The Therapeutics of Fevers

Tarentula Hispanica tarent.

Allen (1879)In every bookSave

Characteristic

Adapted to highly nervous organisms, especially choreic affections where whole body, or right arm and left leg are affected (of l. arm and r. leg, Agar.).

Constant movement of the legs, arms, trunk, with inability to do anything; twitching and jerking of muscles.

Restlessness, could not keep quiet in any position; must keep in motion, though walking < all symptoms (rev. of Rhus,

Ruta).

Hyperæsthesia: least excitement irritates, followed by lan- guid sadness; extreme, of tips of fingers.

Slight touch along the spine provokes spasmodic pain in chest and cardiac region.

Headache; intense, as if thousands of needles were pricking in the brain.

Abscesses, boils, felons, affected parts of a bluish color (Lach.), and atrocious burning pain (Anth., Ars., Euphor.); the agony of a felon, compelling patient to walk the floor for nights.

Malignant ulcers; carbuncle, anthrax; gangrene.

Symptoms appear periodically.

Headache, neuralgic < by noise, touch, stronger light, > by pressure and rubbing head against the pillow.

At every menstrual nisus, throat, mouth and tongue intolerably dry, especially when sleeping (Nux m.).

Sexual excitement extreme even to mania; spasms of uterus; pruritus vulva becomes intolerable.

Relations

Similar: to, Apis, Crot., Lach., Plat., Mygale, Naja, Ther.

Aggravation

Motion; contact; touch of affected parts; noise; change of weather.

Amelioration

In open air; music; rubbing affected parts.

Termini of nerves became so irritated and sensitive that some kind of friction is necessary to obtain relief.

Type

Intermittent, remittent, nervous typhoid, toxæmic, septic; fevers of tropics.

Prodrome

Constant pain in hepatic region, with nausea and vomiting.

Chill

Predominant cold stage. Constant coldness for days. Intense coldness, with shaking; blueness of nails and fingers (Nux); lasting two or three hours.

Chills and fever with choreic convulsions; shakes almost constantly with involuntary movements of limbs, abdomen, chest, face < l. side; could not speak, tongue and pharynx involved; after a severe scolding or punishment (Ign.).

Heat

Without thirst. Scorching intense heat of whole body alternating with icy coldness; skin of a scarlet color; during heat continued coldness of feet; great dryness of mouth, no thirst (Nux m., Puls.); lasted five or six hours, lies in a comatose condition with eyes closed.

Sweat

Profuse for three or four hours, followed by debility and prostration.

Tongue

Coated yellowish; loss of appetite; dry mouth.

Apyrexia

General emaciation, especially of face; skin yellow, jaundiced; marked hepatic derangement for months preceding attack.

Analysis

Choreic, hysterical, nervous subjects. Predominant coldness; scorching heat, with dry mouth, without thirst; comatose condition or convulsions. Hepatic pain, nausea and vomiting generally precede attack in chronic cases.