The Therapeutics of Fevers

Menyanthes meny.

Allen (1879)In every bookSave

Characteristic

Adapted to complaints from abuse of Cinchona and Quinine.

Fevers in which the cold stage predominates; coldness felt most acutely in abdomen and extremities (Ver.).

Anxiety about the heart, as if something evil were going to happen, precedes or attends many attacks.

Headache: pressing in vertex from above downwards, > during hard pressure with hand (Ver.); as of a heavy weight pressing upon the head at every step (Cac., Glon., Lach.); < ascending (Cal.); often with icy coldness of hands and feet (Cal., Sep.).

Tension: in root of nose; in arms, hands, fingers; in skin, as if several sizes too small and was crowded into it by force.

Aggravation

Evening; during rest; lying down.

Amelioration

Motion; pressing on the affected part.

Type

Quartan. Irregular.

Time

Irregular time.

Chill

Without thirst. Chilliness, especially of the fingers and toes. Chill over whole body, most severe in back, relieved by heat of stove; or chilliness, disappearing by warmth of stove and returning soon as he leaves the stove or remaining in the back only (not relieved by external warmth, Ver.—increased by external heat, Ipec.). Chilliness and cold creepings externally, without internal chilliness. Horripilation over the back, as if the parts had long been exposed to cold air, without chilliness. Coldness in the abdomen (Cal.), especially on pressure with the hand; on rising from bed in the morning, creeping coldness over abdomen, back and sides. Coldness of the spine, with shaking. Feet cold as far up as the knees, as if they were in cold water (coldness as far up as the ankles, Mag., Sep.). Icy coldness of the hands and feet, with warmth of the rest of the body.

Coldness of the dorsal spine, with shaking (see Quinia). Coldness of the feet lasting till night, could not get them warm in bed.

Shivering over the upper part of the body, with yawning, imme- diately. Febrile shivering over the whole back as if he had been uncovered for a long time in the open air. Veins of lower arms and hands distended, while the feet are icy cold (Puls.—of hands,

Led.).

Chill the predominant stage.

Heat

Without thirst; especially in the face, followed by chilly feeling. Great heat over the whole body, without sweat or thirst, with cold feet. Flushes of heat on trunk and back, with redness of face, mingled with sensation of coldness. Flushes of heat, with hot ears and cheeks. Increase of heat, with delirium.

Sweat

From evening till morning. Sweat at night imme- diately after lying down, continuing all night.

Tongue

Bitter-sweetish taste in the mouth. Ravenous hunger; great desire for meat (great aversion to meat, Arn.).

Pulse

Slow during the cold stage (Dig.); only slightly accelerated during heat.

"It is a very efficient remedy in irregular intermittent fever, when paroxysm consists chiefly of cold stage, which is incom- pletely developed, the hands or ends of fingers, and the toes or feet, and the end of the nose, becoming very cold."—DUNHAM.

"Quartan Intermittents were the pest of my life until I struck

Menyanthes. The symptoms in 'Lippe' (No. 60 to 66, inclusive) and the excessive coldness of legs (not thighs) have been the lead- ing symptoms.—A. L. FISHER.

"Intermittent fever, with chilliness in the abdomen, lasting six hours, then a disagreeable feeling of heat comes on, alternating or intermingled with chilliness, with cold feet and legs, and slow pulse."—J. S. DOUGLAS.

Analysis

Quartan fever; icy coldness of extremities, of legs especially, rest of body warm; coldness in the abdomen, and end of nose; slow pulse. Craving for meat.