In a pamphlet on "Viscum Album" Dr. George Black, of Torquay, has put together
most of the facts relating to this plant, including four new provings, by himself and three
female provers. The symptoms of these provings I have marked in the Schema─(B)
Dr. Black, 43, from 3x and Ø; (B1) Miss F., 20, from 2x and Ø; (B2) Mrs. X., 37 from 3;
(B3) Miss S., 27, from 3x, 2x, 1x, and Ø. Proell made a proving of the tincture, and
developed symptoms resembling epileptic aura and petit mal, which had the additional
epileptic feature of recurrence─they recurred frequently for two years.
Belcher gave to a girl, 17, suffering from chorea, 5-drop doses of a tincture of leaves and
berries. On the second day he was called to see her, and found her suffering as if under the
influence of an opiate. Two women took Visc. to procure
abortion. Every muscle save those of the eyes became paralysed, as did also the intestinal
tract. They could not swallow, and died of starvation in consequence, the bowels being
obstinately constipated. The muscles of speech were also paralysed. A boy, 14, ate some
berries; soon after began to feel giddy, and then became insensible. He was found with
suffused countenance, lips livid, conjunctiva injected, pupils slightly dilated and fixed,
pulse slow and full, bounding; breathing slow, stertorous. On pricking the soles the feet
were quickly drawn up. Cold affusions roused him, when he began to talk incoherently, had
spectral illusions, and was inclined to be violent. Laville (Epilepsy
and Mania in Men and the Lower Animals) isolated (1)
Viscine, a soft substance, yellowish blue, of poisonous
odour and bitter taste; (2) Visco-resin,
a bluish resin, pitchy, saccharine, odour at first agreeable, then fetid. Viscine is most
abundant in the mistletoe of the apple-tree; Visco-resin
in that of the oak and acacia, which last excites the sexual appetite. The mistletoe of the
hawthorn possesses, like all the rest, but in a higher degree, the contractile properties of
Secale on the uterus in uterine inertia. That of the oak
has a remarkable anti-epileptic power on horses. A breeder had a very fine stock which
became epileptic at four or five years old. He cured them with a tincture of the fresh
leaves bruised in a mortar. According to Laville, all mistletoes are useful in epilepsy and
rabies (Ozanam's account of Laville's work, B. J. H.,
xxv.). Black also quotes from B. J. H., xxii. 637,
William Huber's experience with Visc. a.: (1) Case of retained placenta with constitutional symptoms after
miscarriage at sixth month. Expulsion rapidly effected by Visc. a.
3. (2) Man, 22, robust, fair, took a chill from
travelling in ice-cold wind. Got a drawing-tearing pain in left lower jaw, lasting some
hours, succeeded by loud buzzing, and stopped-up feeling, ending in complete deafness of
that ear. Visc. 3 cured. (3)
Metrorrhagia following suppression from a cold foot-bath. Visc.
3 cured. (4) Metrorrhagia following suppression from
working in water. (5) Sciatica left side. Visc. 3 cured. (6) Rheumatism
from wading ill-shod through great tracts of snow. Visc.
3 cured. (7) Hydrothorax (right) from chill, with
shooting in spleen. Visc. 4 and 3 cured. John Wilde (M. H. R., xii. 144) made a tincture of the bruised leaves, and
gave 5-drop doses to a boy, 14, who had chorea affecting face and limbs. There was
improvement in two days, and in a few weeks a complete cure. A boy, nine, strumous, with
tendency to skin disease, was affected with chorea after a fright. He was completely changed
in expression, speech quite inarticulate, look idiotic. The movements continued at night,
and the boy was worn out for want of sleep. Visc. Æ , 1 to 2-drop doses, did no good. The dose was then increased to 15
drops. Improvement set in at once, and a perfect cure was effected; the doses being
diminished after a time because soreness of the tongue and redness of the conjunctiva were
set up. Black removed with Visc. 3 the following: (1) Lumbago, from chill, tearing pain, wants something to press
against it. (2) Lumbago, right, extending to right
buttock, < by slightest movement. (3) Pain in sacral region, unable to turn either side, < slightest movement; "pain of a terrible clutching
nature, as if her vitals were affected." [Cooper has given great relief with Visc. in "old spinal-irritation pains." He names also
"spinal symptoms due to uterine causes" as indicating it.] (4) Rheumatism;" the weight of my body on the joint causes it
to be very sore"; excessive perspiration. (5)
Sciatica associated with otorrhœa. Burning pain from centre of left buttock to inner ankle;
heel as if red-hot coal applied; leg feels heavy as lead. In addition a number of cases of
catarrhal deafness with noises in the ears were cured or greatly improved. C. M. Boger (Med. Couns., xvi. 266) relates this case: Persistent vertigo
after epileptic seizures, lasting a month at a time. Visc.
cm cured. Huber (H. R., ii. 74) used the 3x and 6x. He
considered it applicable to all kinds of rheumatism, acute and chronic, especially when
characterised by tearing pains; in cases occurring in
winter, the result of exposure to sharp winds; and in cases of rheumatic deafness. The
symptoms are < By movement; by slightest movement.
The lumbago cured in one case was > by pressure.
