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889 house watching his movements. " There," would he say, " sits the old boy,--he does not think that I see him." When reminded by me that he could not be king and the son of his father, he would look at me for a few minutes, as if cogitating the question, and then walk off with the usual elevated car- riage which he believed to belong to his kingly dignity. Smelliug and toticli are equally depraved in mania, of which many curious instances might be adduced, were it necessary. But mania does not always present such features ; the permanent delirium is some- times confined to one object; thence the disease is termed monomania. In this form of the disease, when the delirium returns at intervals, instead of running on in the same strain day and night, the paroxysms appear periodically ; at other times the individuals , seem reasonable, save when conversing on subjects within the sphere of their delirium ; and it is in vain to endeavour to perceive their insanity, unless we acciden- tally, or intentionally, (if we are aware of the subject of their delusion) touch upon the chord of the mind which is unstrung. In many instances, however, this species of the disease is connected with the same irre- gular, often-desponding condition of mind which exists in moral insanity. In others nothing of the kind is perceptible. A case which occurred in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury is illustrative of this fact. The individual in question was a sensible, clever man, amassed a considerable fortune )(by his profession, took good care of his pro- perty, and conducted himself so well in general, that several of his friends and ac- quaintances, some of them medical persons, never even suspected that he was deranged in mind. He was, however, a man of vio- lent and irritable temper, and his insanity turned on a high notion of parental autho- rity. He had an amiable and accomplished daughter, dutiful, modest, virtuous, affec- tionate, moral, and religious. This girl he was in the habit of tying to the bed-post, flogging her with unmerciful severity, ap- plying brine to the wounds’, pulling her hair out by the roots, and compelling her to perform the meanest drudgery. Although this person was capable of managing his aflairs, yet he was properly declared to be " non compos mentis." LECTURES ON MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS, NOW IN COURSE OF DELIVERY AT THE WINDMILL-STREET SCHOOL OFMEDICINE BY GEORGE G. SIGMOND, M.D. LECTURE XII. THE DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. BELLADONNA. —Localities of the Plant. Its Names. Ancient Knowledge of its poisonous Quali- ties. Characters of the Plant. Poisoning with the Berries; quantity necessary; symptoms; consecutive effects. The Ex- tract of Belladonna. Circumstances which affect its Strength. Other Preparations. Battley’s. Atropine, the principle of Bella- donna. Discrepancies in Accounts of its Analysis. Medicinal Qualities of Bella- donna. Its effects on the Eye. Bella- donna in Scarlet Fever. Important Rank which it holds in the Materia Medica of the Homœopathists. Rise and Progress of Homœopathy. Biography, Character, and Persecutions of Hahnneman. Ignorance among his Disciples of his Doctrines. De- fence of the established Principles of Prac- tice. Hahnneman’s mode of Study and his Principles. His discoveries respecting Belladonna. GENTLEMEN,—The atropa belladonna, or the deadly nightshade, is well worthy of your attentive consideration. It has many points of interest, and although you may not derive from its powers all the assist- ance, in the prosecution of your profession, that I have led you to expect from either of the narcotics whose use I have explained to you, yet there are some circumstances which render it well deserving of your notice, both in a medicinal and in a toxic o- logical point of view. As a soporific it certainly cannot be ranked either with opium or hyoscyamus, nor would I recom- mend it to your use when your sole object is to produce sleep; nor is it so well adapt- ed for the vast number of diseases in which I have taught you to expect relief from those other sources. There are many states, however, in which it is highly serviceable, and some local and constitutional disorders, in which you will find it to possess consider- able energy. Its poisonous effects are par- ticularly interesting to those whose pro- fession may hereafter be exercised in the country, for scarcely does an autumn pass, but we hear of some instances of children
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house watching his movements. " There,"would he say, " sits the old boy,--he doesnot think that I see him." When remindedby me that he could not be king and the sonof his father, he would look at me for a fewminutes, as if cogitating the question, andthen walk off with the usual elevated car-

riage which he believed to belong to hiskingly dignity.Smelliug and toticli are equally depraved

in mania, of which many curious instancesmight be adduced, were it necessary.But mania does not always present such

features ; the permanent delirium is some-times confined to one object; thence thedisease is termed monomania. In this formof the disease, when the delirium returns atintervals, instead of running on in the samestrain day and night, the paroxysms appearperiodically ; at other times the individuals

, seem reasonable, save when conversingon subjects within the sphere of their

delirium ; and it is in vain to endeavour toperceive their insanity, unless we acciden-tally, or intentionally, (if we are aware ofthe subject of their delusion) touch uponthe chord of the mind which is unstrung.

In many instances, however, this species ofthe disease is connected with the same irre-

gular, often-desponding condition of mindwhich exists in moral insanity. In others

nothing of the kind is perceptible. A case

which occurred in the Prerogative Court ofCanterbury is illustrative of this fact.The individual in question was a sensible,

clever man, amassed a considerable fortune

)(by his profession, took good care of his pro-perty, and conducted himself so well in

general, that several of his friends and ac-quaintances, some of them medical persons,never even suspected that he was derangedin mind. He was, however, a man of vio-lent and irritable temper, and his insanityturned on a high notion of parental autho-rity. He had an amiable and accomplisheddaughter, dutiful, modest, virtuous, affec-

tionate, moral, and religious. This girl hewas in the habit of tying to the bed-post,flogging her with unmerciful severity, ap-plying brine to the wounds’, pulling herhair out by the roots, and compelling her toperform the meanest drudgery. Althoughthis person was capable of managing hisaflairs, yet he was properly declared to be" non compos mentis."

LECTURES

ON

MATERIA MEDICA AND

THERAPEUTICS,NOW IN COURSE OF DELIVERY

AT THE

WINDMILL-STREET SCHOOL OFMEDICINE

BY

GEORGE G. SIGMOND, M.D.

LECTURE XII.

THE DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. BELLADONNA.—Localities of the Plant. Its Names.Ancient Knowledge of its poisonous Quali-ties. Characters of the Plant. Poisoningwith the Berries; quantity necessary;symptoms; consecutive effects. The Ex-tract of Belladonna. Circumstances which

affect its Strength. Other Preparations.Battley’s. Atropine, the principle of Bella-donna. Discrepancies in Accounts of itsAnalysis. Medicinal Qualities of Bella-donna. Its effects on the Eye. Bella-donna in Scarlet Fever. Important Rankwhich it holds in the Materia Medica of theHomœopathists. Rise and Progress ofHomœopathy. Biography, Character, andPersecutions of Hahnneman. Ignoranceamong his Disciples of his Doctrines. De-fence of the established Principles of Prac-tice. Hahnneman’s mode of Study andhis Principles. His discoveries respectingBelladonna.

GENTLEMEN,—The atropa belladonna, orthe deadly nightshade, is well worthy ofyour attentive consideration. It has manypoints of interest, and although you maynot derive from its powers all the assist-ance, in the prosecution of your profession,that I have led you to expect from either ofthe narcotics whose use I have explainedto you, yet there are some circumstanceswhich render it well deserving of yournotice, both in a medicinal and in a toxic o-logical point of view. As a soporific it

certainly cannot be ranked either with

opium or hyoscyamus, nor would I recom-mend it to your use when your sole objectis to produce sleep; nor is it so well adapt-ed for the vast number of diseases in whichI have taught you to expect relief fromthose other sources. There are many states,however, in which it is highly serviceable,and some local and constitutional disorders,in which you will find it to possess consider-able energy. Its poisonous effects are par-ticularly interesting to those whose pro-fession may hereafter be exercised in the

country, for scarcely does an autumn pass,but we hear of some instances of children

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who, tempted by the beauty and by the the poison which, in the hands of so many.sweetness of the taste of the berries of poison venders, such as the infamous Lo.the deadly nightshade, which ripen about CUSTA, was employed to destroy so manythe month of September, are led to par- lovely women, and that it was the chieftake of them, and, consequently, to experi- ingredient of those horrible potions whichence the most excruciating torments, and, atone period, were so dreadfully notorious,where relief is not speedily procured, fre- in many parts of Italy.quently to fall victims to their ignorance. Its deadly power seems to have beenThis plant is a native of Great Britain ; known amongst i.iie*aiicieiits, and a great

it is perennial; it flowers about June and deal of classical disquisition has been in-July ; it grows generally in shady lanes and dulged in, to ascertain whether it was thehedges ; it abounds amongst old ruins. So " Mandragora morion" of THEOPHRATUS, orluxuriantly does it spring np about the the " Strychnos monike" of DIOSCORIDES,ruins of Furness Abbey, that the valley is for both these authors have described aknown by the name of the Vale of Night- plant, which seems both in external appear-shade. It used to grow in the immediate ance and in poisonous qualities to have

vicinity of London. GERARDE found it resembled belladonna.growing " without Highgate, near unto a I will spare you all discussion uponpond, or , penfold, on the left hand." Such these points, but such of on as may behave been the changes since the days of our curious upon such a subject, will be veryold herbalist, that this topographical des- much gratified by a perusal ’;of what hascription is of no service to us. RAY men- been written by JOANNES BODÆUS, one oftions it as growing in a ditch, at the end of the most diligent and learned commentatorsGoswell-street, in the road to Islington ; upon the works of THEOPHRASTUS, andand, singularly enough, in. the Anntutl Re- whose volume is an encyclopædia of clas- ,

gister, in the year 1762, there is an account sical botany. In the notes on the sixthof the death of two persons, with the fol- book, under the head of " Diandrabora,"lowing caution from Dr. HILL: ‘ This you will find all that industry and greatplant is now a quarter of a yard high, and knowledge of the classical authors couidhas an aspect so inviting, that one almost glean, both as to the opinions and the prac-wonders how nature gave to it a poison. It tical information of the Greek and Romaiihas invited many to boil it, and death was naturalists upon this subject.always in the pot.’ RAY mentions it grow- The plant is cultivated by the herbalistsing there ; it has been thought lost in that in the neiahbourhood of London, but not in

place, but I fear these unhappy persons suflicient quantity to supply the demand inhave found it." I can bear testimony to its the market, and many of our best-informedexisting twenty years ago in a spot where and diligent druggists prefer that whichour other old herbalist described it as grow- grows wild, to that which is reared by art.ing, namely, in the fields at the back of They state, that under such circumstances,Jesus College, Cambridge. it yields a purer juice, and likewise that it

It has had a vast number of appellation s. is more active, and even more copious. ItPARKINSON and GERARDE both call it " So- rises to the height of three or four feet, fromlanum lethale," and " Dwale," by which a root which is branched; the stem is her-latter name it is, even now, known in a great baceous, purple-coloured, and.covered withnumber of English counties. MATHROurs short hairs. The leaves are in pairs, ofcalls it " Solanum majus ;" so do CŒSAL- unequal size, of a dull-green colour. ThePINUS and CAMERARIUS; FUCHSIUS and flowers have somewhat of a narcotic odour;LOBEL, " Solanum somniferum ;" TRAGCs, they are solitary, drooping, supported on" Sulanum hortense ;" GESNER, " Solanum axillary peduucles. The calyx is dividedsylvaticum;" the Germans, " Tschlaff into five ovate segments. The corolla is

beere," and Tollwartz;" the French and bell-shaped, of a lnrid purple colour, withthe Italians, " Belladonna." It is from the a yellowish base. There are five stamens,Italian that we more immediately obtain and a two-lobed stigma. The fruit is a

the appellation we give it, and various are berry with two cells, smooth, and contain-the derivations assigned. PARKINSON says, ing -within its pulp a number of reniform(’The Italian dames use the juice as a seeds. The juice is sweetish, and agreeablefucus, or the distilled water thereof, perad- to the taste.venture, by the excessive cold quality, to Various are the tales on record of poi-take away their high colour, and make them soning by these berries, and there seems tolook pale:’ BODÆUS seems to hint, that be some discrepancy of opinion as to thethose who have delirium from the poison, quantity which may produce mischief; thissee beautiful women before their eyes, and may arise from the state of vegetation ofhence the name ; but others again tell us, the plant, its locality as to heat, light, andthat the name " Belladonna" was added to air. In some cases they prove a very ener-that of " Atropa," the Fate who, in the getic poison, in others they are almost inert,heathen mythology, was destined to cut or produce very transient effects. In theshort the thread of life, to distinguish it as Gazette de Sante, we learn, from the autho-

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rity of ORFILA, that in a child four berries that accompanies this state is of a veryproduced all the symptoms of poisoning, in peculiar character, so likewise is the sopor.another six, and in grown-up youths the The mind seems filled with agreeable reve-same number of berries have been prodac- ries, and the individual sometimes followstive of serious mischief; whilst, on the his usual occupation. Of this an instanceother hand, HALLER speaks of a fellow-stu- is given in the case of a tailor, who seateddent, named SIMON, who ate a large number himself on his shop-board, and for fifteenwithout any injury. M. GIGAULT gives us hours went through his usual business,similar instances; one of them, a young moving his lips as if speaking, althoughman, took upwards of a pound before going quite insensible, from an injection of bella-to bed; he had no medical assistance till donna. There are various narratives in ourthe following morning, and then the only periodical literature well worthy of yoursymptom was delirium, which very spee- attentive perusal, some of which give youdily yielded to proper treatment. These instances of deaths, others of recovery ;berries are, however, generally speaking, sometimes slow, at others very rapid in

highly poisonous, and we must bear in their progress. Amongst these I must refermind the warning of our ancient friend you to two cases, narrated in the illedico-GERARDE, who says, " If you will follow Chirurgical Review, for July, 1827; to themy counsel, deal not with the same in any Journal de Sedillot, for December, 1813,case, and banish it from your gardens, and where are given the symptoms observed inthe use of it also, being a plant so furious a hundred and fifty soldiers, who were poi-and deadly; for it bringeth such as have soned by the berries at Pirua, near Dres-eaten thereof into a deep sleep, whereof den tothe fifth volume of the Philosophicalmany have died, as hath been seen, and Transactions, where you will observe someproved by experience, both in England and interesting cases; to the sixth volume ofelsewhere ; but to give you an example the London Medical Observations and In-hereof shall not be amiss. It came to pass quiries, where there are instances given bythat three boys of Wisbeach, in the Isle of Mr. BRUMMELL; to GILBFPT BURNETT’SEly, did eat of the pleasant and beautiful edition of Medical Botany ; and to those twofruit hereof; two whereof died, in less than works on Toxicology, which are the besteight hours, after they had eaten of them. authorities in England and in France,’ theThe third child had a quantity of water and one of Dr. CHRISTISON, of Edinburgh, thehoney, mixed together, given him to drink, other of ORFILA, of Paris. From all thesecausing him to vomit often. God blessed you will learn that the effects are seldomthis means, and the child recovered." transient, that they very often leave very. Genera!ly speaking, the first suspicion of striking sequelæ; that even when the worstpoisoning by these berries arises from the symptoms have disappeared, impaired me-sudden and uncontrollable fits of laughter mory, delirium, blindness, tremors, havethat burst forth, and the grasping at imagi- continued some weeks; and that even thennary objects. The eyeballs appear pro- nervous disorders have occasionally trou-minent and inflamed; the pupil is immove- bled the unfortunate sufferer.ably dilated; the retina insensible to the All parts of the plant are poisonous; somestimulus of light. There is complete loss consider the root to be the most energetic.Of voice. To these symptoms, after a very The extract in common use is obtained from

short space of time, succeeds difficulty of the leaves, which, as in some other plants,deglutition. The face flushes, then becomes are, when fresh gathered, bruised, sprinkledpale ; it tumefies; blotches of redness ap- with a little water on a stone mortar, thepear on different parts of the surface of the juice pressed out, and evaporated, unstrain-body ; patches which very much resemble ed, to a proper consistence. You will findthose which are observed in scarlet fever; the extracts of the shops vary very much inthe lips become dry, as do the gums, the energy in particular seasons. This year youtongue, the palate, the uvula, and fauces; will be struck with its excellence, for thethe voice is recovered, but it is hoarse and last season was remarkably fine for thegrating ; and then excessive loquaciousness growth of belladonna; whilst there was ais apt to supervene. The individual moves universal complaint of its being bad forabout in a state of apparent insensibility, hyoscyamus, and hence the extract of theunconscious of surrounding objects, but latter is by no means so powerful as it verystill performing mechanically his usual often is. This is of course dependent uponfunctions. As the poison is more com- circumstances, over which neither the her-pletely absorbed into the system, the symp- balist nor the druggist can have the slightesttoms become more urgent, and are somewhat controul ; but yet how important is it thataltered in their character; the jaw becomes these facts should be made known to thelocked, the muscles of the face are quite practitioner, and how often must he be dis-rigid ; there is impossibility of standing ; appointed in the effects he anticipated fromgreat tumefaction and redness of the face; his remedies. It should likewise be knownaphthæ; strangury ; a sense of burning to those who keep the extract of belladonnaalong the intestinal canal. The delirium in their shops, for use, that in about two

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months after it has been prepared a great nauseous narcotic odour. LEIBIG gave to

change takes place in the chemical relation- the Journal de Chimie llledicnle, in 1833, auship of the particles of which it is composed analysis of atropine, in which he stated it- a decomposition occurs, and new combi- to contain 2 atoms of azote, 22 ofcarbou, 30nations are formed—a very large proportion of hydrogen, and 3 of oxygen ; but I ob.of it becomes insoluble in distilled water, serve, in the Annales de Plaartnacie, for thealthough it had previously been perfectly same year, another analysis, in which hesoluble. By proper means the leaves may gives 34 atoms of carbon, 23 of hydrogen, 6be preserved in glass jars for a considerable of oxygen, and 1 of azote; and I have againlength of time, and their odour, their colour, seen another analysis; I, therefore, know notand their medicinal properties will be which is the correct one ; this, however,perfectly unimpaired. Of the extract, dif- rather belongs to the department of theferent doses may be administered, according chemist than to us, nor should I have noticedto the nature and the seat of the disease. it but that the discrepancy struck me.A large dose, that is, more than a grain and Atropine enters into combination witha half, is productive of headach and of loss acids to form salts, and has general alkalineof memory, but where actual pain occurs properties ; it dilates the pupil of the eye,this may be safely employed; but one third and this effect lasts for some time; on vapoursof a grain of a good extract is a sufficient from a solution of the nitrate, phosphate, ordose to commence with, under ordinary cir- sulphate of atropine, have the same in-

. cumstances. Mr. BATTLEY, who certainly fluence; and when BRANDES tasted a salt ofunderstands the treatment of vegetable atropine, dilatation followed to so great amatter, as well as any person with whom I degree that it lasted twelve hours, aud wasam acquainted, has given to the profession not influenced by the shades of light. Aa very useful preparation, which he calls small quantity of the sulphate of atropine"liquor belladonnæ." It is a maceration of tasted by him caused violent lzeadach, difthe leaves in distilled water ; some little ficulty of breathing, and cold chills, whichmanipulation is required to squeeze out the lasted nearly half an hour. Even exposurealbuminous matter, which causes the de- to the vapours of atropine, whilst preparingcomposition which I have mentioned as oc- it, made him so violently ill as to make himcurring in the extract. This must be done desist from further experiments.with great gentleness and caution, in order There are many diseases in which bella-not to disturb the component particles too donna is superior to opium or to hyoscya-much. This and other liquors of vege- mus; neither of these will so completelytables, have been introduced into prac- controul pertussis, or hooping cough; but ittice by Mr. BATTLEY, and I think there are must be purely of the spasmodic form; either,some of them which deserve the notice of inflammatory or catarrhal A is cflicaciousthe profession. in. The plaister applied to the chest oftenTo M. MEIN, even from the avowal of produces a ,striking relief in this disease;

GEIGER, is to be attributed the discovery of but whilst thus employed, or given inter-

pure atropine, the principle to which bel- nally, you must be aware that it will pro-ladonna owes its narcotic energy. BRANDES duce dilatation of the pupil, and other strik-and GEiGER were both employed upon ing effects. Of this GUERSENT gives us twothis vegetable, when lie first made known examples, one a child of seven years of age,the process by which it is obtained ; and in another much younger; in both these in-the Journal de Pharmacie for 1834, may be stances, the extract taken internally producedlearnt the steps he followed. Pure atropine enormous dilatation of the pupil, and in theis white, crystallizable in transparent first instance confused vision and headach,prisms, and of a silky appearance. It is butnot in the other. Dr. GOLIS employs theinodorous, soluble in absolute alkohol, and root, of which he gives a grain; the effect isin sulphuric aether, both of these liquids the same. I have, when speaking ONIYOS-more readily acting on it when they are cyamus, described the power possessed bywarm. ’ Water, at the ordinary temperature, these plants of dilating the pupil; belladonnadissolves but little. M. MEIN found this possesses it in a much greater degree.solution very slightly bitter; but the other Dr. MOTARD, of Turin, is in the habit ofchemists, GEIGER and HESSE, thought it of a moistening a pinch of snuff with a solutionvery disagreeable bitterness. GEIGER and of belladonna, and introducing it into theHESSE observed a remarkable property of nostril of the side on which he wishes toatropine, which is the quick alteration which dilate the pupil of the eye; the dilatationit undergoes when in simple contact with takes place in a minute or two, and lastsair or with water, at the ordinary tempera- about two days.ture. It loses the power of crystallization ; Of the employment of belladonna, as athe crystals disappear ; the fluid acquires a prophylactic, or preventive to scarlatina, Iyellowish tint, which, upon evaporation, wish now to speak, but previous to that Igives a residue which is not crystallizable, must introduce you to a system of whichsoluble in every proportion in water; and you have heard nnfch, that of homoeopathy,this newly-formed atropine acquires a most for to the founder of that sect we owe what-

.

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ever knowledge we possess of the peculiar there might issue from it the sort of ro-

effects of the herb upon that epidemic ; be- mance which belongs to that nation, withoutsides which, in the materia medica of the the censure that has been lavished uponbelievers in that creed, belladonna bears the him, we cannot but regret that he shouldfirst character; it is considered by them the have met with such unseemly opposition,indispensable medicine, par excellence, in and, on some occasions, with actual perse-acute disease, and it is looked upon by them cution, for his opinions. It is a disgrace onas their sheet anchor in a vast number of the character of our humane and liberaldisorders. I shall not hesitate to quote the science, that her votaries should so often,language, in the original, of one’ of their in their zeal for their cause, forget thatmost intelligent writers on this subject, and which is due even to the mistaken labourersan enthusiast of no ordinary talent, Dr. in the arduous paths we have to pursue.PESCHIER. He says " La belladonna est Ignorance, superstition, and bigotry, havepour 1’homocopathie le medicament indis- their foul excuse for the persecutions ofpensable, par excellence, dans le traitement COPERNICUS, of GALILEO, and of SEavFTUS;des maladies aigues, c’est tous les jours, but gentle science must blush when HARVEYa tons momens, que le besoins’en fait sentir or NEWTON are assailed by the malignantdans la pratique, c’est aussi tons les jours, a jeaiousies of the learned, or, if a feeble efforttous momens que le practicien voit des ef- be made against her truths by assailantsfects niervielleux surgir, a la suitede 1’emploi ’such as HAHNNEMAN, when they incur sor-de cette substance, et c’est de la maniere la row, poverty, and exile, instead of calm

plus rapide, et Is, plus complete." After such inquiry, and well-deserved refutation ofa strong eulogium, you cannot be surprized their heresies. It is true that the followersthat I feel it t be my duty to dwell a little of this sect have, in many instances, broughtupon the points connected with this subject. disgrace upon their leader, for they haveAs this is the first opportunity I have been incapable of practising his tenets.

had to speak of a system which has not Many of them know little but the most in-only created an intense interest in the pro- significant part of his doctrine, and even notfession, but has also been the theme of dis- that correctly. They have seemed to ima-cussion amongst the uninitiated, who are gine, that the whole of the knowledge de-always greedy of novelty, and most admire penned upon giving the most minute dosesthat which they least understand, I cannot of medicine. They have been more distin-but think it right to trace the history of the guished by their ignorance of the basis onrise and progress of one of the most extra- which the practice of our science rests, than.ordinary sects ,that have, in modern days, for the clearness with which they have ex-sprung up in the annals of our art. My plained the views they ought to be acquaint-first step must be to give you a short sketch ecl with. Their great aim seems to haveof the biography of the extraordinary indi- been to overthrow that which they havevidual who is the sole parent of the new neither the industry nor the ability -to ac-doctrine, more particularly as it is com- quire; and they have cloaked their incapa-pletely interwoven with the system he has bilities under a mask, which, when torn fromintroduced. I have to speak to you of a their faces, discloses features upon whichman of high intellectual attainments, of sense has never stamped her beautiful linea-great sagacity, of inflexible courage, and of ments. They point to the experiments ofunwearied industry, who, amid difliculties HAHNNEMAN; call his art practical,—ours,of no common kind, has laid the foundation conjectural. They will not inquire into theof a system, which, whilst it cannot but seat, the nature, and the causes of disease ;create a few smiles at its singularity, is the they are satisfied with symptoms, and theywork of great erudition, much toil, and echo back the language of their master,striking ingenuity. We must not confound that our deep research leads only to con-HAHNNEMAN with those despicable charla- jecture. If a thorough knowledge of alltans who would sacrifice, at the altar of the facts relating=to the human body, ob-avarice, the lives and the happiness of served almost from the beginning of time tothousands, who prey upon; their deluded the present hour,-if the application of allvictims by the most daring and insolent such observations, to that which daily pre-effrontery,—who have neither the education sents itself, be called conjectural,-if a care-nor the feelings of men of principle, and ful comparison, made by a long series ofwhose success in their vile occupation is a studious, inquiring, intelligent men, whoreflection upon the state of society. The have transmitted to each other, not oral tra-great acquirements of HAHNNEMAN,—the ditions, but writings woven into a clear,boldness with which he has promulgated concise, and intelligible system, be calledhis doctrine,-the skill and the fierceness conjectural,-then must I yield the point,with which he has carried on his arduous and grant that that which I now look uponcontroversies, mark him as a man of no as the noblest monument of human reason,ordinary stamp. However much we may is a fallacy unworthy of the human race. Welaugh at some of his vagaries, and the wild do not pretend that our science is perfect ;conceptions of a brain so truly German, that in common with all that belongs to hama-

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nity, we feel our own imperfections ; butwe claim for ourselves a knowledge of themost important phoenomena. of life, of health,and of disease. It has been handed downto us by a long list of venerable guides;and the industry, the sagacity, and the un-wearied attention of a number of intellectualbeings, is daily and hourly increasing andimproving it. We cannot consent to aban-don that which reason and experience havetaught us to be an invaluable treasure ;but we will gladly hail any addition to ourstores, or any improvement upon the modeof collection, or of distributing them to theworld. If, in learning the new doctrines,the slowness of our apprehension should beurged against us, we must plead, as an ex-cuse, that we have been trained up in theschool of the cautious, the dispassionate,

the penetrating SYDENHAM; that we havestudied the unimaginative volumes of CUL-LEN, and heard the philosophic discoursesof GREGORY, and therefore we can the lesseasily imbibe the brilliant fancies, the spe-culative dreams, and the fantastic colour-

ings of a susceptible mind. Accustomedto watch the deviations from nature in

others, and to hasten to relieve them, wehave had no time to dwell upon our feelingsin health, to watch minute shades of diffe-rence in sensation, and to trace them tocauses which, indeed, could not exist inour state of being. This, however, mustnot prevent our candid examination of thelabou’s s of others, nor our comparison of ourknowledge with that which others may offerto present to us instead of our own, nor canit induce us to perpetrate an act of injusticeagainst him who offers to be our guide. We,indeed, ought to examine with indulgenceall that is brought before us.The struggles through life, the difficulties

which medical men, and persons of genius,have to encounter in its paths, are well ex-emplified in the life of HAHNNEMAN. Hewas born in the year 1755, at a small townin Saxony,’ called Meissen. In his youthhe was particularly distinguished for hisindustry and for his facility of acquiring in-formation. In the year 1775, at the age oftwenty, he went to the University of Leip-sic. The whole sum contained in his pursewas twenty ducats, with which he com-menced the study of medicine. With amost praiseworthy industry he increased hishumble resources, by translating into Ger-man the most esteemed of our English medi-cal authors ; and to this occupation, what-ever may have been the originality of hisviews, he owes his acquaintance with me-dical science, and from this source he firstimbibed that love of inquiry for which hehas been so much distinguished. For two

years he labourcd with incessant and praise-worthy assiduity; he then went to Viennato prosecute his studies at the hospital;he quickly gained the attention Of QUARI N

he became his favourite pupil, and was oc-casionally allowed the charge of the patients;but the expences of a capital were too greatfor him ; his finances were completely ex-hausted, and he was on the point of aban-doning his profession, and of being classedamongst those, to whom" Knowledge to their eyes her ample page,

Rich with the spoils of time, did ne’er unroll;Chill penury repressed their noble rage,And froze the genial current of the soul."

Most unwillingly was he obliged to leavethe hospital where he had gained the friend-ship and the confidence of the director.; hewent almost into banishment, to Herman-stadt, where he acted in the double capa-city of librarian and physician to the gover-nor of Transylvania; he there, by the dint ofeconomy, saved a sum which enabled him tograduate at Erlangen; his thesis was, "Con-spectus ’adfectuum spasmodicorum ætiolo-gicus et therapeuticus." He then returnedto Saxony, and after many changes, settled,about the year 1789, at Leipzig; he princi-pally occupied himself in studying chemistryand mineralogy, and in translations from theEnglish, the French, and the Italian, for theGerman periodical journals. For this hisvaried accomplishments admirably fitted him,nor was he idle in original inquiries, for heturned his attention to the consideration ofarsenic, and his work, Uber die Arsenic Ver-giftung, is often quoted by the best writers ontoxicology, as a standard authority. It is amost elaborate performance, and was as muchdistinguished for the minuteness of his re-searches, as for the clearness with which heexplains them. A preparation known in Ger-many under the name of " Hahnnemani mer-curius solubilis," or " Hydrargum oxydyr-latum nygsum," and which corresponds withthe " Oxydum hydrargyri" of the presentPharmacopeia, also engaged his attention.In the year 1790, he undertook to translate

Cullen’s Materia Medica, and whilst thusoccupied, his attention was drawn to thehypotheses which are advanced to accountfor the febrifuge power of cinchona bark;he was so much dissatisfied with them, thathe determined to ascertain, by experimentsmade upon himself, some facts which he be-lieved might bring him to arrive at sounderconclusions, and these trials led him to thefoundation of all his future system. Hefound that the bark taken by him in a stateof health, produced an intermittent fever,quite analogous to that for which this drugis a specific remedy; and that, besides, anumber of symptoms occurred, of which nomention is to be found in any of the workson materia medica. The effect producedupon him, led to the idea that the febrifugepower was dependent upon its property ofproducing the identical fever ; in fact, thatthat which proclucecla deviation from the nor-mal state, was, from its possession of someinnate connexion, the very cause of restoring

895

the organs and tissues to their healthy con- "

dition. He determined to try a series of ex-

periments upon his body, with the varioustherapeutic agents, and to watch the symp-toms which they produced in a state ofhealth. This plan he executed with a zealand a patience which were worthy of thegreat object he had in view, and which, Ilament to say, were not bestowed upon asubject which carries conviction with it,and which could obtain the general belief.Others, and amongst them ANDRAL, have sincegone through the same trials, and have notobtained similar results. To this it may bereplied, that none of those who have triedupon themselves the effect of his medica-ments have undergone the same preparatorydiscipline ; for this indefatigable and cau-tions philosopher underwent privations ofevery kind, a regimen the most severe, andhe submitted himself for many years to dailysuffering, from the doses of active poisonswhich he had the courage and the honestyto try upon himself. A few friends co-

operated with him, but he was the daringleader through paths untrod before. The

discoveries, which appeared to him as in-

teresting as they were astonishing, repaidhim for his curiosity and his exertion.

In prosecuting these inquiries, he fanciedthat he found an analogy between the symp-toms produced by sulphur, and those whichbelong to the loathsome disease which itcures, the itch ; and the same between thatsingular and marvellously-endowed mineralwhich must be hereafter the subject of ourmost minute attenation, mercury, and thefrightful disease which it cures, namely, thevenereal curse. Abandoning the great andphilosophic principle uponwhich our scienceis founded, the discovery of the seat andof the cause of disease, HAHNNEMAN gavehimself only to’ the consideration of symp-toms ; instead of applying, as we do, to thedisease, our remedies, he sought for a medi-cine which bore some analogy to the promi-nentsymptoms that presented themselves,andadministered it. For the purpose of ascer-taining what property each drug posgess-I’d of cotnbatiugasymptom, his labours wereimmense, as well as for the application of hisnewrinciple ; for although it may be saidthat the doctrine of " similia similibus" isas old as the first tounders of our science,still it comes to us in a new form, and with ia new application. He observed, that asthe administration of a remedy which pro-duced the very symptom which it eventuallycured, caused a momentary aggravation ofthis morbid condition, it became necessaryto give very minute doses, and he, there-fore, began to reduce the quantities of medi-cines ordinarily employed. He commencedby portions of grains, such as would be thecase with arsenic, or with the newly-disco-vered alkalies. The want of a rigorous ex-actness iu the appreciable quantities of doses,

suggested to his mind the following pro-cess, by which he might apportion his quan-tities. He mingled together the active

juices of plants, in determined proportions,with alcohol, which served as their conser-vative principle; thus, a drop of the juiceof a plant, intimately mixed with 99 dropsof alkohol, gave a preparation of which

every drop contained 2- drop of the medi-cine, and one of those drops, mixed with 99drops more of the alkohol, carried on thedivision to I He carried the same prin-ciple into action with dry pulverizablebodies, using the sugar of milk as themedium.

Whilst preparing his medicaments, HAH-NNEHAN made a discovery of a very singularnature, and of the truth of which there ap-pears to be, no doubt ; but not to the extentpretended, namely, that during the bruisingof solid substances, and the agitation ofliquids, the energy of their therapeuticpower is developed in a still higher degree ;that by long trituration and manipulation,carried certainly by him to a most ridicu-lous point, a single grain will acquire theactivity is possessed by ten times its quantity.A long series of inductive experiments ledhim to the employment of infinitessimal dosesof his remedies, thus prepared, and this wasdone from observing that if he did not thusapportion his quantity of a medicine dulyshaken and bruised, he often increasedrather than diminished the malady.

It was at Georgenthal, in a lunatic asy-lum, that HAHNNEMAN obtained the firstsuccess which struck the public mind. Itwas the recovery of a man of great literaryattainments, KLOCKENBRING, who was saidto have been of the most sensitive mind, andso feelingly alive to censure that, singularlyenough, he was supposed to have beendriven mad by an epigram of the unfortunateKoTXEBUE. He then practised, in 1794,at Brunswick and at Keenigslutter, andthere the severe opposition first commenced.Some of his contemporaries, and the druggistsof the town, entered into a combinationagainst him. They brought into play an oldlaw,which prohibited physicians from mak-ing up their medicines, and as he would notconsent to give his adversaries an opportu-nity of thwarting his views, by not properlyadhering to the formation of his medicines,he left the country; he retired first to Ham-burg, then to Eilenbourg, then to Torgau.He then commenced the publication of hissystem in Huftland’s Journal, which broughtupon him the most violent attacks, to whichhe replied with great vigour and warmth.An angry war arose, which was pursuedwith extreme bitterness, and tremendousshedding of ink. ’

,

In the year 1800 a new light burst in uponthe mind of HAHNNEMAN. A most frightful

896epidemic scarlet fever, ravaged a part ofGermany; he sought for an appropriate re-medy ; he knew that belladonna producedred patches and eruptions similar to thatdisorder; he tried, therefore, in accordancewith his system, that remedy, and he foundit successful; after having obtained thisresult, he was led to inquire whether thismight not act upon the constitution, so as toproduce a disease which might prevent thecontagion of scarlet fever from becoming ’,,developed, in the same manner as the vac-cine virus takes such possession of thesystem as to prevent the action of the vari-olous poison. Of the success of this prophy-lactic measure I shall speak in my nextlecture.

In 1805 HAHNNEMAN.. published Fragmentade viribzcs medicamentorum Jlositivis, sive insano cotpore humano obse7’vatis; but in 1810,his great work, which has gone throughfour editions, and has been translated intodifferent languages, Novurn Organon, ap.peared. He began to have disciples, andsome medical men became his patients, andspread his doctrines ; thus, Dr. NECKER, ofNaples, Dr.AEGIDJ, and Dr. PETERSEX.who,when ill,had undergone the practice, usual-ly followed without relief, declared them-selves cured, convinced, and students ofthe new art. In 1811 he published hisJJIateria Dledica, or which six volnmes ap-peared in succession. About this time hesettled at Leipsic, and published his thesisDe helleborismo veterum.

In 1820 new persecutions drove him fromthe town; but FERDINAND, Duke of AnhaltKothen, offered the illustrious exile an asy-lum at his residence, and received him withthe distinction which his perseverance, hisconsistency, and his talents, so justly en-titled him to enjoy.

EXTERNAL APPLICATION OF OPIUM

IN INFLAMMATORY DISEASES, BUT ESPECIALLY IN

BRONCHITIS AND CROUP.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.SiR:—As I have, for many years, em-

ployed opium externally in the treatment ofsome internal diseases, I eagerly perusedDr. Sigmond’s remarks on the subject, inTHE LANCET of the 28th of January last:but I was disappointed to find, that he refersonly to its effects when absorbed throughthe skin. I have used it most extensively,and with the happiest result; but I havenever prescribed its application where Ithought’that there was even a chance of itsbeing absorbed.As Dr. Sigmond takes no notice of any

action on the system produced by opium soapplied, independently of absorption, I pre-’sume that his opinion is, that it exerts none.

If so, he deceives himself, and is una.c-

quainted with one of the best means ofarresting febrile and innammatory actions,and of many other advantages to be derivedfrom this invaluable drug. I hope that whatI say may be taken in good part. I embracebut the opportuuity which this omission, asI conceive it to be, in Dr. Sigmond’s lecturesgives me of again pleading, in favour ofopium as a substitute for venesection insome inflammatory diseases, more especiallyin bronchitis and croup.When opium is applied extensively.to the

surface of the body during health, it dimi- --

nishes the frequency of the pulse, acceleratesthe peristaltic motion of the intestines, m-creases some of the internal secretions,creates hunger, prod’uces’the sensation ofcold, and even of shivering.Some, perhaps all, of your readers, may

have their doubts concerning these effects;but they need not long doubt, for, by asimple experiment, they may test the truth of my assertion. In THE LANCET of the 5thof September, 1835, you were pleased .to

permit to be inserted some remarks of mineon the external use of opium, and there alsomay be found a formula for the linamentwhich I was in the habit of using. Let those,then, who doubt, make use of an ounce ofthat liniment, any morning before getting .

out of bed-let it be applied to the breast,neck, sides, and bowels, &c. The greaterthe surface over which it is spread, thebetter, and then let them note the effects,:it need not be rubbed in, but merely rubbedon.

In croup and bronchitis, in children, theeffect is truly astonishing. These diseases,which, from the onset, threaten life, are suddenly and effectually subdued by this simplemeans ; diseases, too, requiring, accordingto prevailing notions, treatment which, ofitself, is sufficient to destroy life, and whichhas most certainly too often deprived thppatient of the chance of recovery. It mayseem that I speak individually, but howcan I express myself otherwise? When I

followed the routine practice, I was notmore successful in my cures than wereothers; and now that all my patients spee-dily recover, am I not justified in blamingmy former treatment as the cause of themortality, rather than the disease itself/ -?Besides, the success spoken of, I might givemany reasons why I consider the depleting’system the most erroneous and dangerous practice that could possibly be invented ;but that would necessarily lead to a dis-quisition regarding the nature of these dis-eases, and also the mode of operation of theremedies ; whereas my intention is to statesimple facts, which I trust may lead someof your readers to give my plan a trial. Ihave now,had six or seven years experiencein the plan of treatment which I advise, andhave not lost a single case from bronchitis.


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