ARIST. ARISTOLOCHIA GLANDIFLORA (GOM.)—ARISTOLOCHIA CYMBIFERA (MART.)
SNAKE-ROOT.
[Illustration]
A climbing plant with a glabrous stem; leaves alternate, uniformly
cordate, pedati-nerved, with reticulate little veins between the nerves;
they are supported by long petioles, furnished with a large, entire,
reni-form, amplexicaule stipule. Flowers solitary, upon a sulcate
peduncle from four to five inches long. Perianth single, large, of a
yellowish brown, tuberculated, curved, divided into two lips; the upper
lip sharp, lanceolate, and somewhat bent outwards; the lower lip, twice
as long as the other, at first dilated at the base, and expanding into a
large oval disk with undulate borders. The whole flower is covered with
prominent nerves. Stamens six epigynous. Ovary glabrous, surmounted by a
stygma with six short and rounded lobes.
We employ the flower.
_First day._—1. Restless sleep. He dreams that he is neither able to
work, drink or walk. Gurgling at the right frontal eminence, for one
minute. Doughy mouth the whole morning. 5. Thirst. Pain in the right
groin. Numbness of the left leg. Numbness of the lower part of the calf.
Borborygmi in the stomach and bowels. 10. Lancinations in the whole of
the left lower limb. The left leg is red and swollen. The head feels
heavy. Very thirsty, with bitter mouth. No appetite. 15. Stitch in the
ball of the left thumb, at half past three in the afternoon. Torpid
sensation at the vertex. Pricking in the right testicle. Pricking at the
right thigh. Pricking at the lower part of the left leg. 20. Itching
at the inside of the left thigh. Prickings here and there, over the
body. Pain at the ball of the right thumb, at 7 in the evening. Torpid
sensation in the cerebellum. Stitch under the heel. 25. Itching at the
left outer ankle, at 8. Itching at the skin of the prepuce. Crampy pain
at the right inner ankle. Contusive pain at the left pectoral muscle,
which is sensitive to contact, at night.
_Second day._—Restless sleep. 30. He dreams about a sheep and dog covered
with red scarfs; the first was lifted off the ground and seized by the
latter in the middle of the back; the dog was suspended by the back, by
some individual accompanied by a number of persons. Afterwards an intense
sexual dream with emission. Painful stitch under the shoulder-blade, as
after receiving a blow. Sense of embarrassment behind the left inner
ankle. Uneasiness in the thighs, followed by pricking, at 2 in the
afternoon. 35. Contusive pain at the left knee. Lancinations at the
forepart of the left outer ankle, at 7 in the evening. Fulness of the
stomach. Stitching pain at the right thigh. In the morning, the leg is
swollen and violet-colored; it becomes inflamed by walking, and, towards
evening, changes to a blackish red. 40. Loss of appetite. The whole leg
is covered with irregular blackish spots formed by extra-vasated blood.
Urinates more frequently than usual. Burning head. Continual thirst, with
bitter mouth. 45. The lips and gums are excoriated. Complete loss of
appetite. The left leg is painful as if excoriated; the pain shifts to
the right inner ankle, where it becomes more acute.
_Third day._—Lancinating pains at the apex of the heart, which arrests
the breathing all night. The temples are painful to contact, the whole
day. 50. Stiffness of the leg, with inability to stand for a few minutes.
Stitching pain between the shoulders. Dull pain at the lower part of the
lumbar region and at the abdomen. Burning pains at the anus. The lips and
gums are raw as before. 55. Itching above the bend of the right elbow.
Crampy pain in the left tendo-Achillis. Partial numbness around the
ankles. Contusive pain below the left knee-pan, at 3 in the afternoon.
Lancinations in the lower part of the right leg and at the inner ankle,
at half past 3. 60. The upper and lower part of the left arm is painful
to the touch, at half past 4. Painful lancinations at the inner part of
the left knee. Stitch in the articulation of the first phalanx of the
little finger, at 8 in the evening.
_Fourth day._—Pain at the dorsal part of the left index. Colic, followed
by stool the first part of which is soft, the latter diarrhœic, twice in
succession, in the morning. 65. Malaise as if something would accumulate
at the inside of the right leg, above the knee, in the evening and during
part of the night.
_Fifth day._—Difficulty of using the lumbar region. Sensation as if the
skin of the right leg would fall upon the ankles, like a stocking; he
frequently puts his hand there for the purpose of raising the skin again.
Itching at the forepart of the right leg. Pricking at the inside of the
right leg. 70. A difficulty at the lower part of the tendo-Achillis. Easy
stool.
_Sixth day._—Itching at the internal ankle of the left foot. Itching at
the left thigh. Pain above the right inner ankle. 75. Disgusting dreams.
_Seventh day._—Malaise after waking in the morning; he is unable to fall
asleep again; he feels as if something near the ankles inconvenienced
him for several hours. This pain increases towards three, changing
to a contusive pain. The ankles feel swollen. 80. Acute pain in the
sacro-lumbar region. Pain in the right side.
_Eighth day._—Pain at the pit of the stomach. The pain in the legs
continues. Permanent pain above the left inner ankle. 85. Smarting at the
inner and upper right thigh, in the evening. Acute lancination in the
head, evening.
_Ninth day._—Acute lancination in the left side of the head, evening.
_Tenth day._—Violent lancination behind the head. The forepart of the
left leg is painful to contact. 90. Shootings in the cerebellum.