THE HISTORY AND THERAPEUTICAL PROPERTIES OF CASTANEA VESCA.

By D. E. SMITH, M. D., of Brooklyn, N. Y.

Castanea vesca is the botanical name of the plant or tree known as the sweet chestnut. It is a deciduous tree of considerable size with long shining serrated sharp-pointed leaves, the fruit of which is well known. This tree abounds in all Spain, the southern part of France, Italy and the adjacent countries, where it is much used as an article of food either raw, roasted or ground into flour. In the cultivated varieties the nuts are larger and the seeds much sweeter. Of these the most remarkable are the corive, the egalade and the marron cornu of the south of France.

It is not cultivated in this country but grows wild in great abundance, particularly in Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia as well as other districts, not, however, reaching beyond New Hampshire to the north. The most reliable authorities say the European and American chestnut are substantially the same, notwithstanding one author (Michaux) makes a distinction.

The enduring property of the castanea is wonderful. It is said, indeed, that its timbers form a considerable part of the oldest buildings in Europe, and it has been ascertained to be the material out of which were constructed the ancient piles which have from time to time been removed from the Thames. It certainly is very slow in decomposing while under ground and resists well the influence of In this particular it is second only to the melianthus or locust tree. From this fact many of the cottages located on Martha's Vineyard, Ocean Grove and Shelter Island are built on piles made from the castanea driven about six or eight feet in the ground.

water.

It is the principal wood used by farmers for fencing in their farms. The tree in its wild state on the continent of Europe acquires an immense size. On the eastern side of Mount Etna where it constitutes a forest there are trees of great antiquity, one of which is called "the hundred-horse chestnut" from its being able to contain a hundred mounted men in its hollow, having had a circumference of about 160 feet; and in the department of Cher, near Sancene, there is still standing a tree of this species which, at six feet from the ground, measures more than thirty feet in circumference, and is, to all appearance, still sound. It is stated that 600 years ago this was called the great chestnut tree and its actual age is computed at 1,000 years. The fruit or nuts of the castanea vesca, as found in our markets, needs no description from me. But the principal object

of this paper is to give the therapeutic action of the folia or leaves of the castanea vesca. I will, therefore, not detain you or occupy your time with any further remarks relating to the geographical or botanical history of this tree but will enter at once upon the discussion of the more interesting, and to us as practical men, instructive part of the paper, viz., the therapeutic curative action of this remedy. I will also give the results of some chemical experiments, with the view to discover, if possible, the curative agent of the leaves and of obtaining its true medicinal properties; although it matters nothing to us, as practical physicians, whether a remedy performs a cure by its sudorific, alterative, chologogue, or any other property it may have, except to gratify our curiosity. As eclectics we should theorize less about the peculiar way or manner a medicine performs a cure. We should think less about the philosophy of the action of our remedies, and more about the fact that they do result in curing our patient. The great question with us as practical men is, will the remedy perform what is claimed for it. Is it a specific for the disease for which it is given - will it cure when properly administered? These are the great questions which concern us as eclectic physicians. One fact is worth more to us than all the fine-spun theories in the world. I have, heretofore, given the castanea in the form of decoction; a handful of the recently dried leaves are covered with one pint of boiling water and allowed to steep for one hour. Strain and sweeten to the taste; of this give ad libitum, or say one tablespoonful every two hours during the day.

This medicine I have used in some severe cases of pertussis. I have closely watched its effects, and thus far it has been administered with marked success, making a decided impression for the better in this disease sooner than any remedy I have ever used. It loosens the cough and thus lessens the danger of pneumonia or congestion of the lungs. It also shortens the spasins and lengthens the interval between the paroxysms of coughing until they subside entirely, which result is accomplished in a remarkably short time. It is truly surprising to witness the curative effect of this simple decoction in pertussis. The disease melts before its use like snow before an April sun, and the patient begins to convalesce at once. I cannot, perhaps, give you a better idea of the modus operandi of this remedy, than by reporting one or two cases from notes taken at the time where this medicine was prescribed in this disease, and the results following its use.

September 21, 1874.--I was called to take charge of the son of Wm. Y. Hardy, aged five years, residing No. 788 Third avenue. He had contracted pertussis a few weeks previous and was under the care of one of the self-styled "regulars" of this city. Intermittent fever had supervened with congestion of the lungs, thus complicating the original disease in a fearful manner. On examining the patient the following symptoms were present: Coldness of the extremities with increased heat of the head and chest; tongue covered with a thick brown fur; pulse 130, small and wiry; breathing ster

torous and coughing incessantly; pale or anemic condition of the skin; no appetite; very restless, with wandering and disturbed sleep. The prognosis was so unfavorable that I hesitated to have any thing to do with the patient. The parents were anxious (he being their only chidl), and plead so eloquently for me to do something for the little sufferer, that I consented to take the case. My first prescription was an expectorant, and consisted of the acetic tinctures of lobelia and sanguinaria with simple syrup. This was prescribed with the view of loosening the cough and thus relieve, if possible, the congested condition of the lungs.

September 22.-Expectorates freely and lungs much relieved. Treatment continued.

September 23. — Ordered,

B

Quiniæ sulphas,

Ferri ferocyanuret a a grs. viij,

Syr. zingib 3 ij.

Mix.

Sig. Take one teaspoonful every two hours.

September 24. The intermittent symptoms are controlled, patient restless, no appetite, the paroxysms of coughing are severe, with much prostration. Ordered wine, with hydrastis canadensis, to support the patient and keep him from sinking.

September, 25. Ordered a tea made from the leaves of the castanea vesca, as above directed.

September 26. Patient better, no fever, paroxysms of coughing lengthened between the attacks.

September 27. Coughs but little, is restless, no appetite, pulse ninety.

September 28.-Coating removed from tongue, no fever, with same appetite.

September 29. All the symptoms are better, cough nearly gone, desires to play, sleeps well. Continue treatment.

September 30. This is my last visit. All the urgent symptoms are removed and the patient about well. Ordered the tea to be given three times daily. I saw his father one week later; he informed me the boy was well.

I would report other cases where the castanea has been used in pertussis with similar results, but do not desire to consume your time, or tax your patience, in so doing. I have made some chemical experiments, with the view to ascertain the curative properties of the castanea in this disease, and will now give the result.

Three drachms of the recently dried leaves were immersed in three ounces of cold water, and allowed to remain for two days. It was then decanted and filtered. The liquid was but slightly colored, and the flavor of the leaves imparted to the water was scarcely perceptible. A few drops of the tincture of iodine was then added to the infusion. It produced no change of color, by which we show the absence of starch.

Three drachms of the recently dried leaves were then placed in a teacup, covered with boiling water, and allowed to remain until cold.

The liquor was then decanted and filtered. It was of a dark green color, and strong; giving to the taste, in a large degree, the flavor of the leaves. To a small portion of this liquid was added a few grains of the sulphate of ferrum. It changed immediately to a black, inky appearance. The same result was produced by adding a few drops of the tincture sesquichloride of ferrum. From this experiment we show the presence of tannin.

To a portion of the decoction was added a solution of the acetate of lead, which threw down a heavy brown-colored precipitate, thus showing the existence of gum. The liquid was then decanted, and the powder washed to remove the lead; this was subsequently dried and pulverized, which, however, was comparatively tasteless. Litmus paper, when placed in a portion of the decoction, gave a slight alkaline reaction. A solution of nitrate of silver was added to another portion; it threw down no precipitate, from which we conclude the absence of a bitter principle.

Two drachms of the recently dried leaves was placed in one ounce of ninety-five per cent. alcohol, and allowed to remain for four days. It made a strong tincture of a dark, olive color, and slight astringent A portion of this tincture was evaporated to dryness; it left a residuum of a green, gummy nature. Four drachms of this tincture were evaporated to, half a drachm; to this two ounces of water were added; no precipitate was observed, showing the absence of a resin. From the hurried experiments thus made, our conclusions are that boiling water is the true solvent for the castanea vesca, and the only one which holds its medicinal properties in solution.

4

MEDICAL BOTANY AND PHARMACY.

BY ALEXANDER WILDER, M. D.

A distinguished gentleman, Prof. Joseph R. Buchanan, long associated in our fellowship, declared, and we think, demonstrated, in a public lecture delivered in Cincinnati twenty-four years ago, that the adoption of the eclectic practice of medicine in the United States alone would save over 300,000 lives per annum. A statement so bold required both faith in its verity and courage to give it utterance. A quarter of a century has almost passed since its enunciation, and the faith of the man who made that declaration is yet unshaken in its accuracy.

More attention is due to this statement from the fact that a national organization exists, ostensibly a public health association, one of the outcrops of our late unfortunate civil war, that is endeavoring by art and legislative legerdemain to force all medical practice into peculiar and prescribed avenues. Its president has appeared repeatedly in the public prints with assertions that the several schools of physicians were of agreement on the theory and practice of medicine, but differed only in therapeutics; and employed this as an argument for depriving medical colleges of all power to confer degrees upon their students. I call attention to this matter, not to take issue with it at the present time, but to suggest the importance of contending bravely for principles. We may, if we neglect precaution, discover that our lawgivers have added to the present system of proscription from places of trust and emolument, also disabilities in the legitimate pursuit of our calling. It is not half a century, nor longer time than an ordinary generation of men, that the reformed practice of medicine was prohibited by penal laws, and experience ought to convince the most skeptical that there would be little hesitation to enact them anew, if there existed the courage to make the endeavor.*

There is a difference, which is sometimes radical, between the reformed school and the other in regard to the theory of disease and the treatment which should be employed. Nowhere perhaps is this difference more emphatic than in regard to the disorders recently so common and deadly, pneumonia and diphtheritis. Our pathology is not always the same; our theory and practice must differ in consequence, and legislation which shall aim to combine us with men with

*The attempt to proscribe "irregular" practitioners in Texas, after this fashion, has reacted most felicitously. A clause has been placed in the new Constitution on article 16, section 31, which settles all monopoly and proscription by organic law, no preference shall be given by law to any school in medicine."