Secale cornutum. Spurred Rye. Ergot of Rye. (The black, hornlike spur into which the grains of Rye (Secale cereale, *N. O. Gramineae) are changed by the fungus Claviceps purpurea.) *N. O. Fungi. Tincture of the fresh spurs collected just before harvest.
Clinical
Abortion, threatened. After-pains. Albuminuria. Anus, incontinence of, open. Asthenopia. *Bladder, paralysis of. Boils. Carbuncles. Cataract. Chilblains. Cholera, infantum. Chorea. Convulsions. Cramps. Diabetes. Diaphragm, cramp in. Diarrhoea. Distortions. Dysphagia. Epilepsy. Epistaxis. *Feet, cramps in, burning of, coldness of. *Fibroma. *Gangrene. Gastritis. Glands, Swelling of, suppuration of. Goitre. Haematuria. Haemorrhages. Haemorrhagic diathesis. Heart, palpitation of. Hiccough. Hysteria. Impotence. Liver, enlargement of. Lochia, fetid. Lumbago. *Menstruation, excessive. Metrorrhagia. Milk, suppressed. *Miscarriage. Morvan’s disease. Myelitis, diffusa. Nails, *degeneration of. Neuralgia. Night-sweats. *Numbness. OEsophagitis. *Ovaries, tumours of. *Paralysis, post- diphtheritic, spastic. Placenta, retained. Postpartum haemorrhage. *Pregnancy, false pains of. Purpura. Raynaud’s disease. Small-pox, haemorrhagic. *Spinal irritation. Stammering. Stomach, cancer of. Strabismus. Stricture, spasmodic. Thrombosis. tongue, biting of. Typhoid. Ulcers. Uterus, inertia of, neuralgia of, prolapse.
Characteristics
Rye and grasses are apt to be affected with the Ergot disease in damp seasons, and when grown on damp, ill-drained lands. If breeding cows are turned on pastures where infected grasses grow they are very liable to drop their calves. Ergot has been known as a hastener of parturition from remote times. Its other actions have been for the most part learned from the terrible epidemics of “Ergotism” which have occasionally devastated districts in which Rye infected with Ergot has been ground into flour and eaten by the population. Death takes places in convulsions, or else from gangrene and consequent exhaustion, or from exhausting haemorrhages or discharges, as diarrhoea. Many who escape immediate death are reduced to a cachectic state, from which they never recover, are paralysed, have limbs distorted and senses impaired. In general the sufferer retains a clear intellect and a good, even abnormally good, appetite to the last. The nervous symptoms of *Secale are convulsive. The body is at times rigid, at times rigidity alternates with relaxation. This is especially seen in the hands, which are either clenched or *have the fingers spread widely apart (a keynote symptom). The muscles of the face and abdomen twitch. There is incontinence or retention of urine. Spasmodic retching, the stomach is violently contracted. Through the like action on the vasomotor nerves there is first contraction and then dilatation of blood-vessels, the fingers turn bluish black. This stagnation leads to dry gangrene of the parts. *Secale shrivels up the skin, makes it dry and harsh, sallow complexion. It is therefore *suited to thin, scrawny women, feeble and of cachectic appearance, women of irritable, nervous temperament, of pale, sunken countenance. To very old, decrepit persons. On the other hand, it is also *suited to: Irritable, plethoric subjects. Women of very lax muscular fibre, everything seems loose and open, no action, vessels flabby: passive haemorrhages, copious flow of thin, black, watery blood. *For Secale lessens the coagulating power of the blood, and produces a haemorrhagic diathesis, persistent, offensive bleeding. Small wounds bleed persistently. Purpura comes within this category. One grand characteristic of *Secale, which will determine its selection in many cases, is: ” worse By external heat.” This applies to cholera, purpura, gangrene, and any condition which may present symptoms of *Secale In cholera cases calling for *Secale the patient is cold, almost pulseless, there are spasmodic twitchings of muscles in various parts (especially spreading of fingers), eyes sunk, features pinched, surface harsh, shrivelled, dry, as though no moisture were left in the body. *Though cold to the touch, cannot bear to be covered. In spite of this coldness, *Secale has *burning among its characteristic sensations: burning in all parts of the body as if sparks were falling on the patient. Another characteristic sensation is numbness, tingling as if ants crawling all over, better from rubbing. This may accompany haemorrhages. Loss of other fluids, debility, or skin affections. In the later stages of ergotism there is anaesthesia. The discharges are exhausting and offensive. Diarrhoea is peculiar, involuntary, with wide-open anus. The boils in which *Secale is indicated are small and painful, with green contents, mature very slowly, heal slowly, and are very weakening. The eyes are affected in various ways: Pustulous conjunctivitis, suppuration of cornea, dilated pupils, distortion, and strabismus, ptosis, suppressed tears. Catarrh has been caused in many instances. “< From warmth” will be the leading indication in many eye cases requiring *Secale Exophthalmic goitre has been cured with it, the heart being acted on by *Secale as other hollow viscera, and violent palpitation induced. *Secale has a great affinity for the uterus, whether gravid or not. Though its use in ordinary doses in obstetric practice is attended with danger, it may be used on its homoeopathic indications with perfect safety. It is indicated: (1) In threatened abortion, especially at the third month, prolonged, bearing-down, forcing pains. (2) During labour when the pains are irregular, too weak, feeble, or ceasing, everything seems loose and open, but there is not expulsive action, fainting. (3) For after-pains when too long, too excessive, or when there is hour-glass contraction of the uterus. (4) For suppression or non-appearance of the milk. The menses of *Secale are irregular, copious, dark, fluid, accompanied by labour-like pains in abdomen, there may be a continuous watery discharge of blood during the whole time between the periods. Teste records this case: A lady, 50, fat, very soft flesh, had flooding which nothing could stop. After several useless attempts, Teste gave large doses of *Secale with scarcely any effect. The patient asked for infinitesimal doses. At that time Teste had no faith at all in infinitesimals, but he yielded to the patient’s request, and gave one drop of the 6th. The flooding ceased *immediately and permanently. *Peculiar Sensations of *Secale are: As if intoxicated while undressing. As if eyes were spasmodically rotated. As of a solid plug in nose. As if tongue paralysed. As if there were some resistance to be overcome in speech. As of a heavy weight in stomach. Region of stomach as if contracted. Anus as if locked up. as if testes being drawn up to inguinal ring. Uterus as if burnt. As if contents of uterus would fall forward. As if soft air were creeping through back. As if sacrum would be forced out. As if something alive creeping under skin. As if fingers asleep. As if limbs had been a long time in hot water. As if sparks of fire falling on different parts. As if mice creeping under skin. Fuzzy feeling limbs. *Secale is indicated in *Suppressions: tears, lochia, milk, sweat. Thirst with dry mouth or burning. Desires lemonade and sour things. Averse to fat and meat. The symptoms are: worse By touch. better Lying doubled up in bed. Motion and any exertion worse. Walking causes giddiness. Many symptoms (cramps, twitchings) worse night. Sinking spells 3 a.m. Open air better. Wants to be fanned. Warm applications worse. Warm drink worse. Wet bandages better labor pains. Cold applications better. Worse After eating. All symptoms worse just before menses. The right side is predominantly affected.
Relations
*Antidoted by: Camph., Opium *Compatible: Chi. (Teste classes Secale with Chi. in his Ferrum group), Arsenicum Aco., Belladonna, Mercurius, Pul. *Compare: In labour, Cinnamon (“In postpartum haemorrhage, Cinnamon increases labour-pains, controls profuse or dangerous flooding, is always safe, while Ergot is always dangerous. “H. C. Allen). Labour-like pains, Pul., Sul., Belladonna, Calcarea, Caulophyllum, Gossyp., LIL t., Sepia, Vib. o. Cold skin, cannot bear to be covered, Camph. better Uncovering, Aco., Calcarea Camph., Ferrum, Iodium, Lycopodium, Pul., Sul., Verbascum Haemorrhages, Bovista. (Flow between periods, menses flow mostly or only at night or early morning, puffy condition of body, parts feel enormously large), Mitchella (less passive, blood brighter, dysuria with the haemorrhage), Trill. p. (bright red and profuse, faint feeling, rapid, feeble pulse), Hamamelis (with hammering headache), Erig. (flow in fits and starts, with dysuria), Ustilago (Flow bright red, partly clotted). Ferrum ph., Chi. Haemorrhagic diathesis, Lachesis, Phosphorus Cholera, shrivelled up, gangrene, burning sensation, Arsenicum (but Arsenicum is better by heat). Cholera collapse, Camph. (sudden), Verbascum (Cold sweat on forehead). Follicular pharyngitis, Kali-bi. Cold surface, sunken, pale face, blue lips, tingling in limbs, speech stuttering, Lachesis Action on blood-vessels, Baryta carb. Diarrhoea discharged with great force, Sambucus, Crot-t. Anus wide open, Apis, Phosphorus Threatened abortion at third month, Sabi. Cholera morbus, Colchicum Diabetes, Plb. Burning feet, cramp in calves, Sul. Eyes worse from warm application (Asarum europaeum better cold washing). Exophthalmic goitre, Lapis., Scut., Thyr. Spastic paralysis, Lath. Old persons, Conium Twitching, coldness, chilblains, cholera, also botan., Agaricus *Compare also: Ergotinum, which sometimes acts when Secale is indicated and fails (see case under *Ergotinum).
