TELLURIUM.
By Timothy F. Allen — The Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica
An element.
Preparation , Triturations of the precipitated metal.
Authorities.
1 , J. W. Metcalf, North Am. Journ. of Hom., vol. 2, 1852, p. 405, 1 grain 3d trit., at 5 and 9 P.M. (first day), same, at 6.30 and 10.30 A.M. (second day); ( 2 to 13 , C. Hering, Am. Hom. Rev., vol. 5); 2 , C. Hering swallowed in water the part washed with alcohol from the mortar and pestle after triturating; 3 , Oscar Tietze took 3d trit.; 4 , a woman took 3d on going to bed (first day), in the evening (eighth day), in the morning and at 10 P.M. (ninth day); she had had many of the symptoms before the proving, but not lately, and not in such strength; some symptoms might be produced by her occupation as a teacher, and some might depend upon her age, forty years; 5 , Dr. Kitchen took 3d trit.; 6 , Dr. Gardner took 3d trit. evening and morning; 7 , Dr. Whitey took 2d trit., several grains night and morning; 8 , Dr. Gosewich took 12th, at 4 P.M.; 9 , through Dr. Gosewich, 1 drop of 6th pot. at 5 P.M.; 10 , through Dr. Gosewich, F., a woman took 6th in drop doses; 11 , Dr. Carroll Dunham took 1 grain 4th cent. trit. every night on retiring for about five days; two subsequent provings with same preparation, made within two years, reproduced substantially the same symptoms; 12 , Dr. Charles G. Raue took a few grains of 3d cent., at 10.30 P.M. (first day), 10 A.M. and 10 P.M. (second day), 1 grain at 12.30 P.M. (third day), 1 grain fasting (fourth morning); 13 , Prof. Wœhler, effects on himself of investigating Telluric ethyle; 14 , J. Y. Simpson, Month. Journ. of Med. Sci. (Pharm. Journ., vol. 14, 1855, p. 376), a dose was given to a student of divinity; 15 , Dr. Bunsen, Pacific Med. and Surg. Journ., 1869, experiments with the salts; 16 , E. W. Berridge, Am. Journ. of Mat. Med., vol. 9, 1876, p. 247, Dr. J. R. Croker took in the morning 3 globules 31st pot.
MIND
- During and after the proving, his disposition much more quiet; for generally he is much disposed to fly into a passion, 3.
- Her disposition is particularly quiet, being otherwise very lively, anxious, and full of care, 10.
- He forgets and neglects much; also the writing down, and even the observing of the symptoms; it is all too much trouble to him; when thinking of the one, or of any business, he forgets everything else, and on account of this he neglects much that is necessary, 2.
HEAD
- Vertigo.
- The next morning while dressing, a very violent attack of vertigo, which became much worse after walking out; he could hardly stand; was compelled to lie down and to remain at home several days; the vertigo caused nausea; after eating rice he was obliged to vomit; at every motion while he was lying down, even when he turned his head, still more on sitting up, the vertigo returned; at the same time the pulse was more frequent; he had previously had similar attacks, also a severe one after Glonoin; on other occasions Aconite had always helped him; this time it did not, nor did Glonoin nor Belladonna; it gradually passed away after three or four days, 6.
- A peculiar kind of vertigo every evening while getting asleep, about half an hour after going to bed, a sensation as if he were wafted and drawn forth very quickly in the direction of his legs; he was always wakened by it; it never returned later in the night; on the contrary, one night when he had gone to bed earlier than usual, about 8.30 P.M., the sensation appeared in like manner, about half an hour after he had lain down, and when he was first getting asleep; this vertigo kept coming for eight or nine days; was interrupted at one time by two days of quiet sleep, returned, and then ceased altogether, 3.
- General Head.
- When working quietly (sitting with the head bent forward), without any provocation whatever, a sudden rush of blood towards the head, with perceptible reddening of the face, recovering irregularly, but almost daily twice, now in the morning, now in the afternoon; this rush of blood recurred for about fourteen days, 3.
- Dulness in the head (after three-quarters of an hour), 2.
- Towards evening, dull headache over the whole head (second day), 12.
- Dull headache and dulness of the head (first day), 3. [10.]
- Head heavy, full, and sleepy (second day), 10.
- On every movement the brain felt as if bruised, 9.
- Headache, on several occasions, since he took the dose; to-day chiefly on the vertex (thirteenth day), 16.
- In the afternoon, headache worse on the left side; at 6 P.M., worse in the forepart of the head (fourth day), 12.
- Almost every remedy that he ever before proved gave him headache; this, however, did not, 8.
- Forehead.
- Some heaviness above the brows (fourteenth day), .
EYE
- Right eye painfully hot, with excessive lachrymation thereof, continuing about fifteen minutes, about 5 P.M. (eleventh day), 16.
- Watering of the eyes, with the coryza (seventh day), 12. [30.]
- He wakened early with a pale red, dropsical, biting, itching swelling in the left upper eyelid, rather towards the inner angle; this swelling secretes some fluid (eighteenth day); after a few days a scab forms, the eye is worse, the globe also is reddened (twentieth day), 12.
- Towards evening, in the left upper eyelid, towards the inner canthus, itching and pressure, as if a hair had grown in the wrong direction (thirteenth day), 12.
EAR
- Sometimes itching in the ear, with secretion of a thinner earwax than usual (sixth day), 12.
- In the forenoon it seems to him as if his ears were suddenly stopped; about 10 P.M., sensation of obstruction in the ears; worse on the left side (sixth day), 12.
- Sometimes, for an instant, a sensation as if air catches itself in the Eustachian tube; on taking a pinch of snuff, and on eructation of wind, the air catches itself in the left Eustachian tube, as in a sac (ninth day); repeated several times (tenth day), 12.
NOSE
- At 10 A.M., attack of sneezing, lasting several minutes; had this frequently after rush of blood to the head (fourteenth day), 4.
- Afternoon, coryza has set in, it is dry (second day); after a few days it ran a natural course; it is only to be remarked that it appeared worse at irregular times, 3.
- The whole forenoon the left nasal passage is stopped from the right one; slime is running off by the posterior opening (fifth day), 12.
- Obstruction of the right nostril (seventh day), 12.
- When walking in the clear, fresh air (11 A.M. to 12 M .), a fluent coryza develops itself, with hoarseness and watering of the eyes, with short cough and pressure in the middle of the chest, under the sternum; after being some time in the open air it goes away again (seventh day); repeated (eighth day), 12.* [40.]
- On awaking, much thick slime in the nose; during the night he had breathed through the mouth; the nose sometimes stopped, sometimes free (eighth day), 12.
- Coryza, with thick mucus (twentieth day), 12.
- Sudden feeling of painful dryness (as if felt on a fluent coryza being suddenly stopped, or on an abortive attempt to sneeze) in right side of nose and fauces, between 4 and 5 P.M.; it lasted three-quarters of an hour, when the right eye became painfully hot with excessive lachrymation thereof (eleventh day), 16.
- Painful dryness (as if felt on a fluent coryza being suddenly stopped, or on an abortive attempt to sneeze) at back of throat for ten minutes, in the morning (thirteenth day), 16.
FACE
- During the first week, and now and then during the following, a peculiar twitching and distortion of the left facial muscles, often when speaking; the left angle of the mouth is drawn to the left, and upward, 2.
- After having been, during the forenoon, in sharp, cold air, slight burning sensation in the lips during the afternoon (second day), 12.
- In the afternoon, burning in the middle of the upper lip (third day), 12.
MOUTH
- Slight dull toothache on the left side, in teeth that had been filled with lead, 9.
- The gums bleed so that the mouth is full of blood (eleventh day), 4.
- His breath had, for several weeks, the odor of garlic, 13.* [50.]
- Sensation of coolness in the mouth and pharynx, as after having peppermint lozenges in the mouth, very distinct on drawing in the air (first day), 12.
- A metallic earthy taste in the mouth, 9.
THROAT
- In the morning, much secretion of slime from the posterior nares, of a saltish taste, like smoked herrings (third day), 12.
- The slime in the posterior nares has been deposited as a yellow-reddish resin, which is hawked out in the morning (seventh day), 12.
- Sensation of dryness in the throat, at 5 P.M. (fifth day), 12.
- In the evening, sore throat, worse on the left side on empty swallowing (tenth day), 12.
- Sore throat on empty swallowing, evening (eleventh day), 12.
- A little rough, scratchy sensation in the throat, not passing off by swallowing (first day), 12.
- A scratchy feeling in the throat, worse towards evening (nineteenth day), 12.
- Tonsils.
- Pressure at the tonsils (first day), 3.
- Fauces. [60.]
- In the morning, a prickly sensation of dryness in the fauces, worse on the left side; better after breakfast (fifth day), 12.
- Sensation of dryness, involving the whole fauces, but worse on the right side (seventh day), 12.
- Towards evening, dryness of the fauces (eighth day), 12.
- The sensation of dryness in the fauces, worse on the left side, comes again in the morning, but is milder; while walking in the open air, and after doing so (11 A.M. to 12 M.) it ceases; in its stead the right side becomes painful, worse on empty swallowing; the pain at the same time extends into the right ear, which feels internally as if stopped; the sensation of dryness is always perceptible morning and evening (sixth day), 12.
- The pain and sensation of dryness in the fauces go away when eating or drinking, during the entire proving, 12.
- Feels his fauces and pharynx; has at times a strange sensation, as if round waves pushed against the pharynx below (after three-quarters of an hour), 2.
- Prickly soreness in the fauces when swallowing; worse on the right side (seventh day), 12.
- In the fauces above the larynx, an itching and a kind of burning, as if he had scalded himself with a hot drink, lasting several days, 7.
STOMACH
- Appetite and Thirst.
- During the whole time, a good appetite and a disposition to drink a glass of beer oftener than common, which always tasted good; both later ceased, 3.
- 11.30 P.M., while going to sleep, sudden desire for apples, which makes him wide awake again (thirteenth day), 12. [70.]
- No desire to smoke (first evening), 2.
- Eructations.
- Eructations tasting of the food, 9.
- Heartburn.
- Heartburn, a sensation of warmth, as after spirituous drinks, in the epigastrium and on both sides of the same, 9.
- Nausea.
- Nausea before the evening meal, ceasing by eating, together with the headache (fourth day), 12.
- Nausea caused by the vertigo; after eating rice he was obliged to vomit, 6.
- Disagreeable sensation in the stomach; something comes up as far as the pharynx, as though a wet eructation were about to occur, but nothing comes up; finally, a difficult retching, then an accumulation of water in the mouth; after half an hour accumulation of water in the mouth, retching, then yawning, 2.
- Stomach.
- Feels empty and weak in the stomach, yet without appetite, 9.
- A feeling in the stomach like weakness or faintness (tenth day), 4.
- The disposition to become easily faint in the region of the stomach often recurred, 4.
- In the forenoon, in school, she had always a fulness and oppression in the epigastrium and was obliged to loosen her clothes; ate much less; was obliged to lie down after eating, which, however, gave no relief; the oppression became, indeed, rather worse; the left thigh upon which she lay became numb and her feet cold; at last she took Nux vom., lay down again and then slept better (after four weeks), 4. [80.]
- Singular contracting sensation in the epigastrium, as if the parts were folded together; when this sensation passed away, there remained a pain and soreness in the left side, 10.
ABDOMEN
- In the forenoon, when sitting, a burning in the right side of the hepatic region, and later, a heavy painful pressure, 6.
- She was attacked in the right side of the abdomen, but worst of all, low in the back, which continued several days, with gnawing, rubbing pains in the abdomen, 10.
- Pain in the left flank within the crest of the ilium, 5.
- Very peculiarly stinking flatus, like a compound of hydrogen, such as he never smelled before (second day); after one week, the same once again, not occasioned by the mode of living, 2.
- Pressure of incarcerated flatus under the last ribs, first on the left side, then on the right , an hour and a half after breakfast (third day), 12.
- Fulness in the region of the upper part of the abdomen and of the liver, 5.
- After supper, very full in the abdomen, but not bloated, 8.
- General sensation of warmth in the abdomen, as after spirituous drinks, 9.
- Sensation of numbness in the abdominal walls, as if it were in the flesh, began below the umbilicus on each side of the same, and extended around and upward to the ribs, while he lay on the sofa after supper, 9. [90.]
- Frequent spasmodic pains in bowels, as if from incarcerated flatulence, chiefly in the afternoon (from fifth to ninth day); to-day, about 6 P.M., while eating, the spasmodic pain was excessive, with urging to stool; copious stool followed; after this no spasm, but only feeling of flatulence in bowels (ninth day); pains returned between 3 and 4 P.M., followed by copious stools, after which the pains went off (thirteenth day), 16.
- About 10 P.M., pinching in the abdomen; better after passing wind (seventh day), 12.
- About 8 A.M., pinching in the abdomen and stool, first thick, then diarrhœic (eighth day), 12.
- Some dull pain low down above the pubic region, and anteriorly on both sides of the abdomen, 9.
- Pain in the pelvis at the left side (after one hour), 4.
- On the left side, in the region of the uterus, across, in the groin and towards the hip, violent stitches or cuttings (third day), 4.
- Frequent stitching pains from the middle of the pelvis across towards the left side, in attacks (fourth and fifth days), 4.
RECTUM AND ANUS
- Blind hæmorrhoids (second day), 10. [100.]
- After the stool, itching in the rectum (sixth day), 12.
- For a few minutes, itching at the anus, 9.
- Inclination to stool without straining and urging (after half an hour), 2.
STOOL
- Had, for weeks every morning, a stool, sometimes soft, sometimes harder, often with some blood. Since taking the Tellurium, also every day a second stool like the first, so every following day, for one week; later again, as had been the case some time before, every morning thin stool, 2.
- Stool, first thick, then diarrhœic (eighth day); diarrhœic stool at 10 A.M.; after the stool urging in the rectum for awhile, with some burning; thereupon stronger retraction of the rectum (ninth day), 12.
- No stool for two days; to-day, 11 A.M., a stool, not hard, composed of crumbs enveloped in some brown-reddish slime (fifth day); stool in the evening, the first part like that of yesterday; the last part softer (sixth day), 12.
- Bowels costively inclined from the first (ninth day); still inclined to be costive; bowels act only every other day, and with some difficulty (thirteenth day), 16.
- The next morning the customary stool was lacking, 9.
- Constipation with much wind (second day), 10.
URINARY ORGANS
- Pain and sensation of soreness began after some time in the region of the kidneys, this extended downwards and over towards the abdomen, with a pressing-down, as if by a weight, which increased during the whole night; in the morning the kidney pain was still worse, especially the sensation of soreness, 10. [110.]
- At the close of urinating, burning in the orifice of the urethra, 9.
- Very frequent urging to pass water, and a very unpleasant sensation if she cannot yield to the urging (second day); sudden cold weather had formerly a similar effect upon her, but to a far less degree, 4.
- Urine transparent, dark, easily evacuated, without pain, 9.
- Urine acid, rather small in quantity (17.5 fluid ounces in twenty-four hours), deep red, sp. gr. 1030 (eighteenth day). The urine was analyzed several times during the proving, but no remarkable peculiarity was observed, except the great abundance of the coloring matter, hydrochloric acid developing a very striking change of color. The examination to-day gave; urine acid; high-colored; sp. gr., 1030; 22.5 fluid ounces in twenty-four hours.
Water, 930.10 Urea, Uric acid, Fixed salts, Organic matters, etc., 30.06 .80 19.40 19.64
Solids, 69.90 1000.00 (twientieth day), 1.
SEXUAL ORGANS
- Male.
- He had erections all night, a thing which had never before happened to him, 5.
- For one week a much more excited and powerful sexual instinct, but after that time this appeared to be entirely extinct; without any want of capability thereto, he renounces the indulgence for weeks without missing it, 2.
- Sexual desire and power increased, for last week (thirteenth day), 16.
- Female.
- Menses appeared in the afternoon, one day too early (third day); the next menstrual period came three days too early; the first day the usual quantity, later less than usual, 4.
RESPIRATORY ORGANS
- A sensation between roughness and pressure in the region of the larynx, which generally provokes a cough, passes gradually into a pure tickling (first day), 3.
- Voice.
- Hoarseness with the coryza (seventh day), 12. [120.]
- Hoarseness early in the morning, after rising (twentieth day), 12.
- Cough and Expectoration.
- A cough which often came on by day or night in slight attacks, with a wheezing in the larynx without becoming loose, especially after smoking, drinking, and much walking, or after going upstairs, came on again, and always towards morning, and with much violence; after a few days it became loose and then ceased; after taking cold it came again, and then ceased permanently, so that even taking fresh colds did not bring it on again, 2.
- Cough and pressure in the middle of the chest, under the sternum (seventh day), 12.
- Expectorates white mucus, which is easily discharged, 9.
- Respiration.
- Slight feeling of suffocation in the upper part of the throat, 9.
CHEST
- Feeling as if some fluid wanted to discharge itself (pressing downwards) in middle lobe of right lung, for four or five hours, in the afternoon (second day), 16.
- Bubbling in middle lobe of right lung for a few minutes, on three or four occasions, chiefly in afternoon (from ninth to thirteenth days), 16.
- Pain in the clavicle, 9.
- Slight stitches in the chest, transient, more on the left side (first day), 3.
- Some pain in the middle of the sternum, 9. [130.]
- Throughout the whole day, constant pain in the chest, anteriorly in the middle, sometimes extending backwards between the shoulders, and a dull unpleasant feeling in the head, especially above the eyes (tenth day), 4.
- The pains change their locality more frequently this morning than yesterday; mostly on the left side of the chest, only now and then in the right chest and over the right eye; once or twice in the right shin (eleventh day), 4.
- Stitching pains lasting from three to ten minutes, above the fifth rib, on the left side (first day), 3.
- Some pressure in the left chest, above the first rib, 9.
- Drawing, cutting pain around and in the left nipple, extending towards the scapula (first day), 3.
- When lying on the left side, a throbbing sensation on the right side under the ribs, somewhat towards the epigastrium, as from wind balls, undulatory; in the morning it is as if, when lying on the right side, wind had accumulated in the corresponding spot on the left side; flatus does not pass off so freely in the morning as is customary, and the hitherto rather diarrhœic stool intermits; latterly the flatus became stinking, 8.
HEART AND PULSE
- Præcordia.
- She got asleep, lying on the left side, and awakened once in the night with a dull pain in the region of the heart, which passed away when she lay upon the back (first night), 4.
- Constant pain in the region of the heart (eighteenth day), 4.
- Pain in the apex of the heart; she had something similar five or six years ago, but was then much more seriously affected, 4.
- During the later part of the proving, while having the pains in the heart, she had a great disposition to bend forward, even so as to lie upon the face without being able to go to sleep in this position, or without experiencing any relief from it, 4.
- Heart's Action. [140.]
- Palpitation of the heart and general throbbing through the whole body, with fulness of the pulse; after it had lasted an hour, copious sweat for an hour and a half, 9.
- Pulse.
- Pulse more frequent, with the nausea, 6.
NECK AND BACK
- Neck.
- With the pain above the eye, a sensation not easy to describe; along the left side of the neck, as if the blood there had suddenly been retained in one of the large veins, or had streamed backwards (tenth day), 4.
- Sensation of numbness in the nape and occiput, 9.
- When lying on the left ear, a kind of sharp pressing pain from the neck into the left ear, 8.
- Back.
- Whenever she has no pain there is a sensation of weakness in the back, the whole day (ninth day), 4.
- The pains in the back and chest are quite unusual; they were so continuous and so violent that the prover was compelled, by reason of them, to remain at home in the afternoon (eleventh day), 4.
- Dorsal.
- During the second month of the proving, the spine, from the last cervical to about the fifth dorsal vertebra, became very sensitive, and the seat of a peculiar sense of irritation, which made the prover dread having the part touched or even approached; this dread was disproportioned to the actual sensibility of the part when pressed or rudely touched, for this sensibility was not really very great; from the vertebræ above mentioned, a peculiar irritation seemed to radiate upwards into the neck outwards into the shoulders, and forwards through the thorax to the sternum; the distress caused by this sensation was aggravated by fatigue, but only partially relieved by repose; it was great and very annoying, and lasted, as I remember, nearly two months, 11.*
- Drawing and dull pressure at the right scapula; soon afterwards also upon the left (first day), 3.
- Dull pain in the middle of the back between the shoulders, 9.
- Sacral. [150.]
- Pain in the back at the upper end of the sacrum, which extended upward (eighth day), 4.
- Pain in the sacrum, worse on stooping or when rising from a sitting or recumbent posture; the pain passes down in the right thigh in the direction of the sciatic nerve; it is therefore, almost impossible for him to press when at stool; the pain in the sacrum and in the sacral ligaments was sometimes, when moving, like a stab with a knife, 5.
- Early in the morning painful pressure or pain, as if beaten in the os sacrum, worse when stooping, but not ceasing on getting up again; it extends after a time into the renal region, abating by walking in the open air, but returning after a short time when sitting (fourth day), .
EXTREMITIES
- After supper he took a walk on returning to the house, his knees, hips, elbows, and shoulders-joint were as if sprained and beaten, 9.
SUPERIOR EXTREMITIES
- At the anterior margin of the left axillary cavity, a sensation as if it were thicker, as if there were a round tumor internally, and painful on pressure and by motion; it went away without becoming a boil (fifth and sixth days), 2.
- Sometimes tearing pains towards the elbow, and in the palm of the hand towards the thumb-joint (first day), 3.
- Drawing, cramplike pain, apparently in the supinator longus of the left arm, just below the bend of the elbow, lasting half an hour (after fifteen minutes), 15. [160.]
- In the left forearm and hand heaviness and sensation of numbness, about 10 P.M. (fifth day), 12.
- Sensation, as if the skin of the hands, especially of the right hand, were contracted, from the tips of the fingers downwards, so that it seems as if, on extending the fingers, one must stretch the skin forcibly; at the same time in the ends of the fingers a kind of sensation, as if dead (first day), 3.
- Unpleasant drawing in the right hand, later involving the whole forearm (first day), 3.
- Soon, violent pressing pain through the metacarpal bone of the right fourth finger, beginning scarcely a minute later and increasing, 2.
- Rheumatic pain in right little finger (excepting last joint), increased by strong pressure or movement of finger (fifteenth and sixteenth days), 16.
- Pain in the first phalanx of the little finger of the left hand, as if he had fallen upon it; on touch and pressure no sore spot can be discovered; on moving it, it is painful (eleventh day), 12.
INFERIOR EXTREMITIES
- Dull pain, deep internally in the whole length of the right thigh; uninfluenced by change of position (after one hour), 4.
- The left thigh upon which she lay became numb, and her feet cold (after four weeks), 4.
- Very tired in the knees and lower legs; worse on the right side; the whole evening, drawing in the right leg posteriorly from the right posterior superior spinous process down to the calf; worse in the kneeholder; the drawing in the right leg and the tiredness after lying down (11.30 P.M.) are so hard, that for awhile it prevents him from getting asleep, and compels him to frequently turn and twist; the sleep is good, with amelioration of all the pains (fifth day), 12.
- At the outside of the right knee anteriorly, a burning aching (after eighteen minutes), 2. [170.]
- Pain in the right shin (eleventh day), 4.
- Pain in the right metatarsal bone, as if the bone were pressed (after half an hour, and second day), 2.
- A sharp pain passed quickly over the toes of the right foot, then into the heel (after one hour), 4.
GENERALITIES
- Evolution of such a persistent odor, that for the remainder of the session, the patient had to sit apart from his fellow-students, 14.
- Restlessness, 5.*
- In the morning, after deep sleep, with bad dreams, he felt heavy and dull, 9.
- Lassitude and weakness , then pains in the elbows, ankles, and various parts, sharp and quick, 10.*
- Feels strange and singular in his whole body, but cannot describe the sensation (after three-quarters of an hour), 2.
- The "first right, then left," was exhibited in several pains, which, however, were so fugitive and indistinct, for example, in the right side and shoulder, that he recorded nothing of them, 2.
- Aching pains all over body, especially in limbs and scapulæ; worse on right side; worse on waking (fifteenth and sixteenth days), 16. [180.]
- Walked to-day eight or nine miles, and felt the effects so sensibly that she stopped taking the Tellurium until the fatigue should have passed over (second day); she felt the effects of the walk more particularly in the shape of a sticking pain through both temples, a pain from hip to hip, and in both acetabula, for a whole day (third day), 4.
- At 9 A.M. pains above the right eye after going out; the pain goes towards the temple; then in the flanks below the ribs, then in the right side of the pelvis, the right shin, then over the left eye, left ear, then into the right eye; at the same time she is chilly (twelfth day), 4.
- The parts which had been attacked with pains, now pain as if beaten or sore (thirteenth day), 4.
- The symptoms, especially the attacks which compelled her to lie down, were more violent the first Tuesday after taking the medicine, came again the two following Tuesdays, but with less violence. The fourth Tuesday she was quite free, but they came again on Thursday, and somewhat changed, 4.
SKIN
- About fifteen or twenty days after the first dose, the left ear began to itch, burn, and swell; there were aching and throbbing pains in the external meatus, and in the course of three or four days, there was a copious watery discharge from the ear, smelling like fish-pickle; this discharge was acrid and caused a vesicular eruption on the lower lappet of the ear and on the neck, wherever it touched the skin; the inflammation of the ear generally was not vesicular; the color was a bluish red, and the ear had the appearance of being infiltrated with water; this eruption, which was very troublesome from its itching and burning, and from the copious, offensive, and acrid discharge, lasted for a long time; if memory be not in error, nearly three months, 11.*
- Pimples on the face (second day), 10.
- Little stinging prickings in various parts of the skin of the whole body, continuing all the afternoon and evening, and forcing me instantly to rub the spot (first day); came on again like flea-bites here and there, and lasted all da y (second day); this pricking continued very troublesome at times, principally when at rest, for several weeks, but gradually subsided. A little spot of herpes circinnatus made its appearance a few days since on the forehead, perpendiculary above the external canthus of the right eye, and about half an inch above the eyebrow; I do not remember ever before to have had an eruption of the kind; it was at first a little cluster of globular vesicles, on an inflamed base, which dried into thin scales and spread by the circumference; it itches and pricks slightly (eleventh day).*
The herpetic spot is now circular, about half an inch in diameter, and consists of an elevated ring of vesicles, some larger than others, on an inflamed base, inclosing a depressed area of red skin, which desquamates, but contains no vesicles; it continues to itch slightly, and to furnish successive crops of thin white scales (eighteenth day).
The troublesome stinging became very annoying the whole of the evening of this day, when sitting still, wandering all over the body. A herpetic spot, similar to the one on the forehead, has made its appearance on the left side, midway between the ribs and the crest of the ilium, accompanied by very troublesome itching, which changes into smarting on being rubbed; it forms about three-quarters of a circle, and is rather irregular; there are indications of another spot just above it (nineteenth day).
For the last week the stinging in the skin has been much less, but it is succeeded by a constant itching of the scalp, which requires continual scratching; the itching is apparently due to an eruption of little fine vesicles upon a slightly-inflamed base, which, after remaining a few days, dry up and fall off in little white scales; they are most plentiful on the occipital scalp, on the nape in the borders of the hair, and on the posterior surface of the auricles; this itching has been constant and very annoying for a week, and bids fair to continue; the spot on the forehead is breaking up, there being several gaps in the ring, which is now three-quarters of an inch in diameter; just above it another spot has appeared, precisely similar, but smaller (forty-third day).
The eruption has nearly disappeared from the head, and the itching has ceased almost entirely; the spot on the forehead is no longer to be discerned, the skin being scarcely reddened where it existed; the new one is slightly increasing, and forms about two-thirds of a circle, but it is not as vigorous as its predecessor; the spots on the side have disappeared; I still have occasional stingings in the skin, but rarely (forty-ninth day).
The spot have all gone, and I have no further symptoms (fifty-sixth day), 1.
- After a few days, an eruption; small red papules, which itch very much, on the abdomen, on the inside of the thighs, and on the perinæum; the itching is worse in cold weather, 8.
- In the afternoon, a prickling itching at the scrotum; worse on the right side; then on the inside of the left thigh, high up; then low on the right side of the abdomen; then on the left side; later between the buttocks (second day), 12.
- After two or three days an eruption makes its appearance, such as he had never had; small red pimples, very bright red and very sharply defined, with minute vesicles upon them, first on the lower extremities, then also upon the upper, most on the left side; they began first on the outside of the calves, and then on the inside of the forearms, above the wrist, and spread from that point, caused very severe itching, day and night, but worst at night after going to bed, 7.* [190.]
- After about five days, there appeared on the left hand small red points, shining through the skin, which sometimes itch; the feet also itch, especially the left one, as though there were some heat-vesicles there ; after the lapse of several days, there appeared, first on the calves, and then extending up to the thighs, similar small red isolated points, which itch, like those on the hand; the itching is especially in those spots where the skin perspires most; the abdomen seems not to be affected; but, after a few days, a number of similar pimples, itching like the others, appear in the epigastrium; on rubbing the parts that itch, these points become more visible; the itching is not unlike that caused by bed-bugs; from the epigastrium the eruption extends towards the left nipple, and lingers here as well as at the epigastrium longer than on the before-mentioned localities, and it finally turns towards the left axilla; at the same time also it itches in various parts of the back; meanwhile a spot is remarked on the right side of the forehead which is sore when pressed upon, as if a blow had once been received there, which he does not remember to have been the case, neither is there any red or blue spot to be seen; the itching now begins at the head, only at the posterior and superior parts, not towards the anterior part; the itching at the head lasts about fourteen days, 3.*
SLEEP
- Yawning after the retching, 2.
- Early in the evening sleepy; went to sleep while sitting (after one hour), 2.
- The sleepy heavy condition, in which he was for several days before he began the proving, has vanished; instead thereof, a feeling of restlessness on going to bed, 9.
- Wakened with sweat about 4 A.M. (seventh day), 12.
- He dreamed at night of smoking cigars, a thing he never does, 6.
- Nightmare, 10.
FEVER
- Chilliness.
- Chilly (twelfth day), 4.
- Internal chilliness with single shudderings (first day), 3.
- Heat.
- Skin hot and dry; sensation as if overstrained, as if bruised, as if he had taken cold after severe exertion, 9. [200.]
- Sinciput hot (eleventh day), 4.
- An hour and a half after dinner, heat in the face (eleventh day), 4.
- Sweat.
- General warm perspiration over the whole body, when seated writing, the afternoon being cool and a fine breeze blowing into the room (first day), 15.
- Copious sweat for an hour and a half after the palpitation, 9.
- In consequence of taking cold, he got into a very profuse perspiration during the night, and the sweat gave out the offensive Tellurium odor to so great an extent, that is was hardly tolerable, a phenomenon which he had opportunity to observe a second time during the course of this work, 13.
- Imparts to the perspiration a most offensive odor; he was obliged to absent himself four weeks from society on this account, 15.
- For six weeks continued sweat of the feet, especially anteriorly at the toes, somewhat ill-smelling, 2.
CONDITIONS
- Aggravation.
- ( Morning ), On lying on right side, headache over left half of head; dryness of fauces.
- ( Forenoon ), Fulness and oppression in epigastrium.
- ( Afternoon ), Pain in bowels; bubbling in middle of right lung.
- ( Evening ), When getting asleep, vertigo; sore throat; dryness of fauces.
- ( Towards morning ), Cough.
- ( Open air ), Coryza.
- ( Coughing ), Pain in sacrum.
- ( Drinking ), Cough.
- ( Fatigue ), Irritation in spine.
- ( Laughing ), Pain in sacrum.
- ( Lying on back ), Pain in sacrum.
- ( Motion ), Pain in left axillary cavity.
- ( Pressure ), Pain in left axillary cavity; pain in little finger.
- ( Pressure to stool ), Pain in sacrum.
- ( Rising from sitting ), Pain in sacrum.
- ( Sitting up ), Vertigo.
- ( Smoking ), Cough.
- ( Stooping ), Headache in temples and forehead; pain in sacrum.
- ( Swallowing ), Pain in right side of throat.
- ( Walking ), Vertigo; cough; aching over body.
- ( Cold weather ), Itching.
- Amelioration.
- ( Eating or drinking ), Pain and dryness of throat.
- ( Walking in open air ), Pain in sacrum.