New, Old, and Forgotten Remedies Part 51

21. Deep-seated blisters form on tip of each finger and above and below each phalangeal flexure.

22. Blisters on fingers from which a clear fluid escapes on being p.r.i.c.ked.

23. Intense itching and burning accompanies the eruption.

(5) 24. Eruption preceded by p.r.i.c.king sensation which gradually changes to a smarting.

25. Skin tumefied and diffuse infiltration with a red serosity, with here and there small fullae filled with a limpid liquid.

26. Eyelids greatly swollen and covered with large fullae, eyes half closed.

27. Great tension and redness of skin resembling erysipeias.

28. Desquamation sometimes furfuraceous, sometimes lamellar, involving all of the epidermic layer in such a manner that in some places the papillary layer was exposed.

29. Eyelids stiff and immovable, resembling ptosis.

30. Dryness and heat in palms of hands.

31. Deep infiltration of tissues rendering the parts stiff and immovable.

32. Skin symptoms accompanied by p.r.o.nounced febrile symptoms.

From symptoms Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 23 it would appear the time of aggravation is at night, and the most prominent sensation is _itching_ and less prominent is burning. This is characteristic of the _a.r.s.enic.u.m_ eruption, also of _Anacardium_, _Rhus tox._, and some others. The eruption also bears a strong resemblance to these remedies, and if one may judge from the symptoms enumerated ought to prove a potent rival in erysipelas and eczematous complaints. _Rhus_ poisoning will no doubt find a new and efficient remedy in _Primula_.

PYRUS AMERICANA.

NAT. ORD., Rosacae.

COMMON NAME, Mountain ash.

PREPARATION.--The fresh bark is macerated in twice its weight of alcohol.

(We find the following in the _American Observer_, 1878, credited to _Northwestern a.n.a.list_ and written by Dr. H.

P. Gatch.e.l.l. Allen, in the _Encyclopaedia_ has not mentioned the drug, and we can find no mention in any of the dispensatories consulted. Dr. Fernie, in his excellent book, _Herbal simples_ devotes some s.p.a.ce to it. We quote: "'There is,' says an old writer, 'in every berry the exhilaration of wine, and the satisfying of old mead; and whosoever shall eat three berries of them, if he has completed a hundred years, he will return to the age of thirty.' At the same time it must be noted that the _leaves_ of the Mountain ash are of a poisonous quality, and contain prussic acid like those of the laurel." The following is Dr. Gatch.e.l.l's paper, the proving, be it noted, is made from a tincture of the bark:)

My memory of details, never remarkable, except as the details belonged to some system, is not as good as in earlier life, and in the matter of disconnected or partially connected incidents, the widow Bedott could, at any time, have given me five points in ten, and then have beaten me easily.

No. 1 of the provers was a married lady; No. 2 and No. 3 were lads. The tincture of the bark was used, several drops being put in a cup of water, of which teaspoonful doses were given and repeated at, I do not remember what, intervals. Myself experienced some irritation of the eyes; no other symptoms.

No. 1. Feels like crying. Feels as if the knees are immensely swollen, as if the toes the same. Knees and toes ache. Feels constricted around the waist, obliged to loosen the clothes at once. Headache begins over the eyes, left side of head aches terribly, like a tooth ache. Aches everywhere, in every joint. Left great toe feels as if torn from the socket. Sense of prolapsus of womb, bearing down and pressing out, as if swollen, and burning all over. Pains in the head knife-like. All the pains intense, acute. Thinks the conditions that of inflammatory rheumatism as if the lungs were congested, especially at the base. Can hardly breathe, as if cold water in the stomach. Thinks mucus acc.u.mulated in the cold stomach. Craves hot teas. Headache extends to the right side. Head feels as if it would burst. Great weight on top of head. Toes burn. Aching at heart. Twinging pains in arms, legs and toes.

As if r.e.c.t.u.m were shrunken, dried up. Bearing down pains and pressing out, like labor pains. Feels gloomy and discouraged, but can't cry. Very cold, s.h.i.+vers internally; thinks she must look blue. Cold creeping all over. Pain in knees subsides, and is succeeded by pain as in the tendons and along the calves. "Oh, such a drawing pain, cutting and darting also, like that in the head." Feels resolute, as full of a gloomy determination. Stomach cold again. Thinks meat bad for her, would not digest; needs soft, mild food. Irritation of bladder and urethra; feels as if prolapsus of bladder. Dreads to move, especially on account of the joints. Sensitive to cold. Stomach still feels as if full of cold water. Sick feeling under right scapula. Thinks bile deficient.

Shooting pains in forehead. Feeling as if coldness in stomach extends up under the sternum. Same feeling in the gullet. Excessive aching of bones of toes; seems unendurable. Thinks the stomach very weak, as if it would digest nothing; thinks it is dry and wrinkled. Hypochondriac, not nervous. Feels lazy, as if she would like to lie in bed and be waited on. Selfish. Headache penetrating in temples. Thinks she is clairvoyant, can read character and understand motions; can see into herself; thinks the blood dark blue. Feels pains drawing, rending along posterior aspect of thighs and down to toes. Left side most affected. Feels as if the left leg were drawn up, and would never straighten again. Pains seem to move in meandering lines. Seems to be able to go out of herself for a short distance, to walk around and return into the body. Thinks she is looking down upon her own body. Seems to her that the fundus of the stomach is depressed in the abdomen, as if on fire at the pyloric end of stomach. Thinks there is a red spot there, looking like raw beef, as if the stomach burnt up with raw whisky. Exclaims in a plaintive tone, "Don't get out of patience with me" (of which I had given no indications). Cries, feels babyish. Apprehension; fears something terrible is about to occur. Very chilly. Can't talk loud; voice gone.

She feels so weak, as if about to die. Moans and groans, calls for help.

Oppression about the heart, as if it had stopped beating, as going into convulsions. Feels as if a spasm of the heart, tetanic. As if the blood too thick to circulate. Thinks she would have died but for the _Camphor_ I gave her. Felt as she did when near dying of hemorrhage. Brain is active, intellect clear, thoughts vivid, the whole being intensified.

Next morning, sense of constriction at base of lungs. Some cough. Clammy feeling of skin. Very sensitive to air.

No. 2. Causes a glow all over, hands sweat. Some pain in finger joints.

Throat feels obstructed. Some hoa.r.s.eness. Dry cough, as if pharynx stuffed with cotton. It is an effort to talk. Tongue feels partially paralyzed, cannot direct it. Throws the paper down, has lost inclination to read. Feels indolent, indifferent. Feels chills when air strikes.

Spasmodic breathing, like a nervous woman--silly, mystical. Pain in finger joints continues. Feels like crying. Sad, weeping mood. Tears will come. Eyes smart. Heart aches, as from some great sorrow. Eyes feel as if had been crying a long time, as if swollen, burning. Very sensitive to cold, easily chilled. Chills down the back and both legs.

Ends with a very tranquil feeling, particularly of consciousness. Next morning, tight feeling of patella. Joints all feel constricted and sore.

No. 3. Very chilly. Can't endure cold at all. Other symptoms not recorded.

In all three, pains and chilliness much increased by moving about.

No. 1. Subsequently her muscular condition was much improved. Her muscles did not ache from work as formerly.

A cut bled less freely than usual, bled scarcely any, and healed very quickly.

SALIX NIGRA AMENTS.

NAT. ORD., Salicaceae.

COMMON NAME, White Willow.

PREPARATION.--The fresh aments are macerated in twice their weight of alcohol.

(Dr. John Fearns writes of this remedy in _Chicago Medical Times_, 1896:)

At this writing I wish to speak not of the tonic and antiseptic properties of this species of _Salix_, but of its usefulness as a sedative to the generative system. As a sedative on these lines I have had very good results from its use.

In cases of acute gonorrhoea with much errotic trouble. Also in cases of chordee with great irritation; for these purposes I have given it in doses of thirty to sixty drops on retiring, and repeat at midnight or towards morning, if needed; in these cases nothing has given me more satisfaction than this remedy. It answers the purpose, it robs night of its terrors, and it leaves no unpleasant consequences in its train.

In cases of excessive venereal desire, amounting to satyriasis, from experience I would use this remedy first. I have seen it control the venereal appet.i.te in a very satisfactory manner. It can be given in cases where the bromides have always been considered appropriate, and it can be given where the bromides would be very inappropriate and there is no reflex effect on the brain or nervous system.

SALVIA OFFICINALIS.

NAT. ORD., l.a.b.i.atae.

COMMON NAME, Common sage.

PREPARATION.--The fresh leaves are macerated in twice their weight of alcohol.

(Although scarcely used in the present day sage runs back in medical history to the Greeks, and, according to Fernie, is still held in the highest esteem by country people in many parts of Europe. Quoting Gerard: "Sage is singularly good for the head and brain; it quickeneth the senses and memory; strengtheneth the sinews; restoreth health to those that have palsy; and takes away shaky trembling of the members." The following appeared in _Echo Med. du Nord_, 1897, concerning this remedy:)

This remedy (in English, _Sage_) has been almost forgotten in modern medical art, but still remains in high repute as a domestic medicine.

Lately, French physicians have called attention to it, and not only for gargling in cases of inflammation of the throat and for was.h.i.+ng the mouth in affections of the gums, but more especially as an unfailing remedy for night-sweats in persons suffering from affections of the respiratory organs. In the numerous experiments made with it, there were never any disagreeable concomitant effects. On the contrary, it was found that _Salvia_ acts even more favorably on the tickling coughs with consumptives than _Belladonna_, _Rumex crispus_, etc., so that preparations of _Morphine_ and _Codeine_ could be dispensed with.

_Salvia_ should be used in the form of the tincture, and, indeed, the tincture prepared from the fresh leaves and the blossom tips, as we find it in h.o.m.oeopathic pharmacies. It should be given in doses of 20, 30, or 40 drops, in a tablespoonful of water. The effects manifest themselves very quickly, two hours after taking a dose, and these effects persist for two to six days.

SAURURUS CERNUUS.

NAT. ORD., Piperaceae.