COBRA-DE-CAPELLO-HOODED-SNAKE.
Introduction
(Naja, from nag, which is Hindustani for snake.)
This is the common cobra of India, every venomous snake, the one usually used by the snake charmers there.
Naja was first proved by Dr. Stokes, of england, a nd the account published ion 1853.
Symptoms
As we know the remedy at present, it has not an extensive range of action. It presents many symptoms similar to Lachesis, anything tight about the neck is more pronounced in these two remedies than in any of the other snake poisons, but as lachesis is so much better known as well as more thoroughly proved, we are very apt to use it to the exclusion of Naja.
Naja, says Hering, “acts primarily upon the nervous system, especially upon the respiratory nerves, the pneumogastric and glosso-pharyngeal.”
Naja is useful in hay-fever (88), after the stage of coryza and sneezing has mostly passed, and we have asthma (19) as a distressing complication. There is suffocation on lying down, with necessity to sit erect in order to breathe (24). The suffocative spells are worse from sleeping (24).
In diphtheria Naja presents a very similar picture to that found under Lachesis. There is the same severe condition (62), dark red fauces (191), fetor and sensation of choking if anything touches the throat (191).
After diphtheria it is to be thought of in threatening paralysis of th heart (62), the patient becomes blue, gasps for breath on waking, along with feeble, intermittent pulse (110).
It is useful in organic disease of the heart after articular rheumatism, with pain palpitation and anxiety on waking; in angina pectoris 9107), with loss of breath and inability to speak;’ and in persistent nervous (111) palpitation (11), without any valvular lesion.
We have neuralgia of the 1.ovary (147), with palpitation and pain about the heart and naja has a unique symptom, a sensation as if the heart and ovary were being drawn together; noticed in neuralgic conditions.
I have used naja only in the 6th.
