FTRN (110)

[Akhilesh Raja]

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PURE MATERIA MEDICA
By T. F. ALLEN, Presented by Médi-T
(Momordica elaterium, Linn.)

Preparation, Tincture of the immature fruit; triturations
of ---------------- (C20H28O5).

Authorities. 1, Caleb B. Matthews, M.D.; experiments on several individuals,
with 2d dec. dil. of the extract, Trans. Am. Inst. of Hom., 1, 124; 2, Dr.
Robert T. Cooper took 1st dec. dil. for seven days, then poured spirits upon
the solid drug, and took 24 and 50 drops; two weeks after, 3 drops daily for
six days, with 1 drop tinct., in addition, on the fifth day; 3, Dr. Dickson;
effects of carrying the plant in the hat, A. H. Z., 73, 206, from Fror.
Nat., 21; 4, Morris; experiment with 1/20 of a grain of Elaterine, Edinb.
Med. and Surg. Journal, 35, 342; 5, Christison; effects of doses of 1/10 of
a grain in four cases in Edinb. Royal Infirmary, ibid; 6, Wolodzka; Dissert.
de l'Elaterium, 1857; effects of 5 milligr. of Elaterine; 7, Schroff's
experiments with Elaterine, Lehrb. d. Pharm.

MIND. Depression of spirits, Fear of some approaching disaster,
HEAD. Confusion of the head, followed by headache, Severe pain in the head
in the evening, which was not perceptibly increased after a drop of the
tincture; dulness of head remained till late at night Violent headache, with
sensation of constriction of the temples and forehead . Forehead. Slight
aching in the forehead Dull pain in region of causality, Temples. Pains in
the temples, Sides. Dull pain in region of combativeness, right and left
sides,
EYE. Sticking, as of a splinter, in the inner canthus of left eye
EAR. Sticking pain near the rim of the cartilage of left ear
NOSE. Epistaxis
MOUTH. Tongue coated with a dirty-brown fur Bitter taste in the mouth,
Bitter taste, with salivation,
THROAT. Pain in the back of throat, as if scalded Scraping in the throat, A
feeling as if the choana and upper part of the osophagus were enlarged,
Pains in the left sterno-cleido-mastoideus muscles, near its insertion into
the sternum,
STOMACH. Loss of appetite, . Eructations of flatus, Eructations
and nausea for two days, Eructations and nausea, relieved by sneezing,
Nausea, which continued five hours, till after two liquid stools, Nausea,
inclination to vomit and vomiting, repeated four times within two hours, at
first slimy, afterwards colored with bile, with increase of salivation and
eructations of air, flatulence, rumbling in the bowels, Constant nausea
and disposition to vomit, Feeling of sickness very sick for two or
three hours after; had to lie down to prevent sickness from coming on
Vomiting lasted nearly the whole night, and was repeated several times,
Vomiting a dark-brown fluid mixed with food, without pain, flatus, or
nausea, but accompanied with much prostration and feeling of great weakness
at the stomach, at 7 A.M . Vomiting of a small quantity of clear liquid; the
vomiting was frequently repeated at very short intervals; three hours later,
discharge of a very copious bilious greenish substance, and of all the
contents of the stomach, with very difficult vomiting, Violent vomiting and
eructations of the odor of bad eggs, Stomach. Pain in the pit of the
stomach, with violent colic Feeling of stricture or oppression at the
epigastrium, Dull pain in the epigastrium,
ABDOMEN. Dull pain in the right hypochondrium, Abdomen retracted, Rumbling
of flatus in the course of the cæcum and colon, Discharge of flatus per
anum, Griping Pain in bowels, coming on in the warmth of the bed. Dull pains
in the bowels, *Cutting pains in the bowels, like the griping of medicine .
Iliac Region. Pain of a dull, aching, pressing kind over the crest of the
right ilium, round to the back, extending deep into the pelvis,
ANUS. Bleeding of hæmorrhoidal tumors, Some soreness of the anus.
STOOL. Diarrhoa. Purging *Copious dejections *Copious liquid stools
Dirty yellow stool two hours after breakfast; evacuation at 8.30 P.M.,
without pain, first part of natural consistence, the second soft awoke at 7
A.M. with desire for stool, but had none awoke at 2 A.M. with desire for
stool; had a very copious liquid motion, painless, followed by five others
in the course of the morning, all painless and very liquid, dirty color,
with irregular intervals between them; seemed to continue until the bowels
were fairly emptied *Dull olive-green discharges, Discharges of dark
masses of bilious mucus, *Watery discharges from the bowels of a frothy
character, Constipation. Costiveness,

URINARY ORGANS. Increased flow of limpid urine, Quantity of urine seemed
to increase ; no deposit with heat; quantity if anything diminished
High-colored; sp. gr. 1.022 (after gtt. ), Urine acid, reddened litmus; sp.
gr. 1.020; scanty, pale, after dinner Sp. gr. 1.028, high-colored, and
scanty; no deposit with heat
RESPIRATORY ORGANS. Unpleasant smell to the breath
CHEST. Sharp pains at the lower part of the sternum, passing through to the
spine or lower angle of the right shoulder-blade,
NECK AND BACK. Pains under the right shoulder-blade, Fugitive, sticking
pains in the lumbar region, more on the right side, Very slight aching pain
in the region of the left kidney
SUPERIOR EXTREMITIES. Pains extending from the shoulder to the ends of the
fingers, and shooting back up to the elbow, Dull pains in right shoulder,
forearm, and hand, extending to the fingers, Sharp, shooting pains in the
left axilla, near the insertion of the pectoralis major muscle, Sharp,
sticking pains in the fingers of the left hand out to their extremities,
Sharp, sticking pains in the muscular parts of thumb,
INFERIOR EXTREMITIES. Shooting, and also dull, aching pains in the left
thigh, in the course of the sciatic nerve, extending down to the instep, and
out to the extremities of the toes, Pain in the right knee, extending into
the instep and toes, Pain in the great toe of an arthritic nature,

GENERAL SYMPTOMS. Weakness for two day, Great weakness followed the attack,
Felt very weak when going to bed at 10 o'clock Sharp, fugitive, or dull,
aching pains, now here, now there, Pains mostly affecting the left side, but
also the right, The symptoms occurred very soon after the administration of
the medicine,

SLEEP Incessant gaping, lasting nearly an hour,
FEVER. Chilliness, with continued gaping, as if an attack of intermittent
fever was approaching, Fever came on after a few hours, accompanied all the
symptoms, and lasted till the following day