The weakness of the right leg and thigh become apparent, on making a comparative examination of the lower limbs, while the patient lies on his back. Her legs are weaker. Great weakness in the legs, particularly in the knee-joints. Legs weak; seldom affected by cramps. Insensibility of the posterior portion of the right leg, from two inches below the knee to the ankle. The sticking of pins and acupuncture needles into these parts was unfelt. Neither pinches, blows, pressure, forced movements of the limb, nor any other stimuli, elicited a sign of feeling.
Above and below these limits, as also in the tibial and peroneal regions, the sensibility of the limb was unimpaired. A slight sensation of numbness in the insensible parts. Slight degree of hyperaesthesia in the muscles of the calf. Cramps in calves, especially the right. Violent cramps in the calves, so that he cried aloud. At times, extremely painful cramps in the calves, which prevent extension of the leg upon the thigh; to get rid of them he jumps out of bed, and presses his feet hard on the floor. These pains are worse at night. Much cramps in legs. Cramps in the muscles of the calf and thigh.
Cramps in the calves and toes. Cramps in the legs, at times intense. Cramps in the calves, etc. Cramps in right calf. Falling asleep of the left leg, from the knee to the foot (after a quarter of an hour). Painful sprained sensation on the outer side of the right ankle, on stepping upon it, in the morning, after rising, and continuing through the morning (fifth day). Muscles of the calves painful. Bruised pain in the legs, after rising, in the morning, disappearing after walking about (after two days). Very severe pain in the lower parts of the legs, the calves, and popliteal spaces. Sharp pains in the calves, before the colic. Pain in leg; frequently woke in the night in most intense agony; a sudden jump, with hard rubbing, would very soon cause relief. Pains in the left leg. Pains in the legs, especially at night. Pains in the right calf. Transient pain in the tibia, when walking (first day). Intolerable lancinations in the legs, arms, and fingers. Tearing in the left leg, towards the instep; on rubbing; it extends into the hollow of the knee; afterwards, again sticking in the former place, that disappeared after rubbing, in the afternoon. Jerking in the right tibia (after two hours and three-quarters).
Sticking in both calves, disappearing of itself (third evening). Violent throbbing, in a small spot, on the outer side of the right calf, while lying down (first day). Ankle. OEdema about the ankles. Her ankles were oedematous, and the legs covered, posteriorly, by many livid spots and superficial ulcerations. Swollen ankles; they had been in the state for three or four weeks; the anasarca extended about half way up the leg; quite reduced in two months by Arsenicum. Bony projection on the ankle. Swelling and pain in the left ankle- joint. Pain in the left ankle, extending up to the knee. Pain in malleoli. Foot. Feet swollen. Feet and legs considerably swollen. Oedematous swelling of the feet. Oedema of the feet.
Gout in left foot. A spasmodic working of the feet from side to side trouble me, and they would often draw back out of the shoes. I was unable to draw on a boot. While sitting still, the legs would insensibly draw back on the thighs, till the feet got entangled under the chair; this involuntary drawing back of the leg made it very difficult to go upstairs; a man head the foot on the first stair, while a person behind assisted me to rise so as to place the other foot on the next stair; and then the man would hold that foot in place, or it would certainly have drawn back so as to have thrown me down.
While going downstairs. I straightened the whole limb before planting the foot upon the next stair, and, with the help of a man and the banister, could get down safely. She passed most of her time sitting up in bed, and while in this position her feet dropped over, and inclined inward, so as nearly to rest on their inner border, apparently from paralysis of the extensors, while should have supported them in an upright position. The toes also remained moderately flexed, and she could not extend them. There was much apparent laxity of the ankle- joint, and the patient was incapable of moving the feet, or supporting the weight of her body upon them. When she was lifted up in the arms of an assistant, she cried out, and drew her feet under her body, for fear she would be made to attempt standing on them. The feet also appeared to be tender, as she cried whenever they were freely handled. The right foot is firmly extended upon the leg; it cannot be flexed nor carried at the same time into abduction or adduction; the foot points downwards, while the heel is drawn high up. The foot is kept extended and motionless; it cannot be flexed in the least, and its abduction and adduction are equally impossible.
The foot is extended upon the leg, and cannot be flexed nor brought into adduction or abduction, at the same time that it is attempted to flex it; all other movements of the lower limbs are unrestricted. The right toes are strongly bent upon the metatarsus; they can be further extended, but cannot be flexed upon the foot or separated in this way. The right foot is strongly bent upon the leg; it is incapable of flexion; its abduction and adduction can only be effected by extending it, and causing the leg to move the whole foot at once. The left foot is pointed downwards; the toes are firmly flexed; the instep is on the stretch, so that the heel is lifted high up.
The foot points downwards; its plantar surface is hollow, so that he can hardly stand, much less walk. The dorsum of the foot is arched, and the sole much hollowed. Shortening of the foot by several lines, with paralysis and atrophy.
Generally difficulty in putting the foot to the ground; the soles seem dead, as if made of wood, and when stepping it seems as though there were several round sausages under them, that prevented a free gait (fourth day). In walking, the feet are lifted like dead weights, and when extended strike hard upon the ground, by pressure against which their flexion is effected. He seems to move by skips and jumps. Lateral movements of the foot are impossible. Weakness of the feet. Heaviness and weariness of the soles of the feet, especially noticed while sitting. Heaviness of the feet, especially of the knees.
Diminished sensibility to painful impressions on the back of the right foot. Numbness of the feet. Feet constantly inclined to fall asleep. Sensation of softness in the sole of the foot when touching the ground. Cramp like contraction in the muscles of the sole of the left foot. during rest, relieved by raising the foot and by motion; lasting several days. Cramps in the feet. Cramps and lancinations in the soles of the feet, before the colic. Cramps in the feet, at times. Soreness and tenderness of the soles of the feet, when first getting out of bed in the morning, so much so as to be unable to walk without first rubbing them. The soreness disappeared in the course of the day, after taking exercise and getting warm. Dull, aching, heavy pains in her feet, which gradually extended to her legs and bowels. Pains in feet, after a mustard footbath which removed the headache. Pains in the soles of the feet.
Excruciating tearing pain in the soles of the feet. Tearing, extending upward, in the right h eel (after two hours and a half). Quite painful pricking and formication in the soles of the feet. Very painful pricking in the sole of the foot. Toes. The toes are very strongly flexed upon the sole of the foot; they can only be very slightly separated in the way of flexion; their extension is impossible. The toes are excessively bent upon the soles of the feet, and can neither be separated nor approximated. The right great toe is strongly flexed upon the soles of the foot; it is incapable of extension, or of being brought into a line with the other toes. Right great toe flexed upon the sole of the foot. The toes are strongly flexed on the sole of the foot, and cannot be extended; that is, their extensor muscles are paralyzed, and their flexors, therefore, permanently contracted. Abduction and adduction of the toes are prevented by want of power in the interosseous muscles. All other movements of the lower limbs are easily performed. Swelling, now of one, now of another toe joint, with the most violent pains and sleeplessness; these attacks were repeated the finally extended to the ankle-joints, heels, etc., and lasted for several months. In another patient, there arose, at the same time as the tendinous tumefaction, an articular swelling of the great toe, with redness, heat, and severe pain, giving it very much the appearance of an attack of gout. Both great toe-joints are enlarged by tophaceous deposits. Swelling of the great toe, with pain and redness. Has had four attacks of gout; the metatarsophalangeal joint of the left great toe was first attacked; this attack lasted for three weeks or a month; subsequently, the corresponding joint of the right great toe was attacked; some months later the left knee, and then the right knee, were similarly affected. Cannot extend the toes, or flex the foot upon the leg. Sensation of falling asleep, and crawling in the toes, of the left foot, extending into the instep (after two hours). Drawing in the left great toe, by the nail; on walking, the sensation extended into the ball of the foot, disappearing on continuing to walk. Painful drawing inward of the two larger toes of the right foot, followed by drawing in the hollow of the right knee, afterwards also in the hollow of the left knee, where there was a sticking, while standing and sitting; afterwards the toes seem numb; gradually disappearing while sitting, in the afternoon.
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.