Verbascum Thapsus

Mullein. Scrophulariacese.

A native of Europe, naturalized in North America. Inhabits fields and waste places; the tall stems and leaves are woolly, flowers yellow on a cylindrical ppike. The alcoholic tincture is prepared from the fresh plant, chop[ ed and pounded to a pulp.

Proved Ly Hahnemann, Gross, Hartmann, Langhammer, Mossdorf, R. A. M L., vol. 5.

Clinical Authorities.— ifijrrame, Miiller, B. J. H., vol. 21, p. 19; Deafness, Gushing, A. H. O., 1876, p. 563; Prosopalgia, Battmann, Gersung, Riick. Kl. Erf., vol. 5, p. 196; Berridge, Hom. Eev., vol. 16, p. 495; Y., Riick. Kl. Erf., vol. 1, p. 436; Facial neurahjia, Gersung, B. J. H., vol. 11, p. 299; Nocturnal enuresis (2 cafres). Gushing, N. E. M. G., vol. 8, p. 548 ; Cough, Kurtz, Hirsch, Riick. Kl. Erf., vol. 5, p. 697 ; Hirsch, K A. J. H., vol. 4, p. 337.

* Mind. Diminished memory ; it was with great difficulty he could recall thoughts he had just had.

Excited phantasies, especially of a sensual nature.

Excessive joy with laughter.

Very fretful and morose without cause ; desire and incli- nation for work ; he finds satisfaction in having people about him, and in talking with them.

Anxious mood all day ; more lively toward evening.

Depressed all day, all his efforts and hopes seem un- availing.

Indifferent to things to which he is usually attentive.

Disinclination for work.

Distraction of mind ; different trains of thought and phan- tasies throng upon him. ^ Sensorium. Vertigo : on pressing 1. cheek, while supporting head ; sudden as from pressure on whole head.

Dulness of head. ^ Inner Head. Dull painful heaviness of head.

Violent pressure in whole forehead.

Pressing stupefying headache, especially affecting both sides of forehead, in every position.

Incessant pressure from within outward, in forehead, espe- cially between eyebrows ; > on stooping.

Head dull and confused, as if everything would press out at forehead.

Slow hammering in 1. frontal eminence.

Sticking in 1. frontal sinus.

441 VERBASCUM THAPSUS.

Intermittent, fine needlelike stitches in 1. side of forehead.

Violent, slowly appearing and disappearing stitch extend- ing from within outward in 1. frontal eminence.

Benumbing drawing in 1. frontal eminence in a draft of air.

Violent benumbing, pressing inward in 1. side of frontal bone.

Intermittent pressure and beating near 1. frontal eminence.

Deep, sharp, intermittent stitches between 1. frontal emi- nence and parietal eminence.

Violent intermittent deep sticking behind 1. parietal emi- nence.

Violent stupefying pressure deep in r. frontal eminence on going from cold into warmth.

Pressing headache on crown.

Tension in 1. side of vertex, which gradually becomes a sharp pressure, at same time 1. ramus of lower jaw seems pressed against upper jaw.

Burning and prickling in 1. temple.

Pressure from behind forward in 1. temple.

I I Dull pressure in articular eminence of temporal bone, just in front of 1. ear.

Sharp, benumbing, knifelike stitches just above r. temple.

A pressing pain in r. temple.

I I Benumbing, sticking piercing, deeply in r. temple while eating, < by external pressure; after a few hours is ex- tended into upper teeth of same side like a tearing.

I I Sensation as if both articular eminences of temporal bones were violently pinched and crushed together with pincers.

Sticking jerking, externally, first in 1. temple, then in r.

Jerking pressure in 1. half of brain.

A^iolent pressing, but very transient pain, extending from within outward in whole r. half of brain, which gradu- ally diminishes.

Tearing pressure in r. half of brain.

Benumbing pressure in whole 1. side of head and face.

I I Pressing, long-drawn stitch from behind forward, through 1. hemisphere of brain.

Stitch in 1. side of occiput.

Pressing pain in occiput.

Violent pressure in r. occipital protuberance.

Tingling in head while walking.

I I Migraine of twenty years' standing; peculiar sympa- thetic affection of ear on affected side ; at height of headache, which mainly consisted in pressure and pinch- ing in temple and z3'goma, there commenced an intoler- able drawing in ear, with a sensation as if something stopped it up, < moving jaw and masticating.

VERBASCUM THAPSUlS. 442

^ Sight and Eyes. Pupils dilated.

A short-sighted person became still more short-sighted; could scarcely recognize objects a yard away, on account of watery dimness of vision ; objects seemed indistinct and enlarged, daylight less bright.

Pressing pain above 1. orbit.

Heat in eyes and sensation of contraction of orbits. ^ Hearing and Ears, i Difficult hearing, as if ears closed, as if something had fallen before ear,

I I Numbness in 1. ear.

A tearing stitch in 1. ear, while eating.

I I Painful tearing and drawing in 1. ear, extending inward.

Tearing stitches in front of 1. ear, extending downward.

I I Sensation as if 1. ear would be drawn inward.

I I Sensation as if something stopped ears; first 1. then r.

Violent tearing within r. ear.

Sudden pressure, with a violent stitch behind r. ear, dis- appears gradually.

Sensation as if ear (nose and larynx) were stopped up when reading aloud.

Deafness caused by water filling ears (oil of Verbascum thapsus). "^ Smell and Nose. Sensation of stoppage in nose, larynx and ears which does not affect hearing, while reading aloud.

■ Painful coryza from frontal sinuses, with hot, burning,

profuse lachr3'-mation, ^ Upper Face. Violent pressure on r. malar bone. Intermittent, frightful sticking in 1. malar bone.

■ Sensation as if one were violently pressing upon 1. malar

bone as far as ear, < by pressure with hand, frequently during day, in evening before going to bed, and in morning on waking.

I I Tension in 1. malar bone, in articular elevation of tem- poral bone, and in frontal eminence, on going into open air, and in a draft of air.

I I Benumbing, intermittent pressure in upper margin of 1. malar bone.

I I Dull, pressing-sticking sensation in 1. zygoma.

1 I Whole cheek becomes involved in a dull pressure in 1. articulation of jaw, and on pressure becomes a benumb- ing tension.

■ Facial neuralgia, like a crushing with tongs, often occurs

twice a day. I I For two years almost constant pain in face; lightning- like pain shoots over r. side of face on talking, sneezing, biting hard, or touching teeth with tongue; attacks < in morning, lasting from ten minutes to an hour; tear-

443 VERBASCUM THAPSUS.

ing, twitching, stitching, frequently intolerable pain from r. temple to angle of mouth ; during attacks face red, head hot, belching of wind, expectoration of tena- cious saliva, severe vertigo, pressing, tearing pains in 1. side of head.

1 I Prosopalgia, 1. side, < at exit of supraorbital nerve, tearing cutting pains from thence to forehead, zygoma and cheek, and during height of paroxysm affecting also r. side; painful spots very sensitive to touch, not entirely lost during free periods; attacks appear about 9 A.M., attain their height about noon, then gradually diminish in intensity until 4 p.m., and disappear; dur- ing attack eyes dim, dull, look smaller than usual, par- ticularly 1. eye, which is swollen, face red, sees as if through a fog; despondency ; pain < from least motion.

I I For two days dull hot pains in r. face, and shooting from r. face into r. eye ; r. face swollen and watery swelling below r. eye; r. eye waters, and partly closed from swelling under it; tensive pain in vertex, > on sitting up; face pain < from a draft of air; cause, expo- sure to cold air after perspiring.

I I Facial neuralgia; seemed mad with agony, howling, inarticulate sounds.

I I Left-sided prosopalgia seated in supraorbital nerve. ^ Lower Face. ' ' Violent tension in integuments of chin, masseter muscles and throat.

I I Pressing pinching pain on side of lower jaw. ^" Teeth and Gums. Tearing in large molars of r. lower jaw.

Intermittent tearing in small molars of 1. lower jaw. *' Taste and Tongue. Root of tongue brown, with a flat, nauseous taste in forenoon.

Tongue brownish-yellow, coated with tenacious mucus, without a bad taste.

Flat taste for some time after dinner.

Flat taste with an offensive odor to breath, with brownish- yellow coated tongue in morning. ^^ Inner Mouth. Salt water collects in mouth. *^ Throat. ' iVery severe pain in throat on swallowing; had

it many years. "Appetite, Thirst. Desires, Aversions. Hunger without appetite throughout day; nothing is relished, yet he wishes to eat.

Unquenchable thirst. '^ Hiccough, Belching, Nausea and Vomiting. Hiccough.

Eructations: bitter, qualmish ; tasteless; empty. ^^ Scrobiculum and Stomach. Pressure in stomach.

Sensation of great emptiness in pit of stomach, which dis- appears with a rumbling below 1. ribs.

VERBASCUM THAPSUS. 444

*^ Hypochondria. Incessant rumbling and gurgling in region

beneath 1. ribs. A deep, sharp stitch in 1. side where ribs cease. Sticking pinching in r. hypochondrium. '^ Abdomen. Sharp intermittent stitches in 1. side above navel. Intermittent dall sticking in 1. side beneath navel, < on

bending body forward after eating. Abdomen tympanitic, followed by frequent rumbling in

region beneath 1. ribs, which caused violent eructations. Acute, deep, knifelike stitches in r. side of lower abdomen,

above pubis. Intermittent dull needle stitches in r. side, by navel. Tearing sticking in abdomen extending downward. . Pain in abdomen extending low down, causing spasmodic

contraction of sphincter ani and a transient desire for

I I Hard, painful pressure as from a stone upon umbilicus,

< by stooping.

Stitches as from many needles in umbilical region round to back and even in dorsal vertebrae, on deep inspira- tion and on stooping.

Sensation as if intestines at umbilicus were adherent to wall of abdomen and were being torn away forcibly,

< by external pressure.

Griping in abdomen as from incarcerated flatus, in every position.

Cutting griping in whole abdomen, with frequent eructa- tions.

Cutting griping colic, here and there, though always rising toward ribs, where it becomes seated.

Gurgling in lower abdomen.

Constriction of abdomen at umbilical region at various times.

Cramps around navel, seems as if pain would give her a twist, burning on making water, made it often ; heels hurt her awfully; great stiffness in 1. ankle joint. ^^ Stool and Rectum. Fearful diarrhoea on third day, eigh- teen to twenty movements a day ; griping; a great deal of pain, as if pierced with a lance, through inside of 1. ankle joint; pain in both cheek bones and above eye- brows; menses came on early this time, and she has coughed a good deal.

Soft stool, with straining.

iStool like sheep's dung, scanty, very hard, and expelled with great effort. ^' Urinary Organs. Frequent desire to urinate, with scanty or profuse discharge.

■ Enuresis nocturna.

445 VERBASCUM THAPSUS.

from reading aloud ; deep voice. ^ Cough. Dry, hoarse cough, < at night; in children dur- ing sleep.

I Frequent attacks of a deep, hollow, hoarse congh, with sound like a trumpet, caused by tickling in larynx and chest.

■ Spasmodic, rough, deep-sounding night cough.

The cough is lessened as soon as the patient succeeds in taking a deep breath. ^^ Inner Chest and Lungs. A benumbing, oppressive stitch, taking away breath, in region of first and second costal cartilages.

Sharp pressure beneath 1. nipple.

Violent stitch on inspiration, several times, beneath 1. nipple, which slowly disappeared, but which always returned on deep inspiration.

Intermittent, dull, needlelike stitches near 1. side of ensi- form cartilage.

Intermittent, benumbing, frightful cutting near 1. side of ensiform cartilage, below last ribs.

Painful tension across chest, with stitches in region of heart, immediately after lying down in bed in evening.

Pressing-sticking pain in next to last rib where it passes into cartilage, suddenly disappearing on external press- ure, but immediately returning. '^ Neck and Back. Sharp intermittent stitches in 1. scapula.

A very fine persistent stitch in last dorsal vertebra, when sitting bent over.

In middle, between r. loin and spine, intermittent, deep, sharp, knifelike stitches, quite internal, in intestines.

Backache, <^ from pressure. '^ Upper Limbs. Pain on top of shoulder, pressing rather than tearing, disappearing on motion.

Cramplike pressing in 1. elbow, extending into forearm, in every position.

Tearing extending downward in 1. ulna.

Tensive pain in 1. wrist during rest and motion.

I I Some dull stitches in joint where carpal bone of thumb articulates with radius, like a kind of sprain (or numb- ness).

Tearing sticking in palm of hand.

Pain in back of r. hand, pressing rather than tearing.

Cramplike pressure now in r., now in 1. metacarpus, on moving arm, disappearing during rest.

Sharp sticking in first phalanx of 1. thumb.

Cramplike pressure in first phalanx of r, thumb, disap- pearing on motion.

VERBASCUM THAPSUS. 446

joint of index finger. Violent dull intermittent sticking in last phalanx of index

from a bruise, only noticed on touch. Paralytic pain in 1. fingers, especially in their metacarpal

up in a sitting position; on stooping pain extended

toward knee, painful like a sticking. While riding r. thigh over 1., weakness and sensation of

weariness in bone of r. thigh, not noticed on walking. I I A cramplike pain in muscles of r. thigh, while walking

in open air. Drawing, pressing sensation extending from middle of r.

thigh to knee, while sitting. A pressing, cramplike pain in muscles above r. knee, while

which disappears on walking. Violent intermittent dull sticking in metatarsal bones of

great and adjacent toes of 1. foot during rest. Gait tottering, while walking in open air, as if limbs could

not support body on account of weakness. Very great heaviness in lower extremities, as if a weight

were hanging upon them on going up and down stairs. ^* Limbs in General. Stretching in limbs.

Lying: tension across chest, stitches in region of 'heart. Sitting : drawing pressing from middle of r. thigh to knee;

cramplike pain in muscles above r. knee ; pain in r.

knee. Sitting up : > pain in vertex.

447 • VERBASCUM THAPSUS.

Riding r. thigh over 1.: weakness and weariness in bone of r. thigh.

Standing : cramplike pain in muscles above r. knee ; in r. knee; cramplike pressure in sole of r. foot.

Motion : least, prosopalgia < ; > pain on top of shoulder; cramplike pressure in metacarpus.

Bending body forward : stitches near navel <.

Stooping: > pressure in forehead; < pressure as from a stone upon umbilicus; stitches in umbilical region; sticking from r. thigh to knee.

Stepping: stitches above 1. patella.

He cannot keep awake immediately after dinner, lids close.

Restless sleep at night, he tosses from side to side.

Sleep only till 4 a.m., filled with dreams of war and of corpses, several nights.

Indolence and sleepiness in morning after rising. ^''Time. After 4 a.m.: no sleep.

Morning: facial neuralgia <; flat taste and offensive breath, with coated tongue ; lassitude and sleepiness.

Forenoon: flat, nauseous taste.

All day : anxious and depressed.

Night: cough <; restless sleep. ^^ Temperature and Weather. Draft of air : causes drawing in frontal eminence; pain in malar bone; faceache <.

Exposure to cold air after perspiring : faceache.

Going from cold into warmth : pressure in frontal emi- nence. ^^ Fever. Slight transient coldness over whole body, even per- ceptible externally on hands and feet.

External and internal sensation of coldness over whole body.

Coldness and chill predominate.

Shivering, especially over one side of body from shoulder to thigh, as if cold water were poured over it. *^ Attacks, Periodicity. Attacks : appear 9 a.m., attain their height about noon, gradually diminish until 4 p.m.; prosopalgia.

Intermittent: benumbing pressure in malar bone; tear- ing in molars; stitches near navel; stitches near ensi- form cartilage ; stitches in back ; stitches in index fin- gers ; stitches in 1. metatarsal bones.

From ten minutes to an hour : attacks of facial neuralgia.

VERBASCUM THAPSUS. 448

Twice a day : facial neuralgia.

For two days : faceache.

For two or three days : pimple on neck near thyroid car- tilage.

For two years: facial neuralgia. ^"Locality and Direction. Left: hammering in frontal emi- nence ; sticking in frontal sinus ; needlelike stitches in forehead; benumbing drawing in frontal eminence; benumbing pressure in side of frontal bone; pressure and beating near frontal eminence ; stitches between frontal and parietal eminence ; sticking behind parietal emi- nence ; tension in vertex ; ramus of lower jaw seems pushed upward; burning and prickling in temple; pressure from behind forward in temple; pressure in front of ear; jerking pressure in brain; benumb- ing pressure in side of head and face ; stitch from behind forward through brain; stitch in occiput; press- ing above orbit; numbness in ear; tearing stitch in ear; tearing and drawing in ear; stitches in front of ear downward; sticking in malar bone; tension in malar bone; pressing sticking in zygoma; dull pressure in articulation of jaw; pressing tearing in head; proso- palgia; eye swollen, prosopalgia ; tearing in lower mo- lars; rumbling below ribs; sharp stitch under ribs; stitches above navel ; stitch beneath navel; stiffness in ankle joint; pressure below nipple; stitch below nip- ple ; stitches and cutting near ensiform cartilage ; stitches in scapula ; pain in elbow ; tearing down ulna ; tensive pain in wrist; sticking in thumb; paralytic drawing in index finger; stitch through little finger ; paralytic pain in fingers ; stitches above patella ; stick- ing in metatarsal bones ; itching, crawling, tickling on side of middle finger.

Right: pressure in frontal eminence; stitches above tem- ple; pressing in temple; sticking piercing in temple; pressing outward in brain ; tearing pressure in brain ; pressure in occipital protuberance; tearing in ear; pressure and stitch behind ear; pressure on malar bone; lightning-like pain in face ; shooting from face into eye ; face swollen ; eye waters ; pressing pinching in lower jaw; tearing in lower molars; sticking pinching in hypochondrium ; knifelike stitches in lower abdomen ; stitches near navel ; stitches between loin and spine ; pain in back of hand; cramplike pressure in thumb; sticking between thumb and index finger; paralytic pain in thigh ; cramplike pain in muscles of thigh ; sudden pain through knee; cramplike pressure in sole of foot; pimple in front of ear.

449 VERB ASCUM THAPSUS.

ensiform cartilage. Stitches : in 1. side of forehead ; sharp, deep, between 1. frontal eminence and parietal eminence; above r. temple; from behind forward in 1. half of brain ; in 1. side of occiput; in 1. ear; in front of 1. ear; behind r. ear; in r. side of face; in 1. hypochondrium ; in 1. side, above navel ; in r. side of lower abdomen ; in umbilical re- gion ; in region of first and second costal cartilages; beneath 1. nipple; near ]. side of ensiform cartilage; in region of heart; in 1. scapula; in last dorsal vertebra; between r. loin and spine; in wrist; dull, in middle joint of index finger and last phalanx; through little finger ; above 1. patella.

Sticking: in 1. frontal sinus; behind 1. parietal eminence; in r. temple and upper teeth ; in temples ; in 1. malar bone; in 1. zygoma; in r. hypochondrium ; in 1. side beneath navel ; in abdomen ; in next to last rib, where it passes into cartilage ; in palm of hand ; in first pha- lanx of 1. thumb; in r. thumb and index finger; in metatarsal bones of great and adjacent toes of 1. foot. Pricking: in middle joint of index finger. Stinging : in limbs; in pimple in front of r. ear.

Burning: in 1. temple; on urinating. Hammering: in 1. frontal eminence.

Tearing : in r. temple and upper teeth ; in r. half of brain ; in 1. ear ; in front of 1. ear ; in r. ear ; r. side of face ; in 1. side of face; in 1. side of head; in molars; in abdo- VOL. X. — 29.

VERBASCUM THAPSUS. 450

men; on top of r. shoulder; in 1. ulna; in palm of hand ; in back of r. hand ; in 1. little finger, in leg.

Drawing : benumbing, in 1. frontal eminence ; in ear ; in 1. ear ; in 1. index finger ; from middle of r. thigh to knee.

Bruised pain : in outer side of metacarpal bones of little fingers.

Pressure : in forehead ; benumbing, in I. side of frontal bone; stupefying, in r. frontal eminence; on vertex; on 1. side of vertex; in 1. temple; in articular eminence of temporal bone; in front of 1. ear ; in r. temple; in 1. half of brain ; in r. half of brain ; in 1. side of head and face; in occiput; aboVe 1. orbit; behind r. ear; on r. malar bone; in upper margin of 1. malar bone; in 1. z3^goma ; in 1. side of head ; in r. side of lower jaw ; in stomach; beneath 1. nipple; in next to last rib, where it passes into cartilage ; on top of r. shoulder ; cramplike, from 1. elbow into forearm ; in back of r. hand ; in meta- carpus; in first phalanx of r. thumb; from middle of r. thigh to knee.

Pinching : in r. side of lower jaw ; in r. hypochondrium.

Griping: in abdomen.

Contraction : of orbits ; at umbilical region.

Cramps: around navel.

Cramplike pain : in muscles of r. thigh ; in muscles above r. knee ; in 1. leg near ankle ; in sole of r. foot.

Tension : in 1. side of vertex ; in 1. malar bone; in articu- lar elevation of temporal bone; in frontal eminence; in vertex; in integuments of chin, masseter muscles and throat ; across chest ; in 1 wrist.

Paralytic pain : in 1. fingers ; in inner side of r. thigh.

Tickling: in larynx and chest; on side of 1. middle finger.

Tingling: in head.

Weariness : in bone of r. thigh.

Heaviness: of head, painful.

Emptiness: in pit of stomach.

Dull hot pain : in r. face.

Heat : in eyes.

Numbness: in 1. ear; of thumb.

Benumbing: in head ; in face; in region of first and sec- ond costal cartilages.

Crawling: on side of 1. middle finger.

Touch : painful spots on face < neuralgia; stinging pain in pimple in front of r. ear.

451 VERBASCUM THAPSUS— VESPA.

A large red pimple on neck near thyroid cartilage, pain- ful pressure lasting two or three days.

Itching on forearm.

Itching crawling tickling on side of 1. middle finger, pro- voking scratching. ^^ Stages of Life, Constitution. Girl, set. 8 ; enuresis.

Boy, set. 12; enuresis.

Woman, set. 32, suffering two years ; prosopalgia.

Woman, set. 45, brunette, thin, lively disposition, suffering five days ; prosopalgia.

Woman, set. 50, suffering twenty years ; migraine. *^ Relations. Compare : Platin. in facial neuralgia.