NUX MOSCHATA.
By Timothy F. Allen — The Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica
MOSCHATA
Myristica fragrans, Houttuyn (1774). M. moschata, Thunb.; M. officinalis, Linn.; M. aromatica, Lam.
Natural order , Myristicaceæ.
Common names , Nutmeg; Muskate.
Preparation , Tincture and triturations of the seed deprived of its arillus (mace) and testa.
Authorities. (Nos.
1 to 48 , from Helbig, Heraklides, part 1, 1833).
1 , Helbig; 2 , Hencke; 3 , Heyder; 4 , Al., a woman; 5 , Dl.; 6 , Sw.; 7 , Kd., kadr., or Kade; 8 , Lk. or Lck., a woman; 9 , Ml., a woman; 10 , Ant.; 11 , Ssg. or Ssgth; 12 , Or., a woman; 13 , C.; 14 , Dk.; 15 , Os., a man; 16 , Schm.; 17 , Ld., a woman; 18 , Lch., a woman; 19 , Sh; 20 , Ww; 21 , Ktzl.; 22 , Ldin.; 23 , Koernerin; 24 , Schulz; 25 , Derle; 26 , Hartmann; 27 , Linke; 28 , Bertele, Handbuch, 1805; 29 , Bontius, Hist. Nat. et Méd. Ind. Orient, 1658; 30 , Crantz, Mat. Med., 1762; 31 , Cullen, Treatise on the Mat. Med.; 32 , Curios. Botanicus; 33 , Decker in Dietz, Tract. de nuce mos.; 34 , Ettmueller, Opera, 1697; 35 , Frankenau, Kräuter-lex, 1766; 36 , Geoffray, Abhandl. v. der Mat. Med., 1761; 37 , Grimmer; 38 , Hecker; 39 , Hoffmann, Casp. de Med. Offic.; 40 , Matth. Lobel.; 41 , Moebius, Inst. Med.; 42 , Paulinus, de nuce mosch.; 43 , Pharm. Lex., 1800; 44 , Purkinje; 45 , Riedlinus, Lin. Med., 1600; 46 , Rumph, Herb. Amboin., 1641; 47 , Spielmann, Inst. Mat. Med., 1774; 48 , Thunberg, Diss. de Myristica, 1788 ( 49 to 54 c , additions by Helbig, from Hering's Monograph on Nux. Mosch.); 49 , M. M.; 50 , Dt.; 51 , a girl, effects of 10 drops of tincture; 52 , a woman, from 10 drops of tincture; 53 , a woman, effects of holding nut in hand; 53 a , effects of 12 drops of tincture; 54 a , Helbig, additional; 54 b , a delicate woman, effects of the fourth part of a nut; 54 c , a woman, effects of a drop of 6th dil.; 54 , Dr. C. Hering, Hom. Vjs., 10, p. 90, effects of chewing a portion of the long variety ( M. fatua , Houtt.); 55 , Dr. M. Dowler, West. Hom. Obs., 4 (1867), p. 125, a man ate two nutmegs, at 9 P.M.; 56 , Berridge, N. Am. J. of Hom., N. S., 1873, p. 504, effects of eating mace, in a woman; 57 , same, effects of a dose of "C. M." (Fincke); 58 , same, U. S. Med. Invest., 1875, N. S., 1, p. 101, effects of 10 drops of tincture, repeated the second day, and subsequently; 59 , Thueman, Bert. Med. Cent. Zeit., 1837 (A. H. Z., 17, 165), a man suffering from diarrhœa took a whole nutmeg, also a cordial containing paregoric and rum, with elderberry tea, omitted; 60 , Watson, Lond. Med. Gaz., 1848, vol. 6, p. 260, effects of "as much mace as could be lifted on a teaspoon, and afterwards kept eating small bits for over one and a half hours;" 61 , Mitscherlich, Buchner's Rep. 1850, vol. 16, p. 104 (Pharm. Journ., 10, p. 350), part of the dorsal surface of the hand was moistened with the volatile oil; 62 , R. Ross Roberts, Hahn. Month., 3, 531, a woman, in order to check too profuse menstruation, grated two nutmegs into half a pint of boiling water, of this she sipped for six or seven hours; 63 , Bosch, Memorabilien, 1869 (A. H. Z., M. B., 19, p. 20), a soldier suffering from rheumatic pains took seven nutmegs; 64 , Fanning, Hahn. Month., 1870, a woman, ten days after confinement, took nearly a whole nutmeg, for some lochial discharge; 65 , Martin, Hahn. Month., 1870, p. 63, a woman, five months pregnant, took a whole nutmeg for a leucorrhœal discharge; 66 , omitted; 67 , Hahnemann, general statement, from lesser writing by Dudgeon (from Hering); 68 , Portland Advertiser, effects of eating half a nutmeg (from Hering); 69 , Lippold, effects of large doses (Hering); 70 , Sam. Mueller, general effects (Hering); 71 , A. Lippe, effects of one-quarter or one-half of a nutmeg, in young women during menstruation (Hering); 72 , G. E. Stahl, effects of Nux. mos., with nearly all his food and drink, as a preventive for dysentery (Hering); 73 , C. Hering, effects of chewing a nutmeg (from Hering, l. c.); 74 , A. J. Tafel, effects of a whole nutmeg, taken in soup, to check a diarrhœa (which it did), (Hering, l. c.); 75 , Fronmuller, Klinische Studien ueber der narkot. Arzneim., Erlangen, 1869, effects of a freshly pulverized nutmeg, taken a quarter of an hour after breakfast, in a healthy man; 76 , von Tagen, N. Am. J. of Hom., N. S., 3, p. 315, effects of using nutmegs to check menstruation, in a girl, aged twenty-four ("she ate at least 230 grains"); 77 , same, effects of three-fourths of a nut, in a lady.
MIND
- Emotional.
- Insanity, 38.
- She fell into a delirium, that lasted several hours, 39.
- After a few hours, he was attacked with violent vertigo and delirium, so that he made remarkable gestures; then he used improper language in a loud tone, and could in no way be quieted or made to sleep until he had taken tea and been bled, after which he fell into a profuse perspiration, with deep sleep, from which he woke well, 46 . [From three nuts of M. tomentosa, taken for diarrhœa and tenesmus.]
- Delirium with the dysmenorrhœa, 77.
- *Mental derangement, 28.
- Possesses narcotic properties, causes reeling, delirium, and apoplexy, 47, 48.
- They became foolish and delirious (in five soldiers), 46.
- It causes foolishness, 32.
- Completely distracted in the head, and as if intoxicated (in a pregnant woman, from ten pieces of the nuts), 40. [10.]
- Causes intoxication and indolence, 32.
- Unusually lively, laughing and bright , in the forenoon, 62.*
- Felt foolishly happy, but could not talk; had no desire to talk (first evening), 65.
- Everything provokes laughter, quite contrary to habit ; this was especially noticeable on going into the open air. He stood still upon the street, made foolish gestures; between the attacks he sank into absence of mind, and on collecting himself everything about him seemed ludicrous . During this he looked foolish and childish, like an idiot. On being brought into the house he became somewhat better (first day), 6.
- I took a broken nutmeg and put it in my pocket, and in the course of six hours, I had eaten half a one. Soon after I felt a dizziness and an unaccountable derangement of intellect, transient loss of memory, but a perfect consciousness of all that I said or did ; I became remarkably loquacious and seemed to be neither in this world nor the other; I felt happy and free from any pain; I was truly in an indescribable state; I felt as I supposed one might feel that had been magnetized; my friends were greatly alarmed, and the doctor was sent for in great haste; bleeding was proposed, but as I thought I knew at least as much as any one, I was not willing to be bled; after keeping them laughing and crying till about 11 o'clock at night, I retired to bed, without anything having been done for me; I woke in the morning, and was well as usual, having never been sick a day in my life. Since this occurred, several cases have come to my knowledge in which persons having eaten nutmegs, were affected in the same way that I had been. Had I eaten a little more, I have no doubt it would have proved fatal, as I learn it has done in other cases, .
HEAD
- Confusion and Vertigo.
- Causes great confusion of the head, 46.
- Vertigo, 38.*
- [They experienced such violent vertigo and heaviness of head that they seemed deprived of memory], 46 . [Several persons, after taking cold wine punch containing eight nutmegs.]
- Vertigo , and fatal apoplexy, 48.*
- Pain and vertigo in the frontal region, with the strange feeling over the whole system (after four hours), 64.
- He seemed like one intoxicated and reeling (first day), 27.
- She is dizzy, 8.
- So dizzy that they seemed intoxicated and half crazy, 46 . [Two soldiers, the day after sleeping under a nutmeg tree.]
- Dizzy, as if intoxicated and sleepy, 12. [70.]
- He reels far to the left instead of walking upright (in the evening, while walking in the open air), (first day), 1.
- She made an attempt to walk to an adjoining room, and upon standing erect became very dizzy, immediately followed by swimming in the head, 76.
- She began to feel giddy and light in her head, about 1 o'clock; gradually increased in severity, 62.
- Feeling faint, with lightness, giddiness, and emptiness of head, at 5.30 P.M., 62.
- Lightness, giddiness, and emptiness, with a faint feeling, at 5.30 P.M., 62.
- Injurious to the head; makes dizzy, sluggish, foolish, and causes other complaints, 70.
- She seemed intoxicated the whole day ; the head was heavy; at first it was painful on the left side, between the forehead and temple, which sensation afterwards extended towards the occiput (first day), 4.
- In General.
- The head inclined to drop forward, the chin resting on the breast, and it could only be raised with much effort, which, when done, again would drop forward, 76.*
- Could not bear to have her head raised from the pillow, on account of the deathly sickness produced thereby, 76.*
MOSCHATA. EYE
- Objective.
- Deep blue semicircles under the eyes, at 5.30 P.M., 62.
- Blue rings around the eyes (first day), 4.*
- Both eyes presented a bloodshot appearance, and were much swollen, 76.
- Eyes bloodshot and much reddened, almost swollen shut; could scarcely see, 76.
- The right infraorbital region becomes puffy (first day), 1 . [From the flowers.]
- The eyes, that seemed to him dry, appeared agglutinated so that he could scarcely open them , with constant inclination of the head to the left side, from sleepiness (first day), 7. [130.]
- Eyes very dull and heavy-looking, 76.
- Dull eyes (after two hours and a half), 74.
- Eyes looked injected, 60.
- Subjective.
- Sensation of fulness in the eyes, wherewith the pupils seems contracted (second day), 1.
- Eyes and lids felt swollen, bulged out (first evening), 65.
- *Sensation of dryness in the eyes; reading by artificial light was difficult; the eyes would close from sleep; the head and forehead were dull, in the evening (first day), 1.
- He could not easily open and close the eyes, on account of a sensation of dryness and roughness (first day), 6.*
- *Dryness of the eyes (first day), 6.
- Lids.
- Upper eyelids were swollen and red around the border, and drooping; looked as though she had been weeping (first evening), 65.
- The eyes were firmly and spasmodically closed under the influence of the spasm, 76. [140.]
- Eyelids drooped, and could only open fully with use of hands, 55.
- Inability to open her eyes; lids felt heavy and stiff, 76.
- Tension and dryness in the lids (first day), 12.
EAR
- The auricular group of muscles were involved in the general disturbance, as the ears could be seen to act in concert with the rest of the muscular structures (also the epicranial and palpebral group of muscles seemed involved), 76.
- Some earache, 5.
- Pains in the ear, as though a not very dull instrument were pressed back and forth in it (second and third days), 1.
- Pain between a pressure and a sticking in the right ear, in the morning (second day), 1. [160.]
- While riding in a wagon, towards evening, just before a storm of wind and rain, he experienced a painful sensation of heat, extending from within the ear towards the posterior wall of the pharynx (tuba Eustachii), almost as if a rough body had lodged there, and had to be pressed out forcibly; the sensation began first in the posterior wall of the pharynx, afterwards in the ear, and at last extended to the buccal cavity (eleventh day), 1.
- Somewhat sharp pressure in the left ear, seeming to be aggravated and in part caused by motion of the lower jaw, 1.
- Several stitches in succession in the right ear, in the forenoon (tenth day), 1.
- Some stitches in the ears (first day), 1.
- Hearing.
- Buzzing in ears, 55.
- No answer to loud summons when called by name, 76.
NOSE
- Dryness of the nose, immediately, 15 . [From snuffing the powder for nasal polypus.]
- Frequent and violent sneezing, in the morning (third day), 6.
- Frequent sneezing (from the odor and smell of nutmegs), 1.
- Stoppage of the nose, mostly of the left nostril, with crawling, as from coryza, and sneezing three times; the stoppage was so violent that he was obliged to keep the mouth open in order to breathe; it was immediately relieved on moving about, and entirely disappeared after rising (after one hour), 2. [170.]
- Stoppage of the left nostril, lasting three days (after nine hours), 2.
- It feels like a catarrh in the nose; is obliged to sneeze (first day), 6.
- The left nostril seems affected with catarrh; it is neither dry nor stopped, but it seems to him as though he could get no air through it (second day), 6.
- Irritation and stinging in the nose, compelling violent rubbing (after one hour), 8, 10.
FACE
- Face and eyes were much suffused throughout the entire night and following day, 76.
- The muscles of the face were drawn up, with an expression denoting much suffering, during the spasms, 76.
- She noticed her face appeared very pale, 76.
- Pale face (after two hours and a half), 74.*
- Looks very sick (after two hours and a half), 74.
- Expression of countenance distressed, 16. [180.]
- Singular expression of countenance, 60.
- Countenance presented a silly look; occasionally she would give a diabolical grin, 76.
- Hippocratic countenance, at 5.30 P.M., 62.
- Cheeks, Lips, and Chin.
- Pressive pain in the right cheek, extending to the ear and maxillary articulation, in the morning (second day), 1 . [From the flowers.]
- Violent pain in the right cheekbone (fourth night), 1.
- Dryness of the lips, palate, and velum palati , with a sensation of burning, as in catarrh (after one hour), 2.*
- Slight hot stitches in the left side of the chin (after seven hours), 1.
- Drawing pain in the flesh on the right margin of the lower jaw (fifth day), 6.
- Upon making an attempt to open the mouth, for the purpose of examining the tongue, found the jaws so firmly closed that it was impossible to separate them without undue force; calling for a spoon, I made several efforts to accomplish my object, but failed, and was obliged to desist from further efforts for fear of breaking the teeth, 76.
- Sensation of a spasmodic compression and constriction, extending forward from both joints of the lower jaw (second day), 1.
MOUTH
- Teeth. [190.]
- Painfulness of the teeth, while eating (dry bread), 6.*
- A slight stitch shoots into the front teeth, in the evening (second day), 1 . [From the flowers.]
- Grumbling in the teeth, as though they were going to ache (in a man who was never subject to toothache), 6.
- Jerklike drawing in the left upper back teeth on loud and continued talking; also caused by inhalation of cold air; transient, 2.
- Jerking, without pain, in a back tooth, after drinking cold water, whereupon the cheek became red (third day), 9.
- Gritting of the teeth to such a degree that it seemed as though they must break into fragments; the margins of the tongue were much lacerated and torn, and no amount of care could prevent this; froth escaped, mixed with blood, from the mouth, 76.
- Shooting immediately in his teeth and in left eye; in the teeth it tastes like calomel, and the saliva accumulates; in the eye it burns, as if it were red and inflamed; he is afraid to go to sleep; appeared after holding a bottle (with the 1st trituration, 1 to 100) in his hand, 50.
- In the morning, on looking only once out of the window, a pain in the left lower anterior molars, extending thence into a right molar, where it was a pressure and pushing outward; it returned after washing and taking cold; in the evening (second day), 1.
- Pain as though a loose tooth were grasped for extraction, associated with a sensation as though a jar of the body had caused it, which was certainly sometimes the case (going upstairs, etc.), (for several days), 1.
- Aching and painfulness of the left upper and lower molars, in the evening (fourth day), 1. [200.]
- *Painfulness of the incisors and anterior molars throughout nearly the whole proving, immediately recurring on drawing air into the mouth (the more so if the air is cold and damp); at first warm drinks also cause a similar pain, but not after a few days, 1.
- Toothache in the left upper teeth, 54.
- (The teeth seem blunted and soft), 20.
- The teeth are dull; they feel as if covered with chalk (second day), 2.
- Teeth felt too large laterally, and soft, 56.
- I felt every nerve in my teeth, but no pain, .
THROAT
- Dryness of the throat posteriorly; it feels stiffened (as with braces), without thirst, 2.*
- Sensation of dryness in the throat and much thirst, with a white mucous coating on the tongue and slimy mouth (first day), 1.
- Scraping dryness in the throat, 2.* [240.]
- Sharp scraping sensation in the throat, especially on swallowing, 2.
- Scraping, dry, scratching sensation in the throat, immediately, 1.
- Stitches in the throat that provoke hawking, but that are not relieved thereby (after a quarter of an hour), 9.
- Fauces, Œsophagus, and Swallowing.
- Velum palati and fauces slightly red; bloodvessels injected, but the mucous membrane between them white, with a sensation of rawness (fifth day), 6.
- Sensation of dryness in the fauces and choanæ, extending forward, with an inclination to swallow, but without thirst (after twenty-four hours), 1.
- Pressive pain in the region of the arch of the palate and in the left tonsil, as though he had swallowed a hard substance, and it still continued to cause pain; but slight redness could be seen (third day), 1 . [From the flowers.]
- In the afternoon, on going into the street, in spells, during a quarter of an hour, burning in the œsophagus (after one day), 50.
- Paralysis of the organs of deglutition, making it difficult to swallow saliva, 55.
- So great dryness in the throat that he could not swallow a bite of an apple (first day), 6.*
STOMACH
- Appetite.
- Never felt so hungry in my life; could scarcely control my appetite nor control myself (first evening), 65. [250.]
- Very great hunger at noon; he ate with great haste, and although it oppressed the stomach he could have eaten still more (first day), 6.*
- Appetite very much increased, immediately, 16.
- Increased appetite, that was scarcely satisfied when it returned (first day), 1.
- Appetite much increased on the first days, subsequently diminished, 4.
- Increased appetite (first, second, and third days), 6.*
- Rather excessive hunger, 1 . [From inunction of the tincture.]
- Increased hunger; he eats very much, and the abdomen is much distended, 15.
- He has little appetite and is soon satisfied, 1 . [From the flowers.]
- Appetite gone; he could, however, eat his dinner; victuals tasted like sawdust (after six hours), 50.
- The preserved nuts, eaten too often, weaken the appetite, 43. [260.]
- Aversion to tobacco smoke, all day (first day), 6.
- Thirst.
- Drinks very much (first day), 5.
- Much thirst for an hour; it then disappears, soon, 1 . [From rubbing the tincture on the abdomen.]
- He drinks much (after one day), 50.
- Remarkable absence of thirst in one usually inclined to be very thirsty (first day), 6.
- Eructations and Nausea.
- Eructations as of pine oil (after five minutes), 8.
- Scraping eructations, always a short time after eating (second, third, and fourth days), 2.
- Emission of offensive flatus (first day), 12.
- Violent nausea (after a few hours), 63.
- Nausea, with shuddering aversion to food; vomiting, 55. [270.]
- Nausea and collection of water in the mouth, with great inclination to sleep (that, however, was not sound), although in the morning, . [From the flowers.]
ABDOMEN
- Hypochondria. [290.]
- Constriction in the right side of the upper abdomen, like a forcing outward, while walking (after one hour), 9.
- A slight jerk in the right side below the liver, soon, 17.
- Sensation as if the region of the liver was being scorched (first day); next day passed blood with the stool, without pain, but at the same time constipation and nausea around the region of the scrobiculum, 54a.
- Plucking sensation in the upper part of the abdomen and liver, as if the parts should be lengthened, stretched; as it were, a heaving motion in these parts; it felt as if the liver were being pulled down or twisted around; in the afternoon (first day), 54a.
- Pressure in the liver, as from something sharp, as if stones were pressing out or would cut their way out, as though it caused a tearing, this was accompanied by diarrhœic stools, always preceded by an agreeable sensation in the stomach ; the relief was such that it seemed as though the evacuations came down from the liver (in a woman suffering from enlargement of the liver), (second day), 1.*
- Umbilical and Sides.
- Colic in the umbilical region, relieved by pressure (after a quarter of an hour), 9.
- Griping in the umbilical region, at night, in bed (first day), 1.
- Griping at the umbilicus, in the evening, in bed, after the febrile chill (eighth day), 1.
- Cutting in the middle of the abdomen, with inclination to flatulence and diarrhœa, with aching in the temples, in the evening (first day), 1.
- Cutting commencing in the navel, and seeming to extend in two rays towards both sides, downward and backward, at night (first day), 1. [300.]
- Repeated shooting in abdomen, about level of umbilicus, from right side to left (after fifteen minutes, first and second days, and on the fourth day, without repetition of dose), 58.
- To the right of the umbilicus, pain like stitches in the spleen, which made him bend up double (first day), 50.
- A constrictive kind of pain, a kind of griping, confined to a small spot in the right side, not far from the navel (after two hours), 11.
- Pain like spleen stitches in the right side, near the navel, drawing him together (first day), 5.
MOSCHATA. RECTUM
- Protrusion of the rectum (first evening), 65.
- Crampy forcing-down pain in bowels and rectum, at 2 A.M. (first night), 65.
- Sensation as if everything had fallen back against the rectum, accompanied with violent straining and urging to stool, at 2 A.M. (first night), 65.
- In the evening, a sensation in the rectum as though diarrhœa would occur; it seems as though a part of the rectum were dragged downward; it seems to press down a portion of the rectum; the evacuation, however, did not occur until the next morning, with a slight urging and a kind of tenesmus in the rectum; the stool was scanty and rather diarrhœic (first day), 1.
- Urging to stool, and a sensation as if the anus were swollen, wherewith he was unable to evacuate anything (first day), 1. [330.]
- Although the fæces were not hard, yet the evacuation was sluggish, and it seemed as though a portion remained behind because there was no power to evacuate it (after twenty-four hours), 1.
- Stool more indolent than usual (first day), 6.
STOOL
- Diarrhœa.
- Diarrhœa towards midnight (after one day), 50.
- Slimy diarrhœa-like stool, as in worms (second day), 5.
- Painless diarrhœa all day, 58.
- Stool indolent (first day); diarrhœic in the morning after taking milk (second day), 18.
- (Bloody stools), 1 . [In two women suffering from induration of the liver, and in a boy with enlarged cervical glands.]
- Several thin stools, with pressure towards the pelvis; together with a sensation as if an acrid and biting liquid were in the rectum; after the evacuation there continued a sensation as though still more would follow (second day), 7.
- Evacuation thinner than usual, in the morning, 12.
- Two evacuations, thinner in one day, in a child six years old (second day), 9. [340.]
- *Stool soft, but difficult to pass , with a sensation of fulness and a distension of the abdomen, for several days, 1.
- Stool indolent, difficult to pass, though soft, for several days, 2.*
- Stool indolent; the evacuation was soft, passed with difficulty, and only after pressure and urging, with a sensation as if a portion still remained (after five hours), 2.*
- Several pasty and easy evacuations in one day, contrary to habit (first day), 24.
- Constipation.
- She experienced no real desire for stool at the usual time; the evacuation was hard and difficult to pass, 4.
- Evacuation of the bowels so hard that it could only be passed with the greatest effort of the rectum, with sticking as from large needles in it, together with painful constriction in the rectum and anus, both during the evacuation and especially for some minutes afterwards (after twenty-four hours), 15.
- No stool at all (first day); hard and difficult to pass (second day); a watery evacuation passed instead of flatus (third day), 4.
- Stools at first were very black and hard; afterwards watery, and then mushy (first evening), 63.
URINARY ORGANS
- While urinating, a slight burning in the urethra (first day), 30.
- It always caused painful strangury, 42 . [A drink composed of toasted bread and nutmeg.] [350.]
- There is some lingering irritability about the bladder during the monthly period, accompanied with frequent desire to pass water, together with bearing-down pains; a sort of strangury accompanies the last few drops of water, 76.
- Micturition.
- Frequent urging to urinate, but not much urine was passed (first night), 9.
- Frequent passages of light-colored urine, clear like well water, but in small quantities, and with constant desire (first evening), 63.
- Patient passed water several times during the night, while laboring under spasms, but in small quantities (this was an involuntary act), 76.
- In spite of drinking much water, little urination (after one day), 54a.
- Urine.
- The secretion of urine seemed to be diminished; the urine was very much concentrated and clear (after twenty-four hours), 1.
- Urine scanty and very much concentrated (after twenty hours), 1.
- It imparts a violet odor to the urine, 45.
- (The flowers impart their odor to the urine), 34.
SEXUAL ORGANS
- Male.
- A spasmodic pain in the penis, extending from below upward (first day), 1. [360.]
- Pressure and drawing in the spermatic cord, from above downwards, on the same side where the testicle had been bruised some years before, 19.
- Want of erections, even with voluptuous thoughts, for several days, 1.
- Although there seemed to be some inclination to coition, yet the erections were weak and of short duration, 1.*
- Inclination for coition, with great relaxation of the genitals (first day), 6.
- It causes lack of sexual desire for coition, and less voluptuous sensation, in a man, 1.
- Female.
- There still remains considerable irritability about the pelvic viscera, particularly during each returning menstrual period, when the ovaries and womb are much swollen and sensitive to pressure, 76.
- Most distressing dysmenorrhœa, accompanied with colic spasms, delirium and stupor, being an almost invariable accompaniment of each returning menstrual period, during which time (seven to ten days) the patient has no use of her lower limbs, 77.
- Clonic spasms with the dysmenorrhœa, 77.
- Stupor with the dysmenorrhœa, 77.
- No use of her lower limbs with the dysmenorrhœa, 77. [370.]
- Menses, four or five days too early, associated with dragging in the abdomen, from the navel downward, and with drawing in the limbs; also the next period appeared too early and was generally irregular, 17.
- The menses appear two or three days too late; preceded by pain in the small of the back, as if a piece of wood were lying across the back pressing outward, with headache (a concealed aching on the top of the head), weakness, pressure in the stomach, with running of water from the mouth, and pain in the liver; the menstrual blood was darker, thicker, and when dry more glutinous than usual; at the time when menstruation should have appeared there was a discharge of only mucus, 12.
- Upon inquiry I found that the menses had ceased entirely; an examination over the lower portion of abdomen revealed the fact that the womb and ovaries were tumefied and much swollen (there is and has been considerable tenderness over both ovaries, but especially the left, ever since), .
RESPIRATORY ORGANS
- Larynx and Voice.
- (A sore sensation in the larynx, with some inclination to cough), (second day), 11.
- The sound of the voice was altered, and was more like that of a sleep; the morbid sensation in the larynx seemed similar to that in the mouth, namely, a sensation of dryness without actual dryness (second day), 1 . [From the flowers.]
- Voice suppressed, so that he could not call for help, after waking from sleep (after a few hours), 63.
- Voice lost and unsteady (second day), 63. [380.]
- Voice hoarse, not clear (third day), 6.
- Hoarseness, 1.*
- Cough and Respiration.
- He coughs up some blood, partly mixed with mucus, partly clear; together with stitches in the chest (second day), 20.
- The dry cough becomes moist, and he expectorates much mucus (second day), 6.
- Respiration very rapid and sighing (second day), 63.
- Respiration 18 (before taking), remained unchanged, 75.
- Respirations about 10 per minute, during the spasmodic condition, 76.
- Breathing slow and heavy, 76.
- Want of breath after eating, 1.
- (A melancholic, choleric man, suffering with bleeding hæmorrhoids in the fall and spring took with nearly all his food and drink Nux moschata, as a preventive for the fall dysentery; the hæmorrhoidal flow was stopped; he became out of breath , and panted when at work , and at last went into dropsy), 72. [390.]
- Desire more or less all the time to sigh or take a long breath, which she cannot accomplish satisfactorily, 76.
CHEST
- Oppression of the chest, 38.
- Oppression of the chest, starting from the pit of the stomach, 1.
- Oppression of the chest and rush of blood to the heart (first day), 6.*
- Oppression of the chest and difficult respiration, 48.
- (Oppression of the chest, as if it were fatty, or as if there were a piece of perforated bacon in the throat (trachea), which did not allow the passage of enough air; he feared that he would suffocate; this condition appeared toward the evening, while walking in the cool air, lasted eight minutes, and was unaccompanied by anxiety), (first day), 11.
- They all were attacked the next day with such oppression of the chest and tightness of the throat that it seemed as though they would choke; the mouth was dry, the lips swollen, and stuck together as if covered with glue; they breathed with the greatest difficulty; the bowels were hard and constipated; the head heavy, dizzy; memory lost, 46 . [Observed in several persons from a cold punch, containing eight nutmegs.]
- A sudden pain round about the chest, in the region of the diaphragm, on inspiration, in the forenoon (third day), 1.
- Pain in the chest as if raw, when coughing (third day), 6.
- Pain in the region of the pectoral muscles as from a blow, on moving the arm, very much aggravated by touch and pressure (third day), 1. [400.]
- Painfulness of the anterior part of the chest, making respiration difficult, in the evening; at times associated with a pressive pain, in the right side (though rather anteriorly), 1.
- As often as he chews a nutmeg, he feels a constriction in chest; also in the sternum and in the whole abdomen, as if everything were being drawn in a knot; he does not exactly know where the centre of the knot is, but asserts that everything is being drawn together; this lasted several hours, 73.
- Constrictive pain in the pectoral muscles, with tightness of the thorax, obliging deep respiration on moving about, so that he was obliged to sit down, 2.
- Sensation of fulness in the upper and anterior portion of the chest, preventing deep inspiration; but when he took a deep breath, he felt a pressive pain, in isolated jerks, under the sternum (second day), 1.
- Sensation of a weight on the chest, making respiration difficult, in the evening (fourth day), 1.
- A sensation of pressure and weight in the whole anterior portion of the chest, especially beneath the sternum, lasting through the day, but becoming especially violent on falling asleep in the evening and on waking from the midday nap, and sometimes compelling him to take a deep inspiration, and to forcibly expand the chest. Although respiration was rendered very difficult thereby, and it caused a distressing sensation in the chest, yet it was unaccompanied by anxiety, . [From the flowers.]
HEART AND PULSE
- Quivering of the heart; violent palpitation; the great central organ laboring under fearful embarrassment, 55.
- Very transient palpitation (first day), 22.
- Some sudden spasmodic stitches at the heart, associated with slight colic, in the morning after waking (after twenty hours), 1.
- A most distressing urgent want of breath, and painful feeling of oppression upon the chest, to relieve which, would straighten up, when other distressing effects would ensue; a rush of blood to head, obscuring the sight; quivering of the heart; violent palpitation; the great central organ laboring under fearful embarrassment; pulse intermitting, the intervals between the pulsations being so protracted as to excite fears of impending dissolution; the hands would be placed upon the sides, the constriction about the waist and abdomen being so persistent and so oppressive as instinctively to welcome any, even the slightest palliation, 55.
- Feeling as if the blood were rushing to the heart, thence to the head, and then all over the body ; again to the heart and repeat (the extreme coldness and other symptoms still present); the alternate paleness and redness of the surface, indicating this varied and increased action of the circulation, was distinctly visible about 4 P.M., 62.*
- Sensation as if the heart were grasped, with sharp cutting pain in the cardiac region about 5 P.M., 62.
- He always suffered from palpitation whenever he ate nutmegs, 42.
- It increases the circulation of the blood, 36. [420.]
- Pulse 76 (before taking); 80 (after five, and fifteen minutes), 75.
- Pulse small, slow (60), (second day), 63.*
- During the spasmodic condition the pulse was very small, feeble, and rapid, could scarcely be counted, and respirations about 10 per minute; it was difficult to count the pulse or respirations in either case, on account of the contortions and writhings of the patient, 76.
- Pulse almost imperceptible, at 5.30 P.M., 62.
- The pulse during the sexual paroxysms was very varied, being from 70 to over 100, 60.
- Pulse intermitting, the intervals between the pulsations being so protracted as to excite fears of impending dissolution, 55.
NECK AND BACK
- Nape of neck tremendously constricted, 55.
- A draft of damp air caused drawing pain in the cervical muscles, 1.
- The small of the back and the lower extremities seem bruised and very weak (seventh day), 1.
- Aching in the small of the back, and weakness of the lower extremities, as though he had received a blow upon the small of the back and calves, 1. [430.]
- Pain, as if broken, in the small of the back , mostly during rest, in the evening (after two, and seven hours), 2.*
- Pain in the back, on riding in a carriage, 1.
- Pain at the side of the lumbar vertebræ, as if caused by a blow of the fist (first day), 1 . [From the flowers.]
- Pain in the muscles on the side of the lumbar vertebræ, as though he had been soundly beaten with fists (fourth day), 6.
- Pain in the lumbar region (second day), 64.
EXTREMITIES
- Limbs rigid; hands clasped across the breast and firmly clinched, so much so that on attempting to separate them a violent convulsive effort was made by the patient; then followed a writhing of the entire body, "clonic spasms," 76.
- Marked muscular erethism, especially of the extremities, simulating chorea (after four hours), 64.
- (The limbs, especially the arms, are relaxed, with pressure here and there), 11.
- Drawing in the calves, especially on standing, relieved by lying down; after rising, trembling and weakness in the hands and lower extremities (fifth day), 1.
- (Drawing pains in the muscular portions of the extremities, worse during rest, as after taking cold), (for several days), 11. [440.]
- Arms and legs felt sorish, large, and heavy, 55.
- Both upper and lower limbs feeling dead and numb, until the following day at noon, 76.
- Extremities felt numb (after seven hours), 64.*
- General affection of the extremities, especially of the legs, more towards the lower portion and more on the right side, 54.
SUPERIOR EXTREMITIES
- Shoulder, Arm, and Elbow.
- Pain in the left shoulder, as if it contained lead, 54a.
- A sticking pain (rather distinct, though not very sharp) on the flexor side of the upper arm, shoulder, and elbow-joints, that continued by paroxysms for several weeks, but lasted only a short time, seeming to be seated in the bloodvessels, 1.
- Sensation of fomentation in the muscles of the upper arm, 11.
- Pain in the left upper arm, near the middle, nearer the elbow, as from the hard grasp of the hand (after one hour and a half), 54.
- Felt as though a string had been tied tightly around the arms, and all the blood had rushed into my hands (first evening), 63.
- Jerklike drawing in the arms, sometimes with a boring outward in the elbows (first day), 22. [450.]
- Extremely acute pain in the left forearm, externally and near the elbow, in the radial region, in the flesh of all the muscles, in the bone, a kind of pressive gnawing (after three hours), 54.
- Steady drawing from the fingers to the shoulders, from holding a nutmeg in the right hand; a highly sensitive person; she feels nothing in the left hand; there remains a tearing rheumatic pain in the shoulder, 53.
- Burning on the left side of the left elbow externally, till three hours, 54.
- Tearing pain in the extensor muscles of the left elbow, impeding motion (thirteenth day), 1.
- Hands and Fingers.
- Numbness and fulness of the hands (first evening), 65.
- Burning in the hands, that also seem hot to another, lasting half a day (after six hours), 5.
- The hands seem to him as if cold and frozen, and on going into the house he experienced a kind of humming and tingling under the nails; was obliged to throw his hands about; as if they had actually been frozen (first day), 6.
- Violent pain in the right middle finger, as if in the bone (after four or five minutes), 34.
- Pain as if sprained, in some joints of the left little finger when grasping anything, in the morning (second day), 1 . [From the flowers.]
MOSCHATA. INFERIOR EXTREMITIES
- Painful weakness in the lower extremities, as if he had taken a long journey. The backs of the feet are very painful, as though a hard body had fallen upon them, the farther above the ankle the less the pain. Although stepping on the foot aggravates the pain, yet he is obliged to constantly move the leg back and forth, on account of uneasiness (trampling), (first day), 6. [460.]
- She started after finishing her tea to go upstairs, but found it rather difficult to ascend, as she felt weak and numb in her limbs, particularly lower extremities, with sensation as though she were floating through the air; later felt much the same symptoms on ascending the stairs, 76.
- Complains more or less all the time of a trembling and weakness of the lower limbs, particularly after walking or going up and downstairs, 76.
- Thigh, Knee, and Leg.
- *The posterior muscles of the right thigh are painful on walking and on touch, as if he had fallen upon them, as after riding horseback, in the morning (second day), 1.
- While riding one leg over the other, the right thigh seems benumbed, afterwards a sensation as if the left leg would fall asleep, with rush of blood in it, prickling, etc., 54.
- Transient pain on the upper and inner portion of the thigh, as if he had fallen upon it, aggravated by touch (soon), 6.
- Dull drawing pains in the periosteum of the right tibia (after two hours), 2.
- Painful drawing, here and there, in the thighs, 17.
- The right knee is painful, as if wrenched and sprained, on moving it, and especially on going upstairs (second day), 1 . [From the flowers.]
- A sensation in the anterior portion of the right knee, as if it were grasped by some one, a kind of constriction, 1.
- Could scarcely reach his home on account of terrible pains in both legs, in the part from the knees down to the ankles, confined to the shins; this pain increased so much during the afternoon that he could hardly walk through the room; he says it feels as though the "bone had been smashed to pieces," 14. [470.]
- (Throbbing in the left calf, as though a bloodvessel had burst, lasting about twenty minutes), (after one hour), 11.
- (On making a sudden motion with the right lower extremity, while lying down, he was attacked with violent cramp in the calf, which was only relieved (not removed as usual) by pressing the foot against something), (fourth day), 1.
GENERALITIES
- Convulsions caused by large doses, 28.
- Throughout the entire night the patient passed from one convulsive state, herein before described, into another, which nothing short of anæsthesia would control. The same difficulty of trying to get the patient to swallow medicine was met with, and it was only after the effect of chloroform was obtained that anything could be gotten down her throat, 76.
- After twitching of the limbs burning at the umbilicus, with restlessness and lassitude; she had to lie down, and fell asleep; on awaking, the burning at the umbilicus is gone, but she now has burning in the chest; with it very irritable and vexed (after half a day), 52. [480.]
- Considerable prostration (second day), 64 . [As camphor was used rather freely as an antidote, the prostration may in part have depended on that.]
- Was very prostrate and weak, could scarcely lift a hand, 76.
- The patient manifested evident symptoms of sinking; she would lie completely relaxed, breathing so faintly as to be scarcely audible and almost pulseless; accordingly I discontinued the chloroform and resorted to stimulants, with a view to reestablish reaction; during these sinking spells the lower and upper extremities became very cold and clammy; a few drops of liquor ammonia in water, and an application of the same to the nostrils, promptly restored her to a semi-conscious state, which would soon be followed by a return of the spasmodic condition of the previous night, though not quite so severe; at 10 A.M., the patient swooned completely away, and lay to all appearances dead; this occurred after another application of chloroform; feeling somewhat alarmed, I hastily elevated the foot of her bed, placing a chair beneath, thus elevating the feet, with the head downward, inclined at an angle of about 35. I began using brisk friction, and set to work to restore the circulation, which appeared to be completely suspended, and made efforts at artificial respiration, at the same time ordered the ammonia to be applied to the nostrils; after the lapse of twenty minutes or thereabouts, the patient manifested signs of returning consciousness; this was followed almost immediately by retching and vomiting, and the patient threw up a pint of green bilious fluid, containing particles of undigested food, such as beef, potatoes, and a quantity of dark-mottled particles looking like coffee-grounds, which, upon inspection, proved to be some of the nutmeg which she had eaten the day before; from this time recovery dates, 76.
- (Anxiety over the whole body, with inclination to tremble), 11.
- Very great weakness; the knees were excessively affected as though he had taken a long journey on foot, associated with sleepiness ; even talking fretted him, .*
SKIN
- At the border of the left jaw a large pustule, 50.
- (Boils on the chin, with broad red areola), 2.
- After four minutes a very slight burning sensation was felt, which gradually increased, so that after fifteen minutes it became very unpleasant, and on being touched the reddened spot caused much pain; after thirty minutes the moistened spot was red; it burned like a sinapism when the skin is moderately reddened; upon being washed the burning sensation disappeared within an hour; the epidermis did not scale off. In a second experiment with another individual the symptoms were much slighter, the burning appeared only after ten minutes, and became rather strong after another ten minutes; the hand being then washed, after thirty minutes, the burning sensation was still very intense, but the skin was not red; the burning sensation continued for about half an hour; the epidermis did not scale off, 61.
- Skin in different parts of the body was mottled, in some places so deep as to appear somewhat bluish, 76. [520.]
- Blue spots on the skin, 6.
- Alternate paleness and redness of the surface, at 4 P.M., 62.
- Painfulness of the skin, below the chin, as if pimples would form, the whole third day, 1.
SLEEP
- Sleepiness.
- Felt strangely over the whole system, with an almost irresistible desire for sleep , together with a great deal of jactitation of the muscles, and pain and vertigo in frontal region, with great confusion of ideas (after four hours), 64.
- *Almost irresistible desire for sleep, with the strange feeling over the whole system (after four hours), 64.
- Almost irresistible inclination to sleep, 27.
- Mounting to the head, as if intoxicated, immediately; the whole head ached, *and she became so sleepy that she could not sit down without falling asleep, 1.
- Great tiredness and sleepiness (after two hours and a half), 74.*
- Great sleepiness, with great inclination to laughter (first day), 6.*
- He could not keep awake after dinner, and fell asleep; when awakened he fell asleep again; the sleep, however, did not seem very sound (first day), 1. [530.]
- Asleep (after fifteen minutes); slept profoundly; in the morning was several times called to breakfast, 35.
- Remarkably sleepy look (first day), 1 . [From the flowers.]
- *She was unusually sleepy, the eyes constantly closed (first day), 4.
- Patient starts is her sleep, but does not always waken, with shocks as if electricity were passing through her body , sometimes accompanied with unpleasant and even horrid dreams, "nightmare," 76.*
- Lay down on her bed and quickly passed into a deep slumber, feeling very uncomfortable, was very restless and tossed about much, which lasted about half an hour; she was then roused by her sister (who accompanied her) calling her by name; she heard the first summons and answered reluctantly, but could not rouse herself to a state of wakefulness, 76.
- The oil rubbed upon the temples caused sleepiness, 32.
- It causes sleep, 36.
- The preserved nuts used too often cause sleepiness, 43.
- Lay down to sleep, and slept for an hour, towards evening, very unusual, followed by relief of all the symptoms (first day), .
FEVER
- Chilliness.
- Chilliness, 35.
- Chilly and cold all over, beginning about 1 o'clock, and gradually increasing in severity, 62. [550.]
- Skin cold over the whole body , at 5.30 P.M., 62.*
- Surface cold and blue, at 5.30 P.M., 62.
- Cold skin (second day), 63.
- He became chilly on going into the cold air (first and second days), 7.
- She easily became chilly in the cold air (second and third days), 4.
- Immediately on going into the open air (that was damp and cool) she became chilly and pale, which disappeared in a warm room, in the evening (first day), 4.
- In the evening could not get warm in bed, 54a.
- Slight shaking chill in the evening and morning, followed by decided heat, 22.
- Slight chilliness, with some colic and pain in the small of the back, little appetite, white-coated tongue, pressive pain in the soft palate, with difficult respiration, on account of pressive pain upon the chest, and great sleepiness, in the evening (third day), 1.
- At 9 P.M., felt chilly, amounting to a shake, with coldness, commencing in lower limbs; this was succeeded by several chills, with marked intervals of immunity between, lasting for several minutes; conscious during chills, *but a desire to sleep between then if left alone , the movements of those around her alone preventing her from sleeping, 76. [560.]
- Chilliness, associated with pain in the small of the back, towards evening, in the open air, and from external cold, increasing to a shaking chill, entirely disappearing in a warm room; together, with dulness of the head, especially of the forehead, diminished appetite, and somewhat slimy tongue, with a very lively and cheerful mood, disposed to make fun, in the evening (eighth day), 1.
- Chilliness, extending from the loins, immediately increased when going to stool; he experienced nothing of it in a warm room (first day), 6.
- She complained of her hands feeling very cold and numb; sister says her hands were icy cold, 76.
- Sensation of coldness in the feet, with heat of the hands (first day), 6.
- Feet cold, 60.
CONDITIONS
- Aggravation.
- ( Morning ), On waking, throat and mouth dry; tongue cleaves to roof of mouth; pain in left anterior molars, extending into right molars; spasmodic stitches in heart, with slight colic; sneezing; crawling and tickling in right side of chest; throbbing headache above left eye; headache in forehead; pain in small spot in forehead above left eye; pain in right eye; while standing, pain in anterior surface of left leg; thin evacuation; chalky taste; after taking milk, diarrhœa; pressive pain in right cheek; taste as after intoxication; burrowing pain in soles of feet; griping pain in joints of left little finger; sleepiness.
- ( Forenoon ), Pressive pain in top of head; stitches in right ear; lively; laughing; bright; nausea.
- ( Noon ), Great hunger.
- ( Afternoon ), Headache in right side; headache; 5 P.M., cutting pain in cardiac orifice; plucking sensation in abdomen and liver; pain in liver; burning in œsophagus.
- ( Evening and morning ), Shaking chills.
- ( Toward evening ), Abdomen distended, with nausea; twisting about navel; when walking, oppression of chest.
- ( Evening ), Dull head; slimy tongue; cheerful mood; colic; pain in small of back; coated tongue; pain in soft palate; difficult respiration; sleepiness; dryness in the eyes; head and forehead dull; eyes would close from sleep; headache; dryness of mouth; painfulness of left upper and lower molars; sticking in front teeth; pain in forepart of chest; oppression; pressure, with difficult respiration; during rest, pain in small of back; in bed, griping at the umbilicus; sensation in rectum of diarrhœa; difficult stool; flatulent troubles; griping colic; hands and feet warm.
- ( Night ), After lying down, warmth and throbbing in right foot; uneasiness; dry heat; sleeplessness; sticky lips and tongue; throbbing sensation in throat; pressure in head, convulsions; slimy feeling in mouth; thirst; dryness; sensation of flour on palate; tongue seems dry, and feels like leather; palate dry; nose stopped with mucus; cutting, commencing at navel, extending toward sides; after lying down, boring pain in toe of right foot; in bed, griping in umbilical region.
- ( Toward midnight ), Diarrhœa.
- ( Ascending stairs ), Pain in right knee; weakness and numbness of limbs; weight and oppression of chest.
- ( Draft of damp air ), Pain in cervical muscles.
SUPPLEMENT: NUX MOSCHATA. Authority.
18 , C. G. Mitscherlich, Pharm. Journ., vol. ix, 1849, p. 233, effects of large doses of the volatile oil.