The common Rue of our gardens is a native of Southern Europe. It was formerly in great repute in medicine; epilepsy, hysteria, hydrophobia, weakness of sight (from excessive reading), ozaena, epistaxis, foul gumboils, flatulent colic (in hysteric females), inertia of the bowels, having been cured with it empirically (Teste). It was also supposed to be a kind of universal antidote: "Even in our own time the Roman ladies imagine that the most odoriferous flowers may be left in their rooms without the least danger provided a bush of garden rue be amongst them" (Teste). Practitioners (says Treas. of Bot.) have perhaps been deterred from employing it by the symptoms of acrido-narcotic poisoning induced by an overdose. Locally applied Rue is a powerful irritant, and one species, Ruta montana, is dangerous to handle even with gloves. Ruta is "useful in feverish complaints, promotes perspiration and removes noxious material; in headache, nervous and hysteric complaints, weakness of the stomach and pains in the bowels, suppressed menses, and if taken for a long time it benefits epilepsy. The expressed juice benefits nightmare" (Green's Herbal). In large doses it causes violent gastric pains, excessive and sometimes bloody vomiting, profuse salivation and swelling of the tongue, great prostration, confusion of mind, and convulsive twitchings, with, in pregnant women, abortion (M. Hélie). In olden times it was used to ward off plague, and is at the present day the great remedy for pip or roup in fowls: a disease which affects the throat and causes chokiness and turns the comb of the fowl black; it is due to impure water and is contagious. "It certainly acts strongly on deposits of scirrhous material in both the breasts and in the vagina and sometimes lessens the size of these" (Cooper). Hahnemann's proving shows how largely the old uses were founded on a homoeopathic relationship. The vulnerary remedies indicate in symptoms of their provings the peculiar form of injuries for which they are adapted; there are the sprained pains of Rhus, the bruised pains (in skin and muscles) of Arn.; Ruta also has bruised pains, but these are more particularly manifested in bones. Ruta is one of the chief remedies for injured bones, and especially bruised bones. This power of Ruta does not appear to have been known before the provings were made. But impaired sight due to straining the eyes was an old use of the remedy; and here are symptoms from the provings His eyes feel as if he had strained the sight too much by reading; Weak, pressive-like pain in right eye, with dimness of surrounding objects, as if from having looked too long at an object that was fatiguing to the eyes;" "A feeling of heat and burning in the eyes, and pain in them when he reads (in the evening and by candle-light)." Each of these symptoms was experienced by a separate prover. Another effect of bruising is seen in prolapse of the rectum after confinement. But Ruta has, independently of this, a powerful action on the rectum, and caused prolapse in the provers and many severe symptoms. Tearing stitches in rectum when sitting. The prolapse is < by stooping, and especially by crouching together; it comes on immediately on attempting a passage. Rushmore (H. P., x. 516) cured with one dose of Ruta 900 (Fincke) a case of prolapse preceding a very difficult stool.—Tearing in rectum and urethra while urinating. Constipation; from inactivity of rectum or impaction of faeces following mechanical injuries. A curious clinical symptom is a sensation of nausea located in the rectum. Among the general symptoms are: Great weakness after a short walk; limbs feel bruised; small of back and loins painful. Tottering as if thighs were weak; limbs pain when walking. Does not know where to lay his legs on account of uneasiness and heaviness; lies now in one place, now in another, and turns from side to side. All parts of the body on which he lies, even in bed, are painful as if bruised. Facial paralysis from catching cold, in robust, sanguine persons. Rheumatic paralysis of wrists and ankles. Ruta is specially suited to robust, sanguineous persons; and corresponds to haemorrhages from nose (with pressure at root), gums, rectum. Peculiar Sensations are: Pain as if from a fall in periosteum. As if a nail were driven into head. Head as if bruised or beaten. Eyes, as if strained; as if a shadow flitting before them; as after looking too long and intently at an object; as if eyes were balls of fire. As if one were digging about in the ear with a blunt piece of wood. As of a lump in throat. Bladder as if constantly full. Spine as if beaten and lame. Wrists as if sprained. As if pain were in marrow of bone, or as if bone were broken. Thighs as if beaten; as if weak. As if there were an ulcer on ankle. All parts of body bruised at night, feeling as if it were time to rise. Restlessness is a very frequent Concomitant of Ruta conditions. A peculiar symptom is cramp in the tongue with embarrassed speech. A prolonged use of Ruta 3x has cured ganglion in front of left wrist (Oran W. Smith, H. P., ix. 308). Slow pulse, contracted pupil, salivation and swollen tongue are features of its action. The symptoms are: < By touch. Pressure < sore spot on sternum; > pain below r. scapula, and stitches in small of back. Backache > lying on back. [This is characteristic, and has led to many cures; and the relief of a case of malignant disease of kidneys and bladder (Rushmore, H. P., x. 516). This is important in connection with a use Cooper has made of Ruta ointment, prepared by extracting the plant in warm vaseline as an application in broken cancer of the breast.] Walking or riding = chafing. Dyspepsia from straining stomach by carrying heavy weights. Scratching >. Rubbing >. Rest <. Motion >. Lying down = parts lain on to be sore; > pain below right scapula; > stitches in small of back. Sitting <. Stooping <. Bending over = faeces to escape. Exertion <. Ascending <. Going up and down stairs = hamstrings to feel shortened and weak. < At night. < Morning. (Vertigo on rising. Rheumatic pain in back < before rising. Sweat in bed.) Warm stove = chilliness. Indoors = yawning and stretching. Open air = vertigo. Cold applications <. Cold wet weather <. < Reading and straining eyes. < During menses.