Mercurius Methylenus

▲   GENERAL

General

Mercuric methide Hg (CH3) 2.

The left wrist is rather rigid, and the left knee almost completely so.

he never bends it voluntarily, but it can be slightly ben by using considerable force.

later there is no sensation of or motion in the left leg, which is extended, rigid at the knee, and the foot turned slightly inward.

sensation is also somewhat impaired in the left hand,.

GENERAL SYMPTOMS.

Great weakness,

Too weak to walk out,

So restless and noisy that his hands had to be strapped to the bed-stead; attempts to start up in bed, and utters incoherent noises at frequent intervals,

Sensation less than natural, though he is aware when his hands and feet are touched; the latter feel warm to himself although they appear cold to others,

▲   MIND

Mind

Moves his arms about apparently without objects, and in an idiotic manner; at times in even violent, shrieking out, making loud incoherent noises, or laughing or crying in an idiotic manner; occasionally makes efforts to get out of bed,

▲   HEAD

Head

Giddiness,

▲   EYES

Eyes

A dark margin around his eyes,

Some inflammation of both conjunctivae, with a muco-purulent discharge,

Pupil.

Pupils dilated,

Pupils dilated, but act equally to light, conjunctiva rather injected, sclerotics slightly yellow,

Pupils dilated at one time, at another contracted,

Vision

Impairment of sight,

Slight slightly impaired,

Dimness of vision, pain and redness of the eyes,

▲   EARS

Ear

Deafness; it is with difficulty that he understands what is said,

Lost his hearing,

▲   FACE

Face

Expression very vacant,

Countenance pale and sunken; afterwards also dusky; later flushed,

Cheeks sometimes flushed, sometimes pale,

▲   NOSE

Nose

Power of smell much impaired,

▲   MOUTH

Teeth

He was observed to spit and wipe his mouth very often,

Speech.

Powers of speech much impaired,

Makes constant efforts to speak, but only utters incoherent noises,

Lips

Teeth and lips dry, covered with sordes,

Gums rather spongy, and of whitish color; lips dry,

Gums and teeth

Gums.

Gums spongy and swollen,

Gums became sore,

Soreness of gums and looseness of teeth,

Saliva

Saliva.

Tongue

Tongue.

Tongue coated and moist,

Tongue coated with a yellowish fur,

Tongue moist, coated on the dorsum with a white fur, red at tip and edges,

Tongue numb,

Taste

Taste.

Nasty taste in his mouth, like brass,

Taste became imperfect, all things tasting alike,

▲   THROAT

Throat

Swallows with difficulty,

▲   CHEST

Respiration

Breath offensive,

Odor of his breath and body very offensive,

Distinct mercurial fetor in his breath,

Breathing sometimes seems to cease altogether for a few seconds, and then to become quick and stertorous,

▲   SKIN

Skin

The skin over the sacrum is red,

▲   ABDOMEN

Abdomen

Some pain in the right hypochondrium on pressure,

Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting, the vomited matters being greenish and watery,

Stomach

Refuses to take nourishment, and struggles and becomes furious upon any attempt being made to force him to drink,

▲   RECTUM, ANUS, STOOL

Stool

Diarrhoea.

Passes all his evacuations beneath him,

Bowels open, motions dark-colored, fluid, mixed with scybala,

Constipation.

Bowels generally confined,

Bowels not opened for five days,

▲   GENITALS ETC

Urine

Urine passed involuntarily,

Urine pale, slightly turbid, acid, sp. gr. 1018, containing a considerable quantity of albumen, and showing renal epithelium and granules under the microscope; afterwards passed in bed and very offensive,

▲   EXTREMITIES, LIMBS

Extremities, limbs

Violent movements of his limbs, much increased on tickling his feet,

He can move his limbs perfectly, but slowly; can grasp only very imperfectly, and takes some time to close his hands; he dragged his legs after him in walking; lost the power of bringing his hands directly to the point that he wishes,

Upper extremities

Fingers drawn together and stretched out unnaturally,

Numbness of the hands,

▲   FEVER AND CHILL

Fever

Cold hands,

Skin generally warm and dry, that of hands and feet cold,

▲   GENERALITIES

Sleep

Restless nights,

Sometimes sleeps well, but is often restless at night,

▲   APPENDIX

Preparation

1, Dr. Geo. N. Edwards, St. Bartholomew's Hosp. Resp., 1865, p. 141, a man (who sometimes had epileptic fits) was engaged in the preparation of Mercuric methide; 2, same, T. S., employed in same business.

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