Synonym. Vitex agnus castus. Natural order. Verbenaceae. Common name. Chaste Three. habitat. A shrub growing in southern Europe, on the shores of the Mediterranean. Preparation. Tincture from the bruised fresh, ripe berries.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
This drug has a special affinity for the sexual system, depressing the sexual instinct without previous excitation, and producing complete prostration and impotence. For this reason it was used, in an early day, by both men and women, to repress carnal desire.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mind. Extreme absence of mind; unable to recollect things (Anacardium, Kreosotum, Mercurius, Natr. mur., Nux moschata, Phosphorus ac.). Inability to fix the attention when reading (Gelsemium, Phosphorus). Indifference; sadness; low-spirited; fears of approaching death (Aconite, Arsenicum, Cimic.); loss of courage.
Head. Tearing pain with pressure in the temples and forehead; worse during motion.
Ears. Roaring in the ears.
Face. Corrosive itching of the chest. Rending, tearing pain under the alveoli of the right lower jaw.
Stomach. No thirst.
Abdomen. Rumbling in abdomen during sleep.
Male Organs. Sexual desire lessened, almost lost (Sulphur). Penis so relaxed that voluptuous fancies excite no erection (Agaricus, Coni.). Testes cold, swollen, hard and painful (Aconite, Coni.). Penis small, flaccid (Argentum nit.). Feeble erections without sexual desire. Emission at night after an embrace (Phosphorus), semen discharged in a stream without ejaculation (Gelsemium), scanty and has but little smell. Impotence with gleet (Sulphur). Yellow urethral discharge (Hyd., Pulsatilla). Gleet without sexual desire or erections. Emission of prostatic fluid when straining at stool (Phosphorus acid., Silicea).
Female Organs. Transparent leucorrhoea (Alum); parts very relaxed. Sexual intercourse abhorrent. Milk scanty or entirely suppressed (Aconite, Pulsatilla).
Upper Limbs. Hard pressure in right axilla and upper arm: worse from tough and motion.
Lower Limbs. Heaviness of right foot, as from a weight. Tearing pain in joints of toes; worse when walking.
Fever. Internal chilliness with trembling of the whole body; skin warm.
Skin. The corrosive itching yields to scratching, but returns as speedily.
Conditions. In lymphatic constitutions; in “old sinners,” who have frequently had gonorrhoea.
Compare. Coni., Gelsemium, Phosphorus, Phosphorus ac., Picric acid, Selenium, Sulphur
THERAPEUTICS.
Especially useful in premature old age, which arises in young persons from abuse of the sexual powers, marked by melancholy, apathy, mental distraction, self-contempt, general debility, frequently loss of spermatic fluid. In atonic conditions of the sexual themselves and spermatorrhoea, especially in those who have abused themselves and who have frequently had gonorrhoea. Also gonorrhoea, gleet and induration of testes occurring in this class of persons. In women the drug has been successfully used for leucorrhoea. Also for agalactia. It is especially useful for women in whom the sexual instinct is entirely absent.
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).