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en:ahr:gonzalez-dr-case-of-cinchona-poisoning-158-10469 [2012/07/12 10:57]
en:ahr:gonzalez-dr-case-of-cinchona-poisoning-158-10469 [2012/07/12 10:57] (current)
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 +====== CASE OF CINCHONA-POISONING.====== ​
  
 +{{anchor:​s2}}%%*[%%** London <span grade2>​Monthly Homoeopathic Review,</​span>​ September, 1863.]
 +
 +{{anchor:​s3}}BY DR. GONZALEZ, MADRID.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s4}}On the 27th of October, last year, I was summoned to attend Mrs. E. L. de M., residing temporarily in this city, at No. 24 Rio Street. {{anchor:​s5}}This lady, who was 24 years old, of lymphatic temperament and feeble constitution,​ had the appearance of one suffering from prolonged and deep-seated disease.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s6}}The following are the pathological phenomena, gathered from the patient herself:
 +
 +{{anchor:​s7}}In 1861, whilst residing in a town of Andalucia, she was attacked by ague, or intermittent fever, which was treated by large doses of Quinine. {{anchor:​s8}}Although this drug removed the fever in a few days, her general health remained much impaired for some time afterwards. {{anchor:​s9}}A gastric affection made its appearance, characterized by anorexia; foul taste in the mouth; burning sensation in the stomach; dyspepsia; costiveness;​ rheumatic pains in different parts of the body; general heat, with partial perspirations during the night, and great lowness of spirits. {{anchor:​s10}}For the removal of these new symptoms, various means were employed, such as <span grade2>​cathartics,</​span>​ Opium, and other so called "mild remedies;"​ but all were administered in vain; the disease became worse day by day. {{anchor:​s11}}For a time the patient was treated homoeopathically,​ without much relief, and was unable to continue the treatment, on account of her removal from that part of the country. {{anchor:​s12}}After this she became pregnant, and suffered much during gestation, and in her confinement,​ and was unable to nurse her child.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s13}}In the summer of 1862, she placed herself once more under allopathic treatment. {{anchor:​s14}}Her medical adviser thought her illness was the result of "heat of the blood" (<span grade2>​ardor de la sangre</​span>​),​ and recommended her to have recourse to the baths of the Guadalquivir;​ these, however, produced an effect contrary to what was expected, and aggravated the rheumatic pains already mentioned. {{anchor:​s15}}She then returned to Homoeopathy,​ and obtained considerable relief. {{anchor:​s16}}She soon afterwards left for Aranjuez, where she was again attacked by intermittent fever, and was once more treated with massive and repeated doses of Quinine. {{anchor:​s17}}This remedy removed the ague again, but left the patient in a miserable condition, and suffering from symptoms which I shall mention hereafter. {{anchor:​s18}}In this deplorable state she came to Madrid, to be treated exclusively on the homoeopathic system.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s19}}The following is the pathological condition in which I found her at that time:
 +
 +{{anchor:​s20}}Pallid skin, with a yellowish tint about the face; general emaciation; eyes dull and sunken, with a dark rim under the lower lids; anguished expression; lips dry and cracked; great heat; the inferior extremities edematous; the borders of the tongue red, the centre white; anorexia; thirst, increased during digestion; dyspepsia; costiveness. {{anchor:​s21}}The liver and spleen were not over sensitive, but a slight pain was felt, on pressure, in the epigastric and hypochondriac regions. {{anchor:​s22}}The patient complained much of the stomach, where she felt an intense heat; and was unable to bear any pressure around the waist. {{anchor:​s23}}The above symptoms were accompanied by sleeplessness;​ weak and small pulse; aggravations of fever during the night, terminating in copious perspirations. {{anchor:​s24}}Perspiration came on, also, during the day, when she happened to fall asleep, whilst reclining in her easy chair, wearied by suffering. {{anchor:​s25}}The patient also suffered from a pertinacious though not very troublesome cough; strong rheumatic pains in different parts, particularly in the upper and lower extremities. {{anchor:​s26}}The menses were generally profuse, bordering on menorrhagia,​ appearing always in advance of the ordinary time. {{anchor:​s27}}The discharge was mixed with leucorrheal and serous matter. {{anchor:​s28}}Her moral state was lamentable in more than one respect: her spirits were depressed; she was full of fears, and had not strength to walk, or even to nurse her baby, or to hold it in her arms. {{anchor:​s29}}Her voice was weakened by her constant sufferings, and was hardly audible. {{anchor:​s30}}Her husband and family were very anxious about her, and feared she would succumb under pulmonary or laryngeal phthisis.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s31}}Upon reviewing the symptomatic group above recorded, I felt convinced that I had to deal with one of those medicinal affections, which Hahnemann has described as being more difficult to treat than natural diseases. {{anchor:​s32}}In fact I had to combat the poisonous effects of Cinchona, taken in immense quantities, during two different attacks of intermittent fever. {{anchor:​s33}}The state of my patient recalled to my mind the description given by Dr. Nunez of the symptoms produced by the abuse of Cinchona; the symptoms recorded by that physician, and those revealed in the present case are identical.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s34}}Having thus established my diagnosis, the selection of the remedy was the next step. {{anchor:​s35}}Pulsatilla was selected, because it corresponds perfectly with the cause of the disease, and is at the same time the most efficacious antidote to Cinchona. {{anchor:​s36}}I therefore administered Pulsatilla<​sup>​200</​sup>​ three doses of five globules each, to be taken dissolved in two spoonfuls of water, every second day, an hour and a half before breakfast.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s37}}Four days afterwards, I saw my patient again, and observing that she had gained relief, in every respect, I allowed the medicine to act, and merely prescribed Sacch. lact.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s38}}On my third visit, on the 3d of November, I was struck by the progress of her recovery. {{anchor:​s39}}The rheumatic pains had Almost left her, and all the other symptoms were much mitigated. {{anchor:​s40}}Her moral condition and her countenance were cheerful. {{anchor:​s41}}I still continued the Sacch. lact., and did not interfere with the action of the Pulsatilla.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s42}}On the 11th of November all the morbid symptoms had disappeared,​ except the perspiration,​ which, however, was much subdued.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s43}}On the 18th her condition was very satisfactory. {{anchor:​s44}}She had gained strength, and was able to take an afternoon walk. {{anchor:​s45}}-- The languid feelings were replaced by cheerfulness,​ and she was able to attend to mental and domestic occupations. {{anchor:​s46}}The intestinal canal recovered its natural vigor, and resumed its daily functions. {{anchor:​s47}}I continued the same prescription.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s48}}On the 28th the menses made their appearance naturally, and she gained flesh gradually; she attended to domestic occupations with pleasure; her appetite, however, became almost voracious, so much so, as to produce suspicions of worms in the intestinal tube, for which I gave her Merc. sol. <​sup>​200</​sup>,​ two doses of four globules each, one dose to be taken immediately,​ and the other dose three days after.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s49}}On the 5th, 13th and 20th of December, I had the pleasure to see that her health was in a normal state; and on the 26th I concluded my attendance, leaving a dose of five globules of Sulph.<​sup>​200</​sup>,​ to be taken in eight days from that date, in order to destroy the predisposition to worms. {{anchor:​s50}}She returned to Aranjuez with her husband and family.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s51}}The rapid recovery of the patient in this case, gave great satisfaction to the family. {{anchor:​s52}}The case from the first was considered hopeless, because of the intensity and long duration of the ailment, and the supposed predisposition to consumption.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s53}}The above is one of the numerous cases of drug-poisoning often met within our practice; difficult to treat, and generally fatal; records of the irrational therapeutics of the old school, against which we cannot raise our voices too high.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s54}}Finally,​ I would call the attention of my colleagues to the importance, shown in the case, of allowing a well-selected remedy to act fully, without repetition or interference. {{anchor:​s55}}-- <span grade2>​El Criteria Medico.</​span>​
 +
 +----
 +
 +====== DOCUMENT DESCRIPTOR ======
 +
 +^ Source: | The American Homoeopathic Review Vol. 04 No. 04, 1863, page 176-179 |
 +^ Description:​ | Case of Cinchona-poisoning. |
 +^ Remedies: | China officinalis |
 +^ Author: | Gonzalez |
 +^ Year: | 1863 |
 +^ Editing: | errors only; interlinks; formatting |
 +^ Attribution:​ | Legatum Homeopathicum |
en/ahr/gonzalez-dr-case-of-cinchona-poisoning-158-10469.txt · Last modified: 2012/07/12 10:57 (external edit)