Absinthium
By Constantine Hering — The Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica
Wormwood. Compositæ.
A bitter herb, a native of Europe, and cultivated in gardens, much used in France for a liqueur , the effects of which are very injurious.
Most symptoms toxicological from French authorities. The only provings, Gybtchell, in Medical Investigator .
MIND [1]
After recovering from epileptic spasms no recollection of taking the poison, nor the cause of his doing so.
Brutality, mental dulness, insanity.
The mania from the liqueur is worse than that from alcohol.
Soothed, as if going into a beautiful dream.
Great terror ; terrifying hallucinations.
SENSORIUM [2]
Stupefaction, alternately with dangerous violence.
Drunkenness.
Vertigo, dizzy on rising.
Insensibility (with convulsions).
INNER HEAD [3]
Causes congestion of head, medulla and spine.
Headache.
OUTER HEAD [4]
Wants to lie with the head low.
(OBS :) Baldness and chronic tinea.
SIGHT AND EYES [5]
Dim-sightedness.
Pain in eyes.
Eyelids swollen ; eyes red and suffused with tears.
Eyes itch.
Lids heavy.
HEARING AND EARS [6]
Otorrhœa. θ Especially after hemicrania.
UPPER FACE [8]
Foolish look.
Makes facial grimaces. θ Epileptiform convulsions.
Ebullitions of blood in face.
LOWER FACE [9]
Jaws firmly fixed.
TASTE, SPEECH, TONGUE [11]
Bites his tongue. θ Epileptiform convulsions.
Tongue thick, protruding, can scarcely talk.
Trembling of tongue.
Complains that tongue is paralysed.
INNER MOUTH [12]
Foams at mouth. θ Epileptiform convulsions.
PALATE AND THROAT [13]
Scalded feeling in throat.
Throat inflamed.
HICCOUGH, BELCHING, NAUSEA AND VOMITING [16]
Eructations.
Nausea and vomiting in morning.
Nausea, apparently in region of gall-bladder.
SCROBICULUM AND STOMACH [17]
Food lies heavy ; stomach feels cold and oppressed ; thinks it would not absorb much.
HYPOCHONDRIA [18]
Liver feels swollen. θ Autumnal fever.
(OBS :) Liver and stomach diseases.
Pain in spleen ; it feels swollen. θ Autumnal fever.
ABDOMEN AND LOINS [19]
Bloated : around waist and in abdomen, as after ague ; with flatus.
STOOLS AND RECTUM [20]
Constipation.
Destroys worms.
Hemorrhoids.
URINARY ORGANS [21]
Constant desire to urinate.
Urine deep orange, having a strong, horse-like smell.
MALE SEXUAL ORGANS [22]
Spermatorrhœa with relaxed parts.
FEMALE SEXUAL ORGANS [23]
Pains in uterus.
Darting pain in right ovary.
Promotes menses.
COUGH [27]
Cough with liver complaint.
HEART, PULSE AND CIRCULATION [29]
Tremor of heart, felt toward back.
Heart thumps ; can be heard in scapular region.
NECK AND BACK [31]
Pain in sacrum.
UPPER LIMBS [32]
Pain in shoulders.
Trembling of hands.
LOWER LIMBS [33]
Horses kick with hind legs toward belly. θ Ascarides.
LIMBS IN GENERAL [34]
Throws about limbs. θ Epileptiform convulsions.
Pains in limbs.
Limbs swell.
REST. POSITION. MOTION [35]
Rising : causes vertigo.
Wants to lie with head low.
Bends backwards : in spasms.
NERVES [36]
Trembling precedes epileptic attack.
Epileptiform convulsions : loses consciousness, falls, bites his tongue, foams at mouth, features distorted ; throws his limbs about ; weak afterwards.
Excited, opisthotonos, grinding teeth ; followed by stupor.
SLEEP [37]
Restless at night, with disturbing dreams.
TIME [38]
Morning : nausea and vomiting.
Night : restlessness, with disturbing dreams.
FEVER [40]
Chill, heat, then sweat ; thirst in all stages ; sleeps during heat.
Obstinate autumnal fevers, with swollen liver and spleen.
ATTACKS, PERIODICITY [41]
Attacks antepone.
Alternate : stupefaction and violence.
LOCALITY AND DIRECTION [42]
Right : darting pain in ovary.
SENSATIONS [43]
Nausea apparently in region of gall-bladder ; tremor of heart.
Pain : in eyes ; in spleen ; in uterus ; in sacrum ; in shoulders ; in limbs.
Darting : in right ovary.
Scalded feeling : in throat.
Swollen feeling : in liver ; in spleen.
Heaviness : of lids.
Oppression : in stomach.
Itching : of eyes.
Cold feeling : in stomach.
TISSUES [44]
Causes hyperemia of brain, medulla and spine, more intense when combined with alcohol.
Occasionally stomach, more frequently endocardium and pericardium show small ecchymoses.
Paralysis of inner organs.
TOUCH. PASSIVE MOTION. INJURIES [45]
Injuries
Bruises and consequent inflammation.
SKIN [46]
Jaundiced skin.
STAGE OF LIFE, CONSTITUTION [47]
Especially younger patients. θ Chlorosis.
RELATIONS [48]
Collateral relations : Art. vulg., Abrot .
Similar to : Alcohol, Bellad. Chamom., Hyosc., Stramon .
Is said to cure poisoning by mushrooms.
Secondary effects of absinthe are much worse than those from abuse of alcohol, opium or tobacco.