Résumé of Symptoms.—If we boil down the matter, extracting only the symptoms and changes observed during the above experiments with Parthenina, we have the following: Heaviness and dulness of head, tendency to vertigo, malaise, apathy, lassitude, profuse and very fluid salivation, sensation of heat and weight in the stomach, increased appetite, gastric intolerance, nausea and vomiting. Increased stupor, desire to be quiet, refusal of food, and indifference. Excitation of the heart beats, or slow beating of the heart; depressed circulation, or general functional activity; pulse accelerated, or slow, weak, soft, compressible, without dicrotism; progressive slowing of the pulse, followed by syncope, cardiac paralysis (and death). Accelerated, or slow, irregular breathing (Cheyne-Stokes); rise and fall of temperature, tremors, shivering, diminished perspiration; dilation of the pupils; convulsions (clonic and tonic); muscular relaxation, anæsthesia and increased urine and saliva. The kidneys were found enlarged and congested, with evident signs of sanguineous stasis. The process of coagulation of the blood was retarded. The red corpuscles increased in volume. There was a fall of the blood-pressure, and vascular dilatation (of reflex origin). The heart was found arrested in diastole, and the brain anæmic. A marked diminution of reflex action in the hips and extinction of the voluntary movements, were noticed. Also a transient excitement of the voluntary movements. And finally the sensibility and the muscular contractility were diminished.
Cases Cured by Parthenina.—In regard to the therapeutic value of Parthenina, little is known as yet, but the plant from which this alkaloid is derived, as said before, has been employed for years in Cuba, both by the people and profession, against fevers of a paludal origin.
Dr. Ramirez Tovar has reported in several numbers of the Cronica Médico-Quirúrgica, of Havana, the following cases treated by him with Parthenina, with the best results:
Case I.—"A lady living in the lower part of the city, where the rain always leaves constant channels of infection, was suffering with daily attacks of intermittent, which grew more intense every day. She received 1 gram of the salt, divided in six powders, to be taken one every hour after the attack. The next day she had no chill, and the thermometer indicated the absence of fever. She was nursing at the time, and stated that she had noticed a marked increase of milk in her breasts; 50 centigrams more, in doses, were given to her, and the fever did not return again."
Case II.—"A tailor, 30 years of age, had moved to the lower part of the city and contracted a tertian intermittent. He had four paroxysms before the doctor saw him, the last one being attended by much pain in the left hypochondrium. He received 1 gram, in 5 doses. There was apyrexia on the day the attack was due, and this did not return again. This man continued to live in the same house, under the same regimen and hygienic conditions."
Case III,—"A little girl, 6 years of age, lymphatic constitution, living near the beach of the harbor, was brought to Dr. Ramirez Tovar's clinic, suffering for 17 days with malaise, loss of appetite, sleepiness and fever. She had taken quinine, both internally and externally, with little benefit, and was wasting away notably. At 4 p.m. she commenced to take 50 centigrams of the salt, in 8 doses, and the next day at the same hour the thermometer indicated a fall from 39.5° C. of the previous day to 38.5° C. The mother was ordered to repeat the medicine at longer intervals, but for want of means the child did not take any more. On the 4th or 5th day the temperature went up to 39.5° again, then she was provided with the medicine, and 3 days later the temperature was normal. The action of the alkaloid was aided here by a tonic wine prepared from the extract of the plant."
Case IV.—"A man 45 years of age, of delicate constitution, poorly nourished, with a straw yellow face, yellow sclerotics, enlarged liver and spleen, the latter somewhat painful to pressure, who had contracted intermittent fever while in Panama, and had taken quinine, was complaining, when Dr. Ramirez Tovar saw him (middle part of December), of a pain in the right side (more severe in some points than in others), which commenced at 1 p.m., with shiverings, and which disappeared after two hours to return again the next day at precisely the same time and with the same symptoms. He received 1 gram of Parthenina, in 5 doses, one every hour, right after the cessation of the pain. He was seen by the doctor the next day at 4 p.m., and up to that time the pain had not returned. He took then 50 centigrams more, in 5 doses, one every hour, and was free of pain until the latter part of January, when he again consulted the doctor, this time the pain being located in the stomach, for which Parthenina was repeated (1 gram in 5 doses, one every two hours). The next day the pain had ceased, but returned on the third, and he again received 1 gram, in the same manner as before, and since then he has been free from pain."
Case V.—"A young lady, 18 years of age, complained of facial neuralgia with periodical exacerbations, from which she was suffering four days. She received 1 gram of Parthenina, in 5 doses, one every hour, and on the following day she was entirely free from pain. Fifty centigrams more, in 4 doses, were given to this lady to prevent a relapse, and the result was a complete cure."
And to finish this report, I will mention a case which came under my notice: "A little girl, my niece, 5 years old, living in Havana, who, when seen by the late Dr. Govantes, of that city, had been suffering for some time before from a continued fever, with periodical mid-day exacerbations, which later on, assumed an intermittent type. She had been saturated with quinine, and complained, at the time, of malaise, lassitude, languor, headache, loss of appetite, gastric intolerance, etc. The temperature went up as high as 40.6° C. during the hot stage, which was short and was followed by copious sweats, giving relief. Parthenium hysterophorus in the form of an extract, prepared and sold at Dr. Villavicenci's Pharmacy, in Havana, was prescribed by Dr. Govantes. Three doses a day, each of the size of a pea, dissolved in water, were given for 4 or 5 days, and at the end of that time she was entirely free of fever and made a quick recovery."
If such results can be ascribed to Parthenium and its alkaloid Parthenina, I think it would be unjustifiable to set them aside. An early proving of the plant will not only enhance our therapeutic resources, but prevent the non-scrupulous from employing it empirically.