Taxus Baccata
Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 9,016 chars · source ↗
General
Taxus Baccata.
Taxus baccata. Yew. N. O. Coniferae. Tincture of the fresh young shoots. (Tincture of the berries.)
Clinical
Ciliary neuralgia. Cystitis. Digestion, too rapid. Dysuria. Ear, polypus of. Eruptions. Fainting. Gout. Hair, falling out. Headache, with photopsia. Heart, affections of. Kidneys, affections of. Knees, abscess of. Lachrymation. Nose, eruption on. Rheumatism. Purpura. Spermatorrhoea. Strangury. Vision, dim.
Characteristics
The poisonous properties of the Yew have been recognised and disputed from ancient times. Gerarde says that in his schooldays he and his companions ate their fill of the berries of the Yew and slept not only under its shade, but on its branches, without any ill effect. But there is plenty of evidence on the other side. Recently (Med.
Press, May 29, 1901), a patient of Mullingar Asylum died suddenly from eating Yew leaves. Some years ago a correspondence in the Times brought to light instances of the lethal effects of Yew leaves on cattle. One correspondent, Mr. James Simmons, of Haslemere, mentions an observation made by himself and others, that Yew leaves are more poisonous some time after they have been cut than when fresh: "Yew cropped green from the tree has no fatal effect," and animals do not eat it fresh, they prefer grass; but if Yew has been cut and allowed to wither cattle will eat it in large quantities, and in that state it is deadly poison." "My people," says Mr.
Simmons, "once buried some Yew cuttings deep in the dung of a farmyard; a number of large hogs dug it up, ate it, and all died."—The symptoms of the pathogenesis are made up of poisonings by leaves and berries, and also of provings by Gastier. Fainting is a very prominent feature with Tax., and the fatal cases end in convulsions, collapse, and syncope. Death from Yew poisoning, says Cooper, is remarkably painless. "Empty feeling" in the stomach was prominent; and it was noted that the digestion was very rapid.
"Must eat frequently" is a characteristic. Gastric catarrh is set up with vomiting of tenacious mucus. The saliva is increased, and it also is viscid; and there is viscid sweat. An intense action on the skin was developed, and Tax. is indicated in pustular skin affections, the pustules being large, flat, and strongly itching.
On the suggestion of Cooper, I once gave a single dose of Tax. Ø in a case of aural polypus (bright red) with catarrh, in a youth, with the result that the polypus shrivelled up to one-third of its former size. The shooting pains in the toes suggest the use of Tax. in gout. The kidneys and bladder were much irritated; and the heart disturbed. Tax. has been recommended as a substitute for Dig., being considered superior to the latter in having no cumulative effect.
The symptoms were < by pressure. Rubbing > itching of eyelids. Coughing = headache. Deep respiration = cough.
< Before and after each meal. < By application of liquids. < After coitus.
Relations
Antidoted by: Staph (prostration with oppression after an embrace). Compare: The Coniferae. Load at stomach, Ab. n. Rapid digestion, Sul. Podagra, Urt. ur.
Mind
Impatience, which unfits the patient for mental application
Delirium
Stupor.
Head
Reeling sensation when at rest, on being seated, and when standing upright
Headache above eyebrows, with brilliant and movable lines before the sight
Pains in forehead, extending to face, with drawing pains in eyes, and lachrymation
Heavy pain in region of r. temple and eyebrow, with a sensation of lachrymation, and < from slightest cough
Squeezing in sides of head
Aching, esp. in temporal bone
Burning headache
Lancinating pain in frontal region
Heat in forehead.
Eyes
In the eyes: drawing with lachrymation and pressure, and headache below the eyebrows
Itching of external angle of l. eye
Burning itching in eyelids, disappearing after scratching them
Abundant lachrymation when eyes are used, even but a little, esp. in females
Lachrymation of l. eye
Pupils widely dilated
Vision dim.
Ears
(Polypus of the ears.)
Nose
Round spot of a reddish-brown colour, on the end of nose, with desquamation of skin.
Face
Looks ill
Face: pale; livid; convulsed
Lips: purplish; livid; blackish brown, esp. upper
Frothing at mouth.
Mouth
Sensation of coldness in (upper incisor) teeth
Burning pricking on tongue
Tongue: excoriated; moist; tremulous
Mouth dry
Saliva: increased; extremely viscid; acrid
Bitter taste, like that of Cinchona.
Stomach
Violent hunger, soon after breakfast, with general uneasiness, and weakness in region of stomach
Frequent want to eat, with activity of digestive functions
Nausea with accumulation of saliva
Sensation of emptiness, without hunger, in stomach
Retching
Vomiting ending in death
Vomit-tenacious, containing bile;
Yew leaves embedded in mucus
Pain in pit of stomach, when touched
Tension in epigastrium, which is painful to touch
Aching, burning, and pinching in region of stomach.
Abdomen
Tension in abdomen, as if the stomach were overloaded
Squeezing and tension across abdomen
Aching in umbilical region
Borborygmi.
Stool
Hard, difficult, dry evacuations
Occasionally a stool which is soft, or of a natural consistence
Diarrhoea, with insupportable tenesmus, and burning at every evacuation.
Urinary Organs
Cutting pain at base of kidneys which allows him neither to sit still nor stand up, and even prevents turning in bed
Urinary tenesmus
Frequent want to urinate, with difficult emission in a fine stream
Strangury, urine red.
Male Sexual Organs
Flow of semen without erection or sexual pleasure for several successive nights
Great excitement during coition
After coition, weakness and great oppression.
Respiratory Organs
Violent and fatiguing cough.—Short cough, after every meal, excited by full inspirations, with oppression.
Chest
Oppression, esp. when stomach is either too full or too empty, or else with pain below xiphoid cartilage
Lancinating pain in l. side
Lungs engorged
Chest full and hot.
Heart
Irregular action of heart.—Pulse: rapid; slow; feeble; small, wiry; almost imperceptible.
Neck And Back
Drawing pain in muscles of neck (l.)
Sacral pains, which allow no rest either in a standing or sitting posture, and which compel the patient to remain in bed
Incisive pain in sacrum
Constant pain in back
Pain in shoulder-blade, which subsequently removes to loins.
Limbs
Numbness of limbs and paralysis; esp. after several sweats.—Sharp, transient, wandering pains.
Upper Limbs
Aching pain in elbow near humerus, affecting the bone, felt during motion and rest, but < by movement
Violent itching in forearm, followed by an eruption of red and hard pimples round wrist, which itch chiefly in evening, and at night, and afterwards occasion a tickling sensation
Lancinations in hand
Burning dryness of palms of hands
Dull pain in joints of fingers
Rheumatic pain in, r. forefinger, renewed by least contact with even warm liquid.
Lower Limbs
Pain in hip and knee, with tearing pain and coldness in thigh;
> at night
Pain in l. hip, with internal heat
In thighs, distressing coldness of skin, esp. of fore-part
Tingling in l. thigh
Painful tingling round patella
Lancinating pain in knee, with weakness of the joint
Abscess at r. knee
Contusive and incisive pain, which hinders walking
Incisive pain, esp. in l. knee, which awakens patient at night
Violent pinching in l. calf, with itching in a small circumscribed place
Large suggillation on sole of l. foot
Tingling crawling sensation in whole l. foot.
Generalities
Pains in the knees, elbows, and back.—Trembling.—Slight tremor over whole frame.—Convulsions.—Faintness.—Fainting and collapse.—Relaxation of muscles.
Skin
All hairy parts became denuded (after a month)
Black jaundice
Skin red
Body covered with pustules
On waking, body covered with miliary eruption; disappeared on third day and abscess formed at right knee
Large suggillation on l. sole followed by dark petechiae over nearly whole body, great swelling of face and lips, esp. upper lip, exhaustion and death (boy 5, poisoned by berries)
Eruption of large pimples, slightly elevated, like red spots, on the upper part of both arms
Dry tetter, red at the base; and causing much itching, at external angle of l. eye.
Sleep
Sleeplessness during whole night, yawning without inclination to sleep.
Fever
Commencing with general shivering at 2 a.m., followed by dry heat of hands and feet, and general uneasiness, dryness of mouth, without thirst, afterwards profuse perspiration on forehead; shaking after breakfast, with general uneasiness, and dryness of mouth, without thirst
Perspiration attends the least exertion, with great prostration of strength.
Profuse night-sweats
Offensive viscid sweats, with smart itching and redness in the glandular parts at the surface of the body
Peculiarly offensive sweat with eruption of vesicles.