New, Old, and Forgotten Remedies: Papers by Many Writers
Science
New, Old, and Forgotten Remedies: Papers by Many Writers
Homeopathy -- Materia medica and therapeutics
CASE III.--Patrick----, a man 23 years of age, large physique and
healthy appearance, contracted pertussis from other members of the
family, and, although not accompanied by the whoop, the paroxysms were
very severe. They were not frequent during the day but many during the
night. He would wake the entire house by coughing and would become
purple in the face. He had been suffering a week or two before I saw
him. I prescribed _Drosera_, _Corrallium rub._, _Ipecac_ and
_Hyoscyamus_, without appreciable improvement. He gradually grew worse
until _Naphthalin_ 1x in pellets was given. The spasmodic condition was
relieved very shortly, and although the cough remained for a short time
it never became severe and soon entirely disappeared.
NARCISSUS.
NAT. ORD., Amaryllidaceæ.
COMMON NAME, Daffodil.
PREPARATION.--The young buds, stems and leaves are macerated in two
times their weight of alcohol.
(The following is from the _Homoeopathic Recorder_ for
May, 1899):
"Agricola," one of the _Homoeopathic World's_ oldest contributors,
has the following to say of this very old, yet little known, remedy.
After stating how he prepared it, he continues as follows:
"A case of bronchitis (a _continuous_ cough) has from _Narcissus_ 1-3x
obtained such _prompt_ marked relief, where a most varied selection of
the standard remedies had hitherto failed, as to induce me to write
these few lines in hope that as this beautiful flower is about to be
found in most cottage gardens the prevalent bronchitis, whooping and
other coughs may meet with prompt cures. Dr. Chargé's work, _Maladies
de la Respiration_, quotes the great Laennec, M. D., as an authority
_in re Narcissus_."
There is no proving whatever of this drug, although in the
_Encyclopædia_ (Allen) a case of poisoning from the bulbs eaten as a
salad is given; but the remedy as prescribed by Agricola was prepared
from the young buds, stems and leaves, so the case in the _Encyclopædia_
is not apropos, nor is the old tincture from the bulbs of use.
The name of the plant, _Narcissus_, is not from that of the fabled youth
who fell in love with his own image reflected in the water, but is from
the Greek _Narkao_, "to be numb," on account of the narcotic properties
of the drug. The classic Asphodel and the Narcissus are the same, from
which it may be seen that the plant dates back as far as man's records
go. Fernie, in his excellent _Herbal Simples_, from which we gather the
preceding, also says: "An extract of the bulbs applied to open wounds
has produced staggering numbness of the whole nervous system and
paralysis of the heart. Socrates called this plant the 'Chaplet of the
Infernal Gods,' because of its narcotic effects."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account