Natural order. Umbelliferae. Common name. Devil’s dung. Habitat. A large perennial herbaceous plant, native of Persia and neighboring countries. Preparation. Tincture from the gum-resin. General Analysis Through the nervous system. Asafoetida acts particularly upon the female generative organs and the respiratory system, giving rise to conditions simulating ovarian irritation, hysteria, chorea, asthma, etc. Also acts upon the bones and skin. Characteristic Symptoms Mind Ill humor; irritable (Bryonia, Chamomilla, Nux-v.); apprehensive. Head Pressive pain in forehead from within outward (Aconite, Bryonia). Single deep penetrating stitches in left frontal eminence. Drawing pressive pains like a plug (Anacardium), in sides of head or temples; most on left side. Drawing above right ear, which changes into stitching. Eyes Nocturnal throbbing pains in and around the head; syphilitic iritis. Extensive superficial ulceration of the cornea, with burning, sticking or pressive pains from within outward; rest and pressure relieves. Itching of right eye. Burning in eyeballs. Periodic burning in the eyes and pressing together of the lids, as if overcome by sleep. Pinching drawing across supra-orbital region. Dryness and burning in the eyes (Arsenicum, Sulphur). Severe boring pains over the eyebrows. Nose Offensive discharge from the nose; bones swollen and inflamed; caries of the bones. Face Sensation of numbness in the bones of the face. Swelling of the upper lip. Throat Dryness of mouth, throat and oesophagus. Sensation of a ball rising from the stomach into the throat (Lycopodium, Sulphur, Mag. mur., Physos.), obliging frequent swallowing to keep it down, and causing at times difficult breathing; globus hystericus. Sensation in the oesophagus as if the peristaltic motions were from below upward. Stomach Pulsation in the pit of the s Arum has been found an excellent remedy in malignant forms of scarlatina and diphtheria, characterized by the acrid ichorous discharges above noted, the patient continually boring the nose and picking the lips. Sometimes the nose becomes ulcerated, and the ichorous discharge very offensive. Coryza with characteristic discharge. Hay fever, with severe pain over the root of nose; nose and throat feel raw and sore. Laryngitis, especially the so- called clergymen’s sore throat, occurring in public speakers, auctioneers and singers; great hoarseness and loss of voice, constant hawking and clearing the voice. In all inflammatory affections of the mouth, tongue and buccal cavity where symptoms indicate. In typhoid forms of fever.
THERAPEUTICS.
Is used chiefly in hysteria when the globus hystericus is well marked, difficult breathing, sensation as if peristaltic motions were reversed, etc., especially after the suppression of any habitual discharge. Also in hyper-sensitive conditions, hypochondria; asthma; pertussis; indigestion; cardialgia; diarrhoea; the symptoms agreeing. It has been found a valuable remedy in Mercurial and scrofulous affections of the bones and skin caries and ulcers; also for the latter when the result of destructive syphilitic processes. Orbital neuralgic, boring pains above the eyes. The same symptom may also indicate the drug in iritis, and in intra-ocular inflammations. Nervous diseases in general, resulting from the sudden checking of habitual discharges, such as ulcers, expectorations, diarrhoea, etc.
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).