AGKISTRODON CONTORTRIX-AGROSTEMA GITHAGO. 281 course of a few hours he gradually recovered, though feeling much prostrated. He said that during the whole time he was quite conscious of what was being done, but that at times he felt drowsy and inclined to sleep. When the convulsive paroxysms came on he felt wild and excited, with an irresistible desire to move about and to run. He had no pain in the stomach or bowels at any time, nor did the feeling of oppression in his breathing continue after the first symptoms. AGKISTRODON CONTORTRIX. Copperhead snake. Authorities. 1, Mr. Arnold, Med. Times and Gaz., 1873 (2), p. 461, symptoms produced on John Brown by the bite; 2, Mr. A'Beckett's account of the same case, ibid. ; 3, Mr. Woolridge's account, ibid.; 4, E. M. Schaeffer, M.D., Field and Forest, vol. i, p. 12, a man, æt. twenty-one years, was bitten on the right hand. Symptoms of coma (after two hours),'.-Semiconscious state (after some hours), Cornea insensible to touch (after six hours),".-Pupils sluggish and dilated (after some hours),.-Pupils possessed only of the minutest power of contraction and considerably dilated (after six hours),".-Indistinct vision (after two hours),'.-Wild appearance of countenance,'.-Countenance rather approaching a livid hue, features swollen (after six hours),'. -Considerable swelling about the upper lip (after two hours),'.-[10.] Vomiting (after two hours),'.-Breathing rather slow (after six hours),'.Weak pulse (after two hours),'.-Pulse slow and very weak (after some hours),.-Pulse of large volume, weak, and about 70 (after six hours),3. Limbs paralyzed (after six hours),3.-Pain in the finger,'.-Paralysis of lower extremities (after two hours),-Stiffness of the legs,'.-Complete prostration (after two hours),'.-[20.] Drowsiness (after two hours),'.— Cold perspiration (after two hours),'.-Surface of body cold and clammy (after some hours),2.-The wound at once gave him some pain, like the sting of a wasp, as he described it, and in a few minutes he began to vomit. This continued until his stomach was emptied, when he still experienced violent retching. He then became deadly faint, and lay down. Dr. Kleinschmidt described his appearance four hours later as that of a person in the last stage of collapse; skin cold, pulse nearly gone, respiration feeble, and pupils widely dilated, with great dimness of vision. The right hand and arm were fearfully swollen, of a grayish-black color, resembling gangrene. He passed a feverish night, but was much better Sunday. On Monday evening I found him nearly free from pain, though the arm was still swollen to nearly the size of a man's thigh. From this time he progressed rapidly towards recovery, and in less than a week was out, with his arm in a sling,*. AGROSTEMA GITHAGO. Dr. Scharling, Cent. Blat., 1850, in Pharm. Journ., vol. x, p. 349 (New Eng. Med. Gaz., vol. xi, p. 305), effects of Githargin. A burning sensation is felt on palate in a short time. AILANTHUS. Authority. 15, C. A. L., Pub. of Mass. Hom. Med. Soc., vol. iv, p. 119, a proving. [210.] P., a student of medicine, aged nineteen, in good health. Took 1 drop of 1st cent. dilution every hour from 8 A.M., March 4th. At 10 A.M. Lancinating pain through both temples, and fine prickling pain in left temple. Burning in, and darting pains through the stomach. 12 M. Tired sensation of lower limbs, chills over the whole body as from water, and sharp pains through both lungs. 1 P.M. After dinner, sinking feeling in stomach. 3 P.M. Severe constriction of the throat. 8 P.M. Sharp prickling pain in the stomach and temples. March 5th, 10 A.M. Aching in left lung. from the nose, which was swollen. 11 A.M. Severe nausea, as from fat meat. 1 P.M. Sharp pain through both temples. Discharge of bright-red blood 3 P.M. Lancinating pain through the whole lower limbs. 6 P.M. Throat feels very full. March 6th, 7th, and 8th. No new symptoms. March 9th, 9 A.M. Bleeding from the nose and sharp pains through both lungs; worse when taking a long breath. 12 M. Mouth very sore, and feels raw and burning, as if from the presence of acid. 1.30 P.M. Lancinating pains in both temples, and deathly faintness of the stomach after dinner, lasting an hour and a half. 4 P.M. Sensation as from a blow in right ear. 6.30 P.M. Trembling of the legs. March 10th, 8 A.M. Mouth sore and raw, and oozing of blood from the denuded surface. Faint feeling, with nausea. Sharp pains in both lungs, and in the stomach, as from pius. 12 M. Ringing in right ear. 2 P.M. Bruised sensation on the right forearm. 5 P.M. Mouth very sore and painful, discharge of blood from the swollen gums. March 12th, 8 A.M. Dryness of the mouth, and bleeding from the roof and sides. Nausea in the abdomen. 10 A.M. Sharp pain through the right temple, with nausea. 3 P.M. Pricking pain through left lung. Trembling of the legs. Ringing in the ears, like music. March 15th, 8 A.M.. Mouth continues very sore, with discharge of blood and stringy mucus. Teeth feel as if he had taken acid in the mouth. 10 A.M. Pains in lungs return, and trembling of the legs and bruised sensation of right forearm. Constriction of the throat, with sensation of a foreign body there for about ten minutes after every dose of the medicine. Took same doses up to the 25th, with no new symptoms, 15. ALCOHOL. William A. Hammond, M.D., Amer. Journ. of Med. Sci., October, 1856, p. 305. First Experiment.-The action of Alcohol where a uniform weight of the body was preserved. Took 12 drachms of Alcohol daily for five days. My weight increased from an average of 226.40 pounds to an average of 226.85 pounds, being .45 of a pound difference. The carbonic acid and vapor of water in the expired air had respectively decreased 1324.50 and 196.51 grains, the fæces 1.22 ounces, the urine 3.43 ounces, the urea 87.19 grains, the chlorine 37.59 grains, the phosphoric acid 24.47 grains, and the sulphuric acid 13.40 grains. The free acid and uric acid (especially the former) were so slightly affected as to render it probable that the Alcohol had exercised no influence upon them. During these experiments, my general health was somewhat disturbed. My pulse was increased to an average of 90 per minute, and was fuller and stronger than previously; there was headache and increased heat of the skin, and my mental faculties were certainly not so clear as on the days when no Alcohol was taken. There was general lassitude, and indisposition to exertion of any kind. My appetite was variable. The amount of flatus discharged from the intestines was sensibly diminished. Second Experiment.-The action of Alcohol when the body lost weight from a deficiency of food. Took 12 drachms daily for five days. During the experiments immediately preceding these, my weight decreased an average of .28 of a pound daily, falling from 226.73 pounds to 225.34. In the present series, under the same conditions, except the use of the Alcohol, this decrease has not only been overcome, but there is an actual average daily increase of .03 of a pound, the weight rising from 225.34 to a mean of 225.50 pounds. The mean weight of the body is less than the mean of the last series, owing to the fact that the average daily gain is not so great as the previous average daily loss. The carbonic acid decreased on an average of 129.08 grains, the aqueous vapor 312.06 grains, the faces .19 of an ounce, the quantity of urine 1.37 ounces, the urea 54.51 grains, the chlorine 10.08 grains, the phosphoric acid 8.70 grains, and the sulphuric acid 6.11 grains. The free acid of the urine, and the uric acid, were apparently slightly increased. The general condition of the system was never better. Third Experiment.-The effects of Alcohol when the body gained weight from an excess of food. Took daily, for five days, 12 drachms of Alcohol. During the series of experiments immediately preceding the present, the average daily increase of weight was .22 of a pound. By the action of the amount of Alcohol, the average increase was raised to .31 of a pound per day. The average amount of carbonic acid excreted, compared with the mean of the last series, was reduced to 581.99 grains, the aqueous vapor 266.21 grains, the fæces 2.34 ounces, the urine 4.15 ounces, the urea 93.27 grains, the chlorine 26.92 grains, the phosphoric acid 8.29 grains, and the sulphuric acid 14.87 grains. The free acid and uric acid were but slightly affected. The perspiration was sensibly diminished. The healthy action of my system was very much disturbed. Headache was constant, sleep was disturbed, the skin was hot, pulse full and bounding, averaging 98 per minute, and there was on two occasions after eating, slight palpitation of the heart. My appetite was capricious. Sometimes disgust was created by the mere sight of food, at other times I ate with a good relish. ALDEHYDE. Hydrate of oxide of acetyl. J. Y. Simpson, M.D., Pharm. Journ., vol. vii, 1848, p. 517. Out of five of us that attempted to inhale Aldehyde, very carefully prepared and purified, four were driven to suspend the respiration of it in consequence of the coughing and insufferable feelings of dyspnoea which it immediately induced. The sensations of difficult respiration and constric tion in the chest which the vapor produced, resembled precisely those of a severe fit of spasmodic asthma. In the fifth case, the experimentalist, after perseveringly breathing the Aldehyde for a minute or two, became entirely insensible; the state of anesthesia lasted for two or three minutes, during which the pulse became excessively small and feeble. On recovering, the bronchial constriction and coughing, which had disappeared as the anesthesia was induced, returned immediately, and was annoying for some time. Alstonia (constricta ?). ALSTONIA. Dr. Augustus Cathcart, Am. Hom., vol. i, p. 142, effects of large doses (from the bark). Invariably producing great debility and general prostration, or low fever -often also with diarrhoea-and when pushed sufficiently far, rigors, sweats (usually cold), and other symptoms resembling fever and ague. ALUMEN. Authorities. 19, Dr. Barthez, Rec. de Mem. de Med., etc., 1835 (Frank's Mag., vol. iii, p. 675); 20, Hicquet, Annal. d'Hyg., 39, p. 192, a man, aged fifty-seven years, took 30 grains Alum in water, by mistake for salts; 21, Helen J. Underwood, M.D., copied from MSS. Took, fasting, a dose of drachm Alum in 1 ounce distilled water. He noticed contraction in the whole mouth, which lasted about a quarter of an hour, with very acute pressure in the stomach. During the rest of the day there were no marked symptoms. Three days afterwards took 1 drachm Alum in 2 ounces of water. This was followed by more violent contraction than before; the appetite was not diminished, on the contrary, he rather thought that it was improved, and that digestion was rather better than usual. After this he took doses, increasing every time by a drachm, until he took 2 drachms at once. After the last dose he experienced violent inclination to vomit, lasting nearly a quarter of an hour, followed by vomiting. Through the day there was decided disturbance; the inclination to vomit seemed to depend rather upon the astringency and disagreeable taste of the Alum than upon any irritating influence on the stomach. Six days afterwards he took fasting 3 drachms at a dose, and in three or four minutes vomited twice a portion of the solution. Through the day there were no symptoms and no pain in the abdomen; only two or three days afterwards the stools were more difficult than usual. The vomiting spoken of occurred without effort and without previous nausea,19. -Sensation of dryness and burning in the mouth, throat, and stomach. Incessant nausea and vomiting of only blood; extreme anguish. Pulse small, rapid; afterwards intermittent and thready. Respiration rapid. Skin cold. Deglutition impossible,".-Every time this patient takes 3c. She feels a sort of metallic sensation about the urethra; also a feeling in the clitoris as if the urethra lay there, and the urine were pressing to be expelled, and a feeling that the urine could not be retained on account of the pressure on the clitoris. This she never feels except after taking the Alumen,". AMBROSIA ARTEMISLÆFOLIA. Ambrosia artemisiafolia, L. Natural order, Compositæ. Common name, Rag-weed. Dr. E. J. Marsh, New Remedies, vol. v, 1876, p. 273. For the past three years I have experimented, intentionally and accidentally, and produced all the earlier symptoms of hay fever, severe coryza, etc., by the direct application of the pollen to the mucous membrane of the nose. For instance, last week, I wished to observe the pollen of another variety of Ambrosia "trifolia" or giant rag-weed. I gathered a few heads and put them in water to ripen, then examining the dust pollen under a microscope, and not taking care to prevent it flying in the air, suffered all that day with coryza. I tried the experiment two years ago in the same way, by ripening it prematurely, while I was still well and unaffected, and with the same serious consequences. After going to the White Mountains, and being entirely recovered, I found a small patch of rag-weed, and with another victim made the same experiment, and equally successfully, so successfully that we suffered several days. AMMONIUM BROMATUM. Authorities. 4, Clark and Amory, Monograph on Bromide of Potassium, p. 165, a student took 40 grains in 1 ounce of water, at 7 P.M.; 4a, the same, at 2.45 P.M. next day, took a rectal injection of 40 grains in mucilage of starch; 5, another student, took 40 grains in a claret glass of water, on an empty stomach, at 10 P.M.; 5a, same, took 20 grains on a full stomach, at 12 o'clock, before retiring to bed; 6, Dr. Borlow, Lancet, 1877 (1), p. 839, effects on a girl, with laryngismus. Within half an hour, felt as though he had taken a dose of Opium, though less excited; thinks that he fell asleep without the aid of the drug; dreamed of trying to pass urine into a bottle, but could not do so on account of being constantly in a crowd of men or women,.--Tightness at the temples (within three hours and a half ),.-Flushing of the face (within three hours and a half ),*.-Had a dejection during the day; towards evening he noticed uneasiness in the bowels (second day); the next day decided diarrhoea set in, and lasted for twelve hours; no griping or distress was induced, except that the abdomen felt as if distended with flatus; he never had diarrhoea, and could see no cause for this attack except from the drug,3. -Slight excitement of the circulation (within three hours and a half),.The same excitement of the circulation as noticed above, besides feeling a slight nervous excitement, such as he has after taking wine (after fortyfive minutes),".-Vascular excitement, and exhilaration as after taking Morphine; this gradually decreased, and was lost in a fit of drowsiness |