Synonym. Asclepias Syriaca. Natural order. Asclepiadaceae. Common names. Milk Weed. Silk Weed. Habitat. A common herb growing on roadsides throughout the United States. Preparation. Tincture from the root. General Analysis Through the nervous system Asclepias acts upon the liver secondarily, producing serous and mucous fluxes and diaphoresis. It tends to congestion, which is especially noted in the brain and in the female generative organs. Characteristic Organs Head Dizziness; violent headache between the eyes. Sense of constriction across the forehead. Headache from suppressed perspiration, or from the retention of effete matters in the system. Nervous headaches, followed by sweating or profuse urination (Gelsemium). A feeling (after vomiting) as if some sharp instrument were thrust from one temple to the other. Mouth Tongue covered with a white fur. Throat Tickling sensation in the fauces. Stomach Excessive nausea; violent vomiting and retching. Stool Increased secretion of bile (Iris, Podophyllum). Slight inclination to evacuate the bowels. Diarrhoea with nausea and vomiting (Ipecac. Iris), with excoriation of the anus (Arsenicum, Sulphur). Copious stools of soft, fluid consistence, yellowish in color, and attended with some griping pain. Urinary Organs Ardor urinae. Increased flow of urine (Eupat., Phosphorus ac.). Pale- colored urine, with light specific gravity. Increase of solid matters in urine (Bryonia, Colchicum, Cimic.). Male Organs Tickling sensation at the end of the penis. Female Organs Intermittent, bearing-down, labor-like pains (during dropsy or pregnancy). Suppression of menses (during dropsy). Respiratory Organs Increase of the bronchial secretions (Ant. tart., Ipecac., Phosphorus, Stannum). Heart and Pulse Action of heart lessened; pulse slow (Digit., Can. ind., Opium). Feeble pulse after vomiting (Ant. Has only been used when the above peculiar nervous sensitiveness has been presents, particularly in gastric and bilious disorders; especially during pregnancy; anaemia; nervous, hacking cough; desire for alcoholic drinks.
THERAPEUTICS.
This drug has been successfully used in the following conditions when the indications were present: Congestive and nervous headaches, after suppressed perspiration followed by profuse flow of urine. Diarrhoea. Uraemia of pregnant women. Post-scarlatinal dropsy. Renal dropsy. Cardiac dropsy. Anasarca from sudden check of perspiration. Gonorrhoea and gleet. Rheumatism of large joints. Influenza. Bronchitis.
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).