Aurum has the following characteristics: Disgust of life, suicidal tendency, melancholy, imagines he is unfit for the world and longs for death which he contemplates with delight; great anguish, increasing unto self-destruction; religious mania, prays all the time; loss of confidence in oneself.
Five remedies have mental irritability in a marked degree:.
Aconite: Irritability, fearful and anxious; dreads things.
Aurum met.: Irritability, suicidal, will thrash around in bed, (as females in confinement) as if wishing to injure or kill themselves.
Nux vom.: Irritability, sullen, keeps the eyes shut, does not wish to speak or have anything to do with anyone.
Chamomilla: Irritability, spiteful and uncivil.
Coffea: Irritability, wakeful, on the constant move.
STAPHISAGRIA.
This remedy, according to Bergeau, may be employed when there is hypochondriasis resulting from long-continued masturbation with great taciturnity. Constant uneasiness as to the state of oneself, anxious imagination, imaginary fears, queer notions that expose the patient to suspicion of being thought crazy; when the memory is weak and confused and there is giddiness and sleepiness, the eyes are deep-sunken, red, and lustreless.
There is continued loss of prostatic fluid and the sexual desire is impaired; when mind has been dwelling too much on sexual subjects, the penis is relaxed with dull and contusive pain in the testicles. Dr. Hart says, “This remedy takes high rank in all cases of hypochondriasis attended with seminal emissions, weakness of the lower extremities and great prostration of mind and body; the result of having lived a disordered life”.
CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA (ACTAEA RACEMOSA).
This remedy is more particularly adapted to women. In all her mental symptoms there is a want of natural coherence. It is thought of an melancholia when you meet patients, especially after the climacteric period, who are desirous of being alone, dislike to talk, and like to sit by themselves and weep, and declare that they are growing crazy and imagines all sorts of strange appearances, and that someone is going to kill her. In her talk, which is almost incessant, she constantly changes from one subject to another.
Puerperal mania, she is despondent and seems to feel under a heavy black cloud. This remedy has been a favourite with many physicians. It is generally given in the lower potencies. It is said to yield very satisfactory results in cases of chorea and puerperal mania in patients with rheumatic diathesis, those suffering from uterine irritation, and in cases resulting from physical causes. The abnormal movements consist of twitching, jerking, twisting motions, usually unilateral and confined to the left side, often attended with pains of a neuralgic or rheumatic nature.
ANACARDIUM ORIENTALE.
This is a remedy which although not frequently called for, is very valuable in some cases. There are but few remedies in the entire materia medica having such great weakness of, or impaired, memory. In restoring the memory, it often cures the patient of all other trouble; hypochondriasis; feels as though she has two wills, one commanding to do what the other forbids. Imagines she hears voices of persons from far away. Unsociability, aversion to society; at times almost a demented condition. Very irritable, easily offended, abusive, passionate and contradictory. Does all sorts of foolish things in a clumsy way, almost as if under the influence of liquor.
GELSEMIUM.
Is one of the favorite remedies and it occupies a place between Aconite and Belladonna. It has cataleptic immobility with dilated pupils, closed eyes, but conscious, desires to be let alone. Depression of spirits, anxiety or solitude about the present. Mental exertions cause a sense of helplessness from brain weakness, inability to attend to anything requiring thought; attacks brought on from bad news. Generally a feeling of fullness in the head, throbbing carotids. Gelsemium is useful both during the maniacal and melancholic stages and is a valuable remedy.
DIGITALIS PURPUREA.
This drug, although little known as a remedy in mental disorders, is in reality of the greatest importance. Its chief indication is a slow pulse. Whenever a case is found of mental disease of whatever form, presenting this symptom attended by a general appearance of exhaustion and debility, a prompt and satisfactory improvement is sure to follow the exhibition of Digitalis.
Great anxiety, depression and dread of the future, with sadness and weeping, worse about six p. m., and is aggravated by music; morose, irritable, and gloomy, weakness of memory, and mind, dull, stupid, and confused.
LACHESIS TRIGONOCEPHALUS.
Lachesis, although not as frequently demanded as many other remedies, is at times useful in melancholic, hysterical females near the climacteric period, or in mania attended by excessive talkativeness.
It has depression, with a tendency to look constantly on the dark side; nightly fear of disease, death, robbers, mistrust and suspicion with fear of being poisoned; peevish, irritable, and quarrelsome with a disposition to find fault with others; great mental activity with excessive loquacity, wandering constantly from one subject to another, memory weak, confused, and difficulty in listening to others; restless sleep with aggravation of symptoms on awaking.
