Synonym. Caladium Seguinum. Natural order. Araceae. Common names. Dumb Cane. Poisonous American Arum. Habitat. A plant native of South America. Preparation. Tincture from the fresh root.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Through the cerebro-spinal system Caladium exerts its chief action upon the generative organs, where it causes hyperaesthesia, irritation and non-inflammatory swellings. It also affects the mucous membranes, especially of the alimentary tract, the skin and the muscular tissues.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mind. Forgetfulness (Anacardium, Ambr., Lachesis, Nux v.). Very irritable and depressed. Confused, cannot concentrate the mind.
Head. Dull, frontal headache. Vertigo with nausea, mornings. Fullness in head, as if too much blood were there. Throbbing pain in the head (Belladonna). Headache with nausea (Ipecac., Iris, Sanguinaria). Dull pressive or sharp cutting pain in temples. Numbness in side of head.
Eyes. Eyelids red and inflamed, with smarting and burning. Dull, pressive aching in portion of eyeballs (Aloe, Cimic.). Eyeballs sore and sensitive to pressure.
Ears. Sensitive to noise (Belladonna).
Nose. Fluent or stopped coryza.
Face. Sensation as if a spider web of plaster were sticking here and there (Alumina, Baryta carb., Bromium, Graphites).
Mouth. Tongue coated white (Antim crud., Bryonia, Mercurius). Dark brown streak in center of tongue (Baptisia). Tongue swollen. Toothache, teeth feel elongated.
Throat. Dryness and roughness in the throat; without thirst; with aversion to cold water.
Stomach. Nausea, especially in the morning on rising (Nux v., Petrol., Pulsatilla). Acid eructations. Frequent eructations of very little wind, as if the stomach were full of dry food. Pressing, gnawing, or weak gone sensation in stomach (Hydras., Ignatia, Sepia).
Abdomen. Spasmodic cutting pain in stomach and abdomen (Coloc.). Abdomen swollen and tender to touch (Belladonna).
Stool. Soft, pasty, clay-colored stools, passed with difficulty. Stool containing hard lumps. Very scanty, pasty stool. Urging to stool on rising in the morning. Burning in the anus after stool.
Male Organs. Sexual desire with relaxed penis (Agn., Agaricus, Argentum, Coni.), or painful erections without desire. Impotence with mental depression. Frequent nocturnal emissions (Cinchona, Phosphorus ac). Organs swollen and puffy.
Female Organs. Pruritus of vulva and vagina (Argentum nit., Graphites) Cramp-like pains in uterus after midnight.
Respiratory Organs. Sharp stitches in right side of chest (Bryonia, Kali carb.). Larynx and trachea seem constricted; impedes deep breathing. The irritation to cough seems to originate above the larynx. Oppression of breathing, cannot get his breath easily. Rash on the chest, itching intensely with oppression of breath, as if mucus would cause suffocation.
Back. Rheumatic pain in back; can hardly turn in bed (Rhus tox.).
Limbs. Limbs feel tired and weak. Rheumatic pains in the limbs. Trembling of the limbs.
Generalities. Weariness over the whole body (Cinchona). Extremely nervous (Cimic., Coffea). Great throbbing all through the body (Gloninum, Pulsatilla).
Sleep. Drowsy and sleepy. Sleepless or unrefreshing sleep Groans and moans anxiously in sleep. Dreams; frightful.
Skin. The skin has a rough dry feeling. Violent itching on various parts (Sulphur).
Fever. Chilly even in a warm room. Feverish, skin hot and dry. Face, head and hands hot; legs and feet cold.
Aggravation. Most symptoms worse indoors; from 3 or 4 P.M. till midnight.
Amelioration. Better in the open air and from motion (Pulsatilla); from sweat; fro short sleep during the day.
Conditions. Lax, phlegmatic, temperament.
Compare. Agn., Arum., Graphites, Hepar s., Helonias, Phosphorus ac., Pulsatilla, Rhus tox., Sulphur
Antidotes. Caps. Juice of sugar cane.
CAladium Antidotes. Nitric acid.
THERAPEUTICS.
Caladium has not been extensively used except, perhaps, in pruritus of the vulva and vagina, in which it has proved an excellent remedy. Also in little girls from worms getting into vagina. Nymphomania. It is also probably a valuable remedy for inflammation of mucous membranes characterized by dryness. Catarrhal asthma. Has been recommended for impotence and complaints from loss of fluids (Cinchona), especially sexual excesses, emissions occur without lascivious dreams or sexual excitement or erection. Rheumatic troubles; dropsical swellings.
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).