Viburnum opulus

Volume IV — Main text

VIBURNUM.

Vihurnum ofulus, L. Guelder rose, high cranberry. Nat. Ord., CapriftRaa^

I. Provingi. — I. Dr. H. C. Allen took, July 6ih, 1879, lodr.of tinct.* 3 times ; on 7th, 15 dr. twice ; on 8th, 15, 20, and 25 dr. j on 9th, 50 dr.; on I2th, 100 and 50 dr. From March loth, 1881, took 10 dr. of 30X every m. for a week. — Confused, and unable to concentrate mind on usual mental labour. Dull frontal headache ; dull, throbbing, frontal headache, extending to eyeballs, aggravated by mental exertion, and relieved by moving about. Severe stitching darting pain in I. hypochondrium, deep-seated as if in spleen, with sensation as if some hot fluid were running through splenic vessels, relieved by walking about room fe. of 3rd d.) ; intense pain in region of spleen, producing faintness, relieved by perspiration ; severe throbbing pain under floating ribs of 1. side, relieved by hard pressure and walking about room (i 1 p.m. of July 8th till 3 a.m. of 9th) ; violent throbbing in 1, hypochondrium if he attempted to lie on 1. side, could not lie on I. side at all ; most intense pain in 1. lumbar region between floating ribs and wing of ilium, — pressure relieved its intensity, but be must keep continually moving; pain in I. lumbar and I. hypochondriac regions, so intense as to produce faintness, and, though n. was cool, a warm perspiration broke out all over body, giving relief (from ^otb, after several doses). After 3rd d. of first proving, stool was small, drr, and composed of hard round b.ills, evacuated with much effort, and for over 3 weeks after drug was discontinued there was great inactivity of rectum, and no inclination for stool ; for 2 mos. after second proving a similar condition obtained, — stool being so large, dry, and difficult that

• Prepared from inner bark of shrub and bark of rootn.

mechanical assistance was often necessary to effect (a painful) expulsion. On 3rd d. profuse flow of clear watery urine every h., p.m. ; at n. also urine profuse and pale, sp. gr. 1021 ; same condition m. of 4th d., sp. gr. 1019. Tired, bruised pain in muscles of back, extending from point of scapula to wing of ilium on each side of spine, relieved by firm pressure. Wandering tired pains in muscles of back, worse on I. side ; same, extending to hips and knees, with disinclination to move about. Restless and unrefreshing sleep. Muscles of entire 1. side of body sore, as from bruising or over-straining. Inability to lie on I. side during entire proving. {Trans, of Amer. Inst., 1881, p. 160.)

2." a. Miss L. F. W — took 10 dr. July loth at 3 p.m., and on i ith repeated dose 3 times. — Stupid feeling on waking in m., as if she could not tell where she was or what to do. Dull throbbing headache all e., so severe on retiring that she felt ill all over. Sore feeling in eyeballs } heaviness over eyes and in eyeballs, so severe that at times she had to look twice to be sure of seeing an object. Sharp jerking pains in ears like stabbings with a sharp knife, lasting nearly an h. (ist d.). Deathly sick feeling at stomach as if she could not live, not relieved by any position, — this occurred every n. for several d. Rumbling darting pains in bowels ; cramping colic pains in lower abdomen during menstruation, pains coming on suddenly and with terrible severity (never had anything like it before), felt as if breath would leave her body and heart cease beating. Diarrhoea during menstruation, profuse, watery, 4 or 5 stools in an h., accompanied by terrible chills, cold sweat running off forehead. Flow (menses) ceased entirely for several h., then came in four large clots, colour of raw beef and solid as liver. Strange buzzing {sic) feeling in hands as if they would burst. Tired in m. on rising.

b. After an interval she took 10 dr. of 30th n. and m. for 3 — ^4 d. with similar results. It produced same deathly sickness at stomach, worse at n., and cramping pains in hypogastrium as if going to be unwell.* {Ibid.)

1. Miss £. A. C — took 10 dr. of l, e. of May 21st ; same m. and e. 2and — 25th ;. and 20 dr. m. and e. 26th — 28th. — Whole abdomen tender and sensitive to pressure, especially about umbilicus ; bearingdown pains in abdomen as during menstruation, with heavy aching in sacrum and over pubes, accompanied by drawing pains in anterior muscles of thighs, and occasional sharp shooting pains in ovarian regions (on 27th), — this recurred next d. after 3 p.m., and again 3 d. after discontinuing drug, with great nervousness, she could not sit or lie still more than a few m. at a time on account of the pain, therewith a flow just like menses lasting 2 d.f During proving an irregularity of pulse — remission every 3rd beat, of which she had felt nothing for 6 mo., returned. {Ibid.)

2. Miss E. M. S — took 10 dr. of 30, dil. every m. for a week. It caused uneasy sensation in pelvic region and slight bearing-down pains

• This last symptom occurred, chiefly at n., in four young lady provers, who declined to experiment further on account of severity oF pains. — H. C. A.

f Pronng had begun at mid>menstrual period, so that this flow anticipated next period by 4 d.

ail the time; also pain in back, loins, and lower abdomen — "across her " — as if menses were coming on, worse in early e. and in a clow room, ameliorated by open air and moving about. Catamenia occurred during following week, and she was entirely free from the pain and uneasiness customary at her period. {Ibid.)

1. Miss E. E. B — from Jan. 7th took 20 dr. of linct. m. and c. for 4 d., without eftect. From 26th she took 2odr. of 30, dil. in m. for 5d. — Dull heavy headache, mostly over eyes, worse on 1. side, at times extending to vertex and occiput, aggravated by a sudden jar or false step, or by bending over (during delay of menses) ; severe pain in L parietal region, pain sharp and penetrating into brain, aggravated by coughing, by moving head, and when bowels act. Eyes heavy ; feeb almost ill enough to go to bed. On ist and several subsequent n. awoke with great pain in ears, deep in bone, external ear sore as if bruised ; would have to rub ear, and felt as if she must straighten it, — sensation being as if it were pinned to head ; she could not lie on affected side, but after lying on other would be wakened with similar feeling in that ear, and was compelled to change position many times during n. in consequence. Menses delayed 10 d. ; when flow appeared it was scanty, thin, and pale, and continued but a few b., attended widi sensation of tightness of head and nausea, so that she must lie down, when she attempted to sit up she would faint ; these last symptoms continued for 10 d. after menses ceased, there was sense of emptiness in stomach accompanying, and they were temporarily relieved by eating ; there was thin yellowish-white leucorrhcca for 2 d. following ; and subsequently leucorrhcca occurred — thin, colourless save after every evacuation of bowels, when it was thick, white, and blood-3treake<>. Constipation during entire proving, with great tenesmus ; when bovck moved, pain felt in I. orbital region. During menses, obliged every h. or two to urinate, passing at each lime large quantities of clear, lightcoloured urine. Neck stiff for several d., with pain in occiput Sleepiness after dinner. {Ibid.)

2. S. E. BuRCHFlELD, April 7th, took 5 dr. of i, dil. ; on l8fh 10 dr. m. and afternoon, 15 dr. e. ; on igth 15 dr. twice. — Slight frontal headache (forenoon) ; vertigo, with inclination to turn to 1.; severe pressive pain in r. supra-orbital region (in an h.) ; finally, a severt frontal headache with occasional vertigo set in, continuing severe for 6 — 7 d., almost incapacitating for study, and accompanied by profuse and frequent urination (this diuresis seems to have begun even before the headache set in). [Ibid.)

3. H. K. Brasted took 10 dr. of i, each d. for 4 d. ; three weeks later took 20 dr. once. — Profuse discharge of watery urine, repeated quite regularly every h,, p.m. and e. of 3rd d, ; on 4th d. after each micturition was a constant sensation as if urine continued to flow. Severe pain and swelling of epididymis and testicle of 1. side ; next d. epididymis of r. side so painful and swollen that he was obliged to use a suspensory bandage.* Severe pain in renal region, relieved by pre«s-

• Prover had been subject to attacks of epididymitis from cold or violent exercise, but on tlii& occasion had been expoKd to neither. — H. C. A.

ing across back with arms crossed ; felt again next d., but less severely (without repeating dose). {Ibid.)

1. H. C. Kassblmann, Feb. 27th, took 20 dr. of ix in e. ; 28th, took same m. and e. ; March ist — 4th, same. — Dull aching over 1. eye ; headache beginning about 3 p.m., worse at n. Dizzy feeling all the time ; vertigo on rising from seat, feels as though he would fall forwards ; vertigo on closing eyes, p.m. Eyes burn, can hardly see on account of profuse lachrymation (3rd d.). Aching in stomach, p.m., relieved by stretching body and throwing stomach forwards. Constipation ; stool long. Targe, hard, and difficult to expel ; has desire to evacuate, but when attempting feels as though there were nothing there, and evacuation occurs slowly, and only after long straining. {Ibid.)

2. J. F. Flikt, Dec. 13th, took 15 dr. of tinct. m. and e. ; from 15th took same in m. for 4 d. consecutively. — Obstinate constipation, desire for stool with much straining (3ra d.) ; stool large, hard, and when passed attended with cutting sensation in rectum and anus, — during and immediately after stool profuse haemorrhage of dark red blood (4th d.) ; no stool on 5th d. ; on 6th stool hard, dry, with blood and great soreness of anus ; on 8th d. scanty and hard, with haemorrhage, and sensation of constriction of rectum and anus. {Ibid.)

3. M. Collin took in several doses ^ss of ix dil. — Constipation ; there was urging to stool as if it would be dangerous to postpone, but stool was large and difficult to pass. {Ibid.)

1 1. R. H. Beal tool 5ss of 30th in two weeks. — Severe dull frontal headache. Profuse discharge of clear watery urine for several d. in succession, sp.gr. low. {Ibid.)

J 2. E. D. BoTORF took repeated doses of 10 dr. of ix dil. for several d. — Inability to study, to such an extent that he abandoned proving. Dull supra-orbital and frontal headache, with profuse flow of clear watery urine.* {Ibid.)

1. a. Several persons, 4 women and 3 men, took 5 — 10 dr. of tinct. every 2 h. for several d. with varying results. The only symptom experienced by all was an unusual exaltation of spirits. I myself experienced this to a notable degree, as did also my assistant. Dr. Penfield ; a big day's work and a hard work before me seemed as nothing. This in some cases seemed the primary action only of the drug ; some of the provers had a decided reaction, and were depressed in spirits after ceasing to take the drug. I had no such symptom.

b. All the lady provers experienced some unusual symptoms in the uterine region } one of them, a healthy young married woman, was troubled with a profuse and unusual leucorrhcea. All felt more or less " unwell pains " in the back.

c. The most marked and painful symptoms were experienced by a young man of about 22. He is of nervous sanguine temp., and very sensitive; his health is good. He took first about 10 dr. of tinct., and an h. later 15 dr. Within \ h. he had severe headache, with fiery red face, and confusion of mind to such an extent that, although an entry

• Several analyses were made of urine of different provers, but no morphological elements were found.— H. C. A.

clerk by occupation, and very accurate, he made numberless and stupid blunders in addressing a lot of envelopes. He also was tortured and doubled up by severe cramping pains in stomach and bowels. He wa extremely an^ry with Dr. Penficld, accusing him of deliberately poisoning hini.* (HawkES, ii;V., p, 185. Dr. Hawkes also giv« 1 " Schema of the provings of Viburnum opulus," but as he supplies no information as to how these were obtained, we must defer their insertion till further light is thrown upon their origin. — Eds.)

II. Poisonings. — Mrs. P — , xx. 49, consulted me for flushes of heat, pain in 1. side, dizziness when stooping. I prescribed V. op. 6, a pilule every 3 h. In a fortnight she reported dizziness quite well, flushes and pain much better, but added, " The first week after commencing it I could not hold my water when I coughed or walked about, and I also passed water during sleep without knowing it." She further remarked that it made her urine very offensive ; in her own words, " it made it nasty like cats' water." (Burnett, Tht Orgaiu», "i 345.)