216 FLORA HOMCOPATHICA. 
membranes ; the internal membrane of the stomach was detached 
and ulcerated; the peritoneum was almost gangrened; the 
liver, kidneys, and bladder showed traces of inflammation 
(Carron d’ Annecy, in Orf. Tox. Gén., 1. c.) 
It is to be remarked that in the experiments with Colocynth 
and Elaterium, when these poisons have produced death after 
their introduction into the stomach, this organ and the rectum 
are found inflamed, whilst the rest of the intestines are found in 
the natural condition. This applies equally to many other 
poisonous substances. It appears to depend on the rapidity 
with which a part of the poison traverses the intestines, and the 
long time it remains in the stomach and rectum, and not in 
virtue of a specific action upon this intestine ; for it is wanting 
often when the poison produces death after being injected into 
the cellular tissue of the thigh (Orf., 1. c.) 
Mepicat Uses (Homa@oratutic).— Hahnemann’s observations 
(1.c.): “The ancients brought Colocynth into disrepute by using 
it in large and dangerous doses as an aperient. Their successors, 
alarmed at such examples, rejected it altogether, and were thus 
deprived of its powerful assistance in disease. They ventured 
upon it only on very rare occasions, after weakening and 
changing its properties by means of other substances, called 
correctives, which they considered proper to soften and over- 
come the venom with which they believed it to be impregnated. 
They added other aperient ingredients by means of a muci- 
laginous gum, and diminished its strength both by fermentation 
and by a continued ebullition with water, wine, etc. But after 
all these alterations, Colocynth was still dangerous in the large 
doses they administered. 
“ How extraordinary it is, that at all times schools of 
medicine should have shunned reflection, and that, under cir- 
cumstances like these, the idea should never occur that in cases 
where medicines of this powerful kind in certain doses are too 
violent, it may be attributable less to their nature than to the 
size of the dose, which is capable of being diminished ; and 
