Stillingia silvatica

Volume I — Special Symptomatology

(Queen1 s-root)

Botanical Description. — This plant is known also by the name of Queen' 's-deli ght, yaw-root and silver-leaf; it is an indigenous perennial, with herbaceous stems, two or three feet high. The leaves are alternate, sessile, oblong or lanceolate oblong, obtuse, serrulate, tapering at the base, and accompanied with stipules. The male and female flowers are distinct upon the same plant; they are yellow, and arranged in the form of a spike, of which the upper part is occupied by the male, and the lower by the female. The male florets are scarcely longer than the bracteal scales.

This plant is found growing in pine-barrens and sandy soils from Virginia to Florida, and in Mississippi and Louisiana, flowering from April to July. When wounded, the plant emits a milky juice.

The root, which is the officinal portion, is large, thick and woody, in long cylindrical pieces, from one-third of an inch to more than an inch thick, wrinkled when dried, externally of a dirty yellowish-brown color, and exhibiting, when cut across, an interior soft, yellowish, ligneous portion, surrounded by a pinkish-colored bark. It has a slight, peculiar, somewhat oleaginous odor, which is strong and acrimonious in the recent root, and the taste is bitterish and pungent, leaving an impression of disagreeable acrimony in the mouth and fauces. It imparts its virtues to water or alcohol, and deteriorates in activity by age. Its properties appear to be owing to a very acrid oil.

Officinal Preparations. — Tincture of the root with strong alcohol ; dilutions. Stillingia; triturations.

Analogues. — Aurum, Ammonium mur., Argentum, Corydalis, Hepar sulphur, Guaco, Iodide of potassium, Phytolacca, Mercurius, Rhus tox., Sulphur.

Mind and Disposition. Intellect dull and stupid. Unusually dull and sleepy, with headache. Depression of spirits, with gloomy forebodings.

Head.

Slight headache, extending from anterior portion ot the temples,— pain is dull and constant; slight frontal headache, with high-colored and frothy urine.

Headacne in the evening. A constant flowing pain as if there M as a current running from the median line of the forehead over the vertex to the occipital process and left cerebellum (this continued three days).

A slight, constant, dull headache, with depression of spirits and with spells of neuralgic toothache.

A stupid headache through the temples, with slight nausea and white-coated tongue.

A slight but persistent, dull headache in the vertex.

A dull, heavy pain in the right side of the head.

A feeling as of a heavy substance pressing upon the brain (frontal region). After a time the pain becomes sharp and darting, — in fact, almost unendurable.

Pains in the head, with inflamed and watery eyes, and general soreness of the muscles.

Violent frontal headache, with stinging, darting pains in the face.

0 Bony swellings on the head and forehead — on the latter as

large as a hen's egg. 0 Mercurial periostitis of the skull.

Sensorium. Dizziness, with throbbing in the head.

Eyes.

Eyes inflamed and watery, with severe headache and general muscular soreness, as though he had taken cold. Ears.

Burning sensation in the left ear (in the evening), on which in the morning there was a vesicular eruption.

Face.

Stinging, darting pains in the face.

Pain under malar-bone, extending transversely across the face. 0 Periostitis of the facial bones.

Nose.

Catarrhal discharge from the nose, at first watery, then mucopurulent, with soreness of mucous membrane, followed bv a small abscess on the inside of the right nostril.

0 Influenza (compare Phos., Merc, Kali iod., Arum tri.).

0 Inflammation and necrosis of the bones of the nose.

Mouth and Tongue.

Yellowish-white, heavily-coated tongue; white-coated tongue.

Slightly coated tongue, in the morning.

Scalded sensation on the tongue, with soreness in the region of the larynx.

Jaws and Teeth.

Paroxysms of neuralgic toothache.

Throat.

Dryness, rawness, and smarting of the fauces. Constriction of the throat. Stinging pains in the fauces.

Slight inflammation of the left tonsil, lasting several days. Burning in the throat with painful deglutition.

Taste and Appetite.

Bitter taste in the morning. Increase of appetite.

Gastric Derangements.

Slight nausea, with white coated tongue, stupid headache and

lowness of spirits. Nausea and vomiting.

Pyrosis, coming on about three o'clock p. m., each day, lasting until he went to sleep at night. (The prover not subject to this affection.)

Pyrosis commenced about two p. m., and continued until bedtime.

Stomach and Abdomen.

Griping in the region of the epigastrium, soon followed by a diarrhoeic evacuation, and an abundant and explosive discharge of flatus.

Sensations as if diarrhoea would set in.

Pains in the umbilical region.

A heavy pain in the hypogastric region.

Burning in the stomach and alimentary canal.

Peculiar disagreeable burning in the stomach and bowels.

Stool and Anus.

Stool nineteen hours after the regular time, attended with considerable pain, which was confined to the rectum and sphincter ani.

Pain in the sphincter ani, as though it had been bruised. Stool delayed four or five hours after the usual time.

Urinary and Sexual Organs. A short but severe pain in the region of the right kidney. Dull pain across the region of the kidneys, and sharp pains in the penis, commencing in the morning and lasting all day. Dull pains in the region of the kidneys.

Urine colorless; sp. gr., 1026, depositing, the next day, a white, flocculent, mucous sediment.

Urine increased from 33 to 45 ounces, and high colored, with brick-dust sediment.

Urine high colored, and inclined to foam and form bubbles.

Urine thick and milky — containing much chloride of sodium.

Abundant white sediment deposited soon after being voided.

All through the proving a peculiar, copious, brownish-red, mottled-looking sediment or cloud, looking like sausage meat macerating in water.

Violent, smarting, burning pains throughout the entire course of the urethra, aggravated by micturition, with difficulty in passing urine; and dull pain in the region of the kidneys. The pains in the urethra were so severe that it was impossible to remain quiet; but can detect no discharge.

While urinating, has a sharp pain in the glans penis, extending up the urethra.

The pains in the urethra were so severe as to cause the perspiration to start.

Urethral irritation and chordee.

• Gonorrhoea. c Gleet. ° Leucorrhoea.

0 Syphilis — primary, secondary, tertiary and mercurial. Respiratory Organs.

Slight uneasiness and tickling in the trachea and bronchi — worse on rising in the morning.

• Tickling sensation in the trachea toward evening, which

caused a dry, spasmodic cough. *A sensation of lameness, seemingly in the cartilages of the trachea.

• Constriction in the region of the larynx, with stinging and

burning in the fauces.

• A bruised, sore feeling of the cartilages of the trachea when

pressed.

• Cough deep and loose.

Dryness and soreness in the region of the larynx. Oppression of the chest.

Short, hacking cough, with some inflammation of the fauces. Darting pains through the thorax, with tickling in the throat,

and short, hacking cough. Sharp, darting pains through the chest and shoulders, quite

marked.

0 Incipient phthisis, in strumous habits. 0 Bronchitis. ° Laryngitis.

c Hoarseness and chronic laryngeal affections of public speakers. 0 Croup. (See the above laryngeal and tracheal symptoms.)

Heart and Pulse. Boring pains about the region of the heart, with irregular

pulse and a feeling of distress. Pulse about ninety; weak and very irregular, except at times

during the day, when he would have spells as if the room

was too warm, and the pulse would become regular with

general perspiration. Pulse irregular in the morning, more regular at noon, and at

evening again becoming irregular. Slow and irregular pulse on lying down. Pulse full and very irregular.

Back and Extremities. Dull pains across the region of the kidneys on waking. Sharp, darting pains through the shoulder and chest.

[In a recent proving by Dr. Preston, it developed "aching pains in the feet, on the instep, in the hips, legs, left lumbar region ; stiffness of the joints; pains in the toes and external malleoli; in elbow, forearm and writt; aching pains in the back, extending down the thighs and legs. Another prover, M. O. G., experienced sharp, shooting pains in the arms,

legs and hands. It seems, says Dr. P., to act first upon the right side, then on the left, the pain following the direction of the long bones. — Hahnemannian Monthly, Oct. 1870, page 127.]

Aching of the lower extremities in the evening.

Excessive itching of the legs below the knees, continuing six or eight weeks, but no eruption; this itching occurred only upon the exposure of the parts to the atmosphere or cold — relieved by warmth and in bed.

0 A pustular eruption on the arm, that had persistently remained a month, rapidly healed.

° Very large node upon the olecranon.

° Chronic eruptions on the hands and fingers.

0 Enlargement of the tibia to such a degree as to deprive the child of all power of motion ; her limbs were contracted and swollen.

° Ulcers on the legs — venereal, chronic, and indolent. 0 Periostitis and nodes of the tibia.

Skin.

Vesicular eruption on the ear. ° Pustular eruption on the arm.

Itching of the skin below the knees upon exposure to the

atmosphere or cold; relieved by warmth or covering. ° Various chronic eruptions. ° Lepra and elephantiasis. 0 Ulcers, with unhealthy skin. ° Scrofulous, venereal, and other skin diseases.

Fever.

Cold on going to bed; immediately afterward, broke out iD

perspiration, but with excessive warmth all night. Feverish heat in the evening.

Sleep.

Unusual drowsiness all day, with general malaise and headache. Very sleepy after eating. Dull and sleepy.

General Symptoms. Malaise and general drowsiness. General feeling of distress.

9 Secondary syphilis ; in a case which had resisted all the usual homoeopathic remedies. The man suffered extreme torture from bone pains. "It had a wonderful, and I might almost say, an instantaneous effect.

He has slept well ever since He had it. The immense nodes have gone from the head and legs ; and from the most deplorably down-hearted, (sometimes almost raving, from derangement,) miserable, thin-looking object, he is changed into a buoyant, joking, rotund-looking fellow.— Dr. Mahlon Preston, of Norristown, Pa.

Conditions.

Aggravated morning and evening (heart); on lying down

(respiration); exposure to air (skin). Ameliorated in the middle of the day (heart), by warmth and

covering (skin).

Direction of pains: — From before backward (head, chest and penis).

Character of pains: — Dull, heavy, stitching, boring, stinging and neuralgic.

Sensations: — Scalding (throat); burning, smarting, dryness and constriction (throat).

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

Since the third edition of “New Remedies” but little clinical experience with Stillingia has been reported.

Dr. Preston’s case, recorded in Vol. I, is the most striking, and verifies its power over syphilitic periosteal rheumatism. I have found it of great value in chronic rheumatism. It appears to be similar in action to Phytolacca and Iodide of potassa. In old cases, when Rhus seems indicated but does no good, I advise you

to try Stillingia in the high dilutions, changing to the lowest if no benefit arises from the use of the former in a week.

The head symptoms, also the catarrhal (nose and eyes), will strongly remind you of Kali iod., which it follows or precedes with favorable effect. The action of Stillingia is on the periosteum, and closely resembles Kali iod., Phytolacca, Mezereum, Mercurius, and Corydalis. It has cured bony tumors on the head and face (exostoses).

Dr. Simons reports the following case in which Stillingia was given alone, and effected a cure:

The patient was a little girl, who had an enlargement of the tibia to such a degree as to deprive her of all power of motion. Enlargements also existed in various other parts of the body, resembling nodes, upon the olecranon process, upon the head, and one in particular upon the forehead, of the size of an egg. The bones of the nose were much affected, inasmuch as to cause considerable depression. The condition of this patient was in a high degree distressing ; seated in a chair, with the limbs contracted and swollen, she bid fair to pass a miserable and protracted existence, a burden to herself, and a source of anguish, distress, and trouble to her parents. Various remedies, alteratives, mercurials, had been tried by a physician long in attendance with but little benefit. I determined upon a trial of Stillingia. The infusion was employed. Recent Stillingia root, four drachms ; water, one pound ; simmered till one-third was dissipated. This quantity was drank during the twenty-four hours, in such doses as not to nauseate the stomach in any degree. The medicine was continued for some months, and at the expiration of several she was so much improved as to be able to move about with the aid of a stick, have the free use of her limbs, and the swellings, particularly those on the forehead, considerably reduced. The patient has every appearance at the present time of being speedily restored to a considerable degree of health.

In this case the medicine had a fair and unfettered trial, and it certainly accomplished a great amount of curative action, as no one can suppose that nature could do all that was done during the use of the remedy.

The Stillingia has not been used to any extent in homoeopathic practice. Few cases have been reported in our periodicals treated with this medicine. I have used it in many cases where Mercurius, Aurum, or Thuja were indicated but did no good, and its effects seemed beneficial. No record was kept of these cases, and the particular symptoms have escaped my memory.

Dr. M. Preston reports a case of secondary syphilis, which had

resisted all the usual homoeopathic remedies. The man suffered extreme torture from bone pains.

It had a wonderful and, I might almost say, an instantaneous effect. He has slept well ever since he had it. The immense nodes have gone from the head and legs ; and from the most deplorably down-hearted (sometimes almost raving from derangement), miserable, thin-looking object, he is changed into a buoyant, joking, rotund-looking fellow.

This will compare well with Dr. Simons’s case just quoted. The former used the attenuations, while the latter gave the infusion. Both preparations acted curatively.

My treatment of syphilis comprises but few remedies. I have never had any trouble in destroying the virus, and conducting the patient through the baleful secondary effects, and even through the tertiary. For the primary chancre, slight applications of Arg. nit., with dressings of dry Calomel, are all that is necessary. So soon as I am satisfied that the chancre is an indurated one, I proceed to combat the inevitable secondaries. This I have never failed to do successfully with the Iodides of mercury, or the Iodo-hydrargyrate of potassa.* I much prefer the latter when the disease occurs in strumous constitutions, or there is any tendency to phagedena. I do not use the ordinary preparations.

I know of no chemical agent which fully represents the preparation I use, and I have therefore always prescribed the following formula :

R. Iodide of Potassa, . ,qij.

Merc. Biniod., . gr. ij.

Aqua Gaulth., . j^viij. — M.

One teaspoonful four times a day, before meals and on going to bed.

I have tried the Potassa iod. and the Merc. iod. separately and alternately, but I could never get the decided curative action from those agents separately which I get combined. I sometimes substitute the Merc. cor. for the Merc. iod. in less strumous subjects.

Under the use of this formula the angina rapidly subsides, the eruptions disappear in due time, and all serious tertiary symptoms are prevented.

See notice of this remedy on page 485.

In fact, I am inclined to believe, with some authorities, that the so-called tertiary syphilis is, in nearly all cases, the result of mercurial poisoning.

I will here assert, without fear of contradiction, that such a thing as mercurial poisoning is impossible in the use of the above formula for any reasonable length of time, i. e., until every vestige of the syphilitic poison has disappeared from the system.

In a few rare instances patients are, from some idiosyncrasy, intolerant of the Potassa, and as I do not like to continue any preparation of Mercury for a long time alone I resort to Phytolacca or Stillingia to promote a cure.

The reason why Mercury in combination with Potassa does not poison the system is, that the latter unites with the former in such a manner as to carry it out of the system before it fixes itself in any tissue, as it is apt to do when given alone or in the form of an iodide.

I do not doubt the value of Stillingia in some cases of uncomplicated and mild secondary syphilis, but I should not trust to it alone.

But for some chronic eruptions, torpid, scaly, and obstinate, it is an excellent remedy. In congenital syphilis it often acts better ' than Iod. potassa or Mercury. It goes well with Aurum, which removes the disease of the bones of the nose, while Stillingia removes the cutaneous manifestations.

Stillingia is doubtless homoeopathic to some varieties of gonorrhoea. It has caused symptoms of urethritis by its primary action, and used high (12th or 30th) may prove as useful as Cantharis or Thuja.

I have prescribed it with advantage in several cases of leucorrhoea, which were suspiciously like the syphilitic, although they may have been gonorrhoeal.

There is one other use of Stillingia which I must not pass by unnoticed. It has a specific affinity for the tissues of the larynx, especially the cartilaginous. This makes it a valuable remedy in those rare but terrible cases of syphilitic laryngitis. It has been used, also, in non-specific laryngitis and pharyngitis. Its laryngeal symptoms resemble those of Merc., Lachesis, and Hepar sulph. It has cured many cases of hoarseness and cough of public speakers (clergyman’s sore throat). It will prove of value in bronchitis.

Its heart symptoms denote considerable loss of innervation in the inhibitory nerves; it may prove a valuable cardiac remedy.