Materia Medica
Conium
Poison Hemlock
An old remedy, rendered classical by Plat's graphic description of its employment in the death of Socrates. The ascending paralysis it produces, ending in death by failure of respiration, shows the ultimate tendency of many symptoms produced in the provings, for which Conium is an excellent remedy, such as difficult gait, trembling, sudden loss of strength while walking, pain- ful stiffness of legs, etc. Such a condition is often found in old age, a time of weakness, languor, local congestions, and sluggishness. This is the special en- vironment that Conium chooses to manifest its action. It c
Mind
Excitement causes mental depression. De- pressed, timid, averse to society. and afraid of being alone. No inclination for business or study; takes no interest in anything. Memory weak; unable to sustain any mental effort.
Head
Vertigo, when lying dorun, and when turniny over in bed, when turning head sidcwise, or turning eyes; worse, shaking head, slight noise or conversation of others, especially towards the left. Headache, stupe- flying, with nausea and vomiting of mucus, with a feel- ing as of foreign body under the skull. Scorched feel- ing on top. Tightness as if both tempies were com- pressed: worse after a meal. [Gels.; Atrophine.] Bruised, semilateral pains.
Eyes
Photophobia and excessive lachrymation Corneal pustules. Dim-sighted; worse, artificial light. On closing eyes. he sweats. Paralysis of ocular mus- cles. [Caust.] ] In superficial inflammations, as in phlyctenular conjunctivitis and keratitis. The slightest 269 ulceration or abrasion will cause the intcnsest photo- pholia.
Ears
Defective hearing; discharge from ear blood colored.
Nose
Bleeds easily - becomes sore. Polypus.
Stomach
Soreness about the root of tongue. Ter- rible nausea, acrid heartburn, and acid eructations; w'orse on goiny to bed. Painful spasms of the stomach. Amelioration from eating and aggravation a few hours after meals; acility and burning; painful spot the level of the sternum.
Abdomen
Severe aching in and around the liver. Chronic jaundice, and pains in right hypochondrium. Sensitive, bruised, swollen, knife-like pains. Painful tightness
Stool
Frequent urging; hard, with Tenesmus. Tremulous weakness ajtcr every stool. [Verat.; Ars.; Arg. n.! Heat and burning in rectum during stool. Urine.— Much difficulty in voiding. It flows and stops again. [Ledum.] Interrupted discharge. [Cle- matis.] Dribbling in old men. [Copaiva.]
Male
Desire increased ; power decreased. Sexual nervousness, with feeble erection. Effects of sup- pressed sexuai appetite. Testicles hard and enlarged.
Female
Dysmenorrhoea, with drawing-down thighs. Mamme lax and shrunken, hard, painful to touch. Stitches in nipples. Wants to press breast hard with hand. Menses delayed and scanty; parts sensitive. Breasts enlarge and become painful before and during [Calc. c.; Lac can.] Rash before menses. menses. Itching around pudenda. Unready conception. Indura- tion of os and cervix. Ovaritis; ovary enlarged, in- durated; lancinating pain. Ill effects of repressed sex- ual desire or suppressed menses, or froin excessive in- dulgence. Leucorrhoea after micturition.
Respiratory
Dry cough, almost continuous, hack- ing: worse, evening and at night; caused by dry spot in larynx with itching in chest and throat, wlicn lyiny dozwn, talking or laughing, and during pregnancy. Ex- pectoration only after long coughing. Want of breath on taking the least exercise; oppressed breathing, con- striction of chest; pains in chest.
Back
Dorsal pain between shoulders. Ill effects of bruises and shocks to spine.( Coccyodynia.
Extremities
Heavy, weary, paralyzed ; trembling ; hands unsteady; fingers and toes numb. Muscular cakness, especially of lower extremities. Perspira- tion of hands. Putting feet on chair relieves pain.
Skin
Axillary glands pain, ith num! feeling down arm. Induration after confusions. Yellow skin, with papular eruption: vellow finger-nails Giunds enlarged and indurated, also mesenteric. Flying stitches through the glands. Tumors; piercing pains; worse, at night. Chronic ulcers with fetid discharge. Seeat as soon as one sleeps, or even when closing eyes. Night and morn- ing sweat, with offensive odor, and sinarting in skin.
Modalities
Worse, lying down, turning or rising in bed: celibacy; before and during menses, from taking cold, bodily or mental exertion. Better, while fasting, in the dark, from letting limbs hang down, motion and pressure.
Relationships
Compare: Scirrhinum -- Cancer no- sode— (cancerous diathesis; enlarged glands; cancer of breast; worms) ; Farvt.: Hydrast.; Iod.; Gels.: Hyos.: Curare.
Dose
Best in higher potenries given infrequently, especially for growths, paretic states, etc. Otherwise sixth to thirtieth. 271