Materia Medica
Physostigma
Calabar Bean
This remedy and its active principle, Eserine, form a valuable addition to Materia Medica. Stimulates heart, raises blood pressure, and increases peristalsis. Causes contraction of the pupil and of the ciliary muscles. In- duces a condition of short-sightedness. Spinal irritation, loss of motility, prostration, with very sensitive verte- brae. Fibrillary tremors. Rigidity of muscles; paralysis. Depresses the motor and reflex activity of the cord and causes loss of sensibility to pain, muscular weakness, followed by complete paralysis, aithough muscular con- tractility is not impaired. Paralysi
Head
Constant pain on top; vertigo, with con- strictive feeling of head. Pain over orbits; cannot bear to raise eyelids. Cerebro-spinal meningitis; genera! tetanic rigidity. Spastic conditions of the face-muscles.
Eyes
Night-blindness [Opposite : Bothrops] ; photo- phobia; contraction of pupils; twitching of ocular mus- cles. I Lagophthalmus. Musca volitantes; flashes of light; partial blindness. Glaucoma; paresis of accom- modation; astigmatism. Profuse lachrymation. Spasm of ciliary musrle, with irritability after using eyes. In- creasiny myopia. Post-diphtheritic paralysis of eye and accommodation muscles. , Nose. - Fluent coryza; burning and tingling of nos- 589 trils; nose stuffed and hot. Fever-blisters around nos- trils.
Mouth
Tongue feels sore on tip. Feeling as if a ball came up throat.
Throat
Strong heart-pulsation felt in throat.
Stomach
Great pain immediately after eating. Sen- sitive to pressure in epigastric region. Pain extends into chest and down arms. Gastralgia; chronic consti- pation. Femaie.-- Irregular menstruation, with palpitation. Congestion of eyes. Rigid muscles.
Heart
Feeble pulse; palpitation ; spasmodic action, with feeling of pulsation through the whole body. Beats of heart distinctly perceptible in chest and head. Flut- tcrino of heart felt in throat. Fatty degeneration. [Cu?. ac.]
Extremities
Pain in right popliteal space. Burning and tingling in pint. Hands and feet numb. Sudden jerking of limbs on going to sleep. Tetanic convulsions. Locomotor ataxia. Numbness in paralyzed parts, crampy pains in limbs.
Relationships
Compare: Eserine -- the alkaloid of Physostigma - (slows action of heart and increases arterial tension; in ciliary spasm and astigmatism due to irregular action of ciliary muscles; blepharo-spasms; pupils contracted. Twitching of lids, soreness of eye- balls, blurring of vision after using eyes, pains around eyes and head). Used locally to contrac the pupil. Eserine contracts the pupils dilated by Atropin, but not those dilated by Gelsemium. Eserin Salicylate (post-operative intestinal paralysis; meteorism. Hypodermically 1/60 - 1/40 gr.). Compare also: Muscarin; Conium; Curara; Gels.: Thebainum (tetanus). In glaucoma com.; Piper- cinun -- (Uric acid conditions. Gout and urinary cal- culi. Give one grain daily in carbonate water. First and second decimal trituration three times a day.) Antidote: Atropia.
Dose
Third potency. The neutral sulphate of Eserine is instilled into the eye, from one-half to four grains to one ounce distilled water, to induce contrac- tion of pupil, in mydriasis, injuries to the eye, iritis, corneal ulcers, etc.