Iberis amara

Volume IV — Appendix

IBERIS.

Ibirit amara, L. Bitter candytuft. Nat, Ord., Cmcifira.

I. Praviiigs.'-'t. Dr. Male proved on 3 persons a tincture made by ttaetttaiff for two weeks, 5J ot" the seeds in 5'* of pure alcohol.

a. Dr. R, C. Sabin, ?et. xi, in good health, uses coffee and tobacco. Jul]* 1871, took I dr. of I, dil. at 9 p.m. Retired at 11, and had mtleu n., n*^ disturbed by dreams about home. Felt nervous and irritable on rising. 6th. — At' a.m. 1 dr. After 15 m. considerable acceleration of pulse, which roK to 96 (t '^ rate is 65 to 70). Slight palpitation, with sense of weight and pressure in rrt heart, and occasional sharp stinging pains in that region, passing from before wards, and lasting but a short time. 3, effects all passed off; pul»< 60; took i * Within 15 m. puhe rose to 98, with no feverish or other general symptorat, cxoejt* slight recurrence of the pains in the cardiac region ; pulse regular and full. EwW were noticed for about 1 h. 9, took 15 dr. Almost immediately, great aeccJi

poJse, which is irregular and jerking, with a peculiar thrill under the finger ; Ipitation, with marked increase in force of apex-beat. One h. from time of taking t dose, constrictive choking sensation in throat ; feeling of lightness and giddiness head ; slight sticking pains through heart, with feeling of weight and pressure, ^t palpitation still noticed. Went to bed at it ; was slightly inconvenienced ring n. by increased action of heart and pains darting through organ ; worse on Dg on 1. side. Slight frontal headache on rising. 7th.— At 8 aun. took ao dr.; oe acceleration of pulse and palpitation as from last dose ; apex-beat very strong, dds placed over heart outside clothing being visibly stirred by it. Effects passed rapidly. 3 p.m., 30 dr. Same symptoms, passing off in an h. 9, has felt lan« id and depressed since taking last dose j slight nausea, with cold chilly feelings ^r body. Took 40 dr., followed by same remarkable increase of pulse and violence heart's action, coming on within 5 m. after taking drug, increasing in intensity abont 15 m., and gradually passing off in the course of an h. The pain which »TS is of'^a dull, dragging character, not relieved bv any position or by pressure :h the hand. Went to bed at 10.30, with a slight feeling of nausea and dizziness. 1.— Arose at 7.30, feeling weak, nervous, and exhausted j passed a very restless n., :h horrid dreams. Severe frontal headache ; nausea, and loss of appetite } soft «hy stool (also yesterday ro.). Bad feelings passed off before noon, and at % p.m. took 30 dr. Pulse rose to 90, with slight palpitation — symptoms being much less iceable than hitherto.

t. loth. — Has taken no medicine till to-day, when at 7 p.m. be took % dr. of 3rd, 1 continued this dil. in increasing doses till by i6th he had taken 5'j> It produced effect whatever, aoth. — At a p.m. took i dr. of mother.tincture. In 5 m. pulse 1 risen from 70 to 90, hard and jerking, with an intermission every 3rd beat, art's action much increased in strength, force of apex-beat being well marked. >out an h. after, slight constriction in throat ; feeling of weight and pressure ilnder rnum, eyes red, face flushed ; sharp sticking pain in region of heart, sist.— 10 I., took 5 dr. Same effect on circulation as before j pulse 100, irregular. Sharp ns through cardiac region. 4 p.m., g^eat dulness and malaise since last dose, took dr. Heart's action apparently depressed for a or 3 m. after taking drug ; but in ni. pulse TOO, full and strong, but somewhat irregular ; heart thumping away at Teat rate ; face flushed ; dull frontal headache ; flashes before eyes ; fulness and istriction under sternum, with pains of lancinating character through chest ; mness of head, with roaring in ears, and slight nausea, land. — Very restless all tossing about ; much disturbed by the dull aching through the heart. On mountstairs in ro. was seized with violent palpitation, obliging him to lie down; con. nabk dyspnoea, with stabbing pains through heart ; choking sensation in throat, I great weakness. 11, continual feeling o? weight and anxiety in chest; heart's ion weak and fluttering ; small weak pulse, 80; severe frontal headache; tightness 1 constrictive filling in laiynx ; resp. more frequent and labouring ; dulness of ring and comprehension, a 3rd. — Passed a very restless n., with frightful dreams, turning to 1. side, a sharp sticking pain is felt, as if a needle were crosswise in ventride, and pricked at each contraction. 8 a.m., constant dull pain in heart, rse when lying down; oppresive frontal headache, with frequent nausea and at loss of appetite. 10, slight exertion, as rising from a chair, coughing, or ghing, causes distressing palpitadon, with increase of the (constant) dull pain, sation of weight in chest and constrictive feeling under sternum ; constant desire Iraw a long breath, without relief from doing so ; great lassitude and dulness of rllect, cannot comprehend or remember the lectures lie is hearing. i4th. — Passed liserable n. ; considerable dyspnoea, with pain in heart— not sharp, but a constant I aching, much worse from lying on 1. side. On rising, weak, nervous, and austed, with nausea and dizziness. The pain in heart, with constriction under num, continued till about 11, when it passed off, and was hardly noticeable noon ; but it returned slightly the next n.

The train of symptoms just narrated continued for 3 d., growing less all the time ; ays better p.m., and worse at n. I then discontinued the provug. [Prover must e continued the drug later than as appears ; for he speaks of havmg taken about of the tinct. and only 16 dr. are spM:ified.— >£ds.] ({/. S. Med. and Surg. Jeum.,

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a. a. M. M, DoDOB, set. 39, well, save for rheumatic pains in 1. shoulder.

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which he has had for two months. Jan. sth, 1871, at 6^0 p.m., lodc 4 dr. of dil. In I J ra. increase of pulse-rate to 88 per m. (normal beat being 7»); '»>'! tremulous sensations over radial artery, puUe slightly intermittent every 3rd beat ; of fulne<£ in neck and head. 8.30, pulse 61, feels tired, wants to lie down ; rrtry n« and then takes a long breath ; feels sad, downhearted, and much opprt»td ; peniMl inability to fix mind upon any one thing. Sleep during n. disturbed by ail fonn dreams (ver)' uncommon). 6th, — 7.-J0 a.m., 6 dr. 8, pulse 71, wary, tTtnuld easily compressed, intermits every third beat; heat and fulness in neck and t feeling of nervous excitement in whole system, mind very clear and active.

fiulse 6] ; feeling of inability to move even a finger j dry condition of (farm arynx, with hawking up of thin stringy mucus, which continued a very little «i until I p.m., when he took lunch with little appetite. 1.4.0, 8 dr. 3, tulnesjof tliofl heat and fulness of head and neck, flushed feeling of face. Pulse 98, wary, tjm lous, slightly intermitting every 4th or 5th beat. Hands and feet feel cool { ilij frontal headache; mind very clear, can remember anything he wishes. J.S'^iPi 70 J feels weak, a* though he had been working hard. +.10, inability to fix n on any subject for any length of time; throat dr>', as though full of duttj coH hawking up ot thin, viscid, stringy mucus, which was very troublesome, and ( tinued until supper at 7 p.m., after which he felt no more of it. 7th.-^.jo >. ao dr. In | h. pulse 100, with peculiar double beats which seemed to run intoc other, full but easily compressed. Heart reveals no abnormal sounds upon autcnl tion. Choking sensation in throat, with fulness and heat ^ slight frontal headad memory very clear and active. At this time there was some slight pain undrf sternum at articulation of 3rd rib, which lasted about 3 m. 8.50, felt perfectly* pulse 67, except when making ever so slight exertion, which brings on »omc piip) tion (never had this before). 9.10, dryness of mouth and fauces ; hawkuig up stringy, viscid, white mucus, which is verv persistent. 11, feeling of lamenca sorenes!. throughout whole body, as though ne had taken cold. Sth. — 8.35 a.iB.f dr. 9, pulse 90, undulating, tremulous; resp., normally 19, is a3. Exerase bril on a kind of trembling of muscles of lower extremities. 9.15, puise 83 ; DothoM sounds of heart on auscultation ; mind clear ; feeling in eyes as of being fort«d < wards ; skin cool and moist; slight pain over region of heart. 11, pul»e 65 ; fad of fulness and oppression over r, hypochondrium. 11.30, loss of strength } wiii lie down ; dizziness of back part of head, or feeling as if occiput was turning n* 1, passed, within 10 m. of each other, three very light clay-coloured stools ; pain* region of liver; appetite much diminished. 9th. — 7.40 a.m., 10 dr. In i h. pi 90 i each slight exertion causes some palpitation and dizziness ; sense of choking throat. 9, teeling generally ill, cannot remain in lecture-room ; pulse 70, iaui tent, irregular, thin, and wiry. Heat of room seemed to make him sick ; felt bed in open air. Tickling sensation in throat, with expectoration of suingy at la m., bowels felt tender and oppressed; passed thm, clay -coloured stool. 1 appetite very much diminished ; sensation in stomach and bowels as if food did digest well; sour eructations for some time after eating (quite unusual). 4t*B<' clay-coloured stool, large (bowels usually quite regular, acting once daily), running rapidly across street, palpitation for 5 m. ; but pulse did not seeni ' 9, very nervous. Took no more medicine till aotta, and bowels became re: nth onwards.

b. loth. — Took 5 dr. of tinct. at «.30 p.m. 3, pulse 77, irregular, fuU,«i mitting every 3rd— 6th beat. Auscultation reveals no abnormal sound ; but seems to be great excitement of the muscular contractions at intervals of 3 or4 after which there is a longer pause than usuaJ. Every little exertion increaio irregularity; slight dizziness in upright position, much increased on choking sensation just above thyroid cartilage ; throat feels full, as if t( enlarged. 4, pulse 61, regular, full, but easily compressed. Dry tickline in fauces, with hawking up ot stringy mucus every few minutes, extreme^ some, till 7 (this relieved by eating). 5, weak, nervous, and very irritabJ desire for some kind of stimulant j mind very dull, does not remember for i what is said in lecture-room, unless an effort is made to focus mind upon it- 10.30 a.m., 7 dr. Walked to church, and felt no effect from drug till be building, when there came on tingling and numbness, commencing in linger» hand, and gradually extending up arm. 11, pulse 80, very tremulous and

pulcations Mcnuog to run into each other ; now dull heavy aching in 1. arm, which continued till noon, when pulse was 7s and regular, 4 p.m., tenderness over r. hypochondrium. 4.15, passage of large clay-coloured stool, sand. — Very much dicturbed during n. by ludicrous dreams ; was restless, continually turning in bed. Took 17 dr. at 6.30 a.m. In i h. had to lie down on account of peculiar trembling sensation throughout body, especially lower extremities ; much pain over base of heart ; pain in r. side of head ; pulse 90 ; pain, dull and heavy, in 1. arm, commencing with tingling and numbness in tips of fingers. Mind very clear j things long forgotten present themselves with peculiar distinctness. 9, could scarcely walk to college on account of palpitation, felt all over chest; after remaining quiet for 10 m. it gradually subsided, but would appear again upon any slight exertion. Sounds of heart were found on auscultation considerably increased, especially over semilunar ▼alves. II, pulse S 5, irregular and intermittent ; dry throat, with sensation as of dust there ; troublesome hawking of stringy mucus, i a m., walking causes inde. acribable sensations under sternum, at articulation of 3rd rib ; appetite much diminished, fieeling of weakne«>. 3 p.m., fulness and distension of bowels ; tenderness over r. hypochondrium ; mental faculties dull ; slight exertion caused vertigo ^ slight nausea. 5, heart still very susceptible to slight exciting causes. 7, passage of two thin claycoloured stools in rapid succession. Felt as though he had been sick for a long time and was just recovermg.

c. During next 5 a. took 6th and loth dils. without effect. (IbU.)

1. Miss H. £. Magee, student, took 6th dil. for 5 d. without eliciting any symptoms. She then took the 4th dil. for 3 d., during which she had a severe attack of headache, watery eyes, stuffed nose, cough with soreness in chest, fever with chilliness, puffed face. Sec. ; but as influenza was epidemic at the time, she doubted if it was caused by the drug. After waiting 5 d. she began taking the Srd dil., and had on same d. at 3 p.m. dull headache, vertigo, sleepiness, fever with chilliness, frequent but scanty urination. On and d., m., dizziness so that she could not sit ; had to return to bed. On 3rd d., e., frightened mood ; feared she had taken too much of the drug ; had cold sweat on face and hands ; trembles ; dull frontal headache. 4th d. — Heavy sleep in m. ; got up feeling weak ; loss of appetite ; weariness. After waiting 5 d., took and dil. ist d. — 5 p.m., vertigo with headache ; pulse rapid ; heart beats fast, and she feeb excited, and d. — Sharp pun in head, with vertigo ; feels frightened, as though she had taken a dangerous dose ; urine excessive in quantity ; throbbing pain through temples (p.m.) } hands, feet, and dee cold and sweaty ; sleeplessness. 3rd d. — Looks ill, and feels weak and bad every way. She declined to continue the proving longer. (ibU.)

2. Dr. Samuel Jones states that he failed to make any impression on the heart by large and repeated doses, nor did the sphygmograph show any disturbance of the pulse. (Allen's £)iQrr/<;^<e(&z,v, 61.)

II. I. Dr. Sylvester relates a series of cases in which he and another had prescribed I. with excellent results, especially in cardiac hypertrophy ; where it ** does not diminish the velocity of the heart's action like digitalis, but controls its violence and sharp action, softening the pulse." No ill effects followed its use, save that it " occasionally induced giddiness, sickness, or diarrhoea } but these subsided on discontinuing its use." Doses were gr, i— iij. (Provinc. Med. and Surg. Journ., July aSth, 1847.)

III. I. a. I made an infusion with 18 gr. of the seeds to 3J of boiling water. Having secured a frog, I opened the thoracic cavity, freed heart from pericardium, and, after waiting tilfexcitement had subsided, found its beats 90 per m. Ten dr. of infusion were now injected under skin of thigh, and in 4 m. pulsations were only 65. After 8 m. they were 60, and a little irregular ; in 15 m. they had increased to 71. The contractions were very firm, forcing nearly all the blood out of the organ. In so m, from first injection ao dr. were introduced into opposite thigh, and contractions became still firmer, ventricle looking almost white during systole, and heart seeming onlyf its natural size. Pulsations, after la m., were 60 per m. ; after % m., 56. On removing heart from body, and making a section of it, no blood was to be found, save a little bettveen the columnae cameae.

h. Another fn^ was treated in the same way, and heart-beats were found to be 95. In 4 m. after injecting 15 dr. they were 80; in 8 m., 70; in 15 m., 45} in S5 m., 40, and very firm. Similar results were obtained with a other nogi}

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while in 3 counter-experiment, where no drug was given, beau fell frcMn 9J only, and heart was larger than in the other cases,

c. Into mouth of a large " bull.frog " 5'J o'" **eak tinct. were introduced, j a iyringe. Heart, on being taken out an h. afterwards, was found much contr and empty. (E. A. Gatchell, North Amer. Jouth of Hem., Feb., 1877.)