Coffea Tosta
By Constantine Hering — The Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica
Infusion of the well roasted berries.
Roasting develops Methylamine or caffeone in Coffee.
The pathogenetic effects are principally such as were derived from sensitive persons upon whom strong coffee acted injuriously, and according to these the clinical results, to which we give preference in the following arrangement, were mainly obtained.
CLINICAL AUTHORITIES.
- Migraine, etc ., Hahnemann, The injurious effects of strong coffee, Monograph ; Periodical attacks of vertigo and insensibility , Felix, Frank's Mag., vol. 1, p. 718 ; Seminal emission , Martin, MSS. ; Mental effects and general nervous excitement ; Vertigo while sleeping in a hammock after taking a very strong infusion , C. Hg., MSS. ; Severe labor pains (two cases), Kallenbach, Rück. Kl. Erf., vol. 5, p. 655 ; Urinary troubles , B. J. H., vol. 5, p. 444.
MIND [1]
Increased intellectual activity and perception of sounds, motion, etc.
She is greatly excited and is sure she will die. θ Labor.
Full of apprehension of terrible things happening.
Painful anxiety, without fear of falling, during downward motion of hammock, while asleep.
Begs that some one might end her life. θ Labor.
She does not know where she is ; feels strangely in her head ; palpitation, trembling and chilliness.
SENSORIUM [2]
While sleeping in a hammock the gentle swinging motion is felt to an enormous degree, increasing more and more until he seems to be swinging above the tree tops into the clouds, in rhythmic motion ; the descent is intensely disagreeable and accompanied by painful anxiety, without fear of falling ; when near the ground he awakes and puts his feet to the ground, which momentarily interrupts the sensation ; but he is too sleepy to keep awake, and passes a horrible night.
Attacks of vertigo with obscured vision : she is unable to distinguish surrounding objects, they seem to leave their places and follow her, or turn in a circle about her ; ringing in ears and noise as of falling rain ; she suddenly falls to ground insensible, with palpitation of heart ; easy vomiting and paleness of face during paroxysms, which often last two hours and are followed by no troublesome symptoms.
INNER HEAD [3]
Migraine comes on in morning shortly after awaking, and increases little by little ; pains become intolerable and sometimes burning ; integuments of head sensitive, hurt when touched ever so slightly ; body and mind excessively sensitive ; looks exhausted ; retires to lonely and dark places and closes eyes in order to avoid light ; remains seated in an arm-chair, or stretched upon bed ; least noise or motion excites pain ; avoids talking or being talked to or hearing others talk ; body is colder than usual, although no chills are experienced ; hands and feet are especially very cold ; loathes all food and drinks on account of continual sickness at stomach ; if attack is very violent, vomiting of mucus takes place, which, however, does not diminish headache ; there are no alvine discharges ; pain scarcely ever ceases before evening ; attacks come on irregularly, without premonitory symptoms.
Periodic headache of hysterical women.
Nervous and gastric headaches.
SIGHT AND EYES [5]
Dazzling colors, principally blue and yellow, before eyes.
Eyes shining. θ Labor.
(OBS :) Eyes sunken ; half open during sleep ; convulsive movements of eyes while awake. θ Cholera infantum.
HEARING AND EARS [6]
(OBS :) Ringing in ears and noise as of falling rain. θ Vertigo.
UPPER FACE [8]
Paleness of face. θ Vertigo with fainting.
Face hot and deeply flushed. θ Labor.
Excruciating facial neuralgia from decayed teeth ; patient not in habit of taking coffee.
TEETH AND GUMS [10]
Intense pain in sound teeth of right lower jaw nearly driving him crazy ; no application relieves except cold water in mouth, pain returning as water becomes warm.
Causes premature decay of teeth in children.
HICCOUGH, BELCHING, NAUSEA AND VOMITING [16]
(OBS :) Vomits without least exertion. θ Vertigo with fainting.
(OBS :) Vomiting of yellow, sour, slimy, offensive smelling masses, looking as if chopped ; child greatly emaciated, with bloated abdomen, small and frequent pulse ; eyes sunken and half open during sleep, convulsive movements of eyes while awake ; great restlessness ; diarrhœa. θ Cholera infantum.
Was found very useful in epidemic cholera of 1831 and 1836, particularly against the weakening vomiting and tormenting thirst, and it was found serviceable in subduing the premonitory symptoms.
SCROBICULUM AND STOMACH [17]
Stomach feels tight after food.
Cramp of stomach.
ABDOMEN AND LOINS [19]
(OBS :) Great emaciation with bloating of abdomen. θ Cholera infantum.
Cramplike drawing in umbilical region, with severe pains in small of back. θ Labor.
STOOLS AND RECTUM [20]
Torpidity of bowels.
Diarrhœa from overwork and too much care.
Obstinate diarrhœa of old people occurring after an attack of cholera.
Obstinate chronic diarrhœa.
(OBS :) Cholera infantum with copious diarrhœa.
Hemorrhoidal complaints.
URINARY ORGANS [21]
Assists the passage of gravel and small urinary calculi, and impedes their further formation in bladder.
Catarrh of bladder, particularly of old debauchees.
Diabetes mellitus.
MALE SEXUAL ORGANS [22]
Seminal emission at 3 A. M., with voluptuous itching, followed by chill and cold, clammy perspiration.
PREGNANCY. PARTURITION. LACTATION [24]
Very severe labor pains, patient becoming greatly excited ; constant tossing about with violent movements of extremities ; she complains of the severity of pains and is sure she will die ; face deeply flushed and bloated ; eyes shining ; small and frequent pulse.
Twenty-four hours after rupture of bag of waters, very severe pains in small of back, with cramplike drawing in umbilical region ; pulse small and frequent ; face red ; head and body excessively hot and dry ; she tosses about, greatly excited, begging that some one would end her life.
RESPIRATION [26]
Spasmodic asthma ; asthma thymicum.
COUGH [27]
Whooping cough.
HEART, PULSE AND CIRCULATION [29]
Palpitation of heart. θ Vertigo with fainting.
Palpitation from irritable heart.
Pulse quick, but force lessened.
Small and frequent pulse. θ Labor.
Arteries tense.
NECK AND BACK [31]
Very severe pains in small of back, with cramplike drawing in umbilical region. θ Labor.
UPPER LIMBS [32]
Pain in left shoulder joint.
Trembling of hands.
LOWER LIMBS [33]
Iliac pains.
Pain in left foot and joint of big toe.
LIMBS IN GENERAL [34]
Gout and rheumatism, where there is a disposition to the formation of chalkstones in joints.
REST. POSITION. MOTION [35]
Remains seated in arm-chair, or stretched upon bed. θ Migraine.
Motion : excites pains.
Constant tossing about, with violent movements of extremities, during labor.
NERVES [36]
General nervous excitement.
Pain in head with depression of spirits due to indigestion from weakness of nervous system produced by overexertion.
SLEEP [37]
Obstinate sleeplessness.
TIME [38]
At 3 A. M. : seminal emission, voluptuous itching, chill and cold, clammy perspiration.
In morning : shortly after awaking, migraine.
TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER [39]
Serviceable against both cold and heat ; also useful in hot climates.
Beneficial to persons who live in open air.
Cold water : > intense pain in sound teeth of right lower jaw.
FEVER [40]
Inflammatory fever in children, with excitability, starting and twitching in sleep, restlessness and crying.
Feels chilly, without being cold, and trembles.
Local congestions, flushes of heat.
Intermittent fever.
Continued fever, particularly when attended with a disposition to diarrhœa.
(OBS :) Typhus.
(OBS :) Typhus of children ; epidemic cholera infantum ; under its use the pulse becomes more frequent and fuller, the eyes shining, the face gets a fresher appearance, extremities and face regain their natural heat and the skin again shows some moisture (in cases of cerebral anemia), when the child lies in a stupor and moans, coffee will soon quiet it.
ATTACKS, PERIODICITY [41]
Spasmodic asthma.
Two hours : paroxysms of vertigo and insensibility.
Migraine comes on in morning shortly after awaking, scarcely ever ceases before evening ; attacks come on irregularly.
Periodic headache of hysterical women.
Chronic : diarrhœa.
LOCALITY AND DIRECTION [42]
Right : intense pain in sound teeth of lower jaw.
Left : pains in shoulder joint ; pain in foot and joint of big toe.
SENSATIONS [43]
Pain : in sound teeth of right lower jaw, nearly driving him crazy ; in small of back ; in head ; iliac ; in left shoulder joint ; in left foot and joint of big toe.
Cramplike drawing : in umbilical region, with severe pains in small of back.
Burning pain : with migraine.
Cramp : of stomach.
Lightness : of stomach after food.
Voluptuous itching : of genital organs.
TISSUES [44]
Coffee and tea are injurious to the young, but beneficial to the old, because they increase the nitrogenous bodies by diminishing tissue waste.
Useful when weary from travel in heat, with deprivation of food.
Is important as an article of diet for soldiers, on account of its invigorating properties, and is also serviceable against both cold and heat ; it is also useful in hot climates.
Affects injuriously the teeth and bones of children, predisposes them to caries.
Tense fibre.
TOUCH. PASSIVE MOTION. INJURIES [45]
Touch : integuments of head sensitive and painful to slightest.
During downward motion of hammock while asleep, painful anxiety without fear of falling.
Swinging motion of hammock felt to an enormous degree.
STAGE OF LIFE, CONSTITUTION [47]
Beneficial to persons who live in the open air and to old people of nervous and excitable temperament.
Useful during lactation, but harmful during puerperal state or during menstruation.
Relieves the last moments of the dying, particularly those suffering from abdominal complaints, dropsy and consumption.
Useful as a stimulant in apparent death, particularly in asphyxia and premature birth.
Girls, æt. 10 and 14 weeks ; cholera infantum.
Primipara, æt. 23, strong, well built ; has had labor pains for thirty-five hours, which have become excessively severe during last eighteen hours.
Woman, æt. 32, well built, mother of two children ; irregular and excessively severe labor pains.
Marie Bouvard, married, æt. 45, has never used coffee ; periodical attacks of insensibility.
RELATIONS [48]
Strong, black coffee, the beans being little roasted, drunk as hot as possible, is indispensable as an antidote in a large number of poisons, especially narcotics, when causing drowsiness, intoxication, loss of consciousness, or mental derangement, delirium, etc. ; in general it antidotes narcotic substances, such as Opium, Morphine, Nux vomica, Belladonna, narcotic mushrooms, poisonous Summach, Tobacco, bitter Almonds, Prussic acid, Bellad., Coloc., Valer., Cicut. and Chamom.
In case of poisoning with salts of antimony, lead, phosphorus and phosphoric acid, coffee is no less indispensable.
Coffee should be used by wine drinkers ; tea by beer drinkers.
Coffee removed the symptoms produced by mesmerism.
Compare : Acon . (in fever).