Ammoniacum gummi

Volume I — Main text

AMMONIACUM.

Dorema Ammomaeum, Don. Nat. Ord,, Umbellijtrm, "Gum amrooniac '* is ike resin which exudes from the stem,

I. Fr(n;ingt. — i. C — , a healthy man, set, 17, bilious constitution. 8th June, took at 7, II, and 3 oVlock 30 drops of a solution of 31 gr. in 3 02. distilled water. No effect, except that he felt a desire to take more. — 9th, Morning, after stool, took 4 02. of the solution ; at 3 p.m. i 02. At 5 p.m*, felt bruised pain in r, arm, especially about elbow -joint j afterwards weariness of limbs, tendcnc)' to perspire, drowil. ness,^ — loth. At 6 a.m. % oz. Soon afterwards soft stool, yawnmg. The daylight, though it is cloudy^ hurts his eyes. At 10 a.m, shouting in r. nip-joint when

• For an excellent analysis and reconstruction of this^ see Dt, Allen*$ anicle in North Amer* Jatrn, q/' Horn* for Nov., iSSa^ p. a6S,

»37

ieated, ftilJ feeiing up into throat. After ti n. repeated shooting in r. pudendum, near spermatic cord, rrtuming in e. E., heaviness of limb^f^hooting in various parts of body, in I. big toe, L knee, chest, never lasting long.^i iih. At 7]and 9 a»m., 6 gr. On Hsing from bed, felt laziness and drowsiness, with depre^^sion of spiritSi heairinets and fatigue of body. Later, sinciput somewhat confused, at same time weakness of eyes, weight in loins. Pulse small and heart not quickened. E., confused head» incapacitatmg him for work. At 10 p.m. drawing in middle toes of 1. foot,^ — i»th. Night restleis, woke often and dreamt much. At 6 a.m» took 11 gr.^ at 9 a.m. 14 gr. dissolved in water. Furry ^nsation in occiput. Frequent yawning, bringing tears into his eyes j shooting in I. shoulder.joint j bruijied pain in I. wristjoint, afterwards m r. j eructation now and then ; pressure in sinciput j Ifull feeling in niuces and cesopha^us, almost with inclination to vomit ; lame feeling tn I. arm ; drawing in r. middle finger; pressure in rectum when seated. At 5 p.m,, took i« gr. Soon afterwards tearing and drawing in I. sole j prickling throbbing in L upper eyelid, recurring next d, with subsequent pressure ; late at n. cracking in instep when moved ; drawing in 1. zygoma toward temple ; shooting in r. spermatic coro. At his nights were restless and unrefreshing, he had to interrupt his proving* — 19th, 7 a.m^, took 1 3 gr. No effects. At 5 and 8 pm., took 1 3 gr. At 4 p.m., lightness and pressure in chest, later weight of head -, burning, then 5 m. after shooting in r. big toe ; pain in r. leg above knee, making walking difficult j prickling in I. shoulder. joint to over deltoid muM:le, almost going ofiT by pressure ; oppression of I, lower half of thorax, soon followed by pressure deep in it- shooting m r, spermatic cord when walking. At 10 p.m., bubbling in I. ear when scratching occiput. — loth, II gr. of the resin rubbed up into wafers; later of falling asleep, restless sleep full of remembered dreams which are not disagreeable j stool occurred in the e,, very unusual. All day discomfort and dull spirits. — list. Sleep full of dreams^ disturbed. Constant shooting and pressure in K leg, at 1. side of knee, on head of tibia. At 6. 30 a.m., toot 13 gr. m wafers, the same at 7.30 and 9 a.m. Pressure in upper part of eyeball. Pain in middle of L foot. At id gurgling in abdomen with confusion in sinciput; drawing in 1. spermatic cord, frequently occurring; discomfort; pressing above r. ankle; the pain below knee returns when walking; cannot read without straining eyes. After dinner, at 1.30 p-m., faecal pappy stool, after an insufficient stool in m. At 4 p.m., lo gr. The urine contains much Hthates ; weight and pressure at end of dorsal vcrtcbnc; shooting in 1. side of joint of L little toe where the skin is rather thickened; undecided pain in 1. knee.^ — 2»nd. M., pappy stool; itching on hairy scalp, more in middle and below, so that he must scratchi At 3 p.m., 13 ^r. At 5 p.m., prickling under r. metatarsus; soon afterwards lioft stool mixed with much fiatus, preceded bv gurgling in abdomen; rheumatic pain over L instep ; frequent sneezing, immediately followed by increased mucous secretion from nose; rheumatic pain in L side of pelvis; recurrence of prickling in r. metastarsui. At 9 p.m., while seated, feeling as if 1. knee were swollen, with increased warmth in it and prickling in hough ; weariness on the slightest exertion ; itching on r. side of pudenaum.^iind, at 7 a-m., 30 gr. Constant drawing in r, spermatic cord ; tensive pressure in pubic region ; slight griping in belly. After 9 a.m., very unsatisfactory soft stool ; tearing in right tibia; weariness of r. foot, the point of which he strikes against steps when going upstairs ; tearing in 1. side of head ; gouty pain in 1. big toe so that he cannot tread on it, repeated several rimes; drawing and tearing in r. wrist -j oi ot ; itching in hairy scalp of I, occiput where the hair terminates ; some pimples there ; the itching recurs in e. ; prickling and tearing tn 1. metatarsus. Sleeps interruptedly till 3 a.m., thereafter no more sleep ; towards m. shooting in 1. side of r. knee. — a5th. zi gr. For the last 2 d. after urinating some drops of urine escape; tearing deep in r. external meatus auditorius ; sensation as if something were striking deep down in throat, making him swallow; pressure in r. sinciput at 10 a.m. Itching in occiput where the hair terminates, where some pimples have formed ; prickling at limit of hair on head, itching when scratched^ repeated nextd.; prickling in upper half of eyeball; shooting and tearing in 1. shoulder joint; shooting Irom region of r, submaxillary gland up into the mouth j rheumatic pain in whole r. arm at 12, n, ; tension in r. knee*joint when walking; burning in orifice of urethra, gradually lessening up the urethra ; sleep restless ; dreams troubletome. — 16th. Violent shooting in r» shouldcr-joint ; tearing on 1. metatarsus ; stabs as with a knife in middle of scalp in quick succession; flight toughness of throat;

shooting at root of penis* Repugnance and discomfort whether he walks or bits* Flat ta^tc; stool delayed till c, j dimness of ilght in e. and especially in m. after rising, with increased warmth of eyes. For several d. towards c. the respiration shorter and more superficial, with anxious discomfort. Shooting in various partn. Tht eyes feel dry, with feeling of a foreign body between upper eyelid and r. eye. —19th. He experimented with the fluid distilled from gum ammoniac. Besides the above symptom&i the itching on the hairy scalp was greater than bctbre § some ve^cles appeared on the 1. side of occiput where the hair terminates, they made him scratch and disappeared in the e. i the same thing occurred in r. whi!»ker where a single vesicle appeared. E,, shooting in r. axillary gbnd. The following d. before 9 a.m., when wad king there was violent shooting above r. hip-joint, %o that he must almost limp. This pain, which was violent when sitting in stooping position, diminished during the d. and was nearly gone next w, (Buchner, Hygea^ xiii, aia.)

». A woman, set. 41, took 50 to 40 drops of the watery solution, and had pressure on chest, nausea with paleness of face, {Ibid,)

1. St — , act. a 6, of choleric temperament, had enjoyed good health from a child. tnd July. First, 4 p.m,, took 1 1 gr. After 3 h. had flying stitches in I. lumbar region, increased by inspiration. Next m. flat ta«te, rather sweetish \ tongue with thin yellow fur; some tightness of chest, with stitches in L side of chest when impiKng.^ — ;rd. Afternoon, same dose. E., twitching pains in 1. thigh in course of crural nerve ; tightness of chest sometimes. Next d, on waking, nose, mouthy and throat tinesoraely dry; tearing in both ankle-joints, increased secretion of urine, perspiration; scanty stool. — sth. No additional symptoms. — 6th, 18 gr. Repeated tearing in wrist and ankle-joints ; next m. dryness of mouth more marked^ as also pressure on chest. After 10 d. he still had the dryness of mouth on waking in m., also occasional tickling in trachea which did not cause cough; after 11 d. the dryness of mouth was gone» but the occasional tickling in trachea continued j the bowels still constipated for a tyt

3 d. ; the evacuations of firm consistence. (IbiJ.)

1. A man, ^t. 33, subject to constipation, and in spring and autumn to sorethroat and catarrh, and having had in the past winter rheumatic gastric fever followed by pneumorrhagia. Quite well for the last 9 months. — 15th Jan., 7 a.m., I gr. of gum ammoniac. Hot feeling and slight burning in scrob. cordis on a place the size of a child's hand, dry roughness of tip of tongue and hard palate. Eructa. tion of air smelling of the resin. All these s^nnptoms gone in t h. — f6th, a gr. Obtuse shooting, twitching pain in caecal region, going off in a few m., but returning when changmg posture, and especially on turning over on r. side. Dry rough* ness on posterior part of hard palate, slight pressure In scrobiculus. Eructation of air ; transient return of caecal pain. Discharge of much flatus at n. — 17th., 4 gr. Bitter rancid taste ; pressure and weight in pubic region ; transient obtuse shooting pain in csecum, but less than yesterday. Half an hour after dinner slight transient cutting below navel. — i8th., 6 a.m., 5 gr. Taste like yesterday; pressure in scrob, cordis ; weight and pressure in pubic region ; twitching drawing in L groin. The pressure in scrob. and the feeling of weight and pressure in pubic region come alternately. Eructation of air. Transient shooting pain under r short ribs at 9 a.m. Chilliness running from feet up over back (10.30 a.m., draught of air?)j slight recurrence of csecal pain.— 19th., 6 gr. Obtuse shooting, transient pains between 1. crista ilii and navel (immediately) ^ later on similar pain in carcal region. Some flying stitches through fossa navicularis. Obtuse shooting twitching pain in two L healthy lower incisors (7 a.m.). Pressure in scrob., but less than yesterday. Throbbing and uneasiness in whole body, preventing sleep for a long time after going to bed, though he had drunk less beer than usual. — aoth. No med. On awaking, m., purulent secretion in both inner canthi of eye, especially copious in r. Continued obtuse shooting pain in r. lower lid, very much aggravated by moving lids, touching, and stooping ; no perceptible change in the appearance of eyes. Rest lessness and throbbing after going to bed, hindering sleep tor a long time,^ — 11st,,

4 a.m,, 7 gr. Feeling of warmth and pressure in scrob. j fell asleep again and dreamt much. After waking obtuse shooting transient pains under short rib»j similar pains in caecal region. Eyes tense, obtuse shooting in them on stooping; slight swelling under tarsus like a swollen gland, but nothing can be detected by finger. Flying shooting pains in 1. temporal region (i p.m.) ; constipation. — tand^, 4 a.m., 10 gr. Pressure in scrob,, and later in umbilical region. Single flying

vtftches in csecal region ^7.^0 a.mA Pain in eyes less; drawing, shooling, dight pains in 1. spermacic cora(ti a.m.). Two copious stools. After lying down at night great trembling (heart's beats stronger but not quicker) in chest and carotids, making it difficult to get to sleep, — a 3rd. No med* S a,m*, some small transient stitches under r, short ribs ; repeated noon and e. On l. lower lid some sensation as yesterday; tensive, pressive, dull-shooting, transient pains in extensor muscles of r. forearm and in elbow-joint. Transient stitches in r. ear (^la noon). On lying down at n., throbbing in heart and carotids ; unusual fatigue o^ eyes after reading. — Mth^ 1 a.m., 1 a gr. Small flying stitches under r. ribs in caecal region, and after rising, also in r* ear. Pains in lower eyelids quite gone j only a small hard gland to be felt in r. lower lid, — ifth, a6th, and 27th. No med. The cxcal pain occurred for one or two m, in the m. of the 27th, No other symptoms. — 18th, 9 p.m., 18 gr. Pressure in stomach (immcdiatelv). In a few m. the former cwcal pain. At night many confused dreams, restless sleep. Strong tiresome palpitation of hearty extending to below scrob., After going to bed at night, aggravated by lying on back and 1, side, less when lying on r, side, preventing sleep for a long time, — 29th. No med. Dull drawing pain in r. trochanter (at 4 a.m. for i b,). Dull stitches in r. kneejoint and 1. elbow-joint (1 pm.) Constipation, E., palpitation, restless sleep, — loth to 9th Feb. No med. — ist Feb. From 3,30 to 5,30 p.m.» obtuse shooting pain in r, trochanter major, fatigue of leg. Stool became regular. — 9th. 9 p.m., 17 gr. In i h, flying short stitches under L short ribs, similar pain between anterior Superior spinous process of I os ilii and navel. Many dreams at night, which did not disturb his sleep. M,, discharge of much rancid-smelling flatus j short rheumatic pains in 1. upper eye tooth. Chilliness 4 h. after dinner (1 p.m.) from up over back. Hard sluggish stool. Cross humour. E., fatig\ie in both hip-joints (several h.). Obtuse painful drawing in testicles (several m,). — nth. No med. The peculiar dull shooting pain in L hypochondrium. Short rheumatic pain in r, metacarpus, elbow, and shoulder. — lath. M., the peculiar obtuse shooting caecal pain alternating with the pain on I. side. — From 13th to 16th. No med. Difficult stool j even when there was call to stool the rectum was so torpid that the evacuation could only be performed with an effort. — 17th. No med. Regular stool. For 3 d. in m. coughmg up of thickiih phlegm from larynx. — i8th, .9 p.m., 30 gr. Pressure and tension in scrob. Slight twitching shooting in 1. short ribs up towards chest. Pres^ sure and tension (like graspingj about navel (in i h.), lasting but a few m. Pressure and tension under 1. side of navel, out of which the peculiar obtuse shooting pain developed, only more superficially. Many confused dreams. — 19th, No med. Soft stool after eating fruit, but no great urging to stool — 20th. Stool soft^ without ^^ffing. Tired feeling in r. trochanter major. Obtuse shooting pain on dorsum of I. foot externally. Disagreeable drawing in r. spermatic cord. — ^2i8t. Dull drawing shooting in r. deltoid muscle (9 a.m.) ; nonhal stool. — aind and 23rd. Soft stools of dark brown faeces. Single transient rheumatic pains on r. ann, sometimes in one place, sometimes in another,^ — 24ih. Normal stool j rheumatic pain in r* shoulderjoint ; single flying stitches in r. ear. — 20th March. After the proving his habitual constipation disappeared, his stools even when not occurring regularly every day arc always soft, often pappy. His urine when examined after the largest dose contained much uric acid and bladder mucus. (Buchner, Hygea, xxii.)

1. B — , aet, 26, of sanguine temperament, always healthy. — nth May, 2 gr. Afternoon, some confusion of head^ drowsiness, slight pressure in pubic region j nothing more. — 12th. M., 4 gr. Immediately bitter taste j after some h, considerable pain in abdomen ; increased confusion of head and drowsiness with prostration ot limbs and pain for J h. in the course of the crural nerve. — 21st, 6 gr. In a few h, pressive pain over eyes in forehead, most severe in temporal region, lasting almost all d. in equal intensity, only a little better after dinner. Roughness and drjrness in throat. Colic pain in abdomen for a short time in afternoon. Stool scanty, increase of urine, at same time the pain in pubic region, which was slight after the first dose, increased considerably. Shooting in shoulder and axilla down to elbow tor 10 — 15 m. The pain in the course ot the crural nene extended to ingiiinal ring and spermatic cord. Pulse considerably quickened ; tendency to perspiration. Sleep quietf but woke several times. — 22nd. 9 gr. Confusion, pressure and weight in head with drowsiness, taking away all desire for work. Tiresome shooting through head. These pains lasted all d. with slight intermission. During the drowsiness the

cyc» were dull and su, if dust moved to and fro before them, with pressure on orbital region. Humming in czr% lasting a few m. Bitter ta^tc and yellow coated tonL-^ue. Afternoon a J»appy Rtool prccedttl by gurgling in boweh* Severe shooting ' matic cord and L pubic region. Respiration ouickencd, pulxe hanl. Rhti paini in 1, «boulder^ knee, and r. ankle. Spirits low all d. Sleep frct^uently brukcit. — I'^td* No med. The above pain* in slighter degree; but the confusion of head and drowsiness remained the same. — 14th. No med* Traces of the former pains, and dnowsineis, — '^S^^t '* g*"* Soon eructation with strong resinous, bitter taste; otherwise no symptoms all forenoon^ After i p.m.^ gurgling in boweU for 4 h. followed by several pappy stools. Later, when reading, an attack of vertigo, changing into headache that lasted till n. Lips dry with burning sensation. Pr«&« sure in stomach after supper ; pulse quickened. Before eoing to bed teartng tran^iient pains in r. ihoulder-joint, knee, and instep., also in L ankle bones, but lexs in degree. Great weariness and bruised feeling of limbs. Though sleepy all day he was long of falling asleep, then sleeplessness ; every time he went to sleep he i»ms woke up by frightful dreams, and he was long of falling asleep again, — i6fh, 4 a.m., I 5 gr. Soon severe eructation, scraping feeling in ctsophagus, and discharge of rancid-smelling flatus ; cross humour, pro^tnition, and weariness; pressive fronta.! pain with confusion of whole head and such drowsiness he could not do any work. A cloud of dust always moving before eyes. Later, flying stitches under ribs and navel, most on I. side. E., drawing pain in right trochanter and left knee and spermatic cord. Great weariness and prostration, hindering sleep for a long time ; restless sleep. — 17th. No med. Soft stool j wearinesis in r. thigh, painful orawing in 1. foot and spermatic cord. Single stitches in r. ear and great drowsiness. — aSth. Some traces of above symptoms. {IStJ.)

1. G. Jahnel {Diss. j£ gummi ammoft.. Lips., 1837, p. 31). After i — 16 gr. of powdered ammon. bitter, disagreeable taste in fauces j after swallowing sensaiign in throat as in dry cough ; later slight pains In abdomen and borborygmus, 1 6»a4 gr. caused acrid and burning feefing in fauces and cesophagus ; afterwards coldness and wandering pains in abdomen, followed by copious ^hmy stool, at same time flow of mucus from nose, with frequent sneezing and mucous expectoration. (He was suffering from cold in the head.) After 16 gr.^ in a few h. prcssive pains all over the forehead and eyes, lasting all d., and preventing all intellectual work. Puke quick and hard. The nejct days the stools were sometimes liquid j cxpectorarion sUmy or more frequent than normal. The above pains lasted some d. After 30 gr. tbc former symptoms came on with great severity, the severe headache lasted through the night and prevented sleep. Such loud nois»e in ears th.it the hearing was w^eaufcencd ; such dimness of vision that things which could previously be distinctly seen from his room appeared enveloped in a cloud. (Quoted by BucKNEK, 1. c.)

2. Mrs. N — , affected with neglected white-swelling of 1. knee, had a plaster of gum ammoniac applied to it. The and d. she had itching on the place where the plaster v^as ; on trie 3rd d. she could not resist scratching, and on the 4th d, at II a.m. the plaster was removed. The skin was covered with vesicles filled with yellow fluid. In the afternoon she had severe fever, followed on the 5th d. by an emptioD all over the body of smaller vesicle?, with slight swelling of tbc jiMre,

3. — «. A man, act. 60, with a cough that lasted 8 — 14 d. without fever or other important symptoms, got for some d. a drachms of gum ammoniac. He complained of an hitherto unknown dimness or darkness of vision nearly to blindness. The cough was not so violent that this could be attributed to flow of blood to the head, and nothing was observable in the eyes. On leaving off the medicine this symptom disappeared next d.

&, A young lady, aet. 25, got the same dose of gum ammoniac for an affection that had nothing to do with the eyes. She had precisely the same symptoms, almost complete blindness in the e. She had never experienced anything similar. On leaving off the medicine this symptom was gone next day.

r. This case got gxim ammoniac in pills. He complained of dimness of vision for several successive e., and also of stars and fier)' points before eyes.

J. Dt. Lodemann related 1 cases where the same symptoms followed the use of ammoniac. (^Wichmann, Hu/eidfufj Journ.t x, 3, 6a.)

1. There is a singular effect, by no one to my knowledge hitherto indicated, of

the much belauded gums, ammoniacum and galbanum* when taken rather too largely in the d. The sight h affected in a remarkable manner. Toward* e*, it ccm to many cither a^ if molten and glowing brass were poured out before the cyei j or, li a lamp or fire be present^ this is marvellously encircled with shining coloura. With other) a dense cloudy as if of dust scattered through the air, dim* the virion* But after a few h. these phenomena disappear entirely of their own accord. {Burggra^ti Comm,diaire^ aquii a tms urbis Francofkrti^ 1751, p* 1 10, quoted by Wichmann.)