Colocynthinum

Volume II — Main text

Colocynthinum. I. Provings.-1 . GERSTEL began, May 28th, 1843, with 20 dr. of 6x dil. (aqueous), taken fasting at 7 a.m. Nothing followed but slight fulness in head and bowels, and copious discharge of flatus. 30 dr. on 29th, and 20 dr. of 5x onJune 3rd, were alike ineffective. June 4th. -40 dr. of 5x. Soon after, slight oppression in sinciput ; creeping in lids and lower l. incisors ; pressure in temple ; pricking and metallic

taste on tip of tongue; these symptoms soon disappeared. 6th.-50 dr. Four painless pappy stools during d.; suggestions of tenesmus in urethra and rectum after micturating. 7th.-Same dose. Soon after toothache, oppression of head on 1. side, painfulness of l. face, weakness of r. arm while writing, tearing in 1. shoulder, pricking in l. calf and sole, tickling in rectum, crawling in penis. In course of forenoon, weakness of legs. 8th.-50 dr. without slightest effect. 20th.-30 dr. of 4x ; no symptoms. 21st.-60 dr.; same result. 22nd.-100 dr. in m. Suggestions of colic, with inflation of umbilical region ; pressive aching in both soles, with feeling as if they were swollen , frequent micturition. Same dose at bedtime caused (in 6 h.) slight colic below navel, palpitation, and pulsation in scrob. cordis, accompanied by prickling stitches on back about middle dorsal vertebræ. 24th.-M. , 50 dr. of 3x. Heat in stomach. E., 80 dr. Sharp inward-pressing pain at some spots on nape, as from sprain, aggravated by movement, spots tender on pressure ; at same time, short hacking cough from tickling in throat. Vivid dreams at n.; on following forenoon continual burning pressure in stomach up into œsophagus. 27th.-20 dr. of 2x in m., fasting. Soon after, whole head affected; slight pains here and there in l. leg and arm ; feeling of heat and congestion in genitals, with painful persistent burning on smallspot on scrotum (without erections) ; stitches in region of lowest dorsal vertebræ ; pain in r. great and little toe, with dull sense of heat in various spots of r. thigh, especially along course of sciatic. Some h. later, pressure sure in l. cheek-bone and l. great toe ; burning at back of pharynx ; colicky pains, with inflation of abdomen-all this developed while sitting, lasting 2 h., and going off on walking. 28th.-40 dr. Took long and fatiguing walk immediately afterwards, and noted no symptoms. 29th.-60 dr., fasting. Soon after, burning stitching and sense of warmth on dorsum of r. foot ; pressing-digging pain in 1. second toe ; cramped pain in muscles of 1. wrist ; feeling of swelling and pressure in lower lids ; slight intimations of colic, from hypogastrium upwards, with contraction of scrotum, erections, and pain in buttocks. (Oest. Zeitschr., i, 96.) 2. WATZKE took, May 21st-23rd, twice each d. 6 dr. of 6x dil. without effect save that he woke on m. of 22nd with griping and movements in abdomen. On 24th, two doses of 6 dr., and on 25th of 10 dr. , of 5x. Some looseness and slight colic. 26th.-At noon, 6 dr. of 4x. P.m., some slight, rapid, brown, soft stools. In e., felt all over hotter than usual, and remarkably depressed, but with excellent appetite. Slept very restlessly, had many and vivid dreams, and perspired profusely towards m . 27th.- In m. great depression ; dull frontal headache; aching in eyeballs, aggravated by straining sight, moving eyes rapidly and bowing head, lasting all d. Several soft stools rapidly and easily discharged. 28th.-10 dr. in m. All symptoms continued, but more mildly ; also feeling of great stiffness and immobility in lower legs. Towards e., stitching for several m. in epigastrium, which was tense and inflated. 31st.- 10 dr. Late symptoms continued for several d., in slight and transient fashion. On June 9th and 10th, 5 dr., on 15th, 10 dr., and on 16th, 10 dr. of 3x dil. produced nothing fresh. 18th.- 10 dr. of 2x at 9 a.m. Soon after, slight oppression

of head, sensibility of temples and forehead, transient vertigo. Three h. later stool with colic and tenesmus ; inclination thereto several times afterwards . Towards e. prostration, heat in whole body, thirst, quickened pulse ; at II, loose easy stool. Restless and feverish n .; towards m. perspiration. In m. prostration and lassitude of whole frame, painful pressure in eyeballs and temples, appetite diminished, pulse over 90. This condition lasted all d., getting worse towards afternoon and e.; could then hardly keep up. In bed, sensibility and feeling of heat all along spine ; chest sensitive and oppressed at times ; dry cough ; frequently repeated stitches from 1. axilla to elbows ; pulse 100. N. as last. 20th. In m. as yesterday, but in less degree ; effort required to get up ; skin hot, pulse 92. Prostration increased towards noon, with previous symptoms of head, chest, and spine ; at same time, feeling of roughness in throat, repeated stitches in epigastrium, painfulness of malleoli. No pain in swallowing or difficulty in deep breathing ; no stool to-day or yesterday ; urine now fiery, becoming cloudy on standing. N. good ; woke several times in profuse perspiration. Next d. better, but railway journey brought on headache badly, and cough caused violent stitches through cerebellum. Same thing happened through subsequent ride p.m.; also for whole afternoon disagreeable feeling of chilliness, great debility, unusually disturbed temper-so that he could not bring himself to take notice of the stitches, tearings, pressings, crampings, and such feelings, which came and went in various He parts of body, especially in joints, outer thighs, and upper arms . was most conscious of a cramp pain in penis, lasting several m., during which it seemed as if bent double. A cup ofblack coffee immediately relieved symptoms, but they did not disappear till he went to bed, which he was glad to do at 7 p.m. Slept uneasily, and perspired copiously, but felt pretty well on waking next m. 22nd. A good deal of cough ; mucus, formerly whitish, now thick and yellow. Was fairly well all d., but towards e. head and general symptoms returned, lasting till bedtime. This continued, with free perspiration at n., for 3 d. more. [Dr. Watzke, who was an experienced prover, is satisfied that the above symptoms were medicinal, and not due to any acquired bronchial III. catarrh. -Eds Experiments on .) ( Ibid. animals. -I. ) Astrong rabbit had received during 2 mo. 40 gr. of Ix trit. of pulp, and 700 dr. of tinct., without being strikingly affected by it. Having remained 4 d. without med., he now got 1-5 gr. doses of colocynthin, without effect, save some sluggishness . Five d. later 7 gr. were given at 4 p.m., and next m. he was found dead. P.M.-Animal not emaciated. R. cavities of heart, with veins, filled with pitch-black coagulated blood ; 1. cavities with blood of same colour, but this was fluid. Some injection of stomach, within and without, about smaller curvature, increasing towards pylorus, diminishing towards cardia. Mesenteric vessels bright red and injected throughout intestine ; meso-colic vessels distended, dark-red, this especially noticeable in great veins accompanying rectum to its termination. Mucous membrane of small intestine pale red, of colon unaltered. Liver presented a single protuberant suppurating point. All VOL. else normal. II . (Oest. Zeitsch., i .) 24

1. A strong doe rabbit took 5 gr. in water, and had dose repeated next d., after which animal became dull, but continued to eat with appetite. On next 2 d. she had 7 gr. each time ; on latter began to seem very ill, and died on d. following, after having several thin stools. P.M.-Liver of normal consistence, but strewn with cysts from size of millet seed to that of pea, filled with serous fluid, having snow-white hardish points rather depressed below surface ; cysts themselves covered with injected vessels. Similar appearances in intestines. Stomach eroded in one place to peritoneum ; mucous lining reddened, easily separated, and thickly set with brownish-black points. Vivid reddening of mucous membrane of small intestines ; mesenteric vessels injected. (Ibid.)