Doryphora.
Doryphora decemlineata. The Colorado Beetle. Potato Bug. N. O. Coleoptera.
Tincture prepared by covering the crushed live beetles with alcohol.Clinical.─
Diarrhśa. Diphtheria. Dysentery.
Erysipelas. Fevers. Gastric affections. Gleet. Gonorrhśa. Myxśdema. Parotitis. Spleen,
pain in. Typhoid. Ulceration. Urethritis.
Characteristics.─
Doryphora
in its general effects bears a strong resemblance to Cantharis.
An extensive proving has been made, and to this have been added the effects of poisoning
from handling the insects, and from inhaling the vapour when they have been burned or
scalded. Like Canth., Doryph. produces burning in mouth,
throat, gullet, stomach, abdomen, rectum, and urinary passages; strangury, urethritis, and
itching burning and inflammation of glans penis. It has been successfully used in urethritis
in children under ten, provoked by local irritation. A feeling of weight or heaviness is
common. Fainting, weakness, prostration, collapse; great trembling of extremities.
Prostration after typhoid and diphtheria has been cured. The weakness is < by talking. Local application causes ulceration. The blood
will not coagulate; blood globules disorganised; enormous swelling of whole body; swelling
of feet with burning; elastic swelling of whole body which will not pit on pressure
(suggesting its applicability in myxśdema). The symptoms are <
by motion; < from smoking; <
in warm room; > in open air; pressure < (pain in kidneys).
Relations.─
The local effect is antidoted by: Earth; other antidotes are: Vinegar and other
vegetable acids, Stramon. Compare: Agar., Ailanth.,
Apis, Bellad., Canth., Crotal., Laches., and with the Solanaceć generally, as the beetle
partakes of the properties of the plants it infests. In non-coagulation of the blood,
Sanguisuga.
SYMPTOMS.
1. Mind.─
Stupor; with muttering and loud rumbling
in bowels.─Delirium; talkative; red, bloated face, protruding eyes.─Irritability.
3. Eyes.─
Eyes red, sore; protruding; pupils much
dilated; sight much impaired.
6. Face.─
Face bloated and red, giving appearance
of a confirmed drunkard.
8. Mouth.─
Dark brown coating on tongue.─Offensive
taste.─Violent heat in mouth; severe pain across kidneys; face red and
bloated; constipation and retention of urine.─(Parotitis.)
9. Throat.─
Dry feeling in throat with desire to
swallow.─Throat raw and constricted.─Burning in
throat and down śsophagus, with stomachache and cough.
11. Stomach.─
Loss of appetite, great thirst.─Craving
for something sour; symptoms < by smoking.─Nausea
and vomiting; vomits dark, grumous acrid matter; of dirty brown fluid with diarrhśa.
12. Abdomen.─
Pain in spleen.─Rumbling
in bowels (with stupor).─Pain in bowels, <
by eating and drinking and by deep inspiration.─Abdomen feels heavy;
sore and tender; burning.
13. Stool and Rectum.─
Morning diarrhśa, with
pain in abdomen and burning in rectum.─Bloody, slimy stools.─Heaviness;
intense pain in rectum.
14. Urinary Organs.─
Retention of urine.─Dysuria,
with burning, stinging pain.
15. Male Sexual Organs.─
Itching and burning of
glans penis, which is swollen and bluish red; urethra inflamed, with excruciating pain, esp.
when urinating.
18. Chest.─
Soreness and oppression of chest with
sore throat.
20. Back.─
Pain in lumbar region.
21. Limbs.─
Great trembling in extremities; in r.
arm and leg.
25. Skin.─
An abraded surface on the wrist of one
engaged in picking the bugs became painful, a deep sloughing ulcer developed, and the bones
were laid bare.
26. Sleep.─
Tossing about all night.─Sleepless
till 12, then restless sleep with terrifying dreams.─While sleeping,
wild dreams, screams as if in great distress.
27. Fever.─
Skin alternately cold, clammy, and hot
with fever.─Coldness of hands and feet.─High fever
during night, restless and sleepless.─Violent fever 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.─Of
children who inhaled vapour from a kettle in which some beetles had been placed, one died
and the other recovered after a serious illness resembling typhoid fever.® 2000
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