Solanum tuberosum aegrotans
Plant · Solanaceae
Diseased potato characterized by putrescence and decay. Used from the Irish potato famine era when diseased potatoes caused severe poisoning. Shows gastrointestinal and rectal affections with profound weakness and offensive discharges throughout the body.
Key symptoms
- Prolapse of rectum with patulous anus
- Offensive breath and body odour
- Cracked tongue and swollen lips
- Burning in anus and rectum
- Stool scanty in small black lumps
- Violent colic and constipation
- Foul odour reproduced in breath and body
- Excruciating muscular pains
Worse (aggravation)
- Touch and pressure worsen symptoms
- On waking headache worse
- Smell of alcohol aggravates headache
- Walking at 5 p.m. worse
- Sleeping worse for headache
Better (amelioration)
- Cold water causes shock
Diseased potato. Tincture of the affected tubers.
Clinical
Anus, prolapse of; patulous. Breasts, painful. Breath, offensive. Constipation. Epistaxis. Headache. Ileus. Irritability. Menses, interrupted. Noma. Odour of body, offensive. Pruritus vulvæ. Rectum, prolapse of. Scalp, painful. Sciatica. Scurvy. Skin, darkness of. Tenesmus. Tongue, cracked. Vertebræ, pain in; pulsation in.
Characteristics
The "Potato murrain" is characterised by "the rapid putrescence of the leaves and haulm, which is first indicated by the presence of a little mould, Peronospora infestans, which preys upon the tissues, spreading rapidly in every direction. The tubers also exhibit brown spots on their surface and within their tissues, and according to circumstances decay with greater or less rapidity" (Treas. of Bot.). In 1846 the sudden inroad of this disease led to the fearful famine in Ireland, which resulted in the death of thousands. Mure made the first proving of S. t. æ., using a potato "in an entire state of decomposition, …
Classical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
