CONIUM.
EYE.
► Objective. ► The eye itself immovable, staring, [61]. ► Their look was wild and
piercing, [55]. ►
Weak look of the eyes, [3]. ►
Trembling look, as if the eye trembled, [1]. ► Red eyes, [10]. ► Eyes somewhat congested and wild, [64]. ► *Yellow whites of the eyes
(after ten days), [1]. [190.]
► Protruding eyes, [1].
► Movements of the eyes as if they were pressed outward, [18]. ►► *Affected with
a weakness and dazzling of my eyes, together with a giddiness and debility of my whole body,
especially the muscles of my arms and legs, so that when I attempted to walk I was apt to
stagger like a person who had drunk too much strong liquor, [42]. ► Mucus in the eyes in the
morning, [1]. ►
Subjective. ► Increased irritability of the
eyes (first days), [1]. ►
The eyes felt uncomfortable, causing me to brush them frequently to clear apparent
obstructions from the lids, [41]. ► Heat in the eyes, [1]. ► An almost burning heat shoots through the eyes in the
forenoon and evening, [1]. ►
*Burning in the eyes, [1]. ► Burning in the eyes, towards evening, with pressure in the
orbits, [1]. [200.]
► Drawing pain in the eyes, with redness of them, [1]. ► Pressure in the
eyes, as from a grain of sand, especially in the forenoon, with inflammation and redness of
the white of the eye, and biting lachrymation, [1]. ► Pressure in the eyes, mostly while reading, [1]. ► Dull pressure above both
eyes, afterwards in the occiput, as if a band were tied about the head, [37]. ► Painful pressure in the
eyes if she closes them to sleep, in the evening, in bed, [1].
► Brow and Orbit. ►
There was an aching pain across the eyebrows and mistiness of vision, [42]. ► Pressure above the right
eye, extending into the eye, [37]. ► Pressive pain in the bones above the right eye, in the nose,
and malar bone, late in the evening and lasting ten minutes, [1].
► Pain in the orbits, especially with the headache, [1]. ► The absence of any
preponderating action of the muscles supplied by the fourth and six
pairs of nerves shows that they are equally affected with the third pair. A
proportionate diminution of power is also observed in the muscles supplied by the motor
branches of the fifth and seventh pairs. The contractive
power of the M. orbicularis in particular is distinctly weakened, [42]. ► Lids. [210.] ► Inflamed lids, with
formation of styes in several places; the boy frequently blinks, [1]. ► Twitching in the upper lid,
[1]. ► Eyes
difficult to open (first hour and a half); closed (second hour), [63]. ► Difficult opening of the
lids; in the morning they are drawn together, [5]. ► *He could hardly raise the eyelids, which seemed pressed down by a
heavy weight, and was disposed to fall off to sleep, [42]. ► Muscular relaxation of the
orbicularis, drooping of the eyelids, almost amounting to ptosis, and nearly inability to
walk, [42]. ►
Nearly complete muscular paralysis; the eyelids were closed, the pupils widely dilated and
the mind clear, calm, and active, and she expressed herself quite comfortable; she tried
perseveringly to raise the eyelids when I requested her to do so, but she was quite unable
to separate their margins (after one hour), [42]. ► *Burning on the inner surface of the lids, [1]. ► Pressure in the external
canthus, as from a grain of sand, [1]. ► Sticking in the inner canthus; the lids are agglutinated in
the morning, [1]. [220.]
► Itching sticking in the inner canthus, not relieved by
rubbing (after one hour and a half), [6]. ► Stitches on the margins of the lids and in the canthi, [37]. ► Biting pain in
the inner canthus, as if something corrosive were in it, with lachrymation, [6]. ► Itching on the margin of
the lids, [1]. ►
Conjunctiva. ► Pressure and sticking in the
conjunctiva bulbi of the right eye, in the inner canthus, with fine vessels closely
aggregated at the inner margin of the right cornea, [37].
► Pupil. ►
Dilatation of the pupils from one-seventh to one-sixth, [42].
► Dilatation of the pupil occurs usually only
after very large doses, and then it is often but slight, and only observable in a subdued
light, the excitement of strong light overcoming the tendency to dilate, just as the
exertion of a strong will strengthens for a time an enfeebled limb, [42]. ► Dilated pupils (after one
hour), [2]. ► Pupils
dilated (second day), [37], [60], [61]. ► Pupils of the eyes apparently somewhat dilated (seventeenth
to twentieth days), [39]. [230.]
► The pupils were considerably dilate, [42]. ► Pupils decidedly and
persistently dilated; at first this dilatation alternated with contraction, [37]. ► Pupils greatly dilated, [57]. ► Contracted pupils
(curative action), (after three hours and a quarter), [4].
► Vision. ►►
*Weakness of vision, [19]. ► Diminished vision, [57].
► Dimness of vision, while walking in the open air; in
the room it was clear, [1]. ►
Dimness of vision and dilatation of pupils, [40]. ► Obscuration of vision, [8],
[10]. [In Andree’s case, with giddiness. -Hughes.] ► Vision momentarily obscured; objects in the room seemed
indistinct and as if moving about, [59]. ► Soon after half an hour, dimness of vision, with bright
points scintillating, or rather quickly moving in the distance; this caused me to turn from
side to side to notice them, and from this cause, I suppose, I found myself reeling in my
saddle; there was no vertigo or unpleasant sensation about the head to produce this effect,
save a slight feeling of lightness, [41]. [240.] ► Eyesight slightly
dim, becoming more so on rising from the breakfast-table, and the tendency to vertigo was at
the same time increased (seventeenth and subsequent days), [39].
► After moderate doses, the interference of vision is
only such as results in haziness, as if a thin film of transparent vapor were floating
between the eye and the object, the effect being identical with that observed on looking
through a medium of unequal density, such as the mixture of hot and cold air enveloping a
highly heated stove; it occurs independently of any dilatation of the pupil, and is
compatible with good definition for fixed objects; it is due to imperfect adjustment of the
refracting media of the eye from partial paralysis of the ciliary branches of the third
nerve; it is through these minute branches that the individual first becomes conscious of
the effect of hemlock, and if he should be reading at the time, he will suddenly find the
occupation fatiguing, and very soon afterwards it may be impossible, and he will be glad to
close the eyes to relieve himself of the symptom, and as the muscular lethargy begins to be
felt, content to lie perfectly still as is asleep; in full doses the depressing influence
involves the other branches of the nerve, and the lazy movements of the eyeball, or dull
fixed and occasionally divergent stare, indicate the partially paralyzed condition of the external muscles of the eyeball, while more or less drooping of
the upper lids expresses a similar condition of the levator palpebræ, [42]. ► *There was a sluggishness of
the adaptation of the eye; my vision was good for fixed objects, but when an
uneven object was put in motion before the eyes there was a haze and dimness of vision,
producing a feeling of giddiness, [42]. ► On raising my eyes from the object upon which they had been
fixed to a more distant one the vision was confused and a feeling of giddiness suddenly came
over me. That these symptoms were due to impairment of power in the muscular apparatus
employed in the adaptation of the eye was obvious to me, for so long as my eyes were fixed
on a given object the giddiness disappeared, and the definition and capacity of vision for
the minutest objects were unimpaired, but the instant that I directed the eyes to another
object all was haze and confusion, and I felt giddy, and in order to recover my vision, and
dismiss the sense of giddiness, it was necessary to lay hold upon some object, as it were,
with my eyes, and rest them securely upon it; it was clear to me that the adjusting muscular
apparatus of the eye was enfeebled, and its contractions so sluggishly performed that they
could not longer keep pace with the more active movements of the external muscles of the
eyeball; within then minutes of the appearance of this disorder of vision a general muscular
lethargy affected me, and the eyelids felt as heavy as if they were oppressed with the
deepest drowsiness (three-quarters of an hour after 5 1/2 drachms), [42]. ► Raised my eyes quickly
from the manuscript upon which they had been steadily fixed, towards the inkstand some
little distance away, but in so doing I instantly experienced a slight difficulty in
accurately sighting that object, the eyes did not strike exactly where they were aimed, and
simultaneously a faint but distinct thrill of the peculiar swimming feeling that I know so
well as the beginning of sea-sickness, swept through the brain; plainly the subtle influence
of the poison had been creeping over me while absorbed in writing, but could not declare
itself by symptoms until a quick and decided movement of the already paretic ocular muscles
was attempted, then, however, it was instantly made manifest by the trouble in promptly
sighting a given object, and, what is the point, then at once, but not till then, was the
least giddiness experienced; as the palsy of the ocular muscles advanced, soon the slightest
movement of the eyes produced a curious and very disagreeable apparent flickering of the
field of view, and was always accompanied by a sudden rush of giddiness; but so long as the
eyes were kept motionless, ten, as long ago pointed out by Harley, there was no giddiness;
for experiment, however, I did try the eyes in various
ways, seeking to find, among other things, how the focalizing power on near objects was
affected, and the consequence was that I quickly became not only very giddy but also
decidedly nauseated, in fact veritably sea-sick, the sensations being the same as those felt
at sea; fearing that I should vomit, I got up to cross the room to the washstand, but at
once the floor seemed to rock and waver, I staggered against a table; not being conscious,
however, of any real weakness of the legs, it immediately struck me that the uncertainty of
step was purely because the eyes were playing false as guides for the feet; if so, I argued,
walking ought to be steadier with the eyes shut than open. Accordingly, after getting the
proper bearings, I shut the eyes, and sure enough found at once that I could now walk
straight and steady, and, what was more, without any feeling of giddiness; securing a basin
I repeated the little experiment on the return trip to the desk, and with precisely the same
result,-giddiness, transient nausea, and staggering gait on trying to walk with eyes
open;-freedom from all trouble with them shut, [45]. ► Farsightedness (in a myope); he could clearly distinguish
objects at a distance (after three hours and a half), [4].
► Greater shortsightedness than usual; could distinguish
only very near objects (after twenty-nine hours), [4].
► She complained either that she could not see, or that
the objects of her vision were tinged with all varieties of color; sometimes the eyelids
drooped a little, [42]. ►
Sight completely lost, [56]. [250.]
► Blindness of short duration in the afternoon, following
complaints of pain in the head and eyes; the child loses the power of vision, also at times
subsequently, [3]. ►
Blindness, immediately after sleep in the heat of the sun, [7].
► Amaurosis, [62]. ► On looking at print held near the eyes the lines seem to move
up and down, [1]. ►
Double vision for several minutes, [42]. ► Double vision, from inability to maintain the convergence
of the optic axes, excepting as a very evanescent effect, is a comparatively rare result of
the action of hemlock. I have only observed it in a few persons. In one of these, a delicate
invalid, confined by weakness and ovarian disease chiefly to the recumbent position, fl. 3ij
of the succus Conii produced full effects accompanied by double vision; this was a constant
symptom; it came on half an hour after taking the medicine, and lasted twenty minutes. After
having taken the hemlock for six months, she told me, as often as I happened to see her
during the operation of the medicine, that she saw each object in the room double, that my
eyes were also doubled, and that she felt as if she were squinting, [42]. ► Double vision, but not the
same extent nor of so long duration as with the last doses of the American extract; the same
remark is applicable to the sensation in the elbows and knees; in the evening (nineteenth
day), [39]. ►
Vision was for the first time double. Directing the eye to an object at the distance of
fifteen feet, that object for a moment would appear single; immediately, however, two images
became visible, and slowly receded from each other to the apparent distance of six inches;
here they generally became stationary, but at times would continue alternately to approach
and recede from each other (nineteenth day); slight degree of double vision (twentieth day),
[39]. ► He saw
objects doubled and tripled, with bright bows before the eyes, [1]. ► Diplopia (previous to
taking drug) vastly increased (one hour and a half), [63].
[260.] ► [Things look
red], [20]. [In a case of cataract while sight was
improving under Conium. -Hughes.] ► A thread seems to
swim before the eyes, [1]. ►
Black points and stripes before the eyes, [37]. ► Large dark spot with white margins before the eyes, [37]. ► Clouds and light
spots before the eyes, [1]. ►
Many white spots with glittering stars, on looking at different things in the room, [31]. ► Bright spots
before the eyes, while walking in the open air, [37]. ► Sparks before the vision, [52].
► Fiery sparks before the eyes, on going into the open
air, [1]. ► Fiery
zigzags moving through each other before the sight, on closing the eyes at night, [1]. [270.] ► It was not until I enjoyed my usual sleep that perfect vision
was restored, [41].
EAR.
► Objective. ► *Blood-red earwax, [1].
► External. ►
Burning on the upper part of the left concha, [37]. ► Pain, partly drawing, partly tearing in the external ear, [1]. ► Stitches behind
both ears, especially in the mastoid process, followed by dull pain at this place, [1]. ► Violent itching in
the outer ear, [1]. ►
Internal. ► *Something comes before the ears on
blowing the nose they feel stopped, [1]. ► Sudden sharp pressure in the ears, almost like twinges, [1]. ► Drawings within
the left ear, [1]. ►
Sticking in both ears, [1]. [280.]
► Pinching sticking in the ear, while drinking, [1]. ► Sharp pain shoots
out at the ear, especially violent while swallowing (after three-quarters of an hour), [6]. ► Pain in the ears,
as if the inner ear would be torn asunder, [1]. ► Throbbing of blood in the ears, [1]. ► Hearing. ► Painful sensitiveness of hearing, so that noise frightens
one, [1]. ►
Intolerance of noise, with longing for quiet and rest (first days), [1]. ► Noises in the right ear, as
from a waterfall (after fourteen hours), [1]. ► Bubbling and humming in both ears, [1]. ► Bubbling and humming in the
right ear, [1]. ►
Ringing in the right ear, with dull hearing, three times in succession, [37]. [290.] ► Loud ringing in the ear, [1].
► Roaring in the right ear, [1]. ► Roaring in the left ear,
with difficult hearing, worse while eating, [1]. ► Roaring in the ears, like a storm of wind, more after eating
dinner, lasting until going to sleep; and on exerting the head while sitting, but mostly
lying in bed; even at night on waking, [1]. ► Noises in the ears as if blood were rushing through the
brain, [1]. ► A
crash heard within right ear at 10 P.M., after sunset (third day), [44]. [The only symptom of the proving.]
NOSE.
► Objective. ► Frequent sneezing, [1].
► Frequent sneezing without coryza, [4]. ► He blows watery fluid from
his nose, [1]. ►
Clear water drops from the nose, [1]. [300.] ►
Profuse discharge of nasal mucus for several days, as in catarrh, [1]. ► Nosebleed at night; and
then in the morning, on rising, vertigo, [1]. ► Profuse bleeding of the nose, without heat, [37]. ► Epistaxis, [17], [24]. ► Epistaxis, when sneezing, [3].
► Frequent epistaxis, [1].
► Subjective. ►
Burning in the nostrils, [1]. ►
Stitches beneath the skin, on the septum of the nose, [37].
► Tearing in the nasal bones, [37]. ► Stinging soreness
and itching at tip and inside of the nose, [43]. [310.] ► Sticking sore pain in the septum of the nose on pressing upon
it, as if a pimple were there, [1]. ► Stitchlike itching irritation in the right side of the nose,
as from a foreign substance, [1]. ► Twitching in the nose, [1].
► Momentary twitching at the root of the nose, [1]. ► Itching crawling
in the nose, [6]. ►
Itching in the nose, [1]. ►
Frequent itching in the nose (second day), [1]. ► Smell. ► Excessively
fine sense of smell, [1]. ►
A kind of animal smell in the back of the nose, which he seems also to taste, [1].
FACE.
► Objective. ► Expression of countenance calm; but like a figure of wax, [61]. [320.] ► Face very red and flushed, looking like erysipelas, [59]. ► Blueness of the
face, [27]. ► [Face
blue, swollen], [32]. [See note to S. 488. -Hughes.] ► Face bluish, turgid with blood, [46]. ► Face livid, [60]. ► Color of the face sickly
and pale (seventh day), [1]. ►
Great paleness of the face, in the morning, [1]. ► Face pallid, [56]. ► [Swelling of the face], [23].
[In a man convalescing from suppurative pneumonia, and treated by Conium for splenic cancer,
with S. 537, 754, 771, 1024, shortly before Death. -Hughes.] ►
The facial muscles seemed to me somewhat contracted; slight risus sardonicus, [64]. [330.] ► Frequent convulsions of the muscles of the face, so that the
face remained with a frightful expression, together with frequent contractions of other
muscles, especially of the extensors of the back and flexors of the extremities, with
peculiar motions of the thumb and index finger, as if they were unwinding a skein of thread,
[57]. ► Subjective.
► Pain in the face at night, [1]. ► Pain extending from the
head to the jaws, and thence to the left side of the chest, with some sticking, [59]. ► Cheek. ► Swelling on the malar bone and upper gum, with tensive pain
(third day), [1]. ►
Visible twitching of the muscles of the left cheek, [37].
► Feeling as if a cobweb were on the right cheek, [37]. ► Burning and
biting on the inner surface of the left cheek, [37]. ► Drawing on the right zygoma, [37].
► Drawing and tearing on the zygoma, [37]. ► Tearing-sticking pain in
the face, just in front of the ear, in the evening, [1].
[340.] ► Violent
stitches through the right side of the face about the malar bone (after two hours), [6]. ► Fine stitches
through the right cheek, extending to the corner of the mouth, [6]. ► Lip. ► Lips slightly cyanotic, [64].
► [Trembling of the lower lip], [32]. [See note S. 488. -Hughes.] ►
Burning and redness on the upper lip, first on the left and after a few hours on the right
side, [37]. ►
Burning on the inner surface of the lower lip, [37]. ► Much burning of the lips and tongue, [37]. ► Stitches in the lips and
tongue, [37]. ► Chin.
► Drawing through the chin towards the ear and to the
head, though not painful, soon after drinking, [1]. ► Fine stitches on the chin, extending upward through the jaw, [6]. [350.] ► Trismus, [17]. ► It seemed as though she could not open the jaws; she became
very anxious on account of this condition, so much like lockjaw; the next day a constant
aching soreness in the jaws, [59]. ► Feeling of stiffness in the right masseter muscles, [37]. ► Pressure in the
masseter muscles, [37].
MOUTH.
► Teeth. ► Looseness of the back teeth, as if they would fall out, [1]. ► Bleeding of the
gum of the back teeth, [1]. ►
Pain in the teeth as from looseness while chewing, [1].
► [Gnashing of the teeth], [26].
[See note to S. 32. -Hughes.] ► Drawing boring in the
left back teeth, [1]. ►
Drawings in the hollow teeth on eating, not on drinking cold things, extending
through the temples (after three hours), [2]. [360.] ► Drawing pain from the
lower right teeth into the malar bone, [1]. ► Violent drawing toothache;
the teeth feel loose; the toothache is so severe she
feels she must have the tooth out, [43]. ► Boring needle-like stitches between the left teeth, on moving
the lower jaw, [4]. ►
Pressive toothache, [1]. ►
Sensation in the lower incisors as if they were pushed up, [37].
► Toothache (tearing?), extending to one eye and
cheek-bone, only on eating, [1]. ►
Jerking and gnawing in the teeth, [1]. ► Gums. ► Gum swollen,
bluish-red, as if injected with blood, [1]. ► Slight bleeding of the gum, [1].
► Painful burning of the gum, [1]. ► Tongue. [370.] ► Tongue red, mottled, [57]. ► Felt as if her
tongue stuck to the roof of the mouth, and she could not move it, [59]. ► Tongue covered over its
upper surface, as well as over a large portion of the lower surface, with dirty mucus, and
dry, [49]. ► Tongue
stiff, swollen, painful, [32]. [When touching the
tongue with the juice of the root. -Hughes.] ► Pain in
the tongue, [27]. ►
Dry tongue, [10]. ►
Dry, reddish tongue, [64]. ►
Burning on the tongue and in the hands, [1]. ► Burning as from pepper on the tip of the tongue, [37]. ► Boring pain in
the tongue at night (second night), [1]. [380.] ► Sticking and burning
in the left side of the tip of the tongue, [37]. ► Sticking and biting on the tip of the tongue, [37]. ► Stitches on the tip of the
tongue, [37]. ► General
Mouth. ► Dryness of the mouth, [32]. ► Dryness in the mouth, and
on the lips, [37]. ►
Dryness of the mouth, with sour sensation in it, [1]. ► Dryness of the mouth alternating with accumulation of much
watery saliva; with the latter there was a sensation of dryness in the fauces, frequently
repeated, [37]. ►
Saliva. ► Accumulation of saliva, [37]. ► [Accumulation of
saliva], [11]. [In cases of cancrum oris. -Hughes.] ► Profuse salivation, [34].
[390.] ► The whole
mouth becomes full of sour water after eating, [1]. ► Taste. ► Bad taste in
the mouth while eating, and on swallowing, [1]. ► Strong saline taste on the tongue, particularly in hawking up
mucus, less so in the saliva (from 100 drops); this continued several days, but was almost
gone on taking the penultimate dose of 160 drops; noticed occasionally for a fortnight after
the last dose, [38]. ►
Sourish taste in the mouth, [1]. ►
Bitter-sour taste after breakfast, [1]. ► The mouth is quite acid after eating, [1]. ► Bitterness in the mouth and
throat, [1]. ►
Bitterness in the throat, [1]. ► Bitter taste at times in the throat, without cause, [2]. ► Metallic taste on
the tip of the tongue, [37]. [400.] ► Coppery taste in the
mouth, with a sensation on the tip of the tongue as though it had just been touched with
copper, [37]. ►
Taste of coryza from the posterior nares to the mouth, [1].
► Peculiar taste of the food, [1]. ► Speech. ► *Difficult speech, [8].
► Speech difficult (one hour and a half); unable to
articulate (two hours), [63]. ►
Speech thickening (half an hour), [63]. ► When attempting to speak, was unable to articulate, [56], [59]. ► On attempting to call some one she was unable to articulate a
loud word; it seemed as though the tongue were glued to the palate, [59]. ► Loss of speech, [17], [32]. [In
Storck’s case as with S. 373. -Hughes.]® 2000
Article