Asclepias Syriaca

(Sm Weed.)

BoTAKicAL DESCBrpTioN This is the Asclepias cornuti of Gray. (1 retain tlie name Syriaca given it by Linnteus, as in the first edition.) The plant is linown as Milkweed In many parts of the country, has a large, stout, simple, somewhat branched aiem, growing from two V) five feet high. Tlie leaTiee are egg-sliaped, elliptical, spreading, opposite, witb a sbort but distinct etem, gradually acute, and downy or hairy beneath.

The JUncerg are fragrant; umids several, axillary, nodding, dense, round, each of twenty or more flowers. Cal}/x segineTUs lance-shapod. Corolla pale or greenisli purple, reflexed, leaving the corona, which is of nearly the same hue, quite conspicuous. But few of the flowers prove fertile, producing oblong-pointed pods or follicles, covered with sharp prickles which con- tain a mass of long silky fibres with seeds attached, and which fibres have been used for beds, pillows, and in the place of fur in manufacturing hata.

HisTOBY This herb is indigenous to the United States, inhabiting rich soil, nncultivated fields, etc., and bearing whitish-purple flowers from June to September. When wounded it emits a milky fluid which contains water, wax-like fatty matter, gum, caoutchouc, sugar, various salts, etc. A crystalline, resinous substance allied to lactucone, baa been obtained from the juice of the A wrftMJi', to which the name of the Jselepi'oii^ has been j^ven.

It is procurred by boiling and then filtering the Juice and separating the Asclepione from the filtrate by ether, from which it may be subsequently obtained by evaporation, and purified by several washings with pure ether. Asclepione thus obtained is a crystaline solid, without

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ASCLEPIAS CTIilACA. 66

taste or smell, sod is reaflily dissolved by spirits of turpentine, pure noetic acid, and sTilpliuric etlier.

OffFidNAT. pRBPARATiose.— Tincture of tlie fresh root hy maceration with strong alcoliol; dilutions. Tritiirationsof tliedriedroot; and tiuctQre by maceration witli dilute alcoliol.

{Triturations of a solid extract of the milky juice, made hy evaporiu tion at a low tempernture over a water batli.)

Akaiosdks. — Aaclepias tuherosa, Bryonia, ColcMaim, Senega, and the analogues of Ancl^ias tuheroia.

Headache, with scanty tirine. Headache, witli vertigo, dullness and stupidity. * Headache, from suppressed perspiration, or from the retention

from one temple to the oilier. A sense of constriction across the foreliead.

Burning and tickling in fauces, with nausea and headache. Tongue coated with a white fur.

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66 ASOLEHAS SrKIAOA.

Copious evacnations in tlie evewinf^, soft, brown, with slight

of appetite.

urine, ° Post- scarlatinal dropsy.

■' Dropsy from suppressed perspiration, or renal disease, " General dropsy from heart disease,

[This medicine is one of the few like OoUMaum, Bryonia, and Gimiei- fuga, tliat increase notably the solid matlers in the urine, namely, from 568 grains to 700 grains. — ffale.]

Generative Organs, {Female.') * Intermitting, faearing-dowii, labor-like pains, (in

fauces. " Influenza; catarrhal fevers; and bronchitis.

Back and Extremities, " Acute rlieumatisni, confined to the large joints, with much

paiu and swelling. ° Pains iti the limbs.

[I would urge a trial of this reme<Iy in rheumatism, when OoleMewti and Uimiei/uga seem inef&Qmnl.— Hale.]

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ATEOPIHE.

{TIte actiiie prineipU of BeUadonna.)

Officinal Prepaiiai'IONS.— Trituratioos, (centesimal) up to the tliird, tLeii the dilutions.

[No complete provinga of Atropine Lave been made. Allen's new Encyclopedise of Materia Medica contains the most complete pathogene- sis yet collected. The symptoms obtained are all like those of SeHo^fonRO. ■We do not believe Atropine can, produce all the symptoms of Belladonna, because it does not contain all the forces and medicinal constituents of that plant. To the mere chemist, who cannot discern anything left in tlie plant after the Atropia is extracted, this assertion may seem absurd ; but the chemist looks at drags from a point of view widely divergent from the physiological experimenter, Tliere are intangible remedial forces in plants which escape tlie subtlest analysis of the chemist, and can only be evolved by careful provings.

One object of giving this pathogenesis is to give an idea of the scope and sphere of action of this isolated constituent. While we should never think of prescribing Atropine in febrile states, acute esanthemata, inflammations, erysipelas, glandular diseases, etc., where we usually use Belladonna, we have a high opinion of its value in neuralgia, acute congestions, painful spasmodic affections, especially of the sphincters, nervous jactitations, hypereesthesi®, and other affections due to purely functional nervous derangements

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Analoodes. — Belladonna aTtd itt analogues.

* Eambling, incoherent speech, spectral illusions, with frequent

Delirium, with picking, and other motions of the hands and . tlie i.ir, as if they were in contact with real

He carries on conversations witli imaginary beings.

When conversing, had to stop in the middle of a sentence and

inquire what he had been talking about. Imagines he has epilepsy.

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68 ATEOPINE.

He lost tlie poirer of estimating dietaneea; he readied at objects which were across the room, and stumbled on objects which he supposed were far off.

* Feeling as ■If the head was scr&wed -V/p; walking caused

the Ttiost severe sticking pains/ relieved toward 11 A, M., and disappeared toward evening.

* Fine, drawim.g, very sensitive stitches across the forehead

and tem-ples, recurring every four to ten minutes, and lasting several seconds.

* Dull pain in the temples, coming on at intervals of per-

haps a qunrter of an hour, and lasting a few minutes.

* Y&ry sensitvoe sHclmig in the left temporal region on

wahmg in the •momA/n.g; it extended to behind the ear, and scarcely permitted him to open the left eye; disap- peared after moving about in the open air.

* Neuralgic pains commencing under the left orbit, and run

Face and Eyes. Dark red, livid and puffed face, with burning heat in face.

* Twitching of the facial muscles, especially aronnd the mouth

and eyelids,

* Congested eyes and eyelids, witli feeling of diyness in eyes.

* Deep-seated, dull pain in the back part of the eye.

* Bright flaBhes before the eyes immediately upon closing then Intolerance of light (rare.)

Dimness of vision; can neither read nor thread a needle. Pain in the eyes; dull, or sharp and increased at each cardiac pulsation.

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ATROPINE. 68

Eyes fixed and glassy; cannot compare objects or eBtimate their distances.

Dilated pv^ls, to an extent not caused by any other dmg.

Can read well for a few moments, when the words run together and become indistinct.

When reading, the words seem to conti'act and expand with the action of the heart.

Spasmodic iDitikvng. Eyelids feel heavy and difficult to open.

Double vision; all objects seem elongated.

Dryness of the conjunctiva. {Appwrent dryness.)

When closing the eyes he sees all kinds of spectres and un- pleasant objects. {See Allen's Sncyo. of Mat. Med.)

The field of vision is covered with colored phantasraB.

Everytliing looks yellow. {See Scmtonm.)

° Neuralgia of the eyes, and orbital regions.

"Used extensively (and sometimes abttsed) by oculists to dilate tlie pupil in cases of iritis, cataract, etc., and to assist in examinations with the ophthalmoscope.

Hearing morbidly sensitive — at night, {p.)

Illusions of the sense of hearing, ringing, roaring, etc {p.)

Dullness of the sense of hearing, deafness, {p.)

s and heat of the nose.

Great dryness of the raucous membrane of the nose. Moutli.

Intense dryness of tlie mouth, tongue, fauces, soft palate, and the lips and throat, followed by a sensation of a viscid, sticky, acid secretion of a peculiar and very sickly, offen- sive odor.

The mouth becomes foul and clammy, and the tongue covered with a sticky white fur.

Smoking does not excite the secretion of saliva.

Mucous membrane of mouth dark and mottled.

' Mercurial salivation. (It arrests the profuse secretion.)

Loss of sensation in the buccal cavity Tongue dry, with red tip and edges.

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70 ATROPINE,

Tongue sticky and coated white.

Cannot move the tongne around in the mouth.

Difficulty of protruding the tongue.

Tongue feels thick; cannot articulate distinctly.

Teeth feel " on edge."

° Dry, parched and cracked tongue, in typhus.

° Paralytic eymptome of the tongue.

Dryness of the pharynx, making it almost impossHle to

swallow. Ko natural sensation when drinking; the water did not seem

to touch the mucous membrane. Cannot swallow solids without washing them down with

liquids. Mucous membrane of throat feels raw and irritated; it looks

attempt to do so produced paroxysms of suffocation,

attacks of vomiting, at night. DiaiTlirea, hiiiTjing him out of bed at midnight, preceded by

urgent desire. Stools copious and watery, coming out with a gush, relieving

the pain at the umbilical region. " Spasmodic or neuralgic colic.

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ATROPINE. 71

" Constipation, cured permanently by very minute doaes con- tinued for some time. {Allopathic authority.) TJrmary Organs.

The kidneys are active in tLe elimination of Airopin)} from the minute when it enters the blood until it is entirely removed from the system.

It causes an excess of uric acid in the urine.

It causes an increased flow of blood through the kidneys, and thus increases the urea.

The phosphates are increased by its administration.

Profuse and frequent urination, {p.)

" It is a most powerful diuretic." {ffarley.}

Eetcntion of urine; the catheter has to be used daily.

"Nephritic colic, from passage of calculi.

* Violent, irresistible and ineffectual urging to urinate, with

undoubtedly neuralgic disease.

* SyjpercBsthesia of the vagina and uterine cervix. (Jlale.)

[In these cases give tlie 6tli + trit., and apply a cerate of 1 gr. to 1 oz,, of cocoa butter or lard.]

Heap ira tor y Organs. Dryness of the larynx, causing a constant inclination to cough.

* Tlie tough mucus in the larynx causes paroxysms of cough-

ing, very severe, occurring every fifteen or twenty min- utes, attended with difficult expectoration of tliick, tena- cious mucus, and followed by burning in the larynx.

° Wh-oopitig-coiigh, cured by the Sd centesimal trit.

' Spasmodic cough, in adults, after influenza. {Sah.)

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72 ATROPraE.

Sensation of a glow of heat in the lungs,

* Violent and suffocative constriction of the chest,

° Spasmodic asthma (by hypodermic injection).

Pulse feeble and heart's action almost imperceptible. Pulse rising from 60 to 140 beats, but no increase in the

respirations. {Sarley.) Fluttering sensation in the cardiac region. {Ih.) " I^"ervou8 palpitation of tlie heart, with red face and throbbing

in the carotids. [Male.) ° Palpitation at night, with debility and distress.

Trembling of the limbs. Anesthesia of tlie extremities; the sense of touch seems

blunted and sometimes almost abolished; numbness and

prielding of tlie hands, extending to the tips of the

spill tlie water. While walking, the flexor muscle would contract suddenly,

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ATBOPIHB. 73

ing only four drops were given (60 drops contained l-300th of a grain) and

this time without any effect. Six drops were given the nest morning; tiie

same redness appeared, but this time only lasted for half an hour. The

six drops contained I-8OOII1 of a grain. No narcotism was produced, even

Ijy the larger dose first given. The paroxysm of whooping-cough, for

which it was given was slightly but not decidedly improved.]

Dark red or mottled efflorescent redness of the shin, like that in scarlet fever.

Dark red or purple redness of the face.

Scarlet red, hot and dry skin, on the upper half of the body.

Anaesthesia of the skm : the senae of touch is lost or per- verted.

Thrusting pins into tlie skin causes no pain.

Water poured over the skin produces no sensation.

Skin seems unnaturally smooth, like glass.

Cold, pale and clammy skin.

" Useful in some eases of scarlet fever.

° In eases of retarded or suppressed eruptions, it will cause tlieir re-appearance. (Hale.)

Sleepiness, or drowsiness witli inability to sleep.

Deep, heavy, comatose sleep.

Heavy sleep, with muttering, incoherent talking.

He sits in a (iull, apathetic or drowsy condition, and frequently gives a prolonged yawn.

Deep sleep, with red, bloated face.

Continual chilliness all over.

GhilU aUernating with flashes of heat.

It stimulates the action of the heart, causing the pulse to rise from 60 to 140, with flashes of heat, red-hot skin, dry mouth and throat, with throbbing all over; a kind of erethistic fever, with general ebulition of blood. {^.)

Chilliness, with cold skin, pulse feeble, action of the heart feeble, cold extremities, (s.)

Fever, with low muttering, incoherent delirum.

" Useful in some typhoid fevers.

General anEeethesia of the skin and extremities, (^.)

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74 AESENTTE OF COPPBK,

Hjperjesthesia of the whole organism, (s.) ° Tetanus :

[In a late cumber of ihe Britieh Medical Journal is a case of Tetamia auRcessfUliy treated by Atropia. On tie fourth day of the attack one-six- teenth of a grain was administered every tliree hours.

Within twenty-four hours the clonic apaam became less severe and of shorter duration, and the tflnic rigidly gave way, first in the legs and neck, then in the back, and last of all in abdomen and masseters. On tiie sixth day of treatment by Atropia, rigidity of masseters only remained. He was kept under the influence of Atropia for three weeks, and made a good recovery. Tlie patient was " a healthy-looking lad, aged 14, who was seized with lockjaw and severe pain in the cervical and dorsal region, with fever, a few days after jumping ftom a coal wagon."

The reporter asserts that it cures on tlio theory of Brown -Sequard, namely. "Reducing congestion of the blood vessels of the spinal cord." It was certainly iiomceopathic to the condition, for the primary effect of Atropine is to cause spina! aneemia, the pecuniary, spinal congestion. For this reason the large dose cured.]

ARSENITB OF COPPER.

(Oiipric Arssnite. Scheete's Green.) pHABMACOLOOr. — This salt may be prepared by boiling three parfa of pulverized white arsenic, with eight parts caustic potassa, in sixteen parts of water until the arsenic is deposited in the shape of a powder; pour this liquid into a hot solution composed of eight parts of the sulphate of copper and forty-eight parts of distilled water, stirring Uie mixture all the time; wash the precipitate well, and dry at a moderate temperature. It is a bright green insoluble powder.

Officimal PitEPAKATroN. — Triturations to the 6th X i then dilutions. AHALoauiK. — Arsenie, Agaricus, Belladonna, Cuprum, ^thu»a, (Enan- the,eU.

Mental Sphere. Confusion of ideas, vertigo, and headache between the temples. DullueBB and fullneaa of the head. Intense anguish of mind and body. A kind of intoxication.

Severe headache, with dull pain in the forehead, and soreness

of the orbital bones. Throbbing pain in the right temple.

Headache between the temples; the pam seoma to meet in the centre of the forehead, and thence to pass down the nose.

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AEBKNITE OF COPPEE, 75

Eyea. Persistent boring pain in a small spot above the left snperior

Boring pain in the right ear.

Soreness of the nose, with watery discharge from the nose. Pace.

Soreness of the bones of the face.

(Edema of the face.

Paleness of the face.

Violent twitching and jerking of the facial musclea of the

left side, between the eye and the corner of the mouth.

Heavy white coating of the tongue.

Shooting pains in the upper jaw; the pains are intermittent and throbbing.

Burning sensation in the tliroat; soreness of the glands of the neck, with stiffness of the neck; moving the head aggra- vates the pain in the neck.

Stomach,

Nausea, with headache between the eyes, and metallic taste in the mouth,

* Vomiting and purging, with cramps and collapse. Vomiting of mucus tinged with bile.

* Violent colic; frequent vomiting, with purging; cold sweats;

intense thirst. Great distension of the abdomen.

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Pains in the atdomen, sharp and cutting.

Dxa/rrhma; slimy stooh

° Asiatic cholera, with cramps in hands and feet.

Strong- smelling urine.

Dark-red urine; burning pain during and after urinatioii. Generative Organs.

White, purulent discharge from the urethra; eorenesa of tlie penis, with pain in the prostate gland; tingling and burning in the urethra.

Perspiration of the scrotum, which is constantly moist and damp.

Boil& frequently forming on the scrotum. Chest,

Dull, stitching pain in left chest, between tlie sixth and seventh ribs, with a weak, numb feeling in the left chest, left side of the back, left shoulder and arm.

Constricted feeling of the chest.

Sudden debility, with dull pain in the heart, and sensation of oppression around that organ.

Palpitation of the heart, witli trembling of the limbs.

" Angina pectoris. {_Hale^

Lameness of the back.

Severe pain under the scapula; worse when moving or breath- ing.

TTpper Extremities.

Numb, weak feeling in left shoulder and arm.

Left arm feels numb and powerless, and a similar sensation soon afterward appeared in the left leg.

Aggravation of a chronic irritation; itching of the arms and legs.

Pustular tumors(^ on the wrists and ankles.

Eruptions of the skin; cedema of the face; boils on scrotum.

Persistent sleeplessness.

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AE8ERIATE OT IKON — QriHIA. 77

rever.

Chilliness all over the body; creeping sensation produced by

ARSENIATE OF IRON.

(Ferri Arsenim.)

It is wliile when first formed, but quickly becomes green on exposure to air; is an amorphous powder, without smell or taste, insoluble in water, but readily sotuble in muriatic aoid.

ARSENIATE OF aUINIA.

(Qainia Arsenim.)

Phabmacoi^gt.— The arsenite of quinine is used by many practitioners ; but as I consider the arseniate tlie best preparation, I have made it offl. cinat. {Hale.)

The arseniate may be prepared by placing one and a half drachms of arsenious aoid in a glass vessel, with live drachms quinia, and six fluid ounces of distilled water; boil till all is dissolved; filter and allow to crystalize spontaneously. To purify, dissolve these crystals, and then erystalize again.

The Arsenite of Quinia is prepared by placing sixteen grains of arsenious acid, eight grains carbonate of potassa, and one fluid ounce distilled water

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78 BACIAuA.

Soluble in alcohol, but not in water.