MATERIA MEDICA AND THERAPEUTICS.
JVew Antispasmodic—Sumbul.—In recently attending the medical
wards of King’s College Hospital, we perceived that Dr.‘Todd was
prescribing, in a case of epilepsy, a medicine, the name of which we
heard for the first time. On inquiry, we find that this root, called
sumbul, is being introduced into practice as an anti-spasmodic by Mr.
Savory of Bond street. It appears that Dr. Granville, on a recent
return from the continent, mentioned sumbul to Mr. Savory as a root
employed with great success in Germany and Russia against cholera:
wondering that it had not yet found its way into this country. Mr.
Savory immediately set about procuring it, but his correspondent in
Russia had much trouble in getting this root; he however sent over
specimens of it. A little later, another parcel of the sumbul was ob-
tained by the same house from Hamburg; and on comparing the two
samples, Mr. Savory came to the conclusion that the German one was
decidedly the firmest, least damaged, and in the best condition of the
two. We were shown these specimens, and find that they much re-
semble the circular pieces in which calumba is generally seen, except
that they are considerably larger, of a more spongy texture, and resem-
bling huge bungs. They are of a yellowish gray, whitish in the centre,
with a thin, pellicular bark surrounding them. The most striking
feature of the root is its very strong odor, which very much approaches
that of musk, being almost as pleasant and powerful. The pieces are
very light, and seemed to be formed of a condensed and hardened pithy
substance. From this imperfect description, it may at once be gathered
that the sumbul promised to be useful as an anti-spasmodic, and Mr.
Savory first thought of combining it with the cotyledon umbilicus, and
using it against epilepsy. It is, however, being tried by itself, and
though Dr. Todd cannot as yet state anything positive as to results, we
were told that the little boy who is taking ten minims of the tincture
thrice a day, and who, when admitted, had an epileptic fit once or
twice a week, has had no attack since he has been in the hospital. Mr.
Savory has likewise prepared an extract of the root, and further trials
are of course necessary to judge of the efficacy of the medicine. Musk
being, however, very expensive, it would be a great boon to the public
were this root found as efficacious. Nothing is yet known of the bo-
tanical origin of the plant; efforts are, however, being made to ascer-
tain its natural history, and we shall have much pleasure in communi-
cating to our readers the details which may transpire, both in the latter
respect and with regard to the trials which are being made as to the
therapeutical virtues of the root.—Dublin Med. Press, from, the Lancet.