106 FLORA HOMGOPATHICA. 
after she died. On inspection of the matters which had been 
passed, it was perceived that the whole of the lining membrane 
of the rectum had come away. An inspection of the body was 
not allowed. . 
Pyl mentions a fatal case of poisoning with it at Cambray in 
France. The subject was a man, who took two glasses of an 
infusion of the root to cure ague, and was soon after seized 
with violent tormina and purging, which nothing could arrest, 
and which soon terminated fatally (Neues Magazin, t. 3, p. 557). 
Many observers attest that the administration of Bryony is 
followed by violent vomitings, accompanied by faintings, severe 
pains and abundant serous alvine dejections, thirst, etc. 
These facts lead us to think—Ist, that the Bryony acts on 
man as upon animals; 2nd, that the effects appear to depend 
upon the inflammation that it developes, and upon the sympa- 
thetic irritation of the nervous system upon its absorption; 3rd, 
that it is in the soluble portion in the water its deleterious 
property resides. 
Bryonia owes its power to an extractive matter discovered by 
Brande and Firnhaber, to which the name Bryonine is given. 
According to the experiments of Collard de Martigny, Bryonine 
acts on the stomach and on a wound exactly as the root itself, 
but more energetically ; when introduced into the cavity of the 
pleura, it causes rapid death by true pleurisy, ending in effusion 
of fibrin (Nouv. Bibliotheque Médicale, 1827, p. 221). 
Mepicau Uses (Homaoraruic).—* The resemblance of the 
effects of Bryonia to those of Rhus cannot be mistaken. Bry- 
onia also totally changes the disposition of the mind. The 
fever it causes is chiefly manifested by chilliness ; its symptoms 
appear, and are increased in a peculiar manner while the body 
is in motion, although it is not uncommon to perceive its alter- 
nate effects in the relief of the symptoms by repose. 
“ From this it follows that, in the use of Bryonia, cases may 
occur in which the medicine, though perfectly homeopathic, 
and given in a small dose, does not produce the expected 
