Santoninum

Santonin. is the favourite anthelmintic of the old school, and it is chiefly

against lumbrici that it has been given. From 2 to 5 grains are the ordinary doses, but these have

caused severe and, in one or two instances, fatal poisoning—convulsions, left-side paralysis,

delirium, vomiting, and purging have resulted. A case recorded by Demme was quoted in Brit.

Med. J., March 26, 1892: A boy, 3, was given by his mother during three days fifteen tablets,

each containing gr. 1/3 of Santonin. The symptoms produced were: Vomiting, dilatation of the

pupils, collapse, cyanosis, dyspnoea, and finally convulsions. After a warm bath with cold

affusions to head and spine, consciousness returned. The temperature was 103.5°, epistaxis and

hemoglobinuria occurred, and a scarlatina-like eruption was noticed. The child ultimately

recovered. After a dose of 7 centigrammes, a child, 2, was seized with prostration, convulsions,

cramps, and icterus, followed on the third day by salivation and ulceration of the gum (Bul.

• ▸Ther.
• ▸Jan.
• ▸30, 1872).
• ▸Less serious but very characteristic are the effects on the senses, especially

the sense of sight. Visions of figures have been produced, and coloured vision is a frequent

phenomenon, even when the lower triturations have been used. Yellow is the predominant

colour, but green and violet vision are also marked. The urine also is yellow coloured and stains

yellow, and is passed with much urging and painful burning. A kind of giant urticaria occurred in

• ▸one case.
• ▸Hale records that Sant.
• ▸has cured cases of "nervous blindness.
• ▸" It was given to an old

man, quite blind, for worms, and his sight partially returned. This led to further trials. It was

given in nine cases of cataract, and, according to Hale, four were cured, the rest not benefited.

Hale mentions enuresis, strangury, chronic cystitis, as having been cured by it. It has made some

"brilliant cures" of chronic catarrh of the bladder. Infantile remittents, with or without worms,

have been cured by it. In one prover there was "sensitiveness of the abdomen," which may be a

keynote.

Delirium.—Excited, laughs and sings.—Hysterical—Restless, irritable; wants

everything, satisfied with nothing. —Profound and unusual depression, with irresolution and want

of confidence, unfitting him for work of any kind; melancholia like that produced by

jaundice.—Coma.

Most violent convulsions, unconscious, head hot, face flushed,

• ▸purplish.
• ▸—Spasm begins in face and spreads to extremities.
• ▸—Partial paralysis of one (1.
• ▸)

side.—Great restlessness; prostration.

Occipital headache, with chromatic hallucinations. Itching of nose. Bores into nostrils.

Vertigo.—Giddiness and intense headaches, every object looks bright green —Head

turning and twisting, restless ——Dulness of head.—Pain in forehead.

• ▸Sudden dimness of sight.
• ▸Color blindness; Xanthopsia.
• ▸Strabismus due to worms.
• ▸Dark rings about eyes.

Blue rings round eyes.—Eyes: rolled convulsively; distorted; staring.—Pressure in

• ▸supra-orbital region.
• ▸—Pressure in eyes.
• ▸—Pupils enormously dilated; and insensible.
• ▸—Photophobia

and lachrymation.—Flickering before eyes.—Objects seem to totter and dance; visions of figures,

cherries, animals, &c.—Coloured vision: yellow soup looks red; blue evening sky looks green;

objects look green; white looks yellow; objects as if in yellow haze or yellow light; violet.

Convulsive movements of muscles of face, esp. lips and lids.—Face pinched, drawing

in of lips over teeth with pinched expression of mouth and nose.—Red, hot face, staring

• ▸eyes.
• ▸—Face pale.
• ▸—Pale round mouth, < afternoon.
• ▸—One cheek white, the other (1.
• ▸) red (remains

• ▸red several days).
• ▸—Swelling beginning under chin, spreads each way, esp.
• ▸towards |.
• ▸parotid

gland.—Lips swollen to enormous size, glistening with the distension.

• ▸Fetid breath, depraved appetite; thirsty.
• ▸Tongue deep-red.
• ▸Grinding of teeth.
• ▸Nausea; better after eating.
• ▸Choking feeling.

Tongue: deep red; dry.—Frothing from mouth.—Burning pains apparently torment

her, as she forces everything into her mouth.—Hallucinations of taste.

The glands of neck, parotid and submaxillary, commenced swelling in about five

days, and continued to increase till the throat was so filled as nearly to prevent swallowing (fatal

effect of gr. vi. in a child of three).

Deficient appetite—Thirst: intense; continual for icecold water, which she

• ▸swallowed greedily.
• ▸—Frequent eructations.
• ▸—Nausea; and vomiting.
• ▸—Vomiting: and purging with

• ▸severe abdominal pains; yellowish, slimy mucus from 11 p.
• ▸m.
• ▸till next forenoon.
• ▸—One night,

after eating a teaspoonful of nourishment, he choked and threw up a teacupful of blood and pus

and died without a struggle.—Dull pair in pit of stomach.

Abdomen: bruised but soft; hot, full; rambling in; very sensitive —Severe

abdominal pains with vomiting and purging.—Every night pain in bowels before stool.

Well-marked tenesmus.—Purging of watery, flaky, foul-smelling stools,

followed by vomiting in a few hours.—Stools copious, greyish, putrid-smelling.

Frequent efforts to urinate; only passes a few drops at a

time.—Micturition painful from burning in urethra, constant desire, evacuation of only a few

drops that colour linen yellow.—Urine: deep saffron yellow; thick, sulphur yellow;

greenish.—Heemoglobinuria.

• ▸Urine greenish if acid and reddish purple if alkaline.
• ▸Incontinence and dysuria. Enuresis.
• ▸Feeling of fullness of bladder.
• ▸Nephritis.

Coughed incessantly all night from tickling in larynx and

trachea.—Breath: rapid, sighing; quick and catchy; rattling.

Urticaria; with cedema of nose, lips, and eyelids; over almost entire lids, with

vomiting.

Sleepy, tired.—Sleep restless—Sleep disturbed, woke unrefreshed with sickness,

frontal headache, and deficient appetite.

Whole body icy cold; lips and ears blue, face white as snow.—Limbs cold, very

clammy coldness crept upward in spite of wraps.—Violent fever, very rapid pulse, burning heat

of skin, face puffy, eyes brilliant, fixed.—Heat about head, < every afternoon and evening.—Cold

sweats.—Hot sweat in occiput, more clammy in front.

• ▸Amblyopia.
• ▸Cataract.
• ▸Convulsions.
• ▸Cough.
• ▸Cystitis, chronic.
• ▸Diarrhoea.
• ▸Dysuria.
• ▸Eyes,

• ▸paralysis of.
• ▸Enteralgia.
• ▸Enteritis.
• ▸Enuresis.
• ▸Epilepsy.
• ▸Epistaxis.
• ▸Gastro-enteritis.
• ▸Giant urticaria.

• ▸Hemoglobinuria.
• ▸Hemiplegia (1.
• ▸).
• ▸Infantile remittents.
• ▸Strangury.
• ▸Tetanus.
• ▸Urination, frequent.

• ▸Urticaria.
• ▸Vision, yellow.
• ▸Vomiting.
• ▸Worms.

Compare: Cina; Teucr; Napth; Nat phos; Spigel.

Second to third trituration. Lower preparations are often toxic. Do not give to a child with fever or constipation.