Rhus radicans

Volume IV — Appendix

RhuB radicans.— II. 9. C. H. B., jct. 41, perfect

was susceptible to action of Rhus, which in previous poise always developed a vesicular eruption, lasting a few d. an< appearing in the usual quiet way. This time, however, th( assumed a different form. Two d. after handling the vine vesicular rash appeared on skin of both hands, particular! fingers. On 3rd d. gums began bleeding; ccchymosed spol ent sizes appeared under surface of skin in different parts of ticularly legs, conjunctiva, vermilion border of lips, and tongue. On 7th d. hacmaturia set in, and lasted 7 d. more, 1 sage of urine, 4 — 5 a d,, containing a large proportion Haemorrhage from gums, a continuous oozing, lasted 14 d. assumed a very ana?mic appearance. Pulse and temp, were 11 to 14th d., when temp, rose to ro8°, and pulse to 140, re rapid : which condition broke up in a gentle sweat. After tk period, the b\eed\u^ta.V\A'j i,\«,'i.'^^vttA.,^\dKeQ^uickly regainol vigour. (^R.C Pw.l,B.'S,TraTw.oJ"Ptnni.Rnm.Mt4.^<i(...^-\sa,(

lo. a. On Aug. 17th, 18785 while preparing the i, di!. of Rhus, he vial broke, allowing contents to escape upon the back of my 1. ''and and run down between the fingers. I washed the hand in warm ^ter as soon as possible. On following d. there was itching between kfingers— slight at first, but gradually becoming intense, worse from r»cr»tching. On 2nd d, there appeared between middle and ring fingers I 'cluster of small elevations, joined at their bases, pretty uniform in ;*'ze, and presenting a surface not unlike that of a white raspberry. [The clusters subsequently proved to he made up of fine transparent vesicles. They continued to appear till they had covered the dorsal surface of all the fingers of the 1, hand, in the vicinity of their junction. the contents of the vesicles increased, the patches became more fevated, their walls thinner and more transparent, till at length they "'ptured, permitting the escape of a thin watery fluid. The discharge "'^s persistent and very profuse. When dry, it formed a yellow crust; '^ ^as not very glutinous, nor was the tendency to form scabs at all ?rlccd. The fluid was very acrid, for, when it ran between the ^gers and about their webs, the integument assumed a white shrivelled "l^pearance as though parboiled, and soon separated from the subjacent *5«ues, exposing a raw surface. Each patch of vesicles pursued the ^tjie course. Several large blebs appeared between ring and little 2gcrs. The eruption gradually assumed a darker hue, becoming I *^ally reddish brown. The vesicles apparently coalesced towards the ^*t, and when they did so the skin assumed a white, shrivelled, and _dead appearance, with a raw surface underneath. The itching con- *'tiued without abatement, relieved only as the bandages became moist ^om the discharge or were moistened by liquid applications. The Entire dorsal surface of the hand swelled to the thickness of nearly half •*n inch. On the 3rd d. eyelids began to itch and swell, and soon a Puffy sac-like prominence was apparent on both upper and under lids, largest on under, and most marked on 1, side ; these lasted about 3 d., and gradually disappeared. On same d. there also appeared a number of minute vesicles scattered over anterior surface of scrotum and Extending along under surface of penis, most numerous about prepuce. These were similar to the vesicles on hands, but they did not appear In clusters, nor did they break, but went away in a few d., after which desquamation occurred in fine bran-like scales. On the 7th d. soreness began to be felt at bend of 1. elbow. On examining, I found at this point several enlarged and sensitive lymphatic glands, On the d. following several axillary glands began to swell, and occasional shooting pains were felt at elbow and between elbow and wrist. They gradually diminished in size and became less sensitive, while the sores upon the hand assumed a healthy character and healed normally.

b. About the loth d. small irregular elevations began to appear on the r. hand, and upon that portion of the I. hand not covered with the bandages. They looked not unlike the blotches produced by a beesting, and caused a similar sensation ; and when an attempt was made to use the hand, a sore stinging sensation was felt in each of these elevations, which later became one of pricking and tingling. It improved on continued use. Hand was always very stiff on awaking

in m., but grew gradually better as I used it during d. An itc! finally succeeded the tingling sensation; this, as well as the precci feelings, was aggravated by washing in cold water, while very n water seemed to make the hand feel better. Similar spots appeare< neck, ears, and feet, in small numbers, characterised as those on hands. The spots remained for about 10 d., were hard, and to touch felt like small hard bodies under the skin.

During the entire proving there was no rise of temperature ; app« was good, and all the functions seemingly well performed. (G. Ali Trans, of N. T. State Horn. Med. Soc.^ 1879, p. 70.)

1 1, a. In Feb., 18H8, I obtained a score of these beautiful shni and planted them with my own hands. In June I gathered a fet| the leaves, dried, pulverised, and triturated them up to 3X. Sept. 27th I repeated the above on a larger scale, gathered a handfii twigs, and planted them for growth. Towards middle of Oct, int* itchings and a rash, red, in appearance like scabies, appeared on <y\ commissures of fingers of I. hand, in which I had held the twigs fol h. These conditions were soon followed by millet-like elevations, I and white. Upon their disappearance — after a month's duration—' irritation, &:c., became localised on genitals and thighs, condiciofl scrotum being like erysipelas, and the sexual excitement actil maddening. A sharp diarrhoea ended the trouble, which had conttnu some 10 d.

b. During the next 2 years numerous contacts with the gro shrubs, both by accident and by design, have afforded me a extended experience, and many instances of acute agony on and in wrist, arm, &c. ; while recently simple contact of thumb's surface with the growing woody stem produced in an h. the circuc scribed local consequences peculiar to the poison. Each cont^iol more rapid in its appearance and more energetic, topically, in its k (*' Agricola," Horn. JVorld, J3Ji. 1 891.)