Lycopus virginicus

Volume I — Special Symptomatology

{Bugle Weed.)

Botanical Description. — This plant, also known as Paul's Betony and Water Horehound, is an indigenous, perennial herb, with a fibrous root, and a smooth, straight, obtusely four-angled stem, with the sides concave, producing slender runners from the base, and from ten to twenty inches in height. The leaves are opposite, oblong, or ovate-lanceolate, toothed, entire toward the base, with glandular dots underneath. The flowers are very small, purplish, in dense, axillary whorls; at the base of each flower are two small subulate bracts. Corolla campanulate, four-cleft, the tube as long as the calyx, upper segment broadest, emarginate. Calyx tubular» four-cleft, longer than the achenia; stamens two, distant, diverging, simple; anthers erect, bilobed; ovary superior, four-angled; style straight, slender; stigma bilobate ; achenia four, smooth, abovate, obliquely truncate at apex, compressed, margins thickened.

" Bugle weed is found growing in almost all parts of the United States, in moist and shady situations, flowering in June and August. It has a peculiar, balsamic, terebinthinate odor, and a disagreeable, slightly bitter taste; it imparts its properties to boiling water in infusions. The whole herb is officinal. It has not been analyzed, but probably its virtues depend upon a volatile oil and tannic acid." An analysis of this plant made by Tilden & Co., gives 40 parts of Tannin to 7,000 organic and inor. ganic matters, also "a bitter principle, soluble in ether, 24 parts," and a "peculiar principle, insoluble in ether, 696 parts."

In the following pathogenesis, the symptoms noted only in proving mother tincture are marked (1); those belonging only to the 200th (2); those common to both are unmarked. Doubtful symptoms are marked with a note of interrogation. Of the 202 symptoms recorded, 132 belong to the mother tincture, 41 to the 200th dilution, and 29 are common to both {Dr. Morrison, of England.)

The symptoms thus marked with numerals are from the provings of Dr. Morrison, of England. All the rest are from my own provings and clinical experience. — Hale.

Officinal Preparations. — Tincture of the whole plant; dilutions.

Analogues. — Digitalis, Iberis, Acid hydrocyanic, Prunus virginiana. Laurocerasus, Spigelia, Sanguinaria, Cactus.

Mental Sphere. 0 Stupid, with lack of expression during menstrual flow. ° Mind wanders from one thing to another. One of the mildest and best narcotics. (Rctfinesque.) ° General wakefulness and morbid vigilance. Obtusion of intellect (1). Increased mental and physical activity (1). Difficulty in concentrating attention and thought (2) Restless activity, ready for any amount of work (1).

Head.

Pressing-out sensation in the frontal and temporal regions.

Pains in frontal eminences, passing from left to right, and back to left.

Oppressed feeling in brain (1).

Dull aching through the sinciput.

Pressive frontal headache.

Oppressed feeling in cerebellum (1).

Giddiness, with tendencies to right and forward.

Persistent giddiness, while sitting.

Acute pain in left temple, passing to right.

Aching in left maxillary articulation and left wrist (1).

Acute pain in left frontal eminence, with sensation of compression of brain (1).

Severe aching through occiput (1).

Dull, oppressive general headache.

Severe, general headache, with giddiness.

Acute darting from left temporal to malar bone, with sensation as if brain were compressed, followed by irritation of scalp over the line of pain (1).

Persistent giddiness, commencing in open air, continuing while sitting.

Giddiness, while sitting, with constriction of larynx.

Aching in one spot, changing from left to right of occipital protuberance (1).

Fron to-occipital headache, from three to seven p. m. (1).

Frontal headache, subsequently passing to occiput, three to

six p.m. (1). Giddiness, with strong tendency to the right. Neuraloid pain in the right supra-orbital region (1). Pressing-out sensation above right frontal eminence (2). Acute pain in right temple, passing to left frontal eminence,

and returning to right temple (2). Neuraloid pain in both temples, worse during evening (2) Sensation of heavy pressure on parietal protuberances, moving

upward to middle line (2). Darting pains in lower half of forehead (2). Subacute pain above left frontal eminence, passing to right

lower molars (2). Darting pain in left temple, succeeded by steady aching (2). Acute pain at seventh cervical vertebra (1). Nearly all symptoms shortly return with considerable severity

Eyes.

0 Protrusion of the eyes, with tumultuous action of the heart. ° Pain in the forehead and temples relieved by nausea. Painful pressure in the eyeballs. 0 Exophthalmus from cardiac disease.

Mouth and Teeth. Parched feeling in upper lip (1). Aching in lower molars; passing from right to left. Acute pain in the right lower molars, passing to right temple,

left lower molars, left temple, and returning to right lower

molars.

Continuous aching in left lower molars (1).

Pain passes from lower molars to lumbar and mid-dorsal

regions, returning to left lower molars (1). Pain in left lower molars, passing to left upper bicuspides (1) Slight achings in left lower, left upper, and then in right upper

molars (decayed) (2). Pains in left lower molars, transferred to right.

Throat.

Sensation of rawness at back and right of palate. Slight burning in palate (1).

Subacute pain in pharynx, increased by deglutition (1).

Sensation of rawness, with swelling (which subsequently disappeared) like a hardened gland, to back of right palate.(2.) Irritation in fauces, inciting to cough (2).

Stomach and Bowels. ° Indigestion, with pain and distress in epigastric region. ° Gastritis; enteritis; dysentery and diarrhoea.

• Circumscribed pain and compression in the region of the

stomach.

° Constipation for six or seven days, stools dry and clog-like.

• Diarrhoea — (in phthisis,) with griping and rumbling. Strong bearing down in left inguinal canal, as if hernia would

protrude, while sitting ; with acute pain on walking ; relieved by upward pressure on external ring (1). Bearing down in right inguinal canal ; with subacute pain when walking; relieved by continued pressure on exterternal ring; with severe loin pain, especially to right of spine (1).

Aching in both inguinal canals, on rising from bed, increased by walking ; relieved by upward pressure on external rings (1).

Continuous aching along both inguinal canals, most marked

on right side, increased by walking (1). Acute pain down right inguinal canal, while sitting (1). Tenderness down right inguinal canal (1). Aching down right inguinal canal, while sitting (1). Pressive aching down left inguinal canal, relieved by upward

pressure (1).

Severe aching down spine, somewhat relieved by friction,

passing off after rising (1). c Excessive flatulence, which aggravates the palpitations. Faintness, with slight nausea, while walking in open air. Agreeable sensation of warmth to left of epigastrium (2). Eructations, with distinct flavor of the drug (2). Fasces papescent or watery, with succeeding constipation (1). Bowels act more freely; relaxed; fasces light colored (1). Fasces slimy, of a peculiarly shining dark-brown (1). Fasces slimy, of a peculiar greyish-brown, as if mixed with

ashes (1).

Fasces of a dark shining brown; odor strong (1). Fasces offensive, slimy, dark shining brown, gushing out (1) Excessive flatulent rumblings, on awaking (1). Fasces half solid, with straining; half slimy, gushing out (1). Faeces slimy}', of a shining yellow; offensive (1). Fasces partly solid and natural, partly slimy, dark-brown, offensive (1).

Constipation ; fasces hard, scanty, dark, passed with straining and consequent bleeding (2).

Constipation succeeded by softer and freer motions, of the peculiar shining yellowish-brown previously noted (2). Generative Organs.

Female. — ° Menses last from half an hour to six hours, intermitting for ten or twelve days.

0 Puffing of the parts on and. around the pubes and vulva, dilated condition of the vagina.

0 Yagina very hot, os uteri engorged and swollen.

0 When the heart's action was tumultuous the puffing (oedema) of the pubis was gone.

° Menorrhagia and metrorrhagia.

Male. — Sharp darting pains through left testicle (epididymis); passing to right testicle; leaving dull achings (1).

Acute aching in left testicle, with occasional darting pains, changing to right, and again to left testicle (1).

Acute pain, from left kidney down left inguinal canal (1).

The pains in left testicle cause an aching along left inguinal canal, extend to right testicle, and at times very severe (1).

Pain first in left, then in right, then in both testicles; recurring the whole evening (1).

Urinary Organs.

• Urine scanty, thick and muddy, with oedema of the feet.

Dull pain in left lumbar region — the bladder feels distended when empty.

Urine exhibits excess of mucus, with epithelium scales and

minute crystals (1). Urine shows less deposit, with di. sp. gr. (1007-1010.) Urine contains scattered mucus and epithelial scales, abundance of spermatozoa, and oxalate of lime crystals; sp.

gr. 1004—1006 (normal 1016—1018 (1). Urine exhibits slight deposits of mucus; sp. gr. 1015 (2). ° Diabetes mellitus; several cases of great severity. (See

Therapeutics.)

Larynx and Cough.

0 It quiets cough and irritation of the lungs.

° It lessens arterial action in fevers and plethora.

° An excellent remedy for haemoptysis in phthisis.

° It is an excellent substitute for Digitalis or bleeding. (Ib.)

Sense of constriction in larynx.

Dyspnoea, as if from bronchial catarrh (2).

Cough, with slight pale expectoration, wheezing, and hoi achings beneath right scapula (2).

Increased bronchial, with increased faucial irritation, and increased cough (2).

Unpleasant, sweetish expectoration, at times difficult (2).

Slight nasal catarrh, with sneezing (2).

0 Cough and expectoration checked by repetition of medicine (2).

Chest.

Subacute pain below and to outer side of left nipple (apex region).

Rheumatoid aching in right scapular muscles.

Pleurodynia (?) from third to seventh left interspace, with

spasmodic contraction of intercostal muscles, increased by

lying on right side (1). Subacute superficial pain at third left interspace, becoming

acute on moving (1). Spasms of right intercostal muscles (?) on awaking (1). Pleurodynia (?) below fifth right costal cartilage, passing to

left and then returning to right side, on awaking (1). Sense of constriction across lower half of thorax, impeding

respiration, with subacute pain, increased by lying on

right side, on awaking (1). Intercostal pains, worse from lying on right side, with repeated darting pains at apex (1). Acute pain in left axilla, extending down edges of pectoral

muscles to thorax, passing to base and apex of heart (1).

Acute pain in intercostal muscles, over base of heart (1).

Severe pain at insertion of right pectoral muscles, becoming more acute on inspiring deeply (1).

Pain on right side of thorax, passing to apex region, then to right axilla, and down pectoral muscles to former spot, again to apex region, and returning to right side (1).

Oppression of respiration (1).

Rheumatoid aching over apex, then above right nipple, then

from third to sixth left interspaces inclusive, with pain

in apex (2). Achings in chest increase toward sunset (2). Subacute achings over apex and above right nipple, with dull

temporal headaches (2), Achings generally increase in severity toward sunset (2). Sensations of heat, first under right scapula, then in centre of

left lung, and again beneath right scapula (?) (2). Agreeable sensation of warmth, first to left of epigastrium,

then in apex region, then at base of heart (2). Occasional pains in chest.

Hot sensations recur, especially beneath right scapula

Oppressed respiration, with sighing (2).

Subscapular aching (2).

Shifting rheumatoid achings (2).

Heart and Pulse.

Constricting pain and tenderness around the heart.

0 Action of the heart, tumultuous and forcible, (when eyesseemed protruded) it could be heard several feet from the bed. (In a case of exophthalmus.)

First sound of the heart displaced by a blowing sound of mitral' regurgitations.

Stitch-like pain in the cardia — also a throbbing pain. Pulse 58 — irregular.

0 Cough with haemoptysis, feeble, quick, irregular action of the heart; (if it does not cure consumption it is a very valuable palliative.) (Hale.)

0 It renders the beat of the heart slower, fuller and more regular.

Beats of the heart more distinct on right side of sternum.

° Palpitation in cardiac hypertrophy, with dilatation. (Hale.) ° Palpitation from nervous irritation, with plethora. {Ib.) ° Aneurism of the large vessels near the heart. (Ib.) ° It lessens the irritation, anxiety and suffering, and palliates

organic disease of the heart. (Ib.) A sensation of pressing outward in the cardiac region — not

painful.

Subacute pain at apex of heart (1).

Cardiac oppression, lasting an hour (1).

Marked cardiac oppression (1).

Quickened pulse, with distinct intermissions (1).

Sighing and yawning (1).

Cardiac depression, with dull heavy beating.

On waking, frequent intermissions (1).

Cardiac action first steadied by drug, then rendered intermittent (1).

Pulse irregular and intermittent especially when lying, quickened at each inspiration.

Cardiac distress, most marked at apex (1).

Pulse about 72, lying, sitting, and standing, quickened at each inspiration (1).

" Cardiac pulsation scarcely perceptible to touch."

Subacute pain, extending from apex to third lower interspace (1).

Acute pain at apex, with contraction of intercostal muscles, increased by lying on right side, from 6:30 to 10 a.m. (1). Pulse 68, with oppressed cardiac action (1). Palpitation on slight exertion (1). On awaking, labored cardiac action (1). Left-sided pains predominate.

Subacute pain at apex of heart, moving to fourth left interspace (1).

Pulse immediately steadied by a full dose of the drug, subsequently becoming jerking (1). Pulse subsequently becomes quickened, feeble, irregular (1). " Heart sounds indistinct, systolic running into diastolic " (1). " Heart-sickness," not relieved by food (1).

Cardiac pains, with general debility (1).

Acute darting pains, at apex of heart (1).

Acute pain at apex, not relieved by pressure, driven by friction to left subscapular region, then passing to mid-dorsal region (1).

Acute pain at apex, with cardiac distress (1). Pulse scarcely perceptible, irregular (1).

" Pulse extremely variable, both as to time and volume, at first almost imperceptible, not intermittent" (1).

" Cardiac pulsation much stronger than the pulse indications would lead one to expect " (1).

" Impulse feeble, heart sounds very weak, action irregular in force and rhythm " (1).

" Pulse feeble, compressible, irregular in force and rhythm "

(1).

Marked cardiac depression, causing slight faintness on quickly ascending a few stairs (1).

Faint feeling returns later on quietly ascending (1).

Cardiac action barely perceptible, with moderately strong and less compressible pulse (1).

Pulse compressible, irritable, varying greatly in force and rhythm, with frequent intermissions (1).

Pulse less compressible, irregular and intermittent (1).

Cardiac depression, causing faintness (1).

Cardiac depression, succeeded by cardiac oppression, with quickened pulse (1).

Subacute pains both at apex and base of heart (1).

Pulse irregular in rhythm, extremely compressible.

On lying down, palpitation, with shortened systole and lengthened interval (2).

Cardiac depression, with intermittent pulse (2).

Pulse irregular and intermittent (2).

Acute darting pains in heart, with complete intermissions (2).

Neck.

Acute pain in nape of neck (cervical muscles) (1). Temporal pain, transferred to cerebellum, and again to tem, pies (1).

Congestive pain in nape of neck (1).

Stiffness of left cervical muscles, interfering with movement of head.

Back.

Acute flying pains to right of mid-dorsal region (1). Continuous lumbar pain, not increased by stooping, increased

by walking (1). Aching across lower dorsal region (1). Aching (like lumbago) across loins. Rheumatoid pains in lumbar region (1).

Acute rheumatoid loin pain, extending to lower dorsal region (1).

Continuous lumbar and dorsal pain, most severe toward left side (1).

Upper Limbs.

Unsteadiness of hands, rendering writing somewhat difficult. Return of tremulous feeling in hands, while writing, lasting

several minutes (1). Rheumatoid pains, especially left (1). Acute pains, especially in left wrist (1) Darting pains through right wrist (1).

Pricklings (urticaria?) in lower forearm, hypogastrium, etc.,

returning to left forearm (1). Troublesome urticaria, specially affecting left forearm and right

leg(?) (1).

Frequent rheumatoid pains in left forearm, left wrist, left hand,

and right forearm and wrist (1). Flying rheumatoid pains (2).

Erratic rheumatoid pains in left wrist, right calf, right subclavicular region, and returning to left wrist (2). Darting pains in left thumb (1).

Lower Limbs.

Acute rheumatoid pain from left knee to ankle; quickly settling in loins (1).

Rheumatoid pain in calves of legs, especially left (1).

Return of acute pains in left leg, extending up thigh, on exertion (1).

Pains are transferred from left calf and leg to right (1).

Occasional pains in legs, especially left (1). Rheumatoid pains, especially left leg and forearm (1). Sharp aching in right leg, not relieved by friction (1). Sharp aching down right tibia, causing lameness; not relieved by friction (1).

Acute pain in inner muscles of left calf, with straining and lameness (1).

Aching down flexor muscles of right thigh, extending to knee and calf of leg; then to left knee and calf; then returning to right thigh and knee; with slight lameness (1).

Achings down both thighs, with weakness in walking (1).

Irritation (urticaria?) in right leg, right forearm, back, etc. (1).

Subacute pain down muscles of left calf (1).

Acute pain down anterior muscles of right thigh, causing lameness; subsequently, down both thighs (1).

Achings, passing from left wrist to right knee, left tibia anteriorly, lower dorsal region, left knee, and right forearm.

Rheumatoid pains pass from left wrist to right calf (2).

Erratic rheumatoid pains, affecting lower limbs (2).

Sleep.

On waking, labored cardiac action. Dreamy sleep, with early waking. Sneezing, on awaking from sleep (2).

Generalities.

[t seems to cause abnormal action of the heart, and has cured some of the symptoms of Exophthalmus.

The left leg feels half an inch shorter, and sounds on the pavement as if it really were.

Rheumatoid pains, passing from left to right; returning to left side; chiefly affecting muscles and articulations; increased by movement, by cold air, and by concentrating the thought upon them. Dental pains, chiefly in decayed teeth, and usually passing from right to left, not relieved by aeon., mere, nor by direct warmth. Sneezing, dyspncea, cough, expectoration, wheezing, and faucial irritation, as if from bronchial catarrh. Cardiac distress, palpitation, and rheumatoid pains, increased as above ; irregular and intermittent pulse; quickened, feeble, compressible pulse. Constipation, followed by full, soft motions, of a shining yellow-brown, offensive; gushing out. Faint perspiration on covered parts, while walking. Dreamy sleep and early waking. Rheumatoid achings, relieved by electrical current, not relieved by galvanic. Neuraloid pains, affecting testicles. Pains, as if hernise would protrude, relieved by upward pressure on crural rings. Eructations, tasting of the drug. Nausea and faintness. Times of aggravation, early morning ; afternoon (3 to 5 o'clock); sunset; and during evening.

Pains increase in severity toward sunset.

Sighing and yawning (1).

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

Wood and Bache do not make much mention of the Lycopus, quoting a remark of Dr. Ives, that “ it is a mild narcotic/’ and alluding to its alleged virtues in pulmonary complaints. Stille does not notice the plant at all, and other allopathic authorities are equally silent. Authorities in the eclectic school bestow a more extended notice on the plant. Many of the practitioners of that system estimate its virtues very highly.

Dr. King* mentions it in the following manner:

The exact medicinal virtues of this plant are not well determined. It appears to possess sedative, tonic, astringent, and narcotic properties, and has been successfully used in incipient phthisis, haemoptysis, and other haemorrhages ; it soothes irritation, reduces the frequency of the pulse, and lessens cough. It acts somewhat like Digitalis, in reducing the velocity of the pulse, but it is devoid of the dangerous effects resulting from the use of that drug. It is decidedly beneficial in the treatment of diabetes, having cured when all other means were useless; and has been of service in chronic diarrhoea and dysentery, inflammatory diseases of drunkards, diseases of the heart, and intermittents. Dose of the powder from one to two drachms ; of the infusion, from two to four fluid ounces.

Dr. Scudderf places it in his class of “Sedatives” along with Veratrum, Aconite, Gelseminum, Digitalis, etc., but admits that it differs considerably from those agents in its action on the system. He says :

It is a mild sedative narcotic, feebly tonic, and moderately astringent .

It is employed in all cases of excessive vascular excitement with great advantage. Its mild and congenial sedative properties render it a remedy of great value in lessening tumultuous action. For this purpose it has been employed in febrile and inflammatory affections, more especially in the various forms of pneumonia. In these diseases its mild sedative and narcotic properties render it peculiarly valuable in lessening general irritation and diminishing exalted organic action. In acute diseases of this character, and in the chronic diseases of the respiratory organs attended with haemorrhage, it is very useful. In those diseases of a chronic character, in cases of great weakness in the thoracic organs, in cases where there is a frequent haemorrhage, or a tendency to haetnorrhage, from these organs in the incipient form of phthisis, or even when the complaint is somewhat advanced, and even in the confirmed stages of that complaint, the sedative and tranquillizing influences of the Lycopus, together with its mild tonic and astringent properties, render it an agent of very great importance. It somewhat lessens the momentum of the circulation, the irritability and excitability of the nervous and vascular systems, and hence controls febrile excitement, and lessens the heat of the

• Eclectic Medical Dispensatory, f Materia Medica and Therapeutics.

body ; it lessens irritation in the lungs, and consequently the harassing and exhausting cough ; and if the patient is the subject of haemorrhage from the lungs, it lessens vascular excitement and the quantity of blood that circulates in the lungs in a given time, and in this way the irritation and the cough, and in the advanced stages of the disease, when the expectoration is copious and debilitating, the sedative, astringent, and tonic influences of the Lycopus point to it as an invaluable palliative remedy, if not a curative remedy in all such cases. Its properties cannot injure under any circumstances of the kind, and it may be resorted to with a strong probability of at least mitigating all the urgent symptoms, and even of effecting a cure.

The same remarks will apply to its utility in haematemesis, haematuria, uterine haemorrhage, and haemorrhage of the bowels, etc. It acts somewhat like Digitalis, says Rafinesque, in lowering the pulse without producing its bad effects and accumulating in the system. He also says it is one of the mildest and best narcotics known. It is useful in gastritis and enteritis in allaying irritation and inflammation. It has been used freely and successfully in dysentery and diarrhoea. For this purpose it may be boiled in milk, with cinnamon or some other aromatic added, and taken freely. It has been highly and very justly extolled in diabetes. It is very useful in palpitation of the heart, in hypertrophy of the heart, in dilatation of the ventricles of that organ, as in cases of aneurism of any of the large vessels contiguous to the heart. In cases of palpitation, whether arising from an organic disease of that organ, or from some nervous irritation, or whether it be symptomatic of some other disease, the Lycopus is valuable in either case to lessen irritation and organic action, and consequently the suffering and great anxiety which the patient always experiences in those affections.”

The pathogensis in Vol. I is made up from provings by Dr. Chandler of this country, and Dr. Morison, of England, with my own observations.

In the second edition of “New Remedies” I wrote:

I have quoted the remarks in full relative to this interesting indigenous remedy, in order that the reader may get a general view of its character and effects as viewed from a standpoint of allopathic therapeutics. All seemed to accede to this, namely, that it possesses a peculiar sedative power over the circulation, and the sedation is held in check by another power, which is denominated a tonic influence ; also that it has some astringent, nervine, and a slight narcotic influence. This really comprises all that is at present known by other schools concerning the plant.

The Lycopus has not been used in homoeopathic practice by other physicians than myself. If any have used it, it has not come to my knowledge. My first use of the plant was at the suggestion of an eclectic practitioner, whom the friends of one of my patients, suffering from symptoms of incipient phthisis, had requested to consult with me relative to the diagnosis of the case. The patient had some febrile irritation, a quick weak pulse, occasional haemoptysis, dyspepsia, weakness, and many other suspicious symptoms. We detected a deposit of tuberculous matter in the apex of the left lung. The action of the heart was quite

irritable, palpitation occurring from the least exercise. The eclectic suggested the use of Lycopus, if other means failed to retard the morbid activity of the circulation. No improvement having followed the use of the ordinary homoeopathic remedies, the Lycopus was resorted to. In the absence of the tincture, I ordered an infusion to be made of the fresh plant (one ounce to one quart of water), a teaspoonful to be taken every three hours. Its beneficial action soon appeared, and in a week such notable improvement had taken place that the medicine was continued at longer intervals, and in two weeks more the patient — a lady — went East, apparently cured. This favorable experiment led me to use it further in similar cases, and my experience with it has been quite satisfactory. In those cases of pulmonary disease associated with looseness of the bowels, its curative action is sometimes very marked, and in incurable cases it often acts as a useful palliative. I give the tincture, or tincture triturations from the first to the third attenuation, and sometimes the infusion and syrup prepared to represent the lower dilutions. This plant has not been thoroughly proven, and its pathogenetic range of action is not settled. One proving has been made, however, which is interesting and suggestive, as it proves that the curative effects observed by eclectic and allopathic physicians were due to its power of causing similar physiological disturbances.

Since the above was written, now nearly seven years, the Lycopus has been used a good deal in our school. It has become one of my most favored and trusted remedies in functional diseases of the heart. There are two conditions of the heart for which Lycopus appears to me to be indicated, and in which I always have had good effects from it.

(1.) In cardiac irritability with depressed force. In these cases the pulse is very frequent, small, compressible, and often irregular and intermittent. The heart’s impulse is feeble, the patient is generally nervous, irritable, and his extremities are cold. In this condition slight haemorrhages from the lungs are not infrequent. He cannot go upstairs or walk fast without rapid and weak action of the heart or heavy oppressed action, which, under some conditions, denotes the same weakness. In both the provings, this very condition of the heart was caused. It is primarily homoeopathic to this state. I have excellent success in such cases with the lx, 2X or 3X, in ten-drop doses, every three or four hours. In a few days the pulsations decrease in average frequency from 110 to 74, and increase in strength ; and the general condition of the patient improves. I have many tables of the pulse-rate, kept by my patients, which illustrate this curative action of Lycopus.

(2.) The other condition of the heart in which I have found Lycopus useful, may be called a cardiac erethism , — a condition in

which the debility of the heart is marked by the influence of a . smouldering inflammation somewhere, generally in the lungs. In these cases the heart’s action is quick, the pulse quick , hard , wiry, not easily compressible, and not generally irregular or intermittent. Aconite acts well for a time, but it will not do to use it too long. The Lycopus, however, while it reduces the force and frequency, by virtue of its secondary homoeopathicity, relieves the local congestion and irritation of the lungs, quiets the cough, prevents the haemoptysis, and except in cases of tuberculosis will, aided by other remedies having a tissue-affinity for the lungs, cure the whole malady. These cases require large doses, — from five to ten drops of the mother-tincture, or 1*, repeated several times a day for weeks.

Dr. Morrison, of this country, reported the following case for my second edition. It is so singular that I reproduce it:

A woman, aged thirty-three, a teacher, of nervous temperament, light hair and eyes, inclined to hysteria, menses uninterrupted since the third month after their first appearance. The menses would appear within three or four hours of the same time every month, with a deepseated pain, with heat in the occiput ; after a few hours a pain would seize her in the forehead and temples, with faintness and nausea at the stomach, a sensation of great weakness in the lumbar region, general lassitude and debility, especially in the limbs, followed by torpor and heaviness in the limbs. When the nausea set in the occipital pain was ameliorated. There was aversion to the smell of food. With these symptoms would be an appearance of protrusion of the eyes, with a wild and strange expression. The menses would usually appear in the morning and flow until noon, then suddenly cease, or they would last from half an hour to six hours, intermitting in this manner for ten or twelve days. While she was usually of a cheerful, sprightly, talkative disposition, during the menses she was stupid, had a lack of expression and a vacuity of ideas.

There was also tympanites, puffing of the parts on and around the pubis and vulva, a dilated condition of the vagina, and a bearing-down sensation in the rectum. On examination the vagina seemed very hot, the os uteri engorged, and swollen. From the use of ice locally, these conditions and the puffiness would disappear. Constipation existed, the bowels acting only once in six or seven days, the stools dry and claylike.

Heart's Action. — When the eyes seemed protruded, the heart would seem to act tumultuously and forcibly ; it could be heard several feet from the bed. (At these times the puffing of the pubis was worse.) When the heart’s action was feeble and quiet, with quiet pulse, the puffing about the genitals was better. At times the pulse would be small, quiet, and could scarcely be counted. Urine scanty, thick, and muddy; oedema of the feet. This kind of cardiac trouble seemed to be hereditary, as her mother had been similarly afflicted. With the exception of some dyspeptic symptoms, no other organ seemed diseased.

All, or nearly all, the above symptoms would disappear after the menstrual flow ceased, or at the expiration of ten or twelve days.

After trying many remedies for several months, without benefit, the Lycopus virginicus was given with the effect of dissipating the majority of the symptoms, and a steady improvement has since occurred, until she is now quite well.

Remarks. — Dr. Morrison’s case is quite suggestive, especially in relation to the abnormal action of the heart, which seems to have been the cause and not the effect of all the patient’s symptoms. It would follow that Lycopus, by its specific action on the heart, cured indirectly all the abnormal manifestations.

The case was doubtless one of exophthalmus, and is one of the few instances of that strange malady being relieved by any medicine.

Dr. Morison, of England, gives us the only clinical report of its use from that country. The symptoms prescribed for, resemble those in his own provings:

Mrs. A. W., hysterical temperament, consulted me on the 13th September ; age forty-seven ; no appearance of menses for three years. Complained of occipito-frontal headache, debility, flushings, dyspnoea, palpitation easily induced, with occasional intermissions, flatulency, giddiness, huskiness of throat on right side, interscapulary pains, pains down the lower limbs, commencing on left side ; dreamy sleep. R . Lachesis 1 2.

September 17th. Complains of fronto-occipital headache, on excitement; palpitation “ all over ; ” swelling of legs and ankles on exertion. General symptoms unchanged. R. Lycopus 3* om. § tiis horis.

September 23d. Swelling of ankles ; flatulency, and dyspnoea lessened. Cardiac pulsation regular, not intermittent. Has also found relief from shooting pains in left wrist and elbow. Flushings continue. Rep.

September 27th. Complains much of “strange feelings,” with fronto-occipital headache, “ as if the temples were pressed in ; ” seems afraid to turn for fear she would tilt forward ; nausea from epigastrium ; depression ; for several years has dropped things from her hands ; flushings ; sudden pains at apex of heart, “causing faintness and strange sensations” (“I often wonder whether my heart is affected”); interscapular pain; this week, restless and dreamy sleep ; less palpitation ; less pain and swelling of legs and ankles ; constipation ; appetite good. Auscultation reveals feeble action of heart; no murmurs; pulse stronger than indicated by cardiac action, 80 sitting and standing, regular. Considering that some of the symptoms were due to drug action, I prescribed R . Spt. vini red.

October 4th. Still have severe pain in temples and occiput, with nausea ; flushings. Other symptoms, including cardiac, much relieved. Sleep better ; pulse 80, sitting and standing; feeble. R. Lycopus 3c, 4tuor in die.

October 11th. Has had a bilious attack, with vomiting of food. Used formerly to have severe pain across hypogastrium, with such attacks, but was free on this occasion. Still has flurried feelings and flushings, but lessened. Beatings through

temples to occiput, with sensation of stoppage in larynx (nervous). Sleep much better ; dreams less ; less palpitation ; sudden pains at apex, but lessened in frequency and intensity. Pulse 102 sitting, 112 standing; very feeble. R. Spt. vini red.

October 18th. Hysterical, with bilious feelings. Faintness, sighing. Other symptoms about the same. Pains in head and temples. Pulse 72, feeble, regular, sitting; resps. 18. R. Lycopus 3, 4tuor in die.

October 25th. Less sighing; less giddiness. Pulse 80, feeble and irregular, sitting ; 92, feeble and regular, standing ; resps. 19. There was decided improvement in several respects ; but at this point it became necessary to change the remedy, owing to the setting in of severe bilious derangements.

Note. — The prominent symptoms which Lycopus failed to relieve were, — neuralgic pains in the left side of the face ; flushings, with sense of heat ; choking sensation in throat, and hepatic complications.

I doubt if the supposed aggravation was from Lycopus.

The Lycopus has been found curative in diabetes mellitus.

Dr. Ray reports several cases in the “ Eclectic Medical Journal.” They were characterized by the flow of a gallon or more, daily, of clear urine, of great density, containing sugar, intense thirst, great emaciation, and other well-known symptoms of the disease.

After trying a rigid diet and various medicines without much good result, the fluid extract of Lycopus was given, in doses of thirty drops, three times a day, with surprisingly prompt effect. All the symptoms rapidly gave way, until the patients were apparently cured. Thus we have another remedy for that serious and often intractable malady.

Since the appearance of the last edition, I published in the “North American Journal of Homoeopathy,” November, 1878, a remarkable cure of diabetes mellitus, by means of the Lycopus in infusion, 5j of the herb to Oj of water, a tablespoonful five times a day, continued several weeks.

The action of Lycopus on the heart has not been sufficiently studied by means of experiments on the healthy. Dr. Morison, of England, is the only one who has attempted a thorough proving with large crude doses. It is to be regretted that he was not in good health, and that his heart was not in a normal condition. The two experiments of provings he has made are valuable, inasmuch as the sphygmograph was used in each proving, and the pulse-tracings given.

The record of his first proving begins by giving his state of health at the beginning of the proving, as follows :

State of Health. — Usually good, though not robust. For the last nine years (since residing in England), tendency to rheumatic pains, with slightly depressed cardiac action. The oppression of crowded rooms induces faintness. For about a week tendency to diarrhoea. Slight attacks of spasm of the intercostals, which have troubled me for about a month, consequent on the effects of arsenical wall-paper. Depression of vital energy from a long strain of work.

Examiner's Report (by a hospital physician). — “ Impulse of heart rather feeble. Percussion shows that the heart is of natural size. There is a distinct systolic basic murmur heard at the second left interspace, which I have no doubt is haemic. The first sound at the apex is not good, and rather murmurish. Occasionally intermission in the heart’s beats.”

Clinical Observations. — Pulse 70 (sitting) ; temp. 36.40° C. ; resps. 20. Urine clear, bright (even after standing the whole night), acid ; sp. gr. 1012 ; free from albumen.

Proving. — Sept. 5th, 1872, 10 p.m., Ly copus mar-0. I append pulse-tracing as taken by the sphygmograph. The indications are those of fairly healthy action :

September 7th. Dose, 25 drops tincture. The heart has already begun to show its action in the weakened impulse of that organ, as witness the following tracing. Pulse 76 ; action fairly regular:

September 8th. Took 60 drops. The pulse was 80, standing, with distinct intermissions, with some cardiac oppression.

Dr. Morrison says he uses the term “ cardiac oppression,” to denote heavy, labored action, as if the heart were obliged to make great effort to do its work.

September 9th. Took 60 drops. Cardiac oppression ; pulse 80, sitting, with the following pulse-tracing :

September 10th. Took 60 drops. Cardiac depression when lying down, with dull, heavy beating, lasting several minutes. Pulse 74, sitting and standing, varying in volume. (Depression indicates feeble and excitable action.)

September 11th. Took 75 drops. On waking intermittent action of the heart; intermissions at 7th, 8th, 6th, 9th, 21st, 23d, and 88th beats. A few minutes after, intermissions between the 6th and 15th beats ; later it beat 70 (lying).

September 12th. Took 50 drops. Pulse irregular and intermittent, specially so when lying, quickened by each inspiration.

September 13th. Took 50 drops. “Pulsation scarcely perceptible to the touch.” Pulse 72, regular, with this tracing:

September 14th. Took 60 drops. Awoke at 5. Pulse 74 ; intermissions at 7th, 11th, 31st, 10th, and 20th beats. At 8, pulse 72, not intermittent. 10 a.m., pulse 74, lying and sitting; 82 standing; general debility. At noon, pulse 82, sitting; 86 standing, irregular and intermitting. Five minutes later, subacute pain at apex, extending to third left interspace.

September 15th. Took 80 drops. Rheumatic pains about the heart. Palpitation on slightest exertion. Pulse, lying, 60 ; sitting, 66 ; standing, 80.

September 16th. Took 100 drops. Labored cardiac pulsation in the morning. In the following tracing the jerking character of the heart’s action is well expressed :

September 19th. Examination of heart. “ Heart-sounds indistinct, systolic running into diastolic; action very feeble.” Pulse 78, sitting; 86 standing, not intermittent (noon). In the afternoon the pulse came down to 62 sitting, 64 standing, irregular. (Took 180 drops.)

September 20th. (No medicine after this date.) Much darting pain at the apex of the heart, with general debility.

September 21st. At noon, pulse scarcely perceptible, 76 sitting, regular ; 84 standing, irregular. The tracing showed feeble action, obtained with difficulty:

Examination showed the pulse extremely varying, both as to time and volume, at first almost imperceptible, 76 to 86, sitting and standing, not intermittent. Cardiac pulsations much stronger than the pulse indications would lead one to expect. No murmurs.

September 24th. Examiner's Report. “ Impulse feeble ; heart-sounds very weak ; action irregular in force and rhythm, not intermittent, no murmurs.” Pulse feeble, very compressible.

September 25th. Pulse 68, sitting. The subjoined tracing was taken with difficulty, at former pressure, owing to feebleness and compressibility:

September 26th. Pulse 62, lying; feeble, less compressible (in morning). In evening marked cardiac depression, causing slight faintness on quickly ascending a few steps, lasting fully half an hour ; returning later on quietly ascending, with subacute cardiac pain ; cardiac action barely perceptible ; pulse stronger than cardiac action would indicate ; regular.

September 27th. Subacute pain over cardiac region, with cardiac distress, Pulse compressible, irritable, varying in force and rhythm, with frequent intermissions ; sighing respiration ; cardiac depression.

September 29th. Labored cardiac action, followed by cardiac depression, with faintness ; pulse, at same time, 76 ; stronger than cardiac impulse indicates.

September 30th. In evening cardiac depression, causing faintness.

October 1st. Examined : Cardiac impulse very feeble ; haemic murmur again distinct ; no other murmurs ; pulse feeble, extremely compressible, irregular in force and rhythm, not intermittent ; 72 to 80, sitting and standing, quickened by movement.

October 3d. The annexed tracing was taken last evening, with a pulse so feeble as to render it being taken at former pressures a matter of considerable difficulty :

October 9th. Cardiac depression has been the rule up to this date. To-day it is 78 sitting, 88 standing; irregular in rhythm; extremely compressible.

October 10th. 7.30 p.m., marked cardiac depression ; pulse stronger than indicated by cardiac impulse ; 66 lying, sitting, and standing ; extremely irregular in force and rhythm ; respiration oppressed ; lasting till 9 p.m. The annexed pulse-tracing shows the character of the heart’s action at the time. Owing to slow running of the paper this tracing is rather cramped, but the curves are

well marked. A singular feature in this tracing is its resemblance, in the main points, to one recently taken on a patient, aged 31, afflicted with severe mitral regurgitant disease, which latter I annex for the sake of comparison. It should be mentioned that this is not the characteristic tracing of mitral regurgitant disease :

For the sake of clinical comparison I append a second tracing, taken from the same patient ten days after, while under the influence of Digitalis, of which Lycopus appears to be an analogue :

October 15th. No special symptoms since last report. The feces are gradually assuming their natural character. Cardiac action still rather depressed.

Examiner's Report (by first examiner). — “ Cardiac impulse feeble ; haemic murmur distinct on strong pressure ; systolic sounds not quite natural at apex, not amounting to a murmur, probably due to feeble action ; pulse regular, very compressible, 76 sitting.” 10.30 p.m., pulse, 68 sitting, 72 standing, regular, compressible; temp. 36.40°; resps. 20. Urine clear, acid; sp. gr. 1014. This completes the proving.

Dr. Morrison made a second proving some time afterwards, beginning with the 200th potency, one dose, and ending with the 9.

April 17th. Five drops of the 200th in the evening. On lying down he observed palpitation with altered rhythm, the systole being shortened and the interval lengthened.

April 18th and 19th. No cardiac symptoms.

April 20th. Cardiac depression in the evening; pulse, 68 sitting, irregular.

April 29th. Ten drops 9. The next day on waking pulse 60, feeble, irregular, and intermittent. In p.m. pulse 76, feeble, regular, as shown by the following tracing:

May 1st. Forty drops 9. No heart symptoms for seven days.

May 8th. 120 drops 9. Two hours afterwards had oppressed respiration, with sighing, vertigo; pulse, 80 sitting, 88 standing, irregular; cardiac depression. On the 9th and 10th he felt the same symptoms. On the 11th he had acute darting pains in the heart, with complete intermissions, lasting nearly an hour. On the 6th of July he says: “During the last three weeks I have felt quite as well as usual ; but this morning, on rising, noted slight weakness of the pulse, with slight irregularity of rhythm.” He took 90 drops of the 200th. He records “ diminished pulse-force, with occasional intermissions a few minutes after ; and in the evening, pulse 66 sitting and standing, very irregular in force and rhythm.”

(I cannot see that the 200th had any effect in this instance. The symptoms of the morning, before the dose, were simply continued during the day.) It appeared to act curatively only, as the pulse tracing of the next day shows :

Remarks. — These provings of Dr. Morison, while they throw much light on the action of the drug, and denote great care and

ability on the part of the prover, are not what we require to perfect our knowledge of the action of Lv copus on the heart.

To obtain a thorough insight into the powers of a drug, the prover should be a healthy person. Dr. Morison was not healthy ; he says he “ had had for years a tendency to rheumatic pains and slightly depressed cardiac action. The oppression of crowded rooms causes faintness.” This latter symptom always denotes a weakened heart. The examination of the heart at the beginning of the proving showed the impulse to be feeble, with intermissions, etc. Moreover, he says : “ At the period of commencing the proving, and for weeks after, he had late hours and hard labor; all of which would induce feeble and labored cardiac action.”

But, admitting all these, the Lycopus, doubtless, had some pathogenetic action on the heart, for it seemed to regain its usual power when the drug was left off. It was simply an experiment upon a prover who had a condition of the heart similar to that caused by Lycopus, and the drug aggravated the existing cardiac debility. But from these aggravations we can deduce valuable information.

Taking these provings, together with my own experiments and clinical observations, I believe the action of Lycopus on the heart, when taken in massive doses, may be thus stated:

Primarily, it weakens the power and vitality of that organ, decreasing the blood-pressure in the arteries, and consequently the tension everywhere.

It renders the action of the heart irregular, intermittent and quicker, especially on motion. It causes oppression from labored action before it causes depression ; or the two sensations appear alternately. The pains caused by Lycopus are not rheumatic, but “rheumatoid;” or, more properly, myalgie, the result of general muscular enervation.

It does not appear to affect the nerves specifically, but may indirectly weaken the retardators and inhibitory cardiac. The vertigo is quite notable, and indicates decreased arterial pressure in the head. The ultimate result of a heroic Lycopus proving would be to cause hypertrophy with dilatation, if the experiment could be carried far enough.

(It is doubtful if it possesses sufficient power to cause such a result in a healthy person.)

Secondarily , the action of Lycopus, or the reaction from the primary symptoms, would be to cause an exceedingly irritable heart, with a tendency to hypertrophy with enlargement, or hypertrophy with dilatation, and even valvular disease. Even “Graves’s disease,” or “ exophthalmus,” might result from its secondary effects.

It is difficult at this time, and with the knowledge we now possess, to more clearly define its primary and secondary action.

Clinically, the value of Lycopus, in all the conditions similar to its primary and secondary action, is undoubted. It is primarily indicated in cases where the heart has become weak and irritable from physical causes, namely, such as originate from overstrain of that organ ; from a rheumatic affection with constitutional debility ; from abuse of cardiac depressants, or cardiac stimulants. I do not think it will be found as useful when the primary cause of the cardiac debility is in the nervous system. In these conditions it should be generally prescribed in the attenuations, even the higher.

It is secondarily indicated in excessive cardiac hyperactivity, hypercesthesia, hypertrophy (either eccentric or concentric), whether from muscular weakness or sympathetic with disease in other organs. (During the primary action of Lycopus on the heart, a general venous stasis occurs in all the organs of the body, notably the liver, lungs, and kidneys ; consequently it is secondarily indicated when the heart disorders arises from such causes.)

Even in cases where the cardiac irritability arises from erethism of the nerve-centres, the Lycopus is secondarily indicated, for reasons which will occur to any physiologist.

The dose, when secondarily indicated, ranges from the lowest dilutions to appreciable quantities of the matrix tincture or infusion.

In several cases of irritable heart, where the pulse was quick (140), but regular, and with sharp, jerking impulse, the persistent use of the tincture, in doses of ten drops, three and four times a day, has brought the pulse down in the following manner : When first taken, the pulse was in the morning, 120 ; noon, 130 ; night,

74, noon ; 80, evening. This occurred under the influence of decreasing doses, and the improvement was permanent, showing that it was not merely a palliative effect of the medicine.