Cactus Grandiflorus cact.

Boger's Synoptic Key — Materia Medica

C. M. Boger · Boger's Synoptic Key — Materia Medica · A Synoptic Key of the Materia Medica, 1915 — the Materia Medica half

Region

HEART (muscle). CIRCULATION. Head; right. Chest. Circular muscles.

Worse

Lying: On left side. On occiput. Periodically. Exertion. 10-11 A.M. or 11 P.M. Night.

Better

Open air. Pressure on vertex.

General

CONSTRICTIONS; heart; chest; neck; body feels tight or wrapped, (Bar-c. Grap. Med. Nux-v. Sul.). Irregular circulation. Violent congestion. Hot gushings into chest. Localised pulsations; behind stomach. HÆMORRHAGE. Pains that extort cries. Periodical neuralgias.

Particulars

As of a weight on vertex or chest. Red face. Cough; from heart affections; rattling. Menses lumpy; black; cease on lying. HEART FEELS CLUTCHED AND RELEASES ALTERNATELY, BY AN IRON HAND; or feels it expand and contract; seems to turn over (Lach.); stitches; irritable; intermittent beat. As if an iron band about chest. Numb left arm. Fingers tingle. Chill, not > covering. Strong pulsations in odd places.

Related

Related: Aco. Coc-c.

Keynotes and Characteristics with Comparisons of some of the Leading Remedies of the Materia Medica

H. C. Allen · Keynotes and Characteristics with Comparisons of some of the Leading Remedies of the Materia Medica · homeoint.org / Medi-T HTML text; edition not stated by the mirror (first edition 1898, Allen d. 1909)

Keynote

Sanguineous congestions in persons of plethoric habit (Acon.); often resulting in haemorrhage; sanguineous apoplexy. Fear of death; believes disease incurable (Ars.). Haemorrhage: from nose, lungs, stomach, rectum, bladder (Crot., Mill., Phos.). Headache, pressing like a heavy weight on vertex ( > by pressure, Meny.); climacteric (Glon., Lach.). Headache and neuralgia; congestive, periodic, right-sided; severe, throbbing, pulsating pain. Whole body feels as if caged, each wire being twisted tighter and tighter. Constriction: of throat, chest, heart, bladder, rectum, uterus, vagina; often caused or brought on by the slightest contact. Oppression of chest, as from a great weight; as if an iron band prevented normal motion. Sensation of a cord tightly tied around lower part of chest, marking attachment of diaphragm. Heart feels as if clasped and unclasped rapidly by an iron hand; as if bound, "had no room to beat.". Pains everywhere; darting, springing like chain lightening, and ending with a sharp, vise-like grip, only to be again renewed. Menstrual flow ceases when lying down (Bov., Caust.). Palpitation: day and night; worse when walking and lying on left side (Lach.); at approach of menses. Fever paroxysm returns at 11 a. m. and 11 p. m.

Relations

Compare: Acon., Dig., Gels., Kal., Lach., Tab.

Key-Notes to the Materia Medica

Henry N. Guernsey · Key-Notes to the Materia Medica · homeoint.org / Médi-T HTML text (Guernsey d. 1885; public domain)

General

A marked sense of constriction or contraction about the heart, or in the chest, as if a hand, a vice, or something had clutched the part and was holding on very tightly. The same sensations are found about the neck of the bladder, and about the œsophagus. Organic diseases of the heart.

Head

Heavy pain, like weight on vertex. Right sided headaches; periodic; pulsating and throbbing.

Generalities

Hæmatemesis; hæmaturia; hæmoptysis. Congestions.

Stool

Constipation. Fluent hæmorrhoids.

Fever

Chilliness not relieved by covering; 11 A.M. and 11 P.M.

Seven Hundred Red Line Symptoms from Materia Medica

J. W. Hutchison · Seven Hundred Red Line Symptoms from Materia Medica · rewritten from Hering's and other materia medicas

Red line symptom

Sensation of constriction in the heart, as if an iron band prevented its normal movement.

Homœopathic Materia Medica

William Boericke · Homœopathic Materia Medica · 9th edition

Common name

Night-blooming Cereus (SELENICEREUS SPINULOSUS)

General

Acts on circular muscular fibers, hence constrictions. It is the heart and arteries especially that at once respond to the influence of Cactus, producing very characteristic constrictions as of an iron band. This sensation is found in various places, œsophagus, bladder, etc. The mental symptoms produced correspond to those found when there are heart affections, sadness, and melancholy. Hæmorrhage, constrictions, periodicity, and spasmodic pains. Whole body feels as if caged, each wire being twisted tighter. Atheromatous arteries and weak heart. Congestions; irregular distribution of blood. Favors formation of clots speedily. Great periodicity. Toxic goitre with cardiac symptoms. Cactus is pulseless, panting and prostrated.

Mind

Melancholy, taciturn, sad, ill-humored. Fear of death. Screams with pain. Anxiety.

Head

Headache if obliged to pass dinner hour (Ars; Lach; Lyc). Sensation as of a weight on vertex. Right-sided pulsating pain. Congestive headaches, periodical, threatening apoplexy. Blood-vessels to the head distended. Feels as if head were compressed in a vise. Pulsation in ears. Dim sight. Right sided prosopalgia, constricting pains, returns at same hour daily (Cedron).

Nose

Profuse bleeding from nose. Fluent coryza.

Throat

Constriction of œsophagus. Dryness of tongue, as if burnt; needs much liquid to get food down. Suffocative constriction at throat, with full, throbbing carotids in angina pectoris.

Stomach

Constriction, pulsation, or heaviness in stomach. Vomiting of blood.

Stool

Hard, black stools. Diarrhœa in morning. Hæmorrhoids swollen and painful. Sensation of great weight in anus. Hæmorrhage from bowels in malarial fevers and with heart symptoms.

Urine

Constriction of neck of bladder, causing retention of urine. Hæmorrhage from bladder. Clots of blood in urethra. Constant urination.

Female

Constriction in uterine region and ovaries. Dysmenorrhœa; pulsating pain in uterus and ovaries. Vaginismus. Menses early, dark, pitch-like (Cocc; Mag c); cease on lying down, with heart symptoms.

Chest

Oppressed breathing as from a weight on chest. Constriction in chest, as if bound, hindering respiration. Inflammation of diaphragm. Heart-constriction, as from an iron band. Angina pectoris. Palpitation; pain shooting down left arm. Hæmoptysis, with convulsive, spasmodic cough. Diaphragmitis, with great difficulty of breathing.

Heart

Endocarditis with mitral insufficiency together with violent and rapid action. Acts best in the incipiency of cardiac incompetence. Heart weakness of arterio-sclerosis. Tobacco heart. Violent palpitation; worse lying on left side, at approach of menses. Angina pectoris, with suffocation, cold sweat, and ever-present iron band feeling. Pain in apex, shooting down left arm. Palpitation, with vertigo; dyspnœa, flatulence. Constriction; very acute pains and stitches in heart; pulse feeble, irregular, quick, without strength. Endocardial murmurs, excessive impulse, increased præcordial dullness, enlarged ventricle. Low blood pressure.

Extremities

Œdema of hands and feet. Hands soft; feet enlarged. Numbness of left arm. Icy-cold hands. Restless legs.

Sleep

Sleepless on account of pulsation in different parts of body. Frightful dreams.

Fever

Fever every day at same hour. Coldness in back and icy-cold hands. Intermittent; paroxysms about midday (11 am) incomplete in their stages, accompanied by hæmorrhages. Coldness predominates; cold sweat, with great anguish. Persistent subnormal temperature.

Modalities

Worse, about noon, lying on left side; walking, going upstairs, 11 am and 11 pm. Better, open air.

Relationship

Antidotes: Acon; Camph; China.

Compare: Digital; Spigel; Convallar; Kalmia; Naja; Magnol.

Dose

Tincture (best made from flowers), to third attenuation. Higher in nervous palpitation.

Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutics

E. B. Nash · Leaders in Homoeopathic Therapeutics · homeoint.org / Médi-T HTML text (Nash d. 1917; public domain)

Leaders

Constriction of the heart, as if an iron band prevented its normal movement; < lying on left side.

Constriction, general; of heart, chest, bladder, rectum, uterus, vagina, etc.

Hæmorrhages in connection with heart troubles; nose, lungs, stomach, rectum, bladder.

Palpitation; day or night; worse when walking and lying on left side, approach of menses.

Fear of death; believes the disease incurable.

Cactus grandiflorus is another great heart remedy, and its grand characteristic is not at all like Digitalis. It is a "sensation of constriction of the heart , as if an iron band prevented its normal movement." (Iodine has a sensation as if heart was squeezed together. Lilium tigrin., as if grasped and released alternately. Lachesis, constriction on awaking, throws off covering; Arsenicum alb., constriction or oppression on walking). This sensation of constriction is not confined to the heart, but is found in the chest, bladder, rectum, uterus, vagina; in short, it seems to be a general characteristic for this remedy, as does that of fullness for Æsculus hippocastanum.

The heart troubles of Cactus are quite apt to be caused by inflammatory rheumatism, where it is one of our best remedies.

Among the symptoms found, more or less connected with heart troubles, for which Cactus is indicated, are: Heavy pain on vertex like a weight (Glonoine; Lachesis at climacteric), a frequent symptom in persons suffering with heart troubles, cerebral congestion, profuse epistaxis, hæmatemesis, hæmorrhages from anus, hæmaturia or hæmoptysis. In any hæmorrhages, seeming to be in sympathy with heart trouble, think of Cactus.

Now, besides the leading characteristic of Cactus on the heart, we have other chest and heart symptoms which are very valuable. Oppression of chest or difficult breathing, as if the chest could not be expanded, with this sense of band-like constriction.

"Periodical attacks of suffocation, with fainting, cold perspiration on face and loss of pulse."

"Fluttering and palpitation of heart, increased when walking or lying on left side."

"Great irregularity of heart's action, intermittent pulse, valvular murmurs in organic diseases of heart."

"Palpitation < lying on left side (Nat. mur.).

Œdema of left hand, foot and leg."

"Rheumatism of all joints, beginning in upper extremities." (Ledum in lower.).

"Numbness of the left arm" (Aconite; aching, Rhus toxicod.).

"Cactus is a remedy of not very wide range; but of paramount importance in its sphere."

Text Book of Materia Medica

Adolph Lippe · Text Book of Materia Medica · homeoint.org / Médi-T HTML text (Lippe d. 1888; public domain)

Mind and Disposition

Sadness and bad humor ; taciturnity, melancholy, hypochondriasis.

Head

Vertigo, from sanguineous congestions to the head. Pulsating pain, with the sensation of weight in the right side of the head. Heavy pain, like a weight on the vertex ; worse from sounds even talking.

Eyes

Dimness of sight ; cannot see at a distance ; objects appear to be obscured.

Ears

Hearing diminished by the buzzing in the ears. Pulsations in the ears (otitis).

Nose

Profuse bleeding of the nose.

Face

Face bloated and red, with pulsation in the head.

Throat

Constriction of the œsophagus, which prevents swallowing ; which excites the frequent swallowing of saliva.

Stomach and Abdomen

Nausea in the morning, lasting all day. Acrid acid in the stomach, which rises in the throat and mouth. Burning pulsation or heaviness in the stomach. Constriction or pulsation in the scrobiculus. Pulsation in the cœliac artery (after dinner). Copious vomiting of blood.

Stool and Anus

Constipation ; stool hard and black. Diarrhœa, watery, mucous, bilious (in the forenoon). Sensation of great weight in the anus. Swollen, painful varices at the anus. Copious hæmorrhage from the anus. Itching in the anus.

Urinary Organs

Constriction of the neck of the bladder. Irritation in the urethra, as if he would pass water constantly. Urine passes by drops, with much burning. Profuse urine, of a straw color. Urine, on cooling, deposits a red sand. Hæmaturia.

Sexual Organs

Women. Pulsating pain in the uterus and ovaries. Sensation of constriction in the uterine region. Very painful menstruation. Labor suppressed.

Chest

Feeling of constriction in the chest, as if bound ; hindering respiration. Sensation of constriction in the heart, as if an iron band prevented its normal movement. Acute pains and stitches in the heart. Difficulty of breathing ; attacks of suffocation, with fainting, cold perspiration on the face, and loss of pulse. Palpitation of the heart ; worse when walking, and at night when lying on the left side. Chronic bronchitis, with rattling of mucus. Hæmoptysis, with convulsive cough. Spasmodic cough and copious mucous expectoration. Pricking pains in the chest, with oppressed respiration, intense cough, sanguinolent sputa. (Pneumonia).

Extremities

Formication and weight in the arms. Œdema of the hands ; worse in the left. Œdema of the feet, extending to the knee ; the skin is shining ; pressure with the fingers leaves an indentation.

Generalities

General weakness and prostration of strength. Sensation of constriction in the throat ; chest ; heart ; bladder ; rectum. Hæmorrhages, nose ; lungs ; rectum ; stomach.

Sleep

Sleeplessness without cause ; or from arterial pulsations in the scrobiculus, and in the right ear. Delirium at night, on waking up.

Fever

Slight chilliness towards 10 A.M. Chilliness, with chattering of the teeth. Burning heat, with shortness of breath. Scorching heat at night, with headache, following a chill and terminating in perspiration. Intermittent fever (quotidian) recurring every day at the same hour. One o'clock in the afternoon slight chill, then burning heat, with dyspnœa, pulsating pain in the uterine region, terminating in slight perspiration : -(quotidian) 11 A.M., great coldness for two hours ; then burning heat, with great dyspnœa, violent pain in the head, coma, stupefaction, insensibility till midnight, then unquenchable thirst and perspiration.

Skin

Dry, scaly herpes on the outside of the elbow, and on the right internal malleolus.

Conditions

The intermittent fever attacks recur at the same hour. Aggravation in the forenoon (diarrhœa). At night (palpitation of the heart ; headache). When lying on the left side (palpitation of the heart). After eating (weight in the stomach). From noise and light (headache).

A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica

John Henry Clarke · A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · 1st edition (1900-02, three volumes); homeoint.org / Médi-T HTML digitization

General

Cereus grandiflorus. Night-blooming Cereus. (Mexico and the West Indies.) N. O. Cactaceæ. Tincture of youngest and tenderest stems and flowers collected in summer.

Clinical

Aneurism. Angina pectoris . Apoplexy. Arteries, atheroma of. Asthma. Bladder, paralysis of. Brain, congestion of . Bronchitis. Diaphragm, rheumatism of . Dropsies. Ear, inflammation of. Fistula. Goître, exophthalmic. Hæmaturia. Hæmorrhages. Headache. Heart, affections of ; hypertrophy of. Indigestion. Intermittent fevers. Lungs, hæmorrhage from . Melancholy. Menstruation, painful. Miliaria . Neuralgia. Otitis. Ovaritis. Pneumonia. Prostate, affections of. Rheumatism. Sun, effects of. Sunstroke . Traumatic fever. Vaginismus.

Characteristics

We are indebted to Rubini of Naples and his devoted wife for the first provings of this great remedy. Cactus affects powerfully the entire organism, but its intensest operation is on the heart and circulation. In congestive violence it rivals Acon ., which is one of its antidotes. As with Acon ., too, the pains are unendurable; they extort screams. Sadness, apprehension, fear of death and a tendency to be easily frightened characterise the Cactus mental state, as they do many conditions of heart disease. Given as an organ-remedy it will benefit a large number of cases of weakened and painful heart; and if its keynote symptom of constriction ─ "as if an iron band prevented its normal movements," or "heart as if compressed violently and as violently struggled to burst its bonds" ─ is present, it will cure. Pain and numbness in left arm accompanying heart disease. Sharp pains in diaphragm and girdle pain round its attachment. Indigestion with these symptoms. Snader considers Cactus specially indicated where the heart is weak and the arteries atheromatous. This is confirmed by a venerable correspondent of the Hom. World (July, 1898), who, finding his temporal arteries much swollen and hard to touch, took several doses of Cact . 1x, with the result that in a few days they became normal. Snader uses the lower attenuations in this condition. A case of angina pectoris was cured by the 30th, with the following characteristic: sensation as though a swarm of hornets were going from pectoral region to heart. Cactus has the weakness and coldness of the extremities which characterise many heart cases, and render it an appropriate remedy. Constricting pains run through the pathogenesis (throat; chest; heart; bladder; rectum; vagina). Twitching of muscles, and sensation of constriction produced by touching the affected part. Hæmorrhages (nose; lungs; rectum; stomach). Sanguineous congestions, which are in a way a counter-part of the constrictive sensations. Prostration. Among the other prominent symptoms of Cactus are: "Heavy pain in vertex, like a weight." "Periodical attacks of suffocation, with fainting, cold sweat on face, and loss of pulse." "Fluttering and palpitation of heart, < when walking or lying on left side." "Heart disease with swelling of left hand only." "Numbness of left arm." "Rheumatism of all joints, beginning in upper extremities." The pains are very sharp, causing the patient to cry out. Many symptoms are < at night (" Night -blooming Cereus"). Menses cease at night. Many symptoms < lying down, or come on when lying down. Periodicity is well marked (quotidian fever, 11 a.m.). Chill at same hour every day, 11 a.m. or 11 p.m. Choudhury has reported a case cured, the characteristics being: "Chill severe, 11 a.m., thirsty, headache, body hot; no separate heat." When there is heat there is thirst and short breath. At times there is entire absence of sweat. There is < after eating (weight at stomach); and also < from missing a meal or fasting (prosopalgia and other neuralgias); < from lying on left side; from noise and light from heat; from sun's rays; from exertion; from damp.

Relations

Botanical relatives: Cereus bonplandii, C. serpentinus, Opuntia, and, in a sense, Coccus cacti, Antidoted by: Aco., Camph., Chi., Eup. perfol. Compatible: Dig. (tumultuous action of heart; slow, irregular pulse; scanty urine; dropsy); Eup. perf., Lach Nux, Sul. (pleurisy). Follows well: Aco., Arn., Ars., Bell., Bry., Cham., Gels., Ip., K. bro. (diaphragmitis), Lach., Nux, Rhus. Compare: In mental symptoms, Dig., Lach. In congestions to head, Bell., Glo. In pain and pressure in head, Arn., Carb. v., Coral., Iod., Nux, Op., Spi. Weight in vertex, Alo., Alum. In heart affections, Aco., Act. r., Amyl. n., Arn., Bell., Bov., Crotal., Dig., Eup. perf., Kalm., Lach., Lil. t., Naja, Puls., Spi., Zn. (as if a cap over heart); irritable heart, Cer. b., Hep., Pho. In constrictions (of chest) Zn., K. chlo., Cad. s., Alum., Bell., Bov., Arn., Cain., K. nit., Lach., Stram., (uterus) Murex, (vagina) Kali c. In menses ceasing at night, Caust. In leucorrhœa, Am. mur. In intermittents, Ars., Bry., Calc., Eup. perf., Nat. m:, Rhus, Sul. In dropsies, Dig., Kalm. In sleeplessness, Sul. Neuralgia and other forms of pain which are sure to appear when an accustomed meal is missed, Ars. Hæmoptysis, strong throbbing at heart, Aco. (Aco. has more anxiety and fever). Pain in diaphragm, Ran. b. (Ran. b. has pains shoot from front to back; Cact. has sharp pains in diaphragm and girdle pain round attachment). Reptile sensation, Crocus.

Causation

Sun. Damp. Love disappointment.

Mind

Sadness and bad humour; taciturnity; melancholy; hypochondriasis. ─ Cries, knows not why; < by consolation. ─ Screaming with pain. ─ During menses, hysteria. ─ Fear of death, belief that his disease is incurable. ─ Love of solitude.

Head

Vertigo, from sanguineous congestions to head. ─ Heavy pressing in the head as if a great weight lay on the vertex; > from pressure; < from noise (even talking) and light. ─ Throbbing pain with sensation of weight and violent neuralgias in r. side of head; periodic. ─ Feeling as if head compressed in a vice, and would burst from severity of pain.

Eyes

Dimness of sight; cannot see at a distance; objects seem obscured.

Ears

Hearing diminished by the buzzing in the ears. ─ Pulsations in the ears (otitis).

Nose

Profuse epistaxis; soon ceasing.

Face

Paleness of the face. ─ Bloated and red; with pulsations in head. ─ Prosopalgia, right-sided, chronic; < from slightest exertion; bearable only when lying still in bed; brought on by wine, music, strong light, missing dinner at usual hour.

Mouth

Loss of taste for food with nausea. ─ Tongue purple, thick brown sordes on teeth. ─ Prickling on point of tongue. ─ Breath very offensive.

Throat

Feeling of warmth about throat and chest. ─ Constriction of œsophagus, which prevents swallowing. ─ Constriction of throat exciting a constant desire to swallow. ─ Suffocative constriction at throat with full, throbbing carotids. ─ Scraping sensation at soft palate.

Stomach

Appetite good; digestion weak. ─ Complete loss of appetite, stomach rejects everything. ─ After eating weight and distress in stomach. ─ Nausea in the morning, lasting all day. ─ Acrid, sour fluid in stomach which rises in throat and mouth. ─ Frequent vomiting. ─ Copious hæmatemesis. ─ Burning pulsation or heaviness in stomach. ─ Constriction or pulsation in scrobiculus. ─ Gastro-enteritis.

Abdomen

Pulsation in the cœliac artery (after dinner), burning extends down from it in flashes. ─ Sharp pains shooting through diaphragm and up into chest. ─ Colic with loose stool. ─ Insupportable heat in abdomen. ─ Pain and bearing-down in lower abdomen.

Stool and Anus

Constipation; stool hard and black. ─ Diarrhœa, watery, mucous, bilious (in forenoon). ─ Sensation of great weight (in anus), and urging to evacuate a great quantity, but nothing passes. ─ Copious hæmorrhage from the bowels (from the anus). ─ Itching in the anus. ─ Fluent hæmorrhoids. ─ Fistula in ano with violent palpitation of heart.

Urinary Organs

Constriction of neck of bladder. ─ Irritation in urethra, as if he would pass water constantly. ─ Urine passes by drops, with much burning. ─ Profuse urine, of a straw colour. ─ Urine, on cooling, deposits a red sand. ─ Hæmaturia; urination prevented by clots. ─ Frequent urging; at night, with a copious flow each time.

Male Sexual Organs

Prostatic affections; weight in anus.

Female Sexual Organs

Pulsating pain in uterus and ovaries. ─ Constriction in uterine region; round pelvis. ─ Constriction of vagina preventing coition (vaginismus). ─ Very painful menstruation; extorting loud cries. ─ Menses too early; scanty menstruation, ceasing while lying. ─ Labour suppressed. ─ Breast, tumour in; inflammation of.

Respiratory Organs

Difficulty of breathing; attacks of suffocation with fainting. ─ Chronic bronchitis, with rattling of mucus. ─ Spasmodic cough and copious mucous expectoration. ─ Pricking pains in chest with oppressed respiration (pneumonia). ─ Oppression of breathing in going upstairs. ─ Catarrhal cough with much viscid expectoration. ─ Much rattling of mucus. ─ Cannot lie in a horizontal position. ─ Periodical suffocation, with fainting, and sweat on face and loss of pulse. ─ Hæmoptysis, with convulsive cough. ─ Sharp pains shooting from body to back and up into chest, with sensation of rush of blood to chest (rheumatism of diaphragm).

Chest

Difficulty of breathing; continued oppression and uneasiness as if the chest were constricted with a (hot) iron band, hindering respiration. ─ Whirling sensation from chest to brain; arterial throbbing. ─ Oppressed breathing from a weight on chest. ─ Congestion of the chest which prevents lying down; palpitation; constriction as from a tight cord around false ribs. ─ Sensation of a great constriction in middle of sternum, as if the parts were compressed by iron pincers, with oppression of breathing; worse on motion.

Heart and Pulse

Pain deep in heart like a jerking body, frequently repeated. ─ Something seemed to be whirling up from chest to brain. ─ Sensation as if heart turned over ; as if it whirled round; as if some one was grasping heart firmly, with sensation as if it whirled round; as if heart was bound down and had not room enough to beat; as if bolts were holding it; as if compressed or squeezed by a band. ─ Lancinating pain in heart when perspiration fails. ─ Deathlike feeling at heart and round to l. back. ─ Acute pains, pricking and stitches in the heart. ─ Palpitation of the heart, day and night; < when walking, and at night, when lying on l. side. ─ Palpitation in small irregular beats (at times frequent, at others slow), from slightest excitement or deep thought, with necessity for deep inspiration. ─ Pains in apex of heart, shooting down l. arm to ends of fingers; feeble pulse; dyspnœa. ─ Endocardial murmurs; excessive impulse; increased precordial dulness; enlarged ventricle. ─ Heart disease with œdema of l. hand only. ─ Aneurism. ─ Atheromatous arteries.

Neck and Back

Exophthalmic goître. ─ Cold in back and icy cold hands. ─ Rheumatism of shoulder. ─ Pain under l. shoulder-blade (with palpitation). ─ Lumbar muscles tender on pressure and stiff, esp. on first moving after repose.

Limbs

Rheumatic pains, in shoulders, upper and lower arms, in hips down to feet; < in rest and in motion, and in all positions.

Upper Limbs

Pain in shoulders and arms. ─ Sore aching in l. arm down to elbow; down to fingers. ─ Numbness of l. arm. ─ Formication and weight in arms. ─ Œdema of the hands; worse in the l.

Lower Limbs

Restlessness of legs; cannot keep them still. ─ Œdema of the feet, extending to the knees; the skin is shining; pressure with the fingers leaves an indentation.

Generalities

General weakness and prostration of strength. ─ Sensation of constriction: in throat; chest; heart; bladder; rectum. ─ Hæmorrhages: from nose; lungs; rectum; bladder; stomach. ─ Congestions.

Skin

Dry, scaly herpes on the outside of the elbow, and on the r. internal malleolus.

Sleep

Sleeplessness without cause; or from arterial pulsations in the scrobiculus, and in the r. ear. ─ Dreams: frightful; lascivious.

Fever

Slight chilliness towards 10 a.m. ─ Chilliness, with chattering of the teeth. ─ Chilliness not relieved by covering; 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. ─ Burning heat, with shortness of breath. ─ Scorching heat at night, with headache, following a chill and terminating in perspiration. ─ Coldness in back and icy cold hands. ─ Intermittent fever (quotidian) recurring every day at the same hour (for many successive days). ─ One o'clock in the afternoon slight chill, then burning heat, with dyspnœa, pulsating pain in the uterine region, terminating in slight perspiration. ─ Quotidian, 11 a.m., great coldness for two hours; then burning heat, with great dyspnœa, violent pain in the head, coma, stupefaction, insensibility till midnight, and unquenchable thirst and perspiration.

The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica

Constantine Hering · The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica · 1879–91

Mind

General stupidity.
Difficulty in finding right expression when writing the symptoms down.
Thinks she will not recover ; weeps much ; despondent. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Feels she is dying and thinks she will not live till morning, but has no fear of death. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Love of solitude.
Irresistible inclination to cry (an intelligent woman).
Cries, knows not why ; consolation aggravates.
Screaming with pains, or complete loss of consciousness. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Taciturn, unwilling to speak a word or to answer.
Cheerful and vivacious. θ Heart disease.
Sadness, taciturnity, and irresistible inclination to weep.
Invincible sadness
Hypochondriacal.
Fear of death ; he believes his disease incurable.
Indescribable fear that something terrible is going to happen to him.
During and after attack, great anxiety, fearing some organic lesion of heart which will cause sudden death. θ Angina pectoris.
Anxiety returning in evening.
Easily frightened, often awakes in a fright. θ Enlargement of heart.
Felt much alarmed on waking, but could not tell cause of alarm.

Sensorium

Vertigo from congestion ; face red, bloated ; pulsation in brain ; madness, anxiety.
Vertigo ; < from physical exertion, turning in bed, stooping, rising from a recumbent position, and deep inspiration.

Inner head

Heaviness of head.
A numb pain with a stupefied feeling, extending from above eyes across base of brain.
Pain in forehead and eyes, with ringing in ears.
Stinging pain in forehead over eyes.
Pulsation in temples as if skull would burst ; intolerable at night.
Pain in right temple by spells, brought on by a glass of wine, attending opera, or after getting dinner at too late an hour.
Congestion to brain, bloodshot eyes, coma, suffocation, flushes in face ; fever, from exposure to sun's rays.
Heavy pain like a weight on vertex ; > by pressure, but < from sounds, hearing talking, or strong light.
Right-sided headaches and neuralgias which are periodic, pulsating and throbbing, and of an extreme type.
Pulsating pain, with sensation of weight in right side of head, continuing day and night, so severe as to make him cry out.
Heavy pulsating pain in head.
Troublesome pressure in right parietal bone ; later pain in left parietal bone, early on rising.
Pain and pressure on vertex, with palpitation and sensation as if heart was grasped. θ Coryza.
Tensive pain on vertex.
Feeling as if head was compressed in a vise and that it would burst open from severity of pain ; after catching cold.
Something seems to be whirling up from chest to brain, and all arteries seem to throb ; feels as if dying. θ Rheumatism of heart.
Headache from noise and light.
Headache commences in morning and grows, as day advances, to an unendurable height, with vomiting.
Excessive pain in head, so anxious he cannot remain in bed ; prostrated, weak.
Headache in different parts of head ; < from motion and deep inspiration.
Headache from sanguineous congestion or rheumatism.
Cerebral congestion.
Sanguineous apoplexy.

Outer head

Pain in right temple coming in spells ; begins in morning, increases during day, with vomiting ; nose constantly dry ; must lie perfectly quiet ; < from keeping up, noise, light or exertion.
Pressive pain in left parietal bone, rather external.
Painful drawing in aponeurotic covering of occiput ; > bending head backward.
Cold, clammy sweat on forehead, upper and lower limbs. θ Cardiac rheumatism.

Sight and eyes

Sensitive to light. θ Headache.
Dimness of sight from circles of red light before eyes.
At a short distance he cannot recognize a friend.
Dark spots before eyes, with pain in forehead and eyes.
Dimness of sight ; cannot see at a distance ; objects appear to be obscured.
Weakness of sight returning periodically.
Sight blurred.
Eyes bloodshot ; cerebral congestion even to coma, when perspiration fails. θ Intermittent.
Acute rheumatic ophthalmia.
Hyperemia of eye, especially of fundus.
Exophthalmic goitre. θ Heart disease.

Hearing and ears

Worse from sounds, even talking ; heavy pain like a weight in vertex.
Singing or ringing in ears.
Hardness of hearing from congestion ; pulsations in ears ; noise like running water or buzzing.
Hearing diminished by buzzing in ears.
Pulsations and buzzing in ears. θ Otitis.
Rheumatic otitis.
Otitis from checked perspiration.

Smell and nose

Fluent, acrid coryza ; nostrils sore.
Dry or fluent coryza.
Dry and unpleasant coryza ; must lie at night with mouth open.
Constant dry nose. θ Headache.
Profuse nosebleed, soon ceasing.

Upper face

Prosopalgia, right-sided, chronic ; < from slightest exertion, tolerable only when lying still in bed ; brought on by wine, music, strong light, or missing dinner at usual hour.
Flushes of heat in face, with suffocation. θ Intermittent.
Face bloated and red, with pulsation in head.
Paleness of face and emaciation.
Pale, deathlike countenance. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Anxious look, pale face, purplish lips. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Blue face, with chill. θ Intermittent.
Face and head swollen and discolored. θ Heart disease.

Taste, speech, tongue

Taste acrid.
Loss of taste for food, with nausea.
Tongue purple, with thick, brown sordes on teeth. θ Low fever.
Prickling in point of tongue.

Inner mouth

Fetid breath in morning.
Breath very offensive. θ Low fever.

Palate and throat

Throat feels sore.
Feeling of warmth about throat and chest.
Constriction of œsophagus : prevents swallowing ; must drink large quantities to force fluid into stomach.
Constriction of throat, exciting a constant desire to swallow.
Suffocative constriction at throat, with full throbbing carotids. θ Angina pectoris.
Scraping sensation at soft palate, lasting about an hour.

Appetite, thirst. desires, aversions

Appetite good but digestion weak.
Loss of appetite and taste for food ; nausea.
Loss of appetite. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Complete loss of appetite ; he cannot take least morsel.
No desire for meat, of which he had been very fond. θ Heart disease.
No appetite ; stomach rejecting anything she tried to take. θ Low fever.

Eating and drinking

After eating : weight and distress in stomach.
After dinner : pulsation (in celiac axis) behind stomach.

Hiccough, belching, nausea and vomiting

Nausea in morning, continues all day.
Acrid, sour fluid, rising into throat and mouth, making food taste acid.
Vomiting of blood.
Violent vomiting when perspiration fails. θ Intermittent.
Frequent vomiting. θ Low fever.
Hematemesis.

Scrobiculum and stomach

Indigestion ; sensation as if stomach was closed, with constipation ; palpitation and sensation of constriction of heart ; < ascending and walking.
Sensation of emptiness in stomach, with appetite undisturbed and stool as usual.
Acrid acid in stomach, which rises in throat and mouth.
Uncomfortable sensation at pit of stomach, as if falling. θ Angina pectoris.
Constrictive feeling at scrobiculus cordis, extending to hypochondria, impeding breathing.
Sharp neuralgic pains in cardia, causing patient to weep ad cry loudly.
Burning in pit of stomach.
Strong pulsation in scrobiculus.
Rumbling in stomach precedes aggravation of palpitation.
Sensation of weight with oppression in stomach.
Burning pulsation or heaviness in stomach.
Continuous and annoying pulsation and burning in stomach. θ Climaxis.
A constant fluttering sensation in stomach, over location of celiac axis, in a spot, size of about a dollar ; a burning line extends down from it to lower ribs on either side ; a hot flash shoots downward frequently. θ Low
fever.

Hypochondria

Jerking pain on right side below short ribs, extending backward.
Engorgement of liver ; acute or chronic. θ Heart disease.
Pain in epigastrium, somewhat to left, later lower down on r. side.
Sharp pains shooting through diaphragm and up into chest ; jerking breathing. θ Rheumatism of diaphragm.
Feeling as of a cord tightly tied around lower part of chest ; marking out attachment of diaphragm. θ Rheumatism of diaphragm.

Abdomen and loins

(In sick :) Dull pains in abdomen, then flushes of heat and tingling. θ Rheumatism, with palpitation.
Pain in middle of lower abdomen, somewhat to right, soon after going to bed.
Violent pains in bowels almost causing him to faint.
Wandering pains in umbilical region, which cease and recur periodically.
(In sick :) Crampy pain about navel, with soreness as from a foreign body ; < on motion.
(In sick :) Colic, > after loose stool. θ Rheumatism and palpitation.
Beating in abdomen. θ Palpitation of heart.
Insupportable heat in abdomen, as though something burned him internally.
Pain in lower portion of abdomen and a bearing-down sensation, at times quite severe. θ Low fever.
Peritonitis.
Enteritis.
Severe gastro-enteritis.
Gastric fever.

Stools and rectum

Morning diarrhœa of very loose feces, preceded by great pain. θ Heart affection Diarrhœa, watery mucus, bilious (in forenoon).
Stools scanty, resembling dirty water, averaging as often as every hour. θ Low fever.
Diarrhœa ; < in forenoon.
Diarrhœa, with heart affections.
Irregular stools. θ Palpitation of heart.
Constipation ; stool hard and black.
Constipation from hemorrhoidal congestion.
Sensation of weight in anus, and a strong desire to evacuate a great quantity ; however, nothing passes. θ Heart affections.
Peculiar sensation at anus, as though rectum was swollen, causing scraping and prickling sensation during stool.
Swollen, painful varices at anus.
Copious hemorrhage from anus.
Fluent hemorrhoids.
Pricking in anus, as from pins, ceasing on slight friction.
Itching in anus.
Fistula in ano, with violent palpitation and oppression of heart.

Urinary organs

Paralysis of bladder.
Constriction of neck of bladder.
Frequent but ineffectual desire to urinate.
Desire to urinate ; after attempting to do so for a long time, water passes abundantly.
Insupportable irritation in urethra, as if he would pass water constantly.
Frequent desire to urinate, with an abundant flow of urine, each time, during night.
Urine passes by drops, with much burning.
Urine seems diminished in quantity.
Strangury.
Suppression of urine and pains in bladder during febrile access, when perspiration fails. θ Intermittent.
Urine scanty, not very frequent, but burning and scalding. θ Low fever.
Profuse urine, of a straw color.
Urine, on cooling, deposits a red sand.
Urine reddish, turbid, very abundant.
Hæmaturia ; urination prevented by clots.

Male sexual organs

Prostatic affections : weight in anus ; constriction of bladder ; desire to pass water, unable to pass it for a time, but finally succeeded ; irritation as if he should pass water constantly.

Female sexual organs

Painful constriction around pelvis, extending grandually towards stomach, causing a sensation as of a great blow in region of kidneys, making her cry out.
Pulsating pain in uterus and ovarian region ; pains extend down thighs, returning periodically at same time each day.
Ovaritis.
Sensation of constriction in uterine region.
Spasmodic constriction in uterus and vagina, often from least touch, coming on suddenly and going off in a few minutes.
Hysteralgia : sadness ; crying, but without reason ; consolation agravates ; love of solitude ; fear of death ; constriction of uterus ; whole body feels as if caged in wires. See 43 .
Pains in uterus and its ligaments, returning periodically each evening.
Metritis.
Menses too soon ; black, pitch-like.
Very painful menstruation.
Menstruation, with most horrible pains, causing her to cry aloud and weep.
Sensation of contraction of uterus during profuse menses.
Menstruation, with constrictive spasm of uterus ; pains agonizing, < evening ; flow scanty, ceases when lying down.
Menses ceasing at night.
Constriction of vagina preventing coition. θ Vaginismus.

Pregnancy. parturition. lactation

Labor suppressed.
Inflammation of mamma ; sensation of fulness in chest ; oversensitive to cold air.
Cyanosis in infants. Compare Laches.

Voice and larynx. trachea and bronchia

Voice low, hoarse, constriction of chest.
Bronchial symptoms arising from overaction of heart.
Acute bronchitis.
Bronchitis, with expectoration of mucus, day and night.
Chronic bronchitis, with rattling of mucus ; becoming acute in consequence of a cold, causes great anxiety and suffocation.
Chronic bronchitis, of many years' standing, with rattling of mucus, continues day and night ; oppression of breathing on going up-stairs, and inability to lie horizontally in bed.
Voice moderately full at times ; then decreasing, with a peculiar whistling sound, almost to a whisper. θ Low fever.

Respiration

Inspiring fresh air is very reviving.
Jerking breathing. θ Rheumatism of diaphragm.
Breathing became more and more labored, so that she could not lie down. θ Cardiac dropsy.
Short breathing ; oppression ; anxiety and feeling of constriction as though a band encircled the chest. θ Palpitation of heart.
Difficulty of breathing ; continued oppression and uneasiness, as if chest was constricted with an iron band, and could not dilate for normal respiration.
Shortness of breath while walking, especially on ascending stairs.
Slight dyspnœa during day while walking.
Oppression of breathing on going up-stairs. θ Bronchitis.
Oppression of chest, as from a great weight, difficult breathing ; uneasiness, as if an iron band prevented normal motion of chest.
Chronic oppression of breathing.
Feeling of oppression during respiration. θ Palpitation of heart.
Oppression on chest like a great weight, or as if chest was compressed, with fainting, cold sweat, loss of pulse.
Compression of chest. θ Fatty hypertrophy of heart.
Congestive asthma.
Suffocative attacks, with turbulent action of heart ; < at 11 P. M. θ Enlarged heart in a young woman.
Frequent attacks of asthma, with stricture around chest, like a band of iron.
Periodical attacks of suffocation, with fainting, cold perspiration on face, and loss of pulse.
Sense of constriction of chest, with suffocation. θ Rheumatism and pain in heart.
Suffocative dyspnœa, with chill, in child, æt. 6 months. θ Intermittent.
Frequently, every year, a sensation of a hoop around throat, another around heart, and another around diaphragm. θ Asthma.
Could only breathe with shoulders elevated and lying on back. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
When breath stops, there is violent gasping and palpitation. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Sometimes breath stops altogether for half a minute, but without unconsciousness, skin gets colder ; afterwards gasping. θ Cardiac rheumatism.

Cough

Dry cough from tickling in throat and from itching in larynx.
Spasmodic cough, with copious, mucous expectoration.
Cough, with thick yellow sputa, like boiled starch.
Catarrhal cough, with much viscid expectoration.
Catarrhal fevers.
Obstinate, stertorous cough ; < at night.
Excessive secretion of mucus, with oppression, when attempting to lie down ; face and limbs cold ; heart felt as if clutched. θ Chronic bronchitis.
Sputa copious, yellow and jelly-like. θ Low fever.

Inner chest and lungs

Great fulness in chest, extending up to throat. θ Palpitation of heart.
Congestion of lungs. θ Cardiac dropsy.
Congestion to chest, which prevents lying down ; palpitation ; constriction of chest.
Feeling of constriction in chest, as if bound ; hindering respiration.
Sensation of great constriction in middle of sternum, as if parts were compressed by iron pincers, which compression produces oppression of respiration.
Griping pain behind sternum.
Feeling of constriction in chest, impeding speech.
Painful sensation of constriction in lower part of chest, as if a cord was tightly bound around false ribs, with obstruction of breathing.
Dull pain in lungs.
Dull percussion sound in front to fourth right rib. θ Pleuritis.
Pain from lower part of chest to shoulder blades. θ Pleuritis.
Pricking pains in chest, oppressed respiration, intense cough ; bloody sputa ; hard, quick, vibrating pulse ; sharp, wandering pains in chest and scapular region. θ Pneumonia.
Abnormal respiratory murmur and bronchial respiration. θ Pleuritis.
Continual rattling of mucus ; oppressed breathing ; cannot lie in a horizontal position ; attacks of anxiety and suffocation.
Pressive pain in upper part of left chest, between second and third ribs. at 8 A. M., while sitting quietly ; dyspnœa inducing deep breathing and lasting several minutes.
Pressive pain in upper part of right chest ; difficult breathing.
Pressive pain in chest causing dyspnœa and inducing deep breathing ; < while walking.
Hepatization of lungs.
Pulmonary tuberculosis in first stage.
Bronchitis, with palpitation of heart and bronchial catarrh, from overaction of heart.
Hæmoptysis, with marked arterial excitement (but less fever and restlessness than Acon.) ; convulsive cough.
Pneumorrhagia, renewed every four, six, seven, or eight hours, accompanied each time with convulsive cough, and expectoration of two or three pounds of blood ; is at once relieved, and ceases entirely in four days.

Heart, pulse and circulation

Pain deep in heart, somewhat to the right and posteriorly, like a jerking body ; often repeated during four of five hours ; later, often but less violent, and a little higher up.
Whizzing to and fro sound ; bruit de soufflet.
When the breath stops there is violent palpitation, and something seemed to be whirling up from chest to brain, and all arteries seemed throbbing.
Sensation of an annoying movement from before backward in cardiac region as of a reptile ; < by day than by night.
Sensation as if heart turned over.
Sensation in chest as if heart whirled round, first in one direction and then in another. θ Heart affection.
At times felt as if some one was grasping heart firmly, with sensation as if it whirled around.
Contractive pain in region of heart going down to left abdomen ; it catches breath ; cold feeling in chest at seat of pain ; low spirited ; weeping.
Sensation of constriction in heart, as if an iron hand prevented its normal movements.
Dull, heavy pain, < from pressure ; suffocating respiration ; face blue ; œdema, especially of left hand and of legs to knees ; feet icy cold ; pulse intermittent. θ Chronic
carditis.
Great pressure at heart, going around under left axilla to l. back, "like a belt of pain ;" at midnight became very bad, like a hand grasping heart, with soreness and aching, and soreness to touch in all affected region ; also, sore aching in left arm down to
elbow ; the cardiac pain ultimately caused dyspnœa. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Pain in cardiac region. θ Palpitation of heart.
Acute pains and stitches in heart.
Pricking pains impeding breathing and movements of body ; oppression ; cannot lie on left side ; blue face ; pulse quick, throbbing, tense and hard. θ Carditis. θ Cardiac
rheumatism.
Very acute pain, and such painful stitches in heart as to cause him to weep and to cry out loudly, with distressing palpitation, faintness, dyspnœa.
Lancinating pain in heart when perspiration fails. θ Intermittent.
Paroxysms of violent, stitching pain in heart, with icy coldness of limbs. θ Sequel to rheumatism.
Constant pain in region of heart, with sensation as if heart was "bound down," or "had not room enough to beat," or "as if bolts were holding it." θ Sequel
to rheumatism.
Feeling as if heart was compressed or squeezed by a hand.
Cardiac rheumatism. Compare Spigelia
Heart seemed to be held by an iron hand for many hours. θ Angina pectoris. θ Cardiac
rheumatism. θ Fatty degeneration. θ Hypertrophy.
Pains in apex of heart shooting down left arm to ends of fingers ; feeble pulse ; dyspnœa.
Pain in heart worse on speaking or lying on left side. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Pain at heart paroxysmal. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Acute carditis, with blueness of face ; oppression of breathing ; dry cough ; pricking pain in heart ; cannot lie on left side ; pulse quick, throbbing, tense and hard.
Acute inflammatory affection of heart ; idiopathic or from rheumatism.
Rheumatic inflammation of heart, with severe pain in apex, and pain shooting down left arm to end of fingers ; dyspnœa ; pulse feeble, 120.
Chronic carditis, with œdematous and cyanotic face ; suffocating respiration ; continued dull pain in heart ; dropsical effusion throughout body ; cannot drink or speak ; hands and feet cold ; pulse intermittent.
Functional disorder of heart, from mental emotions ; < at menstrual period.
Fluttering sensation in heart like a bird's wing. θ Chronic palpitation.
Increased pulsation of heart, and while walking pulsation in chest with anxiety, lasting all morning, accompanied by pressure in left parietal bone.
Palpitation of heart on ascending stairs.
Palpitation causing great restlessness and uneasiness.
Occasional attacks of palpitation after unusual physical or mental exertion. θ Angina pectoris.
Palpitation of long standing, caused by an unfortunate love affair.
Palpitation with vertigo, loss of consciousness, dyspnœa ; worse walking, at night ; lying on left side ; at approach of menses ; from any exertion.
Palpitation of heart, continued day and night ; < when walking, and at night, when lying on left side.
Violent palpitation with suffocative spells when lying down. θ Fatty hypertrophy of heart.
Palpitation with sensation of heaviness ; stitching pains in heart ; pulse small, weak and rapid. θ Heart disease.
Irregular palpitation of heart at night ; when lying on l. side or turning in bed ; > from an upright posture and deep inspiration.
Palpitation < at night, most before midnight, and lying on left side.
Violent palpitation with very distressing dyspnœa. θ Cardiac dropsy.
Slow, cutting pain, from above downward through centre of heart, making motion or breathing impossible.
Apex beat one inch without a line drawn vertically through nipple. θ Enlargement of heart.
Palpitation of heart consists of small irregular beats, with necessity for deep inspiration ; slight excitement or deep thought is sufficient to produce this condition.
Irregular and intermittent action of heart. θ After delivery by forceps.
Rapid, short, irregular beats of heart, on rapid motion.
Several violent, irregular beats of heart, with sensation of pressure and heaviness in cardiac region.
Violent, turbulent action of heart, it beats violently for a short time, then ceases entirely. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Organic and nervous palpitation of heart.
Great irregularity of heart's action, intermittent at times and of varying character ; great frequency of action and alternating with slowness. θ Enlargement of left ventricle with great irritation of cardiac
nerves.
Dulness in precordia extensive ; blowing with first sound of heart heard most distinctly at apex. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Endocardial murmurs ; excessive impulse ; increased precordial dulness. θ Enlarged right ventricle.
Mitral regurgitation. θ Cardiac dropsy.
Stenocardia.
Heart disease, with œdema of left hand only.
Valvular diseases, second sound of heart being replaced by a harsh murmur.
Second sound of heart lost. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Valvular derangement and dilatation of right ventricle.
Insufficiency of aortic valve.
Mitral insufficiency, with eccentric hypertrophy of left ventricle.
Aneurism of heart and large arteries.
Hypertrophy, with dilatation ; patient pulseless, extremely exhausted, panting and sad, cannot lie down or speak ; has scarcely slept for fifteen days ; forgetful ; feet œdematous.
In fifteen minutes, pulse 82 ; in thirty minutes, 88 ; after a strong dose, in fifteen minutes, 80 ; in thirty minutes, 72 ; two hours, 64.
Pulse 105. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Pulse : 82 ; fell to 78 ; weak ; in thirty minutes, 74.
Feeble pulse. θ Dyspnœa.
Later, pulse softer and more feeble, with a sense of weakness throughout whole body, most in back part of neck ; it is troublesome to hold up head.
Pulse feeble, intermittent, or entirely gone. θ Rheumatism and pain in heart.
Death-like feeling at heart and around to left back. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Powerful pulse beat and pulsation in upper part of chest, at night in bed.
Pulse at wrist beats hard and quick against finger without being frequent.
The heartbeat and pulsation in chest stronger to hearing and feeling while lying on back than on side, with anxiety and restlessness.
Pulse very irregular and soft, running from 60 to 68 for several hours.
Pulse small, quick and irregular, intermitting at intervals, especially when excited. θ Palpitation of heart.
Irregular rhythm, and intermitting pulse. θ Hypertrophy of heart.
(OBS :) Aneurism : by anastomosis ; of aorta.

Outer chest

Sharp, wandering pains in chest.
Painful drawing in muscles of left side of chest, extending to shoulder joint, impeding breathing and use of left arm.
Sensation of constriction in middle of sternum, as if compressed by iron pincers, with difficult breathing ; < from motion.
Rheumatism of muscles of chest. See 18 .

Neck and back

Pain in left chest, which is increased by touch ; relieved by gently raising it.
Rheumatic pain in region of heart and small of back.
Pain under left shoulder blade. θ Palpitation of heart.
Coldness in back and icy cold hands.
Lumbar muscles tender on pressure and stiff, especially on first moving after repose. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Exophthalmic goitre, with characteristic heart symptoms.
Intolerable pain, commencing early, before rising, in lower part of muscles of back, on right side, extending to gluteals, and lasting all day.
Pain in muscles of throat, at times during day.
Sharp pains shooting through body towards back, and upward into chest, with sensation of rush of blood to chest. θ Rheumatism of diaphragm.

Upper limbs

Troublesome rheumatism of shoulder.
Sensation of constriction in shoulder, he cannot move.
Pain in shoulders and arms.
Fleeting, tearing pains in joints, shifting from shoulder to elbow and fingers, mostly on right side.
Sore aching in left arm down to elbow. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Pain in muscles of right upper arm, at times during day.
Pain in left arm down to fingers. θ Diseases of heart.
Aching in arms and hands, similar to pains in so-called "aching in bones."
Tearing in left elbow joint.
Numbness of left arm. θ Enlargement of heart.
Numbness of left arm, with troublesome pricking in little finger, lasting a short time.
Formication and weight in arms.
Painful lassitude and heaviness in arms.
Drawing-tearing pain in right arm, early on waking, and lasting during morning, which after rising extends to r. wrist joint.
Œdema of hands, mostly left. θ Heart disease.
Dry, scaly herpes on inside of right elbow, no itching ; later same on outside of left elbow.

Lower limbs

Restlessness of legs, cannot keep them still.
Numbness in legs and feet.
Severe rheumatic pain in left ankle, with some swelling.
Œdema of legs, skin shining ; dents remain a long time. θ Heart disease.
Œdema of lower limbs. θ Rheumatism and pain in heart.
Dry, scaly herpes on left internal malleolus ; later, same on r. internal malleolus.
Great lassitude and heaviness in lower limbs and unusual drowsiness early on rising, after quiet sleep, and lasting two hours.
Pain in muscles of calves and soles of feet, at times during day.
Clinching pain in sole of right foot, occurring several times during day, very annoying, but lasting only a short time.

Limbs in general

Rheumatic pains, in shoulders, upper and lower arms, in hips down to feet ; < in rest and in motion, and in all positions.

Rest. position. motion

Constriction in region of heart and epigastrium much increased by muscular exertion, especially by reading aloud or by loud talking. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Symptoms aggravated by exercise, stooping or fright, and at night. θ Palpitation of heart.
After a misstep in crossing street, a jar of cars on crossing tracks at right angles, sitting down low in an unguarded manner, stretching arms above head, lifting books, etc. θ Angina
pectoris.
Better from continued but gentle motion. θ Rheumatism, with pain in heart.
Cannot lie horizontally in bed.
Lying on left side at night excites attacks. θ Rheumatism and pain in heart.
A desire to lie perfectly quiet on back. θ Angina pectoris.
Must lie perfectly quiet, with headache ; any attempt to sit up, any noise, light or exertion, increases suffering terribly.
Lying : menstrual flow ceases ; horizontal position, oppressed breathing < ; on back, with shoulders elevated, difficult breathing > ; congestion of chest < ; pain in heart lying on left side ; on left side, palpitation < ; palpitation, with
suffocative spells ; on back, heartbeat and pulse in chest stronger.
Sitting : pressure between second and third ribs ; palpitation > ; supported by pillows, rest better.
Rising : vertigo worse.
Turning : in bed, vertigo < ; in bed, weak, must have assistance.
Bending : of head back, drawing in coverings of occiput better.
Stooping : vertigo worse.
Walking : palpitation and constriction of heart < ; shortness of breath ; pressure in chest < ; pulsation and anxiety in chest ; palpitation worse.
Ascending : palpitation and constriction of heart < ; shortness of breath ; oppression of breathing ; palpitation of heart.
Motion : vertigo < ; headache < ; pain in temple < ; prosopalgia < ; crampy pain at navel < ; pricking pain < ; palpitation from exertion ; cutting pain through heart < ; heartbeats short and irregular ; pain in chest > raising it ; after
repose, lumbar muscles tender and stiff ; restlessness of legs, rheumatic pains in shoulders, arms and hips to feet < ; pain in r. knee worse.
All positions : rheumatic pains in shoulders, arms and hips to feet worse.

Nerves

(In sick :) Trembling all over, commencing in abdomen, with stiffness and numbness. θ Rheumatism and palpitation.
Excitement increases headache ; pains so severe they provoke screaming.
Great weakness, prostration, great depression, sleepless.
General discomfort, drowsiness, as after severe sickness.
General weakness, with sadness and bad humor.
Feels very weary, so much so that she needs assistance to turn over in bed. θ Low fever.
Great prostration of strength, so that he must remain in bed, not feeling able to use his legs.
Fainting. θ Rheumatism and pain in heart.
Child, æt. 6 months, must be lifted up and help up ; it seemed as if it would die. θ Intermittent.
Was thought dying. θ Cardiac rheumatism.

Sleep

A stupid, drowsy feeling.
Sleeplessness in forepart of night from intrusion of various thoughts ; later, restless sleep.
Sleeplessness.
Slept none for four days and nights. θ Low fever.
Sleepless without pain ; or from pulsations in pit of stomach or in ears.
Sleepless from arterial pulsations in scrobiculum and r. ear.
Delirium at night ; on awaking it ceases, but returns in sleep.
Delirium at night on waking up.
Sleep greatly disturbed ; very difficult to find a position in which she could obtain any rest, and only easy when bolstered up by several pillows. θ Palpitation
of heart.
Awakened at night by violent pain in right knee, extending from patella to outer side of lower thigh ; increased by slightest movement of limb.
Wakeful at night, with a tired feeling ; rheumatic pain in whole right leg, severe enough to prevent sleep.
Restless sleep. θ Rheumatism and pain in heart.
Frightful dreams for three nights, making him cry out.
Worst sleep towards day. θ Palpitation of heart.
Sleep disturbed by lascivious dreams and painful erections.
Dreams he cannot remember.

Time

Night : bursting-pulsating in temples ; menses ceases ; obstinate cough < ; palpitation < ; irregular palpitation ; in bed, powerful pulsation in upper chest ; delirium ; pain in right knee ; 1 P. M., slight chill, burning heat, pain in
uterus ; scorching heat, with headache.
Towards morning : disturbed sleep <.
Morning : alarm on awaking ; on rising, pressure in parietal bones ; headache, which grows constantly < ; pain in temple begins ; breath fetid ; diarrhœa < ; 8 A. M., pressure between second and third ribs ; pulsation in chest, with anxiety ;
before rising, intolerable pain in lower back continues all day ; on waking, drawing-tearing in arm and wrist ; on rising, lassitude in lower limbs, with drowsiness ; chilliness, 10 A. M. ; quotidian, 11 A. M. ; rheumatism of all joints < on rising.
During day : reptile-like movement in cardiac region < ; pain in lower back ; pain in muscles of throat ; pain in muscles of arm ; pain in calves and soles of feet ; clinching pain in sole of foot ; itching of skin.
Evening : anxiety ; soon after retiring, pain in lower abdomen ; palpitation ; cardiac rheumatism < 11 P. M. ; suffocation and palpitation < 11 P. M. ; pain during menstruation < ; infant, 6 months, has chill 11 P. M. ; rheumatism of all joints
< ; itching as of flea-bite on chest and abdomen ; itching on abdomen and calves.
Midnight : great pressure at heart < ; pain in head, coma, insensibility till midnight, then thirst and sweat ; sharp chill, followed by headache, fever and thirst.

Temperature and weather

Heat : congestion to head and fever from sun's rays ; of sun, vomiting.
Cold air : mamma sensitive.
After water in the cellar. θ Rheumatism.

Fever

Coldness in back and cold hands.
Skin gets colder. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Slight chilliness towards 10 A. M.
Chilliness, with chattering of teeth.
General chilliness, so severe as to make teeth chatter, which lasts three hours and does not go off, although he lies down and covers himself over with many blankets.
Chill at 11 P. M., an infant, æt. 6 months. Intermittent.
Fever, intermittent, with congestion to head ; flushes in face ; suppressed urine ; pains in bladder ; lancinating in heart ; violent vomiting ; sweat does not appear after exposure to sun.
Chill not relieved by covering ; returns same hour each day ; regular paroxysms at 11 A. M. and 11 P. M.
Fever brought on by exposure to sun's rays. θ Intermittent.
At 1 P. M. slight chill, then burning heat, dyspnœa, pulsating pain in uterine region, ending in slight sweat.
Inflammatory fevers.
Simple rheumatic fevers.
Burning heat, with short breath.
Scorching heat at night, with headache, following a chill, and terminating in sweat.
Quotidian intermittent fever, at the same hour for many successive days.
Quotidian, 11 A. M. ; great coldness for two hours, then burning heat, with great dyspnœa, violent pain in head coma, stupefaction, insensibility till midnight, then unquenchable thirst and sweat.
Sharp chill every midnight, followed by some headache, fever and thirst and considerable sweat, θ Intermittent of a lying-in woman.
Intermittent fever, with derangement of stomach.
Heat after chill, with dyspnœa, headache and thirst ; with insensibility till midnight, then shortness of breath and inability to remain lying ; followed by profuse sweat, with great thirst.
Skin moist.
Sweat over whole body.
Where perspiration fails to show itself. θ Intermittent.

Attacks, periodicity

Periodicity : pains down thighs return at same hour each day ; pains in uterus return each evening ; chill returns same hour each day ; paroxysm at 11 A. M. and 11 P. M. ; intermittent fever, recurring at same hour every day.
Attacks brought on by any emotion, excitement, or upon attempting to exercise ; occur several times daily. θ Rheumatism, with pain in heart.
A dangerous paroxysm about 11 P. M.
Attacks may come in sleep, connected with fright or anxiety in dreams. θ Angina pectoris.
Worse in spells. θ Diaphragmitis.

Locality and direction

Right : spells of pain in temple ; headache and neuralgia ; pulsating and sensation of weight in head ; pain in parietal bone, later in left side ; prosopalgia ; jerking pain below short ribs ; pain in epigastrium ; pain in lower
abdomen ; percussion dulness to fourth rib ; pressive pain in chest ; pain in heart ; valvular derangement and dilatation of ventricle ; pain in lower back to gluteals ; pain in muscles of arm ; drawing and tearing in arm to wrist ; dry herpes on
elbow ; clinching pain in sole of foot ; sleepless from palpitation in ear and scrobiculum ; pain in right knee at night ; dry herpes on outer elbow and malleolus.
Left : pain in parietal bone ; pressure in parietal bone ; pain in epigastrium shifting to right side great pressure at heart to back ; sore aching in arm ; cannot lie on side ; pains from heart down arm to fingers ; pain in heart < lying on
side ; lying on side, palpitation < ; œdema of hand in heart disease ; eccentric hypertrophy of ventricle ; deathlike feeling at heart to black ; pain in chest ; pain under shoulder blade ; pain in arm ; tearing in elbow joint ; numbness of
arm ; pricking in little finger ; rheumatic pain and swelling in ankle ; dry herpes on internal malleolus ; dry herpes on outer elbow.
Above downward : pain down thighs ; sore aching in arm ; pains from heart shooting down left arm to fingers ; cutting pain through heart ; pain in lower back to gluteals ; tearing in joints shifting from shoulder to elbow and fingers ; pain in left arm
to fingers.
Below upward : whirling from chest to brain ; sharp pains into chest ; constriction in uterus and vagina ; pain to shoulder blades ; sharp pains to chest and back ; pain from patella to lower thigh, outer side, at night.
Before backward : numbness and stupid feeling from eyes to base of brain ; jerking pain below short ribs, right side ; annoying movement in cardiac region, like reptile ; great pressure at heart to left back.

Sensations

Whole body feels as if caged, each wire being twisted tighter and tighter ; sensation in heart like bird's wing ; of movement from before backward, in cardiac region ; as if stomach was closed.
Soreness, aching and soreness to touch in all the affected region (heart and under axilla to back). θ Rheumatism of heart.
Constriction of chest, heart, bladder, rectum, uterus, vagina, etc., is frequently brought on by slightest contact (showing that irritation of sensory roots is immediately followed by contraction of muscles supplied with motor nerves).
Pains everywhere : head, arms, legs, back, chest, heart ; darting, springing like chain lightning, terminating with a sharp, viselike grip, only to commence again a moment afterwards, with restlessness, aching and groaning.
Sensitiveness : of eyes to light ; of lumbar muscles.
Deathlike sensation at heart and around to left back.
Lancinating : in heart.
Cutting : through centre of heart.
Stitching : in heart ; very painful, at heart ; violent, at heart, in paroxysms.
Stinging pain : in forehead over eyes.
Sharp, neuralgic pains : in cardia.
Tearing : in joints, mostly right from shoulder to elbow and fingers ; in left elbow joint.
Shooting : through diaphragm into chest ; down left arm to fingers.
Pricking : in point of tongue ; in arms ; in chest ; in heart, impeding breathing and movement ; in little finger ; in anus.
Jerking : on right side below ribs.
Burning : in pit of stomach ; in a line from cardiac axis to margin of lower ribs, hot flash shoots downward ; while passing urine.
Aching : one-sided, in head ; at heart ; in left arm to elbow ; in arms.
Drawing : in coverings of occiput ; in muscles of left chest to shoulder ; tearing in right arm.
Tensive pain : on vertex.
Pressure : in right parietal bone ; on vertex ; in left parietal bone ; in upper part of left chest ; excessive at heart and under axilla to back.
Soreness : and aching at heart ; and aching in left arm to elbow ; of throat.
Scraping : at soft palate.
Pain : in head ; in forehead and eyes ; spells of pain in right temple ; in left parietal bone ; in head from slight noise ; terrible in head, with vomiting ; in different parts of head ; in face, right side ; in cardia ; in
epigastrium ; sharp, through diaphragm to chest ; dull, in abdomen ; in lower abdomen to right ; violent in bowels ; wandering, in umbilical region ; cramplike, about navel ; in bladder during febrile access ; during menses ; from lower chest to
shoulder blades ; sharp, wandering, in chest and scapular region ; deep, in heart ; dull, heavy, in heart ; acute, in heart ; constant, at heart ; in apex of heart ; in left chest ; rheumatic, in region of heart and small of back ; under left
shoulder blade ; severe, in lower back to gluteals ; in shoulder and arms.
Rheumatic pain : in left ankle ; in hips to feet ; in knee and lower thigh at night ; in right leg ; in all joints.
Palpitation : with pressure on vertex, with fistula in ano ; with stoppage of breath ; distressing, with stitching, faintness and dyspnœa ; on ascending stairs ; after physical or mental exertion ; from unfortunate love ; with vertigo and
unconsciousness ; continued day and night ; irregular, at night.
Beating : in epigastrium ; in abdomen.
Throbbing : one-sided, in head ; of carotids.
Fluttering : in stomach.
Pulsation : in temples ; in head ; one-sided ; in right side of head ; in ears ; in head ; behind stomach (celiac axis) ; after eating ; in scrobiculus ; in stomach ; in ovarian region ; in uterus and ovaries ; in chest,
while walking.
Suffocation : with heat in face ; consequent to cold ; periodical attacks, with fainting.
Numb pain : from eye across brain.
Constriction : of throat ; of œsophagus ; at scrobiculus cordis ; of neck bladder ; around pelvis ; in uterus and vagina ; of uterus during menses ; of vagina ; of chest ; in middle sternum ; of chest as of cord ; in cardiac
region ; in heart, as if an iron hand prevented movements ; in shoulder ; at scrobiculus cordis.
Cord : feeling of, around lower chest.
Band : as if, around chest.
Hoop : sensation of, around throat, around heart and diaphragm.
Bound down : as if, at heart.
Clutching : at heart.
Griping : behind sternum.
Grasping : at heart.
Compression : of head, as if in a vise ; or squeezing, of heart, as if by hand.
Ringing and buzzing : in ears.
Whizzing : to and fro in chest.
Whirling : from chest to brain ; in heart.
Turning : as of, in heart.
Tension : on vertex.
Bearing down : in lower abdomen.
Blow : as of, near kidneys.
Oppression : of chest and uneasiness ; of chest, as of weight ; on lying down ; great, of breathing.
Heaviness : of head ; on vertex ; in stomach ; in arms ; in lower limbs.
Weight : in right side of head ; in stomach, after eating ; in anus ; in chest.
Fulness : in chest ; in chest to throat.
Swollen : as if, in rectum.
Discomfort : at stomach.
Emptiness : in stomach.
Weakness : general, and prostration of strength.
Rumbling : in stomach before palpitation.
Irritation : great, in urethra.
Formication : and weight in anus ; in arms.
Numbness : from eyes to base of brain ; in left arm ; in legs and feet.
Tickling : in throat causes cough.
Itching : in anus ; in larynx causes cough ; in skin, as of flea-bite ; on chest and abdomen in evening ; on abdomen and calves in evening ; during day.
Warmth : about throat and chest.
Heat : flushes of, in abdomen ; in abdomen ; burning, with short breath ; scorching, at night, following chill.
Coldness : of skin from difficult breathing ; of feet, with suffocative respiration ; of limbs ; in back.
Chilliness : with chattering of teeth.

Tissues

Affects the sensory nerves most.
Congestions.
Various kinds of inflammations.
Rheumatism of all joints of limbs, great deal of pain, stiffness and swelling ; worse, in evening and again mornings on first rising. θ Pain in heart.
Rheumatic inflammation, with pain and swelling of parts.
Organic diseases of the heart.
Emaciation. θ Low fever. θ Rheumatic heart disease.
Emaciated or bloated.
Dropsical affections. θ Heart disease.
Hemorrhages : from nose, lungs, rectum and stomach.

Touch. passive motion. injuries

Twitching of muscles and sensation of constriction produced by touching affected part.
Touch : spasmodic constriction in uterus and vagina ; cardiac region sore and aching ; pain in left chest <.
Pressure : heavy pain on vertex > ; dull pain at heart < ; lumber muscles tender.
Slight friction relieves pricking in anus.
Renewed pain in thumb which had been dislocated a month before.
Traumatic fevers.

Skin

Skin
Troublesome itching, as of flea-bite, on chest and abdomen, every evening, inducing rubbing ; better on retiring to rest ; not present during day ; no eruption.
Itching on abdomen and calves in evening when undressing.
Itching present during day, but disappears by evening.
Dry, scaly herpes, without itching ; appeared first on left internal malleolus, next on outer side of right elbow ; then on right internal malleolus ; last on outer side of left elbow.

Stage of life, constitution

A man of irate temper. θ Diaphragmitis.
Child, æt. 6 months. θ Intermittent.
Woman, æt 60, stout, robust, after exposure to water in cellar. θ Rheumatism.
Sanguineous congestions in persons of plethoric habit.
Woman, æt. 24, severe headache from taking cold.
Gelsem., Bellad. of no avail.
Man, æt. 28, during service in our war, articular rheumatism in back and limbs ; mustered out as incurable. Cactus 1. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Woman, æt. 28, tall, dark hair and eyes. θ Rheumatic disease of heart. Cactus, [800] one dose followed by rapid improvement, without return of symptoms.
Woman, æt. 30, frequent attacks of angina pectoris.
Woman, æt. ---, suffering for weeks. θ Nervous palpitation of heart.
A woman, æt. 40, four doses of 30th. θ Enlargement of heart.
Colored woman, æt. 48, climaxis. Cactus, [100] one dose. θ Violent palpitation.
Man, æt. 52. θ Heart affection.
Miss, æt. 60. Cactus, [20] three doses. θ Cardiac rheumatism.
Woman, æt. 60. θ Cardiac dropsy.
Bowels and kidneys utterly failed to respond to most powerful drastic cathartics and diuretics ; her end seemed near. The 20th (after 3d dec. had failed) cured, and restored the healthy action of bowels. θ Cardiac
dropsy.
A woman, attacked fourteen months ago with a low grade of fever, to which camp diarrhœa was soon added.
Thirteen months treated by an army surgeon ; hopeless. θ Low fever.

Relations

Antidotes : Acon., Camphor, Cinchona .
Compatible : Digit . (tumultuous action of heart ; slow, irregular pulse ; scanty urine ; dropsy, etc.), Eupat. perf., Laches, Nux vom., Sulphur (pleuritis).
Useful after : Acon., Arnic., Arsen., Bellad., Bryon., Chamom., Gelsem., Ipec., Kali brom . (diaphragmitis), Laches., Nux vom., Rhus tox .
Compare : in mental symptoms, Digit., Laches . ; in congestions to head, Bellad., Glonoin ; in pain and pressure in head, Arnic., Carb. veg., Coral rub., Iodum, Nux vom., Opium,
Spigel . ; in weight on vertex, Aloes, Alum . ; in heart affections, Acon., Act. rac., Amyl. nitr., Arnic., Bellad., Bovist., Crotal., Digit., Eupat. perf., Justitia, Kalmia, Laches., Lilium, Naja, Pulsat.,
Spigel., Tarent., Zincum (as if cap over heart) ; in bronchitis, etc., Ant. tart., Ipec., Tabac . ; in constrictions (chest), Alum., Bellad., Bovist., Cainca, Cadmium sulf., Kali chlor., Kali nitr., Laches.,
Stramon . (uterus), Murex (vagina), Kali carb . ; in menses ceasing at night, Caustic . ; in leucorrhœa, Amm. mur . ; in
intermittents, Arsen., Bryon., Calc. ostr., Eupat. perf., Natr. mur., Rhus tox., Sulphur ; in dropsies, Digit., Kalmia ; in sleeplessness at night, Sulphur .
Relatives : Cereus Bonplandii, Cereus serpentinus, Opuntia .

Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica

James Tyler Kent · Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica · homeoint.org / Séror HTML text (Kent d. 1916; public domain)

Generalities

Constrictions, contractions and congestions run through Cactus.

Determination of blood to the head, and coldness of the extremities. Or determination of blood to an organ, the chest, or the heart. There is never an equal circulation of blood in the body; it is spasmodic and irregular. Disturbed by contractions of circular fibres everywhere. When this comes in places where it can be felt; and realized by the senses, it is felt as contractions, as if caged in wires, and this gives us the key to Cactus.

Where contractions cannot be felt, where there is no sense of feeling, we know that it goes on as a spasmodic condition of circular fibres; but these contractions that are felt are more upon the surface of the body, and in organs having circular fibers tubes and canals.

They constrict, and this constriction is felt like a spasm. It has a sensation of tightness and constriction about the head, about the chest, about the attachments of the diaphragm, all over the abdomen. Contractions about the heart that are tonic in character, like a tight clutching; constriction.

"Constriction felt about the heart."

Constrictions and congestions

These constrictions are felt about the throat, in the oesophagus, causing a spasm; in the vagina, causing vaginismus and preventing coition.

In the uterus it produces the, most violent cramps. Clutching, and constrictions, as it the uterus were grasped and held tightly, like a spasm. But at these times, when these constrictions take place, there are congestions.

"Rush of blood to the part, with constriction."

"Violent congestion of the uterus with constrictions. Rush of blood to the chest, as if the chest was filled with hot gushes of blood, with constrictions, and constriction of the heart."

These peculiarities run through Cactus more markedly than any other remedy. Many remedies have similar things now and then, but in Cactus it is common; it is the nature of Cactus to constrict, to cause constriction in places where it has never been felt, and never been thought of.

Constrictions of the whole body, as if the body was held in a wire cage. Constrictions of the scalp, of the skin, growing tighter and tighter. Violent congestions that come on suddenly. Congestion of the brain, with hot head, flushed face.

At the beginning of complaints, at the beginning of pneumonia; congestive chill with hot head and cold body (like Arn.) with violent constrictions and tightness, as if the head were pressed, as if the membrane of the brain were too tight, as if the brain were covered with a tight cloth, and were being screwed tighter and tighter.

Uniform tightness of an organ, as if it were being bound tighter and tighter, but in tubes and canals it is a constriction of a particular part. Many times like as if tied with a string. Constriction, like hour-glass contraction, in the uterus.

It has inflammations, congestions, rush of blood to the part, gradually progressing to inflammation, and infiltration. Inflammation of various parts.

It has rheumatism. It is a remedy very useful in gouty constitutions; very useful in acute inflammatory rheumatism; and in this instance the congestion is in the joints that happen to be affected.

And then again the constriction, as if tied with a tape, or as if bandaged. Tightness, tension, pressure, are involved in that thought. It has such a prolonged determination of blood to the heart that the heart finally becomes disturbed in its function, disturbed in its tissues; and it has a profound curative action upon the heart and even cures organic heart diseases, such as are produced from this cause, conditions coming on from congestion, or coming on through congestion in rheumatic constrictions, where the rheumatism has left the joints partially and the heart has become involved, and there is constriction of the heart.

Various efforts have been made by provers, and by patients, to describe the constriction of the heart. It is sometimes described

"as if grasped with an iron hand."

It is only to illustrate the tenacity of the constriction. In these rheumatic troubles when the joints have ceased to be affected and the heart becomes affected with this chronic congestion and enlargement, we have enlargement of the valves so that there are murmurs, the head is hot, and the patient gradually emaciates.

Kidney troubles will come on; the heart grows weaker, and then dropsical conditions set in that is, the course of Cactus.

Towards the last, cardiac affections, along with kidney affections, with emaciation, and then swelling of the hands, and feet. That is the very nature of Cactus, and you will not find any medicine in the whole Materia Medica that reads like it.

There is nothing to compare with it in the intensity of these symptoms. All these things that I have described seem to turn upon these words, congestion, constriction and contraction.

The pains in Cactus are violent, no matter where they occur. They compel the patient to cry out, and the pains are clutching pains, constricting pains; they often feel like tearing pains; but there is always that idea of clutching.

Suppose you should tie a tape round a violently congested organ, and tie it tighter and tighter. It seems to me that is about the kind of suffering the patient has with that constriction of a congested organ.

Pains and spasms

Pains in congested parts; pains in sore parts. Tearing; constricting, cramping, when pains occur in the intestines they are constricting, but when the pains are in the long muscles they are not the constricting pains, for it is not the circular fibres then but the long fibres that contract, and we call them cramps.

Cactus produces some spasmodic conditions in long muscles, but not to any great extent. In Bell. especially, and also in many of those medicines that have this nature of cramping, and constricting and contracting of circular fibres, there is convulsive tendency.

The violent congestion of the brain in Bell. will commonly be attended with cramps in the extremities and convulsions of the muscles all over or in parts. Not so with Cactus. Violent congestion, and he grows stupid under it.

Congestion of the brain, first with very red face, then darker from the venous stasis, and then stupor. He grows sluggish under the cerebral congestion.

The mental state is that of fear and distress, because of the intensity of the suffering. The patient has never felt such suffering, and he does not see what it can all mean. So much suffering, such violent suffering, such sudden suffering, such cramps, such tearing, such constriction.

When this constriction comes in the heart, and about the chest, it makes the patient think he is going to die, and he is at once, struck with fear, and it is depicted upon the face. He fears death, and it seems he is going to die, his pain is so intense.

But with this intense pain he has nothing of the anxiety we find in, Aconite, which has a similar constriction of the chest and constriction of the neck. The violent choking in Aconite makes him fear he is going to choke, to death, and the anxiety is awful.

It is not so intense in Cactus. Screaming with pains is a common thing in Cactus.

"Taciturn, unwilling to speak a word or to answer."

Mind

That often accompanies the Cactus state, which is the opposite of most of the medicines that have such violent pains.

"Sadness, taciturnity, and irresistible inclination to weep.

Fear of death that is, he thinks he is going to die from the severity of the pain.

"He believes his disease is incurable;"

it seems to him that such suffering must end in death. That violent, irregular action of the heart is followed out through all the blood vessels, because the circulation is so irregular, is so spasmodic. He is not here, and cold there.

Heat in the head, or heat in the chest. The circulation is that of determination to some particular part. With all the cardiac remedies we have violent dreams, great excitement of the brain during sleep, waking up startled and frightened, very commonly with a feeling of failing. Dreams of falling. Dreams full of excitement. These features run through Cactus, especially with the cardiac symptoms.

"Vertigo from congestion; face red, bloated; pulsation in brain. Feels as if he would go mad. Vertigo, worse from physical exertion."

With most of the cardiac remedies, or remedies where the circulation and heart are much involved, we have marked vertigo.

"Vertigo; worse from physical exertion, turning in bed, stooping, rising from a recumbent position, and deep inspiration."

Many of the complaints of Cactus are disturbed by irregularities of breathing. Here we see vertigo coming on from deep breathing. If he holds his breath, it seems as if his heart would fly to pieces, it would go so fast. Increased pulsation all over the body when holding the breath.

Headaches

The headaches are constricting, pressing. They are all violent, with intense heat of the head, for they are congestive.

A pressing in the top of the head as if the top of the head would be forced in; but this is ameliorated by pressing hard upon the pain.

"Heavy pain like a weight on vertex, better by pressure."

Oftentimes the patient may be wrong in the idea of pressure that is felt in the head. They often describe it in the most marked congestions as if the head would be crushed in, when the congestion in the brain can be seen to be most violent, causing pressure from within out, and we would think they would be better from some sort of support externally, and yet they feel great soreness and feel as if the head is being crushed in.

Others with headaches feel as if the head is being pressed out.

"Heavy pain like a weight on vertex; better by pressure, but worse from sounds, hearing, talking, or strong light."

This runs through the headaches. Greatly aggravated from hearing voices. The sound goes through the head. The brain seems to be sensitive, as if the sound were a material substance hurled at the brain. Right-sided headaches. Pulsating headaches. Heavy, pulsating pain in the head. Tensive pain in the head, tensive pain in the vertex.

A tightness across the vertex, as if the scalp was being drawn tighter and tighter upon the skull.

There can be no doubt about there being a marked cerebral congestion with all these symptoms. The eyes show it; the face shows it; the heat of the head shows it. It has been recommended for threatened apoplexy, when the congestion is so violent, and the face is flushed and purple, or very red, and the pulsation is felt in the brain and all over.

This remedy has the violent congestion of the head found in Bell., but with Bell. we have the intense heat of the body, fever heat which is not found in Cactus. In Cactus it is only a moderate fever. The heat is in the upper part of the body, in the head and neck.

Fullness of the neck; bloating of the neck. Feels as if the head would expand from the pressure of blood in the head, but without any great rise of temperature.

It has fever, but it has these without fever. But with Bell. when you have these pulsations the patient is intensely hot, and he burns all over. There is some burning in Cactus, but not to be compared with Bell. Heat in the head from mental exertion is a strong symptom of Cactus. This symptom is found in persons who are trying to break off from coffee and Cactus is often the remedy.

The patient has choking about the neck, as from a tight collar. Constriction; tension of the skin and muscles everywhere. Choking about the neck with constriction of the heart. Choking about the neck in hysteria; globus hystericus; a lump or ball coming up into the throat, and she constantly swallows and choked and she goes into cramps with great numbness of the left arm.

Cramping especially of the left arm. Complete numbness of the left arm along with cardiac conditions in the history of rheumatism and in hysteria. The history of rheumatism goes well to fill up the Cactus case. The face is flushed bright red, becoming blue. With weakness of the heart it is blue, blue lips.

We need Cactus for a patient that has constriction about the neck, with congested head, blue face, and lips mottled, numbness of the left band, constriction of the heart. The left hand mysteriously weak, or is numb, tingling and crawling, like a formication.

Congestion and hemorrhages

Another thing running all through the remedy is its hemorrhages. That is not surprising. Any medicine that has such cardiac conditions and such vascular conditions will at times have more or less relaxation of blood vessels, and it would be quite in the nature of it to bleed. It has hemorrhages of two kinds. Hemorrhage from vascular relaxation accompanying cardiac and vascular conditions, and hemorrhage from violent congestion of a part.

The rush of blood to the head is of such violence in the moderately plethoric patient that he bleeds from the nose, and hawks blood from the throat. Congestion of the chest so violent that he expectorates blood from the chest.

Bleeding from congestion, rather than from tuberculosis. Congestion of the uterus with bleeding. Congestion of the bladder and kidneys, with blood in the urine, with discharges of blood from violent congestion. In old cardiac conditions, where relaxation is present in most marked degree, haemorrhage from relaxation.

Strong pulsations felt in strange places, in the stomach, and in the bowels; sometimes in the extremities, the feet and hands, as well as in the head. Throbbing all over.

Around the attachment of the diaphragm feeling as if a cord was tied tighter and tighter; round the lower part of the chest. This is a strange symptom; it clutches him so tightly around the waist line that it takes his breath away, and he struggles for breath, and wants to do something. It clutches him tighter and tighter. Cactus produces congestion of the bowels; inflammation of the uterus. Gastric inflammation and with, it the clutching.

It is a remedy for the cure of hemorrhoids; the relaxation of the great portal system, and the lower veins in the rectum, the hemorrhoidal veins. The veins are in such a state of relaxation that tumors will form, and bleed copiously. Bleeding hemorrhoids. Constriction of the anus. it has a very troublesome constipation; constipation in connection with hemorrhoids.

Bladder

It has a paralytic weakness of the bladder. It has retention of urine. Such a constriction of the neck of the bladder that the urine cannot be passed for a long time, and there is retention. In the kidneys such a congestion as favors suppression of the urine.

Bloody urine; blood in clots. It is a remedy that favors the formation of clots speedily. The blood that flows, clots so rapidly and so densely that it blocks up the way. Bleeding into the bladder blocks up the way. Bleeding into the vagina causes a clot difficult to expel, and pressing upon the urethra of the female that it is impossible for her to pass urine.

It is like an immense tampon. And hence it reads,

"urination prevented by clots," clots in the vagina, as well as clots in the bladder.

Female

Inflammation of the ovaries; inflammation of the uterus. It is a medicine that you will need to know when a young, plethoric, vigorous woman comes down violently with congestion of the uterus at the menstrual period, and she screams because of the violent clutching and cramping of the uterus.

Before the flow starts, or just at the beginning, there is violent spasm. The circular fibres clutch; and she describes it accurately as if a tape were tied around that sore and congested uterus.

The uterus fills with blood clots, and the spasm to expel that blood is like a labor-pain, and she screams again, and it is some time before the flow becomes free enough to give relief.

If this condition is met with in rheumatic diathesis, where there is more or less rheumatism of the joints, clutching pains and constriction in other places, we have a remedy in Cactus.

The excitement and the sharp scream, can be heard by the neighbors.

Suffocative attacks with these pains, because the heart suffers, and constriction of the heart will commonly go along with the constriction of the uterus. In cardiac conditions it seems as if he will die for want of breath.

Constrictions of the chest. Oppression as if a great load was on his chest, crushing the life out of him, so great is the constriction, and the congestion. A sudden congestion, and it comes on and ends without inflammation in many instances.

A violent rush of blood to the chest, with awful dyspnoea and constriction of the heart and it passes away without inflammation. At other times Cactus has conditions like pneumonia, inflammation of the lungs, and congestion ending in inflammation, with the usual expectoration, bloody or blood streaked.

Cactus is also a remedy for hypostatic congestion of the lungs. He cannot lie down, must sit up in bed, and there is a dullness of the lower part of each lung, gradually growing higher and higher from an effusion of serum into the lower portion of the lungs.

This hypostatic congestion is due to a cardiac weakness. Cactus will often relieve this a few times when it occurs in old broken down cases towards the end of Bright's disease, and at the end of dropsical conditions and heart troubles.

It will postpone death.

"Could only breathe with shoulders elevated and lying on back."

Lies leaning back or sitting quite upright.

"Periodical attacks of suffocation, with fainting; cold sweat."

"Feeling as if heart was compressed or squeezed by a band. Cardiac rheumatism, Heart seemed to be held by an iron band for many hours. Pain in the cardiac region. Great pressure at heart, going round under left axilla to back."

Often this pain shoots down the left hand, is attended with numbness, and sometimes with swelling. Numbness, tingling, swelling.

"Dull pain in the heart. Heavy pain in, the heart, aggravated from pressure. Contractive pain in the region of the heart going down to left abdomen. At times felt as if, some one was grasping the heart firmly. Paroxysms of pain in the heart," that is this kind of constriction comes in periods of violent paroxysms. "

" Acute inflammation of the heart. Chronic inflammation of the heart. Palpitation of the heart, continued day and night when walking, and, at night when lying on the left side."

Another thing running through the remedy is that chest com plaints often come on or are exaggerated at if o’clock. Eleven o'clock in the morning, or eleven at night.

Its intermittent fever will bring on a chill with violent congestion to the head at ii o'clock. Regular paroxysms at 11 A.M. and 11 P.M., or sometimes at 11 A.M. and sometimes at if P.M.

A daily chill at 11 A.M. It has cured intermittent fever of the congestive type, when the congestions are here and there, but particularly of head, with constrictions, congestions and contractions.

The Therapeutics of Fevers

H. C. Allen · The Therapeutics of Fevers · 1902 Library of Congress printing (Allen d. 1909; public domain)

Characteristic

Sanguineous congestions in persons of plethoric habit (Acon.); often resulting in hemorrhage.

Fear of death; believes the disease incurable (Ars.).

Hemorrhage: from nose, lungs, stomach, rectum, bladder

(Crot., Kreos., Mill., Phos.).

Headache: pressing, like a heavy weight on vertex; climac- teric; congestive, periodic, right-sided, severe throbbing pul- sating pain.

Whole body feels as if caged, each wire being twisted tighter and tighter.

Constriction: of throat, chest, heart, bladder, rectum, uterus, vagina; often caused or brought on by the slightest contact.

Pains everywhere; darting, springing, like chain-lightning, and ending with a sharp, vise-like grip, only to be again renewed.

Oppression of chest, as from a great weight; as if an iron band prevented normal motion.

Sensation of a cord tightly tied around lower part of chest marking attachment of diaphragm.

Heart feels as if clasped and unclasped rapidly by an iron hand; as if bound, "had no room to beat."

Palpitation: day and night; worse when walking and lying on left side (Lach.); at approach of menses.

Menstrual flow ceases when lying down (Bov., Caust.).

Aggravation

Motion; touch.

Amelioration

In open air.

Type

Quotidian. Periodicity well marked. Return at same hour each day: pains down thighs, chill, fever, pains in uterus and ovaries.

Time

11 A. M., or 11 P. M.—Characteristic.

Returns at same hour every day (Aran., Ced., Gels., Sabad.).

Cause

After exposure to heat of sun.

Chill

Without thirst. Coldness in the back and icy cold hands (after water in the cellar,—Ars., Rhus). Chilliness which lasts three hours, makes the teeth chatter, and does not go off although he lies down and covers himself up with many blankets. Chill not relieved by anything, either covering or external heat (Aran.).

Heat

Burning heat of 24 hours' duration (succeeding a three hours' chill), with dyspnœa and shortness of breath, and a smothering sensation so that he cannot remain quiet in bed. Great heat in the head and flushes in the face as if before a strong fire, which causes horrible anxiety. Insupportable heat in abdomen; lancinating pain in heart, suppressed urine, pains in bladder and pulsating pains in uterine region, vomiting, headache, coma, stupefaction, insensibility, terminating in very slight perspiration.

Some thirst at close of heat.

Heat sometimes wanting.

Sweat

With great thirst (Cinch.). After burning heat, with shortness of breath, inability to remain lying on account of dyspnœa, a profuse sweat breaks out attended with unquenchable thirst for large quantities of cold water (Ars., Cinch.). Violent vomiting when perspiration fails.

Tongue

Clean; taste soapy; stomach deranged.

Apyrexia

From 11 P. M. till 12 M. the next day, complete apyrexia. The regularity of attack is perfect; and all stages are clearly defined. The congestive symptoms of brain and chest predominate during the heat (Bell., Cinch., Natr. m.). Rarely indicated, but has no substitute; effectually and permanently cures. May be compared with Aranea, Cedron, or Cinchona.

Quotidian intermittent; congestion to head; flushes in face; suppressed urine; pains in bladder; lancinating in heart; violent vomiting; sweat does not appear after exposure to sun's rays.

Analysis

Clock-like regularity of paroxysm, 11 A. M. or 11 P. M.

Congestive and constrictive symptoms of head and chest predominate.

After exposure to intense heat of sun.