Cough from irritation of mucus in trachea, after coughing; pain, pressure and soreness in trachea, the pain worse while talking and smoking. Dry cough; as if coming from stomach (Sepia); with sticking pains under sternum; preceded by crawling and tickling in pit of stomach. Cough from constant crawling upward in throat, followed by expectoration of mucus.
Constriction of chest, must breathe deeply, but so doing causes pain in chest. Stitches in sternum on coughing; obliged to hold the chest with the hand. Intense sticking pains or stitches in chest (Aconite, Kali carb., Phosphorus, Pulsatilla); cannot bear to move or to draw a deep breath (Borax, Bell, Cimic., Mercurius, Phosphorus, Sulphur).
Sensation of heaviness beneath the sternum, extending toward the right shoulder, impeding respiration; deep inspiration difficult; oppression of right side of chest, with very fine, extremely severe stitches in right axillary gland.
Short but violent stitches in right side of chest, so that they must hold the breath in order not to cry out. Sharp pain in left infra-mammary region; worse during inspiration.
Heart. Pressive pain in praecordial region; stitches. Heart beats violently and rapidly. Pulse full, hard and rapid (Aconite).
Neck and Back. Pain in nape of neck as after taking cold. Drawing and stiffness in muscles of right side of neck. Shooting stitches from the back through to the chest. Twitching and tearing pain in region of last dorsal vertebra and sacrum; at union of right ilium, with sacrum, in evening. Pain in muscles of lumbar region, worse on lying outstretched, on waking, turning, or any motion; better at rest with the body bent forward. Pain in small of back, making walking or turning difficult. Pain in small of back, as if bruised, (Arnica, Arsenicum), when lying on it.
Limbs. Weariness and heaviness in all the limbs; weakness; stiffness. Joints red, swelling (Cimic., Pulsatilla), stiff with stitching pains from slightest motion. Transient drawing and tension in almost all the limbs and joints; paralytic pains. Stitches in the joints on motion and on touch.
Upper Limbs. Painful tension and pressure in right shoulder when at rest. Swelling of the right elbow joint, with stitches. Sensation in right elbow as if arm were broken, with paralytic pain, then drawing pain extending to shoulder joint. Tearing pains on inner surface of forearms, in a line from elbow to wrist. Pain in wrists, as if wrenched or sprained, on every motion (Aconite, Calcarea c., Eupat., Rhus tox.). Swelling and sticking pains in finger joints (Colchicum), worse on exertion and touch.
Lower Limbs. Legs so weak they will hardly hold him. Stitches in hips; in hip joint extending to knees. Great weariness in thighs; worse going up steps. Tensive painful stiffness of the knees. Feeling in right knee cap as if he had knelt too long. Pain and stitches in knees. Pinching, tearing or bruised pains in calves. Tension in ankle on motion. Hot swelling of the feet; of instep, with bruised pain on stretching of the feet (Arsenicum, Pulsatilla). Pains as if sprained in the feet; always worse on motion. Tensive pain in feet in evening, with swelling. Sudden pain in ball of great toes.
Generalities. Unsteadiness of all parts of the body when walking, worse after rising from a seat and on beginning to walk, better from continued walking. Stitches in all joints on motion and on touch. Bruised suppurating pain in whole body when taken hold of (Arnica), especially in pit of stomach, worse mornings.
Great weakness and exhaustion (Arsenicum, Phosphorus, Secale), worse from walking; in morning; on rising. Sitting up in bed causes nausea and fainting (Aconite). Every spot in body painful to pressure. Drawing, rheumatic pains in various parts of the body (Coloc., Ledum, Pulsatilla). Dropsical swellings increase during the day; diminish during the night.
Skin. Yellow skin of the whole body, even of the face. Red, round hot spot on the cheek over the malar bone. Red elevated rash, like eruptions, over the whole body (Belladonna, Rhus tox.). Slow development of rash in eruptive fevers; or sudden receding of rash, causing respiratory or meningeal troubles or dropsy (Gelsemium, Helleborus).
Sleep. Frequent yawning the whole day. Much sleepiness during the day (Ant tart., Apis., Mercurius, Nux moschata, Nux v., Phosphorus, Sepia) Sleepiness and restless sleep; before midnight. Dreams, vivid, frightful (Arnica,Aurum, Belladonna); about business or household affairs. Starts in a fright before falling asleep (Agaricus,Arsenicum, Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, Stramonium).
Fever. Intermittent; chill commences on the lip and tips of fingers and toes; great thirst during all stages. Dry burning heat, internal, blood seems to burn in the veins (Arsenicum). Chilliness; after midday nap, with confusion of the head; in evening in bed; all over in evenings, with gooseflesh, thirst, and with hot and red cheeks. Sweat in morning all over body when walking in cold air, after slightest exertion. Profuse, easily excited sweat, sour or oily sweat (Mercurius).
Aggravation. Morning and evenings; from motion; from heat; from warm food; after eating; while coughing.
Amelioration. In cold weather; in cool room; from cold food; while sitting; while lying, especially on painful side; after a short rest in bed.
Compare. Aconite, Antim crud., Ant. tart., Arnica, Ars, Baptisia, Belladonna, Carbo vegetabilis, Chelidonium, Colchicum, Cinchona, Iodium, Ledum, Ignatia, Lycopodium, Mercurius, Nux v., Pulsatilla, Phosphorus, Rhus tox., Senega, Sulphur, Veratrum v. Bryonia follows well after Aconite, Nux v., Opium, Rhus tox. Following Bryonia are frequently indicated Alumina, Kali carb., Nux v., Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox., Sulphur
Antidotes. Aconite, Alumina, Camph., Chamomilla, Clem., Coffea, Ignatia, Acid Muriaticum, Nux v., Pulsatilla, Rhus tox., Senega.
Bryonia Antidotes. Rhus tox., Chlorine.
THERAPEUTICS.
Bryonia is a useful remedy in headaches of a rheumatic or congestive character. They are always worse from motion, even moving the eyeballs causing an aggravation. They are most often located in the occiput, but may be frontal. Headaches from gastric derangement; from ironing, from washing perspiring face in cold water; fro suppressed eruption (meningitis). Very frequently the headaches aid in sleeting Bryonia in intermittent and remittent of fever, in which it is often useful, either rheumatic, gastric or bilious. It may also be useful in scarlet fever or measles when the eruption does not develop well or has been suppressed. In measles it is standard remedy, particularly indicated when the eruption is delayed, and when there are pulmonary complications. Bryonia may be indicated in typhoid fever, when there is confusion of mind, irritability, delirium about business, great thirst for large quantities of water. According to Hering the symptom “they want to go home” strongly indicates Bryonia in the later stages of the disease.
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Bryonia is one of our most valuable remedies in the treatment of serous inflammations, especially of the pleura, in which it is probably oftener indicated than any other drug. Also in meningitis and synovitis. It may be indicated at the outset of the disease, but more often after the violent inflammatory symptoms have abated and exudation is about to occur. In all such cases Bryonia is indicated by the stitching pains worse from motion, so eminently characteristic of the drug. It follows Aconite well after the symptoms indicating the latter have been subdued. The very common practice of alternating Aconite and Bryonia in all cases of acute pleurisy is necessary and unscientific. The same holds true in all other inflammations, especially those of the respiratory tract. In pneumonia and bronchitis, and sometimes in laryngitis, Bryonia is invaluable. In pneumonia, as in pleurisy, it is indicated early in the disease, but not until after the extreme high fever, restlessness, etc., have been subdued by Aconite or Veratrum vir., a nd exudation is about to occur, the symptoms being less violent. There is a dry, rough cough, but as yet little expectoration, that being mucous in character. There is considerable soreness, and the patient feels better when lying on the affected side, and keeping perfectly quiet. Especially valuable in pleuro-pneumonia. Phosphorus often follows Bryonia in pneumonia. As has already been intimated, Bryonia is a valuable remedy in gastric derangement. The tongue is thickly coated white, dryness of mouth and lips, and sensitiveness in epigastrium, bitter taster, nausea and vomiting. Gastric catarrh, in gastric derangement. The tongue is thickly coated white, dryness of mouth and lips, pain and sensitiveness in epigastrium, bitter taste, nausea and vomiting. Gastric catarrh, dyspepsia, bilious conditions; soreness and pain over liver; heaviness; stitches; coated tongue; headache; bitter taste, etc. Hepatitis. Typhlitis. of milk. In first stage of mammary abscess, breast swollen, very tender, red, hot, painful. Last, but perhaps most important of all, is the use of Bryonia in rheumatism, and rheumatic and arthritic inflammation in general. Rheumatism or the joint, s especially of the large joints, the local inflammation intense, part swollen, hot, shining redness, better from warmth, worse from motion. Especially used in muscular rheumatism in any locality. Muscles swollen, sore to touch, painful, worse on motion. Severe muscular pains in neck, back (lumbago), or any other part. Frequently indicated in pericarditis and endocarditis in the stage of exudation. Bryonia is said to be useful in general for complaints from exposure to heat of fire, and complaints when warm weather sets in after cold days.
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).