Asa foetida

Lecture XLIII — The Umbelliferae — Conium maculatum, Ammoniacum gummi, Asafoetida, Aethusa cynapium; the Berberidaceae — Berberis and Podophyllum

Asafcetida.

Asafostida is a gum having a decided alliaceous odor. It is especially useful in two classes of disease: First, in nervous diseases developing a perfect type of hysteria; it acts upon the muscular fibres, producing a reverse peristaltic action in the oesophagus and intestines. Thus, it causes a sensation as though a ball started in the stomach and rose into the throat; this being provoked by over-eating, by motion, or by anything that can excite the nerves. It produces a bursting feeling, upwards, as though everything in the abdomen were coming out at the mouth. This is common in colic from hysteria, after belching of wind of a strong rancid taste, and is associated with an empty gone feeling in the stomach at n a. m. like Sulphur. The second action of Asafoetida is upon the bones. It produces periosteal inflammations, resulting in ulcers, especially upon the shin bones. A characteristic of these ulcers is an intolerance of all dressings. The parts around are exceedingly sensitive to the application .of even charpie.

We find Asafoetida curing hysteria arising from the sudden suppression of discharges.

Asafoetida produces inflammations of the eye. Thus it may be indicated in iritis after the abuse of mercury, especially when it is of syphilitic origin, with burning, throbbing pains, and soreness of the bones around the eyes. The nearest remedy here is Aurum, which has relief by warmth. Asafoetida has relief from pressure on the eyeball itself, which Aurum has not.

Phellandrium aquaticum we find to be indicated in headache which involves the nerves going to the eye. There is a crushing feeling on the top of the head, with burning of the eyes and lachrymation. Phellandrium also causes sharp pains in the course of the lactiferous tubes when the child nurses.

Petroselinum comes into use in urethral disease, especially in gonorrhoea, when the inflammation has travelled back, and the patient complains of pain at the root of the penis. There is a sudden irresistible desire to urinate, and itching deep in the perineum.

Coniiun causes chronic cystitis, with intermittent urination. The urine flows and stops. That symptom of the drug I have utilized in the treatment of enlargement of the prostate in old people.