Hydrastis canadensis

Volume II — Main text

HYDRASTIS .

Hydrastis canadensis, L. Golden seal. Nat. Ord., Ranunculaceæ. I. Provings.-1. Nov. 9th, 1862, took 10 gr. of powdered root at 3 p.m. Constant slight pain in umbilical region with hot sensation there. 7, soft stool followed by severe cutting pains in hypogastric region, and dull aching pains in testicles, accompanied by a very faint feeling ; eructations of sour fluid ; dull heavy weight in lumbar region. 10th.- Feeling well, at 9 a.m. took 20 gr. 12 m., dull, heavy, frontal headache ; constant distress in umbilical region, with loud rumbling in bowels ; dull ache in region of kidneys. Took 15 gr. 5 p.m. , dull headache, slight constant pain in umbilical region ; still renal pain. Took 40 gr. Constant dull headache, with much pain in hypogastric region and small of back; slight stool, with faint feeling after ; legs very weak and aching ; urine 20 oz., acid. 11th.-Woke several times in n. with severe pain in small of back and hypogastric region, and dull pain in umbilical region, worse on motion, with great rumbling in bowels. Stool at 6 a.m., soft, papescent, followed by very faint feeling, and severe pains in hypogastric region ; dull headache ; eyes secrete large quantities of thick white mucus ; mucous membrane of eyelids a good deal congested ; nose very much stuffed up ; slight hacking cough, with scraping sensation in larynx. At 10 a.m. , 50 gr. 5, constant duil frontal headache; nose secreting constantly a thick white mucus ; constant rough hacking cough ; constant coryza. Soft, mushy stool at 2, with great rumbling in bowels. R. knee has pained much all d., much worse in walking. Took 60 gr. 9, constant dull headache ; frequent coryza, with profuse lachrymation, nose running constantly with thick white mucus ; continued slight hacking cough ; constant dull pain in umbilical region ; soft mushy stool ; urine 42 oz., unaffected by heat. 12th.-Slept well ; eyelids agglutinated; lids congested ; obstruction of nose with thick white mucus ; coryza and cough as before, also umbilical pain and stool ; dull aching in loins ; aphthous sore on m.m. of under lip. At 10 a.m. 70 gr. 12, constant dull aching in stomach, causing " gone " or faintish feeling ; dull frontal headache. 5, feeling in stomach has persisted ; stool as before ; very sad and gloomy. Took 80 gr. Pain in stomach and umbilical region

all e.; dull heavy backache ; urine 36 oz., acid. 13th.-Woke many times with severe cutting pains in stomach and umbilical region ; nose stuffed up ; aphtha is better ; soft papescent stool. At 10 a.m. took 100 gr. All p.m. umbilical pain as usual ; by spells quite sharp pains in region of spleen, with hot sensation ; very gloomy. At 4 p.m. took 70 dr. of tinct. Constant dull burning pains all e.; cramps in umbilical region ; smarting of eye. Urine 41 oz., slightly acid. 14th.- Prevented from sleeping most of n. by dull heavy aching pains in umbilical region ; dull heavy headache ; eyelids agglutinated, m.m. congested ; nose stuffed up ; soft mushy stool. At 9 a.m. took 50 dr. of Tilden's fluid extr. 12, there has been constant dull burning pain in umbilical region, accompanied by faintish "goneness" in epigastrium ; dull, frontal headache ; burning in eyes. Took 75 dr. Symptoms were present all d. Urine 66 oz. , acid. 15th.-Very chilly all n., in spite of abundant covering, and great pain in umbilical and cæcal regions. Pain all d. in whole abdomen ; soft mushy stool ; urine 50 oz . 16th .- Felt quite well. (W.H. BURT, M.D., in Hale's New Remedies, 2nd ed.) 2. Dr. W. N. WHITESIDE proved tinct. ofdried root, I in 10. Nov. 11th, 1865 , took 30 dr. 12th.-Same dose. Sticky mucus about palate and bad taste. 14th.-Weight in stomach. Same dose. 15th.- Less ability to retain urine ; had to micturate more frequently, but not (he thinks) more copiously. 16th.-Frequently, when eructating, a little urine escapes. Great ennui and lassitude. 17th and 18th. On each d. 45 dr. 19th.-Unusual clearing of throat while singing. 20th.-Sticky mucus about fauces. 21st.-At 9 a.m., 130, at 12.30 p.m. 180 dr. A little mucus in fauces which he cannot swallow. 22nd.-On waking at n. (habitual) whizzing noise in ears, and crick in 1. elbow and phalanges of 1. hand-quite painful. Tongue seems large and marked by teeth ; flatus fetid. Took 300 dr. Roaring in ears at 9 p.m.; pulse 56. 23rd.-Broad yellow stripe on tongue and bad taste. At 6 p.m. , 300 dr. 24th.-Noise in ears on waking at n ., and rumbling in bowels ; chilliness at 9 a.m., pulse 52, some pain in stomach . At 10 a.m., 220 dr. 10 p.m., urine smells a little decomposed. 25th . -Rumbling and tinnitus at n. as before ; mouth sticky, with light fur on tongue; a small aphtha on upper lip (patient had one there, which soon disappeared, when he began proving). 7 a.m., troublesome aching in l. sole for I or 2 h. Ringing in ears, with slight pain in anus. Took 120 dr. 27th.-Bad taste in m.; an aphtha on under lip. urine has unusual odour. 28th .-At 9 a.m. 50 dr. Noise in ears in 5 m., pulse 66. An aphtha on tongue, and that on lip quite large and sore. 30th.-150 dr. Dec. 2nd.-Painless gurgling in stomach. Stools all through proving a little softer than usual, and of smaller diameter. ( Ibid.) 3. a. W. S. VIRGIN, æt. 24, bilious temp., in perfect health, took 5 dr. of tinct. on going to bed, Nov. 3rd, 1866. Next m., cutting pain in bowels before and after stool ; some coryza ; heavy full aching in forehead while in warm room, going off in open air ; while walking, pain in r. hip and l. knee. Symptoms went offp.m., but returned next m., nostrils being very sore and sensitive to cold air. In e. pain from

1. mastoid process to scapula. Next d. catarrh had descended into chest, and there was aching and soreness in many places, and a recurrence of some chest pains which only come on when he takes a violent cold. On 7th, besides other symptoms, while lying in bed at n. sharp cutting pain from r. iliac region into testicle, leaving parts above Poupart's ligament very sore and tender, with pain into root of penis while pressing upon it, and next m. after urinating. b. On 18th, being quite well again, took at II p.m. 10 dr. of 3rd dil. Had to be awakened next m., which occurred also on m. after first dose, but never before proving ; felt unrefreshed and dull, with little appetite for breakfast. Alld. dull and heavy, forgetful, indisposed to mental exertion, and singularly spiteful and irritable. Some aching in cerebellum and neck and uneasiness in abdomen . 20th . Still spiteful and angry disposition all d., but otherwise well ; which he was in all respects on 21st. (Dr. LIPPE's provings, in Ibid.) 4. C. B. DREHER, æt. 21 , well save for occasional dyspeptic symptoms. Oct. 31st, 1866, took I dr. of tinct. at 6.30 p.m. No symptoms save those of dyspepsia. On Nov. 3rd took 5 dr. at 11 p.m. In 15 m. rumbling in abdomen as if diarrhea was coming on. 4th.- Slept well. At 9 a.m., pain over 1. eye, with soreness in forehead ; r. nostril stopped up. On walking in open air headache disappeared, and a watery coryza set in ; latter stopped again in room. Same thing occurred on 6th, and on 7th he had rheumatic pains in both thighs, extending later to hip- and knee-joints; pain worse on first sitting down after walking. ( Ibid.) 5. N. F- took 4 times daily 3 pellets medicated with the 1, dil. He had constrictive pressive feeling about sternum; shortness of breath ; sharp cutting pains through temples, with dimness of vision ; griping in bowels, with profuse light-coloured diarrhea, so prostrating that he was obliged to discontinue proving. (Amer. Observer, iii, 518.) 6. a. Dr.C.H. WEAVER, in ordinary health,ofspare habit and nervobilious temperament, took, July 25th, 1865, 8 dr. of tinct. at I p.m. Immediate feeling as though brain were partially narcotized, soon followed by sharp, cuttingpains darting through temples, also in elbows and biceps muscles ; feeling also of contusive lameness in last-mentioned parts. At 4, took 10 dr. Sore and raw feeling in throat, especially around epiglottis, with hoarseness ; stuffed-up, smarting sensation in posterior nares, as from a recent cold ; increased secretion of nasal mucus ; griping in bowels, with several light but somewhat acrid stools . The proving was continued 2 or 3 d., and about the same sensations produced. b. " Aug. 21st, at 5 p.m., took 10 dr. Sharp stinging pains in temples, but dull in vertex and over eyes ; very acrid feeling near epiglottis, with hoarseness. At 8, same dose. Passed very restless n. , troubled with frightful dreams and fancies Next m., feeling as if intoxicated ; stinging, rheumatic pains in r. shoulder, elbows, and forearms, and in knees ; pulse slow and laboured, but considerable heat of skin ; headache up to noon ; constriction in chest at middle of sternum ; acute distressing pain in stomach ; continued stuffed-up feeling in posterior nares and frontal sinuses, with discharge of thin clear mucus ;

continual snuffing and occasional sneezing throughout d., and hoarseness ; passed much limpid urine frequently. About4began to feel very weak ; griping in bowels and soreness over surface of abdomen, also great soreness of muscles of neck ; somewhat feverish, with intense itching in various parts of body. Arose next d. feeling weak ; passed a very copious, mushy, light-coloured stool ; have still dull headache with some sharp stitches through temples ; but most marked symptom is a sharp, raw, excoriating feeling in both nares, with constant inclination to empty the nose ; discharge of nasal mucus is very free ; sneezing constant for 20 m. At 6 a.m., took 15 dr. Sharp, aching pains in shoulders, arms, and especially first finger of 1. hand ; increased hoarseness ; nausea ; almost constant weakness, so increased towards e., with terrible headache and giddiness, that I was obliged to cling to my horse for support in the saddle ; fell 2 or 3 times in walking to my room, but after a cup of warm tea and a little nux vomica was able to get about. Next d., headache continues, and not till expiration of a week does it feel quite easy ; discharge of mucus from nose also is profuse, almost incessant, for 10 d., bronchi being affected similarly, but less severely . " ( Ibid.) II. Poisonings.-1 . Miss W-, æt. 75, suffering from chronic ulcer of leg, but general health being good, took by mistake on e. of Aug. 15th, 1862, 20 dr. of tinct. During n. was restless. On m. of 16th experienced great sense of sinking and prostration at epigastrium with violent and long-continued palpitation ; three greenish evacuations, with pain in bowels as if she had taken a drastic purge. In course of d. she had flushes of heat over head, neck, and hands ; these were succeeded by an erysipelatous rash, covering neck, palms, and joints of fingers and wrists. Irritation was maddening, with intense burning heat. These symptoms continued until the 22nd, when skin exfoliated ; irritation remained in a slighter form for some d., and was always worse at n. ( BAYES ; in Hale.) 2. A patient, subject to sore-throats, had one involving buccal cavity. An infusion of H. was prescribed as a gargle, to be used 3 or 4 times a d. Misunderstanding directions she used a whole tumblerful in about 5 h., at same time applying a cloth saturated with it over mouth and chin. Next m. (3rd) mouth, lips and nose were very much swollen, and during d. pimples appeared around mouth and chin resembling early stage of smallpox. Next d. they began to vesiculate, on 6th to sink in centre, turn dark, and commence drying, scaling off on roth. (W. L. CLEVELAND ; in Hale.) III. Experiments on animals.-1. Prof. Bartholow has made some experiments on frogs and rabbits, and proves that the alkaloid hydrastine is the true active principle, its characteristic effects having been simply repeated by sufficient doses of the fl. extr. His conclusions are as follows : a. H. belongs to the excito-motor agents. It heightens perception , cutaneous sensibility, and reflex functions ; and causes death by tetanic fixation of the respiratory muscles. b. The spasms and convulsions caused by H. are central and spinal, not peripheral .

c. H. exhausts the irritability of motor nerves and muscles . d. H. acts on both the inhibitory and the motor apparatus of the heart, destroying their power of response to irritation ; but the former function yields after the latter. The blood pressure is lowered. (MOHR, Hahn. Monthly, Nov., 1880. )