Rhus Venenata rhus-v.

Poison-elder

The skin symptoms of this species of Rhus are most severe.

Great melancholy; no desire to live, gloomy.

Heavy, frontal headache; worse, walking or stooping. Eyes nearly closed with great swelling. Vesicular inflammation of ears. Nose red and shiny. Face swollen.

Red at tip. Fissured in middle. Vesicles on under side.

Profuse, watery, white stools in morning, 4 am, with colicky pains; expelled with force. Pain in hypogastrium before every stool.

Paralytic drawing in right arm, especially wrist, and extending to fingers.

Itching; relieved by hot water. Vesicles. Erysipelas; skin dark red. Erythema nodosum, with nightly itching and pains in long bones.

Antidote: Clematis. The California Poison-oak (Rhus diversiloba) is identical with it. It antidotes Radium and follows it well. Compare: Anacard.

Sixth to thirtieth potency.

Rhus venenata. Poison Elder. Poison Sumach. Swamp Sumach. — It is frequently named "R. Vernix," and it is given under this name in Hempel's Jahr ., but the name belongs properly to the allied Varnish-tree of Japan. (North America, in swampy ground.) N. O. Anacardiaceæ. Tincture of fresh leaves and stem.

Boils. Chilblains. Diarrhœa. Dyspepsia. Dysphagia. Eczema . Eruptions. Erysipelas . Erythema nodosum. Glands, cervical, ulceration of. Hæmorrhoids. Herpes. Hydroa. Impetigo. Irritation. Lips, swollen; sore . Lumbago. Measles. Menorrhagia. Ophthalmia. Paraplegia. Prurigo. Purpura . Scabies. Stiff neck. Tongue, cracked . Urticaria.

Rhus ven . is one of the most actively poisonous of the Rhoes. P. B. Hoyt, who (according to Hale) first drew attention to it, and made the first provings, says it is more poisonous than Rh. t ., which he can handle with impunity, whilst he was violently affected by Rh. v . in spite of extreme caution. Further, he considers it more actively curative; in a case of Rhus sore throat, when Rh. t . failed Rh. v . acted with excellent effect. Another observer, Butman, says that persons who have been poisoned by Rh. t . are more liable than others to Rh. v . poisoning, the Rh. v . is "set to work" by the Rh. t . On the other hand Rh. v . in the attenuations is credited with the cure of Rh. t . poisoning. Hoyt's experience is interesting. Wishing to prepare a tincture he went to a swamp and procured some sprouts. In doing this he had on a pair of buckskin gloves, and kept carefully to the windward side of the plant. Nevertheless in an hour and a half a most intense itching and burning (more burning) set in in scrotum and penis. The glans was very painful; slight friction > for a moment the itching but not the burning. The symptoms continued next day. At 11 a.m. he made the tincture, using great caution in manipulating the plant. At 3 p.m. itching and burning began on back of right hand. A restless night followed. Awoke in morning with itching, especially on palmar surface of wrists. This spread all over body, symptoms steadily advancing. Dizziness; eyes and ears became affected, fever set in. When the symptoms passed off it was found that some chronic dyspeptic symptoms and inflammation of the eyes had been much benefited. — I have frequently used Rh. v . with good effect in skin diseases. Bayes told me of a case of universal eczema with intense distress in an old man which he cured in a fortnight with Rh. v . A case of pemphigus in a young man of 27 came under my care after years of treatment under allopathic specialists who had given him Arsenic until they could give no more, telling him at the same time that nothing but Arsenic could do him any good. Rh. v . 3x and 30 completely cured in a few months, and the cure enabled the patient to marry. I have found Rhus an excellent remedy for arsenical overdosing. A minor use of Rh. v . is as a topical remedy in itching, burning chilblains. The Ø tincture painted on relieves almost instantly and practically cures the chilblains in a large number of cases. Rh. v . has many symptoms referring to the bones; and according to Hering it affects those parts where the bones are directly covered with skin, as the forehead, backs of lingers, &c. There is a "pain half way down the œsophagus" which is probably a variant of the Rhus "Pain between the shoulders on swallowing food." Peculiar Sensations of Rh. v . are: Sensation as if mouth and throat had been scalded. As if sand on lips; in mouth. Sensation in arm as if the bone would break. Pains wander about; upward and downward along the periosteum; come and go suddenly; chill runs up back. Butman observed that blondes are more susceptible to Rh. v . poisoning than brunettes. When once affected persons are liable to a renewal of the affection (without further poisoning) each year at the same time. Persons poisoned by Rh. t . and r . are more liable to be poisoned by Rh. v . Children are more readily poisoned than adults. Hale records a case bearing on the comparative action of Rh. v . with Rh. r . and Rh. t .: A lady had several times every year a sore mouth, with intense redness of mucous membrane of tongue, cheeks, and fauces in small vesicular points; intense burning and feeling as if mouth and throat had been scalded. If unchecked every mucous membrane including those of rectum and vagina became involved. No remedy helped till Rhus was tried. Rh. r . and Rh. t . only slightly relieved, but Rh. v . 3 always removed the affection quickly. Under the name Rhus vernix E. F. Beckwith relates ( M. A ., xx. 369) the poisoning of Mrs. T. Williams, 32, sandy hair, light complexion, good general health. Twelve years before she had worked all day over a stove in which the wood of Swamp Sumach was burned. She was badly poisoned, was unable to see for four or five days, and was treated with lotions of sugar of lead and butter-milk. Ever since then she had a rash just before the menses, or if she took cold. At the time Beckwith saw her she had a lump in centre of left breast, a dense mass occupying nearly one-half the gland substance, which she believed to be cancer, a sister having died of what was said to be cancer of the breast. She had first noticed it, the size of a hazel-nut, six years before when nursing her last child. The symptoms connected with this were also < before menses and had Rhus characteristics. The symptoms from this patient I have marked (B) in the Schema. The symptoms were < by touch and pressure. > Gently rubbing and scratching. < Before stools. < Damp days. < Hot weather. < Rest. > Moderate exercise or open air. > Hot bath. Chills in warm room. Washing with cold water or snow > itching on back. < Mental exercise. Motion < pain in elbow. Walking < frontal headache. Eating raw things < burning of lips. All symptoms < morning after waking. Diarrhœa 4 a.m. "Pain as if sprained" shows the relation of this Rhus to sprains. It is most poisonous on hot days in summer; to persons immediately after a meal; and to those in a state of perspiration — "if my skin was perfectly dry when collecting the juice of Rh. v ., it had not the slightest effect on me" (Bigelow, quoted by Hale).

Continue in Clarke 27 more passages →

Poison Sumach. Anacardiaceæ.
Grows in swampy localities in Canada and the United States.
The tincture is prepared from the fresh leaves and bark.
Provings by Bute, Archiv für Hom., vol. 15, p. 179 ; Kunze, N. Zeit. für Klinik, vol. 12, p. 155 ; Burt, Am. Hom. Rev., vol. 5, p. 23 ; Œhme, N. E. Med. Gaz., vol. 1, p. 121 ; Butman, N. E. Med. Gaz., vol. 4, p. 200 ; McGeorge, H. M., vol. 7, p. 315.
CLINICAL AUTHORITIES.
- Sore mouth , Burt, A. H. O., vol. 2, p. 66 ; Ulceration of cervical glands , Thomas, B. J. H., vol. 14, p. 350 ; Swelling on wrist , Thomas, B. J. H., vol. 14, p. 349 ; Chronic rheumatism , Thomas, B. J. H., vol. 16, p. 329 ; Use in suppuration, etc ., Thomas, B. J. H., vol. 14, p. 350 ; Erythema nodosum , Œhme, N. E. M. G., vol. 1, p. 152 ; Pfander, A. H. Z., vol. 108, p. 36 ; Impetigo , Œhme, N. E. M. G., vol. 1, p. 151 ; Erysipelas , Small, Raue's Rec., 1873, p. 240, from U. S. M. and S. Jour., vol. 7, p. 156 ; Rhus poisoning (2 cases), McGeorge, Hah. Mo., vol. 7, p. 322.

Great sadness, no desire to live, everything seems gloomy.
Inability, at times, to connect ideas ; forgetfulness ; dull and stupid feeling.

Vertigo ; < in evening ; intolerable heaviness of head.

Dull heavy, frontal headache, < walking and stooping.

Great swelling of head, face and hands, with sharp, irritating fever.
Vesicular erysipelas of face and scalp.

Eyes closed from great swelling of cellular tissue about them.
Profuse lachrymation ; constant dull, aching pains in eyeballs.
Chronic inflammation of eyes.

Vesicular inflammation of ears, exuding a yellow watery serum.

Erysipelatous redness of nose.

Nose and right side of face much swollen, especially under right eye.
Face hot, itching and burning in different parts of face, especially left cheek.
Vesicular eruption about face and hands accompanied by much swelling and an intolerable itching and burning. θ Erysipelas.

Drawing pains in upper and lower jaw.

Red vesicular eruption on gums of upper incisors.

Scalded feeling of tongue, salty, flat, rough taste.
Centre and base of tongue coated white, sides very red.
Vesicles on under side of tongue, with a scalded feeling.
Tongue red on tip, or red and cracked in middle.
Distress in root of tongue and fauces.

Mucous membrane of mouth very red.
Sore mouth ; intense redness of mucous membrane of tongue, cheeks and fauces, with appearance of small vesicular points, accompanied by intense burning, as if mouth and throat had been scalded ; this condition, if allowed to go on, seemed to extend wherever there was mucous membrane, even to rectum and vagina ; several such attacks every year.

Difficult deglutition.

Dyspepsia, with red tongue and tendency to erysipelas.

Abdomen bloated and exceedingly painful to least pressure.
Constant rumbling and griping in bowels.
Constant dull pains in umbilicus, with rumbling in bowels, followed by a soft diarrheic stool.
Pains < before stool, but an evacuation does not stop the pain.
Pains in umbilicus with dry, lumpy, dark-colored stools.
Intolerable itching and burning of anus ; neuralgic pains in anus.
Pains in bowels < in morning.

Stool almost white, thin, papescent Large watery stool, passed with great force and attended with violent colicky pains, at 4 A. M. ; during next two hours had three more profuse stools of this character.

Burning in urethra.

Scrotum much swollen, deep red, covered with vesicles.

Dryness and pain in larynx ; hoarseness.

Harsh, dry cough, continuing for more than two weeks.

Violent stitches through chest with great suddenness.

Stiff neck or "crick in neck" and rheumatic pains between shoulders.
Lumbago from a strain or a cold.

Ulceration of cervical glands, which discharged a very offensive, dark-colored pus ; dark red areola around ulcers.

Paralytic drawing in right arm, especially in wrist, extending to tips of fingers.
Synovial swelling on wrist joint, of nine months' growth, large as a walnut, dark-colored, so as to look like a suppurating tumor ; on holding to light it appeared translucent ; not much pain.

Paralyzed and bruised sensation in legs.
Paralytic drawing, with pains in bones of left leg.
Great weakness of knees and ankles ; they ache constantly.
Chronic rheumatism ; pain centred in heel ; is lame, walks with two sticks ; great pain on first putting foot down to stand upon it ; shooting pain in bone and sore pain in ball of foot ; foot œdematous.

Trembling of limbs with twitching of muscles.

Stooping : frontal headache <.
When first putting down foot to stand upon it ; great pain.
Walking : frontal headache <.

Great restlessness.
Lassitude ; very weak and languid ; stretching.

Many dreams during sleep.

Aggravation of all symptoms in morning after waking.
At 4 A. M. : large watery stools with pain <.
Morning : pain in bowels <.
Evening : vertigo <.

Warm room : chills.

Chills : over whole body ; run up back even when warm and in a warm room.
Intermittent without sweat.
Typhus and typhoid fevers.

Intense itching periodically ; returning every hour or two.
For more than two weeks : harsh, dry cough.
For nine months : a synovial swelling on wrist joint.
Every year : several attacks of sore mouth, burning of mucous membrane.

Right : side of face much swollen, especially under eye ; paralytic drawing in arm ; erythema nodosum below knee.
Left : itching and burning of cheek ; pains in bones of leg ; erythema nodosum on leg.

As if mouth and throat had been scalded.
Pain : in bowels ; in larynx ; in bones of left leg ; in ankles, wrists and elbows.
Violent stitches : through chest.
Shooting pains : in bone of foot.
Neuralgic pains : of anus.
Rheumatic pains : between shoulders ; in heel.
Drawing pains : in upper and lower jaw.
Griping : of bowels.
Colicky pains : in bowels.
Dull, aching pains : in eyeballs.
Dull, heavy pain : in forehead.
Dull pains : in umbilicus.
Aching : in knees and ankles.
Paralytic drawing : in right arm ; in left leg.
Distress : in root of tongue and fauces.
Sore pain : in ball of foot.
Burning : in face ; of mouth and throat ; of anus ; in urethra.
Bruised sensation : in legs.
Scalded feeling : of tongue.
Heaviness : of head.
Great weakness : of knees and ankles.
Trembling : of limbs.
Dryness : of larynx.
Itching : in face ; of anus ; under and about vesicles on forearms and hands of Rhus poisoning.

Affects all parts of the body where bones are directly covered with the cutis and nothing more ; back of fingers, forehead, etc.
Phagedenic ulcers of legs and arms, syphilitic or scrofulous, having a dark red blush.
Ulcerations of lymphatic glands ; lymphatic abscesses.

Touch : erythema nodosum painful.
Pressure : abdomen exceedingly painful to least.

A fine white rash keeps under the skin.
Erythema nodosum : on right leg below knee, seven such spots ; on left three, all in different stages, the largest one over two inches in diameter.
Erythema nodosum during an invasion of an attack of typhoid fever ; pain in ankles, wrists and elbows, followed by an eruption of red patches, these also soon appear on anterior surface of thighs and forearms ; these spots are painful to touch, new ones are constantly forming, some of which are bluish.
On forearms and hands, especially on right side, little vesicles formed, the contents of which soon changed to pus, but as itching was very violent, they were almost always destroyed by scratching, before the transformation into pus was complete ; these efflorescences were soon covered with thin, brownish, cracked, firmly adhering scabs, and increased in circumference ; the largest was about six lines in diameter ; under the scab is a sore, even with the skin and covered with a thin layer of pus ; violent itching under and about the vesicles. θ Impetigo.
Phlegmonous erysipelas.
Rhus tox. poisoning : eruption on face, hands, genitals and thighs ; red and rough ; scabs at corners of mouth ; intolerable itching.
Ulcers, cuts and other lesions of skin surrounded by a miliary, whitish rash.

Girl, æt. 5, during invasion of typhoid fever ; erythema nodosum.
Boy, æt. 13 ; Rhus tox. poisoning.
Boy, æt. 16, suffering two years ; ulceration of cervical glands.
Lady, æt. 22, suffering several weeks ; impetigo.
Man, æt. 30, fifteen months ago had rheumatism in shoulders and arms, pain disappeared from these parts and became fixed in heel ; chronic rheumatism.
Lady, æt. 38 ; lymphatic temperament ; erysipelas.
Man, æt. 40 ; Rhus rad. poisoning.

Antidoted by : Phosphor., Bryon . Blue clay applied externally relieves itching and burning entirely.
Compare : Anac., Clematis, Comoclad., Crot. tig., Ranunculus, Rhus tox., radicans and vernix .