Erechthites Hieracifolia

Ergotin is best known by its physiological use as a hemostatic in uterine and

pulmonary hemorrhages. It acts by causing contraction of the arterioles, and its effect is

produced most promptly when it is administered by subcutaneous injection. Its homoeopathic

uses are in the main identical with those of Secale, but Ergotin will sometimes succeed when

• ▸Secale fails.
• ▸Koeck, of Munich, has recorded a case in point (H.
• ▸Monatsblatter, Sept.
• ▸, 1898).

Secale, like Phosph., has "wide-open anus" in its symptomatology. Koeck's patient had suffered

from diarrhoea since the Franco-German war, and latterly had lost all power of retention. It was

for this that the doctor was consulted. The rectum had lost all sensation, so that the patient had no

warning and was never clean. The odour may be imagined. Old-school treatment had failed to

relieve him. He was about to be pensioned by his employers, and had thoughts of suicide. Secale

3x ameliorated slightly; the 2x had the same result. "Remembering Kafka's advice to use the

alkaloid when the indicated drug did not seem to act, he prescribed Ergotin 2x." After taking this

for four days the patient regained control. Démange (La Semaine Med., January, 1886) records

the case of a young lady suffering from typhoid fever and threatened with heart paralysis.

Stimulating injections of ether and of rum, and frictions completely failed to rally her. Cyanosis

increased rapidly and threatened the trunk. Fainting spells occurred in rapid succession, pulse

filiform. Ergotin was then injected and the pulse rose, and the symptoms of collapse disappeared.

(Most of the symptoms of this patient may be found under Secale.)

Giddiness with nausea—Dull frontal headache —Throbbing of temporal arteries, with

flushes of heat running across the back from one shoulder to the other.—The sensation of heat

suddenly gives way to that of coldness.

Enormous appetite.—Feeling in stomach as if it would be dissolved, after drinking

cold water.—Eructations and heart-burn after eating warm bread and coffee (cured).

12, 13. Abdomen and Stool.—Griping followed by three copious discharges of semi-solid,

yellow feecal matter.

Towards morning prolonged erection with dreams of

nudity.—(Gonorrheea with scanty discharges and great pain—Orchitis from suppressed

discharge.)

Symptoms like Rhus poisoning.

Dreams of nudity and shame.

Ergotinum.

Ergotin. The alkaloid of Secale cornutum, Ergot of rye. Trituration.

• ▸Anal incontinence.
• ▸Gangrene.
• ▸Heemorrhages.
• ▸Heart, paralysis of.
• ▸Sphincters, paralysis

of.

• ▸Compare: Senecio, Erigeron, Hamam.
• ▸, Millefol.
• ▸, Calc.
• ▸, Canth.
• ▸, Tereb.
• ▸, Puls.
• ▸,

Clematis.

Compare: Erig; Millef; Hamam; Rhus.

Tincture. Locally for Poison Oak.