Convallaria Majus. Natural order. – Liliaceae. Common name. Lily of the valley. Habitat. – A perennial herb found in shady woods from Virginia to Georgia, but cultivated farther north. Preparation. – Tincture of the entire fresh plant.
GENERAL ANALYSIS AND THERAPEUTICS
This drug has a profound action upon the heart, causing irregularity in its action, and diminishing the rate of the pulse, at the same time causing vomiting and symptoms of collapse. Has been used chiefly in cardiac troubles, especially valvular and other organic diseases accompanied by dropsical effusion, great dyspnoea, palpitation, feeble and irregular pulse. An excellent remedy to relieve the dyspnoea present in organic or functional heart disease, and to dissipate the cardiac effusion, which it seems to do by causing diuresis. Dyspnoea with pulmonary stasis and hydrothorax. Has also been successfully used in pelvic congestions after abortions, or surgical operations, with sensation of great weight and pressing down of pelvic contents, causing cutting pains in rectum, and dull aching soreness, worse when lying on the back.
Compare Digitalis.
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).