112 
ON  TERATRUM  VIRIDE. 
any  other  article.  4th,  It  is  one  of  the  most  certain  diaphoretics 
belonging  to  the  materia  medica;  it  often  excites  great  coolness  or 
coldness  of  the  surface  ;  in  some  cases  the  skin  is  rendered  merely 
soft  and  moist  ;  in  other  instances,  the  perspiration  is  free,  and  at 
other  times  it  is  most  abundant ;  but,  notwithstanding  its  profuseness, 
it  does  not  reduce  or  exhaust  the  system,  as  many  diaphoretics  do 
when  in  excess,  and  therefore  need  not  excite  alarm,  or  be  sus- 
pended on  that  account.  5th,  It  is  nervine,  not  narcotic  under 
any  circumstances  ;  as  since  our  first  article  we  have  taken  it 
more  than  twenty  times,  to  test  its  varied  powers,  and  we  have 
taken  it  in  all  quantities  from  the  production  of  free  emesis  down 
to  the  mininum  dose.  This  property  renders  it  of  great  value  in 
the  treatment  of  painful  diseases,  and  such  as  are  accompanied 
with  convulsions,  morbid  irritability,  and  irritative  mobility.  For 
example,  pneumonia,  rheumatism,  puerperal  fever,  convulsions  gen- 
erally, palpitation  of  the  heart,  &c.  6th,  It  is  one  of  the  most  cer- 
tain and  efficient  emetics  known,  and  is  peculiarly  adapted  to  meet 
that  indication  in  hooping  cough,  asthma,  croup,  scarlet  fever,  and 
in  all  cases  where  there  is  much  febrile  and  inflammatory  action. 
It  often  excites  severe  nausea  and  frequent  vomiting;  which,  taken 
in  connection  with  great  paleness,  often  alarms  the  patient  and  the 
bystanders;  but  these  effects,  when  in  excess,  are  readily  relieved  by 
one  or  two  full  portions  of  morphine  and  tincture  of  ginger,  or  of  lau- 
danum and  brandy.  One  grand  and  leading  feature  is,  that  the  ex- 
haustion which  follows  is  not  excessive  and  permanent,  but  confined 
merely  to  the  effort.  Again  j  the  matter  first  ejected  is  a  large  quantity 
of  thick,  slimy  mucous,  and  soon  after  the  liver  is  called  onto  pour 
forth  its  own  fluid  in  abundance.  7th,  The  seventh  property  is  its 
most  valuable  and  interesting,  and  for  which  it  stands  unparalleled 
and  unequalled  as  a  therapeutic  agent.  So  much  has  been  written 
on  what  we  call  the  sedative — arterial  sedative — properties  of  this 
agent,  on  the  power  it  possesses  of  controlling  and  regulating  arterial 
action,  that  we  shall  not  again  run  over  the  amount  of  evidence  on 
this  part  of  the  subject." 
"  In  small  portions,  we  have  found  nothing  equal  to  it  in  ex 
citing  and  promoting  appetite/' 
Dr.  Norwood  recommends  the  following  formula  for  the  tinc- 
ture : — 
"  Take  of  dried  root  of  Veratrum  vride,  eight  ounces. 
"       Alcohol,  .835,  sixteen  ounces. 
"  Macerate  for  ten  days  or  two  weeks,  and  express.  Medium 
dose  for  an  adult  male,  eight  drops,  to  be  increased  one  or  two  drops 
every  portion,  until  nausea  or  vomiting,  or  a  reduction  of  frequency 
of  the  pulse  takes  place  ;  then  reduce  to  one-half  in  all  cases.  Females, 
