Even while triturating the drug in my mortar, the most striking effects were produced by the simple emanations ascending from it. This phenomenon, however, is observed whenever I cause a somewhat active drug to be triturated in the mortar.
The symptoms which I have collected, are not a great many, but they can be depended upon. Most of the symptoms were experienced by several provers, and some of them have already been confirmed by treatment, among which may be mentioned the oppression in going up-stairs, the vesicular eruption on the feet and the deafness. This last symptom is of great importance on account of its being so obstinate. For pulmonary affections the poison of the cobral may likewise prove a valuable remedy, especially for the second stage of phthisis, characterised by bloody cough and derangement of the digestive functions. It may likewise be serviceable in mental alienation and cutaneous eruptions.
The special action which this poison seems to exercise on the right side, the paralysis, the lancinations, have appeared to me worthy of attention. The gyratory motions, the desire to move to and fro, the scaling off of the epidermis and several symptoms relating to the disposition and the mind, seem to deserve the attention of the philosophical physician.
There certainly exist remarkable analogies between the symptoms of the cobral and those of the lachesis. The differences, however, are sufficiently numerous to refute the doctrine that all serpent-poisons act almost alike and that the cobral, for instance, may be resorted to as a perfect succedaneum of the lachesis. I am convinced of the contrary to such an extent that it is my belief that the poison of serpents alone would, if sufficiently proved, furnish the safest and most rapid means of combating all human infirmities. Every epoch in the history of the world is undoubtedly possessed of therapeutic means which are more particularly homœopathic to the general character of the ruling maladies. Hence it is probable that when the human species shall have been freed from the miasms which now undermine its vitality, the simple flowers on the fields will be sufficient to control the remaining indispositions. Whereas we, unfortunate heirs of the chronic miasms of all ages, lepra, scrofula, syphilis and a host of other subtle plagues, are compelled to employ the most frightful agents in order to meet the intensity of our diseases.
First to third day.—1. Reveries in the day-time, one imagines one is receiving blows. One imagines one hears some one speak. One hears talking without comprehending. Absence of mind. 5. Nightmare and congestion about the head. Anxious dreams. Weight in the right parietal region and pain which penetrates to the nape of the neck. Beating at regular intervals in the nape of the neck, like the ticking of a clock. Weight in the forehead and above the orbits. 10. Boring pain from the vertex to the right eyebrow. Pain on the right side, which seems to be seated in the cerebellum. Sweat on the forehead and nape of the neck. The head falls forward with violence. Painful constriction in the temples and eyes. 15. Violent throbbing of the external carotid. Horrid pains when inclining the head backwards; less when inclining it forwards. Tension in the nape of the neck. Stiffness which prevents the head being turned. Sensation as of a foreign body in the right temple. 20. Lancinations in the outer angle of the left eye. Boring pain from the lower jaw to the right eye, and then from the right eyelid to the ear. Desire to close one’s eyes as in fever. Sharp pricking in the inner canthi of the eyes. Aching pains around the eyes, with vanishing of sight. 25. Continual buzzing as from a fly in the meatus auditorius. Constant deafness. Ringing in the ears. Discharge of a serous fluid from the left ear. Distressing prickling in the superior nasal fossa. 30. Swelling of the gums on the last three molar teeth. Prickling as if caused by strong spice, after having triturated the drug. Prickling at the tip of the tongue. Sour eructations, desire for cold water, ice. Loathing of food, acidity after every mouthful of food. 35. Pressive constriction in the throat. Burning from the larynx to the tongue as from peppermint, with desire for fresh air. The food descends in the œsophagus as if turned round like a screw. At other times the soup falls heavily and precipitately, as if through a metallic tube into the stomach, which trembles violently. Watery, yellowish diarrhœa, which is mixed with slime, attended with rumbling in the bowels. 40. Urine almost red. Urine profuse. Urine red. Constriction of the sphincter. Continual discharge of prostatic fluid. 45. Thickening of the skin of the prepuce, with inflammation. Excoriation on the back of the penis, which causes a continual itching. Weakness of the genital powers, impotence. Lancinations and prickings in the penis. Weight and swelling of the testicles. 50. Spitting of black coagula of blood, with painful tearing as if proceeding from the heart. Almost constant cough. Sensation in the chest and at the sternum as if the pleuræ would be torn off, and as if the two lungs would be separated from each other by force. Inability to incline to the right side, in consequence of a very painful pulling in the right lung. Violent itching, drawing, pricking at the epigastrium, which hinders drawing a full breath. 55. A chronic loss of breath when going up-stairs, disappears after the second day of the proving. Violent fit of dry cough which finally ends in raising black blood, with frightful tearing pains in every part of the lungs, and especially in the right side, at the upper part of the chest. Taste of blood in the mouth previous to the paroxysm of cough, succeeded by a desire to vomit. Burning in the hands while preparing the drug. Prickling in the back of the right hand. 60. Pulling in the right hand, which extends to the ring-finger. Pains in the elbows. Crampy constriction in the phalanxes of the fingers and under the nails. Lancinations and prickling in the back of the hand. The blood remains congested in the hand, which is of a violet color and as if paralysed; it has to be kept erect in order to prevent the congestion. 65. A black blood spirts out of the finger when pricking it ever so little. Vesicular eruption on the feet. Pains in the knees. Pains in the knees as if bruised and contused, especially in the left knee, which does not bear contact, and where the pain is as keen as if the part had been sprained.
Third to sixth day.—Sensitiveness of the right side. 70. Inability to rise in the morning in consequence of the pain in the right side. Slight phlyctænæ make their appearance here and there, especially on the extremities; the epidermis surrounding them sometimes scales off. Drowsy the whole day, but sleepless nights. Dreaming about the business of the day. Pain in the forehead. 75. Red eyebrows. The eye is extremely sensitive to cold water. Stoppage of the right nostril, improved by resting on the same side. Bad smell from the nose. Pulling in the œsophagus. 80. Violent headache, if the desire for food is not satisfied on the instant. Suffocative oppression after eating. Bloating of the stomach after eating. Pulling in the pit of the stomach. Violent hunger. 85. Pressure at the right hypochondrium. Pressure in the left side, which extends to the vertebral column. Dull pain in the right lung, worse when walking. Congestion of blood to the throat, which is caused by the pain in the lung. Sense of spraining and stiffness in the knee joint.
Seventh day.—90. Painful pressure at the nape of the neck, as if the cerebellum had settled downwards. Eyes red and inflamed. Blood oozes from the eyes. Glassy look. Bitter, salt taste in the mouth. 95. Noisy and violent borborygmi. Stitch in the side. Falling of the rectum. Hoarse voice. Violent beating of the heart. 100. Pain as if bruised in the sides of the neck. Painful drawing at the inner side of the arm, from the axilla to the wrist, but felt especially at the bend of the elbow. The right hand feels as if paralysed. Shuddering from the hand to the shoulder when dipping the former into cold water. A good deal of distress in the whole abdomen. 105. The left foot is swollen and blue, with red spots. Drawing-up of the feet. Twitching in the parotid gland. The saliva tastes salt. Crusty eruption over the ear and a part of the cheek. 110. Itching in the ear, in the evening. Red urine, with cloudy sediment. Pinching sensation at the helix and lobe of the ear. Discharge of a greenish-yellow liquid from the ear, in the morning. Painfulness of the parotid gland. 115. Itching pimple on the legs. Discharge of blood from the ear. Swelling of the inguinal gland. The left groin is painful to contact. Colic with urging to stool. 120. Blackish and frothy diarrhœa. The urine is very thick and deposits a red sediment.
SECOND EXPERIMENT.
First day.—Tension in the nape of the neck and inability to turn the head. Dark, almost red complexion. Pain in the urethra while urinating. 125. Pricking in the left gums. Desire for food, with aversion to eating. Lassitude in the limbs. Prickling under the toe-nails. Sense of excoriation at the nape of neck. 130. Violent pains in the lumbar region, like a band extending to the uterus. Weight at the uterus. Weight at the stomach after eating. Acidity, nausea and faint feeling. Weight at the left side of the uterus. 135. Unquenchable thirst. Feeling of coldness in the chest after drinking. The lower limbs give way. Pain in the right instep as after a forced journey. Colic gradually spreading all through the colon, from the cœcum to the rectum. 140. Sleeplessness with uneasiness. Weight at the vagina, in consequence of an attack of hysteric colic. After a continued congestion of the blood to the thoracic viscera, it seems to rush to the viscera of the abdomen. Prickling in the uterus, vagina and pubic region, extending to the epigastrium, with painful lancinations. Lancinations at the umbilicus from above downward, extending to the womb. 145. Vomiting of green bile, followed by bilious diarrhœa. Buzzing in the ear. In cleaning the meatus auditorius, small balls of hardened and black wax are taken from it.
Second day.—Dull pain in the right lung, worse while walking, with distress and rush of blood to the throat. Prickling and pulling in the right lung. 150. Blear-eyedness. Constriction of the thorax as by a corset. Pressure under the right arm. White, albuminous leucorrhœa. Sensation as of sand in the eyes. 155. Discharge of white and watery mucus from the nose. Constant tickling at the nose. Great weight at the uterus when rising, worse during a walk. Coryza when exposed to the least current of air; sneezing. Acute contusive pain at the inner side of the left leg, and sensation as if something were rising and descending in the tibia. 160. Difficulty of opening the eyes. Sensation as if long and white filaments were floating before the eyes. In closing the eyes, every thing looks red, dotted with black points. Itching in the right meatus auditorius. Stoppage in the œsophagus, after eating, as if a sponge had lodged there. 165. The beverage is arrested in the œsophagus as by a spasmodic contraction of this organ, after which it falls heavily into the stomach. Lancinations from above downward in the posterior muscles of the trunk, from the occiput to the sacrum, attended with pains in the temples. Lancinations in the soles of the feet, while seated; they disappear by walking. Pains in the forehead. Discharge of black blood, between the menstrual periods. 170. In the morning the hairy scalp, at the occipital protuberance, feels as if raw. Violent itching in the vagina. Prickling as with thousands of pins. Aching pain in the left side. Cramps in the calves, worse in the afternoon.