The Therapeutics of Fevers

Thuja Occidentalis thuj.

Allen (1879)In every bookSave

Characteristic

Adapted to the hydrogenoid constitution of Grauvogl, related to sycosis as effect is to cause. It possesses a capacity to contain water; hence rain, cold, damp weather, baths, and food that increases the amount of water in the system < the symptoms of the hydrogenoid constitution.

Thuja bears the same relation to the sycosis of Hahnemann—figwarts, condylomata and wart-like excrescences upon mucous and cutaneous surfaces—that Sulphur does to psora or Mercury to syphilis.

Acts well in lymphatic temperament, in very fleshy persons, dark complexion, black hair, unhealthy skin.

Ailments: from bad effects of vaccination (Ant. t., Sil.); from suppressed or maltreated gonorrhœa (Med.).

Fixed ideas: as if a strange person were at his side; as if soul and body were separated; as if a living animal were in abdomen; of being under the influence of superior power.

Insane women will not be touched or approached.

Vertigo, when closing the eyes (Lach., Ther.).

Headache: as if a nail had been driven into parietal bone (Coff., Ign.); or as if a convex button were pressed on the part; < from sexual excesses; overheating; from tea (Sel.); chronic, of sycotic or syphilitic origin.

White scaly dandruff; hair dry and falling out.

Eyes: ophthalmia neonatorum, sycotic or syphilitic; large granulations, like warts or blisters; > by warmth and covering; if uncovered, feels as if a cold stream of air were blowing out through them.

Eyelids: agglutinated at night; dry, scaly on edges; styes and tarsal tumors; chalazæ, thick, hard knots, like small condylomata; after Staphisagria partially > but does not cure.

Ears: chronic otitis; discharge purulent, like putrid meat; granulations, condylomata; polypi, pale red, cellular, bleeding easily.

Teeth decay at the roots, crowns remain sound (Mez.—on edges, Staph.); crumble, turn yellow (Syph.).

Toothache from tea drinking.

Abdomen: as if an animal were crying; motion as of something alive; protrudes here and there like the arm of a fetus (Croc., Nux m.).

Distressing, burning pain in left ovarian region when walking or riding, must sit or lie down (Croc., Ust.); worse at each menstrual nisus.

Constipation : violent pains in rectum compel cessation of effort ; stool recedes, after being partly expelled (Sanic., Sil.).

Piles swollen, pain most severe when sitting.

Diarrhœa : early morning ; expelled forcibly with much flatus (Aloe);

Time

3 A. M., characteristic; 10 A. M., 3 P. M., 5, 6, 7, 7:30 P. M. After midnight.

Fever without chill 10 to 11 A. M., or 10 to 11 P. M. (Cac.—12 M. and 12 P. M., Sul.).

Cause

The indication is more certain if the system be contaminated with sycotic or gonorrhœal poison. Always chilly from least change of weather.

Prodrome

Chilly and weak some time before the paroxysm.

Chill

With thirst. Chill beginning in the thighs. Violent shaking chill, for a quarter of an hour, about 3 A. M., followed by thirst, then profuse perspiration all over except on the head. Shaking chill, with much yawning; warm air seems cold and the hot sun does not warm him. Shivering through and through, from the slightest uncovering of the body in warm air (shivering from the slightest contact with the open air, Nux—great aversion to cold air, Camph.—chill as soon as he gets out of bed, Canth.). Chilliness every evening from 6 to 7:30, with excessive heat of the body, dryness of the mouth, and thirst. Chill of left side of the body, which felt cold to the touch (Carbo v., Caust., Lyc.). About 7 P. M., shaking chill, beginning in thighs, with blueness of nails, chattering of teeth, rapid and difficult respiration, for half an hour; then thighs hot, like a glowing coal, with cold hands and feet; gradually became warm, though had a shaking chill every time he moved (Nux); fell asleep after two hours, and awoke in a profuse perspiration—had to change his shirt eight times up to 3 A. M.—with headache, mild delirium and some thirst. Morning headache, chill at 10 A. M., lasting till noon, followed by heat, nausea, constant one-sided headache, and repeated bilious vomiting and diarrhœa in the evening. Chill internal, with external heat and violent thirst—chill, then sweat (Ant. t.).

Heat

With thirst, neither preceded nor followed by chilliness. Sensation of burning heat in the face, which causes neither real heat, redness nor perspiration, with icy cold hands. Burning heat only in the face and cheeks, lasting the whole day (Bell., Cal.). Dry heat of covered parts. Heat mornings, chill afternoons. Deadness of fingers (Ced., Sep.).

Sweat

Only on uncovered parts ; or all over, except the head* (reverse of Sil.). Sweat, when he sleeps, stops when he awakens (reverse of Samb.). Chill, then sweat (Ant. t., Ipec.). Profuse night-sweat, staining the clothes yellow, as if saturated with oil (Bell.—as if mixed with oil, Cinch.). Sour-smelling or fetid sweat almost every night (Arn., Lyc., Nat.). Scrotum, perinæum and inner surface of the thighs dripping with sweat (Hep., Petr.). Profuse night-sweat, so that he changes his shirt several times at night. Sweat on side not lain on (Benz., San.). Congestion of blood to the head*.

Pulse

**Full and accelerated in the evening; slow and weak in the morning; throbbing in blood vessels; swelling of the veins.

Tongue

* Swollen, clean or red, the tip is painfully sore to the touch*. Vesicles or blisters on the margin. Bitter, sour, taste; had to get up at night and rinse out the mouth (Nux). Ranula: bluish, or varicose veins on tongue or in mouth (Amb.).

Thuja helped in some cases, where the fever consisted in mere chills, with external and internal coldness (with thirst in same), followed by general sweat, without any previous heat.—Ann.,—II, p. 398.

Clinical

Andrew Mc——, æt. 26, a resident of East Saginaw, Michigan. Eight years ago had intermittent fever, which was "broke up" with massive doses of Quinine, only to return from time to time, especially every Spring and Autumn, to be again suppressed in a similar manner with Quinine. When fever first appeared, paroxysm came every alternate day, at 10 to 11 A. M., attended with bone pains, violent headache, and at times nausea and vomiting.

February, 1882.—Has now had chills and fever every day for seven weeks. Chill from 5 to 7 P. M.; severe, shaking; must sit close to stove, although external heat does not relieve. Chill begins in knees and thighs, and gradually extends to hips, thence over body, lasting one to two hours. Some thirst in chill, but drinking aggravates. Heat, with thirst; drinking refreshes; continues until 1 or 2 A. M.; very restless, severe headache. Sweats: profusely on his legs, where chill began; less on his body; never on his head; when he sleeps, ceases when he wakes. Tongue clean; appetite and digestion good, and feels perfectly well as soon as paroxysm is over. The chill beginning in knees and thighs, the time of its appearance the character of the sweating stage, and the entire freedom from ill-feeling during apyrexia, determined the selection of Thuja³⁰, four doses during intermission. Cured.—H. C. ALLEN, Medical Advance, XII., p. 296.