Synonym-Aconitum napellus. Natural order.-Ranunculaceae. Common name.-Monk’s Hood. Habitat.-Native of Europe; cultivated in America. Preparation.-Tincture from the whole plant, gathered at the time of flowering.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Acts predominantly upon the cerebro-spinal nervous system, producing an exalted activity in the arterial circulation, paralyzing the arterial capillaries, and, as a result, giving congestions and inflammation of various parts, especially of he brain, spinal cord, serious and mucous membranes, muscles and joints.
According to Dr. Bartholow, Aconite affects the sensory nerves before the motor. it paralyzes first the end organs next the nerve trunks, and finally the centers of sensation in the in the cord. It also amperes the reflex function of the spinal cord; but this effect is secondary to the sensory paralysis. If causes an arrest of motility through its action on the motor centers of the cord, and subsequently on the nerve trunks. Applied directly to the heart, Aconite lessens the number and force of its beats, and finally arrests its action in the diastole. It also lowers the arterial pressure. It is, therefore, a direct cardiac poison, affecting all the structures of he heart, the ganglia nerves and muscular substance. Aconite also paralyzes the muscles of respiration, through its action upon the peripheral however, all these features of the physiological effects of Aconite of secondary important, as compare with its power to produce and remove congestions and inflammations of the various organs and tissues of the body, though it use in functional and organic cardiac diseases, and in affections of both the sensory and motor nerve centers, giving rise to neuralgic and paralytic states, has proved in to be of incalculable service in such conditions.
Aconite also causes an increase of elimination by the skin and kidneys, the solids being excreted in proportion with the fluids.
There is very little evidence that Aconite produces any organic changes, its power being wholly functional, through it is frequently useful in the course of organic diseases of the heart and other organs, for the removal or palliation of symptoms which may arise, and which indicate its employment.
The leading expression of aconite is a feverish, nervous restlessness, or mental distress, which characterizes its entire action.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mind. Great timidity (Arsenicum, Belladonna, Cinchona, Ignatia, Phosphorus), especially after a fright; afraid in. the dark, fear of ghosts, etc. (Arsenicum, Puls); raging delirium, especially t night. Delirium. Chattering childish nonsense (Hyos);thinks the is dying, with restless jerking and jumping about (Arsenicum). Fear of approaching death (Agn., Arsenicum, Cimic., Nitr. ac., Secale) predicts the day of death (Apis). Inconsolable anxiety piteous wailings (Veratrum alb.) vexation about trifles (Nitr. ac., Nux v.) Excessive restlessness, agonized tossing about (AEth., Arsenicum, Camps., Natr., Arsenicum, Rhus.). Variable humor, alternate attacks of gayety and dejection (Ignatia, Nux moschata, Phosphorus, Plat)(. Dullness and confusion of mind; weakness of memory. Ailments from fright (Gelsemium, Op).; from vexation; from anger (Bryonia, Cham).
Head. Vertigo with nausea and vanishing of sight. Vertigo when rising from a recumbent posture (Bryonia, Pulsatilla, Sulphur) Vertigo on stooping (Sulph); staggers especially to the right. Vertigo from congestion; from anger; from fright; from suddenly suppressed catamenia. Burning headache, as if the brain were agitated by boiling water. Fullness and heavy feeling, as if everything would push push of the forehead (Bryonia, Sulphur). Aching inverted, worse at night; better on motion and in the open air. Drawing pressing feeling in trigeminus, then shooting, wandering, intermittent, then constant pain, sometimes pressure. Sunstroke (Belladonna., Gloninum) especially rom sleeping in. the rays of the sun. Congestion; anxiety; face hot and red (Ferrum); or small and quick; worse towards evening. Sensation as if the hairs stood on end; scalp sensitive to the touch (Baryta carb.., Belladonna, cinch., natr. mur., Nitr. ac., Mercurius, Mez., Nux v., Sensitiveness o he scalp to cold air, especially a strong wind,.
Eyes. Bloodshot. Dull, surrounded with blue rings. Distorted. Sensitive to the air. Pain anteriorly as if the eye would be pushed out when the lids were opened (Sang). Violent and acute inflammation, on the earlier stages (Belladonna). Intense burning, pressive, shooting pains, especially on moving the eyeballs. Conjunctivitis resulting from the irritation of foreign bodies in. the eyes;l from in growing eyelashes; from exposure to cold, dry winds. Sensitive to light, particularly sun light (Sulph); light dazzles the eyes (Bell). Pupils contracted. Vision dim or entirely lost. eyeballs feel enlarged, as if coming out of he tickets. Lids hard, red, swollen; feel tense, hot, dry, burning and sensitive to he air; sensation of sand in lower inner canthus.
Ears. Great sensitiveness to every noise;l noise intolerable (Belladonna, Lyc), particularly music (Ambra, Phosphorus ac.) Ringing or roaring in ears (Belladonna, Cinchona, Lycopodium) External daring or roaring in ears (Belladonna, Cinchona, Lycopodium). External ear hot, red and swollen (Belladonna, Apis). Pain in the right ear Aconite, aur., Belladonna, Colchicum, Hepar s., Lycopodium, Graph).
Nose. Sense of smell very acute (Belladonna), especially for unpleasant odors. Epistaxis (Belladonna, Bryonia) bright red blood (Erig). Coryza with sneezing (Argentum, Euphorb., Osm.). fever, thirst, restlessness. Dry feeling in posterior nares. Distressing pressive pain at root of nose (Kali bichromicum, Mercurius, iod., Natr. ars., Platina)
Face. Anxious frightened expression. hippocratic. Face red and pale alternately, or one cheek red, the other pale (Cham); face bloated and red (Belladonna, Op). Sensation of face growing large or swelling. On rising the red face turns deadly pale (Veratrum alb). Twitching tingling. Numbness. Involuntary closing of jaws with salivation. Trismus, in paroxysms. rigidity. Neuralgia of trigeminus left side (Spig); face red and hot; restlessness, anguish. and screaming.
Mouth. Burning, tingling, and numbness of lips, mouth and tongue. Dryness of mouth (Ailanth., Arsenicum, Bryonia, Hyoscyamus, Nux. v). Toothache from cold, or dry, cold winds, with throbbing on the side; cheeks red; congestion to head. Teeth sensitive to cold air (Spigelia) Bitter taste in the mouth (Bryonia, Coloc., cinch., Nux v., Hepar, x., Pulsatilla.). Tongue coated white, or thick yellow white (ant. crud., Bryonia, Mercurius Nux v.). Tongue swollen. Burning vesicles on tip of tongue. Dry, rough reeling in middle of tongue. Copious flow of saliva (Cinchona, Mercuriusiod., Nitr. ac.)
Throat. Burning and numbness in throat (Caps.) Redness of soft palate and uvula (Belladonna); burning; dryness; constriction. Fauces and pharynx dark-red (Baptisia), stinging and burning (Apis), swelling of tonsils. Stitches in back part of throat, causing frequent swallowing. Feeling of dryness, as if some thing had stuck in the throat (Alumina, Hepar s., Nitr. ac.).
Stomach. No appetite; loathing of food (Ant.crud., Arnica, Arsenicum). Burning unquenchable thirst (Arsenicum,Bryonia, cinch., Mercurius, Natr. mur., Rhus tox.). Desire for beer Cocc., Sulphur), wine (Bry,., Cinchona), or brandy (Pulsatilla) Gastric catarrh from drinking ice-water while overheated. Painful hiccough (Hyoscyamus, Nux v., Stramonium). Vomiting of lumbrici (Sang); of bile (Argentum, Podo); of green masses of mucus (Ant. tart., Ipecac.); of what has been drunk (Arsenicum, Phosphorus). Vomiting with anxiety, heat, thirst, profuse sweat, and increased micturition. Anxious pulsation in pit f stomach, with shooting pain. Pressure in pit of stomach as from a weight or stone (AEsc., Arsenicum, Bryonia, Nux v., Pulsatilla). Burning from stomach up through the oesophagus to the mouth (Arsenicum). Region of stomach sensitive to touch.
Abdomen. Pressive pain as from a weight in hypochondria; constriction, or stitches in hepatic region hindering respiration. (Arsenicum, Bryonia, Cinchona, Kali carb). Abdomen swollen, burning hot and sensitive to the touch (Belladonna, cupr.). Meteorism (Phosphorus ac.), vomiting, inability to urinate. Burning and cutting in the intestines, worse from pressure or lying on the right side. Pain in the hepatic region hindering deep breathing (Bryonia, Iodium). Fullness and weight in hypochondria. Pain in hypogastricum as from a flatulent purgative.
Stool. Watery (Ant,.crud., Arsenicum, Cinchona, Podophyllum), white, with red urine; like chopped herbs in summer complaint;; black, fetid (As.), bloody, and slimy, scanty, loose, frequent, with tenesmus. Bleeding haemorrhoids (Hamamelis, Nitr. ac.), burning and hat in haemorrhoidal vessels (Aesculus, sulph.). Intolerable nightly tingling and itching at the anus, from seat worms (Arsenicum, Cina, Graphites).
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).