I am able to confirm the symptoms noted of its effects in nocturnal enuresis in many instances. There is one effect I have not seen noticed by any observers: relief of night cough. More than ten years ago, Dr. H. A. Tucker, Brooklyn, N. Y., told me of a Glycerole of Mullein made by macerating the plant in Jamaica rum for two or three weeks, expressing it and adding to this product an equal quantity of glycerine. This led me to the use of the fluid extract of the plant, glycerine and water, equal parts, as a mollifier in cases where patients would resort to some popular remedy containing opium or similar opiate. The same effect can be produced by drop doses of Mullein oil, the teasing cough which comes on lying down, preventing the sleep usually yielding to a few doses.
(Dr. J. C. Wentz contributed the following bit of folk-lore):
The application of Mullein oil is of more general application than anything I have found in print. I report to you some cases:
Case I.—Mertie B., aged sixteen. Called to see her May 20, 1888. Found her suffering great pain in right ear. Parotid gland very much enlarged and painful. The right side of the head and face much swollen. Pulse about 100; tongue coated.
Treatment.—Mullein oil in the ear, and used as a liniment twice daily on the swollen parts. For the fever, Aconite. Great improvement during the first twenty-four hours, and on the 23d found the case convalescent.
Case II.—Carrie H., aged twenty-two. Her second child four weeks old. Called November 15, 1888. Right breast inflamed and sore. Two weeks previous it had been lanced by another physician, a little above the nipple, but now a place a little below and to the left of the nipple gives evidence of forming pus. I told her that in my judgment it had gone too far to check it then.
Treatment.—Mullein oil, one-half ounce in four ounces of water. Wet cloths and apply. The inflammation and soreness disappeared in one week, and by the use of the same remedy occasionally has entirely recovered without breaking. Her husband, when he paid me, said: "Well you have done better than any of the rest of the doctors."
Case III.—Linford S., aged sixty-four. Called to see him September 20, 1888. Has just recovered from typhoid fever, but is able to be around. Taken with inflammation of the right testicle. Swollen to the size of a goose egg, and much pain. Red and shining appearance of the skin. Cause unknown, unless it was in connection with chronic enlargement of prostate gland.
Treatment.—Mullein oil applied twice daily as a liniment. Mercurius sol. internally. In three days the soreness and pain had entirely disappeared, but the enlargement continued several days. He walked around with ease three or four days before swelling had diminished any.
Case IV.—F. C., aged thirty. Called November 16, 1888. Found inflammation of left kidney and of left testicle. Had been under treatment by another doctor and had recovered partially, but relapsed. Suffering much with pain in testicle, which ran up the spermatic cord and through to the left kidney.