GRINDELIA.
Introduction
Grindelia squarrosa Nat. Ord., Compositae.
Provings
I. I commenced at 7 p. m. by taking one teaspoonful of the tincture. In half an hour I took another, at which time I began to feel a terrible fulness in my head. This continued 15 morning, when I was taken with pain in my left my. head. This continued 15 morning, when I was taken with pain in my left eye and right knee – joint, precisely like acute rheumatism. The pain in my knee – joint, precisely like acute rheumatism. The pain in my knee did not last more than 1/2 hour, and at this time I took the third teaspoonful. The pain in my eye became the most intense that can be imagined; the pupil dilated largely; it was 2 hour before the right eye became affected, but when it did my misery was doubled. At the time the right eye became affected I was taken with an unbearable pain in the entire region of the liver and spleen, and so severe was it that I could not lie still one moment, and the soreness in the region of the pain was like nothing to which I can compare it except that of acute rheumatism. With a towel tied tight around my head, and hot applications over liver and spleen, declaring that I had inflammation of the brain and of the liver and spleen, did I pass the most terrible night of my life. The pain of the eyes was in the balls, and ran directly back to the brain, and to turn or move them was torture. In fact, the pain produced by the drug, wherever it occurred, was that of rheumatism – pain with soreness. The conjunctiva was remarkably injected, and the eye presented the appearance noted in congestion of the brain. The pain in my eyes, together with the soreness, lasted 3 days.The action of the drug upon the nervous system is remarkable. When given in full doses, it influences the optic nerve, and in a little time influences the par vagum, and seems to interrupt respiration. The interruption of respiration was so great as to prevent sleep, even if the pain had not prevented. The moment I would fall asleep the respiratory movement would cease, and it would not be resumed until awakened by the suffocation that resulted from the suspension of respiration. (BUNDY, Hom. Times, iv, 117. (.
GUACO (See vol.ii, p.628)
II. I. lady took a decoction of G. for sterility nearly 4 mos., without the desired effect; and at the end of said time was compelled to drop the medicine entirely on account of a copious, corrosive, putrid leucorrhoea which had developed, and which was debilitating her greatly. She told me that sometimes she felt as if fire was running out of the part, and that the inside of her thighs was tanned, and her linen stained yellow. She complained also of a terrible itching and smarting, worse at night. Before taking G. she had never suffered from these symptoms. After leaving it off, and taking kreasote and sulphur, the leucorrhoea soon subsided. (FORNIAS, Journ of Penns. Hom. Medorrhinum Soc., 1885, P.50.)
HELLEBORUS (see vol, ii, p. 635)
II. 6. A child under 2 was poisoned with an infusion of the leaves of hours given him to destroy worms. Within 10 morning after taking 2 dessert – spoonfuls he was very sick, and was violently purged. The matter vomited was of a green colour and slimy. The sickness and purging continued till he died, 13 hours after having taken the infusion. There were convulsions before death. On inspection the whole body appeared blanched; eyes were sunken and pupils dilated. There was diffuse inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach, and a well – marked patch of deep, inflammatory redness, about the size of a crown piece near its centre. The small intestines, which contained a brownish – yellow fluid, were much inflamed. The head and chest were not examined. (TAYLOR, Poisons, 1st ed., p. 750.)
7. Late one evening a young man was brought to me suffering from violent and incessant vomiting and retching, the matter ejected consisting of frothy mucus. He was collapsed, with pulse at 48, dilated pupils, and dazed expression, complaining of burning pain at epigastrium and sense of constriction in throat; fauces were swollen and reddened. He had taken an unknown quantity of the powdered drug (about two teaspoonfuls, he though) stirred up with water; and had speedily been seized with violent cramping pain, giddiness, dimness of vision, inability to stand, and violent vomiting. He had been driven two miles to see me. I sent him home (by which time his pulse had fallen to 40), and had him put to bed, and plenty of demulcent drinks and warm water administered. The vomiting soon ceased, and next morning he was quite recovered, but felt sore all over (ILOTT, Brit. Medorrhinum Journ., Oct. 12th, 1889.)
HYOSCYAMINUM (see vol. ii, p.669)
I. 9. a. Dr. H. A. HUTCHINSON took gr. 1/4 while in good health, “Immediately I noticed a decided dryness of mouth and throat, and almost a total absence of saliva, with some dysphagia. Looking in a mirror, I noticed an intense congestion of my head and face, the carotids throbbing violent with every impulse of the heart. Along with this there was acceleration of pulse and respiration, with feeling of numbness extending over entire body and loss of power in producing the ordinary movements of co – ordination. I made an effort to ‘walk it off, ‘ but my feet soon became so enfeebled that I could only walk by fixing my eyes intently on the ground. Had any one noticed me at this time I should have had some difficulty in establishing the fact that I was not deeply intoxicated. Finding that exercise would not relieve me from the poisonous effects of the drug, I with much exertion ascended the stairs to my room for the purpose of going to bed. My mental faculties up to this point were intact, and I fully realised my unpleasant position, but had no fear of any fatal result. Indeed, I was entirely oblivious of everything past, present, and future, and cared little for anything except sleep. So imperative and overwhelming was this demand, and the general helplessness of my limbs so rapidly increased, that I was only able to throw myself upon the bed without undressing, and was soon in a deep slumber or coma, which lasted 11 hours. “b. During this period I have no recollection of anything. I was not disturbed by any delusion or dream, or conscious of any one’s presence or of my own existence. Medical friends, not knowing what I had taken, resorted to every expedient to bring me out of a sleep they supposed to be apoplectic coma, but in vain. I am told that during this prolonged sleep there was entire relaxation of all the voluntary muscles, except occasionally some spasmodic movements of arms and legs. Pulse beat during first few hour at 138, full and hard; resp. numbered 34 – 40; temp. 100oF. As the narcotic effects of the alkaloid passed away, the pulse rapidly fell to 106, temp. declined to 99o, and resp. was reduced in frequency; but consciousness did not return for several hour after this. When I did regain it I had great difficulty in collecting my thoughts, or concentrating them on any particular subject. There were no hallucinations, delusions, or illusions; but for 24 hours or more every object on which I looked was tinged with yellow. “c. It seems that during the period of sleep I suffered more or less from nausea, and at one time vomited, although I had not the slightest recollection of having done so. For several day after recovery pupils were very considerably dilated; and I was annoyed with double vision and a general arrest of the various secretions of the body, including those of the skin.” (Alienist and Neurologist, 1883.) 10. LEARED injected gr. 1/40 subcutaneously into a phthisical adult. In 10 morning giddiness came on, with painful sense of compression about vertex; in 1/2 hour sickness, and later delirium, with incoherent talking. Pupils were dilated, and sense of sight curiously altered, so that objects seemed nearer and of different size than in reality; thus the patient grasped wildly at something he thought to be within his reach, but which proved to ba bedpost four feet distant; and a cup being offered to him, he always grasped it at a nearer point than where it actually was; he also saw imaginary insects about him. The severe symptoms lasted about 4 hours, and did not quite pass away for 24 hours. (Lancet, 1879, i, 474.) II. PEARSE injected m 1/60 beneath skin of phthisical subjects perspiring profusely. The symptoms produced were – dryness of skin, mouth, and pharynx; great thirst; flushing of face; injection of conjunctiva; dilation of pupil and paralysis of accommodation; pulse quicker and fuller; headache and giddiness, passing on to a semi – conscious condition and sleep. The dryness of mouth and pharynx invariably present, coming on usually within 1/2 hour of the injection. The skin in some instances became hot as well as dry, and temperature rose 1 o in an hour. In no instance was the dryness of mouth succeeded by dysphagia and hoarseness; nor was the dryness of mouth succeeded by dysphagia and hoarseness; nor was the dryness replaced by a viscid, sticky, foul – smelling secretion, as found by Dr. Harley with atropia. The flushing of face was almost always present, less constantly that of conjunctiva; in a few observations the carotid pulsations were increased and became visible on surface. Pulse was quickened, but not so much so as by atropia; the rate augmented with the dose; the quickening set in about 5 morning after injection, attained its maximum in 1/2 hour, lasted thus for an hour, and in 3 – 4 hour had fallen to its normal point. Headache, giddiness and tendency to sleep were induced in the majority of instances; but where the headache was very severe this prevented sleep. Diuresis was not induced. (Ibid., 1876, ii, 319.)
Hughes was a great writer and a scholar. He actively cooperated with Dr. T.F. Allen to compile his 'Encyclopedia' and rendered immeasurable aid to Dr. Dudgeon in translating Hahnemann's 'Materia Medica Pura' into English. In 1889 he was appointed an Editor of the 'British Homoeopathic Journal' and continued in that capacity until his demise. In 1876, Dr. Hughes was appointed as the Permanent Secretary of the Organization of the International Congress of Homoeopathy Physicians in Philadelphia. He also presided over the International Congress in London.