Fever
Characteristic – Adapted to ill – natured, nervous, hysterical persons, in whose diseases mental symptoms predominate.
Sudden loss of memory, everything appears as in a dream, patient much troubled about his forgetfulness. Hypochondriasis.
Disposed to be malicious, seems bent on wickedness, irresistible desire to curse and swear ( Lac caninum, Lilium tigrinum, nitricum acidum – wants to pray, Stramonium ).
Suspects every one and everything around him, when walking he felt anxious as if some one were pursuing him, lack of confidence in himself and others, weakness of all the senses.
Strange temper, laughs at serious matters, and is serious over laughable things, thinks herself a demon, swears.
Sensation as of a hoop or band about the part (Cactus grandiflorus, Carb- ac., Sul.).
Headache, relieved entirely when eating (Psorinum), when lying down in bed at night, and when about falling asleep, worse during motion and work (Arg-n., Bryonia).
Swallows food and drink hastily, symptoms disappear while eating (Kali phos., Psorinum).
Stomach: sensation of fasting all gone, comes on only when stomach is empty, and is ameliorated by eating (Chelidonium, Iodium), ameliorated during process of digestion (rev. of Bryonia, Nux. ).
Great desire for stool, but with the effort the desire passes away without evacuation, rectum seems powerless, paralyzed, with sensation as if plugged up (irregular, peristaltic or overaction, Nux. ).
Amelioration: By eating. (Psorinum).
Time: 4 A.M. Afternoon. Every P.M., at four o’clock, fever without chill (Lycopodium).
Type: Quotidian, tertian, quartan.
Chill: Especially in the open air, relieved in the sunshine (Conium, Secale). Shivering over the back and whole body, as from cold water being thrown upon the person, with heat of face (Rhus, Ant.t., Arnica). Repeated icy cold creeping, feeling of chilliness of limbs, hands and feet, which causes trembling, internal chill even in a warm room, worse in open air. Shaking chill, with ill – humor and restlessness. Forehead cold and cheeks red. External heat with internal chill. Internal heat with cold sweat. Heat of left side only.
Heat: From 4 P.M. till evening, daily ameliorated by eating, heat of upper part of the body, with hot breath, cold feeling with internal shiverings, external heat, especially of face and palms, abdomen and knees weak, heat over whole body, but complains of being cold. If any thirst, between heat and sweat ( Cinchona – between cold and hot stage, Sabad. ).
Sweat: Night – sweats, frequently waking up from sleep with general sweat. At nights he sweats on the chest and abdomen. Clammy sweat in the palms, especially the left. Sweat ameliorated by eating. Sweats when sitting. Dyspnea and distressing shortness of breath (during chill, Apis. ).
Tongue: Is white and rough, taste, like herring brine, bitter taste after smoking. Flat, offensive taste in the mouth. Apt to choke when eating or drinking. Eats and drinks hastily.
In fevers of nursing children, which return every afternoon at four o’clock, Anacardium vies with Lycopodium, but the fever is not so severe in character, all stages being of a milder grade. Child is very irritable, a slight offence or contradiction makes him excessively angry (Bryonia Chamomilla).
Analysis – The mental symptoms predominate. The patient is irritable, nervous, hysterical, malicious, profane. The paroxysm occurs at 4 P.M., and all stages are relieved by eating.
