PROVINGS OF LAPPA OFFICINALS. By Samuel A. Jones, M.D. Proving of Lappa Officinals by G.A. Taber, M.D.

First Trial

1881. Oct. 9^th. Took 4 drops of tincture at 2 p.m. Oct. 10^th Took 4 drops at 9 a.m. and at 4 p.m. at 7 p.m. urging to stool with a hurried evacuation, which was normal with the exception of the last part, which contained some bright red blood.

Oct. 11^th, 4 a.m. Urging to stool obliging me to get out of bed; stool normal and preceded by a little flatus; the desire for 5 drops of tincture.

Oct. 12^th, 10 a.m. Took 5drops of tincture. Oct. 13^th, between 3 and 4 a.m. a movement of the bowels preceded by urging; stool normal; the desire for stool continued for some time after the passage.

Second Trial

1881. Dec. 11^th. Took 15 drops of tincture at 1 p.m. and 15 more at 4 p.m. Dec. 17^th. Aching pains in the bowels about 6 p.m. lasting but a few minutes, but followed by nasea which continued until 9 or 10 in the evening, Dec. 18^th. Took 20drops of tincture at 2 p.m. Dec. 19^th. Sharp aching pains in the middle toe of the left foot at intervals all the afternoon. They come on suddenly and leave as suddenly, remaining but a few seconds at a time. A Lameness and soreness of mid foot, in the forenoon.

Dec. 20^th, 3 p.m. Took 20 drops of tincture. Dec. 21^st. Right upper eyelid slightly swollen and red in the morning. At 8 a.m. took 20 drops of tincture.

Dec. 22d. Swelling and redness of right upper eyelid worse this morning. A little yellow mucus in the internal canthus.

Dec. 23d. Sharp pain in the popliteal space of right leg; it lasted but a second or two. At 10 p.m. took 25 drops of tincture. A sore pain in the abdomen felt a little while at a time in the evening.

Dec. 25^th. A fine shooting pain in ring-finger, left hand, going up the arm and into the pectoral muscles of the same side; Sharp pain at root of ring-finger nail of left hand. Aching in right elbow joint in the afternoon. Aching in all the joints of right hand. This day took 25 drops of tincture sat 9:30 a.m. and at 10 p.m.

Dec. 26^th. Aching in the joints of the thumb, right hand; the pain comes suddenly and leaves suddenly, lasting but a few minutes. At 9 p.m. Took 25 drops of tincture.

1883. Jan. 2d: Sharp aching pain in middle toe of left foot coming on when riding in the evening. A throbbing ache in the knuckles of the left hand in the evening when riding in the cold.

For two or three weeks after discontinuing the medicine the sharp aching pain in the middle toe of the left foot would frequently make its appearance; since which time I have not experienced it and I never had it before taking the drug.

Third Trial.

1883. June 21^st. At 11:30 a.m. took 25 drops of tincture, and at 10:30 10 drops. 22d. Took 25 drops at 9 a.m. 24^th. Took 25 drops at 9 p.m. 25^th. At 12:30 a.m. took 25 drops 3:25 p.m. While writing a burning and aching pain appeared in the right instep for a few moments, leaving a sensation of heat about the whole foot, right. 5:50 p.m. Aching on the inside of right wrist for a few seconds. 10:50 p.m. Took 25 drops.

26^th. Took 40 drops at 10:30 p.m. took 40 drops. 28^th. At 8:30 a.m. took 50 drops. In the afternoon sharp pain in ring finger  of left hand shooting up inside of the arm into the pectoral muscles of same side. At 9:30 p.m. took 50 drops.

29^th. At 9 a.m. took 25 drops, and the same quantity at 9 p.m. 30th. Took one fluid drachm at 10 a.m. and the same quantity at 9:15 p.m.

July 1^st. I began using a tincture that Dr. Jones made from the seed, and at 10:30 a.m. took half a fluid drachm. July 2d. The latter part of last night my sleep was very restless. Soreness of right side of abdomen on pressure in the morning. At 3 p.m. sharp aching pain in second joint of middle finger, right hand. At 4 p.m. sharp pressing pain at root of ring-finger nail, right hand. At 9:30 p.m. took 5 drops.

July 4^th. Took 10 drops at 9 p.m. 5^th. Took 15 drops at 7 a.m. 7^th. Took 20 drops at 9 a.m. July 8^th. In the afternoon sharp pain in the finger joints of both hands. In the evening a lameness felt in the right side of the sacrum on walking Aching in upper part of right hip in the evening.

July 9^th. In the evening while walking an aching pain in the right wrist joint and a few minutes after lameness of the left heel passing off in 10 or 15 minutes, while the aching in the wrist continued until half an hour, when it passed to the front of the elbow joint where it remained 15 or 20 minutes. It seemed an effort while walking to put the feet forward through a weakness of the muscles of the anterior upper third of the thigh. At 8:30 p.m. aching pain of the first knuckle-joint of left hand. For a week past I have noticed that my memory would fail me in regard to recent events. At 8:45 aching pain in left wrist joint. 9 p.m. Took half a fluid drachm. 9:15 severe aching pain in the left wrist for a few minutes after retiring.

July 10^th. At 11 a.m. took half a fluid drachm. 4:45 p.m. Severe aching pain in left forearm. 8:30. Severe aching pain of second joint of left thumb. At root of the tongue, on the left side, a raw, sore feeling in the forenoon and evening. At 9:30 took half a fluid drachm.

July 11^th. Raw and sore feeling on left side of throat all day with the sensation as of a splinter at the root of the tongue when moving it. The whole forenoon a sharp cutting pain in the upper part of the anterior wall of left chest, worse when holding a weight on left arm, also when lying on the left side. A momentary sharp pain in the posterior part of the left hip while riding at noon. At 9:30 p.m. aching pain in the right wrist joint.

July 12^th. Soreness as if it were “cankered” under the left side of the tongue all day. A sensation of heat in thee left knee joint with sharp aching pains in all the joints of the right forefinger while riding at 7 p.m. This continued ten or fifteen minutes, and was followed by a like period of rest; whereupon sharp aching pains began to alternate in all the finger joints of both hands, lasting some five or ten minutes. At 8:30 while walking very sharp pain in the first joint of left little finger coming on four or five times at intervals of a few seconds. It finally ended in a continued aching pain which lasted two or three minutes, with heat in the joint.

July 13^th. Aching in all the joints of thee right forefinger while riding at noon; passed off in ten or fifteen minutes, leaving a slight sensation of heat. 8:30. p.m. Sharp pain at root of left little finger-nail for a few minutes; a little later, at intervals, aching of the first knuckle joint of left hand 9:15. Took one fluid drachm.

July 14^th. At 11:45 a.m. 1 and 6 p.m. took one fluid drachm. 6:30. Aching in the right mastoid process, worse on stooping. At 9:15 took one fluid drachm.

July 15^th. 11:30 a.m. Took one fluid drachm. The whole day long a feeling of vague mental and bodily restlessness, and after sitting long in one position a feeling of soreness when first attempting to move. While eating my evening meal had a sensation in my stomach as if the food would not digest, and far into the restless night was conscious of a gastric irritation.

July 16^th. 6:30 a.m. Diarrhoeic stool immediately on getting out of bed; three movements within a few minutes of each other while dressing; stools yellow liquid, painless, with slight disposition to strain after stool. Slight soreness or lameness through the bowels all day. Frequent yellow liquid stools in the forenoon, with nausea. Complete loss of appetite. In the afternoon sour vomiting of food that had been eaten the night before. Weak and trembling after a short walk.

July 17^th. Felt very weak and tired all day. For the past two weeks I have noticed a total suspension, or extinction, of sexual desire.

July 18^th. Feel weak and tremble on slight exertion. Once In each ankle joint a momentary sharp pain.

July 27^th. At 4 p.m. Suddenly a soreness with swelling appeared in the second joint of the right forefinger, which lasted three or four hours.

August 6^th. I have observed no symptoms since July 27^th and am feeling well. Since the attack of cholera morbus of July 16^th I have noticed almost a complete absence of the rheumatic symptoms previously so frequently observed.

[This prover subsequently wrote: “During and after my attack [of diarrhoea] there was almost a complete cessation of the rheumatic symptoms previously observed. The drug seemed to suddenly shift its forces from the extremities in a grand charge upon the bowels.”

On Oct. 28^th he reported: “Of late I have had successively three boils, and I am wondering if Lappa can extend its influence to so long a period.”]