ALLENS KEY NOTES ON OPIUM

OPIUM.

Poppy. (Papaveraceae.)

Especially adapted to children and old people; diseases of first and second childhood (Bar. c., Mill.), persons with light hair, lax muscles, and want of bodily irritability. Want of susceptability to remedies; lack of vital reaction, the well chosen remedy makes no impression (Carbo v., Laur., Val.). Ailments: with insensibility and partial or complete paralysis; that originate from fright, bad effects of, the fear still remaining (Acon., Hyos.); from charcoal vapors; from inhaling gas; of drunkards. All complaints; with great sopor; painless, complains of nothing; wants nothing. Spasms: of children, from approach of strangers; from nursing after fright of mother (Hyos. - after anger of mother, Cham., Nux); from crying; eyes half open and upturned. Screaming before or during a spasm (Apis, Hell.). Deep stetorous respiration both on inhalation and exhalation. Delirium, constantly talking; eyes wide open, face red, puffed; or unconscious, eyes glassy, half-closed, face pale, deep coma; preceded by stupor. Thinks she is not at home (Bry.); this is continually in her mind. Picking of bed clothes during sleep (while awake, Bell., Hyos.). Delirium tremens: in old emaciated persons; bloated face, stupor, eyes burning, hot, dry; with loud snoring. Sleep: heavy, stupid; with stetorous breathing, red, face, eyes, half-closed, blood-shot; skin covered with hot sweat; after convulsions. Sleepy, but cannot sleep (Bell., Cham.), sleeplessness with acuteness of hearing, clock striking and cocks crowing at great distance keep her awake. Loss of breath on falling asleep (Grind., Lach.). Bed feels so hot she cannot lie on it (bed feels hard, Arn., Bry., Pyr.); moves often in search of a cool place; must be uncovered. Digestive organs inactive; peristaltic motion reversed or paralyzed; bowels seem closed. Constipation: of children; of corpulent, good-natured women (Graph.); from inaction or paresis, no desire; from lead poisoning; stool hard, round black balls (Chel., Plumb., Thuja); faeces protrude and recede (Sil., Thuja). Stool: involuntary, especially after fright (Gels.); black and offensive; from paralysis of sphincter. Urine: retained, with bladder full; retention, post-partum or from excessive use of tobacco; in nursing children, after passion of nurse; in fever or acute illness; paralysis of bladder or sphincter. (In Stramonium we have suppression; while in Opium the secretion is not diminished, the bladder is full but fullness is unrecognized.). Opium renders the intestines so sluggish that the most active purgatives lose their power. - Hering. Persistent diarrhoea in those treated with large doses of the drug. - Lippe. Sudden retrocession of acute exanthema results in paralysis of brain or convulsions (Zinc.). Marasmus; child with wrinkled skin, looks like a little dried up old man (Abrot.).

Relations

. - Antidoes, for poisonous doses; strong coffee, Nux, Kali per. and constant motion. When symptoms correspond, the potencies may antidote bad effects of Opium drugging. Compare: Apis, Bell., Hyos., Stram. and Zinc.

Aggravation

. - During and after sleep (Apis, Lach.); while perspiring; from warmth; stimulants.

Amelioration

. - From cold; constant walking.