Elaterium. (Elaterium Officinarum.)

Squirting Cucumber. Cucurbitaceæ.

A species of Momordica used by the ancients in angina, dropsy, gout, sciatica and rheumatism, and applied as a cataplasm in hemicrania. Mesue, the Arabian, speaks highly of it.

The tincture is prepared from the fruit.

Provings by Matthews and Cooper. See Allen's Encycl., vol. 4, p. 200 .

CLINICAL AUTHORITIES.

• Flatulent colic , Matthews, Allg. Hom. Ztg., vol. 83, p. 127 ; Diarrhœa , Matthews, Allg. Hom. Ztg., vol. 83, p. 126 ; Dysenteria biliosa , Matthews, Allg. Hom. Ztg., vol. 83, p. 126 ; Cholera morbus (2 cases), Matthews, Allg. Hom. Ztg., vol. 83, p. 126 ; Rheumatic sciatica , Matthews, Allg. Hom. Ztg., vol. 83, p. 127 ; Neuralgic pains of right side of body , Matthews, Allg. Hom. Ztg., vol. 83, p. 127 ; Intermittent fever (2 cases), Matthews, Allg. Hom. Ztg., vol. 83, p. 126 ; (2 cases) Jeanes, Allen's Int. Fever, p. 119 ; Allg. Hom. Ztg., vol. 83, p. 127 ; Tertian intermittent , Ingersoll and Goodno, Organon, vol. 3, p. 369 ; Quotidian intermittent with icterus , Firmat, Raue's Rec., 1875, p. 273 ; Febris biliosa (2 cases), Matthews, Allg. Hom. Ztg., vol. 83, p. 126.

MIND [1]

Depression of spirits.

Irresistible propensity to wander from home, even in the night, and range in woods. θ Intermittent.

Fear of some approaching disaster.

SENSORIUM [2]

Head feels heavy with heat in forehead.

In the fever violent tearing pains throughout head, but most in the region of benevolence.

INNER HEAD [3]

Pains in the temples.

Headache preceding paroxysms. θ Intermittent.

Pains in head, especially in region of combativeness on both sides, with dull pain in temples. θ Indigestion.

SIGHT AND EYES [5]

Sticking as of a splinter, in inner canthus of left eye.

Whites of eyes tinged deeply yellow. θ Jaundice of new born.

HEARING AND EARS [6]

Sticking pain near rim of cartilage of l. ear.

SMELL AND NOSE [7]

Running at the nose. θ Intermittent.

UPPER FACE [8]

Heat in forehead.

TASTE, SPEECH, TONGUE [11]

Bitter taste in the mouth. θ Indigestion.

Tongue coated with a dirty brown fur ; bitter taste.

INNER MOUTH [12]

(In sick :) Spitting large lumps of yellow matter, apparently from the stomach.

PALATE AND THROAT [13]

A feeling as if posterior nares and upper part of œsophagus were enlarged.

Angina aretæus.

APPETITE, THIRST. DESIRES, AVERSIONS [14]

Much thirst with the paroxysms. θ Intermittent.

HICCOUGH, BELCHING, NAUSEA AND VOMITING [16]

Eructations of flatus.

Nausea. θ Indigestion.

Constant nausea and disposition to vomit. θ Bilious fever.

Nausea ; vomiting of a watery substance, or of greenish, bilious matter, with great weakness.

Nausea and vomiting, with fluid stool. θ Cholera sporadica.

SCROBICULUM AND STOMACH [17]

Oppression and constriction in epigastrium. θ Cholera morbus.

Dull pain and oppression in epigastrium. θ Indigestion.

HYPOCHONDRIA [18]

Dull pain in right hypochondrium. θ Biliary calculi.

Pain in left side. θ Intermittent. θ Flatulent colic.

ABDOMEN AND LOINS [19]

Cramping, tearing, gnawing pains in abdomen and chest with constipation. θ Flatulent colic.

Violent cutting pain in the bowels, recurring at intervals of 10 or 15 minutes. θ Cholera morbus.

Cutting, griping pains in bowels.

Awoke in night with violent pains in stomach and bowels, with cramps in abdomen, in many places drawn up in knots ; frequent vomiting ; in the morning weakness.

Cutting pains in bowels. θ Bilious fever.

Flatulent colic, supervening on obstinate diarrhœa, attended by borborygmus and severe pain in lower belly.

Pain in the abdomen. θ Intermittent.

Pain of a dull aching, pressing kind, over crest of right ilium, round to back, extending deep into pelvis.

Rumbling of flatus in course of cecum and colon.

STOOLS AND RECTUM [20]

Costiveness with colicky pains.

Dull olive-green discharges.

Frequent dark-green mucous stools, in masses mixed with whitish mucus, streaked with blood : great pain in abdomen ; constant urging to stool. θ Dysenteria biliosa.

Discharge of dark masses of bilious mucus.

Stools bilious. θ Jaundice of new born.

Frequent and copious stool, with cutting pain in abdomen, after taking cold by standing on damp ground after exertion.

Severe and copious discharge of a frothy fluid matter, frequently dejected, with cutting pains at intervals and vomiting. θ Intermittent.

Watery discharges from bowels of a frothy character.

Copious liquid stools.

Frequent stools of a watery nature, with vomiting.

Squirting diarrhœa.

Itching in anus, with worms.

Bleeding of hemorrhoidal tumors.

Sporadic and Asiatic cholera.

URINARY ORGANS [21]

Constant heat at neck of bladder, with extremely painful micturition, inducing even convulsions.

Suppression of urine, with cramps and neuralgic pains.

Increased flow of limpid urine.

Urine stains the diaper. θ Jaundice of the new born.

RESPIRATION [26]

Difficult breathing. θ Cholera sporadica.

INNER CHEST AND LUNGS [28]

Sharp pains at lower part of sternum, passing through to spine or lower angle of right shoulder blade.

HEART, PULSE AND CIRCULATION [29]

Stitch-like pain in region of heart.

(OBS :) Cardiac dropsy.

NECK AND BACK [31]

Pains in left sterno-mastoid muscle near its insertion at sternum.

(In sick :) Great heat under shoulder blades.

Pains under shoulder blades and in small of back.

Fugitive stitching pains in lumbar region, more on right side.

UPPER LIMBS [32]

Sharp shooting pains in left axilla, near insertion of pectoralis major muscle.

Pains extending from shoulder to ends of fingers and shooting back up to elbow.

Dull pain in right shoulder, forearm and hand, extending to fingers.

Sharp stitching pains in fingers of left hand to their extremities.

Sharp stitching pains in muscular parts of thumb.

LOWER LIMBS [33]

Tearing and gnawing pains in hips and thighs, deeply seated. θ Sciatica.

Shooting and dull aching pains in left thigh, in course of sciatic nerve, extending down to instep and extremities of toes.

Pain in right knee, extending into instep and toes.

Cramps in legs and soles of feet. θ Intermittent.

Arthritic pain in great toe.

LIMBS IN GENERAL [34]

Neuralgic pains involving whole of right side of body, from temples to foot, with swelling of right knee, suppression of urine and bitter taste in mouth.

Soreness of limbs precedes the paroxysm. θ Intermittent.

Great pain in limbs, darting down into fingers and toes.

NERVES [36]

Great prostration.

SLEEP [37]

Incessant gaping, lasting for nearly an hour.

Continued gaping and stretching before the attack. θ Intermittent.

Yawning and gaping with a sound resembling the neighing of a horse. θ Intermittent.

TIME [38]

Morning : weakness.

At 7 A. M. : chill lasting one to two hours.

At 12 M. and 1 P. M. : paroxysms of ague.

At 5 P. M. : severe chill, lasting one hour.

Night : desire to wander from home ; awoke with violent pain in stomach and bowels.

TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER [39]

From exposure to damp weather after measles : bilious dysentery.

Standing on damp ground after great bodily exertion : cholera morbus.

Damp ground : caused cutting pain in abdomen and copious stools.

FEVER [40]

Chilliness with continued gaping and quivering ; headache and soreness of limbs ; pains in bowels.

Chills and fever, when chill comes on with excessive yawning and stretching, which lasts all through chill.

Obstinate ague for five years, suppressed by Chin. sulph., in large doses, but always recurring at longer or shorter periods ; when chills were suppressed urticaria developed over whole surface, with a disordered state of mind, characterized by na irresistible propensity to wander from home even in the night, and range the woods. Chill occurred every third day, twice in the day, continuing two hours ; pains in head, under shoulder blades, in left side, in calves of legs and small of back ; yawning and gaping with a sound resembling the neighing of a horse ; lachrymation ; profuse coryza ; cramps in legs and soles of feet. Chill followed by high fever, which ended in copious perspiration.

Quotidian ague, which was repeatedly suppressed for a few days and then became tertian ; paroxysms preceded by much gaping and attended by much thirst, pain in abdomen and great pain in extremities, darting down into fingers.

Intermittent fever suppressed by abuse of quinine ; paroxysm at 1 P. M., preceded by headache ; pains in bowels ; soreness of limbs ; continual gaping and stretching ; during chill, slightly increased pain in head and limbs ; during heat, violent tearing pains throughout head, < on vertex ; increased pain in bowels and extremities ; pains shooting to very tips of fingers and toes, and then shooting back into body ; intense thirst ; nausea, vomiting and copious discharges from bowels of a frothy character.

Quartan ague of six week's standing, paroxysms occurring about 12 M., when an attack resembling cholera morbus supervened ; after this period severe and copious discharges of frothy fluid matter, frequently ejected from bowels, with cutting pains at intervals and vomiting.

At 5 P. M., severe chill preceded by gaping and yawning, and lasting about an hour, followed by nausea, vomiting, fever, cephalalgia, violent pains in abdomen and in all the muscles of the body, and liquid stools, this condition continued until early next morning, when it disappeared after a profuse perspiration.

Infant has chill every other day, commencing at 7 A. M., and lasting one to two hours ; heat till noon ; diarrhœa, dark green, slimy, stringy stools most frequent in afternoon, smelling like decayed meat ; starts in sleep ; mother had ague before and after birth of child.

Fever, followed by cutting pains in abdomen, watery evacuations, with nausea and vomiting. θ Febris biliosa.

Burning fever, with vomiting.

Copious perspiration, with gradual relief of all the symptoms.

During apyrexia, tongue white, taste bitter, skin of body and sclerotica of a deep yellow color, much pruritus of whole body, urine dark colored, frequent watery stools, accompanied by violent pains in abdomen, perspiration staining linen yellow. θ Quotidian intermittent with icterus.

During apyrexia urticaria, > by rubbing.

Intermittents : quotidian ; double quotidian ; tertian ; double tertian ; when suppressed by quinine or "ague cures", prone to appear under some other type, or even assuming the double type ; frequent change of type.

Time : 12 M. ; 1 P. M. ; twice a day, every third day.

ATTACKS, PERIODICITY [41]

At intervals : cutting pain in abdomen.

Intervals of 10 or 15 minutes : violent pain in bowels.

Frequent : vomiting ; dark green stools.

Attacks : of yawning and stretching before chill ; cholera morbus.

For one hour : gaping.

Twice in the day : chill lasting two hours.

Every other day : chill.

Of six week's standing : quartan ague.

Five years : obstinate ague.

LOCALITY AND DIRECTION [42]

Left : sticking as of splinter in eye ; pain in side ; pain in sterno-mastoid muscle ; pain in axilla ; pain in fingers of hand ; pain in thigh.

Right : dull pain in hypochondrium ; pain over crest of ilium ; pain in shoulder blade ; pain in side of lumbar region ; pain in shoulder ; pain in knee ; pain in side of body from temples to foot ; swelling of knee.

SENSATIONS [43]

As of a splinter in left eye ; as if posterior nares and upper part of œsophagus were enlarged.

Pain : in temples ; in head ; in region of combativeness ; in left side ; in abdomen ; in left sterno-mastoid muscle ; under shoulder blade ; in small of back ; from shoulder to ends of fingers and shooting up to elbow ; in right knee to instep and toes ; in calves.

Violent pain : in stomach ; in bowels ; in lower belly.

Violent tearing pains : throughout head.

Tearing pain : in abdomen ; in chest ; in hip ; in thighs.

Cutting pain : in bowels.

Shooting pain : in left axilla near insertion of pectoralis major muscle ; from fingers to elbow ; in left thigh to instep and toes.

Stitching pain : in lumbar region ; in fingers of left hand ; in muscular part of thumb.

Stitch-like pain in region of heart.

Sticking pain : in left eye ; near rim of cartilage of ear.

Great pain : in limbs.

Griping pain : in bowels.

Cramps : in legs ; in soles of feet.

Cramping pain : in abdomen ; in chest.

Gnawing pain : in abdomen ; in chest ; in hips ; in thighs ; Constriction : in epigastrium.

Neuralgic pains : in urinary organs ; in whole right side of body.

Sharp pain : at lower part of sternum ; through to spine or shoulder blade.

Dull aching pain : over crest of right ilium round to back ; in l. thigh ; to instep and toes.

Arthritic pain : in great toe.

Burning : over whole body.

Soreness : of limbs.

Dull pain : in temples ; in epigastrium ; in right hypochondrium ; in right shoulder ; in forearm ; in hand, extending to fingers ; Heat : in forehead ; at neck of bladder ; under shoulder blade.

Heavy feeling : of head.

Oppression : in epigastrium.

Itching : in anus ; over whole body.

TISSUES [44]

Causes profuse flow of watery serum from mucous membranes, especially from that stomach and intestinal tract.

Chills and fever.

Hydrops ; post-scarlatinal dropsy.

Promotes opening of abscesses and boils.

TOUCH. PASSIVE MOTION. INJURIES [45]

Rubbing : urticaria >.

SKIN [46]

Whole surface of body of an orange yellow color, whites of eyes deeply tinged ; urine stains the diaper ; bilious stools. θ Icterus neonatorum.

Skin and conjunctiva yellow ; much burning and itching over the body. θ Intermittent fever.

Urticaria with intolerable itching, > by rubbing.

Urticaria over whole surface of body when chills of tertian intermittent were suppressed.

Measles followed by dysentery.

Erysipelas.

STAGE OF LIFE, CONSTITUTION [47]

Child, æt. 3 days ; icterus.

Child, æt. 5, after worry from an attack of measles caught cold from exposure to damp weather ; dysentery.

EC. Griffith, aged 6 years, dark hair and eyes, brunette skin and strong constitution ; colic.

Girl, æt. 10 ; intermittent fever with icterus.

Girl, æt. 25 ; cholera morbus.

Th. Myers ; cholera morbus.

Mrs. N. ; tertian intermittent for five years.

Captain of a canal boat, and one of the hands, during August ; febris biliosa.

Man, æt. 56, suffering four weeks ; quartan intermittent.

RELATIONS [48]

Compare : Bryon . and Colocyn . in sciatica ; Veratr . in neuralgic affections ; Colchic., Croton tig . and Veratr . in choleraic symptoms ; Secale in olive-green diarrhœa ; Canthar . in dysenteric diarrhœa, with painful micturition ; Apis, Hepar, Ignat . and Rhus tox ., which have urticaria during different stages of intermittent fever.