Quassia

Quassia amara, L.

Natural order, Simarubacere.

Common name, Quassia.

Preparation, Tincture of the wood.

Authorities. 1, Dr. J. O. Muller, N. Z. f. Horn. Kl., 5, 1, 1859 (report of Sitting des Veins Horn. Aerzte. Oest.), took a single dose; 2, Either, ibid., took four doses of 30th dec. dil.; 3, Lembke, N. Z. f. Horn. Kl., 6, p. 17, took Extract, 1 grain first day, 3 grains second day, repeated, and afterwards 14 grains.

Mind p. 255

Awoke with great anxiety and solicitude, without cause, at 1 a.m.; was unable to sleep; felt wide awake, with manifold thoughts in his brain ; on attempting to read, could only stare at the book on account of anxious thoughts running through his mind ; about 3 oclock he rose and dressed, and attempted to write, but was so absent-minded that he could not find words to express himself; the next day he was unable to perform any mental labor, not on account of disinclination to work, but from absence of thought

An anxious mood returned on going to sleep, but disappeared in the night (third day)

Head p. 255

(A peculiar sensation in the head, as if the senses would vanish, followed by excessive weakness, great heat, copious hot perspiration, with great hunger, followed by coldness of the extremities, with a sensation of internal coldness; the whole attack lasted about two hours; when it was not possible to satisfy the hunger, the weakness increased, copious perspiration broke out over the whole body, followed after a long time by gradual relief),3.f

Constant dulness of the head (second day)

(Pain and heaviness in the forehead, with at times dulness of the head)

(Slight drawing in the left side of the head and face)

Stomach p. 255

Great inclination to qualmishness

Drawing pain in the stomach, accompanied by a sensation as if the stomach were full of hot water

Abdomen p. 255

Slight drawing pains in both hypochondria, with a sensation as if the abdomen were empty and retracted to the spinal column; pain somewhat aggravated by deep breathing; these symptoms recurred three times during the day, lasted from twenty to thirty minutes, and were accompanied by a sensation as though he would have a stool (first day)

Very acute sticking in the hepatic region ; the acute pain lasted only the first day, but for several days the pain was dull, and only disappeared after twelve days

Abdomen hard and distended (second day)

Sticking pains in the abdomen, between the umbilicus and stomach, frequently recurring and lasting several days (soon)

A peculiar beating through the abdomen, extending into the extremities, with general nervous troubles (second day)

Stool p. 255

Stools at first hard, with great effort, afterwards pasty, once very thin

Urinary Organs p. 255

Secretion of urine increased, solid constituents diminished; sp. gr., in the morning, 1007 and 1009; during the day 1001 and 1004,2.

Respiratory Organs p. 255

(Hoarseness, perhaps to be ascribed to a change in the weather)

Neck p. 255

Slight drawing pains in the cervical muscles (after 3 grains)

Inferior Extremities p. 255

Drawing pain in the calves (half an hour after 1 grain)

Generalities p. 255

General discomfort (second day)

Fever p. 255

Sensation of coldness running over the back, with constant inclination to yawn and desire to stretch out the feet

| This symptom is only noted, and cannot be directly ascribed to the action of Quassia, as I had previously suffered from similar attacks.