The stockmen speak of it as causing intoxication in the animals which eat it, and a prominent symptom is the "loco" condition, in which the power of co-ordination is lost or greatly limited. They cannot readily readjust for changes in gait, etc. A horse travels on level ground, but finds great difficulty in changing to pass over an elevation or depression, or, when going up hill, he has great difficulty in starting down hill; it is difficult, when he is still, to impress him that he must go, and as difficult to stop him when desired. The same rule applies to eating and other necessaries. Such a horse is said to be "locoed." Professor Hawkes procured specimens from which Boericke & Tafel made a tincture. To further test the merits of the remedy, the students of the class at Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago kindly participated in a proving.
Professor Hawkes received some reports from his group, but has mislaid his papers, and he is unable to give in detail the symptoms produced. He stated, however, that the principal action corroborated that given above.
During 1886-'87 term I made another attempt, and a few reports were received. The remedy was given by number, that the prover should not know what he took, nor the strength of it. Some were given the θ, others 1xd , 2xd , 3xd , 12x powders, 30x powders, and some higher.
A few reported "no effect" from the θ. The following includes the report from five persons:
1. (Mr. S. P. F., 10 drops of θ.) 2. (Mrs. W., 10 drops of 3xd repeated.) 3. (Mr. G. H. A., 15 drops of 3xd .) 4. (Mrs. P., powders of 12x repeated.) 5. (Mrs. L., powders of 30x.) 6. (Mrs. L., powders of 12x.)
Symptomatology.
Mind.—Great mental depression,1 ,3 . Cannot think or concentrate his thoughts,1 ,3 . Very forgetful of familiar words and names,3 . No life,1 . Disinclination to talk or study,3 . Wants to be alone,3 . Is better satisfied to sit down and do nothing,3 . Feels perfectly despondent,3 . A feeling as if I would lose consciousness,3 . All symptoms worse when thinking of them,1 ,3 .
Sensorium.—Strange sensation about the head,4 . A feeling as if I would lose consciousness, or as if I would fall when standing,5 . Sense of fulness of the head, and of instability, when standing or sitting,6 .
Head.—The head has a feeling of great pressure, especially on moving the eyeballs,4 . Head hot,6 . Was unable to move around on account of this strange, uncertain feeling of numbness, with prickling sensation in left arm and hand,4 . Full, uncomfortable feeling in the head,5 . Slight headache in vertex and occiput in forenoon, over the eyeballs about noon,1 . Pain in the helix of the ear for two or three minutes, then pain commenced between the eyes and went in a straight line up over the head and down to the base of the brain,2 . Pain across the base of the brain,2 ("gone in a minute or two"). Dulness in frontal region, must lie down,4 . Pain in occipital region is constant since 1 p.m.; heavy ache, as if a weight were attached to the lower edge, pulling it back, but pain does not extend down the back,2 ; all stop at 3 p.m.,2 . A pressing headache from 2 to 5 p.m.,3 (on 2d day). Awoke with slight pressing pain in forehead, which increased gradually until about 2 p.m., and then gradually decreased,3 . Pain, dull and heavy, in the head, with sense of pressure,4 . Head very sensitive, < on the side on which I lie,3 . Pressure upon the head disappearing after sleep,4 . Dull, heavy feeling in the head, with uncertain gait and walk, so that she was obliged to lie down, when she fell into a deep sleep and woke up with the metallic taste.
Eyes.—Feel dull and heavy, blurred, pupils dilated,3 ,4 . When reading, it seems as if a light were reflected from a bright copper plate seen at the left side, as if the light were at the end of the room,6 . Pain in the eyeball,4 . Pain over the right eye,6 .