J.A. Schmidt has advanced the conjecture that it acts prominently upon the fibrous tissues, external skin, and pulmonary mucous membrane-far less upon the lymphatic system and glands. Vogt thinks this notion is not far from the truth, if we call to mind the pains in the bones and joints, the sweat, itching, and springing up of vesicles like rheumatic miliaria?); in further corroboration, he adds that the observations of the best practitioners have found it more serviceable in diseases of the fibrous tissues, and even Storek admits that it is far less serviceable in glandular affections than Conium, although it is a much more acrid and energetic drug.-J.C.P.
Sobernheim says it causes painful sensations in the joints and bones, which disappear after the breaking out of a profuse sweat and abundant secretion of urine, and adds that it differs from Conium by its more prominent action on the fibrous system and external skin whence arise the bone and joint-pains.
Harnisch says it causes pain, fullness, and trembling of the limbs especially of the lower extremities, and the patient at the same time often suffers from the most violent pains in the bones and joints.
Kuttner says, general painfulness of all the joints not unfrequently arises after large doses of Aconite.
Harnisch adds that the skin-eruptions, profuse sweats, also
the pains in the joints, limbs, and bones, all prove the peculiar action of Aconite upon the skin and fibrous tissues, which is to increase the activity of them. Harnisch thinks it is to be doubted whether the good effects of Aconite against rheumatic and gouty joint, limbs, and bone-pains depend upon its homoeopathic power (which is certainly possesses) of causing similar effects on the healthy; the violent pains, which it causes in the bones, limbs, and joints, prove the peculiar action of it upon those parts, and depends partly upon an inflammatory- like irritation, and in part upon a purely nervous affection; hence, he says, if this remedy cures these complaints according to the homoeopathic law, it should also, as it quickens the pulse and circulation, and causes febrile symptoms, cure acute rheumatism and febrile gout.-J.C.P.
There is a vast quantity of old-school testimony to the efficacy of Aconite in rheumatism and similar affections. Noack and Trinks say it is used in the old-school practice in rheumatic-spasmodic asthma; in arthritic affections of the chest; in lumbago and ischias; in stiffness of the limbs (rheumatic); in rheumatic swellings; in rheumatic swellings of the periosteum; in rheumatic swelling of the bones; in local bone-pains; in mercurial disease, taking the form of rheumatism; in rheumatism; in wandering rheumatism; in rheumatism of the joints; in gout, nodous gout, and gout with paralysis; in violent pains in the limbs; in rheumatic metastases to internal parts.-In Germany, it is regarded as the main remedy against chronic rheumatism. Of fourteen recipes for Aconite, in Sobernheim’s “Materia Medica,” eleven are for rheumatism. Sobernheim says it is the main remedy in rheumatic and gouty affections, partly chronic and inveterate, attended with abnormal metamorphoses, partly fixed and very painful, and occurring in the form of joint-rheumatism and joint- gout; he thinks it allays the pains exciting the suppressed perspiration and causing profuse diaphoresis. Graefe, Schmidt, Rust, Lombard, Kopp, Brera, G.A. Richter, Stark, Hufeland, Storck, Barthez, Scudamore, Vering, all join in recommending it.-J.C.P.
Vogel advises it in atonic gout, and in the head-gout which occurs in the form of hemicrania, with predominant affection of the fibrous dura-mater.
Greding recommends it in affections of the heart and chest, from rheumatic and arthritic causes.
Kahleis, Davies, and Lombard, in rheumatism of the heart and affections of the fibrous portion of the pericardium.
Vogt says, in many instances, pretty rapid relief from pain has been caused by it; but most of such cases seem to have been of rheumatic or arthritic origin, and ceased when Aconite- perspiration set in. Harnisch says it cures chronic rheumatic and arthritic inflammations of the stomach and bowels.
Storck cured the most violent rheumatic pains, which do not allow of the use of the arms and legs.
Thilenius says it relieves nocturnal syphilitic bone-pains far better than Opium.
Storck thought that the syphilitic acridities, which attacked the nerves and bones, and caused the pains, were solved by the Aconite, brought into the general circulation, and then cast out by the profuse sweats and urinations which ensue under the use of it.-J.C.P.
The alcoholic extract of Aconite, according to Lombard, possesses a specific curative power against acute joint- rheumatism; he says it quickly relieves the pains, and rapidly promotes the absorption of the effused synovial fluid from the affected joint; he used it exclusively for two years in the Hospital at Geneva.
Kopp advises it in rheumatic pains with syphilitic basis.
Brera, in nocturnal syphilitic bone-pains.
Pereira says, as a topical remedy, it is most valuable for the relief of neuralgic and rheumatic pains; in rheumatic pains, unaccompanied with local swelling or redness, it is frequently of great services; in painful conditions of the intercostal and other respiratory muscles, occurring in rheumatic individuals, Pereira has found this remedy most valuable. In acute rheumatism, it has not proved successful in his hands, but he has been informed of cases occurring to others in which it has been of great service; he adds, in rheumatism, it has frequently proved serviceable when combined with a sudorific regimen; and he has seen it give great relief to rheumatic pains. In rheumatic hypertrophy of the heart, it has been recommended by Lombard, of Geneva, on account of its decidedly sedative effects upon that organ.-J.C.P.
Pereira says the application of the tincture, as an embrocation, in neuralgia and rheumatism is invaluable, and adds further: “Of the great efficacy of Aconitina in neuralgic and rheumatic affections no one can entertain a doubt who has submitted the remedy to a trial.”
Vogt says it is among those remedies which only cure after a protracted use; it is praised with justice in old and atonic dyscrasias as the rheumatic, arthritic, psoric, and degenerate syphilitic; especially when these affections have attacked the periosteum, articular apparatus, the muscular and tendinous sheaths or have lasted for a long time, and are deeply seated. He says it is used in acute and chronic rheumatism and chronic gout. In acute joint-rheumatism, he says, Aconite is now admitted to be one of the most efficient remedies, which most quickly relieves the pains, and even aids much in facilitating the absorption of the effusions about and in the joints, and lessens the inflammation, especially when combined with Colchicum. Not less great is its curative influence in chronic rheumatism, even in those forms which are increased to the highest grade of neuralgia, viz., in prosopalgia and ischias, in which Roche, Thealier, and others, have praised it as almost a specific. Also in diseases of the fibrous tissues and bones, viz., in tophi, dolores-osteocopi, when dependent upon venereal, arthritic, rheumatic, or degenerate scrofulous dyscrasia, it, according to the most experienced practitioners effects more than any other narcotico-acrid remedy.-J.C.P.
It also caused dizziness, dimness of sight, and a great vivacity of impressions, which the patient compared to the magic lantern, which appeared to her as soon as she closed her eyes; also caused stiffness of the diseased arm, dizziness, fanciful visions, sudden flushes of the face, and a great liveliness of impressions, almost always accompanied with gay and pleasing thoughts (like Opium).
From the first day, the pains were much diminished, and each time the dose was increased the pains were calmed in proportion. Finally, the LARGE articulations, such as the wrist, elbow, and shoulder were more promptly cured than those of the fingers, although the latter were first affected; perhaps cured than those of the fingers, although the latter were first affected; perhaps, hence, were more fixed. The oedema followed the course of the pains,. i.e. disappeared from around the LARGE joints more rapidly than from the smaller.-J.C.P.
Lombard thinks Aconite possesses a specific virtue for the dispersion of rheumatic inflammations when seated in the joints. It does not appear to destroy the principle of rheumatism, for this attacks other joints while the patient is using it; hence, without exerting a preservation action, it cures rheumatism by neutralizing its morbid influence wherever it tends to fix itself. Patients have declared that they have found a diminution of pain in the space of an hour, but usually the sedative effect was only evident at the end of several hours. The antiphlogistic action, which arrests the inflammation and tumefaction, whether internal or external to the joint, is commonly more slow; as twelve to twenty-four hours is the most common period for this amelioration; sometimes, however, thirty-six to forty-eight hours elapse.
