American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

given it principally in those sthenic heart cases where asthmatic
breathing has developed within a few days and persists. He gives one or
two drops every hour unless unfavorable symptoms occur. He expects
favorable results within a few hours. It is a remedy for some cases of hay
asthma.
The old writers cautioned against giving large doses of quinine and
veratrum, at the same time, as their influences were antagonistic, and Dr.
Percy claimed that it was a positive antidote to strychnine poisoning,
quickly controlling the spasms and assisting the elimination of the
poison.
A satisfactory cure of tetanus, with veratrum and gelsemium, has been
reported. The case was one of a young girl, 14 years old, attacked after an
operation, for the removal of the ovaries, with a most severe form of
tetanus. The case presented the classic symptoms in the extreme. When
paraldehyde, morphine, chloral and the bromides had failed, the
antitetanic serum was used. This also failed, and the patient was put
upon veratrum. Small doses failing, larger doses were given in
conjunction with gelsemium. Eight minims of each every hour was given
per rectum. The effect was prompt and satisfactory, but the agent was
discontinued because of vomiting, when the symptoms returned. Ten
minims of veratrum and eight minims of gelsemium were then given every
hour, and the symptoms were promptly controlled. There is no doubt that
the powerful alterative properties of veratrum add greatly to its efficacy in
the control of tetanic mid puerperal convulsions.
It is useful in acute gonorrhea, preventing chordee and abating the
activity of the symptoms. It is as useful also in orchitis from whatever
cause.
It is a valuable application in localized inflammation, such as boils,
carbuncles, felons, ulcers with heat and swelling, “cold sores” on the lips
and inflamed pimples.
The use of veratrum as an antispasmodic is now quite common. It may be
given in convulsions with active cerebral hyperemia It is especially
reliable as an emergency remedy in persistent cases of convulsions in
childhood while the cause is being removed, its influence often assisting
in the removal of the cause. From one drop to three or four may be given
at a single dose, according to the age of the child, and repeated with
caution.
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 455