Scrophularia Nodosa

The plants of the genus Scrophularia "have generally an unpleasant smell.

The generic name is derived from the property which the roots were supposed to have of curing

scrofula. A decoction of one of the common British species, S. nodosa, is sometimes used by

• ▸farmers to cure the scab in swine" (Treas.
• ▸of Bot.
• ▸).
• ▸Scrph.
• ▸was proved by Franz, and later in

America by W. H. Blakeley, who took from 10 to 60 drops of the tincture several times a day.

Pareira gives the analysis of the drug, which shows it to be very complex. It contains much

oxalate and carbonate of lime, as well as Magnesia and Silica. The most remarkable of Franz's

symptoms were: Excessive drowsiness; in forenoon, in afternoon, and before and after eating;

vertigo when in upright position; accumulation of sweetish water in several parts of the tongue;

sensation of a soft body in the gullet; constriction of chest; oppression of chest with trembling as

after much weeping. Most of these symptoms were confirmed by Blakeley. The chief clinical

authority for Scrph is Cooper, who has used it on some old indications. Gerarde mentions "hard

kernels" and painful and swollen piles as indicating it. Cooper gave it to a patient who had been

poisoned by an Indian arrow-poison which produced inflammation and suppuration of the

glands; Scrph. relieved a most painful condition of the rectum and purulent discharge that had

kept up years afterwards. Cooper has reduced strumous glands with it; and cured deafness in a

"pullnecked" patient; and also cured a case of sycosis menti, using Scrph. externally as well as

giving it internally. "Nodosities in the breast" is another indication of Cooper's. It has produced,

according to Cooper, a sickly, giddy feeling, with a sense of weakness and sinking at pit of chest,

too weak to speak; along with pain from forehead to back of head. The provings brought out

several symptoms in the lower abdomen. Cooper has seen Scrph. in the form of a poultice relieve

peritonitis affecting the lower abdomen. Colic from slight vexation occurred in Franz's proving.

Blakeley had pain in sigmoid flexure. Both had pains in the liver. The symptoms are: < In

morning; by study; in cold air; breathing cold air; deep breathing; lying on right side; by rest;

after food; by pressure. > In warm room.

Despondency, much troubled about the past, and very apprehensive about the future;

passed off in a few days, leaving intellect clear—Miserable and sluggish feeling in mind when

moving about.

Vertigo felt in vertex, greater when standing; drowsiness; pain from forehead to back of head. Eczema behind ear. Crusta lactea.

Vertigo: in top of head when standing; even with severe aching in supra-orbital

region.—Dizziness, fulness, and pressure in vertex.—Heaviness and distress in head, as after

eating too much.—On rising the second morning an indescribable pain and fulness in whole head,

followed by epistaxis, esp. occiput and vertex, causing congestion of conjunctiva with

puffiness.—Darting pain at exit of r. facial nerve from hylo-mastoid foramen, darting to r.

eye.—Headache above eyebrows while walking.—Severe headache through temples, appearing

every morning, extending to vertex and occiput.—Severe lancinating pain in vertex, forehead,

and temples; dull and throbbing, returning periodically; < resting; < in open air; < leaning

forward; < by study.

• ▸Distressing photophobia (Conium).
• ▸Spots before eyes.
• ▸Stitches in eyebrow.
• ▸Sore eyeballs.

Severe cutting pains in eyes, unable to move them, passed off with profuse

• ▸sweat.
• ▸—Pulsating stitches in r.
• ▸eyebrow.
• ▸—Soreness of eyeballs —Black spots or film before

• ▸eyes.
• ▸—On closing eyes visions of objects.
• ▸—(Scrofulous photophobia; rivals Con.
• ▸in

• ▸this.
• ▸—Blepharospasm.
• ▸—Scrofulous keratitis —Tinea ciliaris with minute pustulation.
• ▸—R.
• ▸T.
• ▸C.
• ▸)

Inflammation about auricle. Deep ulcerated auricle. Eczema around ear.

Ringing in ears and sudden loss of hearing.—(Deafness in bull-necked boys.—Deafness

• ▸before and after menses, improving during the flow.
• ▸—Eczema behind r.
• ▸ear and round navel.
• ▸—R.

T. C.)

• ▸Pleasant warmth in cheeks.
• ▸—(Recurrent periostitis of lower jaw in a syphilitic.
• ▸—R.
• ▸T.

C.)

Teeth feel as if loose, pain in carious teeth, < upper jaw.—Gums bleed very

freely.—First great increase of saliva, then mouth dry.—Accumulation of sweetish water in

several parts of tongue.—Qualmish, sticking taste just above pit of throat, frequently lasting an

hour, with sensation as if a soft substance (a plug of mucus) were lodged there.—Bitter taste in

mouth.

Thick, tenacious, offensive mucus in throat, in forenoon.—Rancid taste in throat,

with great weakness and stiffness in hollows of knees.—Irritation of cesophagus.

Appetite greatly increased at first; later nausea with weakness and oppression at

epigastrium.—Feeling as if he had missed his regular meal——(Dyspepsia removed by the

proving.)

• ▸Pain in liver on pressure.
• ▸Colic below navel.
• ▸Pain in sigmoid flexure and rectum.
• ▸Painful, bleeding, protruding piles.

• ▸Pain in r.
• ▸hypochondrium, < deep inspiration or lying r.
• ▸side.
• ▸—Cutting in liver on

• ▸pressure.
• ▸—Twisting-pinching pain in umbilicus (1.
• ▸side).
• ▸—Colic just below navel and some

• ▸griping in the side in afternoon.
• ▸—Griping below navel, 7 a.
• ▸m.
• ▸(after a slight vexation).
• ▸—Pain in

sigmoid flexure.—Dull, heavy, periodic pain < when abdomen compressed, legs

• ▸extended.
• ▸—_(Appendicitis as a local remedy.
• ▸—R.
• ▸T.
• ▸C.
• ▸)

Several stools daily with tenesmus.—Protruding piles which bleed and pain

• ▸(R.
• ▸T.
• ▸C.
• ▸).

Pinching and tearing as if in ureter, extending from anterior superior

spine of ilium down to pubis.—Increased secretion of urine with burning in urethra.—Frequent

• ▸scanty emission of urine in afternoon.
• ▸—Enuresis somni (R.
• ▸T.
• ▸C.
• ▸).

Recurring metritis with painful piles: irritation, soreness and

burning in vagina and anus went away, as well as headache, that prevented her standing up (from

• ▸local application.
• ▸—R.
• ▸T.
• ▸C.
• ▸).

Violent dyspnoea, oppression of chest with trembling. Pain about bifurcation of trachea. Asthma in scrofulous patients.

On turning on either side, violent dyspnoea < on r. than |., with

cutting in liver on pressure.

Oppression of chest with tremulous movement as from much weeping.—Pain in

whole r. lung, on taking a deep inspiration, which = cough without expectoration.—Cutting in

• ▸upper |.
• ▸lung, < breathing cold air.
• ▸—Constricted feeling in chest, which = uneasiness.
• ▸—Cramp-

like pain transversely across lower chest, as after much weeping.—Pain about bifurcation of

• ▸trachea.
• ▸—Stitches in r.
• ▸chest, about 6th rib, with shivering.
• ▸—Violent pinching stitches near r.
• ▸last

true ribs, while walking, during rest, seeming to be in liver.

Anguish in precordia, < after food.—Indescribable sensation in heart, with severe

audible palpitation.—Pulse full, regular.

Stiff neck with pain and contraction of r. sterno-mastoid muscle.—Pain in

whole spinal column, with slight opisthotonos.

Deep-seated cutting pain in all muscles of arms.—Tingling or buzzing in

arms and hands.—Sticking and drawing in r. palm, from joints of fingers to middle of hand as far

as carpal bones (muscular cramp of palms).

24. Generalities—Weakness; languor; wants to lie down.—Cutting pains in articulations, like

those of Rhus, but more intense and longer-lasting, < by rest and in open air, > in warm room;

darting from knee to ankle-joints, which feel stiff.—Threatened abscesses that show no sign of

• ▸disappearing —R.
• ▸T.
• ▸C.
• ▸)

Prickling itching, worse back of hand.

Sallow skin.—Burning of surface when rubbed.—Prickling itching all over, < back of

• ▸hand, inside wrists and between fingers.
• ▸—Falling off of hair stopped by lotion of Scroph.
• ▸(R.
• ▸T.

• ▸C.
• ▸).
• ▸—Pemphigus gangrenosus and its allies.
• ▸—Irritating vesicles on inside of lip, loaded with

• ▸spindle-celled epithelium (goes from local application.
• ▸—R.
• ▸T.
• ▸C.
• ▸).

Great drowsiness; in morning and before and after meals with weariness.

Strong disposition to sleep: in morning with weariness and fulness in whole body;

irresistible before and after a meal, with prolonged afternoon sleep.

Chilliness: on moving about in cool air; after rising in morning, for several hours,

passing off with profuse sweat, which was followed by stupor and absence of all the

symptoms.—Whole body after first day feels very dry and hot, with burning sensation, followed

by profuse sweat.

• ▸Appendicitis.
• ▸Breast, tumours of.
• ▸Colic.
• ▸Deafness.
• ▸Dyspepsia.
• ▸Enuresis.
• ▸Eyes,

• ▸scrofulous affections of.
• ▸Glands, enlarged.
• ▸Liver, pains in.
• ▸Palms, cramp in.
• ▸Pemphigus.

• ▸Rheumatism.
• ▸Sigmoid flexure, pain in.
• ▸Sleepiness.
• ▸Stiff-neck.
• ▸Ureter, pain in.

• ▸Antidoted by:—Bry.
• ▸(chest symptoms).
• ▸Followed well by: Dig.
• ▸(in enlarged

• ▸glands.
• ▸—R.
• ▸T.
• ▸C.
• ▸).
• ▸Compare: Botan.
• ▸, Dig.
• ▸, Euphr.
• ▸, Grat.
• ▸Pains in joints < by rest, > in warm

• ▸room, Rhus.
• ▸Sleepiness, Nux m.
• ▸, Op.
• ▸, Lup.

Tincture and first potency. Apply locally to cancerous glands also Semper viv.

Drawing rheumatic pain in all flexors of arms and legs.—Tingling in extremities as

from a blow on a nerve.