(In 1888 Dr. A. A. Roth contributed the following concerning Cuphea vis. to the Homœopathic Recorder):
Two years ago, whilst battling manfully for the life of a child ill to death from cholera infantum, I was persuaded by a lady friend to use red pennyroyal tea, and to my delight I had the pleasure of seeing a marvellous change in less than twenty-four hours. The vomiting ceased promptly and the bowels gradually became normal. Impressed by this fact, and also the fact that it was used very extensively in home treatment by country people, I procured the fresh plant, and prepared a tincture as directed in the American Homœopathic Pharmacopœia under article "Hedeoma." This made a beautiful dark-green tincture, having an aromatic odor and slightly astringent taste. Of this I gave from five to ten drops, according to age, every hour until relieved, and then as often as needed, and found it act promptly and effectively. Feeling loath to add another remedy to our already over-burdened Materia Medica, I deferred any mention of the fact; but now after a fair trial for two seasons I feel justified in believing that the Cuphea viscosissima will prove a treasure in the treatment of cholera infantum. Out of a large number of cases treated I had but three square failures, and they were complicated with marasmus to an alarming extent before I began the Cuphea; one died and two finally recovered. Cuphea does not act with equal promptness in all forms of cholera infantum. Two classes of cases stand out prominently; and first, those arising from acidity of milk or food; vomiting of undigested food or curdled milk, with frequent green, watery, acid stools, varying in number from five to thirty per day; child fretful and feverish; can retain nothing on the stomach; food seems to pass right through the child. I have frequently had the mother say after twenty-four hours' use of Cuphea: "Doctor, the baby is all right," and a very pleasant greeting it is, as we all know. A second class is composed of cases in which the stools are decidedly dysenteric, small, frequent, bloody, with tenesmus and great pain; high fever, restlessness and sleeplessness. In these two classes Cuphea acts promptly and generally permanently. It contains a large percentage of tannic acid, and seems to possess decidedly tonic properties, as children rally rapidly under its use. It utterly failed me in ordinary forms of diarrhœa, especially in diarrhœas from colds, etc.; but in the classes mentioned I have frequently had it produce obstinate constipation after several days' use.
ECHINACEA ANGUSTIFOLIA.
Nat. Ord., Compositæ.
Common Name, Pale Purple Cone-flower.
Preparation.—The whole plant including the root is pounded to a pulp and macerated in two parts by weight of alcohol.
(This rather famous drug first came to notice as "Meyers' Blood Purifier;" the proprietor did not know the name of the drug used and sent a whole plant to Professors King and Lloyd, of Cincinnati, who identified it as Echinacea angustifolia, commonly known as "cone flower," "black Sampson," "nigger head," etc. If we may believe all that has been printed about it the remedy is a veritable cure-all. The following, however, is a safe guide; it is taken from the paper by Dr. J. Willis Candee in Transactions, 1898, of the Homœopathic Medical Society of the State of New York, and credited by Dr. Candee to Dr. J. C. Fahnstock):
He (Dr. Fahnstock) refers to the clinical application of Echinacea, from personal experience, substantially as follows: Cases of shifting pains in rheumatism, for which Puls. had been unsuccessfully prescribed, rapidly disappeared under Echin. Several cases of acne resembling that caused by Bromide of Potassium, cured. "A great remedy." When boils progress to the stage where they appear about to "point" then stop and do not suppurate, Echinacea is the remedy. "In carbuncles with similar symptoms, a bluish-red color and intense pain, it will in a few hours make your patient grateful to you." It is of great value in very fetid ozæna. Beneficial in some cases of leucorrhœa with discharge bright yellow, as from a suppurating surface. Very serviceable in gangrene, where it may be classed with Rhus and Arsenicum, perhaps ranking between them. Has attributed to it unusually good results in a case of tuberculous disease of hip and in an old, well-dosed case of destructive syphilis of throat. "In suppurative processes Echin. is to be thought of."
In typhoid fever, diphtheria and appendicitis he has failed to substantiate the claims of other admirers of this remedy.
These clinical hints have been given place as naturally following report of the proving and also because of their coming from a closely observant homœopathist. It is unnecessary at this time to review in detail the alleged field of usefulness of Echinacea. All are familiar with the published testimonials and indications, some of which would lead one to think that little else is to be desired with which to combat degenerative processes in mankind.
On the other hand are those, who, having tried the drug without satisfactory results, are willing to cast it aside as worthless. To such it may be well to make these suggestions: 1, to ascertain whether they have used a reliable preparation, and 2, to refrain from hasty judgment until guides for prescribing, more accurate than perchance the label on a bottle, shall have been found and consulted.