Capsicum Annuum

In the East and West Indies, where pepper is grown, it was generally employed as a spice. This custom was imitated by the English, French and Germans, who use it in sauces (substituting frequently cayenne-pepper, which is stronger than the other,) for the purpose of stimulating the palate, thereby exciting an unnatural appetite and undermining health.

To individuals of a rigid fibre, Capsicum is less suitable.

Intermittent fevers. Nostalgia with redness of the cheeks and nightly sleeplessness. — Hysteric cephalalgia and megrim ; Amblyopia amaurotic. — Prosopalgia, also Fothergill's. — Stomacace. — Angina aphthosa ; angina pharyngeal malign, gangrenous. — Heartburn, especially of pregnant females. — Ramollisement of the stomach. — Spasm of the stomach. — Tympanitis and flatulence. — Colic flatulent. — Hernias ventosa. — Diarrhoea. — Dysentery. — Burning and blind haemorrhoids. — Tenesmus of the bladder.— Gonorrhoea with spontaneous hemorrhage from the urethra. — Gonorrhoea in the second stage. — Tabes of the testicles. — Influenza. — Bronchitis malign. — Pneumonia complicated with bronchitis. — Bronchopneumonia, (also Merc. Spong). — Asthma flatulentum, etc. etc.

Head p. 211

Intoxication. When waking from sleep, his head feels stupid, as if he did not know himself. Dizziness of the head, early in the morning, when waking. Feverish chills and coldness, with anxiety, sense as of reeling and dullness of the head, a sort of awkwardness, she knocked against everything.

5. Vertigo, staggering from side to side. Increased acuteness of all the senses, (curative effect.) Headache, as if the skull would burst, when moving the head or when walking. Beating, throbbing headache in one of the two temples. Beating headache, in the forehead.

10. Throbbing headache. Aching in the temples. Aching in the forehead, with pressure from the occiput to the forehead, accompanied by a cutting pain from the occiput (immediately.) Continual aching in the forehead, above the root of the nose, with occasional stitches through the ear and over the eye. Stitching ache on one side of the head, resembling a hysteric megrim, increased by raising the eyes or head, or by stooping and accompanied with forgetfulness and nausea,.

15. -Stitching headache. Headache more stitching than tearing, worse when at rest, more moderate during motion. Distensive headache, or as if the brain were too full. Distensive ache in the forehead. Drawing ache in the forehead.

20. (Tearing headache.) Gnawing itching, as of vermin, on the hairy scalp, obliging him to scratch ; after the scratching the roots of the hairs and the scalp ached as if the hairs were being pulled out.

[Cloudiness of the head. Emptiness and dullness of the head. (a. 12 h.) Gloominess and obtusion of the head. Aching in the temporal region.

5. Drawing tearing pain on the frontal bone, rather on the right side. (a. 6, 7 h. and 3 d.) Drawing, tearing pain in the left side of the head. (a. 17 48 h.) Violent, deeply penetrating stitches in the vertex. Slight shuddering over the hairy scalp, followed by burning itching, diminished by scratching, but returning afterwards with redoubled violence, (a. 2 h.)]

Face p. 212

Pain in the face, either pain in the bone, which may be excited by touching the parts, or fine pain in the nerves, tormenting one when falling asleep. (Pimples on the left side of the face, smarting like salt.) Red points in the face, and herpes on the forehead, with corrosive itching, (a. 2. and 24 h.)

[Unusual redness of the face, without heat ; in half an hour, a wretched, pale appearance, (a. 3 h.)

10. Sweat on the forehead.]

Eyes p. 212

25. Dilatation of the pupils. Eyes protrude from their sockets, with paleness of countenance, (a. 16 h.) Aching in the eyes, as if a foreign body were lodged in them. Burning in the eyes, early in the morning ; they are red, with lachrymation. Stinging pain in the eyes (from the vapor.)

30. Inflammation of the eyes. Dimsightedness, early in the morning, as if a turbid substance were floating over, and obscured the cornea ; by rubbing the eye, the brightness may be restored for some moments. All objects appear black, when brought before the eyes. Almost complete extinction of sight.

[Dilatation of the pupils. Pressure upon the eyes ; he is unable to open them sufficiently.]

Ears p. 212

Tearing in the concha.

35. Itching pain deep in the ear. (a. 16 h.) Aching deep in the ear. (a. 1 and 8 h.) Swelling on the petrous bone, painful when touched. Pain under the ear.

[Tearing pain behind the left ear.]

Nose p. 212

(Itching in the nose, mingled with stitches.)

40. Bleeding from the nose, early in the morning, when in bed, after which blood is blown out of the nose several times. Bloody mucus from the nose. Painful pimples under the nostrils.

[Contractive, darting pains in the left side of the nose, over the left eye. (a. 5 h.)

15. Burning-tensive sensation in the left nostril, as if a pimple would form in that part.]

Jaws and teeth p. 213

Ulcerative eruption on the lips, not in the corners, painful only when moving them. Swollen lips.

45. Lips scaling off. Rhagades of the lips. Swelling of the gums. Drawing pain in the gums. Drawing pain in the tooth, which is neither increased when eating, nor when touching the tooth.

50. The teeth feel to him as if they were elongated and raised, also dull. Pimples on the inner side of the cheeks. Pimples on the tip of the tongue, with stinging pain when touched.

[Burning of the lips. Pain on the left side of the lower jaw, as if there were a tumor or an ulcer, for three quarters of an hour.]

Throat p. 213

Ptyalism. Pain, during deglutition, as if the throat were inflamed; between the acts of deglutition, the pain in the throat was drawing.

55. Pain in the upper part of the fauces, between the acts of deglutition, as if the parts were sore, and were being spasmodically drawn together, as in waterbrash. Simple pain in the fauces, only when coughing. Pain in the velum pendulum palate, as if it were pressed by something hard, or as if it were being pinched, first more between the acts, afterwards more during deglutition, (a. lj h.) Spasmodic contraction of the fauces. Dryness of the mouth.

[Darting-tearing pain in the right cervical glands.]

Taste and appetite p. 213

Feeling of dryness on the forepart of the tongue, without thirst, early in the morning, (a. 8 h.) Absence of thirst. Tenacious mucus in the mouth, (a. 2 h.) Taste in the mouth, as of spoiled water. Flat, insipid taste, as of clay, (for instance : of the butter.)

65. Watery, flat taste in the mouth, afterwards heartburn. Heartburn. Rising from the stomach only when walking ; every eructation being accompanied by a stitch in the side ; no eructation when sitting, therefore no stitch. Acrid, sourish taste in the mouth. Sour taste in the mouth.

70. The broth tastes sour, (a. 2 h.)

Stomach and gastric symptoms p. 213

Flat sensation in the stomach: Coldness in the stomach ; sensation, as if cold water were in the stomach, afterwards a sensation as if it were trembling. Want of appetite. Want of appetite, although food tastes well to him.

75. Frequent yawning after a meal. Desire for coffee, (a. 8 h.) Inclination to vomit, and spitting, after taking coffee. Inclination to vomit. Qualmishness and inclination to vomit, in the pit of the stomach, early in the morning and afternoon, (a. 24 h.)

80. Pressure in the pit of the stomach, with inclination to vomit. Fulness and anxiousness in the chest, after a meal ; afterwards sour risings or heartburn, finally thin stool. Stool and redness of the cheeks, immediately after dinner, (a.' 6 h.) Burning over the pit of the stomach, immediately after a meal. Burning in the stomach, extending into the mouth, after breakfast. — [20. Aching in the pit of the stomach. Pain in the pit of the stomach, pinching, boring from within outwards, especially when sitting crooked, continuing for eight minutes (a. l£ h.)

Abdomen p. 214

85. Pain, deep in the abdomen, more burning than stitching, accompanied by cutting in the umbilical region, during motion, especially when stooping or walking, the pain making one dissatisfied ; inanimate things excite a desire to weep, (men or moral objects do not ;) the ill humor is accompanied by a sort of apprehensiveness and sweat in the face. Oppressive tension in the abdomen, especially the epigastric region, between the pit of the stomach and the umbilicus, especially increased by motion and accompanied with tension and pressure in the lower part of the back. Distention of the abdomen, two hours after a meal ; afterwards headache, dartings in the direction of the occiput, and frequent sweat. Tensive pain from the abdomen towards the chest, as if caused by distention of the abdomen. Distention and hardness of the abdomen ; she was unable to bear any tight clothing.

90. Sensation as if the abdomen were distended unto bursting, producing a suffocative arrest of breathing. Rumbling in the abdomen upwards and downwards. Grunting in the abdomen, as if from flatulence, (a. 1 h.) Pinching in the epigastrium. Pressure under the short ribs and in the pit of the stomach.

95. Hard pushing, almost stitching pain in a small spot of the left iliac region, (a. 1 h.) Pressure in various places of the abdomen. Pinching aching in the abdomen, immediately after a meal, with incarceration of flatulence. Colic, as if from flatulence. Painful movements of flatulence in the abdomen. Unusually strong pulsations of the abdominal vessels. Increased warmth of the intestinal canal. Painless rumbling in the abdomen.

25. A number of flatulences.

Stool p. 214

Colic, cutting and writhing around the umbilicus accompanied by expulsion of a tenacious mucus, sometimes streaked with black blood ; every stool is followed by thirst and every drink by shuddering. Drawing and turning about in the abdomen, with or without diarrhoea. Flatulence is violently pressing out at the abdominal ring, causing pain. Flatulent colic in the abdomen, followed by small, frequent stools, consisting of mucus, which is sometimes mixed with blood and causing tenesmus. Mucous diarrhoea with tenesmus.

105. Diarrhoea immediately, followed by tenesmus, without stool. Small stools, consisting of mere mucus. Small stools consisting of bloody mucus. Tenesmus. Constipation, as if there were too much heat in the abdomen.

110. Burning pain in the anus. (a. 3, 4, 8 h.) Itching of the anus. (a. 3, 4, 8 h.) Smarting, stinging pain in the anus, during diarrhoea. Blind haemorrhoids, varices of the anus, very painful during stool. Varices of the anus, sometimes itching.

115. Hemorrhage from the anus, for four days.

[Pressure, with pain, upon the intestines, with desire for stool ; but no evacuation. Tenesmus. After drinking, he has to go to stool, in spite of his costiveness ; he only passes mucus. As soon as he drinks something, he feels as if he would have diarrhoea ; but he only passes little at a time.

30. Burning at the anus.]

Urinary organs p. 215

Tenesmus of the bladder ; frequent, but unsuccessful desire to urinate, (a. 4, 8 h.) The urine is emitted in drops, as if it were poured over the urethra occasionally, (immediately and for a long time.) Frequent desire to urinate, mostly when sitting, not when walking, (a. 42 h.) Burning urine.

120. Burning, smarting pain in the urethra. after micturition, (a. 7 d.) Burning in the orifice of the urethra, immediately before, during and after micturition. Pain in the urethra, especially in the forenoon. Fine stinging in the orifice of the urethra, immediately after micturition. Prickings in the anterior portion of the urethra, between the acts of urinating, (a. 8 h.)

125. Violent stitches in the orifice of the urethra, between the acts of micturition. Cutting pain in the urethra, between the acts of micturition, from before backwards, (a. 6 h.) The urethra is painful to*the' touch, (a. 7 d.) The urine deposits a white sediment.

[Spasmodic contraction of the neck of the bladder, with cutting pain, not being exactly a desire to urinate, going and coming, early in the morning, when in bed ; the symptom seems to diminish somewhat, by emitting urine, (a. 24 h.)]

Genital organs p. 215

Continual pressing and prickling in the glans, especially morning and evening.

130. Early in the morning, the scrotum feels cold. Coldness of the scrotum, and impotence. Nightly pollution. Drawing pain in the spermatic cord, and clawing pain in the testicle, during emission of urine. and some time afterwards, (a. 48 h.) Erection, forenoon, afternoon, and evening.

135. Erection, early in the morning, when in bed, without any amorous thoughts. Violent erection, early in the morning, when rising, which can only be subdued by cold water. Excessive trembling of the whole body, when dallying with a female, (a. 24 h.) Purulent discharge from the urethra. The gonorrhoea becomes yellow and thick, (a. 7 d.)

140. Pressure in the pit of the stomach, with inclination to vomit, during the menses.

[Fine, itching stinging of the glans, like mosquito bites. Gonorrhoea (from wearing on the bare abdomen a linen bag, which was filled with the berries of Capsicum baccatum.)]

Cold, catarrh p. 216

Tingling and itching in the nose, as in dry coryza. Dry coryza. Hoarseness. Mucus in the upper part of the trachea, which has to be thrown off occasionally by hawking and coughing, (a. 3 h.)

145. Frequent and short, barking cough. Dry, frequent, barking cough. Cough, especially towards evening, (from five to nine oclock.) In the evening, after lying down, tingling and tickling in the larynx, and dry, short and hacking cough. Cough, especially after drinking coffee.

150. Painful cough. Pain in the throat, when coughing, as of a simple, painful swelling. Aching in the throat, only during the coughing fit, as if an ulcer would open. Headache during cough, as if the skull would break. Cough excites an inclination to vomit.

[Burning tingling in the nose, with violent sneezing and profuse discharge of mucus, (immediately, from the vapor.)

35. Violent, concussive sneezing, with discharge of thin mucus from the nose, (immediately.) Rough sensation in the throat, (for two days.) Tickling sensation in the throat, which brought on several violent sneezings. Continual stitches in the throat in the region of the epiglottis, exciting a dry cough, without going off by it. During the cough, and a little while after, a pressing towards the bladder, and a few stitches in the region of the neck of the bladder, from within outwards.

Chest p. 216

155. Coughing fits in the afternoon, exciting an inclination to vomit, and vomiting. Every coughing fit is accompanied with an aching pain in the ear, as if an ulcer would open. Drawing pain, when coughing, in the side of the chest, extending up to the neck. When coughing, pain in the side of the thigh, extending as far as the knee, pressing into the parts deeply. Coughing or sneezing causes a sudden pain in one or the other limb.

160. When coughing, the air from the lungs causes a strange, offensive taste in the mouth. When (toughing, a badly smelling breath rushes out of the lungs. Pain of the ribs and sternum, when taking an inspiration. Pain of the chest, under the right arm, when touching the place, or raising the arm. *Simple pain in the region of a rib, at a small place, worst when touching the parts, but neither excited by breathing nor by coughing.

165. When coughing, pain, like stitches, in the side of the chest and the back. When taking an inspiration, stitching pain between the scapulae and in the region of the stomach, and a few single stitches in the side of the abdomen, in the xiphoid cartilage and sternum ; these pains appear to be merely superficial. When taking an inspiration, while walking, a stitch in the side of the chest; not when sitting. Several violent stitches in the region of the heart. Anxiousness, which obliges him to take deep breath.

170. Involuntary, violent expiration. He is frequently obliged to fetch one deep breath ; he imagines this will relieve all his symptoms. Deep breathing, almost like a sigh. Pain in the chest, when sitting, as if the chest were too full, and did not contain space enough. Asthma, even when at rest, with stiff back, feeling sore when bending over, accompanied from time to time by a deep inspiration like a sigh, and by dry cough.

175. Asthma, sensation of fulness of the chest. Asthma, apparently coming from the stomach. The breathing becomes easier from day to day, (curative effect.) Asthma, with redness of face, eructation, and sensation, as if the chest were extended. Asthma, when at rest, and in motion.

180. Orthopnoe. Pain, as if the chest were constricted ; it oppresses the breathing, and increases, even by the slightest motion. Pain, as if the chest were pressed upon, when turning the body, or when taking a deep inspiration. Asthma, when walking. Throbbing pain in the chest.

185. Aching pain in that side of the chest upon which she is resting.

[40. — Single stitch in the left side of the chest, between the third and fourth ribs, as with a dull pin. Stitches in the left side, in the region of the fifth and ninth ribs. (a. 1 h.) Single stitches in the left side of the chest, between the second and third ribs. (a. 5 h.) Stitches in the left side, arresting breathing, (a. 10 h.) Stitches in the left side of the chest, when taking an inspiration, between the third and fourth ribs.

Back p. 217

Pain in the small of the back, drawing, from above downwards, when standing or moving about, with pain as from bruises. Pain in the back, when stooping. Drawing pain in the back. Drawing, aching pain in the back.

190. Stiffness of the nape of the neck, diminished by motion. Painful stiffness of the nape of the neck, which is felt only when moving it. Darting pain in the nape of the neck. Pain in the external parts of the neck.

[45. Drawing-tearing pain in and by the side of the spinal column. Suddenly a drawing-stitching pain in the middle of the spinal column. Feeling of weakness over the whole nape of the neck, as if a load were pressing upon it. (a. 4 h.)

Superior extremities p. 218

Sweat under the axilla, (a. 8 h.)

195. Pain in the shoulder-joint, as if it were sprained. (Drawing paralytic pain above and below the elbow-joint.) Fine, stinging pain in the skin of the wrist, (from the vapour.) Cool sweat in the hands, (a. 3 h.)

[Drawing-tearing pains extending from the right clavicle into the whole of the right arm down to the tips of the fingers, for 3 minutes. Stitches in the left elbow-joint, darting as far as the hand, and accompanied with flushes of heat ; afterwards the arm felt as if it had gone to sleep.

50. Groaning pain in the left lower arm. Painful, twitching sensation in the left hollow hand. (a. 8 h.) Contractive pain in the left index finger. Violent, deep stitches in the ball of the left little fingers.

Inferior extremities p. 218

Drawing pain in the hip-joint, (similar to the pain felt in a stiff neck,) increasing by contact and by bending the trunk backwards.

200. Lancinating pain from the hip-joint down to the feet, especially when coughing. Pain in the muscles of the thigh, resembling an aching, and as if the parts had been strained. Tensive pain in the knee. Straining pain in the calves when walking. (Pain, as from bruises, in the heel-bone, as if the heel had become bruised and pithy in consequence of a leap ; sometimes the pain becomes tearing, in paroxysms.) (a. 2 h.)

205. Stitches coming out at the tips of the toes.

[Pain, as from bruises, in the right thigh, disappearing when walking, but returning when at rest.

55. Pains as from a sprain, in the right thigh ; when stretching the thigh outwards, the pain comes on, and is then very violent, not otherwise. Convulsive jerking and twitching, now of the thigh, now of the lower arm. Tearing pain on the inner side of the left thigh. Drawing-stitching, digging (burrowing) pain in the middle of the posterior surface of the left thigh, going off by motion. Internal pain in the left leg, composed of drawing and stitches.

60. Single stitches in the big toe of the right foot, ceasing when stamping with the foot upon the floor.]

General symptoms p. 218

Superficial, drawing pains in different parts of the joints, in the back, nape of the neck, scapulae and hands, for many hours ; they are excited by motion. Cracking of the knee and finger-joints. In all the joints he experiences a sensation of stiffness and simple pain, greatest when commencing to move about, alleviated by continuing the motion ; accompanied by a catarrh and a discharge of tenacious mucus from the trachea. Early in the morning, when rising, he feels as if all his joints were broken, a paralytic painful stiffness when commencing to move, especially in the knees and tarsal joints, relieved by continued motion, (a. 10 h.)

210. After having been lying down, all his joints feel stiff ; early in the morning, when rising, he feels as if all his joints were broken ; the paralytic feeling in the knees and tarsal joints is much more severe when at rest, than when in motion. All his joints are painful as if they were dislocated, accompanied with a sensation as of being swollen. Cramp, first in the left arm and afterwards in the whole body ; the arms were stiff, she was unable to straighten them ; the feet likewise were stiff when rising from a seat ; they felt a tingling and as if they had gone to sleep. Transitory aching pains, at times in one, at times in another part of the body. Creeping in different parts of the skin, as of a fly.

215. Sensation over the whole body, as if all the parts of the body would go to sleep. (This sensation was speedily relieved by inhaling the vapor of sulphur. Tingling sensation in the upper and lower limbs, from the foot to the pharynx. Itching in different parts of the skin, mostly however in the face and nose. The place itches simply after merely touching it.) Itching in the hairy scalp and of little places all over the body, going off by slightly scratching the parts.

220. (Red, round spots on the abdomen and thighs.) A sort of rushing upwards and downwards in the body, with redness of the cheeks.

[Corrosive burning of several delicate parts of the body, (lips, mouth, nose, tip of the nose, wings of the nose, eyelids, etc.,) (from the vapor.) Stinging-burning itching of the whole body, greatest on the chest and in the face.]

Weakness, fits p. 219

Lassitude of the limbs, greater when at rest and when sitting. Great weariness, which however does not invite him to sleep, (a. 2 h.) In the morning he is more tired than in the evening.

225. Trembling, weakness of the feet. Complete depression of strength. He dreads all kinds of exercise.

[Faintness and heaviness of the limbs, followed by trembling of the upper limbs and knees ; the hands felt too weary to write, (a. 7 h.) i (Gurgling rapid beating in some of the larger vessels, (a. 24 h.)]

Sleep p. 220

Sleep full of dreams. Sad dreams of past things ; when waking he knew not whether he had really had a dream, or no.

230. Dreams full of contrarieties. His sleep is interrupted by screams and startings, as if he fell down from a height. He snores through the nose when asleep, as if he could not get any air through the nose and his breathing were arrested, (a. 1 h.) He wakes up several times after midnight, and even later, he is wide awake.

235. He is wide awake in the night, and is unable to sleep, (a. 5, 9 h.) Sleep drives away his repugnance to all things and his ill humor. Almost uninterrupted yawning, (a. \ h.)

Fever p. 220

Cool air, and especially a draft of air, is contrary to him. (a. 12 h.) The warmth of the body becomes less and less.

240. Coldness over the whole body ; the limbs are cold, without any shuddering being experienced. In proportion as the coldness of the body increases, the low-spiritedness and the contraction of the pupils decrease likewise. (I have seen that coldness increasing for eleven hours, and gradually disappearing again in the twelve following.) Shuddering and shaking chills after drinking. Excessive chilliness, in the evening, after lying down, followed by coryza. (a. 72 h.) Chilliness, in the evening.

245. He feels chilly when lifting the cover of the bed ever so little. When walking in the open air, sensation in the thighs, as if they were covered with cold sweat, (as when cold air comes in contact with a part in a state of perspiration ;) nevertheless the thighs did not sweat. He trembles and shudders. Shuddering and chilliness in the back, in the evening, followed by slight sweat, but neither heat nor thirst. (Feverish shuddering, in the evening, with thirst, (without heat or yawning and stretching,) with great weakness, short breath, drowsiness and ill-humor ; at the least motion he experiences a shuddering, without feeling cold either to himself or to the touch — -nevertheless he did not feel too warm, even in a hot room.)

250. Chilliness and coldness the first night ; in the night following, she sweats all over the body. Sweats all over the body, early in the morning. General heat and sweat, without thirst, for some hours ; then, shuddering, at six oclock in the evening, with shaking andchattering of teeth — he felt thirsty and cold all over the body, with anxiousness, restlessness, inability to recollect things, and intolerance of noise ; — next evening, at seven oclock, the same shuddering, chills, with shaking and coldness, with thirst. Heat, at the same time shuddering, with thirst for water. Heat in the face and redness, with tremor of the limbs (immediately.)

255. Glowing cheeks, after dinner, with cold hands and feet, without shuddering — returning two successive days at the same time. Red cheeks. The face is alternately pale and red, together with the lobules, with a burning sensation, without any particular heat being felt when touching the parts. (Burning of the hands, feet and cheeks, the latter being swollen.) Hot ears, and hot, red tip of the nose, towards evening.

260. (Internal heat, with cold sweat on the forehead.)

[65. — Heat of the hands, but not of the other parts of the body. Coldness of the feet, as far as above the ankles, they cannot be got warm, although the remainder of the body has the usual natural warmth, in the morning, (a. 12 h.)]

Moral symptoms p. 221

Taciturn, indifferent to all things. Taciturn, obstinate and peevish. Repugnance and ill-humor.

265. Repugnance and crying, (a. 3 h.) He reproaches others with their faults, even trifles. He is offended by the least trifle, even in the midst of jesting. He gets angry easily. He imagines he is overwhelmed with business, this makes him restless.

270. Tendency to start, (a. 2 h.) Capricious ; at times he laughs continually, at times he weeps. Jests, humorous speeches. He is contented, joking, warbles a song, and nevertheless inclines to get angry from the least cause, (a. 4 h.) Contentment, (curative action.)

275. Steady mood, without grief, (curative action.)

[Anguish, he imagines he will die. Want of disposition to work or think. Calm mood, (curative action.)]

Notes p. 221

END OF VOL. I.