Tussilago Petasites.
Petasites vulgaris. Bitter-bur. (Sandy meadows on the banks of streams.)
N. O. Compositć. Tincture of whole fresh plant.Clinical.─
Gonorrhśa. Headache. Lumbago.
Night-sweat. Pylorus, affections of. Throat, sore. Tibia, pain in. Uvula, burning in.
Characteristics.─
Petasites
is “a genus of Compositć established for three or four species of Tussilago, which have the flower-heads partially diśceous in
racemes, sometimes branching into panicles. The essential characters which separate them
from the common Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) are very
slight, and the foliage is the same” (Treas. of Bot.).
I retain the name of Tussilago petasites under which it
is best known. Tussilago grows on river-banks that are little trodden on. “The roots
are an admirable medicine in the worst kind of fevers with boils or buboes” (Green’s Herbal). Kuchenmeister and five others took substantial
doses. Most noticeable among the symptoms are: a lumbago of very great severity. Tightness
of the chest. (Tussilago means “cough-wort”.)
A headache shifting from one part of the head to another during two days. A pain about the
pylorus. A urethritis, with yellow discharge. The last has been confirmed clinically. Hansen
gives the indication: “Acute or chronic gonorrhśa, yellow or white, thick
discharge.” Crawling in urethra; jerking in spermatic cord, and drawing in r. testicle
are additional symptoms of the proving. [Ivatt’s (H. W.,
xxxvi. 381) reports cures of gonorrhśa with T. farfara,
common Coltsfoot.] Rosenberg (H. R., ix. 501) gives some
experiences: (1) An extremely violent gonorrhśa; penis
swollen, painful; emission of urine extremely painful, mixed with blood, patient feverish
and restless. Tuss. p. was given in water. There was a
great aggravation of all symptoms in thirty-six hours. The remedy was discontinued and
marked amelioration followed. Resumed again, much diluted, rapid cure followed. The remedy
was used externally as well in this case. (2) Chronic
ophthalmia, the result of gonorrhśa “cured” with turpentine. Tuss. p. restored the discharge and then cured. Rosenberg refers
to a writer who says of the plant that if it is macerated in water, the water will not spoil
even if kept for years. The symptoms are < By
pressure (pains in pylorus). < Standing; stooping;
walking going up stairs; especially < rising from a
seat (lumbago). Drinking = eructations. < Walking.
Relations.─
Compare:
Pain in pylorus (Tus. fg. is as if a morsel had lodged at bottom of cardia). Lumbago, Ant.
t., Act. r. gonorrhśa, Thuj.
SYMPTOMS.
2. Head.─
Severe confusion of head, more l. side,
in evening.─Vertigo; on waking.─Dulness and
heaviness of head.─Headache l. upper forehead, thence extending slowly
over vertex, as if under dura mater like a tearing pain; after two hours pain seated over r.
eye, with sensation as if supraorbital muscles would be drawn upward, obliging him to wink;
in afternoon headache returned to vertex; in evening again in temporal region; next day on
waking, in l. side of vertex extending forward to r. eye.
4. Ears.─
(Otorrhśa with enlarged cervical
glands.─R. T. C.)
8. Mouth.─
(Toothache all day, < by cold drink, esp. violent in bed; >
by Merc.).
9. Throat.─
Pain and burning in uvula.─Sore
throat and pain on swallowing.
11. Stomach.─
Eructations; frequent; numerous
always after drinking.─Nausea.─Pain in pit of
stomach.─Burning in epigastrium.─Pain about pylorus,
at the point where sternum and ribs form a triangle, <
by pressure.
12. Abdomen.─
Colic; >
by emission of flatus.
13. Stool and Anus.─
In afternoon, a second soft
but formed stool followed by desire for stool.─Absence of usual stool
after dinner.─Several unsatisfactory stools in one day.
14. Urinary Organs.─
Pressed out a drop of yellow
mucus from urethra before urinating, though the urethra was not congested.─Crawling
in urethra, obliging scratching, with erections.─Urine very profuse; but
not evacuated often.
15. Male Sexual Organs.─
Jerking pain in spermatic
cord causing him to bend backward.─Drawing in r. testis.
18. Chest.─
Tightness of chest.─Oppression
in r. chest.
19. Heart.─
Sudden stitch in l. side of prćcordium
on deep breathing.
20. Back.─
Pain in small of back: on standing or
stooping; walking; going up stairs; esp. on rising from a seat.
21. Limbs.─
Increased stiffness of limbs at night.
23. Lower Limbs.─
Pain in middle of r. tibia
confined to a small spot.
24. Generalities.─
Weakness.
25. Skin.─
Itching on forehead and in beard.
26. Sleep.─
Restless sleep.─Many
dreams.
27. Fever.─
Cold feet.─Morning
sweat.─Sweat at night; profuse.® 2000
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