Allium Cepa

[common onion, natural order, liliaceje.]

This plant is so well known that a minute botanical description is out of place. It is raised in almost every garden on this continent as well as in Europe, and the bulbous root of the vegetable forms by no means an unimportant article of sale in the store of the produce merchant ; as an article of diet it is found on the table of the well- to-do and in the home of the laborer.

Dr. Hering tells us that the ancients held the common onion in high repute as a remedy. If so, its virtues as a medicine were buried as effectually as the ruins of the peoples who employed it ; for only of late has it once more arisen from the rank of a mere article of common diet to that of a medicine of recognized power, although tradition has preserved a limited portion of its fame in the form of cough syrups and of poultices for all possible ailments, applied by the thrifty housewife on the slightest provocation.

It is not claimed that allium cepa has a very wide range of action. In fact, its sole use as a medicine depends upon its promptness of action upon the mucous membrane, particularly so of the eyes and nose. Many an involuntary proving has been made, and he who still doubts the power of the onion to affect the structures mentioned need only undertake the work of removing the skin of a few of the juicy bulbs to be effectually converted.

The proving made by Dr. Hering with the tincture of the whole plant merely substantiates the claim that the onion has a direct influence upon the lining membrane of the organs mentioned, and

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has the power to produce, and hence to cure, certain types of corvzu. Clinical experience has amply verified this.

The symptoms produced by it are : Watery eyes, with a great desire to rub them ; much and hearty sneezing ; dull headache, generally relieved in the open air ; redness of the eyes, with constant and at times excoriating discharge from them and from the nose. Increased secretion of urine and at times morning diarrhoea. In consequence it has been used in the treatment of acute catarrh, especially if an epidemic pervades a whole neighborhood ; a free and even copious secretion of mucus being its most prominent indication.

Dr. James Blakely (Halm. Monthly, April, 1869,) took an onion, pounded it in a mortar and took two inhalations ; by so doing he cured a cold which had been very troublesome and refused to yield to other remedies.

Dr. Lilienthal (Am. Jour, of Horn., Aug., 1870,) gives it for " tickling in the larynx with hoarseness ; oppressed breathing from pressure in the middle of the chest; hacking cough on inspiring cold air ; cough and catarrh writh fluent excoriating coryza ; worse in the evening in the room, better in the fresh air."

Many cases are on record in which the drug has acted promptly in cases presenting its characteristics. The writer has used it with good results in at least one epidemic of influenza and feels that the rem- edy, home remedy though it is, deserves at our hands a cheerful recognition of its merits. In

MEASLES, in the early stage of the disease, with strongly- marked catarrhal symptoms, the use of this remedy is frequently beneficial. Dr. Helmuth recommends its use in

NEURALGIA OF THE STUMP, and relates the case of a man who suffered intenselv from this difficulty. After taking various remedies with great perseverance his attention was accidentally called to a similar case cured by eating onions. He immediately procured three large ones and ate them. He continued this treatment for several days, and was able to sleep every night. Then his physician thought of trying allium cepa, and prescribed the tincture with al- most the same eifect, which was continued until the cure was com- pleted (Am. Homceopathist, April, 1878).

294 ALOES.