Benzinum Nitricum
Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 3,372 chars · source ↗
General
Benzinum Nitricum.
"Essence of Morbane." "Artificial Oil of Bitter Almonds." C6 H5 NO2. (Prepared by heating Benzol with Nitric Acid; the oily fluid formed is washed and rectified; it is miscible with alcohol, and has an odour of bitter almonds.) Solution in alcohol.
Clinical
Amaurosis. Convulsions. Cyanosis. Diuresis. Epilepsy. Nystagmus. Respiration, slow. Strabismus. Tetanus. Trismus.
Characteristics
Nitro-benzene is a very poisonous substance, and our knowledge of its action is due to numerous cases of poisoning that have occurred. It produces faintness, sinking, convulsions, twitchings, stupor. It slows the respiration until death occurs. Rolling of the eyeballs in their vertical axis is a prominent feature, and the pupils are dilated.
Blueness of lips, face, and finger-nails. Flapping of alae nasi. Head drawn backward and to the left side in spasms. Involuntary evacuations.
Paralysis of all limbs. Punctiform ecchymoses. The odour of bitter almonds is strong in the secretions.
Relations
Compare: Benzin., Amygd. am., Camph. Hydrocy., ac.
Mind
Extreme mental excitement
Loquacity, followed by drowsiness, soon passing into stupor
Soon became unconscious with inarticulate, confused speech.
Head
Vertigo; and headache
Trembles; staggers; falls unconscious
Sensation of formication under scalp, or as if the hair was bristling up.
Eyes
Rolling of eyeballs
Constant slow movement of eyeballs from l. to r. under closed lids
The eyeballs showed a constant turning inward and outward in a slow, regular motion, with the visual axes perfectly parallel
Constantly rolling in vertical axes
Strabismus
Eyes staring
Great injection of conjunctiva of bulbs
Eyeballs seemed enlarged
Pupils dilated; insensible to light
Distorted vision and flashes of strange light and colours.
Ears
Violent roaring in ears, and sounds.
Face
Stupid expression
Cyanosis
Oedema
Covered with cold sweat
Trismus.
Mouth
Tongue white and swollen; thick and soft
Burning taste, followed by numbness and tingling of tongue and lips
Stammering speech
Tenacious saliva flowed from the mouth.
11, 12, 13.
Stomach, Abdomen, Stool
Burning in throat and stomach
Nausea, vomiting, of food eaten
Pains in abdomen
Involuntary evacuations.
Urinary Organs
Diuresis; urine brownish red; odour of bitter almonds.—Urine and faeces passed involuntarily.
Respiratory Organs
Sighing respiration
Respiration frequently interrupted
Dyspnoea
Respiration exceedingly slow; shallow
Snoring
Respiration difficult, catching, accelerated.
Heart
Pulse rapid, weak, irregular
Pulse full and slow
Pulse scarcely perceptible.
Neck
Stiff-neck; trismus and fibrillary twitchings in masseter muscles.
Limbs
Twitchings in hands and feet
Arms spasmodically flexed, sometimes extended
Arms spasmodically flexed at first, afterwards relaxed.
Generalities
Gait as if intoxicated; staggering here and there.—Violent convulsions; with unconsciousness.—Fell unconscious; extremities paralysed; evacuations involuntary.—Fainted from inhaling vapours.—Over-powering odour of bitter almonds.
Skin
Punctiform ecchymoses
Skin livid; bluish-grey
Ecchymosed spots, bluish-black, beneath scalp and on gluteal muscles.
Fever
Skin cold
Sweat on forehead and face
Whole body covered with profuse cold sweat.