American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

doses of two or three minims of the fluid extract. The recovery of this
patient was rapid, although muscular weakness was present for several
days.
The primary influence of gelsemium—that which probably always
underlies its remedial influence upon any condition—should be borne
steadily in mind in its administration. Its direct action is upon the
central nervous system. It diminishes the blood supply of the brain and
spinal cord by lessening nerve power, inhibiting the nerve control,
slowing, retarding or staying the functional action of the nerve centers
over the nerves themselves, influencing them steadily in the line of their
physiological activities. It thus subdues all forms of nerve excitation of
whatever character, or wherever located. It inhibits excessive nerve
action. Nerve irritation, whether direct or reflex, comes uniformly under
its influence.
There must be, then, increased nerve tension, with its consequent
irritation, and usually, local hyperemia or increased and undue blood
supply in sthenic conditions. It is not the remedy when asthenia prevails.
It may be well to introduce a caution which is most important, if good
results be secured from the action of this remedy. Gelsemium, more than
perhaps any other of our agents, suffers from the fact that the market may
be supplied by worthless preparations of the remedy. Any fluid extract or
tincture made from the dried drug does not contain the full virtues of the
plant, and if the drug has been long gathered will be almost inert. The
green root should be gathered in the early spring, and its medicinal
virtues should be immediately extracted. The green root fluid extracts,
normal tinctures, and the specific medicine gelsemium represents the
fullest possible virtues of the drug. Further. more, fluid preparations
alone, of gelsemium, are prescribed by our physicians, as clinical
experience has conclusively demonstrated to us that the alkaloid
gelsemin does not contain the full virtues of the drug.
Specific Symptomatology—The characteristic syndrome which demands
the administration of gelsemium is found in acute determination of blood
to the brain—acute cerebral hyperaemia— manifested by a bright flush
upon the face, bright eyes with contracted pupils, with a busy
restlessness and excitability. With these there is a high degree of nerve
tension and consequent irritation, with increased heat of the head and
face. There is present in acute cases, elevated temperature, hot skin,
usually dry, a sharp and quick pulse, but not always hard. Given in
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 226