Synonym. Verbascum Thapsus. natural order. Scrophulariaceae. Common names. Mullein. Flannel Plant. Habitat. A plant native of Europe., but naturalized in North America, where it is found in fields and on roadsides preparation. tincture from the fresh plant.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Acts upon the cerebro-spinal nerves, giving rise especially to headache and prosopalgia. Clinically it is indicated for a hoarse, dry, cough, in which condition its therapeutics range is almost entirely limited.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Head. Attacks of vertigo on pressing the left cheek. Pressing, stupefying headache, principally in the forehead. Stitches deep in right temple when eating; worse from pressure; extending into supper teeth of right side. Sensation as if the temples were pinched and crushed together by pincers. Pressing, slow stitch from behind forward, through the left hemisphere of the brain.
Ears. Numbness in left ear. Tearing, drawing pains in left ear; sensation as if ear would be drawn inward. Sensation as if the ears were obstructed, fist the let, then the right.
Face. Violent, stupefying, pressive or tensive pains in left malar and cheek bones, aggravated on pressure and in the open air, or in a draught of air; from changes of temperature, from motion of muscles of face. Violent tension in the integuments of he chin, masseter muscles and throat. sTitches in left zygomatic arch.
Mouth. Root of tongue brown, without bad taste, in morning and during forenoon.
Stomach. Empty or bitter eructations. Frequent hiccough.
Abdomen. Violent, painful pressure as from a stone upon the umbilicus (Pulsatilla). aggravated by stooping.
Urinary Organs. Frequent, profuse urination (Apis, Apocynum, Cepa, Pulsatilla); afterward scanty.
Respiratory Organs. Hoarseness, when reading aloud. (phos.). Catarrh, with hoarseness and oppression of the chest. Stitches in the chest (Bryonia, Kali carb.). Deep. hoarse, dry or hollow cough, especially in the evening and at night (spong.).
Upper Limbs. Stitches like a sprain (or paralysis,), where carpal bone of thumb articulates with radius.
Lower Limbs. Cramp-like pain in muscles of right thigh, while walking in the open air. Sudden pain through right knee. Cramp-like pressure in sole of right foot while standing, disappears when walking.
Generalities. Tearing, stitching pains in different parts (bry., Kali carb.). Much stretching and yawning. Great sleepiness after a meal. Coldness of the whole body.
Compare. Nux v., Plat, Stannum
Antidote. Camph.
THERAPEUTICS
Useful in headache and prosopalgia; the symptoms agreeing. Infra -orbital and supra-orbital neuralgia. Particularly valuable for chronic catarrhal coughs, especially in children. (See symptoms.). Asthma. Constant dribbling of urine. Nocturnal enuresis. An ancient and popular remedy for deafness, now used mostly locally in the form of an oil (Mullein oil).
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).