NAT. ORD., Primulaceae.
COMMON NAMES, Scarlet Pimpernel. Poor Man's Weather-Glass.
PREPARATION.--The fresh plant, of the scarlet-flowered variety, gathered
before the development of the flowers, is pounded to a pulp and
subjected to pressure. The expressed juice is mingled with an equal part
by weight of alcohol.
(This paper was arranged from the provings by Dr. W. H.
A. Fitz for the Organon and Materia Medica Society of
Philadelphia, and published in the _Medical Advance_,
1891)
We think of this remedy for the following clinical indications:
Hypochondriasis, mania, epilepsy. Amblyopia, cataract, spots on the
cornea. Syphilis, hepatitis and indurated liver, visceral obstruction,
inflammation of rectum (horses), hemorrhoids, inflammation of kidneys,
gleet, copious urination (horses), gravel, syphilis with deranged mind,
nosebleed, pain in small of back, gonorrhoea, amenorrhoea, cancer of
mammea, sterility (cows), consumption, lumbago, itching, gout, bloody
sweat (murrain of calves), dropsy, ill-conditioned ulcers, snake bites
and hydrophobia, promotes the expulsion of splinters, inflammation of
stomach (horses).
It is characterized by great tickling and itching. We find tickling and
pricking in the urethra, in left ear; on tip of nose; at soft palate as
from something cold; in symphysis pubis; as from a brush against
epiglottis (with hoarseness); pain in right leg and at os illium;
itching on vertex and occiput; of eyelids; in left ear; on cheek bones;
itching and tickling stitches on left corner of mouth and upper lip; in
rectum; at anus after evacuation of bowels; on left side of chest,
principally on nipple; on neck and scapula; on inside of upper arm, just
above elbow joint; on back of right hand; tetter on hands and fingers.
In fact, great itching all over the skin.
HEADACHE just over supra-orbital ridges, with eructations and rumbling
in bowels; spasmodic lancination in temples, extending to eyes; pressive
aching in forehead and occiput from a current of air blowing on him;
intense headache and nausea, with pains throughout the body. Occiput:
dull or tearing pains and inclination to vomit; violent headache, with
hard, knotty stools; knocking pains in left side; dull pain all night.
PAINS: Teeth pain as from cold.
STITCHES: In scalp, over left ear and on occiput; in eyeballs; in
temples; in left corner of mouth; in right ear; in left side, region of
fourth and fifth ribs; in left tibia, when sitting, when moving leg or
foot; disturb sleep.
NEURALGIC PAINS: In right cheek bones.
Rheumatic, gouty pains.
TEARING PAINS: In occiput; in right cheek bone; in upper molars; in
spermatic cords; in muscles of left leg; disturb sleep.
DRAWING PAINS: In right testicle and cord; tensive drawing in left
shoulder to neck, returns when lifting or stretching arms; in muscles of
upper arm; especially when moving hands or arm in writing; in right
carpal and metacarpal bones (sometimes left), returning at regular
intervals; also tearing; in muscles of left leg.
PRESSING PAINS: In forehead and occiput; with stitching in eyeballs; in
eyes; on lungs; in sacrum.
DULL PAIN: In occiput; in hollow tooth, with trembling of heart; in
upper molars; in gums, accompanied by hard stools.
CRAMPS: In right thenar; ceasing there as it goes to the left.
VIOLENT PAIN: As if caused by external pressure on occiput, behind the
left ear; in sacrum when lifting, they take her breath; in muscles of
forearm, inside near elbow joint; in carpal and metacarpal bones,
extending to shoulder; in palm of right hand, extending between thumb
and forefinger, as if a pin were thrust through.
SENSATION: In lungs as if struck by a cushion full of pins; anxiety in
chest; skin of forehead feels too tight; tension in bend of left knee,
as if swollen or sore. Cold or chilly sensation on right frontal
protuberance; in teeth, as if something cold were placed on tongue; at
soft palate, as from touch of something cold; chilly, trembling;
scratching in throat after eating; when reading aloud.
Soreness on chest.
Burning in urethra.
Heat rising to head.
Dryness in throat.
Things seem to float to and fro; he cannot write.
PAIN: In right ear, as if meatus auditorius were obstructed; in facial
muscles, in lungs, in the front and the back up to the scapulae; in right
side of back, followed by violent sneezing; in upper arm, outside, near
the shoulder; pain and twitching in the left thumb; in bend of left
knee; in upper part of metatarsus of right foot; in great and little toe
of left foot in morning; in sole of left foot.