A DICTIONARY OF PRACTICAL
MATERIA MEDICA
By John Henry CLARKE, M.D.
Presented by MÚdi-T «Oxydendron.
Oxydendron arboreum. Sorrel-tree. Sour-wood. Elk-tree. (Rich woods of the
Alleghenies.) N. O. Ericaceµ (tribe Andromedeµ). Tincture of leaves.Clinical.─
Dropsy.
Characteristics.─
Oxydend.
arbor. is the only species of its genus. It is an unproved remedy, and there is
only one observation with it that I know of. M. E. Douglass (quoted H.
W., xxxii. 547, from S. J. of H.) treated
Mrs. H. for general dropsy─ascites and anasarca─which
dated from an attack of measles treated with ice-drinks and ice-applications seven months
before. When Douglass saw her the urine was nearly suppressed, but contained very little
albumen. Menses suppressed. Great difficulty of breathing even when sitting, lying down
impossible. Had to sit in one chair with feet in another. After the failure of Apocy. and several carefully chosen medicines, the legs having
burst in several places, Douglass was about to tap the abdomen, but before doing so put Oxydend. Ï one drachm in a tumbler of water and gave three
teaspoonfuls every three hours. In forty-eight hours the breathing was better and urine
increased. Oxd. was continued (with the exception of
three days during which Rhus was given to combat
erysipelas which had set in on left leg), and on the tenth day the patient lay down on the
bed and slept three hours. Appetite increased, and in two months she was quite free from
dropsy and felt perfectly well though much emaciated.
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