(Thorn-apple.)
(From vol. iii, 2nd edit., 1825.)
(The juice expressed from the fresh plant, Datura Stramonium, and mixed with equal parts of alcohol.)
The narcotic plant shows in its primary action, with the exception of very disagreeable sensations which the prover cannot call “pain,” no actual pains. Sensations which can strictly be called pain only occur in the secondary action, from the subsequent reaction of the organism, which develops not only the natural sensation as opposed to the sensation-destroying action of the thorn-apple, but, in the case of large doses, even morbidly exalted sensation (pain). So, also, this plant produces in its primary action great mobility of the voluntary muscles and suppression of all secretions and excretions, the reverse of which occurs in the secondary action, to wit, paralysis of the muscles and excessive secretions and excretions. On the other hand, in suitable doses it curatively allays some spasmodic muscular movements, and restores suppressed excretions in several cases in which absence of pain is a prominent symptom.
Hence thorn-apple can only cure homoeopathically the morbid states produced in its primary characterisic action.
The symptoms of the secondary action, which, as with all narcotic drugs, are much more numerous, better expressed and more distinct than with non-narcotic drugs, serve to make the observant physician refrain from its employment in cases where the patient is already suffering from ailments resembling those of the secondary action. Thus, a true physician would never administer thorn-apple in, for example, complete paralysis, or inveterate diarrhoeas, or in cases where violent pains constitute the chief feature of the disease.
But what incomparable curative action (I speak from experience) follows the homoeopathic application of the peculiar mental affections caused by thorn-apple for similar natural mental maladies, and how useful it is in convulsive ailments similar to those it causes.
I have found it efficacious in some epidemic fevers with symptoms similar to those it is capable of exciting in the mind and body.
As sure as there are several varieties of hydrophobia from the bite of rabid animals, so sure is it that we cannot cure them all with one remedy, and that we require belladonna in some, henbane in others, and thorn-apple in yet others, in order to cure them, according the totality of the morbid symptoms presents more similarity with the symptoms of the first, second, to third of these plants.
Moderate doses act for only 36 to 48 hours doses a shorter time. Injurious consequences of several days’ duration are to be feared from very large doses, these are partly primary, partly secondary effects.
Excessively violent primary actions are removed to citric acid, or fruits containing it (currents, barberries, &c. much more effectually than by vinegar. Smoking tobacco greatly allays the stupefaction of the head caused by thorn-apple. According to Falk, alcohol, and according to PLEHWE, cold foot-baths are useful for it.
A drop, often even but a small portion of a drop of the trillion fold dilution of the juice, is an adequate homoeopathic dose, all other extraneous medicinal influences being removed.
{HAHNEMANN’s fellow provers were FRANZ, FR. HAHNEMANN, MICHLER.]
The following old-school authorities are cited:
ALBERTI, Jurisp. Medorrhinum, i.
BOERHAAVE, kAAW, Impel. Fac. Hipp., L. B., 1745.
BRERA, in Harles Bemerk. Ub. D. Behandl. D. Hunderwuth, Fft. A. M., 1809.
BUCHNER, Bresl. Samml., 1727.
BUSCH, (In the 1st edit this is given as “B. RUSH,” but neither name can be found under the reference given.) B., in Philos. Transact. Vol. 60, 1771. Commentarri de rebus in Medorrhinum et Sc. Nat. gestis, vol. ii.
COSTA, CPH. A, in Schenk, Lib. vii, obs. 139.
CRUGER, DAN, in Misc. Nat., Cur., Dec. iii, ann.2.
DE WITT, in Phys. Medorrhinum Journale, Leipz., 1800, January.
DODERLIN, in Comment lit. Nor., 1744.
DU GUID, in Sauvages, Nosol, ii.
FOWLER, in Medical and Philosoph. Comment., v. – Edinb. Medorrhinum Comment.
GARCIAS Ab HORTO, DE Plantis, cap.24.
GARDANE, Gazette de Sante, 1773, 1774.
GREDING, in Ludwig, Advirs., i.
GRIMM, J. C., in Eph. Nat. Cur., cent, ix.
HEIM, in Selle’s Neue Beitrage z, Nat.u, Arzn. ii.
JOHNSON, in Medic. Facts and Observ., vol. v.
KELLNER, Bresl. Samml., 1727.
KING, in Phys. Medorrhinum Journale, Leipz.,1800, March.
KRAMER, in Comment. Lit. Nor. 1733.
LOBSTEIN, J. F., Obs. de Stramonium semivirt. Ven., in Append. Diss. Speilmann et geurin, de Plant. Venen. Alsat. Argent., 1766. M., in Baldinger’s Neues Magaz., vol. i.
Hahnemann's three major publications chart the development of homeopathy. In the Organon of Medicine, we see the fundamentals laid out. Materia Medica Pura records the exact symptoms of the remedy provings. In his book, The Chronic Diseases, Their Peculiar Nature and Their Homoeopathic Cure, he showed us how natural diseases become chronic in nature when suppressed by improper treatment.