Aconitum



13. Dr. ROTHANSL took, 4th February, 7 a.m., 1/2 hour before breakfast, 6 drops of tinct, increased daily by 1 drop, so that by 13th he took 15 drops. From 5th to 12th the symptoms were: Every night excessive restlessness, generally slept some hour before midnight, and then restlessly and disturbed by heavy dreams; the remainder of the night sleepless, but continual very vivid fantasies prevented full consciousness. Great dryness of the body and burning itching, especially on inner sides of thighs and round knees, that did not permit a moment’s rest. 5th. – Vertigo and stooping, vision of sparks, mist before eyes. 6th. – Roughness in throat (soon after dose), frequent secretion of mucus from larynx; afternoon, drawing and paralytic stiffness in right upper arm, for 1 hour. 8th. – Heaviness of head, giddiness, tinnitus aurium, especially when yawning, which occurred frequently. 9th, forenoon, for 2 hours irritation to cough in larynx, cough dry. 11th. – Vertigo and tinnitus aurium. 13th. – After midnight wakened by violent rigor; it came in fits every 5 morning, went from praecordial region and was lost in extremities. Slept after each attack of rigor, and was disagreeably awoke by each new attack. This lasted 2 hours, then burning dry heat, pulse febrile (heard it in head). On awaking in morning was bathed in sweat. 14th and 15th. – Unusual weariness. 16th. – Violent stitches in region of 8th, 9th, and 10th ribs, at first left then right; oppression of chest. In evening a very severe burning stitch in left half of chest. 17th. – The shooting pains lasted all day in slighter degree, and sometimes extended to loins. 18th. – Tension in left patella, transient stitches in right half of chest. 19th. – At 12:45, rigor, lasting 1 hour as on 13th, then excessively profuse sweat that completely soaked the bedclothes, till morning; sleeplessness; in morning fluent coryza; all day great exhaustion; tension first in left then in right patella, that rendered going down stairs difficult; evening tensive pain only in right patella, which lasted till 22nd. 20th. – Rigor in night thereafter dry hot skin and sweat, but not so profuse as yesterday, great prostration during day; coryza continues. 21st and 22nd. -Restless sleep; dry cough, especially violent in warm room; heaviness on chest; bruised pain between shoulders; excessive weariness. 23rd. – Dull pain in temples; hoarseness; dry cough; dry feeling in windpipe (afternoon); twice he expectorated thin white mucus mixed with streaks of bright red blood; bruised pain betwixt shoulders. 24th. – Coryza continues; cough with scanty frothy mucous expectoration; tension in right patella. 27th. – Violent headache, especially in right half of forehead; coryza continues; cough violent with peculiar dull tone, very fatiguing to chest, rather dry, rare expectoration of thin white mucus; evening, chilliness in warm room; constant irritation to cough. 28th, night very restless. The frequent cough caused aching and burning pains in course of windpipe down to scrobiculus cordis. In morning often hoarse, and so much plagued by harassing dry cough, especially in warmth, that he felt he must lie down. About 11 a.m., shooting pain in right upper orbital border, that spread in dendritic form thence upwards over forehead to hairy scalp, sideways to right temple, and down to cheek, and two or three molars, increased by pressure, and became so violent towards evening, when cough became constant, that all other symptoms appeared insignificant, and it could hardly be borne. Complexion very red, face hot, eyes sparkling. Next night pretty good. 1st March. – The supraorbital region was somewhat swollen in the morning; a dull shooting pain was felt on strong pressure. Dry cough returned frequently. Felt very much exhausted, and could not occupy himself with reading. 2nd. – The pain over right eye only felt on pressure; cough violent. Every breath of fresh air did him good. At night the peculiar rigor that had not occurred since 20th February, came on, also the tension in right patella, that had troubled him at first, became very bad on 34th March. After this the symptoms gradually went off. (Ibid.)

14a. Dr. F. SCHWARZ, age. 29, sanguine temperament, commenced 3rd January 2 with 3 drops of tinct., increased the dose daily by 1 drop till 8th, then till 14th by 2 drops, on which day he took 16 drops. On 18th began with 25 drops, increased the dose daily by 3 to 4 drops, so that on 22nd he took 40 drops, and on 24th 24 drops. When taking 20 drops felt warmth in mouth, relieved by drawing in air, as from taking peppermint. This went off after 1 hour. After 30 drops, slight burning from lips to fauces; mucous membrane of mouth slightly injected; roughness in throat, especially in posterior nares, compelling frequent hawking, with feeling as if viscid mucus was drawn through choanae, and a tiresome dryness increased by smoking tobacco. Painful spots on hairy scalp, sensitive to touch and cold air, and especially strong wind, like rheumatism. All went off in 3 hours 6th February. – 20 drops; from 9th till 12th increased dose daily by 10 drops; left off till 22nd, when he took 50 drops, 24th 70 drops, and 26th 130 drops. The above symptoms occurred in same manner; after 50 drops in greater intensity and lasting longer, especially burning in buccal cavity as from pepper, which after 70 drops lasted till next morning. During all the time excessively increased sexual desire. 8th March, 8 a.m., 100 drops. Violent scraping and burning in throat, as from cayenne pepper. After 1 hour, coldness over back and extremities, with sensible coldness as if under skin, and slight rigors in short fits till 5 p.m.; at same time flying stitches in back of hand and dorsum of foot, and between scapulae; in evening feeling of weight under sternum, preventing deep breathing, like a peculiar painful but transient pressure from sternum to spine; occasional flying stitches in the left pectorals major and intercostal muscles, also under scalp. 9th-140 drops, same symptoms. 12th, 10 p.m., 260 drops. Besides above symptoms extraordinary alternate heat and cold, in places goose-skin, which went off when sweat appeared. At same time constant eructations of air, with taste of alcohol; very violent heartburn; frequent yawning and stretching of limbs; pressure, especially on right side of chest; quickened respiration; pulse full, strong, and quick. When sweat became general, symptoms declined. Next morning felt quite well, except for a pretty severe shooting in fossa navicularis, which was always most marked when urinating. After 8 days this symptoms at length disappeared.

14b. 24th. – 400 drops. Immediately violent burning from mouth to stomach, with taste of alcohol. This declined gradually, but, together with eructation that appeared later, lasted all day. After 1 hour the constant burning in tongue, as after excessive use of pepper, was particularly observable, increased in intensity for 4 hours, and together with the other symptoms gradually declined till evening. The soft palate, tonsils, and posterior surface of fauces were slightly reddened, with feeling of warmth extending from lips, which quickly became dry, to deep into oesophagus. Drawing in air caused agreeable coldness. Slight shivering over lower, than over upper extremities, with goose- skin in these parts, which became more general and stronger as the cold extended. The shivering is felt especially between skin and muscles, increases in intensity, so that rigor comes on, whenever he keeps quiet On moving briskly, walking quickly in open air, all the symptoms decline but return immediately with double strength when standing or lying; at same time extraordinary prostration, indifference, distaste to all sorts of work, crossness, and sensitive irritability. Appetite gone, eating does not relieve the troublesome eructation of hot air with taste of alcohol; but soup or meat caused loathing. In afternoon these symptoms attained their height; the rigor was so severe that he must lie down; icy coldness comes on; he is chilly under two blankets. At same time throbbing in temporal arteries, and feeling as if hair stood on end. These spots were sensitive to touch. Slight burning in eyes, twitching and vision of sparks; occasionally roaring in ears, with sensitiveness to any noise. Breath hot, respiration quick, at each deep breath oppression, anxiety and painful stitches betwixt scapulae, on one side or other of chest, mostly right, but most severe from scapulae to spine; pulse strong, full, slightly quickened (85 usually 70). With increase of cold very frequent yawning and stretching of limbs every minute during latter symptom the limbs during former the breathing seemed too short. Towards 5 p.m. coldness gives place to warmth, occasionally interrupted by slight shivering. During increase of heat, which ended with slight sweat, the sexual desire was much increased. He could only get rid of erections by getting out of bed All symptoms declined about 7 p.m. except violent shooting in glans penis when urinating, with emission of hot dark urine; this only disappeared on 3rd day (Ibid.)

Richard Hughes
Dr. Richard Hughes (1836-1902) was born in London, England. He received the title of M.R.C.S. (Eng.), in 1857 and L.R.C.P. (Edin.) in 1860. The title of M.D. was conferred upon him by the American College a few years later.

Hughes was a great writer and a scholar. He actively cooperated with Dr. T.F. Allen to compile his 'Encyclopedia' and rendered immeasurable aid to Dr. Dudgeon in translating Hahnemann's 'Materia Medica Pura' into English. In 1889 he was appointed an Editor of the 'British Homoeopathic Journal' and continued in that capacity until his demise. In 1876, Dr. Hughes was appointed as the Permanent Secretary of the Organization of the International Congress of Homoeopathy Physicians in Philadelphia. He also presided over the International Congress in London.