A 
CRITICAL EXAMINATION 
OF OUK 
MATERIA MEDIC A 
BY 
T. F. ALLEN, M.D. A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF 
OUR MATERIA MEDICA. 
These studies have been undertaken for the purpose of 
satisfying ourselves of the absolute and relative values of the 
various contributions to our Materia Medica. A few compari- 
sons between drugs, and some of the leading characteristics of 
each remedy, have been pointed out, partly by way of illustra- 
tion and partly to assist the student. AVe conceive it the duty 
of everyone who criticises the Materia Medica to state clearly 
and specifically his reasons for doubt (in doubtful cases): a critic 
in this matter will not do himself justice, nor the profession a 
service, by general statements. Cries of “fraud,” of “trash,” 
of “superfluity,” have become quite common of late, and the 
attention of students has been turned away from the thorough 
investigation of the properities of drugs, and fixed upon incom- 
plete digests and condensations, which (good as far as they go) 
serve only for a superficial application of the remedy, and leave 
unusual cases of disease to take care of themselves, thereby 
bringing homoeopathic therapeutics into disrepute. As editor 
of the Encyclopaedia, we were compelled to believe in the hon- 
esty of every observer, and to accept provings *tiot clearly cor- 
rupt, for that compilation, which aimed to present all available 
material to the profession for use and critical examination. 
Now, no longer editor, but student, we propose to examine 
critically and impartially the pathogeneses presented to us in 
that work. 2 
An individual proving is not to be discredited because of its fail- 
ure to present symptoms similar to those of another proving of the 
same drug. The tissues and functions of an individual vary 
greatly in their susceptibility to drug action. In one, Phos- 
phorus (for example) may produce symptoms referable, for the 
most part, to the nervous system; in another, symptoms chiefly 
of the respiratory apparatus; in still another, symptoms of the 
alimentary canal. Mercury produces in its victims, sometimes 
tremors, (paralysis agitans,) with very few symptoms of tissue 
change; sometimes most extensive connective-tissue destruc- 
tion, with hut few symptoms from the nervous system. We 
are, therefore, permitted to accept as reliable most diverse 
effects in different provers of the same drug; and this fact must 
be kept constantly in mind. In experimenting with small 
doses, (the smallest that will produce any effect are the best,) 
we obtain characteristic symptoms from certain organs which, 
in other individuals, may remain unaffected; while different 
but equally characteristic effects may be developed in other 
parts of the body. It is, indeed, rare to obtain a perfect knowl- 
edge of the power of any drug from one person, or from a given 
quantity of the medicine. 
So it follows that we are obliged to judge of a proving by a 
study of its own inherent character, as well as by a comparison 
with other provings. Unfortunately, some contributors to the 
Materia Medica furnished neither an account of the methods 
employed in obtaining symptoms, nor any statement of the 
order of their evolution: these symptoms, obviously, have been 
obtained from different individuals, but have been separated, 
re-arranged under various anatomical headings, and the whole 
vouched for by the compiler. To judge of the value of such 
contributions, we are usually obliged to have recourse to clinical 
experience. Others, again, have added to their provings symp- 
toms observed in patients who have recovered after the admin- 
istration of a drug. The principle being—that if a drug 
removes a symptom, it could produce it. Such symptoms are 
found in the provings of Hahnemann, Wolf, (Thuja,) Ilouat, 
and others. We propose to discard all such compilations, ex- 
cept those of Hahnemann. Hahnemann was a careful consci- 3 
entious and critical observer, and nearly all of bis observations 
have been verified; but we cannot permit this by-way into the 
Materia Medica to remain open. The contributions of Wolf 
and Ilouat show how a reckless enthusiasm and unbridled cre- 
dulity utterly invalidate a few valuable observations. 
With these preliminary remarks, let us turn to the first drug 
in the Encyclopaedia:— 
Abies Canadensis, hemlock spruce;—a tincture is prepared 
from the young shoots and from the bark. The bark contains 
a very large amount of Tannin and other substances, (oils, or 
resins, acids, etc.,) and is somewhat similar in this respect to 
other species of the coni ferae. 
Dr. Gatchell, our only authority, gives us symptoms obtained 
from a man and a woman, but has not published any account of 
the sequence of the symptoms, nor of the doses which produced 
them. The provings seem reliable. Notice the marked action 
on digestion, and compare with Abies nigra. In Abies Cana- 
densis the prover suffered from flatulent distentions, labored 
breathing, and an irritable disposition; in A. nigra we find 
pain (like a stone) in the stomach, easy getting out of breath, 
and low spirits. In both a craving for food seems to have been 
produced. Though no verifications of A. Canadensis are known 
to us, we do not hesitate to pronounce the symptoms genuine. 
Abies nigra, black spruce.—A tincture is prepared from the 
gum, which doubtless contains a resin or turpentine similar to 
that in hemlock. There can be no doubt about the truth of 
Dr. Leamau’s provings with the tincture. The indigestion is 
very marked, characterized by pain after eating. Dr. Smith’s 
observation on the effect of chewing spruce gum, has defined 
the pain, “like a hard-boiled egg,” and this has been abun- 
dantly and brilliantly verified. We have cured this form of 
indigestion scores of times, by means of the dilutions. Notice 
the depression of spirits, the headache, with flushed face, con- 
stipation, bad dreams, etc. 
A proving by Dr. Bell (published in the Supplement, Yol. X,) 
exhibits some new symptoms. This proving was made with 
the dilutions, (9th, 12th, and 30th,) and was verified in so far 
as repeated doses caused a return of the same symptoms. These 4 
are after all, not so unlike those previous provings. Notice the 
“Dyspnoea,” “heavy, slow beating of the heart,” “sharp, cut- 
ting pains in the heart,” etc. The “pain in the ear” is new. 
We should expect from dilutions some such effects; for while 
large doses of crude drugs are apt to stun and benumb, dilu- 
tions irritate and excite. We believe Dr. Bell has given us 
reliable symptoms, and as we study cognate drugs this belief 
will become fixed. Let us now turn to— 
Pinus Sylvestris.—These pines are very like the spruces, 
chemically as well as botanically; and a study of the different 
coniferse will prove very profitable just at this time. The prov- 
ings of Pinus sylvestris were made from a tincture of the leaves 
and twigs. Dr. Demeures took 3 drops of the tincture, and Dr. 
Patzack observed the effects of baths of an infusion of pine 
leaves. Dr. Demeures’ symptoms appear trivial: pains in the 
tibia and toe, cramps in the calf, sensitiveness of the walls of 
the chest, and a few others; but Dr. Patzack has observed 
effects which are strikingly like those of Abies nigra: pressure in 
the pit of the stomach after eating, and distention, despondency, 
dull headache, oppression of the chest, palpitations, nettle-rash, 
etc. Bearing in mind Dr. Bell’s proving, notice the “sticking 
in the ears.” We find here, then, reliable symptoms; harmo- 
nious when compared with each other, and corroborative of the 
provings of Abies. In Pinus C. we find additional effects; on 
mucous membranes, for example, “ inflamed eyes; thin, pasty 
stool, followed by constipation: increased bronchial mucus, 
hoarseness,” etc., for which Tannin may be held responsible. 
Let us look at Tannin. A clear understanding of the effects 
of this substance will be of service in unravelling the complex 
pathogenesis of many a plant. Unfortunately, very little exact 
information concerning Tannin is to be had. This organic acid 
is widely diffused throughout the vegetable kingdom; it is 
found most abundantly in the oaks, the sumachs, (rhustyphna, 
glabra, etc.) the walnut barks, uva ursi, catechu, kino, rhubarb, 
roots of many of the roses and blackberries, artemisiae, ratanhia, 
etc., etc , and in many conifene ; it is very soluble in water, less 
so in alcohol; it exhibits a strong chemical affinity for albu- 
men, which it coagulates. In large doses it produces most 5 
obstinate constipation, dryness of raucous membrane, vomiting, 
thirst, great prostration, palpitation, etc. Experiments on ani- 
mals show that it does not interfere with peristaltic action, but 
while the bowels are dry efforts to evacuate continue, and are 
often attended with most violent pain. Smaller doses cause heat 
in the epigastrium, feeble digestion, palpitation, oppressed respira- 
tion, and increased, secretions. Tannin also increases the amount 
of uric acid in the urine. Turning now to Thuja we find : 
“ pressure as from a stone in the stomach,” and a host of similar 
symptoms, showing a generic relationship. In Sabina, “sensa- 
tion as if the stomach were too full, as if she had eaten too 
much,” and many other similar symptoms. (Observations on 
JuniperusVirginiana give us only symptoms from the essential 
oil.) All through the pathogenesis of substances rich in Tannin 
we may find these symptoms; and these substances may form 
an instructive group for study. 
The characteristic indications for Abies nigra are well illus- 
trated by the symptoms of one sufferer cured by it. Whenever 
she becomes debilitated there is experienced a distressing con- 
striction about the stomach, as if everything were knotted up; 
this sensation continues uninterruptedly; is not affected by eat- 
ing, indeed it is just the same if she goes all day without food ; 
with it there is no heart-burn, no belching and no flatulence. 
In this constant distress has been found the key to Abies nigra. 
Nux vorn. is useful in similar conditions; but there is a marked 
aggravation after eating, when the stomach seems to tighten 
upon its contents, in a spasmodic way ; this passes off after 
awhile, but returns after another meal. Bismuth is indicated 
when the distress extends through to the spine, especially if 
associated with burning in the spine opposite the epigastrium. 
Bryonia appears to resemble Abies ; but in Bryonia there is 
marked aggravation from motion, and the epigastrium becomes 
very sensitive to pressure. Many other remedies might be com- 
pared with profit, but the student will find no difficulty in 
recognizing their various peculiarities. For study, follow Abies 
with Bryonia. The student will, however, find in Bryonia 
several riddles to solve; for in addition to Tannin and other 
substances it contains a glucoside similar, chemically and 6 
physiologically, to Colocynthin. This complicates the symptoms 
of the intestinal canal, and gives rise to neuralgias of its own 
sort. 
Absinthium.— Our knowledge of the effects of this remarkable 
plant is derived wholly from cases of poisoning; even Dr. Gat- 
chell’s “provings” contain “epileptiform convulsions,” which 
can have been noticed only in a chronic poisoning. To under- 
stand rightly what we are studying, let us examine the pre- 
parations ordinarily used. There is no pure “ liquor of Absinth ” 
in the market; all the essences and liquors are adulterated. 
Formerly Swiss Absinth (the best) was prepared by macerating 
in alcohol the tops of Artemisia Absinthium and other species, 
together iviih angelica root, sweet flag root, aniseseed, dittany, 
origanum, etc.-, after distillation, there were added : essences of 
aniseseed, or of mint, fennel and honey. At the present time no 
infusions are made; essences are first prepared and added to a 
poor alcohol; for a fine color, sulphate of indigo, tincture of 
curcuma, picric acid, sulphate of copper and even arseniatc of 
copper, are added. Still, this adulteration does not alter the 
fact that absinth, pure and simple, produces a genuine and 
peculiar intoxication, the chronic form of which is characterized 
by epileptiform, convulsions. Dr. Challaud, in “ Etude Experi- 
mentale et Clinique sur l’Absinthisme et l’Alcoholisme,” gives 
the following conclusions:— 
1st. The poisonous agent in “ liqueur d’Absinthe ” is the 
essence of Absinthe; this essence alone, without alchohol or any 
adulteration, produces in animals an intoxication characterized 
by epilepsy. 
2d. In man, the abuse of this liquor is followed by con- 
vulsions. 
3d. This epilepsy of Absinthe differs from the eptileptiform 
spasms noticed in chronic Alchoholism, by its character, by the 
period of invasion, and by its duration. 
We have now to examine the peculiarities of the Absinthe 
epilepsy, a very good account of which may be found under 
article Absinthe, in Yol. X of the Encyclopaedia. We first find 
that the spasms are characterized by a large number occurring 
in rapid succession. This observation has proved of service in 7 
arresting these spasms by dilutions of Absinth. Another good 
observation is the Anoesthesias and symptoms of general paralysis 
following or even preceding the convulsions. Note also the 
terrifying hallucinations in many cases. 
A number of drugs produce spasms with loss of consciousness, 
and many drugs arrest such spasms and cure even epilepsy; but 
none are like Absinth. Cicuta approaches it in severity, but the 
spasms indicating Cicuta are continuous; while the intermitting 
spasms of Nux Vom. are not attended with loss of consciousness, 
and are more tetanic in character. The symptoms of anes- 
thesia and general paralysis are clearly brought out by the most 
valuable provings of Artemisia Abrotanum, by Dr. Cushing (see 
Encyclopaedia, Yol. X, Supplement.) The same bitter, active 
principle is found in nearly every species of Artemisia. It was 
described by Kromaayer in Arch. Pharm. cvii, 129, and named 
Absinthin. It is not an alkaloid. According to von Eeonhardi, 
(Osservazioni ed esperienze del. Dott. Lupis sopra la virtu anti- 
febrile del estratto amarissimo d’assenzio, Milan, 1828,) it causes 
vertigo and stupefaction. The provings of Dr. Cushing, above 
referred to, well repay the most careful study. The preparation 
used was obtained by macerating the fresh plant in alcohol. 
The doctor began with 6 drops of the tincture, and rose to 100. 
He first experienced a sensation “as if the head were squeezed 
in the temporal regions;” afterwards there followed frightful 
dreams, and trembling on waking. After 60 drops, a humming 
as of a bee was heard; then he had lameness and aching in the 
left arm ; then severe pains in the back of neck, shoulders, etc.; 
the right hip became lame ; the arms and hands became numb; 
afterward trembling all over; mouth became dry and sore; res- 
piration difficult) legs so lame that it was difficult to walk; restless 
on account of the pains ; darting pains in various parts of the body; 
when driving, he often unconsciously dropped the reins. Provings 
of the same plant by Dr. Gatchell give us: fugitive pains; numb 
sensation in fingers; loss of mental power, etc. These provings 
are clearly genuine and valuable. The immediate physiological 
explanation of the symptoms is to be found in the “Patho- 
logical” section appended to Absinth in Yol. I of the Encyclo- 
paedia. A condition similar to this is not infrequently met 8 
with in patients; and Absinth or A. Abrotanum should come 
into frequent use for cerebral and spinal hypersemia with the 
symptoms so clearly developed by Dr. Cushing. The ameliora- 
tion from motion, the numbness and the pains, are like Rhus. 
Both Cushing and Gatchell speak of the pains as fugitive: 
Cushing noticed upper left, then lower right. The study of the 
Artcmisias should be followed by a comparison with it'hus and 
Zincum. Cimicifaga, and a large number of cognate drugs, will 
readily suggest themselves. 
Acetic Acid.—Our knowledge of the effects of this organic acid 
is derived mainly from cases of poisoning. Nos. 8 and 10 in the 
Encyclopaedia (Yol. X) give us the clearest picture of the general 
effects. An analysis of these and other cases, and a comparison 
with other experiments, establish the following general fea- 
tures: General amemia, with strong tendency to disintegration 
of red blood corpuscles; emaciation, with great paleness; slow 
and weak heart, with a soft pulse; an amsenia,associated with 
great tendency to development of tuberculosis. It is interest- 
ing to note that the vegetable acids, in general, cause a soft, 
small and weak pulse, while the mineral acids cause a small, 
slow and hard pulse. Clearly-defined indications for Acetic 
Acid are not yet known. It has had some repute in Diphtheria 
and Typhus ; it has been thought to arrest atonic hemorrhages, 
and to prevent night-sweats. Yre have had considerable experi- 
ence with it, after the administration of anaesthetics,andhave been 
uniformly disappointed. It ought to be given in cases of anaemia, 
with emaciation, and tendency to passive hemorrhages, particularly 
if burning pains are felt in the chest or stomach, with aggravation 
from, lying on the back. The convulsions in one case of poison- 
ing, doubtless resulted from a very large quantity. The symp- 
toms of abdominal Typhus, reported by Orfila, as well as those 
of Hectic Fever (also reported by him), followed the violent 
symptoms of gastro-enteritis, and seem, in the former case, due 
to ulceration of the bowels, and in the latter to a general mal- 
nutrition. Though these general symptoms may be found in 
man}7 other drugs, yet the peculiar tendency of Acetic Acid 
comes out strongly in the emaciation, night-sweats, etc., as 
above mentioned. Every observation recorded in the Encyclo- 9 
pcedia is reliable, though the “ Tuberculosis ” has been questioned. 
There is, however, reason to believe that Tuberculosis even 
might develop from the Acetic Acid anaemia. 
On comparing this with other organic acids, we find that 
lemon juice (Citrus) produces a small, soft and slow pulse, with a 
feeling of general depression. Stevens asserts that Citric Acid 
produced a clear case of scurvy (see Encyclopaedia, Vol. X). Tar- 
taric Acid causes a very weak action of the heart, a feeble pulse, 
and great fatigue; can scarcely drag himself along. This acid 
is found in large quantities in the juice of fresh grapes; and 
the “ grape cure ” is said to he especially dangerous to persons 
with any tendency to the development of Tuberculosis; it cer- 
tainly “ thins the blood,” and produces rapid emaciation, fre- 
quently with impaired digestion. 
It is interesting to trace the action of this acid in the patho- 
geneses of its salts. For example: Ammonia produces an 
accelerated pulse; rise of temperature and of blood pressure; 
symptoms of general sthenic fever; a general nervous irrita- 
bility ; with dry skin, and profuse urine (like Belladonna.) 
Acetate of Ammonia (Spts. Mindereri) may he administered in 
much larger doses than the Carbonate; even four ounces have 
been taken at once, with scarcely any result, while but a few 
grains of the Carbonate can be taken with impunity. This 
clearly shows that the Acetic Acid antidotes the Ammonia; in- 
deed, it more than antidotes it, for the effects of Spirits of Min- 
dererus are profuse secretions, (perspiration, profuse mucous 
discharges,) with general vascular and nervous relaxation. The 
use of this salt is well known and appreciated in the old school 
in light, synochal fevers, eruptive fevers, etc. In the Acetate 
of Potash we find a salt which possesses a redoubled power of 
depression, derived both from the Potash (one of the most pow- 
erful depressors in the Materia Medica) and from Acetic Acid. 
The provings under the care of Bcecker, (Encyclopaedia, Vol. X,) 
and more recently the experiments by Nunnelly, referred to by 
Ringer, substantiate what I have said ; indeed, the effects could 
have been predicted by any one familiar with the effects of the 
base and the acid. It is unnecessary to pursue farther our 
analysis of the acetates; enough has been said to suggest me- 10 
thods of study in this direction. No characteristic indications 
for the use of the drug have yet been furnished us by provings ; 
nor are we as able to follow clearly the effects of Acetic Acid 
or its compounds as we can those, for example, of Nitric Acid 
through the organic and inorganic nitrates. 
Aconitum.—Aconitum belongs to the natural order lianuncu- 
lacece, which embraces a large number of genera and species of 
plants, most of which are characterized by irritant properties, 
due to some free organic acid; though many members of the 
order have no acid, (uncombined,) but owe their properties to 
one or more alkaloids or glucosides. Some, again, occupy an 
intermediate position, possessing both free acid and alkaloid— 
for example, some species of Aconitum. The extreme “acid” 
end of the series may be represented by Ranunculus, Pteonia, 
Hydrastis, Anemone, (Pulsatilla,) and Glematis; the extreme 
“alkaloid” division by Delphinium, Aconitum, Ilelleborus, 
Coptis, Nigella, etc. 
The genus Aconitum embraces about twenty species, which 
differ almost as much from each other as do the various mem- 
bers of the whole order. Some species are very rich in Aconitic 
Acid, especially those species allied botanically to A. napellus, 
(A. ferox, chinense, neomontanum); others have little or no 
acid, though considerable alkaloid (A. anthora and lycoctonum; 
the tuberous roots of the latter are eaten by the Laplanders, in 
spite of the large amount of alkaloid contained in them). All 
the above-mentioned species contain Aconitine, or an allied al- 
kaloid, and are poisonous; their poisonous property seeming to 
vary directly with the percentage of alkaloid. 
A. Heterophyllum contains no alkaloid, and no free Aconitic 
Acid; it has, however, a bitter principle, and is used in India 
as a tonic and febrifuge, in doses of 20 to 30 grains of the pow- 
dered root, repeated every three or four hours. 
The species containing the largest amount of alkaloid are, in 
order: A. wildenowii, tauricum, bernhardianum, ferox, chi- 
nense, napellus, Stoereanum, etc., all blue flowered, more or less 
related to A. napellus, and more poisonous than the species al- 
lied to A. variegatum—namely, A. paniculatum, hetrophyllum, 
etc. In North America we find A. uncinatum and reclinatum 11 
in the Middle and Southern States; A. fischeri in the Rocky 
Mountains; A. kamtschaticum and A. napellus, var. delphi- 
nifolium, in British America. A. uncinatum obtained from 
Virginia, and A. tisclieri gathered by Dr. Boericke in the 
Rocky Mountains, are being investigated; the former contains 
an alkaloid similiar to Aconitine, and produces effects similar 
to those caused by A. napellus. 
Very little is known about Aconitic Acid ; it has caused rest- 
lessness in animals, and blisters on mucous membranes; it is 
found not only in some species of Aconitum, but also in Delphi- 
nium, colsolida, Ilelleborus, Adonis, Equisetum lluviatile, and 
Achillea millefolium; it differs, both chemically and physiolo- 
gically, from Anemonic Acid, the active principle of Anemone 
(pulsatilla) pratensis and nemorosa, Ranunculus bulbosus, sce- 
leratus and flammula. 
The alkaloids of the various species of Aconitum have been 
studied by numerous chemists with varying results. It seems 
certain that there are two distinct alkaloids—Aconitine, C33 
A43H012,and Pseudo-Aconitine, C36 II49 and that 
both exist in some species. In A. ferox, the alkaloids are asso- 
ciated in a proportion of about 94 per cent, of Pseudo-Aconitine, 
to 0.6 of Aconitine; while in A. napellus and stoerkianum, 
Aconitine largely predominates, with but a trace of Pseudo- 
Aconitine; in A. lycotonum, there seems to be less dispropor- 
tion between them. The action of the two alkaloids seems 
identical, except that Pseudo-Aconitine is much more violent, 
(it is supposed to be the most poisonous substance known,) and 
Prof. V. Schroff asserts that it produces no facial neuralgia. 
The following effects are characteristic of Aconitine, and must 
be present in a greater or less degree in the provings of all sub- 
stances which contain it:— 
I. Tingling and numbness, commencing at the lips and tip 
of the tongue, and spreading over the whole body. 
If. From larger doses, heart’s -action slow and feeble ; from 
smaller doses, heart’s action first rapid, then slow. 
III. Anxiety, sometimes distressing. 
IV. General exhaustion, amounting almost to paralysis. 
V. Temperature lowered by large doses, elevated by small. 12 
VI. Lancinating or drawing tense gains, especially in the 
nervous trigeminus (not noticed in A. ferox.) 
These effects, given in the order of appearance, are of neces- 
sity general, but the anxiety is most prominent and uniform ; 
sometimes the prover suffers from excessive prostration, but is 
still anxious, even if not restless; restlessness seems not to be 
caused by the alkaloid, nor by A. lycoctonum (see remarks above 
on Aconitic Acid.) The tingling is such a uniform primary 
effect, that pharmaceutists are in the habit of judging of the 
value of a tincture by its severity or prompt appearance after 
tasting. 
Having now a general idea of the effects of the alkaloid, (and 
all the experiments given in Vols. I and X of the Encyclopaedia 
are unquestionably valuable,) let us turn to a consideration of 
the provings of the different species of Aconitum. 
Aconitum anthora.—In Vol. I, we find a proving by one of Prof, 
von Schroff’s pupils, without doubt genuine. Xote the peculiar 
symptom “sleepiness and deep sleep through the whole night;” 
compare with Petroz’s provings of A. lycoctonum, in which also 
we find “drowsiness,” “and sleeps too long” and bear in mind 
that these two species contain no free Aconitic Acid, which seems 
to cause restlessness: see for example the next species. 
A. cammarum.—In which we find “sleepiness,” but “such rest- 
lessness that he wandered about the room as if crazy.” Did 
we not know the difference in the constituents of the species 
of Aconitum we might conclude that, if a prover of A. anthora 
or lycoctanum went soundly to sleep and slept off the proving, 
there must be some mistake about it. The full account of 
Schroff’s provings of A. cammarum, given in Vol. X, is exceed- 
ingly interesting. Let us note particularly:— 
I. The pulse became rapid within a few minutes, then it fell 
to 40 (in four hours). In Prof. Schroff it became very weak 
and irregular. In both provers the weak pulse was associated 
with great prostration, great dyspnoea, catching for breath, 
vertigo on attempting to rise or move. 
II. Facial neuralgia. 
III. Anxiety. 
IV. Formication, spreading from lips and tongue. 13 
V. Restlessness. 
VI. Increased secretion of urine. 
VII. In one case, blisters on the leg, and desquamation. 
The study of these most interesting and valuable provings 
is particularly important, as A. cammarum is the same as A. 
stoerkianum, used by Hahnemann in compiling his Aconite. 
A. ferox.—Our knowledge of this wonderfully powerful plant 
is derived from Prof. Schrotf’s heroic and indefatigable class 
of provers. In Vol. I a proving by Dworzak, and in Vol. X 
additional observations by Prof. Schroff are given. From these 
we learn that this species produces: 
I. Anxiety, more distressing than any other Aconite. 
II. Violent burning in mouth, pharynx, etc. 
III. Excessive dyspnoea; “could not lie down; he feared 
paralysis of the lungs.” 
IV. Excessive prostration. 
V. Constant restlessness; “he could not possibly lie more than 
a few minutes.” 
VI. Numbness and formication; “ tongue insensible ;” “he 
seemed to walk on woolen carpets,” etc. 
VII. Icy coldness of the body ; at first, skin cold and dry, 
then “ calor mordax,” with copious sweat. 
VIII. Profuse diuresis. 
Xotice the great severity of all the symptoms, and also Prof. 
Schroff’s observation that this species does not cause head-ache 
or face-ache. 
The symptoms experienced by Dworzak, in Vol. I, should be 
read to be fully appreciated. - 
Aconitum lycoctonum.—Dr. Petroz, our only authority for the 
symptoms, has furnished no information in regard to his prov- 
ings, beyond an expression of regret that he could give no 
symptoms of the male genital organs. 
There are a few indications of a clinical as well as of a path- 
ogenetic source; but the symptoms which seem to have oc- 
curred in the sick are very few in number, while the great 
bulk of the pathogenesis accords perfectly with an ideal prov- 
ing of this species. In the introduction* mention is made of 
* Journ. de la See. Gall. 3, 1, 1852. 14 
“ a prover so remarkably susceptible that one could hardly 
place confidence in the result, had not the symptoms been con- 
firmed by practical application.” 
This prover may have experienced these suspicious symp- 
toms, “ Ulcerated gums,” Purulent discharge from the ear,” 
“Diarrhoea after eating pork,” etc., but we are inclined to 
doubt it. Throwing out a half dozen of similar symptoms we 
have a beautiful proving. 
We did not expect to find the great restlessness and anxiety, 
so characteristic of other species, for Aconitic acid is lacking in 
this one (see remarks above); and “Drowsiness,” “Too long 
sleep” and the like are quite consistent, with the character of 
the plant. Dead the symptoms of Chill and fiver, of Numbness, 
ot Pain in the face, scalp and head and many others, and it is 
clear that a genuine proving of an Aconite is before us. 
Dr. Petroz* gives a list of disorders in which he has found 
A. Lycoctonum useful, which somewhat disturbs our notions of 
the rather limited usefulness of an Aconite in disease; unfor- 
tunately, he does not indicate the pathogenetic symptoms 
which led him to use the drug in these diseases: “Dandruff, 
Exostosis of lower jaw, Periostitis, Chronic diarrhoea, Diarrhoea 
of infants and of teething children, Lumbrici, Distress caused 
by tape-worm, Eruptions about the anus, Induration of glands, 
Lymphadenitis of lower extremity, Affections of the brain with 
furious delirium.” We still, in the year of grace, 1880, occa- 
sionally meet a homoeopathic physician who asks “ what is 
good for Chronic diarrhoea,” or “Dandruff,” or some other 
pathological term. When these names are met with they 
should be blotted out as mere words, words, words, which are 
to the therapeutist devoid of significance, and to the student a 
delusion and a snare. 
Aconitum napellus.—An analysis of the provings of this spe- 
cies will include a study of the nearly allied species A. Stoerck- 
ianum {A. cammarum). Symptoms from both species have 
been classed indiscriminately under A. napellus; nor does this 
matter, since the two species are closely alike botanically, and 
do not differ in their composition. 
* Loc. Sit., p. 21. 15 
General data, by means of which the cases of poisoning and 
many of the provings may be examined, have already been 
given under the head of A. cammarum and Aconitine. We 
must, for reasons given above, expect to find anxiety with rest- 
lessness, neuralgic pains, symptoms of anaesthesia, prostration, 
weak heart, etc. The cases of poisoning which have been ac- 
cepted for our Materia Medica, will not, we presume, be called 
in question ; concerning them there can be no such doubt as we 
find in the cases referred incorrectly to Aethusa; and if any 
one doubts the expediency of quoting so many and ‘‘lumbering 
up our Materia Medica with trash,” let him turn to the collec- 
tion in Yol. X of the Encyclopaedia and read Aconite as he 
never read it before, and then tell us what toxicological symp- 
toms he would have omitted. Let us now examine the collec- 
tion of Hahnemann, the provings of the Austrian Society and 
other individual provers or observers quoted in the Encyclo- 
paedia, Yols. I and IX. 
Hahnemann’s own provings of Aconite were first published 
in his Fragmenta, 1805, 138 symptoms; in 1811 the first vol- 
ume of his Materia Medica Pura contained 206 symptoms; in 
1822 the second edition contained 246 symptoms, and in 1830 
the third edition contained symptoms. Though there can 
be no doubt as to the genuineness of the symptoms recorded 
by Hahnemann as his own or of those derived from his class of 
provers, still it will not be amiss to read some symptoms of our 
Master, arranged in chronological order, and fairly taken to 
belong to one individual. 
One morning early he took the tincture (most likely) or a 
solution of the inspissated juice of the plant; “Immediately I 
“experienced dryness of the mouth, and a heaviness of the feet; 
“the pupils began to dilate and the eyes assumed a staring ex- 
pression. This was associated with a feeling of unsteadiness 
“of the knees, especially of one knee which gave way on walk- 
“ing (this latter symptom continued upwards of an hour). In 
“about fifteen minutes I felt a pain in the middle of the sternum 
“as if it had been bruised, indeed it was aggravated by touch; 
“ then the tips of the fingers became cold and pale, and this ex- 
pended over the whole of the fingers; then there was a sensa- 16 
“tion of cramp in the soles and calves and coldness on the fore- 
“head, and I was seized with extreme apprehension; soon I be- 
“carae intolerant of the slightest noise ; about half an heur after 
“the dose, I was sick at the stomach, a kind of qualmish, un- 
settled feeling, and my head began to ache, a feeling as if the 
“eyes would fall out and as if the brain were pressing outward, 
“ with here and there a sensation as if the brain were raised up, 
“which was aggravated by the slightest movement, even by 
“drinking or talking. After an hour the dryness in the mouth 
“was especially marked on the middle of the tongue, and was 
“associated with a raw feeling (there was no thirst); then I 
“felt a burning and a fine, sticking pain in the fauces, as from 
“the stinging hairs of the fruit of the wild briar-rose. At this 
“time also I experienced neuralgic pains, namely, tearing pain 
“extending from the shoulder down the arm to the wrist and 
“even through the fingers, on every movement (rarely at other 
“times); during the continuance of this pain the hand was 
“blue; pain also in the rectum. Soon after this and one and a 
uhalf hours after the dose, there was a pressive pain, like a 
“heaviness, in the stomach and hypochondria; some half an 
“hour preceding this distress I had been squalmish as though I 
“had eaten some sickening sweet or fatty things. The head- 
ache, two hours after the dose, was a sticking and rather pres- 
“sive pain above the orbits extending down to the upper jaw; 
“it caused nausea as though I had taken an emetic. (This 
“sticking and pressive headache over the orbits extending into 
“the upper jaw, causing nausea, has been observed in another 
“prover.—Hahnemann.) At this time also the testicles were 
“painful as if they had been bruised, and there was a painful 
“stiffness about the small of the back and hip-joints noticed on 
“moving about. I was also sleepy, and could not resist the de- 
“sire to lie down and sleep. The coldness which began in the 
“tips of the fingers, fifteen minutes after taking Aconite, now 
“involved the whole hand, which became icy cold and insensi- 
“ble as if numb, this extended up the arms, and three hours 
“after the dose I was seized with a general chilliness and anx- 
“iety. After this there was shivering over the whole body 
“ with heat of the head and red cheeks, or at times with pres- 17 
“sive headache and weeping. The cheeks became exceedingly 
“red and the face hot. A sensation of heat began in the 
“hands (which had previously been icy cold), and spread over 
“the whole body even unto the chest, though the skin was not 
“ hot. During these febrile symptoms there was apprehension 
“of approaching death (which lasted many hours), aversion to 
“people, and especially an inconsolable anxiety and piteous 
“wailing, with complaints and reproaches about mishaps which 
“were often insignificant; this anxiety increased, till at the 
“sixth hour it was as though death were imminent. Soon 
“after the cold feelings began I experienced a pressive pain in 
“the pit of the stomach which amounted to a real tightness of 
“the chest, a kind of distress for breath, and at the third hour 
“a real throbbing headache in the left side of the forehead with 
“paroxysmal, violent shocks in the right side of the forehead. 
“At the fourth lour a pain in the bladder when walking, a 
“tenesmus of the neck of the bladder and an anxious desire to 
“urinate; the bruised pain in the small of the back (before 
“mentioned) extended through the back up into the nape of 
“the neck; all my joints became weak and their ligaments 
“seemed to have lost their firmness; after this (five hours,> there 
“was experienced powerlessness at the head of the femur, or an 
“inability to walk on account of an indescribable and intoler- 
able pain, almost as if the head of the femur had been 
“crushed; this pain was now worse, now better, and it disap- 
peared after lying down and sleeping. At this time there 
“was a rheumatoid pain in the nape of the neck, noticed, how- 
“ever, only when I moved the neck ; this continued four hours. 
“At the siuth hour I was unable to indulge in my accustomed 
“smoke, either on account of the incessant choking and hack- 
“ing caused by the entrance of smoke into the trachea, or be- 
“cause the larynx had become abnormally sensitive; at this 
“time also my eyes were very sensitive to the light, a condition 
“which seemed to be a kind of re-action from a condition I 
“had experienced three hours previously, namely, a kind of 
“craving for light, a desire to look at bright light; both these 
“conditions seem to me to belong to the primary action of the 
“drug. From this time the symptoms abated, at the seventh 18 
“ hour there was a violent pain in the raalleoleus relieved by 
“pressure; at the eighth hour catarrhal symptoms and coryza, 
“and a sensation in the bronchi behind the sternum as of beins; 
“asleep, a kind of numbness. At the ninth hour flatus that 
“ was emitted seemed very hot. At the twelfth hour micturition 
“was difficult, a kind of dysuria (this was again noticed six 
“hours later). At the fourteenth hour all the limbs felt bruised 
“and there was a kind of waking delirium, I jumped out of 
“bed imagining that I was driving sheep. Toward morning 
“(twentieth hour) I had a very vivid dream in which I obtained 
“a clear explanation of a matter that was an inexplicable rid- 
“dle to me when awake. The next day {twentyfour hours) 
“there were noticed only some coarse stitches in the side toward 
“the back, and some itching pimples on the upper lip.” 
This is a fair presentation of Hahnemann’s symptoms of 
Aconite, and we beg our readers to open Vol. X and compare 
it with Prof. v. SchrofFs provings of A. cammarum which, as 
we have before stated, is doubtless the same plant Hahnemann 
used, and very likely the preparation is almost identical; Prof. 
Schrott* used the extract of the root, and in the Fragmenta, 
whence this day-book of Hahnemann’s is chiefly made up, the 
sun dried juice of the whole plant is recommended. 
Let us notice particularly that the one great characteristic of 
Aconite pervades both provings, namely, anxious restlessness; 
the other symptoms correspond, with the exception that Hah- 
nemann does not record the very marked and peculiar tingling- 
cooling-iumb feeling in the tongue and lips, nor the pro- 
nounced neuralgia of the face, though the symptoms of frontal 
headache extending down into the upper jaw belong to this. 
Hahnemann did not take as large a dose as Prof. v. Schrott* 
gave to his provers, and this fact sufficiently explains the com- 
paratively few symptoms of anaesthesia recorded by the former. 
We have in like manner carefully analyzed the provings of 
Fr. Hahnemann, Ahner, Ilornburg, Riickert and Wahle, first 
published in the second edition of the Mat. Med. Pura, and the 
provings of Gross, published in the Archiv fur Horn., (4,1,161, 
1825,) and incorporated by Hahnemann in his third edition. 
The latter provings were made by Dr. Gross on himself1 and 19 
on “ other perfectly healthy persons,” and correspond as closely as 
the most critical student could wish with Hahnemann’s prov- 
ings; indeed, the numerous references made for comparison 
show how corroborative the provings were regarded. Hr. 
Stapf, in the introduction to the scheme, remarks that the 
provings serve to confirm and complete former provings, and 
that he has added notes to facilitate comparison. 
We pass now to the examination of the symptoms quoted by 
Hahnemann from old authors; and we shall find in Aconite, 
as in other drugs, evidence of a want of care in scrutinizing 
their symptoms, the more surprising since we know how ex- 
cessively cautious and painstaking he was in regard to symp- 
toms obtained from his own class of provers. 
Abano, Pet. de, de venenis, Cap 80. The symptoms quoted 
from this author’s toxicology are taken (Hr. Hughes tells us) 
from a general statement. In the preparation of the Encyclopaedia 
we early and persistently avoided all “general statements” as 
untrustworthy, though we were often tempted to take them, 
especially in cases of drugs with meagre symptoms. The few 
symptoms here given from Abano do not affect the general 
pathogenesis in the slightest degree; “all parts of the 
body gradually become black ; the whole body swells ; the eyes 
protrude, and the tongue hangs out.” We advise expunging 
his symptoms. He was Hot quoted in the Fragmenta. 
Bacon, Philos, Trans. 88, p. 287; A case of poisoning of an 
adult by Aconite. A good case. The symptoms of formication, 
and heat of the tongue and mouth, extending over the whole 
heat of the face, etc., followed by sweat and quiet 
sleep, are clearly those of Aconite. 
I)iirr, Hnfel Journ., IX, 108. Effects of a mixture of Aconite 
and Antimonial wine (not quoted in the Fragmenta.) This will 
not bear scrutiny. Head: “ nightly raging delirium ; he will not 
stay in bed ; in the morning excessive sweat.” This is all, and 
must be expunged. 
Gmelin, Nov. Act., N. C., 6, p. 391. Effects when given a 
long time to patients. Only one symptom—“excessive prostra- 
tion.” This may or may not be a genuine effect of Aconite., 
The pathogenesis gains nothing by its retention, and truth de- 
mands its expulsion. 20 
Greeding, Vermischte Schrifte, pp. 90-113. An account of 
the treatment of nine patients variously afflicted (see Encyclo- 
paedia I, p. 12) with increasing doses of the extract. No 
Materia Medica will stand built up with such material: these 
must he erased. 
Von Helmont, in Demens Idea, § 12. Effects of putting a 
piece of root on the tongue. Curiously enough, he gives none 
of the symptoms we should expect—no formication, no pain, no 
heat—but only the following: “He dispatches everything in 
the most hurried manner, and runs about the house.” “He 
cannot think nor reflect; knows nothing, and has no idea of 
anything in his head, as usual; but feels that all his mental 
operations transpire in the region of the stomach ; after two 
hours he has two attacks of vertigo, and then the usual power 
of thought returns to his head.” There is nothing in these 
symptoms to lead us to doubt their genuineness. We presume 
the root belongs to Aconite, and we are inclined to retain the 
symptoms. 
Matthiolus ; comment in Diosc., Lit. IV, Cap. 73 The symp- 
toms were derived from experiments on two criminals, and are 
most characteristic of Aconite. One suffered from general 
weakness, distress about the heart, staring eyes, cold sweat on 
the forehead, and scarcely perceptible pulse; the other—vomit- 
ing of bile, heavy parah’tic feeling in the arm and left leg; the 
paralysis suddenly shifted to the right side; sensation as if all 
the veins were freezing; vertigo; burning headache, as if the 
brain were moved by boiling water, etc. 
Moraeus, in K. Vet. Ac. Handl., 1739, p. 41. Poisoning of 
two adults. The three symptoms given indicate that the dose 
was excessive: they might have been caused by many other 
poisons. “Transient delirium,” “vomiting, followed by vio- 
lent thirst,” “fatal stupor,” (“sopor fatalis,” Fragmenta). 
Richard, from P. Schenck, Lib. VII, Obs. 136. This, it seems, 
is an account at third hand of one of Matthiolus’ cases. 
Koedder, from Alberti in Jurisprud. Med. IV, p. 724. Effects 
of applying the juice to a wound. These symptoms are gooff. 
“Cardialgia,” “Anxiety, with dread of suffocation,” “Great 
internal heat, with thirst.” 21 
Stoerck, lib de Strain. Hyos. et Aeon., 1762. Symptoms taken 
from Baron v. Stoerck, by Hahnemann; were, unfortunately, 
not confined to the proving of Stoerck on himself, but included 
those observed in patients after the administration of Aconite. 
Only the former should be retained. So much interest attaches 
itself to the experiments of Baron Stoerck that, having a copy 
of his works, I will quote what he has published concerning 
the action of Aconite:— 
“ Caput III.—De Aconito. 
“Aconitum, otherwise called Napellus, with blue, hooded 
“ flowers, etc., is the Aconite of Linnaeus, with linear, laciniate 
“ leaves, broader above, furrowed with lines. Linn. Spec. Plant, 
“ p. 532. 
Note.—The excellent copper-plate engravings of the plant shows it to he Aeon. 
Stoerckianum, Reich.—T.F.A. 
“ This plant hitherto has been considered one of the most 
“virulent poisons; yet the celebrated Linnaeus saw, in the 
“ northern part of Sweden, the leaves of this herb, cooked with 
“ a little fat, devoured with impunity by a woman, her husband, 
“two children, and some old women (Flora Lapon, p. 179). 
“ It is frequently cultivated in gardens for ornament. For 
“ many years I have thought of proving the virtues of this 
“ plant, but the occasion did not present itself, and necessary 
“ work in other directions fully occupied my time. This hav- 
“ ing been to a great extent accomplished, I have found time 
“ to devote to this work. 
“in order that the experiments might be properly performed, and 
“ without prejudice, I have divested myself of every notion which I 
“ had obtained from authors on Materia Medica, retaining only this 
“ much:—the plant is suspected! I have therefore made the trial, 
“having only nature to point the way, and simple reason for a 
“ leader. 
Note.—Baron Stoerck was the first who lifted his head above the darkness of 
the ages, and in this manner planted his foot upon the firm ground whereon we 
now stand.—T.F.A. 
“ The leaves and stem of the plant I reduce to powder, I 22 
“ placed a small quantity of this powder on the tongue; this 
“ produced a heat of the tongue, lasting a long time, and frequent 
“ momentary, wandering and lancinating pains pervaded the 
“tongue; but no other symptoms followed, nor did the pow- 
“ der (left upon the tongue a couple of minutes) give rise to 
“ inflammation or induce redness. As long as the heat in the 
“ tongue remained, so long was there a copious flow of saliva ; 
“aside from this, nothing really troublesome was observed. 
“I then applied the powder to a fungoid, cancerous ulcer, in 
“ order to see whether it would have a caustic, consuming 
“power. On the first day a slight suppuration was observed, 
“ but the patient complained of no pain nor heat. On the se- 
“ cond, third, fourth and fifth days, the same was observed, nor 
“ yet was the fungus consumed. It was, therefore, proper to 
“conclude that so far, the caustic and deleterious properties of 
“ this plant were not violent, 
“I therefore expressed the juice and prepared, in the usual 
“way, over a slow fire, an extract. This, placed upon the 
“ tongue, caused at length, slight tittilation; but when I cleaned 
“ it off, the tongue (perhaps accustomed to numerous experi- 
“ ments) was not affected in the slightest manner. I then ap- 
“ plied a grain of the extract to the inner surface of the right 
“ lower eyelid. This produced no more effect than any foreign 
“ substance would have done. After leaving it there a couple 
“ of minutes, a copious flow of tears occurred, but no peculiar 
“ heat was experienced. I then bathed the eye in pure water, 
“ and had no more trouble. 
“From the results of these experiments, I judged that this 
“extract might be swallowed and taken into the body. For 
“ this purpose, the following powder was prepared : 
“ R. Extract Aconit., gr. ij. 
Saceh. alb., . dr. ij. 
“Mix and rub a long time in a marble mortar, 
that a most subtle powder be made. 
“ Of this powder, I took six grains in the morning on an 
“empty stomach, zealously intent to observe what would take 
“ place in my body. Truly, I observed no change—nothing 
“ unusual. On the second day eight grains, and yet I was not 23 
“affected. So having tried it, on the third day I swallowed ten 
“grains. From this, becoming more daring, on the fourth clay 
“I took twenty grain-! of the powder. Not a function of the 
“body was disturbed, but the extreme had been reached, and 
“all day my whole body perspired much, contrary to habit— 
“ it really sweat. On the fifth day I again took the same dose, 
“and observed the same effect as on the fourth. On the sixth, 
“the same. On the seventh, the fame. On the eighth, I ab- 
“ stained from the powder, and then the sweat itself (observed 
“on the previous day) did not appear. On the ninth, I again 
“ took twenty grains of the powder, and the same day was in 
“ constant sweat. The same thing happened on the eleventh 
“ twelfth and thirteenth days; on the fourteenth, I took nothing, 
“ and experienced precisely the same as I observed on the eighth. 
“Hence it is proper to conclude:— 
“ 1st. This powder promotes transpiration, sweat. 
“ 2d. Since it caused no disturbance in my body, it may 
“ safely be administered to patients, beginning with small doses. 
“ 3d. It is adapted to those diseases in which noxious matter 
“ may be driven out through the sudorific ducts. 
“At this time, while meditating on the matter, I had the 
“following cases among my patients. 
Note.—We quote those cases only from which Hahnemann took symptoms, 
italicising them. The fouiteen cases detailed by Stoerck in this took are supple- 
mented by fourteen other cases, also highly interesting, in a much larger work, 
entitled, “Libellus quo continuantur Experimenta et Observationes circa nova sua 
Medic amenta,” 1765. 
“Experimentum II. 
“A man, 27 years of age, bad suffered most violent sciatic 
“pain for six weeks; the pain at length attacked furiously the 
“right arm, and became so violent that the patient groaned 
“day and night. External and internal remedies produced 
“ temporary relief; but at length the disease remained the same, 
“and the pains, after a brief momentary interval, became again 
“more violent than ever, and tormented the patient far worse 
“than before. I now administered, morning and evening, 
“twenty grains of the above-mentioned powder. 
“The very first night he slept, as by a miracle, nor did he 24 
“feel any pain. Neither did the pain return the next day; but 
“ the whole body, especicdly about the genitals, became affected with a 
“ most disagreeable itching, and everywhere red pustules* broke out, 
“filled with acrid humor. The patient was now well, had a good 
“appetite, his strength returned; but he noticed a constant, 
“slight sweat over the whole body; not, however, amounting 
“ to a profuse night-sweat, such as we had in the preceding 
“patient. 
Note.—There can be no question that the pruritus and the eruption attributed 
to Aconite by Hahnemann are doubtful symptoms, though we do know that 
Aconite, in common with many of the Ranunculacese, will produce vesicles which 
are very painful (see Encyclopaedia, Vol. X, p. 249; Yol. I, Symptoms 1442, 1446, 
1449.) Knowing, as he must have known, that vesicular eruptions frequently 
appear after violent neuralgic pain, and having at that time no evidence whatever 
of the power of Aconite to produce such eruptions, Hahnemann was not justified in 
putting these symptoms into the Materia Medica Pura, nor are we justified in re- 
taining them ; besides, they are not in t .e slightest degree necessary to the integ- 
rity of the pathogenesis. 
“ After taking the same dose of the powder for eight days, the 
“ patient received a purge, consisting of five ounces of laxative 
“ water (of the Vienna Dispensatory) and one drachm of sal. 
“polychr. Seven alvine evacuations were thus produced, and 
“the pustules disappeared, the pruritus became insignificant, 
“ and the strength increased. He then continued to take the 
“ powder seven weeks, hut observed no unusual effects. At the 
“end of this time he again took the purge above mentioned, 
“and after this was completely cured. For five months he 
“suffered no relapse; he could endure the most inclement 
“ weather. 
“Now, did this powder dissolve the acrimony in the capil- 
“ laries about the tendons and bones, cleaving to them, obstruct- 
ing them, and producing the most atroeious pains in the 
“joints? Did it drive it in solution to the periphery of the 
“body? Both of these things seem to be taught by this case. 
“ Experimentum VII. 
“An unmarried woman, 22 years old, received this powder 
“ on account of a tumor seated in the right iliac region. Pre- 
* Pustulae rubicundse. 25 
“viousto this I had essayed to administer Conium,* but on 
“account of a peculiar idiosyncrasy she could not tolerate it; 
“ it distressed her and caused vomiting. She took of this pow- 
“der ten grains morning and evening. Then she had daily two 
“or three evacuations of the bowels. 
“ This patient had, for half a year, an aversion to meat, and 
“ would vomit whenever she even perceived the odor of meat. 
“ After taking the powders for three days, she began to crave 
“ meat, and on eating it, she digested perfectly. After using 
“the powders for three weeks, tumor was found to he much 
“ smaller, and she had a profuse, glutinous and yellow discharge 
“from the vagina. At the end of the second month, the tumor 
“ had almost entirely disappeared ; the appetite increased ; she 
“became stronger; but the profuse yellow, thick, discharge 
“from the uterus continued. 
[We do not think that anyone will for a moment object to 
the expunging of the above symptom from our Materia Medica ; 
its retention cannot be defended.] 
Experimentum IX. 
“ A woman, 43 years old, was so afflicted with most atrocious 
“ pain in the right arm and foot, that she cried out day and 
“night. No opiate was able to induce sleep. I administered 
“ various drugs during the space of two weeks, until the patient 
“ —obtaining no relief—became completely exhausted and much 
“emaciated. I then gave the powdered extract of Aconite, 20 
“grains in the morning and again in the evening. The bowels 
“ were moved several times. The pains were mitigated, and 
“the second night the patient slept tranquilly three hours. 
“ The powders were continued, 20 grains three times a day. 
“ On the sixth day, broad, red, itching pustules broke out over the 
“ whole body, and almost all pain ceased. To this time, the pow- 
“ der had been administered three times a day ; and I then gave 
“ the patient a purge, consisting of six ounces of laxative water 
“ (Dispensat. Vien.) and one drachm of sal. polychrestus. This 
“purge, with euphorbia, operated twelve times, and by that 
*Cicuta in the original; but the ancient Cicuta was Conium of the present 
time.—T.F.A. 26 
“time the patient had no pain, and could freely move the arm 
“ and foot, which before the powder had been impossible. 
Note.—The same comment made to the second case will apply to this, also. 
The eruption might, indeed, have been produced by Aconite, but it is very doubt- 
ful; and our Materia Medica stands in no need of doubtful material. We will 
quote also the last case, and some of the general remarks of Stoerck which follow, 
to throw light upon the remaining symptom given by Hahnemann from Stoerck, 
which, it will be seen, is a generalization of Hahnemann from generalization of 
Stoerck. 
“Experimentum XIV. 
“ A woman, 34 years old, four months pregnant, suffered from 
“ pains in her right leg and foot. No tumor could be discovered 
“ and the skin had a natural color. Various remedies, both in- 
“ ternal and external, afforded no relief, and the patient was 
“ compelled to keep her bed, without being able to speak, on 
“account of the pain. But the powdered extract of Aconite 
“ soon quieted the pain, brought sleep, and perfectly restored 
“ the patient within three weeks. 
“ From the experiments just detailed, it is evident that the 
“ extract of Aconite is innocuous, and a very efficacious medi- 
“ cine. Small doses accomplish what large doses of other and most 
11 powerful drugs, exhibited a long time, failed to accomplish. 
“ Acridity which adhered to the joints, tendons and bones, 
“irritated the nerves and excited most violent pains, was dis- 
“ solved, put in motion, and cast out of the body through the urine, 
“ alvine evacuations, sweat, or insensible transpiration. Scirrhous 
“ tumors and nodosities are softened, and sometimes wholly dis- 
sipated. Most atrocious pains in the joints and indurated 
“ parts are relieved and removed ; ulcers which resist other 
“ drugs, sometimes disappear and become covered by a firm 
“cicatrix. In some cases, Aconite surpasses Conium in virtue, 
“and cures some diseases with which Conium does not agree, 
“and over which it possesses no power.” 
We have quoted Stoerck thus at length in order to justify 
our conclusions—viz.: The purification of our Mat. Med. by 
erasing from it the clinical symptoms taken from his cases, in 
the , Nos. 802, 815, 866, 1447, 1448 and 1450. 27 
Hencke, Provings, Archiv f. Horn. XX, 1, 181. These prov- 
ings were made as follows: Hencke took the tincture in water 
daily for five days, increasing from four to thirty drops at a 
dose. The second day there set in the distress in the chest, as 
if he could not expand it; he had to breathe deeply; often re- 
minding us of that most emphasized symptom (spaced italics) 
in the first edition of Hahnemann’s Mat. Med. Pura—“ Klem- 
mender Sciimerz in der Brust.” This heavy, full-feeling of 
Hencke’s increased in severity day by day ; the third day 
there were added palpitation, precordial stitches, and pressure 
on the vertex. Then the headache became very bad, extending 
into the forehead. The fourth day he had diarrhoea, and icy- 
cold feet in evening. The fifth day, cold hands and feet; the 
diarrhoea continued. Although he suspended the drug on the 
fifth morning, the symptoms continued some days longer, and 
disappeared only after ten days. I should say, also, that on the 
seventh day he suffered from headache, as above described, hot 
face, with cold hands and feet, especially in the evening. There 
can he no doubt as to the reliability of his proving. “ AV.,” 
one of his provers, took the tincture five days, increasing from 
four to twelve drops. He experienced the same symptoms in 
chest, head, diarrhoea, palpitation, and, in addition, dry cough, 
with bloody expectoration. These symptoms arose after the last 
dose, and continued, diminishing in severity till the fourteenth 
day. It is not probable that the dose of Aconite taken by 
“ W.” would have caused bleeding from the lungs in a perfectly 
healthy person, it certainly produces congestion in the 
majority of provers. Investigating the constitution of “ W.,” 
we find a man of “ slender build, rather phthisical habit, arte- 
rial constitution, sanguine temperament, and sedentary habit; 
two years previously he had a violent ‘ lung catarrh,’ with bloody 
expectoration, but since then had been quite well.” This his- 
tory does not discredit the proving; it only demonstrates that 
extreme results may be obtained most easily in organs that are 
particularly sensitive to the action of the drug. At this late 
day, we can properly take this view of “ W.’s” proving: at 
that time we would have wished to wait for confirmation, 
llencke’s third prover was A. B., a healthy peasant girl; she 28 
took the tincture five days, increasing from five to forty drops 
a day. Her proving is still more characteristic than either of 
the others. On the fourth day the greatest distress was felt; 
heavy pressure on vertex down to forehead, general sick feel- 
ing and heaviness of limbs, dry mouth and great thirst, face 
hot, hands and feet cold, pulse hard, rapid,, eyes glistening, op- 
pression of chest, palpitation, internal restlessness, pressive pain 
in right side of chest;, and sixteen hours after the dose (30 
drops) a warm sweat broke out and she felt better. [This ob- 
servation was made by Dr. Boutzes, and communicated to Dr. 
Hencke.) 
The fourth prover, N. 1ST., a man in good health, made three 
experiments, he mixed two drops of the tincture in forty drops 
water, and took in the evening eight drops of this dilution; 
soon after the dose he became sleepy, very sleepy; and early in 
the morning had an urgent stool. A few days later he took 
two, eight, five and twenty drops of a similar dilution, with 
the same effects and in addition faintness, qualmishness and 
painful rumbling in the bowels, and the next day a hacking 
cough. The third experiment, made with eight drop doses, 
three times a day of a dilution of five drops of tincture in 
thirty drops of Alcohol, developed flushes of heat in face and 
slight headache in right frontal eminence extending to the upper 
margin of the orbit. 
The provings of this man are not very characteristic, but 
sufficiently so to remove all doubts as to their genuineness. 
We now come to an exceedingly important contribution to 
Aconite—The Austrian Provings. I shall not analyze each 
proving, but satisfy my readers by giving an account of the 
methods employed with some observations. 
Arneth made three provings on himself. First he took re- 
peated doses of the tincture, beginning with ten drops and in- 
creasing to forty. After the last dose he felt so sick and fever- 
ish, that he took some pellets of the seventh dilution at night 
and on the morning following he suffered from pain in the 
heart, intermittent pulse, dyspnoea, burning along the urethra 
while urinating, etc. His second provings with the third and 
second dilutions developed also the pains over the right eye, 29 
restless nights with vivid dreams, dullness of the head and 
discharge of bright red blood from, the nose. Ilis third experi- 
ment was more heroic but developed fewer and less character- 
istic symptoms (this is uniformly true throughout pharmaco- 
dynamics; the larger doses develop fewer and less reliable symp- 
toms). He took sixty, eighty, one hundred and one hundred 
and thirty drops of the tincture. After the last dose his only 
symptoms were: inclination to vomit and great confusion of 
the head. Previous to this from sixty and eighty drops had 
caused a recurrence of the nosebleed and an eruption of the vesi- 
cles on the temples. 
JBcehm made two experiments on himself. He had suffered 
FROM IliEMOPTISIS, SOME YEARS PREVIOUSLY, AND EVEN NOW AFTER 
GREAT EFFORTS HAD OCCASIONAL TRACES OF BLOOD IN THE EXPECTO- 
RATION. We might, therefore, expect that an heroic proving 
of Aconite would cause bleeding from the lungs. He first took 
five drops of the tincture; this was followed by burning and 
dryness in the palate and pharynx, tickling in the larynx pro- 
voking cough; later in the day stitches in the middle of the 
sternum, pressure in the stomach, etc. Four days later he 
took ten drops followed by similar effects, with great weak- 
ness in the chest, and the next morning, cough with blood-streaked 
expectoration and a feeling of soreness on the posterior surface 
of the sternum, in the evening, heat of the palms and cheeks. The 
soreness in the chest continued for four days. In his second 
experiment he took four drops of the tincture in the evening 
without any effect, afterward he took twenty drops which de- 
veloped an acute bronchial catarrh with high fever, violent 
stitches in the chest and symptoms of Pleuritis. For three 
days he was quite ill: the second forenoon he had a violent 
shaking chill extending over the back and chest, followed by 
high fever, with violent cough-stitches in side, could only lie 
on his back, and sweat after midnight. On the third day 
there was brownish red or rusty expectoration. 
Fortunately, we are able to judge of this proving as well as 
of Hencke’s“W,” by one made by another of the Austrian 
provers, Rothansel, who also was very sensitive to Aconite, 
but who was perfectly well before the proving and had never 30 
suffered from pulmonary troubles; Rothansel developed cough, 
hoarseness and blood-streaked expectoration, with a host of other 
most characteristic effects of Aconite. In spite of Bcehm’s had 
history his proving of Aconite will stand as genuine; a proving 
valuable for the very reason of its occurring in one whose re- 
spiratory organs were easily affected. 
Gerstel, (the leader of this hand in the proving of Aconite) 
took the tincture in varying doses of six to fifty drops. Ilis 
proving should he read in its entirety to he fully appreciated. 
He experienced a great number of febrile symptoms, affections 
of muscles, of chest, of heart, full hard pulse of 102; anxiety, 
sweat, sticking pains, had hot highly colored urine, numbness 
of arm and thigh, glowing hot cheeks, etc. GersteVs wife took 
the tincture in the first experiment, three drops twice; in the 
second, twenty drops, once. The first proving is by far the 
most characteristic. An hour after the first dose she experienced 
heat of the palms and face, with redness of both cheeks and a 
sensation as if they were swollen; in the afternoon after her 
nap she had icy cold hands, the coldness spread to the back and 
feet, she became very sensitive to noise, and experienced many 
other characteristic symptoms; the chilly feelings several times 
alternated with the heat. The large dose of twenty drops was 
followed by no symptoms; but after several days a large number 
of small isolated visicles appeared on various parts of the body, 
continuing to appear and disappear for two weeks. 
Maschauer took the tincture in doses of* five to twenty drops, 
and in a second proving forty to eighty drops. The first prov- 
ing gives us: shivering, restless nights, palpitation, heat in 
chest as of hot water, violent pressure in vertex, dry cough 
from scraping in the throat, etc. The second proving: heavi- 
ness of head, anxious beating of heart with slow pulse, so that 
he had to sit down with exhaustion; painful stitches in left 
side, oppressed respiration relieved by cough, catarrhal symp- 
toms in nose, constant distressing restlessness, anxiety as from 
a great misfortune, etc. 
N. N. took the tincture for sixty days, taking in all 2386 
drops, beginning with fifteen drops and rising to seventy. The 
symptoms are characteristic, and Gerstel remarks that a stetho- 31 
8copic examination demonstrated an endocarditis developed by 
the drug, with a constant alternation of the rheumatic symp- 
toms in the arm and the heart symptoms. 
lieisinger took the tincture, five to sixty drops, the proving 
lasting from Jan. 5th to March 15th. A second proving began 
on March 18th with sixty drops, on April 1st he had risen to 
two hundred drops, on the 5th one hundred and sixty drops, 
and on the 8tli one hundred and eight drops of the tincture. 
These provings are clearly characteristic of Aconite; first, 
crawling and heat in the fingers, shivering over the back and 
over the whole body, followed by slight heat, especially in the 
evening. 
Note.—The recurrence of fever in the evening, noticed by so many provers, is 
not of necessity periodic; the doses were taken in the morning in nearly every 
case, and twelve hours generally suffices for the development of the chilly stage 
followed by fever. 
On following days other characteristic symptoms were noted. 
The second proving developed prickling and burning on the 
tongue, burning and heat in the lungs, pressing headache, better 
in open air, chilliness of the back, numbness of the small of the 
back and down to the lower extremities, frequent profuse micturi- 
tion; ANXIETY ABOUT THE HEART, WITH VERTIGO; Cold extreme- 
ties, leaden heaviness of the feet, anxious tremblings ; a seething 
throughout the body, as if the hands and feet would fall asleep ; 
numbness extending from the Ueth to the maxillae, outer corner of 
the eye and ovePthe whole body, feeling as if the brain were large 
and {tressed against the skull, etc. 
Rothunsel made a very fine proving with the tincture, be- 
ginning with six drops and increasing one drop a day, till on 
the ninth day he took fifteen drops, and continued to observe 
effects for two weeks afterward. He became affected with a 
cough, fever, expectoration of blood-streaked mucus (on the 
nineteenth day burning pains in the chest, pains in head ex- 
tending down into the cheeks, the supra-orbital region became 
swollen, etc.) 
Schwarz began with three drops of the tincture and increased 
to four hundred drops at one dose; a clear and characteristic 
proving on a healthy, strong man. 32 
Slcrz made four different provings; the first with three to 
twenty drop doses of the tincture; the second with ten to 
twenty drop doses; the third with forty to eighty drop doses; 
the fourth with one hundred drops of the first cent. dil. (alcohol) 
the first day, one hundred drop3 of the second dil. the second 
day, one hundred drops of the first dil. (water) the third day. 
In all his provings we find the familiar Aconite symptoms. 
Wachtl made three provings (the name of the drug was not 
known to him). First he smelt of the tincture, and experi- 
enced two symptoms, the first (half an hour after) a long vio- 
lent stitch in'the left heel, extending along the tendo-achilles 
to the hollow of the knee, repeated ten or twelve times, at last 
so violent that he had to sit down, when it disappeared; the 
following night was restless. 
These are clearly the result of the Aconite. Wachtl was a 
sensitive prover; besides the character of the pain is unmis- 
takable, and subsequently, from the tincture taken internally, 
he suffered similar sticking pains in the shoulder, chest and 
knee joint; and the day after fifty drops of the tincture, tear- 
ing stitches in nearly every joint. His proving with the 
tincture is very fine; the pains, the sensations of congestion, 
the anxiety, shiverivgs and. heat—even vomiting, etc., etc.— 
are clearly the result of Aconite. 
Watzke made five provings: first, he began with one drop 
of the tincture, aud increased to ten drops; second, he took 
fifteen drops, one dose; third, twenty drops daily for four days; 
fourth, he took from fifteen to eighty drops; fifth, more than 
two months after the last, proving, he took the 12th dec. dil. 
several times. repeated, and after four days the 8th dec. dil. 
An examination of his provings of the tincture reveals the fa- 
miliar Aconite symptoms, with some additional ones peculiar 
to the individual. lie suffered from pains of a griping, press- 
ing, gnawing character in various parts of the body, “not un- 
like strong shocks from a battery;” pains in the tendo-achilles; 
numerous febrile symptoms; anxiety; dry cough; sticking 
pains in chest, and a host of similar effects. Ilis peculiar symp- 
toms were: “Sensation as if an angular substance were sticking 
in the throat, with an elongated swollen uvula, sticking-burn- 33 
ing along the eustachian tube; very violent contraction of the 
anus, not like a tenesmus, etc., etc. From the dilutions he ex- 
perienced no symptoms from the twelfth, hut from the eighth 
he did. Dullness of head; sensitiveness of upper half of eye- 
ball, as though it were pressed out, rather relieved by stooping; 
followed by the sensation decided and, 'persistent after former 
doses of the tincture’) of a pressure on the vertex, as from a tight 
cap; restless sleep, vivid dreams. These few symptoms from 
the eighth dil. are not questionable. 
Helen W., a girl of 18, took the first cent. dil. doses of ten 
to seventy-two drops, and the tincture ten to thirty drops, fol- 
lowed by most characteristic and severe results; after the last 
dose of the first dil. she had enormous thirst, sitches in lower 
part of left chest, etc.; from the tincture, heat in face and 
throat; red, dry, sore throat; a dry, shrill cough; burning in 
eyes; violent pain in the larynx; sticking pain in the head 
on coughing; shaking chill, followed by general dry heat, 
etc., etc. 
Wiirstl took the tincture in doses of six to fifty drops. His 
proving is characteristic of the drug; of especial interest we 
note that “for sixteen days after a dose of thirty drops, he suf- 
fered daily, between 11 and 1, with attacks of vertigo, dull 
head, drawing in the knees, calves and elbows; constant sweet 
taste in the mouth ; saliva mixed with red streaks; qualmish- 
ness, with urging to stool; frequent itching in the rectum, 
with discharge of white, hot mucus; restless night. Wiirstl 
was in perfect health prior to the [(roving. 
Wurmb made two provings with the tincture, and one with 
the third cent. dil. He developed (like some others) marked 
drawing pains in the cervical muscles, hip-joint, right thigh 
and shoulder, tendo-achillcs, stiffness of muscles, etc.; also a 
symptom similar to one by Wiirstl—“a feeling as though warm 
liquid were escaping from the anus.” Wurmb did not, however, 
prove to be sensitive to the drug. He took the tincture twice 
a day, beginning with five drops and increasing to one hundred, 
taking 2325 drops within six weeks. Afterward he took one 
hundred drops of the third cent. dil. twice a day for five days 
and experienced similar effects. “Drawings here and there in 34 
the joints, pressure in the chest, dull stitches in the brain,” and 
once the above-mentioned symptom in the anus. 
Zlatarovkh began his provings with live drops of the tincture 
and increased to two hundred drops at a dose, taking 5000 
drops in sixtj’-eight days, producing a superb proving, with 
most of the characteristic mental, heart, lungs and nervous 
symptoms of Aconite. He then made another proving, begin- 
ning with ten drops of the second cent, dil., and gradually in- 
creasing to two hundred drops, developing a pathogenesis quite 
as characteristic, though not as stormy as before. 
These Austrian provings are clear and most valuable. In 
them we find all the great characteristics of Aconite; they cor- 
roborate and illumine the earlier provings of Hahnemann; they 
have enlarged our knowledge of the pathological processes 
which Aconite is able to produce, and have furnished us with 
many new and most reliable symptoms. Can any one of these 
provings be discarded? Can we afford to omit one single symp- 
tom recorded by these intelligent and accurate observers? 
We now pass to the examination of provings published by 
Dr. Jousset, I?Art Med., 34, 427. 
Ftrst.—Dr. Jablonski took the tincture, three drops, repeated 
after an hour, and after two hours more six drops. lie experi- 
enced pains in the joints, heaviness of head, constriction of 
throat, red face, neuralgic pain in right temple, etc. The tem- 
perature rose gradually from 36° C. to 36.8°; the pulse fell at 
first from 68 to 64, then rose to 80. 
Second.—The same man took six drops of tincture, repeated 
after two hours. The pulse and temperature were both low- 
ered a little; general symptoms similar to those observed in 
the previous experiment. 
Third.—The same took six drops of tincture twice; the pulse 
fell in this proving from 80 to 55, the temperature from 36.4° 
C. to 36.2° ; symptoms more numerous and persistent. 
Fourth.—The same took six drops of tincture, once; the pulse 
fell in thirty minutes from 66 to 64, then rose in two hours to 
86, then fell to 55 in three hours more, where it remained for 
three hours, then rose to 75 ; the temperature rose, then fell, 
then rose again afte second dose, then returned to normal. 35 
The pruritus, noticed in previous provings, seemed quite 
marked in this one, especially on the face, limbs and back; 
other symptoms same as before. 
Fifth. —The same took six, then twelve drops of tincture; 
effects much the same. 
Sixth.—The same took six drops once; this time the pulse 
rose steadily from 60 to 100, then fell to 60, then rose to 90; 
the temperature rose front 36.2° to 37° (pulse 100), then stead- 
ily fell. 
Seventh.—The same took twelve drops, once. 
Eighth.—The same took eighteen drops, once; the pulse fell 
from 90 to 60; the temperature fell from 36.8° to 36.4°. 
These experiments are instructive, though they do not pre- 
sent a full list of Aconite symptoms. 
Two authorities mentioned in the Encyclopaedia were taken 
from Roth’s Mat. Med., the originals being inaccessible at that 
time. Schneller (No. 42) refers to the Austrian provings (Allop.) 
with the crude drug ; since obtaining the original provings, we 
have compared and found the symptoms correct. West (No. 37), 
we are sorry to say should never have been admitted. The symp- 
toms are curative, having been observed after Aconite in a wo- 
man whose menstruation had been suppressed by a bath: the 
three symptoms of menstruation from the author should, there- 
fore, be erased (862, 863 and 864). 
The next in order are Robinson’s provings, Nos. 38 (Mol. I) 
and 80 (Yol. X, Suppl). His proving (B. J. of Horn. 24, 678) 
with the tincture, and various potencies, is certainly a most 
characteristic one of Aconite. In number of important and 
unmistakable symptoms, it rivals the best of the Austrian 
provings. We must, however, regret that Hr. Robinson rarely 
allowed either a single dose or any single preparation to act bj' 
itself. His other provings (on page 513 of same were made 
on two women, both very sensitive to Aconite. One woman, 
after the twelfth potency, felt restlessness at night, great ex- 
citement, eyes bloodshot, and depression of spirits; the other, 
after the 30th, felt extremely prostrated, beaten all over, and 
drowsy. These are, to our mind, clearly due to Aconite; the 
same effects have been observed in other less sensitive persons 
after the tincture. 36 
The two authorities next in order are “H.X.S.” and “T.C.D.” 
The first named took either the tenth cent, or a lower potency, 
and observed: erratic pains in the right supra-orbital, temporal 
and frontal regions, and at the base of the nose; eg s bloodshot; 
pain in the right teeth, below right ear, in right knee; con- 
gestion of fauces; muscles sore and stiff; tendency to looseness 
of the bowels. After a few days he took another dose, fearing 
the former symptoms might not harve been due to the drug, 
and experienced pain in the teeth and left side of the head; 
fulness of head. 
This is, without the slightest shadow of suspicion, a good 
proving of Aconite; comparison with former provings cannot 
fail to convince anyone of its purity. “T.C.D.” took, ignorant 
of the medicine or the dilution, the Gth cent, dil., and experi- 
enced symptoms “certainly abnormal, and I believe due to the 
drug, whatever its attenuation.” Food distressed after eating; 
vertigo; posterior part of brain feels injected; increased sexual 
desire; testes swollen, hard; emissions, even after coition ; las- 
civious dreams. A second trial developed drawing pain in 
right testicle, and uneasiness in the right kidney. It is unne- 
cessary to receive this proving on faith; the symptoms are pre- 
cisely those developed in less susceptible persons by the tinc- 
ture, and we must accept it as a genuine contribution to our 
pathogenesis. 
Nos. 41, symptoms from Fleming “On Aconite,” and 43, 
Peters, effects of a poisonous dose, (X. Am. J. of IIom., 3, 133,) 
will not be called in question. 
The collection in Vol. X, Supplement, is mostly made up 
from cases of poisoning. Dr. Robinsons’s provings (Xo. 80) 
have been noticed; those reported by Dr. Berridge and Dr. 
Lillie (91 to 98) remain to be examined. 
First.—A man took a dose of “ C. M.” Fincke, (whatever 
that may be!!) and immediately noticed “ a shooting downward 
in the left wrist, middle of palmer surface,”—a very likely 
symptom, and the only one observed. Comparing this with 
other provings, we are compelled to recognize the fact that 
Aconite produces a host of sharp pains in various parts of the 
body, (one of its most common effects,) and that the Austrians 37 
observed, “ acute pain along the flexor tendons of forearm down 
to little finger;” and Hahnemann reports, “tearing pain in 
the wrist.” We must admit this proving, meagre and incom- 
plete as it is. 
Second.—Dr. Berridge took Aeon. 200, and reports one 
“symptom,” namely, “Drinks get into larnyx, causing cough- 
ing.” This is not a new symptom : we have abundant evidence 
of the power of Aconite to cause paralysis of the tongue and 
pharyngeal muscles, with difficult swallowing, and there is 
every reason to suppose that it might produce the above symp- 
tom. Numerous cases of poisoning produce inability to swal- 
low, choking or swallowing saliva, and Hahnemann’s own 
symptom (probably from the tincture), “ Food and drink pass 
easily into the larynx, and cause cough, etc., coincides exactly 
with Dr. Berridge’s one symptom. We only find it difficult to 
believe that the dose produced but one symptom; there’s the 
rub. Still we must give Dr. B. credit for honesty; we recog- 
nize Aconite in his symptom. 
Thir(/.—Dr. Lillie gave the 30th dil. to six physicians; the 
pulse of each one rose immediately; this result is immaterial; 
and, in the case of these persons, not conclusive, since the pulse 
would naturally rise under such circumstances. Still we have 
enough evidence that small doses of Aconite will induce an in- 
creased rapidity of the beating of the heart; and there is 
nothing objectionable in retaining these single symptoms. 
We have now examined the pathogenesis of Aconite, for the 
purpose of exposing any false statement concerning it, and of 
winnowing out the chaff, and with the following result: We 
must eliminate. 
No. 10, Durr; symptom 1. No. 11, Gmelen ; symptom 
1382. No. 12, Greeding ; symptoms—147, 250, 278, 376, 526, 
604, 616, 627, 629, 646, 650, 651, 774, 777, 795, 811, 812, 813, 
814, 865,1124,1174, 1235,1354, 1433,1499, 1648, 1651,1654 
and 1655. No. 18, Stoerck, in part; Nos. 802, 815, 866, 1447, 
1448,1450 : thirty-eight symptoms quoted by Hahnemann, and 
three more quoted by Roth from West; in all, forty-one symp- 
toms. All of these were part and parcel of our Mat. Med. 
prior to the publication of the Encyclopedia. 38 
None of these symptoms affect, in the slightest, the integrity 
of our symptomatology; they are blots upon it, and should be 
erased. The remainder constitute an absolutely trustworthy and 
harmonious pathogenesis, not a line of which can be spared. 
If we undertake to condense, we find ourselves obliged to omit 
many things which, though not frequently useful, are in rare 
cases indispensible ; and, we opine, that in these days of careful 
hygiene, and of skillful general therapeutics, the one who cures 
these rare and difficult cases wins in the long run. The begin- 
ner needs hints in studying, but hints should not constitute 
his whole stock of knowledge. Let us encourage the student 
to use these hints as one uses a lamp to study by ; let us all 
seek for more light, and for a larger, rather than a smaller, 
knowledge of drug- action. 
Actsea spicata.—Unfortunately, we have no knowledge of the 
active constituents of this plant, and are unable to judge there- 
from of the probable value of its provings. Linmeeus, in his 
“Flora Lapponica,” asserts that it produces furious delirium; 
Colden, in “Acta Upsala,” 1745, states that cold sweat with 
malaise are caused by it. Linnfeeus farther reports: Horripila- 
tion of the scalp, frequent desire to urinate, pimples on the 
scalp. These observations lead us to infer a powerful drug ac- 
tion, and also give us vague indications of a drug belonging to 
the order of the Aconites (Ranunculacese). Petroz was led (he 
tells us) to prove it, from Dufresne’s use of it, as “a succedanum 
to Aconite.” In the preface to the symptoms, he apologizes for 
the absence of the genital symptoms, by saying that he had lost 
them; he furnishes no day-books of provings, does not inform 
us as to the doses employed to obtain the symptoms, nor of the 
pharmaceutical preparations of the plant. The 'pains, recorded 
by Petroz, arrest our attention, as well as the difficult respira- 
tion with epistaxis, the paralytic weakness, the pains in the 
right hypochondrium with yellowness about the mouth, the 
swellings of the joints. We recognize a generic relationship to 
the Aconites, and have no doubt as to the reliability of the 
provings. Two cures have been recorded by Ruckert: one of 
“facial neuralgia,” pains, tearing, beginning in a bad tooth and 
extending to the temples, aggravated by the slightest touch 39 
and by moving the facial muscles; another of “articular rheu- 
matism” in the hands and feet, with swelling of the joints; 
pains aggravated by the least movement. Inflammation of the 
knee joint has also been cured by it. We thus perceive that in 
Actcea we have a drug capable of considerable development; 
and, inasmuch as the plant is quite common in America, we 
hope some one may be encouraged to investigate its chemical 
composition and its physiological action. 
It may not be out of place here to record our own experience 
with A. spicata in true rheumatic gout (Rheumatoid arthritis 
of Garrod). We were led, first, to try it by Petroz symptoms: 
“swelling of the joints after fatigue:” “pain as from paralytic 
weakness in the hands,” and the “ periosteal pains.” In several 
cases most prompt and truly remarkable (for this usually very 
obstinate arthritis) cures have been wrought by the drug. 
In our cases, thus far, we have observed the cure of the follow- 
ing additional symptoms: “great stiffness of the joints after 
rest,” so great (in two cases) that before the patient could dress 
in the morning she had to plunge the hands into hot water; 
“great swelling between the joints” and “some oedema of the 
extremities” (in one case). AVe should be very glad to learn 
of additional verifications. AVe have used the third centess. 
dilution only. 
Adelheidsquelle.—Dr. Bethmann’s observations on the effects 
of this water are good enough as far as they go: for 
we have not “taken to” these provings of mixtures, nor have 
we been able, from a study of the symptomatology of “ mineral 
spring ” waters, to advise patients intelligently how to use them. 
The notion that because “mineral springs” exist they are 
special Providences, and hence demand our use, is one which 
cannot be discussed in this place! 
Aesculus.—The Horse-chestnuts and Buckeyes contain an 
active principle, a glucoside, called Aesculine. It occurs most 
abundantly in the rind of the fruit and bark of the stem ; it is 
soluble in Alcohol, sparingly so in water. The Aesculine of 
Aesculus pavia seems to differ somewhat in composition and 
properties, but in general it is similar to the Aesculine of the 
Ilippocastanum. This glucoside has been found also in gelse- 40 
mhun associated with gelsemine: and in India a large tree, 
Hymenodietyon excclsum, formerly known as uChina indica ,” and 
supposed to contain chininum, owes its bitterness and active 
properties mainly to the large amount of Aesculine in its bark. 
In the cotyledons of the fruit of Ae sc ulus Hippocastanum are 
found other less known glucosides, similar to Aesculine, so that 
preparations of the kernel of the fruit are not by any means 
inert. From our knowledge of the chemical properties of the 
acids and bases found in Ae sc ulus, we may expect equally valu- 
able results from triturations and tinctures; we would prefer 
the latter, however, as they would contain a solution of these 
substances, and a tincture of the whole—fruit, rind and kernel 
—would surely be better. We have no information concerning 
the action of pure Aesculine, and shall be obliged to estimate 
the value of our provings by their own inherent character. 
1. Buchmann. This first prover of Aesculus chewed and 
swallowed 30 grains of the fresh fruit deprived of its rind. The 
effects began to be felt in about five minutes: “ Constrictive pain 
in the throat, nausea and oppression of the chest,” etc.; then 
follow symptoms of irritated mucous membrane of the nose, 
throat, larynx and air-passages, conjunctiva, rectum and urethra; 
with these we find: heat in the chest, left side of face; sharp 
pains through the chest, etc. A repetition of the dose, two 
weeks later, was followed by similar symptoms. This proving 
cannot be doubted, though it but briefly and superficially out- 
lines the sphere of action of our drug. The next proving is 
better. 
2. Aug. Buchmann took the same dose. The symptoms soon 
began with nausea and oppression of the chest; then followed 
“soreness in throat and chest; burning and heat in the chest: 
hawking of thick then watery mucus. From the stomach and 
alimentary canal of this prover we find: “pain as from a stone 
above the pit of the stomach, with palpitation; eructations of 
gas; pain in hypochondria, going to back; desire for stool, 
followed by three evacuations half an hour after the dose. 
Feeling of constriction of intestines, followed by repeated 
stools.” This prover experiences the great nervous prostration 
(so marked in Aesculus hip.), with pains in the small of the 41 
back. Note also the accompanying fever: “burning in palms 
and soles, beat and redness of left side of face, yawning and 
stretching,” etc. After a week the same man took 5 drops of 
the tincture, from which he experienced fewer abdominal, but 
more nervous symptoms. “Tearing and jerking of the right 
arm: paralysis of the right arm, so great, that he could not 
raise it; weariness and sleep, after which he did not know 
where he was; feeling of a board against the forehead; then fol- 
lowed chill and yawning, violent crawling in nose and fauces, 
followed by profuse, fluent coryza; pain in right lung, which 
seemed to move up and down painfully; pale, suffering look,” etc.; 
the symptoms ceased after three hours. Another proving was 
made, eight months later, with 10 drops of the tincture. This 
time more abdominal symptoms again; cramps in intestines; 
after awhile four evacuations, each stool followed by soreness of 
the anus; then profuse, fluent coryza, sneezing, stinging pains 
in the nose; the right lung again seems to move painfully up and 
down. In this proving also we get “tearing pain in back and 
right side; chilliness for half an hour, yawning and weakness, 
pale face,” etc. The dose acted four hours. 
We begin to appreciate what a proving of this drug may be 
expected to present. It is even now apparent that we have here 
a close similimum to catarrhal fever, to a suppressed or unde- 
veloped cold, which now attacks the bowels, now the nose and 
throat, whose effects do not seem to be relieved by mucus secre- 
tions, but show themselves as backache and legache, chilliness, 
malaise, utter weariness, etc. But we shall find a still greater 
range of action. 
The third of Buehmann’s provers was an old maid of 52 sum- 
mers ; she took 40 grains of the peeled fruit; there followed 
retching, burning, nausea or vomiting; then pressure in fore- 
head and feeling of a cold in the nose: hawking of tousdi mu- 
© © © 
cus: afterward heat over whole body, an intoxicated feeling in 
head, oppressed chest, cough, all followed by several thin stools. 
This proving will not be discredited, nor called a trashy contri- 
bution to our knowledge of Aesculus. 
Another old maid of 33 took the same dose with very simi- 
lar symptoms ; it developed a real fluent coryza with q “whirl- 42 
ing” iti the fore part of the nose, and a pressure like a stone in 
the pit of the stomach. (A reliable proving). 
The fifth prover, a man of 48, took the same dose, with many 
of the same symptoms: “irritation in the throat, frequent de- 
sire to raise mucus, sensitiveness of the Schneiderian membrane 
to air, fluent coryza, etc., frequent desire to urinate, etc. (A 
good proving). 
Another man of 22 took 30 drops of the tincture with simi- 
lar symptoms, 4 coryza and coolness in the nose, irritation in 
larynx provoking cough and expectoration of mucus, pressure 
in stomach extending downward, etc., etc.: later the same man 
took 60 drops, with the same results, not quite as well defined 
perhaps; from both doses he had lachrymation and flickering 
before the eyes; from the latter, profuse fluent coryza. (A 
good proving). 
Buchmann’s last prover, a woman of 54, took 30 drops of the 
tincture, from which she experienced, mostly, abdominal symp- 
toms, but she had also dryness of larynx and became far-sighted, 
“could read without glasses which she was unable to do usually,” 
had also twitching of the right eye, and burning in the breasts. 
A repetition of the dose some days later was followed by simi- 
lar symptoms with “drawing in at nostril as in violent coryza,” 
“fluor-albus from vagina;” from both doses, “constipation.” 
The next proving we examine is Dr. Burt’s in Hale’s New 
Remedies, 2d ed. A careful perusal of this proving will well 
repay the student. Dr. Burt took first, 10 grains of the first 
dec. trit. of the dried nut: from this dose he experienced wholly 
nervous symptoms, neuralgic pains, and especially “dull aching in 
the small of the back aggravated by motionit is important to 
note these symptoms, produced as they were on a sensitive 
prover, by a small dose, and occurring frst of all, before any other 
disturbance had been noticed. A dose of 20 grs. produced more 
pains, and an acrid feeling in the fauces, and very severe and 
constant backache: a repetition of the dose kept his back aching 
hard all night; in the morning a new dose, then headache, dry 
fauces, burning in stomach; on the third morning, 45 hours 
after the first dose his first stool, hard and dr}T, followed by 
cutting pains in anus and pains in the umbilical region. After 43 
this he took 10 grs. more; this dose developed the drug more 
fully, burning pains in stomach and bowels, violent neuralgic 
pains in forehead and heart, constriction of fauces, irritation of 
larynx and hacking dry cough; 40 grs. more at noon kept the 
symptoms going, his back kept aching all the next night (could 
hardly rise from sitting); in the morning a hard dry knotty 
stool. Four days after this a natural stool. This first proving 
of Dr. Burt is most suggestive; note that the backache began 
within two hours after his first dose and continued throughout 
his proving. His next proving was made with the crude drug 
beginning with 20 grains of the powdered nut and followed by 
repeated doses of 30 grains. These doses developed, smarting 
dryness, burning, etc., of mucous membranes in eyes, throat, 
stomach and bowels, with backache, neuralgic pains in head, 
abdomen and region of heart. The stool was dry and hard till 
the third day, when the last part was softer and “white as 
milk;” every stool w7as followed by pain or distress in the anus. 
The violent pains extended from the back to the hips and legs; 
could move only with great difficulty on account of great pain; 
urine became high-colored, hands hot and dry,etc. These vio- 
lent symptoms were experienced for four days, after which the 
stools became softer and the backache gradually disappeared. 
This prover certainly suffered from hypenemia of the spinal 
meninges almost resulting in inflammation (pains aggravated 
by motion) and from excessive congestion of the mucous mem- 
brane of the alimentary canal. This dry catarrh at last shut 
oft'the bile, causing some pain in the liver, and arrested the se- 
cretions from the mucous surfaces of the bowels. The larger 
doses of Buchmann’s provers produced effects more akin to the 
effect of shock, profuse watery discharges, with less backache. 
Proving of Dr. C. W. Boyce.—This prover took repeated ten- 
grain doses of the first dec. trit. We notice effects already fa- 
miliar to us, viz: “dryness and stiffness of the throat, nausea, 
dryness and itching of the rectum, frequent desire for stool, rec- 
tum feels dry as if filled with small sticks, feeling of folds of 
membrane in the rectum which would readily protrude”; also 
salivation, diarrhoea of ingesta, followed by a sensation as if m. 
m. of rectum were thickened, obstructing stool, dryness and 44 
soreness of the rectum. In addition to the above, this prover 
experienced, on two occasions, catarrhal affections of nose, 
throat, and larynx; but at no time backache or neuralgic pains; 
still there can be no doubt of the reliability of his symptoms. 
Proving of Dr. T. C. Duncan.—We may expect a good prov- 
ing, for Dr. Duncan is (or was) very sensitive to drug action, 
and his symptoms have been uniformly reliable. lie took, first, 
12 drops of the second dec. dil.; from this he records: “ nausea, 
shooting pain in left eye, soreness of epigastrium, pain in back 
of neck, 'profuse coryza, fullness and itching in the anus, pricking 
in hands, languor, dull pain in back”; next day, “pressure in 
nose and at its root, 1. nostril filled with mucus, heat, itching 
and pressure in anus, no stool,” etc.; good symptoms, surely. 
The next day, 20 drops of first dil., followed by similar symp- 
toms, aggravated; also flashes of heat over bod}*, internal or- 
gans feel congested, very costive, feces hard in balls”; next 
day “sore all over, feet which swelled yesterday after walking, 
continued swollen, cervical glands swollen and tender, joints 
stiff, pharynx dry and sore, anus sore, lungs sore, urine hot, 
neuralgic pains in arms,” etc., etc., symptoms clear and good. 
He then took 30 drops, followed by similar symptoms, also 
great heat over whole body, chilliness on riding in cool air, 
great pain in sacro-lumbar region, pain in arms, great weakness 
of hands, numbness and prickling sensations, tenderness over 
liver; stool, first part dark, last part light colored, etc.; a long 
and most valuable proving; certainly the best we possess; he 
developed clearly the spinal action of .the drug, the pains in 
the back and limbs, the numbness and tingling of extremities, 
the loss of control over the muscles or even spasms of the mus- 
cles ; all showing a pronounced hypersemia of the cord. He 
gives an equally clear picture of the action of the drug on mu- 
cous membranes, but all without much fever; indeed the action 
of the drug is rather to depress the pulse. These observations 
will be referred to later. 
Proving of Dr. W. Warren.—This prover took 2 grains of 
the first dec. trit., and soon experienced pricking in the fauces 
and burning in stomach; then dull pains in head, etc. A re- 
petition of familiar symptoms clearly genuine; the same may 45 
be said of his subsequent provings with the second dec. trit., 
from which he reports a greater variety of symptoms: “dull 
pain in occiput, lameness in back of neck, constriction in rec- 
tum, frequent efforts to stool, salivation, burning in the rectum, 
lameness in small of back, general malaise,” etc., etc. A good 
and characteristic proving. 
Proving of Dr. H. M. Paine.—This prover took the tincture, 
beginning with ten drops (without effect) and increasing to 
fifty. After thirty drops, headache, vertigo, general malaise. 
After forty drops, griping in epigastrium, headache in vertex, 
vertigo, sore throat, stool difficult, soreness, aching and fullness 
in the rectum. This proving is undoubtedly genuine. 
Dr. Raymond took a dose of the sixth centes. dil.; about an 
hour afterward he felt an ‘irritation of the throat and oesopha- 
gus, a constricted, scraped sensation, causing a disposition to 
hawk; this continued several hours.” 
We have now examined all but two provers and find varied 
but harmonious symptoms, the most important of which have 
been verified by clinical experience. Before going farther, it 
is well to remember, first, the absence of high fever. In the most 
susceptible provers, who experienced the most violent and pro- 
longed effects, the pulse was slow and rather soft: chilliness 
and flushes of heat were noted certainly, but not much fever. 
Secondly, the “nervous” symptoms, present in many of the 
provers; thirdly, the general action on mucous membranes. 
The following outlines of a case (one of a large number oc- 
curring this winter in New York) well illustrate the clinical 
application of Aesculus hip. A gentleman, over-worked and 
tired, took cold; he complained of a sore throat which at first 
seemed hot and stinging, with sneezing but no discharge from 
the nose; now he suffers from a burning, dryness and scraping 
of the throat, especially of the posterior wall of the pharynx, 
extending from the posterior nares to the larynx: at times 
there is a secretion of mucus, which drops low down and 
chokes him, causing nausea: at times, also, there is an oozing 
of blood from points on the pharynx (plainly seen); this blood 
collects in dark lumps and is thus expectorated; the whole 
fauces are red, but tonsils not swollen; the patient is weak, 46 
pulse soft, 72; tongue thickly coated, yellowish white; taste 
sour; cured promptly by the 30th cent. dil. 
We turn now to two provings, remarkable as being quite 
different from all the other provings, and still more remarkable 
in being almost word for word like each other. 
Proving by Dr. C. H. Lee.—Hale’s 
New Remedies, 2d Ed., 1867. 
Dec. 26th.—Took 1 drop of 3d dil. 
Dec. 21th.—Drowsy. Tongue white. 
Dec. 23th.—Dull and stupid; sleepy; 
weak; lancinating headache at base of 
brain; tongue white; fetid flatus; ab- 
domen swollen and tympanitic. Took 
2 drs. 
Dec. 29th.—Same symptoms as yes- 
terday with sore throat; left tonsil 
swollen and painful; stools light brown, 
soft, frequent. 
Dec. 30th.—Symptoms of yesterday 
worse. At 4 p. m. severe chill lasted 3 
hours; high fever from 7 to 12 P. M., 
pulse 130, headache as if it would burst; 
photophobia; profuse hot perspiration 
with fever; lungs feel engorged; respi- 
ration rapid, dyspnoea; heart’s action 
rapid and heavy; urine scanty mahog- 
any color, scalding; stomach felt as if 
it would fall down; a sore spot on right 
parietal bone, on pressure sensation of 
a knife piercing through. 
Dec. 31st.—Fever gone, pulse 90; 
neck stiff, swollen; tonsils swollen fiery 
red; swallowing difficult; headache 
less but aggravated by stooping or ris- 
ing from a chair; respiration more nat- 
ural; spitting blood on rising in morn- 
ing; stools liarl, dark brown; dark 
brown sediment in urine. 
Jan. 1st.—Pain in 1. temple, severe 
shooting; eyes pinkish; dull pain in 
region of spleen; stools hard. 
Proving by Dr. E. Cooly.—Trans, of 
N. Y. State Horn. Med. Soc.,\ol. 8,1870. 
Feb. lsf.—Took 4 drops of tinct. 
Feb. 2d.—Dull and sleepy. Tongue 
light brown. 
Feb. 3d.—Weak, stupid and dull; 
sleepy; lancinating headache; brain 
dull and heavy; fetid flatus; abdomen 
hard and tender; stools soft. 
Feb. 4th.—Took \ dr. Symptoms of 
yesterday, but worse with inflamed ton- 
sils ; stools thin, watery, streaked with 
blood. 
Feb. 5th.—Symptoms of yesterday in- 
tensified. At 4 p. M. chills along spine 
followed by fever, which increased till 
he felt as though he would burn up; 
very thirsty; fever lasted 6 hours; head- 
ache almost to madness; perspiration 
on head and face; lungs much en- 
gorged ; respiration rapid and labored; 
pulse 127; heart’s action full and rapid ; 
urine scanty, dark yellow, scalding; 
pain in region of spleen. 
Feb. 6th.—Fever less, pulse 104; ton- 
sils fiery red, swollen; headache less, 
but on motion very severe in the front- 
al region; respiration less labored; 
slight cough with stitches in left side 
of chest; urine dark brown. 
Feb. 7th.—Pain in left temple quite 
severe; eyes dull; dull pain in umbili- 
cal region; severe aching in anus; rec- 
tum seems swollen; constant desire for 
stool; stool natural. 47 
Jan. 2d.—Stools soft; urine yellow, 
with thick, white, mucus sediment. 
Took 4 drops of tincture. 
Jan. 3d and 4th.—Appearance of 
haemorrhoids like groundnuts, purple, 
painful, with burning. 
Jan. 6th.— Soft palate dry; fullness 
in head; urine dark, a little sediment. 
Took 8 drops. 
Jan. 8th.—Throat dry as if scraped 
swollen; fetid ffatus. Took 1 drachm. 
Jan. 10th.—Back of throat dry; se- 
vere, splitting headache; frequent de- 
sire to urinate. 
Jan. 11 th.—Fauces and palate dry, 
burning; much thick, yellow phlegm 
in mouth; tongue yellow; urine dark, 
scanty; bowels loose, stool brown; pulse 
frequent, hard; dull aching in the 1. 
elbow. 
Jan. 12th.—Symptoms diminished. 
Feb. 8th.—Took 5 drops of tincture. 
Soon felt a dryness in soft palate with 
pain and fullness in the head and stiff- 
ness of the neck and spine; chills creep- 
ing up and down the back; burning in 
anus; urine dark and muddy, passed 
with pain; stools natural. 
Feb. 9th.—Tumors of a haemorrhoidal 
character began to appear, sore, dark 
purple. 
Feb. 10th.—Throat dry, with scrap- 
ing during expectoration. Took 8 
drops. 
Feb. 11 th.—The above symptoms 
greatly aggravated; dryness of throat 
and pharynx; tongue yellow; urine 
dark; pulse frequent, full; pains in 
joints. 
Feb. 13th.—Symptoms diminished. 
We are now compelled to solve the following problems: 
1. Were the symptoms noticed by Dr. Lee caused by Aescu- 
lus hio.? 
2. Was the “proving” of Dr. Cooley original and due also 
to Aesculus hip.? 
First. If we compare Dr. Lee’s symptoms with those of any 
former prover, we miss all the well-known features of our 
drug and find instead a fully developed case of acute tonsillitis 
with high fever: only after the acute symptoms passed away 
and the prover look a new dose, do we find some of the familiar 
symptoms: “haemorrhoids with burning;”“dry scraped throat,” 
but mingled with these we recognize the remnants of the ton- 
sillitis. Not only do we infer this from the character of the 
proving itself and from a comparison with other provings, 
without doubt genuine, but clinical experience has repeatedly 48 
failed to establish the utility of Aesculus in tonsillitis with high 
fever. We are inclined to the opinion that Dr. Lee’s symptoms 
cannot be re-produced by the drug, and that his “proving” is 
a record of an accidental morbid process, not the result of, but 
to some extent perhaps modified by the drug. 
Second. Concerning the remarkable similarity between the 
provings of Drs. Cooley and Lee, we can only say that we can- 
not recall anything like it, even among the-numerous provings 
of our best known drugs. Both records were made at times 
when acute tonsillitis might have and the attack 
may have been attended with identical symptoms in both sub- 
jects. It is, however, quite remarkable >#jat the severe chill 
should have occurred on precisely the same day and at the 
same hour, and that the most important symptoms should have 
corresponded so perfectly throughout. We confess ourselves 
inclined, at first, to the opinion that Dr. Cooley intended to 
present Dr. Lee's proving again to the profession for discussion, 
but the season (Dec.) does not correspond, nor do the doses first 
taken; there are also some slight variations in the symptoms 
which oblige us to abandon such an assumption. We have 
been unable to obtain Dr. Cooley’s address to otter him an op- 
portunity to explain and defend his proving: we hope this 
article may come to his notice and induce him to verify it by 
repeating the experiment. Till that is done we must propose 
the elimination of the symptoms of Drs. Lee and Cooley from 
our Materia Medica. 
Aethusa.—The natural order, Umbelliferce, to which this be- 
longs, embraces a large number of plants possessed of poisonous 
properties, and an equally large number, either inert or not 
poisonous, even when taken in large quantity. There is no 
order in which there is a greater similarity of outward appear- 
ance, in size, shape of leaf, color and size of flower and fruit. 
The most poisonous and most harmless species often grow side 
by side, and can be distinguished only by an expert botanist. 
Aethusa grows in waste places, associated with Conium (from 
which it is difficult to distinguish it) and many other plants, 
poisonous and harmless. It was formerly supposed that this 
plant contained an alkaloid (cynapine), but it is now known 49 
liat it possesses no active principle. It was formerly supposed 
that the plant was poisonous, hut it is now known to be harm- 
less; but since some continue to believe and teach that perhaps 
it may after all be poisonous, and since students of materia 
medica are properly unwilling to strike out any symptom with- 
out good reason, we will review, briefly, the toxicological his- 
tory of the plant. Early writers on botany gave it a bad re- 
putation. Lobel, Bauhinus, Blair, Linnaeus, Haller and Vicat, 
had in turn called it poisonous; not by reason of any experi- 
ments they had made, but because they followed the popular 
belief. The following detailed accounts have been published 
since 1731: 
1. Two boys ate the root*; one became frightfully swollen 
and died in a few hours; the other vomited and recovered. 2. 
A family ate of the plant; the father and two children died; 
the mother and three children recovered; the father had stupe- 
faction, vomiting and diarrhoea, cold extremities, etc. 3. A 
boy of 6 ate the herb, swelled, became livid, and died ; another 
of 4 vomited, became delirious, but recovered. 4. Two ladies 
ate some leaves with salad; they experienced nausea, headache, 
vertigo, pungent heat in the mouth, numbness and tremor of 
lower extremities, etc. 5. A girl ate some of the plant; she 
experienced pain in chest, nausea, vomiting, headache, vertigo, 
her face became swollen, pulse full and quick, etc. 6. Nine 
children ate of the root; one became unconscious, another vom- 
ited and purged bloody mucus, two died in violent convulsions, 
all had swollen abdomen, pulse small, hard, irregular, etc. 7. 
Two children partook of the fresh juice of the root (the root of 
Aetliusa is not juicy); one had violent convulsions, the other 
violent vomiting, cold extremities, unconsciousness, etc. 8. 
Two people ate the herb in a salad; one died in an hour, after 
nausea and coma; the other vomited but died after some weeks 
in consequence of the violent gastritis. 9. A man ate a hand- 
ful of the plant; he became dizzy, had double vision and after 
a day or two, facial erysipelas. 10. A family ate the herb for 
salad; all had vertigo, nausea, trembling, cold sweat, etc.; one 
* Aethusa lias a very small, woody, tapering iojt.— T. F. A. 50 
had convulsions of the arms, intermittent pulse, violet spots on 
the thigh, etc. 11. A woman boiled a root in some soup for 
her two children; one child became unconscious, jaws became 
fixed, she purged bloody mucus, had convulsions and died. 12. 
Three children ate the “bulbs” (!!) (Medical Times, 1848); one 
was seized with delirium and trismus, and died; the others 
vomited and recovered. 
Dr. Harley has analysed these cases, in St. Thomas Hospital 
Reports, Vol. IV, 1873, and shown how difficult it is to credit 
the assertion that Aethusa was the plant used. In two cases 
only was the plant actually identitied and in these instances 
not by botanists. If, however, the plant be so deadly in its 
effects 'that a few leaves, or some soup in which a root had 
been boiled could cause death, surely we should expect some 
corroborative testimony from provings. Let us not forget the 
difficulty of identifying a plant which children had eaten or a 
mother had gathered for soup, mistaking it for parsely; and if 
experiments clearly demonstrate the fact that the fresh plant is 
not productive of any serious effects let us not hesitate to 
acknowledge it. 
Dr. Harley’s Observations on the Fresh Juice.—(1) A man 
took three and a half fluiddrachms of the fresh juice, no 
marked effect. (2) A man took various doses up to four 
drachms without effect. (3) A woman took three and again 
four drachms without effect. (4) A young man took dose of 
one ounce every second or third day fora month without effect. 
(5) A young man took doses up to eleven drachms without 
much effect. (6) A man took doses up to two ounces without 
marked effect.' (7) A man took doses up to two and a half 
ounces with but little effect. (8) A man took as much as four 
ounces with no marked effects. 
Inasmuch as the plant is not juicy these doses represent a 
large amount of the fresh herb. 
Dr. Harley’s experiments with the tincture of the fruit, tinc- 
ture of the ripe fruit, and the unripe fruit, with the extract, 
and with the oleo-resin, were also negative in their results. 
In order, however, to satisfy ourselves fully and conclusively 
we imported through Messrs. Boericke and Tat'el a quantity of 51 
the expressed juice of the plant (mixed with sufficient alcohol to 
prevent decomposition). This was accompanied by a certiticate 
from the director of the botanic gardens at Leipzig to the ef- 
fect that the plant gathered was the true Aesthusa cynapium. 
We took it ourselves in doses of two ounces without effect; we 
gave it to over forty individuals, to some small doses to others 
large with the results detailed in Vol. X of our Encyclopedia. 
There is no doubt in our mind that the plant is harmless and 
that its supposed toxicological effects should not be retained in 
the Materia Medica. Its clinical record has not verified such 
symptoms, and they should no longer remain as stumbling 
blocks, over which the conscientious prescriber might fall while 
his patients died, because he was led to give Aethusa instead 
of Conium, Cicuta, or Aconite as the case might be. 
Symptoms from Brugmans, Tournon and Roques, detailed in 
Encyclopedia, p. 270, may be retained or not, as one pleases; 
to some extent they corroborate the effects observed by some 
of the New York provers; but we are not satisfied with the 
account of the preparation used by I)r. Brugmans, nor with the 
identification of the plant eaten by the patients of Drs. Tournon 
and Roques. WTe might as well throw out all of these. 
This brings us to the provings of Nenning, Ilartlaub and 
Trinks; Petroz, and finally Bigler. 
It seems that Nenning (about whom we learn from Dr. 
Ilering’s letter in Encyclopedia, p. 640) made provings for 
Ilartlaub and Trinks. It is probable that most of his symptoms 
were observed in women; it is certain that he was careful, 
conscientious and enthusiastic; it is known that after adminis- 
tering the drug, every symptom was noted, however trivial, or 
however familiar to the prover; thus we find in his provings a 
great deal which should have been omitted, but we have no 
means of eliminating untrustworthy symptoms, except by fail- 
ing to verify them in the treatment of the sick. We cannot 
afiord to throw Nenning overboard altogether, as some have 
suggested, for he gave us Kreosotum, Bovista and many others; 
as well as many valuable symptoms of Alumina, Phosphorus, 
Cautharides and a score of others. We can only regret, that 
after the fashion of those times, no information was imparted 
concerning the individual provers or the doses administered. 52 
Hartlaub records one symptom only, “ Chilliness through the 
whole body with external coldness, without thirst, for two 
days.” 
Trinks reports one symptom only, “Violent pains in the sin- 
ciput, as if the head were compressed from behind and above 
with great force (in all patients);” this symptom is emphasized 
in the original and we suspect it to be clinical, especially from 
the note in brackets. 
Petroz, in Ball, de la Soc. Med. Horn, de Paris (1847), vol. 4, 
p. 337, publishes a list of symptoms without any information 
whatever as to their origin. The following is a specimen of 
this “pathogenesis” (section fever): 
“Chill in general. 
“Chill internal. 
“Red face during the chill. 
“Horripilation in the open air. 
“During the horripilation the limbs feel broken, hot breath, 
jactitation. 
“Shivering in the house. 
“Shivering after having walked in the open air. 
“Shivering more readily after noon. 
“Horripilation with heat which pervades the whole body. 
“ Heat. 
“Very great suffering during the heat. 
“Sweat. 
“During the sweat the covering cannot be tolerated. 
“The symptoms of fever manifest themselves particularly in 
the morning, and with a very great malaise, tendency to de- 
lirium (!), which disappears during the sweat.” 
At the close of his unsatisfactory list of symptoms Dr. Petroz 
remarks: 
“This medicine has been useful in chronic inflammation of 
the margin of the eyelids, pustule on the cornea, incipient 
amaurosis, glandular swellings, dartrous eruption on the tip of 
the nose, swelling of the cervical and axillary glands, eruptions 
around the joints, dryness of the skin, nodosities on the skin, 
itching tetter during the heat, eruptions which bleed easily, 
anasarca.” 53 
We are not sufficiently acquainted with the action of Aethusa 
to reject the pathogenesis of Dr. Petroz by a comparison with 
other provings, nor is there any element of suspicion in it; his 
symptoms are vague and immaterial, and not marked by any 
clear characteristic feature. 
The symptoms of Aethusa recorded by Dr. Bigler, in the 
Amer. Journ. of IIom. M. M., for 1871, were observed in a 
woman of sallow complexion, and a sufferer from haemorrhoids. 
The doctor “had occasion” (for what symptoms we are not in- 
formed) to give Aethusa third dec. di 1., after which the follow- 
ing symptoms appeared:—“Imagined she saw rats run across 
the room. Distressing pain in occiput and nape, extending 
down spine, relieved by friction with hot whisky. Coldness of 
abdomen, objective and subjective, with aching in bowels, re- 
lieved by warm applications, with coldness of lower extremi- 
ties; obstinate constipation with feeling of loss of all action. 
Numbness of the arms. Painful aching about the left scapula, 
sometimes extending into the left arm. Sensation as if arms 
were shorter; she examined them in the morning to convince 
herself'that they were not really shorter. Appearance and dis- 
appearance, in one day, of reddish-blue spots on trunk and left 
leg. Aggravation of symptoms towards evening and during 
the night till 3 or 4 a.m. A feeling as if the pain in the back 
would be relieved by straightening out and bending stiffly 
backwards, as in opisthotonos; and attempt to relieve the pain 
in scapula and arm by rigid expansion and closing the fist, as 
in a tonic spasm.” Dr. Bigler feels certain that these symptoms 
were produced by Aethusa: with our present knowledge of 
Aethusa, we feel equally certain that they were not. 
It is now evident that our knowledge of the positive effects 
of this substance are exceedingly vague and unsatisfactory; we 
know that it most surely and promptly cures certain gastric 
and intestinal troubles, especially of children; but the indica- 
tions for its use in these diseases are wholly clinical. The/ora- 
ble vomiting of curdled milk and of greenish mucus, especially 
during a summer diarrhoea, is very characteristic; but it cures 
equally well catarrhal troubles of the lower bowel without vom- 
iting. Witness a cure reported by Dr. Doughty, of N.Y.: “A 54 
child eighteen months old had dysentery ; stools, mucus streaked 
with blood, mucus sometimes greenish ; great tenesmus; all the 
stools occurred between 6 and 12 a.m.; and no vomiting. Mercur., 
Podoph., and other remedies, had been given without effect. 
After one dose of Aethusa200 the child had but one stool, and was well. 
We strongly suspect that Tannic acid might produce and 
cure most of the symptoms of Aethusa, but that remains to be 
proven. Until a new and thorough proving of this drug is 
made, we shall be obliged to let the pathogenesis in Vol. X 
stand ; but we must insist upon rejecting all cases of jmsoning, the 
symptoms of which have been incorporated hitherto with our 
provings. 
Note. —W e are pleased to note the companion and complimentary studies of 
Dr. Richard Hughes, now publishing in the British Journal of Homoeopathy. To- 
gether these studies will permit a just and accurate estimate of the material at our 
disposal, the character of which is of such vital importance to the existence of the 
homoeopathic school of medicine. We can but regret that while the number of 
those who decry our Materia Medica is large, and their voices are loud, the num- 
ber of those who honestly and zealously strive to improve it should be so small. 
Let others join in this toilsome work. 
Agaricus.—The name, Agaricus, must be retained in the 
Materia Medica, not only because it is the oldest, but especially 
because it is the only one recognized by botanists. Amanita 
is the name of a sub-division of the genus, but this sub-section 
has not sufficient character to establish its right to be called a 
genus, hence Persoon’s name, u Amanita ” has been rejected, and 
the old name of Linnseus sustained. We regret to see this new 
name introduced into some works, for it serves only to confuse 
students. 
In order to judge of the value of the several contributions to 
our knowledge of the action of the various species of Agaricus, 
it is well to review briefly their composition and general action 
on the human organism. 
Most species are known to be poisonous; the least injurious 
grow in dry exposed ground and are white in color, the most 
injurious are found in damp, shaded places and are colored ; no 
general rule is known by means of which the inexpert botanist 
may discriminate between the poisonous and inert species; 55 
more than this, the species commonly used as food (A. campes- 
tris) has sometimes proved very poisonous. Much depends 
upon the manner of growth and method of preparation. A 
temperature above 100 C. will cause disintegration of the alka- 
loid, Muscarin, and render it harmless; mixing with acids only 
increases its power to injure, but cooking with alkalies speedily 
decomposes it. 
The alkaloid, Muscarine, found chiefly in A. Musccirius, 
either occurs in numerous Agarics or is replaced by another 
alkaloid having very similar properties: one is impressed by 
the similarity of action of various Agarics on reading reports 
of authenticated cases of poisoning; and while it is not diffi- 
cult to recognize a case of poisoning by an Agaric, it is impos- 
sible at the present time to distinguish between the effects of 
different species. 
In a general way the acute symptoms of mushroom poisoning 
are like those of cholera morbus and sometimes they are strik- 
ingly like those of Asiatic cholera. Colic, vomiting, profuse 
alvine evacuations, profuse salivation, violent, spasmodic con- 
tractions of the stomach, intestines and bladder; respiration 
rapid and embarassed; pulse small, thready and irregular; sur- 
face of body cold; features pinched; 'pupils contractexl till the 
death agony; delirium or coma; convulsive movements of the 
extremities, followed by paralysis. Should the patient recover 
from these violent symptoms, there may follow acute nephritis 
with its attendant symptoms, or long-continued and obstinate 
affections of the nervous system. The symptoms are strikingly 
like those of calabar bean, and their physiological interpreta- 
tion is nearly the same. On the eye there is noticed the inter- 
esting difference, that while Agaricus causes first spasm of the 
ciliary muscle, then of the iris, Physostigma reverses the order, 
affecting first the pupil, then the accommodation. 
The violent symptoms of Agaricus are antidoted by Bella- 
donna, and it is noteworthy that many of the re-actionary 
effects of Agaricus (or the primary ones of small doses) are 
very like those of large doses of Belladonna. 
In smaller doses, Agaricus produces rush of blood to the 
head, red face and rapid, full pulse, vertigo, oppressed and 56 
anxious respiration, heaviness of the head, dim vision, saliva- 
tion and (if the dose be an “intermediate” one) some griping 
in the bowels, with general perspiration. Delirium is on the 
whole unusual, but it certainly occurs in some cases, and is 
often imaginative, jolly or violent (like Belladonna). The 
symptoms of intoxication (alcohol-like), reported from Kamt- 
schatka, seem to us doubtful, but the authority is good and 
they must stand till some more definite observations are made. 
It will be noticed that but few cases of poisoning have been 
quoted in the Encyclopedia; this happens principally from the 
fact that in very few instances only was the species of A garicus 
certainly determined; and while we are inclined to accept all 
poisonings by Agaricus of the section Amanita as identical, 
there remains sufficient doubt to keep them separate for the 
present, and to exclude those cases of mushroom poisoning in 
which the species was unknown. 
We take it for granted that no one can doubt the genuine- 
ness of the cases of poisoning accepted by us—in A. muscarius 
and other species mentioned in our work. We shall therefore 
proceed at once to the examination of the provings. 
The first provings'were made by Schreter and Stapf and 
published in'the Praktisch. Mitthl. d. corresp. Grsell. homoeop. 
Aerzte, 1828. In the collection of symptoms published in the 
9th vol. of the Archiv.f. Horn. Iieilk., 1830, Schreter’s symptoms 
are omitted, and others by Hahnemann, Fr. Hahnemann, Lang- 
hammer and from a few cases of poisoning added; in this 
resume the former symptoms of Stapf are credited to Gross. 
Hahnemann restored Schreter’s symptoms in his resume in the 
Chronische Krankh'ilen, vol. II, 1835. In the Archiv. vol. 9, it 
is directed to prepare the drug by trituration of the dried fun- 
gus, and Hahnemann also directs this method in his work ; but 
in the 10th vol. of the Archiv. a larger and finer collection of 
symptoms is published by Apelt, who obtained them from the 
tincture of the fresh plant (equal parts of the expressed juice and 
Alcohol). Since we know how liable these fungi are to change 
by heat and moisture, and especially since the clearest and most 
characteristic effects were obtained by Apelt. and the Austrian 
]trovers, we have directed a tincture to be prepared from the 
fresh plant. 57 
Of all the earliest provers, the symptoms of Apelt and Gross 
(Stapf) have been most frequently verified. Apelt began his 
provings with 6—8 drops of the tincture and afterward took 
the 12th and 30th potencies, u always with great effect;” of 
the doses Gross took we have no record. 
Apelt furnishes no day-book and gives the time of the symp- 
tom in but few instances; hut a study of his work will convince 
anyone that it is genuine; his. proving may be taken as our 
starting point. 
Vertigo, after \ hour, after one hour, after eight days; imme- 
diately after taking the drug and going out of doors, incessant 
yawning, so violent that he became dizzy. The pains in the head 
and eye symptoms, so very characteristic of Agaricus, have 
been of all provers, best observed by Apelt. Nausea with colic, 
gripings in the bowels, diarrhoea; frequent, followed by slow 
and weak micturition, show how sensitive Apelt was to the 
drug, and the similarity of these symptoms to many cases of 
poisoning is very striking. We may also notice the profuse 
sweat after coition, the hack symptoms, the pains in the ex- 
tremities, the violent pain through the right hypochondriam, the 
burning itching on the leg, etc. These isolated symptoms afford 
only a faint impression of the character of the proving, which 
will be deepened and broadened by reading the whole of it. 
One other point illustrates the honesty of Apelt, and increases 
our confidence in him; namely,the notes made to the following 
symptoms: “The epileptic spasms become more violent and 
recur at shorter intervals” (“after a dose of the quadrillionth 
potency in an epileptic”), ‘The epileptic spasms become more 
violent, recur at shorter intervals, but subsequently remain 
away for a much longer time than before, and the following 
attacks are very light”(“from a dose of 30th in two epileptics”). 
These two symptoms must be erased from the Encyclopedia 
(symptoms 2268 and 2269) and transferred to some work on 
therapeutics. The other symptoms which require scrutiny are 
the following, given in full with Apelt’s notes.* 
“A man suffered for several months from a very distressing 
* Following Hahnemann, these symptoms have been condensed in the Ency- 
clopedia. 58 
twitching of the right eyeball, for which he held to the open 
eye for a few moments a glass tilled with the deci 11 ioiith dilu- 
tion of Agaricus rnuscarius; he experienced the following effects: 
‘Slight sensation of contraction of the eye with increased clear- 
ness {note in the Encyclopedia s. 354 reads dimness, and should 
be corrected) of vision of that eye; after a minute slight biting 
on the eyeball itself followed, and some tears flowed, which did 
not dim the sight; after a few .minutes there followed twitch- 
ing in the left eye, and twitching of the right disappeared 
entirely. Drinking a little wine after dinner immediately 
stopped the action of the remedy.’ After this, on the same day, 
the application of the remedy as before was repeated and the 
following effects were noticed: “The biting in the eye became 
luch less; the former twitching of the right eye did not recur, 
but at 7 p.m. there set in sleepiness and chilliness over the 
whole body, which compelled him to go to bed. On undressing 
and getting into bed he was seized with a shaking chill, after 
which he fell asleep, but soon awoke with slight headache; 
after a short time he slept again and broke into a very profuse, 
oily, not offensive sweat over the whole body; in the morning 
after this he was quite well except that the stool which had 
been regular every day was suppressed for three days and was 
then at first hard. He suffered also from violent burning itch- 
ing on the right fore-arm, which obliged him to scratch, but 
which was not relieved thereby; soon there appeared at this 
place a number of whitish nodes as large as grains of wheat, 
and the epidermis desquamated in fine mealy scales. He also 
experienced violent burning itching on the left leg, which 
compelled scratching, but which was not thereby relieved, and 
a number of white pimples as large as grains of wheat appeared, 
which desquamated in a mealy manner. They lasted about an 
hour and the itching disappeared with them.” 
Roth, in the Horn. Vierteljahrschrift, X, 217, makes merry 
over these symptoms, but without reason except that they 
should have been caused by absorption of the drug through 
the conjunctiva. We believe they might have resulted as 
readily from conjunctival as from buccal, Schneiderian, vagi- 
nal or any other absorption. Our only objection would be the 59 
health of the prover: so far as we are informed he was well, 
except the twitching of the eyeball; certainly his symptoms are 
very good Agaricus symptoms and we are not inclined to throw 
them out. Only one other symptom of Apelt’s requires notice 
and elimination. “The tetter spreads” (s. 2360). This is a very 
natural observation of a prover who had a slight tetter: it does 
not necessarily follow that A pelt observed the symptom in a 
patient suffering from an eruption for which he prescribed 
Agaricus ; indeed, Apelt expressly states that he himself proved 
the drug, and we are at liberty to accept his symptoms in good 
faith, with the possible exception of those above mentioned, 
which have been fully illuminated by Apelt himself. 
Gross.—The symptoms attributed to Gross in the Archiv, vol. 
9, and in Hahnemann Chr. Km., are neither so numerous nor 
so characteristic of the drug as those of Apelt, but he has given 
us a number of tbe finer characteristics of the drug, either ob- 
tained from a less active preparation (and hence smaller doses) 
or from higher dilutions, for example “Burning as if he had 
been burned on the left fore-arm,” also a similar burning on 
the left leg, “A mingled sensation of tine pricking and burning 
m various parts of the body,” and many other sensations 
undoubtedly the result of Agaricus. 
Hahnemann was more sensitive, or took larger doses, for he 
had diarrhoea, colic, and pains which remind us of a slight poi- 
soning; his pains also are tearing like those of Apelt; he had 
vertigo, violent headache of a tearing character, “ warmth of 
the face and whole upper part of the body in frequent attacks, 
5 to 10 minutes,” and among a few additional symptoms given 
in the chronic diseases we find “flow of saliva from the mouth,” 
“sensitiveness of the scalp like an ulcer.” The more we study 
Hahnemann's own symptoms, the more are we convinced that 
he was exceedingly sensitive to drugs, and that he observed 
most carefully his symptoms. 
Schreter.—Conc’erning the symptoms of this prover, which 
were first published in the Prakt. MitthL, suppressed in the 
resume in the Archiv, 9, and restored by Hahnemann in his 
Chronic Diseases, we must notice the following points: “Con- 
traction of the lids” (like Apelt, who proved later), “the open 60 
ing of the eyes is smaller than usual and can be widened with 
difficulty” (identical with Apelt); “Lachrymation of the right 
eye;” “nausea and efforts to vomit;” “rumbling and noises in 
the abdomen;” “soft stool followed the usual morning stool;” 
“coition impossible, no erections, though he desired to cohabit, 
followed by emissions in the night” (very like Apelt’s experi- 
ence). “Rawness and scraping in the throat” (like Apelt); 
“ heaviness of the limbs, as if weak and exhausted ” (like Apelt); 
“yawning and stretching” (it is interesting to notice the sleepi- 
ness which seems to have attacked nearly every prover down 
to Mrs. , who made a proving, reported by Dr. Berridge, 
with something called the “99 m. Fincke” of Agaricus, and 
experienced one symptom: “Felt sleepy on and off during the 
day”!). Apelt was sleepy and weary,yawned and slept in the 
forenoon. These are the main features of Schreter’s proving, 
and it is doubtless, as Hahnemann considered, genuine. 
Fr. Hahnemann.—The few symptoms of this prover present 
no remarkable feature; they are doubtless genuine; witness 
the “loud rumbling in the bowels,” “slimy diarrhoea with 
much flatulence;” “a feeling as if he must constantly wipe the 
eyes;” “a pulling-down heavy feeling in both temples as far 
as half way down the ears, as if a heavy weight hung from 
each temple” (a good symptom), etc. 
Langhammer.—The symptoms of this excellent prover are 
more numerous and better than any of these early {trovers ex- 
cept Apelt. They are thoroughly corroborative of the others, 
from the “ constant yawning as though he had not slept 
enough” to the “tickling itching on the toes which provokes 
scratching, as in frozen feet” (a symptom we have verified over 
and over again). Langhammer observed also, as Hahnemann 
did and as later cases of slight poisoning report, “ violent at- 
tacks of heat, so that the cheeks glowTed, with cold hands,” etc. 
He proved, doubtless,.with low potencies or with small doses 
of the tincture, not large enough to obtain toxicological effects, 
for he reports: pupils dilated in fifteen minutes and contracted 
after 25 hours; he had “dizzy reeling in the head as from in- 
toxicating drink, staggering to and fro while walking out of 
doors;” “hiccough;” “evacuations of much pasty stool;” 61 
“straining to urinate with extremely little discharge, after 45 
minutes;” “great trembling of the hands as from old age on 
moving or'holding anything;” on the whole we think very 
highly of Langhammer’s symptoms, they bring out some of the 
best points of the drug. 
In 1831 Ilartlaub and Trinks published in the third vol. of 
their Mat. Med. a pathogenesis of Agar inns muse., composed of 
70 symptoms by Woost, 50 by Seidel, 26 by Nenning, 6 by 
“Sch.” (“an unknown friend of Seidel’s”), 7 obtained from 
Yoigtel’s Mat. Med., 5 from Lerger’s Memorabilien and 2 from 
the Pharmakal Lex., giving an account of the effects on the 
natives of Ivamtschatka. 
Tfoos/’s symptoms are without very definite character (if we 
except the “overpowering sleepiness obliging him to lie down, 
after two hours”); he says the drug acts a long time, 7—8 
weeks; he experienced drawing and sticking pains in various 
parts of the body. Some sjmiptoms impress us more favorably; 
“strong sunlight, in the morning, caused a momentary vertigo 
even to falling;” “dull pressing headache relieved after a pro- 
fuse stool; with this pain flushes of heat;” “transient burning 
of the cheeks,” and symptoms of coldness of the legs. 
Seidel gives us more characteristic symptoms; he reverses 
the order of the evacuations, being first constipated for two or 
three days, then having pasty stools; red scanty urine the first 
two days. The following seem to us good and important 
symptoms: “Pressure and drawing in the eyeballs extending to 
the forehead;” “very acute drawing in the eyeballs;” “burn- 
ing of the cheeks;” his abdominal symptoms are also good; 
“ twitching of the muscles in the right lumbar region, evenings,” 
is excellent. 
Nenning experienced “cutting colic followed by diarrhoea, 
thirst, accumulation of water in the mouth and twitching in 
the ball of the 1. great toe the second day; “ frequent painlt ss 
twitching in the right temple near the eye;” “lachrymation;” 
“burning of the eyes with a feeling of contraction;” “profuse 
micturition on the 4th day;” “falling asleep of the left hand at 
night,” etc. We believe in Nenning, and our belief has followed 
scepticism and is based on repeated and careful study of his prov- 62 
ings; we invariably find him reliable, though sometimes there 
seems to be a surplus of detail, hut we find none of it in this 
instance; he seems to have proved with the crude drug or very 
low potencies. 
Sch. gives a half dozen good symptoms, “vertigo in the open 
air which ceased in the house, several days” (this “open-air- 
vertigo,” “vertigo from sunlight,” etc., has been experienced 
by several other provers); “heaviness and confusion of the 
head;” “burning pressing pain over the right eye with lacliry- 
mation;” “slight nose-bleed,” etc. 
The Austrian provings were made with great care and perse- 
verance; the freshly prepared tincture was used or dilutions 
prepared on the decimal scale. As the doses are not given in 
the Encyclopedia we will supply the deficiency here and glance 
at the main points of each proving. 
Adler began with 100 drops of the second decimal dilution; 
his first symptom, “fulness in the umbilical region,” fol- 
lowed by flatulent disturbances in the abdomen; the second 
day a dose of 200 drops was followed by nausea, etc., a “pain- 
ful jerk in a loose tooth,” was renewed after a drink of cold 
water; the third day 300 drops, followed by more head symp- 
toms, “pain as if the sides of the head were pressed together:” 
“vertigo,” and after some hours urgent stool; in the afternoon 
weakness of the lower extremities. After this he took the 
tincture, increasing from 4 to 80 drop doses (from Sept. 14th to 
October 1st). These doses developed violent pains, stinging 
and tearing (compare our earlier provers); stupefaction and 
sleepiness at times (45 to 50 drops); pressing pains in the eyes; 
enlarged hsemorrhoids, which finally burst; drawing pains from 
forehead into the eyes, etc. 
Adler's wife, 27 years old, began with 100 drops of the 
second dilution, first day; 200 drops second and third days. 
She suffered from violent sticking and tearing pains in the head 
with vertigo, tearing pains in the teeth extending to the ear; 
the menses came on two days earlier and flowed more profusely 
than usual; violent spasmodic hiccough, palpitation with 
burning pains in the region of the heart; running of water 
from the mouth; irresistible itching of the genitals and other 63 
parts of the body; dark green thin stool. The profound weak- 
ness with palpitation, stupefying headache and vertigo con- 
tinued more than a week. 
Rosalie A., 60 years old (blind from childhood), took first 
day the second dec. dih, 100 drops; second day 200; third day 
300; fourth day the tincture, 10 drops; fifth day 15; sixth day 
20; seventh day 25; eighth day 30; ninth day 40; tenth day 
45; twelfth day 30 drops. The first two days she had a shak- 
ing chill, followed, the second day, by heat in the head; the 
third day intolerable buzzing in both ears; afterward burning 
in left eyebrow near temple; violent sticking and twitching in 
1. eyebrow, cutting pains in abdomen, vomiting; painful twitch- 
ing of the r. eyeball; sticking pains in different parts-(rectum, 
liver, loin); after the last dose “burning on the vertex with 
stupefaction and vertigo, she seemed to be turning around and 
had to lie down on the floor to avoid falling.” 
Baumgartner made his first experiments with the decimal 
dilutions, 100 drop doses, as follows: Oct. 24th, the eighth 
dih, Oct. 30th, seventh dih, Nov. 1st to 3d, sixth dih, 5th to 
8th, fifth dih, 9th to 11th, fourth dih, 13th to 16th, third dih, 
17th to 20th, second dih, 21st to 24th, first dih As his earliest 
symptoms are exceedingly important and characteristic, we 
will give some of them in detail. The first thing noticed was 
on the first day, ua spot in the spine between the eighth and ninth 
dorsal vertebra? became painful to touch ” and the next day there 
was a painless pulsation synchronous with the pulse, “as if the 
aorta were in the vertebral canal,” relieved by pressure; asso- 
ciated with this symptom were momentary tearings in tendi- 
nous expansions in various parts of the body; during the fol- 
lowing days “after every dose” backache and increased saliva; 
a feeling in the head as though the fore-part were enlarged 
and pressed apart by the brain; boring pulsating pains in the 
squamous portion of the temporal bone; sensitiveness of the 
eyeballs, etc. 
The trouble between the 8th and 9th dorsal vertebrae became 
worse and the place painful on turning the body; this was ag- 
gravated after the third dilution; while making his proving 
with the tincture he records (after a dose of 100 drops) “a very 64 
acute pain on pressure on the 12th dorsal and 1st and 2d lum- 
bar vertebrae, with a cold feeling in the nates and formication 
in the feet,” this pain increased, and on the next day was vio- 
lent on turning the body, and after much exertion it pulsated, 
associated with weakness in the small of the back with press- 
ing, tensive pain and spasmodic contraction of the glutei mus- 
cles, which made walking difficult ; a few days later, pain in 
the sacrum as if it would burst, formication in the feet, etc.; 
later, loss of all sexual desire. Two weeks later, after 300 drops 
of the tincture, great weakness and trembling of the lower ex- 
tremities, insensibility and coldness of the nates, constant jerk- 
ings in the small of the back and lower limbs, coldness of the 
whole body with hot head, painless pulsation in the spinal chord 
and a feeling as though a cold air spread from the back over 
the whole body; he could retain the urine only a few moments, 
and the sphincter of the bladder did not seem to close properly, 
for it dribbled long after urinating and kept him wet; the penis 
became cold and shrivelled. Ten days after this he took 400 
drops and (among other symptoms) had frequent thin stools 
with burning in the anus, paralytic weakness of the sphincters 
of anus and bladder, so that he could retain the excreta only 
with the greatest difficulty, pressure in the small of back and 
hip-joints “as though the painful head of the femur would 
separate from the pelvis,” formication in the extremities, etc. 
We have partially followed out one phase of this man’s prov- 
ing; it shows not only the sphere of action of Agaricus on the 
spine, but demonstrates the harmony of his symptoms and the 
persistent thoroughness with which the proving was prosecuted. 
We regret that space will not permit a review of his head, eye, 
throat and stomach symptoms. 
Copainigg, 23 years old, perfectly well, except that he had a 
tape-worm, took the tincture, 5 and 10 drop doses repeated ; 
the whole proving lasted about ten days; in his symptoms we 
recognize clearly Agaricus and find no suspicious complications. 
Sticking pains in different parts of the body; cold extremities 
and hot head, burning heat in the eyes; chilliness along the 
spine; formication beginning in the spine; spasmodic yawning 
and overpowering sleepiness.