Chionanthus

Chionanthus virginica, L.

Natural order , Oleaceæ.

Common name , Fringe tree.

Authority.

Dr. Scudder, Electric Med. Journ., May, 1876 (U. S. Med. Invest., N. S., 3, 1878, p. 562).

• In good health, except some derangement of brain, taking the form of aphasia. Took 30 drops of a strong tincture at 1 P.M.; at 2.30 P.M., sensations of contractions in the stomach, as if some living thing was moving in it, with uneasy sensations in the region of the liver, and occasionally in the region of the spleen; rheumatic pain in left ankle and tarsal bones. Unpleasant sensations in the stomach and hypochondria increase, and at 3 P.M. they have become very annoying; sensation like spasms, or palpitations of the heart, in the stomach; uneasy sensation in the region of the sigmoid flexure, as if caused by flatulence; uneasiness in right hypochondrium, extending to the left iliac region; tongue coated yellow in the centre, previously clean; pulse markedly smaller and weaker; rheumatic pain in left carpo-metacarpal articulation of left thumb; evacuation of bowels at bedtime of black, tarry-looking fæces. Slept well; on waking had pain for a short time in the spine, from the seventh to the tenth dorsal vertebræ. The head was remarkably clear for a few hours, and all the symptoms of aphasia had disappeared (unfortunately they returned the next day, though not so bad). The sensations in the region of the stomach, liver, and spleen were so marked that no one could mistake the locality of the action, or the certainty of the action. I gave it to Mr. G. with about the same result, and to Mrs. N., who found a single dose of 10 drops produce all the sensations named in so unpleasant a form, that she could not be induced to repeat the remedy. In the last case there was a feeling as if the bowels were about to move off violently, from the action of a purgative, with the nausea usually associated with such an action, though there was no discharge from the bowels.