Veratrum viride

Lecture XXIV — Melanthaceae — Colchicum, Veratrum album, Veratrum viride and Sabadilla

Veratrum Viride.

Although the name of this drug is similar to that just considered, you must not reason thereby that it produces the same symptoms. Veratrum viride produces congestion of the base of the brain and of the upper portion of the spinal cord. It thus interferes with the function of the pneumogastric nerves. At first it seems to produce engorgement of the lungs, just such as we witness in the beginning of pneumonia. This is associated with a high degree of arterial excitement. If these symptoms go on unchecked, we have dizziness and faintness on attempting to sit up, nausea, cold sweat and orthopnoea, and in fact every symptom of paralysis of the heart from over-exertion of that organ. Thus you will see that Veratrum viride comes in as an invaluable remedy in those violent congestions which precede pneumonia. It may even abort the whole disease.

Veratrum viride also produces oesophagitis, in which disease it may be indicated even when the disorder has arisen from traumatic causes. It is called for by the difficulty of swallowing and the fiery burning pains in the oesophagus.

In chorea it is also indicated, when in addition to the choreic twitching, there is violent congestion of the nerve-centres. Given in a low potency it relieves the congestion, and therefore the nervous disturbances.

We may depend on Veratrum viride even in puerperal convulsions. The cerebral congestion is profound. The patient lies in a condition like that of apoplexy. Between the convulsions she is not conscious, but lies in a deep sleep. The face is red, the eyes are injected and there is violent convulsive twitching. The pulse is full and bounding. In some cases Gelsemium helps when there is a dull, drowsy state of mind, but here the pulse, though full, is soft and flowing.