Opium

Opium

Poppy. Papaveraceae.

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.).

OPIUM ( ConiiniiecC) .

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 a 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, goodnatured women (Graph.) ; from inaction or paresis, no desire; from lead poisoning; stool hard, round, black balls (Chel., Plumb., Thuja) ; fseces protrude and recede (Sil., Thuja).

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

Urine : retained, with bladder full ; retention, postpartum 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.