Cicuta virosa

Volume II — Main text

CICUTA . Cicuta viròsa, L. Water hemlock. Nat. Ord., Umbellifera. I. Provings.- 1 . HAHNEMANN, Mat. Med. Pura, vol. vi of original, vol. i of translation. Contains 36 symptoms from self, 168 from 3 fellow-provers, and 37 from authors. 2. a. Dr. LEMBKE took, Feb. 15th, 6.30 a.m., 10 dr. tinct. 6.45 am. , when walking in room, tension in fascia of 1. thigh, anteriorly, superiorly, and externally, and in r. hough mostly towards its inner border ; heat in lower part of occiput. Vision seems clearer, pupils contracted. 7.45 a.m., drawing under skin above 1. tendo Achillis ; the heat spreads from occiput to crown and the sides thereof, always deeply seated ; rumbling of flatulence in bowels, much and long continued ; flow of saliva ; heat and weight in sinciput ; when sitting, feeling in knees as after a long walk ; dull shooting pains in fossa navicularis penis. 8.15 a.m., after slight exertion great weariness in legs and arms ; when bending painful stiffness in back ; pupils small and eyes sensitive to daylight. 8.30, testicles drawn up tightly towards inguinal ring ; stool, with urine, soon followed by urging to make

water, which could be kept back with difficulty. 11 a.m. , bright red blood (about 3 teaspoonfuls) from r. nostril. After a walk of I h. very weary. 11.30, great pulsation of temporal arteries ; disinclined for work, cross and given to dismal reflections ; pressure in sinciput. I p.m. , no appetite; urging to urinate ; after dinner great thirst for cold water. No desire to make water till 5 p.m., when slight urging came on, also great hunger which, however, is soon satisfied. Great disposition to study in e.- 16th, 12.45 a.m., 10 dr. During n. frequent waking with feeling of having slept enough and of strength . When he rose at 6 a.m. no feeling of having passed a disturbed night. Passed less urine than usual during n. 6.15 a.m., 15 dr. Immediately on touching nose some bleeding from r. nostril, soon followed by copious epistaxis. 7 a.m., temporal arteries throb strongly ; sinciput hot and heavy; skin congested ; feeling of hot water in stomach. 7.45 a.m. , both nostrils dry, as if stopped up, but air passes freely ; heat rises up into face, especially its upper part ; tension in 1. calf when walking ; pupils small ; pressure on eyes with sensitiveness to daylight, though weather is foggy; sometimes bright grey spots before eyes ; pulse 75 ; heaviness in occiput ; pain with fulness in forehead and r. temple, later in l.; tearing pain through 1. side of brain towards the arch of skull, from before backwards ; erection without lascivious thoughts. 8.45 a.m., pupils very dilated and for several hours after. Little urine passed to-day.-17th, 5.45 a.m. , 30 dr. 6.30, dryness in throat ; weakness inknees and dorsal muscles, after standing a short time ; heaviness in sinciput with pressure deep in brain ; stiffness in tendones Achillis and painful pressure in muscles at back of 1. thigh, when walking slowly, pulse 60 ; tension in calves ; pupils contracted. 7.45 a.m., pupils dilated ; pressive pain under 1. eyebrow on bone, extends to temple and 1. zygoma; tearing in r. side of occipital bone ; testicles drawn up to abdomen ; shooting in 1. eyelids ; frequent urging to urinate ; on back of 1. hand between Ist and 2nd fingers, fine vesicles size of poppy seeds with narrow red areola, no pain or sensation in them, only now observed. 8.30 a.m., cheerful, disposed to work, when walking easy movements and elasticity of muscles all d. 9 a.m., compressive sensation in all muscles of 1. leg. as if the leg were constricted, when walking. 6 p.m., stool consisting of single hard lumps of fæces ; swelling on r. side of anus as from a pile under skin, whereby the orifice of the anus is narrowed, with tiresome sensation during stool; very little urine all d. Frequent erections at n.-18th, 6.15 a.m., 60 dr. Eruption disappeared. 6.45 a.m. , pain in l. calf; drawing on r. instep towards inner side ; tearing in extensors of 1. forearm, and at root of 3 last r. toes ; pinching on inner side of r. big toe, for a long time, with very severe pain. 7.45 a.m., much inclined to stare ; sometimes deeper breath than usual, more while sitting than walking ; tearing in r. lids ; drawing pain under bone in upper part of forehead extending to crown ; drawing in muscles on inner aspect of r. thigh ; great weakness of legs ; pupils small ; pressure on eyelids ; tensive feeling in lower part of calves ; tearing in lower part of extensors of 1. leg; pressure on chest, with occasional deeper breathing; abdomen distended with flatulence and emission of much flatus ; nose stopped up ; tickling in fossa navicularis

and frequent erections. 9.30 a.m., stool rather softer than usual ; very much disposed for work and walking. 4 p.m., a large teaspoonful of tinct. 5 p.m., pupils very dilated; staring almost without winking and as if a grey fog were before eyes ; shooting in fossa navicularis ; heaviness in sinciput ; sometimes bright spots before eyes ; deeper breathing when sitting ; cold feeling streams through legs with tearing in toes, the cold feeling lasts longest in the r. leg ; oppressed feeling in chest and deep breathing; pulsation in sinciput and heat with strong beating of heart ; pulsation in hand when holding on to chair ; painful bruised feeling in knees ; painful weakness in muscles of lower part of 1. upper arm; tearing in r. peroneus muscle ; drawing in back of 1. hand at roots of fingers ; stopped-up nose ; tearing under skull on r. side ; sinciput confused. 7 p.m. and later, much heat and weight in head ; weakness and tearing in bones of skull on 1. side and internal pulsation and dazedness deep in brain. 19th. At 2 and 5 a.m., stool of thin fæces with urgent irresistible call to urinate, which recurs as soon as the urine has passed. 8.30 a.m ; 3, 7 and 8 p.m., thin slimy stools with straining and much urine. 9 p.m. and 5.30 next morning, slimy stools. At n. lascivious dream and emission of semen with drawing pain in fossa navicularis. The stools had this peculiarity, that without premonitory symptoms they suddenly came on with urging so severe that they could hardly be kept back, at the same time bruised pain in sacrum and general weakness ; the stool itself gushed suddenly forth, and was followed by tenesmus ; the urging to urine was at the same time frequent.- 20th., 8 a.m., thin slimy stool; frequent erections without lascivious thoughts. 9 a.m., 2 dr. of tinct. of arnica. 2 p.m., almost every h. a stool of black carrion-smelling mucus in large quantity, with straining. Appetite and sleep always good, very drowsy even during d., very weak, great thirst. E., 3 stools as above.-21st, m., stool of normal character. Yesterday he observed on the dorsal aspect of the Ist phalanx of the l. thumb small red spots without sensation which disappeared in the course of the d. To-day there appeared on back of 1. hand a group of 16 to 18 small red spots, smooth and without sensation, which disappeared on pressure and reappeared quickly ; this eruption disappeared in e. In e. and during n. several thin stools of normal colour, with much urine and prolapsus of rectum.- 22nd. An eruption like the former one on a different part of back of 1. hand, towards the metacarpus pollicis ; on back of r. hand a small itching vesicle ; in forenoon some thin stools.

b. Feb. 26th, 7 a.m., 100 dr. Immediately tearing on inner side of lower part of r. upper arm ; jerking drawing in posterior lower part of r. leg to heel ; suddenly great weakness in 1. thigh on rising up ; the snow dazzles him, and on looking on a dark wall there seems to be a grey screen towards the l.; flush of heat over back ; pressure on 1. side of head under bones, repeatedly ; transient shooting in dorsal muscles in regions of 11th and 12th vertebræ increased by deep breathing; head heavy and full ; when sitting and rising up great weariness in both legs, less in arms, diminished by walking about room ; stitches in muscles of r. scapula ; pressure under r. os bregmat.; when writing suddenly painful weary feeling in muscles of r. arm ; pulse 60, large, full ; tearing

in 1. temple ; breathing deep with effort ; dull shooting in urethra ; pupils sometimes contracted,sometimes dilated; sometimes in r. shoulder, in one or other knee, or in ankles great weak feeling ; constant painful tearing in tendons of 1. instep, when walking and standing ; everything appears brighter, pupils contracted, vision clearer ; prickling pulsation in r. calf for a moment ; frequent discharge of flatus ; tearing in muscles of r. shoulder. 8 a.m., lightness, firmness in movements, but this is only transient ; frequent micturition ; pressure in sinciput and in muscles of 1. upper arm, stiffness in r. calf; more or less confusion in sinciput ; tearing in tendons on l. instep ; drawing in l. arm. 9 a.m. , no more symptoms, only much urging to urinate. 4 p.m., 100 dr. Immediately tearing in r. nape muscles ; drawing in tendons onl. instep. 5 p.m., painful feeling of exhaustion in both legs and knees when sitting ; hot feeling in both legs ; pressure on crown under skull ; drawing in tendons of r. instep and 1. sole ; creeping feeling in soles with pressure on various parts of legs ; when reading slight pressure in eyes ; shooting in eyelids ; appearance of bright points hovering before eyes, mixed with dark streaks and spots ; increased feeling of warmth in whole body ; bruised feeling in forearms and lower extremities ; drawing in tendons on backs of1. fingers ; pupils dilated ; weight deep in occiput ; veins very prominent ; pulse slow, large, full ; stitches in fossa navic.; pressive pain under 1. frontal protuberance ; drawing under skin on outer side of r. thigh ; pressure in l. calf and tearing in l. toes ; painful bruised feeling alternately in arms and legs, with hot feeling streaming into part, making movement difficult ; frequent pain in loins and large dorsal muscles ; pressure deep in brain in various parts. 6 p.m., sudden pinching in r. sole ; pressive pain in muscles of r. arm ; tearing on inner border of 1. sole, deeply seated ; creeping under skin of r. instep ; severe pressive pain on ulnar side of1. wrist; sudden tearing in lower part of r. calf towards tendo Achillis. All the symptoms since 4 p.m. occurred while seated. 6.30 p.m., on walking slowly pressive pain in pectoralis major muscle,then in 1. chest and intercostal muscles, not affecting breathing, then in 1. knee, r. forearm, radial side of r. wrist, and dorsal aspect of roots of r. fingers. 7 p.m. , frequent flushes of heat as from hot water over back extending to head and feet, and in upper arms ; feeling as of hot water in chest, followed by pain in muscles on posterior aspect of r. thigh when seated ; moisture on back and forehead ; twitching in 1. toes ; pressure in various muscles of lower extremities ; no more symptoms.-27th. After profound sleep, great weak feeling on rising ; urine yesterday and last n. scanty and dark ; towards m. erection and emission without voluptuous thoughts or dreams. Urine scanty and very dark, stools at usual time but soft.- 28th . Many and tiresome thoughts about human conditions ; great appetite. c. Feb.for29th, Inclined work,6.30 buta.m. weak200 indr. body.Soon pupils dilated. 6.45, weight and heat in sinciput ; aching and weary in legs ; ears very hot inwardly and outwardly, though the room is not heated ; for 1 h. Pulse 60, small, soft. 7.45 a.m., burning and redness of face ; black points before eyes interfere with reading ; prickling in muscles of legs ; discharge of flatus ; great itching in fossa navic.; heaviness and pain in

forehead ; painful pressing in calves ; pain in lumbar muscles ; frequent chill through back ; peculiar sensation that goes from occiput through back into posterior part of lower extremity, like what one feels on lying down after a long tiresome walk, when seated ; creeping under skin of 1. upper arm ; frequent urging to urinate ; pupils contracted ; frequent chills, cold extremities, bluish nails ; pulse 60, tense, ears cold ; fine shooting in throat ; painful pressure in r. knee; shooting in urethra ; tearing pain in sides of r. tendo Achillis ; chill all through body lasts till 10 a.m. 12 noon, sudden tearing in gastric region, and feeling of a fluid stool in rectum (he had a soft stool at 9.30) which lasts long with urging to urinate, and dull painful undefined feeling in abdomen. 12.30 p.m., 200 dr. Sudden sharp stitch from navel to neck of bladder ; feeling of coolness courses through legs and arms, with alternate light and heavy feeling in these parts, frequently. In 3 trials there is, while sitting, slight shooting pain in a small corn that never before gave pain ; pressure in calves, pupils very contracted ; great discharge ofwind ; black points and stripes before eyes ; pricking as with needles in r. sole ; bruised feeling and weight felt alternately in one or other leg and becoming fixed in knee ; creeping in l. toes ; pain in lumbar muscles frequently ; pressing on r. trochanter ; pressive pains in various parts of sinciput, beneath the skull ; sudden pressing in skin over r. testicle ; pain and weight in l. elbow ; dryness and scraping in throat ; slight chilliness through back from 2 to 3.30 p.m. 3 p.m., prickling in l. big toe , painful pressure in various muscles of the extremities, later chiefly in the legs, with prickling in the toes ; all d. thoughts confused and springing unconnectedly from one subject to another, often of a torturing character and taking a dismal view of things ; yesterday and to-day loves to be alone and to be silent, with want of resolution. 5 p.m. , painful tearing in l. sole ; soft stool, much urine ; burning in anus ; painful pressing in r. temple betwixt skin and bone ; when walking suddenly a peculiar feeling as if the heart stopped; tearing pain deep in abdomen, continued and increased by pressure ; great appetite at 2 and 6.30 p.m. which is soon satisfied ; sleep sound ; the following morning ( Ist March) weary feeling, no other symptoms. (Allg. hom. Ztg., li, 109, 114. ) II. Poisonings.- 1 . In May several persons ate of the root of C. at 5 p.m. a. A healthy man, æt. 26, h. afterwards had vertigo, obscuration of sight, shooting headache, anxiety, oppressed breathing, vomited with difficulty but felt better after it ; but soon all the symptoms returned with thirst and dryness of throat ; he again vomited after drinking and again with relief to the symptoms. A third attack was also allayed by vomiting. Later he complained only of burning in stomach, thirst, heaviness of head and chest, which disappeared next d. b. A healthy man of 20 who had eaten more, was soon ill ; he went out and was soon afterwards found stretched on the ground and as if dying ; his face was congested, the eyes protruded, he foamed at the mouth, he scarcely breathed ; soon there occurred a violent epileptic attack, during which all the limbs in succession were horribly contorted, and the breathing interrupted ; he never recovered conscious

ness and soon aied. P.M.-L. lung spotted blue and yellow, the blood fluid, red, stomach reddened here and there. c. A girl of 15 who had taken little, had some anxiety and stupeaction ; fell down insensible and motionless and ground her teeth ; soon epileptic fits came on, which recurred all night and caused horrible contortions. They continued till the e. of the following d., and she woke as from a deep sleep and slowly recovered. d. Two boys and 3 girls, between 8 and 9 years of age, ate of the root in the afternoon ; they soon became giddy, fell down and had the most violent convulsions. They all vomited more or less of the root, but the convulsions lasted long ; all night they were weak and delirious ; next day they were weak. (WEPFER, Ephem. Nat. Cur. Dec. ii, Ann. 6, p. 221.) 2. Two boys and 6 girls ate shortly before noon a quantity of the root of C. a. Jacob M-, æt. 6, soon complained of pain in præcordia ; hardly had he told this, when he fell to the ground, and passed urine with great force. He looked fearfully ill, all his senses left him, shut his mouth so strongly that it could not be opened, ground his teeth, the eyes were much distorted, blood gushed from his ears, a large swelling was formed about the præcordial region. Frequent hiccup ; he seemed to wish to vomit but nothing came up. He threw the limbs about and contorted them, the head was often thrown back, and the whole back bent in the form of a bow. The convulsions ceased, he cried to his mother for help, but they returned with renewed intensity, he could not be roused by calling to him, and in half an h. he died exhausted. The belly and face swelled after death, green slime often flowed out of the mouth . b. Kath. M-, elder sister of the foregoing, began after her brother's death to complain. After h. she vomited some of the root ; she was seized with convulsions, with loss of all the senses, and frightful distortion of the head, limbs, and whole body. Her mouth was forced open and some theriac poured in, whereupon she again vomited. After this she lay for 24 h. as if dead on her bed, without moving hand or foot ; sometimes she ground her teeth and called to her mother to help her ; but when her mother spoke to her she did not answer, as though she was deaf. For 9 h. she was thought to be dead, for the face was like that of a corpse, the breathing imperceptible, the extremities cold. After 24 h. she came to herself, complained of pain in præcordia, and was very weak for 4 d. c. Maria M-, æt. 24, ate but little of the root, but was attacked by epilepsy ; a swelling in the stomach shook the diaphragm violently ; hiccup, cries, redness of face, trismus, loss of senses, and distortion of limbs ensued. She vomited after theriac, was well after 8 h . d. Matthias G-, æt. 8, went home after the death of his friend Jacob ; was attacked by vertigo in the street, fell forwards on his face, got up and hurried home as if intoxicated. Soon he had convulsions and fell to the ground. He got up again, staggered about, fell again, got frightful convulsions, trismus, opisthotonos, some ofhis teeth were removed but he could not swallow on account of constriction of throat.

A swelling in præcordia knocked violently against diaphragm with hiccup. This epileptic fit lasted uninterruptedly h., until his strength declined, and he died without having passed urine or stool and without vomiting. The whole abdomen and body swelled after death, the face was blue around eyes, green froth welled out of his mouth . e. Christine G-, æt. 9, ate but little of the root, became sick towards e., complained of shooting and burning pains in præcordia, then had convulsions. After taking an infusion of tobacco she got well. f. Three other girls, who had eaten little of the root, had slight epileptic fits. ( IBID., Hist. Cicutæ aquat.; Lugd. Bat., 1733, p. 6. ) 3. Post-mortem examination of 3 children who died with convulsions after taking C. The bodies were flecked with bluish-red patches, the abdomen moderately distended. The upper extremities of the body of a girl æt. 5 were flexible, the lower extremities stiff, the nails blue, the fingers covered with red spots, the eyes dim, sunken, pupils dilated, conjunctiva injected, lips blue. The lungs were reddish blue, with red spots here and there, contained much dark blood, their veins and blood-vessels generally very much distended. Heart not flaccid, the r. ventricle contained fluid and coagulated blood, the 1. ventricle nearly empty. Stomach and bowels distended with gas ; stomach empty, externally it showed injected vessels, its m.m. spotted with brown, cardia and pylorus red, bowels not inflamed, epiglottis and pharynx red, trachea full of mucus and somewhat inflamed, the sinuses and vessels of brain filled with dark blood. (MERTZDORF, Horn's Archiv, 1825, ii , 44.) III. Experiments on animals.-1 . The recorded experiments on animals show very various effects. On some animals-dogs and rabbits-the root and the juice seem to have had little or no effect. In others there occurred vomiting, restlessness, convulsions, mostly of the tetanus type, and death. The appearances after death were generally contracted stomach with dark red or brown patches ; lungs sometimes normal, sometimes congested or inflamed ; blood fluid, r. ventricle generally full of blood. ( WIBMER, op. cit.) 2. TROJANOWSKI made experiments with aqueous and alcoholic extracts on cats and dogs. The characteristic feature of the poisoning is peculiar, decidedly clonic spasms, only interrupted by short free intervals, extending from muscles of head and neck to those of body generally, especially of respiratory apparatus. Spasms are nearly always introduced by loud screaming and slight convulsive trembling, and a kind of horripilation is observed before and after them. Consciousness remains perfectly intact. Before the convulsions break out, the animals become unsteady in gait and posture. Subsequently there is general paralysis, with loss of consciousness and death. Autopsy reveals stomach and intestinal canal perfectly intact ; blood dark and perfectly fluid ; brain and cord show considerable venous hyperæmia and cædematous infiltration ; large veins of thorax and lungs also are full of blood. ( Dorpat Med. Zeitschr., 1874.) 3. BOEHM has obtained a substance possessing the peculiar properties of the plant, which he names cicutoxin. Experimenting upon frogs, he ascertained that the hemispheres had nothing to do with the

development of the C. spasms, nor did the cerebellum share in them. If section is made through spinal cord below calamus scriptorius, parts supplied by spinal nerves given off below section are paralysed, while reflex irritability remains. In such cases it still produces the characteristic spasmodic movements of head, neck, and chest, and the peculiar cry. (Latrer is explained by excess of inspiratory over expiratory action ; when spasmodic seizure sets in, abdominal muscles, contracting, force air out through larynx, which is itself spasmodically narrowed.) In mammalia, after ingestion of poison, there is a period of repose lasting 15-30 m. Then animal grows uneasy, and is soon attacked by the characteristic violent tetanic spasms. Immediate cause of death is deficient respiration. When given by mouth, about gr. of cicutoxin to every pound in weight will be fatal to a cat; but more is needed for a dog. Action of drug is on medulla oblongata. (SCHMIDT's Jahrbücher, 1876.)

Volume II — Appendix

Cicuta.-After II. 3, insert the following : 4. Four children, æt. 11 , 7, 6, and 5, ate some of the root. The youngest while eating it began to stagger, fell down unconscious, and had a violent epileptic attack. The 6 years old child had also a milder epileptic fit. The other 2 vomited most of the root, had no convulsive attacks, but complained of stupefaction and weakness. In all the temperature of the skin was lowered,the pulse small and slow. The 3 eldest children got emetics and vomited freely, there only remained laziness, dryness, andthirst. At n. theyhad profuse sweat and next m. were well. The youngest did not vomit, the convulsions continued and increased in severity, face dark red, lips blue, bloody foam at mouth . After 4 h. of this state, the child was bled and the emetic acted, consciousness returned, the convulsions ceased ; then came on lethargy, which lasted all next d., and then recovery took place. (BENNEWITZ, Med. Zeit. v. Ver. f. Heilk. in Preussen, v, No. 11 , 51 ; in Frank's Mag., i, 39.) 5. Four childran, æt. 3, 5, and 6, ate in forenoon someofthe root. The 3 years old child had pain in abdomen, vomiting, and convulsions, and died at I p.m. The other 3 children got emetics, which brought away some of the root. They were very cold, face pale and distorted, very dilated and insensible pupils, violent pains in abdomen, and general convulsions. In 2 there was complete loss of consciousness. The third complained of noise in ears and vertigo, and then fell into a state of stupor. Inone child the respiration was very weak and scarcely audible, inthe others it was irregular, snoring, and sometimes interrupted by hiccup. Heart's beats irregular, sometimes intermitted for a considerable time, then several violent beats ensued. (MEYER, Ibid. , xi, No. 40, 178 ; in Frank'sMag., i, 39.) 6. Seven boys, æt. from 12 to 16, ate some ofthe root. After h. the first child complained ofvertigo and staggered like a drunken person, then fell quite unconscious, and had a fit like epilepsy. When brought to the hospital was in a state of tetanus and trismus, very cold, breathing irregular, and he died. The second boy fell down, when walking, in a stupefied state, got up, and contrived to get home. He was sufficientlyconscious tocall for his mother, and then fell down; clonic convulsions and trismus ensued, and he died. The third and fourth boys had tetanus and trismus ; theygot anemetic and recovered. The 3 others had eaten less of the root and were onlyslightly affected. P.M. of theboy who died first. Abdomen moderately distended, Cornea dimgreen andspots sunk.onOn its sawing r. side and on the through neck, skull, posterior diploë muchsurface injectedof legsblack with red. fluid blood. All the vessels of pia mater and the arteria meningea media full of blood, as also all the sinuses. Cerebral substance showed numerous bloody points. In r. lateral ventricle half a teaspoonful of serum, none in 1. Plexus choroidei distended and redder than normal. At base of skull a teaspoonful of dark red fluid ; about oz. of similar fluid flowed out of spinal cavity. Dura mater of spine red, and contained serous fluid ; its pia mater moderately distended. Grey substance darker than usual. Lungs dark blue, with red spots ; lungs much distended, containing much dark red blood. Larynx, trachea, and bronchi red. Bronchi contained much redmucus. Ineach pleural cavity 3 oz. of serum. Pericardium anteriorly adherent to heart. Cavities of heart and large arteries empty. Mucous membrane of posterior wall of stomach red for about three inches. Spleen somewhat softened and containing much blood. R. kidney congested. (VELTEN, Casper's Woch., 1840, No. 19, 308.) 7. The wife of a labouring man found, March 19th, a root of C. which she took for celery, and the same e.she boiledit up with potato soup, of which the whole family partook at supper. (The family consisted ofa man, æt. 51, his wife æt. 38, 2sons, æt. 14 and 10, and 2 daughters, æt. 7 and 3.) After h. all complained of pain inbelly,nausea and vertigo. The man went into open air, but returned at 8 p.m.with themost horrible pains in bellyand sickness, and found his wife and children in similar suffering. He could not help them, but fell down beside them unconscious. The doctor came at 10.45 p.m. and found the man lying with cold and stiff arms and legs, breathing slow and laboured, pulse could not be felt, mouth firmly closedwith foam upon it,insensibility of the whole body. He died in h. The

woman related in broken words what she had done. An emetic was given to all the survivors which caused them to vomit. The mother and oldest boy got a purge of senna, Glauber's salt ad tart, em., for these intolerable pains in bowels which caused copious purging, after which they got coffee and lemon-juice.-21st, 7 a.m, they complainedofvertigo and great prostration. At to a.m. the oldest boy had twitchings of facial muscles and convulsions, with violent pains in bowels, abdomen distended and very painful to touch. Leeches were applied and antispasmodics given by mouth and enemata, and by the 26th he was quite well. P.M. of the man showed the abdomen much sunken, stomach contained much of the soup, its m.m. was normal , the duodenum was contracted to the thickness of a bass fiddle-string, the bladder contracted and empty. (ALLIHN, Neue Zeitsch.f. Nat. und Heilk., i, pt. i, 195.)