Polymnia uvedalia

Volume I — Appendix

(Bearsfoot.)

Description. — Bearsfoot belongs to the genus Composite, of the tribe Helianthese. It is an erect herb, roughish, hairy, stout, four to ten feet high, leaves broadly ovate, angled and toothed, nearly sessile, the lower palmately lobed, abruptly narrowed into a winged petiole, outer involucral scales very large ; rays ten to fifteen, interlinear oblong, much larger than the inner scales of the involucre ; flower yellow. Grows in rich soil west of New York to Illinois, and southward. The flower and whole plant exhale a strong odor ; they look like small sunflowers.

Preparation. — Tincture of the herb.

(No Proving.)

° Enlarged spleen. ° Uterine hypertrophy.

PI0EI0 ACID.

(Carbazotic acid; Welter's Bitter; Nitro-phenisic acid; Nitro-phenolic acid.)

Description. — P icric acid is a yellowish substance obtained by the action of Nitric acid on Carbolic acid, Indigo, Salicin, and other substances. It forms in whitish yellow prisms, with rectangular bases, which in thin layers is almost colorless. It reddens vegetable blues, and has an exceedingly bitter taste. It is fusible and volatile, and burns with a yellow flame, leaving a residue of charcoal. It is nearly insoluble in cold water, but is soluble in hot water, alcohol, and ether.

Preparations. — Triturations and alcoholic dilutions.

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

BEAESFOOT.

Bearsfoot belongs to the genus Compositce, of the tribe Helicinthece. It is an erect herb, roughish, hairy, stout, four to ten feet high, leaves broadly ovate, angled and toothed, nearly sessile, the lower palmately lobed, abruptly narrowed into a winged petiole, outer involucral scales very large ; rays ten to fifteen, linear oblong, much larger than the inner scales of the involucre ; flower yellow. Grows in rich soil west of New York to Illinois, and southward. The

flower and whole plant exhale a strong odor ; they look like a small sunflower.

This remedy was introduced into eclectic practice by Dr. Pruitt, of Missouri (?), who found it useful for enlargement of the spleen. He recommended that it be applied externally, in the form of an ointment, and given internally. It was found so efficacious in this disease, that it was tried in other enlargements, of the joints, glands, etc., and finally in enlargements of the uterus. I have used it in two cases with success — in uterine hypertrophy (areolar hyperplasia) in the first stages, before condensation and contraction set in. The dose is ten drops of the tincture, or lx, three times a day, or oftener, and its use continued for months ; at the same time apply a glycerole (one part of the tincture and two parts glycerin) in cotton tampons every night, except during the menses. In my two cases the uterus decreased in size fully one-third in two months.

Dr. Scudder gives the following as his experience, with an estimate of the power of this new remedy :

Let me again say that Uvedalia is the straight remedy for those engorgements of tissue depending upon an enfeebled circulation. The sensation given to the fingers is a want of elasticity and tonicity, sodden, doughy, atonic.

I use the Uvedalia ointment freely, and think of rubbing away a hypertrophied uterus, or an enlarged joint, as much as I would an enlarged spleen or aguecake. Recently I had occasion to use it in chronic ovaritis and metritis, the cavity of the uterus measuring four inches. The organ was reduced to normal size in four weeks.

Internally it has not gotten to be such a favorite, but this is because I have not tried it so often. I am satisfied that in many cases of chronic disease it will be found a most valuable remedy, as it very certainly is in chronic ague with enlarged spleen.

I am sure those who have used it will feel much obliged to Dr. Pruitt for his efforts to bring it to the notice of the profession.