CACTUS
General action :
Imperfectly known ; its action on the circulation is very decided,
causing great disturbance in the heart’s action, predisposing to
hćmorrhages, but, so far as we know, not producing fever ; its
similarity to some forms of malarial fever, however, is pronounced, and
has proved useful clinically.
Generalities :
Weakness ; pains, as from constriction by an iron band, or tight
cord, generally > fresh, open air.
Mind :
Sadness ; hypochondriac mood.
Wishes to be alone, and not to speak to any one.
Fear of death ; thinks he will not get well.
Head :
Pain, like a weight, on the vertex, > pressure, and < talking and
noise.
Pulsating pain in the right side of the head, with a feeling of weight.
Pain, as if the head were in a vise, or as if it would burst open.
Threatening apoplexy.
Eyes :
Photophobia (with headache).
Vision dim.
Circles of red light before the eyes.
Nose :
Profuse nose-bleed, even with pale face.
Face :
Sometimes pale, death-like, sometimes bloody.
(Pains in the right side, < slightest exertion, > lying still.)
Throat :
Constriction of the throat, suffocative.
Stomach :
Vomiting blood.
Gastro-enteritis, with violent pain ; sensation of constriction.
Palpitation in the pit of the stomach.
Anus and Stool :
Sensation of great weight, and urging to evacuate, as though a large stool
would follow, but without result.
Profuse hćmorrhage from the bowels, or from hćmorrhoids.
Diarrhśa irregular, with heart complications.
Urinary organs :
Frequent urging at night, with a copious flow each day.
Irritation in the urethra, as if necessary to urinate constantly.
Urine reddish, turbid, profuse.
Urine bloody.
Sexual organs, Female :
Painful menstruation.
Menstruation too early.
Menstruation too scanty ; ceases while lying down.
Inflammation of the ovaries, with constriction.
Vaginismus.
Dysmenorrhśa ; pains occur periodically ; menses cease on lying
down, with heart symptoms.
Respiratory organs :
Cough, with much viscid expectoration ; spasmodic : worse at
night.
Cough irritable, hacking, seeming to come from the trachea ; worse at
night, dry.
Expectoration free, yellow or jelly-like ; like boiled starch.
Expectoration of blood.
Breathing difficult ; a feeling as if the chest were constricted by
an iron band.
Periodical suffocation, with fainting, cold sweat and loss of pulse.
Oppressed breathing, as from a weight on the chest.
Feeling as if the chest were bound by a tight cord, or as if bound by an
iron band.
Congestion of the chest.
Heart and Pulse :
A feeling of constriction at the heart, as from an iron hand.
Acute pain in the heart, with stitches, causing loud cries, with difficult
breathing.
Heart’s action rapid, short, irregular, especially on rapid motion.
Heart’s action irregular, with feeling of pressure and heaviness.
Palpitation ; worse from walking and at night, when lying on the left
side.
Palpitation from the least excitement, or from thinking, wit need of deep
breathing.
Neck and Back :
Pain under left scapula.
Coldness of the back, with icy-cold hands.
Extremities :
Tearing pains in the various joints.
Numbness of the left arm at night, with prickling in the little finger.
Śdema of the hands, especially of the left hand.
Śdema of the lower extremities.
Sleep :
Sleeplessness, or restless sleep.
Fever :
Intermittent.
Febrile attacks daily at same hour, generally about the middle of the day,
from 11 to 1.
Coldness in the back, with icy-cold hands ; the febrile stage not
marked ; chill may be followed by cold sweat, without intermediate
fever.
(Malaria paroxysms accompanied by hćmorrhage, especially from the bowels,
rarely by convulsions in children.)
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