The effects of Baptisia upon the human being are well known, yet the mechanisms involved in their production and the exact tissues affected remain to be determined.

Judging from the symptoms obtained in the provings it appears as though the mucous membranes of the intestinal tract, the cerebrospinal nervous system, the blood and the lymphatic glands are the tissues affected.

Presumably, either the gastro-intestinal tract or the blood, or possibly both, are primarily involved and the other organs react as the result of a disturbance of the connecting physiological process, due per-haps to absorption of bacterial toxins.

Baptisia contains the poisonous bapti-toxin which causes vomiting, diarrhea, increased reflex action, and death by asphyxia, of central origin. The assertion is made that Baptisia stimulates suprarenal secretion. The action of Baptisia upon the intestinal tract results in the production of a change in all the secretions, which become putrid in character. It seems to produce a congestion of at least the lower portion of the bowel, with a subsequent catarrhal inflammation, accompanied by tenderness, distention and a diar-rheic stool. Other effects noted are, coated tongue, loss of appetite, dullness of the perceptive faculties, rise in temperature, and, everything considered, a reaction similar to many of the symptoms of typhoid fever. It cannot be positively stated that the drug affects Peyer's patches, but apparently it does so.

The cerebrospinal nervous system is profoundly affected. It is conjectural whether this tissue is primarily or directly irritated, or whether it becomes so, dependent upon a toxemia resulting from the general disorganization of the blood which Baptisia produces. In all probability the latter is the reason. The depression, confused mentality, prostration, and paralytic symptoms caused by the drug are evidences that the cerebrospinal system is affected.

Baptisia affects the quality of the blood, but the exact changes which take place cannot be stated. There are reasons for the assertion that the blood becomes disorganized, but the minutiae of the pathological conditions have not been studied.

It is believed that, as a result of the changes in the mucous membranes and the blood, the lymphatic glands undergo a change of structure; abscess formation has been noted.

The whole group of effects caused by Baptisia, is similar to those resulting from the absorption of endotoxins, especially those of typhoid fever.

Therapeutics

Baptisia: In this remedy we have one which corresponds to conditions found in low fevers, where prostration, apathy and a marked tendency to disorganization of the blood exists. Perhaps the greatest characteristic of this remedy is foulness or putridity. All its discharges have a decidedly foul odor. To the Baptisia patient the bed feels too hard, he aches all over and feels sore, but is at the same time too sick to move. Mentally he is dull and confused, at times imagines himself to be two persons or believes that he is separated and that he is scattered about the bed. In vain he tries to get himself together again. The countenance is dusky, besotted in appearance, the breath foul, sordes on the teeth, the tongue heavily coated, dry and with a brownish streak down the center. Diarrhea is prominent, with dark, brownish, extremely foul smelling stools. The patient is at all times drowsy, stupid and languid.

Such a symptom picture is naturally common to typhoid fevers or to those of septic or toxemic origin. In cases of severe influenza even, this medicine, under the above circumstances, may be required.

Characteristic Symptoms Of Baptisia

1. Delirious stupor, falls asleep while answering a question, or when spoken to.

2. Body feels scattered about, tosses around to get the pieces together, cannot sleep because he cannot get the pieces together.

3. Head feels large and heavy, with numbness of head and face.

4. Confusion of mind as if drunk; wild, wandering feeling.

5. Face hot, flushed and dusky, or dark red with a besotted expression.

6. Tongue white, with reddish papillae, followed by yellow-brown coating in center, edges dark red and shining, or dry and brown down the center, cracked, sore and ulcerated.

7. Fauces dark red, dark putrid ulcers; tonsils and parotids swollen; can only swallow water, no pain, but great prostration.

8. Offensive, dark brown, mucous or bloody stools, with typhoid tendency.

9. Difficult breathing, the lungs feel tight and compressed, must have fresh air.

10. Feels as if lying on a board, must change position, the bed feels so hard.

11. Indescribable sick feeling all over, feels weak, tired and bruised.