There was no sharp pain, but a constant dull, gnawing pain, more particularly in the lumbar region and bowels, and a tired feeling in all the limbs. I was every moment changing my position, seeking ease, but not for a moment finding it. I would get out of bed every little time and sit in a chair, or attempt to walk the room, but it was all the same. There was no relief to be had. After the bowels had been effectually stirred, I found myself in a degree relieved. I went through the next year very well, keeping up my system of outdoor exercise so far as my duties allowed. In the latter part of winter, or in early spring, I had an attack, mainly, in the left side, apparently in the intercostal muscles. From this I recovered in no long time, and went on till late in the spring of 1840. Then and in the early part of the summer I had a return of the old symptoms described as occurring in 1838; only with this difference, that the development of the disease was much more rapid. I went through the same process of active medicines, injections, etc., before the bowels could be stirred.
I became more debilitated than before, the countenance assuming in a more marked degree the peculiar earthy yellow described by M. Tanquerel. Then came on the pure arthralgic pains. They seemed to be deep, as if in the very bone, and were seated more particularly in the flexor muscles, as the inside of the elbow-joints and the joints of the knees. Soon after, that is in July, there commenced a trembling of the fingers, which soon passed into decided paralysis, the paralysis increasing for about three weeks. This paralysis was in the extensor muscles of the fingers, wrist, forearm, and arm of both the upper limbs; the lower limbs, with a slight exception, not being affected. My arms when left to themselves hung loose and dangling at my sides, as if turning on a pivot. Using only one at a time, I could elevate them only in a slight degree. I could not get my hand to my chin or mouth. But what puzzled me at that time was that there were certain motions which I could perform, for example, placing the palm of one hand against the back of the other, I could get them to my face; the flexor muscles of the hand, which were not paralyzed, being thus brought into action.
So, too, I could drawn on my boots almost as well as now, the same muscles acting. If my arms were elevated to a right angle with the body, the palm of the hand being turned downward, the whole hand fell at the wrist, hanging loose as a piece of cloth, and the will had no more power over it. I could not, without help, raise the hand in the least, not so much as one of my fingers, in the slightest degree. When I took a tumbler to drink, I clasped it with both hands fully spread, and could so get it to my lips. When I ate I rested my right arm, below the elbow, on the edge of the table, and grasping the wrist with the left hand, and then bringing my mouth down to within three or four inches of the table, I could get the food to it. The backs of the hands became prominently arched; the fingers, when left to themselves, became bent and half, shut, the natural consequence I suppose of loss of power in the extensor muscles. The rotary motion of the arms was entirely lost, a fact to which my attention was directed, when they attempted to assist me to put on my coat. I tried all I could to exercise the poor lame muscles, but all fatigue, that is all use of them, seemed to be attended with injury.
They had totally lost their contractile power. The abdominal muscles were similarly affected, though not in the same degree. If I had any it was only a slight power over them, which gave me great trouble when an action of the bowels was needed, though they could at this time be readily moved by medicine. All the time three was more or less of arthralgic pain, more particularly at this period in the inside of the knee-joints. The pain seemed to have no connection with the paralysis, and was greater in the parts not paralyzed than in those which were. The intercostal muscles on the left side were now affected; for months I could not sneeze; the moment the process began it was arrested by these muscles. The sensation was a very unpleasant one. I had no constant thirst, though I felt thirst at times, especially in the afternoon, or when unusually fatigued. I had little or no fever, though at one time a highly nervous pulse. I have spoken of the loss of the power of motion in certain muscles, or their loss of contractility. The sensibility of the muscles of nerves, with a slight exception, was not impaired, but the reverse. There was a soreness or peculiar tenderness in all my flesh. Sitting in a common wooden chair and leaning back, the parts of the chair seemed to penetrate to the very bones. The exception referred to was a small muscle in the inner part of the left thigh. There was a spot three or four inches in length, and two or three in breadth, which had lost its sensibility. There was at times a sensation of a peculiar and unpleasant kind at the bottom of my feet, a sort of burning, which I used to relieve, when in bed, by drawing up the covering and pressing the soles of my feet firmly against the foot board, which produced a cool and agreeable sensation. I had also at times a violent pain in the back between the shoulders, rather nearer the right than the left shoulder, which I would relieve by getting on my bed and lying flat on my back, bringing as much pressure to bear on the part affected as I could. This method mitigated the pain before a long time. In a multitude of ways I was a great sufferer; but the brain I did not think was affected, and I do not now think it was. Tremor; in seventeen cases, etc. Slight muscular tremors. Considerable tremor suddenly came on (the colic having ceased under treatment), especially in the arms, which appeared to be almost equally affected. The trembling of the lower extremities was comparatively slight. Each successive attack of lead colic had been followed by a worse attack of tremor. During the intervals the tremor was not sufficient to impede movement, and was chiefly aggravated after great fatigue.
It was also considerably increased by any mental excitement, whether pleasurable or otherwise, and in this case extended to the lower extremities. Limbs and body almost incessantly jerked about. Tremor and partial delirium during two days. The tremor is worse in the evening, when he is fatigued. Slight tremor, with weakness of the left hand. Aggravation of the tremor by excessive drinking. Repeated jerkings, Jerking movements of limbs and body. General twitching and convulsions. The muscles tremble, they are even affected by painful convulsions, or also become paralyzed, pale, and soft. Tremulousness, with commencing paralysis of the upper extremities. Constant jactitation. Extreme agitation. Attacks of muscular agitation, accompanying the talking spells. Violent involuntary movements of the muscles, becoming horrible convulsions. Spasmodic movements. Apoplectic attack, with paralysis of the left arm. Attacks of apoplexy. Death by coma or apoplexy. On the 7th of January he was suddenly attacked with epileptic fits. He had a succession of fits, which lasted for thirty- six hours. He stated that he had no recollection of anything that had happened from the time of his admission into the hospital until the 12th of January; that he woke up with severe headache, occupying the entire head, with vertigo, and found that he had lost the power of moving the left leg and the right arm. There was a decided diminution of sensation in the affected limbs, and the right hand was in a permanent semi flexed condition, with very little power of opening or closing the fingers. A sudden violent shock in the extremities, so that he fell to the ground, with spasmodic flexion of the legs; so great the heels touched the nates; on attempting to extend the legs he suffered the most violent painful cramps in the thighs and calves, at the same time the abdomen was retracted and so sensitive that the touch of even his shirt caused the most violent pains, with obstinate constipation; this was followed after a week by a similar sudden shock in the arms, with spasmodic pain; the hands were violently flexed and the fingers spread apart; the pains lasted several weeks, and gradually disappeared; during this period he was able to sleep only while lying on the back, with the right arm clamped between the legs; after the spasm left the arm he noticed that he could not use the right arm as easily as before, and that the fingers hung down; the next year the left hand became affected in a similar manner; all these attacks had been attributed to colds; the skin of the arms became rough, dry; Attack of lead epilepsy in bed. One quick loud cry; tetanic rigidity of the neck and limbs; face pale; entire loss of consciousness; respiration ceases in a moment; face blue; congested spots on the forehead and face; spasms of the facial muscles; slight clonic convulsions (movements concentric); bloody whitish froth at the mouth; this condition lasted three minutes. Paralysis of the limbs; coma, with stertorous breathing, lasting a quarter of an hour; aroused to half consciousness, but continued drowsy. Two other fits in the course of the day; not so strong. His face turns deadly pale; and without a cry he is seized with an epileptic fit, which lasted four minutes. The clonic convulsions were of so violent a nature, existing in the diaphragm and muscles of the larynx as well, that for a moment death from asphyxia seemed inevitable. Very violent epileptic attack at about 10 A.M.; immediately became unconscious; convulsions of the limbs; tetanic stiffness of head and body; face livid and horribly distorted; stertor; foam at the mouth; spasm of the eyeballs; this attack was succeeded by deep coma, during which he lay motionless in bed, with half-closed eyes and open mouth. Sensibility and motor power are retained, though in a diminished degree; some dull grunts at long intervals, and occasional automatic movements of the limbs are the sole evidences of animation. A sudden violent epileptic attack, with total loss of consciousness, deathly paleness of the face, stertorous respiration, with prolonged inspiration, pulse 112; for two minutes the arms and hands were forcibly extended and pronated, and affected with convulsive spasms. One-sided epileptiform spasm, with convulsive twitchings of the face; followed by a transient general epileptic attack, with stertor and complete loss of consciousness. Epileptic convulsion; the muscular contraction began in the abdomen, and extended upwards to the throat; the jaws were so violently brought into contact that a tooth was dislodged; the eyes rolled upwards; and lastly, the muscles of the limbs were affected. For an hour after the convulsion the patient lay perfectly motionless, and then became very restless and talked incoherently. In about nine or ten hours he had a second convulsion, and after nearly an equal interval a third, and again a fourth. Each fit lasted for one minute; they were all preceded by vomiting a dark-colored matter, and followed by symptoms similar to those which succeeded the first fit. Frequently put the hands to the head, with convulsive movements of the eyes, hands, and feet. Attack of fully developed epilepsy with biting of the tongue; it lasted a quarter of an hour, and was immediately succeeded by coma, which continued twenty minutes.
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.