Absinthium

Absinthium, another form of wormwood, is of interest to you not only as a medicine, but also because you will meet with cases of its abuse in those who indulge in it as a drink. The first effect of Absinthe is an exhilaration of the mind, soon followed by damaging results, among which is horrible delirium and eventually epileptiform spasms. In this delirium the patient is obliged to walk about. You will note this symptom running through all the remedies of the order.

Chamomilla and Cina have relief from moving about ; Artemisia has desire to move about ; and here under Absinthium the patient walks about in distress, seeing all sorts of visions. The use we may make of Absin- thium is in the sleeplessness of typhoid fever when there is congestion at the base of the brain.

Millefolium

is of interest to you as being a remedy in haemorrhages from the lungs, uterus, bowels, etc. The flow of blood is bright red, and usually profuse.

It is distinguished from Aconite by the absence of anxiety.

244 a clinical materia medica.

Taraxacum,

or the ordinary dandelion, is a decided liver remedy. If given long enough, it will produce a free flow of bile. The symptoms to guide you in its selection are these : the tongue is mapped, and there are bitter taste in the mouth, chilliness after eating or drinking, pain and soreness in the region of the liver, and bilious diarrhoea. The use of this drug in typhoid fever was mentioned in a recent lecture on Rhus toX.

Artemisia tridentata also suits bilious patients who suffer from headache, vertigo, nausea, bitter taste, backache, etc.

EUPATORIUM PERFOUATUM,

or the bone-set, is a popular remedy in malarial districts for chills and fever. In this disease it is indicated by the following symptoms : the chill begins from seven to nine A. m., preceded by headache and insatiable thirst, which rarely continues into the fever. It first appears in the back and is accompanied by aching in the limbs, as though every bone in the body were being broken. This is followed by high fever with increase of the aching, and this by sweat, which is scanty or profuse.

In some cases there is a double periodicity; the chill comes in the morning of one day and in the evening of the next.

You may also think of Eupatorium perfoliatum in influenza with hoarseness worse in the morning, and cough with extreme soreness along the trachea and even to the finest ramifications of the bronchial tubes. With this there will be the aching all through the body as if in the bones, which impels the sufferer to move, but no relief is obtained thereby.

Eupatorium purpureum has been used for chill beginning in the back. I do not know of any symptom distinguishing it from Eupa- torium perfoliatum.