Synonym AEthusa cynapium. Natural order Umbelliferae. Common names Fool’s Parsley. Garden Hemlock. Habitat. A common week growing throughout Europe. Preparation Tincture from the whole fresh plant when in flower.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
The AEthusa Cynapium has been classed as a powerful. narcotic poison, but it is now claimed that this is an error, the drug being entirely harmless, though possessing an essential oil that may provoke nausea, vomiting and other symptoms of gastro- intestinal irritation.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Face. A drawn condition, beginning at the aloe nasi, and extending to the angle of the mouth, giving the face an expression of great anxiety and pain.
Stomach. Nausea at the sight of food. Retching and throwing up phlegm. Intolerance of milk; it is forcibly ejected almost as soon as swallowed; then weakness causes drowsiness; in nursing children. Violent vomiting of curdled milk (Iris) and cheesy matter.
Stool. Diarrhoea; stools bright yellow (Chelidonium), or greenish, watery (Gratiola, Gambogia). Consisting of curds of milk.
Generalities. Epileptiform spasms, with clenched thumbs; red face; eyes turned downward; dilated, staring, immovable pupils; foam at the mouth; teeth set; pulse small, hard, accelerated. Great weakness; children cannot stand; cannot hold up their heads. Better in the open air.
Sleep. Dozing of child after vomiting spells (Ant. tart.), of after the stool (Nux moschata) On falling asleep, rolling of the eyes, or sight convulsions.
Conditions. Frequently indicated in summer season. Suitable for children who do not bear milk.
Compare. Ant. tart., Calcarea c., Cicuta, Ipecac., Gratiola, Gambogia, Nux moschata, Sulphur, Acid Sulphuricum
THERAPEUTICS.
AEthusa is only useful in gastro-intestinal troubles, especially in gastro-intestinal catarrh and convulsions of children during dentition, the chief indications for its use being an intolerable of milk, and either vomiting or diarrhea of curdled milk. Infantile paralysis accompanied by these symptoms has been cured by this remedy.
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).