INTRODUCTION
CAMPH. Hahnemann’s “Medica Pura,”I. Duration of Action.
COMPARE WITH
Cantharis, Cham, Cocc., Hyoscyamus, Kal., Lauroc., Opium, puls., Rhus, Stramonium, Veratrum
ANTIDOTES
Spir. nitr. dulc. Coffee and Alcohol in increase the effects of Camph. Camph. is said to increase the action of Nitr. According to Hahnemann’s experience, Camph is no antidote against the violent effects of Ignatia Opium is an antidote to Camph., on the other hand, Camph is great preserver of life in cases of poisoning by Opium Camp is antidotal to a number of vegetable drugs, specially such as have a drastic effect. and cause vomiting and diarrhoea, paleness of countenance, coldness of the extremities, and loss of consciousness. Camp., as an antidote, should be administered in large and frequently-repeated doses.
CLINICAL REMARKS
“According to Hahnemann, Camp., when applied to the skin, producing kind of Erysipelatous inflammation, it may be applied externally to similarly inflamed parts, provided the erysipelas, irradiating over the skin, nd disappearing momentarily on pressure, is a mere mental symptom of a sudden internal disease, the other symptoms of which correspond to those of Camph.
“In the Siberian influenza, when it appears amongst us at the time when the hot weather has already set in, Camph. may be used as a palliative; it is an excellent palliative, on account of the disease having a short duration, and ought to be given in frequent and progressively-increased doses in water, as taught above. In this way, Camph. does not shorten the course of the disease, but deprives it of its danger, and diminished its intensity until it reaches its termination. (One dose of Nux.v. one pellet of the thirtieth potence. when homoeopathically indicated, frequently cures the disease in a couple of hours.). Vertigo, loss of consciousness, and coldness of the body appear to be primary symptoms of a dose of Camph., and point to a diminished afflux of blood to those parts which are distant from the heart; whereas the rush of blood to the head, heat in the head,., are symptoms denoting a reaction of the vital powers, just as forcibly as the former symptoms denoted their diminished action. Slight and recent inflammations, which have come on very suddenly, may therefore be removed by the palliating, cooling effects of Camph, old inflammations never. The continued, or even frequently repeated use of Camph., frequently brings on an obstinate ophthalmia, corresponding to the permanency inherent in the reaction of the organism I [Hahnemann] am not prepared to deny the homoeopathicity of external applications of Camph. to inflamed eyes in acute cases; but I cannot advocate it, for the reason that I never use external applications in the treatment of ophthalmia.”
DR. GRAY. “The sufferings which eminently indicate Camphor are those usually called asphyxia, ‘sinking of the forces;’ Paroxysms of embarrassment of the respiration and circulations, with coldness of the surface and extremities, for the most part attended by tremors or even severe cramps in the muscular system, and cold sweats, especially about the head and neck. If this or similar state be connected with the catarrhal discharges, or with diarrhoea, the indication for Camp. is strengthened.
“It seems to me that the manifold antidotal virtues of this drug are owing to its wonderful control over the pneumogastric nerve, as its primary affinity with the living organism. I have found it often efficacious in interrupting the development of paroxysms of epilepsy, for which end I have given it in one or two drop doses every three to five minutes, during the premonitory symptoms of a fit, continuing the exhibition of it till these were fully subdued. Camphor, as is well known, is very efficacious when administered by olfaction, but does not sustain dynamization.
GENERAL SYMPTOMS
Stupefaction of the senses, resembling a swoon. Insensibility Loss of consciousness, tetanic spasm for quarter of an hour, consciousness returns after vomiting. Rheumatic, sticking pain in all the muscles, especially between the scapulae. Pain in the periosteum of all the bones. Difficult motion of the limbs. Lameness and languor of the muscles. Excessive weakness. Uncomfortableness of the whole body. Uncommon failing of strength, with yawning and stretching. Languor and heaviness of the whole body. Spasms. Convulsion. Trembling. Epileptic spasms, with rattling, redness and bloatedness of the face, twitching of the limbs, and even of the tongue, of the eyes and muscles of the face, hot and viscid sweat on the forehead and hairy scalp, and sopor after the attack.
CHARACTERISTIC PECULIARITIES
Camphor excites most of its pains during motion.
SKIN
Violent itching. Erysipelas. Painful sensitiveness to the least touch. Blue, cold skin, with coldness of the body. Pale, withered, shrivelled skin; aching in various places, in the evening, in bed.
SLEEP
Yawning and drowsiness. Sopor and delirium. Insomnia, also from nervousness. Headache, several days in succession, after rising. Talking and snoring while asleep.
FEVER
Slight shuddering, with paleness of face. Chilliness of the cheeks and back. Chills, and chattering of teeth. Coldness of the body, with paleness. Coldness and drawing after meal with cold arms, hands, and feet. Coldness, for one hour, with deadly paleness of the face (from sixty grains). Copious, cold sweat. Feeling of great coldness over the whole body, and headache as if the brain were contracted, with pressure over the root of the nose. Small hard pulse, becoming more and more slow. He catches cold easily. The skin all over the body is painful, even when touched but slightly. The body is cold all over. Heat in the head, with sensation as if sweat would break out, with shuddering over the limbs and the abdomen. Redness of the cheeks and lobules. Full, quick pulse. Sopor and crampy (contractive) headache, great heat of the whole body, with distended veins, quick breathing, and pain as from bruises in the back, but without thirst and pure taste. Warm sweat over the whole body. Slower pulse. Weak, small pulse. The pulse gradually increases in quickness. Disposition to inflammation. Increased warmth of the whole body, with redness of the face. Heat, with trembling. Trembling motion of the heart.
MORAL SYMPTOMS
Great anguish. She tosses about in her bed anxiously, with constant weeping. Confusion of ideas. Delirium. Rage, with foam at the mouth. All the external objects are repulsive to him, and excite his ill-humor. Mania to dispute.
SENSORIUM AND HEAD
Vanishing of the senses. Loss of consciousness. When walking, he staggers to and fro; he leans against something, his senses vanish, the limbs being rigid and extended, the shoulders drawn backwards, the hands clenched; afterwards all the parts of the body are stretched and stiff, with the head bent sideways, the lower jaw rigid and wide open, the lips drawn inwards, the teeth clenched, eyes closed, with unceasing distortion of the muscles of the face, cold all over, and breathless for a quarter of an hour. Vertigo, heaviness of the head; the inclines back wards. When walking he staggers as if intoxicated. Want of memory. The tetanic fit, with loss of consciousness, and vomiting, is followed by a complete inability to recollect, as if he had no memory Throbbing ache in the forehead, with stinging, continuing during the night, with general dry heat, and without any thirst. Lacerating headache. Headache, as if the brain were constricted, increased by stooping or pressure. Dull headache above the os- frontis, with inclination to vomit. Congestion of blood to the head. Heaviness of the head. Violent headache. Throbbing pressure in the temples. Inflammation of the brain, particularly when caused by exposure to the sun.
FACE
Pale countenance. Spasmodic contortion of the facial muscles, with foam at the mouth.
EYES
Sensation as if objects were too bright and shining. Contraction, then dilatation of the pupils. Ophthalmia. Staring, wild looks. Staring, inflamed eyes. Biting-itching, and staring of the eye-lids. The eye-lids are covered with many red spots. Lachrymation in the open air. Distortion of the eyes. Excessive contraction of the pupils. Obscuration of sight. Strange figures are hovering before his eyes.
EARS
Hot, red lobules. Tingling of the ears. Dark-red ulcers in the meatus auditorius externus; when touching it, he feel a stinging pain.
NOSE
Stinging pain in the anterior corner of the nostrils, as if the place were sore and ulcerated. Coryza, dry coryza.
JAW AND TEETH
Feeling as if the teeth were too long, with aching, as if occasioned by a swelling of the submaxillary glands. Lock-jaw. Toothache: shooting, cutting thrusts dark through the gums near the roots of the incisores and cuspidati.
MOUTH
Foam at the mouth. Dry, scraping sensation of the plate. Disagreeable warmth in the mouth. Sensation of heat in the mouth and stomach.
PHARYNX,
Violent burning of the palate, down to the oesophagus, causing a desire for drink.
GASTRIC SYMPTOMS AND APPETITE
