*) A sensation in the anterior portion of the right knee, as if it were grasped by some one, a kind of constriction. Could scarcely reach his home on account of terrible pains in both legs, in the part from the knees down to the ankles, confined to the shins; this pain increased so much during the afternoon that he could hardly walk through the room; he says it feels as though the “bone had been smashed to pieces.” (Throbbing in the left calf, as though a blood vessel had burst, lasting about twenty minutes), (after one hour). (On making a sudden motion with the right lower extremity, while lying down, he was attacked with violent cramp in the calf, which was only relieved (not removed as usual) by pressing the foot against something), (fourth day).
Pressive pain on the anterior surface of the left leg, while standing, in the morning (second day). A sensation of warmth and throbbing on the inner margin of the right foot, while lying down at night (third day). Feet and Toes. Boring pain in big toe of right foot, after lying down. Burrowing-pressive pain in the middle of the soles of the feet, soon, in the morning. Tingling in all the toes, as if they had been frozen, especially at the metatarsophalangeal articulation. It extends over the sole and heel, that also pains as if bruised by jumping upon it; this tingling was felt in every position, and was reproduced by stepping upon the foot (second and fifth days).
Generalities
Convulsions caused by large doses. Throughout the entire night the patient passed from one convulsive state, here in before described, into another, which nothing short of anaesthesia would control. The same difficulty of trying to get the patient to swallow medicine was met with, and it was only after the effect of chloroform was obtained that anything could be gotten down her throat. After twitching of the limbs burning at the umbilicus, with restlessness and lassitude; she had to lie down, and fell asleep; on a waking, the burning at the umbilicus is gone, but she now has burning in the chest; with it very irritable and vexed (after half a day). Considerable prostration (second day). (* As Camphor was used rather freely as an antidote, the prostration may in part have depended on that. *) Was very prostrate and weak, could scarcely lift a hand. The patient manifested evident symptoms of sinking; she would lie completely relaxed, breathing so faintly as to be scarcely audible, and almost pulseless; accordingly I discontinued the chloroform and resorted to stimulants, with a view to re-establish reaction; during these sinking spells the lower and upper extremities became very cold and clammy; a few drops of liquor ammonia in water, and an application of the same to the nostrils, promptly restored her to a semi-conscious state, which would soon be followed by a return of the spasmodic condition of the previous night, though not quite so severe; at 10 A.M., the patient swooned completely away, and lay to all appearances dead; this occurred after another application of chloroform; feeling somewhat alarmed, I hastily elevated the foot of her bed, placing a chair beneath, thus elevating the feet, with the head downward, inclined at an angle of about 35*. I began using brisk friction, and set to work to restore the circulation, which appeared to be completely suspended, and made efforts at artificial respiration, at the same time ordered the ammonia to be applied to the nostrils; after the lapse of twenty minutes or thereabouts, the patient manifested signs of returning consciousness; this was followed almost immediately by retching and vomiting, and the patient threw up a pint of green bilious fluid, containing particles of undigested food, such as beef, potatoes, and a quantity of dark- mottled particles looking like coffee-grounds, which, upon inspection, proved to be some of the nutmeg which she had eaten the day before; from this time recovery dates. (Anxiety over the whole body, with inclination to tremble). Very great weakness; the knees were excessively affected as though he had taken a long journey on foot, associated with sleepiness; even talking fretted him. (Weakness). When he has accomplished only a trifle, he is obliged to lie down on account of weakness. To retain footing, while walking, found myself obliged to catch hold of trees and fence. Attempted to get into bed, which was accomplished with much difficulty; rather tumbled than got into bed, feeling much exhausted from her efforts to undress. Reeled and stumbled, while walking (first evening). Went to bed feeling perfectly well, but could not account for my strange feelings on awaking; was painfully conscious, however, of some powerful influence exerting itself upon my system, but as to cause could get no intelligible clue. Great languor and drowsiness, with no desire to move; felt unwieldy as a mass of metal; all bodily energy lapsing into passive suppleness in the clutch of the unseen giant. First, eructation, then lassitude, which caused her eyes to close.
Persistent indolence of external sensibility, and of motion. A sort of general indescribable feeling of languor and lassitude stole over her entire body. Sickly, faint sensation. She was very much affected the whole first day (she was obliged to gasp for breath); it seemed as though she would become faint. When standing at his desk, the right leg constantly went to sleep.
Pressing pain in both shoulders, and a sensation as if a six- pound ball was pressed from the abdomen into the pit of the stomach. She complained very much about feeling very sore and full of pain, as one who had been beaten. Violent pains generally (second day). Great sensitiveness to cold air. Slight things, for instance, if quickly spoken to or called by name, will startle the patient; this is followed by palpitation of the heart, with difficulty of breathing. Wandering burrowing-pressive pains always, in only small circumscribed spots, as if in the bones, in the forehead eyebrows, upper arms, tibiae, etc. (They resembled a pinching pain, that increased decreased in waves), (soon). Slight pressive wandering pains in various parts of the body, always confined to a small spot. Wandering digging pressive pains, always confined to a small spot, where they remained for only a short time, but soon returned, lasting several days (after ten hours). If he lies upon a moderately hard substance for only a short time, he immediately experiences pains in the parts upon which he lies (twelfth day). Condition as though he had cooled off after sweating violently; the nape of the neck and all the bones hurt, and there was a pressure forward towards the forehead (first day). There was considerable running to and fro by different members of the family, all of which tended to annoy and excite her greatly. She asked to be left alone, as the rubbing or touching any portion of her body annoyed her very much. General uneasiness in the muscular system, with dizziness. Position of the body recumbent, lying on the back. Larger doses were followed by cold limbs, stupor, and unconsciousness, even death. Marked symptoms of opisthotonos, about 1 A.M., and as long as the effects of the anaesthesia were withdrawn. All symptoms relieved within an hour by a dose of Nux vomica. The symptoms, especially of the head, occur particularly after breakfast (of bread and milk), though also after eating at other times of the day. In large doses it causes an absolute insensibility of the nervous system, obtuseness, immobility, loss of reason for its direct action, and headache and sleep for its secondary action. The effect of some brandy was as if I had been electrified, from the mouth downwards, in a straight line, and dying off towards the feet; it then seemed to diffuse itself over the whole body; the state of my body generally felt as if I had hold of slightly galvanized wires, the apparently working in antagonistic directions, out of time and keeping; like, in face, so many connecting-rods working from eccentrics out of truth, and jarring against each other.
Skin
At the border of the left jaw a large pustule. (Boils on the chin, with broad red areola). After four minutes a very slight burning sensation was felt, which gradually increased, so that after fifteen minutes it became very unpleasant, and on being touched the reddened spot caused much pain; after thirty minutes the moistened spot was red; it burned like a sinapism when the skin is moderately reddened; upon being washed the burning sensation disappeared within an hour; the epidermis did not scale off. In a second experiment with another individual the symptoms were much slighter, the burning appeared only after ten minutes, and became rather strong after another ten minutes; the hand being then washed, after thirty minutes, the burning sensation was still very intense, but the skin was not red; the burning sensation continued for about half an hour; the epidermis did not scale off. Skin in different parts of the body was mottled, in some places so deep as to appear somewhat bluish. Blue spots on the skin. Alternate paleness and redness of the surface, at 4 P.M. Painfulness of the skin, below the chin, as if pimples would form, the whole third day.
Born in 1837in Westminster, Vermont. . He was an orthodox doctor who converted to homeopathy
Dr. Allen compiled the Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica over the course of 10 years.
In 1881 Allen published A Critical Revision of the Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica.