DIGESTIVE SYSTEM ETC. – Severe griping, or cutting pains as from knives, in the abdomen and about the navel, increased by food, with irritability of the bowels, followed by copious Diarrhoea, with straining, the Diarrhoea affording relief; but the symptoms may speedily recur; dysenteric Diarrhoea, the evacuations consisting mainly of blood, with severe colic; colicky and stitching pains in the ovaries and liver.
40. – Conium Maculatum. – Spotted Hemlock.
Spotted Hemlock grows abundantly along hedges and in waste places. When very young in bears, like fool’s parsley, a resemblance to common parsley, and has been mistaken for the later, and eaten, sometimes with fatal effects.
LEADING USES. – Paralytic, cancerous and tubercular diseases, affecting old persons, females especially.
NERVOUS SYSTEM. – Paraplegia, commencing in the feet, and gradually extending upwards; Paralysis following Apoplexy.
EYES, ETC. – Inflammation of the eyelids, with suppuration, ulceration, excessive sensitiveness to light, and violent burning and itching in tubercular patients; Photophobia and discharge of scalding tears without inflammation; Presbyopia, especially the far-sightedness of old persons when it comes on prematurely; Ozaena. Respiratory System. – Dry, hacking cough, with constant irritation, scraping in the larynx, worse on lying down at night, worse after talking and especially after laughing. Generative System. – Tumours (even cancerous) of the mammary and other glands, especially when following injury: Atrophy of the breasts and testicles; Amenorrhoea; ovarian depression; swelling of the testes from a blow; Impotence and Sterility. Skin. – Scaly and tubercular eruptions.
41. – Croton Tiglium – Croton-oil.
We express the oil from the seeds of Croton Tiglium growing in Hindustan, Ceylon, and other parts of Asia.
In the old-school Materia Medica, Croton is chiefly used as a purgative, and, externally, diluted with olive-oil or soap- liniment, as a counter-irritant.
LEADING USES. – Choleraic Diarrhoea, and Cutaneous diseases, resembling those which it produces when employed according to the allopathic fashion. It is especially valuable in Eczema, in which disease we have in numerous instances proved it to be a most reliable remedy. See also the Section on Eczema.
42. – Cuprum Metallicum – Metallic Copper.
When combined with acids, this metal is a violent irritant poison. Even food cooked in untinned copper vessels, by dissolving a portion of the metal, becomes highly poisonous. For Homoeopathic uses it is prepared in the first instance as a trituration; the acetate and sulphate are also used.
LEADING USES. – Derangements of the nervous system, characterized by Cramps, Convulsive Movements and Spasms.
NERVOUS SYSTEM.- Chorea, especially of the upper extremities or of one side of the body, with neuralgic pains previous to or during the attack, and followed by paralysis of the affected parts; Epilepsy characterized by the violence of the Convulsions, and, usually, paleness of the face, vertigo, Headache, and muscular tremors;* (*An account of several cases of epilepsy successfully treated with Cuprum will be found in the Homoeopathic World for 1911) Melancholy, debility, very slow pulse, languor, loathing of food, sallow complexion, and emaciation from nervous affections; Hysteria; Angina Pectoris; etc.
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. – Spasmodic Asthma, Croup, and Whooping- Cough.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. – Chronic Vomiting and Diarrhoea; the cramps and vomiting of choleraic Diarrhoea and Asiatic Cholera; some forms of Enteralgia, Gastritis, and Dysphagia.
Cuprum Aceticum is also used by homoeopaths; but there is no difference in the sphere of action of the two preparations; the acetate has a more prompt action than the pure metal.
43. – Digitalis Purpurea – Purple Foxglove.
For homoeopathic purposes a tincture is generally prepared from the fresh leaves, but a recent watery infusion is preferable, as alcohol partly neutralizes digitalis.
LEADING USES. – Disease of the heart, with dizziness, tendency to faint, shortness of breath on exercise, Palpitation, slow, irregular, and intermittent pulse, or quickened and feeble action of the heart; frontal Headache, with heaviness and throbbing, dimness of sight, sparks and colours before the eyes, and buzzing in the ears, also nausea and Vomiting, associated with heart- disease. Dropsy from Hypertrophy, Dilation, and enfeeblement of the heart; Dropsy of the kidneys and Suppression of urine; Cyanosis, Ascites, and even Anasarca, depending upon, or associated with, vascular derangements-heart-disease, menstrual irregularities, etc.; white or ash-coloured stools, either dry or papescent, with white-coated tongue.
44. – Drosera Rotundifolia-Round-leaved Sundew.
This plant is indigenous to elevated situations in Great Britain, and flourishes in mossy, turfy bogs. We prepare a tincture from the whole plant.
LEADING USES. – Spasmodic Cough; Whooping Cough (the best remedy after Aconite and Belladonna in uncomplicated cases); Phthisis Pulmonalis, with Spasmodic Cough, profuse expectoration, haemoptysis, and gastric irritation, the cough inducing vomiting; Cough, generally, of a spasmodic character, coming on suddenly, with retching or vomiting; nervous and sympathetic Cough. The patient presses his hand on the side of the chest to support the chest wall on account of the pain. These uses accord with the pathological effects of the drug, which causes in the healthy a Cough with tickling in the larynx, and Vomiting of food.
45. Dulcamara – Bitter-sweet – Woody Nightshade.
It has acquired its name from dulcis (sweet), and amarus (bitter), owing to the transition of tastes which it yields. We employ the young branches and leaves of the plant when it commences flowering.
LEADING USES. – Various affections resulting from damp, or a thorough wetting, such as cold in the head, short hacking Cough, difficult expulsion of phlegm, nausea, Diarrhoea, Catarrh of the bladder, itching and stinging in eruptions, glandular enlargements about the neck, mild Rheumatism, with pains worse during rest, and relieved by movement, and other conditions following a cold. If taken immediately after exposure to damp or wet, Dulcamara will often prevent the effects of a cold.
46. – Euphrasia Officinalis – Common Eye-bright.
The names given to this pretty unassuming plant in different countries, and during several centuries – “eye-bright,” “eye- comfort,” “spectacle-breaker,” etc.-all indicate its specific uses in restoring and strengthening the vision.
LEADING USES. – Simple or Catarrhal Conjunctivitis, with abundant watery secretion, sensitiveness to light, and irritation of the frontal sinuses and of the lining of the nose, with sneezing, and copious acrid watery discharge; Hay-fever; smarting or stinging in the eyes, the effects of light, or of cold air: Catarrhal Inflammation in the first stage of measles; simple Acute Inflammation of the eyes; chronic sore eyes; Amaurotic conditions from suppressed Nasal Catarrh; Tubercular Ophthalmia (with Sulph.); specks on the Cornea. The remedy may also be applied topically as a lotion-ten to twelve drops in a wineglassful of water.
47. – Ferrum – Iron.
Iron is distinguishable in the residue of the combustion of many plants, and it forms an important constituent of the blood and other parts of the animal organism. In homoeopathic practice we use either the filings of pure metallic iron, prepared by trituration, or the Acetate of Iron – Ferrum Aceticum-which is a convenient solution. Other supplementary preparations are also used-F. Iodidum, F. Muriaticum, F. Redactum, etc. The oxalate of Iron, suggested by Dr. galley Blackley, is often of great value.
PATHOGENETIC EFFECTS. – The first effect of iron may be to cause an apparent stimulation of the vital functions, but the physical condition of those who live near iron springs proves that ultimately iron possesses debilitating properties. We find these people suffering from chronic diseases more than almost any other class of men, even when their mode of life is otherwise unexceptionable. A general or partial Debility bordering upon Paralysis, certain violent pains in the extremities, various affections of the abdominal viscera, Vomiting of food day and night. Pulmonary Phthisis, cough, with Haemorrhage, want of animal heat, Menstrual suppression, Miscarriage, Impotence, Sterility, Jaundice, and other symptoms of Cachexia, prevail among them (see Hempel).
LEADING USES. – Anaemia, Chlorosis, and associated ailments.
Nervous System. – Neuralgia; Chorea; Hysteria, with Anaemia or uterine obstructions. Circulatory System. – Congestive Headache; languor; Dropsy; cold hands and feet; Chilblains and Sores in leucophlegmatic constitutions. Respiratory System. – Phthisis: Haemoptysis, with tickling cough. Digestive System. – Loss of appetite, coated tongue (white or yellow), oppression and fulness of the stomach and bowels after eating, frequent Vomiting of food, Constipation with ineffectual urging, or chronic Diarrhoea with slimy, even bloody stools, and straining; colliquative Diarrhoea; Lienteria; Ascarides; Prolapsus Recti in anaemic Children; Genito-Urinary System. – Catarrh of the bladder; involuntary urination of children during the day; Impotence; Sterility; Spermatorrhoea; Amenorrhoea with Anaemia; Leucorrhoea.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."