Synonym. Coffea Arabica. Natural order. Rubiaceae. Common name. Coffee. Preparation. Tincture from the unroasted coffee beans, by powdering, moderately heating and macerating in alcohol.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Coffea irritates the cerebro-spinal nerves, producing excitation of the special senses and of all the organic functions, the former becoming highly acute and sensitive, and the sensitive, and the nervous activity of the latter morbidly increased. Hence the general conditions is one of high nervous excitement, or exaltation of both mind and body, both cerebral and organic manifestations. Therefore, we find its chief characteristics to be a morbid excitation of the special sense, s great sensitiveness to pain, and sleeplessness and excitement, one or more of which conditions are always present.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mind. Greatest mental activity (August., Lachesis); full of ideas; quick to act (Acid oxalicum); no sleep on this account (Cinch). Lively fancies, full of plans for the future. Pains seem insupportable (Aurum, cham.,Cinchona) driving to despair. All senses more acute, reads fine print easier; hearing, smell, taste and touch acute, particularly also an increased perception of slight passive motions (cinch.)
Head. Dizziness and confusion of head. Headache, as if the brain were torn or dashed to pieces (Acid Muriaticum, Veratrum alb.). One-sided headache, as from a nail driven into the parietal bone, worse in. the open air (Agaricus, Anacardium, Arnica). headache worse after eating (Coccul., Nux v.); disappears in open air; returns after re- entering the room (Pulsatilla).
Eyes. Power of vision increased; especially in the open air.
Ears. Hearing more acute (Coca, Opium); aversion to noise; it hurts him.
Nose. Sense of smell more acute (Aconite, Agaricus, Belladonna, Colchicum, Hepar s., Lycopodium)
Face. Dry hat of the face with red cheeks. Neuralgia of right side of face and head, and right eyeball at 1 P.M.
Mouth. Toothache relieved only by ice, or ice-cold water (Bism., Bryonia, Clem.). Taste more acute.
Stomach. Great hunger before meals; hasty eager eating. Diminished appetite. Hiccough.
Respiratory Organs. Roughness and hoarseness in larynx, in. the morning on waking (Carb. an., Causticum, Phosphorus). Oppression of he chest; short inspirations. Spasmodic dry, hacking cough (Alumina, Cimic., Hyoscyamus)
Generalities. Would like to scratch or rub the part, but it is too sensitive. Physical excitement through mental exaltation. The hands tremble if he tries to hold them still. Fainting from sudden emotions. Convulsions after over-excitement. Pains insupportable (Aurum, Cinchona, cham.) driving to despair. mental and physical exhaustion. Aversion to open air, which aggravates the symptoms.
Sleep. Sleeplessness from excessive mental and physical excitement (Cimic., Coca, Hyoscyamus, Opium). Dreams long and vivid.
Skin. Measly spots on the skin(Antim crud., Baptisia, Pulsatilla), with dry heat (Aconite); over-excitability and weeping. The itching of the eruption changed into burning.
Fever. Chilliness increased by every movement (Arnica). Internal chilliness with external heat of face and body.
Compare. Aconite, Arsenicum, Belladonna, Bryonia, Causticum, cinch., Chamomilla, Coccul., Hyoscyamus, Ignatia, Lycopodium, Nux v., Opium, Platina, Pulsatilla, Sepia, zinc.
Antidotes. Aconite, Chamomilla, ignatia, Nux v., Pulsatilla Chronic affections from abuse of coffee require Chamomilla, Ignatia, Mercurius, Nux v., Sulphur
Coffea Antidotes. Chamomilla, Coloc., Nux v., Noxious to it are Cantharis, Causticum, coccul and Ignatia
THERAPEUTICS.
The chief remedy for excessive nervous excitability, whether occurring as a result of sudden emotions, particularly sudden pleasurable surprises, or in the course of various acute and chronic disease, childbed, etc. There is always great mental activity, great acuteness f all the sense, sand excessive sensitiveness to pain, which seems intolerable. Such patients are always sleepless, Coffea being our most valuable remedy for sleeplessness resulting from excessive mental and physical excitement, the mind being so active with fancies, ideas and plans that there is no sleep. Neuralgia of face, head and other parts, also nervous headaches, excessively painful, great nervous excitability. Neuralgic toothache, only relieved by ice or ice- cold water. Nervous cough. Nervous palpitation of the heart. Hysteria, with characteristic excitement, lively fancies, etc. bad effects of stimulants, alcohol, tea, etc.
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).