Linaria Vulgaris

This drug acts powerfully upon the sympathetic nerves. It may be serviceable in fainting of cardiac origin when the patient faints dead away without apparent cause. Linaria has repeatedly produced this symptom. It is true that there is some difficulty in confirming such a symptom as this, because, in most cases, the patient quickly returns to consciousness without recourse to any remedy. But if a patient who is subject to attacks of fainting of this kind is not only relieved

SCROPHULARIACE^E. 395

but is cured by taking the drug, you know that this is the result of the remedy.

It also has some action upon the bladder, causing and also curing enuresis with painful urging to urinate.

Verbascum.

Verbascum is to be thought of as a remedy for catarrhs or colds when they are associated with neuralgia of the left side of the face, which appears periodically, generally twice a day, the same hour in the morning and afternoon of each day. It is described as a dull pressure on the malar bone as from a finger, with tension of the cheek and numb feeling. It is worse from every change of temperature, especially a change from warm to cold. There is considerable coryza and lachrymation present.

Verbascum has a peculiar cough which is characteristically laryngeal and tracheal. It could be produced only in a hard unyielding tube like the larynx or trachea.

The cough is hollow, hoarse, barking or trumpet-like, and is asso- ciated with hoarseness, the voice itself being deep and hard, a sort of " basso prof undo " It bears some resemblance to Drosera, Spongia and Sulphur.

Gratiola.

Gratiola is useful in diarrhoea. It produces and cures a profuse yellowish, gushing, watery diarrhoea, comparable to water rushing from a hydrant. This diarrhoea is very common in summer, and seems to have as its exciting cause excessive drinking of water, whether it be cold or not. It is concordant with Croton tiglium, Ela- terium, Podophyllum and several other drugs.