“When a frog receives as much as twenty minims of the extract of Spigelia, the heart is slowed to a considerable extent – as much as ten or fifteen beats per minute – and diastole, while not increased in length, is nevertheless very full and marked. The change from systole to diastole is abnormally rapid, so that the heart in one moment in systole springs with a quick movement to its full diastolic condition. Systole, however, gradually increases on diastole, in much the same manner as in Digitalis poisoning, until finally the greater portion of the ventricle fails to dilate, the apex being tilted more and more forward, while the ventricular walls are powerfully contracted. As the systolic pauses increase, the diastolic movements decrease in volume, until finally the heart dilates no more than it does normally. At this time the powerful and heretofore spreading systolic contractions seem to lose power, and the heart shortly stops all movements in a semi-relaxed state.
“Experiments on the warm-blooded animals show that on the injection of one drachm or less of the drug, the action of the heart is very rapidly slowed in its movements; and that this slowing is chiefly due to central inhibitory stimulation is shown by the fact that, if the vagi be cut before the drug is given, this slowing does not occur, and also if, after the drug has slowed the heart, the vagi be cut, the inhibition no longer remains. That the fall of arterial pressure produced by this drug is due in great part to the cardiac depression which it produces is proved, since asphyxia will cause a rise in pressure, and that the pressure returns nearly to normal as soon as the heart gets rid of the drug which has been suddenly injected into it. On the respiratory centre the drug seems to have a still more depressing influence, respiration ceasing some moments before the cardiac arrest.”
Had Hahnemann lived until to-day, in the brilliant light of the scientific knowledge of this decade, he would have been gratified to see such experiments as this, confirming, as they do, his brilliant provings of Spigelia. I am sure, indeed, that he would have followed his provings of this drug on men and women with provings on animals. I am certain he would not have joined in the senseless opposition of some of our school to experiments on animals, and who assert that the symptoms so produced are no criteria to the effects of the drug on man. the above-quoted proving on the dog disproves such an assertion, for we get a true picture of the ultimate fatal effects, as well as the extreme effects before death, presenting the symptoms of Hahnemann’s provings in an intensified form. Observe the following symptoms on the dog, and see if we have gained no new knowledge:
1. Quick expiratory movements, almost amounting to a cough.
2. Pupils widely dilated.
3. Spasmodic internal strabismus.
4. Exophthalmus.
5. Respirations very rapid and panting.
6. Loss of muscular power, but not sensation.
7. Deep sleep, which passes into coma.
Hahnemann has the following similar symptoms:
1. Eyes weak, with apparent internal impediment; wherever he turns them, they remain, etc.
2. Pupils dilated.
3. Eyes seem distended. (This is an incipient exophthalmus.)
4. Eyes seem too large for their orbits.
Some of the other symptoms are faintly given in Hahnemann’s provings, but he could not carry the provings far enough to cause real strabismus or the actual exophthalmia. Even the cases of accidental poisoning of children did not go to this extent. In my studies of the action of Spigelia on the heart, I have often wondered why it has not been used in exophthalmus. It has all the necessary heart symptoms, but I cannot find any clinical cases reported where it has been used, nor is it recommended for exophthalmus. If Hahnemann had experimented on animals, this symptom, with all its concomitant conditions, would have been developed.
Dr. Harris’ description of the movements of the heart of the frog is graphic and interesting. When we read the heart symptoms in our provings side by side with it, we can better understand the manner in which the symptoms are produced. The conclusions to which we must arrive are these:
1. Spigelia acts directly on the heart as an irritant, causing valvular inflammation.
2. It acts on the brain and the central nervous supply of the heart, causing various neuroses, neuralgias and spasmodic movements.
3. It acts on the respiratory centres, causing paralysis, and this paralysis is so marked that the animal dies of arrest of respiration before the heart dies in diastole.
Spigelia can now be used more intelligently as a cardiac remedy, and its sphere is greatly enlarged. It has large possibilities as a cerebral remedy, as in congestion, inflammation, meningitis (basilar and cerebro-spinal).
It should be considered in chorea, spinal irritation, rheumatic irritation of the brain and spinal cord, and, lastly, for many reflex symptoms caused by worms and other forms of intestinal irritation.
SQUILLA MARITIMA.
Squilla has not yet been used by the Homoeopathic or regular school in heart affections. At the time the original proving of Squilla was made, no method of testing its effects upon the heart was in use. But if a careful study of these provings be made, it will be seen how closely its chest and respiratory symptoms compare with the bronchial and pleuritic troubles which are so often present in mitral lesions. Owing to the imperfect supply of blood to the lungs in the mitral disease, the lungs – and especially the bronchial mucous membrane – become congested; this causes a profuse flow of mucous (bronchorrhoea) or acute bronchitis, also oedema and venous stasis of the lungs, and even pleuritic effusion. The cough in such cases closely resembles the cough of Squilla, namely, loose, rattling, constantly harassing day and night; sometimes loose, then dry, spasmodic, disturbing sleep; loose in the morning, dry in the evening. The expectoration is either glairy or bloody and is very difficult to raise, although a large quantity seems to be in the chest.
The allopathic abuse of this drug is fearful. They give it to “loosen the cough.” They do not know that the bronchorrhoea which they cause is due to the congestion of the lungs and bronchial mucous membrane, depending on cardiac weakness and irregular action, and that many of the cases of so-called bronchitis and pneumonia in children are made so by the toxic action of Squilla. If the patients did not vomit up most of the drug the mortality would be greater. The pathogenetic action of Squilla is not unlike Convallaria (all the liliaceae, in large doses, are more or less cardiac poisons). The primary effect of large doses of Squilla is to cause increased force and more rapid contractions of the ventricles; the pulse is small and hard, wiry, then becomes irregular and very rapid, and finally ceases from tonic closure of the ventricles. During this time the pulmonary circulation is rendered imperfect, and there is present passive congestion. Hence the cough, mucus rales, bloody sputa, dyspnoea, pleuritic pains, profuse urine, etc. It is my conviction that nearly all the symptoms of the chest and urinary organs caused by Squilla are produced by the action of this drug on the heart, and, except in a small class of influenzas, it is only indicated in chest affections when cardiac disorder is present. Many of the cases diagnosticated as bronchitis, pneumonia and pleurisy in children are probably due to acute endocarditis, pericarditis, or chronic valvular diseases, which we now know are very common in early life. In acute cases, presenting the characteristic symptoms of Squilla, it should be given in minute doses (3d dilution), or the malady will be dangerously aggravated.
Per contra, in cases of cough, dyspnoea, bronchorrhoea and pleuritic affections of a neglected or chronic nature, when the symptoms often assume the character of the secondary symptoms of Squilla, namely, constant hawking, loose or dry cough, great oppression of breathing, movement and lying down aggravate – the face is pale and cold, hands and feet cold and blue, heart’s action feeble, irregular, palpitating, but always deficient in force, urine scanty, red, painful and often bloody – this remedy will be found promptly curative in larger but not pathogenetic doses. I have found the 1st dilution, in doses of five drops every hour, or the 1st trituration, in grain doses, act with the happiest curative effect. In dropsy from valvular disease it should not be used empirically, but always selected by the ensemble of its symptoms.
Scillain, or Scillitin, is the active principle of Squilla. It is acrid and bitter, a glucoside. It is sometimes called Scillitoxin. It has not been used in practice to any extent, for in the doses in which the regular school would deem necessary it might be a dangerous agent, for it is far more irritant than Digitaline. When its properties have been better investigated, and it has been proven by persons who can record the cardiac symptoms by means of all the recent methods, we may be able to use it with great advantage in those cases of heart failure occurring during the progress of inflammatory affections of the lungs, especially in capillary bronchitis of children.
Hale wrote Lectures On Diseases Of The Heart, Materia medica and special therapeutics of the new remedies Volume 1, Materia Medica And Special Therapeutics Of The New Remedies Volume 2, Saw Palmetto: (Sabal Serrulata. Serenoa Serrulata), The Medical, Surgical, and Hygienic Treatment of Diseases of Women, New Remedies: Their Pathogenetic Effects and Therapeutic Application, Ilex Cassine : the aboriginal North American tea, Repertory to the New Remedies with Charles Porter Hart, The Characteristics of the New Remedies, Materia Medica and Special Therapeutics of the New Remedies, The Practice of Medicine, Homoeopathic Materia Medica of the New Remedies: Their Botanical Description etc.