No II – Conium


The special relation of Conium to the sexual organs, especially the female, is very important. Its action is especially manifest in the breast and uterus, producing in these organs swelling, changes arrested, or abnormal secretion….


Conium belongs to that class of remedies which alter the vegetative vital process in all its relations. Among the vegetative functions, that of resorption suffers the first and most marked alteration, being diminished in activity or completely arrested. The great representative of this function is the lymphatic system, on which, therefore, Conium exerts its primary and most striking action.

Next in degree, and of the same nature, is its action on the venous system. The diminution of the vitality of this system involves, on the one hand, diminished general absorption, and on the other, retarded circulation of the absorbed fluids. Hence, collections form in parenchymata and cavities, either in the form of fluid infiltration or exudation, or as hard tumors. In the lymphatics themselves depositions occur, which sometimes give rise to tumors. Such collections are hostile to the organism; they serve as excitants to the surrounding tissues; hence, an inflammatory condition not unfrequently arises in these formations, which leads to their destruction. In some cases, however, the contrary takes place, and the organ attacked becomes altered.

On these general pathological moments depend the following Conium symptoms.

Skin. Tuberculous eruption, passing over into Furunculi; Petechiae; Erysipelatous cutaneous inflammations; Gutta Rosacea; Ulcers; Gangrenous ulcers.

Glands. Various pains, generally sticking or cutting, especially in the mamma and mesenteric glands. Induration, suppuration, and alternation of the same; hordeola; swelling of the tonsils. Pains in the liver. Inflammation of the prepuce. Pressing in prostate, and discharge of prostatic juice. Orchitis; pain and swelling of testes. The various symptoms in the breast and abdomen indicate that the glands are attacked; but the fact needs anatomical demonstration. The general disturbance of the resorptive function probably depends on paralysis of the ganglionic system, in consequence of which all the vegetative functions must be more or less disturbed.

Vascular System. The vascular system loses its energy. The circulation becomes irregular, universally retarded and enfeebled. Whatever excitation there may be depends rather upon local causes than upon general stimulus. Hence, the general thermogenesis will be rather below the normal standard; but it may be partially increased. Consequently, in the Conium fever, coldness predominates; the pulse is slow and small. (Still, the contrary may occur; the pulse may be quick and strong, and the heat partially increased). The blood in the venous system, therefore, will be propelled slowly; hence, this system will be gorged; this will be especially manifest in the abdomen. The blood does not receive, on the one hand, the needed reparation, or, on the other, the necessary elaboration; it consequently tends to fluidity and decomposition. Accordingly, cyanosis, ecchymosis, ulceration, and haemorrhage may easily and often be provoked. The results of every impediment of the circulation are manifested, rather in the periphery; hence, several inflammatory conditions produced by Conium. More frequently, however, the same cause favors the origin of infiltrations. By virtue of these tendencies we have inflammations of the eyes and eyelids, hordeola, inflammatory epistaxis, haemorrhage from swollen livid gums, irritable state of the throat, bleeding ulcers, haematuria, and inflammatory symptoms in the urinary organs.

From what has been said of the general primary action of Conium, its reflex effect on the individual functions of the vegetative sphere necessarily follow. We mention the conditions of its action in general terms and in specialties.

The vegetation in general is depressed; this is shown by emaciation and change of color.

The secretions are in general diminished, because interstitial absorption is diminished; for secretion must necessarily proceed pari passu with absorption; and wherever this is not the case, the increase of secretion over absorption must be only in consequence of some local irritation, e.g., increase of salivary, lachrymal, and prostatic secretions. Hence, vomiting is rarely produced by Conium. And, since Conium furnishes scanty secretions, the stool is, for the most part, retained and scanty. Urine is scanty; the mucous membrane of the urino-genital system is, for the most part, dry. The menses are retained or retarded.

As specialty, it may be remarked that the intestines stand in nearer relation to Conium than the stomach does (probably because of their more intimate connection with the mesenteric glands), and that the most various symptoms are produced in them. The stool is generally, scanty, with flatulence and pain before evacuation. If the stools are abundant and watery, so is the urine. The evacuation of urine is attended by violent pressing and by burning. The sweat is, for the most part, only partial, and is then accompanied by heat.

Nervous System. The action of Conium on the nervous system is considerable, yet certainly of minor importance and often secondary, showing itself in spasms of various kinds; it centers in the sensorium, where depression predominates.

Sexual System. The special relation of Conium to the sexual organs, especially the female, is very important. Its action is especially manifest in the breast and uterus, producing in these organs swelling, changes arrested, or abnormal secretion.

Condition. The Conium symptoms are aggravated at night and early in the morning.

ANALYSIS.

1. Alters the vegetative functions by altering or modifying resorption; infiltrations or collections result, which tend to decomposition. Increased venosity, and finally depraved nutrition; effects especially evident in the lymphatic system and in all glands, and among these first, the mesenteric.

2. Glands. In closest relation with female sex and mamma.

3. Nervous System. Secondary Symptoms, manifested by spasms.

4. Secretions. In general diminished.

5. Pains. No particular character.

6. Aggravation. Night and early morning.

Application. Conium corresponds to lymphatic, blond, pale individuals; to children, especially those with large, soft abdomens, and tendency to glandular enlargements and cutaneous eruptions; to women, especially in connection with uterine diseases or with leucorrhoea; to women in the climacteric period; to old women with collections in the uterus; to pregnant women; also to individuals who are easily excited; to hypochondriacs.

Diseases in general. All those dyscrasias whose development begins by deposition in the glandular system. Tuberculosis and scrofulosis, especially when these dyscrasias concentrate in the mesenteric glands; when, moreover, they evince rather a passive character, and do not run a rapid course, but gradually form deposits, and thereby give rise to partial congestions; in the first periods of such affections, so long as there is no especial colliquation, and while the secretions are in general diminished. (If, on the other hand, they show an active character, Hepar is indicated; when colliquation has set in Mercurius).

1. Tuberculosis Mesentrica. Tuberculosis glandularum maxillarum colli. Angina in tuberculosis without fever (Conium alternated with Hepar).

2. Scrofulous and Tuberculous Cutaneous Affections, especially lupus sub- cutaneous; tubercles of the skin; papules with a white secretion.

3. Scrofulous and Sub-acute Ophthalmia, with great photophobia especially, affection and suppuration of the meibomian glands; formation of tubercles on the eyelids; conjunctivitis, with little or no mucous secretion; keratitis, especially when nebulae form; also chronic nebulae.

4.Scrofulous Affection of the Ears, with swelling of the parotids; albuminous, watery otorrhoea.

5. Scrofulous swelling of the nose. Ozaena.

6. Scrofulous Spinal Affection. Pott’s curvature; softening of vertebral column; scrofulous coxalgia, which develops slowly; scrofulous and tuberculous caries.

7. In Fibrous Scirrhus, in so far at least as at the beginning, it consists of albuminous infiltration, Conium may be of service; but generally when an affection of this kind in the mammary or axillary gland is presented to our notice, it is too late for its removal. If, however, rational symptoms or hereditary taint give reason to anticipate or suspect the commencement of such an affection. Conium would certainly be among the most useful remedies, yet the symptoms of Conium have rather the character of those of infarctus than of developed fibroids, in which the knife alone avails. (1 1The later English authors are disposed to confine the term Scirrhus to the first stage of Cancer, before ulceration takes place Scirrhus, then, is always a malignant affection. The Germans apply the term, however, indifferently to such benign or malignant tumors as from their physical character, hardness, merit the name. From this character, the benign fibrous tumor (fibroids of Rokitansky) of the uterus or mamma is often called Scirrhus. It is to this species of tumor, and not to the malignant Cancer in its first stage, that Conium is applicable, and even in this, to benign fibroids only in the formative stage. During the year 1851, two patients in Dr. Wurmb’s Hospital, in Vienna, in whom fibrous tumor of the uterus was clearly recognized, were treated with Conium. In one, the tumor disappeared; in the other, it had greatly diminished in size, when she refused further treatment.).

Carroll Dunham
Dr. Carroll Dunham M.D. (1828-1877)
Dr. Dunham graduated from Columbia University with Honours in 1847. In 1850 he received M.D. degree at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York. While in Dublin, he received a dissecting wound that nearly killed him, but with the aid of homoeopathy he cured himself with Lachesis. He visited various homoeopathic hospitals in Europe and then went to Munster where he stayed with Dr. Boenninghausen and studied the methods of that great master. His works include 'Lectures on Materia Medica' and 'Homoeopathy - Science of Therapeutics'.