Opium

Especially adapted to children and old people; diseases of first and second childhood ( Bar. c. , Mill. ), persons with light hair, lax muscles, and want of bodily irritability.

Want of susceptibility to remedies; lack of vital reaction, the well chosen remedy makes no impression ( Carbo v. , Laur. , Val. ).

Ailments: with insensibility and partial or complete paralysis; that originate from fright, bad effects of, the fear still remaining ( Acon. , Hyos. ); from charcoal vapors; from inhaling gas; of drunkards.

All complaints ; with great sopor; painless, complains of nothing; wants nothing.

Spasms: of children, from approach of strangers; from nursing after fright of mother ( Hyos. – after anger of mother, Cham. , Nux ); from crying; eyes half open and upturned.

Screaming before or during a spasm ( Apis , Hell. ).

Deep stertorous respiration both on inhalation and exhalation.

Delirium, constantly talking; eyes wide open, face red, puffed; or unconscious, eyes glassy, half-closed, face pale, deep coma; preceded by stupor.

Thinks she is not at home ( Bry. ); this is continually in her mind.

Picking of bed clothes during sleep (while awake, Bell. , Hyos. ).

Delirium tremens: in old emaciated persons; bloated face, stupor, eyes burning, hot, dry; with loud snoring.

Sleep: heavy, stupid; with stertorous breathing, red, face, eyes, half-closed, blood-shot; skin covered with hot sweat; after convulsions.

Sleepy, but cannot sleep ( Bell. , Cham. ), sleeplessness with acuteness of hearing, clock striking and cocks crowing at great distance keep her awake.

Loss of breath on falling asleep ([Grind.], Lach. ).

Bed feels so hot she cannot lie on it (bed feels hard, Arn. , Bry. , Pyr. ); moves often in search of a cool place; must be uncovered.

Digestive organs inactive; peristaltic motion reversed or paralyzed; bowels seem closed.

Constipation: of children; of corpulent, good-natured women ( Graph. ); from inaction or paresis, no desire; from lead poisoning; stool hard, round black balls ( Chel. , Plumb. , Thuja ); faeces protrude and recede ( Sil. , Thuja ).

Stool: involuntary, especially after fright ( Gels. ); black and offensive; from paralysis of sphincter.

Urine: retained, with bladder full; retention, post-partum or from excessive use of tobacco; in nursing children, after passion of nurse; in fever or acute illness; paralysis of bladder or sphincter.

(In Stramonium we have suppression; while in Opium the secretion is not diminished, the bladder is full but fullness is unrecognized.)

Opium renders the intestines so sluggish that the most active purgatives lose their power. – Hering.

Persistent diarrhoea in those treated with large doses of the drug. – Lippe.

Sudden retrocession of acute exanthema results in paralysis of brain or convulsions ( Zinc. ).

Marasmus; child with wrinkled skin, looks like a little dried up old man ( Abrot. ).

Relations. – Antidotes, for poisonous doses; strong coffee, Nux , Kali per . and constant motion.

When symptoms correspond, the potencies may antidote bad effects of Opium drugging.

Compare: Apis , Bell. , Hyos. , Stram. and Zinc.

Aggravation. – During and after sleep ( Apis , Lach. ); while perspiring; from warmth; stimulants.

Amelioration. – From cold; constant walking.