Lapathum.
Lapathum Sylvestre fol. minus acutum (Gerarde). Rumex obtusifolius. Common
Dock. N. O. Polygonaceæ. Tincture of fresh root.Clinical.─
Epistaxis. Headache. Kidneys, pain in.
Leucorrhœa. Uterus, atony of.
Characteristics.─
Lapathum
is the old name of the Docks now generally named Rumex.
The word is of Greek origin and signifies, according to Gerarde, “to soften, ease, or
purge the belly,” and the name was given to “herbs used in pottage and medicine,
very well known to have the power of cleansing.” Lapath.
was proved by Widenhorn. It produced some rather severe headaches and nosebleed. (Hansen
says it is indicated in epistaxis following headache.) Weight in stomach. Pain in kidneys
with pressure from without inwards. Weak feeling in genital parts; leucorrhœa with uterine
bearing down and pain in kidneys.
Relations.─
Rumex c. and Rheum (botan.─Phytolacca
is a near ally); Sep., Lil. t.; kidney ache, Santal.
SYMPTOMS.
1. Mind.─
Sadness and moroseness alternating with
gaiety.
2. Head.─
Headache at vertex; as after
intoxication.─Pressive headache, in morning; it seems as though the head
were swollen.
5. Nose.─
Epistaxis.─Blowing
of blood from nose.
11. Stomach.─
Pain in pit of stomach, with loss of
appetite and weight in stomach.
12. Abdomen.─
Feeling of distension in l.
hypochondrium.─Extension and pressure, esp. in morning, with prostration
and emission of flatulence.─Drawings in l. hypochondrium.─Pain
in kidneys for five hours, with pressure from without inwards.
16. Female Sexual Organs.─
Weak feeling in
internal genital parts.─(Leucorrhœal flow for five or six days very
copious, thick, whitish, with constriction and expulsive efforts from top to bottom of the
womb, and pains in the kidneys.─This symptom is put in brackets and at
the same time italicised by Allen.)
21. Limbs in General.─
Bruised pain in all the
limbs.
24. Generalities.─
Weariness.
27. Fever.─
Excessive coldness in feet, as well
inside as outside, so that it was almost impossible to warm them.® 2000
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