Natural order. Umbelliferae. Common names. Water Hemlock. Cowbane. Habitat. A perennial plant growing near streams and ponds and on wet lands in Germany and Western France. Preparation. Tincture from the fresh root.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Acts pre-eminently as a cerebro-spinal irritant, producing tetanus, epileptic and epileptiform convulsions, trismus, and local tonic and clonic spasms i general. ITs action closely resembles that of Nux vomica, with the important difference that in the functions of the brain are paralyzed, and entire loss of consciousness is the result.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mind Weeping, moaning and howling (Veratrumalb.). Aberration of mind, singing, performing the most grotesque dancing steps, shouting (Hyoscyamus, Stramonium). Quiet disposition, contented, happy. Dull and stupid, mental torpor (Hyos, Opium); loss of idea; unconsciousness. Anxiety, excessively affected by sad stories. Excitement and apprehension about the future.
&Head. Vertigo; and reeling; falling to the ground. Jerking and twitching of the head. Severe occipital headache. Stupefying pain externally in forehead; worse during rest. Affections of the brain from concussion; spasms (Cuprum).
Eyes Staring at objects. Pupils dilated and insensible (Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, Opium, Oenan.). Pupils at first contracted, afterward dilated. Objects appear double (aur., Belladonna, Phytolacca, Stramonium). Objects appear to alternately approach and recede.
Ears HArdness of hearing.
Face Face red; pallid; cadaverous (Arsenicum, Veratrum alb.). Distortions, either horrible or ridiculous (Cuprum). Convulsions of the facial muscles (Agaricus, Ignatia, Nux v.).
Mouth Teeth clenches, lockjaw (Absinth., Hyoscyamus, Laur., Nux v.). Grinding of the teeth (Arsenicum, Helleborus, Ignatia, Cina., Podophyllum). Swelling of the tongue; white, painful, burning ulcers on edge of tongue; painful to touch. Speech difficult; when talking he feels a jerk in the head, from before backward, as if he had to swallow the word, as in hiccough. Foam in and at the mouth (Coccul., Cuprum, Laur., Naja).
Throat Inability to swallow; throat appears to be grown together. Dryness in the throat.
Stomach Great thirst (Aconite, Bryonia, Chamomilla). Longing for coal. Violent hiccough (Nux v., Hyoscyamus, Stramonium, Secale cor.). Burning in the stomach (Arsenicum, Camph., Cantharis); and pressure. Welling and throbbing in pit of stomach. Vomiting, with convulsions. Sudden shock deep in the stomach causes opisthotonos.
Abdomen Rumbling and roaring in the abdomen. Distension and painfulness of abdomen.
Stools Frequent liquid stools. Diarrhoea early in the morning, with irresistible desire to urinate.
Urine Involuntary micturition. Spurting of urine. (Arsenicum, Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, Opium). Passes large quantities of urine or else none at all.
Male Organs Testicles drawn up. Stitches in fossae navicularis, with nightly emissions.
Female organs Menses delayed; spasmodic state in the menses do not appear. Tearing and drawing in the os coccygis, during menses. Eclampsia during child-birth.
Respiratory Organs Oppression, want of breath; may arise from tonic spasms, of pectoral muscles (Cuprum). Tightness of chest; scarcely able to breathe. Cold sensation in chest Burning and heat in chest.
Back Back bent backward like an arch (Cuprum Nux v., Opium). Pain on inner surface of scapulae. Tearing and jerking in coccyx.
Limbs Trembling in all limbs. Weakness of arms and legs. Spasmodic distortion of the limbs (Cina.). Complete powerlessness of limbs after sudden jerks.
Upper Limbs Frequent involuntary jerking and twitching in arms and fingers (Cuprum). Nails blue.
Lower Limbs His legs refused to carry him and he staggered. Trembling on one leg. Jerking.
Generalities Spasms of all muscles (Agaricus, Zincum met.). Spasms with dark redness of face, blue lips and bloody froth from the mouth.
Convulsions, with loss of consciousness (Absinth.); frightful distortion of the limbs and whole body (Agaricus). Convulsions with opisthotonos (Absinth., Nux v., Opium).
Epileptic attacks, with swelling of the stomach, as from violent spasms of the diaphragm; hiccough, screaming, redness of the face, trismus, loss of consciousness, and distortions of limbs (Absinth., Belladonna, Oenan.). Tonic spasms renewed from slightest touch (Stramonium); from opening the door and from loud talking (Stramonium). Sudden rigidity with jerks, afterward relaxation and weakness, during worm affections. Sensation in many parts, as from a bruise. Catalepsy, limbs hang down and patient appears lifeless. sweat, most at night; on abdomen. Chills; chilliness, with desire for warmth and warm stove.
Sleep Frequent waking, with sweat all over feels refreshed. Vivid dreams about events of previous day.
Skin Elevated eruptions as large as peas, on face and hands with burning pain when touched; later becomes confluent (Ant. tart., Crot. tig.). Burning, suppurating eruptions. Red vesicles on right scapula, painful to touch.
Compare Absinth., Aconite, Belladonna, Coni., Cuprum, Lachesis, Hydroc. ac., Hyoscyamus, Nux v., Pulsatilla, Stramonium, Veratrum alb.
Antidotes Arnica, Opium; for large doses: Tobacco.
Cicuta Antidote Opium.
THERAPEUTICS.
Cicuta is an invaluable remedy for convulsions from any cause where consciousness is lost epileptic, hysterical, from indigestion, worms, repercussed eruptions, etc., frightful distortions, opisthotonos, frothing at the mouth, and other symptoms above detailed. The paroxysm always followed by profound exhaustion. Spasms relieved by touch, jar or loud noise. Spasmodic affections in general. Chorea. Affections from concussion of the brain, especially convulsions. Cerebro-spinal meningitis, especially with convulsions. Mania. Melancholia. Has been used for deafness in old people, with sudden detonations in ears, especially on wallowing, Neuralgia of coccyx, especially during menstruation. Pustular eruptions, with yellowish honey- colored scabs, becoming fatty, especially about the corners of the mouth, matting the whiskers. Has been used in somnambulism.
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).