Elaterium

Ecballium elaterium. Momordica elaterium. Squirting Cucumber. N. O. Cucurbitaceae. Tincture of unripe fruit. Trituration of Elaterium, C Ha O5.

Clinical

Abscesses. Bilious fever. Bladder, affections of. Boils. Cholera. Colic. Cramps. Diarrhoea. Dropsy. Dysentery. Erysipelas. Intermittent fever. Taondice. Measles. Nettle-rash. Neuralgia. Rheumatism. Sciatica. Scurvy. Vomiting. Yawning.

Characteristics

The " signature" of Elat is too obvious to be missed : Profuse watery stools, coming out with a gush, which is the main characteristic of the drug, is plainly typified in the explosion by means of which the ripe fruit scatters its seeds. Evil has been used with good effect in scurvy of which gushing diarrhoea is a marked symptom. Beriberi, also a scurvy disease, has been greatly helped by Elat according to Cooper. Dull olive een discharges ; and frothy stools are also characteristic. Many cases of cholera, cholerine, and infantile diarrhoea are met by Elat; also the jaundice of the new-bom with bilious stools. The property of Elat to cause draining of the tissues of their watery contents has been used to cause the absorption of dropsical fluids. Minute doses will often effect this. Gaping and yawning are well marked, and when present with fever ben)re the chill or before the chill of cholera, Elater. is indicated. The yawning lasts all through the chill. Elat promotes the opening of abscesses and boils. Sensations as if a splinter in left eye ; as if posterior nares and upper part of oesophagus were enlarged Effects of damp weather or standing on damp ground ; < by damp.

Relations

C(7mar<0 ; Bry. and Coloc. (sciatica) ; Verat (neuralgia) ; Colch., Crot t, Verat. (choleraic affections) ; Sec (olivegreen diarrhoea) ; Canth. (dysenteric diarrhoea with painful micturition) ; Apis, Hep., Ign., Rhus t (urticaria during intermittent fever). X. Mind«"»Depression of spirits. — Irresistible propensity to wander from home.

Throat

A feeling as if the posterior nares and upper part of the oesophagus were enlarged.

Stomach

Nausea ; vomiting of a watery substance, or of greenish, bilious matter, with great weakness.

Abdomen

Cutting, griping pains in the bowels.

Stool and Anus

Copious liquid stools. — Discharges from the bonds of frothy water ; coming out with a gush. — Squirting diarrhoea. — Dull olive-green discharges. — Bleeding of haemorrhoidal tumors. 83. Lower Limt>8. — Shooting, also dull aching pains in the coarse of L sciatic nerve to the instep and toes.

Sleep p. 700

Incessant gaping.

Fever p. 700

Chilliness, with continual gaping, as if an attack of intermittent fever were approaching. — Before the chill, gaping. — During the chill, pain in the head and limbs. — Fever, with violent tearing pains throughout the head ; increased pains in the bowels and extremities ; pains shooting to the tips of the fingers and toes, and then shooting back into the body. — Perspirar tion relieves all the symptoms. — If the intermittent fever is suppressed, urticaria break out all over the body.