SPHERE OF ACTION
Especially affects the cerebro-spinal nervous system, and through it the blood. Upon the cerebro-spinal system it produces giddiness and drunkenness, similar to alcohol; at last, an entire loss of consciousness takes place. The chorea-like twitchings show its irritating influence upon the anterior spinal nerves, but its special centre of action is more upon the posterior spinal nerves, as shown by the sensory nerves lose their elasticity and power of resistance; when even feeble pressure is applied to any spot, it pains still a long while after.
Neuralgic pains as though sharp ice touched the parts, or cold needles ran through the nerves; compare with the Arsenic neuralgia, in which the imaginary needles are red-hot. Hughes.
The spine is tender to the touch, especially the lumbar portion.
But the most peculiar effect of Agaricus is its septic influence upon the blood, and the power the urine has of producing intoxication. The blood becomes fluid; the brain, lungs and liver being gorged with this fluid blood. During life too, there are many symptoms of septic change; the face is blue; the body swells; the breath, flatus, and stools are fetid.
A man moderately intoxicated to day, will by the next morning have slept himself sober; but as is the custom, by drinking a teacupful of his urine he will be more powerfully intoxicated than he was the preceding.
This intoxicating property of the urine is capable of being propagated; for every one who partakes of this intoxicating urine, has his own urine similarly affected. I have no doubt but a microscopical examination of the urine and blood of one who has been poisoned with the Agaricus, would reveal thousands of fungi in these fluids capable of reproducing themselves with great rapidity, similar to yeast. One of my reviewers, I believe it was Dr.Martin,(my Journals all being burned I cannot refer to it) seems to think I had better study this drug again, not believing there could be microscopical fungi produced in the urine by this drug. I still hold to that belief, but if the Doctor will show me with the microscope that I am wrong, I will gladly recall what I have written.
GRAND CHARACTERISTICS
Mind.- Indisposed to talk, or labor.
Great selfishness.
Head.-Vertigo; giddiness, as from intoxication, especially in the morning, in the open air and caused by the bright rays of the sun. Great sensitiveness of the scalp, as if from subcutaneous ulceration._ Lippe. Long lasting vertigo, with great sensitiveness to cold air. A.E.Small.
It ought to be useful in delirium tremens, venous congestions, and in septic diseases.
Eyes.- Sees objects double, with nictitation of the eyelids.
organs of Digestion.-Gastric derangements, with itching, burning, and redness of various parts of the body, as if frost- bitten; of the ears, nose, cheeks, fingers and toes.
Much hunger but no appetite.
Abundance of flatulence. See Carbo vegetabilis and Lycopodium.
Constipation; first part very hard, latter part liquid.
Female Generative Organs.-Menses too profuse; with titillation in the genital organs and desire for an embrace.
Hysterical subjects, with spasmodic jerkings of different muscles of the body.
Worse during the approach of a thunder storm.
Skin-Burning itching and redness, as if frost-bitten.Lippe.
Extremities.-Itching and burning redness of the toes, with titillation as if frozen.
Chilblains itch and burn much, and are very red.
Great sensitiveness of the body to pressure and cold air; much trembling of the limbs.
Great chilliness in the open air, striking through the whole body, without thirst.
Symptoms often appear diagonally; right arm, left leg.Lippe.
Adapted to acute diseases, where the cerebro-spinal symptoms predominate.
(1836-1897)
Characteristic materia medica Published 1873
Physiological materia medica, containing all that is known of the physiological action of our remedies; together with their characteristic indications and pharmacology. Published 1881