Synonym. Euphrasia Officinalis, Natural order. Scrophulariaceae. Common name. Eyebright. Habitat. A small annual plant growing in meadows and on borders of forests all over Europe. preparation. Tincture from the fresh plant, omitting the root.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Through the ganglionic nervous system Euphrasia exerts its power almost entirely upon the mucous membranes, especially those of the eye and lids, and of the upper portion of the respiratory tract, producing a distinct catarrhal inflammation, partaking of the nature of an influenza and characterized by an excessive watery secretion, which is the chief characteristic of the drug.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Head. Confusion and bruised pain in head (Gelsemium). Dull frontal headache (Hydras., Kali bichromicum, Nux v., Pulsatilla).
Eyes. Burning in the eyes with lachrymation (Arsenicum). Pressure in the eyes, with lachrymation. Frequent burning, biting in the eyes; biting water runs from them (Arsenicum, Mercurius cor.). Itching and burning in the eyes, obliging frequent winking and wiping the eyes (Croc., Pulsatilla). Redness, burning and swelling of the margins of the lids (Mercurius cor., Sulphur). Frequent inclination to blink (Croc.). Lids sensitive and swollen. Abundant flow of corrosive tears, almost blinding him (Mercurius cor.). Vision dim, as through a veil, in the evening (Causticum, Mercurius, Petrol., Pulsatilla, Sulphur). Feeling as though cornea were covered with mucus; it obscure his vision and obliges him to frequently close and press the lids together (Croc., Pulsatilla). Excessive photophobia (Aconite, Belladonna, Mercurius). Spots, vesicles and ulcers of the cornea (Mercurius, Silicea). Sensation as though a hair hung over the eye, and must be wiped away.
Nose. Profuse bland (Cepa, acrid), fluent coryza (Arsenicum, Mercurius), with scalding tears and aversion to light; worse in the evening and during the night. Violent irritation to sneeze, without cold or apparent cause (Chamomilla). Profuse coryza in morning, with much cough and expectoration.
Respiratory Organs. Catarrhal hoarseness (Aconite, Carb. v., Hepar s., Phosphorus); mornings. Irritation of the larynx impelling him to cough, followed by tensive pressure beneath the sternum. Cough on rising in the morning, with abundant expectoration of mucus. Profuse expectoration of mucus by voluntary hacking cough. Difficult deep inspiration, even while sitting. Pressive pain beneath the sternum, with transient sticking here and there in the chest.
Sleep. Unusual yawning while walking in the open air. Frequent waking, as from fright, in the night.
Aggravation. In morning; in-doors; in evening.
Amelioration. After getting out of bed; out-doors; from eating; from coffee.
Compare. Aconite, Argentum nit., Arsenicum, Cepa., Coni., Hepar s., Kali bichromicum, Mercurius cor., Nux. v., Pulsatilla, Phosphorus, Sulphur
Antidotes. Camph., Pulsatilla
THERAPEUTICS
An extremely valuable remedy in acute catarrhal conditions in general with influenza symptoms. Acute or subacute conjunctivitis, characterized either by an excessive acrid watery discharge in the latter, making the cheeks sore, accumulation of mucus in the cornea, causing frequent winking, and pressing for its removed; photophobia margins, of lids swollen and red, burning, even ulcerated. A valuable remedy in acute coryza or influenza, with excessively profuse acrid lachrymation, and profuse bland discharge from the nose, with great photophobia; also when there is associated with these symptoms of influenza, soreness and pressive pain beneath the sternum, hacking cough with free mucous expectoration. Cough always worse on rising in the morning, lasting more or less through the day, but not disturbing the patient at night. Has successfully removed spots, vesicles and ulcers of the cornea, and other eye troubles with the peculiar symptoms of Euphrasia above mentioned. Frequently indicated and useful in measles with characteristic symptoms.
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).