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one is languid the other is generally affected in the same way. If we excite either, we at the same time affect the other in a greater or less degree. If the bowels are constipated we find the skin dry and shrunk; as soon as the bowels are restored to action the skin becomes soft and moist. When the secretion of the surface is suddenly checked, the fluid which should have passed off by it is thrown upon the internal organs, applying to the intestinal emunctories a stimulus which closes them, or lessens their activity. (On Fevers, p. 190.) In this way that constipation is produced which is the forming stage of dysentery. (See Johnson on Hot Climates. Cutaneo-Hepatic Sympathy.)

NERVOUSNESS.-Coffee.-According to Liebig, Theine and Caffeine constitute the essential elements of Tea and Coffee. They each consist of the chemical equivalents C., Hs, Na, O2. From this exhibition of the composition of coffee it is evident that it possesses some of the nutrient or plastic and calorifacient elements, and consequently is an aliment. But as ordinarily used it contains but little of value for the support of life; and its stimulating powers are chiefly dissipated in the process of its preparation.

Among the poor, especially in cities, weak coffee is one of the common ingredients of their meals, which are made up entirely of the poorest and cheapest materials attainable. The degree of stimulant found in the hot drink is accepted in place of that more healthful excitation nature designed to furnish in more substantial food. The blood ceases to form a concentrated solution of all the organic products and elements of the healthy economy; the waste of the tissues exceeds the repair; disintegration of structure predominates over the process of reconstruction. When this condition has lasted for an indefinite time, the structure of the organ becomes changed, their functions are impaired, and there is an approach to inferior organisms and to that of cold blooded animals; or the system is kept permanently in a state corresponding to anæmia, in which there is a constant tendency to collapse as in the last stage of a febrile disease.

Persons in this condition suffer a variety of vague and indefinable symptoms, anomalous in their character and perplexing to physicians: The animal heat is defective; "the dynamic force, identical with heat is equally depressed;" the mechanic or muscular power is low; the circulation is feeble, the digestive movements slow and defective; the patient is languid and exhausted; exercise augments the evil by expending the forces more rapidly than they can be produced; and the nervous functions are perturbed and depressed. These results are produced by a slow inanition or starvation which is not suspected, because a full supply of food is taken into the stomach. But the blood is deficient in the elements of heat and nutrition. It cannot be restored by medicine alone, but may be gradually renovated by appropriate

diet assisted by such remedies as may improve the digestive functions. The number of cases of this character has progressively increased from the time that the habitual use of tea and coffee became common among the laboring classes as well as the wealthy and indolent. Neuralgic forms of disease affecting the stomach and other viscera, formerly almost confined to the wealthy and luxurious order of people have since become equally common among the hard-working poor; and it is generally observed that the greatest sufferers are among those who rely most on tea and coffee as articles of food.

Influence of Coffee and Tea on Children.-In the early periods of life, the food should be made up of materials rich in the plastic elements, capable of furnishing the principles for forming the highest organic structures, and most readily favoring growth and development. "In the first fifteen years, nature is employed in constructing and perfecting the mechanism of life, fitting it for the conflicts, the exertions, the labors it must encounter and undergo in the struggles and difficulties of the great arena of the world, as well as with exterior malignant influences." Without good materials a good fabric cannot be produced. (Jackson, Amer. Med. Jour. July, 1849, p. 85.) It is known that a large proportion of the human race die in infancy; and the bills of mortality show fearful ravages in the early years of life from cerebral disease. In cities especially, children begin life bearing the accumulated sins of their ancestors; and nature employs the few short years of their existence in abortive efforts to build up substantial organs from the most meagre supply of materials. In their earliest years nutritive action is perverted by over-excitement from excess of stimulus furnished in nerve-exciting drinks, or over-seasoned food.

Sensitiveness-Irritability of Temper.-Coffea.-Persons liable to be agitated by the most trifling emotion, when there is inward vexation, sleeplessness, and disposition to weep for trifling imaginary causes.

Nux-vom-Great irritability of the nervous system, agitation, inclination to lie down, aversion to fresh air; stubborn refractory disposition; in females menstruation irregular.

Pulsatilla.-Persons of tranquil disposition, easily moved to tears, menses too late, insufficient or suppressed.

Chamomilla.-Patient very peevish and passionate.

Aconite. When with anger there is fear, quick hard pulse. China-Patient subject to take cold and feel the influence of the weather; he becomes flighty or distracted from excessive pain, and is worse for being touched.

Veratrum.-Delirium and madness from the excessive pain.

Opium. The best known action of Opium is to produce great tranquility of the system and to induce sleep. The opium-eater takes it for the purpose of excitement; and literary men occasionally acquire

the habit and become confirmed opium-eaters, in order to produce wakefulness and enable them to prosecute their studies during the night. De Quincy, whose interesting "Confessions" are well known. used Opium for this purpose.

Thuja.-Deafness, without any organic lesions, often alternating with acute hearing, being often inherited by children. Thuja alone corresponds with this evil. (Wolf.)

Sleeplessness without apparent cause. This, says Dr. Wolf, grows more and more frequent, and resists all other remedies; and is only cured by Thuja.

The Eyes are affected with a peculiar kind of photophobia, amblyopia, amaurosis, sensation of a cold wind, either blowing out of the or bits or into them; partial paralysis of the upper eyelid, occasional squinting, with a peculiar shy unsteady look, &c. Similar affections of the eyes are only the consequences of small pox or sycotic gonorrhoea, and are also cured by Thuja.

Tea. A strong infusion of tea produces anxiety and palpitation of the heart, in persons who are not in the habit of drinking it; on the other hand, if taken in small doses it is an excellent remedy for such symptoms when produced by other causes. (Rau.)

Effects of loss of Sleep-Remedies calculated to correct them.Cocculus.-In persons who are much injured by sitting up at night feeling weaker if they only lose one hour's sleep; the head trembles is light, face flushed, blue circle round the eyes; mouth dry withou thirst, loathing of food; nausea and fainting; sad; bad dreams. Phosphoric-acid.-Better. suited to some persons for the same

symptoms.

Nux-vomica.-Sitting up occasions headache; injurious effects of coffee, wine or spirits; determinations to the head; worse in the open air, with a shaking sensation; head heavy; buzzing heavy feeling in the forehead; pale haggard countenance; nausea; chilliness; weak and irritable.

Ipecac. The patient unable to lie down; headache from derangement of stomach.

Pulsatilla.-Mild disposition, headache worse in the evening, better in the morning, determination of blood to the head, sense of heaviness when moving the eyes, the head feels light as if empty; he cannot bear the light; better in the open air.

Arnica. Feeling of soreness over the whole body.

China-Patient greatly excited in the evening; does not sleep well, is weary when rising.

GENUS I.—ANTIPATHY.

1. ANTIPATHY.-Under this title a peculiar affection has been described by Cullen, Sauvages, Linnæus, Vogel, Ploucquet, Passament and Good. It consists in a feeling of internal horror and distress caused by the presence of objects which are beyond the limits of any of the senses; or which, through some occult power, produce sensible and painful effects on persons of peculiar constitution. Among the cases of singular antipathy, are enumerated persons who cannot endure certain odors which are imperceptible or not disagreeable to other persons; others are affected with strange feelings of horror at the sight of offensive but harmless animals; thus "a cat concealed in a room has been known to produce a most indescribable distress in a person who has perceived it by any one sense, and has been in no other way informed of its presence. Cabanis says, in some "singular diseases certain intellectual faculties are developed, which till that time had not existed. In some ecstatic and convulsive affections the organs of sense become cognizant of impressions to which they were insensible in their ordinary state, and even to receive impressions foreign to the nature of man." He says he "has seen women who might have been excellent sorceresses;" that "some invalids can distinguish microscopic objects with the naked eye; some can see in profound darkness; others can follow persons by their track, and recognize objects they had only touched." (Rapports du Phys. et du Morale, &c.) Cases of morbid innervation of much more remarkable character, are of frequent occurrence. Many of the best artists suffer intensely from excessive sensibility of the nerves. Dr. Moore says: "Wilkie was often obliged to shut himself up in a dark room, because the light was too stimulating for his brain, and Paganini paid dearly for his consummate excellence as a musician. Speaking to a friend he stated that he scarcely knew what sleep was; and his nerves were wrought to such almost preter. natural acuteness, that harsh, even common sounds, often became torture to him. He was sometimes unable to bear a whisper in his room. His passion for music he described as an all-absorbing, a consuming one; in fact, he looked as if no other life than that ethereal one of melody were circulating in his veins; but he added, with a glow of triumph kindling through deep sadness, "It is the gift of Heaven." Robert Burns was a remarkable example of this preternatural sensibility to physical and spiritual influences.

An interesting class of cases consists of persons who have a morbid sensibility to the electrical or magnetic presence of others. In these cases there is no moral antipathy to the persons whose presence causes painful sensations, but simply a physical repulsion which causes extreme suffering on their sudden approach.

VOL. II.-37.

1

We know some impressible persons, who, when they are reduced by ill health, sink into what they call "a de-magnetized state," when they remain alone; and though they need the very influence which another person throws off, they cannot bear to have it so suddenly thrust upon them. It causes spasmodic action of the muscles and extreme distress, even when the approaching person is entirely out of sight. When their influence is more gradually received, it is less perceptible, and is often beneficial.

The treatment of such cases consists in the restoration of the general health by treatment suited for the individual case; proper diet, &c. Phosphorus and Hypo-phosphite of Lime, are among the best remedies.

GENUS II.-DINUS.-VERTIGO.

DINUS. VERTIGO.-CAUSES.-Vertigo may arise from causes which medicine may remove. Such causes are disordered or foul stomach; profuse evacuations; abuse of ardent spirits; narcotic medicines; falls or blows on the head. Sometimes it is connected with other diseases, and is curable by measures which promote the general health.

TREATMENT.-A person subject to vertigo should be moderate in eating and drinking, should rise early, walk frequently in the open air, use the flesh brush at night.

Aconite.-Giddiness with nausea, eructations and vomiting, cloudiness of the eyes, loss of consciousness.

Pulsatilla.-Disordered stomach, nausea, vomiting, repugnance to food, dizziness from looking up.

Antimonium-crudum.-Similar symptoms, with greater prostra

tion.

Arnica.-Vertigo after heavy meals, dimness of vision, whirling in the head, flushed face.

Nux-vomica Chamomilla, Pulsatilla, Rhus, or Cocculus, are each suitable for certain constitutions.

Sulphur, or Calcarea, will answer well where giddiness results from the suppression of inveterate ulcers.

Mercur-vivus.-The giddiness, with dimness of sight, appears only in the evening.

Belladonna.-There is sparkling before the eyes when moving, increased by stooping, with partial loss of consciousness.

Cocculus.-Vertigo increased by sitting upright in bed, or by the motion of a carriage.

Phosphorus.-Vertigo, accompanied by headache, and a feeling of pressure on the top of the head.

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