Benzolum Dinitricum

Pharmacy

Benz-d. Benzolum dinitricum. Di-Nitrobenzol. A crystalline substance obtained from the further action of nitric acid on nitrobenzol at higher temperatures. Solution in alcohol. Historical dose: Tincture and all potencies.

Clinical

• Amblyopia.
• Anemia.
• Color-blindness.
• Impotence.
• Peripheral neuritis.
• Retinitis.
• Scotoma.
• Spastic paralysis.
• Urine, black.

Homeopathic

Benz-d. is used in the manufacture of the higher explosives. The effects on workers were recorded by Simeon Snell in the British Medical Journal of March 3, 1894. The symptoms observed strongly resemble those of Benz-n.

The most obvious results of poisoning by skin absorption are changes in the red blood corpuscles and liver degeneration. Anemia with a murmur in the pulmonary artery. Headaches, giddiness, staggering, with numbness and paralytic sensations. Impotence in men. Distaste for tobacco. Dyspnea was marked in all, accounting partly for the inability to smoke.

Amblyopia, color-blindness, retinitis, "a small central scotoma for red and green." Field of vision contracted. The retinal veins were found much engorged, probably part of the general venous engorgement and cyanosis. The blood is altered and turned black, and the urine is black without containing blood.

Mind

Delirious, complaining of great pain in head. Raving behavior and unconscious from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., the doctor gave him up, but he recovered.

Eyes

Blindness. Color-blindness, central scotoma for red and green. Disc pale, grayish edges defined, retinal vessels full, especially the veins. Retinal hyperesthesia. Veins much larger than the arteries. Conjunctive jaundiced.

Face

Face pale, lips blue. Face bluish, asphyxiated look.

Head

Giddiness, compelling to sit down. Reels as if drunk, even fell off a stool when sitting, stumbled getting into a train. Could not walk many yards without falling.

Flapping of nasal alae. Burning taste in mouth. Burning in throat and stomach. Sweat on forehead and face. Whole body covered with profuse cold sweat. Secretions smell strongly of bitter almonds. Nausea, vomiting of food eaten. Pains in abdomen. Involuntary evacuations.

Paralysis of all limbs. Faintness, sinking, convulsions, twitchings, stupor. Head drawn backward and to the left side in spasms. Punctiform ecchymoses. Dark, black blood that coagulates with difficulty. Venous blood, hyperemia of the brain and general venous engorgement. Respiration very slow, difficult, sighing. Cold skin, pulse small, weak, breathing slow and irregular, unconsciousness, symptoms of apoplectic coma.

Mind

Loquacity, following drowsiness, soon passing into stupor. Extreme mental excitement, soon became unconscious with inarticulate, confused speech.

Ears

Violent roaring in ears and sounds.

Eyes

Eyes staring. Rolling of the eyeballs in their vertical axis. Constant turning of the eyeballs, inward and outward in a slow, regular motion with the visual axes perfectly parallel. Constant slow movement of eyeballs from left to right under closed lids. Nystagmus. Great injection of conjunctiva of bulbs. Eyeballs seemed enlarged. Strabismus. Pupils dilated, insensible to light. Distorted vision and flashes of strange light and colors.

Head

Head drawn backwards and to the left in spasms.

Kidneys

Diuresis, urine brownish red, odor of bitter almonds. Urine and feces passed involuntarily.

Limbs

Paralysis of all limbs. Twitchings in hands and feet. Arms spasmodically flexed, sometimes extended, afterwards relaxed.

Lungs

Dyspnea. Snoring. Sighing, frequently interrupted. Breathing slow, difficult.

Mouth

Tongue white and swollen, thick and soft. Burning taste, followed by numbness and tingling of tongue and lips. Tenacious saliva. Stammering speech.

Neck

Stiff neck, trismus and twitchings in masseter muscles.

Pulse

Pulse rapid, weak, irregular, scarcely perceptible. Pulse full and slow.

Rectum

Involuntary evacuation.

Skin

Skin cold and livid, bluish-gray. Punctiform ecchymosis. Bruised spots, bluish-black, beneath scalp and on gluteal muscles.

Relations

Compare: (1) Benzin, Amyg. am., Camph., Hydr-ac.

References

Boeneke, Clarke.