TARENTULA.
EXTREMITIES.
►
Swelling of the joints, relieved with Tarantula, followed by a pain on
the right side, with anxiety; sometimes increasing so much as to stop
breathing, [13]. ► Weakness of all the limbs, staggering
when walking, general numbness and dulness, [13]. ► The
necessity of moving the legs is extended to the hands, with desire of
taking something and throwing it away, followed by general fatigue, [13]. ►
The necessity of moving the legs extends to the hands, with an
uncontrollable desire to take something and roll it between the fingers,
followed by general fatigue, [13].
► Pain in all the limbs of a
rheumatic character, [13]. ► Lancinating pains in the arms and legs, [13]. [690.]
► Great pain in the knuckles and
toes, and on account of the intensity of the pain, could scarcely bear
the lightest weight of linen, [2].
SUPERIOR EXTREMITIES.
► Heaviness in the superior extremities one
hour after taking the medicine, [13].
► Pain in the right arm, [13]. ►
Pain in the left arm, [13]. ► In the forenoon, pain in the left arm and
hand, as if strongly squeezed, [13].
► Slight pains in the middle and
external parts of the arms and forearms, on the inferior surface of the
wrists, and superior part of fingers, [13].
► Shoulder. ► Pain in the shoulder-joint, as if its
ligaments were relaxed, with slight tickling in the stomach, [13]. ►
Arm. ► Painful and burning
sensation in the upper part of the arms, their internal aspect; in the
middle of the forearms; in the left knee and calf, with anxiety,
restlessness, and crossness, [13].
► Forearm. ► At noon, shooting in the flexure of the
left arm, [13]. ► Pain from the flexure of the arm to the
hand, at noon, [13]. [700.] ► Pain in the anterior and inferior parts
of the left arm, increased by carrying the hand to the left shoulder, [13]. ►
Wrist. ► Pain and swelling
of the wrists, [13]. ► At night, pain in the left wrist when
pressed, or when making use of it; continued several days, [13]. ►
Towards noon, shooting in the right wrist; renewed in the evening, [13]. ►
Hand. ► Restlessness of
the hands; movements as if knitting, followed by a marked general
shaking, particularly of the inferior extremities (Arsen. 8000th checked
these symptoms), [13]. ► Necessity of moving the hands and
fingers, together with general malaise (relieved by Cocculus), [13]. ►
Painful sensation on the palmar and dorsal surfaces of both hands, with
pain in the head, burning in the abdomen, sadness, and indifference, [13]. ►
In the night, lancinating pain in the external border of the right hand,
[13]. ►
Shooting, lancinating pains in border of left hand, [13]. ► Fingers.
► Unbearable pains in the thumbs,
particularly the right, relieved by pressure, [13]. [710.] ► In the evening, pain in the left thumb, [13]. ►
Pain in the right little finger when using it, [13]. ► Pain
in the right little finger, extending to the forearm, [13].
INFERIOR EXTREMITIES.
► Paralysis of lower limbs; violent pain in
the back, that the least movement makes unbearable, [13]. ►
Complete paralysis of the lower limbs; inability to move them on account
of the pain. Hard and frequent pulse, [13].
► *Great restlessness and agitation,
particularly of the inferior extremities, with desire to cry and
restlessness, [13]. ► Weakness of the lower limbs, dulness of
mind, general prostration, obscuration of sight, and immobility, [13]. ►
Since sunset, great fatigue and pain in the lower extremities,
particularly in the left thigh and hip, as after a very long walk, or
like the rheumatic pains felt before a change of weather, [13]. ►
Numbness of the inferior extremities, followed by paralysis, [13]. ►
Numbness of the lower extremities, changing to a conclusive retraction
of the muscles, [13]. ► Hip. [720.]
► Pain in the hips and kidneys during
the night, [13]. ► Pain in the hips and coccyx in the
evening, disappearing when sitting, [13].
► Bruised pain in the right hip when
rising up, when standing, and walking, disappearing when sitting;
followed by an uncontrollable desire to jump, [13]. ► Thigh.
► Severe pain in the buttocks,
lasting from 6 A.M. till night; increased by ascending or descending
stairs, or making any oblique movements with the trunk. This pain was
accompanied with toothache, [13]. ► Pain in the thighs when walking, as if
strapped, [13]. ► Pain in the right thigh and hip, [13]. ►
Shooting pain in the left thigh, [13].
► Knee. ►
Trembling of the knees when standing or walking; the joints felt stiff
and sore, [16]. ► Pains, with slight swelling of one or
both knees, which are so sensitive as to make any pressure unbearable, [13]. ►
Pain in both knees, [13]. [730.] ►
When beginning to walk in the morning, pain in the left knee, for
several hours, even when at rest, [13].
► Convulsive shaking or twitching of
the right leg, [13]. ► Leg. ►
Weakness of the right leg, not allowing the foot, when walking, to be
placed squarely on the ground, [13].
► Weakness in the legs, with
throbbing, hammering pains in the knee and left thigh, extending to the
hip-joint, [13]. ► *Uneasiness in the legs, with necessity of
constantly moving them, [13].
► Great heaviness of the legs;
difficulty walking; inability to kneel down; and necessitating sitting
on account of the cough, the oppression, and the perspiration, [13]. ►
Great heaviness of the legs, and difficulty of moving them; they do not
obey the will; has to lie down, [13].
► The leg and lower joints gradually
became numb and insensible to pinching. In the bitten spot there was a
tumor of the size of a lentil, reddish and almost livid, [2]. ► Bruised
pain, particularly from the knees downward, with uneasiness, and desire
to move often; the pain remains the same when standing, sitting, or
lying down, [13]. ► Great fatigue and weakness of the legs
when walking, [13]. [740.] ►
Slight pains in the middle and anterior parts of the legs, [13]. ►
Shooting in the right tendo Achillis, [13].
► Shooting pain either in one or both
calves, [13]. ► In the morning, crampy pains in the legs,
particularly in the abductor muscles, [13].
► Ankle. ►
Pain in the right internal malleolus, in the afternoon, [13]. ►
Shooting in the articulation of the right foot, when walking, and when
placing the foot on the floor, in the afternoon and evening, [13]. ►
Foot. ► Pain in the foot,
as if an abscess were forming, [13].
► Severe pain in the right foot, when
waking up in the morning, [13]. ► Painful cramp in the sole of the right
foot, [13]. ► Toes. ►
Toe which had been bitten very much inflamed, [10]. [750.] ► Unbearable pains in the toes, with an
enormous swelling, [13]. ► Crampy and tearing pains in the toes,
more intense and constant in the great toes, [13]. ► In the
night crampy pain in the right great toe, in the metatarsal
articulation; this pain is worse on motion; afterwards crampy pain in
the right thigh and calf; the pains appeared and disappeared rapidly, [13]. ►
Shooting in the right great toe, [13].
► Shooting in the right little toe, [13].
GENERALITIES.
►
A few hours after the bite the patients have great anguish of the heart,
great dejection, but greater difficulty in breathing; they complain in a
mournful voice, roll their eyes, and when asked by bystanders where they
suffer, they either do not reply or point out the affected region by
placing the hand upon the chest, as if the heart were affected more than
all else. The symptoms observed after the bite of a tarentula are not
constant and common to each person, neither are they all produced by
each tarantula, but they vary according to the variety of the tarentula,
the temperament of the diseased person, and the greater or less summer
heat. It has been observed that tarentulas in the more northern region
of Apulia are fiercer; the bitten people suffer severe symptoms;
especially they are charmed by various colors, green, blue, etc., but
rarely by dark colors. And if approached by people dressed in a strong
color, which is unpleasant to them, they must retire; for at sight of
the annoying color they are immediately seized with anguish of heart and
renewal of the symptoms. Different symptoms are produced by different
varieties of tarentulas. The tarentula subalbida causes slight pain,
followed by itching, sharp pain in the abdomen and diarrhœa. The
tarentula stellata causes more severe pain and itching, stupor,
heaviness and pain in the head, trembling of the whole body, etc. The
tarentula uvea causes, besides the above symptoms, swelling, great pain
in the bitten part, spasm, chill, cold perspiration over the whole body,
aphonia, inclination to vomit, tension of the trunk and chest,
distension of the abdomen, etc. There are numerous and incredible
symptoms of tarentula, many of which seem dependent on a depraved
imagination; it will not be far from the truth if we report that after
the intense severity of the symptoms apparent on the first days has
declined, there is a peculiar melancholy, a bending forward of the neck,
until either by dancing, or music, or by change of age the poisonous
characteristics are eliminated from the blood and nervous fluids, which
fortune is rarely attained, for having once been bitten, it is certainly
evident that they cannot be restored to health. Many symptoms confirm
this assertion of the nature of the depraved fancy; for many have sought
the sepulchre and lonely places, and even extended themselves upon the
bier. Desperate, they court dissolution. Maidens and wives, otherwise
virtuous, the restraints of modesty being loosed, sigh deeply, howl,
make indecent gestures, expose their sexual organs, are fond of pensile
movements, etc., some at length twist about in their own garments, and
take excessive delight in such movements. Others like to strike with
whips on the buttocks, heels, feet, back, etc. Others have a great
desire to run. Also strange fancies in regard to colors are observed;
for people bitten by tarentulas are charmed by some colors, and on the
contrary, greatly repelled by others, and according to the degree of the
perverted fancy in turn, refreshed and made miserable by various colors,
[1]. ►
Stretched upon the ground and seemed as if he was just going to expire.
When he heard the music he began to move accordingly, got up as quick as
lightning, and seemed as if he had been awakened by some frightful
vision, and stared wildly about, still moving every joint of his body.
As I had not yet learned the whole tune, I left off playing; in an
instant he fell down and cried very loud; his face, legs, arms, and
every other part of his body were distorted; he scraped the earth with
his hands, and was in such contortions, that clearly indicated him to be
in miserable agonies. On hearing the music again, he rose up as he did
before, and danced as fast as any man could do; his dancing was very
wild; he kept a perfect time in the dance, but had neither rule nor
manner, only jumping and running to and fro, and making very comical
postures, something like the Chinese dances seen on the stage, and
otherwise, everything that he did was very wild, [9]. ► He
immediately felt intense pain in the bitten spot, and fell to the ground
with coldness of the body; with bristling of the hair, pain in the
chest, tension of the trunk, the legs were weak, he sighed, complained,
said that he was suffocating, wished to cry out, but could not. The next
morning he was taken by his neighbors to the town where music was called
in; he immediately began to dance, he was bathed in perspiration, was
sleepless for a week, drank pure wine; did not evacuate the bowels for
four days, desired nothing, wished to be bathed with water, liked a red
color, pursuing with the greatest hatred anything blue, which he tore to
pieces and trampled under foot. At night he held his heels in his hand
to scratch them in which manner he was able to get a little sleep; he
ate little or nothing; but dancing for almost a week, he was cured by
the perspiration and music, [7]. ► The tarentula being killed, he returned
home, but on the way suddenly felt to the ground, as if struck by
apoplexy, followed by shortness of breath, blackness of the face, hands,
and other extremities, etc. The patient revived as he heard music, began
to sigh, moved first his feet, then his hands and the rest of his body,
and soon after, on being raised to his feet, danced vigorously, with
sighs so deep as almost to frighten the bystanders. He rolled upon the
ground, and kicked vigorously. In two hours from the beginning of the
music he had entirely lost the blackness of the face and hands; the
dance was repeated for three days, according to the custom, and he was
entirely restored by the perspiration thus induced. Each year, about the
time of the bite, pain reappeared in the affected part with all the
above symptoms, in less intensity, however; and unless he anticipated
the assailing paroxysm with music and dancing, he was suddenly seized
with the same symptoms, whence, when thus attacked about the time of the
bite, he was carried from the field by his companions and restored by a
little music, [6]. ► Weakness of the legs, obscuration of
sight, vertigo, cramps in the stomach, going upwards, without vomiting,
coldness, cannot get warm, with an earthy gray, or bluish hue of the
face, [13]. [760.] ►
Malaise vertigo, stupor, violent cramps in the stomach, causing gagging
without vomiting, coldness and livid face; sweat at the root of the
hair; fever, with a furious delirium, [13].
► Malaise, vertigo, cramps in the
stomach, painful coldness, earthy paleness of face; fever and intense
heat afterwards, with dryness and sensitiveness of the skin, [13]. ►
General symptoms due to scrofula, [13].
► General and local dropsy, [13]. ►
A tendency to rachitis in scrofulous constitutions, [13]. ►
Rachitism due to syphilis, [13]. ► Diseases of the bones, in general, [13]. ►
General and almost sudden œdema; feels oppressed and suffocated;
anxiety; the teeth are clenched; nervous symptoms, [13]. ►
Weakened constitution by frequent uterine looses; hysteric symptoms;
hepatic spots on the neck, and sometimes on the cheeks, [13]. ►
Retraction of one or more muscles, [13].
[770.] ►
Retraction of the muscles. General muscular atrophy, [13]. ►
Retraction of the muscles; the mouth and eyes are distorted, with a
general sensation as if the body was smaller and atrophied, [13]. ►
Half of the body seems as if atrophied, with retraction of the muscles;
the head and back are drawn strongly towards the hip, [13]. ►
Tension and rigidity of the muscles of the entire trunk; inability to
move the head, the arms, and even the upper half of the body. The
muscles seemed shortened, [13]. ► Attack of paralysis, characterized by a
general formication, which begins at 8 P.M., with a strong pain in the
occiput, followed by numbness of the trunk and limbs, to such a degree
as to completely lose all movements. Natrum mur. was given as an
antidote; immediately after, general agitation, fear of losing the
reason, which also happens; biting and scratching himself with rage.
Phosph. ac. was given, and this state ceased. Feels thirsty afterward,
yawning, rigors, and shaking, with headache, [13]. ►
General twitching, especially violent in the arms, alternating with
opisthotonos, [12]. ► *Trembling of the body; all the limbs are
agitated, [13]. ► Her whole body was shaken by a spasm of
such violence that two strong men could hardly hold her, [2]. ►
Convulsive trembling of half of the body, [13].
► Convulsions and subsultus in all
his limbs; the penis erect, and the abdominal muscles in such a state of
contraction and rigidity that they might have been aptly compared to a
piece of leather, [10]. [780.] ►
Convulsions, resulting from compression on the spinal column,
involuntary stools, [13]. ► Convulsions, caused by pressure on the
spine, paralysis, complete retention of the urine and fæces, [13]. ►
Convulsions, caused by pressure on the spinal column, with involuntary
stool, [13]. ►
Convulsions, resulting from compression of the spinal column; complete
retention of fecal matters and urine, [13].
► Extraordinary contortions and
movements of the head and hands, [13].
► Convulsive spasms, rolling on the
ground, teeth clenched; it seems as if breathing was interrupted; a
rattling, hoarse sound from the throat, [13].
► Spasms in general, [13]. ►
Spasms, starts, general trembling, a bluish tinge of the skin (not
cyanosis), gooseflesh coldness, and screams, [13]. ► *St.
Vitus’s dance, [13]. ► Great weakness and prostration, with
general lowness of spirits, lassitude, and pains in the hip-joints,
wrists, and finger-joints, [13]. [790.] ►
Could hardly be moved from side to side, on account of the great
weakness, uninterrupted constriction of the chest and anguish of the
heart, [4]. ►
Malaise, constant thirst, craving for raw articles, [13]. ► Music
produces malaise, ennui, and restlessness, with contractions of the
fingers, and necessity of moving them, [13].
► Universal languor, [4]. ►
Complete relaxation and general prostration of strength, with heavy
drowsiness. (Relieved by Carbo veg. 200th), [13]. ►
General lassitude on getting up, lasting the whole day, with hoarseness;
weakness, with little moral or physical inclination to work, [13]. ►
General fatigue, passing an excessive amount of urine, [13]. ►
Fatigue, uneasiness, constant movements of the arms, legs, and trunk,
and impossibility of doing anything or of keeping quiet, [13]. ►
Complete prostration of strength, [10].
► Great prostration and pains, as if
the whole body was bruised, [13]. [800.] ► *Great restlessness, could not keep quiet
anywhere, or in any position; felt that I must keep in motion, though
walking aggravated all the symptoms, [16]. ►
*Restlessness, cannot remain in one place; uneasiness without a cause;
apprehension, followed by vertigo, is compelled to sit down; chills,
malaise, increasing fever becoming intense, with great excitement,
gesticulations, redness of the cheeks, eyes sparkling in an
extraordinary manner, [13]. ► *Restlessness, excitement, passion;
irresistible desire of moving the legs, [13].
► Uneasiness, malaise,
dissatisfaction, ennui, need of moving the head, [13]. ► *Has to
change position, has to sit down on the floor and move
constantly. Is obliged to cry, with great restlessness, especially in
lower extremities. Is obliged to change position every moment, [13]. ►
*Agitation; cannot keep in one place; uneasiness; without a
cause; apprehension, afterwards vertigo; is obliged to sit down; chills,
distressed; malaise, increasing fever, which becomes intense, with great
excitement and gesticulations, [13].
► *Constant movements of the legs, arms,
and trunk, with inability to do anything, cannot even keep quiet in one
place. This state is preceded by malaise and oppression, [13]. ►
*Need of constantly moving the hands, feet, and head, [13]. ►
Debility, syncope, with effusion or œdema of the legs and abdominal
walls, [13]. ►
Syncope, nervous crisis, with crying and screaming; general œdema, [13]. [810.]
► Oppression, malaise, continual
movements of the arms, legs, and trunk; impossibility of doing anything,
or of keeping quiet, [13]. ► The muscles of the whole body seem as if
they were shorter; the pains are unbearable; slight fever, [13]. ►
Difficulty of walking, on account of pains; extreme debility; thirst;
want of appetite; after eating, the lassitude continued, but with gayety
and desire to laugh, lasting till bedtime, followed by sadness; quiet
sleeping, though accompanied with dreams, [13].
► During a walk a disagreeable
sensation, as is experienced after a shock or a fright; this lasted
about half an hour, and was followed by great weakness, [13]. ►
Muscular pains after wetting the hands in cold water, [13]. ►
General pains, particularly of the bones of the arms, [13]. ►
General pains, but principally located in the bones of the arms, [13]. ►
Pains, with gouty swellings, [13].
► Some pain and swelling, [14]. ►
On being urged to dance, she replied with tears that she could not, on
account of the violence of the pain in the joints of the feet and total
loss of strength, [2]. [820.] ►
Pain in the right inferior maxillary nerve, with a painful sensation in
the left elbow-joint, as if the ligaments were relaxed. A few minutes
after, slight rumbling in the sigmoid flexure, accompanied with a marked
increase of heat in the stomach, ascending towards the thoracic cavity,
with increased perspiration. Six minutes after, tendency to sleep, with
painful headache and paleness; eight minutes after feels the head
relieved, but pain in the nerves of the left internal surface of
superior lip, with throbbing; eleven minutes after, slight pains in the
stomach, in its great curvature. When these symptoms passed off, great
sleepiness, heaviness above the eyes, and shooting pain in the left
ischiatic tuberosity, [13]. ► He immediately yelled and fell down; they
carried him to the house in agonies; terrible smarting pain, hot and
cold, starting from the bite to the small of the back, and from there
returning to the bite; this alternating pain continued all night, [15]. ►
Wandering pains, relieved by warm frictions, [13]. ► Pains
changing and flying from place to place, in the shoulders, back, arms,
and knees, etc., and are relieved somewhat by warm frictions, [13]. ►
Arthritic pains, [13]. ► Strong, sharp prickings on different
parts of the body, which compel to jump or start, with contractions of
the lateral muscles of the neck; sore throat; pain in all the teeth, as
if they were burning. All these symptoms increase when seeing others in
trouble, with noise, talking, and from the smoke of tobacco, [13]. ►
There is marked periodicity in the symptoms, [13]. ► Having
seen the bite of a rattlesnake successfully antidoted by large doses of
whiskey, I drank about two fluid ounces, but had no wish to repeat the
dose, as it produced a very decided aggravation of all the symptoms, [16]. ►
The symptoms steadily increased in severity until they reached their
acme, then as steadily decreased, without any remissions or periodicity,
[16]. ►
Every year at the time of the bite, all the symptoms returned, pain in
the bitten part, with a red color, etc. All the symptoms were removed by
the dance, [2]. [830.] ►
The cold air produces pains in the bones, as if they were sawed, [13]. ►
Aggravation. In the afternoon, sunset, and night. In dry cold weather,
and change of weather. During rest, in bed. From smoke of tobacco, from
sexual intercourse, from moral emotions of a depressing character, and
from wetting with cold water, [13].
► Reappearance of all the symptoms,
twenty-five days after, [13]. ► The symptoms appear particularly in the
afternoon and evening, [13]. ► The easiest position that can be taken is
to sit on the floor. Dampness and a change of weather aggravate all the
symptoms, [13]. ► Many of the symptoms of this medicine get
better by walking, or taking a walk in the open air, and still more
relieved on sitting down; some of the pains (of the trunk) are worse on
horseback; meanwhile the pressure in the chest and the dizziness are
relieved, [13]. ► Amelioration of the symptoms in the open
air, [13]. ►
(Music caused the patient to dance, and was followed by relief of all
the symptoms), [12]. ► Music lessens the symptoms; feels well,
laughs; gayety, followed by crossness, [13].
► Amelioration. In the open air, when
walking, by motion. By mucus (tarantella), amusement. From warm friction
and perspiration, [13].® 2000
Article