Then ulceration of mouth and throat: follicular sore throat: patches in throat: even diphtheria with these symptoms, i.e. the blueness, the dryness, the pain (root of tongue and throat) shooting into ears: the worse for hot drinks. All worse for cold, except the throat symptoms, which are worse for hot drinks.
Curious symptoms–not only may the throat feel “like an empty cavern”, but the chest may also feel “like a big empty cask”.
Among the symptoms of Phytolacca one finds, in a poisoning case, “Extremities stiff, hands clenched, feet extended, toes flexed, teeth clenched, lips everted, firm, chin drawn on sternum, opisthotonos, tetanic convulsions.”
FARRINGTON (Comparative Materia Medica) says, “Camphor and Phytolacca are very similar to Strychnia in tetanic spasms. Both of these have showing of the teeth from drawing up of the corners of the mouth. Camphor is indicated in tetanus with the ever- present deathly coldness.”
Phytolacca has been found itself in scirrhus, in cancer of lips, and in “cancerous ill-conditioned ulcers of face”. Punched-out ulcers (Kali. bich.).
The periosteal pains (tibia) remind one of Asafoetida, Drosera, Lachesis
NASH draws attention to a queer symptom “that has been of great value to me : `Irresistible inclination to bite the teeth or gums together.’ On this indication I have often relieved the complaints of various kinds incident to the period of dentition.
“I once had a case that was sent up to the country from New York City. The child had been sick a long time with cholera infantum (entero-colitis) and its physicians said it must leave the city or die. But country air and change of diet brought no relief. The little fellow was greatly emaciated, having frequent loose stools of dark brown colour, mixed with slime or mucus of the same colour. After trying various remedies I discovered that the child wanted to bite its gums together, or to bite on everything that it could get into its mouth, and the mother then told me that this had been the case all through its sickness. Phytolacca produced immediate relief of the symptoms and rapid recovery followed. I have since verified this symptom several times.”
Phytolacca has also a great reputation for stiff neck, so here is a little recent personal experience which suggested Phytolacca as our Drug Picture.
Of course one knew the wonderful action of Phytolacca on the mammary gland, and had again and again found it rapidly curative for acute, dull, blue-red throats, with the pillars of the fauces congested and stiff, and the throat distressingly painful, even, in one case, with the sides of the neck also swollen, sore, and stiff. But– rheumatism? It was always staring at one from text- books, and one felt that it would be well to look up its modalities here, in order to secure one more trusty weapon against this haunter of out-patient rooms: easily, with difficulty, or not, cured which last in disgraceful for the homoeopathic prescriber. But of course the cases vary. The patient comes in with a ready-made diagnosis of rheumatism, or more often the popular “neuritis”, which in many cases yields to a little manipulation–i.e. when the sciatica or pain is due to a subluxation. In some cases one has seen, under careful prescribing, severe and long-standing cases of rheumatoid arthritis improve beyond what would have seemed possible: in some NOT: which is vexatious.
Well, this personal experience was merely a “stiff neck”, but a real bad one, in which the whole of the trapezius was involved, and its attachments and actions beautifully demonstrated. For the pain, only in movement, read the Ancient Mariner:–
“Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenched
“With a woeful agony,
“Which forced me” [to remain at rest]
“And then it left me free.”
Bryonia (worse for movement), Rhus (worse on first movement, and with its reputation for stiff necks), and Cimicif. had been useless. It was as much as one could endure to slither down into bed; the trapezius refused any sideways support to head without sharp protest; and to wake in the night, and slightly turn the head, was an excruciating experience. One wondered how it would be possible to get up! Next day, “What is that remedy?” and Allen’s Keynotes were consulted. “Ah! here it is! `Phytolacca occupies a middle place between Rhus and Bryonia, and cures when these fail, though apparently well-indicated.'” And it did!–and oh, the joy, that night, to be able to lie down, and to move the head, and lift the head and turn over with never a twinge. By the way, not only was movement affecting the muscle so painful, but cold and draught were unbearable and there was a slight temperature, and on was feeling ill.
That experience clinched one’s friendship with Poke-weed, and is only recounted that it may appeal to, and be remembered, for future triumphs, by YOU.
BLACK LETTER SYMPTOMS
When rising from bed feels faint. (Opium.)
Painful pressure on forehead and upper part of both eyes.
Disposition to bite teeth together.
THROAT sore; the isthmus congested and of a dark red colour: dryness of throat, with some swelling of tonsils.
Diphtheria; sick and dizzy when trying to sit up; frontal headache; pains shooting from throat into ears, especially on trying to swallow; face flushed; tongue much coated, protruded; thickly coated at back, fiery red at tip, breath fetid, putrid; vomiting, difficulty of swallowing; tonsils swollen, covered with membrane, first upon left three or four patches, tonsils, uvula, and back part of throat covered with ash-coloured exudation; tonsils covered with dirty white pseudo membrane; small white or yellow spots on tonsils coalesce and form patches of membrane; membrane has appearance of dirty wash-leather; exudation pearly or greyish white; great thirst; (<) from hot drinks; dyspnoea; ropy, offensive mucus lining mouth and throat; glands of neck very tender; pain in neck and back, body sore as if bruised, groans with pain, especially when trying to move or turn in bed; aching limbs; great prostration; violent chill, soon followed by high fever; fever without chill; pulse 120, 140, weak; rash on skin; remarkably nervous phenomena; consecutive paralysis; leaves vision impaired, hearing dull; in cold weather generally epidemic; usually of catarrhal or rheumatic origin, brought on by exposure to damp and cold atmosphere or sleeping in damp, ill- ventilated rooms.
ABSCESSES or fistulous ulcers of mammae.
MAMMARY GLAND full of hard, painful nodosities.
Breast shows an early tendency to cake; especially useful when suppuration is inevitable; when child nurses pain goes from nipple all over body.
Caked breasts; nipples cracked and excoriated.
Barber’s itch (local application of tincture).
Ringworm : herpes circinatus.
Squamous eruptions pityriasis; psoriasis.
