Ranunculus Bulbosus

Serous membranes. Ranunculus , Muscles, bulbosus. Effects of alcohol.

^ Skin.

Compare with Aconite, Arnica, Cactus, Bryonia, Rhustox., Arsen- icum, Mezereum.

We have two varieties of the Ranunculus to consider to day. These are the Ranunculus bulboszcs and the Ranunculus sceleratus. Both of these plants possess a juice or sap which is exceedingly irritating to the skin. When applied locally, it produces erythema followed later by an eruption which is at first vesicular in character and attended with burning, smarting and itching.

If the symptoms continue, by reason of the intensity of the action of the drug ulceration and even gangrene of the parts may follow, the gangrene being associated with fever and delirium. This is an extreme picture, yet it is one which may follow the prolonged use of some of the species of Ranunculus.

We shall now consider Ranunculus bulbosus. First as to its action

RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS. 331

on serous membranes: we may think of Ranunculus bulbosus in inflam- mation of serous membranes, particularly of the pleura or peritoneum, , when there are acute stabbing pains, accompanied by an effusion of / serum into the serous sac. Accompanying this effusion we find great I anxiety, dyspnoea and distress, caused partly by the accumulation of fluid and partly by the anxiety from the pains themselves. Now these are symptoms not commonly known among physicians, 3^et you will find that here Ranunculus will serve you as well as Apis, Bryonia or Sulphur or even better than these, if the pains are of the character just described.

The second heading in our schema is " Muscles." We find Ranun- culus acting here as a curative agent. It is especially indicated in rheumatism of the muscles, particularly in muscles about the trunk. / Intercostal rheumatism yields far more quickly to this drug than to any other. There is usually a great deal of soreness to touch, and the muscles have a bruised feeling, as if they had been pounded. I know that Aconite, Arnica or Bryonia is often given when Ranunculus is in- dicated.

Aconite may be the remedy in pleurodynia when there is high fever (which is not often), especially if you can trace the trouble to ex- posure to cold after being overheated.

Ranunculus bulbosus may also be used in the case of persons who are - subject to stitches about the chest in every change of weather.

Again, it may be used for sore spots remaining in and about the chest after pneumonia. The characteristic sensation attending the Ranunculus soreness is a feeling of subcutaneous ulceration, which is purely subjective. This symptom is also characteristic of Pulsatilla.

Again, Ra?iu?iculus may be used for pains about the lungs from ad- hesions after pleurisy.

The rheumatic pains of Ranunculus are worse in damp weather and particularly from a change of weather or change of temperature. Even a rheumatic headache having this aggravation, may call for Ranunculus.

We may find it indicated also in diaphragmitis, when there are sharp shooting pains from the hypochondria and epigastrium through to the back.

Another remedy that I have found of service in this latter disease is Cactus grandijlorus, which is an excellent remedy for sharp pains in the diaphragm, particularly if there is a feeling as though a band

332 A CUNICAIv MATERIA MEDICA.

were tied around the waist marking the attachments of the diaphragm to the borders of the ribs.

You should remember Ranunculus bulbosus as a remedy for the bad effects of excess in drink, in hiccough and even in epileptiform attacks and delirium tremens.

Ranunculus bulbosus is useful in herpes zoster or zona. Vesicles ap- pear on the skin and are filled with serum. Sometimes these vesicles have a bluish-black appearance. There is marked burning. Espe- cially is Ranunculus indicated when the trouble follows the course of the supra-orbital or intercostal nerves and is followed by sharp stitch- ing pains. Here you may compare Rhus tox., Arsenicum and Mezereum.

Ranunculus may also produce pemphigus. Large blisters form, which burst and leave raw surfaces.

Again, you may use Ranwiculus in eczema, attended with thicken- ing of the skin and the formation of hard horny scabs.

Here it is similar to Antimonium crudum, which has also horny ex- crescences or callosities on the soles of the feet.

The ulcers which Ra?iunculus causes are flat and are attended with a great deal of stinging pain. The discharge is ichorous.

Lastly, we may mention the action of Ranunculus on mucous mem- branes. It is one of the remedies useful in hay fever. You will find that there is smarting in the eyes; the eyelids burn and feel sore; the nose is stuffed up, especially toward evening, with pressure at the root of the nose and tingling, crawling sensation within its cavity. Some- times this sensation attacks the posterior nares, causing the patient to hawk and swallow, and endeavor in every way to scratch the affected part.

Arsenicum and Silicea also have this symptom. You will notice, too, that there is with this hay fever, hoarseness, general mus- cular soreness and very likely sharp stitching pains in and about the chest. The neck of the bladder may be affected, producing some burning on urinating.

Ambrosia artemisicefolia should be compared in hay fever. The prov- ings by Dr. E. E. Holman contain the following: stuffed sensation in the nose and chest; oppressive pain in the left chest, must sit up to breathe comfortably; worse in the evening until midnight; awakens suddenly with pertussis-like cough; face dark red; eyes congested, smarting, watery; nose, red, swollen; watery coryza.

Sulphur does not follow Ranunculus well.

ranunculus sceleratus. 333

iEthusa cynapium.

In the above schema I have placed no complementary remedy to Antimonium crudum. Scilla has been said to be complementary to it, but I have not satisfied myself that such is the case.

When Antimonium crudum is indicated, we find mental symptoms

that are quite prominent. It is frequently used in children when they

are cross and peevish. They will not even permit themselves to be

looked at. If an adult, the patient is sulky or sad, almost like the

578 A CLINICAL MATERIA MKDICA.

Pulsatilla patient. In some cases, there is a slightly erotic condition of mind, connected with sexual erethism. The patient becomes ecstatic and fancies that some beautiful female is the object of his sentimental love.

In children, this peevish mental state is associated with nausea, hot and red face and irregular pulse. The child is particularly cross when washed in cold water, but not so much in warm water. Now, the symptoms often occur in children in association with those of the stomach.

The gastric symptoms of Antimony are very well marked. It is suited to gastric catarrh, whether it be developed from cold or from improper food. In the first place, the tongue is coated white, and this coating is apt to be spread uniformly over the whole dorsum of the tongue. It has well been compared to a coat of whitewash.

The tongue may be dry, and often is so, as in Bryonia. Sometimes, we find this white coating assuming a slightly yellowish tinge, especially on the back part of the tongue. At other times, you will find the borders of the tongue sore and red; often, there is an accumulation of yellow- ish mucus in the pharynx. There are nausea and vomiting; the latter is very prominent, and occurs as soon as the child eats or drinks.

Antimonium crudum is especially useful in vomiting from overloaded stomach; from eating indigestible substances; after the abuse of fat food, acids, sour wines, vinegar, etc., or from the excessive heat of summer. The vomited matters contain food; or, in the case of very young children, they consist of curdled milk. The appetite is im- paired. There may be colic, in which case there is almost always a deposit of lithic acid in the urine.

The bowels are affected also; there is often diarrhoea; the stool is watery and contains little lumps of faecal matter. This diarrhoea is made worse by vinegar and other acids, by cold bathing and by being overheated. If there is constipation, as is often the case when vomiting predominates, the stools will consist of white, hard and dry lumps that look like undigested curd. In older persons, particularly in the aged, for Antimonium crudum suits both extremes of life, we have an alternation of constipation and diarrhoea: the stool, in constipation consisting of hard, dry lumps; that in diar- rhoea, of water mixed with faecal lumps.

Now let us make some distinctions between Antimonium crudum and its concordant remedies. sEthusa cynapium is our mainstay for vomit- ing of curdled milk in infants during dentition, or at other times.

THE PREPARATIONS OF ANTIMONY. 579

The vomited matter comes with a "rush," and the vomiting exhausts the little patient. It then falls into a sleep from which it awakens hungry, eats and again vomits. In Antimonium crudum, the child is hungry as soon as it rids itself of the milk. Ai.thusa is suited to severe cases that have been prostrated by a long course of bad diet, by summer complaint or by the irritation of teething. I have known sEthusa to relieve the pain and soreness in the gums of teething children when vomiting is a prominent symptom.

Like Antimonium crudum, Ipecacuanha has vomiting after a meal, after coughing and after acids; and hence it is suited to similar cases. But Ipecacuanha usually has more nausea than has the other. Vom- iting and retching predominate in Antimonium cruditm, and nausea in Ipecacuanha. Then, too, the latter remedy usually has clean or slightly coated tongue; whereas the former requires a thick white coating of that organ.

Bryonia is similar to Antimonium crudum. It has white tongue, dry mouth and constipation. It is suited to gastric catarrh from over-eat- ing in persons of irritable temperament. The Bryonia tongue is a little different from that of Antimonium crudum , in that it is white down the middle, the edges not being coated. Then, too, the Bryo?iia stool is large, hard, dry and brown. If there is diarrhoea, the stool is off ensive and watery, and smells like old cheese.

Still another remedy is Pulsatilla. Here we find resemblances in the state of mind. We have both remedies called for in gastric ailments from the use of pork. But Pulsatilla has not the characteristic vomit- ing of Antimony, and the stool of Pulsatilla is usually greenish, or yel- lowish-green, and slimy. It is especially suited to cases after indul- gence in mixed diet — ice-cream, cakes, pastry, etc.

A?itimonium crudum acts upon the skin, producing thick, horny cal- losities in this tissue. It is often indicated in eczematous eruptions, when the skin is of this character.

It also has a marked action on the nails, causing deficient growth. If, after an accident which has split the nail, the latter does not heal readily, but grows cracked and thick, A?itimo?iium crudum will make it grow as it should. I have also used the drug successfully in treat- ing a split hoof, in the case of my own horse.

Children who need A?itimo?iium crudum often have an eruption, con- sisting of crusts which are of a honey-yellow color. They are thick, just as we have seen with the callosities. The affected portions of the skin

58o

A CLINICAL MATERIA M3DICA.

crack readily. This is particularly well-marked about the nostrils and corners of the mouth.

Now, I know of one case of diphtheria cured by Antimonium crudum when the symptoms were these: the child was very cross; whining and crying simply because it was looked at; this was especially soon awak- ing from sleep; and there were these crusts around the nostrils and in the corners of the mouth. Antimonium crudum not only removed these but cured the diphtheria.

The eyes are inflamed. They are worse from any bright glare, as the sunshine, or the glare of a bright fire, here reminding you of Mercurius. A?itimonium crudum is distinguished from Graphites by the fact that the rawness is confined to the canthi, whereas under Graphites the in- flammation involves the whole border of the lids.

On the female genital organs Antimonium cntdum has some action. It is useful in prolapsus uteri when there is constant bearing-down feeling, as if something were pushing out of the vagina, and tenderness over the ovarian region, particularly when the menses have been sup- pressed by cold bathing. The leucorrhoea is watery and contains little lumps.

There is one more use of Antimonium crudum to mention and we are done with it, and that is in adults who are tormented with gout. It is especially useful when gout has become constitutional. There will be gouty nodes in many of the joints. It here helps, provided the gastric symptoms characteristic of the remedy are present, but not otherwise.