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Materia Medica
Salix Nigra.
Salix nigra. Black Willow. N. O. Salicaceae. Tincture of fresh bark.
Clinical.-Diarrhoea. Emissions. Fevers. Gonorrhoea. Impotence. Masturbation. Night-sweats. Nymphomania. Prostatitis. Satyriasis. Spermatorrhoea.
Characteristics.-The Black Willow of North America has a reputation as a purgative and febrifuge. A proving by E. D. Wright, who took half an ounce of the tincture in a day, is given in Allen's Appendix. It developed soreness of muscles; a tired, sleepy state; loose bowels, sore gums, and fever. Sal. n. has been largely used by eclectics in a great variety of affections of the genito-urinary system. W. B. McCoy (Hom. News, xxviii. 72) relates a number of cases illustrating this action. (1) Man, 35, lost control of his sexual appetite, and the more he indulged the worse the craving became, and indulgence made him a physical wreck. Sal. n. Ø, in teaspoonful doses thrice daily, cured in five weeks. (2) Youth, 23, had masturbated since he was a boy. Sal. n. Ø, gtt xx., four times a day, was given for a fortnight, the quantity being gradually diminished, until in a few weeks the young man was quite cured. (3) A teacher, 21, five years before had a spell of fever which left him with a tendency to seminal emissions, which had become very frequent, and had reduced him to a very low condition: Extremely thin, sallow, nervous; cold hands and feet even in heat of summer. Extremely cross and irritable. Sal. n. Ø, gtt. 1x., four times a day, was given, with speedy improvement. Later on the dose was reduced to thirty drops. The losses ceased, and in three months the patient had gained 41 pounds in weight. (4) A negro, 53, had sexual desire but without ability; yet during the night he would have emissions without erections. Sal. n. Ø, gtt. xlv., four times a day, cured in three weeks. McCoy also used Sal. n. successfully in gonorrhoea, but other remedies were given as well. A decoction of the fresh bark has proved (H. R., xii. 447) a specific for excessive night-sweats in pulmonary cases.
Relations.-Compare: Con., Agn., Pic. ac. In gonorrhoea, Salol, Petrosel.
SYMPTOMS.
2. Head.-Skin on temples sore to touch.
8. Mouth.-Gums sore.
13. Stool and Anus.-Looseness of bowels.
24. Generalities.-Muscles sore and lame.-Disposition to lie down and sleep.
27. Fever.-Fever (2nd d.).
