Rhus toxicodendron

- TESTE A, GROUP REMEDIES,  GROUP I,ARNICA MONTANA
 Poisonous sumach
 - Genus rhus, family terebinthaceae, class pentandria trygynia.
 - Rhus toxicodendron which, according to Bosc, is identical with the rhus radicans of Linne, is a bush which grows in North America, on the borders of rivers or in marshy districts, and grows very tall in a soil which suits it.
 - Its lateral branches are numerous and tufty; leaves indented and pubescent, flowers hermaphrodite; fruit like that of every other species of rhus, small black berries.
 - The odor which emanates from this bush, is not very strong .
 - The juice of its leaves blackens the hand like caustic; nevertheless, according to the report of Barton and W. Bartram, cows and horses eat them without being in the least incommoded by them.
 - " In handling this plant, it produces blistering effects upon the skin, which are very remarkable, as has been witnessed by Gouan and Amoreux.
 - Sometimes the head swells to double its size ; this happened three times in succession to the celebrated Fontana, while he was experimenting with rhus. *
 - Doctors Roth and Doxet have published in the Homoeopathic Gazette, of  Paris, several observations which confirm the facts cited by Alibert.
 - It is known. moreover, that it is not by contact alone that the sumach these accidents.
 - To be attacked with them, it is sufficient to inspire of the inhalation of the atmosphere of rhus toxicodendron, develop them selves in a few hours, and sometimes in a few days; they consist of itching, swelling, redness, pain and pustules, which are more or less vesicular, on the part which had been in contact with the plant, and even on those parts of the body which had not been in contact, like the face, scrotum, eyelids, etc.
 - They are generally accompanied with fever, malaise, oppression lasting for several days, etc.
 - A fatal case is mentioned, where a person touched the several; parts after having handled branches of this bush." *
 - In 1825, Lavini, published some remarkable observations concerning the inoculation of the juice of rhus.
 - To the first phalanx of the index-finger, he applied two drops of the juice, and left them for two minutes only in contact with the epidermis.
 - Twenty-five days after this, the following symptoms suddenly showed themselves: great heart in the mouth and heat ; rapid and considerable swelling of the left cheek, the upper lip and eye lids.
 - In the night following swelling of the forearms to double their natural size; dry tense, and burning skin , intolerable itching , etc. *
 - Empirical applications.--The old school has endeavored to improve the powerful properties of Rhus, but blindly as usual.
 - Dufresnoy, army physician and professor of botany in Valenciennes, employed it with success against tetters and paralysis.
 - Of the twelve observation which he published in 1788, seven refer to cutaneous affection, and the rest to paralysis consequent on convulsions. *
 - Similar results were obtained by several physicians of Brussels, among other by Verdegen, Kok and Van Baerlem. *
 - Poutingon, professor at the school of Montpelier, cured with this plant, a paralytic patient in a fortnight, and Gouan cured in a similar manner, and in a few weeks, a young lady afflicted with hemiplegia.
 - Several almost similar facts are contained in the manuscript notes which Dr. Petroz has furnished me.
 - Lastly, ever since the year 1793, Alderson published in England, seventeen observations which went to prove the efficacity of Rhus against paralysis, and in general against all affections characterized by a sinking of the apparatus of locomotion. *
 - In spite of all these successful trials, the sumach shared, in France at least, the fate of the arnica.*
 - It was lauded to the skies, it was said to have wrought miracles, and after that it was abandoned, more perhaps than arnica, because it was more dangerous.
 - It is well know that one of the problems which the alloeopathic healing art has been endeavoring for some time past to solve is, to find remedies which would not hurt, even if given of season; in other words, remedies that are not remedies.
 - Hahnemann, to whom we are indebted for the pathogenesis of rhus,* says that the effects of this drug and those of bryonia are analogous.
 - It is, indeed, true, that except the differences which Hahnemann indicates, this analogy exists if we simply compare their symptoms according to the regions, organs and tissues that are respectively affected by these drugs.
 - But, in order to reduce this analogy to its proper value, it suffices to contrast the symptoms of these two drugs with, it suffices to the mode in which they develope themselves.
 - If we succeed in fixing the true starting point and mode of development belonging to the respective series of their symptoms, we cannot fail to recognise that they develope themselves in opposite directions as it were.
 - Let us remark, in passing, that the same observations are attempts at systemization, I endeavored to unite under the same general view.
 - Homoeopathic applications.--There are few drugs whose effects are better and more characteristically known than those of rhus.
 - Every symptom almost reveals the action of a corrosive caustic, which, on account of its extreme subtlety, shows a tendency to invade large surfaces, rather than to penetrate deeply into the tissues.
 - Hence the acute pains and the ataxic effects caused by rhus, and which constitute phenomena that so frequently accompany the affections which resemble those occasioned by the action of rhus, such as burns, erysipelas, erythematous enteritis, etc.
 - Although rhus, like arnica and ledum, acts principally upon the head and the organs of locomotion, yet it differs from arnica in this, that it affects the integuments and membranes, rather than the cellular tissue and the muscles, and from ledum in this, that its effects tend top spread, instead of confining themselves to narrow spaces.
 - The following are the pathological conditions, which, according to the pathogenesis and the clinical observations of the Homoeopaths, this drug has the best chance of curing.
 - Sense of fulness about the head, worse when stooping, sensation in the brain as if bruised or fluctuating .
 - Stupefying headache, such as exists in acute fevers, or as is caused by intoxication with brandy, with redness or livid paleness of the face, margins around the eyes, pointed nose, comatose drowsiness, occasional reveries, delirium, coldness of the body, numbness of the limbs, general sinking of strength, frequent and depressed pulse.
 - Acute hydrocephalus ; serous and sanguineous apoplexy.
 - Paralysis.
 - Epistaxis.
 - Tingling in the hairy scalp, at the forehead, nose, and in the whole face.
 - Hot swelling of the upper lip.
 - Burning pustules around the mouth, followed by crusts which resemble dried honey.
 - Heat and smarting all over the face.
 - Bloating and deformation of the face.
 - Parotitis.
 - Enormous swelling of the whole head.
 - Itching of the skin of the trunk and extremities, especially of the hairy parts; it is at first a tingling, afterwards a burning itching, and is made worse by scratching.
 - Burns (see page 74); chilblains.
 - Consequences of sunstroke, (even in cases of meningitis, as we know from experience).
 - Erysipelas, pemphigus, zona, eczema. (see page 78).
 - Hot and painful engorgements of the subcutaneous glands.
 - Rheumatic pains, which are sometimes very violent, and always spread over a large surface, at the nape of the neck, loins and extremities.
 - Gout, (especially when characterized by cutaneous symptoms.)
 - Hydrarthrosis.
 - Warts on the hands.
 - Red or colorless infiltration of the extremities with burning pain.
 - Erythematous gastritis and gastro-enteritis, with hot mouth, as if burnt, keen desire for cold drinks, red and dry tongue, and covered with a sort of false membrane, beneath which vesicles are perceived ; tingling in the oesophagus and stomach; sense of burning at the stomach, nausea, vomiting, dull colic, or pinching pains, or prickings in the abdomen, which is hot, tense, tympanitic, but only moderately sensible to pressure; constipation followed by, or alternating with serous diarrhoea; scanty and red urine; frequent and depressed pulse, nosebleed; coma and other ataxic phenomena.
 - Have we to conclude from this rhus tox. is particularly indicated in typhus?
 - I think not.
 - Although it is more than probable that rhus develops in the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane, symptoms similar to those which it produces on the skin, that is to say, extensive erythematous Inflammations, with raising of the epithelium by means of pustules or serous phenomena to the organic lesions of typhus.
 - These, like the variola-pustules, to which they have been compared, run a fixed course, and are possessed of essential characteristics, to which rhus corresponds only in rare and exceptional cases, as for example, in the typhus of 1813, against which, Hahnemann states rhus was found efficacious.
 - It is quite natural that this drug should be successfully employed in certain forms of very acute enteritis, complicated with ataxic symptoms.
 - But these forms of enteritis, which are falsely termed typhoid enteritis by modern Alloeopaths, differ essentially from true typhus.
 - In the former, the ataxic symptoms constitute sympathetic effects of the acute inflammation of the skin and mucous membranes, when this inflammation affects a large number of the nervous papillae, which are spread over these surfaces; whereas, in typhus, adynamia, coma, etc., seem to constitute the fundamental character of the disease.
 - It is, therefore, only now and then, that rhus will be found really indicated in typhus.
 - What I have said of ledum (see page 78), concerning its use in acute affections of the air-passages, is likewise applicable to rhus and croton tiglium; cases may occur, however, where these drugs may be specifically indicated in what is vaguely termed angina, bronchitis, or pneumonia.
 - Rhus is often indicated after arnica, as spigelia, zincum, and colchicum, are often indicated after rhus.
 - The maladies to which it is best adapted, are such as occur most frequently in the spring, rheumatism, gout, erysipelas, eczema, etc.,
 - Most of its symptoms, like those of arnica, ledum, etc., are aggravated by artificial heat, sometimes by motion, but more frequently by rest; they are most fully manifested in the evening and at night.
 - Rhus is antidoted by Bry., Camph., Coff., Sulph., but especially by Ledum.