The Experiments on Aconite by Storck
Aconitum napellusMateria Medica Botanica, Wellman, 1845
Introduction
Monkshood, or Aconitum napellus is a western equivalent to the Aconitum Fu Zi, Wu Tao and Chuan Wu of TCM, all of these being Aconite species with more-or-less similar effects. The Aconites have been essential medicines in TCM for increasing Yang, warming the Kidneys, and for chronic Joint diseases from Wind-Cold-Damp. The Tibetans also have a long history of use of several species of Aconite, but their use is quite different.
There are a large number of different Aconite varieties found throughout both the Himalayas and European Alps. The most poisonous types are the Dark Blue flowered varieties (called ‘Black’ in Tibet), these constituting the Aconitum napellus in Europe, the A. carmichaelli of TCM (Fu Zi) and A. ferox of Ayurveda (Visha), all being regarded as deadly poison without detoxification. Other species (including the ‘White’ and ‘Yellow’ varieties of Tibetan Medicine) are deemed ‘non-toxic’ (or far less toxic).
Whereas the Chinese, Indian and Tibetan use of Aconite goes back millennia, the herb was little noticed in the Western tradition, excepting the recognition of it as a mortal poison, and a ‘Witches’ herb.
The following article is from a Baron Storck of Vienna who undertook experiments with Aconitum napellus and published them in 1702. His finding were directly related to its introduction into western herbal practice.
Of note is that he found great usefulness in obstinate diseases including Rheumatism, Scrofula, Gout, Fibroid Tumors and Cancer.
On Monk’s Hood.
(from Dr. Storck, published in Medical Museum, 1781)
THIS Monk’s Hood which is called Aconitum or Napellus, having a blue helmet flower, &c. is the Aconitum foliorum laciniis linearibus, superne latioribus, linea exaratis. Linn. Spec. Plant, p. 538.
This plant has hitherto been always deemed one of the rankest vegetable poisons.
But yet the celebrated Linnæus saw, in the northern part of Sweden, the leaves of this herb, boiled in a little sat, eaten without any bad consequences, by a woman, her husband, two children, and another old woman. *
It hath been generally cultivated in gardens as an ornament.
I Had for several years thought of trying the qualities of this plant, but was at a loss for a proper opportunity, my necessary occupations taking up too much of my time. But these being now in some measure better ordered, I found a few moments in which I could apply myself to that trial. ln order duly and without prejudice to carry on the experiments, I disregarded every notion I had formerly learned from the authors of the Materia Medica; only retaining this one, that it was a suspected plant.—Nature therefore alone pointing out the way, and simple plain reason being my guide, I made trials as follows.
I reduced to a powder the leaves and stalks of the plant. A little of this powder I put upon my tongue, and felt from it a degree of burning heat, which continued for some time, accompanied with transient, vague, and pungent pains, which often pervaded my tongue, but no ill consequence ensued; the powder being left on the tongue for two minutes, neither caused inflammation, nor brought on any preternatural redness.
As long as the burning heat remained in my tongue, I had a very great flow of saliva; in other respects no disorder of any kind was observable. I then sprinkled some of this powder upon a cancerous fungous ulcer, in order to see whether it had a caustic corroding effect.
The first day a slight suppuration arose, and the patient complained neither of pain nor burning heat.
On the second, third, fourth, and fifth days, I observed the same thing; nor was the fungous flesh thereby consumed. I could therefore conclude that the caustic and deleterious qualities of this plant were not so very violent as one might have imagined; I therefore expressed its juice, and at a gentle fire made an extract in the usual manner, which being applied upon the tongue, caused only a very slight titillation. But as I imagined that my tongue, now become accustomed to such things by long practice, was not duly affected by them, I then put a grain of this extract within the lower eyelid of my right eye; nor was I thereby otherwise affected than by any other heterogeneous body. After I had left it there for two minutes, I had indeed a copious flow of tears, but no particular burning heat was observable I then washed it out with pure water, without finding any inconvenience from it.
After making these experiments, I tried what the effect would be when swallowed and taken into the body. For this purpose I prepared the following powder:
Take extract of Blue Monk’s Hood, two grains; white sugar, two drams. Mix and grind them together for a long time in a marble mortar, to the finest powder.
I took six grains of this powder in a morning on an empty stomach, carefully observing what would be the effect. But I observed no alteration; nothing uncommon.
The second day I took eight grains; nor was I then in any ways affected. The case was the same the third day, when I swallowed ten grains.
Being thereby more emboldened, I took on the fourth morning twenty grains of this powder. No bodily function was thereby disordered; I only observed a more profuse perspiration than usual, which was so general as even to be extended to all my extremities; and this continued through the whole day.
On the fifth I again took the same dose, and observed the same effect as I had on the day before.
On the sixth and seventh I repeated it with the like success.
On the eighth I forbore the powder, and then I had not that moist sweat which was observed the foregoing days.
On the ninth I again took twenty grains of this powder, and the same day I was in a continual moist sweat.
The case was the same on the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth.
The fourteenth I took more, and the very same happened as had on the eighth and ninth. From all this I could therefore infer:
FIRST, That this powder promotes perspiration and sweat.
Secondly, That as it caused no disorder in me, it may be safely given to my patients, beginning with a small dose.
Thirdly, That it seems adapted to diseases in which the peccant matter may be expelled, by the sudoriferous pores or emunctories.
At the time that I was employed in these reflections, the following case occurred amongst my patients.
CASE I. (Malarial Fever)
A Man of about thirty, in the month of August 1761, was taken with a tertian ague. After being cured of it, he Continued in a tolerable state of health. But in the month of November he was seized with an exquisite pain, which settled in all his right side with such violence, that he could neither move hand nor foot; his appetite was quite gone, and his nights were restless. For four months together remedies of several kinds, both the more gentle and strong, internal and external, were applied, but without any good effect; the disease was rather exasperated, and the patient obliged to keep his bed—the pains were at times so extremely severe as to cause him to weep most bitterly, and to scream like a person upon the torture. He moreover complained of very violent pains in the bone? and tendinous parts. As therefore the medicines exhibited were of no benefit, I gave the powder above described, of white sugar and blue Monk’s Hood. The dose was ten grains in the morning, and as many at night, drinking upon them either broth or any infusion whatever. The first night the patient sweated plentifully, which had not been the case before. The following day I repeated the same dose, and the pains became much milder; the patient sweated again in the night; his sweat was very fetid, nor was he weakened by it. On the third day I ventured to give him thrice ten grains of this powder. In the night he was again observed to sweat. The same dose was then continued till the twelfth: every night his body was all over wet with sweat, as also in the day-time if the patient kept in bed. On the sixth day he was now free of every pain, and could walk about; had an appetite, slept sound, had a natural stool every day, and his urine was more copious than usual, with many flecks and mucous threads. On the thirteenth the patient, being extremely well, forbore the use of the powder for three days; but he found that his limbs grew languid, and that his pains began to return; I therefore advised him to continue to take, for three weeks longer, thirty grains of the powder every day: he then exactly followed my advice, and the disorder was so far amended, that all his functions were restored, and an universal waste of the whole body was removed. For the two last weeks in which the patient took the powder.no sweat was observable; nor did his pain return after forbearing the use of the powder, and it is now four months since.
CASE II. (Sciatica)
A Man aged twenty-seven was afflicted for six weeks with a very severe sciatic pain. At length a most violent pain seized the right arm to such a degree, as to make him cry night and day. Notwithstanding the use of both external and internal medicines, although they sometimes afforded a small relief, yet the disorder continued the same, the pains, after a short and momentary interval, being again speedily heightened, tormenting the patient to a worse degree than before. I therefore exhibited morning and evening twenty grains of the above powder: the very first night, as by a charm, he slept insensible of any pain; nor did the pain return next day; but all his body, especially about the privy parts, had a very troublesome itching; and ruddy pustules, full of an acrid humour, broke out all over him. The patient grew well, had an appetite, his strength increased, with a continual breathing sweat all over his body; but in the night his sweat was not so copious as that of the preceding patient. After giving the powder for a week in the same dose, he took a purge of five ounces of the laxative water of the Vienna dispensatory, and one drachm of sal polychrest. He had then seven stools; the pustules disappeared, the itching diminished, and his strength increased: he then used for four weeks longer the same powder, without observing any thing uncommon. Towards the end he again took the purge described above, and then he was perfectly cured. It is now five months since, and he has had no relapse, though the severity of the weather is extremely inclement.
Quære, Whether this powder dissolves the acrimony inherent in the minute vessels about the tendons and bones, which causes obstructions in them, and the most exquisite pains in the joints? and whether after solution it expels it out by the perspiratory emunctories on the surface of the body? The two last cases seem to show it does.
CASE III. (Fever)
A Young man of nineteen was afflicted with an ague of the quartan kind for three years: this fever was of so obstinate a nature, as to yield to no medicine whatever. The bark, given In large and continued doses, mitigated, indeed, the violence of the fits, but could not quite subdue them; and as soon as as the patient left off the use of the bark, the fever returned with exasperated severity. His body turned meagre and cachectic; and during the fever an exquisite racking pain and burning heat about the extremities seized all his limbs, joints, and back-bone. I gave the patient in the morning ten grains of the powder mixed with extract of the Blue Monk’s Hood, and as many at night. The first day he purged thrice, and the second sour times: the fit was far milder the third day, with scarce any pain, but at last he fell into a plentiful sweat; yet his strength was not impaired by it. On the third, fourth, and and fifth days he still purged several times without any abatement of strength; nay, he affirmed he had relief by the purging. On the sixth a very gentle shivering and a vague and short heat only appeared, and were immediately succeeded by a profuse perspiration. On the seventh his flux ceased, and his stools became of a natural consistence. His flight fever returned on the ninth; after which the lame effects followed as before, and then he recovered his appetite, his nights became calm, and his sleep refreshing. On the ninth a gentle sweat only and a flying heat pervaded all his limbs; in other respects he was well: after the ninth no apparent evacuation was at all observable, either by urine, stool, or sweat. The powder was still continued in the same dose for three weeks longer, and in this time the patient was perfectly cured. And it is now two months since, and the fever has not yet returned. Blue Wolf’s Bane has therefore effected what neither the bark [Cinchona], nor any other remedy tried in this case, could accomplish.
CASE IV. (Face Tumor)
A Young woman of about twenty had for five years a tumour, which really felt bony to the touch, and occupied almost the whole left side of her face: it was quite immoveable, and you would pronounce it to be an excrescence of the bones themselves. Under the lower jaw many of the glands also were swelled and schirrous [Fibroid]: she could move her jaw but little, and that with very great pain and difficulty. The most powerful resolvents and mercurials, used both internally and externally, were so far from mitigating the disorder, that they caused such pain as deprived the patient of rest. Hemlock, given for several months together, and in large doses, neither heightened nor diminished the disorder: and now, since the patient has for three months used the powder of extract of Blue Wolf’s Bane and sugar, the tumour is not only become softer, and moveable every way, but diminished above half its bulk, and the motion of the jaw is much freer. In the night, at times, this patient sweats plentifully, and then she feels herself relieved; in other respects no sensible evacuation is observable: her appetite is good, her strength entire, and her sleep sound. She has now a drachm and a half of the powder administered daily; scarcely any disorder is observable, and the tumour abates in size. As she is costive, a purge of twenty grains of sal polychr. and forty grains of powder of the root of jalap is given every other week.
CASE V. (Parotid Tumor)
A Woman of about forty used hemlock for several months together for a very hard tumour of the size of a goose’s egg, lodged under the right parotid; but finding no relief therefrom, she forbore its use. She was this winter taken with very violent rheumatic pains of so obstinate a nature, that she could neither sleep, nor at times swallow any food for pain; nor did the medicines used prove of any service: she had therefore recourse again to me for my advice; and I directly administered the powder with the extract of Blue Wolf’s Bane; the dose ten grains in the morning, and as many at night. The first day she purged eight times, and her pains directly abated; and on the fourth and fifth days she could move all her limbs without pain, and found herself well: then I advised her to continue taking the powder for several weeks longer, to prevent the return of the pains in her limbs; she followed my advice, and observed that the third week after, the tumour became unexpectedly smaller, and more moveable and soft. She now takes every day thirty grains of the powder without any apparent evacuation; all her pains are gone off, her body has regained its strength, and the tumour is in a gradual state of decrease.
CASE VI. (Neck Tumors)
I EXPERIENCED the very same effect in a young woman of about twenty, who, on account of schirrous tumours in her neck, has for three months past been taking the cicuta [Hemlock] without any great effect: by the use of this powder (of Wolf’s Bane) the tumours are lessened, and become moveable; and now that the second month is drawing to a close, only a few remains of them are left. For five weeks a whole drachm of this powder was administered every day; the patient has a good appetite, sleeps sound, and is strong: hence it appears that this powder is no ways detrimental, but rather of very great benefit.
CASE VII. (Uterine Tumor)
To a young woman twenty-two years of age I exhibited this powder for a tumour in the right illiac region: I Was willing first to try the hemlock, but the constitution of the patient could not bear it; she was discomposed by it, and caused to vomit. Of this powder she took ten grains morning and evening; she had a stool twice or thrice a day: the patient had for half a year an aversion to flesh, and no sooner perceived the smell thereof, but she had a reaching. After taking this powder for three days she began to long for flesh, which she ate, and digested very well. On the third week the tumour became much less by the use of this powder, and a glutinous yellowish matter flowed plentifully from the vagina of the uterus. After the second month the tumour almost quite subsided; her appetite continues good, and her strength is increased; but a yellow thick matter continues to distil copiously from the uterus.
CASE VIII. (Breast Tumors)
A Young woman of about thirty for several years past felt in both her breasts tubercles of different sizes, which were moveable, and at times extremely painful; but the pain went off of itself without any application. The patient neglected this disorder, as being accustomed to other ailments; at length the tubercles increased in bulk, and ran together in each breast into one hard lump, bigger than a man’s fist, and the pain was so extreme and incessant, that the patient was obliged to keep to her bed: the skin of each breast was here and there broken, and all over livid, and then there was a discharge of an acrid, burning matter corroding the neighbouring parts. The hemlock being administered, not only stopped the disorder, but also healed the ulcers and dissolved the large tumour into small tubercles; above half of which were caused to disappear, and the pains were assuaged. This so quick and happy a change of the distemper happened in the space of four weeks; but afterwards the effect was no longer so apparent and quick: nay, this medicine being continued for eight months, left the disorder almost in the same condition; but yet the patient would not forbear its use, pleased with the happy effect which ensued for the four first weeks, and which rendered the disorder so mild, that she could again go about her work. Now again towards the spring she was seized with a most violent cough to such a degree, that it was necessary to open a vein several times, and she was obliged to keep her bed: but by proper remedies her cough was again stopped; yet the tubercles in both breasts began to be very painful, and small ulcers broke out which discharged an acrid humour. After taking during the cough several medicines, and now perceiving that she contracted a loathing in swallowing them, I forbore giving any more of the hemlock; and therefore administered the powder of extract of Blue Monk’s Hood mixed up with sugar, which is pleasant, and a small dose of it is sufficient. It is now two months since she took this powder; all the ulcers are cicatrized, and the pains entirely gone off. The schirrous and painful tumours, which even after a long use of the hemlock remained always in the same state, are now lessened to above half their bulk; she has regained her appetite and her strength; all her functions are vigorous; she has a stool every day; but no apparent and constant evacuation was observable in the patient during the use of this powder.
CASE IX. (Rheumatic Pain?)
A Woman of forty-three years of age was so afflicted with a most exquisite pain in the right arm, as to make her cry night and day; nor could any opiate procure rest. I employed for a couple of weeks different medicines, yet the patient perceived scarcely any relief; her strength was quite decayed, and her body much extenuated: then I tried the powder of Blue Wolf’s Bane, giving in the morning twenty grains, and as many at night; she had several stools after it: her pains became milder, and the second night she had a sound sleep for three hours. The same powder was continued to be given thrice a day twenty grains. On the sixth day, broad ruddy itching pustules broke out all over her body, and then almost all her pain ceased. The same powder was still taken for three days longer; at length a purge was administered of six ounces of the laxative water of the Vienna dispensatory, and one drachm of sal polychrest. This worked twelve times with great ease; and from this time forward the patient was sensible of no more of her former pain, and can now freely move her arm and foot, which, before the use of this powder, she was not able to do.
CASE X. (Rheumatism)
We had a man in our hospital of about thirty, who was confined for upwards of nine months with a most severe fit of the gout: remedies both internal and external were used in very large quantities, and for a long time, without any manifest benefit. All the joints of his body were swelled, and very painful; he could neither move hand nor foot; his nights were restless and without steep. Though several medicines, and those the most useful in other respects, were used for this patient, yet the disease underwent no sort of change, only that some symptoms seemed to become thereby more exasperated; neither did hemlock, most carefully taken for for upwards of six weeks in large doses, afford any relief. In this most melancholy case, when scarce any remedy which could promise relief had not been tried, I desired Dr. Colin, my very learned colleague, to prescribe for this patient the powder of the extract of Blue Wolf’s Bane: in a few days after we were astonished at its wonderful effect; not only all the pains were mitigated, but he also seemed to recover some use of his limbs. In two weeks more the swelling of the joints was much abated; his hands and fingers became more flexible, and he could move them without any pain: after three weeks the patient, by the help of crutches, could now use his feet; he slept found without any pain, had an appetite, his strength was increased, and he complained of no disorder from the use of the powders, though he was often asked after it. About the beginning of the second month he walked without crutches, could clench his left hand pretty firmly, but not his right, because the wrist of that hand was still swelled; and the end of the second month he moved all his limbs pretty freely, had no more pain, and all the joints had recovered their proper size and flexibility; yet a greater sensibility was perceived in those parts which were before distended by the painful tumour, than is usual in a sound state. After three months this man left the hospital perfectly recovered.
How much pleasure this experiment afforded the very learned Dr. Colin and myself, every honest person will easily judge; for after the uninterrupted efforts of nine months, and after every other medicine had proved ineffectual, the powder of the extract of Blue Wolf’s Bane alone happily saved and cured this miserable patient, whom we had already given over for lost. For the first two weeks he took fifteen grains of the powder in a morning, and as much at night; the third week he took fifteen grains thrice a day: in the beginning of the second month the same dose was administered four times every day; nor was there any occasion to increase it, as it produced the desired effect. During the use of the powder a purge was three times exhibited, which always procured several very easy motions.
CASE XI. (Rheumatic pain)
A Woman forty years old laboured under a violent pain in all her limbs and joints: the pain was at first wandering, then fixed in one or other joint, at length moved again over all her limbs, and then almost quite disappeared for some days. Extremely hard nodes and tophi were gradually formed in the joints of the hands and fingers. By this disorder she had now suffered for one entire year: it is now three months since the pains have fixed and settled in her hands and feet with such violence, that she could neither stand upon her feet, nor move her hands without the greatest pain; and to bend her fingers was become impossible: for, besides that the most acute pains prevented this, there were formed tophi on the joints, like so many red exostoses, surpassing a large walnut in size, and not bearing to be touched, the pain was so excessive; her nights were also, restless: in this condition she was brought to our hospital. As all this time she had taken various medicines without effect; the very skillful Dr. Colin thought proper to give her immediately the powder of the extract of Blue Wolf’s Bane: in three or four days we saw with the highest satisfaction the pain quite gone off in some parts, and in others so much abated, that her nights were easy, and her appetite, which was altogether gone, now returned. The second week she moved more freely her feet and hands; about the end of the first month almost all the pain in her hands was gone; the tophi were diminished in size, less painful when touched, and now she could bend her fingers. The powder occasioned no manifest evacuation, either by stool, urine, or the emunctories of the skin: the patient, who before was weakly and fretful, became more cheerful, fat up in bed, and talked with those about her. After the second month she had not the least pain in her hands; some of the tophi were now quite vanished, and some again so small and soft, as not to be of one third part of their former bulk.: the patient could clench her fist, and her strength increased daily. And now for the third month that she continues the use of the powder, the tophi are almost daily decreasing, and the pains gone off in all her limbs and joints. After the third month, being cured by the use of this powder alone, she left the hospital.
CASE XII. (Syphilis?)
A Maid-servant of about twenty had the venereal distemper to a very high degree: several tophi broke out on her head, exceeding a hen’s egg in bigness; the submaxillary glands and the parotids were swelled and concreted to an enormous size, and felt bony to the touch. So great a pain affected those swelled and indurated parts and all the joints and limbs of her body, that she could neither eat nor lie still, much less steep; her swallowing was become difficult, and chewing impossible: in short, her life was in the greatest danger when me was carried to our hospital. Upon duly examining the case, and comparing all the symptoms, Dr. Colin and I durst not venture upon mercurials; a speedy change for the better was requisite, lest from too great pain or want of sleep, nourishment, and strength, the patient should go off. After having seen the extraordinary effects of the powder of extract of Blue Wolf’s Bane, and being convinced from repeated experience that it might be exhibited to patients without any danger, we directly proceeded to the use of it; on the second and third days the pains became milder; then she slept, and her appetite and swallowing were far better and freer: the powder opened her body several times a day, and the perspiration of the whole body was increased. In a month’s time not only all the tophi were diminished, but the hard swelling of the submaxillary glands and of the parotids was much softened, about which we had some doubt at first; for those tumours had a bony consistence, not only to the touch, but also by their sound, when slightly struck upon. All pain was gone, her strength daily increased, she slept sound, had an appetite, and she could now chew without any impediment. In the second month the tophus in the middle of the os frontis broke, and discharged much ichorous matter mixed with blood: scarce any thing was to be seen of the other tophi, nor were they even perceivable to the touch. About the beginning of the third month, all hardness of the glands was now dissolved, strength returned, and all the functions seemed to be restored to their natural state: a few remains, which are still observable about the cheeks, are daily decreasing, so that the patient will in a short time be entirely relieved from her former misery. The ulcer arisen from the breaking of the tophus in the os frontis, which was at first foul, and had parched and shrivelled lips, of a malignant nature, was, by the application of lint pledgets dipped in an infusion of the cicuta, filled with a very laudable flesh, and the cicatrix proved good and firm.
CASE XIII. (Joint pain)
A Man of about forty, who laboured under a true anchylosis of the joint of the left elbow, came to our hospital for cure. The joint was now for several months extraordinarily swelled and very painful: a variety both of external and internal medicines, used for a long time, caused no agreeable alteration, nay, some of them excited severer pain. A trial was made of the powder of extract of Blue Monk’s Hood (or Wolf’s Bane) and in about six weeks the tumour disappeared, all pain vanished, and the joint recovered its proper flexibility.
CASE XIV. (Neuralgia)
A Woman thirty-four years of age, had for four months exquisite pains in her right leg and foot; there was no swelling observable, and the skin was of its natural colour. Medicines of various kinds, both internal and external, were of no benefit; and the patient, unable to sleep, was confined to her bed with pain. But the powder of extract of Blue Wolf’s Bane being given her, instantly allayed the pain, brought on sleep, and in three weeks perfectly cured the patient. From the experiments or cases related it follows, that extract of Blue Wolfs Bane is an innocent and very efficacious medicine; given in a small dose, it sometimes performs what the most powerful medicines used in large doses, and for a long time, cannot effect. The acrimony which lodges about the joints, tendons, and bones, which irritates the nerves, and causes the most acute pains, is thereby dissolved, put into motion, and carried off, either by stool, urine, sweat, or insensible perspiration; it softens scirrhous tumors, tophi, and nodes, and sometimes entirely discharges them. It allays and removes the most exquisite pains of the joints, and parts that are indurated. It sometimes cleanses and firmly cicatrizes ulcers which yield to no other medicines. In some cases Blue Wolf’s Bane exceeds the Hemlock in virtue and efficacy; and sometimes cures diseases in which the Hemlock does not agree, or has no virtue at all. Yet, however, Blue Wolf’s Bane is sometimes exhibited without any effect ; and in that cafe the Hemlock often relieves and cures the disease. And hence it even holds true of Hemlock, that it is a highly powerful medicine in distempers that are the most difficult to be cured. The inveterate painful scirrhi have been discussed by it; the worst sort of ulcers cured, which obstinately resisted all other medicines. A scirrhus as big as a man’s fist, of a woman’s breast, being eaten away by a cancerous ulcer of the worst kind, which continually spread itself both in breadth and depth, was by the use of Hemlock turned to a gangrene, which spontaneously separating, dropped out of itself, and left a large pit, which by the continual internal use of Hemlock, and applying externally a fomentation of the decoction of the bark, came soon to be filled up with a new and laudable flesh; and at length to be so neatly cicatrized, that the breast recovered jts natural size and figure. Cancers of the worst sort in the tongue and throat have been entirely cured, and the most obstinate rheumatic and arthritic pains assuaged by the Hemlock alone. Chronical vomitings, which yield to no other remedy, have been perfectly removed thereby. The itch and a malignant leprosy of the face (after administering many medicines, and those the most powerful, in vain) were cured by Hemlock. Swelled, painful, and rigid joints, were in many patients restored by a fomentation of Hemlock, and by its internal use, to their natural sound state.
These and other experiments made with the Hemlock, Thorn-Apple, Henbane, and Blue Wolf’s Bane, were not performed in private, or in a corner; but in a public hospital, where several very skillful physicians and surgeons saw the patients from first to last.
REMARKS and CAUTIONS.
Whoever administers to patients these remedies above described, let them always begin with the smallest dose, and then gradually increase it. If the least bad effect should happen from the use of such a remedy, it is immediately to be laid aside. But if nothing unsavourable happens, the dose is to be increased with a slow and prudent hand, till the desired effect is observed, and then there is no occasion any further to increase the dose as long as the same effect continues. If any one has the practice and experience of any other remedy which resembles mine in efficacy, or is still more efficacious and safe, I beg he would rather make use of that. But if no such remedy is extant, it is at every one’s option to give, or forbear giving, some one of mine, and thus leave the patient to his sate. No constraint is put upon any one, only let each look to it what his conscience may suggest, and what the love he owes to his neighbour may enjoin. I have shown in what manner remedies may be safely administered to patients. From the experiments or cases it appears in what distempers they may seem to promise relief. This is fully sufficient, and further care and application will furnish more. The very learned Max. Locher, physician to St. Mark’s hospital, has already tried these my remedies on several patients, without ever observing any unlucky accident from them; but they have rather been found productive of extraordinary benefits; and as he has collected several experiments, he will not sail faithfully to describe them. The illustrious Lebmacher has seen the good effects of my powder of sugar and extract of Blue Wolf’s Bane, in an intermitting fever, and a most inveterate gonorrhæa, after having for a long time used all other remedies to no purpose. George Hasenorhl, a very ingenious physician in the Spanish hospital, gave his mad patients extract of Thorn-Apple; which given to half a drachm, and even to a whole drachm, in the space of twenty-four hours, never proved prejudicial, but was observed to produce great alterations for the better; but whether they will prove permanent, time only will show. I have, however, laid out a field, which we are to labour and cultivate, in order to lessen, alleviate, and cure the disorders, miseries, and excruciating tortures of the afflicted.
I Therefore, in the most courteous manner, beg of all good physicians, that with united efforts, they would please to concur with my endeavours, and promote a work, which, it should seem, will prove so salutary to the disorders of mankind. And though the present age may, perhaps, view these my labours with a supercilious eye, let this on no account discourage us; hereafter will arise those who will pass a more equitable judgment, and return us the thanks we have a right to.
[We might have observed, in confirmation of Linnæus‘s assertion, p. 516, that the Napellus is not poisonous in Sweden and some northern countries. We find a treatise in the Ephemer. Medic. Phys. Curios. Ann. 11, Obs. 42, p. 70, under the following title, viz. D. Martini Barnardi a Bernz. Napellus in Polonia non venenoses: wherein some instances are given to show that the sort of Napellus mentioned by Linnæus is not poisonous in Poland.—We hope to be able in a short time to show what effects the medicines here proposed by Dr. Storck have had in the experiments made with them in England, as they are now under trial.]
Notes from Adam:
The above is the full account of Aconitum napellus (Blue Monk’s-hood), made by Storck, and published in The Medical Museum, 1781.
Several things are worthy of mentioning from this article:
1. Linnæus makes note of some Swedish peasant who gathered Aconitum leaves and cooked them for her and her family, as she had done many times. This was said to have been a yellow-flowered Aconite, and therefore, not the blue-flowered Aconitum napellus, which is exceedingly toxic, being of the same nature as the Chuan Wu, Wu Tao and Cao Wu used in TCM. It is possible that a non-toxic (or rather, less toxic) species is being referred to. The Aconitum lycoctonum species has a yellow flower, and has been claimed to be non-poisonous (Nadkarni). Tibetan Medicine distinguishes 4 main types of Aconite, White, Black, Red and Yellow (color being based on the color of the flowers–’black’ referring to the dark-blue flowered varieties); the White and Yellow being accounted non-poisonous. Tibetan and Indian Medicines use A. heterophyllum, which is very bitter, but non-toxic.
2. Further from the above, seeing that some villages in Sichuan province, China (where the bulk of the Chinese Aconites are harvested), add some Aconite to their soups and hot pots, perhaps the peasant could have been using a poisonous variety and were both acquainted with the need for prolonged boiling, and somewhat immune due to the chronic use?
3. It is worth noting that the fresh juice extract is used after being heated, and that perhaps the heating, if sufficient, works similarly to the prolonged boiling used in TCM; ie. denaturing the alkaloids into less active compounds. The method of forming an extract from a plant juice is to strain the fresh juice, and heat very gently until thickened to the desired consistency. We know from Chinese use of Aconite that prolonged boiling destroys most of the toxic alkaloids.
4. It is also worth mentioning that some apparently severe cases of Arthritic, Sciatic and Rheumatic complaints gained much benefit from its use, and of course, this is an indication in TCM.
5. It is important to note that the term ‘Gout’ was used for Arthritic and Rheumatic conditions in general, and the ‘Gout’ with multiple swollen and painful joints with tophi would be a fairly clear indication of Rheumatism. Chronic joint disease is certainly a strong indication for Aconite, and the chronic and non-lethal nature of the disease means that a small dose, gradually increased, can be given safely to most patients.
6. Also interesting is the treatment of Tumors above, the chronic, hard massive lump in the breast quite possibly being Cancer. Fibroids and Cancer have been treated with Aconites in Russia, but this indication is not commonly noted in Chinese texts for Aconitum.
7. Some of the disorders Storck used Aconite for are Fever. Fever and heat diseases would generally be contraindications for Aconite in TCM, but Aconites find their way into Tibetan formulas for such conditions.
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The Foot-note from the First page is given below, being an account of the mis-identification of the Yellow Aconite, and the account of the non-poisonous Aconite by Linnæus
* Dr. Storck in quoting this passage of Linnæus, as if applicable to the blue Monk’s Hood, has fallen into a great error, which we are certain his usual accuracy would not have suffered him to fall into, had he examined that celebrated author at the time he wrote this essay: but it is probable the mistake might arise from his quoting by memory; for we cannot suppose so useful a member of human society capable of Voluntarily propagating an error. How careful then the greatest men ought to be to examine well before they write! or else like the loftiest sea-marks in wrong positions, they become the more dangerous. When a mistake is made by an eminent man, it soon becomes exemplary, and draws great numbers of followers into the like error. But those who write upon plants ought to be particularly careful to avoid mistakes, especially when the plants they write upon have any affinity or resemblance to others of a poisonous kind; or when the nicest caution is required to distinguish exactly the esculent from the noxious, as in the case before us.
Linnæus Flor. Lappon. p. 179. N° 221. gives us an account of the Aconitom lycoctonum luteum majus. Bauh. Pin. 183. and not the blue flowered Monk’s Hood, with the segments of the leaves linear, distinct, and of an uniform breadth, the plant upon which the ingenious Storck tells us he made hit experiments; for this plant does not grow commonly wild in Sweden. The account that excellent botanist gives, is as follows:
The Aconite has been no less famous in all ages than the Hemlock, for its poisonous qualities, as we are amply informed by the writings of the ancient botanists. And it was thought in the days of antiquity, that no person who laydown to sleep under its branches, could ever rise again. Arrows dipt in the Juice of this plant give a mortal wound. Hence the poets have feigned that the Aconite sprung originally from the foam of the infernal mad-dog called Cerberus. The experiments made by Matthiolus upon condemned malefactors (as veil as the tryals made by other people) convince us of its poisonous and fatal effects, which could not be prevented by the best antidotes he could employ for that purpose. The like experiments were also made by Wepfer with Hemlock upon brutes; and I will now show bow much milder effects I have myself seen from the internal use of the Aconite.
As I was travelling in the northern parts of Sweden, at the beginning of the spring-time, I met with a poor woman who was gathering the leaves of aconitum foliis peltatis multifidis hifpidis, petalo supremo cylindfaceo (or what in English is called yellow Wolf’s Bane) when I asked her for what use she gathered those leaves, she replied, that they were to be eaten. Willing to advise her better, for I thought she was not acquainted with the herb, and might mistake it for a sort of geranium or cranes-bill (called gratia dei) to which it bears great resemblance; I entreated her, in a very solemn manner, not to destroy herself by eating a most terrible poison: she smiled at my apprehensions for her, and told me that she was perfectly well assured of being right in her choice of the herb, and that she with the rest of her neighbours had eaten of it for a great many years; and retorted upon me that I was not acquainted with the plant. I went to the cottage where she lived; and she cut the herb she had gathered into small shreds, and boiled it together with a little piece of fat meat, and made a soup with these ingredients, on which herself, her husband, two children, and an old woman made an hearty meal: Thus,
Lurida terribiles miscent Aconita novercae,
The step-mothers, with dire intention, here
May mingle Wolf’s Bane in their childrens fare
And what I saw much astonished me, without any mischief or bad consequences: and hence it comes to pass, that frequently things are discovered by temerity, which reason might never have explored.
I will therefore beg leave to ask, whether the power of the aconite be diminished by the coldness of these northern climates? I maintain the negative; because in Norway, which is farther to the north than Sweden, the root of this plant is sliced and mixed up with milk, and given to the rats, which are either poisoned with it or driven away.
But the poisonous property of the Wolf’s Bane may not perhaps consist in the branches or leaves, but it may be confined alone to the root; since the experiments which Matthiolus and Wepfer made upon this plant, were with the root alone—And again, the roots are used in Norway for poisoning rats and mice.— However probable—this conjecture may appear, yet it will admit of some controversy.
But is not this plant in the spring season, when it is young and tender, destitute of those poisonous particles, with which it may be impregnated when it is older? Thus the tops of nettles, and many other herbs, are gathered and boiled for food in my country during the vernal months, when young, which cannot be eaten in the summer. Or may not the acrid and poisonous property of this herb he destroyed by long boiling? This seems to be the fact for the fat which 1 law used upon this occasion, was but a very small piece, and could net be supposed sufficient, by its oilyness, so to envelope and sheathe the venom, that it should be thereby rendered inoffensive.
Though this account be not applicable to the blue Monk’s Hood of Storck, yet we hope we shall be pardoned for giving a translation of the whole passage from Linnæus; as it may prevent the multiplication of mistakes in the experiments that may hereafter be made upon Aconite.
See also:
Aconitum Fu Zi
Aconitum napellus
Aconitum leaf
Aconite species of the West
Aconite photos