BOTULINUM

Botulinum

Pharmacy

Botul. Botulinum. Bacillus botulinum. Toxin of Bacillus botulinum. Nosodes. Historical dose: Trituration and all potencies.

Clinical

• Albuminuria
• Aphonia
• Bulbar paresis
• Coma
• Constipation
• Convulsions
• Diphtheria
• Diplopia
• Dizziness
• Dysphagia
• Dyspnea
• Eye disorders
• Food poisoning
• Hydrophobia
• Muscular weakness
• Mydriasis
• Paralysis
• Ptosis
• Vision disorders
• Strabismus
• Vomiting

Homeopathic

Botulism is classified under the heading of meat poisoning. Meat infected by it has no putrid odor, though a characteristic rancid smell is described. Fish, as well as any sort of preserved meat, may form a suitable medium for its growth.

The symptoms of poisoning set in 24 to 36 hours after taking the infected material. Vomiting is usually the first symptom, but the gastrointestinal tract is little affected in patients attacked by the bacillus botulinus and its toxin.

There is generally constipation rather than diarrhea. Following the first vomiting, a train of nerve symptoms develop. Eye symptoms, ptosis, double vision, blurred vision, mydriasis, strabismus, paralysis of accommodation.

Botulism poisoning produced a clinical picture of bulbar paresis. Repeated suffocative attacks have been often observed, and after large doses, convulsions. General muscular weakness, successive dryness, and hypersecretion of the buccal and pharyngeal mucus membranes.

Aphonia, and retention of urine. Difficulty in swallowing and breathing, choking sensation. Weakness and uncertainty in walking, blind staggers, dizziness. Thickening of speech. Cramping pain in the stomach. Mask-like expression of face, due to weakness of facial muscles. Severe constipation.

Comments

The therapeutic applications spring from the recorded symptoms. The dmg is to be thought of in hydrophobia, bulbar paralysis, and allied affections, diphtheritic paralyses, and the dyspnea attacks and coma of diabetes.

Paroxysmal dyspneas occurring in various diseases, in so far as they are central in origin, should be aided by Botulinum, and it is interesting to note that it is precisely repeated attacks of dyspnea that Dr. Schepens has found himself able to cure with the drug.

His first recorded case is that of a lady of 70, with arteriosclerosis, slight albuminuria, and a small pleural effusion, who suffered from nocturnal dyspnea attacks of an alarming kind. Phos., Ars., Lach., Spong., and Hyos. all did little or nothing. After fifteen days, Botul. 30c was given, one dose.

Short aggravation followed by amelioration ensued. The dose was repeated in two days' time, and the same phenomena occurred, but the improvement was more marked. In another two days, another dose, and no more, was required. Nine days from the first dose, the effusion had disappeared, and albuminuria and attacks of dyspnea followed suit.

The second patient was a man of over 50. An erysipelatous eruption of the right leg disappeared under Apis, Loci., and Kali-i., but when the patient returned to work, he was at once attacked by paroxysms of dyspnea, preventing him from lying down and causing great distress. Traces of albumen were found in the urine. Rhus-t. and Lach. did little.

Botul. 50c, two doses within an interval of two days, caused amelioration. After two days more, Botul. 30c, one dose. The next day the albumen had disappeared. One more dose after four days was all that was required, and the patient returned to work restored fully to health.

Relations

Compare: Bell., Bry., Rhus-t., Sulph., Agar., Hydr-ac., Lach., Ant-t. Ars., Phos., and Tab.

References

Boericke. Wheeler.