Compare Antim crud., Arsenicum, Belladonna, Bryonia, Calcarea c., Caulophyllum, Chamomilla, Cimic., Cinchona, Coccul., Coloc., Coni., Cyclamen, Euphr., Ferrum, Hamamelis, Ignatia, Kali bichromicum, Lycopodium, Mercurius, Nux v., Nux-m., Platina, Phosphorus, Rhus tox., Sepia, Silicea, Sulphur, Zincum met.
Antidotes Coffea c., Chamomilla, Ignatia, Nux-v. (Acetum.).
Pulsatilla Antidotes Cinchona, Iron, Sulphur, Acid Sulphuricum, Vapor of Mercury or to Copper (Belladonna, Chamomilla, Coffea c., Colchicum, Lycopodium, Platina, Stramonium).
THERAPEUTICS.
The chief clinical use of Pulsatilla is in the treatment of catarrhal affections, characterized by thick, yellowish-green discharges, disorders of digestion and disturbances of the female sexual system. It is also useful in rheumatism, usually subacute, often arising from derangements of digestion, with drawing, tearing, shifting pains, better from cold, worse in the evening. Gonorrhoeal rheumatism. Neuralgia, wandering pains, mostly tearing, with tendency to chilliness and the characteristic modalities. Chorea, epileptiform spasms or paralytic symptoms, arising from suppressed menses or other disturbances of the sexual sphere. Hysteria from similar causes; chlorosis and anaemia, patient always chilly, but wants to be in the open air; mental disorders; especially after the abuse of Iron and Quinine. Pulsatilla acts prominently on the venous system (Hamamelis), and is useful in varicose veins; in the haemorrhages calling for the drug, the flow is passive and dark. In all the above conditions and those which are to follow, the temperament of the Pulsatilla patient as mentioned under “Conditions,” must be borne in mind, sadness and weeping, even to melancholia, being extremely characteristic. We will now consider the special clinical uses of Pulsatilla in the customary anatomical order. Conjunctivitis thick, bland, yellow or yellowish green discharge, after measles or from taking cold. Ophthalmia neonatorum. Pustular conjunctivitis. Styes. Blepharitis. Pustules or ulcers on cornea. Disease of the lachrymal duct with characteristic symptoms of drug. Episcleritis. Hyperaemia of the choroid. Retinitis. Occasionally useful in iritis. A valuable remedy in earache, with darting, tearing pains, relieved by cold. Otitis, external ear and meatus red, swollen and hot. Otorrhoea, discharge of mucus and bloody pus. Deafness from catarrh or after scarlet fever. A most valuable remedy in acute coryza from taking cold especially in the advanced stages, patient cold and chilly all the time (see symptoms). Chronic nasal catarrh, with characteristic discharge, etc., worse evenings, especially with loss of smell and taste. Neuralgic toothache; during pregnancy; with characteristic modalities. Occasionally useful in pharyngeal catarrh, parts dark red, varicose dry, covered with mucus, bad taste. A frequently indicated and extremely useful remedy in various disorders of digestion. Gastric catarrh, dyspepsia and indigestion in general characterized by putrid, slimy, greasy or bitter taste after eating or in the morning; tongue coated thick-white or yellow; loss of appetite; vertigo; bitter or rancid eructations; continual nausea and qualmishness; regurgitation of food; pain and weight in stomach; especially aggravated by fat foods (Cycl). Dyspepsia from ice-cream, etc. (Arsenicum); ice-water; fruit; buck wheat cakes; fat food. Atonic dyspepsia. Gastralgia, with more or less of above symptoms. Morning sickness of pregnancy; also during menses or from suppressed menses; also colic from same causes. Flatulent colic, intestinal catarrh and diarrhoea from causes above named, and from taking cold, with gastric symptoms. Haemorrhoids with characteristic gastric symptoms. Occasionally needed in dysentery, with bloody mucous stools burning in anus, etc. Enuresis, especially in girls; while coughing (Causticum), or passing flatus. Catarrhal of bladder from cold; during pregnancy or suppressed menses; with enlarged prostate; from suppressed gonorrhoea. Gonorrhoea with characteristic discharge and other symptoms. Orchitis Enlarged prostate. Epididymitis. Neuralgia of testicles. Hydrocele, especially congenital. An extremely useful remedy in suppressed menstruation, especially from getting the feet wet; dysmenorrhoea from same causes. Amenorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea in general, with Pulsatilla symptoms, and especially with characteristic temperament; gastric derangements. Vicarious menstruation. Leucorrhoea as noted in symptoms. especially with delayed or irregular menses and other Pulsatilla symptoms. Prolapsus uteri. A valuable remedy for the disorders of pregnancy; also during the lying-in-period.
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Is said to correct malpositions of the foetus, by altering abnormal conditions of uterus. Inertia of uterus; during labor- pains slow, weak and ineffectual. Retained placenta. Tones up the uterus and prevents post-partum haemorrhage. Phantom tumors; scanty or suppressed lochia; lochia becomes white, like milk. Phlegmasia alba dolens. Milk suppressed. Puls is remedy for lumps in the breasts of school girls, before puberty, or escape of thin, milky fluid. Puls is not so often used in catarrh of the lower air passages. It may, however, be indicated in catarrhal laryngitis or bronchitis, or even in catarrhal pneumonia, the symptoms agreeing. Aphonia reflex, occasionally catarrhal. Asthma, in children, or in women with menstrual irregularities. Chlorosis,. Occasionally indicated in whooping cough. Threatening phthisis, especially in girls near puberty, menses delayed or suppressed chlorotic symptoms, soreness in apices of lungs, short breath; characteristic temperament. Haemoptysis, blood black and clotted, soreness in chest. An excellent remedy for the ordinary “backache” of women, especially with the menstrual derangements and other Pulsatilla conditions; and during pregnancy; extending from small of back downwards into sacrum and hips; as if sprained; worse when lying on the back, better when lying on the side, or on changing position. Lumbago. Spinal irritation; neck and back stiff; small of back feels as if constricted by a tight band,. Rheumatism of extremities as before mentioned. Gout. Varicose ulcers on limbs. A valuable remedy in measles, after Aconite, etc., with dry cough, earache and other Pulsatilla symptoms. Not often indicated in fevers, but may be useful in gastric, remittent or intermittent fevers with the characteristic gastric symptoms, and especially when chilliness is the predominating feature.
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).