Botanical name: Quercus robur (Var pedunculata and sessilifera). Family: Corylaceae or Cupulifere

Common name: English Oak.

Preparation: Tincture of acorns (peeled and crushed or shredded). Water extract of acorns with addition of alcohol (Aqua glandium quercus.).

Here are some of the cases of James Crompton Burnett elaborated in “Gout and its Cure”- in the treatment of alcoholism and its effects.  

(1) Military man, 64, broken down with gout and alcoholism and pretty severe chronic bronchitis. Heart irregular.  Liver and spleen enlarged. Complained bitterly of gnawing at pit of stomach. Gait tottering, hands quivered. He had lost his wife and had to keep himself up with nips of spirits, for which he had a constant craving. *Quer. *gland. *spir., ten drops in water, three times a day, completely revolutionized his state and took away his abnormal craving for spirits. 

(2) In a merchant of 57, given to nips of sherry, *Quer. g.s. Q threw out a gouty eczema on scalp, poll, and backs of hands, which took three months to cure, after which *Quer. g.s. was again given and completed the cure.  

(3) An officer who drank too much had foul breath, eyes yellow, puffy underneath. *Quer. g.s.  Q cured. 

(4) Hunting man, 40, free liver, gouty, had varicose veins of legs, originating apparently in enlarged spleen, left by typhoid fever. *Quer.  g.  s. Q cured. The patient said it kept his “bowels very regular.  ‘ 

(5) A country squire, 60, bachelor, appeared in a hopeless condition.  Was unable to state his own case. Flushed much pain over the eyes and in both rib regions.  Stooping caused great pain, worse left hypochondrium. Liver and spleen much enlarged.  Nervous, depressed, glum, taciturn, easily moved to tears.  Could not walk without support *on account of his great giddiness.  Breath in highest degree disgustingly stercoraceous, nearly caused Burnett to vomit when examining him. That smell of breath, says Burnett, is an unmistakable sign of the chronic tippler, indicating undigested alcohol in the  *primoe vioe.  Burnett subsequently ascertained that he was quite a sober man, but took frequent nips, particularly when confined to the house by wet weather.  The (a) Pain in left side, (b) Giddiness,  (c) Flushed state indicated *Quer., which was given. In a week the breath was normal, giddiness a little better, tenderness of rib region much diminished. In six weeks quite well.

Burnett does not find *Quer.  A remedy for the liquor habit, it stops short at that, but it diminishes the craving and *antidotes the alcoholic state.