Ranunculus Bulbosus

[buttercup, natural order, ranunculacea]

Ranunculus bulbosus, or buttercup, is a perennial plant, flowering throughout the summer months, and to be found all over Europe and likewise in North America. The stems are several, erect, hairy, round, leafy and many- flowered, from six to twelve inches in height ; leaves stalked, variously cut, and more or less hairy ; flowers termi- nal, solitary, on angular furrowed stalks, petals of a bright shining yellow ; the root forms a round bulb about an inch in diameter, and send out many stout fibres from its base.

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The tincture with which Dr. Franz conducted his proviugs of this plant was obtained by the following process, a description of which prefaces the Doctor's essay in Stapf's Additions to the Ma- teria Medica.

"The plant which was used in our provings was gathered in June, and, together with the blossoms, pounded in a mortar, after having been cut up in small pieces. The juice was strained through linen and filled in a glass containing about a tablespoonful of alcohol, in order to prevent; the decomposition of the juice while the juice of the other portions of the plant was pressed out. The bulb was cut into twelve or sixteen pieces, from which the juice was likewise expressed in a similar manner, after they had been previously stamped into a consistent paste.

The whole of the expressed juice having been poured together, both that of the plant and of the bulb, it was mixed with equal parts of the strongest alcohol, and was set aside in a well-closed press, being shaken several times a day; the transparent, dark-brown essence was poured off into a well-stoppered vial, leaving the sediment behind. The twelve or sixteen pieces into which the bulb had been divided, and which, being pounded separately, were moistened with an ounce of alcohol during the pounding ; furnishing scarcely as much juice as was equal to the alcohol which had been added, the pounded fragments of the bulb were put in a glass and Well mixed with two parts in volume of alcohol, and after having been left standing three days as above, the bright red tincture thus obtained was mixed in equal portions with the juice of the whole plant.

The different species of ranunculus have been used in medicine from time immemorial. Even Hippocrates is said to have employed the ranunculus ereticus and grandiflorus in one of his preparations. On account of the acrid principle which they contain, and which assimilates them to the class of poisons, their use has either been shunned entirely, or limited to external application. The physicians of antiquity employed them for the destruction of indurations, horny and other excrescences, in cutaneous diseases, scrofula ; hence, Plinius denominates one species of ranunculus, strumea.

"They have been recommeuded in place of cantharides for the purpose of raising a blister, and have even been preferred to this agent which sometimes has an injurious effect upon the urinary organs. More recently, however, their use has been abandoned, because they have repeatedly caused incurable ulcers, and other

688 R AVUNCULUS BULBOSUS.

injuries, more dangerous and distressing than the original malady." Krebs relates the following case of poisoning by ranunculus acris in the Heidelberger Amialen: A woman, seventy years old, but still vigorous, and frequently afflicted with pains in the limbs, had boiled a few handfuls of the leaves of ranunculus acris. She washed her legs with this decoction in the evening, and applied a cataplasm of the leaves to the legs during the night. Roused from her sleep by intense pain, she removed the poultice and washed her legs with water.

Next morning the patient was in a high fever and suffered the most excruciating pain in the legs and feet, which had the appearance of being scorched up to the knees ; the epidermis was hot, red and very painful, and portions of it were raised in blisters. On the third day, some parts became gangrenous, the patient trembled, fainted away on raising herself, was anxious, restless, the pulse became small and hurried, and her countenance looked flushed. On the eleventh day a critical sweat broke out, a critical urine was likewise discharged, and the sores henceforward began to improve.

We are indebted to Dr. Franz, one of the oldest and most reliable provers of drugs, for a pretty thorough proving of ranunculus ; his provings upon himself and several other persons foreshadow the use- fulness of the drug in cerebro-spinal affections with spasmodic and paretic symptoms, in rheumatic troubles, and in several diseases of the skin, notably humid eczema and pemphigus.

CEEEBEO-SPINAL GEOUP.

A careful perusal of Dr. Franz' provings shows that the action of ranunculus upon the brain develops its characteristic effects sub- sequently to the eye and chest symptoms, with the exception of the symptoms of the occipital range and of the upper portion of the spinal cord. The action of ranunculus upon the brain seems to be characterized by a determination of blood to the cerebellum, and subsequently to the cerebrum ; this determination manifests itself by the various symptoms, such as, vertigo, loss of ideas, pressure in the frontal eminences and vertex as if this part would split open, and various pains in the head, aching, pressive, drawing pain, a feeling of distention in the whole head, heat and redness of the face and icy coldness of the hands. The character of these symp- toms suggests the recommendation of ranunculus in.

ARTHRITIC HEMIORANIA of the right side of the head, or

KANUNCULUS BULBOSUS. G89

rather over the right eye, with depression of spirits which seems to proceed from the chest ; and likewise in what we might term

NEURALGIA OF THE CEREBELLUM, or rather rheumatic neurosis for the irritation which we designate by this name is most generally of a rheumatic origin, although, in a case for which ranunculus is specifically adapted, the affection may be of a paludean or marsh-miasmatic character. This pain is in relation with pains in the chest, either in the lungs or in the muscular coverings of the thorax, which is evidently of the same character as the pain in the occiput and upper portion of the spinal column, rheumatic, or of a rheumatic-neurotic character. The anatomical seat of this pain seems to be the pneumo-gastric nerve from its origin to its more remote derivations in the chest and stomach, together with the adjoining parts.

The symptoms of this drug which we find recorded in those parts of the body which are most frequently the seat of neuralgic rheuma- tism, viz. : the muscular tissue of the back and extremities, show very conclusively that in

ARTHRITIC RHEUMATISM AND GOUT this agent may produce good effects. We may record the following leading symp- toms : Pain in the back, lassitude, and pain as if bruised in the region of the short ribs, with ill-humor. Pain as if bruised, in the back and in the hypochondriac region, especially perceptible during motion, for many days. Rheumatic pain and stitches between the scapula?, early in the morning on waking.

An aching pain in the nape of the neck ; a slight blow on this part causes a pain in the forehead and in the parietal bone. Rheumatic pain in both elbow and shoulder-joints early in the morning. Violent stitches dart through the forearm ; some time after, they are likewise felt in the thumb. Painful drawing in both thighs, down to the calves, poste- riorly.

Tearing pains from the middle of the hip, exteriorly, downward, skipping the bends of the knees, and commencing again in the calves. Weakness of the knee-joints, they give way invol- untarily.

CHRONIC ARTHRITIC RHEUMATISM — These and other similar symptoms point in a more general manner to chronic arthritic rheumatism of the back and extremities; the following symptoms seem to represent more specially an attack of

GOUT ; rigidity in the right tarsal joint, and the whole of the right leg, with vertigo deep in the brain, when walking in the open

VOL. II. — 43.

690 RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS.

air. Pain in the tarsal joint, up to the middle region of the tibia, as if the tendons were too short when walking. Drawing-aching continuous pain in the dorsum of the right foot. Cramp in the dorsum of the foot when walking, suddenly, in the articulations of all the toes, as if he had sprained them in making a false step.

Stitches in the dorsum of the left foot when sitting. Cold feeling in the big toe, in the evening, as if a current of air were rushing through. Violent stitches in the fourth toe of the left foot, when entering the room upon coming out of the open air. Stitches in the dorsa of the toes, in the evening.

Pulsative stitches in the left heel, when standing, in the afternoon. Acute pain in the heels, for two evenings, as if both boots were pinching him, though he had taken them off.

DENTAL AND FACIAL GROUPS.

Dry heat of the face, with flushed cheeks and icy-cold feet ; the mouth feels dry and sticky. Spasmodic paralytic sensation in the jaws, after lying down, in the evening. Pain in the right molarses, as if pressed asunder by a knife.

ORBITA.L AND AURICULAR GROUP.

Smarting in the eves, nose and fauces, the eyes run, and are very painful, so that he lias to stop using them for half an hour, because he is unable to see anything ; the whites are slightly inflamed, the mucus runs from the nose in torrents, the fauces feel sore during an inspiration, less during deglutition (from preparing the juice). Smarting and feeling of soreness in the outer can thus of the right eye. Sensation as of burning soreness in the right lower eyelid. Swelling and redness of the left outer canthus, with painful soreness.

Pressure in the eyes, as if a hair had got in, going off by rubbing. Pressure as with a dull point in the right eyeball, from above down- ward. Violent pressing pains in the right eyeballs, at times in one, at times in the other. Mistiness of sight, immediately.

Stitches through the right ear, to the parietal bone.

CHYLO-POIETJC GROUP.

The symptoms of this group are numerous, and those of the abdominal range are particularly interesting and instructive. We will note the leading symptoms, some of which are undoubtedly occasioned by the physical action of the drug upon the tissues with which it is brought in immediate contact. Stitches near the right

EA.XUXOULUS BULBOSUS. 691

corner of the mouth. Scraping-burning sensation near the right portion of velum. White-coated tongue. Increased secretion of mucus in the throat.

Flow of water in the mouth. Flat taste in the mouth, also pungent taste while eating dry food. Frequent eructations and a ravenous hunger before dinner, still he eats less than usual. Nausea in the afternoon, sometimes with headache.

Spasmodic hiccough. The day after drinking a glass of wine, he has a headache in the frontal region, and constant nausea, pressure in the upper part of the chest, and stitches in the left side of the chest. Violent burning in the region of the pylorus, with great anxiety about the heart (in the case of four persons who had eaten the root of ranunculus bulbosus boiled in chicken broth). Burning and soreness, with pressure, in the pit of the stomach.

Painful soreness in the pit of the stomach when touched.

ACUTE GASTROSIS.— We infer from these symptoms that ranunculus may prove serviceable in acute gastrosis, when the patient complains of such pains as are here described ; a burning distress ill the stomach or in the region of the cardiac or pyloric orifice, with a great deal of precordial anxiety ; the region of the stomach is ex- ceedingly sensitive to pressure, and the pain is much aggravated by contact. In cardialgia, which is a paroxysmal disease, this drug will probably be found of very little use.

In some affections of the abdominal viscera this drug will un- doubtly prove useful. Let us first examine some of the leading symptoms of this range : In the evening, both hypochondria and the lower ribs in the chest feel painful as if bruised. Painful sore- ness under the short ribs of the left side, especially when moving the trunk, for several days. Pressure deep in the region of the liver, when standing, increased by pressure.

Pressure in the region of the liver, arresting the breathing, with stitches and pressure at the top of the right shoulder, when walking, after sitting.

NEUROSIS OF THE LIVER.— These symptoms certainly excite a susjricion that ranunculus is in some specific relation with certain affections of the liver which we believe to be of a neurotic character. In neurosis of the liver, with moderate vascular excite- ment, deep-seated soreness of the region of the liver, which is increased by pressure, and accompanied by the characteristic pain in the right shoulder, increased frequency of the alvine discharges and such signs of gastric irritation as characterize the action of ranunculus, not to omit the head or chest symptoms which generally

692 RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS.

complicate the disease, ranunculus may be of great service to us- Among the other symptoms of the abdominal range we note the following group: After dinner he feels a pinching below the um- bilicus, with sensation as if the bowels would fall out ; the pinching spread to the side of the abdomen, in the shape of a drawing-aching pain; it then rose to the pit of the stomach. Immediately after dinner he feels violent stitches from the left lumbar region through the abdomen, especially below the umbilicus and toward the right groin.

The whole day he feels a subdued pinching colic, sometimes alternating with pain in the chest. When walking he feels continu- ally a subdued colic in the whole tract of the intestines, they -are painful when pressing upon the abdominal integuments. Eumbling and pinching in the umbilical region. Colic around the umbilicus, whence a coldness ascends her back and arms.

At times he experi- ences a subdued, and at other times a sharp, colicky pain with pinching, attended with a burning-sore feeling below the umbilicus, sometimes accompanied by stitches in the side of the abdomen ; at the same time, when pressing upon the abdomen, the intestines are painful as if ulcerated. The alvine evacuations become softer and are more frequent.

We infer frdm these symptoms that ranunculus acts upon the abdominal ganglia as an irritant agent, and that it may therefore be useful in some nervous affections of the bowels of the character of neurosis.

ENTERODYNIA OR COLICODYNIA.— We may sum up these affections by the commonly received name of enterodynia or colic- odynia, which seems to be represented by the series of pains which we have described ; it seems to be characteristic of ranunculus, ipecacuanha and other remedial agents, that these pains are aggra- vated or even excited by contact.

SEXUAL GKOUP.

We note : frequent erections toward morning, with dizziness in the head ; also an increase of leucorrhoea which, having been mild at first, had become acrid and corrosive.

THOEACIC GKOUP.

The Schneiderian membrane is very violently irritated by the vapors of this plant ; they cause a creeping from the tip to the root of the nose, and to the right eyebrow, or a paiuful creeping of the nose, like pressure ; he has to blow the nose quite frequently, which

RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS. 693

causes a discharge of blood. Obstruction of the nose, iu the evening, with a painful soreness of the nose extending high up. The nose is sore, even red and swollen, with tension in the nose, and a number of scurfs, with dryness. Nocturnal discharge of tenacious mucus from the nose.

NEUROSIS In whatever light these symptoms may be regarded, the action of ranunculus upon the chest is marked by a train of symptoms which render it a highly valuable remedy in affections of the same character as those for which we have recommended this drug in former paragraphs ; we mean neurosis of the integuments as well as of the pulmonary parenchyma, and more particularly of the left side of the chest. The following series of symptoms is so lucidly expressed, and the neurotic affection seems to be delineated so perfectly in its whole length and breadth, that we cannot render a better service to the reader than by transcribing the most charac- teristic effects of the drug from the original records : Pressure in the chest, and shortness of breath when walking on level ground, but no oppression of breathing when going up hill.

Heavy and short breathing in the evening ; he has to draw a long breath fre- quently, with burning and fine stitches in the left chest. Oppression of the chest, with much weeping, in the evening, and a pain in the eyes as if they were sore, especially the right eye. Restless sleep, with violent aching of the chest and oppression. Pain in the chest and restless nights, for weeks.

After dinner he feels a violent beat- ing in the chest, as if caused by a rush of blood, with inclination to lie down. Pain in the left breast, a few hours in the morning. Pain in the chest, as soon as he wakes in the morning, as if the parts were bruised, with stitches in the left side above the nipple, in a space of the size of the hand, worse during contact and motion, every day for eight days. Violent pressure and pain as if bruised, over the left chest, immediately after rising in the morning ; every movement of the chest causes pain ; the pain spreads over the whole chest, with shortness of breath.

Pressure in the upper and left side of the chest, complicated with stitches ; the breathing is painful, even contact is painful. Stitching pain in the left chest, as if from subcutaneous ulceration, increased by motion and by turning the trunk, continuing the whole afternoon ; in the evening an aching pain is felt in the right scapula. Constant pain in the chest, the whole afternoon, mostly in the left side ; partly as if in the pecto- ralis major muscle, where a rheumatic pain is felt on turning the

694 RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS.

body ; at first the pain is felt externally ; afterward the pain seems to recede to the internal and posterior surface of the sternum and the pit of the stomach; the pain frequently disappears, and an aching pain as from subcutaneous ulceration is felt below the liver in the right lumbar region ; the pain is frequently preceded by a bitter pungent taste in the mouth, and a necessity to hawk. Stitches in the left chest, when talking, in the forenoon. Stitches in the region of the left nipple, in the chest, when walking in the open air ; the stitches disappear after some walking, after which a pain is felt below the last true rib in the right side of the abdomen.

Violent sticking pains in the whole of the right chest, early in the morning, during a walk in the open air. Violent stitches in the right, and less frequently in the left, chest, the whole day. Painfulness in the left chest, the whole day, worse in the evening, with quantities of tenacious mucus in the throat. When stooping he feels a pressure in the lower half of the sternum, in the region of the xyphoid carti- lage ; upon raising the trunk again, he feels a beating in that place, which disappears soon, after which the place is painful to the touch.

The pressure at the lower part of the sternum spreads, within a space of the size of the hand, toward the right side of the chest and the pit of the stomach ; the outer chest becomes so painful that even buttoning his coat causes pain ; this continues for three hours. In the evening, when walking or standing, he feels a pressure and tightness across the lower part of the chest, with fine stitches, apparently in the outer part of the chest, but penetrating deep into the chest, aggravated by moving, stooping, drawing a long breath.

Pain in the whole chest, in the evening, in bed ; he is uuable to lie on either side, owing to the painfulness of the outer parts of the chest; attended with anxiety, tightness of breathing, accelerated pulse. Pressing-dragging pain in the chest, for many days ; it is rather external, and only interferes with the breathing when walk- ing. Unusual chilliness of the outer parts of the chest, when walking in the open air.

EXANTHEMATOUS GROUP.

Pain under the nail of the right index-finger, as if a splinter had been stuck in there, and had produced suppuration.

WHITLOAV. — May not this symptom suggest the use of ranun- culus in whitlow ? We have never seen it applied in this disease, but we consider it worth a trial.

KANUXCULUS BULBOSUS. G05

Inflammation of the arm, from the fingers to the shoulders, from blossoms and leaves being applied to warts, which had been cut off until they bled, yet were not removed for all that.

In the first quarter of an hour, the pounded bulbs, when applied to the fingers, cause an itching of these parts, which is always fol- lowed by a blister, even if the appearance of the skin is not changed.

On applying a piece of the bulb between the fingers, a burning was experienced after the lapse of two minutes, which soon ceased after the removal of the bulb ; in two hours the place became red, and in ten hours a blister was formed, emiting a thin yellowish and burning fluid in large quantity.

• Vesicles on the fingers, especially those of the right hand, as if caused by a burn, or vesicatory (of the size of a hazlenut and still larger) ; after being pricked with a pin, so as to preserve the skin of the blister, they emitted for eight days a yellowish lymph, with burning pains, the bright-red skin shining through the blister (from the skin being touched by the juice while squeezing it out).

After the blisters on the fingers had been healed a fortnight, and the new skin had likewise healed again, small, deep, transparent, dark-blue, slightly elevated blisters of the size of an ordinary pin's head were formed (as if the pores had become raised in the shape of small, blue, transparent vesicles); they were crowded together in oval-shaped groups of the size of a shilling, with intolerable 'burning- itching (as is felt in the spots caused by nettles on the skin, which the vesicles resembled) ; when the vesicles were opened, they emited a dark -yellow lymph, and afterward became covered with a herpetic, horny scurf, itching intolerably, and emitting a clear fluid (These dark-blue vesicles reappearing periodically even for six months, the former healing up, and new ones forming in their places).

After the horny scurf, which had formed after the vesicles had been scratched open, had crumbled away of itself within eight or ten days, new blue vesicles appeared again, with intolerable burning- itching, inducing frequent scratching ; the scratching caused a shining-red, loose swelling of the fingers (they felt like sheep-skin), with inflammation and an intolerable burning-stinging itching. On applying hart's grease to the swollen fingers to suppress the itching, the horny scurf no longer formed, but, in places of the size of a shilling, crowded groups of small holes of the size of a yivUs head formed, emitting a yellow lymph in the shape of drops of sweat, and changing to small, flat, spreading, and difficultly-curable ulcers, with shaggy, sharp

696 RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS.

borders, and an intolerable burning itching, depriving Mm of rest for

weeks, day and night.

The affection of the fingers described above came on a fortnight after the vesicles had healed ; the affection appeared first on the index and middle fingers, which had been covered with vesicles in consequence of having been touched by the juice; afterward it spread from finger to finger and from hand to hand, although no vesicles had existed on these parts. Rhus and bryonia proved the best antidotes. Drs. Schweikert and Haubold, guided by these facts, have healed herpes on the fingers and in the palm of the hand by giving the ranunculus bulbosus internally, and caus- ing at the same time the herpes to be washed with a drop of the tincture diluted in water.

Ulcers on the fingers, penetrating to the flexor-tendons, (in the case of a child which was cured of fever and ague with subsequent dropsy and hydrocele by applying the ranunculus bulbosus to the wrist).

SLEEP AND FEVER.

He experiences an irresistible desire for sleep for two afternoons in succession. Perfect wakefulness at night. Kestless sleep and disturbing dreams; the sleep is very much disturbed by sexual fancies and involuntary emissions.

The fever-chills occur principally in the evening and after dinner ; these chills seem to be rather of a nervous character; the face is sometimes flushed and dry, the. feet and hands icy-cold, and he wakes at times with a moderate cutaneous exhalation ; the pulse rises some ten or twelve beats.

MENTAL GROUP.

Vexed and irascible ; he is provoked even by the least jest ; he is talking to himself about the insult that he fancies has been done to him. She is fearful, does not wish to be left alone, thinks she will be haunted by ghosts.

ANTIDOTAL TREATMENT.— The excessive action of ranun- culus is best antidoted by smelling of camphor, and by drinking large quantities of water. Krapf states that mineral acids, vinegar, wine, alcohol, honey, sugar, increase the effects of ranunculus. Copious draughts of fresh water, mucilaginous and oily substances are best calculated to antidote the injurious, and even poisonous, effects of this drug.

RANUNCULUS SCELERATUS. 697