But, beyond all this remains the fact that even the delicate muscles of the tiny green tree frog (hyla arborea) a long and careful process of preparation in order that the ultimate ramifications of nerve-fibre may be demonstrated. Post-mortem change must be prevented; the tissue must be made sufficiently thin and translucent to admit light enough for examination with a "high power" (all the light going into the

, passes through an aperture the 's of an inch in diameter), and the highly refractive nerve tissue must be rendered granular by the use of acetic-acid in order to be discernible with even a; so that the "preparation" of a muscle requires from two to six weeks.

From examinations of our own preparations we cannot see all that Beale has seen, simply because we lack the "objective in front;" but we are convinced that this "controversy" is settled by the researches of Dr. Beale; and we are convinced that with the requisite skill in "preparing," any one following Beale's method can arrive at no other conclusion than that "a nerve never ends."

There yet remain two points which, in our eyes, possess great interest for us, small-dose-trituration-and-dilution men to wit: "The view that no fibre is a nerve-fibre unless it be dark-bordered, cannot any longer be entertained, for in no peripheral tissue or organ that I have studied does the REALLY ACTIVE PART OF THE NERVE-FIBRE COMMENCE until the darkbordered character has ceased. Where the dark-border ends is not where the nerve ends, but it is where the extensive ACTIVE peripheral nerve-plexus commences.”

"I have so often observed a dark-bordered nerve-fibre distributed to a muscle, divided into two branches, one of which passed to a (capillary) vessel, while the other ramified upon the muscle, that I believe the arrangement to be useful and probably essential."

In view of these two "hard facts," what becomes of those "credulous homœopaths" who long since taught that the "action" of certain of their "remedies" was upon the peripheral capillaries of sundry organs and tissues? What a pity that an "allopath" so high in rank should plunge into the mysterious recesses of the human body only to emerge in

triumph with the proofs of a contemptible "homœopathic theory !* hote. "From many facts demonstrated, it seems probable that nerve-fibres, as they pass to their distribution, divide into a vast number of separate branches, which, after passing a course over the tissue to which they are distributed, of some extent, pass into other nerve trunks, and thus return to the cells of the nerve centre from which they started.”

From its very nature, this point must ever remain undemonstrated; but to those who are conversant with Van der Kolk, Clarke, and Stilling's researches upon the brain, medulla oblongata, and spinal cord; this conjecture will have a degree of certainty second only to that derived from actual demonstration.

Fearing lest the term "circuit" may suggest to some reader that Beale entertains a mechanical theory of life, we beg leave say that no man can be farther from it.

to

In his theory of cell-genesis, he recognizes a mysterious force-" unlike any of the known physicial forces”—and so far removed from Schwann's quasi-chemical theory of deposition as to gladden the hearts of those who devoutly find the evidence of a Creator in the faintest movement of a molecule.

ARTICLE XVII.-Scrofularia-Marilandica.-Partial Proving. By W. H. BLAKELEY, M.D., Princeton, Ky.

THIS indigenous plant belongs to the natural order Scrophulariacea. It grows profusely all over the United States, on all rich soil. It has an erect, square stalk, two to eight feet high. Leaves cordate, serrate, acute, rounded at base. Petioles ciliate below. Panicles fasciculate large, few flowered. Stem obtusely angled.

My mind, several years ago, having been directed to this indigenous plant, "by an old lady of my acquaintance," under the name of Fever Weed, from the circumstance that applied

• We prefer to put in a "Note" the only pure conjecture we have found in Dr. Beale's monograph. It gives his idea of the "circuit" which is "the fundamental arrangement of a nervous apparatus."

(the leaves were always used) to external inflammation, furunculus, contusions, old indolent ulcers, &c., it would speedily reduce all inflammatory action, and cause, in abrasions, wounds of all kinds, &c., a quick and healthy granulation. I have found it equal, if not superior to Calendula, Arnica, or any other topical application; I have in many instances seen the good effects of this remedy. Both the leaves and tincture.

The proving was conducted by myself, and I also took some of the drug myself, in order to be more certain of its action. Subject.-Temperament, nervo-lymphatic. Auburn hair; Oct. 25, weight 150; habits temperate, using neither tea, coffee, tobacco, nor alcoholic stimulants of any kind. Country situated between the Ohio and Tennessee, Cumberland and Mississippi Rivers, and as might be inferred, we have a constant supply of the malaria, floating, "as it were," over the entire country. Began the proving with the pure tincture, at first ten drops, increasing to a teaspoonful, several times per day. Took in all about 2 oz.

Mind and Sensorium.-Vertigo, with severe aching in the supra-orbital region. Dizziness, fullness, and pressure in the vertex. A miserable and sluggish feeling of the mind when moving about. Desponding, much troubled about the past, and very apprehensive of the future, which passed off after a few days, and left the intellect clear.

Head Symptoms.—Severe lancinating pain in the vertex, forehead, and temples; dull and throbbing, returning periodically; worse on resting, or being in the open air, also when leaning forwards, or applying onesself to study. A severe headache through the temples appearing every morning, extending to the vertex and occiput. Fullness of the head, with vertigo. Cutting pains, with great pain in the eyes, causing me to almost lose the power of moving them, which after a few hours passed off after a profuse perspiration. Pain in the left temple. Darting pain at the exit of the facial nerve, from the hylo-mastoid foramen of the right side, darting to the right eye. On rising the second morning, an indescribable pain and fullness in all the head, followed by epistaxis, principally in the occiput and vertex, causing a congested state of the conjunctiva, with puffiness. Black spots, &c., before the

eyes; afterwards a film appeared to come over the eyes in the evening. Dry coryza with sternutation.

Teeth.-Teeth feel as if they were loose, with pain in carious teeth, worse in upper than lower jaw. Gums bleed very freely. Mouth, Throat and Pharynx.-Mouth dry after the first day, "the first day great increase in flow of saliva," great thirst, and a constant effort at deglutition. Irritation in the œsophagus.

Appetite and Taste.-Great increase of appetite during the first days, but afterwards correspondingly less, with nausea lasting for several days, with a weakness and oppression in the epigastric region. Feeling in the stomach as if a person had been fasting or missed their regular meal time. Was troubled with dyspepsia, which has disappeared up to the present time, one month after.

Abdomen and Viscera,-Stools.-Twisting, pinching pain in the region of the umbilicus, (left side.) Dull, heavy, periodic pain, worse when the abdomen is compressed, legs extended. Severe colic; several stools per day with tenesmus. Pain in sigmoid flexure. Pain in right hypochondrium, worse on taking a deep inspiration, or lying on that side, sallow condition of skin. Bitter taste in mouth. Upon turning on either side, violent dyspnoea, worse on the right than left, with cutting in the liver upon pressure. Increased secretion of urine, with burning in urethra.

Larynx and Chest.-Slight pain in chest, with accelerated inspiration. A feeling of constriction of the chest, making one feel very uneasy. An indescribable sensation in the region of the heart, with severe palpitation, beating so loud that it could be heard at the distance of several feet. Severe stitches in the right side, about the sixth rib, with shivering and slight irritation of the bronchia, and general lassitude. Cutting pain in the superior part of the left lung, increased by breathing the cold air. Pain in the whole of the right lung on taking a deep inspiration, which causes cough, without expectoration. Pain about the bifurcation of the trachea.

The chest symptoms were all removed by a dose of Bry. Upper and Lower Extremities.—A drawing, rheumatic pain in all the flexor muscles of the arms and legs. Cutting pain

in the articulations, similar to Rhus, but more intense, lasting much longer, aggravated by rest in the open air, and relieved by being in a warm room; darting from the knee and ankle-joints, which feel stiff. Prickly itching all over the surface, similar to flea-bites, without any change of color, or rising of vesicles, worse on the back of the hand and on the inside of the wrists, also between the fingers. Tingling in the extremities, like one having struck or compressed a nerve. Deep-seated cutting pain in all the muscles of the arms. Burning all over the surface when rubbed.

Fever.-Pulse very full, but regular, ranging from 65 to 100 during the proving. A peculiar sense of anguish in the præcordia, worse after taking food. Chilliness after rising in the morning, for several hours, passing off with a profuse sweat, which was followed by stupor, with an absence of all the symptoms. Inclination to sleep, with frightful dreams, waking without relief. The whole body, after the first day, feels very dry and hot, with a burning sensation, followed by profuse swoat. Great bodily weakness, being almost unable to walk a short distance. Chilliness on moving about in the cool air.

Back and Neck.-Stiffness of the neck with pain and contraction of the right sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle. Pain in the whole spinal column, with slight opisthotonos. the small of the back.

Pain in

General Symptoms.—A very disagreeable feeling of languor and nervous prostration, with an inclination to lie down and rest. Upon closing the eyes, objects would make their appearance. The symptoms are worse on right side, and aggravated by rest in open air, and relieved in a warm room. Muscular debility, &c.

Remarks. I should think it homœopathic to inflammatory rheumatism without much swelling, affecting principally the flexor muscles, and articulations, where neither Rhus nor Bry. seems to afford relief when they seem to be indicated. The action of Scroph. seems to be intermediate between Rhus and Bry., I having proved both remedies on my own person, and carefully noted the symptoms.

I hope some of my medical brethren will give us a complete proving of this remedy, and report in this JOURNAL at the