Introduction
An alkaloid, obtained from Atropa belladonna. Formula, C17H23NO3.
Preparation: Triturations.
(Most of the poison-symptoms were obtained from the sulphate of Atropine.).
Mind.
EMOTIONS: Frenzied with excitement. A long chill, followed by delirium, which had some resemblance to the sub-delirium of certain typhoid fevers.
Immediately upon closing the eyes, after retiring, the mind would become filled with strange and fanciful ideas, rambling, incoherent speech, spectral illusions, with frequent fits of wild, uncontrollable laughter.
The delirium and spectral illusions continued through the night, during which time I fancied myself afflicted with epilepsy, and was constantly fearful lest others should discover my unfortunate condition; was nearly oblivious to all that transpired during the latter part of the night, but know from the bruises received and the sensations of pain occasionally experienced upon coming in contact with a stove, chair, table or some solid body, that it was passed in the wildest delirium (first day).
Busily influenced by pleasing illusions and delusions, meddling with everything in his way, picking at and handling imaginary objects in the air, and accompanying his acts by muttering and smiling, or with loud chattering, interrupted by subdued laughter.
Frightful phantasies.
Spectral illusions (first night).
On lying in bed, began to pick at specks and at the air.
Picking at the bedclothes as if searching for something lost, with confused mutterings (first night).
At times, while it seemed to him that he was fully conscious, saw persons at the bedside and slowly reached out to grasp them, but his hand would pass through the object and no sense of touch tell him that there was any material in the apparition; saw books and newspapers and tried to grasp them, but they would either recede or the hand would come in contact with them and feel nothing.
Mind has been wandering considerable of the time through the afternoon; often thinks he is spoken to and answers imaginary questions (after ten hours).
The symptoms during this period, six to nine hours after, exactly resembled those of delirium tremens.
There was incessant rambling, great restlessness, a grasping at imaginary objects, and occasional screaming from fright.
The character of the delirium varied; sometimes the child saw objects which frightened him, and the utmost terror was depicted on his countenance, and he clung to his nurse’s neck, or threw himself violently in different directions as if to escape them.
Later, the delusions were of a more pleasurable kind, imaginary playing with toys, drawing, eating, etc.
Frequently, through the forenoon, thought that persons in the room spoke to me, and would carry on conversion with these imaginary begins (second day).
Now and then, he seems to have almost a consciousness of what transpires about him, so that, at times, he returns an answer, when addressed whose commencement shows that he understood, but which passes into irrelevant, senseless talk.
As to my sensations, they were not blunted, but I misinterpreted them.
Thus, I felt a wet cloth on my head, but supposed I had been out in the rain without my hat; and a dose of bromide of potassium given to me I recognized as a saline solution, but imagined it was mineral water from the Airthry Springs which I had tasted on the spot some ten days before.
The patient is busied with subjects which at other times occupy his mind, politics and struggles consequent on his relations in life.
Very restless and delirious, talking constantly about his affairs apparently.
Meddlesome delirium, and he will require attention to prevent him from getting out of bed.
When put to bed, he struggles to rise almost incessantly.
He jumped out of bed several times, and insisted on dressing himself.
Keeps his eyes closed, but on being spoken to loudly looks at speaker; caught perhaps one word or a part of a sentence, repeated it, and said, ‘Oh, I shall lose my train”.
Expostulates with those who try to lead him to bed; says he will lose the train, that all things are packed up, and that he must start immediately.
Resists when being undressed, saying continually that he will lose the train.
Tries to put on his trousers and fasten and fasten his necktie.
I imagined I had to go off by a railway train, which started at ten in the morning, and that the hour was approaching, whilst I had nothing ready for the journey; and I believed that I wished to dress and to pack my things, but was thwarted and prevented by the people about me.
At length I was persuaded that it was too late to catch the train, and agreed to sat till evening.
Insisted repeatedly that her blood did not circulate, and that her feet must be put into warm water or she should die.
Talked confusedly and almost unintelligible nonsense, on waking in morning.
Agitation and delirium, worse at night.
Violent delirium and restlessness (after four and a half hours).
Delirious and a little drowsy.
Delirium followed by stupor.
Loud cries without any pains.
Sadness.
Mentally either very sad, depressed in constant anxiety and restlessness, fearful of misfortune, or angry and inclined to be alone, seldom lively.
Apprehensiveness followed his internal restlessness, and soon amounted to great anxiety.
Not quarrelsome or ill-tempered, but attempts to reason.
Very sensitive.
Constantly fretful.
I then became sensible that I was lifted into bed, and ordered on no account to rise, which I thought a most unreasonable restraint; especially as I was tormented with irritation in the bladder, and almost incessant desire to pass urine, which was in very small quantity.
Was generally restless and unmanageable, refusing to answer, to swallow, or to be examined; appeared profoundly intoxicated (after one hour).
Evidently unconscious and very irritable, striking his mother when she took him from the nurse (after one hour).
Incoherent quarreling (after eight hours).
Morose, quarrelsome the whole day, everything went wrong; trifles which usually passed unheeded irritated him to anger.
Desire to scold and quarrel.
INTELLECT: Upon making vigorous efforts to arouse him, he also exhibited some signs of consciousness.
When he closes his eyes the mind becomes confused and he sees all sorts of spectres (after thirteen hours).
Mind confused; would commence a sentence, and forget what she wished to say.
Feel as though awakened from a dream (second day).
Appears dull and stupid (after ten hours).
Has only vague ideas of anything she said, or of what transpired that evening.
When left to himself he did not appear to drop off into coma as do those who have taken opium, but would occasionally open his eyes with a vacant, amaurotic expression, and turn his head from side to side.
At first, a slowness of intelligence; ideas and replies are imperfect and indifferent.
Dull and stupid all the afternoon (after six hours).
Cannot be made to understand where he is, that he is ill, or that he must keep quiet.
First, indolence of mind, then vertigo, and a condition of commencing intoxication.
Feels dull and not inclined to move about or to converse (after one hour).
Indisposition for mental labor.
No desire for his ordinary mental labor.
Prover was dull and disinclined to study for several days.
For several days a difficulty of fixing upon anything for more than a few minutes at a time. The prover was absent-minded at intervals for several days, and found difficulty in fixing his mind upon any subject for more than a few minutes at a time.
Loss of memory (after eight hours).
His memory is wrong, inasmuch as he thinks that what really happened from the eleventh to the twelfth, took place in the night from the tenth to the eleventh (after sixth day).
Am absent-minded and forgetful; when conversing often partly finishing a sentence; was often obliged to stop and inquire what I had been saying (second day).
He recognizes, momentarily, members of the family; apparently notices when the door opens or one is busy about him but, when spoken to, often turns his head to the wrong side.
Unconscious, with incoherent speaking at intervals.
Comatose.
Head.
CONFUSION AND VERTIGO: Head feels dull and unpleasant (after eleven hours).
Dull sensation in the head, with feeling as if his hair had become matted into a thick felt (first day).
Head very much confused; could be held up with difficulty.
Head confused, as after a disturbed night; relieved on going into the open air (morning, second day).
Dizzy confusion of the head, evenings, alternating with vivid phantasies; great fatigue of the whole body, and at times ringing in the ears.
Some vertigo (after one hour).
Some vertigo (after three hours).
Considerable vertigo (after seven hours).
Vertigo, in consequence of which I was obliged to lie down.
Vertigo at intervals, lasting but a moment at a time (after one hour).
Vertigo caused by turning the head quickly (after one hour).
Considerable vertigo, particularly upon turning the head suddenly (after half an hour).
Vertigo and confusion of the head, on waking, which increased on rising; vertigo so that he came near falling.
Born in 1837in Westminster, Vermont. . He was an orthodox doctor who converted to homeopathy
Dr. Allen compiled the Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica over the course of 10 years.
In 1881 Allen published A Critical Revision of the Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica.