Mescal buttons. *N. O. Cactaceae. Tincture, extract, or infusion. Havelock Ellis says: “I first cut up the buttons into small fragments and poured on boiling water twice, a single infusion is inactive.”.
Clinical
Brain-fag. Delirium. Headache. Hallucinations. Megrim. Mental weakness. Neurasthenia. Paraplegia. Senses, disordered. Visions, disorders of, coloured.
Characteristics
The plant from which the mescal buttons are obtained grows in barren and rocky soil in the valley of the Rio Grande. It is used by some Indian tribes in their religious ceremonies. It has been recently tested scientifically, a notable proving having been made by Dr. Wier Mitchell. Dr. ***E. M. Hale has collected the facts about the drug in an article published in the *Hahnemannian Monthly. The chief feature of the drug’s action is the production of coloured visions of most over-powering brilliancy, associated with moving shapes of fantastic design, the motion being regulated somewhat in time by music. In the Indian ceremonies the constant beating of tom-toms is an essential feature. Other symptoms are loss of conception of time, occipital headache, tired feeling in head, nausea. Tremor of muscles, increased knee- jerk, and loss of power of coordination. One prover, Havelock Ellis, noted distinct slowing of the pulse, slight faintness and shallow breathing, but there were none of the terrible heart symptoms of the other Cacti. The most prominent condition is worse on closing eyes. The nausea and faintness were worse on movement. There is great disinclination to move. better Lying down.
Relations
*Compare: Cann-i. (time sense disordered, fantastic visions), Gelsemium (paralysis of accommodation), Belladonna, Stramonium, Opium, Pic-ac., Pip-m., Coffea, Coca, Platina (objects seem small and distant), Psorinum ( better lying down).
Mind
Reverie. Time seems long, intervals between words and sentences seem inordinately long. Cannot find the right word, with difficulty of enunciation. Seems to have a double personality. Distrust and resentment, thinks companions are laughing at him, wants to do them violence. Consciousness of unusual energy and intellectual power which, when tested, was found not to actually exist). Sense of superiority and well-being. Sense of depression and inferiority.
Head
Frontal (left) headache with visual zigzags. Occipital headache, with disturbed vision. Persistent ache and tired feeling in occipital region (lasting several days and making work impossible). (It rapidly removed headache in one power.).
Eyes
Visions in all colours, moving, fantastic, of surpassing brilliance, in designs (sometimes grotesque), moving scenes, dances, affected by beating time, dissipated or modified by opening the eyes, partly under control by an effort of thought. Natural objects seem more brilliant, shadows deepened, flickering of lights greatly exaggerated. Pupils dilated. Accommodation impaired. Ptosis.
Ears
Impressions of sound and visions heightened by any marked stimulation of skin. Exaggerated reverberation of ordinary sounds.
Nose
The air seemed filled with vague perfume. Smell blunted, could not tell whether or not tincture of asafoetida was a perfume.
Face
Disinclined to make the slightest movement, eyelids droop, they scarcely move the lips and jaws in articulating.
Mouth
Great difficulty in talking, partly from paralysis of the tongue, partly from slowness of thought.
Stomach
Nausea, worse on movement, entirely better on lying down.
Heart, and Pulse
Pulse slowed. Respiration shallow. Faintness.
Lower Limbs
A fine tremor in lower extremities.
Generalities
Motor incoordination. Extreme muscular depression, don’t want to stir, whole body feels relaxed. Lazy contentment, “a land where it is always afternoon.” Fine tremor in lower extremities preluding the visions, unable to walk without assistance, can with difficulty sit up.
Sleep
Drowsiness, followed by consciousness of unusual energy.
