Yucca Filamentosa

Two parts of Maize have been used in medicine, the pistils (Stigmata maidis)

and the husks (Shucks), but I think it best to take them together. I have distinguished them under

• ▸the heading CLINICAL by (St.
• ▸) and (Sh.
• ▸).
• ▸The grain of Maize in bulk appears to be capable of

generating a poisonous gas, as four men were suffocated, one fatally, on opening a cargo of

• ▸maize for the purpose of discharging it in the London docks (1.
• ▸W.
• ▸, xxxv.
• ▸436).
• ▸Corn silk has

been used in: (/) Irritable conditions of the urinary tract; ureters, bladder, urethra. (2) As a

powerful diuretic in renal disorders unconnected with cardiac involvement. (3) Heart and urinary

• ▸conditions combined.
• ▸J.
• ▸H.
• ▸Cook gives an account of it in Med.
• ▸Cent.
• ▸(iv.
• ▸589).
• ▸He quotes the

results of Dumont's investigation of its action on the heart: (/) It makes the heart's action slower

• ▸and stronger.
• ▸(2) Regulates its rhythm.
• ▸(3) Its diuretic action is manifested first.
• ▸(4) Its action is

more powerful and evident in cardiac affections with dropsy. (5) With the disappearance of the

• ▸dropsy arterial tension increases and venous tension diminishes.
• ▸Cook gives this case: Mr.
• ▸X.
• ▸,

63, florid, robust, temperate, had been many months under treatment with the following

condition, traced originally to cooling off too rapidly when perspiring: Intense prostration,

intermittent pulse, dyspnoea. The urine contained much albumen, mucus, and some blood;

specific gravity 1010. Great tenderness over entire abdomen, especially in region of ureters.

Under remedies he would improve for a few days, when a slight chill would be followed by

fever, and the symptoms would come back in full force. The microscope revealed pus cells and

• ▸granular epithelial cells in abundance.
• ▸Z.
• ▸st.
• ▸was now given, a teaspoonful of the fluid extract

every four hours. In less than a week there was visible improvement. The constant calls to

urinate (every forty-five minutes) ceased, and the patient could go through the night without

being disturbed more than once or twice. The specific gravity of the urine increased, and pus,

blood, and albumen disappeared. Only a little abdominal tenderness remained, which did not

prevent the patient from attending to his business and enjoying life. Hansen has confirmed the

value of Z. st. in 20-drop doses of the fluid extract in organic heart disease with dropsy, much

cedema of lower limbs, and scanty urination. He mentions also as suitable cases: (/) Renal

lithiasis with nephritic ulcer and discharge of small calculi, red sand, and blood. (2) Chronic

pyelitis from catarrh, (3) Chronic retention of urine with great tenesmus after urinating. (4)

Suppression of urine with lack of solids and low specific gravity. (5) Vesical catarrh, tenesmus

of neck of bladder, ammoniacal urine, much mucus. (6) Chronic gonorrheea, prostate involved,

• ▸painful urination.
• ▸The other use of Zea (Z.
• ▸sh.
• ▸) was communicated to the profession by Dr.
• ▸J.
• ▸W.

• ▸Pruitt (Arkansas Eclect.
• ▸Med.
• ▸J.
• ▸quoted H.
• ▸R.
• ▸, viii.
• ▸494).
• ▸Pruitt learned it from the people.
• ▸"Shuck

tea" is a popular remedy for chronic malaria. Pruitt's son took a chill in the Arkansas river

bottom. The chills were stopped with the usual remedies, Cinchonidia, Iron, Piperine, &c., but

every fourteen days would come back with increased severity. Presently gastric symptoms set in,

with aneemia, and other symptoms of chronicity. "Shuck tea" was recommended by a lay friend,

• ▸and was taken for one day only.
• ▸There was never a chill after.
• ▸Pruitt thenceforward used Z.
• ▸sh.

largely, and he found it was in the chronic cases only that it was beneficial.

• ▸Very despondent.
• ▸—Irritable.
• ▸—Irresolute.
• ▸—Disinclined to study.
• ▸—Mind wanders; uses

wrong words.—Unable to remember anything read, with severe pains, which appear first on r.

• ▸side, then in apex of heart.
• ▸—Dull sensation in head 1.
• ▸30 p.
• ▸m.
• ▸when others talking to him, hears

but doesn't seem to understand, and two minutes after doesn't know what was said.

Aches as if top of head would fly off. Arteries of forehead throb. Nose red.

Headache: frontal, heavy, pressing; throbbing.—Temples: pressing pains in both all

day; <r., and cringing feeling in both, < by motion; dull, heavy pain extending to eyes, with

aversion to light; intense aching, < by noise, motion, and heat, but at same time chilly when

away from stove —Headache somnolent, > sitting still; throbs with every step.—Strange feeling

in temporo-maxillary joint—Temporal arteries throb.—Head itches all evening, very

annoying.—Sensation of cold air blowing on 1. side of scalp.

• ▸Dark rings under eyes.
• ▸—Eyes feel hot and inflamed.
• ▸—Itching and smarting I.
• ▸eye; 1.

inner canthus.—Dull pain over |. eye (momentary).

• ▸Nose red.
• ▸—In evening r.
• ▸side of nose constantly running, |.
• ▸dry.
• ▸—Profuse, bloody,

watery discharge.—Some coryza.

Yellow; tongue yellow, coated, taking imprint of teeth (Merc; Pod; Rhus).

Face: pale; flushed; burning; yellow—Momentary aching in zygoma, recurring several

times.—Pain in jaw-joints.

Taste as of rotten eggs (Arnica).

Tongue: coated white evening, with raised, scattered papill¢; looks parboiled; white

at root; bluish white; raised papill¢, teeth-marks on edge; pale, flabby.—Bad odour from

• ▸mouth.
• ▸—Back of mouth dry.
• ▸—Soft palate dry, had to drink to moisten it.
• ▸—Taste of rotten eggs.

Sensation as if something hanging down from posterior nares, cannot get it up or

down.—Tonsils dark red, not sore-—Pharynx seems covered with granules, is dark red.—Strings

of mucus hang from mouth to root of tongue.—Stringy, greasy-looking mucus back of throat.

Sensation as if something hung down from posterior nares; cannot get it up or down.

Appetite: increased, food relished; lost—Aching and sharp pains in

stomach.—Region of stomach sore and sensitive.

Deep pain in right side over liver, going through back. Stool yellowish brown, with bile.

Abdomen bloated; after dinner, and feels sore —Much flatus emitted;

odourless—Rumbling.—Colic.—Crampy pains in abdomen after breakfast, > lying down, < by

movement; followed by diarrhsa.—Throbbing, painless, r. side about twelfth rib.

Constant desire—Sudden, violent tenesmus, followed by discharge of

wind, which > the pain.—Tenesmus after stool.—Diarrhsa following pains in abdomen, several

• ▸yellowish stools in an hour.
• ▸—Stools: increased in number, but natural though small; at 6.
• ▸30 a.
• ▸m.
• ▸;

hard and large at first, later thin and watery; copious, thin, yellowish brown, with smarting at

anus.

Irritable bladder, frequent urination—Round meatus circumscribed

Sdematous red swelling, raw sensation.—Burning when urinating.—Urine increased, high specific

gravity.

Burning and swelling of the prepuce, with redness of meatus. Gonorrhoea (Cann; Tussil).

Erections; all night long but no emissions; all forenoon cannot study,

mind runs on sexual subjects.

Constriction in whole chest and in heart.—Pain in upper intercostal muscles, 9.15

• ▸p.
• ▸m.
• ▸—At 3.
• ▸30 p.
• ▸m.
• ▸extremely severe cramping pain in r.
• ▸chest, < stooping, partially > sitting

straight or leaning a little back; lasted five minutes.

Constriction in heart—Momentary aching in heart region.—Visible throbbing in

arteries of hand.—Pulse: full and heavy; a little irregular.

Constriction of neck muscles, seems to draw head backward.—Tight

• ▸feeling round neck, evening, had to take off collar—Severe pain in |.
• ▸scapula, 9 p.
• ▸m.
• ▸—Backache

ever since she took the drug.

Crampy pains in knees.—Sore, crampy pains in muscle of back of I. leg, just

above ankle; as if sprained.

Erythematous redness.

Coldness of scalp, |. side, as if cold air blowing on it.—Coldness; cannot bear to be

away from fire.—Hot; feverish.—Face sweats, evening.

Zea.

• ▸Zea mays.
• ▸Maize.
• ▸Indian Corn.
• ▸N.
• ▸O.
• ▸Graminez (Tribe, Phalaridez).

• ▸1.
• ▸STIGMATA MAIDIS.
• ▸Corn Silk.
• ▸Green pistils.
• ▸Tincture: One part, by weight, of the

• ▸Silk to two of alcohol.
• ▸Fluid Extract.
• ▸(Z.
• ▸St.
• ▸)

• ▸2.
• ▸SHUCKS.
• ▸Decoction or tincture of the husks of Maize after the removal of the grain.
• ▸(Z.

sh.)

• ▸Albuminuria (St.
• ▸).
• ▸Cystitis (St.
• ▸).
• ▸Dropsy (St.
• ▸).
• ▸Gonorrhoea, chronic (St.
• ▸).
• ▸Heart, failure

• ▸of (St.
• ▸).
• ▸Malaria, chronic (Sh.
• ▸).
• ▸Renal colic (St.
• ▸).
• ▸Pyelitis (St.
• ▸).
• ▸Urine, retained; suppressed (St.
• ▸).

• ▸Compare: In bladder affections, Trit.
• ▸r.
• ▸, Sabal ser.
• ▸Renal colic, Oc.
• ▸c.
• ▸Heart, Dig.
• ▸,

Stroph. Malaria, Malar.

Tincture, to third potency.