Phytolacca decandra

Volume III — Main text

PHYTOLACCA.

PAjtoUuca dtcandra, L. Poke. Nat. Ord., Phytolacctuta,

I. Prmngt. — 1. Kvuutn. (1835) proved tinct. of root, leaves, and flowers, taking 5 doses of 15 — 60 dr. Pressing pain in r. side of throat ; occasional shocks of pain in region of heart, and, as soon as this ceases, a similar pain appears in r. arm ; drawing pain in r. hand, now and then by shocks, upwards to elbow ; rheumatic pain in 1. hand, then in r. (a d.) ; in end of 1. thumb shooting like needles ^ similar sensations in legs and feet. (HsatNC, Mat. Mtd., vol. i.)

a. Geist (1835) proved tinct. of root (manner not stated). Shooting pains in r. ear, vei7 quick } disposition to bite teeth together ; mouth fills with water. {Ibid.)

1. Bauer (1835-7) observed following symptoms from triturating root, and from dilutions up to 3rd t — Vertigo with dimness of vision; dull feeling in head } dull pain in forehead; pressure in forehead after dinner, most in glabella ; pressure in temples and over eyes j heaviness in head, especially in temples ; drawing pain in r. temple } slight pain in forepart of head, with increavd sense of bearing. Sensation in eyes like that caused by horse-radish ; pressure in eyes j feeling in eyes and nose as it a cold would come on, continues all d. ; pressure around eyes in afternoon as if eyes were too large. A painless tumour which he had under 1. ear became red and painful ; a pustule benind r. ear ; a small boil behind r. ear, which appeared 4 weeks Dcfore and was healed, returned and suppurated, discharging blood and matter. Drawing sensation about root of nose ; cold in the head, r. nostril stopped during whole cL and next m. Heat in face after dinner j face turns pale } very peculiar pre^ure and tension in parotids for several d. Eruption on upper lip under nose, 1. side, forms a crust ; irresistible desire to bite teeth together ; shooting pains in molar teeth of upper and lower jaws of r. side, in one who never suffered with toothache before. Taste like nuts in mouth ; flow of saliva into mouth ; saliva yellowish, and has a metallic taste; two small ulcers on inside of r. cheek, like those caused by mer. cury, so painful that he must chew on 1. side. Unpleasant sensation of dryness in

VOL. Ill, 40

pharynx towards m., which makes him cough j roughness in pharynx ; sensation in throat like that caused by eating choke-pears. Racing appetite ; hungry soon after eating, several d. in succession; eructations with spitting or water. Cutting pain in pit of stomach and abdomen ; violent pressure in stomach on vraking in m., with accumulation of water in mouth, disappears after rising, the same next m. Violent dull pressing pain in spleen in e., so that he cannot remain in sitting posture, he lies on painful side all n., and the pain Is gone next m. Griping pain in abdomen like that before diarrhcea; griping all d. long, followed by passage of offensive flatus, the griping disappears in n.; cutting in abdomen } rumbling noise in abdomen. Hard stools; continual inclination to go to stool; 3 stools during d., first hard and preceded by griping, others with pains moving about abdomen, a d. in succession ; mushy stool. Gurgling sensation in prostate gland, repeated p.m. Hardness of a gland r. side of neck ; sensation of weight and pressure on both shoulder-blades as after carrying heavy loads, lasting several d. ; a lasting pain on 1. shoulder-blade, as if from a blow } occasional sensation as if a small piece of cold iron was pressed on the painful shoulder-blade ; painful boil on 1. side of back. Slight drawing pains in r. upper arm ^ rheumatic drawing in r. forearm, — in 1. along ulna, and same sensation in r. leg ; rheumatic feeling in r. little finger, very annoying when writing ; shooting in finger-joints, sometimes one hand, sometimes the other ; occasional frequent sudden pricking in points of fingers as if from electric sparks. Rheumatic feeling in 1. knee, with sensation of shortening of tendons behind knee when walking; heaviness in knee-joints, tired from a little walk; pain in spot on balls of toes of r. foot, which had been frostbitten years before, ana in a com never painful before ; free sweating of feet, most under toes ; heaviness in lower extremities as if they were asleep, p.m. Drowsiness ; restless sleep at n., he lies on his stomach. {Ihk)

1. Jeanes (1846) took IX — 4x dil. of a tinct. from root, leaves, and blossoms, 4 dr. on sugar at 1 p.m. (how often repeated is not stated). Aching pains through. out head} pain in 1. region of "combativeness;" pain in 1. temple, followed by burning in skin in 1. region of " time." Increased long-sightedness ; aiter discontinuing medicine was less long-sighted than before ; great dimness of sight for several d. i smarting in 1. eye ; sandy feeling in eyes ; itching at internal canthi, very severe, which caused application of finger to rub the eye, ball very painful from the slight

f>ressure ; pain just above eyebrows, with sickness of stomach, pain increased by looking down and by stooping. Irritation extending from posterior fauces into one Eustachian tube. Taste bitter at first, but leaving slight feeling of smarting and coldness towards tip of tongue. General soreness in posterior fauces, and apparent extension into one of Eustachian tubes ; great dryness of throat. Eructation of flatus ; feeling of sickness as if he would vomit. Pain in region of pylorus. Tick* ling in 1. side of larynx with hacking cough, aching pain in r. breast, and great dryness of throat. Pain throughout muscles of 1. shoulder ; pain at humeral insertion of I. deltoid. (/Ai^.)»

1. E. M. Smith. (Manner of proving unknown.) Dull, steady, aching pain, principally in forehead; shooting pain in top of head, which passes off and returns at intervals; heavy aching pain about forehead after dinner. Photophobia in m. $ burning and smarting in I. eye, with great flow of tears ; sensation as if a grain of sand lodged under 1. eyelid, causing now of tears from that eye, lasting 15 d.; soreness on closing cyeltdH ; flow of tears from eyes all the time, relieved in open air ; reddish. blue swelling of eyelids, worse on 1. side and in m., cannot shut eye without pain whole forenoon, better p.m.; agglutination of eyelids during n. j many sym.

Stoms of eyes felt a month after taking medicine, especially on shutting lids at n. A ow of liquid mucus from one nostril while other is stopped, as in coiyza. Tenderness and heat in roof of mouth and on tongue. Throat f^ecls dry and sor«, especially while swallowing, p.m. ; dryness of throat on going to bed ; soreness of throat, and sensation when swallowing saliva as if a lump had formed there — same sensation felt on turning head to 1. side; sore. throat and swelling of uvula in m., with thick white and yellow mucus about fauces, after removal of which throat felt better, and still better after breakfast. Appetite not so good as usual. Pain in r. chest, so bad after

• This and the four following provlngs appeared originally in the and vol, of the Trans, of the Amer. Institute of HonKxapathy,

midnight as to prevent sleep, worse by lying on r. side, after getting up in m. it passea off almost entirely ; pain in r. sicfe of chest, in region of nipple, passing through to back, felt on deep inspiration and on bending shoulder backwards, better p.in. Stiffness in r. side of neck, worse in bed after midnight. {Ibid.)

1. Neidhard took 10 dr. of lox dil. Increased cheerfulness of mind. Slight pain in tuberosities of forehead. Catarrhal inflammation of eyes j coryza and cough, with redness of eyes and lachrymation, photophobia, feeling or sand in eyes, with soreness and burning, Dryness in throat, worse m. and e. (ihid.)

2. Williamson. (Manner of proving unknown.) One*sided headache ; pain in region of " time " and " mirthfulness," r. side ; shooting pain from 1. eye to top ot bead; sore pain over head, worse on r. side and in damp weather, as if attack of sick headache were impending ; sensation of soreness in interior of head, deep in brainy headache from walking; moving, transitory pains in various parts of head, almost constant for 10 d., generally one side at a time, but more frequently and most severe on r. side. Smarting in internal canthi of both eyes, but worse in 1., and much aggravated by gas-light in e. ; aching pain along lower half of orbit. Pain in both ears, worse in r. Discharge of mucus from one nostril at a time, sometimes one, sometimes the other. Heat and redness about face and head, with sense of fulness, coldness of feet at same time. Dryness of palate in m. ; sensation of dryness of spot in fauces 1. side, in m.,till after breaklbst j dryness of throat, worse in m. The usual appetite remaining, notwithstanding nausea of stomach. Sickly feeling in stomach j sickness of stomach, accompanying headache ; nausea on waking from sleep at n. Digging pain in r. hypochondrium, in upper and outer portion of liver, preventing motion, at a p.m. and every m. before daylight for 10 a. afterwards, some soreness remaining p.m. and e. j cannot lie on 1. side after midnight on account of penetrating

f>ain in r. hypochondrium. Boring pain p.m. to 1. and a little above umbilicus, asting but few m. ; deep-seated but not severe pain in 1. iliac region. Diarrhcea, attended with sickly feeling in bowels, but no tormina or tenesmus, evidently kept up by increased action of liver and redundancy of bile, copious discharges of bile from bowels. Dry bronchial cough, with sensation of roughness and slight increase of beat in trachea and bronchi. Rheumatic pain in r. knee p.m., increasing in open air and especially on a damp d. ; coldness of feet, with increase of the capiUary circulation about face and heaa. (Ibid.)

1. Kitchen took 4 dr. of i^ Jan. 6th and 10 dr. on 7th ; 10 dr. of ax on loth and 40 dr. on aoth. Painful pressure on forehead and upper parts of eyes; slight constriction across forehead i slight fulness of forehead with constant gaping j neuralgic pain in 1. groin ; in middle of n. neuralgic pain shooting from anus and lower rectum along perinaeum to middle of penis, followed in a few m. by same in r. big toe; constrictive feeling at pntcordia, with pressure on temples; lancinating pains in 1, little and ring fingers; neuralgic pain in outer part of r. thigh. {Ibid,)

2. Rhebs. (Manner of proving unknown.*) On waking in m. sense of entire indifference to life and disgust for business of d. ; pain in vertex and sensation as if brain were bruised, when stepping from a high step to ground ; sense of obstruction in 1. Eustachian tube, with rushing sound in ear of same side and feeling as if hearing were dull (whereas it is fully sensitive) ; total obstruction of nose, only when riding, obliging breathing through mouth, not relieved by blowing nose; pit of stomach tender to touch ; tenderness of muscles of chest, as if they were bruised; dull aching and tenderness along top of r. shoulder, along upper edge of trapezius, increasing by pressure and by contracting muscle ; dull aching and excessive tenderness, as from a bruise, in outer muscles of r. upper arm, most severe about 1 In. above elbow, felt particularly on pressure and during; extension of arm, — in I. tenderness at corresponding spot, similarly excited ; twitching and fluttering in muscles of r. upper arm, while limb rests on a table. (Ilnd.)

3. Dr. Burt proved both P. and its "concentrated preparation'* phytolaccin, but in manner unknown. The following results are • In Hering's chronological list of sources we have " 1835-7, Bauer, C. Bering;" and in the information he gives as to provers, &c., " C. Bering proved the tincture from the root." In the actual pathogenesis, however, we have no symptoms from him, but there are a number from Rhees, who is not mentioned in the above lists. Possibly, therefore, Hering may have proved on his person (see Alumen, I, a).

reported , — Dull heavy frontal headache (a constant symptom) ; sharp shooting pain in r. temple. Great smarting in eyes and lids (constant) ; dull heavy aching pains in eyeballs, aggravated by motion, light, and especially by reading ; sensation as if there was a feather over the light ; lids agglutinated every m. Tongue feels rough, with blisters on both sides, and very red tip ; great pain in root of tongue when swallowing; teeth all ache and are very sore, and feel elongated ; metallic taste in mouth. Great dryness of throat ; roughness in pharynx (constant) ; sensation as of a lump, as if something had lodged, in throat, causing constant inclination to swallow \ ^great congestion and swelling of soft palate and tonsils, r. tonsil half as large again as I., and both very dark red ; great heat from fauces down oesophagus j constant choking sen* sation, and so much pain for 2 d. that he could only swallow liquids. Eructations of air, or of some fluid j great distress in stomach and bowels ; pains at cardiac end of stomach, aggravated by full inspiration and by walking ; nausea with very faint feeling, with severe pain in umbilical region ; slight nausea with profuse and easy vomitings followed by much prostration. Constant dull pain in umbilical region, worse by motion, severe colicky pains there, or burning distress ; abdomen very tender on pressure, and pains severely on walking; stools of various kinds, sometimes with straining; pain in 1. hypochondrium when walking j hiccup wth great inclination to vomit- Urine at first diminished, afterwards increased ; it remained acid, but became decidedly albuminous, with increased sp. gr. ; bottle containing it became lined with white deposit, about j\ in. thick. Severe pains between scapulx when walking; constant dull heavy pain in lumbo-sacral region, aggravated by motion ; back stiff every m. Arms ache ; ends of fingers all throb and ache, as if they were going to suppurate (for 3 d.) ; legs ache and feel very stiff about knees, worse on walking, which he did with difficulty. (Hale, A^tw Rfmedus, 2nd ed.)

II. a. Aug. 15th, 1864, Dr. H. B. Fellows put 10 dr. of saturated tinct. of dry root in ^'j (^f water, and took a tenth part about 1 h. before dinner. Slight fulness in throat was only symptom experienced. 16th. — Swallowed about twice as much of same preparation about 1 h. before breakfast. Again fulness of fauces and upper larynx, with sensation as of a lid there, which lasted till after noon. 17th. — Put 3 dr. into 3j of water, and took half about li a.m. Some fulness followed, with disposition to hawk; whilst riding, i^ h. later, aching in pyloric region, gradually working up into chest of same side. During n. very restless, though suffering no pain ; could not get to sleep till late. 18th. — During forenoon severe headache, which began soon L after breakfast, sometimes in whole head, sometimes in temples or f occiput only, when in temples accompanied by slight vertigo. Walking or riding increased it, walking most. L. shoulder ached for some tinne about noon ; towards e., whilst riding, laming pain began in I. back, below scapula, which by 9.30 had reached spine, and was pricking and stitching. In n. woke with lameness in I. side, near heart, with much nervous restlessness; could not get to sleep again for a long while; lameness was felt whenever he moved, and especially during expiration.

These pains in chest appeared occasionally for some time after. During proving, mind was gloomy and more than usually irritable.

b. Kov. 4th, took 12 pellets of 1st dil. (from green root) at 11.30 a.m. In a few m., smarting in fauces. At 5 p.m. headache in vertex, beginning while riding, motion increased pain and caused vertigo, pain lasted till he went to sleep at n. ; forearms ached after going to bed, pain seemed in bones, and was uninfluenced by position. 5th. — Stinging pain in I. instep, relieved by pressure. 6th, — About 1 1 a.m. feeling of weight in head and vertigo began ; heavy feeling extended down through shoulders and chest, and later in d. through legs. 7th. — Took 15 pelletsof sameat 10 a.m. While riding in forenoon sense of plug in throat, not relieved by hawking, later replaced by increased discharge of mucus from posterior nares, which was tenacious, and continually excited disposition to expel it. i p.m., striking pain in ball of 1. foot for about ^ h., then heavy aching in head, with vertigo and indisposition to mental exertion. From noon till n. feeling of general lassitude.

c. X4th. — Since last date sticking stinging pains in various parts of extremities, from without inwards, but not very deep. Took 8 dr. o! 1st dil. at 9.45 a.m.,and started on ride immediately afterwards. Soon heaviness of head came on, accompanied by feeling at back of tongue as if burnt, sensation of throat being so full that it felt choked, followed by much hawking and raising of mucus. Sense of fulness and as if something had lodged on 1. side of throat came on after bending head forward in writing, and was aggravated by turning it to 1. Regurgitation of food through e. and until I went to sleep ; feeling of weakness at stomach, causing frequent yawning, attended by stitching pain through part. Itching on 1. calf, afterwards on r., with, later, a lichenoid eruption. Itching lasted 2 — 3 weeks, always worse first part of n. {IbU,)

1. Dr. A. V. Marshall, in perfect health, pulse 80, took tinct., I o dr. at 9 a.m., 20 at 1 1 , 30 at 1 2, and 60 at 2 and 9. After 2 o'clock dose felt dryness of larynx, and sensation as if trachea was strongly grasped. These feelings grew worse in e., and after last dose there was added heaviness at top of head. On 2nd d. awoke with stiffness about neck, tonsils sore and somewhat swollen, profuse saliva, dryness in trachea, dry cough. Took 5SS at 8 a.m., 5iij at 3, and 5iv at 6 p.m. After 2nd dose pressure at top of head, lasting an h. After 3rd, headache, very dry cough, sense of dryness in Tower trachea and upper bronchi, redness and soreness of throat, tonsils swollen } pulse 84, at which rate it continued throughout proving, 3rd d. — At 6 took 5iii, and at II a.m. 5iv. Slight headache all d. ; dryness of. trachea, dry cough, without relief i heat in stomach after taking drug ; at noon sharp pains running up each spermatic cord ; profuse saliva each d. 4th d. — Took 5iij at 8 a.m., 3iv at 12 and 2. In m. hard grinding pain shooting up both spermatic cords ; for last 2 d. urine double in quantity and clear as water ; throat dry, sore, rough, and red all the time ; hoarseness at times but not continually ; saliva profuse ', metallic taste in mouth ; cough dry, with but little expectoration. 5th d. — Took 5tv at 7 a.m., 5iii at 2 p.m. Same symptoms as yesterday. 6tb d. —

Symptoms declining. Continued soreness of spermatic cords, instead of paroxysmal pains experienced on preceding days. A white coating on tongue, which appeared 3rd d., still persists. 7th d. — No trace of drug disease remaining. {Ibid.)

1. Dr. E. CooLEY took, March 1st, 1869, at 4 p.m., 5 gr. of powdered root. 6, pain and pressure in temples, pain and suffocating feeling in throat and lungs j cough, with expectoration of tough mucus. 8, severe pain in temples \ much coryza j feeling in throat as though it was burned ; severe pain in r. lung ; feeling as though he were breathing through a sponge ; almost constant expectoration of tough mucus. Restless through n., with pains in knees, arms, and chest ; pain in forehead and temples very severe, with feeling of lassitude, 2nd. — 7 a.m., felt sore all over, from head to foot ; pain in temples and forehead, in lungs, and in transverse colon ; pulse hard and full. 1 1, all symptoms, save pain in bowels, somewhat aggravated ; pain in back of neck, running down spine, in upper jaw, and in teeth. 3 p.m., pressure in head, as if it would buriit ; rheumatic feelin? in all joints ; pulse 110, full but soft i slight nausea most of the time. By 10 most of the symptoms were subsiding. 3rd. — At 8 a.m., 10 gr. 11, pain in temples with pressure outwards j pain and suft'ocation in lungs, throat, and fauces; severe coryza ; pain in upper jaw and I. lung; heat in head with slight dizziness and nausea ; tongue coated yellow and dry -, pain in loins and diminished urine. From this point symptoms began to abate. (Tram. ofN. T. State Horn, Med. Soc, 1870, p. 332.)

2. Dr. W. M. Williamson, Nov. 26th, 1870, about 5 p.m., chewed and swallowed juice of a small piece of fresh fleshy root. 5.30J general disturbed feeling in stomach, with dulness of head, increasing till 6.30. Went home, feeling better immediately upon going into open air. On then sitting down to tea unpleasant feelings in head and stomach returned, and he could cat nothing. 8.1$, these symptoms nearly gone ; dry sensation in upper pharynx ; disposition to hawk and clear throat, without affording relief j sensation in r. nostril as if tickled with a stiff feather. 27th. — g a.m., dryness and hawking continue, several small pieces of tough sticky mucus raised ; smarting and stinging in nostril. After riding, 10 — 1, in an open carriage sensations in throat and nose almost entirely gone, but they returned after being in a wajm room about 2 h. Had 3 natural stools this d., very unusual. 28th. — All symptoms gone. {Trans, of Penns, Horn. Med. Soc.y 1870-I, p. 179.)

II. Poisonings. — 1. Dr. W. VVarren chewed 3 or 4 gr. of a freshly gathered root about 3 p.m., and another gr. or two an h. later, swallowing only the juice. At 4.30 felt dull pressing pain in forehead, with slight nausea, cool sweat on forehead, and sense of weakness. Took a meal with usual appetite. Nausea and headache, somewhat relieved by eating, soon returned with increased severity, and at 5.35 he began to vomit ingesta at intervals of 10 — 15 m. Nausea hereby relieved, but pain in forehead increased j dull bruised pain in occiput;

constant flow from mouth of thick.

ropy, tenacious sahva.

6.20,

vomited an acrid substance, which caused sense of scraping and excoriation in throat ; cool perspiration, especially on forehead and

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^ands; great muscular debility and lassitude, with desire to He down. 7, continued acrid vomiting, in intervals empty retching ; muscular weakness increasing j dull pain through whole head ; rawness in throat ; all symptoms worse on motion and in open air save headache, which air relieved. 7>35) same ; vertigo and dimness of vision set in, and increased ; warm water and coffee were both rejected. Went to bed, which relieved all symptoms save sore-throat and salivation ; sleep restless, disturbed during first half of n. by scraping and tickling in throat, which occasioned frequent disposition to cough. Next m. lassitude and indisposition to move j sense of rawness and scraping in throat and tonsils, as if something were lodged at root of tongue ; feeling of intoxication and weakness on rising and moving about ; appetite at breakfast fair, all symptoms relieved by eating. His countenance looked sickly ; sclerotics and face of dark yellow colour ; bruised and sore feeling at pit of stomach, with pain there. He gradually improved, and by 4th d. was quite well. [N, Y. Trans., 1865, p. 324.)

1. Dr. Bahrenburg ate small portion of root, about size of cherry, and gave some to several friends, about noon. Soon after, all who had eaten it began to vomit. Matter ejected was first aliment and then a dark bilious substance, which came away freely. Purging now set in, and continued, with considerable griping and cramps, all p.m., vomiting also occurring every 15 — 20 m. Towards c. all were confined to bed i extremities cold, pulse very low, eyes deeply sunk in orbits, vomiting and purging still continuing. Some black cofire was taken, and after this vomiting ceased, but purging (painless) continued. All passed a restless n., with some fever and considerable thirst ; but next m, all dangerous symptoms had passed off. They felt very'weak, especially in abdomen, with little or no appetite, for several d., during which the diarrhoea continued. (Hale, op. cit.)

2. Feb. 19th, 1865, at 8 a.m. 1 was called to a deaf and dumb boy, 3Ct, 6, who had swallowed an h. or so previously i — 2 drachms of tJnct. of P. His extremities were stiff, hands firmly closed, feet extended and toes flexed ; eyes bleared and dancing; pupils contracted; lower lip drawn down ; teeth clenched ; general muscular rigidity and opisthotonos i pulse 85, soft ; breathing difficult and oppressed, mucous rales audible throughout room. A messenger was despatched for copping case and mustard. During his absence (i h.) muscular rigidity increased generally j chin was intermittently drawn down to sternum and relaxed again. Cold had been applied to scalp; and he was now cupped freely over temples and upper spine, with sinapism on neck and sternum, a stream of water being allowed to flow gently upon head. After an h. of this symptoms began to abate, and by noon jaws had so relaxed that he could drink a cup of milk. He then slept 20 — 25 m. ; on waking, slight jerking and twitching of muscles, especially of legs. He made signs mdicating pain in back of head and stomach. Cold water applications were continued, and at 4 he again fell asleep, and remained so for i\. The distressing symptoms had now almost disappeared, and next m. he was up and frolicsome, though sore and somewhat stiffened. There was no vomiting or purging, and urine was retained for 10 h. (Griggs, in Ibid,) ,

3. I was called, Sept, 25th, 1865, to see a boy of 8, suffering intensely, from cause unknown. I found him in great agony, saying that his stomach was " pinched together ; " there was nausea and violent vomiting. He acknowledged to having eaten a number of poke-berries, and their seeds and skin were found in the egcsta. His throat felt sore and dry ; fauces were congested and of dark colour, tonsils a little swollen. After vomiting ceased he had severe purging; stools were dark brown, and thin ; there was severe pain in stomach on pressure, causing him to cry out. Vomiting and purging stopped ^^ ^ h. after my seeing him. He afterwards complained of slight 2uusea;^H burning griping pains in umbilical region ', dimness of vision ; tongue ^^f coated white, and spasmodic jerklngs of arms and tegs. He was put to bed and slept well during n., and next m. was well as ever. (C. H. Lee, in /^V.)

4. a. A woman, xt. 45, sanguine and robust, had had good health till a year ago, when she was laid up with rheumatism, followed by anasarca^ Sec. She was ill several months, but finally recovered, resumed active duties, and was to all appearance well save for a slight pain in r. hip. A month later I was called to sec her, and found her suffering intensely with pains in the joints, and in the bones of face and head, — suffering from which was so intense that she had not slept for nights. In addition, she was covered from scalp to soles with an eruption the like of which I never beheld. It consisted of erythematous blotches, of irregular shape, slightly elevated, of a pale red or pink colour, very sore and painful, itching slightly only on desquamation, but too sore to allow of any scratching for relief, and terminating in a dark red or purple spot, — taking about 30 d. for each spot to pass through its stages, and the same time for the whole to advance from head to feet, so that it could be seen at one place or other in all stages of its development. There was no fever, or swelling save in face, and appetite was good. On examination 1 found '* nodes*' at the painful spots. Syphilis was absolutely excluded, and no mercury had been taken ; but inquiry elicited the fact that about a month before she had been induced to lake a ** blood-purifying remedy," consisting of a pint of whiskey with 3 oz. of poke-root in it. Of this she had taken a '* swallow " three limes a d. until I was called.

if. I made her discontinue the drug, and gave mercurius solubiJis, 3X Irit., which relieved the sleeplessness at once and finally also the pains. The eruption, however, grew worse rather than better, and even invaded the conjunctiva and the mucous membrane of nose and mouth. After 3 mo. it had left the external surface, but was visible on fauces and pharynx. (Grasmuck, in IM., 4th cd., vol. i. Dr. G— mentions that in a similar case a severe rheumatism of I. shoulder was induced, but gives no particulars.)

1. A family, consisting of father, mother, and three girls of 6 — 12, were poisoned by eating poke-root grated with horse-radish. The following symptoms were observed :— Dread of movement ; dulncss, giddiness, and vertigo; semi-stupor, falls asleep immediately after a paroxysm of cramping has ceased ; pains in forehead, worse after catmgj sense of soreness in interior of head j headache with sickness at

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stomach, coldness in head j pallor of face, which looked blue and suffering ; dryness of fauces ; throat very dry, rough, and sore, with feeling of a lump therein ; constant thirst ; violent vomiting of clotted blood and slime, with retching, intense pain, and desire for death to relieve ; violent cramps, vomiting, coldness, and diarrhoea, with most intense distress at stomach (J h.) ; cutting, tearing, straining pains in stomach, followed by soreness to pressure ; griping in abdomen, as before and after diarrhoea ; bearing-down pains ; continued inclination Co go to stool, with much straining; diarrhoea with sickly feeling in bowels ; copious discharges of blood, mucus, and what looked like scrapings of intestines ; involuntary stools, from straining, which continued even in sleep ; weakness, pain and soreness in region of kidneys ; straining to pass water ; involuntary straining and haemorrhage per vaginam ; uterine pains, returning at intervals for 2 d., uterus could be felt contracting under hand (woman was in 7th mo. of pregnancy, and came near having a miscarriage) ; intense griping pain in small of back ; cramps in lower extremities, muscles gathered into great knots, hard and rigid, coming and going suddenly, followed by drowsiness and stupor, even full sleep, muscles left flaccid and sore ; great coldness and withered appearance of extremities, they felt like those of a corpse ; whole body cold. ( W. L. Gilmav, in Hering.)

1. A medical man dug up, in season for obtaining it, a root as large as his fist, and on his return began slicing it up. Being interrupted by a call, it was 2 h. ere he had finished job. In course of another h. eyes became much in^amed, and tears flowed continually , they were relieved by going into open air. He also felt general weakness and discomfort. Next m. eyes were agglutinated and cedematous, as if poisoned ; and he had fluent coryza. This state of eyes and nose lasted about 2 d. After it had passed off^ he had a diarrhoea which recurred 3 m. The dejections were very abundant, and did not cease until they became almost watery; they came on at i — 2 a.m., and lasted until after breakfast ; flatus was abundant. There was no loss

of appetite and no pain. (Besides inhaling emanations. Dr. took,

a few dr. from macerating jar before much of the virtue had been extracted.) (Hale, 2nd cd.)

1. A druggist pulverised dry root. Soon after he felt burning sensation in nose; then dryness of throat, soon becoming soreness 5 thin, watery discharge from nostrils, increasing till nose became stuffed ; headache, commencing in frontal region and extending back ; dysphagia, even for water, every attempt to swallow was attended with excruciating shooting pains through both ears; saliva increased ; difficulty of breathing, inability to breathe through nostrils ; pulse over lOOj vertigo. Dyspnoea being so great, he took 5J of sweet spirits of nitre with Jij of liq. ammonise acetatis, which so relieved him that in i h. nearly all the symptoms had vanished. (J. Lester Keep, M.D., in Ihid.)

2. Last month I was called to attend ten young women who were all employed in one of our wholesale drug houses. They were engaged in packing the ground or powdered drugs. For some d. past a largc^ quantity of poke-root was ground up — the fine dust filling the room

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and being inhaled by the girls. They all presented the same symptoms, with but slight variation : — Intense headache ; eyes much inflamed, red, with flow of hot tears j throat red, tonsils swollen, painful to swallow i constant irritated feeling in throat, producing desire to cough, worse from exposure to cold air and better in the warm room and after going to bed ; tendency for the cough to produce nausea; nose sore, with profuse acrid watery discharge ; no appetite ; food inclined to produce pain in stomach ; tongue much coated and feels as if scalded ; slight diarrhoea in two cases, in others no special effect on bowels j menses suppressed in 4 cases, it had never been delayed before with them. The irritation of trachea and larynx persisted in some of the cases for lo d., but in the others lasted only until 7th d. (Dr. W. St. Johk Harris ; communicated.)

in. Experiminti on animals. — 1. When given to animals in large doses it produces vomiting, purging, bloody stools, perspiration, drowsiness or stupor, cough, tremors, convulsive movements, increased urination, and distension of abdomen. The flesh of wild pigeons and other birds which eat the berries acquires a highly red colour and disagreeable flavour, and is destitute of adipose substance. (Schultx, in Hering.)

1. Dr. Burt experimented on animals — manner not stated. Effects mentioned as observed are — many convulsive symptoms ; nausea and violent vomiting i vomiting of worms, P,M.^ trachea and lungs filled with mucus \ stomach highly congested at base, as also colon and rectum, liver and kidneys. (Hale, op, cit.y 1st ed.)

Volume IV — Appendix

PHYTOLACCA. (See vol. iii, p. 615.)

II. 10. On Dec. lOth, 1889, I was engaged in cleaning, scrapi and slicing some fresh roots of Ph., preparatory to making a tii with them. While doing so I happened to touch — about 2 p.m.— lower r. eyelid with a finger damp from the moistened root. Aboc my eye began to feel *'^ sandy " when I winked j then tears began flow ; and on looking into a glass I found that the eye was quite I About 5 I had to go out, but the cold air did not increase the lad mation, and sight was not affected. All c. was unable to read for flow of tears ; there was no pain, but sense as of sticks or sand-pa in eye. Slept well, but on awaking next m. could not open eye account of agglutination of lids. Conjunctivitis was greater than previous e. ; sight was good, but on looking at electric lamps in c. i on their upper right-hand quadrant a brilliant carmine spot, or ball,: about -jlj- of the whole circle.

A repetition of the experiment, performed with the utmost lig ness of touch, resulted in same conjunctivitis and lachrymaiion,! minus the optical phenomenon. (N. Irving Thayer, Ajiut. June, 1890.)