Synonym. Helonias Viridis. natural order. Melanthaceae. Liliaceae. Common names. American White Hellebore. Indian Poke. Swamp Hellebore. Habitat. A coarse plant found growing in wet meadows and swamps from Canada to Georgia. Preparation. tincture from the fresh root.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Acts upon the cerebro-spinal system, especially upon the pneumogastric nerve, producing profound paralysis of the cerebro- spinal nerve-centers, the reflex motor nerve-centers, and of the whole circulatory apparatus, which result sin intense of the whole circulatory apparatus, which result sin intense congestion and inflammation of the brain and other organs, especially those under the control of the pneumogastric nerve, notably the lungs and stomach. Thus the action of vEratrum will be seen to differ from that of Belladonna and other remedies which produce congestion, by excitation of he nerve-centers, rather than by paralysis.
On the motor nerves it first produces prostration, but has the power of causing both tonic and clinic spasms, especially the latter, giving rise to a condition similar to cholera. the most essential of feature or Veratrum is its influence upon the heart and circulation, being indicated by a loud, strong beating of the heart, quick pulse, and a very slow respiration.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS
Mind. Quarrelsome and delirious. furious delirium, with screaming, howling an striking. Delirium, with incessant muttering, dilated pupils, etc.
Head. Vertigo; in morning on risings; better on closing the eyes and resting the head on rising from a seat or bed with nausea and vomiting. Head, with vertigo. Headache proceeding from he nape of the neck (Sang) head feels full and heavy; mornings. Active congestion of the head (Aconite, Belladonna). Neuralgia pain in right temples close to the eyes. Severe frontal headache, with vomiting (Iris).
Eyes. Dilated pupils (Ailanth., Belladonna, Cicuta, Opium, Stramonium). Dimness of vision, especially on rising or attempting to walk, with partial syncope. Unsteady vision. ars.
Ears. Humming, with sensitiveness to noise.
Face. Face flushed (Baptisia, Belladonna)pale, cold, bluish; covered with cold perspiration (Veratrum alb.). Convulsive stitches of the facial muscles (Agaricus, cic., Ignatia m. Nux v.).
Mouth. Mouth and lips dry; thick mucus in mouth. Tongue feels as if it had been scalded (Coloc., Iris, Platina, Sanguinaria, Acid Sulphuricum). tongue yellow, with red steak in the middle.
Throat. Burning in the fauces and oesophagus, with constant inclination to swallow. spasms of the oesophagus, with or without rising of frothy, bloody mucus.
Stomach. Thirst in the morning after rising, with nausea. Painful, almost constant hiccough (cic., Hyoscyamus, Ignatia, sulph. ac.), with spasms of upper part of oesophagus. Violent nausea and vomiting; in morning on rising; with cold sweat (Veratrum alb., Tabac.). Smallest quantity of food and drink is immediately rejected. Excruciating pain in lower part of the stomach. Intense, twisting, tearing pains in the stomach.
Abdomen. Pain at right of umbilicus, passing down to groin. Pain in abdomen with flatulence. Pain and soreness cross the abdomen just above the pelvis.
Stool. Bloody, black, in typhoid; copious, light, mornings.
Urinary Organs. Urine very clear.
Respiratory Organs. Difficult, slow, labored breathing; (Falls from 49 to 16 in pneumonia). Convulsive breathing, almost to suffocation. Oppression of the chest. Active congestion of he chest (Aconite).
Heart and Pulse. Constant, dull, burning pain region of heart. Heart beats loud,, strong, with great arterial excitement (Aconite, Belladonna).
Neck and Back. Aching in. the back of neck and shoulders.
Limbs. Cramps of the legs, fingers and toes. Violent, galvanic-like shocks in the limbs.
Generalities. Convulsive twitchings an contortions of muscles of face, neck, fingers and toes. Chorea (Agaricus, Cicuta, Ignatia m. Nux v.). Trembling, as if child were frightened and on verge of a spasms. Paralysis, tingling in the limbs; cerebral hyperaemia; Congestions, especially of base of brain, chest, spine, stomach. Dropsy, with ever; after scarlet fever.
Fever. Chilliness with nausea in morning after rising. Coldness of the whole body; cold sweat on face, hands, feet (Arsenicum, frequent pulse (Aconite, Belladonna). profuse sweat; cold; and sense of utter prostration (Phosphorus).
Aggravation. On rising; on waking; in the evening; from motion.
Amelioration. From hot, strong coffee.
conditions. In full-blooded, plethoric persons (Belladonna).
Compare. Aconite, Ant., Tart., Belladonna, Coccul., digit., Ferrum, Gelsemium Belladonna, Helleborus, Hyoscyamus, Phosphorus, Tabac., Veratrum alb.
THERAPEUTICS.
The chief value of Veratrum vir. is in the treatment of inflammatory and eruptive fevers, characterized by intense arterial excitement, full, strong, incompressible pulse. especially valuable in the congestive stage of pneumonia, before exudation had occurred. Occasionally in pleurisy. Bronchitis. In pulmonary congestions and inflammations there is always extreme dyspnoea and the face is usually livid. A valuable remedy in active cerebral congestions, especially at the base of the brain. Effects of sunstroke. Cerebro-spinal meningitis; meningitis with high fever; intense congestion; later, rolling of head; vomiting or, face haggard, cold; pulse slow, breathing labored. Cerebral apoplexy. Intense congestive headaches, throbbing, double vision, etc. Insanity from cerebral congestion; furious delirium, with screaming and howling. Irritative fever in children, with cerebral congestion, causing convulsions. Acute inflammation of middle ear (Ferrum phos.;), with cerebral symptoms. OEsophagitis, with burning and constriction. Gastritis. Enteritis with high fever, great vascular excitement; vomiting, dark, bloody stools. Menstrual disorders, with intense cerebral congestion (Belladonna); sometimes opisthotonos. Puerperal mania (bell., Hyoscyamus, Platina, Stramonium); convulsions. Pelvic congestions and inflammations. Rigid on during labor, with cerebral congestion and characteristic pulse. Carditis. Pericarditis. Endocarditis. Hypertrophy of the heart. Valvular insufficiency. Chorea, from congestion of the nerve-centers. Violent opisthotonic convulsions, either with congestions, or in anaemic subjects, from exhausting diarrhoea. Epilepsy. Hysteria. Hystero-epilepsy. Tetanus, threatening from the violent congestion. Paralysis; from cerebral hyperaemia. Inflammatory rheumatism. eruptions and eruptive fevers-measles, scarlatina, small-pox, with intense fever, great arterial excitement; sometimes convulsions precede eruptions. Dropsy after scarlet fever. Has been found useful in opium poisoning.
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).