Individual Drugs. ABIES (Tsuga canadensis). - Southwest School of ...

wrought nervous system forestalled. It is, therefore, indicated in the
initial stages of varicella, measles, scarlatina, and sometimes in
variola.
While by no means an antirheumatic, aconite is of marked benefit in
acute inflammatory rheumatism, when high fever and great
restlessness prevail. Besides it protects the heart by lessening the
probability of endocarditis and possible heart failure. The dose,
however, must be small lest we induce the very calamity we aim to
avoid. Locke regarded it almost a specific in uncomplicated
rheumatism; but while it greatly aids in reducing fever, inflammation
and pain, it needs the assistance of the more direct antirheumatics
and their allies, as sodium salicylate, bryonia and macrotys. More
slowly, but less certainly, it sometimes alleviates simple acute neuritis.
Mumps is well treated by aconite, asclepias and phytolacca, while for
mastitis aconite, bryonia, and phytolacca are our most effective agents.
With careful nursing, emptying of the breasts, and sometimes judicious
strapping and supporting of the glands the formation of pus may be
averted. Should it form, the bistoury is the only rational medium of
relief.
As a remedy for the disorders of the female reproductive organs,
aconite is very valuable. It is particularly valuable in recent
amenorrhea, due to cold, if the circulation and temperature are
increased; and in menorrhagia, with excited circulation and hot, dry
skin. Dover's powder or the diaphoretic powder adds to its efficiency.
Some rely on it to relieve the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
Neuralgic pain is somewhat relieved by aconite, used both locally and
internally. The varieties best treated are facial, dental, visceral, and
rectal neuralgia, and that preceding herpes zoster. Though most
efficient when fever accompanies, it is held to be useful also when the
temperature is not exalted. King found aconite a remedy of marked
worth in that anomalous condition best described as non-febrile spinal
irritation.
Purely functional palpitation of the heart, due to indigestion, has been
relieved by small doses of aconite. One of the instances in which large
or physiological doses of aconite are permissible is in simple cardiac
hypertrophy, but even then veratrum is to be preferred. In very minute
Felter’s Materia Medica - (A) - Page 12