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Cactus Grandiflorus.

This plant, known unde r the common names Large-flowered

Cactus, Sweet Scented Cactus, Vanilla

Night, is, however, most familiar under

Ca ct us, Queen of a Single

the name Night-BloomingCereus. It is a green

stemmed climber, indige-

nous toJamaica and possi-

bly elsewhere in the West

Indies. It is abundant in

some parts of Mexico*,and when protected from

frost, to which it is very

sensitive, is cultivated in

temperate regions, where

its magnificent flower, from


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its magnificent flower, from

C A C T U S -odor. The flowers differ in color according to soil and surroundings, those

climbing trees being often markedly in contrast tothe blossoms of mounta inp lan ts. I have conclud ed that flowers taken from such localities m ight be con-

sidered by some as being from distinct varieties of Cactus.

Much needless confusion has existed among collectors of the

drug (excluding even the variety Bonplandi), and many different

species and varieties of Cactus have been inexcusably substituted

for it in medicine. Chief among these sophistications is OpuntiaRafinesquii of Kentucky, Tennessee and the central southern west

(see Fig.2), and the com-

mon species and varieties

of Cactus peculiar to the

western and southwestern

deser t s . Cac tus Grandiflorus is so conspicuous

and its characters are so

marked as t o p reven t

most substitutions other

than by intent or extreme


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CACTUS . _---.-_-~ - . .~ .our conclusion, which is based on much experience concerning the

quality of the tropical grown open-air plant.

In this connection, we will state that because differentiating

chemical tests are altogether wanting, at present no possible method

of chemical or physical test

can determine the authen-

ticity of a preparation of true

Cactus Grandiflorus or dis-tinguish it from that of an

imitation made of any of

the hundreds of other com-

mon and usually cheaper

spec ies and var ie t ies of

c a c t u s . For thi s reasonphysicians must rely alto-

gether on the intelligence,

care and integrity of the

manufacturer whose prepa-

rations they use and whose


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CACTUS . _Ying and many other affections. It is also employed in Mexico fo r

like purposes. Possibly its reputed virtues in the direction of therespiratory organs led to its consideration as a heart remedy, the first

record of its use being by the German Dr. Scheere, whose research,

however, passed practically unnoticed until Dr. R. Rubini, a Homo-

pathic physician of Naples, brought the drug into conspicuity as a

heart remedy. Cactus Grandiflorus or Cactus is thus a remedial

agent of Homopathic introduction, in which school it was exclu-sively employed for many years. When Dr. J, M. Scudder issued

Specific Medication, 1870, he accorded to Cactus an important

-place. Under his favor its reputation extended so that all Eclecticauthorities became familiar with its virtues and commended it with-

out reserve. The most comprehensive and complete early study of

the Cacti family in medicine is that of Dr. Richard E. Kunze in theTransactions of the New York Eclectic Medical Society, 1875 and

1876. From this we present important excerpts and also abstract

the record of its use in the case of Prof. J. Milton Sanders, M.D

Chemist, New York College. Innumerable journal contributions as

well as all the books on materiamedica issued in the Eclectic school


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CACTUS.

rather weak preparation by the concentrated Specific Medicine,which, in our opinion, is the typical and most valuable preparation

of the drug. We, therefore, offer under our label, only the Specific

Medicine Cactus and the tincture of Cactus flowers. The first

carries in itself the virtues of a s near 16 Troy ounces of the fresh

stems to each pint as we can produce in a uniformly permanent form;

th e latter being a tincture made by covering with pure alcohol thefresh flowers pressed into small comp ass. In both cases, owing to

the moisture in the drug, only the strongest and the purest alcohol

is ad missible. By proper manipulation it is possible to make each

minim of Specific Medicine carry the full medicinal virtues of one

grain of the fresh green drug.

Specific Medicine Cactus has a green color, which by timeand light sometimes changes to brownish, this change making no

perceptible difference in medicinal effect. Its odor is that of alcohol

only; its taste, herby. When dropped into water no precipitationresults. Heat shou ld not be applied to this p reparation, and all

attempts to carry its full value into a dry form, such as pill, powder


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CACTUS . p --tance in prescribing Cactus, that the medicine which is used has been

prepared from carefully selected specimens of the Cactus Grandiflorusonly, and that in its preparation it has been worked pharmaceutically,

under those exac t condi t ions which long exper ience and the most

practical observation have proven to be necessary, in order to obtain

the full medicinal properties of the plant.

The dose of Specific Medicine Cactus has usually been from the

fraction of a drop to t w o drops , and se ldom exceeds f i ve min ims .While the agent is not classed as a poisonous remedy, there seems to

be a p revailing opinion that it can be given in overd oses. I have

never seen any unpleasant effects from overdoses, and I am growing

into th e belief th at w e will yet learn th at th ere are cases where w e

now obtain indifferent results, or where the agent is not now advi sed ,

in which good results will be secured by much larger dosage than is

now given.

Those who have used all the heart remedies unite in the belief

that for breadth of action, for specific directness, for reliability and

smoothness of act ion, and general t rustworthiness when indicated 5Cactus takes pr eference over others Its influ ence is ad m irable and


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CACTUS .

arterial tension, increasing the height and force of the pulse wave.

The agent becomes at once the heart tonic, p a r e x c e l l e n c e as it di-

r e c t l y a nd w i t h m uc h pos i t i ve ne s s i m pr ove s t he nu t r i t i on o f th e

heart, strengthening the muscular power and improving the condition

of the valves.

It produces no i rr i ta t ion of the heart muscle as does strophan-

t hus , nor i n p rope r doses does i t p roduce gas t r i c i r r i t a t i on o r acum u lative influ ence as d igitalis d oes. It increases t he c on t r a c t i l e

power and energy of the heart muscle through the cardiac gangl ia

and accelerator nerves.

I desire to call particular at tention to the tonic, restorative, and

nutritional influence of Cactus. This influence is not immediate or

plainly apparent on the nervous system, or on the system at large.But the s t rengthening inf luence of the agent on the ac t ion of the

heart occurs very soon, and this is sustained, while the improvement

of the function of the system, and through it of the functional organs,

may be plainly observed to increase steadily and also pe rmanen t l>y .A s s t a t e d , t he s ym p t om s a r e ou r de p e nde nc e i n p r e s cr i b ing


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CACTUS .

others has confirm ed that conclu sion. While u su al ly given w her e

there is no fever, it must be given for its indications, whatever the

tempera ture .

Exce l l en t homeopa th i c au thor i t i e s h a v e made the obse rva t ion

that i t is almost a counterpart of aconite, in i ts influence on fever,

differing from that agent, in that it increases t h e strength and tone of

the hearts action by increasing the nerve pow e r ,

instead of paralyz-

ing the nerves. It is thu s ind icated in fevers, where there is a rapid

and feeble pulse, from feeble heart, with a weak and exhausted nerv-

ous system. I t would the re fore be con t ra - ind i ca t ed in t he ea r ly

s thenic s tage of these fevers , where there i s an exa l ted ac t ion. I

have had reports of an increase of the temperature and an exaggera-

tion of the symptoms when given in sthenic cases, especially in theearly stage of typhoid.

A number of our prominent wr i te rs c la im tha t the remedy i s

indicated solely for functional heart disorder. It is certainly our best

rem edy for this class of d isorders. When from any reflex cause, with

deficient heart action, there is irregularity, irritability, intermittency,


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CACTUS ._____-p z -p -XT. -- zwith this remedy patients suffering from dyspnea, arrhythmia, edema

of the extremities and ascites.In angina pectoris, especially of recent origin, the remedy exer-

cises a direct influence. I have given it in endocarditis, which fol-

l owed o the r d i seases, and I am sure we have no moredependable

remedy. I am confident that there are many cases of pericarditis in

which it will be found valuable. In one marked case of endocarditisfollowing measles, the result of the influence of this remedy withina few hours was so pla inly apparent that i t could by no means be

mistaken, and the influence was a permanent one.

In the treatment of functional disorders, as well also as the or-

ganic changes in the hearts of young men from the use of cigarettes

or tobacco, this agen t is in every way reliable. It exercises a steady,

permanent inf luence , and wi l l cure many cases a s I have proven in

m y ow n experience, p rovid ed the hab it is d iscontinu ed . It is also to

be depended upon not only in overcoming the heart faults of m a s t u r -

bators, but i n ma te r i a l l y improv ing the ne rvous t one o f t hese p a-

tients, and in correcting the sexual faults.

Through its influence upon the nerve centers i t strengthens and


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CACTU S .

In those cases classed as pseudo-angina, this agent is mentioned by

some writers as a positive specific.

In tinnitus aurium accompanying heart faults in feeble patients, .

t h i s agen t has exe rc i sed an immedia t e ly bene f i c i a l i n f luence . In

hemoptysis where t he c i rcu l a to ry exc i t ement i s g rea t , and where

there is much anxiety and nervous perturbation, i t may be given in

conjunct ion with Lycopus. W h e r e epistaxis,hematemesis, or otherhemorrhage occurs, accompanied with fluttering of the heart, syncope,

a sense of suffocation, or other form of difficult breathing, with cold

perspiration, and fear of impending death, Cactus should be given in

full doses.

In recent attacks of impotency or in the early stages of the con-

di t ion, where there i s no permanent change , espec ia l ly among theyounger m en, I have given i t in conjunction with saw palmetto andavena sativa, with much satisfaction.

We have excellent authority for the use of Cactus with which to

relieve functional disturbances of the heart in hysterical condit ions,

p r e s e n t at tha t t im e , a nd t o exer ci se a ne r ve se da t i ve i n fl ue nce .


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CACTUS.- -inab i l i ty t o lie up on the left side. Other symp toms for w hich it isgiven in diseases of women, are those in which there is cerebral con-

gestion, with pain and weight in the occiput, or in the vertex; numbness

of the limbs, or areas of hyperesthesia, cough which seems to come

from the suprasternal notch, or pain immediately behind the sternum.

For f ive years I have been exper iment ing wi th Cactus in the

t r e a t m e n t o f su b n o r m a l t e m p e r a t u r e s , following the suggest ion of Dr. Coffin of Indianap olis. My own observations, w ith those of Dr.

Coffin and others, have confirmed me in the belief that this is an ex-

cellent remedy with which to elevate the temperature, especially if ,

accompanied with the depression of the temperature, there is also de-

pr ession of the nervou s system. The entire train of symptoms which

accompanies pro t rac ted subnormal tempera ture I have found to bebenef i ted by Cac tus . There are some cases in wh ich i t wi l l ac t ,

where strychnine and other usually useful remedies are of no avail .

In other cases it materially improves the influence of the other rem-

edies. I am anxious to receive reports on this influence of Cactus

from other observers.


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CACTUS.

In the t r ea tmen t o f mu l t ip le neu r i t i s , Cac tus has been given

where the heart disorders occur early, but as a result of the generald isorder. If the remed y be persisted in, especially if tachycardia be

present with low arterial tension, and deficient nerve force, Cactus is

the indicated remedy.

In the last volume of the Transactions of our National Associa-

tion, Dr. H. W. Felter, of Cincinnati, reports an unmistakable case of

Reynauds d isease , o f near ly for ty years s tanding . Tw o years agothe case came into his han ds. With ou t m u ch hop e, I confess, he l

says, I recommended Specific Medicine Cactus, in six-drop doses once

a day. Faithful ad herence to this med icine has worked a marvelous

transformation in this case, absolute control of the paroxysms hav-

ing been obtained as long as the medicine has been taken. On two

occasions the patient has dropped the medicine for a period of two

months, but with the return of the symptoms, but in a milder degree.

A return to the medicine has given prompt relief, and while she still

c o n t i n u e s w i t h h e r pleasant m ed ic ine ' as she s ty les i t , she con-

siders herself p ractically cured . She has now taken the Cactus for

nearly two years and has had the only comfort she has ever had from


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CACTUS . ---%-~ --- ~~~_~~ ~ __compare it to electricity (and it would be an apt one), it might be likened to, not

an i n t e n s i t y one, but one of q u a n t i t y for it appea red t o be heavy, strong an d full,and not acute. Each paroxysm was accompanied with great mental depression,

which appea red to be a concomita nt of th e disease. The dyspnea shortly after

became so intense that my case resembled one of congestion of the lungs. Un-

der various kinds of treatment life was barely kept in me, so great was my suffer-

ing, mentally and physically, coupled with the fact that nothing more could be

done for me, it was not calculated to relieve in any way the depression of spirits.

Inhalations of chloric ether and tar was th e last remedy resort ed to. Could nottake the least exercise without bringing on paroxysms of intense cardiac pains,

accompan ied with menta l an xiety an d dyspncea. Sur face gen era lly cold. In go-

ing around the block of houses to the Eclectic Medical College I usually had to

stop and rest several times on the way and again after entering and before lec-

turing to the class. Even during the delivery of my lecture it often proved too

much of an exertion for me, so that I had to desist sufficiently in order to let a

par oxysm pass off, before I could conclude my rem ar ks. Fina lly I thought t ha tI should ha ve to give up lectu ring altogeth er. It was on th e 12th day of Novem-

ber, having just delivered a lecture under very aggravating circumstances, that

Dr . Kunze met me in the lecture room and proposed an examination into my case

immediately, for the purpose of testing the effects of CLZCLZLS on me, if the circum-stances connected with it warranted the application. As I had previously beensubjected to many examinations made by my colleagues, who managed to agree


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