New, Old, and Forgotten Remedies Part 60

This proving is quite long. From it we note the following symptoms: Severe pain in right shoulder joint. Muscular twitching in right leg.

Dull pain under left false ribs. Neuralgic pain in sciatic nerve. Back, lumbar region, stiff and weak. Pain in right knee joint, painful to move and tender to the touch. Weight and oppression of the heart, with gripping feeling as if a hand were squeezing it; the load seemed to lift, with great relief, but came back again. A curious sensation of tickling about the heart. Twinges of pain in the great toes. The last record some days after ceasing the proving reads as follows: "I think it was the same night as the previously recorded symptoms that I went to bed between 12 and 1 o'clock, and after lying down experienced a curious general tremor through my body, as if all the muscles were in a state of fibrillary contraction; not a single involuntary jerk, nor the continued twitching of the muscle or a portion of one, but a general state affecting the whole body. It lasted until I fell asleep."

Therapeutically the drug has been used for palsy, "incompetency and tumultuous distressing cardiac action," mitral disease, ch.o.r.ea, epilepsy, retention of placenta, catarrhal deafness, menorrhagia, sciatica, rheumatism, periost.i.tis, hydrothorax, and transient deafness.

The Druids sweepingly a.s.serted that it would "heal all diseases."

WYETHIA HELENIOIDES.

NAT. ORD., Compositae.

COMMON NAME, Californian compa.s.s plant.

PREPARATION.--One part of the fresh root is macerated in two parts by weight of alcohol.

(The following, by Dr. J. M. Selfridge, Oakland, Cal., was published in _Pacific Coast Journal of h.o.m.oeopathy_, April, 1899:)

There is probably no State in the Union where there is a greater number of valuable remedies to be found than in the State of California. These remedies are waiting to be proved by those of us who have sufficient enthusiasm and who are willing to take the trouble and make what sacrifice is necessary to accomplish so desirable a result. I know it has been said that we have too many remedies which have not been properly proven. While this is doubtless true, it is equally true that many of the new remedies which have been introduced within the memory of some of us are absolutely indispensable in the treatment of certain forms of disease.

There is another reason why these California remedies should become a part of our armamentarium. It is claimed by Teste and others that where certain forms of disease prevail there, or in that vicinity, the curative remedy may be found.

Again, it has been said that there is a remedy somewhere in nature for every ill to which flesh is heir.

Whether this be true or not, we know there are certain diseases, which, so far as we are aware, are incurable, for the simple reason that we know of no remedy that will control the abnormal conditions. This being true, the incentive ought to be sufficiently great to urge us forward in the line of knowing more than we now know of the wealth of those remedies that lie at our very doors. All we know of these drugs, so far, are mere hints which have been given us by the older inhabitants of the Coast.

Thus, the _Eriodictyon Californic.u.m_ or "Yerba Santa," has been suggested for the cure of "poison oak" and for certain bronchial affections. A partial proving of it was made some years ago under the supervision of the late Dr. Pease, which can be found in "Allen's Encyclopaedia," Vol. iv., page 218.

The _Micromeria Dougla.s.si_, or "Yerba Bueno," is another plant which should be proved. Many years ago a friend of mine was suffering with a series of boils, when an old "Spanish woman" directed him to make a tea of this plant. This he did, and cured his boils; but, as the tea had an agreeable taste, he continued to drink it, believing, as some do, "that if little was good, more was better," until finally he became so weak he could not continue his work.

It was one of these hints that induced me some years ago to make a proving of _Wyethia Helenioides_, or "poison weed." Like many other provings, it was only partial. A schema of it was published in "Allen's Encyclopaedia," Vol. x., page 168.

Two years ago an attempt was made to secure additional symptoms, which are given below in the language of the provers, who at that time were members of the "Organon and Materia Medica Club of the Bay Cities."

At the time of the proving, the potency and the drug were unknown to the provers.

I. "June 9th, 1896, began taking----, of which I took a drop in a teaspoonful of water before each meal. First dose 7:35 (did this for four days); 7:45, feels in nose as if about to sneeze; 7:50, sitting quietly, a momentary pain on inside of right foot from instep to the sole; 8:35, stretching and yawning, itching on the left side of the chin; 4:10 P.M., dry sensation in throat, although mucus is abundant; 5:30 P.M., sensation of dryness and tickling on the edges of eyelids, such as I felt when a sty was about to appear; sensation of dryness in throat; 5:35 P.M., a small itching spot on right side of neck; 8 P.M., dryness in throat with abundant mucus.

"June 7th.--7:30 A.M., throat sore; 8:35, tingling in right foot when standing; 11, while in church, sensations of formications in eyelids with lachrymations; 11:25, pain in the right t.e.s.t.i.c.l.e; 3 P.M., despondent; P.M., pain on top of right shoulder midway between neck and point of shoulder; motion does not affect it.

"June 8th.--Before breakfast, lips feel dry, back of throat (posterior wall of pharynx) sore, increased flow of tasteless saliva; 10:30, pain in left ear, itching in left external canthus; 1:30 P.M., mouth full of sweetish saliva; at lunch bit tongue severely; 9:30 P.M., mouth feels dry and as if scalded, with desire to drink frequently in order to moisten it.

"June 9th.--Scalded mouth continues.

"June 12th.--6 A.M., lips feel scalded and swollen.

"June 17th.--Itching in r.e.c.t.u.m.

"July 4th.--10 A.M., headache in left anterior part of brain, as if radiated from left inner canthus; 12:30, headache in left occipital protuberance.

"For several nights waken frequently and too early in the morning, without any disagreeable consequences.

"July 7th.--A sore hang-nail on third finger of right hand.

(Signed) "A. MCNEIL."

Dr. McNeil took the first decimal dilution. (S.)

II. "June 5th.--Began at 1 P.M., taking a drop before each meal.

"June 6th.--Depressed all forenoon, languid feeling of mind and body; despondent almost to desperation; irritable, cross, easily angered about trifles; melancholy about the future, with no reason for it; seemed that I was forsaken by all my friends and was on the verge of insanity; bodily uneasiness, unfitting me for any work; felt that I could 'fall all down in a heap;' muscles seemed to refuse to respond to the will.

"June 7th.--Entire incapacity for mental work; could not follow a line of thought twenty seconds; forehead cold to touch, with heavy feeling over the eyes as though the skin and flesh of forehead would come down over the eyes; intense drowsiness all day, worse after meals; irresistible sleepiness after lunch; accustomed cup of coffee was not relished.

"June 8th.--Dreams were vivid and real; was discovered talking in my sleep; the thoughts and work of previous day were on my mind on waking as though I had not gone to sleep.

"June 9th and 10th.--Aversion to company, did not wish to see anyone, not even intimate friends; great aversion to my work; had to punish myself to even visit a patient; quarrelsome, impatient, irritable.

"M. F. UNDERWOOD."

Dr. Underwood took the fifteenth decimal dilution. (S.)

III. "June 8th, 1896, commenced taking remedy given by Dr. Selfridge, one drop three times a day before meals.

"June 13th.--After a restless night, awakened at 7:30 A.M. with severe, sharp pain in the right tonsil; throat felt swollen and sore; tonsil red and inflamed; glands on right side of neck swollen and sore to touch.

"At 9:30, neuralgic pains commenced in left arm and hand, then in back, limbs and all over the body; skin felt sore to touch; was quite ill all day, with no appet.i.te whatever.

"At 7:30 P.M. commenced to feel chilly; upon the slightest movement chills would creep up the back, with increase of pain; grew colder and colder; was very ill, and went to bed. At 9:30 fever commenced with desire for food; head very hot; cheeks very red and burning; temperature 102, but still very chilly. Pa.s.sed a very restless night, with chill, fever and sweat all at the same time, with constant twinges of pain all over the body, particularly in back and limbs; could not bear the slightest touch.

"June 14th.--Temperature 101-1/2 at 8 A.M. Right tonsil and glands of neck still very sore, in fact, worse; pains over body less, though back quite sore and lame; felt very weak and unable to remain out of bed.

"Still continued the remedy. All symptoms gradually improved, and was entirely well in a few days.

"June 20th.--Stopped taking the remedy on advice of Dr. Selfridge.

"June 21st.--Very depressed, both mentally and physically; menses commenced at 2:30 P.M., with slight uterine pain. Retired at 10 o'clock, when the pain became intense and burning. Suffered all night, the pain being constant, though increasing in paroxysms with sensation as if the uterus expanded in order to keep all the pain within its walls. Could distinctly outline the contour of the uterus. Never had such a pain before.

"June 22nd.--Pain much better, but still a paroxysm every little while.

Felt very weak all day and mentally depressed.

"When menses ceased, observed no further symptoms.

"July 4th.--Commenced the remedy again.

"July 18th.--At 11 A.M. commenced to feel chilly, with aching pains all over the body, which gradually grew worse until 12 o'clock, when a most severe chill took place; shook all over; aching over body and headache intense. Took no more of the remedy; went to bed, and as I was growing worse, was given _Aconite_ at 1 o'clock. There was great thirst for ice water during the entire chill, which lasted until 2:30 P.M., when fever came on; temperature, 101; no thirst. In about fifteen minutes commenced to sweat. Temperature at 4 o'clock 100; still sweating. At 10 P.M. menses commenced; no uterine pain, but still aching all over body which continued all night, preventing sleep; pains worse in limbs and back; at times jerking in character, making me start with every twinge; profuse sweating all night.

"July 19th.--Very weak; aching still continued, but less; cords of neck, right side, quite painful. Pa.s.sed a restless night, still sweating profusely.

"July 20th.--Much better, but still very weak; some aching and sweating; did not go to sleep until 3 A.M.; was nervous and restless.