Hydrastis Canadensis

[GOLDEN SEAL. NATURAL ORDER, RANUNCULACEA]

The golden seal is a native of Canada and of the United States. It is found in bog-meadows and in rich woods. Its root is thick, knotty, crooked and of a bright yellow color internally. The root- stock is short, giving out a large number of rootlets.

The stem is from six to twelve inches high, becoming purplish and hairy above, bearing two unequal terminal leaves. Leaves are two only, alternate on the upper part of the stem, petiolate, palmate with three to five lobes. The flowers are solitary, terminal, sepals three, white or partly red, dropping off yearly, petals, none. The plant blooms in May and June, and produces a red, hard fruit, which resembles a raspberry.

The seeds are nearly black and polished. The root is the officinal part.

Early writers tell us, that golden seal was a favorite remedy with the Indians, who used it mainly in the treatment of eye diseases and of cancerous affections. Hydrastis has been proved very extensively. It exerts a marked effect upon the mucous membrane, causing a catarrhal inflammation and even ulceration of that structure. Nearly all of the pro vers experienced catarrhal symptoms, usually with thin, acrid, watery secretion from the mucous membrane.

This catarrhal inflammation is by no means confined to any one part of the organism, but is as apt to show itself in the digestive, urinary or

HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS. 171

sexual organs as in the head, throat and chest. The digestive organs are strongly affected by hydrastis ; Dr. Burt especially experienced profound disturbances in that quarter.

The liver also is acted upon with remarkable uniformity ; Dr. Hughes attributes to this fact the curative properties of the golden seal in constipation. Hydrastis affects the glandular system, and its close relation to those organs and structures which carry on the vegetative functions makes it a remedy of the greatest importance in the treatment of diseases which originate in or are accompanied by a general cachexia, a depraved state of the organism.

Upon the renewal of healthy vegetative func- tions under the administration of this remedy depends its curative effect in small-pox, malignant ulceration and in scirrhous growths, if not in true cancer.

CEPHALIC GROUP.

There is nothing in the pathogenesis of the drug which indicates a direct effect upon the brain. It may be, however, of use in

HEADACHES arising from constipation, bilious or gastric dis- orders and, it is claimed, from the effects of mercury and quinine. The headaches occur more frequently in the morning than later in the day. The pain is dull, frontal or on the top of the head. There is a feeling of fulness and heaviness in the head ; fulness in the temples with pressure outward.

The tongue is coated white or yellow, and general symptoms of bilious or gastric disturbance are present. The headache is usually relieved by pressure. These symptoms occur also in catarrhal headaches.

INFLAMMATORY GROUP.

We will study, under this group, the use of hydrastis in scirrhous affections and ulcers.

We do not believe that hydrastis exerts any specific influence upon the cancer-cell, at least we have seen no ~pmoi to that effect; but we do believe that patients laboring under scirrhous affections have been greatly relieved under the action of golden seal because of its curative effect upon the vegetative system. Depravity of the vegetative func- tions acts undoubtedly as a predisposing cause in a large per centage of such cases and a remedy capable of modifying or of removing this condition must of necessity assume an important role in their palliative and curative treatment.

SCLRRHUS OF THE BREAST— « Scirrhous tumor, hard, heavy and adhering to the skin, which is dark, mottled and very

172 HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS.

much puckered ; the nipple is retracted, pains like knives thrust into the part ; cachectic appearance of the face." (Kaue.)

Dr. Bayes [Brit. your, of Horn., vol. xix., p. 150,) states: In all cases in which I have used hydrastis, it has exerted a marked influence in removing pain and in modifying the discharge, depriving it of its offensiveness. It has usually improved the general health to a marked degree, but if carried too far, produces great prostra- tion of the physical strength. This has at once been righted on leaving off the medi- cine for a few days, and then resuming its use very cautiously.

In a case of cancer of the left breast, with retraction of the nipple, occurring in a young unmarried woman of about twenty-two years of age, the tumor has almost en- tirely disappeared. In another case of open cancer, also of the left breast, in a married woman of about fifty years of age, the ulcerated surface had so diminished, when I last saw her about three months since, that it was not of the size of a pea. When I first saw her, the ulcerated surface was as large as half a crown.

She had suffered from this cancer many years, and it had been ulcerated for four or five years. Before she consulted me, she had used powdered bark as an external application, which she said always removed all offensive smell. I substituted powdered hydrastis with good effect. I have seen no beneficial results from any other medicines in cases of cancer, which can compare with the results produced by the hydrastis.

Miss F., had suffered for six months from a swelling in the left breast, for which she sought relief. The pain, which was compared to knives being thrust into the part, had become almost unbearable, and the patient was already beginning to assume that worn appearance, so characteristic of the cancerous diathesis. The tumor, which had attained a considerable size, was hard, heavy, and adhered to the skin, which was dark, mottled and very much puckered, the nipple being also deeply retracted.

The patient was at once advised to come into town, in order to have the tumor enucleated; this, however, her circumstances prevented, and without any expecta- tion of affording much relief, a lotion of hydrastis was ordered with the internal use of the same medicine. The pain almost immediately ceased, and the tumor so speedily decreased in size, that at the end of two months it had altogether disap- peared, leaving but the puckered skin, which had otherwise regained its natural appearance.

When we last heard of this patient she continued perfectly well. It is proper to state that her health rapidly improved during the treatment, and that her countenance regained an aspect of health.

M. F., aged fifty-eight years, came under treatment in March last as a patient of the North Wilts Dispensary. Some time ago, a cancer had been removed from the right breast, and a year or two since, she found a similar growth forming in the other side, from which she has suffered agonizing pain. She has also been afflicted with severe cutting pains in the back and lower part of the abdomen, shooting down the thighs, and attended with a dirty brown discharge.

She said that there was often a feeling as though something were gathering in her body with horrible pain, which after a time was followed by a sudden gush of thin, dirty-brown fluid, and immediate relief. On examination, a hard swelling was found in the breast, filling nearly the whole of the organ, but non-adherent, and neither affecting the skin nor the nipple. The neck of the womb was found greatly enlarged, hard and nodulated, this hardness extending to the upper part of the vagina ; there was also ulceration of this organ, fungoid growths growing up from the ulcerated surfaces.

This latter condition pre- cludes at once the idea of adopting any surgical treatment for the breast, even if the evidence of the malignant nature of the tumor had been more decided than it was, and all that was done, was to prescribe hydrastis internally and as a lotion to the breast and an injection to the womb. The swelling has almost disappeared from the breast, the discharge has ceased, the pains are almost gone, and the ulcers have cleansed and appear to be cicatrizing.

In some cases the ulceration has extended into such parts as to prevent much treatment by the application of the paste, and here we have obtained much good from the hydrastis lotion combined with its internal administration; the pain decreases, the fetor is diminished, the discharge is lessened, and the ulceration pro- gresses less rapidly. We have a patient now under our care in the last stages of the disease, who again and again has most earnestly expressed her gratitude for the gr\ it

HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS. 173

relief which has been afforded her by these means. (Drs. MacLimont and Marsden, Brit. your. Homoeopathy, 1864.)

Two years after the article from which I have selected the above cases, leaving out all those in which enucleation was performed, was written, Dr. Marsden reported that two had not been heard from at all; that three reported " perfectly well," and that the others were still showing more or less evidence of suffering from the old disease, although in a very much milder form than before treatment.

MAMMARY TUMORS — In simple or kind mammary tumors hydrastis has been found useful. Dr. Marsden relates the following case in the Homoeopathic World of August, 1870 :

In the autumn of 1 868, a woman, aged fifty years, was admitted a patient of the North Wilts Dispensary. She had been suffering for several months from a swelling in the left breast, which was gradually increasing in size and becoming painful. A week or two previous to coming to the dispensary, she had shown it to a neighboring surgeon, who, on seeing it, expressed an opinion that it was a very serious affair, and desired that another surgeon might see it with him. A consultation was held, the disease was pronounced to be cancer, and an immediate operation was advised, as the only possible remedy.

A time was appointed and arrangements were made for the operation. In the interval, however, she had an opportunity of meeting with the clergyman of her parish, who gave her an order for the dispensary, strongly advising her to obtain advice there before submitting to the operation. On examination, I found a considerable enlargement, which, however, appeared to me to be rather a simple mammary than a cancerous tumor. I delivered my opinion that an opera- tiod would prove to be unnecessary, and ordered hydrastis in three-drop doses of the 2d dilution, three times daily, with the constant application of a lotion of infusion of hydrastis.

The swelling at once began to subside, and in three months had wholly disappeared.

ULCERS. — In ulcers, often of a very malignant nature and after they have resisted very prudent and well directed treatment, we may be able to accomplish a cure with the golden seal. The following case illustrates the scope of the remedy and the condition under which it may be used to advantage. Dr. Gilchrist reports the fol- lowing in the Am. Horn. Observer, 1866, p. 465:

October 23, 1865 Commenced treating J. B. Mill, operative, aged thirty-five, habits moderately temperate ; has three large ulcers on the leg, each one of which seems to belong to a separate class.

They are situated around the ankle, and have existed for upward of two months. The one in front is circular, high, elevated with edges slightly rounded, irregular base, inflamed skin around it, bleeds easily, and discharges a thin, corrosive ichor. The one on the outside is circular, clean, with sharp-cut edges, deep, smooth, shining base, but with an ichorous discharge. The inside one is the largest: it is ragged and irregular, with very deep rough base, high rounded and swollen edges at the upper edge, sharp and well defined at the lower ; has a discharge of grayish, putrid, rather thick pus, and has one or two patches of large, flabby, pale granulations.

These sores are all on the right leg, around the ankle, and increase in size from one to two and a half inches in diameter, the one in front being the smallest, and the inside one the largest. The skin between the sores and for some distance, both above and below, is much inflamed; pain on motion of the ankle, from heat, and from the warmth of the bed; on stepping on the ground w^ith that foot, there is a pricking sensation in the sores, and on sitting down to rest after motion, there is a shooting or lancinating pain in the ulcers.

Tried a great

L74 HYDEASTIS CANADENSIS.

number of remedies at various times, but with no very gratifying results. At last determided to try hydrastis can. as it had cured an inflamed ulcer a day or so before. Ordered a handful of the root to be put into about three teacupfuls of water, and after it had assumed the proper color (one or two days) to dip pieces of soft linen into it and apply them to the sores. This was done and from the very first application im- provement was apparent.

This was on December 15, 1S65. To-day the sores are entirely closed, with a thin, horny scale over the old site, which is peeling off; but the hydrastis has caused the appearance of an eruption which I can hardly describe. It is an eruption of pimples, cone-shaped, which on the top look bloody, or as if the skin had been rubbed off; they appear on a deeply inflamed integument, are smarting and itching; cold applications allay this. January 4, 1866

Have not used the remedy since December 30th, and to-day I find the ulcers entirely closed, skin nat- ural and no signs of the eruption.

BUCCAL AND PHAEYNGEAL GEOUP.

The use of hydrastis in diseases which may be studied under this heading, depends wholly upon the remarkable effect of the drug upon the sensitive mucous membrane. Hydrastis has caused in the healthy : aphthous sore on the mucous membrane of the under lip. Aphthae on the tongue and lip, quite large and sore. The mouth feels sticky, with a light fur on the tongue, and little aphthae on the upper lip.

The roof of the mouth, back of the incisors, feels sore and smooth, as if burned. Aphthae on the tongue. Clinical expe- rience has demonstrated its power to cure: soreness and rawness of the mouth, with raised papillae and dark-red appearance of the mu- cous membrane. Gums dark-red and swollen.

Tongue foul and coated with a thick, white fur. In

STOMATITIS hydrastis is a valuable remedy, whether found in children or in adults. It shows its finest effects, when there is a marked tendency to ulceration, with a profuse flow of mucus from the mouth, which can be removed in long, tenacious shreds.

Western homoeopaths consider the hydrastis an excellent remedy in this form of sore mouth, when there is a great loss of tone and a haggard, cachectic look about the patient. It is used internally and as a wash for the inflamed and ulcerated surface.

SOKE THROAT.— Hydrastis has been successfully used in sore throat, when the fauces are covered with bright, red spots, with occasional ulceration in spots ; profuse discharge of tenacious, ropy saliva; mercurial sore throat; aggravation of the symptoms from the least exposure to cold. Syphilitic taint of the patient. Similar symptoms have led to its use in diphtheritic sore throat and in diphtheria.

The disease came on in the usual way. Under the use of nitric acid, belladonna and capsicum the throat was cured in a very short time, the false membrane clearing off nicely. But about the period when I was looking for the time to arrive when the patient, a girl of fourteen, should be well on the road to health, J. was not a little

HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS. 175

surprised to discover the diphtheritic membrane forming in the left nostril and in the vagina, the former being completely plugged up. I was at a loss to know the proper homoeopathic remedy in this new phase of the disease. I could not expect much from a continuance of the medicines already used, for although they removed the throat symptoms, they had not reached the essence of the disease, which, it was plain to see, was still lurking in the system. Having read somewhere, and at that moment calling it to mind, that hydrastis possessed the power of producing a false membrane upon all mucous surfaces, I at once administered this drug both externally and in- ternally, in the first decimal dilution, the outward application being brought in con- tact with the parts by means of a camel hair brush, while teaspoonful doses of a solution of six drops of the above potency in half a tumbler of water was given every hour.

Very soon the false membrane began to shrink up and soon came away — the cure was rapid and complete. (Dr. C. C.

Smith in Am. Observer, 1866.)

CHYLO-POIETIO GEOUP.

Hydrastis causes : bad taste in the mouth ; diminished appetite, felt especially in the morning. Weakness of digestion. Disagreeable tasting mucus in the mouth in the morning. Eructations of sour fluid.

Constant, dull aching pain in the pit of the stomach, which produces a "gone" or faint feeling. Pain in the stomach and umbilical region. Weight in the stomach. Feeling of weakness and prostration in the epigastrium, with strong and long-continued palpitation of the heart.

Indigestion. Sour stomach. Nausea with belching of wind. Severe, dull pain in the stomach at noon, which is relieved by belching up wind.

Constipation.

DYSPEPSIA. — In the treatment of dyspepsia, hydrastis is an often called-for remedy. It is of especial service when there exists obstinate constipation ; large, flabby tongue ; dull, frontal headache ; feeling of "goneness " in the stomach, not always relieved by eating ; pulsations in the pit of the stomach ; pyrosis ; haemorrhoids.

CONSTIPATION finds one of its most potent remedies in hy- drastis, whether caused by some derangement of the liver or by a lack of secretion of intestinal juices. There will be present many of the symptoms already given ; also, colicky pains, faintness and heat in the bowels ; depression of spirits.

Sarah Howard, aged twenty-nine years, complaining of sore neck and throat, the latter much relaxed and inflamed ; headache, cough and spit; pain in the side while stooping and rising from a recumbent position ; breath bad ; tongue foul and coated with a thick, white fur ; appetite bad and bowels for some six or eight weeks very much confined; had been obliged to resort to opening medicines every Saturday evening; they were generally moved three or four times every Sunday, and not again until the medicine was repeated on the following Saturday.

She was ordered hydrastis every morning and evening ; one week afterward, she felt rather better ; breath not so bad ; tongue moist and more healthy ; appetite increasing ; bowels moved every day since she commenced taking the medicine ; continued the hydrastis; one week later she feels nearly well, except a slight pain while swallowing food ; bowels free from any uneasy sensation, and move every day ; appetite is greatly in- creased and the patient gains strength every day; continued the medicine which resulted in a perfect cure at the end of two weeks longer.

(Dr. Robertson in .Brit. Jour. Horn., Vol. viii.)

176 HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS.

EXCORIATIONS OF THE ANUS.— In excoriations of the anus, especially occurring in little children, in fissure of the anus, and in ulcerations of the rectum the external use, especially, of golden seal, is very soothing and healing. In

HAEMORRHOIDS it may be. used advantageously. Regulating the action of the bowels, as it does, its use is undoubtedly often fol- lowed by very gratifying results; and the local application of an hydras tis-ointm en t may prove soothing to the irritable, sensitive tumor.

Hydrastis has caused : enlargement of the liver with dull sound on percussion; sharp pain in the right side, in the region of the liver, extending to the shoulder-blade. Clinical experience has demonstrated its homoeopathicity to torpor of the liver ; chronic derangement of the liver ; functional disorders of the liver in con- nection with intermittent fever ; catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membraue lining the gall-bladder, biliary ducts, etc.; jaun- dice, with skin and eyes of a dark greenish-yellow, urine very dark- colored, feces quite light colored, and extreme prostration of the whole system.

JAUNDICE. — In jaundice, hydrastis has been used somewhat extensively and quite successfully. Raue merely gives the following brief indications ; gastro-duodenal catarrh ; sense of sinking and prostration at the epigastrium, with violent and continued palpitation of the heart.

Mrs. G , thirty-two years old, bilious temperament, when in the third month of

her second pregnancy, developed symptoms of jaundice, as she had done at each pre- ceding pregnancy, the first symptoms commencing to show themselves about the same period of gestation. There was complete coloring of the skin, a great deal of headache, loss of appetite, pain in the hepatic region and much chilliness. She suffered also quite severely from gastric derangements. Her pulse was slow and feeble, urine distinctly bilious.

China, mercurius, and phosphorus were given with- out benefit, when peculiar cardiac symptoms seemed to call for digitalis, which however did no more for the patient than the others had done. Hydrastis3 was given; one small powder every two hours, producing a decided improvement within one week and curing the patient in about three weeks. (Dr. J.

Albertsonin Am. Horn. Observer, 1866.)

URINARY AND SEXUAL GROUP.*

Hydrastis has caused : pain at the root of the penis just after urinating. Sharp, cutting pain from the right iliac region into the right testicle, with soreness from Poupart's ligament into the root of the penis, while lying down. Dull, aching pain in the testicles, accompanied with a very faint feeling. Tickling in the urethra in the evening. Offensive perspiration of the genitals, especially of the

HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS. 177

scrotum. Increased desire for sexual intercourse, with no emission during the first, and scanty emission during the second embrace. The urine was possessed of a very disagreeable odor, smelling as if decomposed ; in the case of one prover there was a marked increase in the amount of urine voided.

Women-provers have experienced : irritation of the skin and pudendum, compelling one to scratch, which gives relief. Dragged, bruised feeling in the ovarian region. Affections active.

GONORRHOEA, acute or chronic, in men and women, demands the exhibition of hydrastis, when there is a copious thick yellow or green, tenacious, sometimes creamy discharge, without much pain or soreness in the urethra, sensation of goneness after every stool, faint- ness proceeding from the epigastric region and constitutional symp- toms, characteristic of the remedy.

ULCERATION OF THE URETHRA.— Hydrastis has also been used in ulceration of the urethra, often superficial and resulting from neglected cases of gonorrhoea. In these ulcerations an oint- ment made of one part of the fluid extract to ten parts of simple ointment (or of vaseline) and introduced by means of a catheter covered with it, will be found of great use. It is a valuable remedy in

LEUCORRHGEA characterized by: tenacious discharge, erosions and superficial ulceration of the cervix uteri and vagina, great sink- ing and prostration at the epigastrium, with violent and continued palpitation of the heart. Mucous leucorrhcea, the discharge hanging from the os in long viscid strings ; profuse, debilitating albuminous discharge immediately after the menses. Leucorrhoea, complicated with hepatic derangement and constipation. (Lilienthal.) Also : discharge like the white of an egg, setting in immediately after the menstrual flow has ceased.

In

ULCERATIONS OF THE SEXUAL ORGANS OF WOMEN hydrastis plays an important part, whether this ulceration be super- ficial or involves the deeper structures. It is of great value in

SCIRRHOUS INDURATIONS OF THE CERVIX UTERI, characterized by keen darting pains like the thrust of a knife, pro- fuse and characteristic leucorrhoea, sinking and goneness at the epigastrium, constipation.

A lady, aged twenty-seven years, of nervous temperament, light hair and skin, blue eyes, the mother of several children, had been confined to her bed for nearly two years, when 1 was called upon to treat her. She had been under medical care during all this time; her case had been diagnosticated cancer of the uterus and an unfavorable prognosis had been given. I found the following: Complexion sallow and mottled ; tongue very red and moist ; lips dry and sore ; gums very red and

VOL. II. — II.

178 HTDEASTIS CANADENSIS.

spongy, and easily bleeding; pulse small, weak and frequent; hot flashes tormented her while in a waking state; little or no appetite; obstinate constipation; faint feel- ing and "goneness" at the stomach; great nervousness and anxiety as to the final termination of her case. The cervix uteri was hypertrophied and indurated, as was also the lower portion of the uterus. There was a superficial ulcer on the posterior portion of the cervix as large as a silver quarter; extreme tenderness of the vaginal walls and of the cervix ; the mucous membrane was highly congested ; constant vesical tenesmus, with cutting, burning pain after urinating.

The patient was greatly emaciated and had not been able to be out of her bed or even to assume the upright position for many months. There was also a constant sensation of a bearing down of the womb with an ugly and persistent pain in the back. With the exception of a slight ante version, the position of the womb was normal. Constant cauterization and the general free use of argentum nitricum, sulphur, zinc, and carbolic acid had been the most important features of her treatment at the hands of her former attendants.

I began the treatment with sepia6, but seeing no improvement on the fourth day, I put her upon hydrastis, both internally and locally, the former in the third and the latter in the first decimal. The effect, both generally and locally, was perfectly sur- prising, as at the end of the first week of the treatment the ulcer of the cervix was nearly healed, the swelling and hardening diminished, her appetite improved, even the spongy gum assumed a more natural appearance under the action of the remedy.

Ten days from the beginning of the use of the hydrastis the ulcer was entirely healed and the indurated condition of the cervix had changed to the soft and elastic condi- tion of the normal state. (Dr. I. N.

Eldridge.)

CATAEEHAL GEOUP.

All of the pro vers of hydrastis experienced decided catarrhal symptoms, such as: profuse discharge from the eyes and nose; hawking and spitting up of mucus and phlegm; soreness of the throat, chilliness, headache, general malaise. It has been used in

NASAL CATAKKH with dull, heavy, frontal headache; the nose is stuffed up ; secretion of thick, white or yellow mucus ; drop- ping of mucus from the posterior nares into the throat; bloody purulent discharge.

CATARRHAL OPHTHALMIA with lachrymation and free secretion of sticky mucus, glueing the eyelids together. Dr. Hart says: "this medicine may be used to advantage, both locally and generally, in chronic catarrhal conjunctivitis, especially when attended with ulceration; it is also, like hepar sulphur., frequently useful in the acute and subacute forms."

INTESTINAL CATARRH The following case, reported by

Dr. Wigand shows its successful use in intestinal catarrh.

A married woman, aged twenty-one years, mother of one child, three years old, of nervous temperament, blue eyes, light hair ; prolapsus uteri and leucorrhcea of many years' standing ; took cold by getting her feet wet during the last days of her monthly period (November, 1864.) Found her suffering from chills and high fever, pain in the bowels and uterine region, and frequent dysenteric evacuations. Gelsem- ium and aconite removed these complaints, except the pains. These continued with increasing severity.

She says: "It feels like wind." A lump, the size of a hen's egg, rises and falls in the right iliac and lumbar region. Moans continually and at times her outcries are very distressing. Very restless; no sleep; abdominal walls painful to pressure; discharge of flatus which sounds like the report of a pistol; tongue and lips parched and dry; little thirst; loathing of food; constipation; in-

HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS. 170

jections per anum followed by bullet-shaped feces ; offensive, pus-like discharge from the vagina; great tenderness of os uteri; pale and haggard; hiccough; hectic fever; cold sweat; bedsores. The latter symptoms developed gradually during an illness of three weeks. Pains in the bowels and uterine region were con- stant. When the patient was nearly in articulo mortis hydrastis tincture, six or eight drops in a glass of water, a dessert-spoonful every hour, was given.

After the third or fourth dose the pains ceased, and she fell asleep. Hydrastis was continued for several days. Appetite returned, bowels moved regularly and she made a steady and speedy recovery.

EXANTHEMATOUS GROUP.

Hydrastis has caused : Paroxysmal attacks of itching in various parts of the body, principally in the scalp, at different times of the day without producing any eruption. Yellow appearance of the skin, particularly around the mouth and on the neck. Erysipelatoid rash covering the skin of the neck, palms of the hands, and joints of the fingers and wrists with maddening irritation and intense burn- ing heat ; ending after six days in exfoliation of the skin, the irri- tation remaining in a slighter form for some days, and being always worse at night.

In a case, reported by Dr. Gilchrist, where the golden seal was used externally for an ulcer on the leg, there appeared "an eruption of pimples, cone-shaped, which on the top look bloody, or as if the skin had been rubbed ofE ; they appear on a deeply inflamed integument, are smarting and itching ; cold water or cold applications allay this.

VAEIOLA. — Hydrastis has been used extensively in the treatment of variola or small-pox and it is claimed, that under its use there is but little liability to have the patient disfigured by pitting. The special indication for the use of the drug would consist in profound prostration of the patient and in a tendency toward implication of the mucous membrane, particularly of the throat.

Golden seal produces a crop of vesicles, which closely resemble the eruptions of small-pox. Dr. Cleveland relates the following case which would seem to substantiate this assertion :

I was sent for in the night of the 28th of February, to consult with Dr. R. S. Pomeroy on a case of threatened miscarriage, which terminated favorably.

The patient, Mrs. P., about thirty years old, of a bilious encephalic temperament and a scrofulous diathesis, is subject to frequent attacks of/ sore throat, from which she is very deaf. On the second day (March 2d,) after a very severe inflammation of the throat and entire buccal cavity made its appearance, Dr. Pomeroy prescribed an infusion of hydrastis as a gargle, and directed it to be used three or four times during the day.

Mrs. P., not understanding the directions, and the application feeling grateful, used the whole tumbler-full in about five hours, at the same time applying a cloth, saturated with the infusion over the mouth and chin. Next morning (March 3d,) the mouth, lips and nose were veiy much swoolen, and pimples made their appearance during the day around the mouth and chin, resembling the early stage of small-pox or varioloid, and the next morning (the 5th,) they commenced to vesi- cate.

At this stage Dr. Pomeroy called on me to see the case with him, and had I

180 HTDEASTIS CANADENSIS.

not known the previous history of the case, would have pronounced it small-pox. On the 6th the pustules began to sink in the centre and turn dark, and commenced drying, and have gone through the various stages of small-pox or varioloid, and scaled off on the ioth, and on the 15th the patient was up, attending to her house- hold duties.

In general affections of the skin hydrastis may be of service if there is a well-marked depravity of the organism, arising from a vitiated condition of the vegetative system, accompanied by consti- pation, dyspeptic difficulties and a tendency of pustules and eruptions to assume a tedious, even malignant form.

CAEDIAC GEOUP.

Hydrastis has caused : sensation of weight, fulness and heaviness about the heart. Sticking pain in the region of the heart. The heart feels heavy, as if enlarged, with sticking pains, as if in the left auricle, worse on leaning forward. Violent and long-continued palpitation of the heart, with a sense of sinking at the epigastrium.

In the case of a woman, for whom hydrastis had been prescribed, the drug produced such violent palpitation and such distressingly irregular beating of the heart, that it was very difficult to persuade the patient to continue the remedy.

THE SLEEP

of hydrastis is disturbed and unrefreshing. Provers experienced : Dull heavy pains, interrupting the soundness of the sleep ; unpleasant dreams, as of monsters and wild beasts; nightmare, general rest- lessness.

MENTAL GEOUP.

Gloominess and sadness; irritability. Dullness of memory and absent-mindedness. In a few provers there was a cheerful and happy condition while under the influence of the drug. The passions and affections are usually active.

Both of these groups are of interest only as a part of the totality of symptoms.

We use a tincture made from the fresh root ; from it we make dilutions in the usual manner. Triturations are made from the dried root, from which the fibrous matter should be excluded by sifting, before commencing the trituration proper. Hydrastin repre- sents the active principle of the root. It is 'not soluble. Tritura- tions are made from it.

Hydrastia and hydrastina (also called berberina) are the alkaloids

HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. 18 L

of the drug. The former is white, the latter yellow. Both are used. The muriate of hydrastin is becoming a favorite with the profession. It is used both internally and locally, and is of great value as a direct application to ulcerated surfaces. Hale recommends a solu- tion of one grain to ten grains to eight ounces of water.

HYOSOYAMTJS MG-EK.

[black henbane, natural order, SOLANE^!.]

This name is derived from the Greek huos, hog, and huamos, bean. Hogs are said to eat the fruit of hyoscyamus, which bears some resemblance to a bean. Biennial, flowers from June to August. Koot spindle-shaped ; stem one to four feet high, upright, round, tough, branched, wooly toward the top, very leafy ; leaves alternate, sessile, somewhat ovate, sinuate, with short lobes, downy and viscid, exhaling a powerful and oppressive odor ; flowers numerous, from the bosoms of the crowded upper leaves, almost entirely sessile.

Corolla of a pale yellowish-brown, beautifully netted with purple veins, and a dark purple eye or base ; filaments white ; anthers and style of a fine deep purple.

The plant, in the first year, has no stem ; the leaves are all radical, each having a footstalk or pedicle. The leaves are wooly, but pos- sess little of the odor of the mature plant. The leaves of the second year are large, long, and deeply inverse, sessile, and nearly embrace the stem, and having decurrent lobes which are of a more delicate texture thau the blade of the leaf. These lobes are important points to observe in examining a specimen.

The leaves are very clammy and fetid, having an odor very similar to that of the black currant ; these are the true medicinal leaves, and they should be gathered as soon as the flowers are blown. It is found in Europe, Asia and North America; on road-sides, amidst rubbish, and on hill-slopes where the rubbish collects. We prepare a dark-green tincture from the whole plant, or a brownish-red tincture from the seeds alone.

Goats and swine eat this herb with impunity : horses bear large doses of it.

Wepfer relates that several monks feasted on the roots of the wild endive, among which were mixed by mistake two roots of henbane. In a few hours some experienced vertigo, others a burning of the tongue, lips and throat; severe pains were also felt in the iliac region

182 HYOSCYAMUS ttlGMl.

and in all the joints. The intellectual faculties and the organs of vision were perverted, and they gave themselves up to ludicrous and crazy actions.

Two soldiers of the French army hefore Cadiz ate the young shoots of the plant dressed in olive-oil. They presently became giddy and stupid, the ground seemed to give way under their feet, they lost their speech and had a dull, haggard look. The pupils were excess- ively dilated, and the eyes so insensible that the eyelids did not wink when the cornea was touched ; the pulse was small and intermitting ; breathing difficult, jaws locked, and the mouth distorted by risus sardonicus.

Sensibility was extinct, the limbs were cold and the lower extremities palsied, the arms convulsed, and there was that singular union of delirium and coma usually termed tryphomania. One of them was exceedingly delirious, and attempted to escape.

Dr. Patouillat saw nine persons who were poisoned by this root ; some were speechless and convulsed, others occasionally howled ; in all there was protrusion of the eyes, contortion of the mouth like risus sardonicus, and delirium.

It is related in the London Lancet that a tailor, under the influence of this plant, could not thread his needle ; his needle seemed to have three points. This shows the disturbing action of hyoscyamus upon the organ of vision.

Kahleis reports the case of a young girl in whom the seeds of hyoscyamus caused distortion of the mouth (risus sardonicus), con- stipation, desire to vomit, afterward convulsive movements like chorea, loss of sight and hearing, dilatation of the pupils, and an exceedingly small pulse. In this case the effect of hyoscyamus upon the special senses is to be noticed : loss of vision and hearing.

According to Vicat, a man and his wife ate the root, and were attacked with difficulty of swallowing, inflammation of the brain and stupefaction. In meningitis where hyoscyamus is indicated, the patient is generally more or less stupid, and at times shows symp- toms of furious delirium.

From three injections of hyoscyamus, Berignon observed apoplectic symptoms, loss of sight, brown color and bloating of the face, ver- tigo and delirium.

Rueff states a case where a man, who used the vapors of hyos- cyamus for toothache, was attacked with complete impotence.

Gmelin reports a case of a little girl who took one scruple of a decoction of the seeds; she was attacked with epilepsy, rolling of the eyes, foam at the mouth, grating of the teeth, stupor and in- sensibility.

HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. 183

In Frank's Magazine a case is reported where a woman, from eat- ing the root of hyoscyamus in the place of parsnip, was attacked with gradually increasing stupefaction, vibrations before the eyes, sparkling of the eyes, diplopia, dilatation of the pupils, obscuration of sight, vertigo, dryness in the mouth, trembling of the limbs, staggering gait, small, scarcely perceptible, frequently intermitting and moderately slow pulse.

In this case we observe particularly the effect of hyoscyamus upon the eyes, the luminous vibrations, the sparkling of the eyeballs, the diplopia and the obscuration of sight.

A little girl of four years who had eaten some of the seeds of hyoscyamus, was attacked with the following symptoms : small, white reticles on the lips ; bright redness of the face and of the con- junctiva ;' excessive dilatation of the pupils so that only a very narrow border of the iris remained visible ; perfect insensibility of the pupil, even when exposed to the brightest light ; slimy coating on the back part of the tongue ; small pulse, but tumultuous and irregular beat- ing of the heart ; complete loss of sense ; frequent moaning and catching at something with the fingers spread out ; frightful gritting of the teeth ; continual unintelligible muttering.

In a case of poisoning reported in the Journal de Medecim, the symptoms were those of furious delirium tremens and typhus. The patient had swallowed three ounces of the seeds of hyoscyamus as a remedy for pains in the rectum. His face became bluish; the eyes looked red, wild, sparkling ; the veins of the neck, extremities and more particularly those of the face were very much distended ; the whole body was convulsed; frequent subsultus tendinum, and a furious delirium, so that he became uncontrollable.

During the periods of remission, he was engaged in catching at flocks in the air, or at pulling at the bed-clothes ; he uttered but few inarticulate sounds. When he became quiet, he seemed very much exhausted and snored deeply, until the convulsions recommenced. His pulse was small, quick, contracted and intermittent, and easily compres- sible ; hypogastric region distended and sensitive ; scanty secretion of urine. The patient was tormented by itching which obliged him to scratch himself until bleeding; he manifested an irresistible aversion to every kind of beverage.

These cases of poisoning, and the provings, show that hyoscyamus is a cerebro-stimulant, acting especially upon the sensorium and upon the muscular system. It causes perversion of the intellect and of perception ; the patient becomes quarrelsome, abusive, obscene. Eesembling, to a considerable extent, the brain-symptoms of bella- donna and of strammoniam, it lacks the wdld arterial excitement so

184 HYOSCYAMUS NTGEE.

characteristic of the former and the fever which usually accompanies the more good-natured delirium of the latter. Its action upon the muscular system is characterized by paralysis of the involuntary muscles and by paralysis and convulsions of the voluntary muscular system. Nervous excitement and restless sleep with twitching and contortion of the limbs, starting and groaning in sleep, clutching at the bedclothes are somewhat characteristic of hyoscyamus.

CEPHALIC GROUP.

Among the symptoms which characterize the action of hyoscyamus upon the brain, we may distinguish the following: vertigo (of a fortnight's standing) ; vertigo with obscuration of sight ; vertigo as if intoxicated ; loss of sensibility, he may be pinched without his taking the least notice of itj; stupefaction ; loss of senses heaviness of the head, and violent headache ; stupefying headache, sometimes with stinging and tearing pains ; headache, with unnatural heat in the head ; undulating sensation in the head, like a violent beating of the arteries, with pressure in the forehead.

Dimness or obscurity of sight ; others with illusions of sight ; things looked red as fire, or had a golden-yellow appearance ; things that were very small looked as if they were large, for instance a lark seemed a goose, a blade of grass looked like a beam, a drop like a lake ; when read- ing, the letters seemed to move about, and looked as if ants had been crawling about. One imagined that the needle had three points, he was unable to thread it ; another fancied that pictures on the wall were hanging crooked, and would fall.

Sparkling and red eyes; squinting. Stupor ; constant desire to sleep ; excessive prostration ; delirium of various kinds, loquacious, furious, muttering, incoherent, full of improper words, insulting, profane; silly demeanor; grasp- ing at flocks; picking at the bedclothes; constant desire to escape.

In order to complete this group, we must add that the countenance is disturbed, bloated, bluish or a dirty pale color, with dropping of the lower jaw.

These symptoms indicate hyoscyamus in

ENCEPHALITIS with much nervous excitement, mild delirium, muttering and talking about domestic affairs ; red bloated counte- nance, stupor, watery diarrhoea; the stools become involuntary; risus sardonicus. If convulsions set in, they come on suddenly, without hardly any premonitory signs ; the patients froth at the mouth, shake convulsively from head to foot, are tossed up in tho air, as it were, the extremities become rigid, this rigidity is followed

BEYOSCYAMUS NIGER. 185

by frighful twitching of the tendons, the functional power of the senses seems almost extinct.

CONVULSIONS of children, of lying-in women and of hysteria. In all of these, there is an absence of arterial excitement and of cerebral congestion ; the convulsions come on suddenly ; they are preceded by a shriek and insensibility. There is much oppression of the chest ; unconsciousness ; dark-blue or purplish color of the countenance; squinting of the eyes; frothing at the mouth, char- acteristic delirium. In small children these convulsions usually occur after a meal and are preceded by signs of gastric disturbance, pain in the stomach, etc.

In Frank's Magazine, a case is quoted from Bemliardi's Journal

where the curative virtues of hyoscyamus in hysteric convulsions are

strikingly shown.

A young lady of twenty years, who had not menstruated for some time, had over- heated herself at a ball, and was attacked with oppression of breathing, which gradually increased to a state of stupefaction. Her face was much heated, cheeks glowing, she was, without any consciousness, tossed about, pulse full, hard ; super- ficial and hurried breathing. She was treated by an allceopathic physician with the usual antiphlogistic means. Her menses returned and she seemed much better, when about four or five days after the return of the menses, she was taken with convulsions.

Some of these paroxysms set in with a general tetanic spasm, rigidity of the extremi- ties and bending backward of the head, protrusion of the tongue, twitching of the auricular muscles, followed by alternate violent convulsions of single muscles and of the whole body ; other paroxysms set in with sopor and subsultus tendinum, termin- ating in delirium. Half a grain of the extract of hyoscyamus, rubbed up with sugar, was given morning and night ; under this treatment a complete cure was effected in one fortnight.

The prescription emanated from an allceopathic physician, but is eminently a fact legitimately belonging to the domain of homoeopathy.

DELIRIUM TREMENS with clonic spasms; characteristic visual disturbances and delirium; dark -red, bloated and distorted countenance ; great nervous restlessness ; trembling of the hands ; apoplectic symptoms with involuntary passages of stool and of urine.

APOPLEXY may be successfully treated with hyoscyamus, if the symptoms of the paroxysm correspond with those of the drug. We have seen that hyoscyamus causes a bluish and bloated appearance of the face, violent cerebral pains and congestions, redness, protru- sion and sparkling of the eyeballs, excessive dilatation and insensi- bility of the pupils, stertorous breathing, stupor and coma, small, rapid and intermitting pulse, with tumultuous boating of the heart or else full, hard, somewhat accelerated pulse ; the extremities may feel numb, and even insensible ; or a prickling sensation may be felt in them, and they may be covered with a clammy sweat. These symptoms may characterize an attack of apoplexy, and will be fully met by hyoscyamus.

186 HYOSCYAMUS NIGER.

NERVOUS GROUP.

Hyoscyamus has caused : spasmodic tension and stiffness of the muscles of the neck and shoulders, tearing pain in the back and loins, trembling of the arms ; feeling of dullness in the arms, as if they had gone to sleep ; weakness of the legs ; coldness and paralysis of the legs. Spasms of the neck, which was twisted to one side ; spasms with watery diarrhoea and enuresis ; alternate convulsions of the upper and lower extremities ; convulsions with contraction of the extremities and tossing of the body upward.

EPILEPSY. — The above symptoms indicate the use of hyos- cyamus in epilepsy. The attacks come on suddenly. The counte- nance looks purple, bloated ; profuse salivation and frothing at the mouth; the convulsions change location, attacking, one after the other, different sets of muscles ; every attempt to swallow fluids brings on a renewal of the paroxysms ; profound stupor with snoring ; profuse emission of urine. The attacks are caused by fright, jealousy, grief, unrequitted love.

A boy, aged twelve years, robust, was seriously frightened during his early child- hood and has had since then two epileptic attacks each day. Symptoms: The boy falls suddenly with a scream and without warning, strikes convulsively with his hands and feet, closes the hands tightly, the thumb turned inward. The countenance is dark -blue and bloated. The eyes protrude and move spasmodically; they glare.

Involuntary emission of urine. Frothing at the mouth and gritting of the teeth. Slow respiration, with rattling in the throat. The attack lasts about fifteen minutes and terminates in a profound snoring sleep.

After the attack, exhaustion and forget- fulness of all that has happened ; weakness of memory has gradually developed. Prescribed hyoscyamus9, one drop after every attack. He had only one more attack and then remained well. Three years later, he was still perfectly well.

(Schubert in Arch, fuer d. Hoiti. Heilkunst, i., 2. 53-)

HYSTEKIO CONVULSIONS with risus sardonicus, frequent changes of color in the face and symptoms enumerated on a pre- ceding page.

TETANUS with alternate convulsions of the upper and lower extremities ; convulsions during which the patient stamps his feet on the ground, first one foot and then the other ; convulsions with con- traction of the extremities and tossing of the body upward ; and other characteristic symptoms.

PUERPERAL CONVULSIONS with twitching and jactitation of every muscle of the body, characteristic indications.

A woman, aged thirty-two years, of medium size, mother of four children, was taken with convulsions in the third month of pregnancy. Symptoms : Dull, severe headache, difficult to describe; puffed. up, unusually red countenance, frequent jerk-' ing in the pelvic region, nausea, vomiting of ingesta, with severe pain in the epigas- trium, spasmodic pains in the bowels, constipation. Every ten to fifteen minutes she screams violently, the redness of the face increases, great anxiety, dyspnoea, oppressed

HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. 187

breathing; with it, convulsive twitching of the upper and lower extremities, itching in the face, the mouth drawn toward the left side, but there was no froth. The attack lasts about five minutes, with partial consciousness, she must be held to pre- vent her falling out of bed. Usually of a happy disposition, she is now apprehensive, jealous. She has had similar spasms in each pregnancy.

Hyoscyamus3 cured her at once ; it acted with equal promptness in a subsequent pregnancy. (Gaspar in Annalen der Horn. Klinik, i., p. 309.)

A woman, aged thirty-five years, presented the following pictme in the fourth week of her third confinement: Every fifteen to thirty minutes, at the longest every one to three hours, she has spasms, which last several minutes, involving the entire body, especially the extremities. When they have passed, she falls into a condition of drowsiness or she gets out of bed and busies herself about the room. I found her in the latter condition ;• she stared at me with a disturbed, stupid expression, did not stir from the spot upon which she stood, permitted me to examine her pulse, showed her tongue, but refused to answer my questions.

Alternating redness and pallor of countenance, with a soft, feeble pulse. Within a moment she commenced to twitch, her husband placed her upon the bed and told me that she often raised her hands toward the head and that, at first, she had complained of headache. She took little nourishment, but nursed her child. She received two doses each day of hyoscyamus.

The spasms left her on the second day ; she made a good recovery, but never remem- bered what had transpired. (Knorre in Allg. Horn. Zeitg., xix., p. 132.)

ORBITAL GROUP.

Bed and inflamed eyes ; distorted eyes ; convulsive rolling of the eyeballs ; blepharospasms, with inability to open the lids. Optical illusions and phantasms, as : hanging pictures seemed to fall, a needle had three points, point seemed very large, everything seemed red or yellow. Obscuration of sight, even complete amaurosis ; staring eyes ; sparkling eyes ; excessive dilatation of the pupils, with presbyopia or complete insensibility to light or contact.

These symptoms are of value, so far as they are incidental to cer- tain diseases of the brain. The remedy may prove useful in

COMATOPSIA (or seeing colors) and in

AMAUROSIS as a symptom or sequela of certain cerebral disorders.

FACIAL GROUP.

Nosebleed (from large doses) ; red and bloated, bluish face ; dis- torted clay-colored face, with gaping mouth ; brown-reel and bloated face. The nosebleed may occur as a critical symptom in violent cerebral congestions, such as exist in typhus, phrenitis, apoplexy.

The brown-red, bluish and bloated face points to apoplexy ; the clay-colored and haggard face to typhus in the second or third stage, or to delirium tremens of old, cachectic topers.

BUCCAL AND PHARYNGEAL GROUPS.

In this direction the symptoms again point to some one of the above-mentioned disorders. We have the following symptoms : clean and parched tongue ; burning dryness of the tongue and lips which

188 HYOSCYAMUS NIGER.

look like scorched leather ; numbness of the tongue ; dumb, im- peded speech, with loss of sense ; stinging dryness of the fauces, with spasmodic contraction, as if a drop of tea would choke him ; convulsions after drinking ; foul-smelling breath.

This peculiar change in the appearance and sensibility of the tongue may occur in typhus. In this disease the tongue may look and feel like scorched leather, and it may be paralyzed so that the patient is only able to utter inarticulate sounds.

The dryness and spasmodic contraction of the throat when swal- lowing liquids, with aversion to liquids, may indicate hyoscyamus in

HYDROPHOBIA, where it competes witli belladonna, though the latter drug is undoubtedly possessed of curative powers in this disease superior to the former.

CHTLO-POIETIC GROUP.

Among the gastric disturbances occasioned by hyoscyamus, we distinguish : nausea with loathing ; nauseous taste ; yellow coating of the tongue ; sour eructations. Another prover who took in all eighty-seven and three-quarter grains, developed the following symptoms of gastric derangement: white coating on the tongue; furred tongue ; insipid taste, with aversion to food and fetid odor from the mouth ; empty eructations ; oppression after eating ; foul taste ; the teeth and the whole inner cavity of the mouth are lined with a yellow viscid phlegm. Hahnemann has likewise recorded some interesting symptoms obtained both from small and large doses of hyoscyamus. The principal of these symptoms are : bitter taste ; watery vomiting, with vertigo ; hiccough, with spasms and rumbling in the bowels ; hiccough, two midnights in succession, with involun- tary micturition and froth at the mouth ; burning pain in the stomach, amounting to inflammation ; colic, as if his abdomen would burst ; tympanitic distention of the abdomen, painful to the touch ; rumbling with violent diarrhoea; watery, slimy diarrhoea, more or less involuntary.

These symptoms are important as indications for hyoscyamus in several severe diseases. It is very doubtful whether any of these symptoms, when developed as purely gastric disturbances, will be reached by hyoscyamus. But as conditions incidental to typhus or hysteria, they may serve as confirmatory evidence that hyoscyamus is adapted to the case.

The horrid taste which hyoscyamus excites in the mouth, and the

HYOSCYAMUS NIGEE. 189

*

fetid odor, are very apt to occur in typhus. The sordes on the teeth is another symptom developing itself in typhus.

HYSTERIA may sometimes develop some of the other symptoms of gastric derangement, more particularly the spasmodic singultus, with eructations, or attended with burning pain in the stomach.

Tympanitic distention of the abdomen, with pain when touched, is another symptom of hysteria which will undoubtedly yield to hyoscyamus, when presenting itself as an element of such a group.

Whether diarrhoea will yield to hyoscyamus, except when occurring as a symptom of hysteria or typhus (in the last-mentioned affection the discharges are generally involuntary), is questionable. Among hysteric women, and especially young girls whose bowels are apt to bloat, and who are subject to attacks of diarrhoea with colicky pains and frequent urging to stool, or where the sphincters are weak, causing great difficulty in retaining the feces, and where the least excitement, the least mental trouble, provokes the attack, hyoscyamus may prove of great value.

Small doses of hyoscyamus may cause urging to stool, with cos- tiveness and distention of the bowels. In hysteria this condition may occur. We therefore recommend hyoscyamus for

COSTIVENESS with urging in the case of hysteric women.

PARALYSIS OF THE SPHINCTERS, more particularly among patients who are liable to functional nervous disorders of the character of hysteria, may yield to hyoscyamus. If resulting from mismanaged dysentery, as a consequence of the antagonistic treat- ment, we must depend upon other remedies.

UEINAEY GEO UP.

Hyoscyamus causes frequent urging to urinate with inability to expel the urine. This is the primary effect of the drug. During the stage of organic reaction, the urine may flow very copiously.

Either of these conditions is symptomatic of other more general affections, hysteria or typhus. In hysteria there may be profuse enuresis, or constant urging with scanty secretion ; in typhus the urinary secretion may be entirely suppressed.

SEXUAL GEOUP.

IMPOTENCE. — Hyoscyamus affects the sexual sphere very power- fully. In one case, the emanations from the leaves of the plant caused impotence, continuing for two months.

Hyoscyamus causes : profuse menstruation, accompanied or pre-

190 HYOSCYAMUS NiGER.

ceded by a variety of nervous affections. In one case, for instance, the appearance of the menses was preceded by immoderate laughter. In another case the appearance of the menses was accompanied by profuse perspiration, nausea and enuresis. In another case again, the menstrual flow was accompanied by violent convulsive trembling of the hands and feet as if from rage. In one case, the flow was accompanied by delirium.

METRORRHAGIA These various abnormal phenomena show that hyoscyamus must be a most important agent in cases of met- rorrhagia and menorrhagia when accompanied by abnormal condi- tions such as we have alluded to. You will find this great agent particularly useful in the, case of hysteric women whose menstrual functions are marked by such irregularities. . Small doses of hyoscyamus excite the sexual instinct both in men and women.

This symptom, in connection with the numerous ab- normal nervous phenomena which may show themselves during the menstrual period, point to hyoscyamus as an useful agent in some of the most terrible disorders to which women are subject.

NYMPHOMANIA — One of these disorders is nymphomania, to

the different stages of which hyoscyamus is adapted. Hahnemann

has left us the description of an interesting case of nymphomania

where hyoscyamus was employed as the chief curative agent.

A girl of fourteen years had been sleeping in the sun, in consequence of which she was attacked with the following symptoms : Four days after sleeping in the sun the frightful idea took possession of her that she saw a wolf, and six days thereafter she felt as if she had received a blow on the head. She now spoke irrationally, became as if mad, wept much, experienced paroxysms of difficulty in breathing, spat white mucus, was unable to explain any of her troubles. The eyes were very much in- jected.

A few days later, the first symptoms of nymphomania showed themselves. She wanted to kiss persons, and gradually become very lascivious in her actions and words, endeavoring to expose her person and to commit improprieties with those near her. Her skin and sexual organs itched very much. She was speedily cured by hyoscyamus3*, and lastly one dose of sulphur.

PUERPERAL MANIA. — Another dreadful disease of the sexual sphere of women is puerperal mania ; here, too, hyoscyamus is one of our main remedies.

A case of this disease is reported in Frank's Magazine, where hyoscyamus evinced great curative powers. A lady of sanguin- choleric temperament, aged thirty years, had been confined without any untoward accident. Shortly after her confinement she took cold, one of her breast became inflamed, and the flow of milk and the lochial discharge were very much diminished. Her medical attendant found her with the following symptoms : Breathing short, pulse feeble and contracted, one hundred and twenty; tongue somewhat coated, urine dark yellow, stool regular, great heat; no appetite or sweat ; head red and bloated; eyes unsteady, conjunctiva injected, the right breast veiy much inflamed, red and hard. .Suddenly she would jump out of her bed, crying: "I cannot sleep, I shall die anyhow." She knew everybody present, but was enraged, attempted to bite, uttered the most piercing

HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. 191

cries, and manifested superhuman strength so that it took seven persons to hold her. She took the extract of hyoscyamus in one-grain doses every hour; the paroxysms yielded in a short period, and at the end of twelve days the patient was again able to attend to her domestic duties.

PUERPERAL TYPHUS.— Hyoscyamus is a valuable remedy in puerperal typhus with tympanitic distention of the abdomen, stupor, muttering delirium, burning heat of the skin which is cither dry and cracks (usually with petechia), or else covered with profuse watery sweat smelling like mouldy straw (generally with white miliaria, a vesicular eruption, filled with a watery, albuminous fluid) ; pulse small, weak, filiform, increasing in frequency ; the tongue exhibits a brownish coating, and. is dry ; diarrhoeiC stools having a cadaverous smell, and finally coming off involuntarily.

RESPIRATORY GROUP.

Hyoscyamus, and more particularly the alkaloid hyoscyamine, causes dryness of the fauces and air-passages ; a dry, spasmodic cough, without cessation and worse at night; oppression of breathing. "We may therefore find hyoscyamus useful in

WHOOPING-COUGH, with spasmodic paroxysms which are par- ticularly violent at night, and accompanied with great distress for breath, as if the patient would suffocate, with blueness of the face and protrusion of the eyeballs.

EXANTHEMATOUS GROUP.

Hyoscyamus has caused groups of large pustules from above the hips down to the knees, like confluent small-pox, desquamation taking place in four days ; brown spots on the whole body, going and coming; herpetic spots on the nape of the neck; obstinate anasarca.

These appearances are in a measure indicative of a critical termin- ation of some pathological process going on in the interior of the organism.

I have known a case of menstrual suppression in a sensitive and nervous girl, where these spots seemed to come and go as vicarious developments of the menstrual process.

MENTAL GROUP.

The mental derangements, caused by hyoscyamus, may be con- sidered under various heads, (a) craziness, where we have : loss of recollection, he does not know his own family; he sits immovable like a statue; excessive loquacity; singing obscene songs; shyness; he

192 HYOSCYAMUS NIGER.

prepares for a wedding; he feels of his head, face, nose ; he acts as if he were cracking nuts ; he acts as if he were chasing fowl ; he puts on a priestly gown and wants to preach ; he puts his arms around the stove, and wants to climb up to the top ; they cried out that things would fall, and grasped at them ; running against everything, with open, wild, staring eyes ; (b) rage, indomitable rage^ he wants to stab people ; dread of being bitten by animals ; horrible anxiety ; he wants to kill himself in despair. Many of these symptoms may occur in typhus, more particularly the shyness, loquacity, and the singing of obscene songs.

FEVER GROUP.

TYPHUS CEREBRALIS Hyoscyamus is one of the most

powerful agents in typhus cerebralis, or in any form of typhus, where the cerebral symptoms pointedly and unmistakeably indicate this drug. These symptoms have been abundantly indicated in previous paragraphs. It may be homoeopathic to any stage of typhus, but more particularly to the congestive stage, with strong symptoms of cerebral engorgement, hot skin, full, hard, quick pulse. In the paralytic stage, it may be necessary to resort to the mineral acids first, before hyoscyamus can be employed with advantage.

This, however, must not be considered as a binding rule.