QUASSIA.
By Timothy F. Allen โ The Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica
Quassia amara, L.
Natural order , Simarubaceรฆ.
Common name , Quassia.
Preparation , Tincture of the wood.
Authorities.
1 , Dr. J. O. Muller, N. Z. f. Hom. Kl., 5, 1, 1859 (report of Sitzung des Vereins Hom. Aerzte. Oest), took a single dose; 2 , Eidherr, ibid., took four doses of 30th dec. dil.; 3 , Lembke, N. Z. f. Hom. Kl., 6, p. 17, took Extract, 1 grain first day, 3 grains second day, repeated, and afterwards 14 grains.
MIND
- 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 o'clock 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, 2.
- An anxious mood returned on going to sleep, but disappeared in the night (third day), 2.
HEAD
- (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 . [This symptoms is only noted, and cannot be, directly ascribed to the action of Quassia, as I had previously suffered from similar attacks.]
- Constant dulness of the head (second day), 2.
- (Pain and heaviness in the forehead, with at times dulness of the head), 3.
- (Slight drawing in the left side of the head and face), 3.
STOMACH
- Great inclination to qualmishness, 1.
- Drawing pain in the stomach, accompanied by a sensation as if the stomach were full of hot water, 2.
ABDOMEN
- 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), 2. [10.]
- 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, 1.
- Abdomen hard and distended (second day), 2.
- Sticking pains in the abdomen, between the umbilicus and stomach, frequently recurring and lasting several days (soon), 1.
- A peculiar beating through the abdomen, extending into the extremities, with general nervous troubles (second day), 1.
STOOL
- Stools at first hard, with great effort, afterwards pasty, once very thin, 2.
URINARY ORGANS
- Secretion of urine increased, solid constituents diminished; sp. gr., in the morning, 1007 and 1009; during the day 1001 and 1004, 2.
RESPIRATORY ORGANS
- (Hoarseness, perhaps to be ascribed to a change in the weather), 1.
NECK
- Slight drawing pains in the cervical muscles (after 3 grains), 3.
INFERIOR EXTREMITIES
- Drawing pain in the calves (half an hour after 1 grain), 3.
GENERALITIES
- General discomfort (second day), 2.
FEVER. [20.]
- Sensation of coldness running over the back, with constant inclination to yawn and desire to stretch out the feet, 2.