"Essence of Morbane." "Artificial Oil of Bitter Almonds." C 6 H 5 NO 2 . (Prepared by heating Benzol with Nitric Acid; the oily fluid formed is washed and rectified; it is miscible with alcohol, and has an odour of bitter almonds.) Solution in alcohol.

Clinical

Amaurosis / Convulsions / Cyanosis / Diuresis / Epilepsy / Nystagmus / Respiration, slow / Strabismus / Tetanus / Trismus

Characteristics

Nitro-benzene is a very poisonous substance, and our knowledge of its action is due to numerous cases of poisoning that have occurred. It produces faintness, sinking, convulsions, twitchings, stupor. It slows the respiration until death occurs. Rolling of the eyeballs in their vertical axis is a prominent feature, and the pupils are dilated. Blueness of lips, face, and finger-nails. Flapping of alæ nasi. Head drawn backward and to the left side in spasms. Involuntary evacuations. Paralysis of all limbs. Punctiform ecchymoses. The odour of bitter almonds is strong in the secretions.

Relations

Compare: Benzin., Amygd. am., Camph. Hydrocy., ac.

1. Mind

Extreme mental excitement. Loquacity, followed by drowsiness, soon passing into stupor. Soon became unconscious with inarticulate, confused speech.

2. Head

Vertigo; and headache. Trembles; staggers; falls unconscious. Sensation of formication under scalp, or as if the hair was bristling up.

3. Eyes

Rolling of eyeballs. Constant slow movement of eyeballs from l. to r. under closed lids. The eyeballs showed a constant turning inward and outward in a slow, regular motion, with the visual axes perfectly parallel. Constantly rolling in vertical axes. Strabismus. Eyes staring. Great injection of conjunctiva of bulbs. Eyeballs seemed enlarged. Pupils dilated; insensible to light. Distorted vision and flashes of strange light and colours.

4. Ears

Violent roaring in ears, and sounds.

6. Face

Stupid expression. Cyanosis. Œdema. Covered with cold sweat. Trismus.

8. Mouth

Tongue white and swollen; thick and soft. Burning taste, followed by numbness and tingling of tongue and lips. Stammering speech. Tenacious saliva flowed from the mouth.

11, 12, 13. Stomach, Abdomen, Stool. . Burning in throat and stomach. Nausea, vomiting, of food eaten. Pains in abdomen. Involuntary evacuations.

14. Urinary Organs

Diuresis; urine brownish red; odour of bitter almonds. Urine and fæces passed involuntarily.

17. Respiratory Organs

Sighing respiration. Respiration frequently interrupted. Dyspnœa. Respiration exceedingly slow; shallow. Snoring. Respiration difficult, catching, accelerated.

19. Heart

Pulse rapid, weak, irregular. Pulse full and slow. Pulse scarcely perceptible.

20. Neck

Stiff-neck; trismus and fibrillary twitchings in masseter muscles.

21. Limbs

Twitchings in hands and feet. Arms spasmodically flexed, sometimes extended. Arms spasmodically flexed at first, afterwards relaxed.

24. Generalities

Gait as if intoxicated; staggering here and there. Violent convulsions; with unconsciousness. Fell unconscious; extremities paralysed; evacuations involuntary. Fainted from inhaling vapours. Over-powering odour of bitter almonds.

25. Skin

Punctiform ecchymoses. Skin livid; bluish-grey. Ecchymosed spots, bluish-black, beneath scalp and on gluteal muscles.

27. Fever

Skin cold. Sweat on forehead and face. Whole body covered with profuse cold sweat.

Benzinum Nitricum.