Synonym. Naja. Tripudians. Class. Reptilia. Order. Squamata. Family. Elapidae. Common name. Cobra. Preparation. The poison obtained by compressing the gland which secreted it, is triturated in the usual manner.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Naja, like Lachesis and other serpent poisons, affects profoundly the cerebro-spinal system, the pneumogastric and glosso-pharyngeal nerves being most affected. Hence we have difficult respiration, cardiac oppression and the usual decomposition and fluidity of the blood. Resulting in ecchymoses, haemorrhages and other general effects which results alike from all the serpent poisons.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mind. Suicidal insanity (Aurum, nux v.). Wandering of the mind. Sad and serious; irresolute; melancholia; makes himself wretched brooding over imaginary wrongs and misfortunes (Nux v., Ignatia). Very forgetful; absent-minded (Anacardium, Apis., Carls., Nux moschata, Phosphorus ac.). Insensible; loss of consciousness.
Head. Confusion and dullness in head. Dull frontal headache. Severe throbbing and aching in temples. Heat and congestion in head.
Eyes. Eyes fixed and staring (Belladonna, Stramonium); wide open and insensible to light (Opium, Hyoscyamus, Stramonium). Heaviness in eyelids. (Coni., Gelsemium, Natr. carb.). Loss of sense of vision.
Nose. Severe coryza, thin, acrid secretion; nose sore, hot and swollen.
Face. Pale, thin, haggard; greenish-yellow color; livid. Neuralgic pains in face, sometimes shooting to eye and temple. Lips dry, parched and cracked (Arsenicum, Lachesis), hot and sore. Jaws firmly clenched (Cicuta, Ignatia, Hyoscyamus, Laur., Nux v.).
Mouth. Mouth wide open; tongue cold (Camph.). Gnawing toothache; gums hot, swollen and painful to touch. Tongue coated thick, yellow; white, dry, no thirst (Nux moschata). Ulcers on fraenum,. Great dryness of the mouth (Arsenicum, Bryonia, Nux moschata). Foaming at the mouth (Cicuta, Coccul., Cuprum, Laur.). Taste insipid, bitter, sour, metallic (Coccul., AEsc., Mercurius). Loss of speech (Dulcamara, Causticum, Gelsemium, Hyoscyamus, laur.).
Throat. Much mucus in throat. Pressure and gagging ion throat. Roughness and scraping in throat. Grasping at throat, with sense of choking (Aconite, Iodium). Dryness and constriction of throat and fauces. Soreness and pricking in left side of throat. Stricture of the oesophagus; deglutition difficult or impossible. Dark-red color of the fauces (Alianth., Baptisia, Phytolacca).
Stomach. Loss of appetite. Craving for stimulants, which aggravate the sufferings. Eructations; heartburn. Nausea, with faint feeling; vomiting. Uneasy disagreeable feeling in stomach, as from indigestion; pressure as from stones, after a meal (Arsenicum, Bryonia, Nux. v., Pulsatilla).
Abdomen. Cutting, twisting, griping pains. Much flatulence, with rumbling and colicky pains.
Stool. Sudden urging to stool. Bilious diarrhoea. Constipation.
Urinary Organs. Uneasiness and pressure in bladder. Urine deposits red sediment, mixed with mucus.
Male Organs. Increased sexual desire. Nocturnal emissions.
Female Organs. Crampy pain in left ovary. Thin, whitish leucorrhoea. Secretion of milk decreased.
Respiratory Organs. Cough, with tightness and fullness in larynx. Irritation and tickling in larynx and trachea. Hoarseness; short, hoarse cough. Dry, hacking cough; blood spitting (Aconite, Ferrum, Hamamelis). Respiration very slow, shallow and scarcely perceptible; labored and difficult; gasping for breath. Uneasiness and dull, heavy pain in chest. Lancinating pains, worse on deep inspiration (Bryonia). Asthmatic constriction of chest; followed by mucous expectoration.
Heart and Pulse. Feeling of depression and uneasiness about the heart. Severe pain in region of heart. Fluttering and palpitation of the heart. Audible beating of the heart (Spigelia) Pulse slow and irregular in rhythm and force (Digit); weak and thready; scarcely perceptible (Aconite, Arsenicum).
Neck and Back. Rheumatic pains in neck and back. Pain between the shoulders. Aching in loins. Acute pain in small of back; gnawing pain.
Limbs. Sudden prostration of strength in limbs. Rheumatic pains in limbs.
Generalities. Languor; fatigue, torpor. Organs seem to be drawn together, especially ovary and heart. Depression of both mental and physical powers. Symptoms worse from stimulants; better when walking in open air.
Skin. Creeping, itching, and tingling sensation in skin. Skin swelled. mottled, and of dark-purple livid color. Large pimples on inflamed base. Small white blisters on inflamed base, with mucus itching. Gangrene.
Sleep. Yawning; great sleepiness. Restless, disturbed sleep. Vivid dreams.
Fever. Body cold and collapsed (Carb v., Camph.). Extremities very cold; icy coldness of feet (Tabac.). Burning heat in face. Feels very uncomfortable, hot and feverish. Free perspiration.
Compare. Apis., Arsenicum, Cact., Crot. tig., Hepar s., Lachesis, Mercurius, Nitr. ac., Phosphorus, Rhus tox., Sulphur, Spigelia
Antidotes. Heat, Alcohol, Salt.
THERAPEUTICS.
Naja is useful in similar conditions with Lachesis, but not so generally employed; asthma; spasmodic croup; jaundice; angina pectoris; pericarditis; rheumatic carditis; neuralgia; neuralgia of left ovary, with palpitation and pain about the heart; organic disease of the heart; chronic nervous palpitation of the heart; sympathetic; irritative cough, with organic diseases of the heart; diphtheria, with symptoms similar to Lachesis, larynx invaded, threatening paralysis of the heart; ulcers;hay fever, with asthmatic symptoms, after first stage has commenced to subside, parts feel dry, suffocative attacks, especially when lying down or after sleeping (Lachesis); hydrophobia; purpura.
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).