Piles, with steady throbbing, and dark-coloured haemorrhage followed by relief, suggest lachesis as their remedy.
The skin affections requiring lachesis have been referred to in relating its pathogenesis. They are (clinically) such conditions as ulcers, erysipelas, carbuncles, boils, bed-sores, varicose veins and phlebitis, gangrene, breaking down tumours. It is of great value in dissection or other poisoned wounds with lymphangitis ensuing. Here the bluish or purple colour surrounding the lesion-due either to pressure or venous stasis, or to staining of the tissues by blood pigment-the great sensitiveness to touch and to warm rooms, warm dressing, &c., and other general modalities would guide to the drug.
Sleep.-Some of the features of sleep disturbs by lachesis have been related, see p. 582. The characteristic sleep modality is not easy to explain. It is variously described as sleeping into an aggravation,” “aggravation on entering sleep,” or “on waking from sleep,” or “after a long sleep.” In some cases the aggravation seems to be due to embarrassed breathing on falling asleep, or to position, causing palpitation, suffocation, or vertigo on waking the patient up. All the symptoms may be worse on waking-headache, palpitation, mental confusion, &c. Therefore some symptoms are worse in the morning.
Temperature and Weather.-In a lachesis case there is aggravation from warmth in most forms-in a warm room, going into warm air from a cool place, warm applications, mild, moist, muggy weather, warm south winds after a cold spring, or on going to a warm climate.
The other extreme, however-extreme cold-is not favourable to lachesis patients.
LEADING INDICATIONS.
(1) Severe cases where “blood-poisoning” is marked: “low” fevers, where blood-destruction or haemolysis is conspicuous- conditions called typhus-like (typhoid), or septic after parturition or autopsy wounds. Such conditions occur late in many fevers (see the text).
(2) Milder cases, where vascular erethism is conspicuous- palpitation, hot flushes, sleeplessness. Such a state is frequent at the menopause or after arrest of physiological discharges or the sudden arrest of chronic pathological discharges, and relieved by the restoration of them. Shock may cause such a state.
(3) Though sensitive to either extreme of temperature, cases requiring lachesis are chiefly noted for intolerance of hot weather, hot rooms, &c., especially of direct rays of the sun.
(4) Local symptoms are frequently left-side or move from left to right.
(5) Sleep is not easily wooed; when it comes it is restless and the patient usually wakes worse in every respect, so that he fears to go to sleep.
(6) The mental state varies. There may be mental excitement and over-activity, with great talkativeness and lack of concentration; hurriedness, or depression may set in; anxiety, suspicions, jealousy, delusions and hallucinations are common. Incoherence, degenerating to muttering delirium in fevers, is characteristic.
(7) Over-sensitiveness to surface contact (touch), and to constrictions, or even to clothing which is not too tight (neck, abdomen, &c.).
(8) A bluish hue around wounds, ulcers, &c., from blood-pigment, or from venous stasis.
(9) Difficulty of swallowing, especially fluids, regurgitation through the nostrils.
(10) Onset of discharges tends to relieve most symptoms.
(11) Craving for alcohol, even in teetotallers.
(12) Bleeding from many parts, blood dark and thin; ecchymoses.
(13) The type of patient most susceptible to the influence of lachesis as a homoeopathic remedy is a thin, melancholy, indolent person, changed physically and temperamentally by illness.
It is also stated, with some foundation clinically, that red-haired women, easily moved to anger and easily developing freckles, are especially amenable to the beneficial effects of this remedy. This may be in some way connected with the known sensitiveness of lachesis subjects to the direct rays of the sun.
AGGRAVATION:
After sleep, extremes of temperature, especially heat and sun’s direct rays; constriction; contact; acids; alcohol; spring and summer; empty swallowing (sore throat); hot drinks (throat); motion, stooping or lying (headache);morning; emotion;;using on left side (palpitation).
AMELIORATION:
From onset of discharges.
Edwin Awdas Neatby founded the Missionary School of Homeopathy and the London Homeopathic Hospital in 1903, and run by the British Homeopathic Association. He died in East Grinstead, Sussex, on the 1st December 1933. Edwin Awdas Neatby wrote The place of operation in the treatment of uterine fibroids, Modern developments in medicine, Pleural effusions in children, Manual of Homoeo Therapeutics,