Atropinum

Atropine. C 17 H 23 NO 3 .

Discovered in 1833 as being the alkaloid in the berries, leaves and root of Atropa Belladonna ; it was at first used in the Homœopathic School by such as wanted something stronger, and proved years after. As it is, we have to regard all the symptoms, provings, poisonings and cures, as very uncertain. See Fehling's Dictionary, vol. i, 1871, p. 902. The only trustworthy preparation is the Atropinum sulphuricum . This may have been the drug used in many cases in which it was not considered worth while to add the name of the mineral acid.

SENSORIUM [2]

Vertigo on rising in morning.

Furious delirium at night.

INNER HEAD [3]

Fine drawing, very sensitive stitches across forehead and temples, recurring every few minutes, lasting some seconds.

Dull pain in temples, at intervals, and transitory.

Very sensible sticking in left temporal region on waking in morning, extending into ear and eye ; > moving in open air.

Sensation as if head was screwed up ; < walking ; < towards 11 A. M. ; > towards evening.

Sticking pains in back of skull and over eyes, < from every motion and on stepping.

Severe headache, beginning in occiput, passing over right side, locating over eyes and in balls, followed by an epileptic attack, with unconsciousness.

Headache, with flushing of face and head, with rush of blood to head.

Periodical headache, coming on suddenly, increasing rapidly, until intensely severe, making blind and delirious.

Headache of epileptics.

Sudden pain soon making her blind and delirious, lasting three hours ; no nausea and vomiting ; no flushing of face ; pain deep in brain ; dreads attacks.

Slender married woman, æt. 32, nervous temperament ; headache once a month, not with catamenia.

SIGHT AND EYES [5]

Sharp neuralgic pains in and about eyes.

Eyelids felt heavy and difficult to keep open.

Sharp pain under right eye, with slight pain in temples.

Neuralgic pains, commencing under left orbit, and running back to ear, lasting perhaps ten minutes at a time, and then disappearing for fifteen or twenty.

Opaqueness ; violent pain ; dacryorrhœa ; photophobia ; swelling of lids. θ Keratitis.

Dimness of vision, with dilated pupils.

A bad incised wound of cornea, with protruding iris.

(Atrop. externally and Arnic. internally ; cured in seven days.)

Blepharo-spasmus and irritability of eye ; with corneal ulcers.

Conjunctivitis, with lachrymation.

Erysipelatous inflammation of conjunctiva and lids.

Amblyopia ; diplopia and chromopsia.

Iritis, if exudation has taken place, and inflammation is violent, to prevent adhesion.

Used for purpose of lessening intraocular blood pressure in inflammatory diseases of internal structures of eyeball, and also in inflammations of cornea and even conjunctiva.

INNER MOUTH [12]

Mouth and throat dry.

PALATE AND THROAT [13]

Dark, red, dusky hue of throat.

Difficult swallowing from great dryness.

SCROBICULUM AND STOMACH [17]

In affections of diaphragm Atrop. stands between Bellad. and Stramon.

ABDOMEN AND LOINS [19]

Frenzy, with distressing abdominal pain, occasionally leaves her ; pulse quick ; tongue dry ; skin hot, but sweating. θ Peritonitis.

STOOLS AND RECTUM [20]

Catarrhal dysentery.

URINARY ORGANS [21]

Congestive states of kidneys and liver, with disturbance of right heart ; neuralgia of head ; nausea and vomiting ; soporous condition. θ Bright's disease.

FEMALE SEXUAL ORGANS [23]

Ovarian neuralgia, with headache, or epilepsy.

PREGNANCY. PARTURITION. LACTATION [24]

Puerperal convulsions. θ Albuminuria.

NECK AND BACK [31]

Locomotor ataxia.

LIMBS IN GENERAL [34]

From sleeping in a damp bed, acute rheumatism ; pain in all his limbs, which are swollen and red ; no sleep ; general feverish and profuse sweat.

REST. POSITION. MOTION [35]

Moving : sticking in left temple better.

Stepping : sticking in back of skull worse.

Walking : sensation as if head were screwed up worse.

NERVES [36]

Muscular spasms in different parts of body.

Tetanus.

TIME [38]

Morning : vertigo on rising ; sticking in left temple on awaking.

At 11 A. M. : sensation as if head were screwed up, < ; > towards evening.

Night : furious delirium.

TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER [39]

Open air : sticking in temple better.

Sleeping in damp bed : acute rheumatism.

LOCALITY AND DIRECTION [42]

Right : occipital headache passes side ; pain under eye ; disturbance of right heart.

Left : sticking in temple ; neuralgic pains commence under orbit and extend to ear.

SENSATIONS [43]

As if head was screwed up.

Pain : in all his limbs.

Stitches : across forehead and temples.

Sticking pain : in left temporal region ; in back of skull ; over eyes.

Sharp pain : under right eye.

Distressing abdominal pains.

Neuralgic pains : in and about eyes ; under left orbit to ear ; in head.

Dull pain : in temples.

Heaviness : of eyelids.

TISSUES [44]

Influences cerebro-spinal centres, involving head, throat and eyes.

Vessels increase in volume, not in tone.

STAGE OF LIFE, CONSTITUTION [47]

Nervous, but not hysterical temperaments.

RELATIONS [48]

Very similar to Bellad .

When Bellad . fails give Atrop ., both affect principally right side.

Antidotes : Opium, Physostigma .

In Opium poisoning, has been found useful when applied hypodermically.