Lyssin (Hydrophobinum) - General symptoms - H.C. Allen

GENERAL

General

(Hydrophobinum; saliva of a rabid dog)

Introduced and proved by Hering in 1833, fifty years before the crude experiments of Pasteur with the serum The toxic or non-toxic property of animal saliva has long been a question of scientific discussion Trevinarus found that the human saliva became red by the addition of tincture of iron.

and Gmelin discovered that this color was caused by Sulpho-cyanate The question in dispute appeared to be that Cyanic acid being a poison, Sulpho-cyanate also must be one, and or course its combination with alkalies, and being poisons, they could not be in the saliva Years before this discovery, Oken had declared that "saliva is poison" But the discoveries of Liebig and other chemists have demonstrated that Sulpho-cyanic acid is to be found in sheep, dogs and many other animals.

The experiments of Bernard and others, in Virchow's Archives, 1858, have decided that Sulpho-cyanate of Potash found in saliva of animals, acts as a poison under certain conditions Bernard considered that it acted only by application to cellular tissue In this he was, no doubt, in error, being misled by the analogy of the Bothrops Lanceolatus ^snake poison But, Weir Mitchell in his "Researches on the Venom of the Crotalus Horridus ^Rattlesnake," page 34 says, he "could not discover any in the Crotalus Horridus ^rattlesnake poison, notwithstanding repeated experiments"

Livingstone, the African explorer, has reported the bite of the lion as poisonous.

and the same claim is made in the East Indies regarding the bite of the tiger From time immemorial it has been known in every country village that the bite of an angry cat is poisonous, and the effects often severe, even fatal This is also true with the bite of all other animals, human beings included, when in a fit of passion.

Hering reports a case taken from a French journal in which a healthy farmer, aet 19, while holding a duck in his lap was bitten on the lip by the angry drake The same day he felt sick, grew rapidly worse, and a few weeks after died He also says, that "after the bite of a dog not rabid difficult healing ulcers will follow" It is further known, that after the bite of a rabid dog not only the wounds made by the teeth heal in an unsually short time, but several physicians have observed that even the usual cauterizations are not inclined to inflame, rather more inclined to heal quickly We may take this for a pathognomonic symptom of the slumbering poison of Lyssin.

the same thing is true of leprosy before it breaks out Now comes the work of Pasteur, in 1878, 1879 and 1880.

His experiments furnished evidence that the malignant disease, splenic fever, was caused by bacteria

An animal inoculated with a few drops of a liquid containing this bacteria, develops the disease with astonishing rapidity and dies within one or two day But, he claims that chickens are an exception to this rule, because when similarly inoculated they remain in perfect health Pasteur's explanation of this strange fact is based on a higher bodily temperature of birds than any other warm blooded animals The temperature of animals most readily affected by splenic fever ranges from 33 to 35°C, while the blood temperature of chickens is from 42 to 43°C degrees Now, by reducing the temperature of the chicken after inoculation, Pasteur found it had died of splenic fever, the same as any other animal Further experiments by Pasteur convinced him that propagation of bacteria is arrested by a temperature of 44 or more degrees These facts called Pasteur's attention to radiate heat as the best local application to prevent the generation of bacteria And the same principle has been applied in domestic practice for the cure of a snakebite by killing a chicken, cutting it open and applying the warm surface to the bitten limb, replacing it as soon as it became cold by another, and in this way it is claimed that on the plains of the West, where the bite of the Crotalus Horridus ^rattlesnake is so common, that nearly every case has been cured.

the 10 degrees of greater heat seemed to be sufficient in the bite of the Crotalus Horridus ^rattlesnake as well as of the bacteria of splenic fever.

In June, 1831, Hering published a letter in Stapf's Archives, Vol 10, which was dated June 18th, 1830, in which he says "The proving of Bothrops Lanceolatus ^snake poison might pave the way to the prevention of hydrophobia and variola by the proving of their respective morbific poisons" And on page 30, of the same volume, he says "Same is said of psora"

It will be remembered that Hering's immortal proving of Lachesis ^Lachesis was begun in 1828, and experimented with for three years, when it was finally published

Hence the experience which Hering obtained in the proving of the Bothrops Lanceolatus ^serpent poison was evidently the inspiration for his suggestion that the proving on the healthy of Lyssin, Variolinum, Psorinum ^Psorinum and other nosodes would form valuable remedies in the treatment of many of our obstinate diseases Hering no sooner became firmly convinced of the truth of his suggestion than he at once set to work to put it into execution

But, the first thing to do was to find a mad dog The opportunity occurred on the 27th of August, 1833, when a German baker invited him to come to his house to examine a dog The following description of his capture of a rabid dog and obtaining the saliva for a proving is taken from a paper by Hering in the North American Journalof 1878

To the provings of Schmid and Behlert were added those of John Redmond Cox, in 1853, when a suggestion was made that, in order to remove the stigma of cowardice in the profession, their shrinking from their first duty of proving remedies on themselves was made in a public meeting

Dr Cox not only offered to prove it on himself, but on his entire family and his friends besides, and furnished us perhaps the best provings that have ever been made of Lyssin; he also furnished the day-books in which the symptoms were recorded

Many of the most valuable symptoms were from provings by Hering, on himself, but he was prevented from continuing by the most terrible feelings of apprehension

Dr Knerr made some valuable provings, in 1869, on a woman bitten by a dog in the fleshy part of right arm

Dr Lippe cured an important case in which he was guided by a symptom produced only from bites, but never observed any provings But Lippe's observation was confirmed by many other good observers Some symptoms from bites of rabid dogs have been added

Thus, nearly fifty years after the experiments of Hering with the virus of hydrophobia Pasteur's work began But, on account of the crude preparation, like Koch's experiments with Tuberculin, many of Pasteur's cases were fatal No better illustration can be found in medicine of the scientific accuracy and its successful clinical demonstration than is to be had in the results of the labors of these two men The homeopathic methods have been demonstrated to be not only accurate and scientific, but safe and efficacious

The following case is from El Siglo Medico

Fagus Dread of liquids; profuse salivation; swelling of the mouth; intense frontal headache; trembling; convulsions with periodic spasms; stiffness and coldness; pointing to the same kind of nerve irritation as caused by the poison of rabies

Lachesis ^Lachesis is closely allied (worse from sun; bluish discoloration of wounds and ulcers; irritability; worse from warm, damp air; from touch and a pressure; worse after sleep; and Clarke adds, "though the late evolution of Lyssin is in striking contrast with the lightning-like rapidity of the effects of Bothrops Lanceolatus ^snake venom").

After fainting spell he wrote on paper I am forsaken by all.

even the birds of heaven, they do not look at me, do not feed me if hungry.

I hunger with the young ones and am thirsty with their she ones.

my nest is made out of dirt, not gotten by my own exertions, but by driving them out of their nests and sitting there with the females and the young.

Mary M, aet 17, had been bitten several years previously by a dog, and reading of several cases of hydrophobia as reported in papers, was found in following condition.

crouched in corner of sofa, dark red bloated face, expression of terror in face, eyes glistening, conjunctive injected red.

was brought into this condition by endeavouring to take a drink of water, and could not hear water mentioned without a shudder of fear, could not swallow, pulse very high, tongue dry and coated red.

Lyssin 200 one dose. she was better next day, but had several slight attacks afterwards, always induced by running of water, but always yielding to remedy.

has not had an attack in nearly a year.

A musician received a bite from a small pet dog in calf of left leg while walking through a dark entry.

the bite was very slight, scarcely wounding skin.

the animal was in a healthy condition and remained so.

a pain in bitten place kept returning from time to time independently of mind dwelling on it, until it finally grew to a burning which extended through entire body, causing an indescribably strange sensation.

in night trembling, and a tormenting fear that he would have hydrophobia.

was thirsty and drank water freely.

it was two years after the bite when these and the following symptoms appeared, frequent spitting of saliva all through day, only ceasing awhile after taking strong tea in evening.

disturbed dreams at night.

finally could not partake of food or drink, and complained of pricking stitches under tongue.

mental excitement now as all his life, affects him badly.

hot vapor relieved burning pain in the bite, and Lyssin 2C (Jenichen) improved all symptoms rapidly.

in three weeks he considered himself cured, and started on a journey.

Dizziness as if something was drawing around in a circle, and as if she could not hold her head straight.

after lying down, like a shock in upper part of brain.

with inclination to fall to right when stooping.

towards evening in upper part of head, as if she would fall, while walking.

frequent and transient.

with dim sight while walking and sitting.

and nausea. with cramps in abdomen.

temporarily better by return of diarrhea.

worse by teaching, spelling, or being obliged to notice letters.

after lying down in bed, shock in upper part of brain.

dimness of vision on rising from stooping.

on rising from chair, staggers.

while sitting. on rising, cannot walk straight.

Headache with dizziness, lasting all day.

in morning, violent, with vertigo (better by Tabacum ^Tabac).

over eyes. in temples.

very severe in afternoon.

worse from writing. better by cold air.

from noon until evening.

from 3 to 9 P M, worse from writing, better by cold air.

alternating with hot flushes in face.

with shooting pain in upper face.

toward noon, with increase of saliva.

and sore throat all day.

worse on seeing water or hearing it run.

Spasmodic affections take place in muscles of face, occasioning violent contortions and most horrid assemblage of features.

in muscles moving lower jaw, inducing involuntary gnashing and a grinding of teeth, which some have construed into a desire of biting.

during convulsive attack expression of face indicates great anxiety and alarm.

Painless hard nodules on cheek, where a pimple seemed to have appeared.

on ninth day a little scurf on it and redness.

if picked or pricked, a very disagreeable kind of pain, but not violent, is felt in cheek even a distance from nodule, and here and there deep in upper part of jaw.

cheeks bluish-red and soft.

discharges after the scurf is scratched off, lymph and blood.

Pain in left cheek near nose, from fifth to seventh day.

followed by a hard, painless swelling of size of a pea, turned redder on thirtieth day, and became covered with a small scab.

on thirty-second day it grew soft and turned bluish-red, particularly around edges.

on puncturing, a disagreeable yet not severe pain at some distance from swelling and more inside of cheek.

a small quantity of blood and matter was discharged.

on fortieth day the place ceased to discharge and healed.

Pulse steady, but rather full and hard, about ten beats above normal standard (80).

slightly accelerated and hard, being more frequently small than full.

quick and irritable. 160.

becomes gradually weaker and quicker, especially after paroxysm, 120 to 180.

frequently irregular, becoming variable in its rate, and this variation takes place with great rapidity.

unequal, some beats stronger, some quickened.

weak, quick, intermitting.

very small irregular and very rapid (last stage).

weak, quick and intermittent (latter period).

becomes constantly more rapid and smaller, until at length it is threadlike, and finally no longer can be felt.

When he sees or hears running water, violent pain and tenesmus return.

in a case of dysentery in Summer, of six weeks' standing, in which stools were most frequent in night, consisted of bloody mucus and were followed by pains in rectum and small of back, which forced patient to walk about in spite of great weakness.

could neither stand nor lie down.

had drunk no water whole time, only hot tea occasionally.

Walking as if she would fall.

dizziness, with dim sight.

five minutes after, sharp pain above eyebrows and up nose.

quickly, causes pressing pain in hypochondria.

pain in region of spleen.

enforced by terrible pain in rectum and small of back.

great weakness in chest.

stitches in heart. impossible on account of pain in legs.

painful on account of soreness of heel.

on side of foot, instep not so painful.

Dreams of influential persons to whom he occupies position of servant or subordinate.

of a Latin debate with students of law, astonished at facility and fluency with which he spoke Latin, it being far greater than he was capable of in a waking state.

of dogs all the time, but they are different dogs from the one that bit her.

of fighting, of high places, of insane asylum, of churches.

disagreeable, when she falls asleep, night or day.

only in first half hour.

Morning violent vertigo, with chill and headache.

after rising, slight frontal headache worse.

when getting awake, boring in temples.

woke with burning, aching headache.

severe headache. lid puffed up like an eggshell.

on awaking lids feel paralyzed before rising.

on hearing water poured, obliged to have an evacuation.

pressing in forehead early.

frequent sneezing (6 A M) tickling in left cheek.

heat in face. bitter taste.

swallowing less difficult.

little appetite. stools more frequent, diarrhea, with violent pains.

urine yellowish-brown.

both breasts swollen. muscles stiff.

pressing across right ear.

wrists as if strained worse.

pain in left knee. all muscles feel bruised.

much fatigued.

Afternoon very severe headache.

dull pain in forehead, with stupid feeling.

pressing in vertex and forehead.

dull pain in forehead.

sick headache. dull heavy pain in head.

headache, with nausea and sore pain around heart.

stinging pressure behind ears.

ranula, with dryness of mouth worse.

stinging in chest, with palpitation.

sour belching. erections.

itching and burning on corona glandis.

burning and tenesmus as if in prostatic gland and in urethra.

increased peristalic motion of scrotum.

first hours pain in testicles worse.

pain in wounded left arm.

pain in shoulder joint.

whole body trembles. drowsy.

starting in sleep. fever.

All day. felt depressed and weak.

spitting of saliva. headache with dizziness.

sore throat. intense pain in head.

violent headache worse.

a peculiar sensation of head.

itching in nose. spitting.

very severe sore throat.

slight pain in lumbar region.

terrible pain in throat.

sensation of emptiness and discomfort in sexual parts after coition.

dull pain in heart. difficulty in moving head.

severe backache and numbness of hands.

pain in back across hips.

a tearing and stinging in left shoulder joint.

weight on shoulders. feeling of weight in legs.

severe nervous twitches in whole body.

had to lie in bed, with severe pain in all bones.

Evening fretful, hypochondriac mood.

vacillating motion of head.

dull pain in forehead.

pain above left ear. shooting in eyes.

pressive burning in right concha.

late, frequent sneezing.

drawing in side of face.

disinclined to think. want of appetite, followed by great lightness of head.

when in bed, rending across abdomen aching from groins to feet.

pain about neck of bladder.

cooling, burning, congested feeling in region of bladder.

profuse watery urine. urine yellowish-brown.

strong erections without sexual excitement or thoughts.

increased peristaltic motion of scrotum.

chest as if beaten. back extremely sore.

pain in wounded left arm.

pain in left arm and wrist.

legs tired and aching.

late, less inclined to chilliness.

Night delirium worse.

tempted to bite her pillow.

incessant talking. disturbed dreams.

stupidity with restlessness.

on hearing water poured, obliged to have an evacuation.

hears various noises. vomiting in sleep.

stools most frequent. swelling of breasts.

laming pain in right knee joint when getting awake.

pain in legs goes off.

cramp in calves of legs.

while lying in bed, laming pain in joint of left foot.

painful lameness in left ankle joint.

strange feeling changed into a trembling, generally sleepless.

walking up and down in despair.

stupefaction in head. woke several times with pain in wounded arm.

sleepless on account of scratching of whole body.

more restless. disagreeable dreams.

itching quite severe. intolerable itching in lower part of body to feet.

stitches in heart. pain in back.

itching on lower half of abdomen.

Characteristics

The sight or sound of running water or pouring water aggravates all complaints

Lyssophobia; fear of becoming mad; exceedingly apprehensive

Bluish discoloration of wounds (Lachesis ^Lach)

Complaints resulting from abnormal sexual desire (from abstinence, Conium Mac ^Con)

Mental emotion or mortifying news always makes him worse (Gelsemium Sempervirens ^Gels)

Cannot bear heat of sun (Gelsemium Sempervirens ^Gels, Glonoin ^Glon, Lachesis ^Lach, Nat Mur ^Nat)

Convulsions from dazzling or reflected light from water or mirror (Stramonium ^Stram), from even thinking of fluids of any kind; from slightest touch or current of air

Headache from bites of dogs, whether rabid or not; chronic, from mental emotion or exertion; worse by noise of running water or bright light

Saliva; tough, ropy, viscid, frothy in mouth and throat, with constant spitting (Hydrastis Canadensis ^Hydr)

Sore throat, constant desire to swallow (Lac c, Mer)

Difficulty in swallowing, even spasm of oesophagus from swallowing liquids; gagging when swallowing water

Constant desire to urinate on seeing running water (Cantharis ^Canth, Sulphur ^Sulph); urine scanty, cloudy, contains sugar

Prolapsus uteri; many cases of years' standing cured

Leucorrhea, profuse, running down the legs (Alumina ^Alum, Syphilinum (Luesinum) ^Syph, Tuberculinum ^Tub)

Sensitiveness of vagina, rendering coition painful