Codeinum

Volume I — Special Symptomatology

[An alkaloid of Opium. Provings by Dr. Marcy and others.] Description. — This substance was discovered in 1832, by Robiquet, in the muriate of morphia, prepared according to the process of Gregory. It exists in opium, combined with meconic acid, and is extracted along with morphia in the preparation of the muriate of morphia. When this solution of the mixed muriates is treated with ammonia, the morphia isprecipitated, and the Codeine, remaining in solution, may be obtained by evaporation and crystalization. It may be purified by dissolving in hot' ether, which, by spontaneous evaporation, leaves the Codeine in colorless crystals, which are octohedral. It is soluble in water, which takes up at

60° 1.26 per cent; insoluble in alkaline solutions. Gives an alkaline re action to test paper, and combines with acids to form salts. Analogues. — Opium and its analogues.

Mental Sphere. Great mental exhilaration, (p.) Depression of spirits, with dull headache. («.) Inability to apply the mind.

Head.

Heat in the head.

Dull headache soon after getting up in the morning, worse on

the left side, and lasting about two hours. Pulsating pain in the right temple, in the afternoon. Dizziness on blowing the nose.

• Morning headaches, of a dull character, coming on after

rising and lasting until noon. 0 Headaches from fatigue and excessive mental excitement.

Face.

Itching and heat of the face and head, extending over the whole hody.

Eyes.

• Involuntary twitching of the left eyelid, sometimes relieved

by rubbing. (Marcy.) Burning sensation in the eyes, worse in the left.

• Involuntary twitching of both eyelids, whenever he

attempted to read or write (cured by the 5th.) (Marcy.) Nose.

Entire loss of smell.

Mouth and Throat.

Lips dry and parched.

Tickling sensation in the throat in the afternoon and evening.

Larynx and Chest.

Sharp pain in the right lung on inspiration.

Severe pain in the chest and shoulder on motion.

Fullness and oppression of the chest, with stitching pains in

the left lung on breathing. Tickling in the larynx, which causes a cough. Drawing pain around the heart, which beats loud and full.

Painful pulsations of the heart on attempting to study or write.

0 Short and irritating cough, worse during the night.

° Troublesome cough, with copious mucus, and sometimes purulent expectoration. (Marcy.)

° Night cough of phthisical patients. (Marcy.)

Irregular action of the heart from derangement of the ganglionic system. (3Iarcy.)

Violent pulsations of the heart and carotids.

Gastric Symptoms.

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Acute pains in the stomach, with empty eructations. Great thirst, with a particular desire for bitter substances.

° Tenderness in the stomach, with violent pulsations of the

heart and carotids. 0 Gastric and abdominal neuralgia. 0 Violent spasmodic pain at the pit of the stomach.

Abdomen.

Extreme tenderness of lower part of the abdomen. Dull pains throughout the entire abdomen.

Stool.

Constipation, tenderness of the bowels, especially the transverse and descending colon.

Urinary Organs. Increase of urine, it being lighter in color. Semi-paralysis of the bladder.

Sexual Organs. (Men.) Sexual excitement during the night.

Lascivious thoughts, causing frequent erections day and night

Back.

Sharp pains extending from the stomach and chest through

to the back, between the shoulders, worse on right side. Convulsive movements of the muscles of the back of the neck. Acute pains in the region of the kidneys.

Neck.

Convulsions in the muscles of the neck.

Neuralgic pains from the occiput to the back of the neck.

Painful pulsations in the left side of the neck.

Superior Extremities.

Involuntary twitching of the muscles of the arm.

On moving the arm a severe pain in the deltoid muscles.

Numbness of the hands and arms.

Pulsating pain in the left upper arm.

Inferior Extremities.

Sensation and power of motion impaired. Involuntary twitching of the lower limbs. Sudden pain in knee joint, rendering walking impossible for a few minutes.

0 Neuralgic pains in the thighs and legs, and sub-acute rheumatic pains in the knee and ankle joints.

0 Paralytic affections of lower extremities, with extreme restlessness.

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

This name is given to one of the alkaloids of Opium. It has been very little used by the allopaths, probably on account of its enormous price, about six dollars per drachm.

The provings do not evolve many symptoms other than we can find in provings of Morphia.

A few homoeopathic physicians use it as an anodyne instead of Morphia, but it has no special recommendation superior to the Morph, acet.

Dr. Marcy used it in the 5th dilution in a case of twitching of both eyelids after reading, a symptom I have often cured with Hyoscyamus.

He also gave it in troublesome night cough of consumptives. It is said to cure severe neuralgia of the stomach and solar plexus ; but we get this from allopathic authority.