Do we make any use of Curare?
It has been recommended in the marked dyspnoea of emphysema, nervous debility and paralysis.
What is Alstonia?
An Australian shrub; tincture from bark.
For what do we use Alstonia?
Low malarial fevers; camp diarrhoeas of undigested food, when of malarial origin; malarial anaemia; debility dependent on lack of digestive power.
GELSEMIUM SEMPERVIRENS.
Where are our original records of this remedy found?
Hale’s New Remedies. Hughes’ Club Monograph contains a complete study of it. N. A. Journal of Homoeopathy, Vol. III.
What is Gelsemium?
It is the yellow or Carolina Jessamine, a beautiful southern flower.
What part is used?
The fresh root where the diameter is not larger than a goose quill.
Describe process of making tincture.
Chop and pound the fresh root to a fine pulp and weigh. Add gradually two parts of alcohol, by weight, to each part of pulp. Stir thoroughly, pour into a well stoppered bottle and stand in a dark, cool place for eight days shaking it daily. Decant, strain and filter. Drug power, 1/6. The tincture is clear, slightly brownish orange color, of a pleasant bitter taste and slightly acid reaction.
What is the general physiological action of the drug?
Gelsemium centers its action upon the nervous system, producing various degrees of motor paralysis, and later, sensory as well; a depressed, nervous condition; languor and stupor are characteristic of the drug. It also lowers the action of the heart and lungs.
Give five grand characteristics of the action of Gelsemium.
1. Dull, stupid apathetic mental condition.
2. Great weakness, muscular relaxation and deep seated aching.
3. Paralytic action on ocular muscles.
4. Low type of thirstless fever. 5. Complaints arising from emotional disturbances.
How does it dilate the pupil?
By paralyzing the third nerve, which supplies the circular fibres of the iris; there being no longer any resistance to the action of the radiating fibres, the pupil dilates.
How does Belladonna dilate the pupil?
By stimulating the sympathetic, which supplies the radiating fibres of the iris, so that they overcome the action of the circular fibres.
When will Physostigma contract the pupil?
As this drug contracts the pupil by stimulating the third nerve, it will only contract the pupil dilated by the action of Belladonna, and not that dilated by the action of Gelsemium.
What are some other eye symptoms of Gelsemium?
It causes paralytic symptoms, such as diplopia or double vision from paresis of the eye muscles. Ptosis and strabismus; all from its action on the third nerve.
What drug is useful for ptosis of rheumatic origin?
Rhus tox.
What is the mental condition of Gelsemium?
Dull, stupid and apathetic; ailments, diarrhoeas, etc., from emotional excitements, as bad news, fright, grief, etc.
What is the headache of Gelsemium?
Dull, heavy ache with heavy eyelids. It commences in the nape, passes over the head and settles in an eye; worse in the morning; the patient is listless and stupid, the face is dark red, appears as if under the influence of liquor; there is also a feeling of a band around the head.
Mention some other drugs having this last symptom.
Iodine, Mercury, Carbolic acid and Sulphur.
What are the indications for Gelsemium in cold in the head and catarrhs?
First stage, where there is fullness of the head, fever and chilliness; chills run up and down the back, with a marked inclination to hug the fire; there is a watery excoriating discharge from the nose, and sneezing; there is a predisposition to take cold from any change of the weather, especially if the weather be warm and relaxing.
What of the throat symptoms?
Aphonia from paresis of the muscles, sore scraped throat accompanying nasal symptoms; pain extends into ears; worse right side; post-diphtheritic paralysis.
What are the characteristic respiratory and heart symptoms?
On dropping asleep there is a sensation as if the heart had stopped beating, forcing the patient to move to stimulate it into action.
What is the diarrhoea?
Sudden, copious, yellow, cream-colored or papescent diarrhoea, which is caused from fear or fright or other emotional excitement; whitish or yellowish tongue.
What other drugs have diarrhoea from fright?
Opium, Veratrum alb., Argentum nitr. especially chronic and Pulsatilla.
What are the male sexual symptoms of Gelsemium?
Prostration and loss of tone in the sexual organs; coldness, spermatorrhoea without erections, impotence, involuntary emissions resulting from masturbation; gonorrhoea in the beginning, with marked soreness at the mouth of the urethra, discharge scanty, little pain but much heat.
What are the female symptoms?
Sensation as if the uterus were squeezed with a hand; neuralgic dysmenorrhoea, with scanty flow; aphonia and sore throat during menses.
What is the chief indication for Gelsemium in labor?
Rigid os uteri from tardy dilatation; uterus soft and flabby; does not contract or expel; patient drowsy; premonitory stage of puerperal convulsions.
Give some of the nervous disturbances of Gelsemium.
Loss of power of muscular control, cramp in muscles of forearm; professional neuroses, such as writers’ cramp, violin players’ cramp, etc. Excessive trembling of all limbs, ptosis and other paralyses.
The fevers of Gelsemium, what characterizes them?
Five Ds.-Drowsiness, Dullness, Dizziness, Diplopia and Downward tendency; soreness of muscles and absence of thirst; great prostration and remission of symptoms.
What in addition characterizes the intermittent fever?
The chill runs up the back; there is aching all over the body; the patient wants to be held so that he won’t shake so; noise and light are intolerable’ sweat is partial, but it relieves all the pains; copious urination also relieves.
What of its use in typhoid fever?
Sore, bruised sensations all over the body; early stages, dread of motion, drowsy, red face.
What are its indications in measles?
The catarrhal symptoms, great prostration, stupor and absence of thirst; itching and redness of the skin.
What are the characteristic pains of Gelsemium?
Deep-seated muscular pains and dull aching pains.
APOCYNUM CANNABINUM.
Where is the pathogenesis of this remedy found?
Allen’s Encyclopedia and Hale’s New Remedies.
What is the common name, origin and preparation used of this drug?
Indian Hemp, growing all over the United States. Tincture from the fresh root in the same manner as Gelsemium is prepared. The tincture is deep orange-red in color.
What is its general action?
Acts especially upon the kidneys, skin and serous membranes, giving rise to various dropsical affections. It depresses the heart, slowing and weakening the pulse.
What is its chief homoeopathic use?
In dropsical conditions, such as hydrocephalus and abdominal dropsies, where it is given as a diuretic; the principal indication is a copious yellow or brownish diarrhoea, expelled with great force and a weak, all-gone feeling in the abdomen; oppression about the epigastrium and chest.
How does it differ from Arsenic and Apis?
It has unquenchable thirst. Arsenic wants little and often, Apis thirstless. The bloating in Apocynum is on the side on which he lies. Arsenic in the extremities.
Apis under the eyes.
OLEANDER.
Where do we find the original pathogenesis of Oleander?
In Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura.
Where do we get this drug?
We make a tincture from the fresh leaves of the Oleander nerium, a native of Europe, gathered when the plant is coming into bloom.
Describe method of making the tincture.
Chop and crush the leaves thoroughly and weigh. To every three parts add gradually two parts of alcohol, bringing the whole mass into a thick pulp by stirring. Strain through a piece of new linen. Stand eight days in a well stoppered bottle in a dark cool place and then filter. Drug power, 1/2.
What peculiar symptom has this drug?
Headache relieved by looking sideways.
What is the diarrhoea of Oleander?
Thin, undigested stools; food that was eaten a day or two before is passed undigested.
What is the chief field of action of Oleander, and give its symptoms?
The skin; an eruption on the back of the scalp and ears, oozing a sticky fluid and breeding vermin; itching, relieved on first scratching, but it soon becomes sore.
As Oleander is quite poisonous what is the best antidote?
Camphor.
VINCA MINOR.
What is Vinca minor?
The lesser Periwinkle; tincture from the fresh plant, gathered at beginning of flowering season, treated like the preceding.
What is the principal use of this drug?
In eczema of the scalp and face; offensive smelling eruption which breeds lice; crusts form over the discharge, and the retained discharge is offensive and causes the hair to mat together discharge is offensive and causes the hair to mat together, Plica Polonica.
Mention two other drugs with crusts and scabs behind the ears.
Nux juglans and Graphites.
What drug has crusta lactea, with copious urine of an odor, like cat’s urine?
Viola tricolor.
What is Strophanthus?
A tropical member of the Apocynaceae family. Tincture from the fresh, ripe seeds.
What are its uses?
It is useful in weak, hypertrophied irritable heart with tense arteries and a free discharge of urine. Also, it has proved beneficial in alcoholism. Energetic types of patients who are below par, with a history of some violent exertion or exercise producing the praecordial distress.
Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Michigan Homeopathic Medical College. Member of American Institute of Homeopathy. In addition to his editoral work he authored or collaborated on: Boericke and Dewey's Twelve Tissue Remedies, Essentials of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Essentials of Homeopathic Therapeutics and Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics.