Calotropis

Calotropis gigantea, R. Br. (Asclepias gigantea, Roxb.).

Natural order , Asclepiadaceæ.

Common name , In India, Mádár; Sanscrit, Arka.

Preparation , Tincture of bark of root.

Authority.

E. B. Ivatts, Hom. Worl, vol. xiii, 1878, p. 15.

Proving N°1.

Dilution No. 1 -The tincture was made by Treacher & Co., Bombay, from root, in proportion of one of root to eight of spirit.

September 23d, 1872. Began in evening to take 10 drops, and continued same twice a day.

September 27th. Dull headache at back of head, commencing about 11 A.M., gradually increasing up to bedtime 12 P.M. Experienced the same kind of a headache when suffering from a bilious attack. Bowels relieved in the morning; took meals as usual, and meat at supper-time. Headache very bad at times during evening.

September 28th. Slept well, headache gone, but head light, which feeling passed off after breakfast; bowels relieved same evening. Stopped medicine for two days.

October 1st. Recommenced medicine, same dose as before.

October 13th (Sunday). After breakfast, about 10.30 A.M., bowels naturally relieved, and went out for a walk. Shortly experienced a depressed tired feeling, which came on gradually. In half an hour, felt an inclination to vomit and faint. Sat on the roadside and drank cold water; rested half an hour and became better. Obtained a carriage and drove four miles, feeling better, but very cold, so much so, that I walked a mile beside the vehicle to get warm and keep up circulation. Reached home at 2.30 P.M.; felt dizziness in head; no pain. Urinated frequently; eructations constantly. At 5 P.M., attempted to eat a biscuit; felt faint, giddy, and inclined to vomit, so went to bed. Body cold, with frequent chills passing up the spinal cord; at same time head and temples hot, and cheeks burning like fire. After a time, with rugs on bed, I became very hot and perspired; pulse quickened, but I was too ill to attempt to count it. These feverish symptoms of heat and cold continued alternately, with nausea, but not actual sickness until I got some strong coffee to sip, then I vomited about the contents of a wineglass, a yellow bile. This was about 5.30 P.M., and a lesser quantity was vomited an hour later. Oppression of chest and short respiration, but not inconvenience at heart. Lips and throat very dry and parched, having to moisten them with tongue every minute or so. Head painful, with throbbing and confusion. Sipped coffee as an antidote all night. Got little or no sleep, tossing from side to side. Had felt slight pain when moving, in the inside of right thigh just below crotch, two days before. During night, felt all down back of right thigh to be very sore, red, and hard, so much so that I had a difficulty in turning over in bed.

October 14th (morning). Convalescent but weak. Thigh so sore, swollen, and painful, that I could not bend the leg in walking, and walking gave me pain at every step, even with the aid of an umbrella as a walking stick. In fact, I was quite lame. Travelled 120 miles by train. Toward bedtime chills came on again though sitting close to fire. Chills continued in bed, they seemed to commence in the feet and run up the spinal cord. Occasional movement of the feet in bed seemed to bring on the chills. Alternating with the chills were fits of perspiration, the same, but less in degree than the previous night. Restless and feverish, with head and face hot; breath foul; unable to sleep.

Camphor rub . gave relief and sleep. Pulse on going to bed weak and thready. Urine dark red, like homebrewed beer, and with strong smell. No noticeable deposit after twelve hours' standing. Cramplike pains in centre of palm of right hand when grasping anything, lasting many days. Pain, but less in degree, in wrist, when moving it. Slight soreness and swelling of right palate, giving pain when moving jaws in eating, lasting two days.

October 15th. Well, except thigh, which, however, is better, but has confined me to the house. Diffused red blotches came out on thigh, elevated and papular, and went away in three days; noticed to-day veins of hands, which are usually full and elevated, seemed thinner and depressed, and as I thought shrunken or contracted, so as to be hardly distinguishable. Drank coffee during day, and took several doses of

Camph. rub.

October 16 th. Better night. Thigh not so sore; could bend leg slightly, and walk about house a little; no pain when sitting or lying. When standing up to walk, tingling-burning pain. Aconitum lotion, on lint, with oil-silk over swelling, and Aconitum 1x internally, continuing Coffee, enabled me next day to walk out, and all symptoms passed away.

Proving N°2.

Had been taking the drug in 1x dilution for some few days, when the following physiological effects were produced.

September 27th, 1873. Slight pain in left foot, no superficial tenderness; no inflammation. Tenderness seemed located in tarsal bones of the foot; pain only on movement, or on bearing weight on foot.

September 28th. In the morning, on waking and moving foot, found increased pain; had to keep to house. Took

Hepar sulph . 2x twice, which seemed to increase pain. Had a very bad night, intermittent pain without movement, while foot rested on bed. Restless; kept moving foot about the bed. Pain cramplike.

September 29th. Pain nearly all gone, except when attempting to move foot in bed; took two doses of Aconitum 1x dil. About 6 P.M., pain when foot was at rest, so severe for about an hour, that it brought tears to my eyes; took coffee, and pain while foot remained at rest soon ceased. Continued drinking coffee frequently to the end, and had no more pain, except when moving foot or bearing weight on it. Instep slightly red and swollen, still no outside tenderness. Could not let foot touch the ground, the pain was so acute, yet by putting the food down very gradually in spite of some pain, and over a space of one or two minutes, and by degrees bringing the weight of the body upon it, I could stand without pain. Immediately, however, I took the weight off again, however so gently, the pain came back.

September 30th. Foot improving, can put it to the ground, and bear weight for a little time occasionally.

October 1st. Still improving, can use foot more. A redness came out simultaneous with the improvement; used coffee as a lotion on rag for an hour, which sent the redness in and made the foot worse, so I stopped it. Slight pain in right foot before trying coffee lotion.

October 2d. Left foot better; right foot has now became affected in same manner, and now is the worse of the two.

October 3d. Still improving, but the left foot the better of the two.

October 4th. Improving, able to put on a large pair of loose boots and go into garden.

October 5th. Condition nearly normal, put on ordinary boots, and slowly took a short walk. Next day quite well.