Dr. B. MURE’S
MATERIA MEDICA,
OR
Provings of the principal Animal and Vegetable Poisons
OF THE
BRAZILIAN EMPIRE;
AND THEIR APPLICATION IN THE TREATMENT OF DISEASE.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH
AND
ARRANGED ACCORDING TO
HAHNEMANN’S METHOD,
BY
CHARLES J. HEMPEL, M.D.
FELLOW AND CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HOMŒOPATHIC
COLLEGE; HONORARY MEMBER OF THE HAHNEMANN SOCIETY OF
LONDON, &C., &C.
NEW-YORK:
WILLIAM RADDE, No. 322 BROADWAY,
Philadelphia: Rademacher & Sheek.—Boston: Otis Clapp.—St.
Louis: J. G. Wesselhoeft.—London: James Epps,
112 Great Russell-Street, Bloomsbury.—Manchester:
H. Turner, 41 Piccadilly.
1854.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by
WILLIAM RADDE,
In the Clerk’s Office, of the District Court, for the Southern District of
New-York.
Henry Ludwig, Printer,
45 Vesey-street.
TO THE
BRAZILIAN PEOPLE.
Though the precious metals hidden in the Brazilian soil, may be never so abundant; though the splendor of its precious stones, may be never so brilliant; though the crops which the soil yields to the farmer, may be never so rich: yet there are, in the Brazilian empire, treasures of a far, greater importance, and infinitely more necessary to human happiness. They are the powerful means which this vast country furnishes for the cure of disease.
Previous to Hahnemann’s discovery, we were ignorant of a positive method of determining the use of drugs. We knew that they existed, but we did not know how to use them; and popular experience, more successful than the wisdom of the School, had alone picked up a few stray fragments from the rich harvest which had been abandoned for want of the proper means of gathering. Providence at last permitted Hahnemann and his disciples to discover the method of applying remedies to diseases in a positive and efficacious manner. The dominion of mere palliatives is at an end.—Homœopathy, by attacking the cause of disease, destroys the chronic miasms, which are transmitted from generation to generation; dries up the fountain-heads of epidemic and contagious diseases; enables the infant-body, by a positive hygiene, to resist the deleterious influences to which it might be exposed in the course of its existence; and, by preserving human life, which is the most precious capital of nations and the first element of their greatness, Homœopathy will insure their prosperity, provided they adopt it without reserve.
We admire the bold hunter who skims the sharp points of the rocks, for the purpose of snatching the down from the little ones of the eider; the indefatigable diver, who, by dint of patient toil, succeeds in bringing up the diamond from the sands of the river, or the pearl from the bosom of the sea. Should not the people of Brazil sympathise with the patient and courageous experimenters, who, under the auspices of Hahnemann, discover a world of wonderful uses in the neglected products of this country?
The work which we here offer to the Brazilian people, is not a work of fiction intended to amuse, but a serious work detailing a series of painful sensations voluntarily endured by a few devoted men, who were desirous of finding out the therapeutic uses of the poisonous animals and plants, the pathogenetic symptoms of which will be found described in this volume. We shall be amply compensated for the patience and devotedness which the composition of such a work requires, by the consciousness that it will do its share in diminishing the sufferings of mankind.
B. Mure, Rio Janeiro.
Note to the reader:—The symptoms in the following work, are arranged in groups of five; the figures in the text indicate the numerical order of these groups.—Ed.
CROTALUS CASCAVELLA.
We commence the publication of our provings by the symptoms of the Crotalus Cascavella, not so much on account of the importance of the symptoms which the poison of this dangerous reptile produces on the healthy body; but because the unfortunate experiment which was attempted a few years ago, on a sick person, offers a fair opportunity of contrasting the hazardous and uncertain results of a merely clinical experimentation, with the positive advantages of Hahnemann’s method of proving.
A popular notion,—and the therapeutics of the Old-School was gradually built up of such notions,—attributed to the poison of the crotalus cascavella, the power of curing the elephantiasis of the Greeks, a malady which, in Brazil, goes by the name of morphea, or Lazarus’-evil. A disciple of Hahnemann might have verified this belief without any difficulty, and without endangering human life. But the Old-School who does not acknowledge our method of proving, had to remain in doubt about this curative virtue of the cascavella, until a patient and physician would be found sufficiently bold and logical to apply to a frightful disease a still more frightful remedy. Mariano José Machado, fell a victim to his heroic attempt, and, by his death, dissipated the illusory hopes founded on the curative virtue of the poison of the cascavella. Now what conclusion shall we draw from this fact? That the practitioner who advised the attempt, has been imprudent and censureable? God forbid that we should commit such an act of injustice. A patient has succumbed to a clinical experiment; let us honor the heroic courage with which he braved the serpent’s bite; let us honor the zeal of the practitioner, who persuaded him to risk a few years of a loathsome existence for the chance, though uncertain, of a cure. The unhappy Machado has been saved a few years of cruel suffering; but what a joy it would have afforded him and his miserable fellow-sufferers, if the remedy for their loathsome disease had been known! what a glory it would have been to the physician who should have conducted them to the haven of relief![1]
However, a homicide has been committed on this occasion, and though the perpetrators may be free from blame, yet we may justly condemn the deceitful science that has to resort to such dangerous practices, in order to augment its resources and enlarge its boundaries. Like unto the vile poisoner who, when his poisons fail him, resorts to the stiletto, as a means of gratifying his cupidity or his ambition, allopathy sacrifices human life, and, like him, will have an ignominious end. The solemn homicide, which was committed a few years ago in this capital in the name of science, may be of use to the world, by hastening the glorious recognition of the homœopathic healing art, in these distant regions. If it was permitted as recently as four years ago, when the name of Hahnemann was scarcely known in this country, to kill a man for the purpose of trying a drug, we venture to say that, at this period, nobody would either dare to propose or accept such a murderous practice.
It will be seen, in studying the symptoms which we have obtained from the poison of the crotalus, that there are very few among them which resemble the tuberculous lepra, and that this terrible malady will, therefore, have to be cured by some other means. Fortunately, homœopathy teaches us the method of discovering a suitable remedy in the place of the crotalus poison, which we now know has to be abandoned as a remedy for lepra, and the success which we have already obtained, enables us to indulge the hope, that the Brazilian lepra, as well as the elephantiasis of the Arabs, will soon disappear entirely, under the operation of the suitable dynamised homœopathic agent.
The crotalus will become a useful adjunct to the lachesis proved by Doctor Hering; it is my belief that it affects the organism longer and more thoroughly than the latter, and will effect many cures which had to remain incomplete under the use of lachesis.
The serpent from which this poison has been extracted, was caught in the province of Ceara. In this operation I was aided by the young practitioner who alone, four years ago, had protested against the dangerous experiment which was made in the hospital of the leprous patients, of which he was at that time chief physician. His noble heart revolted against the practice of risking human life, for the sake of a medical doctrine, and, soon after, he imitated the glorious example which Hahnemann had set him fifty years previous, by abandoning a lucrative practice, and the direction of two hospitals. Having first protested against the bite which the reptile was caused to inflict upon his patient, he now voluntarily exposed his own life for the purpose of extracting the poison, which was to be suitably attenuated in order to convert it into a curative agent. Several drops of the poison spirted on his face, and might have ended his life, if the inner corner of the eye had been touched as I first feared it was. At this day, when his suspicions have been abundantly confirmed by the physiological provings, Dr. J. V. Martins, is one of the firmest adherents of our rising School. May he live to see the error which he had instinctively rejected, completely extinguished by the brilliant light of medical truth.
This terrible serpent is found in the province of Ceara, whence it was brought to Rio Janeiro. This species generally attains a length of from four to five feet but the animal from which the poison was taken for our provings, was three feet long. Its oval-triangular head one half of which is provided with shields, shows a round depression in front of the eyes, which are covered with a large elliptical shield, serving as a lid. The body is big, conical, its movements are sluggish; its upper surface is covered with scales, the dorsal scales being keeled and somewhat lanceolate, the scales of the tail being quadrangular and smaller. The belly is provided with one hundred and seventy large transversal plates; there are twenty-five plates belonging to the tail, the three first of which are divided in shields. The extremity of the tail is furnished with seven or eight capsules of the consistence of parchment which, when agitated, produce a shrill sound. The color of the crotalus is a yellowish-brown, much lighter under the belly, with twenty-four or twenty-six regular long rhomboïdal lines on each side of the back. When irritated and during the excessive heat, the crotalus spreads a very fetid musk-like odor. The molar teeth which are few in number, but long and excessively poisonous, are inserted in exceedingly dilatable jaws. Every body knows that the poison of this reptile acts with a frightful intensity; and it was not without great danger that Doctors Mure and Martins succeeded in obtaining a few drops of it, by compressing from the living animal the gland which secretes it.
FIRST EXPERIMENT.
1. First day: Heavy pain in the back part of the orbit, and at the left eyebrow.—Second day: Pain under the right orbit and at the forehead, right side.—Third day: Dry cough with tickling in the throat, at night.—Fourth day: Headache extending over the forehead and then the rest of the head. 5. Fifth day: Smell all day like that of the crotalus, insipid, nauseous, like the odor perceived in a hospital. Sixth day: Lancinations in various parts of the body.—Seventh day: Contraction with pressure at the right eyeball which felt as if drawn out.—Eighth day: Yellowish diarrhœa.—Ninth day: Pain in the middle of the forehead. 10. Tenth day: Rheumatic pain in the right shoulder.—Eleventh day: Rheumatic pain in the left wrist.—Twelfth day: Violent cramps in the heel.
SECOND EXPERIMENT.
(The drug is taken at 10 o’clock in the evening.)
Spitting of black blood. 15. Prickling all over the body. Starting during sleep. Sleeplessness. Fright at night, without knowing about what. 20. Sleep in the morning. The tip of the nose is drawn up as by a string which is fastened to a central point of the forehead. Tingling in the throat. Salt taste in the mouth which cannot be removed by drinking sugar-water. 25. Pulse a little heavy. Small red conical pimples on the wrist. Painful pulling on the sides of the neck in turning the head. Feeling of coldness in the stomach, after having eaten. Sensation as if a peg were sticking in the middle portion of the liver. 30. Aching pain at the gums, left side. Circular pain round the abdomen, terminating at the navel. Two lancinations under the right shoulder, as if with a dagger, arresting the breathing and reverberating in the chest. Sensation as of a grain of sand in the outer canthi of the eyes. Burning pinching at the pylorus. 35. Constriction in the thyroid body. Sensation as if the right lower limb, from the hip to the heel, were shorter; this sensation, though illusory, causes him to limp. The left eye feels as if drawn towards the temple. Burning and constriction in the throat.
Second day: Pain in the inner head. 40. The feet are cold. The arms are weak. Contusive feeling at the inner side of the right shoulder-blade. Painful heaviness in the loins. Appearance of a blue dazzling light before the eyes. 45. Borborygmi. Painful pressure in the temples. Desire to vomit. Sensation, below the breasts, of subcutaneous ulceration. Lancinations in the dorsal spine as from needles. 50. The prover imagines he hears some one walking behind him. The cranium presses on the brain on all sides like an iron helmet. Pulling in the pit of the stomach. Itching on the thighs. Titillating itching in the ears. 55. Swelling of the right ear. Deafness. Dreams about parties with illuminations; quarrels, battles. Frontal headache, as if the forehead would split, with weight above the eyes, especially at night. Pain in the stomach extending to the navel. 60. Weariness of the arms and lower limbs. Smarting in the nostrils. Cutting sensations all round the eyeball as if cut out with a penknife. Pain in the left cheek. Sweat and debility after eating. 65. Greenish spitting in the morning. Sensation in the head, as if some living being were walking about in a circle. Shocks in the brain so violent that one is near losing one’s equilibrium. Continual twitching of the eyebrows, especially the left. Black, bloody froth around the lips, in the morning. 70. Tongue of a scarlet-red. Jerking in the fingers. Pain in the elbow as if the bones were pulled. Sensation as if a thread were rolling in the eye and were pulling the eyeball toward the temple. Acute pulling in the thigh, with momentary paralysis in the right pelvic extremity. 75. Acute lancinations in the right temple. Very thirsty. Belly-ache after drinking. Pressure in the whole abdomen, in the direction of the navel. The abdomen is exceedingly sensitive. 80. Great desire for food, suddenly passing off at the sight of the latter. Loathing of meat. Yellow rings around the eyes. Discharge of an albuminous substance from the rectum, preceded by tenesmus and urging. Falling of the rectum for ten minutes. 85. Pain in the hollow of the hand.
Third day.—Pain in the chest which reaches as far as the back. Sensation as of an opening in the pit of the stomach through which air passes. Sleeplessness with agitations. Headache as if the forehead would split. 90. Headache, nosebleed, and excited feeling in consequence of having been roused from sleep suddenly. Drawing-up of the lower limb from the hip to the foot, with crampy pain. Leucorrhœa. Small pimples on the hairy scalp. The toes remain bent. 95. The nails are red. Sensation as of water in the chest, with efforts to throw it up, and sensation as if the heart were floating in a liquid. Constant yawning. Itching of the tongue. Smarting at the tips of the fingers. 100. Sensation as of dust in the throat. The pimples at first look like flea-bites, after which they become elevated like little cones and constitute the centres of an exfoliation less extensive than that caused by the elaps coralinus, with a little black speck remaining in the middle. Itching in the canthus of the eye. Acute sensation of burning and redness of the skin which is perceptibly sunken in at the opening of the right nostril. The prover imagines he hears some one moan. 105. The thorax and head feel as if pressed upon by an iron armor. Sensation as of bands round the abdomen. Pain in the elbows. Pain in the jugular veins when moving the neck. Abundant discharge of nasal mucus, at night. 110. Foul taste, or taste as of onions in the mouth until it is rinsed. Burning and prickling at the tip of the tongue. Swoon which passes off in the open air. Anorexia all day, and a good deal of appetite in the evening. Pain above the right breast. 115. The soup falls into the stomach quite suddenly, and lies there like a stone, with pain in the back. Stitch in the left side when drawing breath after drinking. Lancinations in the side.
Fourth day.—Violent lancinations in the uterus while washing one’s-self with cold water, the lancinations become frightful when using warm water, with weight at the uterus. Itching under the feet. 120. Formication in the feet as high up as the ankles. Prickling in the bends of the knees. Faint feeling at the stomach. While in a clairvoyant state, he speaks to somebody who does not answer him. 125. Feeling of fright at night. First the blood is felt rising in the carotid arteries several times; this is followed by a faint feeling and lastly by a sensation as if a valve were suddenly opened. Violent blow at the epigastrium. All his limbs tremble. Chilliness all over which continues even under the bed-cover. 130. Violent ache at the vertex, and sensitiveness of the hairy scalp to the touch. Extinction of the voice. Great weakness. Depression of spirits. Suffocative oppression and fear of another paroxysm. 135. Sensation as if a red-hot iron were sticking in the vertex. The eyelids feel heavy. Pain in the lower gums as if they had been touched by a red-hot iron. Excessive weight at the diaphragm. Continual contusive pain between the two shoulders, and sometimes slow and measured lancinations when inclining backwards, as if a vertebra had been fractured. 140. Constrictive pain in the thyroid body as if strung together with a string.
Fifth day.—Coldness in the back after eating. Drawing from the neck to the epigastrium. Pain in the right clavicle. Weight on the orbits, at night. 145. The feet are icy-cold. Headache above the eyes, at ten o’clock in the morning. Stomach-ache when eating, as if too empty. The heart feels as if beating from above downwards. Internal pain between the shoulders. 150. The inner nose is ulcerated. He is pursued all over by the idea of death, especially when alone. He can only think of death with great depression of spirits. Ineffectual desire to weep. Lancinations in the meatus and auditorius. 155. Vermillion-colored metrorrhagia. Paralysis of the tongue. She stands for ten minutes on the window-sill, and she is arrested when on the point of precipitating herself out of the window. She rises suddenly at three o’clock, uttering two shrill cries and throwing herself forward. The vermillion-colored metrorrhagia with which she had been affected since the morning, disappears suddenly. 160. Profuse flow of tears. The hands are cold. The hands tremble. Loss of memory. Second attack at six o’clock, after which she seats herself in an arm-chair. 165. Burning forehead. Palpitation of the heart. Weeping. She plays with her fingers like a child. The suffocative oppression increases. 170. Magnetic state, she hears nothing, and again sees the phantom of death, an immense, black, fleshless skeleton; her tears and mania increase. Vacant stare. Pressive points in the abdomen.
Sixth day.—Bone-pain and swelling of the left clavicle. Dream about a horse which is bathed in a pond and gets drowned gradually. 175. Piteous moaning during sleep. Even while awake one feels as if one were falling out of bed. Acute pain at the sacro-lumbar articulation. Loss of consciousness, one hears and sees nothing. Coldness in the back. 180. Oppression of breathing, as though there were not air enough in the house. Contraction of the toes. Desire for snow, without desiring either water or wine. Itching at the epigastrium. Heat in the thighs. 185. She exclaims several times: he is in the lions’ den, but they will not bite him. At six o’clock in the evening, another fit of mania. Magnetic state, during which she does not answer any questions but hears a strange voice on her left side and behind her; she follows it, and tilts against the doors which had been closed and which she scratches with her nails. Three very nearly similar attacks succeed each other, they are occasionally interrupted by silly laughter and always end with a flood of tears. She exclaims again: he is in the den, but the lions will not eat him.
Seventh day.—Fainting from hunger, before eating. 190. Contusive pain at the occiput. Somnolence the whole morning. Another attack of mental alienation, she hears voices which she follows, and sheds a flood of tears. Her head feels heavy, with stupor. The humeral extremity of the left clavicle continues to swell. 195. Intermittent metrorrhagia twice a day, and alternating with the paroxysms of mania. Involuntary emission of urine during sleep. Pain across the umbilical region, with alternate sensation of spreading out and pinching together. Swelling of the three last toes of the left foot. Excoriation and pustules on the toes of the left foot. 200. Suffocative oppression. Pain in the bones, especially in the joints, at the shoulder-blades, elbows, at the phalanxes of the fingers, at the knees, hip and under the toe-nails. Pressure at the right hip as with the blade of a knife. The metrorrhagia ceases. She cannot bear seeing any one on her right side, without experiencing palpitation of the heart and a real fatigue from pleasure.
Eighth day. 205. Dreams about enormous shaggy spiders walking towards one and attempting to crawl over one’s person. Pain in the large psoas-muscle resembling lancinations. Suffocative oppression. A circular spot between the two breasts which is black at the upper and red at the lower portion. Hepatic spots of a bright-yellow color, or freckles on the upper part of the right hands. 210. Small red pimples on the left foot, like those which appeared on the hand on the second day of the proving. Obstinate constipation. Lancinations, as if stabbed with a knife, in the uterus and anus, especially while washing herself with cold water. Pains in the lower parts of the belly when taking a cold drink. Excessive sensitiveness of the epigastrium, which does not even allow the pressure of the clothes. 215. The molar teeth are excessively sensitive and set on edge. Vomiting after breakfast in consequence of drinking tepid water. Flushes of heat in the face. Violent itching at the calves. Small red pimples with a white tip. 220. While drinking cold water, the veins of the bend of the knee have a deep-black color. Buzzing in the ears while going down-stairs.
Ninth day.—Ache, at night, in the upper molares, with inflammation of the gums. Spitting of blood mixed with thick phlegm. Dreams about dead persons and phantoms. 225. Loathing of food. Very deaf, after a month. She feels as though her eyes were falling out. Slight pain under the lids. Discharge of white mucus from the mouth. 230. Discharge of a bright-red blood from the nose. The last phalanges feel as if broken. The tips of the fingers are blue. The nails are bare. Yellow complexion. 235. Pain in the left side. She feels uncomfortable in consequence of having her courses, and is out of humor on account of having them. Aversion to talking; sensitive mood. Desire to move about. 240. She answers all questions with: no. Small red pimples all over. Tightness of the head, from above. Cramps in the arms, as if the nerves had been tied up in a knot during a venesection.
ARRANGEMENT ACCORDING TO HAHNEMANN.
Moral and Mental Sphere: 1. She answers no, whenever she is asked a question. Sensitive mood. Aversion to talking. Sensation as if one were falling out of bed, even while awake. 5. Loss of consciousness. She exclaims: he is in the lions’ den, but they will not bite him. Magnetic state; she hears a strange voice, follows it and tilts against the doors; she has three such attacks, occasionally interrupted by laughter and tears. Ineffectual desire to weep. Loss of memory. 10. Magnetic state; she hears nothing, and sees a black skeleton. Mania. He thinks he will die, especially when alone. Depression of spirits. Despair. 15. Anguish.
Head: Sensation as of a red-hot iron in the vertex. Lancinations in right temple. Violent ache at the vertex. Burning forehead. 20. Contusive pain at the occiput. Tightness of the head, from above. Her head feels heavy, with stupor. Sensation in the head as if some thing alive were walking about in a circle. Shocks in the brain. 25. Painful pressure in the temples. Sensation as if the brain were pressed upon by an iron helmet. Headache as if the forehead would split, with weight above the eyes. Pain in middle of forehead. Pain in the interior of the head. 30. Pain under the right orbit and in right side of forehead. Frontal headache, afterwards all over the head. Sensitiveness of the having scalp.
Eyes: Pain under the lids. Sensation as though her eyes would fall out. 35. Profuse lachrymation. Heavy pain at back part of orbit and left eyebrow. Vacant stare. Weight on the orbits, at night. The eyelids feel heavy. 40. Itching of the canthus. Yellow rings round the eyes. Blue dazzling light before the eyes. Twitching of the eyebrows. Sensation as if the eyeball were pulled towards the temple by a thread. 45. Sense of a grain of sand in the outer canthi. The left eye feels as if drawn towards the temples. Contractive pressure at right eyeball, which felt as if drawn out. Cutting round the eyeball.
Ears: Buzzing in the ears while going down-stairs. 50. Lancinations in the meatus auditorius. He imagines he hears some one walking behind him. Sensation as if some one were moaning. Titillating itching in the ears. Deafness. 55. Swelling of the right ear.
Face: Yellow complexion. Alteration of the features. Formication in the face. Flushes of heat in the face. Pain in left cheek.
Nose: 60. Ulceration of the inner nose. Discharge of a bloody liquid from the nose. Sense of burning and redness of the skin, with depression, at the orifice of the right nostril. Nosebleed. Smarting in the nostrils. 65. Insipid, nauseous smell all day, as in a hospital. The tip of the nose is drawn up.
Teeth: Pain in lower gums as from a red-hot iron. Aching in the upper molares, at night, with inflammation of the gums. The molar teeth are sensitive and set on edge. 70. Aching pain in left gums.
Mouth: Paralysis of the tongue. Burning and prickling at the tip of the tongue. Itching of the tongue. Tongue of a scarlet-red. 75. Pain in the tongue. Spitting of black blood. Spitting of blood, mixed with thick phlegm. Discharge of white mucus from the mouth. Greenish spitting in the morning. 80. Black, bloody froth around the lips in the morning. Thick, viscid saliva which it is difficult to get out.
Taste and Gastric Symptoms: Salt taste in the mouth, not removed by drinking sugar-water. Taste as of onions in the mouth, before rinsing it. Aversion to food. 85. Desire for snow. Desire for food, passing off on seeing it. Thirst. Fainting from hunger. Coldness in the back after eating. 90. Anorexia all day. The soup descends into the stomach quite suddenly, and lies there like a heavy body, with pain in the back. Stitch in the left side, after drinking when drawing breath. Colic after drinking. Aversion to meat. 95. Sweat and debility after eating. Desire to vomit.
Throat: Constriction of the throat. Sensation of a lump in his throat. Difficulty of swallowing. 100. Sense of dust in the throat. Burning and constriction in the throat. Tingling in the throat.
Stomach: Stomach-ache, when eating, as if too empty. Faint feeling at the stomach. 105. Pulling in pit of stomach. Sensation of an opening in pit of stomach, through which air passes. Pain from stomach to navel. Burning pinching at the pylorus. Feeling of coldness in the stomach, after eating.
Abdomen: 110. Sensitiveness of the epigastrium. Pressive points in the abdomen. Lancing pains in the large psoas-muscle. Pains in lower part of belly when taking a cold drink. Pain across the umbilical region, with alternate sensation of spreading out and pinching together. 115. Itching at the epigastrium. Shock at the epigastrium. Falling of the rectum. Weight at the diaphragm. Sense of bands round the abdomen. 120. Pressure in abdomen, towards the navel. The abdomen is sensitive. Discharge of an albuminous substance from the rectum, preceded by tenesmus. Borborygmi. Sense of a peg sticking in the middle of the liver. 125. Circular pain round the abdomen, terminating at the navel.
Stool: Constipation. Yellowish diarrhœa.
Urinary and Sexual Organs: Emission of a deeply-colored urine. Metrorrhagia (vermillion-colored). 130. Feels uncomfortable in consequence of having her courses. Metrorrhagia alternating with mania. Lancination in uterus, especially when washing one’s self with warm water, with weight at the uterus. Leucorrhœa.
Bronchial Symptoms: Aphonia. 135. Pain in the larynx. Dry cough, with tickling in the throat, at night.
Chest: Round spot between the breasts, black above and red below. Swelling of the humeral extremity of the left clavicle. Palpitation of the heart. 140. Suffocative oppression. Oppression of breathing, as from want of air. Bone pain and swelling of the left clavicle. Anxious breathing. The heart feels as if beating from above downwards. 145. The thorax feels as if encased in iron. Pain in the right clavicle. Violent pains in the chest. Pain above the right breast. Sensation of water in the chest, and as if the heart were floating in a liquid. 150. Copious sweat on the chest. Ulcerative feeling under the breast.
Back: Coldness in the back. Slow lancinations between the shoulders, when inclining backwards. Acute pain at the sacro-lumbar articulation. 155. Internal pain between the shoulders. Contusive pain between the shoulders. Lancination in the dorsal spine, as from needles. Painful heaviness in the loins. Contusive feeling at inner side of right shoulder-blade.
Neck: 160. Constrictive pain in thyroid body. Swelling of the jugular veins. He feels the blood rise in the carotid arteries, followed by faint feeling and sensation as if a valve were opening. Drawing from the neck to the epigastrium. Pain in the jugular veins when moving, the neck. 165. Constriction in thyroid body. Painful pulling in the sides of the neck when turning the head.
Upper Extremities: Lancinations under the right shoulder arresting the breathing. The bitten hand and arm are inflamed and very painful. Sensation of swelling in the forearm. Violent pain in the whole arm. Weakness of the arms. 170. Cramps in the arms as if the nerves had been tied up in a knot, during a venesection. Rheumatic pain in right shoulder. Trembling of the hands. Slight pain in the hollow of the hand. Pulling pain in the elbows. 175. Pain in the elbows. Enormous swelling of the hand. Feeling of coldness in the hand. Jerking in the fingers. Smarting of the tips of the fingers. 180. The tips of the fingers are blue. The last phalanges feel as if broken. She plays with her fingers. Nails are red. The nails are bare. 185. Rheumatic pain in left wrist.
Lower Extremities: Sensation as if the whole right lower limb were shorter; this causes him to limp. Acute pulling in the thigh, with momentary paralysis. Itching on the thighs. Drawing-up of the lower limb, with crampy pain. 190. Pressure at right hip as from a knife. Heat in the thighs. Sense of burning heat in the legs. Prickling in the bends of the knees. Itching of the calves. 195. Cold feet. Sense of coldness in the feet. The feet are icy-cold. Itching under the feet. Formication in the feet. 200. The toes remain bent. Contraction of the toes. Swelling of the three last toes of the left foot. Violent cramp of the heel.
Sleep: Sudden rising at three in the morning, and uttering two shrill cries, with throwing herself forward. 205. Dreams about dead persons and phantoms. Dreams about spiders attempting to crawl over her. Disposition to slumber. Somnolence, the whole morning. Moaning during sleep. 210. Involuntary urination during sleep. Dream about a horse which is drowned in a pond. Yawning. Dreams about illuminations, quarrels. Sleeplessness. 215. Starting during sleep. Fright at night, without knowing about what.
Fever: Chilliness all over. Sense of chilliness. Pulse heavy. 220. Pulse 98 to 104.
Cutaneous Symptoms: Bright-yellow spots on upper part of right hand. Red pimples on left foot. Red pimples all over. Red pimples with white tips. 225. Pustules on the left toes. Pimples on the hairy scalp. Pimples resembling flea-bites, afterwards becoming raised and exfoliating, leaving a black point in the centre. Red pimples on the wrist.
General Symptoms: Pain in left side. 230. Trembling of the whole body. She cannot see any one on her right side without feeling a palpitation of the heart, and a real fatigue from pleasure. Desire to move about. Pain in the joints, shoulder-blades, elbows, &c. Trembling of the limbs. 235. Weakness. Torpor. Pains in the whole body, inducing a moaning. Swoon. Lancinations in the side. 240. Prickling all over. Weariness of the arms and lower limbs. Lancinations in various parts of the body.
ELAPS CORALLINUS.
ELAPS. ELAPS VENUSTISSIMUS (SPIX.) VIPERA CORALLINA.
The elaps corallinus is found quite frequently in the woods all along the coast of Brazil, and its bite is much dreaded. Its colors are more brilliant and more agreeably combined than those of any other serpent in Brazil. Its head is small, covered with large polygonal scales; it swells behind and is continuous with the neck from which it is scarcely distinguished as regards size. It has round and small eyes; the jaws which are little dilatable, are furnished with sharp teeth accompanied by fangs that rest on the venomous glands. The body is about two feet and a half in length; it is round, rather big in proportion to the head, and terminates in a sharp tail. The upper part is covered with smooth rhomboïdal scales; the belly is covered with two hundred transverse shields; the tail numbers fifty shields, which are disposed in two parallel rows. Its colors are disposed in the shape of rings of a vermillion-red, alternating with black rings, each two rings being separated by circular lines of a greenish white. The upper part of the head is black; likewise the first colored ring of the neck; the shields of the jaws are white, and are separated from each other by black lines. As in the case of the crotalus cascavella, the poison was taken from the living reptile, not without danger.
As soon as I had determined to institute provings with the poison of the cobra-coral, several of these reptiles were, at my request, brought to me on the same day, so frequent are they in the forests of Sahy. The animal which I selected was wrapt up in a piece of linen-cloth, and, after its head had been steadied with a little wooden pin, some eight or ten drops of poison were pressed out of its jaws by means of a pair of steel-pincers, which I received on one hundred grains of sugar of milk, and at once subjected to the process of trituration in my mechanical mortar. They received six thousand successive turns. One grain of this mass was triturated a second time, and a grain of this second trituration a third time, each receiving three thousand turns.
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.
Third day.—175. Breakfast agrees pretty well, but the dinner distresses him. Very sensitive to the cold. Warmth in the hollow of the hand, after dinner. Coldness in the back. Blear-eyed. 180. Sensation, in the right eye, of a gauze having a bluish-white or mother-of-pearl color. Sense of stiffness and spraining in the knee-joint. Disposition to faint. Sleeplessness or else drowsiness, with distressing dreams about the business of the day. 185. Lancinations in the vagina. Heat in the left nostril, and swelling of the nasal septum. Weight in the vagina, on the left side, and acute pain which prevents her from going up-stairs. Sensations in the abdomen as of a tube which can suddenly be closed by means of a valve, and through which a column of some liquid is poured into the abdomen, where a violent rumbling takes place. The left eyebrow is painful and drawn down. 190. Eructation tasting like spoiled eggs in the throat. Lancinations which proceed simultaneously from the groins and cross each other at the symphysis pubis. Violent diarrhœa, consisting of sanguinolent mucus and yellow bile, whereas it had been green heretofore. Sensation, while walking, of a black disk of four inches in diameter, at the distance of a few paces from the eye. Discharge of black blood with stool, with acute colic as though the intestines would be twisted together. 195. Stye at the left eye, with violent lancination. Tickling and reddish streaks of the sclerotica. Red spot on the knee-pan. Violent colic as though the intestines would become twisted amongst each other. Bloody dysentery, followed by sleep. 200. The menses appear before their regular period. Pressure between the shoulders. Greyish gauze before the eyes, like a cloud, which becomes thicker; at first it is of the size of a penny, and spreads until finally it covers the whole field of vision. Sensation as if an iron bar were pressing on the loins. Lancination in the stye on the left eye. 205. Lancinations in the dorsal muscles, especially in raising the arms. The right side is numb and as if paralysed, from the shoulder to the knee. Pulling at the cardiac orifice, with sensation of hunger and boring feeling extending to the vertebral column. Pain in the spinal marrow, from the nape of the neck to the sacro-lumbar articulation. The neck remains twisted when turning it, with constriction in the thyroid gland. Crampy constriction at the bend of the elbow, especially when moving it. 210. Weight in the stomach after the introduction of food; it turns, with desire to vomit. Constrictive pain at the bend of the elbow and knee. Itching in the meatus auditorius. This itching spreads in the interior of the cheek all along the duct of steno. Watery saliva. 215. The viscous saliva is more abundant. Changing one’s position is painful, one would like to remain seated or lying. Diarrhœa consisting of undigested food. The teeth are loose; one is unable to chew bread. Loose cough.
Fourth day.—220. Complete paralysis of the right side, with inability to rise in the morning. Violent itching in the left eye. Complete blindness for five minutes. The right hand is benumbed; a stitch is felt through the thickness of the metacarpus. Smarting under the nails. 225. Painful drawing at the inner part of the arm, from the axilla to the wrist; but especially distressing at the spot where the prover had been bled. Small red tetter at the corner of the right nostril, spreading to the cheek, with tickling. Stoppage of the nostrils, one has to breathe by the mouth. Suffocative oppression while eating. 230. Violent distress throughout the thoracic viscera. Cyanosis and reddish spots of the extremities. Violent itching under the axilla, and appearance of a tetter. The blood rushes to the right hand, which is of a violet color and as if paralysed. Shuddering up to the shoulder when dipping the hand in water. 235. The arm and hand are swollen, blueish, and covered with red spots, likewise the right leg and foot. Cramps in the whole of the right side. Cramps in the calves. Swelling of the stomach. Acute lancinations, from time to time, in the fourth toe of the left foot, as if pierced by a needle. 240. Quick and transitory lancinations in the back, sides and arms. Pain at the roots of the hairs on the occiput. Fruit and cold drinks lie in the stomach like ice. Sudden colic, with diarrhœa. Lancinations and stitches in the upper part of each lung. 245. Bloat in the region of the diaphragm. After taking a cold drink, shuddering from the head to the feet, and chattering of the teeth. Lancinations in the inner side of the knee. Lancinations from the root of the nose to the ear. Sensitiveness in the pit of the stomach. 250. The tips of the fingers peel off, which is painful. Redness and pain under the nails, the parts look as if raw. Biting one’s hand during sleep, without waking. Pressure between the shoulders. Liquids descend in the œsophagus with a sound like glou-glou. 255. The nose continues to swell and the pain extends to the ear. Prickling in the eyebrows, especially the left. Acute pain in the iliac bone, on the right side, as though the crest were swollen and the periosteum inflamed. The right leg up to the knee is cold as ice. Frontal headache. 260. Discharge of black, liquid blood from the bowels. Borborygmi and noisy flatulence. Constriction of the sphincter, a quarter of an hour after the discharge. The peristaltic motion of the intestines takes place from below upwards; the blood seems to flow backwards in the abdomen, with violent pain and frightful palpitations, succeeded by lancinations which prevent walking.
Fifth day.—Dreams about dead persons; she kisses dead persons, falls into pits where her feet get entangled; she walks sideways. 265. Quarrelsome, irritable mood, with agitation of the mind. Good appetite. The heel begins to peel off the same as the fingers. While dreaming she bites her forearm. Vertigo so as to fall forwards. 270. Sensation as if falling forward, though the prover remains immoveable. When raising the hand to the right side of the nape of the neck, a penetrating pain is felt which spreads to the ear. Stitch in the side, a whole day. The breathing through the nose is interrupted. One hears some one talking. 275. Violent itching of the hairy scalp.
Sixth day.—Strange illusion of hearing; she heard whistling and ringing, and rises to see where it is. Frightful dreams; she buries a dead person and, with a knife, digs about in his wounds. Afterwards the experiences a burning remorse and sheds a flood of tears. She dreams that she has a fight with a man condemned to the galleys. 280. Desire to strike and pick a quarrel. Mental excitements. Itching of the soles of the feet, which continue to peel off. Small pimple with a good deal of itching. Slight discharge of a clear mucus from the urethra. 285. At the least contrariety the body shudders and the blood boils, with pricklings. Lassitude in all the limbs.
Seventh day.—Desire to go to the country and play about in the grass. Desire to be alone; for days she remains in the corner of the anti-chamber. Sound sleep. Plans about travelling, &c. 290. She hears distant whistling. Bread tastes flat, like the triturated poison which had been swallowed for the purpose of proving it. She wants to leave the house at the moment when she is going to bed. She retires to a distant room to work. Irresistible desire to cry out with all her might. 295. Loathing of meat, bananas, and particularly bread. Desire for oranges, acids, and especially for sour beef. Profuse cold sweat all over the body.
Eighth day.—During a whole month, bread does not mix up with other food, it returns by the nose the whole day, whereas the other kinds of food are either digested naturally or thrown up again by the mouth. Metrorrhagia. 300. Violent aversion to light; one prefers to be in the dark. Violent diarrhœa, continued. Breaking out of little pimples with an oval base, they dry up and are followed by desquamation of the epidermis.
Ninth day.—Complete loss of appetite, she eats nothing but oranges. Bruising pain in the upper portion of the deltoid muscle, as if she had received a violent blow on the shoulder. 305. Tongue black or of a dark-red color. The tetter at the wing of the nose peels off. Yellow, irregular spots on the hand and around the fingers, over a considerable space. A red, transversal bar of an inch in thickness is seen in opening the eyes, and a red disk when shutting them. Boils on the arm. 310. Profound ennui. Depression of spirits; desire to be in a deep cavern, where nobody can be seen. Absence of thought. Complete loss of one’s self, so that the time passes away without one being conscious of it in the least.
Tenth day.—After eating an orange and bread, the orange returns by the mouth and the bread by the nose. 315. Coldness at the back part of the thighs. Furfuraceous tetter and itching at the hairy scalp. She feels hungry and yet is unable to eat. Small miliary pimples upon a red base at the corner of the nose. Violent hunger. 320. Burning in the stomach which extends to the duodenum. Suffocative oppression after eating. Pain in the right side, as if in the pleura, striking to the axilla. Constant hunger which cannot be appeased on account of the continual vomiting. Small suppurating pimples on the hands, fingers, wrists, gums, at the inside of the cheeks. 325. Violent itching at the abdomen, especially while walking. Innumerable white pimples at the inside of the thighs, which get inflamed in the day-time and prevent one from walking in the evening. Burning of the eyebrows. Drowsy in the day-time, especially at two o’clock, and sleepless at night. Tickling at the root of the nose, as from worms. 330. Tongue swollen and whitish, in the morning. Bloating around the eyes which appear sunken in the morning. The arterial blood spirts from the nose and ears. Formication at the anus as if a worm were gnawing at the parts. Suppression of urine. 335. Tickling and frightful formication at the vulva. Very thirsty; desire for milk. Cold sweat all over. Slow digestion, one has to drink after every mouthful that one swallows. Excessive horror of rain. 340. Discharge of a black blood from the womb. Noise as from a valve closing in the trachea and causing a column of air to ascend to the pharynx.
Eleventh day.—Discharge of blood from the ear. The bread returns by the nose.
Twelfth day.—Loathing of bread and other food. 345. Decided taste for oranges and salad. Watery vomiting in the morning. Ellyptical pimples full of serum. Acute pains in the descending colon. Small red pimples at the tips of the fingers.
Thirteenth day.—350. The gums become loose near to the roots of the teeth. The intestines seem to turn violently about one other, after which they feel for a few moments as if twisted together like a cord, and then are suddenly strung together as by a knot, causing a sensation as if the abdomen would be choked from side to side. Extreme sensation of coldness after drinking and as if ice-water were rising and descending through a cylindrical opening in the left lungs. Vomiting of food.
ARRANGEMENT ACCORDING TO HAHNEMANN.
Mental and Moral: 1. He imagines he is receiving blows. Absence of mind. Horror of rain. Complete forgetfulness of one’s-self. 5. She wants to go out at the moment of retiring to bed. Irresistible desire to cry out. Vertigo, she falls forwards. Depression of spirits, she desires to be in a cavern, alone. Desire for country-air and sport. 10. Desire for solitude. Plans about travelling, &c. Quarrelsome.
Head: Pain in cerebellum, right side. The hairy scalp at the occipital protuberance feels raw, in the morning. 15. Painful constriction in the temples and eyes. Horrid pains when inclining the head backwards. Weight in forehead. Weight in right parietal region and pain penetrating to the nape of the neck. Sensation as of a foreign body in right temple. 20. Pain in the forehead. Boring pain from vertex to right eyebrow. Pain at the roots of the hairs on the occiput. Itching of the hairy scalp.
Face: Dark complexion. 25. Itching in the ear and cheek. Lancinations from the root of the nose to the ear. Boring pain from the lower jaw to the right eye, and then from the right eyelid to the ear.
Ear: Pinching at helix and lobule. Itching in the ear. 30. The cerumen is hardened and black. Itching in the right meatus. Deafness. Illusion of hearing, she hears a whistling and ringing. He imagines he hears some one speak. 35. Ringing. Constant buzzing in the meatus. Buzzing. Discharge of a serous fluid from the left ear. Discharge of blood from the ear. 40. Discharge of a greenish-yellow liquid from the ear, morning.
Eyes: Stye at left eye, with lancination. Tickling and red streaks of the sclerotica. The left eyebrow is painful and drawn down. Blood oozes from the eyes. 45. Blindness for some minutes. Violent itching in the left eye. Prickling in the eyebrows. Aversion to light. Burning of the eyebrows. 50. Bloating around the eyes, in the morning. Aching pain around the eyes, with vanishing of sight. Sharp prickling in the inner canthi. Desire to close one’s eyes. Lancination in outer canthus of left eye. 55. The eye is sensitive to cold water. Red eyebrows. Eyes red and inflamed. Difficulty of opening the eyes. Sand in the eyes. 60. Blear-eyed. Glassy look. Sensation in the right eye as of a gauze of a blueish-white or mother-of-pearl color. Black disk at a few feet from the eye, when walking. Greyish gauze before the eyes, gradually spreading over the whole field of vision. 65. Red bar before the eyes when opening them, and a red disk when shutting them. When closing the eyes, every thing looks red, dotted with black points. Sense of long, white filaments before the eyes.
Nose: Tickling at the nose. Stoppage of right nostril. 70. Bad smell from the nose. Distressing prickling in the superior nasal fossa. Tickling at the root of the nose. Swelling of the nose, with pain extending to the ear. Stoppage of the nostrils. 75. Heat in left nostril, and swelling of the septum. White and watery mucus is discharged from the nose.
Teeth: The teeth are loose. Prickling in left gums. Swelling of the gums on the last three molares. 80. Looseness of the gums at the roots of the teeth.
Mouth: Salt tasting saliva. Bitter, salt taste in mouth. Prickling at the tip of the tongue. Tongue swollen and whitish, in the morning. 85. Tongue black or dark-red.
Throat: The beverage is arrested in the œsophagus as by a spasmodic contraction of this organ, after which it descends like a heavy weight. Pulling in the œsophagus. Constriction with pressure, in the throat. Sensation as if the food turned like a screw while passing down. 90. Burning as from peppermint, from the larynx to the tongue. Sensation as of a valve in the trachea causing a column of air to ascend in the pharynx. Stoppage in the œsophagus, after eating, as if a sponge had lodged there.
Gastric Symptoms: Vomiting of green bile, followed by bilious diarrhœa. Weight at the stomach, after eating. 95. Acidity, with nausea and faint feeling. Violent thirst. Cold feeling in the chest, after drinking. Desire for food, with aversion to eating. Desire for food causing a violent headache, unless satisfied at once. 100. Violent hunger. Suffocative oppression after eating. Bloating of the stomach after eating. Acidity after every mouthful of food. Aversion to food. 105. Desire for cold water, ice. Sour eructation. Sense of coldness after drinking, as if ice-water were rising and descending through an opening in the left lung. She has to drink after every mouthful she swallows. Watery vomiting in the morning. 110. She feels hungry, but is unable to eat. Hunger, with continual vomiting, preventing one from appeasing the hunger. Aversion to meat, bread. Desire for oranges, acid. Loss of appetite. 115. Bread returns by the nose, and does not mix up with the other kinds of food, for a month. Bread tastes flat, like the poison. Fruit and cold drinks feel like ice in the stomach. Shuddering and chattering of the teeth, after taking a cold drink. Suffocative oppression while eating. 120. Eructations tasting like spoiled eggs. The dinner distresses him. Pulling in pit of stomach. The food descends violently into the stomach, which trembles.
Stomach: Burning in the stomach. 125. Sensitiveness of the pit of the stomach. Swelling of the stomach. Pulling at the cardiac orifice, with sense of hunger and boring to the spine. Weight in stomach, with desire to vomit, after eating.
Abdomen: Lancinations from the navel to the womb. Pains in the loins as from a band, extending to the uterus. Colic spreading from the cœcum to the rectum. Swelling of the inguinal glands. Colic, with urging to stool. Borborygmi. 130. Falling of rectum. Distress in abdomen. Pressure in right hypochondrium. Itching, drawing and pricking at epigastrium, hindering breathing. The intestines turn about one another, and then feel twisted as by a cord, and strung together in a knot, with strangulating sensation in the abdomen. 140. Formication at the anus, as from worms. Acute pains in the descending colon. Itching at the abdomen, especially when walking. Sensation as if the blood in the abdomen were flowing backwards, with violent pain and palpitations, succeeded by lancinations. Sudden colic, with diarrhœa. 145. Bloat in region of diaphragm. Sense of an iron bar pressing on the loins. Sensation in the abdomen as of a tube which can be closed by a valve and through which liquid is poured into the abdomen. Lancinations from both groins to the symphysis pubis.
Stool: Blackish and froth, diarrhœa. 150. Lienteria. Constriction of the sphincter. Watery, yellowish diarrhœa, with slime, also rumbling. Discharge of black, liquid blood from the bowels. Constriction of the sphincter, after bloody stool. 155. Bloody dysentery. Diarrhœa consisting of bile and bloody mucus. Discharge of black blood at stool, with colic as though the bowels would be twisted.
Urinary and Sexual: Red urine, with cloudy sediment. Thick urine with red sediment. 160. Pain in urethra while urinating. Red urine. Suppression of urine. Discharge of mucus from the urethra. Itching excoriation on the back of the penis. 165. Impotence. Lancinations and prickings in the penis. Weight and swelling of the testes. The skin of the prepuce is thick and inflamed. Discharge of prostatic fluid. 170. Discharge of black blood between the menses. Prickling in the uterus, vagina and pubic region. White, albuminous leucorrhœa. Weight at the uterus. Weight at the vagina, after an attack of hysteric colic. 175. Horrid formication at the vulva. Discharge of black blood from the womb. Metrorrhagia. Itching in the vagina. Premature menses. 180. Weight in the vagina, with acute pain preventing her from going up-stairs.
Bronchial: Coryza from the least currents of air. Constant cough. Fit of dry cough which ends in raising black blood, with tearing pains in every part of the lungs and especially in right side, superiorly. Taste of blood in mouth before coughing. 185. Loose cough. Hoarseness. Chronic loss of breath on going up-stairs. Violent distress in the chest. Sensation as if the pleura would be torn, and as if the lungs would be split by force.
Chest: 190. Spitting of black blood, with painful tearing as if proceeding from the heart. Constriction of the chest. Stitches in upper part of each lung. Painful pulling in right lung on which account he is unable to lean to the right side. Dull pain in right lung, worse when walking. 195. Dull pain in right lung, worse when walking, with rush of blood to the throat. Prickling and pulling in right lung. Palpitation of the heart.
Back: Lancinations in the dorsal muscles. Pain in the whole spinal marrow. 200. Pressure between the shoulders. Coldness in the back. Lancinations from the occiput to the sacrum, with pain in the temples.
Neck: Sense of excoriation at the nape of the neck. Painful pressure at nape of neck. 205. The parotid glands are painful. Bruising pain in sides of neck. Twitching in the parotid glands. Tension in nape of neck. Stiffness of the neck. 210. Beating in the nape of neck, like the ticking of a clock. Throbbing of the external carotid. When raising the hand to the right side of the neck, a penetrating pain in feet, spreading to the ear. The neck remains twisted when turned.
Upper Extremities: Painful drawing at the inner side of the arm. 215. Itching under the axilla, with tetter. The arm and hand are swollen, blueish, covered with red spots, also the right leg and foot. Bruising pain in the deltoid muscle. Painful drawing from axilla to wrist, at inner side. Crampy constriction at the bend of the elbow. 220. Pains in the elbows. Warmth in the hollow of the hand, after dinner. The right hand feels numb, with a stitch through the metacarpus. The hand looks congested, and is as if paralysed. Lancinations in the back of the hands. 225. Pulling in right hand. Prickling in the back of the right hand. Burning in the hands while preparing the drug. The right hand feels as if paralysed. Smarting under the nails. 230. The tips of the fingers peel off. Redness and pain under the nails, the parts look as if raw. Crampy constriction in the phalanxes and under the nails.
Lower Extremities: The lower limbs give way. Acute pain in the right iliac bone, as though the crest were swollen and inflamed. 235. Coldness behind the thighs. Cramps in the calves. Lancination at inner side of the knee. Cramps in the calves. Icy-coldness of the right legs. 240. Pains in the knees, especially the left, as if bruised and contused. Sense of spraining and stiffness in the knee-joint. Contusive pain at inner side of left leg, with sensation as if something were rising and descending in the tibia. The soles of the feet itch and peel off. Drawing-up of the feet. 245. The left foot is swollen and blue, with red spots. Pain in the right instep, as from walking. Lancinations in the soles of the feet while seated, ceasing when walking. Dartings in the left fourth toe, now and then. The heel peels off. 250. Prickling under the toe-nails.
Fever: Sensitive to cold. Sweat on the forehead and nape of neck. The arm shudders when dipping the hand in water. Shuddering of the arm when dipping the hand into cold water. 255. Cold sweat all over.
Sleep: Sleeplessness with uneasiness. Drowsy all day, no sleep at night. Dreams about previous business. Nightmare, with congestion about the head. 260. Anxious dreams. She dreams that she buries a dead person and digs in his wounds with a knife. She dreams that she is fighting with a man condemned to the galleys. She bites his hand during sleep. Dreams about dead persons, she kisses them and falls into pits. 265. Dreams about business.
Cutaneous: Red spot on the knee-pan. Boils on the arm. Crusty eruption on the ear and cheek. Itching pimple on the legs. Vesicular eruption on the feet. 270. Phlyctænæ here and there, especially on the extremities. Pimples full of serum. Red pimples at the tips of the fingers. Miliary pimples at the corner of the nose, upon a red base. Furfuraceous tetter at the hairy scalp. 275. Suppurating pimples on the hands, fingers, wrists, gums, &c. Numerous white pimples at the inside of the thighs, inflamed in the day-time. Little pimples, followed by desquamation. Yellow spots on the hand and fingers. Red tetter from the corner of the right nostril to the cheek.
General: 280. Lassitude in the limbs. Congestion first to the chest, then the abdomen. Stitch in the side. Pressure in left side, extending to the vertebral column. Black blood spirts out of the finger when pricked. 285. The right side feels sensitive, with inability to rise in the morning. Prickling as by spice, after triturating the drugs. Spirting of arterial blood from the nose and ears. Pain in the right side, up to the axilla. Stitch in the side. 290. Lassitude in all the limbs. At the least contrariety the body shudders and the blood boils, with prickling. Cramps in the right side. Quick lancinations in the back, sides and arms. The extremities look blue, with reddish spots. 295. Paralysis of the right side. The right side is numb and as if paralysed. Constrictive pain at the bend of the elbow and knee. A change of position is painful. Aching in left side. 300. Disposed to faint.
PEDICULUS CAPITIS
(Common Louse).
It is scarcely necessary to give a description of this species which is sufficiently known; we shall content ourselves with indicating the principal characteristics which distinguish it from the other vermin living on the surface of the human body. The louse is of an oval form; flattened, longer than the crab-louse; its head is very small; its thorax is composed of three not very distinct rings; the abdomen is all of one piece, rounded off on the sides; it is ash-colored, whereas the crab-louse is entirely white. The lice which have been made use of in our provings, were taken from the head of a healthy child of five years.
Even before undertaking this experiment we expected to derive from it important results. We entertained the belief that nature pointed out to us the louse as a specific for the hereditary psora, in which belief we were strengthened by the fact that psorin develops the lice-malady in healthy persons. And we are now prepared to affirm that we have found the louse one of the most useful agents in diseases of children. We offer the following pathogenesis with a sincere pleasure which none but those who devote themselves to such patient investigations, can appreciate.[2]
SYMPTOMATIC ARRANGEMENT ACCORDING TO HAHNEMANN.
Moral and Mental: 1. Depression of spirits. Dulness of feeling. Merry in the evening. Very merry. 5. Irascible. Sad without cause. Sensation as if raised off the ground by the hair. She is waked in the night by an attack of dizziness, and inability to open the eyes. Dizziness while walking; the cerebellum feels compressed, with beating and an acute pain on rising in the morning.
Head: 10. Frontal headache. Headache at intervals, and abating all at once. Headache in the evening. Heaviness of the head. Dulness of the head, on rising, with beating in the right temple. 15. Heaviness at the vertex. Violent headache, with dizziness and nausea, in the forenoon. Violent headache, worse on stooping. Headache, with nausea, when walking. Violent headache, and darting in the forehead, when walking. 20. Dull pain in the head, on rising from bed. Headache and pressure at the nasal eminence. Lancinations in the forehead. Dartings in the forehead. Dartings in the right parietal bone. 25. Intermittent dartings in the head, worse when stooping. Heat about the head. Itching of the hairy scalp, in front. Contraction of the hairy scalp. Itching of the left temple. 30. Itching of the hairy scalp. Shuddering over the left side of the hairy scalp. Falling of the hair.
Face: Dark complexion. Warmth of the face, afternoon. 35. Itching of the beard. The face is red and bloated. Sweat in the face. Scarlet-redness of the face. Itching at the right lower part of the face. 40. Heat in the face. Tingling pain in the right cheek. Itching of the face and hairy scalp. The left cheek is swollen.
Nose: Tickling and prickling at the left wing of the nose. 45. Inflammation of the nasal fossæ. Dartings in the root of the nose. Itching of the tip of the nose.
Ears: Itching in the left ear, evening. Buzzing in the ears. 50. Hot ears. Itching of the right ear. Whizzing in the ears, when whistling. Cracking in the right ear, when eating.
Eyes: Itching of the left eyelid. 55. Rings around the eyes. Dilatation of the pupils. Smarting of the eyes as from weeping. The eyes feel weary, are red and smart. Sensation as of sand in the eyes. 60. Smarting around the eyes.
Teeth: The lower jaw feels tired, as from chewing too much. Dartings in the right upper molares.
Mouth: The lips are black and cracked. Dry, swollen and red lips. 65. Burning and prickling on the border of the tongue, which is red and cracked.
Gastric: Hunger, with inability to swallow; the pharynx seems to contract, followed by fainting and desire to vomit, at noon. Aversion to food. Constant nausea in the evening. Difficult digestion, with contraction of the stomach. 70. Colic and diarrhœa after dinner.
Throat: Sore throat, getting worse until evening. Scraping in the throat. Sore throat every evening. Transitory choking, especially after supper. 75. Dryness of the throat. Scraping at the tonsils, when swallowing. Sore throat, with constriction of the pharynx. Constant swallowing of saliva.
Stomach, &c.: Stomach-ache, and dartings in the umbilical region. 80. Violent colic. Slight colic.
Stool: Soft stool, in the evening. Diarrhœa evening and next morning. Hard and scanty stool.
Urinary, Genital, &c.: 85. Frequent and copious discharge of a watery, yellow-greenish urine. Red urine. Yellow, clear urine. Frequent and copious micturition. Continual erection, without desire. 90. Leucorrhœa. Shifting pain in the uterus, in the evening. Painful stitch in the uterus. Painful dartings, heat and itching in the uterus.
Bronchial, Chest: Thirst with hoarseness, towards evening. 95. Dry and convulsive cough. Numbness while drawing breath. Pain in the breasts, when drawing breath. Pain in the chest, worse when touched. Oppression on the chest, in the evening.
Back: 100. Tickling at the nape of the neck and between the shoulders. Itching of the nape of the neck and back. Frequent pain in the loins, when standing. Itching of the back.
Extremities: Bruising pain on the shoulders and arms. 105. Darting at the arms. Itching of the forearm, in the evening. Pain in the bend of the right arm. Itching of the forearm, in the evening. Tickling at the left wrist. 110. Tickling at the wrists. Darting in the back of the left hand. Itching at the backs of the hands. Itching of the back of the hand, with redness and swelling of the veins. Tremor of the hands. 115. Darting and itching at the first phalanx of the middle-finger. Tingling in the tips of the middle and index fingers. Itching at the ring-finger. Itching of first phalanx of right index-finger. Redness and itching at the right hip. 120. Itching as from nettles in the bend of the thigh. The skin on the left thigh peels off. Weakness of the lower limbs. The knee and upper portion of the left lower limb feel tired. Violent lancination above the left knee-pan. 125. Beating above the left knee-pan. Weariness of the knees, especially the left, in the evening. Intense itching at the right instep. Cold sweat at the feet, followed by excessive coldness, in the evening. Ganglion under the foot, hard, swollen, and painful when walking.
Sleep, Fever: 130. Yawning. Drowsy. Uneasy sleep. Restless night. Frequent waking. 135. Dreams about a mob, then amorous dreams with an emission. Confused dreams about being pursued. He dreams that he is dissecting one of his friends. He dreams that he sees people skate on the Seine, in summer. She dreams that she sees acquaintances walk on water. 140. She dreams that she is sick in a dirty hospital, full of vermin; water flows from her mouth. Dream about large-lice. She dreams that she sees a large, black figure flying to the clouds. He dreams that he is to die in a prison, whence he escapes by crawling out. Shuddering all over, eight or ten times in succession. 145. Shuddering in the evening. Shuddering and twitching. Fever.
Cutaneous: Pimples in the face, on the forehead, temples, chin, &c., vesicular with a black point in the centre. Miliary pimples at the nape of the neck, on a red base. 150. Red pimples on the hands, passing off soon. Red, inflamed pimples on the temples, shoulders, arms, legs. Inflamed pimples on the back, red all around, white in the middle, with a black point in the centre. Red inflamed pimples in the face, evening. Smarting pimples on the back, white at their tips. 155. Red inflamed pimples on the left shoulder and arm. White blotches above the left breast. A number of small pimples on the left knee, black at the centre. Small red pimples on the feet, on taking them out of the warm water. Red pimples on the shoulders. 160. Small red pimples and itching on the right calf. Red pimples with a black point in the middle, on the right side of the neck. Miliary pimples on the calves, with itching. Miliary eruption at the inside of the thighs, with itching. Former pimples at the nape of the neck reappear. 165. Miliary pimples at the inside of the arms. White pimples on the forehead.
General: Increase of physical strength. Swelling of the breasts, face, and then of the whole body. Itching all over. 170. Face, hands and feet look red. Tickling all over. Starting when sitting or lying in the evening. Prickling all over, the whole day. Prickling all over, especially at the front part of the thigh. 175. Weariness, dizziness, faint feeling. Shivering, heat and dryness of the extremities. Itching of the skin. Heaviness. Itching here and there, at night.
ELEIS GUINEENSIS. (Jacq.)
ELE.—PALM-TREE.
This species is spread all over South-America; it prefers cultivated and sunny regions. Its trunk, which is from 25 to 30 feet high, is covered by the persistent bases of the leaves. The top-leaves form a thick tuft; they are large, pennate, with numerous folioles, ensiform, alternate and sessile, attached to a strong rachis or spike the petioler portion of which is garnished with long and sharp prickles. The flowers are monœcious with a papyraceous perianthus having six divisions. The male flowers have six stamens and three internal, erect and converging folioles. They form ramose spathes in fusiform masses, placed between the bases of the leaves. The female flowers are scattered; the ovary is sub-cylindrical, surmounted by a short style with a bilobate stigma. The fruit is oval, oleaginous, of a reddish yellow, surrounded by a hard and angular pericarp. We have had it drawn of a large size in comparison to the tree.
The fruit is triturated.
First day (in the morning).—1. Ennui when alone. Bitter eructations. Nausea. Drowsiness in the day-time. 5. Heat in the face. Throbbing pain in the nape of the neck. (In the afternoon): pain in the middle of the chest, as if pricked by pins. The breathing is embarrassed. Hammering pain all through the head. 10. Vacillating gait. Loss of appetite. Beating at the left arm, as if drumming on it with the finger.
Second day.—Swelling of the right leg. Pain at the foot when walking, whenever the foot touches the ground. 15. The same pain is felt when touching the sole of the foot with the hand. Itching all over. He feels strong and healthy. Small vesicles on the swollen leg. They break when pressed upon, a little fluid spirting out. 20. Similar vesicles break out on the left leg, arm and on various other parts of the body, without any swelling. Merry mood, and laughter, even when alone. Remembrance of a former shipwreck. Pain at the right knee as from a blow. Pains at the right leg as if stung. 25. Continual itching all over. Pain as if contused at the right side of the chest. Swelling, roughness and itching of the skin of the right leg. The skin seems to be thicker. Acute pain at the lower past of the left leg, as if a penknife had been thrust in.
Third day.—30. The leg is less swollen. Colic after taking a cold drink. Sadness. Pain at the bend of the knee, as from a blow. Desire to vomit. 35. Violent colic. Weakness of the legs. At candle light the sight becomes confused; when writing he makes the letters much larger than usual. Throbbing pain in the calves. Breathing embarrassed, with a sigh. 40. Hammering pain at the tibia, nape of the neck and right foot. Pains in the right shoulder, as from a blow. The sight is weaker than before. Shuddering. White urine. 45. Blackish stool. Constrictive pain around the neck as if a string were tied round. Good appetite. Out of humor. Disobedient. 50. Wants to cry (weep).
Fourth day.—The foot swells up more and more. Hammering pain in the foot all the time. Lancinations in the throat when swallowing. Pain in the abdomen, with sensation as if bruised. 55. Throbbing toothache. Prickling in the larynx when drawing breath. He approaches his hand to the fire without burning himself, whereas another person got burnt at the same distance. An hour after, he feels very keenly that he had been burnt. Stinging pain in the throat when swallowing saliva.
Fifth day.—60. Bad smell in the mouth, after drinking water. Cough with lancinations in the sides. Heat in the tongue when taking dinner, so violent that he was obliged to stop eating.
Sixth day.—The swelling of the leg increases. The vesicles on the right leg and foot have dried. Other vesicles break out on the left leg and arm.
Tenth day.—65. After a complete disappearance of all the symptoms, he smells of the drug and afterwards takes 10 drops of the mother-tincture. After taking them, bad smell in the mouth. Foul eructations. Merry mood. Hammering in the temple. 70. Lancinations in the right side of the chest, every 5 minutes, less during rest. Breaking out of vesicles which are full of water and larger than the former ones. Itching every 5 minutes, especially at the legs. On each side of the pit of the stomach the skin appears thicker, with pain in the last false ribs as if a peg were stuck in there.
Eleventh day.—Swelling of the right eye. 75. He is unable to look at an object steadily. Lancinations in various parts of the body, especially when going down-stairs. Tumor at the left arm. No sleep at night in consequence of the violent itching. Swelling of the left eye. 80. Frequent diarrhœa. He vomits up a cake as soon as he had eaten it.
ARRANGEMENT ACCORDING TO HAHNEMANN.
Mental and moral: 1. Out of humor. Sad. Ennui when alone. Merry.
Head, &c.: 5. Hammering in the temple. Hammering in the head. Hot face.
Eyes, ears, nose: Swelling of the left eye. Swelling of the right eye. 10. Unable to look at an object steadily. Confused sight at candle-light. Throbbing toothache. Bad smell in the mouth, after drinking water. Violent heat in the tongue when taking his dinner.
Gastric: 15. Foul eructations. Colic, after taking a cold drink. Desire to vomit. Nausea. Bitter eructations. 20. Loss of appetite. He throws up cake immediately after eating it. Shootings in the throat when swallowing. Bruising pain in abdomen.
Stool: Black stool. 25. Frequent diarrhœa. White urine. Prickling in larynx when drawing breath. Cough, with lancinations in the sides. Lancinations in the right side of the chest, less during rest. 30. Contusive pain at right side of chest. Embarrassed breathing. Pricking pain in middle of chest. Constrictive pain around the neck. Throbbing pain in nape of neck.
Extremities: 35. Swelling at the left arm. Beating at the left arm. The hand gets burnt when holding it near the fire. Swelling of the right leg. Throbbing pain in the calves. 40. Sharp sticking pain at lower part of left leg. Swelling, roughness and itching of right leg. Pain at the right leg as if stung. Bruising pain at the bend of the knee. Bruising pain at the right knee. 45. Pain at the foot when walking or touching the sole. Drowsy. Shuddering. Itching all over. The skin on each side of the stomach appears thicker, with sticking pain in the last false ribs. 50. Itching every few minutes, especially at the legs. Vesicles here and there, containing a fluid. Vesicles on the swollen leg, containing a fluid. Hammering pain at the tibia, nape of the neck and foot. Vacillating gait. Lancinations in various parts, especially when going down-stairs.
MIMOSA HUMILIS. (Wild.)
MIM.
This species which is one of the smallest of the genus Mimosa, is found in the prairies around Rio-Janeiro. Its stem is feeble, rather woody, ramose, pubescent above and covered with very sharp prickles. The leaves are bipinnate, the pinnæ being three- or four-paired, with small, linear folioles, which close at the least contact; there are from 6 to 12 on each side of the spike. The flowers are small, sessile, forming pretty silky tufts of a violet color. The fruit is somewhat triangular, flattened, covered with long and stiff hairs, and surrounded by a persistent pericarp, divided in two capsules, each of which contains one seed.
First day.—1. Twitching of the arm, which extends even to the chest. Smarting pain in the legs, with lameness of the knee. Headache, with weakness of the stomach. Stomach-ache after breakfast. 5. Drowsiness. Flatulence and rumbling in the bowels. Yawning. Ptyalism. Shuddering. 10. Trembling of the legs. Lancinations in the legs and hands. Sneezing. Coryza and discharge from the nose. Inflamed eyes. 15. Papulæ on the left leg. Constipation. Depression of spirits.
Second day.—Frequent waking at night. Dry cough in the morning. 20. Stomach-ache after breakfast. Vertigo. Halo around the candle-light. Numbness of the hands. Stiffness of the bends of the knees. 25. Sense of heat in the head. The head seems larger than usual. Yawning. Indolent indifference. Flatulent colic in the evening. 30. Frequent stools, with colic. Papulous excrescence of the size of an almond on the right leg, painful and itching. The same swelling at the instep. Drowsy in the evening. Difficult breathing.
Third day.—35. Inflammatory swelling of the scrotum. Itching of the eyes. Pressure at the nape of the neck and the right temple. Papulous excrescence at the tendo-Achillis. Dimness of vision. 40. Pain in the sides of the head. Diarrhœa.
Fourth day.—Swelling of the left ankle, with redness, tension and lancinations. The excrescences on the leg disappear; similar ones appear on the left arm. Easy stool. 45. Numbness of the arm and right hand, passing off when moving the parts. The left eye becomes inflamed. Want of breath.
Fifth day.—Bleeding of the gums. The papulæ disappear. 50. Acute lancinations, now in the legs, then in the arms. Violent lancinations in the back as from a penknife. Drowsy in the evening, with frequent waking at night.
Sixth day.—Inflammatory swelling of the left hand. Shuddering.
Eighth day.—55. Flatulence. Diarrhœa.
Tenth day.—Diarrhœa. Whizzing in the ears.
ARRANGEMENT ACCORDING TO HAHNEMANN.
Head, &c.: 1. Vertigo. Indifference. Depression of spirits. Pain in the sides of the head. 5. Headache, with weak stomach. Heat in the head. The head feels as if swollen. Coryza, fluent. Itching of the eyes. 10. Dimness of sight. The left eye is inflamed. Inflamed eyes. Whizzing in the ears. Bleeding of the gums.
Gastric Symptoms, &c.: 15. Ptyalism. Stomach-ache after breakfast. Flatulent colic. Diarrhœa. Easy stool. 20. Frequent stools with colic. Rumbling. Dry cough. Oppressed breathing.
Extremities: Pressure at nape of neck. 25. Lancinations in the back. Twitching of the arm. Smarting in the legs, with lame knee. Trembling of the legs. Lancinations in the legs and hand. 30. Stiffness of the bends of the knees. Numbness of the arm and right hand. Lancinations in the legs and arms. Inflammatory swelling of the left hand. Swelling of left ankle, with redness. 35. Yawning. Drowsy. Shuddering. Papulæ on left leg and arm. Papulous excrescence on the right leg and instep.
CERVUS BRAZILICUS (Nobis).
CERV.—BRAZILIAN STAG; GUAZOUTI. PORTUG: GOUAZOUPITA.
This stag whose forms are extremely fine and graceful, inhabits the forests of Brazil. Its size is about the same as that of our stag. Its skin the color of which never changes, is of a brownish fallow, being rather lighter towards the abdomen, the posterior part of the thighs and the tail. The inferior surface of the lower jaw, the part above and below the eyes, the interior of the ears and the abdomen are white; a black line encircles the jaws and gradually disappears under the lower one. The eyes of the guazouti are black, it has no canine teeth; its mouth, which is very slender, tapers to a muzzle. The horns which, in every case, are not very high and extremely regular, are at first straight; they curve forward in the second year, send forth three antlers, the anterior being placed about two inches above the burr, which is turned a little inward, and the other two at the superior and posterior part of the staff. The horns become bigger as they grow older, but the number of antlers remains the same. We triturate the skin, which should be used fresh and covered with the hair.
First day.—1. Copper taste in the mouth, and a sensation of heat in the throat when taking the drug. Light or comatose sleep, with dreams about men who are dressed in black, about pistol-shots, imprisonment. Uneasiness. At five o’clock in the morning, the head feels heavy and dull, especially the front part. 5. Constant heat in head. At half past nine the left side of the tongue feels hurt. Languid feeling, he wants to lie down. Unable to work. Sensation of goose-flesh as if some one were cutting cork close to him. 10. Repeated yawning. He feels cold though he is wrapt up well. Slumbers from half past two to three o’clock. Slight diarrhœa. 15. The heat in the face increases (at four o’clock). Dark-red spots, with inflammation of the right side of the face. Head dull and heavy. Heat about the legs. At six o’clock, slight pain around the navel, which, however, does not last long. 20. Pricking at the right nasal wing. At noon, the head feels compressed as by a band tied together at the nape of the neck. Bruising sensation in the left toes. Frequent pain, now in the left buttock, and then in the thigh. The left leg feels weak. 25. Small callosity above the internal ankle of the left foot. General feeling of weariness and of being bruised.
Second day.—Restless sleep as the first night. Wakes several times at night, always preoccupied with the idea of quarrelling with somebody who frightened him. The dulness continues. 30. Weight at the forehead. Tight feeling at the inner side of the right leg, with red spots. Appearance like incipient erysipelas. Shuddering with twitching. Yawning. 35. Intermitting pain in the right groin after walking. Taste of doughy bread in the mouth. The sight is very sensitive to light, he cannot open his eyes in a spot which is illumined by the sun. At eight o’clock in the evening, pain in the right groin as if pricked with a pin, in the direction of the joint, for a quarter of an hour. The same pain is felt in the navel in a recumbent posture.
Third day.—40. Numbness of the arm on which he had been lying at night. Hardness of the left leg, with lancinations. Mottled appearance of the face. Red and humid spots on the left leg. Quiet and short sleep, he wakes four times at night. 45. Dulness of the head; same weight at the forehead. Heat in the right leg, where the red spot is; this is sensitive to contact. Taste as of doughy bread in the mouth. Depression of spirits in the day-time. Erection in the evening, with desire to lie down.
Fourth day.—50. Numbness of the hands and legs. Uneasiness in the left leg.
ARRANGEMENT ACCORDING TO HAHNEMANN.
Head, &c.: 1. Depression of spirits. Weight at forehead. The head feels heavy and dull. Heat in the head. 5. The head feels compressed as by a band tied behind. Sensitiveness to light. Left side of the tongue feels sore. Taste of doughy bread. Copper taste in mouth, with heat in throat. 10. Mottled appearance of the face. Hot face. Pricking at right nasal wing. Pain in right groin after walking. Pricking pain in the right groin and navel. 15. Slight pain around the navel. Diarrhœa. Erection.
Extremities, &c.: Numbness of the arm on which he had been lying. The left leg feels weak. 20. Tight feeling at inside of right leg, with red spots. Hardness of the left leg, with lancinations. Heat at the legs. Heat in the right leg, where the red spot is. Bruising sensation in left toes. 25. Uneasiness in left leg. Restless sleep. Yawning. Quiet sleep, with frequent waking. Dreams about men dressed in black, about imprisonment, &c. 30. Yawning. Shuddering with twitching. Sensation of goose-flesh. Cold feeling. He feels weary and sore. 35. Languor. Numbness of the hands and legs. Incipient erysipelas. Callosity above the left inner ankle. Red and humid spots on left leg. 40. Dark-red inflamed spots in face, right side.
GUANO AUSTRALIS.
This substance, which has been used for some years past as manure, is found on the coasts of Patagonia—and principally on the Lobos Island near the coast of Peru. We have proved the different varieties of guano, and likewise the crystalline particles formed by the condensation of ammonical vapors which rise from the guano in abundance. Our hope to discover in these crystals a more active normal agent, has not been realized, so that, in the end, we have found the freshest possible guano preferable for medicinal purposes. It is triturated in the same way as all other substances.
First day.—1. Internal shuddering for three minutes in the morning. Violent headache. Pain in the forehead when inclining the head forward, at 6 o’clock in the morning. Violent itching at the back, and painful smarting after scratching, at 7 o’clock in the morning. 5. Formication in the right nasal fossa, at 7 and a half o’clock. Pain with pinching behind the ears, at 8 o’clock in the morning. Dizziness, objects turn from below upward, at 9 o’clock in the morning. Nausea with profuse flow of saliva. Pale face with faint feeling, at noon. 10. Lassitude, at half past two in the afternoon. Desire to vomit, at half past two in the afternoon. While eating, pain at the pit of the stomach and desire to vomit. Profuse sweat all over, after eating. Aching in the forehead and temples, worse when stooping, at half past three. 15. Pain at the styloid process of the left wrist. Pain in the lungs which stops the breathing, for three minutes. Swelling of the right index-finger. Itching of the genital organs. Water feels extremely cold to the hands, they feel like ice when keeping them in the water a little longer. 20. Pain at the feet which prevents one from pressing them to the ground, at 5 o’clock in the evening. Red spot, with itching at the back, and smarting pain after scratching. Violent headache as if the head were incased in iron.
Second day.—Beating at the left commissure of the lips, at 6 o’clock in the morning. Itching in the right nostril and frequent sneezing, for one hour, at half past 6 o’clock. 25. Great weakness. She remains at the spot where she happened to have located herself.
Third day.—Painful ganglion on the left arm, with redness and itching; when scratching the arm, it remains insensible until the skin was off; lasts for half an hour, at 6 o’clock in the morning. Headache: he feels as if the head were opened, at 8 o’clock in the morning. Smarting ganglion below the right calf, hindering walking, and lasting until night.
Fourth day.—30. Nausea, one cannot bear seeing persons eat, at 7 o’clock in the morning. Painful ganglion at the left elbow. Small itching pimples. Violent beating of the heart; feeble breathing, for five minutes. Large hard and red place on the back, with pricklings as from a thousand pins. This sensation commences at 9 o’clock and lasts all night.
Fifth day.—35. Profuse sweat on the arms and hands; the skin on the thighs is insensible; a prick is not felt; for two days they are covered with little pimples. Cramp at the pit of the stomach before eating.
Sixth day.—Violent pain at the right knee, as though pieces of flesh would be torn from him, at 7 o’clock in the morning. Burning under the soles of the feet, she cannot keep her shoes on. Cramp at the left thumb, for an instant.
Seventh day.—40. Sensation as if the gums were cut with penknives, after which they bleed for half on hour, at 6 o’clock in the morning. Formication in the right nostril, for five minutes, at 10 o’clock. Sensation of hammering in the nape of the neck, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Pain in the abdomen as if pierced by sharp points, at 9 o’clock in the evening.
Eighth day.—Tongue white and thickly coated. 45. Bitter bilious taste in the mouth, at 6 o’clock in the morning. Deep sleep. She dreams that she is playing with wild beasts.
ARRANGEMENT ACCORDING TO HAHNEMANN.
Head, &c.: 1. Dizziness, objects turn from below upward. Headache. Headache as if the head were encased in iron. Headache as if the head would split. 5. Aching pain in forehead and temples. Pain in forehead when inclining the head forward. Pale face, with faint feeling. Pinching pain behind the ears. Cutting in the gums, followed by bleeding. 10. Tongue coated white. Beating at the left commissure of the lips. Formication in right nasal fossa. Itching in right nostril, with sneezing.
Gastric, &c.: Bilious taste in mouth. 15. Cramp at pit of stomach before eating. Nausea, cannot bear seeing people eat. Pain at pit of stomach, with desire to vomit, while eating. Sweat all over, after eating. Nausea, with flow of saliva. 20. Desire to vomit. Sharp piercing-sticking pain in abdomen. Itching of the genital organs. Palpitation of the heart. Pain in the lungs, arresting the breathing.
Extremities, &c.: 25. Hammering sensation in nape of neck. Itching of the back, with smarting after scratching. The hands feel like ice in cold water. Pain at the left wrist. Swelling of the right index-finger. 30. Cramp at the left thumb. Burning at the soles. Pain at the feet when pressing them to the ground. Pain at right knee, as if the flesh would be torn off. Internal shuddering, in the morning. 35. She dreams that she is playing wild beasts. Itching, red spot on the back. Hard and red spot on the back, with pricklings. Smarting ganglion below the right calf. Painful ganglion on left arm, with redness. 40. Weakness, no desire to stir. Lassitude. Profuse sweat on the arms and hands, with insensibility of the skin and little pimples.
HIPPOMANE MANCINELLA. (L.)
HIPP. MANCINELLA VENENATA, TUSS.
Although the poisonous properties of the mancinella have been very much exaggerated, it is nevertheless a very poisonous tree, which, happily, becomes more and more rare, owing to its being rooted up with great care wherever it shows itself. It is a tree from 12 to 15 feet high, with a trunk having a white and soft wood and covered with a greyish bark. Its branchy top gives it the appearance of a European fruit-tree. Its leaves are alternate, oval-acute, somewhat cordate at their base, with fine indentations, and a red gland at their apex. They are attached to long petioles; stipulate while young. Flowers monoïchous, forming long terminal spikes, the male flowers being above, the female below or at the axilla of the leaves. The male flowers have a bifid perianth whence emanate the stamens, the united filaments of which form a column that supports the anthers. The female flowers have a perianth with two or three divisions and a rudimentary foliole; the ovary is round and superior; style straight, terminating in 6 or 7 red, radiating, reflexed stigmata. The fruit is round, pulpy, from 5 to 6 inches in diameter, umbilicate at the top, and inclosing a wooden kernel with seven monosperm compartments.
The fresh leaves are triturated. When we were informed that a mancinella had been discovered near Rio, we requested Mr. Ackermann, a pupil of the institute, to repair to the spot for the purpose of verifying the identity of the plant, and collecting its juice. Having accomplished his mission, he drunk a portion of the liquid, on the 10th of January, 1847, in a public sitting of the institute. He was joined in the proving by several of our pupils. Some of the following symptoms were so violent, that they had to be counteracted by antidotes. The pathogenesis of the mancinella is one of the most precious additions which our Brazilian provers have furnished to our Materia Medica.
Prover: M. E. T. Ackermann.
FIRST PROVING.
First day.—1. Merry mood, desire to sing. Is disposed to take every thing in good part. Buzzing in the ears and whizzing like the wind, when walking. Urine scanty and whitish. 5. Sensation of heat and trembling in the chest. Constant eructations like volumes of air. Watery vomiting. Violent pain in the abdomen, as if he had been struck by the point of a stick.
Second day.—10. Heavy sleep, and late waking. Evanescent ideas. Sensation of paralysis immediately after rising, his hand trembles a good deal; he is unable to open the door of his room. Absence of thought. Disposed to be silent. Deep tranquillity of mind, in the morning. 15. Sadness. Drowsy after breakfast. Embarrassed breathing when falling asleep again. Redness of the skin. Sweat in the palm of the hands whereas the rest of the body is perfectly dry. 20. Pain at the lower part of the head, and weight as if he had knocked it against any thing. Small pimples. Beating pain at the left side of the neck. Pain all around the neck like beats with a hammer. Pain at the right side of the head while hearing the strokes on an anvil, he felt as though he were struck with a hammer. 25. Pain at the nape of the neck and forehead when stooping; it is a dull, confused pain which he cannot describe. In the day-time the hands become red. Sense of weight over the eyes. His nose is looser than usual. Pain all round the head as from a blow after having remained in the sun for a time. 30. Redness and heat of the ears. Alternate hunger and loss of appetite. Weak stomach. Loathing. Profuse urine, but always a little white. 35. Acute pain with weight in the pit of the stomach, for a minute. Eructation during an expiration, like a volume of hot air, which ascends to the mouth with a feeling of oppression. Metallic taste in the mouth. White expectoration. Beating pain in the abdomen after breakfast. 40. Disagreeable sensation while hearing the noise of a saw. When hearing blows with a hammer the counter-shock is felt in the whole body. He alternately lays himself down and raises himself again. Swelling of the veins of the hands. Constant pain all day, in the wrist and metacarpus, as if strings were tied round very tightly. 45. Three slight beats on the arm, as if touched with the finger. Easy stool. The face is yellow and the body red. Copious emission of wind. Weak all over in the day-time. 50. Two attacks of colic and diarrhœa, with pulling and pinching in the bowels, at midnight.
Third day.—Sad, then merry dreams. Every thing is unpleasant to him. The headache continues and renders him impatient. Feeling of tenderness and deep pity. 55. Profuse and whitish urine. The chest dilates a good deal, when drawing breath, even with the mouth closed. The chest feels bruised, with embarrassed respiration. The constrictive pain at the wrist shifts to the middle of the arm for an hour, after which it returns again to the wrist.
Fourth day.—Lancinating pain in the left temple. 60. Buzzing in the ears, and drumming noise when walking against the wind. Lancinating pain in the chest. Prickings through the heart. The moral emotions are accompanied by an indescribable malaise, beating pain in the chest and loss of speech. When making the least exertion, he is attacked with violent cough and painful prickings in the throat. 65. When commencing to talk, a sudden suffocation and violent beatings in the chest. Suffocation and beatings in the chest when attempting to cough. Beating pain in the head and nape of the neck, with inability to bend the head forwards for the purpose of writing. Weak chest. Thirst every hour in the day-time; desire for water, with aversion to wine or any other liquor. 70. The weakness increases. Sadness. Colic and diarrhœa. Full and frequent inspirations. Urine clear and abundant, but whitish. 75. Lancinations in the bladder when commencing to urinate, he feels relieved after urinating. Pulling and dragging pain in the bowels.
Fifth day.—Headache. Pain in the chest when making the least motion. The breathing is no longer embarrassed. 80. Extraordinary desire to smoke. Pricking in the feet when sitting. Weakness all over. Pain in the bends of the knees as if bruised. 85. Constriction round the thighs and legs as if a thread had been tied around. Lancinations in the groins. Sexual desire. Continual thirst in the day-time. Dry mouth. 90. Depression of spirits. Sadness. Cold extremities. Profuse and clear urine. Deep sleep in the day-time. 95. Aversion to work.
Sixth day.—Dream about ghosts and phantoms. Headache. Sad in the morning. Increasing thirst in the day-time, until evening. 100. Heaviness all over. Profuse and clear urine. Loathing of every thing. Aversion to work. Desire to lie down.
Seventh day.—105. Headache with vertigo, especially in the morning, after eating a piece of bread. Sensation as of a blow in the abdomen, followed by stool. Formication in the right hip, and lancinations when walking. Continual thirst. Sadness. 110. Clear and profuse urine.
Eighth day.—The urine becomes natural again.
Ninth day.—The previous symptoms disappear. Active mind, disposed to work. Good appetite.
Eleventh day.—115. Tetter of an inch in diameter on the left arm; it disappears on the following day. Beating pain in the neck, abating for a few moments by reclining the head. Pricking in the mouth when eating bread. Desire to remain lying. Frequent stool. 120. Swelling of the left ankle. Pricking for two hours at the left knee-joint.
Twelfth day.—Lancinating pain in the head. Heaviness at the head. Pain at the head after thinking, as from bandaging the head from temple to temple with the skin of a bladder. 125. Confused pain in the head when writing. Lancinating pain in the head, as soon as one sets about eating. Contusive pain at the clavicles, when turning the head right or left.
SECOND PROVING.
First day.—(The drug was taken at half past seven in the evening.)
One hour after, violent headache, with painful lancinations. The pains continued all night, with sleeplessness.
Second day.—130. The headache continues, especially at the temples and above the eyes. Acute pain at the elbow-joints. Taste of blood in the mouth. Rheumatic pain at the shoulder-blade. Repeated, violent lancinations in the right side of the abdomen. 135. Lancinations at irregular intervals, in the left shoulder-blade and muscles, from the left side of the chest. Headache all day. Constant dryness in the throat. Taste of blood in the mouth all day.
Third day.—Painful lancinations in the head, temples, and over the eyes. 140. Intense lancinating pains in the left side. Lancinations in the hypochondria and shoulder-blades. The pain at the elbow-joint continues. Lancination in the right knee-joint. Excessive heaviness and dulness of the head. 145. Constant drowsiness. Incessant headache. Intense, lancinating and constrictive pain in the muscles of the upper part of the right arm, for more than an hour. Continued formication in both feet, especially the left. Taste of blood in the mouth, as if blood had ascended in the throat, and had left the taste of it in the mouth. 150. Frequent and violent lancinations in the abdomen and bowels. Almost complete loss of appetite. Comatose, constantly drowsy. The head feels very heavy, with constant pain in it.
Fourth day.—No sleep at night. 155. The headache becomes intolerable. Taste of blood in the mouth. Attack of diarrhœa, with pain and tenesmus. First a natural stool, followed by frequent, painful discharges, first of black, fetid substances, then of a watery liquid; the attack lasts upwards of two hours. Lancination in the muscles of the right knee, also in the ribs and right side. 160. Pains in the hypochondria. Lancinating pain in the bowels. Lancinating pain in the left shoulder. The headache continues. Complete loss of appetite. 165. No sleep.
ARRANGEMENT ACCORDING TO HAHNEMANN.
1. Mental and Moral: Taciturn. Deep repose of mind. Evanescent ideas. Merry. 5. Sadness. Feeling of tenderness. Sad, then merry dreams.
Head: Heaviness and dulness of the head. Lancinating pain in the head. 10. Pain at the head, as if bandaged all round, after thinking. Headache with vertigo, after eating bread in the morning. Headache, especially in the temples, and above the eyes. Violent headache with painful lancinations. Pain as from a blow all round the head, when staying in the sun. Weight above the eyes. 15. Pain at nape of neck and forehead, when stooping. Pain and weight at lower part of the head. Lancinating pain in left temple.
Face, Gastric: Face yellow, and body red. 20. Buzzing in the ears. Redness and heat of the ears. Buzzing and whizzing in the ears. Dry mouth. Loathing. 25. Loathing of every kind of food. Loss of appetite. Watery vomiting. Desire to smoke. Thirst every hour, with aversion to wine or liquor. 30. Alternate hunger, and loss of appetite. Pricking in the mouth when eating bread. Eructations, like volumes of air rising upwards. Hot air rises during an expiration. Taste of blood in the mouth. 35. Metallic taste in mouth. Dryness of the throat.
Stomach, Bowels: Weak stomach. Acute pain and weight in pit of stomach. Lancinations in the groins. 40. Pulling and dragging pain in the bowels. Sensation as of a blow in the abdomen, followed by stool. Violent lancinations in right side of abdomen. Pains in the hypochondria. Lancinations in abdomen and bowels. 45. Sticking pain in abdomen. Beating pain in abdomen, after breakfast. Flatulence.
Stool, Urinary, Genital: Easy stool. Colic and diarrhœa, with pulling and pinching in the bowels. 50. Diarrhœa, with pain and tenesmus. Natural stool, followed by painful discharges, first of black and fetid, then of watery, liquid substances. Frequent stool. Dartings in the bladder, when commencing to urinate. Profuse urine, rather white. 55. Urine scanty and whitish.
Chest: Full and frequent inspirations. Weak chest. Contusive pain at the clavicles when turning the head. Sense of heat and trembling in the chest. 60. Suffocation and beating in the chest, when attempting to talk or laugh. Violent cough and painful prickings in the throat, after the least exertion. The chest feels bruised, with oppressed breathing. Lancinating pain in the chest. Considerable dilatation of the chest, when drawing breath. 65. Embarrassed breathing. Prickings through the heart.
Back, Extremities: Beating pain at left side of neck, or all around it. Pain at right side of neck as if struck with a hammer. Rheumatic pain at the shoulder-blade. 70. Dartings in the left shoulder-blade and muscles, from the left side of the chest. Beating pain in the neck, abating when reclining the head. Lancinating pain in the left shoulder. Intense darting and constrictive pain in the muscles of the upper part of the right arm. Tetter on left arm. 75. Slight beats on the arms as with a finger. Acute pain at the elbow-joints. Constrictive pain in wrist and metacarpus, all day, shifting to the arm. His hand trembles after rising, as if paralyzed. Sweat in the palm of the hand. 80. The veins of the hand are swollen. Formication in the right hip, and lancinations when walking. Constrictions around the thighs and legs. Bruising pain in the bends of the knees. Pricking at left knee-joint. 85. Dartings in the right knee joint. Swelling of the left ankle. Pricking in the feet when sitting. Formication in the feet.
Sleep, &c.: Heavy sleep. 90. No sleep at night. Dream about ghosts and phantoms. Constant drowsiness. Deep sleep in the day-time. Red skin. 95. Pimples. Desire to lie down. Aversion to work. Indescribable malaise, with beating pain in the chest and loss of speech. Nervousness, the blows of a hammer produce a counter-shock in the whole body. 100. Beating pain in the head and nape of the neck, with inability to bend the head forwards. Cold extremities. Heaviness all over. Painful dartings in the head, temples, and above the eyes. Darting in the muscles of the right knee, ribs and right side. 105. Weakness in the day-time.
HURA BRAZILIENSIS. (Willd.)
HURA.—ASSACÙ.—OASSACÙ.
This plant inhabits the equatorial regions of South-America, the provinces of Para, Rio-Negro, and the neighborhood of the Amazon, where it is very frequent. It resembles the hura crepitans; its leaves are alternate, somewhat cordate, rounded, glabrous, serrate; rolled up and stipulate while young. The petiole is provided at its top with two large glands. Flowers monoïchous; the male flowers having a short, urceolate perianth, and covered with a scaly bract; they form elongated, peduncled, terminal husks. The female flowers, which are twice as long as those of the hura crepitans, have their perianth resting against the ovary, which is surmounted by a long and infundibiliform style, terminated by a stellate stigma; they are solitary and placed near the male flowers. It is from this tree that the Indians draw the milky juice called Assacù by the Brazilians.
A man affected with lepra, and who had sought refuge in the solitary regions of the Amazone, took, by the advice of an Indian whom he met there, a considerable quantity of a juice known under the name of Assacù, flowing from the trunk of a tree, which has been described by Willdenow, under the name of hura braziliensis. He was cured; and the president of the province of Para, informed the imperial government of it. Since then, this juice has been very generally used by leprous patients without, however, curing them.
The first and third provers of this drug, on a voyage to Brazil, in 1842, had both been attacked with the lepra. Under homœopathic treatment they seemed both to have got well, though one might have inferred from the gravity of their symptoms, that they had been palliated rather than cured. The frightful symptoms of compression of the spinal marrow, which supervened in the case of one of the provers, point to the Assacù as a powerful remedy for various forms of myelitis. The symptoms of nervous excitement, the twitching, the irritability of the temperament exhibited by all the provers, favor the doctrine that the lepra is a particular lesion of the nervous system. If the exanthems and the insensibility of the skin characteristic of the lepra, have been less marked in our provings, it is undoubtedly because these phenomena belong to some chronic form which a continued use of the drug and a real poisoning are alone capable of producing.
These four provings have been instituted with a single drop of the fifth attenuation. It is our rule to avoid repeating the dose lest the chronological succession of the symptoms which we regard as important, should be disturbed. We do not believe that repeated doses can do much good, and if a prover should not experience any effects from one dose, we should prefer dropping this proving, and resort to some other drug, to which his organism should be more sensible.
First prover: Aug. Joly, 29 years of age, bilious-nervous temperament, healthy constitution.
First day.—Took one drop of the 5th attenuation at ten o’clock at night.
1. One hour after, itching at the ribs and sternum, at the biceps and the posterior parts of the right arm. Doughy mouth, in the morning, on waking. Dreams about a ball, about houses in process of erection. In the morning, itching at the arms, legs, outer parts of the tibia. 5. The upper and lower eyelids are inflamed and blueish. Itching at the right arm, at the lower and inner portion of the humerus, owing to a little pimple which is forming. Taste of blood in the mouth. Whizzing in the ears, especially the right. Clusters of miliary pimples on the back, arms, legs and chest. 10. Irritated by the least contrariety. Desire to vomit, sick stomach. Rheumatic pain at the left arm. He looks weary as if he had been carousing all night, though he slept well all night. Pinching at the right side of the tongue. 15. Lancination in the canal of the urethra. Prickling around the eyes, and especially around the right one. Sensation as if small pimples would break out on the inside of the eyelids. Nervous beating in the eyelids. Rheumatic pain at the sacrum, especially when stooping. 20. Contusive pain at the lumbar region. Miliary eruption in the joints.
Second day.—Dry mouth in the morning. Acute pain in the lumbar region and at the sacrum, as from a fall. Smoky taste of the water which is drank at breakfast. 25. Pain in the ileo-femoral articulation. Pain all along the left thigh. Sneezing, and frequent blowing, as when a catarrh is about setting in, followed by involuntary discharge from the nose of a lemon-colored mucus, with tickling. Constant pain in the lower part of the lumbar regions, worse when stooping or sitting down. Lancinating pain at the top of the head. 30. Slight desire to vomit at eleven o’clock in the morning. Dizziness. He dreams that he was swimming in a river with warm and dark-green water; afterwards that he was on a plantation in Brazil, where men drew water from a yellow pond. Moist, intermittent heat, mounting every fifteen minutes from the feet to the face. Prickling at the right eye. 35. Sense of heat mounting to the clavicles. (At a quarter of ten o’clock:) Dry nose, he cannot blow it; with itching at the interior of the nose.
Third day.—In the morning, the pain at the sacrum had disappeared. (At ten o’clock and a half:) The pain at the sacrum returns worse, after moving a box. Burning at the right index-finger, a red spot extending from the nail to the second phalanx. Numbness; almost amounting to insensibility. 40. (At half past twelve:) Pain as from a splinter under the thumb-nail. In the evening, tickling under the arms and along the dorsal spine. No sleep at night, frequent waking, feverish agitation.
Fourth day.—Heat in the hands, in the morning. At two o’clock, a small vesicular pimple on the back of the left hand; for four hours. 45. Stiffness in the trapezoid muscle, near its attachment at the occiput. Pain at the left forearm as from a blow. Small vesicular pimples, and itching at the ribs, arms, and at every prominent process of the bones.
Fifth day.—In the morning, the pimples on the arms have almost disappeared; there remains only a little itching at the sternum. Heat at the tips of the right fingers. 50. Sensation as if a small portion of the nail of the right index-finger had become detached. At half past six in the evening, heat and passing sweat. At half past seven in the evening, sensation of burning, smarting on the left side of the chin, in the beard, as from an incipient tetter. Sensation under the masseter muscle, as from a recent blow on the parotid. At eight o’clock in the evening, the spot becomes sensible to contact; a small swelling is observed extending below the zygomatic arch. 55. Sensation at the supinator muscle of the forearm, as from an incipient tetter. Small pimples on the inner surface of the lower lip. Stiffness of the trapezoid muscle and the neck. Prickling as from dust, at the border of the lower lid of the right eye. 60. Itching at the back, legs, arms, at the same time.
Sixth day.—Fleshy excrescenses on the inner surface of the lips. At four o’clock, weariness in the legs, in going up-stairs. At eight o’clock in the evening, painful stiffness of the neck. The pain in the masseter muscle, which had already decreased in the morning, disappeared entirely in the evening. Weight in the testicles in walking, at five o’clock in the evening. 65. Taste of blood in the throat before breakfast.
Seventh day.—Itching at the right lower eyelid, as if a pimple would appear. At three o’clock, sensation as of dust in the left eye. Sense of weight at the eyes, as if they had been strained.
Eighth day.—No sleep all night. 70. Pressive pain at the cranium. Heat in the nails of the left hand.
Ninth day.—Straining sensation in the upper part of the sacrum, preventing him from standing erect, at noon. Taste of blood in the throat before breakfast. Sputa mixed with blood. 75. Sense of giving way in the knee-joint, in going down-stairs, at two o’clock. At four o’clock, pain in the renal region, which keeps increasing; it decreases at five o’clock. Prickling in the left eye, and intolerable itching, with nervous irritation which spreads to the heart, but passes off soon.
Tenth day.—Prickling in the left eye as from dust. Smarting sensation in the beard as from a pimple at each hair, at nine o’clock. 80. Burning sensation at the inner canthus of the right eye, at half past nine in the evening. The carunculæ lachrymales look inflamed.
Eleventh day.—Itching at the anterior surface of the tibia, at night, and smarting sensation as from a tetter. Appearance of a small red circle, with a small dark-red pimple in the middle; followed by peeling off. Itching at the hairy scalp, especially behind and in the mastoid process, as from a tetter. 85. Sensation as if he had torn off a hang-nail, or as from a splinter in the ring-finger of the left hand. At ten o’clock, smarting at the bend of the right elbow, on the outside.
Twelfth day.—Tickling at the left arm, with small vesicular pimples. Itching in the beard, with small pimples which form a crust under the chin. Itching and small crusty pimples on the hairy scalp. 90. Constrictive sensation at the anus; at half past five o’clock.
Thirteenth day.—Painful sensation at the upper and lateral portions of the sacrum, as if strained or bruised. Clusters of small miliary pimples at the bend of the elbow, with redness around the pimples after scratching them. The pimples cease to be vesicular; other pimples appear on the insteps. Prickling sensation in the eyes all day, with redness and smarting at the border of the lids. 95. Sensation as if there were dust or foreign bodies in the eyes. The right eye is more sensible than the left. Weariness in the legs, after noon. Pain in the left knee as from a sprain, with lancinations below the pain.
Fourteenth day.—Contractive sensation below, and at the right side of the coccyx. 100. Rheumatic pain at the left side of the neck, the splenius, complexus and trapezoides muscles.
Fifteenth day.—Rheumatic pain at the neck, with difficulty of turning the head to the left side, in the morning. Pain in the head like a weight on the skull, extending to the mastoid processes. Sense of loathing with nausea. Oppression at the stomach when standing erect. 105. Pale face, with rings around the eyes and redness at the margin of the eyelids. Pains in the head like a beating in the sides and at the vertex, reverberating in the mastoid processes, and extending to the sterno-mastoid muscles. Sense of constriction in the upper part of the throat. Yellowish, heavy and frothy expectoration, ever since he took his drug. The affective sphere is very active. 110. Painful stiffness of the neck, which prevents one from turning the head to the left side. Sensation, in closing the eyes, as though the eyelids were cold. Pain from the occiput to the vertex, with beating, and acute pains.
Sixteenth day.—Horrid pain in the sacro-lumbar region, at the articulation of the last lumbar vertebra and sacrum, when attempting to raise a weight. Pain as when straining a ligament; numb pain in the left thigh, along the course of the sciatic nerve. 115. Inability to stoop without experiencing acute pains in the sacro-lumbar region; he is obliged to lie down. Fainting when trying to sit down, caused by the violence of the pain at the sacrum; sense of tearing. Nervous spasms, convulsions, cramps in the calves and toes during the fainting spell. Sense of shuddering at the rectum. Tickling like worms creeping along in the rectum. 120. In spite of the pains, he slept pretty well in the night, from the fifteenth to the sixteenth. Desire to urinate, every half hour. He urinates a long time. Watery urine, with a greenish tint. Cramp in the right middle, and ring-finger. 125. Pulse interrupted for two minutes, ringing in the ears, roaring in the head, beating in the temples. During and after the fainting-spell disposition to love everybody, especially those around you. He often thinks of death, but he is not afraid of dying; he even feels as though he would die without regret. He reproaches himself with everything bad he has done, even the least trifles, and considers himself very guilty for having done them. During the nervous attacks, he thinks of his salvation. The sense of smell is very acute, he even smells persons at a distance.
Seventeenth day.—130. The pain at the sacrum seems to decrease, but he is not yet able to rise from bed, nor stir about in it, he has to remain lying on the back. He has an appetite, but eats little. A sort of painful glandular swelling behind the masseter muscle, below the right ear. Dulness of the head, in front. Sense of oppression at the forehead.
Eighteenth day.—135. Frequent waking at night. He wakes earlier than usual. Doughy mouth, in the morning. Foul, bloody sputa, of the color of chocolate with milk. The pain at the sacrum is feebler, it seems to have spread over a larger space, rises a little towards the dorsal and lumbar muscles, and to the dorsal vertebræ. 140. The head, above the eyebrows, is still somewhat dull. Weakness in the finger-joints and wrists. The gland at the neck continues painful, with lancinations. Taste of blood in the throat. Flushes of heat. 145. The breathing is painful, as if there were a sore in the lumbar region.
Nineteenth day.—Deep and long sleep. Nosebleed, in the morning. Pimple at the forehead. Weight above the eyes, he is unable to read long. 150. Sense of weariness in the arms, though lying down. The pain at the sacrum decreases; sometimes, however, it rises again to the cervical vertebræ. Prickling in the eyes. A cluster of pimples breaks out at the wrist, on the external and inferior surface of the radius; they are vesicular, (like those which he had after his return from Brazil.) Bloating sensation in the eyes. 155. Throbbing at the sacrum, without pain. Pale face, eyes sunken, with redness around the eyelids.
Twentieth day.—No stool from the sixteenth to the twentieth day. Hard and difficult stool. The pain at the sacrum is much less, though he still feels a violent throbbing in this region, but painless. 160. Rose at eight o’clock, his legs were weak and his head felt heavy; he laid down again an hour after, with very cold feet. He feels a pain at the iliac bones, though not all the time. There are fever pimples on the arm, and the remaining pimples contain a little water which spirts out when pressed. Sensation in the glutei muscles as if bruised. Full and slow painless beatings in the sacro-lumbar region.
Twenty-first day.—165. Restless night, dreams about crime, dead bodies, children with their heads half cut off, and of others whose heads were being cut. Pain in the glutei muscles as if bruised, now on the right, then on the left side. Pain as if bruised at the sacrum, with heat mounting to the face, at nine o’clock in the morning, shortly after rising. Cramp in the toes. Beatings in the left temple. 170. Painful stitch and beating sensation between the shoulder-blades.
Twenty-second day.—Lascivious dream with emission. Heat mounting to the face, with oppression of the chest. Acute pain in one of the right toes. Weight at the sacrum, but less bruising in the glutei muscles; weakness in the knee joints, with cracking, either in going up or down-stairs, 175. Sensation as if a warm liquid were flowing from a sore in the lumbar region. Heat mounting to the face, at seven o’clock in the evening. Weakness of the legs in going up or down-stairs.
Twenty-third day.—Restless night, heat and sweat all night. Dream about work, vast business. 180. Dizziness at two o’clock, waves before the eyes; the sight becomes dim when writing. Sparks and zig-zag movements before the eyes, when walking or sitting. Weak legs. Weight in the upper lids. Frontal headache. 185. Pressure at the forehead, with damp coldness at the feet and hands. The headache extends to eyebrows and eyes. Short-lasting oppression at the throat, in the region of the tonsils. The eyes are red, with blue dark margins; face pale, yellow, dull. Less pain in the renal region; but he is unable to stand any length of time without experiencing an uneasiness in the stomach which extends to the chest with oppression. 190. Sclerotica red, inflamed, and the capillaries injected. Beating pressure at the sclerotica. Weakness of the knee-joint, when walking or going up and down-stairs. Hiccough four hours after eating.
Twenty-fourth day.—Restless sleep. 195. Slight prickling pain at the sacro-lumbar articulation, in going up-stairs. Sense of oppression at the chest.
Twenty-fifth day.—Pressure at the forehead. Heat in the sacro-lumbar region; sense of oppression at the chest, and rush of blood to the larynx, with suffocative oppression; taste of blood and tearing in the chest.
Twenty-sixth day.—Restless sleep. 200. Throbbing and weakness in the sacro-lumbar region. Nausea while riding in a carriage, before breakfast. Sense of heat in the renal region, after a long ride in a carriage. Slight aching pain at the forehead and vertex.
Twenty-seventh day.—Restless sleep. 205. Beatings in the lumbar region, with slight pullings or shudderings. Weakness in the lumbar region. Weakness in the knee-joint; sense as if sprained, after a walk.
Twenty-eighth day.—Restless sleep, with dreams about work, wild beast devouring meat in a public slaughter-house. Sense of heat with throbbing and fatigue in the lumbar region and above the iliac bones. 210. Paleness, cold hands and feet, with weakness all over while the pains last.
Twenty-ninth day.—Dream about revolution, gun-shots, demolition of some public edifice; he walked among the ruins. Sense of well-being, in the morning on rising. Doughy mouth every morning, with sputa that has the color of chocolate with cream, and fœtid smell. Spits blood in the morning that seems to come deep out of the throat. 215. Swelling of the left lower gums, over the molar teeth, outside, with toothache in this region. Small pimples on the right knee, with smarting as from a tetter and painful itching when touching them; they emit a fluid when pressed upon; itching at the tibiæ.
Thirtieth day.—The swelling of the gums continues, but the toothache is less. The cheek threatens to swell. Taste of blood in the mouth and throat, very marked, with scratching or tearing sensation when drawing breath. 220. Headache at two o’clock, as from a nail in the vertex, with violent toothache, swelling of the gums, after a walk. Beatings in the left side of the face, extending up to the eye. The feet, and mostly the whole body are constantly damp and cold, with weakness. Uneasiness at the stomach. His breakfast does not seem to sit well on his stomach; he eats with a good appetite, however (from the twenty-fourth day).
Thirty-first day.—Restless night. Intolerable erections, sexual dreams, with emissions. 225. Large pimples on the legs, around the root of each hair. In the evening, large pimples, swollen, like mosquito-bites, with violent itching, and raw feeling when touched.
Thirty-second day.—Weakness, with painful stitch in the lumbar region. Uneasiness in the stomach, every day after the noon-meal. Violent headache on the left side.
Thirty-third day.—230. Sense of tearing and spraining in back when sitting (for one minute). Spitting of blood, with sense of rawness in the throat and the respiratory passages, after talking. Contractive sensation on the skin of the forehead. Pimples all over the body, similar to those above described; suffocative sensation rising to the larynx.
Thirty-fourth day.—Taste of blood in the mouth during an embrace. 235. General emaciation. Inability to incline forward; he can only walk by reclining the trunk backwards; when inclining forward ever so little, he feels a pulling in the lumbar region and is obliged to straighten himself.
Thirty-fifth day.—Uneasiness at the stomach from the noon-meal until four in the afternoon. Irritable mood.
Thirty-eighth day.—Frequent desire to urinate. 240. Clear urine, after a return of the pain in the sacro-lumbar region. Tearing sensation in the renal region; acute pain, with faint feeling and pale face.
Forty-sixth day.—Cold sweat at night.
Fifty-fifth day.—Pale, sickly face; rings around the eyes. Red lips. 245. Emaciation. Weakness in the sacro-lumbar region. Dimness of sight, and prickling in the eyelids. (From this period, he gradually gets better.)
Second prover: Chr. Dieudonné Joly, twenty-four years old, sanguine-nervous temperament, robust constitution.
At eight o’clock in the evening, took one dose of assacù of the fifth attenuation.
First day.—Contraction of the papillæ on the tongue, immediately. 250. Heaviness of the head. Acute pain in the right kidney while walking, with urging to urinate, at nine o’clock in the evening; for two minutes.
Second day.—In the morning, while walking, pain as if sprained in the left coxo-femoral articulation, for some moments. Prickling at the margin of the eyelids, in the day-time. Face looks weary, with rings around the eyes. 255. Lancinations in the left index and thumb. Dull lancinations in the right hand. Itching at the left side and calf. Stitch in the right index-finger at eight o’clock in the evening. Feeling as of sand in the left eye, at ten o’clock.
Third day.—260. Nocturnal emission. Sneezing at noon, as when a catarrh is about setting in. At two o’clock, dark redness and almost complete insensibility of the sides of the neck in the region of the sterno-cleido-mastoideus-muscles; he pricks the parts and does not feel any pain until one hour after.
Fourth day.—No sleep at night, and drowsy in the day-time. Livid complexion at noon. 265. At nine o’clock in the evening, itching at the left eyelids.
Fifth day.—Violent nosebleed, at seven o’clock in the morning. Stinging in the ball of the right thumb. Slight pain in the medius of the left hand.
Sixth day.—Itching at the margin of the left eyelids. 270. At noon, pimple at the right lower part of the lower jaw. At ten o’clock in the evening, in bed, smarting and itching of the puncta lachrymalis and the left lower eyelid.
Seventh day.—At two o’clock: Aching pain like a stitch in the side, under the right lower ribs, for one minute.
Tenth day.—At three o’clock in the afternoon, slight colic, and nausea. Dull and heavy head, with weak legs.
Eleventh day.—275. At eleven o’clock, hypochondria, sadness, despair; he imagines that he is abandoned by his family.
Twelfth day.—Fatigue, and weakness of sight.
Thirteenth day.—Eyes red, with weak sight, he reads with difficulty. The upper and lower limbs feel weak.
Fourteenth day.—Eyes weary, sight weak. 280. Short, dull, painful lancinations in the pectoral muscles, rather internal, without impeding the breathing.
Fifteenth day.—Weariness of the eyes, pressure at the superior portion of the orbits. Headache. At nine o’clock in the evening, lancinating pain in the biceps and triceps muscles of the arm, similar pain between the shoulder-blade and the spinal column, in the trapezoid muscle. The throat feels dry and irritated, compelling one to cough. 285. Dryness of the glottis; causing a cough as from a cold.
Sixteenth day.—Itching at the margin of the eyelids.
Seventeenth day.—Sense of stoppage in the ears; afterwards as if air-bubbles were passing through the left ear (for two or three seconds). Small smarting pimples on the lower part of the right leg.