Cimicifuga

Authority. 21, Inaug. Thesis, presented to Horn. Med. Coll, of Penna., 1853, by Franklin Bigelow.

The tincture used in the following provings was made from the dried root gathered in the spring.

Mind

Mr. F. B., aged twenty-five years.

September 29tb, 1852. Took 25 drops of the tincture at 3 p.m.

At 10 A.M., next day, a dull oppressive headache came on ; pain principally in the forehead, extending along over the vertex down to the occiput. In the whole forehead the pain is very severe. On walking out into the open air, pains in the muscles of the lower limbs as from great fatigue; felt more particularly in the anterior parts of the thighs. Great disposition to yawn. Inclined to drowse much. Sleep disturbed by dreams of accidents, seeing limbs broken, great suffering, etc.

On the following morning awoke at 3 oclock, with severe cutting pains and great uneasiness in the lower part of the abdomen (hypogastric region), with urgent desire to go to stool. Stool very thin and partly undigested. Great uneasiness in the bowels all the forenoon, without much desire to go to stool, but a sensation as though I should be obliged to soon. Next morning awoke at 3 oclock, with diarrhoea of thin undigested character. Pain low down in the bowels. Diarrhoea continued through the day ; stools once in four or five hours.

Next day no perceptible symptoms remained except a feeling of w^weakness and languor.

Conditions

October 7th, 11 a.m. Took 100 drops of the 1st attend. (5 to 95). Great nausea and disposition to vomit for two hours after taking it. Very sleepy during the forepart of the evening. Slept well till 3 oclock in the morning; very restless the remainder of the night.

October 8th. At 6 a.m., dull oppressive headache came on, extending from the forehead over the vertex to the occiput; violent pain in the whole forehead ; pain didl, with a sense of heaviness. Great dizziness. Constant disposition to yawn. Occasional shooting pains about the sides of the head, in the region of ideality and sublimity. Pulse rather accelerated. Feeling of great prostration of whole system. Appetite poor. Limbs feel excessively fatigued. Forehead dry and hot. Pains in head partially relieved by throwing head backward. At times very chilly over the entire body. Continually stretching and yawning. Great uneasiness and oppression in the epigastrium. Stomach feels greatly oppressed. On attempting to read immediately go to sleep. Disposed to get angry easily. Rather melancholy. Symptoms nearly all subsided by 2 p.m. In the evening great pain in low^er part of bowels, with great fulness of the abdomen. Sensation as though diarrhoea would come on. Very bitter and disagreeable taste in mouth. Very drowsy and sleepy. Slept well till 3 a.m., after that time very restless. This symptom appeared regularly every morning for two weeks.

Second, third, and fourth days after 3 a.m., each day, pain in lower part of bowels, with diarrhoea of a thin, undigested character, lightish-colored. Pains in the head grew less and less severe for three or four days, and gradually subsided by the fifth. Upper lip very much swollen and inflamed for eight days. Skin cracked and came off. A small ulcer on each cheek, near the centre; very much inflamed for several days, bleeding almost constantly. Eruption, on the hands and wrists principally, resembling mosquito-bites.

Aggravation p. 469

Mr. E. H. B., aged twenty-four years.

September 29th, 1852. Took 20 drops of the tincture at 9 a.m.. One hour after, fluent coryza with violent tickling in the nares, which excited sneezing, going off in about half an hour. Great drowsiness after dinner. Weakness of the knee-joints, preceded by unnatural warmth in the feet. Weakness in the lower limbs. AVhen walking, have to proceed with great cautiousness for fear of falling. General feeling of intoxication. Dull, heavy rheumatic pains in the upper posterior region of the neck. Tearing in the centre of the vertex, in a spot about the size of a silver dollar. Jerking in the muscles of the left thigh, more particularly in the region of the inferior third. Cold feeling of the left thigh and knee, as though a cold breeze were blowing on them. Stitching pain as of fine needles in the region of the heart, accompanied with slight twitching or pulsation in the external muscles of that region. Slight palpitation of the heart. Sleep imperfect; waking at midnight. General burning and itching of the skin after rising in the morning, continuing half an hour.

Amelioration p. 469

Mr. E. P. G., aged eighteen years.

September 29th. Took 20 drops of the tincture at 10 a.m. Soon after taking it, burning in the stomach and excessively bitter taste in the mouth. Half an hour after, felt a sensation of rawness in the throat, as from excoriation. One hour after, dull pain in the forehead and ears.

Third day, early in the morning, pain in the bowels, with thin, lightbrown diarrhoea, which came on in like manner for three or four days. Eruption on the skin like mosquito-bites,^k