Helonias dioica

Volume II — Main text

HELONIAS .

Helónias dioica, Pursh. (Veratrum luteum, L.). False unicorn, blazing star. Nat. Ord., Melanthacea.

I. Provings.-1 . Dr. TULLY experimented with 10-30 min. of tinct. of root. Its effects were-vertigo; slight darting pains in head ; sight affected, a sensation of much light, with indistinct vision ; on much exertion or sudden and considerable motion of head complete blindness for a time ; an indescribable sensation in hypogastrium ; nausea, and commonly vomiting, without relief of symptoms ; pulse weak and quite unfrequent (even as low as 40) ; cold extremities. After vomiting, sensations of alternate heat and cold, more particularly referred to hypogastrium. Once, 2 h. after dose, glow in hypogastrium, with occasional flushes of heat through whole system. All

symptoms reach their height in 4-5 h., and in 7-8 h. have completely disappeared. (Bost. Med. and Surg. Fourn., 1832, p. 136 ; fromAllen.) 2. Dr. BRANCH took 3j of saturated tinct. After 2 h. genial glow in stomach, with occasional flushes of heat ; feeling as if pupils admitted too much light, though they did not appear to be dilated ; on sudden turning of head became almost blind. After 24 h. became sick at stomach, and rejected dinner, which was in a state of fermentation ; previously to this an indescribable distressing sensation in epigastrium ; pulse weak, hardly perceptible, about 60 ; extremities cold ; on walking out, before he had proceeded 200 yards he became blind, but on stopping for a short time sight gradually returned. After 4 h. symptoms were at their height, and pulse was only 40 ; after 7 h. all had pretty much disappeared. (Ibid.) 3. Dr. C. H. BURR proved solution of 30 gr. of Helonin in 3j of alcohol, diluted with 3ss of water. Oct. 15th, 1862, he took 2 dr. at 10, 4 at 11 , and 8 at noon. Soon after each, pain, tightness, and pressure at stomach, partially relieved by eructation. At I took 12 dr., 16 at 2, 50 at 8 and 10 p.m. Between last 2 doses slight pain was felt through temples, with fulness in head and vertigo. 16th.-Took 40 dr. at 7 a.m., 50 at 9, 60 at II and 12. Felt nothing but an unusual degree of languor, and weariness and weight in region of kidneys. Took 68 dr. at 2 and 60 at 3. Now made sol. of 20 gr. in 3j of water, and took 40 dr. at 4 and 50 at 7 p.m. Symptoms mentioned as occurring in head are more decided; fulness increases, and there is sense of pressure from within up to vertex,-latter feeling aggravated by looking steadily at any fixed point; a larger amount than isual of clear light-coloured urine has been voided during past 12 h.; pulse 84, full and a little irregular. Took 60 dr. at 9 ; no fresh symptoms. On 17th, took 3ss at 7 p.m., and on 18th same at 9 a.m. and 12 m. P.m. and e., unusual weariness, with feeling ofweight in renal region ; mind dull and inactive. 19th.-Took 3ss at 8 a.m., 12 m. , and 5 p.m. Pain in vertex, increasing by stooping, with vertigo ; sharp spasmodic pain in back, running to crest of 1. ilium. Has awakened each m. since proving began at 5 (an unusual hour) with tongue and fauces dry and bitter, disagreeable taste in mouth. 21st.-At noon, 3j ; soon after, cramp-like pain in stomach. At 8 p.m., 3j ; severe rheumatic pains in r. hip-joint , worse during motion ; pains in forehead, as if band about I in. wide were drawn from temple to temple; pain and lameness in whole back, dryness and bitter taste in mouth. There also came on dull, gloomy, irritable mood ; he could not endure least contradiction, or receive suggestions in regard to any subject ; all conversation was unpleasant, and he desired only to be let alone and allowed to find fault with everything around him. 22nd.-Took 3j at 9 a.m. and 12 m. Mental state just described became continuous, and lasted unchanged for several d. On 26th he had pain in lumbar region, about upper part of sacrum and pelvis, more constant and severe than previously ; pain worse at n. than in d. (HALE, New Remidies, 2nd ed.) 4. a. Dr. S. A. JONES, March 24th, 1868, at 4 p.m. took 15 min. oftinct. in ziv water. At 6.15, while at supper, nausea as though

vomiting would ensue, and feeling in bowels as if diarrhea would come on . All soon passed away. " Between 8 and 9, while reading, fulness and pressure from within outwards at vertex and occiput ; at same time scalp seemed to burn. When I read earnestly, concentrating my attention, all these sensations vanished ; but if I turned my attention from the book they were instantly perceived. I found that I could get rid of them or bring them on just as I liked. While undressing, I felt a sudden and momentary but very acute pang of pain in region ofkidneys, as if I had been shot there." 25th. At noon took 30 min. 2.30, dull heat, hardly a burning, in renal region ; also pressure at vertex as if skull was too full ; took I gr. of Helonin. 5, painful aching in r. ankle-joint as if wedge was driven in. 9, burning in lower abdomen as if whole were filled with quite warm water. 26th.- 2 gr. at 11 a.m. At 4.20 p.m. fulness in forehead all through between temples. Took 4 gr. Same aching in ankle again, not interfering with locomotion. Two stools to-day, very unusual. 27th.- Through forenoon, vague distress in stomach, slight dull headache in forehead, extending towards vertex. 3, took 12 gr. A little weakness in sacral, and burning in upper dorsal spine. 28th.-A second stool again to-day, yellow and mush-like ; before it feeling as in diarrhea, after it slight burning in anus. An easy mile's walk made him feel very tired and weak ; also aching pain in chest, as from overwork, as if whole front of chest, and especially a strip some 4 in. wide down sternum, had been compressed in a vice. After resting an h. very tired feeling in lower lumbar and sacral region. 10.30, 160 min. of tinct. When sitting reading at n. great heat and burning in dorsal region, especially marked in space between lower half of scapulæ. Pain in l. side, as if spleen was distended, causing a dull ache ; it did not last long. Still tired lumbo-sacral aching. Sensation as if kidneys were two bags of hot water (felt so distinctly that he could have outlined kidneys by it). Warm numbness in legs, beginning at tendo Achillis, streaming upwards, most marked over gastrocnemius, and in knee. 29th.-Yellow and mush-like stool ; front of chest very sensitive to air ; while walking, same tired aching as if chest had been compressed ; on every movement flushes of heat pass over him (in a room). At noon 480 min. 1.45 p.m., burning in sacral region ; 2.30, burning in stomach, burning and aching in spine (dorsal and lumbar), tasteless eructations ; leaking after each act of micturition, which lasted a long time ; legs at times feel almost as numb as after 10 min. of Fleming's tinct. of aconite ; numbness in feet goes off by motion, and is only felt while sitting still. Exceedingly restless, and want to be continually moving about, feel better when moving, or when doing something which absorbs attention. 30th.-Nothing but slight dull ache in sacral region. II a.m. , 540 min. Only symptom was increase of this aching. 31st.- Back across lower lumbar region very tired and weak ; p.m., also burning there, and great pressure on vertex. In e. spinal symptoms gone, but it seems as if kidneys themselves ached. Two small brown stools to-day, preceded by bellyache. April 1st.-Inpressing headache on vertex returned p.m., and had colic-like pains in hypogastrium off and on all d.; back lame and aching ; unusual feeling

of fatigue, without cause ; this and all pains ceasing when he moves about, but returning on sitting still. Bowels full of flatus ; many tasteless eructations, each causing feeling of nausea. 2nd.-Burning between scapulæ, and tired aching in lumbo-sacral region. 6th.-Since 3rd, daily headache at 4-5 or 8-9 p.m., dull, temporo-frontal, with pressure over root of nose; feels feverish with it, but without heat of surface or acceleration of pulse ; also very irritable. Aching in sacrum again to-day. During week from 12th- 18th all aches and ailings left him, and he felt unusually well. b. Dr. Jones made above experiment with view of ascertaining effects (if any) upon urinary secretion. He was accustomed-owing, as he thinks, to tobacco-chewing-to pass urine of generally faintly alkaline, sometimes neutral reaction, and almost constantly depositing somewhat copiously the amorphous phosphate of lime. From March 28th to April 9th an acid reaction was frequently observed ; and after the proving, the presence of the deposit became the exception instead ofthe rule of his life. He found the drug somewhat diuretic. It lowered the sp. gr. ofthe urine, and seemed to increase the elimination of urea ; but Dr. Jones considers the large quantity of alcohol taken in the tinct. a disturbing factor in the results. (Amer. Observer, April, 1871 , and Jan. , 1873.) II. Poisonings.-1 . When taken in doses of 5-15 gr., it acts as an emeto-cathartic, producing griping, burning sensation in epigastrium, and great activity of salivary glands. Indeed, I have known the most perfect salivation to follow the use of large doses of Helonin. In doses of 1-5 gr., it produces irritability of stomach, and slight purging with burning sensation in bowels, irritation of urethra,pain in kidneys, which is followed by albuminuria, indicating congestion, and large discharges of urine, with slightly increased sp. gr. (PAINE, Conc. Med.) 2. I prescribed for a woman suffering from uterine atony Helonin, Ist trit., 2 gr. 3 times a d. In a few d. she came to me complaining of an entirly new and annoying symptom, viz. intense irritation of external labia and pudendum, which were puffed, not red, and burned and itched terribly. So intense was the irritation that she could not prevent herself from scratching with her nails until the surface bled. Every m. cutaneous surface would fall off in thin, transparent exfoliations . Mucous membrane of labia was red, swollen, and covered with white curdy deposit like aphthæ. Urination was very painful, on account of the scalding sensation as the urine passed over the denuded mucous membrane. No sexual excitement was present. Speculum showed inflammation to extend one third the length of vagina. On suspending Helonin, and prescribing lotion of borax, in a few d. symptoms subsided. (E. M. HALE, Am. Obs., x, 55.) 3. Dr. E. CLARK has observed in 6 or 8 cases, from 1st trit. of Helonin, pain in lower part of back through to uterus, piercing, drawing ; breasts swollen, nipples painful and tender, will not bear pressure of even ordinary dress ; great uterine hæmorrhage came on, and continued till drug was left off. (IBID., New Remedies, 2nd ed.)