Ecballium elaterium. Momordica elaterium. Squirting Cucumber. *N. O. Cucurbitaceae. Tincture of unripe fruit. Trituration of Elaterium, C20 H28 O5.
Clinical
Abscesses. Bilious fever. Bladder, affections of. Boils. Cholera. Colic. Cramps. Diarrhoea. Dropsy. Dysentery. Erysipelas. Intermittent fever. Jaundice. Measles. Nettle-rash. Neuralgia. Rheumatism. Sciatica. Scurvy. Vomiting. Yawning.
Characteristics
The “signature” of *Elat. is too obvious to be missed: Profuse watery stools, coming out with a gush, which is the main characteristic of the drug, is plainly typified in the explosion by means of which the ripe fruit scatters its seeds. *Elat. has been used with good effect in scurvy of which gushing diarrhoea is a marked symptom. Beriberi, also a scurvy disease, has been greatly helped by *Elat. according to Cooper. Dull olive green discharges, and frothy stools are also characteristic. Many cases of cholera, cholerine, and infantile diarrhoea are met by *Elat., also the jaundice of the new-born with bilious stools. The property of *Elat. to cause draining of the tissues of their watery contents has been used to cause the absorption of dropsical fluids. Minute doses will often effect this. Gaping and yawning are well marked, and when present with fever before the chill or before the chill of cholera, *Elater. is indicated. The yawning lasts all through the chill. *Elat. promotes the opening of abscesses and boils. Sensations as if a splinter in left eye, as if posterior nares and upper part of oesophagus were enlarged. Effects of damp weather or standing on damp ground, worse by damp.
Relations
*Compare: Bryonia and Coloc. (sciatica), Veratrum (neuralgia), Colchicum, Crot-t., Veratrum (choleraic affections), Secale (olive green diarrhoea), Cantharis (dysenteric diarrhoea with painful micturition), Apis, Hepar, Ignatia, Rhus t. (urticaria during intermittent fever).
SYMPTOMS.
Mind
Depression of spirits. Irresistible propensity to wander from home.
Throat
A feeling as if the posterior nares and upper part of the oesophagus were enlarged.
Stomach
Nausea, vomiting of a watery substance, or of greenish, bilious matter, with great weakness.
Abdomen
Cutting, griping pains in the bowels.
Stool and Anus
Copious liquid stools. Discharges from the bowels of frothy water, coming out with a gush. Squirting diarrhoea. Dull olive- green discharges. Bleeding of haemorrhoidal tumors.
Lower Limbs
Shooting, also dull aching pains in the course of left sciatic nerve to the instep and toes.
Sleep
Incessant gaping.
Fever
Chilliness, with continual gaping, as if an attack of intermittent fever were approaching. Before the chill, gaping. During the chill, pain in the head and limbs. Fever, with violent tearing pains throughout the head, increased pains in the bowels and extremities, pains shooting to the tips of the fingers and toes, and then shooting back into the body. Perspiration relieves all the symptoms. If the intermittent fever is suppressed, urticaria break out all over the body.