Guaco

{Mikania Onaco.)

Dekceiptios. — A plant, or" Uane," found in Central and South America The Mikaaias are climbing perennials, with opposite, coramonly heart- shaped and petioied leayes, and corymbos-panicled, flesh-colored flowera. One speciea ia indigenous to the United States, the M. scandens, " Climb- ing Hempweed;" flowers from July to Septembe-

Officihai Prbpakatioms.— Tincture of the plant; di}utiona-

Akalogueb.— jlr«eiiwum(?), Baptnia{?), Mereuriits ( ?), Pkj/tolacca ( T), Feratrum album. ° £ites of venomous serp&nts.

[Dr. C. Dunham gives the first account in American Jom'nals of this plant, in the Amsriean HonKmpatMe Mmiew, Vol. Ill,, p. 428.

He quotes Humboldt, Porster, Scliomberg, Poppig, and Tschiidi, who all agree that in South America the Quaco is the best remedy fV>r tlie biles of poisonous serpents. The tVeshly expressed juice of the plant is dropped into the dilated wound, the surrounding parts are rubbed and covered with the braised leaves, and the juice at the same time taken internally. It is used also as a prophylactic-] ° Ghancresj syphilis.

[Turchliti states that the Ouaco, locally applied, destroys the specific propei'ty of the pus from a chancre, and prevents the production of a second chancre by inoculation- He also claims for it positive curative powers in syphilis.] ° Cholera, and similar maladies.

[Said to be used snecessfuUy in Mexico, Havana, Poland, and Venezuela,! " Oa/nceTB; ohsUnate ulcers. ° Spinal and cerebro-spinal irritation,

[Dr. Elb, of Dresden, has made a proving of (he Ouaco. He refers to it in an article on " Spinal Diseases " {All. Horn.

Zeit., 61, 72, and 2a.) That proving has never been translated, but by the kindness of Dr. C. Dunham, 1 am in possession of a ti'anslation of the indications given by Dr. Elb for the use of Ovnco in " Spinal Diseases," which includes a portion of bis pathogenesis.

After a few remarks upon tiie general term, spinal irrita- tion, aa embracing various conditions of congestion, amemia, and irrita- tion or algia, and pointing to certain remedies as corresponding in a general way to these conditions, he desires, he says, to call atf<?ntion to n class of remedies, heroic, but not sufficiently considered in relation to these afibctions. "From the symptoms produced by snake bites we can- not fail to see that serpent venom acts specifically upon the spinal nmr- row." He then cites and analyzes the symptoms "f Lachesls, Crotalus, and Naja trlpudians, and gives the indications for each in spinal disease.

This done, he goes on as follows {A. E. Z., Gl, 33): "It being ndmittpd by liomieopathsthat the antidoting power of drugs resides sot in their chemi. cal :>n}perties, bat must be referred to their similarity of physiological

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ouAoo. 839

action, we may assume that an antidi>te lo serpent venom would produce

on tlie heallhy symptoms similar to those resulting from serpent venom.'

This consideration induced him to prove Mikania Chiam, a noted antidote

to snake bites, and he gives tke symptoms in so far as they relate to the

spinal cord.]

The Ouaco produces in the nape of the neck bnrning, which extends to the shoulders; tearing stiffness, drawing tear- ing, extending to the axillis; drawing tearing in and between the scapula, extending into the forearm ; tearing, Btieiiing tearing in the hack; frequent fine stitches, tear- ing and violent drawing pain along the spine, more pain- ful on bending; increased aching in the Inmbo-sacral region and forward pressing; in connection with these spinal pains, severe aching in the occiput, which some- times extend over the upper half of the back.

In ihs upper extremities.- — Aching drawing and simple draw- ing pains in the deltoid muscle, witli a paralyzed sensation; tearing and Inxative pain in the shonlders — both of these sensations extending into the forearm; b.irning in the shoulder joint; tearing in the elbows and fingers.

Jn the lower extremities. — Soraiess and pain as if beaten about the hip joint; drawing in the thigh; drawing and swollen feeling in the calves; very considerable heaviness in the legs, and drawing in them; tearing in the ankle joints; burning and tearing in tlie soles of the feet.

All the pains in the back and extreiniti'cs are aggravated by motion, and mostly continue a long time.

The following very constant phenomena should not be dis- regarded: difficult digestion, tliere being no inflammatory affection ; constriction of the larynx and trachese ; deafness; heaviness of and difficulty of moving the tongue (all ot these symptoms came from doses of from five to twenty drops of the tincture).

To draw from these few and not severe sensations along the medulla spinalis and in the extremities, the conclusion that Guaco must play an important part in the treatment of spinal affections, would be very venturesome, had I not instituted upon those indications some experiments upon the siek. The affection alone of the tongue, the mnscles

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of deglutition, and the larynx is to be regarded as an nn- mistakable picture of a commencing paralysis proceeding from the medulla oblongata, as we see it frequently in a more developed grade in apoplexy. Inasmuch as T ex- perienced during tlie proving no depression of spirits, no decrease of mental activity, and in general no debility, but rather an excited condition, and suffered often from headache and heat of the face, I became convinced that the paretic conditions as well as the back pains depended not upon a direct affection (lesion) of the medulla, but rather upon a hypertemia of the same; and this view is supported by the fact that during the proving there were clear indications of a congestion of the hemorrhoidal ves- sels.

Moreover, the character of the affection of the ex- tremities— the absence of numbness, tbrraication, etc., the customary forerunners of paralysis — seems to indi«yLt6 that a primary affection (lesion) of the nerves, at least a paralytic, did not exist in the parts, while, on the other hand, the fact that most of the symptoms of the extremi. ties originated in the point of origin of the nerves from the medulla and extended thence to the ends of these nerves, gave clear evidence that these phenomena were not locals but dependent upon the spinal cord.

On the basis of this significance of the pathogenesy I have often given Gvaoo in eases of spinal irritation, and in my ex- perience it has shown itself almost "specifically" helpful in robust, not anaemic, ruddy persons, inclined to conges- tions, excitable, especially in males, where tlie spinal disease has not been caused by loss of fluids or depressing causes — in persons disposed to hemorrhoids, where the pains, with only a slight feeling of weakness in tlie Itimbo-eacral region, are mostly in the upper part of the vertebral column, mostly aching, drawing or sticking in character, very severe, with at the same time only pains in the ex- tremities, bnt no paretic conditions, and the parts affected are extremely sensitive to pressure.

This condition may be acute or chronic, "We have, then, before us a real picture of pure material stasis. If with this condition be

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GUAILEA. TEICHLOIDES, 341

. inflammatory or fetrile symptoms, then, ac- cording to my experience, Quaoo do«s no good, and is i'ar inferior to Belladonna. Arterial stasis may pass on into inflammations, or, by the rupture of vessels, may terminate in apoplexy. Those in which Guaeo is indicated incline to tlie latter termination. It has therefore approved it- self a most excellent remedy in paralysis resulting from pressure on brain or spinal marrow, i. 6., apoplectic par- alysis.

I was led to these experiments by the already mentioned paralyzed state of the tongue in connection with most violent headache, heat and redness of the face, i. e., a dose resemblance to the forerunners and sequelse of apoplexy. Frequent administration of it has taught me that this remedy is of use only after the first violent febrile storm has abated, no matter whether a soporous condition exists or not. Guaco developes its most eminent curative power when extravasation has caused paralysis of the tongue or of the extremities; the former is often relieved in a few hom's; the latter yields to Gvaco much more quickly than to any other remedy.

But Ouaeo renders inestimable service, not only in acute but also in very old paralysis, when these have resulted from extrava- sations of blood and not from exudations. It is a peculi- arity of its action that the paralysis of the lower extremi- ties yields very readily while that of the upper extremities is seldom entirely cured by it. It matters not whether tie paralysis be confined to one side or not.

anAR^A TRICHIOIDES.

{Ball Wood.) DBSCurpTiON. — This is a large tree growing ia tlie Antilles. The following pathogeuosis is from provings made by Dr. Petroz, of

Officinal Pkepakatiohs. — Tincture of tiie bark Analogues.— { ? )

Mental Sphere.

Moral anxiety, indifference, indecision, confusion of thought,

fearful of losing the reason, agitation in the evening.

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S42 GCAS^A TEICHLOIDIB.

Vertigo on stooping.

Turning vertigo, and vertlgo-on seeing objects in confusion

Immobility of the head; heaviness.

Compression; consti-iction ; contraction.

Buzzing; sensation as if the brain were falling fonrard.

Headache, depressing the eyes.

Symptoms relieved or diminished by motion.

A sensation as of a blow on the head, leading a sort of stnpo-

faction, with diminution of the power of thought for

several days.

Sensation as if the ejebaUs were being pnslied out. Dilatation of the pupils.

nothing of the eye could be seen but the pupil, at the

bottom of a veritable tunnel.

Sensation as if stopped up, with pressure outwards. Eruption behind the ears.

Hose. Ooryza, with indurated excretion; heat, and ineffectual effort

to sneeze.

Pain as if burnt; puffincsB below the eyes; swellings which

Twitchings of the mouth. Pimples, scabs, chaps on the lips and at the comraiesnrea;

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TEICHLOIDES. S4S

fearing pain in the tongue; laneinations; paralysis of the

" Sensation as if bruised ; itching; constriction. Sensation of rnptnre at the precordial region, worse after

Pressure in tlie region of the umbilicus. " Lancination in the groins and inguinal rings. ° Pain, tensive as if contused in the abdoinen walls.

Generative Organs.

° Itching. Menorrhagia.

Cheat. * Cough; whooping cough, with bloody sputa; dry haoting

cough; cough deep, suffocating, violent, with expectora*

tion.

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844 GITAR^A TKICHLOIDES,

The cough le aocompanied with sweat, pain, excoriation and Gonstrietion of the chest; it comes on after one has cried, at the moment of falling asleep, or after taking cold ; it is preceded by an itching in the throat, by an irritation in the larynx.

* Asthma of Millar; attacks of sufiocation, bnmmg respira-

tion; sobbing respiration, mteimittent constriction of the chest; the symptom* ot the respiration are more marked on putting the hand to tht thioat " Sense of anxiety; emptiness, distension ot thecliest; heavi- ness. " Laneinations in the right side of the chest, increased by deep inspirations.

Weakness of the muscles.

Constricted feeling in the back; burning in the loins. Cutting pain in the sacrum.

"Upper Extremities. Violent shocks in the arms; cramps in tiie anus; burning heat in the arms; brown spots under the arms; boils on the arms; paralysis of the metacarpus; trembling of the hands; swelling of the hands.

Somnolence, with dreams. Frequent waking; sad dreams full of graves.

* Intermittent fever, principally before noon; coldfoliowed by

heat, with sweat; shivering, with flushes of heat; horri- pilation in the affected parts.

° Sweat, principally when eating, or after having eaten.

" During the fever, anxiety, forgetf illness, pain in the eyes, coated tongue, desire to vomit, oppression of the chest, chest is painful.

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HAMAMEUS VIEQINICA. 345

Skin,

" Itcliing eruptions; dry eruptions; eruptions of burning

" Steatoma; hot swelling; swelling of the parts aiieeted. General Symptoms.

° Weakness; chronic weakness; sensation of distension.

Landnating and boring paine, drawing and tearing; sensation of excoriation on being touched.

"Hysterical tetanus; convulsions of children; oonvulsions daring vomiting; cramps when touched; cramps in chil- dren.

" Paralysis subsultus.

Heat of the upper part, and coolness of the lower part.

Suppuration of the glands,

° Caries of the bones; nocturnal pain in the bones.

Cutting pain in the joints; burning heat.

Symptoms are more marked in the room, from the action of hot water, acids, after physical efforts; they are relieved on covering up warmly, and by leaving the bed.

HAMAMELIS VIEaiNICA.

(Witch Saxel)

OrFiciSAii Prbpakations. — Tincture of the bark ; dilutions.

AKALOatraa. — ^seuius. Arnica, BotUta, Gollinsom'a, Mrigeron, Galium, LycopiiS, Senecioy TTillima.

* Crowding fullness in the Lead and neck, also in forehead. Feeling as if a bolt was passed from temple to temple, and tightly screwed.

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3lD HAMAMELIS VIKGINICA.

" Passive congestion, or venous stagnation. Fullness in the forehead, with pressing sensation in the roots of the tongue,

Ifose.

* Ejiistaxis, with feeling of tightness of the bridge of the nose.

* Profuse epistaxis, idiopathic or vicarious. ° Epistaxis of childhood, passive, venous.

"Oozing of very dark blood from the nose in a hemiplegie

old man. {J^reston.)

Throat, Dry, thirsting feeling of the thi'oat, not relieved by water. Fullness in the neck; have to sleep with the neck free of any

covering. Feeling as if something had lodged in the fauces.

* Tonsils and fauces congested.

" Hsemoi-rhage from the throat and fauces. ° Varicose condition of the throat and fauces.

Burning in epigastrium; sharp pains in the stomaoh Nausea, from pain in the testicles. " Hsematemesis of black blood.

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HAMAMELIS VIEUINIOA. 347

Scanty, high-colored urine.

* Irritation of the urethra, followed by a diaeliarge and ardor

Generative Organs. {Fmn<ile^ * Hemorrhage from the uterns of bright red blood,

midway between the menstrual periods.

* Active uterine hemorrhage in a young lady.

* Acute vaginitis, with spasmodic action and painfiilness of

the vagina.

* Prurigo of the vulva, with vaginitis and vaginismus, " LeucorrhcEa profuse and almost constant.

" Vaginal leucorrhcea, bloody.

" Ovaritis tbllowing miscarriage (left side).

' Varicose veins during pregnancy.

" Dysmenorrhcea, inflammatory or neuraJgio.

" Ketention of the menses, with hferaatemesis, constant consti- pation and varices of the legs,

" Vicarious menstruation.

° Hemorrhage, blood flows steadily, venous in character, and without uterine pains,

" Ovaritis — pain commences in the right ovary, passes down the broad ligaments to the uterus,

° Ovarian soreness and painfulness.

° Phlegmasia alba dolens (milk leg),

{Male.) Amorous dreams, with emissions, followed by lassi- tude, gloomy, depr^sing mood, and dull pain in lumbar region.

* Great prostration of the animal passions, witli severe neural-

gic pain in testicle, suddenly changing to bowels and stomach, causing nausea and faintness.

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34s HAMAMELIS YIHOimcA.

Drawing pains in testicles day and night, extending from the

Smith.)

Tickling in the larynx, with constant inclination to cough.

Cheat. Lahored inspiration ; oppressive tightness of the lower pai't of

the thorax, with inability to make a deep and full inspira- tion; breathing impossible in a recumbent position, and

a crowding fullness in neck and head. Pricking pain in the region of the heart for days, also in the

superficial veins of both arms. ."Cough; hEemoptysis, with dull frontal headache; taste of

Tearing pains across tlie small of the back, with fullness of

the joints of the legs.

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nEDEOMA rULEGIOIDES. 849