Castanea vesca
autorstwa Edwin M. Hale — Materia Medica and Special Therapeutics of the New Remedies
Volume I — Special Symptomatology
{Chestnut.)
Description. — The common chestnut tree of the American forests. Officinal Preparations. —Tincture of the ripe leaves. Analogues: — Bromide Potassium (?), Drosera (?), Corallium {?). (No Provings.)
Larynx and Cough.
[I have found in all cases that it would, in from five to ten days, relieve the spasms in pertussis, and in about two weeks cure it ; the little sufferer would whoop no more, but go on to a speedy recovery, to the great delight of myself and friends. — Dr. Unzicker.]
[One-half ounce of the leaves in a quart of water; the infusion was drank by the children. The same curative effects would probably follow the use of the lower dilutions. — Hale.]
Volume II — Special Therapeutics
It is a little singular that an infusion of the leaves of the common edible chestnut should prove a remedy for whooping-cough ; but a Dr. Unzicker seems to have been very successful with it, if we can believe his report. He says : “I have found in all cases that it would, in from four to ten days, relieve the spasms of pertussis, and in about two weeks cure it.. The little sufferers would whoop no more, but go on to a speedy recovery, to the great delight of myself and their friends.”
He uses one-half an ounce of the leaves in a quart of water. This infusion was given in tablespoonful doses, every few hours. Later, he publishes further experience with the fluid extract in five to ten drop doses.
No experience has been published in the literature of our school since my first mention of it, nor have I had any good opportunity to test it.
I would suggest a trial of the tincture in some obstinate spasmodic coughs, for which it may prove useful.
Since writing the above, I have seen a report of Dr. Davis, in the “ Philadelphia Medical Times,” of a careful study of the effects of Castanea in whooping-cough, made in the Philadelphia Hospital.
Fifteen children were selected, all with severe paroxysms and the characteristic whoop. They had been taking other drugs, but were left without medicines two days, during which time the paroxysms increased in frequency and severity. After being put on FI. ext. castanea, in doses of thirty to sixty drops every three hours, the paroxysms decreased rapidly, so that on the fifth day none occurred except in three cases. The nurse in charge, who had witnessed many epidemics of the disease, declared she had never seen a medicine act like it.
Since the last edition of this work, not much clinical experience relating to the use of Castanea has been published in the journals of either school. At the March meeting of the Obstetrical Society of the State of New York, Dr. Rodenstein reported eight cases of whooping-cough treated with Castanea. The average duration of these cases was three weeks, during which time the children took from two to five ounces of the fluid extract (30 drops four times a day was the usual dose). Several other physicians at the meeting stated that they had used it in smaller quantities with good results ; all, however, testified to the superior curative influence of the Bromide of ammonium in severe cases. Such is my own experience.