Part – 2
Bryonia is indicated in febrile conditions ; in fevers of an intermitting type, although not frequently ; in those of a remitting type, very often ; sometimes, too, in synochal fever ; and also in rheumatic, gastric, bilious, traumatic and typhoid fevers, in all of which, gastric symptoms are prominent.
The symptoms which characterize its fevers are in general these : there in an increased action of the heart, giving rise to a frequent hard tense pulse, very much as you find under Aconite, There is actually an increase in the force and power of the heart’s action. This action is augmented by any movement of the body, consequently the patient is anxious to keep perfectly quiet.
Then you find that there is almost always intense headache with these fevers. This is usually of a dull throbbing character or there may be
sharp stabbing pains in the head. This is almost always associated with sharp pains in or over the eyes. All of these parts are exquisitely
sensitive to the least motion. The patient will avoid moving the eyes, for instance, because it aggravates the pain. The least attempt to
raise the head from the pillow causes a feeling of faintness and nausea.
As the fever grows in intensity, it approaches more a typhoid type. Bilious symptoms predominate. The white tongue becomes yellowish and is associated with a decidedly bitter taste in the mouth. There are splitting headache, tenderness over the epigastrium, with stitches, soreness, or tenderness in the right hypochondrium.
If the fever is of an intermittent type, you will always find the chill mixed with heat; that is, during the chill the head is hot, the cheeks are a deep red and there is a decided thirst, which is generally for large quantities of water at long intervals. In some cases it may be a continuous thirst. The pulse is hard, frequent and tense. The sweat is provoked by the least exertion and has either a sour or an oily odor.
In typhoid fever, Bryonia is indicated in the early stages and by the following symptoms : there is some confusion of the mind.During sleep there is delirium, which is usually of a mild character. On closing his eyes for sleep, he thinks he sees persons who are not present. On opening them, he is surprised to find that he is mistaken.
Sometimes this delirium is accompanied or preceded by irritability. As the disease increases, some little heaviness almost approaching stupor accompanies sleep. The patient has dreams, which have for their subject the occupation of the day. Frequently with this delirium, the patient suf-
fers from an agonizing headache. This is usually frontal. If the patient is able to describe it to you, he will tell you that his head feels
as if it would burst. No better term than ” splitting headache ” could be used to describe it. It is congestive in its character. The face is
usually flushed and of a deep red color.
In very severe cases, you will notice that the patient puts his hand to his head as if there were some pain there, and his face is expressive of pain. Yet so stupid is he, that he makes no complaint other than that expressed by these automatic movements. Another symptom to be noted in these typhoid fevers, is the dryness of the mucous membranes, The mouth is dry, as I have already intimated, and yet there may be no
thirst. The patient drinks large quantities but not very frequently. After drinking water or while attempting to sit up, the patient has a deathly nauseated feeling and sometimes even vomits.
The bowels are usually constipated. When they do move, the stools are large, hard and dry, and are either brown or black in color.
There is a symptom which sometimes accompanies typhoid fever at about the end of the first week of the fully developed fever, and that is a form of delirium in which the patient expresses a continual ” desire to go home.” He imagines that he is not at home and longs to be taken there in order to be properly cared for. This symptom is a strong indication for Bryonia, and frequently disappears after two or three doses of the remedy.
Bryonia and the effects of the drug on the lung structure. We find Bryonia indicated in nasal catarrh when there is either great dryness of
the mucous membrane of the nose, with hoarseness, sneezing, or more frequently, when the discharge is thick and yellow. It is also indicated
when the discharge has been suddenly suppressed. As a result, there is dull throbbing headache just over the frontal sinuses.
In bronchitis, Bryonia is indicated with this same pressure over the sternum; the dyspnoea is great; the cough is dry, and seems to start
from the stomach. Bursting pain in the head with every cough. Sometimes a little tenacious blood-streaked sputum is raised. The cough is worse after a meal, when it may even end in vomiting. During the cough the patient presses his hand against his side to relieve the stitching pain. The same symptoms will indicate this remedy in whooping cough. The child coughs immediately after a meal, vomits what it has eaten, then returns to the table.
Bryonia when this synovitis is of scrofulous origin, or at least appears in a scrofulous constitution.
consequently you expect to find the drug of use in muscular rheumatism. The muscles are sore to the touch, and at times swollen, and, as you might expect, there is aggravation of the pains from the slightest motion.
The patients are irritable and easily angered. This condition is present with the bilious symptoms, with the headache, and with the dyspepsia — in fact, it is characteristic of the remedy.
The headache of Bryonia, is worse from any motion; even a movement of the eyeballs aggravates the pain. The pain begins in the occiput, or else in the forehead, going back into the occiput. It is worse when awaking in the morning, after violent fits of anger, and from stooping. Its exciting causes are exposure to heat, especially moist, hot, foggy air; taking cold; debauchery and rheumatism. Headache from ironing.
Bryonia should be remembered in measles. Here it is indicated principally by the tardy appearance of the rash. There is a hard, dry cough which makes the child cry. The little one doubles up as if to resist the tearing pain which the effort of coughing causes. There may be little or no expectoration. The eyes are inflamed. In other cases the eruption suddenly disappears and cerebral symptoms appear. The child is drowsy. Its face is pale and there is twitching of the muscles of the face, eyes and mouth. Any motion causes the child to scream with pain.