(The following is extracted from a paper on Passiflora, by Dr. C. A. Walters, of Brooklyn. Homœopathic Recorder, July, 1890:)
In April, 1888, was called to an infant, 14 months, convulsions, caused by dentition; symptoms called for Belladonna, of which the 1x dil., 5 drops in half a glass water, teaspoonful every fifteen minutes until better, then once an hour. The child improved from start, and the convulsions ceased in one hour from commencing the medicine. The next day the child appeared in usual health, and the Belladonna was given once in eight hours and discharged from further attendance.
Thirty-six hours after I was recalled, the child was in another spasm. No Belladonna symptoms being present I gave 5 drops of Passiflora tincture, every fifteen minutes, with the result that it never had another spasm from that day to this. The child slept soundly all through the night and awoke the next morning in its usual good health.
Since then I have prescribed it for the sleeplessness of dentition without a failure, giving it usually in from 5 to 10 drops a dose, to be repeated every fifteen minutes until sleep. I never give it during the day for this purpose, but begin at bedtime.
In the insomnia of adults, from whatsoever cause, I always give 60 drops at bedtime, and if not asleep in half an hour I give the same dose.
Experience has taught me that to give it in smaller doses is a waste of time and disappointing to the patient. Two such doses, i.e., 60 drops a dose, are almost absolutely sure of giving the patient a natural and refreshing sleep. The old school seem to have been forced to resort to Sulfonal (whatever that may be) as the only thing capable of producing sleep, and yet, judging from the reports in their journals, it does not seem to "fill the bill." Were they ever to give this a trial we would not hear so much of Morphine, Chloral, Bromides, and the like.
I have never used Passiflora in erysipelas, having always been able to discharge my patients in from two to four days by giving them Jaborandi.
In neuralgia and headache it has acted with wonderful rapidity, even the headache of uterine displacements being brought under its influence. It is almost a daily occurrence to have people whom I never saw before come miles to my office for that "sleeping medicine made from the passion flower."
In conclusion let me say to the brethren, try it. But give it in appreciable doses. Don't be afraid of it. I would not hesitate to give it in four drachm doses, if required. But why give four when one will do?
P. S.—Since writing the foregoing I have used Passiflora in two cases of delirium tremens. It acted like a charm in both cases; sent them to sleep in half an hour, and when they awoke, twelve and fourteen hours after, they were themselves again. Sixty drops of tincture a dose, two doses in each.