APOCYNUM CANNABINUM.
Proving by Alfred Wanstall, M.D.
-Aged
twenty-five. Weight 163 pounds. Height 5 feet 8 1/2 inches. Pulse during
health 54 to 60 beats per minute, at times intermitting. I kept no
record of my pulse during the proving, as it is very variable, sometimes
as low as 50 beats per minute, and I suffer with some heart symptoms,
produced I believe by smoking. General health good, bowels regular.
Color of hair brown. Eyes dark blue. Complexion dark. I am not easily
influenced by medicine.June 19th, 1877. At 9 P.M. took 1/2 ounce cold
infusion of root. At 11 P.M. took 1 ounce of same.June 20th. At 7.45 A.M., 1 ounce of same. Increased
appetite, even hunger. Smarting and burning in urethra while urinating.
At 8.30 A.M. took 1 ounce of same. One hour later feeling of fulness in
forehead and vertigo, passed away in a few seconds. Passage from bowels
this morning not as copious as usual, and more difficult of expulsion.
(I am always regular in this respect). At 10.30 A.M., took 1 ounce of
same. Dull frontal headache through the day. At 2 P.M., prickling and
tingling in and lameness of the muscles of left scapular region, which
lasted only a short time. Through the day marked feeling of general
muscular weakness. At 5 P.M., small and mushy stool, preceded by much
(not offensive) flatus.At 5.15 P.M., took 2 ounces hot
infusion of root (fresh). Since taking the last have dull
heavy pain in the both sides of the face and nose, passing into the
forehead, marked on the left side. 7.15 P.M., urgent desire for stool,
passage very soft, not fluid, brown in color, not offensive, no pain.
Great muscular weakness all the evening. 9 P.M., took 2 ounces of same.
10.45 P.M., took 2 ounces of same. 11 P.M. small diarrhœic passages,
difficult of expulsion, accompanied with much flatus. Passage of much
odorless flatus during evening. At 6 P.M., great itching of back, sides,
and limbs; on going to bed found that my body was covered with large
papules, same color as skin, red only when scratched, which does not
relieve. (They are similar to hives). They appeared in greatest number
on the lumbar region and around waist. Sleep much disturbed by dreams
(not unpleasant).June 21st. Hurried out of bed at 5 A.M., in order to
have a small loose passage from bowels, repeated at least every twenty
minutes until 8 A.M. Passages very small and loose, but not watery,
accompanied with much flatus. At times expelled with difficulty, again
with much force. Inability to tell whether I am about to pass flatus or
fæces. Increased appetite. The eruption on body still present this
morning, but less prominent and not itching. All the morning dull,
heavy, sick feeling in stomach and abdomen. 12 M. Small watery stool with much flatus, followed by
much soreness of anus. 2 P.M. Small watery passage with much flatus.
To-night, feeling of great weakness and prostration, especially in all
the muscles. Eruption itching again, but not as bad as previous night. 6
P.M. Pulsation in right hypochondrium, lasting several minutes; returned
a number of times during the evening. Slept well.June 22d. Feel well in every way; two passages from
bowels to-day, small and natural.June 25th. At 11 A.M., took 4 ounces of cold infusion
of the tops, followed by great nausea, so that I had to lie down. 12.30
M. Vomited the medicine and contents of stomach. No further trouble.
From the time I stopped taking the medicine until the first week in
August, had two natural passages from the bowels each day; something
unusual, as my habit in this respect previous to taking the medicine had
always been one passage a day. In addition, I have suffered constantly
with sensation of weight and pressure in the anus, so that after sitting
fifteen or twenty minutes, I would feel as if the rectum protruded, and
I would be obliged to get up and walk about. This condition continued
until the first week in August, when I was attacked with protruding
inflamed hæmorrhoids, which were so severe as to compel me to take my
bed; my sufferings were very great for about forty-eight hours; no
bleeding at any time, and the pain was if a wedge were being forced into
the anus by blows from a hammer. The inflamed condition of the
hæmorrhoids lasted three or four days, after which the tumor gradually
disappeared, though I was compelled to wear a T bandage for more than
two weeks, since which time I have enjoyed my usual good health, bowels
moving once a day as formerly. The weight and pressure have entirely
disappeared from anus. For urine, see tables at the end.
Proving of Edward Chapin, Medical Student.
-Age,
twenty-nine years. Weight at this time, 150 pounds. Height, 5 feet 9
inches. Color of hair, brown; of eyes, gray. Dark complexion. Temperate
in habit. Pulse soft and regular. Average beat about 75 per minute.
Bowels move regularly each day. Stools of ordinary size, and inclined to
be darkish. Urine, the average quantity passed every twenty-four hours
for fourteen days during the months of June and July, was 29 fluid
ounces. Average specific gravity for same time, 1025 5/7. Color and odor
normal. Reaction acid. Average amount of urea passed per day, was 370.9
grains. I was in a good state of health when I commenced to prove the
drug.August 13th, 1877. Just before retiring took 50 gtts,
of θ of roots. Felt
considerable nausea when waking during the night.August 14th. Took 60 gtts. of the same in the morning
about 7.30 A.M. About twenty minutes after nausea; this continued and
was aggravated after moving of the bowels. Immediately after the passage
of bowels I felt as though everything in me had passed out. My whole
abdomen felt empty. Sensation as if something was passing up colon,
accompanied with a grumbling feeling, also felt as if something was
passing through the liver. In the mean time the nausea was increased and
I felt deathly sick; this was associated with flushes of heat in
different parts of the body. Very marked
piercing pains in right temple, followed by vertigo. At 2.30
P.M. took 75 gtts. of same, after which some nausea; and at 4 P.M. took
90 gtts. of same; then nausea accompanied with similar head symptoms as
those in the morning. At 8.45 P.M. took 100 gtts. of same.August 15th. On rising felt a desire to evacuate
bowels, preceded by much flatus. Went to water-closet and had a passage
(uncommon for me at such an early hour). The stool was mushy, and was
expelled with a rush and much flatus. After stool, feeling of much
goneness through whole abdomen, and for quite awhile after passage pain
in right temple, accompanied with vertigo, also ringing in right ear. An
aching sensation in umbilical region. At 7.45 A.M. took 120 gtts. of
same. Head symptoms continue, and at 8.45 A.M. had another passage from
bowels, this also was expelled with force but no pain. Stool was
profuse, mushy but thin, yellowish hue. Same sensation of goneness
following stool, associated with the grumbling pain in umbilical region.
Also the pain in right temple. the sphincter ani muscle feels relaxed.
Headache now more general, the pain extending all through head, even to
the orbits. The ache in the head is dull, confused, and the whole system
feels much prostrated. At 5 P.M., took 200 gtts. of same, and at 10 P.M.
took 3iij of same; felt some nausea before going to sleep.August 16th. Awoke before 5 A.M. with a severe
headache; had to get up and urinate. Bowels moved about 7 A.M. A very
copious mushy stool, darkish brown, very fetid. Tenesmus very marked
after stool, accompanied with aching pain in hypogastric region.
Sensation of goneness, and feel as if thoroughly cleaned out. Dull heavy
feeling in head immediately after stool. At 7.45 P.M. took 3iv of same.
Severe sticking and piercing pain in right temple, soon followed by dull
feeling in whole head. Great prostration, aggravated by motion. Pulse at
this time 88. Flushes of heat in different parts of body. At 11 A.M.,
urgent desire to stool, which was expelled with force and much flatus;
it was thinner than the preceding stools. At 6 P.M., the desire for
stool was so urgent that I had to make great haste. The stool passed
with the force and sound of a cork flying out when opening a bottle of
champagne. The stool was thin and lemon-colored; I also noticed some
undigested particles of food. The stools appeared frothy, owing to the
great force with which they were expelled. The sensation of goneness and
prostration accompanied each passage, also the head symptoms, especially
the piercing pain in right temple. About 8 P.M., had another
characteristic stool. When urinating could hardly tell when urine was
passing. There seemed to be a weakness of the sphincter of the neck of
the bladder. The urine at times would feel hot, and leave a tingling
sensation in urethra.August 17th. Has a very large stool, very thin and
yellowish, and the last part contained undigested food. The sphincter
ani muscles feel greatly relaxed. Anus feels open after passage of
stool. The head symptoms and the feeling of goneness and prostration all
very prominent. Had another stool in the evening, it was very large or
copious, at first very thin, but towards the end it was mixed with
fæces in small lumps.August 18th. Had a very copious stool in the morning.
It seems as though the gate was wide open, and everything in me had
passed out. Stool was very thin and brownish. About an hour after had
another stool of the same character. The pain in right temple after this
stool was very prominent, also the great prostration of whole system.
Some grumbling and disagreeable feeling in bowels. Inclination as if
stool would frequently pass. These stools are expelled with force.
Second t
est with θ of the fresh roots. ► August 29th, 1877. Took 1/2 ounce just
before retiring. Slept very well.August 30th. Took 1/2 ounce of same about 7.15 A.M.
Bowels moved at regular time; first part of stool natural and latter
thin. Had some tenesmus after stool. Weak feeling in abdomen and some
rumbling. Passed much flatus. Flashes of heat followed by quite profuse
perspiration. Spittle quite thick and tenacious. Expectorate
considerable amount of white gelatinous mucus. Pulse 68. At 1.40 P.M.
took 1/2 ounce of same. An aching pain in sacrum, and at times sharp and
sticking, appearing occasionally in hip, knee, and ankle joints. Darting
pains in different parts of bowels; feels as if wind or flatus was
expanding the intestines. Pain in right temple, followed by confused and
dull aching pain in head. Vertigo at times, and aggravated by ascending.
Rumbling in bowels.At 5.15 P.M. took 1/2 ounce of same. Soon after
eating the lower part of abdomen felt distended. Perspiration quite
profuse. After urinating felt a dull pain in the neck of bladder, also
in the urethra; the pain in neck of bladder gave the sensation that the
sphincters were trying to close but could not, thus showing an
inactivity of these muscles. Had attacks of much, nausea, making me feel
deathly sick. Could not vomit. Much Vertigo.August 31st. Had quite a severe headache when waking.
Restless during the night. At 7.50 A.M., took 1/2 ounce of same. A very
large stool about 9 A.M., thin and brownish. Some flatus. No pain.
Sphincter ani feels relaxed and there is loss of power. Aching pain in
umbilical region after stool, also a feeling of great goneness,
accompanied by pain, first in right temple, then extending through whole
head, making it feel much confused. Vertigo. Pain again in knee joints,
especially left. At 6 P.M. took 1/2 ounce. Some nausea. Head symptoms
continue as before, followed by spells of marked vertigo.September 1st. Stool in morning large and of a
brownish hue, thin and watery. Feeling of goneness and grumbling-aching
pain in umbilical region after stool. Urine expelled with little force,
as if muscles were relaxed and had lost power of action. Pain in joints
at times quite severe also pain in left scapula at inferior angle.I stopped taking drug September 1st, and did not
commence to prove again until September 28th, 1877.
Test with hot infusion of fresh roots containing 10
per cent. of alcohol. September 28th, 1877. Weight at this
time 146 pounds. Respiration 17. Just before retiring, took 1/2 ounce of
the above-named. Soon after much nausea, but no vomiting.September 29th. Respiration 16. Pulse 68, and regular
in morning. At 7 A.M. took 1/2 ounce of same. Nausea returned. A
rumbling and weak feeling in lower bowel. Headache commenced in right
temple, then sharp stabbing pains followed by confused feeling in head,
and then vertigo. Aching pain also extends to meatus auditorius
externus. Urine slightly acid. Stool easily evacuated and mushy at end
of passage. Heaviness of rectum followed tenesmus after stool. At 10.30,
took 1/2 ounce of same. Feeling of goneness. Severe pain in head. Arms,
apparently loss of muscular power, feel as thought they could not be
moved. Pains in joints reappear. At 2 P.M. took 1/2 ounce of same. About
twenty minutes after the pulse 60. Dr. Boynton, Assistant Surgeon to New
York Ophthalmic Hospital, thus describes the pulse: Full, irregular,
slow, intermittent, dicrotic, three regular beats, then intermission,
then two beats, then one; intermission, then one; intermission; then can
count four beats; irregular; at times feeble, readily compressed then
slow. A short time after, Dr. Wanstall, Resident Surgeon of same
hospital, listened to chest and found that the heart was beating
regularly for a short time, then fluttering occasionally and very
feeble, and then it seemed to be slow and labored, now and then losing a
beat; he also noticed a clicking sound, for which he could not account.
During the afternoon and evening, felt slight darting pains in region of
heart. A feeling of prostration of weakness near the heart. I would have
to take a deep inspiration in order to get breath, for I felt so
suffocated. After these sensations, flashes of heat followed by
perspiration. Had stool, with much tenesmus. Heavy bearing-down feeling
in rectum. At 5.20 P.M., pulse for first half of minute 18 beats, and
last half 32, making a total of 50 per minute. Respiration 18. Pulse at
6 P.M., 66; had tracing taken at this time. The tracing showed marked
intermissions. I had the pulse watched closely and it continued to
intermit that day and night. The action of the drug on the heart was so
violent that I was fearful of taking any more of it at this time. I did
not know but paralysis of the heart would follow, as the pulse was
reduced so much below its normal condition. Sleep this night not
impaired. Symptoms aggravated by motion.September 30th. On rising, the pulse at 60.
Respiration 17. The pulse was now more full and regular than the
previous day. Stool not normal but soft and mushy, and of a lemon color.
Much flatus. Prostration after stool not as marked as when I first took
drug several weeks before. Pain in the region of heart returned,
accompanied with feeling of weakness in that region. Sensation as if
heart beat slowly, then fluttered, and followed by regular beats. At
times could distinctly feel impulse of heart against walls of chest.
Sharp pain at intervals in inferior angle of scapula of left side. Head
symptoms continue, but not as much vertigo. More or less aching in
joints. Whole system feels weak.TABLES OF URINARY ANALYSES
BYRON E. MEAD,
Normal
Under influence of drug
Amt. oz.
Sp. gr.
Urea, grs.
Date
Amt. oz.
Sp. gr.
Urea.
25
1022
310.75
June 20
31
1030
137.56
28
1026
348.04
June 21
29
1029
218.66
23
1026
244.95
23
1026
328.60
28
1028
372.68
26
1028
300.04
27
1026
383.40
32
1026
454.40
ALFRED WANSTALL, M.D.
Normal
Under influence of drug
Amt. oz.
Sp. gr.
Urea, grs.
Date
Amt. oz.
Sp. gr.
Urea.
38
1026
370.98
June 20
24
1028
170.46
32
1029
241.28
June 21
26
1030
346.13
34
1026
452.63
June 22
30
1030
346.13
41
1027
564.00
23
1027
336.93
32
1028
454.40
EDWARD CHAPIN.
Normal.
Date
Amt. oz.
Sp. gr.
Urea.
June 14
26
1025
419.29
June 17
30
1025
355.69
June 18
29
1026
386.06
June 19
28
1027
385.28
June 20
38
1025
354.11
June 22
28
1025
360.40
June 23
28
1023
335.48
WHEN TAKING TINCTURE OF FRESH ROOTS,
FIRST TEST.
Date
Amt. oz.
Sp. gr.
Urea, grs.
August 14
30
1023
386.10
August 15
32
1024
425.92
August 16
35
1021
419.30
August 17
24
1024
317.04
August 18
23
1025
316.48
August 19
23
1025
245.00
SECOND TEST OF SAME.
Date
Amt. oz.
Sp. gr.
Urea, grs.
August 30
20
1027
355.00
August 31
23
1025
387.78
Sept. 1
23
1027
326.00
UNDER INFLUENCE OF INFUSION OF FRESH ROOTS PREPARED
WITH TEN PER CENT. OF ALCOHOL.
Date
Amt. oz.
Sp. gr.
Urea, grs.
Uric acid.
Grams.
P2O5
SO3
Grams.
Sept. 29
34
1023
543.15
.08160
1.9417
1.98132
Sept. 30
27
1025
479.25
.05468
1.9024
1.41400
Oct. 1
28
1024
459.73
.16170
1.8823
1.46235
Oct. 2
26
1024
334.62
.28798
2.0234
1.25857
The increase of P2O5 on the 2d is owing possibly to eating of oatmeal on
the forenoon of Sunday, also on the following morning.
Remarks concerning my first test of the
θ of the fresh roots.
► Please notice that the drug was
first taken on the evening of August 13th, 1877, just before retiring,
and the amount of urine passed the day following (August 14th) was
slightly increased over the average of the normal amount. The specific
gravity less than the average, and the amount of urea increased. The
second day under the influence of the drug there is increased amount of
urine and a marked increase in the secretion of urea. The third day more
increase in amount of urine passed, and the amount of urea nearly the
same as the second day. Also notice that on the morning of the third day
(August 16th) I took the largest dose, and that dose was the last taken
during this test. The day following (August 17th), amount of urine less
than during the three preceding days while taking drug; also a decrease
in secretion of urea that day (August 17th). This same decrease was
marked for some two days after. Hence I conclude that during the three
days while talking drug (August 14th, 15th and 16th) the average amount
of urine was increased; the specific gravity decreased, and the amount
of urea also increased. And the observations during the two days
following the stoppage of taking the drug show that the amount of urine
passed was decreased, the specific gravity increased, and the amount of
urea decreased. The diarrhœa continued through the 19th of same month,
and the symptoms as depicted under stools in the proving were very
marked. When the normal stools were restored, the concomitant symptoms
passed away. Since the disappearance of the diarrhœa the stools are so
large that they cause much pain in expulsion. They do not smell so badly
as previous to taking the medicine.Had a craving appetite; food seemed to taste very
good.For some two or three nights after taking the drug
had profuse perspiration.I also had much nausea, but not associated with much
retching nor any vomiting during the whole time that I was under the
influence of the drug.Had more or less pain in the back.
Feeling of weakness in the rectum, sphincter muscles
feel relaxed.
Remarks on second test with
θ of fresh roots.
► Since taking this last time to date
(September 28th, 1877), my bowels have moved twice almost every day.
Stools normal and less fetid than before taking the drug. Have noticed
considerable blood on waste paper quite a number of times. The muscles
of anus feel relaxed. I have also felt bearing down in rectum as if
going to have piles. Anus also feels as if open. Have also noticed more
flatus than usual.Much headache, especially in right temple, this was
followed by vertigo and nausea.Have had much pain in knee joints, and the lower
extremities feel stiff. Catching pains in heart, of a quick and sharp
character. Some palpitation.Have lost four pounds since taking the medicine.
Appetite exceedingly good and food relishes better.I am inclined to think from the character of stools
that the drug in some way influences the secretion of bile.
Remarks on the test with hot infusion of fresh roots
with 10 per cent. alcohol. ►
The head and heart symptoms gradually diminishing to date (October 15th,
1877), are not now perceptible. Since the primary action of the drug on
the bowels has passed away, I have had three passages almost every day,
something very unusual for me, as my normal condition is only one
passage per day, and that in the morning. During these days of which I
speak I would feel bloated in the abdomen, with slight pains as if
flatus were moving in different parts of the abdomen; this would be
followed immediately by an urgent desire for stool. This desire was so
sudden and urgent that I would fear that an accident might befall me. I
had no control of sphincter ani muscle. These symptoms of stool always occurred immediately after eating.
These stools were at times mushy, and at other times a little lumpy,
associated with undigested food. These stools were painless, preceded by
some pains of moving flatus, and followed by tenesmus and bearing down
in rectum even to protrusion. I have also noticed considerable itching
in anus. After the stool a feeling of emptiness in abdomen and some
protrusion; also the characteristic pain in the right temple.My appetite was never better than during this time.
Pain in joints, especially those of the knee,
associated with sticking pains in the inferior angle of the scapula; the
latter pains at times are dull and aching and last quite a long time.Little boils on face and thighs.
I will now state (January 30th, 1878) that my bowels
are regular, with one passage per day. The heart symptoms have all
passed away, and the pulse is regular and normal. The only symptom that
seems to remain is weakness of ani muscles; they still feel relaxed.® 2000
Article
