Materia Medica
Cocculus
Indian Cockle
Within the sphere of action of Cocculus are many spasmodic and paretic affections, notably those affecting One-half of the body. Affects the cerebrum, will not cure convulsive seizures proceeding from the spinal cord. (A. E. Hinsdale.) Painful contracture of limbs and trunk; tetanus. Many of the evil fects of night- watchiny are relieved by it. It shows a special attrac- tion for light-haircd females, especially during preg- nanicy, causing much nausea and backache. Unmar- ried and childless women, sensitive and romantic girls, etc. All its symptoms are worse riding in a carriage or on shipbo
Mind
Capricious. Heavy and stupid. Time passes too quickly; absorbed in reveries. Inclination to sing irresistible. Slow of comprehension. Mind benumbed. Profound sadness. Cannot bear contradiction. Speaks hastily. Very anxious about the health of others.
Head
Vertigo, nausea, especially when riding or sitting up. Sense of emptiness in head. Headache in occiput and nape; worse, lying on back of head. Sick headache from carriage-riding, cannot lie on back part of head. Pupils contracted. Opening and shutting sen- sation, especially in occiput. Trembling of head. Pain in eyes as if torn out of head. Paralytic pain in small of thie back. Pain in shiouldcr and arms as if bruised. Pressure in scapula and nape. Stiffness on moving shoulders.
Face
Paralysis of facial nerve. Cramp-like pain in masseter muscle; worse, opening mouth. Prosopalgia in afternoon, with wide radiations of pain.
Stomach
Nausea from riding in cars, boat, etc., or looking at boat in motion; worse on becoming cold or taking cold. Nausea, with faintness and vomiting. Aversion to food, drink, tobacco. Metallic taste. Pa- ralysis of muscles preventing deglutition. . Dryness of esophagus. Seasickness. Cramp, in stomach during and after meal. Hiccuugh and spasmodic yawning. Loss of appetite. Desire for cold drinks, especiaily beer. Sensation in stomach as if one had been a long time without food until hunger was gone. Smell of food disgusts. [Colch.]
Abdomen
Distended, with wind, and feeling as if full of sharp stones when mozing; better, lying on one side or the other. Pain in abdominal ring, as if some- thing were forced through. Ahdoininal muscles weak; it seems as if a hernia would take place.
Female
Dysmenorrhoea, with profuse dark menses Too early menses, clotted, with spasmodic colic. Pain- ful pressing in uterine region, followed by haemorrhoids. Purulent, gushing leucorrhrea between menses; very weakening, can scarcely speak. So weak during men- straation, scarcely able to stand. 255
Respiratory
Sensation of emptiness and cramp in
Chest
Dyspncea as from constriction of trachea, as if irritated by smoke. Choking constriction in upper part of esophagus, oppressing breathing and inducing cough.
Back
Cracking of ceivical vertebra when moving
Extremities
Lameness; worse by bending. T'rem- bling and pain in limbs. Arms go to sleep. One-sided paralysis; worse after sleep. Hands are alternately hot and cold; numbness and cold sweat now of one, now of the other hand. Numb and unsteady. Knees crack on ing of knee. Intensely painful, paralytic drawing., Limbs straightened out, painful when flexed. 人
Sleep
Feels too weak to talk loudly. Spasmodic yawning. Coma vigil. Constant drowsiness. After loss of sleep, night-watching, nurs- ing.
Fever
Chill, with flatulent colic, nausea, vertigo, coldness of lower extremities, and heat of head. Sweat general. Nervous form of low fever. Chilliness, with perspiration, and heat of skin.
Modalities
W'orse, eating, after loss of sleep, open air, smoking, riding, swimming, touch, noise, jar; after- noon. Menstrual period. After emotional disturbance.
Relationships
Antidotes: Coffee; Nux. Compare: Picrotoxin -alkaloid of Cocculus -- (epi- lepsy, attacks in the morning on leaving horizontal pos- tion, hernia, locomotor ataxia, night-sweats) ; Sym- phoricarpus (morning sickness) ; Petrol.; Puls.; Ignat.
Dose
Third to thirtieth potency.