Text: The Staphisagria tincture is prepared by maceration from the seeds. The proving is in the fifth volume of the Materia Media Pura . It contains 283 symptoms from Hahnemann, and 438 from twelve others. Up to Hahnemann's time Staphisagria was little known save as an external application for phthiriasis [ lice infestation ] -a use of it which, the form of the oil of the seeds (ascertained by Mr. Squire be the active element), still survives. Dioscorides, however, had praised it as a masticatory for toothache; and Schulze had experienced a frightful aggravation of the pain when employing it. Hahnemann was thus, perhaps, led to prove and he found it so powerfully to affect the healthy body that he thought it likely to prove a great medicine. His pathogenetic results have been substantiated by the active properties found to belong to the two alkaloids of stavesacre-delphininie and staphisagrine ; but his therapeutic expectations have hardly been realised as yet. Staphisagria, in fact, is one those drugs which one hardly ever thinks of in connection with the treatment of the ordinary forms of disease. Every now and then, however, the consultation of a repertory leads us choose it as the similimum to the group of symptoms, and time, perhaps, it will attain a forward place in therapeutics; for its provings evidence its possession of a very extensive range of influence. In the meantime I would call attention its effects upon the genito-urinary organs. Putting them all together, they present a perfect picture of that form spermatorrhea so well described by Lallemand, in which the prostatic portion of the urethral mucous membrane is the seat of chronic inflammatory irritation, which sometimes extends into the ejaculatory canals and seminal ducts. I have used it several times in this malady with great benefit, and Bonjean commends it highly. The provings, moreover, confirm the suggestion of the experience of Dioscorides and Schulze as to the specific influence of the drug on the teeth and gums. The teeth ache and decay, get loose, and even show black streaks in their substance under its use: the gums become retract and white. Odontalgia in persons so affected readily yields Staphisagria ; and the tendency to such decay of the teeth may in other maladies be an indication for its use. It here resembles Kreosote.The writer who seems to know most of the curative virtues of Staphisagria is M. Teste. He gives a long list-like those of Hahnemann for his antipsorics-of morbid conditions which it has proved beneficial. Of these I may especially mention nausea from vertigo, as in sea-sickness. From experiencing this combination of symptoms in himself he was led to try the medicine in the mal de mer. Of twenty persons whom he supplied with a single dose of three drops of the sixth dilution when starting on a voyage, and from whom he received report of the result, five only derived no benefit. In seven the trouble was absolutely avoided, and the remaining eight expressed themselves as greatly relieved. The medicine must be taken, he says, before vomiting has set in, at the moment when the dizziness and nausea commence. He also speaks of it as the best remedy for another form of sympathetic nausea and vomiting, viz., that of pregnancy. Dr. Phillips, who gives the drug in doses of from five to twenty drops of the tincture, confirms these recommendations of Teste's, and also those which he makes of it in regard to ophthalmia tarsi, chronic amenorrhoea, periostitis, and shifting pains in the long bones. Bahr has much confidence in it in chronic blepharitis, and to prevent the recurrence of styes, in which last recommendation he is joined by several other writers . Mr. Clifton has lately given us one of his practical communications as to Staphisagria, in which-among other things-he speaks of its usefulness in chronic gout in atonic subjects, in caries, neuralgia, and chronic tonsillitis and prostatitis.* Dr. Guernsey considers the subjects best suited for it to be those who are extremely sensitive alike to mental and physical impressions. It was ranked by the older homccopathists as one of the antidotes to the after effects of Mercury, and also to those of indignation and chagrin. Dr. Turnbull found delphinia, when taken internally, to cause heat and tingling in various parts of the body; and used it with benefit in some forms of neuralgia. Dr. Bayes praises Staphisagria itself in this malady, having once obtained striking relief from it in tic-douloureux itself. All this reminds us of Aconite; and it is like Aconite that (according to Bohm) delphinia affects the heart. It has been given as a " sedative " to the circulation in acute rheumatism. Teste classes Staphisagria with Causticum, Coffea, and Cocculus; to which I would add Kreosote, and Dr. Hering's Colocynth. The dilutions from the sixth to the thirtieth have given most satisfaction. [ A Manual of Pharmacodynamics by Richard Hughes ] Modalities Worse : anger,indignation,grief,mortification,loss of fluids,onanism,sexual excesses,tobacco,least touch on affected parts Better : after breakfast,warmth,rest at night Relationship: Inimical - Ranunc.bulb Complementary: Causticum, Colocynth Anti-dote: Camphor Internists on night ward rounds in Homeopathic Medical Hospitals are grateful to Staphisagria for the relief of post-operative pain of screaming patients.

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