American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

In the therapeutics of all continued fevers this agent has an essential
place in some stage of the fever. In fevers of malarial origin, there is no
other remedy that will replace it. In the sthenic stage of these fevers,
combined with aconite, it is sufficient for many of the indications. If there
is an intermission or a marked remission, it may be continued alone,
during the period.
In typhoid fever, it is an important auxiliary during almost the entire
duration of the fever. Contraindications may arise, when it must be
discontinued. It prevents congestion of the intestinal mucous membrane,
and of the glands. This is indeed, an important function. It stimulates the
heart to diffuse the blood uniformly throughout the entire capillary
circulation, and thus prevents cerebral engorgement. The brain
symptoms exhibit many of the belladonna indications and are quickly
relieved by it. lt may not convince the prescriber of its beneficial
influence in only a single case, but its continued use, in many cases, is
most convincing, as compared with those in which it is not used.
In meningeal inflammation, both of adults and children, it is often
sharply indicated. This is especially true in subacute cases, where there
is slowly increasing dulness, with a cold, moist skin, although there is an
excess of two or three degrees of temperature. The pupils are dilated
widely, the eyes are dull, the head is drawn back and crowded into the
pillow, slowly and constantly rotated from side to side, the eyes are
partly, if not widely, opened when the patient is asleep, and the urine
passes involuntarily. These cases are sometimes exceedingly stubborn.
Belladonna or its alkaloid in frequent doses is the most directly indicated
remedy.
In the milder forms of insanity or other forms of mental disease, the
Homeopathist prescribes belladonna where there is violent delirium, with
livid face, dilated pupils, protruding eyes, fury, striking or biting, spitting,
inclination to throw off the clothing or tear them, intolerance of light,
extreme arterial tension; but he gives in high dilutions.
One physician says that in certain forms of obesity, with plethora and an
inclination for general stasis, belladonna will assist in reducing the
amount of fat.
Erysipelas will yield promptly to belladonna or atropine in small doses. It
is given with aconite or alternated with rhus. It should not be omitted. It
acts most promptly if the tissues are smooth, dark, and deep-red, with
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 64