Synonym. Prunus Laurocerasus. Natural order. Rosaceae. common name. Cherry Laurel. Habitat. A handsome evergreen shrub, native of the Caucasus, of Northwestern Asia Minor and of Northern Persia. Preparation. tincture from the fresh mature leaves.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Acts upon the brain and spinal cord, paralyzing the nerve enters in a manner resembling the poison of Hydrocyanic acid.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mind. Insensibility and complete loss of sensation(Op).
Head. Stupefaction with vertigo. Stupefying pain in the whole head Sensation of coldness in forehead (Arnica) and vertex (Calcarea c., Phosphorus) Phosphorus), as if a cold wind were blowing on it, descending through the neck to the back. Feeling as if ice lay on the vertex.
Eyes. Obscuration of vision, as if a veil were before the eyes (Causticum, Hyoscyamus, Phosphorus, Mercurius, Petrol., Sulphur). Eyes open and staring; distorted (Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, Stramonium).
Face. Sunken face, with livid, gray-yellow complexion. Twitching and convulsions of the facial muscles (Cicuta).
Mouth. Lock jaw (Belladonna, Cicuta, Hyoscyamus, Ignatia, Nux v., OEnan.). Foam at mouth Cicuta, Coccul., Cuprum, Hyoscyamus, Naja). Loss of speech (Dulcamara Gelsemium, Causticum, Naja.).
Throat. Impeded deglutition (Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, STram,). Spasmodic contraction of he throat and oesophagus (bell., Hyoscyamus, Stramonium) Drink rolls audibly through oesophagus and intestines.
Stomach. Vomiting of food, with cough. Hiccough.
Abdomen. Sensation like the falling of a heavy lump from just above the umbilicus to the small of back; produced by talking or over- exertion. Distention in hepatic region, with pain as if suppurating, and as if an ulcer would burst. Stitches and pain in the liver extending toward the back; with burning and pain on touch. Paralytic bruised pain in liver on inspiration, extending to shoulder (chel.). Burning in liver.
Stool and Anus. Diarrhoea; with tenesmus stools frequent, thin greenish mucus; with suffocative spells about the heart.
Respiratory Organs. spasmodic oppression of the chest (Ign). dyspnoea, with sensation as if the lungs would not be sufficiently expanded asaf., Crot. tig.). Gasping for as if the membranes were too dry; from tickling in the throat; in paroxysms; frequent, short; coughing up blood; dry cough, with feeling as if mucus were hanging in throat, and could not be loosened. Stitches in the region of the heart (Calm., kali carb.).
Heart and Pulse. Irregular beating of the eat, with slow pule (Digitalis, Lachn)(. Fluttering in region of heat and gasping for breath with cough.
Generalities. Want of energy of the vital poets, and want of reaction(Caps., Cab v.). Painlessness with the ailments. Rapid sinking of the forces (Arsenicum, Camph., Secale c.).
Sleep. Deep, snoring sleep; soporous condition (Arsenicum, Opium, Sulphur).
Compare. Baryta c., Belladonna, Bryonia, Calcarea c., Hydroc. ac., Hyoscyamus, Kalmia, Lycopodium, Nux v., Opium, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox., Sepia, sulph., Veratrum, alb.
Antidotes. Camph., Coffea, Ipecac., Opium Too large doses: Ammonium Strong Coffee, Cold Effusions.
THERAPEUTICS.
Laurocerasus is chiefly used in nervous and organic affections of the lungs and heart, characterized by spasmodic contraction of the throat and chest, causing suffocative attacks, extreme dyspnoea, slow irregular pulse and great nervous excitement. Apoplexia. Cyanosis. Cyanosis neonatorum, face blue with gasping. Chorea. Trismus,. Tetanus. epilepsy. Hiccough. Whooping cough; nervous spasmodic cough. Dry cough during phthisis or heart disease, very harassing, especially when lying down (Hyoscyamus). Threatened paralysis of the lungs. Neuralgic dysmenorrhoea. Induration and inflammation of the liver. Abscess threatening. Diarrhoea, green mucous stools, with suffocative spells about the heart. Cholera cholera infantum.
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).