American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

quick depression, although the effect is transient. If the dose be often
repeated, the stomachic irritation quickly becomes so great as to interfere
with all medication.
Veratrum is a better remedy for adults than for children. It is not as easily
adapted to infants and the feeble as aconite, and its manner of action is
not as satisfactory.
Veratrum, in its direct heart depression, resembles the coal-tar
depressants, although much more regular and uniform in its action and
perfectly controllable. It steadily slows the heart and circulation, the
temperature declining correspondingly. Its influence upon the
emunctories is not marked. Aconite influences the heat production and
heat-radiation, stimulates all emunctories and the function of all the
glandular organs and hastens the removal of inflammatory products.
Effusion or suppuration are thus prevented, and if this agent is begun
early, when the temperature has declined, there will be no local lesions
remaining to contend with as the results of the inflammatory action.
Veratrum will assist in the removal of morbific products, but not with the
immediate influence upon the results of inflammatory actions that are
apparent from the use of aconite. It is an active eliminant which provides
for its own elimination. Veratrum should not be given when inflammation
has resulted in marked structural change and the products of
inflammation are plainly present. Here aconite may be given as long as no
general depression occurs.
Specific Symptomatology—Veratrum is indicated in the onset of sthenic
fever when the pulse is full, large and bounding, and the tissues are
engorged, where there is fullness of the capillary circulation.
It is especially serviceable when there seems to be obstruction of the
venous capillary circulation. The face and skin are flushed, but usually
of a full, dull, dark hue, and not always the bright-red flush with hot, dry
skin which indicates aconite and gelsemium. The following indications
suggest it.
• Tongue coated white or yellow with a red streak down the center.
• Congestion that occurs at the base of the brain.
• Convulsions that occur as a result of septicemia.
• Tissues full, not shrunken; marked arterial throbbing with bloodshot
eyes.
• Erysipelas appearing like ordinary inflammation (red).
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 451