TELLURIUM.
SEXUAL ORGANS.
►
Male. ► He had erections
all night, a thing which had never before happened to him, [5]. ►
For one week a much more excited and powerful sexual instinct, but after
that time this appeared to be entirely extinct; without any want of
capability thereto, he renounces the indulgence for weeks without
missing it, [2]. ► Sexual desire and power increased, for
last week (thirteenth day), [16]. ► Female. ►
Menses appeared in the afternoon, one day too early (third day); the
next menstrual period came three days too early; the first day the usual
quantity, later less than usual, [4].
RESPIRATORY ORGANS.
►
A sensation between roughness and pressure in the region of the larynx,
which generally provokes a cough, passes gradually into a pure tickling
(first day), [3]. ► Voice. ►
Hoarseness with the coryza (seventh day), [12].
[120.] ►
Hoarseness early in the morning, after rising (twentieth day), [12]. ►
Cough and Expectoration. ►
A cough which often came on by day or night in slight attacks, with a
wheezing in the larynx without becoming loose, especially after smoking,
drinking, and much walking, or after going upstairs, came on again, and
always towards morning, and with much violence; after a few days it
became loose and then ceased; after taking cold it came again, and then
ceased permanently, so that even taking fresh colds did not bring it on
again, [2]. ►
Cough and pressure in the middle of the chest, under the sternum
(seventh day), [12]. ► Expectorates white mucus, which is easily
discharged, [9]. ► Respiration. ►
Slight feeling of suffocation in the upper part of the throat, [9].
CHEST.
►
Feeling as if some fluid wanted to discharge itself (pressing downwards)
in middle lobe of right lung, for four or five hours, in the afternoon
(second day), [16]. ► Bubbling in middle lobe of right lung for
a few minutes, on three or four occasions, chiefly in afternoon (from
ninth to thirteenth days), [16]. ► Pain in the clavicle, [9]. ► Slight
stitches in the chest, transient, more on the left side (first day), [3]. ►
Some pain in the middle of the sternum, [9].
[130.] ►
Throughout the whole day, constant pain in the chest, anteriorly in the
middle, sometimes extending backwards between the shoulders, and a dull
unpleasant feeling in the head, especially above the eyes (tenth day), [4]. ►
The pains change their locality more frequently this morning than
yesterday; mostly on the left side of the chest, only now and then in
the right chest and over the right eye; once or twice in the right shin
(eleventh day), [4]. ► Stitching pains lasting from three to ten
minutes, above the fifth rib, on the left side (first day), [3]. ►
Some pressure in the left chest, above the first rib, [9]. ►
Drawing, cutting pain around and in the left nipple, extending towards
the scapula (first day), [3]. ► When lying on the left side, a throbbing
sensation on the right side under the ribs, somewhat towards the
epigastrium, as from wind balls, undulatory; in the morning it is as if,
when lying on the right side, wind had accumulated in the corresponding
spot on the left side; flatus does not pass off so freely in the morning
as is customary, and the hitherto rather diarrhœic stool intermits;
latterly the flatus became stinking, [8].
HEART AND PULSE.
►
Præcordia. ► She got
asleep, lying on the left side, and awakened once in the night with a
dull pain in the region of the heart, which passed away when she lay
upon the back (first night), [4]. ► Constant pain in the region of the heart
(eighteenth day), [4]. ► Pain in the apex of the heart; she had
something similar five or six years ago, but was then much more
seriously affected, [4]. ► During the later part of the proving,
while having the pains in the heart, she had a great disposition to bend
forward, even so as to lie upon the face without being able to go to
sleep in this position, or without experiencing any relief from it, [4]. ►
Heart’s Action. [140.] ► Palpitation of the heart and general
throbbing through the whole body, with fulness of the pulse; after it
had lasted an hour, copious sweat for an hour and a half, [9]. ► Pulse.
► Pulse more frequent, with the
nausea, [6].
NECK AND BACK.
►
Neck. ► With the pain
above the eye, a sensation not easy to describe; along the left side of
the neck, as if the blood there had suddenly been retained in one of the
large veins, or had streamed backwards (tenth day), [4]. ►
Sensation of numbness in the nape and occiput, [9]. ► When
lying on the left ear, a kind of sharp pressing pain from the neck into
the left ear, [8]. ► Back. ►
Whenever she has no pain there is a sensation of weakness in the back,
the whole day (ninth day), [4]. ► The pains in the back and chest are quite
unusual; they were so continuous and so violent that the prover was
compelled, by reason of them, to remain at home in the afternoon
(eleventh day), [4]. ► Dorsal. ►
*During the second month of the proving, the spine, from the last cervical to about the fifth dorsal
vertebra, became very sensitive, and the seat of a peculiar sense of
irritation, which made the prover dread having the part touched or even
approached; this dread was
disproportioned to the actual sensibility of the part when pressed or
rudely touched, for this sensibility was not really very great; from the
vertebræ above mentioned, a peculiar irritation seemed to radiate
upwards into the neck outwards into the shoulders, and forwards through
the thorax to the sternum; the distress caused by this sensation was
aggravated by fatigue, but only partially relieved by repose; it was
great and very annoying, and lasted, as I remember, nearly two months,
[11]. ►
Drawing and dull pressure at the right scapula; soon afterwards also
upon the left (first day), [3]. ► Dull pain in the middle of the back
between the shoulders, [9]. ► Sacral. [150.]
► Pain in the back at the upper end
of the sacrum, which extended upward (eighth day), [4]. ► Pain in
the sacrum, worse on stooping or when rising from a sitting or recumbent
posture; the pain passes down in the right thigh in the direction of the
sciatic nerve; it is therefore, almost impossible for him to press when
at stool; the pain in the sacrum and in the sacral ligaments was
sometimes, when moving, like a stab with a knife, [5]. ► Early
in the morning painful pressure or pain, as if beaten in the os sacrum,
worse when stooping, but not ceasing on getting up again; it extends
after a time into the renal region, abating by walking in the open air,
but returning after a short time when sitting (fourth day), [12]. ►
The pain in the sacrum begins again when standing in a stooping posture;
is better when walking; worse when lying on the back; but when lying on
the left side, it is worse towards the right (fifth day), [12]. ► The
pressing across the sacrum comes again immediately on stooping, and
becomes almost intolerable when the stooping posture is persisted in;
the pains in the sacrum and leg cease by motion in the open air;
increased when pressing at stool; also, when coughing and laughing, the
pain then extends from the sacral plexus through the large foramen
ischiaticum, along the great sciatic nerve down into the thigh; worse on
the right side (sixth day), [12]. ► On pressing to stool, on coughing, and on
laughing, aggravation of the pain in the sacrum, extending into the
right thigh (eighth day), [12].
EXTREMITIES.
►
After supper he took a walk on returning to the house, his knees, hips,
elbows, and shoulders-joint were as if sprained and beaten, [9].
SUPERIOR EXTREMITIES.
► At the anterior margin of the left
axillary cavity, a sensation as if it were thicker, as if there were a
round tumor internally, and painful on pressure and by motion; it went
away without becoming a boil (fifth and sixth days), [2]. ►
Sometimes tearing pains towards the elbow, and in the palm of the hand
towards the thumb-joint (first day), [3].
► Drawing, cramplike pain, apparently
in the supinator longus of the left
arm, just below the bend of the elbow, lasting half an hour (after
fifteen minutes), [15]. [160.] ►
In the left forearm and hand heaviness and sensation of numbness, about
10 P.M. (fifth day), [12]. ► Sensation, as if the skin of the hands,
especially of the right hand, were contracted, from the tips of the
fingers downwards, so that it seems as if, on extending the fingers, one
must stretch the skin forcibly; at the same time in the ends of the
fingers a kind of sensation, as if dead (first day), [3]. ►
Unpleasant drawing in the right hand, later involving the whole forearm
(first day), [3]. ► Soon, violent pressing pain through the
metacarpal bone of the right fourth finger, beginning scarcely a minute
later and increasing, [2]. ► Rheumatic pain in right little finger
(excepting last joint), increased by strong pressure or movement of
finger (fifteenth and sixteenth days), [16].
► Pain in the first phalanx of the
little finger of the left hand, as if he had fallen upon it; on touch
and pressure no sore spot can be discovered; on moving it, it is painful
(eleventh day), [12].
INFERIOR EXTREMITIES.
► Dull pain, deep internally in the whole
length of the right thigh; uninfluenced by change of position (after one
hour), [4]. ►
The left thigh upon which she lay became numb, and her feet cold (after
four weeks), [4]. ► Very tired in the knees and lower legs;
worse on the right side; the whole evening, drawing in the right leg
posteriorly from the right posterior superior spinous process down to
the calf; worse in the kneeholder; the drawing in the right leg and the
tiredness after lying down (11.30 P.M.) are so hard, that for awhile it
prevents him from getting asleep, and compels him to frequently turn and
twist; the sleep is good, with amelioration of all the pains (fifth
day), [12]. ►
At the outside of the right knee anteriorly, a burning aching (after
eighteen minutes), [2]. [170.] ►
Pain in the right shin (eleventh day), [4].
► Pain in the right metatarsal bone,
as if the bone were pressed (after half an hour, and second day), [2]. ►
A sharp pain passed quickly over the toes of the right foot, then into
the heel (after one hour), [4].
GENERALITIES.
►
Evolution of such a persistent odor, that for the remainder of the
session, the patient had to sit apart from his fellow-students, [14]. ►
*Restlessness, [5]. ► In the morning, after deep sleep, with
bad dreams, he felt heavy and dull, [9].
► *Lassitude and weakness,
then pains in the elbows, ankles, and various parts, sharp and quick, [10]. ►
Feels strange and singular in his whole body, but cannot describe the
sensation (after three-quarters of an hour), [2]. ► The
“first right, then left,” was exhibited in several pains,
which, however, were so fugitive and indistinct, for example, in the
right side and shoulder, that he recorded nothing of them, [2]. ►
Aching pains all over body, especially in limbs and scapulæ; worse on
right side; worse on waking (fifteenth and sixteenth days), [16]. [180.]
► Walked to-day eight or nine miles,
and felt the effects so sensibly that she stopped taking the Tellurium
until the fatigue should have passed over (second day); she felt the
effects of the walk more particularly in the shape of a sticking pain
through both temples, a pain from hip to hip, and in both acetabula, for
a whole day (third day), [4]. ► At 9 A.M. pains above the right eye after
going out; the pain goes towards the temple; then in the flanks below
the ribs, then in the right side of the pelvis, the right shin, then
over the left eye, left ear, then into the right eye; at the same time
she is chilly (twelfth day), [4]. ► The parts which had been attacked with
pains, now pain as if beaten or sore (thirteenth day), [4]. ► The
symptoms, especially the attacks which compelled her to lie down, were
more violent the first Tuesday after taking the medicine, came again the
two following Tuesdays, but with less violence. The fourth Tuesday she
was quite free, but they came again on Thursday, and somewhat changed, [4].
SKIN.
►
*About fifteen or twenty days after the first dose, the left ear began
to itch, burn, and swell; there were
aching and throbbing pains in the external meatus, and in the course of
three or four days, there was a copious watery discharge from the ear,
smelling like fish-pickle; this discharge was acrid and caused a
vesicular eruption on the lower lappet of the ear and on the neck,
wherever it touched the skin; the inflammation of the ear generally was
not vesicular; the color was a bluish red, and the ear had the
appearance of being infiltrated with water; this eruption, which was
very troublesome from its itching and burning, and from the copious,
offensive, and acrid discharge, lasted for a long time; if memory be not in error, nearly three months,
[11]. ►
Pimples on the face (second day), [10].
► *Little stinging prickings in various
parts of the skin of the whole body, continuing all the afternoon and
evening, and forcing me instantly to rub the spot (first
day); came on again like flea-bites here and
there, and lasted all day (second day); this pricking continued very troublesome at times,
principally when at rest, for several weeks, but gradually subsided. A
little spot of herpes circinnatus made its appearance a few days since
on the forehead, perpendiculary above the external canthus of the right
eye, and about half an inch above the eyebrow; I do not remember ever
before to have had an eruption of the kind; it was at first a little
cluster of globular vesicles, on an inflamed base, which dried into thin
scales and spread by the circumference; it itches and pricks slightly
(eleventh day). The herpetic spot is now
circular, about half an inch in diameter, and consists of an elevated
ring of vesicles, some larger than others, on an inflamed base,
inclosing a depressed area of red skin, which desquamates, but contains
no vesicles; it continues to itch slightly, and to furnish successive
crops of thin white scales (eighteenth day). The troublesome stinging became very annoying the whole
of the evening of this day, when sitting still, wandering all over the
body. A herpetic spot, similar to the one on the forehead, has made its
appearance on the left side, midway between the ribs and the crest of
the ilium, accompanied by very troublesome itching, which changes into
smarting on being rubbed; it forms about three-quarters of a circle, and
is rather irregular; there are indications of another spot just above it
(nineteenth day). For the last week the
stinging in the skin has been much less, but it is succeeded by a
constant itching of the scalp, which requires continual scratching; the
itching is apparently due to an eruption of little fine vesicles upon a
slightly-inflamed base, which, after remaining a few days, dry up and
fall off in little white scales; they are most plentiful on the
occipital scalp, on the nape in the borders of the hair, and on the
posterior surface of the auricles; this itching has been constant and
very annoying for a week, and bids fair to continue; the spot on the
forehead is breaking up, there being several gaps in the ring, which is
now three-quarters of an inch in diameter; just above it another spot
has appeared, precisely similar, but smaller (forty-third
day). The eruption has nearly disappeared from
the head, and the itching has ceased almost entirely; the spot on the
forehead is no longer to be discerned, the skin being scarcely reddened
where it existed; the new one is slightly increasing, and forms about
two-thirds of a circle, but it is not as vigorous as its predecessor;
the spots on the side have disappeared; I still have occasional
stingings in the skin, but rarely (forty-ninth day). The spot have all gone, and I have no further symptoms
(fifty-sixth day), [1]. ► After a few days, an eruption; small red
papules, which itch very much, on the abdomen, on the inside of the
thighs, and on the perinæum; the itching is worse in cold weather, [8]. ►
In the afternoon, a prickling itching at the scrotum; worse on the right
side; then on the inside of the left thigh, high up; then low on the
right side of the abdomen; then on the left side; later between the
buttocks (second day), [12]. ► *After two or three days an eruption makes its
appearance, such as he had never had; small red pimples, very bright red
and very sharply defined, with minute vesicles upon them, first on the
lower extremities, then also upon the upper, most on the left side; they began first on the outside of the calves, and then
on the inside of the forearms, above the wrist, and spread from that
point, caused very severe itching, day and night, but worst at night after going to bed, [7]. [190.]
► *After about five days, there appeared
on the left hand small red points, shining through the skin, which
sometimes itch; the feet also itch, especially the left one, as though
there were some heat-vesicles there; after the lapse of
several days, there appeared, first on the calves, and then extending up
to the thighs, similar small red isolated points, which itch, like those
on the hand; the itching is especially in those spots where the skin
perspires most; the abdomen seems not to be affected; but, after a few
days, a number of similar pimples, itching like the others, appear in
the epigastrium; on rubbing the parts that itch, these points become
more visible; the itching is not unlike that caused by bed-bugs; from
the epigastrium the eruption extends towards the left nipple, and
lingers here as well as at the epigastrium longer than on the
before-mentioned localities, and it finally turns towards the left
axilla; at the same time also it itches in various parts of the back;
meanwhile a spot is remarked on the right side of the forehead which is
sore when pressed upon, as if a blow had once been received there, which
he does not remember to have been the case, neither is there any red or
blue spot to be seen; the itching now begins at the head, only at the
posterior and superior parts, not towards the anterior part; the itching
at the head lasts about fourteen days, [3].
SLEEP.
►
Yawning after the retching, [2]. ► Early in the evening sleepy; went to
sleep while sitting (after one hour), [2].
► The sleepy heavy condition, in
which he was for several days before he began the proving, has vanished;
instead thereof, a feeling of restlessness on going to bed, [9]. ►
Wakened with sweat about 4 A.M. (seventh day), [12]. ► He
dreamed at night of smoking cigars, a thing he never does, [6]. ►
Nightmare, [10].
FEVER.
►
Chilliness. ► Chilly
(twelfth day), [4]. ► Internal chilliness with single
shudderings (first day), [3]. ► Heat. ►
Skin hot and dry; sensation as if overstrained, as if bruised, as if he
had taken cold after severe exertion, [9].
[200.] ►
Sinciput hot (eleventh day), [4]. ► An hour and a half after dinner, heat in
the face (eleventh day), [4]. ► Sweat. ►
General warm perspiration over the whole body, when seated writing, the
afternoon being cool and a fine breeze blowing into the room (first
day), [15]. ►
Copious sweat for an hour and a half after the palpitation, [9]. ►
In consequence of taking cold, he got into a very profuse perspiration
during the night, and the sweat gave out the offensive Tellurium odor to
so great an extent, that is was hardly tolerable, a phenomenon which he
had opportunity to observe a second time during the course of this work,
[13]. ►
Imparts to the perspiration a most offensive odor; he was obliged to
absent himself four weeks from society on this account, [15]. ► For
six weeks continued sweat of the feet, especially anteriorly at the
toes, somewhat ill-smelling, [2].
CONDITIONS.
►
Aggravation. ► (Morning), On lying on right side, headache
over left half of head; dryness of fauces. ►
(Forenoon), Fulness and oppression
in epigastrium. ► (Afternoon), Pain in bowels; bubbling in
middle of right lung. ► (Evening), When getting asleep, vertigo; sore
throat; dryness of fauces. ► (Towards morning), Cough. ► (Open air),
Coryza. ► (Coughing),
Pain in sacrum. ► (Drinking), Cough. ►
(Fatigue), Irritation in spine. ► (Laughing),
Pain in sacrum. ► (Lying on back), Pain in sacrum. ► (Motion),
Pain in left axillary cavity. ► (Pressure), Pain in left axillary cavity; pain
in little finger. ► (Pressure to stool), Pain in sacrum. ► (Rising from
sitting), Pain in sacrum. ►
(Sitting up), Vertigo. ► (Smoking),
Cough. ► (Stooping),
Headache in temples and forehead; pain in sacrum. ►
(Swallowing), Pain in right side of
throat. ► (Walking),
Vertigo; cough; aching over body. ► (Cold weather), Itching. ► Amelioration. ►
(Eating or drinking), Pain and
dryness of throat. ► (Walking in open air), Pain in sacrum.® 2000
Article