Rhus venenata, D. C. (Rhus vernix, Linn, in part.)

Natural order , Anacardiaceæ.

Common names , Poison elder, Swamp sumach, etc.

Preparation , Tincture of the leaves and stems.

Authorities.

1 , Kalm, Travels in N. Am. (in Bigelow's Med. Botany), effects of exhalations of plant; 2 , Thacher, Dispensoraty (from Bigelow); 3 , Pierson (from bigelow), effects of collecting the juice; 4 , Bigelow, effects of exposure to plant; 5 , same, general statement; 6 , Boston, M. and Surg. J., 17, 349, effects of shaving off some bark; 7 , Dr. Bute, Archiv f. Hom., 15, 1, 179, effects of exhalations of the tincture on self and wife; 8 , Dr. Stratton, Edin. Med. and Surg. J., 1850 (Lond. Med. Gaz., 1851, 263), effects of handling plant; 9 , same, in another person; 10 , Dr. M. J. Reeves, Trans. Am. Inst. of Hom., 1853, p. 384, effects of handling plant of "Rhus laurina;" [Perhaps meaning R. Venata. T. F. A.]

11 , Thomas, Br. J. of Hom., 14, 346, effect of application of tincture to hands and feet; 12 , Hoyt. N. Am. J. of Hom., 7, 59, effects of exhalations of plant while gathering it, and also of the tincture; 13 , Kunze, N. Z. f. H. Kl., 12, 155, took 5th dec. dil., 20 drops first day, 30 drops second day, 40 drop third day; 4th dec. dil., 10 drops fourth day, 15 drops fifth day, 20 drops twice seventh day, 30 drops eighth day, and 70 drops ninth day; 3d dec. dil., 20 drops eleventh day; 2d dec. dil., 20 drops twelfth day, 30 drops fourteenth day; 1st dec. dil., 10 drops fifteenth day, 20 drops sixteenth day, 25 drops seventeenth day; tincture, 3 drops eighteenth day, 4 drops nineteenth day, 5 drops twentieth day, and 6 drops twenty-first day; 13 a , same repeatedly applied tincture externally; 14 , Dr. Clary, Am. Hom. Rev., 5, 23, effect of touching the tongue to the juice; 15 , Dr. W. H. Burt, proving with large doses of 3d dil., and 10 to 150-drop doses of tincture, ibid; 16 , Dr. Oehme, N. E. Med. Gaz., 1, 121, application of tincture to skin of arm, and internal use of 1st dil., repeated doses; 16 a , same, effects of peeling off the bark, and of chewing it; 17 , same, poisoning of a lady, by using a branch for a fan; 18 , Butman, N. Eng. Med. Gaz., 4, 200; 19 , same, from handling the blossoms; 19 a , same, application of juice to an abrasion on chin; 19 b , same, proving with repeated doses of tincture, for five days; 20 , Dr. McGeorge, Hahn. Month., 7, 315, took 2 or 3 drops of tincture from leaves, first and third days; 20 a , same, two months later, poisoned by passing the shrub; , same, effects of touching finger to cork of vial of tincture; , same, effects of preparing 2d and 3d dilutions; , same, proving on a girl, aged twenty-two, one dose of 2 drops of tincture; , same, on a girl aged eighteen, 3 drops of 1st dil.; , same, a boy aged thirteen, affected by handling the twigs; , Jackson, Pharm. J., 1872, p. 985, effects of gathering specimens; , same, effects of handling plant; , Dr. Jas. C. White, N. Y. Med. Journ., effects of handling plant.

MIND

Great sadness, no desire to live, everything seems gloomy, 15.*
Low-spirited, and disinclined to employ his time in any manner (seventh day), 20.*
Low-spirited (fifth day), 20, 22.*
I experienced no feelings of despondency at first; my head felt clear, though I had for several days previous to my poisoning, a sense of dulness and weight in it (fifth day), 12.
Peevish and fretful in the extreme, 11.
Apprehensive, restless, and had a variable state of feeling, sometimes cheerful, the hypochondriacal, 12.
No disposition to move about or employ my mind in study, 12.
Inability at times to connect one's ideas; forgetfulness; dull and stupid feeling, 19b.*
Absence of mind; cannot concentrate my mind on any particular subject, 15.

HEAD. [10.]

Whirling vertigo (second day), 13.*
Dizzy sensation at times, much worse at evening (fourth day), 12.
My neighbors, and even members of my own family have been poisoned by it; in some instances the sufferers were "a sight to behold," their heads were swollen to an enormous extent; some were blind for many days. Blondes appear to be more susceptible to its influence, as a general thing, than others. I have certainly seen the worst cases of poisoning amongst persons of that complexion. A singularity about the cases is, that after being once affected by this plant, the effects of the poison will show themselves at about the same time each succeeding year. Again, individuals who have been poisoned by Rhus toxicodendron, are more liable than others to be poisoned by this species; or as some have suggested, the R. venenata is "set to work" by the Rhus toxicodendron, 18.
Dull feeling in the head (sixth day); very troublesome (seventh day), 12.
Dull headache; sharp darting pains in the parietal bones of both sides, 19b.
Dull feeling in the head (fourth day), 16a.
Dull headache (fourth day), 20.*
"Intolerable heaviness of the head" after the first week of the proving, 12.
Intolerable heaviness of the head, 7.
Heaviness of head very troublesome (seventh day), 12. [20.]
Heaviness of the head (fourteenth day), 13.
Heaviness of the head and vertigo (seventh day), 13.
Fulness of the head, 15.
Headache of a stupefying nature (third day), 20.
Headache all day, yet does not feel low-spirited (third day), 20.
Slight headache (fifth day), 20.
Considerable headache (sixth day), 22.
Sensation as if the brain were pressing up against the inside of the cranium, 19b.
Sensation as if the head were bound, 19b.
Pressure in the head and heaviness as if engorged with blood (eleventh day), 13. [30.]
Jerklike drawing in the upper part of the left side of the head (eleventh day), 13.

EYE. [50.]

The cellular tissues around the eyes was very much swollen, 15.
Eyes half closed; eyes closed from the great swelling of the cellular tissue around them, 15.
The eyes were nearly closed, in the morning, by the swelling of the lids (fourth day), 10.
Eyes red, 7.
Dull-looking appearance of eyes (fifth day), 20.
Eyes dull and heavy (sixth day), 20.
Eyes dull (fourth day), 20.
(It benefited a chronic inflammation of the eyes), 3.
Eyes very sensitive to light, on waking in the morning, 7.
Sensation as if the eyes were being pressed out of the head, 19b. [60.]
Smarting and burning in the eyes (while at work on the Rhus), 10.
About 9 o'clock, smarting and burning of the eyes, as though washed in alcohol, attended with profuse lachrymation (fifth day), 12.
Burning pains and swelling in the eye (tenth day), 14.
Burning in the eyes and slight lachrymation (fourth day), 16a.
Violent burning sensation in the right eye, in the morning (ninth day), 16a.
Some irritation or acridity about the eyes and throat, 26.
Sharp pain in the right eye, extending to supraorbital region, 19b.
Prickling and biting in the eyes as though they would water and become inflamed (fourth day), 13.
Stitches deep in the right eye, followed by biting in the eyes, as if they would become inflamed and water (eighth day), 13.
Lachrymal Apparatus.
Lachrymation and a livid circle under the eyes (fifth day), 12. [70.]
Constant discharge of tears, 15.
Ball.
Constant dull aching pains in the eyeballs, 15.
Vision.
Dimness before the eyes on reading, 7.
Slight dimness of sight (fifth day), 12.

EAR

Transient stitches in the right concha (twelfth day), 13.
Jerklike tearing in the bone behind the right ear (fourth day), 13.
Jerklike cutting stitches in the ear (eleventh day), 13.
Considerable deafness, which is quite troublesome (fifth day); very troublesome (seventh day), 12.
Frequent ringing in the right ear (second day), 13. [80.]
Noise and rustling in the right ear (eleventh day), 13.
Noises in the right ear (twelfth day), 13.
Constant ringing in the right ear (fifteenth day), 13.

NOSE

Nose quite red and shining, the redness is not removed by pressure (second evening), 10.
Profuse secretion from right nostril of a thin ichorous fluid (fourteenth day); secretion from right nostril slightly excoriating; no discharge from left nostril, which is stopped up (fifteenth day), 20.
After some days, both nostrils were completely filled with tenacious mucus, 19b.
(Catarrhal trouble less after the proving), 20c.
Right nostril obstructed, at 2 P.M.; discharge of a little water from the left nostril, with sensation in the nose as if from a commencing cold, at 3 P.M. (fourth day), 16a.
Dryness of the nose, 19b.
Great dryness of the nostrils at two different times, lasting each time about an hour, 13. [90.]
Nose feels sore, as if it was going to peel off (seventh day), 20.
Entire loss of smell (twelfth day), 14.

FACE

A boy poisoned with the Rhus v.; his face became so much swollen that he could not open his eyes for several days, accompanied with a high fever, 15.
Face much swollen; shining, glistening appearance; desire to rub face continually; hot water relieves, and causes peeling of skin (third day), 20a.
Considerable redness and tumefaction of the face (third day), 6.
Face very much swollen around the eyes; face swollen so that the eyes were closed for several days, 15.
Face enormously swollen, closing both eyes (from poisoning), 19b.
Swelling of the face, with very red eyes, without headache, 7.
The left side of the face is more swollen than the right, 7.
Face swollen (fifth and sixth days); on rising (seventh day), 20. [100.]
Face less swollen (eighth day); looks better, swelling almost gone (ninth day), 20.
Face flushed; felt as if burnt, 19b.
Heaviness in the swollen face, 7.
Boring in the right upper jaw (seventh day), 13.
Transient tearing in the right upper and lower jaws (twelfth day), 13.
Sticking tearing in the right upper jaw (tenth day), 13.
Stitches in the right upper jaw (ninth day), 13.
Drawing in the right upper jaw (fifteenth day), 13.
Jerklike drawing in the right upper jaw (eleventh day), 13.
Drawing pains in the right upper and lower jaw (third day), 13.* [110.]
Sensation similar to the pain in gangrene, on the lips, 7.
Sensation of sand upon the lips, 7.
Sticking in the right lower jaw (eighth day), 13.

MOUTH

Teeth.
Drawing in the right upper teeth (second day), 13.
Gum.
The eruption appeared on the gums of the upper incisors (fifth day), 12.
Gums swollen (fourth day), 20.
On drinking anything warm, slight irritation of inner side of lips, gums, and tip of tongue (fourth day), 20.
Tongue.
Tongue coated white in the middle and posterior portion, the edges red (sixth day), 12.
Tongue coated white, 15, 19b.
Tongue redder than usual (third day), 20a. [120.]
Tongue red on tip (fourth day), 20.*
Tongue red, and cracked in the middle (sixth day), 20.*
Tongue covered with little vesicles on tip (second day), 20a.
Tongue cracked in centre, and covered with little white vesicles (eighth day), 20.
Several vesicles appear on the under side of the tongue (sixth day), 12.*
Sensation as if the tongue were being pulled out by the roots, 19b.
Distress in the root of the tongue and fauces, 15.*
Scalded feeling of the tongue, 15.
While at dinner my tongue felt as if scalded, and during the afternoon this feeling extended to the entire mouth and fauces, producing great dryness in the mouth stinging pains, which increased rapidly until I retired at night (eighth day), 14.
Tongue feels scalded, and itches awfully; has to scratch it and rub it with a handkerchief (fifth day), 20. [130.]
Tongue and mouth feel as if burnt with acid (after six hours, third day), 20.
Itching of tongue and roof of mouth, at 8 P.M. (fourth day), 20.
Tongue and lips feel cracked, at 8 P.M. (fourth day), 20.
General Mouth.

THROAT

Soreness of the left side of the throat, the swelling extending downward, 7.
Throat feels sore and swollen (fifth day), 12.
Some irritation or acridity about the throat and eyes, 26.
Tonsils very red and congested, with dull aching distress in them, 15. [150.]
Redness of fauces (fifth day), 12.
Constant feeling of irritation of the fauces, 15.
Dryness of the fauces, 15.
Dryness, with burning in throat, 19b.
The pharynx and œsophagus became so irritable that it was painful and difficult to swallow; food, in passing, caused pain and seemed to stop midway to the stomach; even cold water produced the same feeling that very hot tea would, and the same aching pain that is often felt after drinking very cold ice-water, though the thirst was great (twelfth day), 14.
Frequent inclination to swallow, which increases the pain and distress in the tonsils, 15.
Difficult deglutition (fifth day), 12.*

STOMACH

Appetite and Thirst.
Appetite good, more than usual, in all provings, 20c.
Little appetite (sixth day), 12.
Poor appetite in morning (seventh day), 20. [160.]
Loss of appetite, 19b ; (ninth morning), 14.
Want to drink a great deal, 15.
Thirst very great (twelfth day), 14.
Eructations.
Eructations (third day), 13.
Nausea.
Nausea and loathing of food (twelfth day), 14.
Continual nausea, 19b.
Nausea, 19.*
Some nausea (sixth day), 12.
Stomach.
(Dyspeptic troubles, or belching after meals, very much better), 20c.
(The operation of the poison seemed to have a considerable effect in relieving me from dyspeptic symptoms, with which I had been previously troubled), 3. [170.]
At 2 A.M., severe pains in the stomach and bowels came on, but being in a half-waking and half-sleeping state, I remained in bed about two hours, when I was suddenly forced from bed, and had a large watery stool (ninth day), 14.
The stomach is very much distressed after taking the medicine, 15.
Distress and pain in the cardiac portion of the stomach and upper left portion of the umbilicus, 15.
Distress in the stomach and umbilicus, 15.

ABDOMEN

Distress in the umbilicus, with dry, lumpy, dark-colored stools, 15.
Distress in the umbilical and hypogastric regions, with loud rumbling in the bowels, followed by soft mushy stools, 15.
Constant dull pains in the umbilicus, with rumbling in the bowels, and followed by a soft diarrhœic stool, 15.
Severe cutting pains in the umbilical and hypogastric regions for six days, with three and four very soft, diarrhœic, black-colored stools a day, 15.
Sharp cutting pains in the umbilical and hypogastric regions before a stool; the stool relieves the pains, but does not stop them altogether; lasted two hours, 15.
Pain at umbilicus, with diarrhœa (third day), 22. [180.]
Colic quite severe in the umbilical region (fifth day), 12.
Pain in the left side of the abdomen, 19b.
Abdomen much bloated, very painful to the least pressure, 12.
Continued rumblings and gripings; the pains always being worse just before stool, 12.
Rumbling of flatus in the bowels, with pain in the back, extending from lumbar region to the umbilicus, 19b.
Abdomen sore to touch and pressure (third day), 12.
Colic and rumbling in the abdomen, with frequent eructations (soon, fourth day), 13.
Constant dull, aching distress in the abdomen, with occasional sharp cutting pains in the umbilicus, 15.
Pain in bowels, with diarrhœa (fourth day), 23.
Pain in the hypogastrium before every stool; have but little warning before each stool (fifth day), 12.

RECTUM AND ANUS. [190.]

Bleeding hæmorrhoids (twenty-first day), 13.
Hæmorrhoids came on, and four small tumors appeared, which remained out for several weeks, with extreme itching and burning (tenth day); I had nothing of the kind for more than two years, 14.
Discharge of blood from the rectum after a stool, 19b.
Neuralgic pains in the anus, 15.
Most intolerable itching and burning of the anus for several days, 15.
Anus itches terribly towards night (sixth day), 20.
Itching of anus (sixth and seventh days), 20.

STOOL

Diarrhœa, with pain at umbilicus (third day); with pain in bowels (fourth day), 22.
Every morning, from 2 to 5 o'clock, I was compelled to rise and go to stool, and a diarrhœa then continued more or less severe till about twelve o'clock. The color of the stools was uniformly light, or nearly white , varying in consistency, sometimes very thin, and sometimes very papescent, 12.
Large watery stool, passed with great force and attended with violent colicky pains, at 4 A.M.; during the next two hours had three more profuse stools of this character , and from that time the pain and stools ceased (ninth day), 14.* [200.]
Stools lighter in color, and partly undigested (eighth day); black as pitch and hard; no unusual smell (thirty-fourth day); black as before, soft, and rather putrid; bowels move twice (thirty-sixth day), 20.
Stool at 2 A.M., loose, which is unusual; had a stool early in the morning, rather loose, with pain in the bowels before the discharge (third day); diarrhœa at 3 o'clock, a copious stool of a lighter color than that of the night previous; another stool at 7 A.M., not as copious, and again at 9 o'clock (fifth day); diarrhœa more severe and stools of a dark-brown color. (This was the only time they were of this color, although attended with the same pain in the hypogastrium, which accompanied the lighter-colored stools), (sixth day), 12.
Stools about natural consistence, but of a very dark color, 15.
Stools dark, and partly undigested (seventh day), 20.
Fæces dark, hard, and small in quantity, 19b.
No movement of the bowels (tenth day), 14.

URINARY ORGANS

Burning in the urethra, 19b.*
Desire to void urine often, but in small quantities, 19b.
Augmentation of urine, 19.
There was no particular effect upon the urinary organs, excepting a slight increase of urine after I had ceased to take the remedy, 15.

SEXUAL ORGANS

Male. [210.]
Groins and penis were affected, in the morning, 6.
Glans penis is much swollen and very sore; cuticle of penis and scrotum peels off in patches as large as a sixpence (sixth day), 12.
Prepuce slightly swollen (second day), 10.
The prepuce is much swollen and very red (third day); same symptoms, with increased violence (fourth day), 10.
The scrotum is red, swollen, and much corrugated (third day); same symptoms, with increased violence (fourth day), 10.
Scrotum swollen as large as his two fists, could not walk, 15 . [Observed in a patient.]
Female.
The menses, which were near at hand, came on immediately, in very large clots, like pieces of meat, 7.

RESPIRATORY ORGANS

Dryness and pain in the larynx (thirteenth day), 14.*
Hoarseness (thirteenth day), 14.*
Harsh dry cough, continuing for more than two weeks (after thirteen days), 14.* [220.]
Sense of oppression, as if the air was too heavy (first night), 10.

CHEST

Violent stitches in the left lung, causing anxiety, especially on breathing, as in inflammation of the lungs (twelfth day), 13.
Violent stitches in the lungs (twenty-first day), 13.
Sudden violent stitches through the lungs (after ten minutes), 7.
Sudden sharp stitches through the lungs, waking from sleep, 7.
Stitches in the upper part of both lungs (fifteenth day), 13.
Stitches in the apices of the lungs (eleventh day), 13.
Rush of blood to the chest, with anxiety (twenty-first day), 13.
Stricture in the chest, continuing more than two weeks (after thirteen days), 14.
Pain over the sternum for more than two weeks (after thirteen days), 14. [230.]
Transient, shooting pains in the sternum and chest (twelfth day), 14.
Slight lancinating pain in sternum and right leg (eighth day), 22.
Drawing pain in lower part of the left side (sixth day), 22.

HEART AND PULSE

Stitches in the heart (second day), 13.
Palpitation, with stitches in the heart (seventh and twenty-first days), 13.
Palpitation (fourteenth day), 13.
During the first five days my pulses were increased from ten to twenty strokes in the minute, 3.
Pulse 78, and regular (third day), 20a.
Pulse 72, rather weak (fourth day); 82; when sitting at 3 P.M., it was normal, 68 to 70 (sixth day), 20.

NECK AND BACK

Constant dull pains in the cervical, dorsal, and lumbar regions, 15. [240.]
Stiff neck, or crick in the neck, 12.
Back is very stiff, 13.
With the rumbling of flatus in the bowels, pain in the back, extending from the lumbar region to the umbilicus, 19b.
Pain in the back, 19b.
Sharp pain under the left scapula, extending through to the ribs, 19b.
Rheumatic pain between the shoulder-blades, 12.
Dull heavy pains in the lumbar region, aggravated by stooping down or walking, 15.
The small of the back feels paralyzed (ninth day), 13.
Drawing in the lumbar muscles, extending into the hips (ninth day), 13.
Drawing in the left loin (tenth day), 13. [250.]
Dull, aching pain and weakness across the loins (third day), 10.
A little pain in sacrum (sixth day), 22.

EXTREMITIES

Trembling of all my limbs, with twitching of my muscles, 12.*
Trembling of my limbs, 15.*
Hands, arms, legs, and face began to swell, accompanied by slight redness of the skin and thirst (after one hour); great swelling of the face, arms, and legs; some slight swelling and redness over the chest, but the trunk of the body is generally not much affected; swelling continued to increase till the evening (second day); the swelling took about twenty-eight hours to reach its height, was about ten hours stationary, and two days declining; the attack having lasted altogether four days, during which time his appetite was the same as in health, and he kept his bed only on account of the swelling, which rendered him unable to bend his knees or tow move his legs, 8.
Violent drawing pains in the upper and lower extremities and in the head (twenty-first day), 13.
Drawing in the right ankle and wrist, extending to the knee and elbow (twelfth day), 13.
My wrists, ankles, and feet ached so severely I could not sleep, 15.

SUPERIOR EXTREMITIES

The pains in the upper extremities, and more especially those of the chest, were of a sharp darting character, 19b.
Tearing in the left arm, extending upward from the elbow; a sensation as if the bone would break (ninth day), 13. [260.]
Drawing in the left arm and in the forearm and in the three last fingers of the left hand; the arm feels paralyzed (seventh day), 13.
Jerking pain in the muscles of both arms (twelfth day), 13.
Paralytic drawing in the right arm, especially in the wrist, extending to the tips of the fingers (fifteenth day), 13.*
Sensation of crawling in the left arm, especially when resting it upon anything (seventh day), 13.
Elbow.
Severe pains in the left elbow-joint for half an hour, could not move it, the pain was so great, 15.
Rheumatic pains in the left elbow and shoulder-joints, worse on motion, 7.
Drawing-pressive pain in the left elbow and left ankle, also at intervals in the pes anserinus (second day), 13.
Forearm.
Drawing pains in the forearms, 13.
Sharp pain in both arms, from the elbow to the index fingers and thumbs, 19b.
Wrist.
Dull pains in the wrist and fingers, with drawing pains, 15. [270.]
The wrists and fingers are very stiff, 15.
Drawing-pressive pain in the right wrist, extending through the bones to the elbow (second day), 13.
Pressive drawing in the right wrist (eleventh day), 13.
Drawing in the right wrist (seventh and ninth days), 13.
Hand.
Right hand swelled very much, without redness, itching, or other symptoms, this increased for about twenty-four hours, then declined for about the same time, and on the third day the swelling was gone, 9.
Constant aching distress in the hands and fingers, 15.
Fingers.

INFERIOR EXTREMITIES

Very violent bruised pain, especially in the legs (twelfth day), 13. [280.]
Paralyzed and bruised sensation in the legs (second day), 13.*
Paralytic drawing, with pains in the bones of the left leg (fourth day), 13.*
Very violent drawing pains in both legs, as if beaten, becoming seated in the ankles and knees, almost like a pressive-cutting pain, and as such extending along the tendons on the back of the foot to the toes, also in the wrists, extending into the tips of the fingers, especially in the left index finger; in the evening (eleventh day), 13.
Jerklike drawing in the leg (seventh day), 13.
Drawing in the left leg (fifth and eighth days), 13.
Slight lancinating pain in right leg and sternum (eighth day), 22.
Hip and Thigh.
Pain as if dislocated in the right hip (relieved by Nitric acid), 7.
Wandering-drawing pains in the thighs, legs, and left arm (fourteenth day), 13.
Drawing cramplike pain in the left thigh (third day), 13.
Aching pains in the thighs, from the hips to the knees; pain worse at the knees and on the left side, 19b.
Knee. [290.]
Great weakness of the knees and ankles, 15.*
Knees and ankles ache constantly, 15.*
Dull drawing pains and distress in the knees, ankles, feet, and toes, 15.
Drawing-pressive pain in the right knee-joint, extending downward (second morning), 13.
Drawing in the left knee-joint (second and ninth days), 13.
Leg.
Cramplike pain in the calves, and crawling as if asleep (twelfth day), 13.
Drawing in the muscles of the calves (ninth day), 13.
Drawing pain in the right calf, with a paralyzed pain in the hollow of the nee, as after exertion (eleventh day), 13.

GENERALITIES. [320.]

Intumescence of the entire body and lower extremities, attended with intolerable pain and irritation, confined him to bed for several days; nor was it until weeks after that he was able to resume his duties. For several years after he was subject to a periodical recurrence of the erysipelatous inflammation which marks this particular poison, 25.
Swollen to such a degree that "he was stiff as a log of wood, and could only be turned about it sheets," 1.
The head and body were swollen to a prodigious degree, so as to occasion the loss of sight for some time, 2.
Somewhat emaciated, 11.
Great restlessness, 19b.*
Rose feeling weak and as though I had taken a drastic cathartic (ninth morning), 14.
Very weak and lang uid, 15 ; (third morning), 10.*
A feeling of general malaise (sixth day), 12.
General feeling of lassitude, 19b.*
Lassitude, 19.* [330.]
Languid feeling (sixth day), 20.
Feel rather languid (fourth day), 20.
Feels tired and weary (fifth day), 20.*
Stretching and tired feeling (fourth day), 22.*
Felt heavy and unrefreshed (second morning), 10.
Previous to proving or taking this remedy was never subject to Rhus poisoning; could pull up the Rhus radicans and other poisonous vines without observing any effect, but now is very susceptible to their influence, and poisons very readily, 20c.
I was tormented day and night for more than two weeks, and I think I was not free from perceptible effects of this poison for six or eight weeks, 14.
Bruised feeling in the body, especially in the limbs, as after great exertion, with weariness and pale face and general sick feeling (eighth day), 13.
Lameness and soreness of the muscles came on, and I could hardly walk (twelfth day); lameness continued more than two weeks, 14.
All my muscles seemed stiff, those of the posterior part of the right leg being most affected, so much so that after remaining crooked for a little while, it was painful to straighten them. This stiffness and soreness still remain in some degree, . [340.]

SKIN

Eruptions.
Nocturnal itching, and an affection very much like erythema nodosum; there had appeared red spots, varying from a half to two inches in diameter, especially on the legs, below the knee; these pained her, and underwent all the changes as if caused by a fall or blow, namely, the red changed into a bluish, then greenish-yellowish color, leaving finally spots of a little darker tint than the healthy skin; of these there were several, but in different stages, 17.
A very distressing cutaneous disease, it is well known, ensues in many persons from the contact, and even from the effluvia of this shrub. It is extremely various in its action upon persons of different idiosyncrasies; some cannot come within the atmosphere of the shrub without suffering the most violent consequences, others are but slightly affected by handling it, and some can even rub, chew, and swallow the leaves without the smallest inconvenience; the most formidable cases in persons subject to this poison usually commence within twenty-four hours after the exposure; the interval is sometimes longer, but more frequently shorter; the symptoms are generally ushered in by a sense of itching and a tumefaction of the hands and face, the swelling gradually extends over various parts of the body, assuming an erysipelatous appearance; the inflamed parts become more elevated, acquiring a livid redness, attended with a painful burning sensation; small vesicles now appear upon the surface, which extend and run into each other; they contain a transparent fluid, which by degrees becomes yellow, and at length assumes a purulent appearance; a discharge takes place from these vesicles or pustules, giving rise to a yellowish incrustation, which afterwards becomes brown; in the mean-time an insupportable sensation of itching and burning is felt; the inflamed parts become excessively swollen, so that not unfrequently the eyes are closed, and the countenance assumes a shapeless and cadaverous appearance, which has been compared to that in malignant small-pox; the disease is usually at its height from the fourth to the sixth day, after which the skin and incrustations begin to separate from the diseased parts, and the symptoms gradually subside; it is not common for any scars or permanent traces of the disease to remain; notwithstanding the violent character which it sometimes assumes, I never knew an authenticated case of its terminating fatally; it is, however, capable of occasioning the most distressing symptoms. I apprehend the majority of persons are not liable to the injurious effects of the poisonous sumachs; in those in whom a constitutional liability to the poison exists, the disease frequently returns several times during life, notwithstanding the utmost precaution in avoiding its causes. A gentleman, residing in the country, informed me that he had been seven times poisoned to the most violent degree; in such constitution a slight exposure is sufficient to excite the disease. I have known individuals badly poisoned in winter from the wood of Rhus vernix accidentally burnt on the fire, .

Clematis erecta 2e cut the disease short, but did not prevent the skin peeling off the hands, 20b.

During the day the itching in the face has increased and spread over the nose, the edges of the nostrils, the upper and lower lips, the external ears, and the inferior portion of the neck immediately above the sternum and clavicles; the skin on these parts feels rough, and is covered with a minute eruption of lenticular vesicles, filled with transparent serum; itching on the back of the hands, particularly between the fingers. The itching on the scrotum and prepuce has become more troublesome, and is much increased by scratching; scratching or rubbing of the parts is followed by intense burning (second day), 10.
I felt no unpleasant effects for six or seven hours after returning to Boston; about 8 P.M. I perceived the backs of my hands were swollen and puffy, but without pain or itching; my forehead and upper lip were soon in the same state. On the next morning the tumefaction had increased, and I discovered various other parts of my body to be infected; the backs of my hands and wrists, which were the most advanced, began to show small watery vesicles; at noon I applied cloths dipped in lead water to one hand and wrist, and in a spirituous solution of the corrosive muriate of mercury to the other, the parts began to itch, the tumefaction increased, vesication began to take place on the swollen surface, small pustules formed and ran into each other, and at last some were formed as large as nutmegs. On the third day my eyes were nearly closed, in consequence of the swelling of my forehead, eyebrows, and cheeks; the contents of the vesicles were perfectly limpid; inoculation from them to other parts had no effect neither in this nor any subsequent stage. On the evening of the fourth day the inflammation appeared at its height; the burning sensation and itching were intolerable; I could scarcely discern any object. On the fifth day the pustules began to appear a little milky, and before night the inflammation was evidently on the decline. On the sixth day a very free desquamation began, first on my forehead, hands, and wrists. In just a fortnight I was able to leave my chamber, blessed with a new cuticle from the root of the hair on my forehead to my breast, from the middle of my forearm to the tips of my fingers, and on the whole inside of my thighs. After nine months, still subject to an eruption of watery pustules between my fingers, which dry up and the cuticle peels off, 3.
In one hour and a half I began to feel a most intense itching and burning of the scrotum and penis; the burning sensation was rather in the preponderance; the glans penis was very painful; slight friction relieved the itching for a moment, but not the burning (first day). The symptoms continued in the same severity; at 3 P.M., itching and burning commenced on the back of my right hand, between the thumb and index finger, also between the index and middle fingers (second day). Awoke this morning with itching and burning in various parts of the body, particularly on the palmar sides of both wrists attended with slight swelling; slight itching and burning of the face, with a sensation as if it was much swollen; it was red, but not shining. Both hands were considerably swelled and very clumsy to use. Feeling of uneasiness in consequence of the continual itching and burning, which were very severe, almost insupportable; P.M., the itching and burning were somewhat relieved by exercise; the burning and itching appear on the face, particularly about the eyes (right); all the symptoms were aggravated by rest. Hands, wrists, and face became covered with little pimples of the same color as the skin; when broken, or the points are scratched off, they exude a clear watery fluid. Fingers are very stiff and much swollen; feel very much as though they had been scalded; excessive burning of face; right eyelid swollen and stiff; the scrotum is the seat of paroxysms of severe itching and burning (third day). Symptoms all increased; face much swollen, red, covered with multitudes of little papillæ; wrists much swollen, the swelling extending half way to the elbow; arms very red and covered with innumerable vesicles, which exude a clear watery fluid; hands in same condition; the pain was excessive (fourth day). Hands and wrists much worse this morning; face much swollen; the itching and burning continues with unabated vigor, and are aggravated by the warmth of the bed and in a warm room; in the evening, hands and wrists are still more swollen and excessively painful; face a little less swollen and rather less painful; incrustations appeared to-day on the inside of my thighs, extending down one-half the length of the femur. A feeling as from fleabites on different parts of the body (fifth day). Hands and arms still very sore, but not so much swollen; the exudation is now light-yellow (sixth day). The swelling of the arms and hands continues to abate; the cuticle now scales off at those places which first broke out with vesicles; the desquamation was excessive, as the cuticle peeled off some four times in succession from the places that had been covered with vesicles; after the cuticle came off, the first appearance of the skin was red and shining, but after getting my hands damp, several cracks (like those of chapped hands) appeared in different places; my hands became exceedingly rough, the cuticle being dry and hard, also very tender, so that the least bruise was very painful, and if the skin was broken, the blood flowed freely, which was very thin, or if you please, (after six days), .

SLEEP

Great restlessness at night, with a dry hot skin, 15.
*Very restless all night (fifth night), 12.
Great restlessness after midnight, 15.
Sleepless night (tenth day), 14.
*Sleep disturbed by dreams, 19b.
Passed a restless night, lying awake to scratch (first night), 20.
Restless sleep (seventh night), 20.
Sleep disturbed and full of dreams, which were of a lascivious venereal pleasure (first night), 10. [450.]
Dreams of death and misfortune (first night), 7.
Many dreams during sleep (tenth day), 13.*
Dreams, with vivid fantasies (eleventh day), 13.

FEVER

Chilliness.
Chills over the whole body (ninth morning), 14.*
Chilly sensations during the day, through the whole body, while sitting in a warm room (fourth day), 10.
Shivering whenever she thinks of the Rhus leaves, for several days, 7.
Shivering for ten minutes when undressing, accompanied by chattering of the teeth, followed by heat and perspiration, with drowsiness (seventh day), 20.
Chilly creeping sensation over scalp (fifth day), 22.
Chills run up the back, even when warm, and in a warm room (fifth day), 12.*
Gooseflesh, 7. [460.]
Shivering running up the back without coldness, 7.
Continual shivering down the back, 19b.
Skin feels cold, similar to the way some people describe their feelings when they have a chill, lasting one hour; never has had a chill (fourth day), 22.
A sensation of coldness creeping over the back; frequent, but of short duration (eighteenth and subsequent days), 16.
Heat and Sweat.
Skin hot and dry, 19b.
Dry burning hot skin at night, with great restlessness, 15.
Flashes of heat, as though a stream of hot air was passing over the body, with throbbing and tearing pains, extending from each temple back to the occiput, and down the neck to each shoulder, 11.
Hands are constantly very dry and hot, 15.
Slight moisture behind the right ear (seventeenth day), 13.

CONDITIONS

Aggravation.
( Morning ), On waking, eyes sensitive to light; 2 to 5 o'clock, diarrhœa; on rising, itching.
( Afternoon ), Pain in ankles and feet.
( Evening ), Dizzy sensation; in a warm room, or in bed, itching.
( Night ), Itching on back; after midnight, itching; restlessness; skin hot and dry.
( Cold air ), Itching on back; itching on hands.
( Eating acid things ), Burning of lips.
( Exercise ), Itching of lips.
( On going upstairs ), Heaviness in swollen forehead.
( While looking ), Black before eyes.
( Mental labor ), The pains.
( Motion ), Pain in elbow and shoulder-joints.
( On reading ), Dimness before eyes.
( During rest ), The pains.
( Rubbing ), Itching on hands.
( Scratching ), Itching on scrotum and prepuce; itching on back; itching on hands.
( Before stool ), Pains.
( After stool ), Discharge of blood from anus.
( Swallowing ), Pain and distress in tonsils.
( Stooping ), frontal headache; pain in lumbar region.
( Warmth ), Itching and burning.
( Washing with cold water ), Burning of lips.
( Damp weather ), The symptoms.
( Hot weather ), The symptoms.
( Walking ), Frontal headache; pain in lumbar region.
Amelioration.
( Moderate exercise in the open air ), The symptoms.

Rhus Venenata