Veratrum Viride

(American Hellebore.) Botanical Deschiption Boot perennial, tkick, fleshy, its upper por. lion tunicated, its lower lialf solid, and sending forth a multitude of largii whitish roots. Btmn from three to Ave feet high, roundish, solid, puhes. cent, Btrialed, closely invested with the sheathing liairs of the leaves. Lomer leaves large, from six inches to a foot long, and half as wide, oval, acuminate, pubescent, strongly plaited, nerved, the lower parts of their edges meeting round the stem.

Upper lewees gradually narrower ; the uppermost or bracta, linear lanceolate; all alternate. Mowers numerous, green, in compound racemes, asillary from tlie upper leaves, terminal, the whole fonning a, sort of pajilcle. ***** a part of the flowers harren. so that the plant is strictly polygamous. SeedvesneliotUiree capsules, uni'rad

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648 VEEATEUM ■VIRIDE.

together, separating at top, opening on ianer side. Sixdi flat, winged, imbricated.

HiSTOBT Tliis plant is indigenous to the XTnited States, growing in swamps, low grounds and moist meadows, flowering in June and July. It is known by Ibe common names of Indian poke and Itch weed. The offlcinal part is the root, wliich should be gathered in autumn, after the decay of the leaves.

As it rapidly loses its virtues, it sliould be renewed annually, and kept in well-closed vessels. When fresh, it has a very unpleasant odor; when dried, it is nearly inodorous, and has a sweetish- bitter taste, succeeded by a persistent acridity. Its physical and therapeu- tical properties strongly resemble those of white hellebore, and contains Veratria, gallic acid, etc.— ffi'nj.

Pharmaceutists iissert that the Veralria obtained from Veratrwm viride, and liie alkaloid obtained from Veratrum album, are identical.

The root imparts its properties to alcohol, 885, s. «., diluted with 165 parte water to 1,000.

■ There are three other species of Veratrum, indigenous to the United States, namely, the V.'parijlorwn and V. augnstifolium (grass leaved vera- trum). The latter is called by Gray " Stamantheum." These are probably medicinal and ought to be investigated. The third species, F. Woodii, or Indiana veratrum, found also in Illinois ajid Iowa; of this nothing ia known concerning its medicinal powers.

Ofpiccjaij Pbepabations, — Tincture of the root; dilutions.

Analooubs. — Aeonitum, OclcMcum, Calabar, GeUeminvm, Helleborat niger, Ananoniuin bromidum. Lobelia, Phytolacca, Tabaaum, Tartarus emetieus, Veratram album. Kali bromidwm.

Mental Sphere. Depression of spirits, but not always the intense anxiety and

fear of death as from Aconite. " Cerebral congestion, causing insanity. " Puei-peral mania. (See generative organs.)

* Headache, with vertigo ; dimness of vision, and dilated pnpils.

* HeadacTie, preceding from the nape of the neck, with heavi-

ness of the head.

Sharp, drawing pains over the left eye; with a contracted feel- ing of the skin of the forehead.

■* Dull, frontal headache, with neuralgic pains in the right temple, close to the eye.

*Great pain, with fullness in the head; face much flushed; buiTiing in the head; spots before the eyes ; deliriumora kind of stapefaction.

* Severe frontal headache, with vomiting.

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VEKATETJM VIEIDE. 649

" Active cerebral congestions/ congestive lieadache in plethorio persona from suppreseion of the menses.

" Acute inHammatorj meningitis.

"Pullness and heaviness of tlie head, with throbbing of caro- tids; booming in the ears; sensitiveness to noise,

" Oerehro-spiTial meninffUis, when ushered in by high fever, great congestion, etc., or without fever, but cold, haggard face, slow pulse, etc.

Pace and Nose,

* Pale cold face; bluish, and covered with cold perspiration.

* Convulsive twitching of the facial muscles; mouth drawn at

one corner, Kose looks pinched, cold and blue. " Chorea; convulsive motions of the facial muscles.

Kinging in the ears; moving quickly produces complete deaf- ness. The ears are cold and pale.

Profuse secretion of tears.

* Dimness of vision, with dilated pupils.

Immense circles of a green color appeared around the candle, which as vertigo comes on, and I closed my eyes, turned to red,

* Double vision.

Sudden change of position, and washing brings on blindness

and fain tn ess. ° Amaurosis from aniemia, ° Amaurosis from irritation or congestion of the optic nerves.

Mouth, Fauces and <Esophagua. Tongne feels as if it had heen, scalded.

* Tongue coated yellow along the centre, with flat, bitter taste

in the morning. ' Tongue yellow at the sides, (edges) and a red streak in the

middle. ■ Intense burning in the fauces and oesophagus, with constant

inclination to swallow.

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650 TERATKUM VTBIDE.

* Spasms of the cesophagus, with or without rising of frothy,

bloody mucus into the month. "Sensation as of a ball rising in the cesophagus. ° (Eeopliagitis (in one case where the inflammation was located at the cardiac orifice, prompt relief was obtained by Vera- trum viride). {Hale.)

Increase of appetite, and digestion (from small doses).

* Ea:GrvaiaU-»ig pain in the lower part of the stomach.

* Constrictive pain, increased by warm drinks.

* Yiolent nausea and voiniting, with collapse; very slow ■

pulse, and cold sweat.

* Painfnl, empty retching, with ejection of only a little bloody

mucus. Severe hiccough, with sensation of dryness and heat in the

Violent vomiting, coming on every fifteen minutes.

* S'mallest quantity of food, or dri/nk is i/mmediateby rejected. Pains in the stomach are drawing, twisting, pressing, aggra- vated by the least noise.

Stomach seems to press against the spine while lying upon the back.

Vomiting of bile and blood.

Sharp, flying pains in the epigastrium and umbiHeal region, pressing down to pelvis.

*Gafitritis, acute — (here the high dilutions are useful).

° Neuralgic or spasmodic affections of the stomach, accom- panied by vomiting, retching and excessive irritation. Abdomen and Stool.

* Neuralgic like pains at the right side of the umbilicus, pass-

ing down to the groin. Dull, heavy aching pains in the umbilical region.

* Cutting, aching pains in the umbilical region, with rumbling

in the bowels, and desire for stool. Soft, mushy stool, preceded by cutting pains in the bowels,

and followed by cutting pains in rectum and amis. Neuralgic and long-lasting pains in the rectum.

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VTEATEIIM VIRIDE. 6Sj

Nenralgio pains in the left groin,

HiemoiThoids, half the tumor red and the other half pnrple.

* Cholera and cholera morbus.

° Acute enteritis with high fever, dark and bloody stools. Kidneys, Urine, etc.

Profuse urine, which is pale.

Specific gravity is decreased.

Increases the solid constituents of the urine.

It is said to eliminate lithic acid.

° Cystitis acutus, with fever.

Generative Organs.

"Orchitis (acute), the local application is especially iiseful.

° Acute metritis. (Internally give the 1-lOth and apply a lotion externally.)

"Congestions during uterine disorders— (reflex congestions to chest and brain).

" Menstrua] colic (previous to the discharge, when the conges- tion is great).

" Puerperal fever (with bounding hard pulse; cerebral conges- tion; delirium, etc.)

° Ocrvimhions hefore, dwri/ng and after labor/ (Hale, Lud- lara, and many other authorities of all schools.)

" Vomiting during pregnancy. (?)

° Hysterical convulsions.

" Congestive dysmenorrhtBa in plethoric subjects.

° Puerperal mania; she becomes silent, snspicious and distrust- fill; would not see lier physician; his presence seemed to terrify her; she feared he would poison her; complete sleeplessness, could be with difficulty confined to her bed- room (cured in six hours).

* Active congestion and engorgement of the lungs.

* Anxious oppression of the chest.

* Sensation as of a heavy load on the chest.

* Constant, dull, burning pain in the region of the heart. Oppression of the chest with nausea.

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662 VERATEUM VIEmE.

° Pneumonia, with high fever, wiU arresi the

in ihe^sb sta,ge. {Hale.) ° Pleurisy in the iiret stage; oi^en superior to Aconite. Kespirations fall from 18 to 12 in the healthy, Kespiratious fall from 40 to 12 in puenmonia.

33 in fever. Beats of the heart low and feeble, (y.) Palpitation of the heart, {s.)

fainting and collapse [from the 3 x to the 6 x dilutions]. " Carditis and j^erieardiUs, especially rheumatic, with strong

forcible impulse, during the first stage [from the 1st to

the 3d dilutions]. {Sale.)

Back, *■ Very severe, and constant aching pains in the back of the

neck and shoulders. Neuralgic pains in the ba«k, ° Cerebro-spinal congestion and cerebro-spinal meningitis.

Drawing pains in the right elbow and calves of the legs.

* Cramps of the legs and of the fingers and toes.

* Galvanic-like shocks in the limbs, of great violence. Coldness, blneness and dampness of the hands, feet and limbs,

with cramps of extremities. Paralysis of the lower limbs.

Some sleep every night, but has frightful dreams of being oa

the water.

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VEEATECia VIRinE. 653

nights, and frightful dreams of being drowned, Fever. Chilliness with nansea.

* Coldness of the whole body with cold perspiration on hands,

feet and litce.

* Coldness, with pale sltin, flabby muscles, and quick, weak

° Pulse reduced from 130 to 60 in fever.

Pulse 35, slow and soft, with nausea and Toniiting.

Weak, scarcely perceptible pulse, reduced from 68 to 53.

Feeble, irregular, scarcely perceptible pulse.

" Ephemeral fevers, with vertigo, headaChe, dimness of sight, nausea and weakness.

° Remittent or bilious fevers, not dependent on miaamatio influences.

"Typhoid fever, commeneing with violent arteriaP action; pulse 120 hard; violent pain in the back of the head: delirium and black diarrhcea. {Dr. Henry.)

"Typhus fever. (?) Fevers, with tongue yellow on the edges, and red in the centre.

° All fevers with full, frequent, hard pulse, and tendency to congestion of the head, spasms, etc. (Hale.)

" Yellow fever [was successfully used in Savannah].

" In certain typhoidal cases which the morbid action has con- tinued for weeks, pulse at 180, under the nae of Veratrum viride, the pulse sinks to 70 or 80, and rapid convales- cence sets in.

" Cerebro-spinal fever [" spotted fever "] in the first stage, {/5,'i Generalities.

° Acute rheumatism with high fever, full, hard, rapid pulse, some pains in joints and muscles; very scanty red urine — use the lowest dilutions. (Hale.)

Sensation of prickling and tickling, particularly in the extrem- ities.

" Violent pains attending the inflammations.

* Contortions of the muscles of the face, neck, fingers and. toes;

head drawn to one side; mouth drawn down at one cor- ner, and the facial muscles affected with convulsive twitch-

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654 TEKATIiCM YIRIDK.

ing; ab turns these contortions would talte the foria of tonic spasms, while at other times the action would simu- late a series of galvanic shocks, frequently of such vio- lence as to precipitate the patient out of bed,

" Exerts a sedative influence over the nerves of motion.

" Hysterical, epileptiform and puerperal convulsions and con- vulsions of children.

Complete loss of power of the locomotive muscles.

" Trismus, opisthotonos and other convulsions.

" Convulsion coming on suddenly, frothing at the moutli and violent j act! tations of all voluntary muscles.

" Chorea of two months' duration.

° Chorea in a girl aged 13, the muscular commotion was violent, universal and unaffected hy sleep; the lips covered with foam, worked up by a continued champing of the teeth; had not taken nourishment for days— [cured in four days].

° Chorea, in a woman, childless, and subject to menorrhagia, with continual nodding of the head and violent convulsive action in one arm, and jactitation of one leg.

" Chorea of two months' duration; the entire muscular system was in a continuous and tumultuous motion, the face was worked into the most horrible and ludicrous contortions; head constantly jerking; writhing of the whol(i.body, and no sleep.

"Chorea, in a lady of thirty, constant moving of the head, lower jaw, larynx and tongue, twitching of the head, jerking of the arms and lower extremities; wlien these symptoms would subside, she would be attacked with violent palpitation of the heart. Yeratruin always re- lieved this cardiac chorea.

° Puerperal convulsions, witli furious delirium, found curative in doses from ten to thirty drops every hour till the con- vulsions subsided.

"Cerebro-spinal disease; pulse quick and wiry; pupils dilated; muscles of the back and neck contracted, drawing head back on the shoulders; delirium; spasmodic cough ; finally tetanic convulsions occurring e^"ery five or ten minutes for

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VEBONICA BECCABUNGA. 655

five days; opistliotonTis; cold, clammy sweat over the body. "Veratnim brought about a rapid recovery.

° Cerebro- spinal disease in a child; buruiog fever, frequent vomiting, cries out on any attempt to move him, draws the liead backwards, rolls up the eyes, puts the hands back of his ears, rolls the head from side to side, pulse wiry, rapid, 150, spinal column pungently hot and dry with petechia; cured in five days. (3.) A child of three months, very mnch emaciated, head much enlarged and misshapen, drawn baek, so much contraction of the spinal muscles is compelled to lie on side, eyes rolled upwards, rolling of the head, moaning and screaming, great heat in back of Uie head and spine, respiration feeble and sighing, pulse 160 and feeble, watery diarrhcea, urine scanty and high colored; all these alarming symptoms disappeared in a week.

° Epileptiform convulsions in a boy of fonr and a half, with high fever, pulse 190, rapid respirations, 76 in a minutie, and much eerebro -spinal irritation.

Coldness of the skin, which is usually perspiring.

Tingling and prickling of the skin.

Cold, clammy and insensible skin.

Vesication of the skin when applied externally, also erythema.

Hot, burning and sensitive skin.

" Eruptions of the skin, with very high fever.

" The first, or inflammatory stage of scarlatinaj small-pox,

" In scarlatina it wards off cerebrospinal irritation. ° Brym,pfilas; phlegmonous or vesicular; ^PP^y topically a lotion 3 i to 5 i^> and internally 1st x dilution.

VERONICA BECCABOTGA.

{Brodhiitne.)

Botanical DicscnrpnoN.— This plant is called tiy Grey, Veronica Amer.

icana. It la peranQial, with opposite, usually serrate, leaves; flflwers in

asillary, opposite racemes; corolla wheel-sb aped, pale blue, with purple

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[Kinff'i Bispertsatory says : " It is anti-scorbutic, diuretic, vermifuge, and emmenagogue — useful in scurvy, fever and cough."]