(The alcoholic tincture from the root of Veratrum album.) The following symptoms can only be considered a part of those which the Veratrum is capable of producing. I might have added the symptoms which have been noted by the ancient Greek authors, to confirm my own ; but I have omitted doing so, lest I should make myself liable to the charge of attempting to shine by quotations. It is certain, however, that the ancients could not have ac- quired the reputation of performing wonderful cures with Ve- ratrum at Anticyra and at other places, if there had not been some foinidation for it. Our physicians do not often resort to Veratrum album, for this reason, that they cannot prescribe it in justa dosi, in drachms and ounces. Hence, all the diseases which can only he cured hy that root have to remain unciired. Physicians have not known, heretofore, that Veratrum facil- itates the cure of at least one-third of the cases of insanity gen- erally occurring in lunatic asylums, inasmuch as they did not know to what special kinds of insanity Veratrum corresponds, or in what dose it ought to be administered. Veratrum requires to be given in different doses from those employed by the ancients. It is true many of their insane patients were cured, but many others died from the effects of the enormous doses. For even the ancients supposed that diseases were the result of some morbific matter which had been introduced into the system, and that the cure made the sweeping out of that matter necessary. Hence they gave Veratrum in the crude form, and in doses large enough to induce vomiting and diarrhoea. The fact of some of their patients getting well, did not permit them to change their opinion, that the cure was efiected in another way than by purging and vomiting. It is not true that moral or mental diseases require enor- mous doses of any drug to be cured. It is true allopathic and improperly selected doses seem to attack the organism of such patients less than generally. But in such diseases the general health suffers least, and the patients are sometimes very ro- bust, the invisible organs which no anatomist has ever discov- ered, and which serve the soul as a connecting medium, being generally the seat of the disease. 236 VERATRUM ALBUM. In such diseases seventy grains of tartar emetic have fre- quently been .given without any effect, but the mind was gen- erally affected so much more ; 'in many cases the mania or melancholia became incurable. On the other hand, it is true that such diseases can be easily ctn-ed by small doses of a remedy which is homceopathic. I have frequently cured patients by the smallest part of a drop of the 12th potency, which I mixed in the usual beverage of the patient, in order to avoid all violence. Pains to which Veratrum is homoeopathic, and which sometimes drive the patient to a kind of delirium and madness have frequently yielded to the smallest dose. ' Veratrum is likewise useful in fever and agues which consist merely of external coldness, or are characterized by in- ternal heat and dark urine, especially when the body or at least the forehead is covered with cold sweat. It is very useful in several hypochondriac affections, and HI certaui kinds of inguinal hernia, at least as an intercurrent remedy. Sudden bad effects from Veratrum are most safely re- moved by some cups of strong coffee. Camphor removes ach- mg ni the head, with coldness of body and sopor, with want of consciousness. Aconite is to be employed when the patient is anxious and beside himself, with coldness of body or a burning sensation in the brain. The other chronic ailments brought on by the abuse of Veratrum, for instance, the fever before midnight are most easily removed by Cinchona. ' Some among the subsequent symptoms seem to be secon- dary symptoms, which can only be determined with accuracy by closer observations. Small doses act five and more days.