SAMBUCUS NIGRA. 1 57 



appreciated in domestic medicine as this. It has scarcely been 

 admitted into the list of regular medicines, but merely treated 

 as a popular remedy, and undervalued as of trifling importance. 

 It is true that Elder is in very common use, which is a tacit 

 confession of its utility in a variety of respects ; but it by no 

 means follows that it is incapable of doing harm in cases to 

 which it is unsuitable ; for common sense teaches us that, as it 

 contains powerful medicinal properties, it must produce bad 

 effects when it is improperly given. 



cc People do not generally understand the effects which Elder 

 occasions when misapplied, because they are ignorant of its 

 pure symptoms in healthy subjects ; therefore, in the mixtures 

 of drugs so often prescribed, it has appeared to be thought of 



an 



been used. How, then, can they possibly know whether either 

 of these is beneficial or hurtful ? Sometimes they are prescribed 

 for persons in good health, to preserve it ! So little is kn 

 the nature of medicines. 



wn 



" Enough has been studied of the symptoms of Elder to 

 show that it produces real morbid affections ; from which may- 

 be inferred the cases in which it is likely to be homoeopathically 



beneficial. 



" The smallest dose is sufficient to produce the requisite 

 effect. Ample infusions therefore can do no more, but are 

 injurious in promoting too great an excess of heat and per- 

 spiration, and thus weakening the patient and protracting the 



cure." 



nical Observations (Noack and Trinhs, op. cit.) — This 

 plant has been useful in some kinds of rheumatism, with draw- 

 ing pains in the limbs and loins, diminished by movement and 

 increased by rest. In intermittent fever, with excessive per- 

 spiration, particularly at night. In debilitating night-sweats, 

 in phthisis, as a palliative. In croup, with sopor, stertorous 

 breathing, and head drawn back. Deep, hollow, croup-like 



p 2 



