Phytolacca Decandra

[poke-weed, natural order, phttolaccace^;.]

A native of the United States and Canada, and also found in some parts of Europe, as Italy, Spain and France. Perennial. The root is large and branching. The stem is from five to twelve feet high, has a diameter of from one to four inches, smooth, branching, and assumes a deep purple color when mature.

The leaves are ovate, acute at both ends, are about five inches long and from two to three inches wide, smooth, and of a rich green color, which changes to a deep purple in fall. The racemes are cylindric, long, at first terminal, becoming finally opposite the leaves. The greenish-white flowers appear in July and August. The calyx is five-parted ; stamens five to twenty-five ; styles and carpels five to twelve.

The fruit is a berry of the size of a pea, which, at first green, assumes a dark purple at maturity ; it is very juicy and yields a rich purple color. (After Wood and Geiger.)

According to Braconnot one hundred pounds of the ashes of poke- weed contain forty-two pounds of caustic potash. In some European countries the berry has been used as coloring matter of confection- ary and candies ; also for imparting a beautiful color to certain wines ; the latter custom is now prohibited by law;

The mature leaves and the juice have been used topically for cancer. Zollikofer discovered the efficacy of the juice in chronic rheumatism. The Indians were well acquainted with its emetic and cathartic properties, and made free use of it in the treatment of cancers, tumors and some syphilitic affections.

The young and tender sprouts are harmless and may be used for greens.

The roots, leaves and berries are officinal. The former should be gathered in fall, sliced transversely and carefully dried. "As met with in this shape, it is of a pale-brown color, rather darker exter- nally ; hard, corrugated, and distinctly marked internally with con- centric rings of considerable thickness. It is inodorus, with a mild, rather sweet taste, succeeded by considerable acridity. Water at

PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA. 621

212° F., or alcohol, extracts its medicinal properties. The tincture made from the fresh root should be prepared with the strongest alcohol. If the dry root is used, the alcohol should be diluted by one-fifth of its bulk of water." (Hale.)

We make a tincture of the leaves and of the berries, gathered in ?ate fall when the fruit is mature, but the tincture of the root is the most valuable preparation.

An eclectic physician was called to see a lady who was suffering from an inflammation of the right mamma; he dissolved ten drops of the strong tincture of the green root of phytolacca in three ounces of water, directing her to take a teaspoonful every hour. It seems she took one teaspoonful, and in about one hour one table- spoonful, and the following is her version of symptoms : She commenced at once to be sick, and vomited first the contents of the stomach, and afterward a bitter, watery mess, which continued almost incessantly from 9:30 p. m. until 5 a. m.

Toward morning- she became thirsty and very feverish, with burning all over, but more particularly in the bottom of the feet, which seemed bloated full like puff-balls, although they were not hot to the hand. Severe pains through both ankles and feet. Pains shooting from the sacrum down both hips (outside) to the feet. This was kept up all the time.

Sensation all the time as though the courses would appear. Toward morning a leucorrhoea commenced, which was profuse, ropy and not irritating. The bowels felt as if they would move, but did not. Heavy, aching pain in the hypochondrium, which left as soon as the leucorrhoea commenced.

Headache through both temples, as soon as the leucorrhoea commenced. The eyes and nose ran freely like water for two hours, and stopped shortly before the vomiting stopped. The jaws ached violently during the whole time, greatly increased by motion. Aching in both shoulder-blades.

The arms were almost paralyzed ; she could not even lift her young babe. Weakness of the lower extremities ; she could not stand. Continued eructation of gas while vomiting. The vomiting was easy and accompanied by bitter taste in the mouth and deathly sickness.

Heat in the face and head. Face flushed. She seemed strong until she tried to get up ; then could not stand and had to be raised to vomit. There was no salivation, no soreness in the mouth or throat.

(Dr. A. A. Whipple in the Ed.

Med. Journal, December, 1875.)

Dr. Louis Grassmuck reported the following case to the Homoe- opathic Medical Society of Kansas : I was called to see a middle-

622 PHYTOLACCA DECANDKA.

aged lady of fine constitution and good character. I found her suffering intensely with pain in the joints, and bones of the face and head, and was informed that her sufferings were such that she had not slept for many nights. In addition to this she was covered from the crown of her head to the soles of her feet with an erup- tion, the like of which I had never seen. It began on the scalp and spread downward to the very toe-nails.

It consisted of erythema- tous blotches of irregular shape, slightly elevated, of a pale red or pink color, very sore and painful ; itching slightly only on desqua- mation, but too sore to allow of any scratching for relief,' and terminating in a dark-red or purple spot, taking about thirty days' time for each to pass through its various stages of eruption and desquamation, and about the same length of time to advance from the head to the feet, so that the eruption could be seen at one time in all its stages of development..

There was no accompanying fever, no swelling, except in the face, no sweats and the appetite was good. She wanted relief from the nightly pains in the bones of the face and head, and wanted to know what the eruption was. * * * A vigorous cross-examination revealed the fact, that about thirty day's before, she had been induced to take a "blood-purifying remedy," consisting of a pint of whisky with about three ounces of poke-root in it. Of this poisonous, saturated tincture, she took a swallow three times a day until I was called.

I gave mercurius solubilis, 3d decimal trituration, which relieved the sleeplessness at once, and finally also the pains, but the eruption grew worse rather than bet- ter, and even invaded the conjunctiva and the mucous membrane of the mouth and nose ; and now, after a lapse of three months, it is in the fauces and oesophagus, having entirely disappeared from the external surface of the body. (Am. Observer, January, 1875, from Ohio Med. and Surg. Reporter.}

"I ate a small piece of the root, about the size of a common cherry and also gave small pieces to several of my friends. This was a little before 1.2 m. Soon after, all who had eaten it began to vomit. The matter ejected was first of the aliment, and then a dark, bilious substance, which came away with as little effort as vomiting in Asiatic cholera.

Vomiting and purging continued all the afternoon, with considerable griping pains and cramps in the abdomen. The emesis took place every fifteen or twenty minutes. Toward evening we were confined to our beds, and the whole family alarmed, thinking we would die. The extremities were cold; pulse

PHYTOLACCA DECANDEA. 623

very low ; the eyes were deeply sunk in their orbits, and vomiting and purging still continued. Toward night our condition became rather serious, I ordered some black coffee, and after this, the vom- iting ceased, but the purging continued. We all passed a restless night, with some fever, as reaction had taken place. There was considerable thirst, and the 'passages were without pain.

The next morning we felt very weak, especially in the abdomen, with little or no appetite for several days, during which time the diarrhoea con- tinued." (Dr. Bahrenburg's accidental proving, in Hale's New Remedies, second edition.)

Dr. Eawlings Young writes that he was called to three children, nine, six and four years old, poisoned by eating the root of the Phy- tolacca decandra. They ate this at 11:30 a. m., at 12 m. took a hearty dinner, and an hour later commenced purging and vomiting. At 4:30 p. m., when he first saw them, the purging had ceased, but free vomiting occurred at intervals of twenty or thirty minutes ; great dilatation of pupils ; pulse rapid and very feeble ; inspiration short and sighing.

When completely aroused from their narcotism, they complained of intense epigastric paiu, great thirst and chilli- ness. The treatment consisted of hot baths, sinapisms, small doses of brandy frequently repeated • they all recovered, though continuing to vomit until 6 a. m. the next day, and complaining of vertigo and epigastric tenderness for a day longer. [New Remedies, July, 1874.)

An examination of the physiological effects of phytolacca, as shown in the cases given, reveals some points of considerable interest. It exerts a well-marked effect upon various structures of the body. Given in small doses, it produces an irritating effect npon the mucous membrane, which shows itself not only in its action upon the stomach and intestines, producing emesis and purging, but can be traced to the eyes and nose, producing symptoms of fluent coryza. If larger doses are taken or if the dose taken is repeated a number of times at brief intervals, the irritation in the bowels does not only continue, but may become quite severe, causing various and severe pains in the intestine ; we find also symptoms of conges- tion in all the pelvic viscera, and soreness and irritation of the throat; if the doses are quite large there are added to these symp- toms undeniable proof of an involvement of the brain, such as stupor, dilatation of the pupils, etc.

In the cases of poisoning given we find no well-marked throat symptoms ; but systematic provings are rich in them.

6M PHYTOLACCA BECANDKA.

Phytolacca affects also the serous and fibrous tissues. It causes severe pains in the periosteum and in the joints, such as: severe pains in the ankles and feet, in the sacrum, pains running down both hips, aching of the jaws, and a paralytic feeling in the arms and hands ; the character of the pains reminds us of mercurial and syphilitic poisoning.

The glandular system is affected by phytolacca in a very decided manner, causing an inflammatory action with a decided tendency to suppuration ; this affinity for the glandular structure finds its most practical application in the use of this remedy in inflammatory states of the breast.

The second case given you illustrates very nicely the power of this drug to produce varied and severe effects upon the skin ; it also furnishes us another illustration of the fact that, frequently, favor- able results of wild empiricism are readily traced back to an uncon- scious application of our law of cure. Leading men in the old school of practice recommend phytolacca in the treatment of skin diseases. Dierbach states that a salve made of the dried root pulver- ized and rubbed with lard, is an excellent application in cases of itch, tinea capitis, and many other diseases of the skin.

King con- siders it inferior only in similar affections to sanguinaria; Mitchell and others follow in their wake.

We have many provings of phytolacca. The profession is under obligations to Drs. Hering and Williamson for the first series of ex- periments made with this drug upon the healthy.

CEPHALIC GKOUP.

Phytolacca has caused dull, steady, aching pains in the forehead ; pain in the tuberosities of the forehead ; pressure, outward, in the temples ; headache, commencing in the frontal region and extend- ing backward. Deep-seated soreness in the head, worse on the right side and in damp weather. Moving, transitory pains, generally on one side at a time, but more frequently and more severe on the right side. Sensation as if the brain were bruised, when stepping from a high step to the ground.

Vertigo with dimness of vision^ We may find this remedy of service in

HEADACHES which are characterized by similar symptoms ; it will be found of especial value in persons of a syphilitic habit, with much soreness deep in the brain, of irritable and depressed mood, suffering from vertigo and dimness of sight ; aggravated from damp weather. Also serviceable in mercurial headaches.

ORBITAL GROUP.

Shooting pain from the left eye to the top of the head. Pressure in, or around, or over the eyes. Burning and smarting sensation iu the (left) eye. Sandy feeling in the eyes.

Itching at the in- ternal canthi of the eyes, very severe, causing rubbing, and subse- quent tendernes of the eyeball. Soreness on closing the eyelids. Beddish-blue swelling of the eyelids, worse on the left side and in the morning. Agglutination of the eyelids during the night.

Con- stant flow of tears, relieved in the open air. Dimness of sight. Long-sightedness. Bright light (gas) affects the eyes unpleasantly.

Lachrymation.

OPHTHALMIA. — You may find a similar group of symptoms in ophthalmia, especially of syphilitic persons. I doubt the ability of this remedy to accomplish much in diseases of the eye which do not depend upon a constitutional taint which it is in the power of the remedy to remove.

Dr. Hart says : "This remedy is reported to have cured catarrhal ophthalmia, with lachrymation and photophobia; also granular conjunctivitis, with circum-orbital pain and soreness; great benefit is also said to have resulted from its internal administration in a case of traumatic suppurative choroiditis, in which the lids were enormously swollen, the conjunctiva chernosed, and the anterior chamber filled with pus." [American Observer, September, 1877.)

BUCCAL AND PHARYNGEAL GROUPS.

The following symptoms are worthy of note : Profuse flow of saliva into the mouth ; small ulcers on the inside of the right cheek, like those caused by mercury ; the saliva is thick, tenacious, ropy and, at times, yellowish. Metallic taste in the mouth. Tenderness and heat in the roof of the mouth. The fauces and soft palate are inflamed.

Soreness of the throat, with a feeling as if a lump had formed there. Dryness and roughness in the pharynx. Hawking and raising of tough, tenacious mucus. Difficulty of swallowing, accompanied with excrutiating, shooting pains through both ears.

Fauces red and congested; dryness of the throat. Accumulation of thick, yellow mucus in the fauces. Sensation in the throat like that caused by eating choke-pears. Sensation as if something had lodged in the throat, at the root of the tongue.

Sweetish odor from the breath is strongly characteristic of this remedy.

You will find phytolacca useful in the treatment of the following diseases :

G26 PHYTOLACCA DECANDKA-

APHTHAE with small ulcers on the inside of the cheek, great tenderness, profuse salivation ; sweetish odor from the breath.

R. T., aged ten months. Has had a sore mouth for six weeks and has been all this time under the care of the "regular" family physician. The mouth looked dark-red ; the inner cheek was fairly studded with small ulcers ; the child acted as if in intense pain as soon as feeding was attempted ; constant discharge of ropy saliva from the mouth; sweetish odor from the breath.

We gave the child a dose every hour of a solution of one drop of the tincture of phytolacca in half a glassful of water, using a solution of the same strength by means of a soft small sponge. The child was well in a week. With its recovery from this complaint the little one gained also in flesh and spirits, so that, within a month after its recovery, it was heartier and stronger than it had ever been.

Mrs. H. called on me to see her child, aged fourteen months. It was attacked in the country some ten days ago and within twenty-four hours the mother's nipples began to inflame, and by the fourth day were so sore, secreting pus and bleeding on the slightest pressure, that she was forced to wean the child. The child's mouth is now in a very unpleasant condition, and it can hardly take food enough to sustain life.

On examination it shows the peculiar pearly white secretions on the eroded corner of the mouth, the inner surface of the lips, and the edges of the tongue, with a large ulcer of the cheek, covered with a white pultaceous slough. The mother has inflammation of one breast and much engorgement of the other, with pain. We gave the child tincture of phytolacca (green root) gtts. v., water §iv. ; a teaspoonful every hour. For the mother : tincture of phytolacca gtts. x., water iv. ; a teaspoon- ful every two hours.

The child was greatly relieved in one day, and the mouth was well by the fourth day. The mother was also relieved in about the same time. No local applications were employed in either case. (Dr.

Scudder in Eel. Med. Journal, October, 1874.)

STOMATITIS MATEKNA with heat in the mouth, tenderness of the mouth, feeling as if the teeth were elongated, profuse flow of yellowish saliva of metallic taste ; the tongue feels rough, with blisters on both sides and a very red tip.

A comparison of the pathogenetic symptoms with those of mercu- rial ptyalism and sore mouth, is sufficient to establish the homoe- opathicity of this remedy to that disease. Wherever we find a similar group of symptoms in a case of chronic syphilitic disease, phytolacca is apt to come into play.

ANGINA FOLLICTTLAPJS, whose main feature is great dry- ness of the throat ; the throat looks dark-red ; feeling of fulness in the throat ; shooting pains through the ears during deglutition.

A man, forty-five years old, had had chronic follicular pharyngitis for several years. The membrane lining the fauces and pharynx, as well as the velum pendu- lum and the uvula, is pale, puffed and flabby. Uvula large, almost translucent. Distressing sensation of enlargement of the calibre of the pharynx and oesophagus from the choanse to the epigastrium, much aggravated by exposure to damp winds.

It then begins at the choanas, and in twelve hours extends to the epigastrium. On reaching this point it provokes a cough, paroxysmal, extremely distressing, and attended by very profuse and exhausting expectoration of thick, starch-like mucus. The whole chest then feels like a big, empty cask, as if its calibre were enlarged tenfold. There is great constitutional debility along with these attacks.

The patient, who is intolerant of stimulants, can take whisky to any Extent and with great temporary relief. Phytolacca6, a dose every other night for a month, cured this con- dition. (Dr. T.

F. Allen in Am. Horn, Review, 1865, p. 454.)

PHYTOLACCA DECANDKA. 627

DIPHTHERIA with great prostration ; chilliness during the evening and at night. Violent headache, with sorenes deep in the brain ; violent backache and ache in the bones ; faintness and dizzi- ness when raising the head from the pillow. Gray exudation upon the tonsils and fauces ; difficult deglutition ; profuse flow of tough, ropy saliva.

Miss E., aged twenty-three years, light complexion, sandy hair and black eyes, nervous temperament, had been nursing a little niece who had just died of diphthe- ria. She was seized with a violent chill, which was soon followed by a very high fever, with pain in the head and neck, soreness and swelling of the throat, great fetor of breath and extreme thirst. Pulse 120 per minute. Examination of the throat showed a thick, ash-colored membrane covering the left tonsil and nearly the whole left side of the throat, and a copious secretion of ropy mucus lining the mouth and throat.

Prescribed phytolacca tincture, two drops every hour until the fever abates; then every two hours. Next day the fever was less active, pulse 90; the ropy mucus in the mouth had disappeared; there was less thirst; the membrane had disappeared from the left side of the throat, but there was now a large deposit on the right side. The remedy was continued. Two days later I found that the deposit had disappeared; the patient complained of debility.

Occasional doses of Phyto- lacca were given for a few days longer, and the patient was discharged feeling per- fectly well. (Dr. I. N.

Eldridge, Am. Horn. Observer, vol. iv., p. 435.)

A child, four years old, was found to suffer from diphtheria in an advanced stage. Both tonsils were much swollen, and completely covered with dirty white pseudo- membrane ; the fauces and soft palate were highly inflamed ; the tongue protruded, was thickly coated at the back part, and fiery red at the tip ; deglutition was almost impossible; high fever; pulse 140; he cried loudly, complaining of headache and aching in the limbs. Great prostration. Prognosis very unfavorable.

I applied a wet compress to the throat and gave phytolacca tincture, a drop to be taken every half hour for six hours ; then, if relieved, every hour. A strong solution of the same, one part to three, to be applied to the tonsils with a camel's-hair brush, every two hours. After the fourth dose the child seemed to breathe more freely ; after twelve hours the pseudo-membrane began to come away in large patches, and on the morning of the second day after my visit the tonsils were quite clean, but very red and tender.

The medicine was continued every two or three hours during the next two or three days and then discharged cured. (Dr. R. R.

Reed in the Monthly Horn. Review, April, 1866.

Mary C, aged seven years, dark hair, dark eyes. Was called in the early morn- ing to see the patient, who suffers habitually from enlarged tonsils and weakness of the throat. I found the patient in bed, looking very sick ; skin ashy hue ; eyes sunken and congested ; breathing short and labored ; breath putrid ; fever ; pulse 130, very weak ; aching pains throughout the system, but referred principally to the back of neck and to the occiput; vomiting commenced at 3 A. M., and had continued to the time of my arrival.

Eating or drinking caused renewed vomiting; yellow watery substance only thrown off; tongue coated heavily, very white ; tonsils cov- ered with unmistakable diphtheritic deposit ; swallowing exceedingly painful. Pre- scribed phytolacca dec.3, one dose every hour. In less than three hours vomiting had stopped; could swallow more easily. The next morning found the patient sitting up ; throat almost clear ; all the symptoms were much relieved ; the only remaining spot was on the right tonsil, which was removed by mercurius vivus6, so that, next morning, the case was reported well.

(Dr. A. W. Woodruff, Horn, limes, April, 1880.)

SCARLATINA. — In scarlatina, especially of the malignant type, the angina frequently becomes diphtheritic; if so, phytolacca must be considered as the possible remedy.

628 PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA.

I was called, in consultation, to see a case of scarlatina maligna in a family where one child had just died ; a fatal issue was also expected in this case. I found the body of the child covered with a pale, scanty rash ; the fever was intense, the pulse running up to 140 per minute. The condition of the throat was desperate ; there was excessive glandular swelling ; the fauces were covered with dirty-gray membranes, the fetor oris was unbearable,' simply cadaverous. There was also violent delirium.

The tincture of phytolacca was given in drop-doses and at short intervals, and a hot pack was placed around the throat. Within six hours a great change took place. The fever lessened perceptibly; the pulse came clown to 120; breathing was easier; the parts, covered by the compress, perspired freely and the rash, formerly pale, now came out brightly. The throat was so much better on the following day and the general improvement was so marked, that the attending physician thought the remedy was no more needed.

Upon its discontinuance the old symptoms returned, obliging him to resort again to phytolacca. Under its now continued use the patient made a satisfactory recovery. (Dr. Catherine Arndt.)

CATARRHAL AND THORACIC GROUPS.

We have recorded : lachrymation ; profuse watery discharge from the nose ; tickling in the larynx with hacking cough and dryness of the throat. Dry, bronchial cough, with sensation of roughness and slight increase of heat in the trachea and bronchia. Feeling as though he were breathing through an open sponge. Shortness of breath. Aching pain in the right side of the chest; tenderness of the muscles of the chest, as if bruised.

Phytolacca has been recommended for

CORYZA with obstruction of the nostrils, causing difficult breath- ing with the mouth closed ; constant hawking, etc.

INFLUENZA with similar symptoms ; profuse watery discharge from the nose or closure of the nostrils ; hawking with tickling and dryness in the throat.

COUGH with dryness in the pharynx ; dry bronchial cough, with sensation of roughness and slight increase of heat in the trachea and bronchi ; hoarseness.

We have little clinical experience with this drug in catarrhal affections, and it is more than probable that it can be of use only in very exceptional cases.

CHTL0-P0IETIC GROUP.

Phytolacca exerts a very marked effect upon the stomach and intestinal tract. It causes nausea, followed by vomiting of the con- tents of the stomach, mucus, bile and even blood. We find also eructations of flatus, with spitting of water. Feeling of constriction and pressure in the stomach. Cutting pain in the pit of the stomach with tenderness to the touch in the pit of the stomach. Digging pain in the region of the liver ; violent, dull pressing pain in the left hypochondrium. Boring pain to the left and a little

PHYTOLACCA DECANDEA.. 629

above the umbilicus; cutting, rumbling, griping pains in the abdo- men, followed by the passage of offensive flatus. Bumbling in the bowels ; sensation as if diarrhoea would follow. Constipation. Diarrhoea, with bilious discharges from the bowels. Neuralgic pains shooting from the arms and the lower parts of the rectum along the perineum to the middle of the penis.

A glance at cases of poisoning would lead to the belief that Phy- tolacca must prove an important remedy in certain, and common, derangements of the stomach and bowels. This is not the case. It has been urged that the effects of the drug upon these organs are mainly due to the chemical action of caustic potash which it con- tains and are consequently of no value to the homceopathist. In

CONSTIPATION phytolacca may become of service in the case of old people who are inclined to paralytic troubles ; constant urg- ing to go to stool, but passing only offensive flatus ; shooting pains from the lower rectum and from the anus along the perineum to the penis ; fissure in ano.

NEEVOUS AND USTFLAMMATOET GEOUPS.

We find a formidable array of pathogenetic symptoms under this group. We have : Pain throughout the muscles of the left shoulder. Twitching, drawing and aching pains in the outside of the right arm. Weakness and aching in the bone of the right arm, aggra- vated by motion and extension. Shooting, drawing, lancinating, rheumatic pains in the fingers and hand. Neuralgic pain in the outside of the thigh ; rheumatic paiu in the right knee, worse on a damp day. Pain in the dorsum of the foot and in the toes.

This drug should be consulted in the treatment of the following diseases :

ISOHIAS when the pain is on the outer side of the thigh (see Case I. of accidental proving); the pain is drawing and tearing, increased by motion and pressure; paralytic weakness of the ex- tremities ; syphilitic taint.

BHEUMATISMUS in the arm, in the lumbar region, from the hip down to the knee, in the ankles, feet and dorsa of the feet ; the pains are quick, darting and transient, but at times seem permanent and are then associated with a severe, sore ache ; they are worse at night, in damp weather and during motion, and favor the outer sur- face of the limb ; nightly bone-pains, especially in the tibia ; pains in the middle of the long bones. Syphilitic and mercurial rheu- matism.

630 PHYTOLACCA DECANDEA.

Mrs. S., aged forty-three years, had suffered for many weeks with rheumatism in the small of the back, so that she could not assume the erect position without great pain. She had no perceptible fever or thirst; her appetite was not much impaired. She suffered no pain except in the lumbar region, and this was so excrutiating that fears of the existence of renal inflammation were entertained ; the urinary symptoms, however, contra-indicated this.

The patient received every three hours one drop of Phytolacca 6th dilution. She took the remedy two days, found herself much relieved, and ceased taking it after she found "herself perfectly well, and free from the suffer- ing. * * * Rheumatic patients have frequently complained of a sensation of dry- ness and swelling, as if something were in the throat, while taking this remedy. (Dr. E.

A. Small in the U. S. Med. and Surg, your., January, 1872.)

The following cure of mercurio-syphilitic rheumatism, with doses truly heroic, is taken from the Am. Med. Intelligencer, Sept. 15, 1841 : The patient was a young man, twenty-four years of age, who had been under mercurial treatment for chancre on the prepuce ; there were painful exostoses on the tibia ; the bones of the cranium were fairly deformed with them, the skin was dry, the urine dark. When not under the influence of opium he cried like a child with the intensity of the pain.

Dr. Jones succeeded in supplanting the opium by strammonium. He then boiled ten pounds of the fresh root of phytolacca in half a gallon of water until it had boiled down to one quart ; and of this preparation he took a wine-glassful three times a day. It had a gentle stimulating effect, acting upon the skin and bowels ; his appetite commenced to improve on the second day, the pains became bearable, sleep more quiet and within a week more the patient was convalescent.

URINARY AND SEXUAL GROUPS.

Phytolacca does not produce any strongly marked effects upon the sexual apparatus of men. An utter absence of sexual desire and a perfect relaxation of the organs is perhaps the only appreci- able effect. Its action upon women is more decided. We find there: Profuse menstruation. Metrorrhagia. Menstruation too frequent. Violent pains in the abdomen during menstruation, (in a barren woman). Leucorrhoea. Inflammation and swelling and sup- puration of the mammae.

Therapeutically, these symptoms are mainly of importance as a part of the totality of symptoms. While we might be justified in expecting some curative power from the drug in certain menstrual derangements and in leucorrhoea, the picture itself is too incomplete to draw well-defined lines. Clinical experience has demonstrated that we have in the poke-weed one of our very best remedies in

MASTITIS, in the various stages of development. Hardness of the swelling is one of the most reliable indications. There may be fistulous openings ; if so. they will discharge a thin, watery pus. There is excessive sensitiveness of the breasts and of the nipples.

Mrs L., aged twenty-two years, mother of a child one year old; at her confine- ment had inflammation of the mammae ; pus formed, and lancing was necessary. She was under the treatment of three regulars, one of them a practicing surgeon, and they concluded that the only chance to save the patient's life lay in the use of the knife. She suffered intense pain and was growing weaker all the lime, when I was called. I found the patient pale, greatly emaciated, with cold hands and feet and trembling.

She could walk only with assisance. Upon examination with the probe,

PHYTOLACCA DECANDRA. 031

I found fistulous openings downward and backward, four inches in extent. I pre- scribed perfect rest, good diet and cheerful surroundings ; three doses each day of Phytolacca*, and injections of the tincture of phytolacca (one drachm to three drachms of water) night and morning, and continued this treatment for four weeks. The patient reported herself cured, and has since then had two confinements without any trouble with her breasts. (Dr. C. H. Carpenter in Horn. World, December, 1869.)

Mrs. W., forty years old, bilious temperament, rather full habit, consulted me March 20, 1869, for an enlarged mammary gland, having a fistulous opening of five years standing. She has been under constant care and was about to undergo an operation. I prescribed the same treatment as in former case and with the same result.

Mrs W. called at my office on October 14th ; says that she is perfectly cured, has had no soreness or tenderness for the last three months and is able to use her arm and work without inconvenience. (Ibid.)

Mrs G., aged thirty-one years, has just been confined of her fourth child. Has had a broken breast at every confinement. I was called on the sixth day after her confinement, and found the breast badly caked, as hard as a stone ; sharp, keen pains running through the gland in various directions and also from it into the shoulder; great soreness to touch of the breast and nipple. Face flushed ; temperature of the body high ; pulse 1 10.

She is discouraged at the certainty of a long illness. Phy- tolacca tincture, used internally in drop doses every hour, and externally in a dilution of half an ounce to a pint of water, cured the case within a few days.

Phytolacca has caused : Urgent desire to pass water. Pain and soreness in the region of the kidneys, with heat; uneasiness down the ureters; chalky sediment in the urine. Pain in the region of the bladder before and during micturition. Dark-red urine, which stains the chamber of a mahogany color and is very hard to remove.

NEPHRITIS. — These symptoms point to its probable usefulness in nephritis and in

ENURESIS.

EXANTHEMATOUS GROUP.

Among the pathogenetic symptoms of poke-weed we find : Sup- puration of painless tumors. Pustules or boils behind the ear. Eruption of spots on the chest of the size of lentils, elevated, with great itching. Eruption on the scalp, spreading downward to the very toe-nails.

Erythematous blotches of irregular shape, slightly elevated, of a pale red or pink color, very sore and painful; itching slightly only on desquamation, but too sore to allow of any scratch- ing for relief, and terminating in a dark red or purple spot. Severe drawing, tearing pains in the bones of the head. Nightly pains in the periosteum of the tibia ; pains in the middle of the long bones.

SCROFULOSIS. — Phytolacca may be of service in the various expressions of scrofulosis with scaly, dry eruption on the scalp {tinea capitis) ; granulations of the eyelids ; soreness in the eyes, especially in the left eye ; enlargements and indurations of the glands ; dry rash on various parts of the body, worse when washing or touching it; very sore and painful blotches of a pale red color, itching

632 PLATINA.

severely, but so sore that they cannot be touched ; dryness in the throat.

SYPHILITIC SKIN DISEASES, with rheumatic and bone pains in various parts of the body ; ulcers which look as if they were punched out, discharging a thin, fetid, watery pus and with sharp lancinating pains; glandular enlargements with lancinating pains.

A mariner, aged twenty-five years, bilious temperament ; contracted syphilis two years ago ; the rupial sores became developed in great numbers all over his body during the last eight months ; there was a corresponding depression from the number and extent of secretion. He had for several months been getting dispensary advice, but getting too weak was unable to go up any longer. I gave phytolacca 1st deci- mal, and in fourteen days most of the crusts dropped off, exhibiting healthy ulcers, which soon healed.

(Dr. O'Brien in Brit. your. Horn.. April, 1868.)

SYPHILITIC BONE DISEASES with sharp, lancinating pains; great lassitude ; round, deep ulcers with discharge of thin watery pus ; exostosis, and well-defined constitutional symptoms of phytolacca.

The sleep of phytolacca is restless on account of the character- istic pains, which are aggravated at night. The mind is depressed and listless. The symptoms of the eyes and eyelids are worse in the morning, but the vision is worse in the evening. Increased suscep- tibility of the ear to minute sounds, although there is a sense of obstruction in the left Eustachian tube.

Neuralgia in the perineum in the middle of the night. The pains all partake of the nature of neuralgia; they are pressing and shooting, sometimes sore, drawing and aching. Irresistible inclination to bite the teeth together. The general symptoms predominate on the right side ; the eye symptoms on the left side.