MAY-APPLE-WILD MANDRAKE-DUCK’S FOOT.
Introduction
Probably from a supposed likeness of the leaf to the webbed foot of some aquatic bird.)
Podophyllum, of which we use the sweetish; yellow, egg- shaped root, is indigenous throughout the United States, and was first proved by Dr. Williamson, of Philadelphia, who published his report in 1846.
Symptoms
Podophyllum increases the intestinal secretions and is activity cathartic, producing in from six to ten hours a copious and rather watery stool. It has been called th e”vegetable calomel,: and it, or its resin Podophyllum, is in general use in various cathartic pills. Carter’s Little Liver Pills are said to contain Podophyllum and aloes, while Pierce’s Pleasant Purgative Pills (of which you may have heard) are supposed to consist principally of podophyllum. Our North American Indians were the original users of Podophyllum and at times claimed for it virtues to which it was not entitled, as when the Osage Indians,. s formerly in Oklahoma, “considered it as a cure for poisons, by driving the through the bowels” (Hale). If you ever experienced a Podophyllum diarrhoea, you will feel that the Indians were more or less justified in their statement, as its driving power is very great.
It is an acute cathartic, causing inflammation and ulceration of the whole intestinal tract, affecting chiefly the duodenum and rectum, with prolapsus of the latter. It produces symptoms of dysentery; it congests the liver and promotes the secretion of bile; it produces weakness of the abdominal walls, with weakness or prolapsus of the uterus.
Podophyllum is useful in sick or bilious headache (95), preceded by blurring of vision (104), then gradually increasing pain, especially in the occiput (100), with nausea and vomiting. Also headache alternating with diarrhoea.
during difficult dentition (187) when this remedy is needed, m we may have hydrocephaloid condition, with hot head, rolling of the head, moaning, grinding of the teeth (187) and diarrhoea.
The tongue is coated white and there is much viscid mucus in the mouth. while the taste and breath are both offensive. There is but little appetite, although there is a sensation of hollowness or weakness in the epigastrium (179). there is desire for acids and sour things (9), eructations of food, which are hot and acid (178), nausea and frequent efforts to vomit.
Podophyllum is to be thought of in duodenitis with jaundice (122) and in gall-stone colic (82), with severe pain, nausea and jaundice.
In chronic congestion and inflammation of the liver there is a feeling of fulness and pain involving the whole right side, jaundice and morning diarrhoea.
A prominent feature under podophyllum is prolapsus of the rectum (160); this is noticed with constipation, diarrhoea or dysentery and is frequently the accompaniment of haemorrhoids (86). Dunham is the only author that I know of who lays stress on the prolapsus occurring “before the evacuation of faeces and not after it,” although others pave the wa for the statement by saying prolapsus of the rectum “from a little exertion ” (Lippe, Hering); the pathogenetic symptom reads, “after stool”. The prolapsus may occur when walking or as the result of debility; it is prolapsus may occur when walking or as the result of debility; it is frequently found following confinement or as associated with uterine displacement.
the constipation for which we prescribe Podophyllum is usually a chronic condition, associated with prolapsus of the rectum or anus, and a sinking sensation in the abdomen as if the intestines would drop through the pelvis (179).
The diarrhoea calling for the remedy is worse in the early morning, 4-9 A.M., getting the patient out of bed in a hurry. (For purposes of differentiation, the Podophyllum patient goes to the closet on the trot, while in Sulphur he goes on the run.)
The stool is usually painless and yellow-watery, looking like pea-soup; it is very profuse, each stool enough to drain the patient dry and he wonders where it all comes from, as he feels sure that he has to taken sufficient food or drink to supply it. The stool is gushing (59), pouring out all at once, a good deal as though a faucet had been turned on; it is usually very offensive and often associated with prolapsus of the rectum or anus.
Diarrhoea from 4-9 A.M. followed by a normal movement in the afternoon or evening is also quite characteristic of this remedy. The diarrhoeic stool often contains undigested food (60), is aggravated by eating and drinking (57), in hot weather (57) and during dentition (58).
While the diarrhoea is usually painless, the stools may be preceded by violent colic and followed by pain in the sacrum. In cholera morbus we may find it indicated even when there are cramps in the calves(52) as well as in other muscles.
It is useful in “camp diarrhoea” (Hering), in dysentery and that form of dysentery that is epidemic, especially in South, and in chronic dysentery, with severe tenesmus (61) deep in the rectum. In all these forms of diarrhoea and dysentery, the movements are followed by a sensation of great weakness of sinking in the abdomen as well as in the rectum. The reference to the use of Podophyllum in camp diarrhoea, reminds one that Alstonia scholaris has been found useful in diarrhoea occurring in congregations of people where the sanitary precautions are mostly forgotten, the so-called camp diarrhoea, the result of drinking impure water, especially with malarial infection; stools bloody and undigested food, perhaps with dysenteric symptoms, tenesmus (61) and great prostration (58).
Podophyllum is useful in young girls for amenorrhoea (134) or suppression of the menses, associated with nausea and efforts to vomit, with severe bearing-down pains, “relieved when lying down” (Minton), and usually with haemorrhoids and chronic prolapsus of the anus.
There is great weakness of the abdominal walls, especially during pregnancy, with relief of the sinking sensation while lying on the stomach. It is of value in prolapsus of the uterus (203) and vagina, due to general debility, “over-lifting” (Hering), and especially following parturition, with severe backache and more or less prolapsus of the anus.
Podophyllum seems to have an especial action one the r. ovary (147) and it is useful for pain in the r. ovary, associated with prolapsus of the uterus, for acute and chronic ovaritis of the r. side (148) and for r. sided ovarian tumor (147).
Podophyllum has been found useful in remittent and intermittent fevers with hepatic congestion, bilious vomiting and diarrhoea.
I use Podophyllum 30th.
