The next phase presents a vacancy of countenance, with pallor and shrinking of the features, so that they resemble people convalescing form fever. A dead silence precedes a deep sleep, which continues from half an hour to three of four hours. In this state the pulse becomes much slower, softer, and smaller than before the debauch. Such is the general process almost invariably observed among the Chinese. But With the Malays it is often very different; instead of the placidity that ushers in the profound sleep, the Malays frequently become outrageously violent and quarrelsome, and lives are occasionally lost in these frightful orgies. Audacious ferocity. Cruelty, ferocity, like a wild beast.
(* When Opium, given in large doses to produce increased courage and vigor, has a palliative effect on the weak and timorous, it causes audacity, desperation, rage, anger. This palliative primary action gives the Turks, who are excited by Opium, an almost irresistible power at the beginning of a battle; but in a few hours this changes to the greatest cowardice and stupefaction, when they are are more easily beaten than any other nation.-HAHNEMANN. *) Rage. At first he was in an excited mood for an hour and a quarter, during which the mouth was frequently distorted, as in risus sardonicus. Criminals (in India) lose their fear of death and go courageously to their execution.
(*Symptoms 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 84, 86, 89, 1881 represent palliative, primary action of Opium in those who are despondent and depressed – HAHNEMANN. *) Great strength, courage, contentment with himself. Sensation of courage with activity, as if he could forcibly accomplish whatever was required without dread or fear, with a peculiar sensation of lustiness (though lasting only a few minutes), (after a quarter of an hour), followed by dulness of the head, etc. Courage, fearlessness, great-heartedness. Undaunted in danger. Opium causes in those fearing surgical operations courage and endurance. The Malays are confident that opium-smoking inspires them with preternatural courage and bodily strength; it is, therefore, resorted to whenever any desperate act is in contemplation. Loss of courage.
Feeling of fear (second day). Fear (after eight and twelve hours). Fear of impending death. Fearful and frightened. A sensation of apprehension (after half an hour, third day). A woman suffering from sad thoughts was wonderfully relieved by it; her grief disappeared for some time. (* In consequence of the law of opposites this acted as a palliative, and she was obliged, in order to obtain relief, not only to continue the use of Opium, but also to increase the dose, till at last in a week she took one and a half ounces of Opium.-HAHNEMANN. *) He started at the least noise, and a fly upon any part of his body was a burden to him. One and a half grains of solid Opium, taken every half hour, or one grain every hour, or one and a half grains taken every hour and a half, or every two hours, has insensibly brought on a happy humor, increased vigor, activity, and unusual watchfulness, which I perceived after having taken about two, three or four grains, and which continued if from time to time, I repeated the same procedure for several days and nights, without the least inclination to sleep, without tiredness, or any impaired function, except dryness in the mouth and fauces, and thirst, occasionally gripings and costiveness. Cheerfulness, courage, contentment, increased vigor. She felt very lively and cheerful, and was capable of doing any quantity of work. She had severe family afflictions, but was not at all distressed by them while under the influence of Opium, though she felt them severely at other times. Lively, inclined to work, fearless, courageous. It I was in high spirits and very active, if I walked or took such exercise as made me warm and perspire, the effects made their appearance considerably sooner, were less in degree, and much less in duration. She was unable to get in any other way complete rest and happiness of mind. It makes the opium-eaters (who are usually sad and stupid) cheerful; they carouse, sing amorous songs, laugh much, and make all sorts of gestures; this pleasant excitement of mind and emotions lasts an hour, after which they become angry and rave, and finally become again sad and weeping, till at last they fall asleep and soon return to their ordinary condition. Increase of vigor, confidence, and cheerfulness (if the dose was within 2 grains). Elevation of spirits and watchfulness remained sometimes a few hours, at other times the whole remaining part of the day (after 2 or 3 grains). Remained cheerful for two hours, and then was overcome by a violent drowsiness, when he took 90 drops more and was immediately roused from drowsiness. Joyous mood (after half an hour). I found myself, or at least imagined myself, more alert and sprightly than before (after half an hour). In persons accustomed to it, it produces a high degree of animation, which the Theriaki (opium- eaters) represent as the acme of happiness. It causes for a time forgetfulness of the troubles of the soul, and produces ecstasy and refreshing quiet of mind. The effects upon her spirits were most exhilarating; she felt lively and cheerful, and could accomplish almost any amount of household work. Uncommonly merry and much inclined to noise. So exhilarated as to grow careless of occupation and rather inclined to indulge in an excess of gayety (after a short time). Produced an enlivening effect which enabled him to prosecute his study. Very good humor (second day). At first ecstasy followed by sadness and despondency. Contentment.
Taciturnity. He became taciturn (after the smallest dose).
Excessive anxiety. Unusual sensation of anxiety (after two hours). Anxiety. Anxiety. (* Omit Tralles.- HUGHES. *) Transient attacks of anxiety, with short, oppressed respiration and trembling of the arms and hands. Melancholy. Despondency (fifth day). On waking, depression. Depression of spirits (eighth day), (after three-quarters of an hour). Pale and dispirited, next morning. Sadness. Sad mood (first and second days). Sullen mood. Hopeless, morose mood, fretfulness (after eight, and twelve hours). Very morose, angry at everything without reason (fourth day). Lamentations and howling during the first hours. Screaming.
Violent screaming, immediately. Moaning (after two hours). Slight groaning (after three hours). Weeping mood. Cries incessantly.
Much weeping during the first night. She is so vexed about a pain that she weeps. Fretful and cross when roused (after four hours).
Fretfulness (second day). Very fretful (fifth day). Querulous state. Irritability (third day). Mistrustful. Appeared jealous and afraid of the people around (second day). Evidence of irregular nervous action, slight irritability of temper whenever disturbed. Indifference to pain and pleasure. Great indifference (after two drops). The unfortunate drown their cares and troubles in an indescribably pleasurable feeling of indifference to all around. Calm indifference to earthly things; she cared for nothing on account of the ecstasy of fantasy. Alternating state of sullen grief and of cheerfulness. Intellectual. More inclination for work and greater facility in it than usual.
Mental activity. My faculties seemed enlarges. When under its operation his intellect was more brilliant, his language more eloquent, and his talent for writing more easy than in the former and healthy periods of his life. His affections were at the same time kind and benevolent, and he felt no disposition to quarrel, as persons often do who take ardent spirits in excess. When under the influence of opium, he seems to other to be in his normal condition; but a little intercourse with him shows his mind to be not only clear and active, but filled with gigantic schemes and theories, the realization of which seems to him quite natural and easy; his faculties are remarkably keen, and his power of expression wonderfully terse and convincing. As soon as the effect begins to subside (as it does after sleeping), he is depressed and melancholy, which soon reaches an extreme state of suicidal depression, in which the world seems terribly dull, and he feels driven to desperation, as if haunted by evil spirits.
This condition is brought on by occasional attempts to resist his destructive habit; but he cannot endure abstinence long. As soon as takes his accustomed dose of Morphia, he is at once changed from a cringing desperate creature into a spirited and energetic individual. Occupied with sublime contemplation the whole night, without sleep. It makes the senses active and disposes to earnest and arduous labor. It dissipates all inclination to sleep, increases the imagination and memory in the most wonderful manner, so that he passes the whole night in profound meditation; at daybreak he slumbers a few hours; he is unable to recollect all that he had thought about during the night. (* The mental and emotional symptoms of Opium cannot be so well separated as those of other drugs, when the former are placed at the beginning with the head symptoms, the latter after all the other symptoms, because in Opium the two are commonly associated. When Opium is used for the palliation of pain, of spasm in the opposite condition of mind and disposition as in S. 57, 81, 86, 88, 96, 145, 150, or for the prevention of natural sleep (in the latter case most certainly homoeopathically), it usually causes in their stead a mental ecstasy and emotional excitement, a very transient primary effect. This ecstasy and excitement are frequently like the internal clearness of somnambulism (clairvoyance.)-HAHNEMANN. *) The powers of my mind still remained so perfect as to enable me to examine the state of my pulse, which was strong and full. Profuse flow of ideas, with joyfulness. A certain hastiness at work; his thoughts also are more rapid than usual. Disinclination fro work (eighth 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.