Drosera Rotundifolia

[SUN-DEW, MOOR-GRASS. NATURAL ORDER, DROSERACE.^].]

This is a perennial plant, which flowers in the summer months. The leaves, which are numerous, form a disk, from the centre of which the scape rises to a height of from two to six inches, term- inated by a simple cluster of drooping white flowers. The plant grows in mossy, turfy bogs, and is a native of the middle and south- ern parts of Euroj)e. We prepare a reddish-brown tincture from the whole plant, which is to be gathered during the flowering season.

Drosera acts upon the pneumo-gastric nerve and through it upon the respiratory organs. It is a remedy of some importance in the treatment of affections of those organs.

The following symptoms deserve especial mention : Titillation in the larynx inducing a short and hacking cough, with sensation as if a soft body (a feather) had lodged in it, with fine stitches in the larynx extending down to the right side of the oesophagus. Rough, scraping feeling of dryness deep in the fauces and in the region of the soft palate, inducing a short and hacking cough, accompanied with expectoration of yellow mucus, and hoarse voice having a deep base sound. Contractive pain in the hypochondria, arresting the breathing ; is unable to cough, owing to the pain, unless he presses with the hand on the pit of the stomach.

Cough, deep from the chest. The paroxysms of coughing follow each other so rapidly that he is scarcely able to breathe. Cough in the evening, after lying down. Nightly cough.

When coughing, lie throws up water,

DKOSERA KOTUNDIFOLIA. 81

mucus and food. The expectoration tastes salty, bitter, disgusting. Bloody and purulent expectoration. Bruised feeling in the larynx, while inhaling. Stitches in the chest and pectoral muscles when taking an inspiration and when coughing.

COUGHS Drosera is a useful remedy in the treatment of cough? of a spasmodic nature, especially hi certain forms of whooping-cough. "The cough comes on in paroxysms, with long intervals : the cough during the intervals is short, not exhausting, and the patient con- siders them trifles in comparison with the tormenting cough. The paroxysms begin mild and short, increase in vehemence during the course of the disease ; the cough itself is unceasing, one cough suc- ceeding the other quickly, obliging the patient to sit up.

It always commences with titillation and renewed inspiration, until at last, after five, fifteen or more minutes vomiting of mucus sets in, which finishes the paroxysm. The cough sounds fdeep,' convulses all the muscles of the chest and abdomen, which remain painful for a long time, and the patient feels greatly exhausted. The paroxysms are frequently aggravated at night by lying down. They seem to depend upon an irritation of the vagus and attack the bronchial tubes.

We meet them in whooping-cough, in bronchial catarrh, after bronchitis, in senility, in connection with emphysema, bronchiectasis. I witnessed splendid effects from drosera in such cases. After taking it for a few days, the intervals become longer, the paroxysms shorter and milder, until they disappear without any visible local crisis. We only use the low dilutions, the second or third every three to five hours.

Paroxysms (of coughing) always remind us of drosera." (Hirschel.)

LAKYNCtEAL PHTHISIS.— Drosera is also recommended in incipient laryngeal phthisis, with hoarseness, purulent expectoration, seated pain in the larynx, emaciation.

A boy, three years old, has had whooping cough for three weeKS. Symptoms : The cough appears at times during the day, but is worst during the night. It is ex- cited by laughing, weeping and mental excitement and usually terminates with vom- iting of the ingesta and a large amount of tough mucus. For several days profuse epistaxis with the attacks ; also, protrusion of the eyes, purplish hue of the face, suffo- cative spasms.

Emaciation, exhaustion. Cured by drosera30. (Tietze in Annalen der Horn. Klinik, iii., 188.)

A girl, three years old, had whooping-cough after an attack of measles. Symp- toms : After vomiting, or when the child gets angry, it commences to cough continu- ously, being scarcely able to breathe, with the labored inspiration so peculiar to whooDing-cough, blue color of the countenance, anxious clinging to the nearest ob- ject or person. The attack always terminates in vomiting of slime or of the ingesta. Prescribed drosera30. One dose. Perfect cure in a week. (Tietze in Prakt Beit- rage, ii., 42.)

vol. 11.— 5.

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