Synonym. Asparagus Officinalis. Natural order. Siliceae. Habitat. A perennial plant cultivated in gardens. Preparation. Tincture from the young sprouts. General Analysis Through the spinal nervous system Asparagus exerts its chief action upon the kidneys, giving rise to secondary affections of the heart, which have their origin in functional derangements of these organs. It also acts upon the mucous surfaces, producing catarrhal conditions, characterized by profuse secretions, especially of the nasal and bronchial tracts, and the bladder. Characteristic Symptoms Head Confusion of the head; vertigo. Heaviness in forehead. Pressive; aching pains in temples, increased by pressure. Eyes Stitching and tickling in the eyes. Nose Frequent sneezing. Severe coryza and nasal catarrh, with profuse secretions of thin whitish fluid. Urinary Organs Cutting and burning in the urethra. Frequent urging, with increased secretion (Ascl. t., Phosphorus ac.). Frequent urination, with fine stitches in the orifice of the urethra. Urine has strong, offensive odor (Asafoetida, Benz. ac., Nitr. ac.). Urine straw-colored; turbid, containing white, flocky sediment; reddish sediment. Urine scanty; loaded with phosphates and the urate of ammonia (in renal dropsy). Gravel passes, in small quantities, with the urine. Respiratory Organs Tickling and inclination to cough, Distressing cough, with copious mucous expectoration (Stannum). Difficult breathing when moving, or on going up stairs (Aconite, Arsenicum, Calcarea c.); has to sit up in bed (Arsenicum). Constriction, and stitching pains in chest. Heart and Pulse Palpitation of the heart, with oppression of the chest. Irregular action of the heart (Digit., Natr. mur.). Pulse slightly accelerated; feeble. Generalities Rheumatic pains in the back and limbs. (Aconite, Bryonia, Rhus tox.). Concretions of lithic This remedy has been used chiefly in pleurodynia, and other rheumatic troubles, including rheumatic fevers, rheumatic pericarditis and lumbago. It may also be useful in pleurisy, bronchitis, capillary bronchitis of children, influenza, carditis, catarrhal fever, catarrhal and bilious diarrhoeas and dyspepsia.
THERAPEUTICS.
Asparagus has proved useful in functional cardiac troubles, rheumatism dropsy, and other ailments dependent upon kidney disease. Cystitis, with much mucus and pus. An excellent article of diet in rheumatism and in renal dropsy.
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).