The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica
Absinthium absin.
General
Wormwood. Compositæ.
A bitter herb, a native of Europe, and cultivated in gardens, much used in France for a liqueur , the effects of which are very injurious.
Most symptoms toxicological from French authorities. The only provings, Gybtchell, in Medical Investigator .
Mind
After recovering from epileptic spasms no recollection of taking the poison, nor the cause of his doing so.
Brutality, mental dulness, insanity.
The mania from the liqueur is worse than that from alcohol.
Soothed, as if going into a beautiful dream.
Great terror ; terrifying hallucinations.
Sensorium
Stupefaction, alternately with dangerous violence.
Drunkenness.
Vertigo, dizzy on rising.
Insensibility (with convulsions).
Inner head
Causes congestion of head, medulla and spine.
Headache.
Outer head
Wants to lie with the head low.
(OBS :) Baldness and chronic tinea.
Sight and eyes
Dim-sightedness.
Pain in eyes.
Eyelids swollen ; eyes red and suffused with tears.
Eyes itch.
Lids heavy.
Hearing and ears
Otorrhœa. θ Especially after hemicrania.
Upper face
Foolish look.
Makes facial grimaces. θ Epileptiform convulsions.
Ebullitions of blood in face.
Lower face
Jaws firmly fixed.
Taste, speech, tongue
Bites his tongue. θ Epileptiform convulsions.
Tongue thick, protruding, can scarcely talk.
Trembling of tongue.
Complains that tongue is paralysed.
Inner mouth
Foams at mouth. θ Epileptiform convulsions.
Palate and throat
Scalded feeling in throat.
Throat inflamed.
Hiccough, belching, nausea and vomiting
Eructations.
Nausea and vomiting in morning.
Nausea, apparently in region of gall-bladder.
Scrobiculum and stomach
Food lies heavy ; stomach feels cold and oppressed ; thinks it would not absorb much.
Hypochondria
Liver feels swollen. θ Autumnal fever.
(OBS :) Liver and stomach diseases.
Pain in spleen ; it feels swollen. θ Autumnal fever.
Abdomen and loins
Bloated : around waist and in abdomen, as after ague ; with flatus.
Stools and rectum
Constipation.
Destroys worms.
Hemorrhoids.
Urinary organs
Constant desire to urinate.
Urine deep orange, having a strong, horse-like smell.
Male sexual organs
Spermatorrhœa with relaxed parts.
Female sexual organs
Pains in uterus.
Darting pain in right ovary.
Promotes menses.
Cough
Cough with liver complaint.
Heart, pulse and circulation
Tremor of heart, felt toward back.
Heart thumps ; can be heard in scapular region.
Neck and back
Pain in sacrum.
Upper limbs
Pain in shoulders.
Trembling of hands.
Lower limbs
Horses kick with hind legs toward belly. θ Ascarides.
Limbs in general
Throws about limbs. θ Epileptiform convulsions.
Pains in limbs.
Limbs swell.
Rest. position. motion
Rising : causes vertigo.
Wants to lie with head low.
Bends backwards : in spasms.
Nerves
Trembling precedes epileptic attack.
Epileptiform convulsions : loses consciousness, falls, bites his tongue, foams at mouth, features distorted ; throws his limbs about ; weak afterwards.
Excited, opisthotonos, grinding teeth ; followed by stupor.
Sleep
Restless at night, with disturbing dreams.
Time
Morning : nausea and vomiting.
Night : restlessness, with disturbing dreams.
Fever
Chill, heat, then sweat ; thirst in all stages ; sleeps during heat.
Obstinate autumnal fevers, with swollen liver and spleen.
Attacks, periodicity
Attacks antepone.
Alternate : stupefaction and violence.
Locality and direction
Right : darting pain in ovary.
Sensations
Nausea apparently in region of gall-bladder ; tremor of heart.
Pain : in eyes ; in spleen ; in uterus ; in sacrum ; in shoulders ; in limbs.
Darting : in right ovary.
Scalded feeling : in throat.
Swollen feeling : in liver ; in spleen.
Heaviness : of lids.
Oppression : in stomach.
Itching : of eyes.
Cold feeling : in stomach.
Tissues
Causes hyperemia of brain, medulla and spine, more intense when combined with alcohol.
Occasionally stomach, more frequently endocardium and pericardium show small ecchymoses.
Paralysis of inner organs.
Touch. passive motion. injuries
Injuries
Bruises and consequent inflammation.
Skin
Jaundiced skin.
Stage of life, constitution
Especially younger patients. θ Chlorosis.
Relations
Collateral relations : Art. vulg., Abrot .
Similar to : Alcohol, Bellad. Chamom., Hyosc., Stramon .
Is said to cure poisoning by mushrooms.
Secondary effects of absinthe are much worse than those from abuse of alcohol, opium or tobacco.