American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

and other antispasmodic sedatives, its influence is of prime importance.
Acute discrimination must be exercised as to the limits in which it will
be useful.
With the statements made, concerning the action of this remedy, it will
be seen that in the diseases of children, and especially during the
summer, aconite is more frequently called for perhaps, than any other one
fever remedy. The fevers resulting from heat, from gastric disturbances
and intestinal faults, as well also as those of nerve irritation from any
cause occurring during warm weather, nearly all show the aconite
indications, and consequently respond very quickly to this remedy.
Aconite has a direct influence on respiration and upon the respiratory
organs. In pneumonitis its influence upon the capillary circulation is so
pronounced that it is impossible to overlook its benefits. Usually for the
first five days of the fever its indications are conspicuous and no remedy
will take its place. If given with veratrum at this time the violence of the
circulation and temperature is restrained more promptly. In bronchitis it
allays irritation, restores secretion, and by its paralyzing effect on the
end nerve filaments quickly soothes the irritable or inflamed condition of
the mucous membrane.
In pleuritis it is the first remedy to be thought of in the initial stage. Its
influence is enhanced here by the use of asclepias tuberosa, and by
alternation with bryonia. The chilliness, cutting pain on respiration,
sharp cough and dry skin and mucous membranes, all point directly to
it; but as soon as effusion to any great extent occurs, the agent may be
dropped and the other agents continued.
It is of essential value in the treatment of mucous and serous
inflammations. Its influence is evidenced in a marked manner in the
treatment of acute enteritis or peritonitis, local or diffused, idiopathic,
traumatic or septic. In gastritis, appendicitis and hepatitis; in acute
nephritis, cystitis or urethritis, specific or non-specific, it is the first
indicated remedy and may be continued until asthenia appears. In acute
catarrh and other similar inflammations it may be persisted in as long as
the inflammation lasts.
Its influence in stomach and intestinal troubles is in part due, although
to no great extent, to its local as well as its general influence. In the
inflammatory stage of dysentery and cholera infantum minute doses of
ipecac and aconite exercise a specific effect when the causes of the
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 9