In both these cases relief was immediate after the administration of the dose, and in neither case could any reasonable doubt exist as to its being drug effect.
In some cases I have known a certain disturbance of the bowels to set in after a dose of Lemna, but this effect of the remedy is not sufficiently pronounced to be able to say much about it. Still it is interesting to narrate one or two experiences, especially as in the first of these, at all events, the concomitants were interesting.
3. In a married lady, aged about twenty-six, for whom I prescribed Lemna m. θA on Saturday afternoon, November 12, 1892, and in whom there existed a good deal of catarrhal pharyngitis, due to high up post-nasal ulceration, and who suffered from a dry feeling at the top of the throat with flatulence, and some pain in the bowels toward the evening, described as "twisting" pain, and in whom the nose was blocked on the right side, but without any visible polypus, and in whom the heart was easily disturbed, causing dyspnœa, the bowels being slightly confined.
Two weeks subsequently she stated that after the dose of Lemna the nose felt less blocked, and she felt better in every respect; but that on the Tuesday following diarrhœa set in, which began with twisting pains in the bowels and went on to sickness; continual watery stools. The least chill or nervousness, I must say, upsets her in this way; and she was subject to the same the last two catamenial periods. She still wakes with her throat dry and tongue coated. Borax 2x was then (November 25) given without any noticeable effect, and on the 9th of December Lemna minor θA was again prescribed for the following symptoms:
Mouth sore after talking or singing, and dry in the morning; tongue coated.
On the 23d of December, reported herself much better; tongue not so coated; heart less disturbed; no indigestion or diarrhœa.
Nose not perfectly clear, but no unpleasant smell or taste as she used to have, and throat no longer dry or uncomfortable. Instead of waking up with a dirty mouth, it feels clean and her taste pure.
4. A man, aged forty-seven, who suffered from old-standing vascular deafness and who specially complained of snoring a great deal, was given Lemna minor, and next day a rumbling and disturbance in the bowels set in and he felt as if he had taken medicine of a searching character. This lasted for three days, bowels acting during this time freely with much heat in the passage (anus); but was not bilious, nor were the motions diarrhœic; the snoring went away, and he ceased to dream unpleasantly when asleep. Hearing, too, seemed somewhat improved.
5. In another case, after a similar dose, diarrhœa came on next day, with pains across the bowels as from flatus; worse after eating, and a very putrid taste with an improvement at the same time in a stuffiness of the nose from which he was suffering.
6. Crusts form in the right nostril and pain like a string extends from the right nostril to the ear of the same side and right ear is deaf. (In a woman, aged twenty-six, great relief.)