe. Took loo dr. Dec. ist. — Pain as before in head, with pain and stiffness in neck \ dull pain in all extremities \ pulse 52. Restless n.j much dreaming. Took 140 dr. iij pain all through head, quite severe in temples, with throbbing in superficial veins, attended with semi-stupor; pulse 75. I, symptoms somewhat mitigated ; dull dragging pain in small of back, quite severe at times ; increase of urine during last 3 d. ; constant craving appetite, with fulness as before; pulse 66. 10.30, symptoms continue; pulse 62. 2nd. — Woke with same pains in head and back ; pulse 72. 12.50, same drowsy stupor as yesterday. Symptoms continued all d. 3rd. — Woke with usual pains ; pulse 78. o p.m., has had drowsiness attended with vertigo most of d., and hunger with fulness as before; pulse 76 (before eating). 1 1, pain in back and under 1. scapula ; head same ; pulse 65. Passed 31 oz. of high-coloured urine during last 24 h,, sp. gr. 1020. 4ih. — Same symptoms; eyes felt swollen and had yellowish tint ; stool (hitherto quite normal!) lighter-coloured than usual ; sharp pain once in region of heart, lasting a few m. ; pulse 71 in m., 56 at noon, 61 in c. Passed 43 oz. of^urine during 24 h., colour nearly normal. 5th. — Same state ; stool as yesterday ; pulse before breakfast 54, after 71. 12.50, coldness of lower extremities, with pain from knees down. Passed 36 oz. of urine to-day, colour nearly normal, sp. gr. 1013, light-coloured sediment after standing. 6th. — Woke feeling (for first time since beginning proving) quite well ; but stool and urine as yesterday in appearance, sp. gr. of latter 1028. 7th. — Well save for sediment in urine. On 8th this had gone ; but on 9th sp.gr. was 1035, and oa loch 1029. After this it became normal.

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A. Having taken no M. since Dec, fst, and being now quite well. Dr. W. began, Dec. 14th, to prove the pulverised bark, of which that d. he took 5 gr. without effect. 15th. — Took 10 gr., but felt nothing save some dull aching in small of back. i6th. — Woke with same, and also frontal headache as before. This went off during d., but back continued to ache, and throat was somewhat sore. 17th. — Besides aching in head and back, hunger and fulness have returned. At 8 a.m. took 20 gr., and put some moistened with water on posterior part of forearm. Throat sore still to-day, and urine dark-coloured. i8th. — As yesterday; throat feels swollen, and stool is rather light. 19th, — Woke m same condition -, took 40 gr. at 7 a.m. Nausea and gagging soon after dose ; light stool, and dark urine with pinkish brown sediment. 20Ch. — Same. Stool loose and light. Took 80 gr. Constriction and much stringy mucus about throat ; drowsy stupor and deficient concentration of mind ; urine same (21 oz. only}, and sp. gr. 1030. 21SL — Woke tired ; scalp sore to touch ; head more dull than painful ; eyes heavy and weak. At 9 a.m. took i6ogr. Symptoms much as before ; no stool ; urine dark, 1032 {20 oz.), 22nd. — Restless n. till 2, then slept till 7 } woke with dull pain in head and eyes, latter congested and yellow ; back and throat same i no appetite, tongue furred ; bad taste in mouth and nausea. Pappy stool ; urine high-coloured and frothy, with considerable sediment, sp, gr. 1031 (19 oz.), 23rd. — Restless n. ; symptoms of head, throat and back continued and increased; passed this m. 3i oz. of very high-coloured urine, looking like strong beer, with large amount of^ froth of yellowish tint, sp. gr. 1032. Left home, feeling miserable and dejected ; and returned in same state on e. of 27th, Urine had been very scanty, high-coloured, and frothy. 28th. -^No appetite, could eat no breakfast ; dulness and heaviness of head and eyes ; pain in back and hepatic region ; felt sick and weak all over -, conjunctivae congested and yellow, race and neck yellow ; frequent eructations of flatus, relieving pressure in stomach for a short time only. 29th, — Woke from unrefreshing sleep with exacerbation of all symptoms ; bad taste in mouth ; tongue thickly coated, dirty-white or yellowish ; throat and nares filled with offensive tenacious mucus ; whole surface of body has yellowish tint ; loathing for food, strong desire for acids ; soft clay-coloured stool ; chilly when out in air ; aching in limbs and all over body ; urine same. Continued same up to Jan. 5th ; since 1st took medicines for the jaundice, but without effect. On 5th began digitalis i„ 5 dr. every 3 h. ; improvement began next d., and continued till 20th, when he was well but weak. [Prover mentions that during some part of the time in which he was experimenting a sort of jaundice was epidemic in his city j but justly points to the other symptoms and their occurrence in both trials as evidence that his whole illness was caused by the drug. — Eds.] (Hale's Nov Remtdiis^ 2nd ed.)

1. I have taken 1 dr. of the 1st dil. n. and m. for the last 7 or 8 d. During this lime my bowels have been rather more active than usual, and the colour of the excreta much lighter, i.e. of a brighter yellow than usual. I have noticed no other ef^cts which might not be mcidental. (Sharp, M. Horn, Rev.y xx, 749.)