DIGITALIS

(Foxglove.)

(From vol. iv, 2^nd edit., 1825.)

(The fresh expressed juice of the leaves of Digitalis purpurea mixed with equal parts of alcohol.)

From the following symptoms, which are by no means complete as to their number, it is undeniably evident that the morbid conditions of a chronic character, physicians have sometimes hitherto cured with foxglove, were all, without exception, cured homoeopathically, although they were unaware of the fact. But the much more numerous instances of unsuccessful treatment with this extremely powerful plant, belong to those employments of foxglove which were, as is usually the case, directed against mere pathological names (not the totality of the symptoms), and were affected with a medicine (foxglove), which was estimated , in hap-hazard fashion, only in accordance with conjectures respecting its general mode of action deduced from hypothesis (not known from is pure effects, i.e. from the morbid states it developed in the healthy body). As long as this theoretical blindness is persisted in, much more harm than good will be done with this great gift of God. The true physician, who selects his remedy homoeopathically in accordance with its pure pathogenetic effects for very similar cases of disease, will never give foxglove except where it can, will, and must do good, and will never fail to prescribe it in such suitable cases. Such treatment is immensely superior to the deplorable treatment of the ordinary practitioner. The homoeopathic practitioner, besides, will find in the following few symptoms the means of affording homoeopathic relief for many more morbid states than have hitherto been cured by it.

A very small portion of a drop of the quintillion-fold or, still better, the decillion-fold dilution of the juice, will often be found to be a too powerful dose for homoeopathic treatment.

The action of such a small dose lasts several days, that of an excessively large dose several weeks.

[HAHNEMANN was assisted in this proving by BECHER, FRANZ, GROSS, HORNBURG, LANGHAMMER, J. G. LEHMANN, MEYER, E. F. RUCKERT, STAPF, TEUTHORN.

Symptoms are borrowed from the following old-school authorities:

BAIDON, in Edinb, Med. and Surg. Journal, vol. iii, pt. 11, No 4.

BAKER, In Med. Essays of the London Coll. of Phys., pt iii.

BAYLIES, Practical Essays of the London Coll. of Phys., pt. iii.

BEDDOES, in Med. Facts and Obs., v. London, 1794.

BOERHAVE, Hortus Lugd. Batav. – Rar. Morb. Historioe., Jenae, 1771.

BRANDIS, in Schiemann, Diss. de Digit. Purp. Gott., 1786.

DRAKE, in Phys. Med. Journ., 1802., Feb.Edinburgh Med. Comment., vol. x.

HALLER, VON, in Vicat’s Mat. Med., i.

HENRY, W., in Med. and Chir. Journ. Edinb., 1811.

HORN, Neues Archiv, v.

KINGLAKE,ROB., in Beddoes’ Med. Facts and Obs., vol. v. London, 1794.

LENTIN, Beobachtungen einiger Krankheiten, 1774.

LETTSOM, Mem. of the Med. Soc. Of London, vol. ii.

MACLEAN, in Phys. Med. Journ., 1800, Aug., 1802, Feb.

MANGOLD, in Horn’s Archiv f. pr. Med., iii.

MEYER, in Richter’s Chir,. Bibl., v.

MONRO, DON, in Samml. f. pr. Aerzte, xiii.

MOSSMANN, G., in Phys. Med. Journ., 1801, July. – Essay to Elicidate the Scrophula. London, 1800.

PENKIVIL, J., in Phys. Med. Journal, 1801.

QUARIN, Animadvers. Pract.

REMER, Annalen der Klin. Anstalt, i.

SACKREUTER, in Annalen der Heilkunder, 1811, March.

SCHIEMANN, in Diss. de Digit, purp. Gott., 1786.

WARREN, in Samml. br. Abh. f. pr. Aerzte, vol. xi.

WITHERING, Abhan. Uber den Fingerhut. Lpz., 1786.

The 1^st edit. Gives 418; 10 additional symptoms appear in the 2^nd edit.; in the Chr. Kr. the symptoms are increased to 702.]

DIGITALIS

Vertigo. [QUARIN, Animadvers. Pract., pp. 118 – 120(Effects of digitalis when given for scorfula.) – MACLEAN, in the Phys. and Med., Journ., Lpz., 1800, Aug., p. 585. (Effects on patients)– WITHERING, Abh, ub. Den Fingerhut, Lpz., 1786.( (Effects on patients) – J. PENKIVIL, in Phys. and Med. Journ., 1801., Aug. Effects of digitalis when given for phthisis.) – LETISOM, Mem. of the med. Soc. Of London, vol. ii.(Effects of digitalis when given for phthisis. This symptom occurred after each dose.)]

Vertigo so that she fell when going upstairs. [OENKIVIL, l. c.]

Vertigo and trembling. [DRAKE, in Phys. And Med. Journ., 1802, Febr. (Effects o digitalis when given to dropsical patients.) ]

Confusion of the whole head and sensation as if the brain beat like water on both sides of the skull and would burst it, in a pulsating manner. [Trn.]

5. Undulating headache, like the beating of waves, from within towards both sides, that is relieved by lying and stooping forwards, but increased when standing and bending back,(aft. 2 h.). [Trn.]

Painful confusion of the head. [Stf.]

Gloomy in the head, as if hypochondriacal.

He is at first quite unable to collect his thoughts and giddy in the head. [Fz.]

Weakness of memory. [LETTSOM, l. c.]

10. The head is affected. [WITHERING, l. c.]

Headache. [QUARIN,- LETTSOM, l. c.]

Headache for several days. (From the emanations from the juice.) [SCHIEMANN, Diss. de Digit. Purp., Gott., 1786, pp. 34, 41. (This was only a sensation as of being swollen.) ]

Headache, pressure and heaviness, as from eush of blood to the head.

Giddy drawing in the sides of the head. [Gss.]

15. Tearing in the left side of the head. [Gss.]

Tearing in the right temporal region, close to the ear. [Gss.]

Pressure and stretching in the sides of the head (aft. 10 m.). [Gss.]

Contractive and pressive pain in the forehead and temples which is increased by thinking. [Fz.]

Anteriorly in the forehead, pressive tensive pain. [Hbg.]

20. In the middle of the forehead, superiorly, pressure as from a hard weight on exerting the thoughts. [Fz.]

Sharp pressive pain in the forehead, on a small spot above the eye (aft. ½ h.). [Stf.]

In the evening and at night in sleep, single obtuse stitches in the left temple, which darted through the whole brain.

Shooting now in the right, now in the left temporal region, but transient. [Myr.]

Aching headache in jerks, now in the temples, now in the whole head. [Rkt.]

25. Throbbing pain in the forehead or in the fundus of the orbits. [MACLEAN, l. c.]

When he turned the eyes to the right or left side, in order to look to right or left,without moving the head, there occurred an uncomfortable tensive sensation in the sinciput (aft. 30 h.). [Bch.]

For several hours, every time he stooped forward, in the side of the brain, on a small spot, a stitch-like tension, which extended to a left upper tooth, but which went off every time he raised himself up. [Stf.]

On bending the head forward, sensation as if something fell forwards in it, frequently recurring. [Rkt.]

Headache on one side, like an internal itching. [Ln.]

30. At the occiputal protuberance an aching pain as from a blow or fall (aft. 1.1/2 h.). [Hbg.]

Aching stitches externally on the left side of the forehead (aft. 4 h.). [Lr.]

Tearing stitches externally on the left temple (aft. 34 h.).[Lr.]

On the middle of the forehead, a red pimple with burning smarting pain, increased by touch. [Hbg.]

Single stitches in the left frontal region (aft. 84 h.). [Lr.]

35. Swollen head. (This was only a sensation as of being swollen.) [QUARIN, l. c.]

Heat in the whole head externally and internally; thinking was difficult for him, and he forgot everything immediately (aft. 1 h.). [Myr.]

The head always falls backwards, when sitting and walking, as if the anterior cervical muscles had no power (as if paralysed). [Trn.]

Paleness of face. (Not found.) [WITHRING, l. c.]

Convulsions on the left side of the face. [G. MOSSMANN, in Phys. And Med. Journ., 1801, Jul. ((Effects if digitalis given in pneumonia. ) ]

40. Burning pain in the right eye-brow, with dimness of vision, as if a veil were before the eyes (aft. 5 a.d more h.). [Myr.]

Pressive pain on the right eye-brow, towards the external canthus of the eye (aft. 52 h.). [Lr.]

Tendency of both eyes to turn towards the left side; when he forced them to turn to the right they were painful, and he then saw all near objects double or threefold; at the same time the face was puffed (aft. 29 h.). [Bch.]

Pain of the ey, excessive pan in the eye-balls on touching them.

Aching pain in the eye-balls.

45. An aching in the right eye-ball, rapidly coming and going off (aft. 2 h.). [Stf.]

Violent inflammation of the eyes. (Very contracted pupils) (aft. ½ h.). [Stf.]

Great dilatation of the pupils (aft. 1 h.). [Trn.]

Dimness of vision. [QUARIN, l. c.]

50. Weak sight, imperfect vision. [PENKIVIL, l. c.]

Slight dimness of vision. [MOSSMANN, Essay to elucidate the Scrophula, London, 1800. (Not accessible.) ]

He sees objects only darkly. (Not found.)[WITHERING, l. c.]

Dimness of vision. [WITHERING, l. c.]

Blindness. (Lasting for a month after omitting the medicine, with throbbing pain and sense of fulness in the eye-balls.) [LETTSOM, l. c.]

55. Blindness, amaurosis, for three days. [REMER, Annalen d. Klin. Anstalt, B. i. (Not accessible.) ]

Imperfect vision, as if a cloud or a mist hung before the eyes. [MACLEAN, l. c.]

When he wishes to look at distant, dark bodies hover before his eyes, like flies. [BAKER, in Medical Essays of the London College of Physicians, iii. (Effects of digitalis in a case of anasacra. The “dark bodies like flies” repesent “muscae volitantes” in the original.) ]

All sorts of figures hover before the eyes. [PENKIVIL, l. c.]

Appearances before the eyes. (“Fiery appearances” in the original.) [LETTSOM, l. c.]

60. When he covers up the eyes, bright bodies seem to dance before his eyes. (The mucae of S. 57 become these when the eyes are covered and pressed upon.) [BAKER, l. c.]

In the morning, on awaking, all objects seem as if covered with snow. [MOSSMANN, in Phys. Med. Journ., l. c.]

The flame of the candle appears to him larger to him larger and brighter (In the original (“whiter.) than natural. [BAKER, l. c.]

In the dusk he saw glittering colours, red, green an yellow, before his eyes, like flickering light (aft. 8 h.). [Ln.]

The faces of persons coming into the room appeared to him deadly pale. [BAKER, l. c.]

65. Illusion of vision: objects appear of a green or yellow colour. [WITHERING, l. c.]

Objects appear yellow to him, even silver. [PENKIVIL, l. c.]

The eyes water. [WITHERING, l. c.]

The tears running from his eyes smart.

In a moderately warm room, less in the open air, the eyes become full of water; they are dim, hot, full of red blood vessels, with aching pain, and the canthi are full of mucus (as in severre coryza). [Stf.]

70. In the inner canthus a painful scraping sensation, as of coarse dust hat got into ot. [Hbg.]

(Swelling of the lower eyelid, which interferes with his looking down.)

The edges of the eyelids are painful, as if excoriated, when they are shut (in the evening in bed). [Rkt.]

Inflammation of the Meibomian glands on the borders of the eyelids.

Paralytic drawing beneath the left zygomatic process in front of the ear. [Gss.]

75. Cramp-like drawing pain on the zygoma, which goes off by strong pressure. [Fz.]

Cramp under the right zygomatic arch on moving the lower jaw, which, when he bites, is closed spasmodically, and more strongly than he wished. [Fz.]

An erosion and itching on the cheek and chin, worst at night.

In the ears a sensation as if they were contracted internally; he hear the pulse in them (the hearing remained good). [Fz.]

A tensive pressure in the left ear. [Stf.]

80. Hissing before both ears, like water boiling. [Trn.]

Single stitches behind the ear, externally. [Trn.]

A large pimple with smarting pain inder the left nostril (aft. 1 h.). [Trn.]

Epistaxis; bright blood from both nostrils (aft. 1 h.). [Trn.]

Drawing pain in thr muscles under the mastoid process. [Fz.]

85. Under the right mastoid process, a drawing, which goes off by strong pressure. [Fz.]

Aching drawing on the occiput at the seat of the insertion of the cervical muscles, on bending back the head. [Fz.]

Stiffness of the posterior and lateral cervical muscles, with pressive pain like blows (aft. 10 h.). [Hbg.]

Shooting pains externally in the cervical muscles on moving the neck. [Bch.]

A painful stiffness and tension in the cervical muscles and nape, especially on moving. [Stf.]

90. Eruption on the neck.

Swelling of the lips and tongue ((In a woman from an ounce of the decotion, in whom the swelling of the lips and tongue was accompanied by foetid salivation and suppression of urne. (The patient was ascitic. There is no mention in the original of foeter about the salivation. (See S. 102.) [W. HENRY, in Med. and Chir. Journal, Edinb., 1811.]

In the morning, white coated tongue (aft. 48 h.). [Lr.]

Excoriation internally in the mouth, on the tongue and gums, Med. Subjects, London, 1773, pp. 39, 41. (Not accessible.)]

Excoriation of the inside of the mouth, fauces, oesophagus, stomach. [BOERHAVE, Hortus lugd. Batav., p. 308. (Observed effects. This ascribed by tge owner to the acrimony of the plant.) ]

95. Collection of saliva. [WITHERING, l. c. – LENTIN, Beobachtumngen einiger Krankheiten, 1774, p. 167. (From an overdose.) ]

Accumulation of saliva, as after vinegar. [Hbg.]

Collection of watery saliva in the mouth, which at first tastes sweet, but afterwards very salty, in frequent fits (aft. ½ h.). [Stf.]

100. Collection of very sweet saliva. [SCHEIMANN, l. c.]

Collection of saliva in the mouth, with spitting of it out, and great nausea on swallowing the saliva (aft. ¼ h.). [Bch.]

Profuse flow of saliva of a foetid smell. (For “foetid smell” read “viscid consistence.”) [HENRY, l. c.]

Bad smell from the mouth (aft. 4 h.).

Flat, slimy taste, and a soft flossy feeling in the mouth, as if it were lined inside with velvet. [Trn.]

105. Rough palate, as if he had smoked too much tobacco, without thirst. [Fz.]

A scrapy, rough feeling in the palate. [Stf.]

(Painfulness of the front teeth.) [Stf.]

After smoking tobacco, taste in the mouth as from sweet almonds. [Fz.]

Spasmodic constriction of the throat. [LENTIN, l. c.]

110. Sore throat; shooting (also) when not swallowing.

Stitches in the back part of the palate an in the commencement of the gullet, not observable when swallowing. [Rkt.]

Little appetite, he is immediately satiated. [Stf.]

Very little appetite on account of nausea. [Bch.]

Anorexia, with indescribable emptiness in the stomach. [ROB. KINGLAKE, in Beddoes’ Med. facts and Obs., vol. v, Lond., 1794. (Not found.) ]

115. Anorexia, with clean tongue. [PENKIVIL, l. c.]

With good appetie bread tastes bitter. [Trn.]

Appetite for bitter food. [Bch.]

Thirst for sour drinks. [Trn.]

Sour eructation after eating. [Trn.]

120. Nausea.

Nausea. [BAYLIES, l. c.]

Nausea in the gastric region, without retching and vomiting (aft. 11 h.). [Bch.]

Nausea for three days without cessation. [MACLEAN, l. c., 1802, febr.]

125. Deadly nausea. [WARREN, in Samml. br. Abh. p. fr. Aerzte, vol. xi. P. I.]

In recurring fits, deadly sickness, with extreme depression of the mind and anguish. (This lasted every time several, often four, hours, and came on sometimes before, sometimes after the diuresis.) [WITHRING, l. c.]

Vomiting.

Nausea of the worst kind and vomiting. [MACLEAN, l. c., 1800, Aug., p. 585.]

Excessive nausea, with inordinate vomiting, coldness of the limbs, and cold sweats, for two days. [BAKER, l. c.]

130. With excessive nausea, vomiting of green bile. [BAKER, l. c.]

Increased nausea, with vomiting of the food he had eaten, which was enveloped in white tasteless mucus, whereupon the bellyache that was present went off (aft. 8.1/2 h.) [Bch.]

Violent vomiting, for four hours. [BAYLIES, l. c.]

Nocturnal vomiting. (This and the following synptom do not mean vomiting recurring each night or morning, but simply that the vomiting caused by the drug came on on the following night or morning.) [PENKIVIL, l. c.]

Morning vomiting. [MOSSMANN, l. c., 1801, Jul. – PENKIVIL, l. c.]

135. Excessive vomiting. [LENTIN, l. c.]

Long-continued vomiting. [WITHERING, l. c.]

Uncontrollable vomiting, for six days, until death ensud. (In a woman who in two days had taken twelve leaves in six doses; she died the seventh day. In the ileum was found inflammation, and an almost complete adhesion and union of the walls of some parts of this intestine.) [Edinburgh Med. Comment., vol. x.]

Biliouvomiting for several days. [BEEDOES, in Med. Facts and Obs., v, London, 1794. (From overdosing). ]

Hiccup, that did not rise quite up into the throat, six or seven times (aft. 21 h.). [Bch.]

140. Hiccup. [LENTIN, l. c.]

Disagreeable sensation in the gastric region. [MOSSMANN, Essays, l. c.]

A weakness of the stomach, like a sinking of the stomach, as if life would be extinguished. (All the patients complained of this in the same terms.) (Literally, “Faintness or sinking at the stomach, as life were going from them.”) [MACLEAN, l. c., 1800, Aug.]

Cardialgia. (Not found.) [WITHERING, l. c.]

Weight in the stomach. [PENKIVIL, l. c.]

145. A feeling of constriction over the gastric region, towards the liver. [Hbg.]

(Anxious tension and constriction under the short ribs.)

After a meal the food presses in the scrobiculus cordis, when he is seated, but not when he is standing. [Fz.]

Weight in the stomach, alternating with exhaustion. [MOSSMANN, in Phys. And Med. Journ., l. c.]

Pressure, as from a hard weight, in the scrobiculus cordis, on raising up tbe body. [Fz.]

150. Cutting aching in the scrobiculus cordis, with feeling of nausea there. [Gss.]

In the scrobiculus cordis squeezing stitches, unaffected by breathing, increased by touching, only when standing not when sitting (aft. 24 h.). [Gss.]

Aching and burning in the gastric region. [HORN, Neues Archiv, v. I, p. 104. (Not found.) ]

Stomachache, and at the same time sensation of great heat in the stomach and bowels. [WITHERING, l. c.]

Sensation in the bowels as if they were twisted together and the gastric region were retracted. (Literally, “sensation of twisting in the bowels after eacg dose, and of much sinking at the pit of the stomach.” ) [DRAKE, l. c.]

155. Pinching contraction in the abdomen, as from a severe chill, when sitting, but if which he feels nothing when walking (aft. 3, 4, d.). [Fz.]

Sharp stitches in the navel. [Gss.]

A persistent stitch in the left infracostal region, with sensation, especially during expiration, as if the surrounding parts were gone asleep. [Fz.]

(While eating) above and to the right of the navel obtuse, as it were, squeezing stitches. [Gss.]

Single stitches and pinching in the abdomen, sometimes with paroxysms of sick feeling (aft. 24 h.). [Rkt.]

160. Pinching in the hypogastrium, as from a purgative (aft. ½ h.). [Myr.]

Flying needle-pricks in the whole abdomen. [Gss.]

Fine stitches in the right side of the abdomen on expiration, when standing and walking. (aft. 58 h.). [Lr.]

Stitches in the right side of the abdomen, during expiration, while sitting, in the morning (aft. 75 h.). [Lr.]

Single fine shooting in the left side of the abdomen, when at rest and during movement, which was increased on expiration (aft. 88 h.). [Lr.]

165. Just above the umbilical region digging, aching, shooting internally (aft. 10 m.). [Gss.]

Shooting in the bend of the groin when walking. [Fz.]

Tearing pains about the navel, in the morning (aft. 8 h.).

When walking shooting tearing in the umbilical region. [Fz.]

In the evening cutting tearing in the abdomen, as from a chill, especially when rising up from a seat, with aching pain in the vertex. [Fz.]

170. Cutting in the whole of the epigastrium and hypogastrium. [Gss.]

Under the third left false rib a part that is painful, as if all inside were lacerated. [Fz.]

Twitching tearing from the pubes to the left groin, on leaning the body backwards. [Fz.]

Simple pain, as from excoriation, in the left inguinal ring, as if a hernia would come out (aft. 6 h.).

In the bend of the groin (in the tendon of the psoas muscle that becomes prominent on moving), almost only when walking, pressive tension; when pressed on it is painful, as if a hard body lay under the skin, which increased the pressure. [Fz.]

175. Drawing cramp anteriorly in the bend of the right groin, which after moving the tendon of the psoas muscle is increased, and becomes, as it were, throbbing, and then continues even when sitting. [Fz.]

Aching, rumbling, gurgling in the abdomen. [Gss.]

Colic-like rumbling and rolling in the abdomen, for half an hour.

Flatulence and discharge of flatus. [Rkt.]

Noises in the abdomen, without sensation of flatulence therein, and without discharge of flatus. [Bch.]

180. Tension of the skin on the abdomen when he raises himself up. [Fz.]

The abdomen is painful, as if ulcerated, when moving, but not when touched. [Fz.]

Forcing downwards and boring anteriorly in the left side of the abdomen. [Fz.]

In the left side of the abdomen sensation as if something were forcing itself through. [Fz.]

Urging to stool. [Hbg.]

185. Before stool, chilliness.

After constipation for forty-eight hours there occurred a quite soft, yellow stool, without suffering. [Fz.]

Ash-coloured diarrhoea, as in jaundice. [SCHEMANN, l. c.]

After vomiting four times, faintness, followed by violent diarrhoea of an ash-coloured pappy matter, as in jaundice. [MEYER, in Richter’s Chir. Bibl., v., p. 532. (Effect of digitalis given for mammary scirehus.) ]

Jaundice. (This indeed occurred in several of Withering’s patients, but always in the natural sequnce of their maladies, and never traceable to digitalis.) [WITHERING, l. c.]

190. Diarrhoea.

Purging. [WITHERING, l. c.]

Thin stool. [Hbg.]

First two or three thin stools (aft. 24 h.), then constipation in the morning; and only in the evening evacuation with many threadwotms (aft. 55 h.). [Stf.]

After seventy-two hours the stool became quite soft and liquid and also much more frequent. [Fz.]

195. For several days two ot three stools. [Lr.]

Violent diarrhoea. [LENTIN, - BAYLIES, l. c.]

Painful purging for three or four days. [WITHERING, l. c.]

Bellyache, more tearing than shooting, in the morning in bed, followed by two attacks of diarrhoea anf thereafter urging to stool in the rectum.

Diarrhoea with cutting in the abdomen. [Bch.]

200. Several diarrhoeic stools, preceded by cutting in the abdomen (aft. 8 h. and longer). [Bch.]

Diarrhoea of faeces mixed with mucus, preceded by bellyache, sometimes pressive, sometimes cutting (aft. 6 – 8 h.), which went off each time he went to stool. [Bch.]

Almost incurable dysenteries. (As in note to S. 94.) [BOERHAVE, Rar. Morb. Historioe, Jenae, 1771, hist. 308.]

He passes stool and urine involuntarily.

In the left renal region a fine shooting, when sitting. [Hbg.]

205. Urging to urinate (aft. ½ h.). [Hbg.]

Retention of urine. (Rather,”suppression.” It lastednearly three days.) [HENRY, l. c.]

Straining, ineffectual urging to pass urine. [MANGOLD, in Horn’s Archiv f. pr. Med., l, p. 141. (Not accessible.) ]

A contractive pain in the urinary bladder, whilst urinating; the urine was evacuated with difficulty owing to this pain. [Ln.]

The first day he only passes urine twice and but little, but without suffering; after forty-eight hours the urine becomes much more copious and accompanied by cutting drawing in the bladder. [Fz.]

210. Diuresis.

She must get up every night to pass urine.

Frequent urging to urinate; the urine only comes away by drops, with burning sensation in the urethra and the region of the glans; the urine had a reddish appearance (aft. 3 h.). [Myr.]

The urine commences to be passed less frequently, but in greater quantity and with less burning (aft. 20 h.). [Myr.]

At night constant urging to urinate, and when he got up to make water, he had dizziness and vertigo (aft. 12 h. and beyond till morning). [Myr.]

215. Without urging to urinate, dark urine, which on standing grew redder and cloudy (aft. 14 h.). [Bch.]

After the diuresis, retention of urine, then nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. (This is a very rare alternating action of foxglove, and only happens from excessive doses. Much more frequent and usual is the difficulty of urinating in the primary action of this medicine, see – 205 – 209, 212, and 222, owing to which it can be not unfrequently of great use homoeopathically in dropsical diseases, which it can be not unfrequently of great use homoeopathically in dropsical diseases, which are accompanied by similar difficulty with regard to the urinary secretion and other symptoms of a similar character only in the primary action of foxglove. The copious, often involuntary, passing urine occuring during the use of foxglove, see 213, 214, 217 to 220, and diuresis 210, are only secondary action and reaction of the organism after the above – mentioned primary action.) [WITHERING, l. c.]

While urinating, in the moddle of the urethra, a pressing (burning) sensation, as if the urethra were too narrow, which, however, goes off on continuing to urinate.

During the diuresis and diarrhoea small quick pulse, whilst the hands and feet are icy cold. [WITHERING, l. c.]

The urine is acrid. (Not found.) [WITHERING, l. c.]

225. Inflammation of the neck of the bladder. [DON. MONRO, in Samml. f. pr. Aerzte, xiii, p. 2. (Effect of digitalis given for dropsy. – Literally, “urging to urinate even to inflammation of the bladder.”) ]

Several times in the night sensation as if pollutions would occur, but none came; in the morning a sticky moisture at the mouth of the urethra.

In the right testicle a pain as if contused.

In the morning, with some coryza, stoppage of the nose (aft. 73 h.). [Lr.]

Coryza and cough to a great degree; he could scarcely speak for coryza.

230. In the morning he is hoarse.

After a night-sweat, in the morning such great hoarseness, that he could not speak.

In the morning mucus adheres in the larynx, which is easily detached, but when he wishes to cough it up it generally gets into the fauces, so that he must swallow it. [Gss.]

In the morning expectoration of mucus by voluntary hacking cough, (aft. 73 h.). [Lr.]

The irritation to cough extends to the palate

235. A dry dull cough, as from tickling in the trachea. [Stf.]

(After a meal the cough is so severe that he vomits his food.)

(About 12 p.m. cough and sweat.)

Dry cough which excites tensive aching pains in the arm and shoulder (aft. 26 h.). [Stf.]

Pain in the chest, which makes the cough difficult. [BRADIS, in Schiemann, l. c., p. 6 (A standing symptom with the patient.) ]

240. In the morning, after rising, tightness of the chest, with dry cough.

Haemoptysis.

Expectoration from the lungs coloured with blood. (A standing symptom with the patient.) [PENKIVIL, l. c.]

At every breath sensation as if he were electrified. [SACKENREUTER, in Annalen der Heilkunde, 1811, March. (Not accessible.) ]

Palpitation of the heart.

245. Almost audible, strong heart’s beats, with anxiety and contractive pains under the sternum. [Bch.]

Aching (pressing contractive) heart’s beats, with anxiety and spasmodic pains in the sternum and under the ribs, which are increased by bending forward the head and upper part of the body (aft. ½ h.). [Bch.]

In the right side of the chest a strong perceptible beating as from an artery synchronus with the pulse (aft. ½ h.). [Hbg.]

Painful suffocating constriction of the chest, as if its internal parts were all grown together especially in the morning on awaking, owing to which he must quickly sit upright.

Contractive pains in the sternum itself; they are increased by bending forward the head and upper part of the body (aft. 2.1/2 h.). [Bch.]

250. Sensation as if raw in the chest and stitches in it.

When raising up the body tension on the left side of the chest, as if that part were contracted. [Fz.]

When sitting in a bent position pressure on the lower part of the chest; the breathing is shorter and not enough; he cannot hold his breath long but must quickly breathe again. [Fz.]

Breath drawn with difficulty, slowly and deeply. [Rkt.]

Tension on the chest and pressure in the scrobiculus cordis, which often forces him to take a deep inspiration. [Rkt.]

255. For many days a painful tightness of chest; he must often draw a deep breath, and yet he felt as if he had not breathed in sufficient air, especially when sitting. [Stf.]

Drawing pain in the middle of the sternum when walking. [Fz.]

Pressive drawing on the chest when coughing. [Fz.]

From violent exertion of the arm he gets immediately cutting pressure on the opposite side of the chest, anteriorly in the region of the third rib, externally. [Fz.]

Great heat on the chest, as if he stood undressed in front of the warm stove, soon followed by coldness about the chest. [Hbg.]

260. On the right, above the scrobiculus cordis, sharp stitches. [Gss.]

Eroding, itching pricking synchronous with the pulse in the left side, close above the scrobiculus cordis. [Gss.]

Below the right axilla, under the ribs, obtuse (squeezing) stitches. [Gss.]

On blowing the nose, pain in the sacrum as if bruised.

In the left side of the loins eroding itching, compelling him to scratch. [ss.]

265. In the left side, in the region of the lumbar vertebrae, drawing cutting pain, which is relieved by pressing on it with the hand. [Fz.]

Drawing in the pine, the limbs, and fingers as sometimes after a chill. [Rkt.]

In the first dorsal vertebrae a sensation like a blow (aft. 2 h.). [Hbg.]

In the junction of the first dorsal and last cervical vertebrae, the joint pains as if excoriated on bending forward the neck, but not on touching.

(Eruption of pimples on the back.)

270. Cutting pain, with numbness of the skin, in the upper part of the nape, which comples the head to be drawn backwards, whereby it appears to him as if a soft dead part were jammed in between the joint, that did not allow the head to be bent backwards. [Fz.]

Tearing under the right scapula. [Gss.]

Obtuse stitches betwixt the scapulae.

Voluptuous itching in the axilla. [Fz.]

On moving the arms tensive aching pain of the muscles of the arm and shoulder. [Stf.]

275. Paralytic weakness in the left arm; he could scarcely raise it up or close the fingers to make a fist without pain. [Hbg.]

On the right arm a sore burning.

Heaviness in the left arm, also felt when at rest.

In the left upper arm a burning shooting sensation. [Hbg.]

A painful twitching beating in the flesh of the upper arm and thigh.

280. Tearing stitches on the right upper arm when walking (aft. 74 h.). [Lr.]

Needle-pricks on the lower part of the left upper arm, continuing on moving it. [Rkt.]

Tingling sensation on the inner side of the right elbow-joint, as if the arm would go to sleep, ans as if the nerve were somewhat pressed (aft. ½ h.), and the same sensation there on touching this part (aft. 18 h.). [Rkt.]

In the middle of the shaft of the ulna paralytic pain, on extending the arm and when it lies outstretched. [Fz.]

The right hand, together with the fingers, greatly swollen at night; the swelling lasted three hours (aft. 22 h.). [Myr.]

285. Above the right wrist-joint on the back of the ulna, a pinching and squeezing sharp shooting. [Gss.]

Severe stitches in the muscles of the right forearm (aft. ½ h.). [Lr.]

Paralytic tearing in the bones of the right wrist. [Gss.]

Severe tearing on the right forearm, more externally, when at rest and when moving (aft. 32 h.). [Lr.]

On the back of the hand a kind of miliary eruption without sensation.

290. An itching on the back of the hand, mostly at night.

Paralytic tearing in the right metcarpal bones (aft. 8 h.). [Gss.]

Spasmodic stitches in the ball of the left thumb, when at rest and when moving (aft. 6 h.). [Lr.]

Twitching paralytic tearing in the right index, front and back. [Gss.]

Paralytic tearing in the finger-joints, when at rest and when moving. [Gss.]

295. Involuntary twitching of the left index, which is drawn outwards by it. [Fz.]

Burning shooting on the left thumb just above the nail, which is much aggravated by pressing on it. [Fz.]

The nates go to sleep in the evening when sitting, and become as if quite dead. [Fz.]

Slow drawing above the nates. [Fz.]

After sitting (in a carriage) great stiffness in the joints of the lower extremities, which went off by walking.

300. On the upper anterior part of the thigh an eroding itching. [Gss.]

On the thigh, somewhat above the left knee towards the outside, sharp stitches (aft. ¼ h.). [Gss.]

Aching drawing in the anterior muscles of the thigh. [Fz.]

Drawing on the inside of the thigh, when sitting, and on the inner side of the left foot, when it hangs free and is not supported. [Fz.]

Pressure in the right thigh on its anterior aspect of a pressivdrawing character, that gradually increased and then diminished. [Hbg.]

305. On crossing the lower extremities on over the other, cutting sensation in the thigh, which goes off on uncrossing them. [Fz.]

Cramp-like drawing in the muscles above the hough when sitting, which goes off after walking a little. [Fz.]

When he moves the knees after lying, on commencing to move, the thighs and legs and sacrum are painful, as if bruised.

Painless stiffness on the outer condyle of the knee-joint, as from internal swelling, with sensation of coldness. [Fz.]

On going upstairs a sensation in the knees as from great fatigue. [Bch.]

310. Under the left knee, on the outer side of the tibia, sharp stitches, during movement and when at rest (aft. 1 h.). [Gss.]

When walking tired pain in the knees and tibiae, as after a long walk. [Bch.]

Prostration n all thelimbs,especially the feet, in the joints, as after a long journey.

Twitching of the muscles under the left hough synchronous with the pulse, which goes off on touching, [Fz.]

Tension in the houghs, which does not permit them to be straightened. [Fz.]

315. In the left leg a heaviness, just as if it were in the shaft of the tibia, that hinders him in walking.

Drawing on the shaft of the left tibia, as if a part were torn out there. [Fz.]

Constant stretching of the legs, compelled by the weariness. [Hbg.]

When standing the left leg has sore pain, and as if shattered. [Fz.]

Burning in the right calf as soon as he lays it over the other leg. [Fz.]

320. The ankle-joint pains on extending it, as if over-stretched. [Fz.]

Eroding itching above the outer ankle of the foot. [Gss.]

An itching on the dorsum of the right foot, chiefly at night.

In the evening painful sharp stitches in the right sole, so that the whole lower extemity twitches. [Fz.]

Penetrating pain in the joints.

325. After the midday sleep all the joints are painful, as if broken on the wheel.

General soreness of the whole body. [PENKIVIL, l. c.]

(In the warm room the sufferings seem to be increased.) [Stf.]

The epidermis of the body scales off. [VON HALLER, in Vicat’s Mat. Med., I, p. 112. (Statement from authors.) ]

Tearing, burning (and slightly itching), sow stitches on various parts of the body.

330. Eroding itching on various parts of the body, which compelled him to scratch, whereby it remits somewhat, but soon recurs. [Gss.]

When, during the eroding itching on almost all parts of the body he does not scratch it usually becomes ever more severe, an at last develops to intolerable burning needle-pricking, that at one time declines, at another returns in greater intensity. [Gss.]

Pain on the affected part. [QUARIN, l. c.]

Weakness and weariness of the lower exrtemities, with trembling sensation. [Rkt.]

335. exhaustion, powerlessness, and paralytic weakness of the lower exrtemities, withour pain. [Hbg.]

Laziness and heaviness of the limbs. [MOSSMANN, Essays, l. c.]

On rising from bed in the morning, lazy and tired. [Ln.]

Sinking of the vital powers.

Weakness, sinking of the strength. [WITHERING, l. c.]

340. Sudden sinking of the strength, with general sweat, and, some hours afterwards, cough.

Sudden exrteme exhaustion, as if he should lose consciousness (after the midday meal) with general heat and perspiration, without thirst.

All his muscles are relaxed; he feels as if he had not slept enough. [Fz.]

Frequent exhaustion; she must go to bed because sitting up fatigues her. [PENKIVIL, l. c.]

Extreme lagour. [MACLEAN, l. c.]

345. Considerable degree of langour and vertigo, with intermitting pulse. [DRAKE, l. c., p. 132.]

General loss of power. [LETTSOM, l. c.]

General weakness, as if all parts of the body were exhausted (aft. 2 h.). [Hbg.]

(Fatal) apoplexy. [SHERWIN, ((From an overdose. The reporter writes: “he was suddenly and unexpectedly carried off with all the draeful distress and jacitation which an overdose of digitalis sometimes produces. His death was pretty generally ascribed to apoplexy, and was indeed truly apoplectic.”) in Phys. Med. Journ., 1801, Jul.]

350. Weakness almost to death (Opium proved to be the antidote.) (Rather, “as if to death.”) [MAC:EAN, l. c., 1802, Febr.]

Constant inclination to syncopes. [MACLEAN, l. c., 1800, Aug.]

Great inclination to syncopes. [DRAKE, l. c., p. 126.]

Tendency to faint, and relaxation of the vital power. [DRAKE, l. c., p. 124.]

Syncopes. [WITHERING, l. c.]

355. Syncope during the sickness. (Rather, between the attacks of sickness.) [WITHERING, l. c.]

He feels as if the body were very light (aft. 4 h.). [Fz.]

Frequent yawning and stretching. [Stf.]

Frequent drowsiness to a considerable degree. [MACLEAN, l. c.]

Drowsy fatigue, slumber (aft. 8 h.).

360. Frequent drowsiness. [DRAKE, l. c., p. 128.]

A deep sleep. (Curative effect.) [MACLEAN, l. c.]

Sleep with many not disagreeable dreams. [Hbg.]

At night sleep disturbed by disagreeable dreams of miscarriage of his projects (aft. 23 h.). [Lr.]

At night merely slumber in place of sleep, half consciousness, without being able to get to sleep.

365. Restlessness sleep with tossing about in bed at night, and comical dreams. [Frn.]

At night restless sleep on account of constant urging to urinate. [Myr.]

Nocturnal restlessness snd tossing about, half awake and not fully conscious. [Rkt.]

He woke up frequently at night as from anxiety, and with the impression that it was time to get up.

At night frequent waking, as from fright (aft. 47 h.). [Lr.]

370. At night frequent waking in fright, as from a dream, as if he fell from a height or into the water (aft. 24, 72 h.). [Lr.]

Restless sleep; he could not lie on one spot, and could only lie on his back. [Ln.]

At night violent pain in the left shoulder and elbow-joints, in half sleep, in which the consciousness was not quite clear, whilst he lay on his back with the left arm above the head. [Rkt.]

Convulsions. [WITHERING, l. c.]

Epileptic convulsions, then blindness and amaurosis, for three days. [REMER, l. c.]

375. Febrile state. (Not found.)[QUARIN, l. c.]

Slow pulse. (Not found.) [LENTIN, l. c.]

The pulse for twenty-four and even forty-eight hours was much slower, but thereafter all the quicker and suppressed. (Rather,” but thereafter quicker and proportionately weaker.”)(This is the most usual phenomenon from foxglove, that after the preliminary slowness of the pulse (primary action), after somedays it is the reverse (reaction or secondary action), a much quicker and smaller pulse is permanently induced; see also 383. From this we see how wrong the ordinary physicians are who endeavour to produce a pemanently slower pulse by means of foxglove.) [LETTSOM, l. c., p. 172.]

Pulse 40 beats per minute. [WITHERING, l. .c]

Pulse slower, but stronger. [Hbg.]

380. Along with weakness and laziness of the whole body, diminution of the pulse-beats from 82 to beats; in longer or shorter intervals it made short pauses; the beats were feeble. [Bch.]

The pulse at first slow, then suddenly commences to make a couple of beats, or the finger placed on it now and then loses a whole eat. (Litherally, “Pulse suddenly quicker for a few beats, then slow again; or it loses a whole beat.” )[MACLEAN, l. c.]

The pulse sank from 65 to 50 beats, which were quite irregular, always between three or four soft beats a fuller and harder one, on the first day; on the third day it was 75. [Fz.]

Diminution of the pulse from 100 beats down to 40. [MOSSMANN, Essays, l. c.]

The pulse sinks to 50 and finally to 35 beats. [WITHERING, l. c.]

385. Pulse slower by one half, for several days.

Pulse beats diminished to almost half their number. [BAKER, l. c.]

When the pulse has become slow, it is increased in quickness by te slightest corporeal exertion. [MACLEAn, l. c., 1800, Aug.]

Irregular pulse, from 40 to 58 beats. (Rather “from 48 to 56.) [BAKER, l. c.]

The number of the pulse beats diminishes scarcely at all when standing, little when sitting, most when lying, when the number sinks to 60, (Should be “40.” This is a statement from observation.) whereas it is 100 when he stands . [BALDON, in Edinb. Med. and Surg. Journal, vol. iii, pt. 11^th, No. iv. ]

390. Hard, sm, quick pulse.

Before death, 100 pulse beats in a minute. (Subsequent to S. 384.) [WITHERING, l. c.]

Frequent yawning and stretching with chilliness. [Stf.]

Inetrnal coldness in the whole body (aft. 5 m.). [Gss.]

Shivering all over the back (aft. 1 h.). [Myr.]

395. In the afternoon, three or four times shivering, and in the night, profuse sweat, even on the hair.

Slight rigor in the back (aft. 30.1/2 h.). [Bch.]

By day, internal chilliness without shivering; when walking in the open air he was chilly so that he could not get warm.

Constant chilliness, chiefly in the back. [Stf.]

Coldness first of the fingers, hands and feet, then of the palms and soles, then of the whole body, especially the limbs.

400. Feeling of coldness and actual coldness, first in the hands and arms, then through the whole of the rest of the body down into the feet (aft. ½ h.). [Bch.]

Coldness of the body with sticky sweat. [MACLEAN, l. c.]

Cold sweats. [WITHERING, l. c.]

Coldness and chill internally and externally in the whole body (aft. 36 h.). [Gss.]

Internal chill in the whole body with unusual warmth perceptible externally (aft. 14 h.). [Gss.]

405. Cold feeling through the whole body at once; the body felt cooler, and the face excepted, which had no sensation of coldness and remained warm (aft. ½ h.). [Bch.]

One hand was cold, the other warm. [Ln.]

A suddenly arising warmth through the whole body, which just as suddenly went off again, and left behind a weakness of all the parts (aft. 25 h.).[Bch.]

Fever: succession of shivering, heat and strong transpiration. [MOSSMANN, in Phys. Med. Journ., l. c.]

Frequent warmth all over the body, but in the forehead cold sweat – thirteen or fourteen hours after the coldness. [Bch.]

410. Along with slight chilliness in the back, burning of the head, face and ears, with red cheeks; at the same time the left eye seems much smaller (after a meal in a moderately warm room). [Stf.]

Redness and heat of the whole face, with chilliness over the rest of the body (aft. 3 h.).

[Trn.]

The inner surface of the hands is warm and perspiring. [Hbg.]

In the morning on waking he found himself in slight perspiration (aft. 24 h.). [Lr.]

Perspiration in sleep at night.

415. Great desire for work(aft. 1.1/2 h.).

Disposed for mental work and for all kinds of business. (Curative action.) [Hbg.]

Indisposed to speak. [Hbg.]

Gloominess and peevishness. [Hbg.]

Gloomy, morose humour; he scolds about everything. [Rkt.]

420. Lachrymose sadness about many things in which he has been unsuccessful (aft. ½ h.).

He is sad and has a feeling of being very ill; all objects appear to him as in fever.

Dejection of the mind and apprehensiveness. (Not found.) [WITHERING, l. c.]

Dispirited. (On account of the apparent inefficiency of the medicine.) [PENKIVIL, l. c.]

Fear of death.

425. An anxious feeling as if he had done something bad. [Ln.]

(Secret mania with disobedience and obstinacy; he tries to run away).

Mind indifferent, as insensible to surroundings, as if he had not slept snough, but without sleepiness. [Trn.]

The disposition is sociable and in other respects tranquil, except that he has very lively fancies. (Mostly secondary and curatvie action.) [Fz.]

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