This is a tree with white wood, the ramose top of which attains a height of from 20 to 28 feet. Leaves pennate, tri- or quadrijugate, composed of from five to nine opposite, sessile, glabrous and oval folioles. Flowers large, violet-colored, on pedicles that are expanded at their extremities, and forming ramose terminal panicles. Calix tubulous, with five teeth, corolla tubulous, slightly pubescent externally, and expanding at its summit into a limb with five obtuse divisions. Stamens five, one of which is rudimentary; ovary avoïd, surmounted by a simple style terminating in a bilamellary stygma. The husks are linear and flat. The caroba is very common in Brazil, in gardens and on plantations; it blossoms in September. We employ the flower.
Several varieties of the caroba are used in Brazil for the treatment of syphilitic diseases. For our provings we have selected the Jacaranda caroba, which has furnished results as complete as could be desired. We consider this drug of great importance in the treatment of chancres.
First day.—1. Stitch at the heart; the heart seems to beat slowly in placing the hand upon it, at 9 in the evening. Stitch and pulling below the stomach, on the right side, at midnight. Dryness and pricking all over.
Second day.—No sleep at night and drowsy in the day-time. 5. Dry mouth, in the morning, in bed. One does not feel any longer the beats of the heart, in the morning, in bed. The heart beats regularly again after going into the open air. Painful stitch at the heart, almost constantly. Full and slow pulse, in the morning, in bed. Weary while talking. 10. Drawing pain on the right side, from the axilla to the false ribs, at 9 in the morning. Dull pain under the sternum, in raising the head and drawing breath. He eats little, though his appetite is good, at 9 in the morning. General weakness, in the morning. Slight pain at the articulation of the second phalanx of the fingers of the right hand, at half past 9 in the morning. 15. Weakness of the legs. Pain as if bruised in the right knee, while walking, at 10 in the morning, of short duration. Sense as if bruised in the muscles and bones of the legs. Slight drawing pain from the eye to the right lower jaw, followed by shuddering in the same region, at 11 in the morning; this pain recurs, changing to a contusive pain. Sensitiveness of the malar bone when pressing on it with the finger. 20. Sensation of painfulness at the apex of the heart, on the right side, at noon. Hurried breathing, with sense of fullness under the sternum, several times in the course of the day. Painful stitch under the false right ribs, at noon. No stool. Momentary drawing in the flexor communis digitorum, left wrist, at half past 12, afternoon. 25. Pulling from the lower extremity of the forearm to the right little finger, for one hour. Weariness of the limbs, and desire to remain seated. Weakness of the limbs; and lumbar region, at 2. Slight pain in the right ribs, below, at half past 2. Painful fullness in the right temple, shifting a moment after to the left temple, and disappearing in the left side of the nape of the neck, in the evening, in the open air. 30. Sense of fullness in the head, in the afternoon. Dull pain between the forehead and right temple; it disappears in the evening, by shifting to the opposite side. Pain as if excoriated at the left side of the tongue. Pulling from the lower jaw to the middle of the neck, on the right side, in the evening. Fullness in the pit of the stomach, with feeble, hurried breathing; sometimes a strong and long inspiration, with strong and sudden expiration, in the afternoon. 35. Lancinating pain in the region of the heart. Continued prickings under the sternum. Painful stitch on the left side of the navel. Sensation, while walking, as of dull thorns or little pieces of straw between the thighs, or as if stiff and dry moss is applied to a raw sore. Itching at the anus, while sitting. 40. Pain at the left elbow, striking through the whole forearm by fits and starts, in the evening. Dull pain in the right wrist-joints, penetrating to the middle of the forearm; a similar sensation at the left arm, but slighter. Pain as if bruised in the bones of the right forearm, and lancination from the wrist to the forearm, at 6 in the evening. Acute deep-seated, drawing pain under the left last rib, at 6 in the evening. Palpitation of the heart in going up- and down-stairs, with acute pain, as if it were pushed with the tip of the finger, at 9 in the evening.
Third day.—45. Doughy mouth, at 6 in the morning. The heart seems to beat in the pit of the stomach, at 6 in the morning; its beats are no longer felt under the left breast. The beating of the heart recommences during motion, but is slow and feeble. Noise in the ears, like the flapping of the wings of a butterfly, at 8 in the morning. Sneezing and fluent discharge from the nose, at half past 8 in the morning. 50. Itching at the left commissure of the lips, at 9 in the morning. Fatiguing drawing pain in the anterior cervical muscles, extending to the right ear, at half past 9 in the morning. Colic; flatulence shifts about in the abdomen, followed by emission of inodorous flatulence, at half past 9 in the morning. Painful stitch in the integuments of the abdomen, between the navel and the pit of the stomach, a little on the right side, at 10 in the morning. Dull pain above the wrist and in the radius, at half past 10 in the morning. 55. Dull crampy pain in the right elbow, shifting afterwards to the left elbow. Pain as if bruised in the right side, at a quarter of 11 in the morning. Painful stitch at the heart, shifting at once to the other side, as if one had two hearts, at 11 in the morning. Extensive aching pain from the right upper part of the forehead to the eye, at noon. Slight pain in the right temple, as if several dull points were pressed upon it at the same time; dull pain in the right orbit. 60. Coryza at half past 12. Mouth dry and doughy. Sensation in the skin as if grasped, on the right side of the navel, at one in the evening. No stool. Lancination from the elbow to the middle of the forearm, thence to the left wrist, from 9 to 3 in the evening. 65. Stoppage of the nose, at 3 in the evening. Boring pain at the right external carotid, at half past 3 in the evening. Vertical pullings above the pit of the stomach, at 4 in the evening.
Fourth day.—Stiffness of the loins and pain in the abdomen and hypochondria as if bruised, at 6 in the morning. Soft and easy stool, (previous to the proving the stools were generally hard and painful.) 70. The inflammation of the anus has disappeared. Coryza, with heaviness and weariness at the vertex, forehead and eyes, at 9 in the morning. Coryza, with digging, lancinating pain in the left side of the forehead, corresponding to the palatine arch of the same side, at noon. Dry lips, mouth and tongue. Intense itching between the left ring- and little finger, and a red, itching spot on the second phalangeal joint of the ring-finger. 75. A red spot, with a yellowish pellicle and itching at the forepart of the wrists, at noon. Heat at the left ear, with burning digging pain extending to the left nostril, at half past 2 in the evening. Sensation as if the left ear were stopped up, at half past 3 in the afternoon.
Fifth day.—The coryza has ceased.
Sixth day.—80. Dreams about objects, which he defends courageously against thieves, who lay a thousand snares for him; also about unknown fruits, which he desires to taste, but which disappear immediately. Dull pain at the outer side of the right eyebrow, passes off in the open air. Acute pain in the left testicle, when walking. A good deal of appetite. Rheumatic pain in the right knee, it disappears by motion. 85. Slight pinching at the extremity of the prepuce. Dull pain in the right temporal region, at 10 in the morning.
Seventh to thirteenth day.—Slight pains in the left testicle when walking, or by the pressure of the clothes.
Fourteenth day.—Heat and swelling of the scrotum, near the left groin, with pain when rubbing or touching it. Slight suppuration between the glans and prepuce, on the right side.
Fifteenth day.—90. The swelling of the scrotum is less, the suppuration of the glans worse.
Sixteenth day.—Itching at the forehead, as if mosquitoes were walking about there.
Eighteenth day.—The swelling of the scrotum has disappeared, the testicle is less painful; the suppuration has spread to the outer side of the prepuce, without affecting the glans. Swelling of the right groin which is painful when touched. Pain as from a plug pressing perpendicularly against the forehead, right side. 95. Violent sneezing. Dreams about a frightful storm, with smashing and burning of palaces, or crushing gigantic mountains, from which issue columns of smoke.
Nineteenth day.—Profuse watery discharge from the nose. Food tastes flat or acid, sugar-water tastes like vinegar.
Twenty-first day.—Acute pain in the prepuce, as if a small bundle of fibres were seized. 100. Prickling at the prepuce. Profuse discharge of a yellowish white liquid from the prepuce, smelling like ordinary pus. Heat and pain of the penis, the inflammation being worse in bed. The prepuce cannot be drawn back. General malaise, nausea, debility. 105. The swelling of the scrotum has entirely ceased. The testicle remains a little swollen and painful. (The excrescence at the anus has considerably decreased for eight days past.) Dreams about combats, dead persons; he picks up very small heads, which had been partially calcined on a pan with coals; these heads opened their eyes and spoke to him in an angry tone.
Twenty-second day.—The pain and inflammation of the prepuce are less. 110. The pain in the testicle keeps decreasing. Very weary in the evening, he has to lie down. The suppuration and inflammation of the prepuce augment in the evening, the whole prepuce is affected. Itching at the scrotum.
Twenty-third day.—Acute pain, with lancinations at the anus, as if a large needle were stuck in three or four times. 115. Prostration; a trifling exercise fatigues him and compels him to lie down. Weariness of the knees. Sensation of a greenish-yellow pus from the prepuce.
Twenty-fourth day.—Profuse secretion of a greenish-yellow liquid from the prepuce. The internal membrane of the prepuce is inflamed.
Twenty-fifth day.—120. Itching at the anus, in the morning. The inflammation of the prepuce is less on the right side, it shifts to the left. Itching and prickling at the margin of the prepuce. Emission of a light colored urine, four or five times a day.
Twenty-sixth day.—The inflammation on the inner side of the prepuce has ceased, whereas the margin has become inflamed over night; and it is raw and bleeds here and there. 125. The contact of the urine causes tearing pains, which affect the whole organism, and leave a considerable malaise behind. The nervous system, head and neck are painfully affected by these pains. The orifice of the urethra looks like two small lips, which are inflamed on the inner side; on touching them, a slight itching is experienced there, extending to the middle of the penis.
Twenty-seventh day.—130. Internal chilliness, as if the blood would freeze in the vessels, in the open air, for fifteen minutes. Erections, which the continual swelling of the prepuce renders painful. Total suppression of the sexual desire, with relaxation of the penis.
Twenty-eighth day.—Sound sleep. The inflammation and suppuration of the glans diminish considerably in the morning.
Twenty-ninth day.—135. He is able to take a long walk without getting tired.
SECOND PROVING.
First day.—Sense of constriction at the throat, until evening. Rheumatic pain in the left shoulder-blade.
Second day.—The pain in the shoulder-blade continues until evening.
Third day.—Restless sleep; frightful dreams. 140. Dull pains in the head, in the day-time.
Fourth day.—Itching pimple at the glans, of the size of half a grain of corn.
Fifth day.—Restless sleep, and eccentric dreams. Painless suppuration of the pimple on the glans; with itching; it looks like a chancre. Heaviness of the head, which is painful all day.
Sixth day.—145. Restless night; sleep is frequently disturbed, with extreme difficulty to fall asleep again. The chancrous pimple on the glans has dried up; there remains in its place a red point; the place is not painful. The throat is very dry.
Seventh day.—Restless at night, with uneasy and unrefreshing sleep.
Eighth day.—Rheumatic pain in the right calf. Restless night.
Ninth day.—150. Sleep more quiet. The pain in the calf continues; it is intense and hinders walking.
Tenth day.—Sore throat, with constriction of the pharynx and difficult deglutition. The pain in the calf has shifted to the shoulder blade, extending from the last ribs to the neck. The neck is so painful that it is only with difficulty and pain that the head can be turned to the right side.
Eleventh day.—155. Similar pain in the shoulder-blade and neck. The constriction of the throat continues.
Twelfth day.—Same symptoms as on the eleventh, but less intense. No sleep at night, and drowsy in the day-time. Pain in the nape of the neck. 160. Pain under the sternum. Weariness and prostration. Emission every night. Heat at the anus. Prickings around the anus. 165. Fever. Prostration, so that he is scarcely able to speak. Dry cough. Cough, with white, watery expectoration. Ulcers on the legs. 170. Pains in the joints. Sore eyes. Pain in the right leg. Bad taste in the mouth, in the morning. Headache, in the day-time. 175. Catarrh. Pressure at the pit of the stomach. Nausea when eating. Pain in the back and chest. Acute pain at the hypogastrium, when pressing upon it. 180. He wakes with a start, twice in the night. He dreams loud all night. Pain in the left arm, in the morning. Redness at the left arm. Painful stitch under the right ribs, when drawing breath, for half an hour.
ARRANGEMENT ACCORDING TO HAHNEMANN.
Head, &c.: Dull pain in right temple, as if several points were pressed upon it. Frontal headache. Dull pain between the forehead and right temple, shifting to the other side and there disappearing. Sense of fullness in the head. Painful fullness in right temple, shifting to the left and disappearing in the nape of the neck. Pain in right side of forehead as from a plug pressing against it. Itching at the forehead as from vermin crawling about there. Heaviness of the head, it aches all day. Sore eyes. Flapping in the ears as of wings. Stoppage of the left ear. Heat at the left ear, with burning digging pain extending to the left nostril. The malar bone is sensitive to pressure. Drawing pain from the eye to the right lower jaw, followed by shuddering in the same region. Sneezing and fluent coryza. Coryza, with heaviness and weariness at the vertex, forehead and eyes. Coryza, with digging and lancing pain in left side of forehead. He dreams about fighting with thieves. Catarrh.
Gastric, &c.: Food tastes flat or acid. Bad taste in the mouth, in the morning. Nausea when eating. Dry mouth, in the morning, in bed. Raw pain at left side of the tongue. Mouth dry and doughy. Sore throat with constriction of the pharynx and difficult deglutition. Constrictive sensation at the throat. Stitch and pulling below the stomach. Fullness in pit of stomach, with hurried breathing. Pulling from above downwards in the pit of the stomach. Pressure at the pit of the stomach. Bruising pain in right side. Painful stitch in the integuments of the abdomen, between the navel and the pit of the stomach. Colic with flatulence. Acute drawing pain under the left last rib. Painful stitch on the left side of the navel. Swelling of the right groin, painful when touched. Sensation on right side of navel, as if the skin were seized. Acute pain at the hypogastrium when pressing upon it. No stool. Soft and easy stool. Itching at the anus while sitting. Heat at the anus. Prickings around the anus. Acute pain with lancination in the anus. Excrescence at the anus. The orifice of the urethra looks like two small inflamed lips, itching when touched. Heat and pain of the penis. Discharge of a yellowish white liquid from the prepuce. Prickling in the prepuce. Pain in prepuce, as if a small bundle of fibres were seized. The prepuce cannot be drawn back. Suppuration between the glans and prepuce. Acute pain in left testicle when walking. Heat and swelling of the scrotum. Slight pinching at the prepuce. Emission every night. Itching pimple at the glans, suppurating like a chancre, and leaving a red point when dry. Suppression of the sexual desire. Painful erections, owing to the swelling of the prepuce. The contact of the urine causes tearing pains, which affect the whole organism. Itching and prickling at the margin of the prepuce.
Chest: Dry cough, with white, watery expectoration. Painful stitch under the right ribs, when drawing breath. Drawing pain from the right axilla to the false ribs. Dull pain under the sternum when raising the head and drawing breath. Hurried breathing, with sense of fullness under the sternum. Painful stitch under the false right ribs. Prickings under the sternum. Pain at the apex of the heart. Lancing pain in the region of the heart. Palpitation in going up- or down-stairs, as if pushed with the tip of the finger. Sensation as if the heart beat in the pit of the stomach. Painful stitch at the heart, shifting to the right side. Stitch at the heart, which seems to beat slowly. The beats of the heart are not felt in the morning, in bed. Drawing pain from the front part of the neck to the ear. Pulling from the lower jaw to the middle of the neck. Boring pain at the right external carotid. The neck is so painful that the turning the head is difficult and painful. Weakness of the lumbar region.
Extremities: Rheumatic pain in left shoulder-blade. Pain in the back and chest. Pain in the left arm, in the morning. Redness at the left arm. Dull crampy pain in right elbow, shifting to the left. Pulling from the forearm to the right little finger. Pain from the left elbow through the forearm. Bruising pain in the bones of the right forearm, with lancination. Dull pain from the wrist-joint to the middle of the forearm. Red spot with a yellowish pellicle on the wrists. Drawing in the flexor communis digitorum. Red, itching spot on the ring-finger. Sense as of thorns between the thighs when walking. Ulcers on the legs. Pain in the right leg. Weakness of the legs. Bruising pain in the legs. Rheumatic pain in the right calf. Rheumatic pain in right knee, disappearing by motion. Bruising pain in the right knee.
Sleep: No sleep at night. Dreams about a frightful storm, mountains from which smoke issues, &c. Restless sleep, with frightful dreams. Dreams about combats, calcined head, which spoke to him angrily, &c. Loud dreams. Fever. Internal chilliness. Dryness and prickings all over. Weariness of the limbs. Weakness in the morning. Weary while talking. Malaise, nausea, debility. Stiffness of the loins, and bruising pain in the abdomen and hypochondria. Pains in the joints. Prostration; he is easily tired. Weary in the evening.