Guaiacum

Guaiacum officinale, Linn.

Natural order, Zygophyllece. Common names. Lignum sanctum. Lignum vise.

Preparation, Tincture of the gum-resin.

Authorities. 1, Hahnemann, Chr. Krank; 2, Hartmann, ibid.; 3, Langhammer, ibid.; 4, Teuthorn, ibid.; 5, Bang, Tageb. d. Krank. Hans., 1784 (not accessible, Hughes); 6, Matthiolus, De morb. Gall., 1537 (p. 63, observation); 7, White, in Edin. Med. Comment., iv, p. 327, observation; 8, Lambert, Casp. Wochenschrift, 1840 (A. H. Z., 20, p. 32), effects of a decoction of 6 ounces of the wood in half a quart of water, drank by two persons in the evening.

Mind

Eaiotioual. Great fretfulness,h

Morose mood ; he speaks little

Contemptuousness,h

Obstinacy,h

Intellectual. Loss of ideas; he stands in one place, and looks in front of him without thought, in the morning at breakfast time while standing/.

Weakness of memory

Weakness o^f memory; he forgets what he has just read, and no longer remembers familiar names

Head p. 516

Headache like a pressure in the brain from below upward, at night,h

Dull pressive pain in the head, which ends in a sharp stitch in the right frontal eminence

Dull pressive pain in the head, extending obliquely upward from the left side of the neck to the vertex, and ending in a stitch,I

Violent large stitches in the brain from below upward,h

Sensation as if the brain were loose and moved on every step, in the morning,h

Foveliecid. Drawing pain, extending from the middle of the frontal bone down into the nasal bones,l

Pressure and pressing in the forepart of the forehead

Dull sticking pressure in the right frontal eminence

Pressive headache transversely across the forehead

Tearing externally, extending from the left side of the frontal bone down into the muscles of the cheek

A drawing tearing in the forepart of the forehead

Tearples. Pressive pain in the right temple, as with something broad

Pressure without pain in the left temple

External tearing in the left temple

Parietals. Dull drawing stitches, extending from the left parietal bone to the frontal eminences, where they all end in a single stitch

A pressive drawing-tearing stitch in the right side of the head, extending toward the frontal bone

Acute stitches in the left side of the head, at the junction of the parietal and temporal bones

Tearing in the whole left side of the head

Dull sticking pain in the left side of the occiput,l

Tearing in the right side of the occiput

Drawing tearing in the occiput and forehead

Headache externally, as if too much blood were in the scalp and it was swollen, while sitting

Pulsating throbbing externally on the head, with stitches in the temples, only transiently relieved by external pressure, better when walking, worse when sitting and standing (after three hours),h

Eyes p. 516

* Sensation swelling and protrusion of the eyes, the lids seem too short to cover them ; therewith a sensation of loss of sleep, with yawning and stretching the whole day

Hardened mucus in the canthi of the right eye (after one hour)

Dilated pupils (after three hours),h

[Amaurosis, for several days],’'.f

Hae p. 516

Tearing in the outer margin of the left concha

Earache in the left ear

Tearing in the left ear

Nose p. 516

Frequent discharge of watery substances from the nose, for a mouth

Face p. 516

Objective. The face is swollen, red, and painful, for several days

Subjective. On falling asleep in the evening, in bed, a sensation as though some one struck his face w ith a cloth, so that he awoke with fright

Clieeh. Dull spasmodic drawing in the muscles of the right cheek, in the morning on rising

Some stitches in the right malar bone

Stitches as from knives in the right cheek (after one hour)

Ch iu. Drawing pain in the left side of the lower jaw, ending in a stitch

Dull pressive pain in the left side of the lower jaw

Mouth p. 516

Toothache, a pressure in the left upper back teeth, on biting them together

Tearing in the left upper back teeth

Flat taste in the mouth

Throat p. 517

Constant violent stitches in the throat, from the larynx to the left clavicle (after nine hours

Stomach p. 517

JLftpetite. Violent hunger, in the afternoon and evening (after seven and nine hours')

Loss of appetite, and nausea for everything

Thirst. Much thirst

Eructation. Eructations (immediately )

Empty exudation

Eructations of only air

Stomach. Constrictive sensation in the region of the stomach, with anxiety and difficult breathing (after nineteen hours)

In the pit of the stomach a frequently recurring pressure, with difficulty of breathing, oppression, and anxiety (after one hour)

Abdomen p. 517

Hypochondria,. Stitches in the left hypochondriac region

Dull stitches in the left hypochondriac region

JJmhilical. Pain in the abdomen, a griping in the left side of the umbilicus, in a small spot (after three hours and a half)

General Abdomen. Gurgling in the abdomen, as from emptiness (after five hours)

Rumbling in the abdomen (after ten hours)

Rumbling in the abdomen, with dull griping, which extends more and more downward, followed by an emission of flatus (after one hour)

Griping in the abdomen, as from incarcerated flatus, which extends lower and low^er, after which there is an emission of flatus

Pinching cutting transversely through the abdomen, on inspiration

Hypogastrium. Dull griping in the lower abdomen, which constantl}’’ sinks downwards and backwards (after a quarter of an hour)

Constant trembling of the inner abdominal muscles of the right side close to the ilium

Pain in the groin, as from a hernia

Stool p. 517

Thin mucous stool, preceded by griping

Soft crumbly stool

Omission of stool (first day); constipation (second and third days)

Urinary Organs p. 517

Stitches in the neck of the bladder, after urinating

Cutting, while urinating, as though something biting passed from him

Frequent urging U) repeated immediately after micturition

Frequent urging to urinate, with small discharges (after five hours)

Constant desire to urinate, with profuse emission of urine each time

He was obliged to urinate every half hour and much at a time; immediately after micturition there was again urging to urinate for a minute, when only a few drops passed

Sexual Organs p. 517

Emission at night, without lascivious dreams

The leucorrhoea is aggravated

Respiratory Organs p. 517

Violent spasmodic inflammatory affection of the air-passages, especially the larynx, with such violent palpitation of the heart that suffocation seemed irarainent

Mucous expectoration on hacking and hawking

Chest p. 517

Sudden stuffed sensation in the chest, in the praecordial region, like an arrest of breathing; it often attacks her suddenly, even at night when asleep, and causes an almost completely dry cough, which is frequently repeated until there is some expectoration

Pain in the chest, stitches in the left side beneath the true ribs, more towards the back

Neck and Back p. 517

Week. Pressive pain in the nape of the neck, on the right and left sides of the cervical vertebrae (after four hours)

Constant frequent stitches on the left side of the nape of the neck, extending from the scapulae to the occiput, on motion, as also on holding the head still

Rack Rheumatic stiffness of the whole left side of the back, from the nape of the neck down to the sacrum, with intolerable qyain on the slightest motion or turning the part, not noticed on touch or during rest

Drawing and tearing down the right side of the spine from the axilla to the lowest ribs/.

Pain in the back, a constrictive sensation between the scapulae

Constant stitches, which at last become a continuous stitch, just beneath the right scapula, as if coming from the centre of the right chest, aggravated by inspiration

Sticking tearing on the n)argin of both scapuljB, followed by constriction in the dorsal muscles (after three hours)

Sticking tearing on the posterior margin of the right scapula (after ten hours)

Superior Extremities p. 518

Stretching of the upper limbs, with yawning

Shoulder. Sharp stitch on the top of the right shoulder, frequently returning,I

Arm. Weakness of the upper arm, as after hard labor/.

Violent painful stitches in the right upper arm, mostly in the middle of it,l

Forearm. Frequent drawing-tearing stitches, extending from the left elbow to the wrist

Tearing in the right forearm, extending into the wrist,l

Painful drawing tearing in the left arm, extending from the upper arm to the fingers, but especially persistent in the wrist,/

JVrist. Persistent drawing-tearing in the left wrist (after two hours),/

Pressive tearing in the left wrist,/

Fhufers. Some violent stitches in the right thumb (after one hour),/

Inferior Extremities p. 518

The limbs, especially the thighs, are weary, as after a long walk on the previous day,/

Thigh. Pain, like growingpains, in the right thigh,/

Tension in the thighs, especially in the right, as if the muscles were too short, with weakness, while walking ; aggravated by touch ; ameliorated while sitting,/

Pressive drawing pain, extending from the middle of the right thigh to the knee, on stretching out the right leg ; disappearing on drawing it up and bending it,/

A crawling pressive pain in the bone of the right thigh, extending from the middle of it to the knee, while sitting still (after a quarter of an hour),/

Some stitches in the left thigh above the knee, which meet on both sides (after three hours),/

Dull stitches in the right thigh above the knee,/

Needle-like stitches in the nates, when walking, though mostly when sitting still, as though she sat upon needles,/

Drawing tearing from the middle of the left thigh to the knee,/

Jerking tearing from the middle of the right thigh to the knee (after half an hour),/

Bruised pain in the left thigh, when walking in the open air,/

Knee. Drawing pain in the knee, which ends in a stitch

Leg. Painless constriction in the right calf (after half an hour),/

Drawing stitches in the right leg, extending from the ankle up to the middle of the tibia (after three hours),/

Tearing-drawing stitches, extending from the middle of the right tibia to the knee (after fourteen hours),/

Tearing stitches between the tibia and fibula, extending to the patella, so violent that he jumped up high,/

Tearing dull stitches, extending from the middle of the left tibia to the toes,/

Tearing long-drawn stitches in the right leg, extending from the dorsum of the foot to the knee,/

Violent jerking stitches in the outer side of the calf,/

The lower leg seemed bruised after walking, feeling as if brittle,/

Aulae. Some sharp stitches in the right ankle, while sitting,/

Foot. Pain, ending in a sharp stitch, in a small spot on the back of the right foot, disappearing on motion,/

Generalities p. 518

Ohjective. Emaciation and hectic fever; in men of a dry constitution,/

Indolence in work,/

Indolence and dread of motion,/

Weakness, especially of the thighs and upper arms, as after great exertion,/

Subjective, General discomfort of the whole body (after seven hours),/

On waking in the morning, everything seems too tight and he tosses about the bed,/

The symptoms almost all appear while sitting, mostly in the morning immediately after rising, or in the evening shortly before going to sleep; a few from 9 to 12

Skin p. 519

Objective A hardened pimple with a white tip in the right eyebrow, with very sore pain when touched

A sore painful pimple on the nose,h

Subjective Burning itching in the skin, aggravated by scratching

Grumbling in the skin of the whole leg, with feeling of heat in it,k

Itching stitches like fleabites in the skin of the thigh, especially in both sides of the kneecap, disappearing on scratching,k

Crawling on the chest,k

Crawling in the thighs and legs, extending to the toes, as though the limb would go to sleep, while sitting,k

Corrosive itching on the back, during the day,k

Sleep and Dreams p. 519

Sleepiness. Yawning and stretching, with comfortable sensation (after half an hour)

Yawning and stretching of the limbs, with a sensation of loss of sleep, the whole day

Great sleepiness, in the afternoon

Sleeplessness, He is unable to fall asleep for two hours, in the evening, in bed, tossing about the bed

Falls asleep late in the evening and wakes earlier than usual in the morning

Frequent waking from sleep, as from fright, or as though he were falling

Unrefreshed on waking in the morning, as though he had not slept at all

Dreams Sleep full of dreams

Vivid dreams of scientific subjects

Dreams of fights

Dreams that she was being pierced bv knives

Nightmare, while lying on the back, and waking with cries

Fever p. 519

Chilliness. Chilliness behind a warm stove

Chilliness, in the forenoon for two hours, and also in the evening before going to sleep, which even continued in bed; in the morning some perspiration

Internal chilliness over the whole body, immediately followed by heat, especially in the face, without thirst, towards evening

Febrile chill in the back, in the afternoon (after eight hours)

Shivering in the breasts

Shivering in the back, in the afternoon

Heat Heat of the whole face, with thirst, without redness and without sweat

Some perspiration every morning

Much perspiration, especially on the head, when walking in the open air; pearly sweat on the forehead

Profuse perspiration on the back, at night

Conditions p. 519

Aggravation.

(Morning), At breakfast-time, while standing, loss of ideas, etc.; sensation in brain ; on rising, drawing in muscles of cheek ; perspiration.

(Afternoon), Hunger ; towards evening, chilliness ; chill in back.

(Evening), In bed, on falling asleep, sensation in face.

(Night), Headache; perspiration in back.

( Walking in open air). Pain in thigh.

(Inspiration), Cutting through abdomen; stitch beneath scapula.

(Sitting), Headache externally; stitches in nates; stitches in ankle; almost all symptoms.

(Stretching out leg), Pain from thigh to knee.

(Touch), Tension in thighs.

Amelioration p. 519

(Motion), Pain in back of foot.

(Sitting), Tension in thighs.

( Walking), Throbbing in head.

Footnotes p. 516

† In an hysterical subject. The writer states that any sudden surprise will make her speechless for an hour or so, and that Guaiacum always causes loss of her sight for some hours.—Hughes.