SPIKE-FLOWERED ASAGILEA.

639

°f Warmth in the stomach and bowels, which extends to the chest andExtremities. Tingling and various anomalous sensations (as of a currenthot or cold air or water passing over the skin) are perceived in variousl lf irts of the body. Nausea and vomiting are occasionally excited by a* u ‘l dose. On the secretions and exhalations its action is not veryReform. It frequently produces perspiration, not unfrequently diuresis.*°rcke (op. cit. p. 22) mentions increased secretion of saliva and of tearsP r oduced without the contact of the veratria either with the conjunctivaa . n d mouth. The bowels are for the most part confined, so that purga-hves are not unfrequently required during the use of it. Yet in somep a ses veratria lias caused copious bilious evacuations. In some instanceshas promoted, in others diminished, the appetite. Forcke mentions aPustular eruption as being sometimes induced by it. Dr. Bardsleygenerally found the pulse become slower and depressed after the use of'eratria.

. I am not acquainted with any cases of poisoning in the human subjectv the use of excessive doses of veratria. Vomiting and convulsions" °uld probably be induced.

. ih.) Uses .—Veratria is employed externally or internally: sometimes in°th ways at the same time. It has been tried in the following cases:—> In neuralgia it has been used by Dr. Turnbull, Dr. Ebers ofheslau (Dierbacli, Neuest. Entd. in d. Mat. Med. 1837), and Dr. Forcke.1 ? s applied in the form of ointment, containing from twenty to fortygUiins of veratria to an ounce of lard. The frictions are to be continuedUntil the heat and tingling caused by the veratria have acquired a con-querable degree of intensity. Though, according to my own experience,JJhils to give relief in a large majority of cases, yet in some few its. wets are highly beneficial, and in none is it injurious. As a remedy forI * e Uralgia, it is, however, far inferior to Aconitum and its alkali Aconita.

/h In some nervous diseases (Neuroses, Cull .)—Veratria has been ex-- Usively used in this class of diseases, but for the most part empirically.

If

K

U possess any therapeutical power “ a more extended experience is'Piired to establish its claim to our regard” (Paris, Appendix to the

, - ed. of the Pharmacologia .) Among the maladies against which it hasEeii used (in some instances internally, but mostly externally) are,—- er vous palpitation, paralysis, hooping-cough, epilepsy, hysteria, liypo-

(See the treatises of Turnbull and Forcke, before

hondriasis, &c.e ferred to.)

V- In rheumatism and gout. —Dr. Bardsley gave it internally in rheu-. a tism, but with no remarkable results. Externally it has been employedthe form of ointment by Sir C. Scudamore and Dr. Turnbull. It shouldot be applied while the inflammation is of an active kind. It wouldPpear to be best adapted for the neuralgic forms of rheumatism.s In dropsy. —Dr. Bardsley administered it internally in dropsy, but

p}’ s it possesses “ no particular claims to the attention of the profession.”

, e rs employed veratria endermically, and also, in the form of ointment,.P'aermically. It acted as a diuretic, and gave relief. (See Forcke’s

Srt.)

^ (*) Administration .—The ordinary veratria of the shops is adminis-in doses of one-sixth of a grain, three times a day. On accountlta acridity it should not be given in solution, but in the form of pills.