Synonym. Nitrate of Amyl. Preparation. Dilutions made with alcohol. General Analysis Acts powerfully upon the motor centers of the spinal cord, producing rapid dilatation of the arterioles in the head and throughout the body, allowing a transient passive congestion (Glonoine, active forcible) of the cerebral vessels, the respiratory and circulatory organs gathering up and exerting their forces in a violent manner, the respiration being deep, labored and rapid, and the action of the heart extremely violent. The administration of the drug being persisted in, the impulse of the heart grows rapidly weaker, until its power is more or less nearly extinguished, and death soon results from failure of respiration. Its action is rapid and evanescent. Characteristic Symptoms. Mind Anxiety, as if something might happen; must have fresh air. Head Headache worse on left side. Heat and throbbing in the head, with feeling of intense fullness in the head. Beating, throbbing, bursting sensation in the head and ears, with constriction of the throat and heart (Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, Stramonium). Visible pulsating throbbing in the temples (Gloninum), with sense of tension in the temples. Sensation of something rushing upward, and throbbing in the vertex. Eyes Protruding, staring eyes (Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, Opium). Exophthalmic goitre. Veins of the disc (under ophthalmoscope) enlarged, varicose, and tortuous; arteries normal. Ears Much throbbing in the ears. Face Flushing of the face; face scarlet, afterwards paler than usual (Gloninum). Flushing of the face, followed by turgidity of the facial veins. Great heat and redness of the face, with sensation as though the blood would start through the skin (Belladonna). Throat Choking feeling in throat on each side of the trachea along the carotids (Belladonna, Stram). The collar seemed too tight with desire to Acts as a powerful irritant to mucous membranes, either by inhalation or swallowing, and cases oedema and ulceration. Its chief symptoms are “a burning excoriating discharge from the nose,” and “burning rawness down behind the sternum.” It also produces great prostration. In poisonings it produces bronchitis with profuse expectoration also very difficult, respiration, almost suffocation. It has been used in scarlatina with the characteristic nasal discharge (Arum), and is one of the best remedies known for aphonia, when the characteristic rawness in the throat is present. It has also been used for spasm of the glottis, and has cured muscular rheumatism of the shoulders. Compare. Ammonia salts, Arum, Kali caust.
THERAPEUTICS
Amyl is a valuable remedy in the treatment of functional cardiac disturbances, especially where the vaso motor nerves are paralyzed and the face becomes flushed, and even red and puffed, together with tumultuous heart action and other cardiac symptoms above described. It is also a valuable palliative in hypertrophy of the heart, with insufficiency of the aortic valves and in angina pectoris, asthma, syncope, and other conditions characterized by cardiac oppression, tumultuous action of the heart and violent pulsations in carotids. Similar symptoms may indicate the drug in sun-stroke and in violent neuralgic headaches. Menstrual irregularities, uterine haemorrhages, etc., especially at the climacteric, with flushing of the face (Sanguinaria) and headache. Also with hysterical symptoms. Will relieve spasmodic coughs with threatened suffocation. Dyspnoea of Bright’s disease. Has relieved epileptiform convulsions and tetanus.
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).