Viscum album. Mistletoe. *N. O. Loranthaceae. Tincture of ripe berries. Tincture of bruised leaves. Tincture of whole plant.
Clinical
Aura epileptica. Chorea. Deafness. Dysphagia. Endometritis. Epilepsy. Labour, slow. Levitation. Lumbago. Menorrhagia. Metrorrhagia. Orchitis. Otalgia. Otorrhoea. Ovaritis. Retained placenta. Sciatica. Spleen pain in. Struma. Throat, sore. Whooping-cough.
Characteristics
In a pamphlet on *”Viscum Album” Dr. George Black, of Torquay, has put together most of the facts relating to this plant, including four new provings, by himself and three female provers. The symptoms of these provings I have marked in the Schema(B) Dr. Black, 43, from 3x and, O (1B) Miss F., 20, from 2x and O, (B2) Mrs. X., 37 from 3, (B3) Miss S., 27, from 3x, 2x, 1X, and O. Proell made a proving of the tincture, and developed symptoms resembling epileptic aura and petit mal, which had the additional epileptic feature of recurrence they recurred frequently for two years. Belcher gave to a girl, 17, suffering from chorea, 5-drop doses of a tincture of leaves and berries. On the second day he was called to see her, and found her suffering as if under the influence of an opiate. Two women took *Visc. to procure abortion. Every muscle save those of the eyes became paralysed, as did also the intestinal tract. They could not swallow, and died of starvation in consequence, the bowels being obstinately constipated. The muscles of speech were also paralysed. A boy, 14, ate some berries, soon after began to feel giddy, and then became insensible. He was found with suffused countenance, lips livid, conjunctiva injected, pupils slightly dilated and fixed, pulse slow and full, bounding, breathing slow, stertorous. On pricking the soles the feet were quickly drawn up. Cold affusions roused him, when he began to talk incoherently, had spectral illusions, and was inclined to be violent. Laville (*Epilepsy and Mania in Men and the Lower Animals) isolated (1) *Viscine, a soft substance, yellowish blue, of poisonous odour and bitter taste, (2) *Visco-resin, a bluish resin, pitchy, saccharine, odour at first agreeable, then fetid. *Viscine is most abundant in the mistletoe of the apple-tree, *Visco-resin in that of the oak and acacia, which last excites the sexual appetite. The mistletoe of the hawthorn possesses, like all the rest, but in a higher degree, the contractile properties of *Secale on the uterus in uterine inertia. That of the oak has a remarkable anti epileptic power on horses. A breeder had a very fine stock which became epileptic at four or five years old. He cured them with a tincture of the fresh leaves bruised in a mortar. According to Laville, all mistletoes are useful in epilepsy and rabies (Ozanam’s account of Laville’s work, *B. J. H., xxv.). Black also quotes from *B. J. H., xxii. 637, William Huber’s experience with *Visc. a.: (1) Case of retained placenta with constitutional symptoms after miscarriage at sixth month. Expulsion rapidly effected by *Visc. a. 3. (2) Man, 22, robust, fair, took a chill from travelling in ice-cold wind. Got a drawing-tearing pain in left lower jaw, lasting some hours, succeeded by loud buzzing, and stopped-up feeling, ending in complete deafness of that ear. *Visc. 3 cured. (4) Metrorrhagia following suppression from working in water. (5) Sciatica left side. *Visc. 3 cured. (6) Rheumatism from wading ill-shod through great tracts of snow. *Visc. 3 cured. (7) Hydrothorax (right) from chill, with shooting in spleen. *Visc. 4 and 3 cured. John Wilde (*M. H. R., xii. 144) made a tincture of the bruised leaves, and gave 5-drop doses to a boy, 14, who had chorea affecting face and limbs. There was improvement in two days, and in a few weeks a complete cure. A boy, nine, strumous, with tendency to skin disease, was affected with chorea after a fright. He was completely changed in expression, speech quite inarticulate, look idiotic. The movements continued at night, and the boy was worn out for want of sleep. *Visc., O 1 to 2- drop doses, did no good. The dose was then increased to 15
drops. Improvement set in at once, and a perfect cure was effected, the doses being diminished after a time because soreness of the tongue and redness of the conjunctiva were set up. Black removed with *Visc. 3 the following: (1) Lumbago, from chill, tearing pain, wants something to press against it. (2) Lumbago, right, extending to right buttock, worse by slightest movement. (3) Pain in sacral region, unable to turn either side, worse slightest movement, “pain of a terrible clutching nature, as if her vitals were affected.” [Cooper has given great relief with *Visc. in “old spinal irritation pains.” He names also “spinal symptoms due to uterine causes” as indicating it.] (4) Rheumatism, “the weight of my body on the joint causes it to be very sore,” excessive perspiration. (5) Sciatica associated with otorrhoea. Burning pain from center of left buttock to inner ankle, heel as if red-hot coal applied, leg feels heavy as lead. In addition a number of cases of catarrhal deafness with noises in the ears were cured or greatly improved. ***C. M. Boger (*Medorrhinum Couns., xvi. 266) relates this case: Persistent vertigo after epileptic seizures, lasting a month at a time. *Visc. cm cured. Huber (*H. R., ii. 74) used the 3x and 6x. He considered it applicable to all kinds of rheumatism, acute and chronic, especially when characterized by *tearing pains, in cases occurring in winter, the result of exposure to sharp winds, and in cases of rheumatic deafness. The symptoms are worse By movement, by slightest movement. The lumbago cured in one case was better by pressure.
Relations
*Antidoted by: Camph., Chi. *Follows well: Aco. (rheumatism). *Compare: Epilepsy, Belladonna, Stramonium, Plumb. Effects of working in water, Calcarea Chill, fright, Aco. Uterine action, Secale. Rheumatism, Aco., Bryonia, Pulsatilla, Rho., Rhus, Spi.
Causation
Chill, Wetting. Fright. Suppression of menses.
SYMPTOMS.
Mind
Incoherent talk and spectral illusions, inclined to be violent.- Insensibility.- Stupor, succeeded by almost entire insensibility, lying motionless, with her eyes closed, as if in a sound sleep, but easily roused by a loud noise, and then would answer any question, but when she relapsed into her former condition there was a slight disposition to stertorous breathing (2nd d.).- Feels as if going to do something dreadful while the tremblings are on (B1).- Keeps waking in night thinking the most horrible things imaginable (B1).- If awake seemed to be dreaming, if asleep she was dreaming (B3).- Felt in bad temper when pain in chest was on (B3).- Great depression (B).
Head
Giddiness (2nd d.).- Intense throbbing headache (B1).- Sharp pain in head and face, leaving them sore (B1).- Numb feeling in head (B).- Tightening sensation of the brain once or twice (B).- Sharp shooting in left occipital bone (B).- Twinges of pain in left supraorbital region and right thigh (B).
Eyes
Conjunctiva injected.- Pupil slightly dilated and fixed.- Pupils contracted, and at first insensible to light (2nd d.).- Spectral illusions.- Eyes sleepy, difficult to open, lids heavy (B3).- Neuralgic pain lower part right orbit (B).
Ears
(Deafness in left ear.)- Hearing in left ear impaired, sounds muffled (B).- Dullness of hearing, left ear, sharp twinges of pain in right ear, later in left (B).- Sound as of wind in trees (B).- Singing in right ear, crackling in left (B).
Nose
Dryness back of nose, extending to larynx (B).
Face
Countenance suffused.- Lips livid.- Face flushed (after palpitation, B1) Face hot and flushed (B).
Mouth
Teeth have bled (B1).- Teeth chattered.- Mouth suddenly fills with saliva (B).- Unpleasant taste on waking, tongue coated to tip with ochre-yellow fur (B).- Tongue sore.- Felt starving at supper-time (1B).- Appetite ravenous (B1).
Stomach
Squeamish before breakfast and dinner (1B).
Abdomen
Whole alimentary canal paralysed.- When out at times feels as if some one were dragging her down from the waist, and directly after as if upper part of body floating in air (B1).- Hot feeling and constant ache in left groin, followed by sick feeling and shivering (B3).- Aching in hypogastrium as if menses coming on (B3).- Sharp twinges of pain about right Poupart’s ligament, inner aspect, shooting along spermatic cord (B).
Stool & Anus
Bowels obstinately constipated.- Copious action of bowels and very offensive (cadaverous) flatus (B).- Stinging, stitching pains left side of rectum near anus, on lying down soon after midnight, coming and going (B).- Constipated stool following itching of anus (after leaving off *Visc. a.-B.).- Acute aching left side of anus for hours, worse evening (B).
Urinary Organs
Frequent urination, urine pale, increased in quantity (B1).- Urine milky-white after standing (B3).- Urine turbid after standing, pink deposit (B).
Male Sexual Organs
Erotic dreams and seminal emissions (B).- Sharp twinges of pain along right cord to testicle, which was drawn up close to inguinal ring.- During coitus rather severe palpitation of the heart (B).- Pain in right testicle (B).
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