Cactus Grandiflorus

• ▸Melancholy, taciturn, sad, ill-humored.
• ▸Fear of death.
• ▸Screams with pain.
• ▸Anxiety.

Sadness and bad humour; taciturnity; melancholy; hypochondriasis.—Cries, knows not

• ▸why; < by consolation.
• ▸—Screaming with pain.
• ▸—During menses, hysteria.
• ▸—Fear of death, belief

that his disease is incurable —Love of solitude.

• ▸Headache if obliged to pass dinner hour (Ars; Lach; Lyc).
• ▸Sensation as of a weight on vertex.
• ▸Right-sided pulsating pain.
• ▸Congestive headaches, periodical, threatening apoplexy.
• ▸Blood-vessels to the head distended.
• ▸Feels as if head were compressed in a vise.
• ▸Pulsation in ears.
• ▸Dim sight.
• ▸Right sided prosopalgia, constricting pains, returns at same hour daily (Cedron).

Vertigo, from sanguineous congestions to head.—Heavy pressing in the head as if a

great weight lay on the vertex; > from pressure; < from noise (even talking) and

light.—Throbbing pain with sensation of weight and violent neuralgias in r. side of head;

periodic.—Feeling as if head compressed in a vice, and would burst from severity of pain.

Hearing diminished by the buzzing in the ears. —Pulsations in the ears (otitis).

Profuse bleeding from nose. Fluent coryza.

Paleness of the face —Bloated and red; with pulsations in head.—Prosopalgia, right-

sided, chronic; < from slightest exertion; bearable only when lying still in bed; brought on by

wine, music, strong light, missing dinner at usual hour.

Loss of taste for food with nausea.—Tongue purple, thick brown sordes on

teeth.—Prickling on point of tongue.—Breath very offensive.

Feeling of warmth about throat and chest.—Constriction of cesophagus, which

prevents swallowing.—Constriction of throat exciting a constant desire to swallow.—Suffocative

constriction at throat with full, throbbing carotids.—Scraping sensation at soft palate.

Constriction of oesophagus. Dryness of tongue, as if burnt; needs much liquid to get food down. Suffocative constriction at throat, with full, throbbing carotids in angina pectoris.

Constriction, pulsation, or heaviness in stomach. Vomiting of blood.

Appetite good; digestion weak.—Complete loss of appetite, stomach rejects

everything.—After eating weight and distress in stomach.—Nausea in the morning, lasting all

day.—Acrid, sour fluid in stomach which rises in throat and mouth—Frequent

• ▸vomiting.
• ▸—Copious heematemesis.
• ▸—Burning pulsation or heaviness in stomach.
• ▸—Constriction or

pulsation in scrobiculus.—Gastro-enteritis.

Pulsation in the coeliac artery (after dinner), burning extends down from it in

flashes.—Sharp pains shooting through diaphragm and up into chest.—Colic with loose

stool.—Insupportable heat in abdomen.—Pain and bearing-down in lower abdomen.

• ▸Hard, black stools.
• ▸Diarrhoea in morning.
• ▸Haemorrhoids swollen and painful.
• ▸Sensation of great weight in anus.
• ▸Haemorrhage from bowels in malarial fevers and with heart symptoms.

Constipation; stool hard and black.—Diarrhcea, watery, mucous, bilious (in

forenoon).—Sensation of great weight (in anus), and urging to evacuate a great quantity, but

nothing passes.—Copious hemorrhage from the bowels (from the anus).—Itching in the

anus.—Fluent heemorrhoids.—Fistula in ano with violent palpitation of heart.

Constriction of neck of bladder.—Irritation in urethra, as if he would pass

water constantly.—Urine passes by drops, with much burning.—Profuse urine, of a straw

colour.—Urine, on cooling, deposits a red sand.—Hzematuria; urination prevented by

clots.—Frequent urging; at night, with a copious flow each time.

• ▸Constriction of neck of bladder, causing retention of urine.
• ▸Haemorrhage from bladder.
• ▸Clots of blood in urethra.
• ▸Constant urination.

• ▸Constriction in uterine region and ovaries.
• ▸Dysmenorrhoea; pulsating pain in uterus and ovaries.
• ▸Vaginismus.
• ▸Menses early, dark, pitch-like (Cocc; Mag c); cease on lying down, with heart symptoms.

Pulsating pain in uterus and ovaries.—Constriction in uterine

region; round pelvis.—Constriction of vagina preventing coition (vaginismus).—Very painful

menstruation; extorting loud cries —Menses too early; scanty menstruation, ceasing while

lying.—Labour suppressed.—Breast, tumour in; inflammation of.

Difficulty of breathing; attacks of suffocation with fainting —Chronic

bronchitis, with rattling of mucus.—Spasmodic cough and copious mucous

expectoration.—Pricking pains in chest with oppressed respiration (pneumonia).—Oppression of

breathing in going upstairs.—Catarrhal cough with much viscid expectoration —Much rattling of

mucus.—Cannot lie in a horizontal position.—Periodical suffocation, with fainting, and sweat on

face and loss of pulse-—Hzmoptysis, with convulsive cough.—Sharp pains shooting from body to

back and up into chest, with sensation of rush of blood to chest (rheumatism of diaphragm).

• ▸Oppressed breathing as from a weight on chest.
• ▸Constriction in chest, as if bound, hindering respiration.
• ▸Inflammation of diaphragm.
• ▸Heart-constriction, as from an iron band.
• ▸Angina pectoris.
• ▸Palpitation; pain shooting down left arm.
• ▸Haemoptysis, with convulsive, spasmodic cough.
• ▸Diaphragmitis, with great difficulty of breathing.

• ▸Endocarditis with mitral insufficiency together with violent and rapid action.
• ▸Acts best in the incipiency of cardiac incompetence.
• ▸Heart weakness of arterio-sclerosis.
• ▸Tobacco heart.
• ▸Violent palpitation; worse lying on left side, at approach of menses.
• ▸Angina pectoris, with suffocation, cold sweat, and ever-present iron band feeling.
• ▸Pain in apex, shooting down left arm.
• ▸Palpitation, with vertigo; dyspnoea, flatulence.
• ▸Constriction; very acute pains and stitches in heart; pulse feeble, irregular, quick, without strength.
• ▸Endocardial murmurs, excessive impulse, increased praecordial dullness, enlarged ventricle.
• ▸Low blood pressure.

Difficulty of breathing; continued oppression and uneasiness as if the chest were

constricted with a (hot) iron band, hindering respiration.—Whirling sensation from chest to brain;

arterial throbbing.—Oppressed breathing from a weight on chest.—Congestion of the chest which

prevents lying down; palpitation; constriction as from a tight cord around false ribs.—Sensation

of a great constriction in middle of sternum, as if the parts were compressed by iron pincers, with

oppression of breathing; worse on motion.

Pain deep in heart like a jerking body, frequently repeated —Something

seemed to be whirling up from chest to brain.—Sensation as if heart turned over ; as if it whirled

round; as if some one was grasping heart firmly, with sensation as if it whirled round; as if heart

was bound down and had not room enough to beat; as if bolts were holding it; as if compressed

or squeezed by a band.—Lancinating pain in heart when perspiration fails—Deathlike feeling at

heart and round to |. back.—Acute pains, pricking and stitches in the heart—Palpitation of the

heart, day and night; < when walking, and at night, when lying on |. side.—Palpitation in small

irregular beats (at times frequent, at others slow), from slightest excitement or deep thought, with

necessity for deep inspiration.—Pains in apex of heart, shooting down |. arm to ends of fingers;

feeble pulse; dyspnoea.—Endocardial murmurs; excessive impulse; increased precordial dulness;

• ▸enlarged ventricle.
• ▸—Heart disease with cedema of |.
• ▸hand only.
• ▸—Aneurism.
• ▸—Atheromatous

arteries.

Exophthalmic goitre—Cold in back and icy cold hands.—Rheumatism of

shoulder.—Pain under |. shoulder-blade (with palpitation)—Lumbar muscles tender on pressure

and stiff, esp. on first moving after repose.

Pain in shoulders and arms.—Sore aching in 1. arm down to elbow; down to

• ▸fingers.
• ▸—Numbness of |.
• ▸arm.
• ▸—Formication and weight in arms.
• ▸—(Edema of the hands; worse in

the I.

Restlessness of legs; cannot keep them still—CEdema of the feet, extending

to the knees; the skin is shining; pressure with the fingers leaves an indentation.

24. Generalities—General weakness and prostration of strength Sensation of constriction: in

throat; chest; heart; bladder; rectum.—Hzmorrhages: from nose; lungs; rectum; bladder;

stomach.—Congestions.

• ▸OEdema of hands and feet.
• ▸Hands soft; feet enlarged.
• ▸Numbness of left arm.
• ▸Icy-cold hands.
• ▸Restless legs.

Dry, scaly herpes on the outside of the elbow, and on the r. internal malleolus.

Sleepless on account of pulsation in different parts of body. Frightful dreams.

Sleeplessness without cause; or from arterial pulsations in the scrobiculus, and in the

r. ear—Dreams: frightful; lascivious.

• ▸Fever every day at same hour.
• ▸Coldness in back and icy-cold hands.
• ▸Intermittent; paroxysms about midday (11 am) incomplete in their stages, accompanied by haemorrhages.
• ▸Coldness predominates; cold sweat, with great anguish.
• ▸Persistent subnormal temperature.

Slight chilliness towards 10 a.m.—Chilliness, with chattering of the teeth —Chilliness

• ▸not relieved by covering; 11 a.
• ▸m.
• ▸and 11 p.
• ▸m.
• ▸—Burning heat, with shortness of

breath —Scorching heat at night, with headache, following a chill and terminating in

perspiration.—Coldness in back and icy cold hands.—Intermittent fever (quotidian) recurring

every day at the same hour (for many successive days).—One o'clock in the afternoon slight chill,

then burning heat, with dyspneea, pulsating pain in the uterine region, terminating in slight

• ▸perspiration.
• ▸—Quotidian, 11 a.
• ▸m.
• ▸, great coldness for two hours; then burning heat, with great

dyspneea, violent pain in the head, coma, stupefaction, insensibility till midnight, and

unquenchable thirst and perspiration.

• ▸Aneurism.
• ▸Angina pectoris.
• ▸Apoplexy.
• ▸Arteries, atheroma of.
• ▸Asthma.
• ▸Bladder,

• ▸paralysis of.
• ▸Brain, congestion of.
• ▸Bronchitis.
• ▸Diaphragm, rheumatism of.
• ▸Dropsies.
• ▸Ear,

• ▸inflammation of.
• ▸Fistula.
• ▸Goitre, exophthalmic.
• ▸Heematuria.
• ▸Heemorrhages.
• ▸Headache.
• ▸Heart,

• ▸affections of; hypertrophy of.
• ▸Indigestion.
• ▸Intermittent fevers.
• ▸Lungs, hemorrhage from.

• ▸Melancholy.
• ▸Menstruation, painful.
• ▸Miliaria.
• ▸Neuralgia.
• ▸Otitis.
• ▸Ovaritis.
• ▸Pneumonia.
• ▸Prostate,

• ▸affections of.
• ▸Rheumatism.
• ▸Sun, effects of.
• ▸Sunstroke.
• ▸Traumatic fever.
• ▸Vaginismus.

Characteristics—We are indebted to Rubini of Naples and his devoted wife for the first

provings of this great remedy. Cactus affects powerfully the entire organism, but its intensest

operation is on the heart and circulation. In congestive violence it rivals Acon., which is one of

• ▸its antidotes.
• ▸As with Acon.
• ▸, too, the pains are unendurable; they extort screams.
• ▸Sadness,

apprehension, fear of death and a tendency to be easily frightened characterise the Cactus mental

state, as they do many conditions of heart disease. Given as an organ-remedy it will benefit a

large number of cases of weakened and painful heart; and if its keynote symptom of

constriction—"as if an iron band prevented its normal movements," or "heart as if compressed

violently and as violently struggled to burst its bonds"—is present, it will cure. Pain and

numbness in left arm accompanying heart disease. Sharp pains in diaphragm and girdle pain

round its attachment. Indigestion with these symptoms. Snader considers Cactus specially

indicated where the heart is weak and the arteries atheromatous. This is confirmed by a venerable

correspondent of the Hom. World (July, 1898), who, finding his temporal arteries much swollen

and hard to touch, took several doses of Cact. 1x, with the result that in a few days they became

normal. Snader uses the lower attenuations in this condition. A case of angina pectoris was cured

by the 30th, with the following characteristic: sensation as though a swarm of hornets were going

from pectoral region to heart. Cactus has the weakness and coldness of the extremities which

characterise many heart cases, and render it an appropriate remedy. Constricting pains run

through the pathogenesis (throat; chest; heart; bladder; rectum; vagina). Twitching of muscles,

and sensation of constriction produced by touching the affected part. Heemorrhages (nose; lungs;

rectum; stomach). Sanguineous congestions, which are in a way a counter-part of the constrictive

sensations. Prostration. Among the other prominent symptoms of Cactus are: "Heavy pain in

vertex, like a weight." "Periodical attacks of suffocation, with fainting, cold sweat on face, and

loss of pulse." "Fluttering and palpitation of heart, < when walking or lying on left side." "Heart

disease with swelling of left hand only." "Numbness of left arm." "Rheumatism of all joints,

beginning in upper extremities." The pains are very sharp, causing the patient to cry out. Many

symptoms are < at night ("Night-blooming Cereus"). Menses cease at night. Many symptoms <

• ▸lying down, or come on when lying down.
• ▸Periodicity is well marked (quotidian fever, 11 a.
• ▸m.
• ▸).

• ▸Chill at same hour every day, 11 a.
• ▸m.
• ▸or 11 p.
• ▸m.
• ▸Choudhury has reported a case cured, the

• ▸characteristics being: "Chill severe, 11 a.
• ▸m.
• ▸, thirsty, headache, body hot; no separate heat.
• ▸" When

there is heat there is thirst and short breath. At times there is entire absence of sweat. There is <

after eating (weight at stomach); and also < from missing a meal or fasting (prosopalgia and

other neuralgias); < from lying on left side; from noise and light from heat; from sun's rays; from

exertion; from damp.

Botanical relatives: Cereus bonplandii, C. serpentinus, Opuntia, and, in a sense,

• ▸Coccus cacti, Antidoted by: Aco.
• ▸, Camph.
• ▸, Chi.
• ▸, Eup.
• ▸perfol.
• ▸Compatible: Dig.
• ▸(tumultuous

• ▸action of heart; slow, irregular pulse; scanty urine; dropsy); Eup.
• ▸perf.
• ▸, Lach Nux, Sul.
• ▸(pleurisy).

• ▸Follows well: Aco.
• ▸, Arn.
• ▸, Ars.
• ▸, Bell.
• ▸, Bry.
• ▸, Cham.
• ▸, Gels.
• ▸, Ip.
• ▸, K.
• ▸bro.
• ▸(diaphragmitis), Lach.
• ▸,

• ▸Nux, Rhus.
• ▸Compare: In mental symptoms, Dig.
• ▸, Lach.
• ▸In congestions to head, Bell.
• ▸, Glo.
• ▸In

• ▸pain and pressure in head, Arn.
• ▸, Carb.
• ▸v.
• ▸, Coral.
• ▸, Iod.
• ▸, Nux, Op.
• ▸, Spi.
• ▸Weight in vertex, Alo.
• ▸,

• ▸Alum.
• ▸In heart affections, Aco.
• ▸, Act.
• ▸r.
• ▸, Amyl.
• ▸n.
• ▸, Arn.
• ▸, Bell.
• ▸, Bov.
• ▸, Crotal.
• ▸, Dig.
• ▸, Eup.
• ▸perf.
• ▸,

• ▸Kalm.
• ▸, Lach.
• ▸, Lil.
• ▸t.
• ▸, Naja, Puls.
• ▸, Spi.
• ▸, Zn.
• ▸(as if a cap over heart); irritable heart, Cer.
• ▸b.
• ▸, Hep.
• ▸,

• ▸Pho.
• ▸In constrictions (of chest) Zn.
• ▸, K.
• ▸chlo.
• ▸, Cad.
• ▸s.
• ▸, Alum.
• ▸, Bell.
• ▸, Bov.
• ▸, Arn.
• ▸, Cain.
• ▸, K.
• ▸nit.
• ▸,

• ▸Lach.
• ▸, Stram.
• ▸, (uterus) Murex, (vagina) Kali c.
• ▸In menses ceasing at night, Caust.
• ▸In leucorrheea,

• ▸Am.
• ▸mur.
• ▸In intermittents, Ars.
• ▸, Bry.
• ▸, Calc.
• ▸, Eup.
• ▸perf.
• ▸, Nat.
• ▸m:, Rhus, Sul.
• ▸In dropsies, Dig.
• ▸,

Kalm. In sleeplessness, Sul. Neuralgia and other forms of pain which are sure to appear when an

• ▸accustomed meal is missed, Ars.
• ▸Heemoptysis, strong throbbing at heart, Aco.
• ▸(Aco.
• ▸has more

• ▸anxiety and fever).
• ▸Pain in diaphragm, Ran.
• ▸b.
• ▸(Ran.
• ▸b.
• ▸has pains shoot from front to back; Cact.

has sharp pains in diaphragm and girdle pain round attachment). Reptile sensation, Crocus.

Antidotes: Acon; Camph; China.

Compare: Digital; Spigel; Convallar; Kalmia; Naja; Magnol.

Tincture (best made from flowers), to third attenuation. Higher in nervous palpitation.

Constrictions, contractions and congestions run through Cactus.

Determination of blood to the head, and coldness of the extremities.

Or determination of blood to an organ, the chest, or the heart. There

is never an equal circulation of blood in the body ; it is spasmodic and

irregular. Disturbed by contractions of circular fibres everywhere.

When this comes in places where it can be felt, and realized by the

senses, it is felt as contractions, as if caged in wires, and this gives

us the key to Cactus. Where contractions cannot be felt, where there

is no sense of feeling, we know that it goes on as a spasmodic condition of circular fibres ; but these contractions that are felt arc more

upon the surface of the body, and in organs having circular fibers —

tubes and canals. They constrict, and this constriction is felt like a

spasm. It has a sensation of tightness and constriction about the

head, about the chest, about the attachments of the diaphragm, all

over the abdomen. Contractions about the heart that are tonic in

dharacter, like a tight clutching ; constriction, “Constriction felt

about the heart.** These constrictions are fdt about the throat, in

the m^phagus, causing a spasm ; in the vagina, causing vi^iniaiipiS

eACrUS ORANDlFLDiltJS

^ 5 <)

atid preventing coition. In the uterus it produces the most violent

cramps. Clutching and constrictions, as it the uterus were grasped

and held tightly, like a spasm. But at these times, when these constrictions take place, there are congestions. “Rush of blood to the

part, with constriction.” “Violent congestion of the uterus, with

constrictions. Rush of blood to the chest, as if the chest was filled

with hot gushes of blood, with constrictions, and constriction of die

heart.” Ihese peculiarities run through Cactus more markedly than

any other remedy. Many remedies have similar things now and then,

but in Cactus it is common ; it is the nature of Cactus to constrict, to

cause constriction in places where it has never been felt, and never

been thought of. Constrictions of the whole body, as if the body

was held in a wire cage. Constrictions of the scalp, of the skin,

growing tighter and tighter. Violent congestions that come on suddenly, Congestion of the brain, with hot head, flushed face. At the

beginning of complaints, at the beginning of pneumonia ; congestive

chill with hot head and cold body (like Arn.) with violent constrictions and tightness, as if the head were pressed, as if the membrane

of the brain were too tight, as if the brain were covered with a tight

cloth, and were being screwed tighter and tighter. Uniform tightness of an organ, as if it were being bound tighter and tighter. But

in tubes and canals it is a co^istriction of a particular part, many

times like as if tied with a string. Constriction, like hour-glass contraction, in the uterus. It ha$ inflammations, congestions, rush of

blood to the part, gradually progressing to inflammation, and infiltration, Inflammation of various parts.

It has rheumatism. It is a remedy very useful in gouty constitutions ; very useful in acute inflammatory rheumatism ; and in this instance the congestion is in the joints that happen to be affected. And

then again the constriction, as if tied with a tape, or as if bandaged.

Tightness, tension, pressure, are involved in that thought. It has

such a prolonged determination of blood to the heart that the heart

finally becomes disturbed in its function, disturbed in its tissues ; and

it has a profound curative action upon the heart and even cures organic

heart diseases, such as are produced from this cause, conditions coming on from congestion, or coming on through congestion in rheumatic constrictions, where the rheumatism has left the joints partially

and the heart has become involved, and there is constriction of tha

heart. Various efforts have been made by provers, and by patients,

to describe the constriction jof the heart. It is sometimes described

“as if grasped with an iron hand.’' It is only to illustrate the tenacity

of the constriction. In these rheumatic troubles when the joints

have ceased, to be affected and the heart becomes affected with this

chronic congestion and enlargement, we have enlargement, of the

2$0

valves so that there are murmurs, the head is hot, and the patient

gradually emaciates. Kidney troubles will come on ; the heart grows

weaker, and then dropsical conditions set in, that is the course of

Cactus. Towards the la^^t, cardiac affections, along with kidney

affections, with emacidtion, and then swelling of the hands and feet.

That is the very nature of Cactus, and you will not find any medicine in the whole Materia Medica that reads like it. There is nothing

to compare with it in the intensity of these symptoms. All these

things that I have described seem to turn upon these words, congestion,

constriction and contraction.

The pains in Cactus arc violent, no matter where they occur. They

compel the patient to cry out, and the pains are clutching pains,

constricting pains ; they often feel like tearing pains ; but there is

always that idea of clutching. Suppose you should tie a tape round

a violently congested organ, and tie it tighter and tighter. It seems

to me that is about the kind of suffering the patient has with that

constriction of a congested organ. Pains in congested parts ; pains

in sore parts. Tearing ; constricting, cramping, when pains occur

in the intestines they are constricting, but when the pains arc in

the long muscles they are not the constricting pains, for it is not the

circular fibres then but the long fibres that contract, and we call them

cramps. Cactus produces some spasmodic conditions in long muscles,

but not to any great extent. In Bell, especially, and also in many of

those medicines that have this nature of cramping, and constricting

and contracting of circular fibres, there is convulsive tendency. The

violent congestion of the brain in Bell, will commonly be attended with

cramps in the extremities and convulsions of the muscles all over;,

or in parts. Not so with Cactus. Violent congestion, and he grows

stupid under it. Congestion of the brain, first with very red face, then

darker from the venous stasis, and then stupor. He grows sluggish

under the cerebral congestion.

The mental state is that of fear and distress, because of the intensity

of the suffering. The patient has never felt such suffering, and he

does not see what it can all mean. So much suffering, such violent

suffering, such sudden suffering, such cramps, such tearing, such constriction. When this constriction comes in the heart, and about the

chest, it makes the patient think he is going to die, and he is at once

struck with fear, and it is depicted upon the face. He fears death,

and it seems he is going to die, his pain is so intense. But with this

intense pain he has nothing of the anxiety we find in Aconite, which

has a similar constriction of the chest and constriction of the neck.

The violent choking in Aconite makes him fear he is going to choke

to death, and the anxiety is awful. It is not so intense in Cactus.

Screaming with pains is a common thing in Cactus. *‘Tacituni, uiiwilling to speak a word or to answer/’ That often accompanies the

Cactus state, which is the opposite of most of the medicines that have

such violent pains. “Sadness, taciturnity, and irresistible inclination

to weep. Fear of death that is, he thinks he is going to die from the

severity of the pain. “He believes his disease is incurable;’' it seems

to him that such suffering must end in death. That violent, irregular

action of the heart is followed out through all the blood vessels, because the circulation is so irregular, is so spasmodic. He is not here,

• ▸and cold there.
• ▸Heat in the head, or heat m the chest.
• ▸The circulation is that of determination to some particular part.
• ▸With all the

cardiac remedies we have violent dreams, great excitement of the

brain during sleep, waking up startled and frightened, very commonly

• ▸with a feeling of failing.
• ▸Dreams of falling.
• ▸Dreams lull of excitement.
• ▸These features run through Cactus, especially with the cardiac

symptoms.

“Vertigo from congestion ; face red, bloated ; pulsation in brain.

Feels as it he would go mad. Vertigo, worse from physical exertion."

With most of the cardiac remedies, or remedies where tlie circulation and heart are much involved, wc have marked vertigo. “Vcriigo ;

worse from physical exertion, turning in bed, stooping, rising from a

recumbent position, and deep inspiration." Many of the complaints

of Cactus are disturbed by irregularities of breathing. Here we sec

vertigo coming on from deep breathing. If he holds his breath, it

seems as it his heart would % to pieces, it would go so fast. Increased pulsation all over the b0dy when holding the breath.

The headaches are constricting, pressing. They are all violent,

with intense heat of the head, for they are congestive. A pressing

in the top of the head as if the top of the head would be forced in ;

but this is ameliorated by pressing hard upon the pain, “Heavy pain

like a weight on vertex, better by pressure." Oftentimes the patient

may be wrong in the idea of pressure that is felt in the head. They

often describe it in the most marked congestions as if the head would

be crushed in, when the congestion in the brain can be seen to be most

violent, causing pressure from within out, and we would think they

would be better from some sort of support externally, and yet they

feel great soreness and feel as if the head is being crushed in. Others

with headaches feci as if the head is being pressed out. “Heavy pain

like a weight on vertex; better by pressure, but worse from sounds,

hearing, talking, or strong light.” This runs through the headaches.

Greatly aggravated from hearing voices. The sound goes through

the head. The brain seems to be sensitive, as if the sound were a

material substance hurled at the brain. Right-sided headaches.

Pulsating headaches. Heavy, pulsating pain in the head. Tensive

pain in the head, tensive pain in the vertex. A tightness across the

CACTUS CRANDIFtORUS

vertex, as if the scalp was being drawn tighter and tighter upon the

skull. There can be no doubt about there being a marked cerebral

congestion with all these symptoms. The eyes show it ; the face

shows it ; the heat of the head shows it. It has been recommended for

threatened apoplexy, when the congestion is so violent, and the face

is flushed and purple, or very red, and the pulsation is felt in the

brain and all over.

This remedy has the violent congestion of the head found in Bell,,

but with Bell, we have the intense heat of the body, fever heat which

is not found in Cactus. In Cactus it is only a moderate fever. The

heat is in the upper part of the body, in the head and neck. Fullness of the neck ; bloating of the neck. Feels as if the head would

expand from the pressure of blood in the head, but without any great

rise of temperature. It has fever, but it has these without fever. But

with Bell, when you have these pulsations the patient is intensely hot,

and he burns all over. There is some burning in Cactus, but not to

be compared with Bell Heat in the head from mental exertion is

a strong symptom of Cactus. This symptom is found in persons who

are trying to break off from coffee and Cactus is often the remedy.

The patient has choking about the neck, as from a tight collar,

Constriction ; tension of the skin and muscles everywhere. Choking about the neck with constriction of the heart. Choking about

the neck in hysteria ; globus hystericus ; a lump or ball coming up

into the throat, and she constantly swallows and chokes, and she

goes into cramps with great numbness of the left arm.

Cramping especially of the left arm. Complete numbness of the

left arm along with cardiac conditions in the history of rheumatism

and in hysteria. The history of rheumatism goes well to fill up the

Cactus case. The face is flushed bright red, becoming blue. With

weakness of the heart it is blue ; blue lips. We need Cactus for a

patient that has constriction about the neck, wdth congested head, blue

face, and lips mottled, numbness of the left hand, constriction of the

heart. The left hand mysteriously weak, or is numb, tingling and

crawling, like a formication.

Another thing running all through the remedy is its haemorrhages.

That is not surprising. Any medicine that has such cardiac conditions

and such vascular conditions will at timCwS have more or less relaxation

of blood vessels, and it would be quite in the nature of it to bleed. It

has haemorrhages of two kinds. Haemorrhage from vascular relaxation accompanying cardiac and vascular conditions, and haemorrhage

from violent congestion of a part. The rush of blood to the head is

of such violence in the moderately plethoric patient that he bleeds

from the nose, and hawks blood from the throat. Congestion of the

chest so violent that he expectorates blood from the chest. Bleeding

CACTUvS GRANDIFLORUS

from ^congestion, rather than from tuberculosis. Congestion of the

uterus with bleeding. Congestion of the bladder and kidneys, with

blood in the urine, with discharges of blood from violent congestion.

In old cardiac conditions, where relaxation is present in most marked

degree, haemorrhage from relaxation.

Strong pulsations felt in strange places, in the stomach, and in the

bowels ; sometimes in the extremities, the feet and hands, as well as

in the head. Throbbing all over. Around the attachment of the

diaphragm feeling as if a cord was tied tighter and tighter ; round the

lower part of the chest. This is a strange symptom ; it clutches him so

tightly around the waist line that it takes his breath away, and he

struggles for breath, and wants to do something. It clutches him

tighter and tighter. Cactus produces congestion of the bowels ; inflammation of the uterus. Gastric inflammation and with it the clutching.

It is a remedy for the cure of haemorrhoids ; the relaxation of the

great portal system, and the lower veins in the rectum, the haemorrhodial veins. The veins are in such a state of relaxation that

• ▸tumors will form, and bleed copiously.
• ▸Bleeding haemorrhoids.
• ▸Constriction of the anus.
• ▸It has a very troublesome constipation ; constipation in connection with haemorrhoids.
• ▸It has a paralytic weakness of

the bladder. It has retention of urine. Such a constriction of the

neck of the bladder that the urine cannot be passed for a long time,

and there is retention. In the kidneys such a congestion as favors

suppression of the urine. Bloody urine ; blood in clots. It is a remedy

that favors the formation of clots speedily. The blood that flows

clots so rapidly and so densely that it blocks up the way. Bleeding

into the bladder blocks up the way. Bleeding into the vagina causes

a dot difficult to expel, and pressing upon the urethra of the female

that it is impossible for her to pass urine. It is like an immense tampon. And hence it reads, ‘urination prevented by clots,*' clots in the

vagina, as well as clots in the bladder. Inflammation of the ovaries ;

inflammation of the uterus It is a medicine that you will need to

know when a young, plethoric, vigorous woman comes down violently

with congestion of the uterus at the menstrual period, and she screams

because of the violent clutching and cramping of the uterus. Before

the flow starts, or just at the beginning, there is violent spasm. The

circular fibres clutch ; and she describes it accurately as if a tape were

tied around that sore and congested uterus. The uterus fills with

blood clots, and the spasm to expel that blood is like a labor-pain, and

she screams again, and it is some time before the flow becomes free

enough to give relief. If this condition is met with in rheumatic

diathesis, where there is more or less rheumatism of the joints,

clutching pains and constriction in other places, we have a remedy

in Cactus* The excitement and the sharp scream can be heard by tho

neighbors. Suffocative attacks with these pains, because the heart

suffers, and constriction of the heart will commonly go along with

the constriction of the uterus. In cardiac conditions it seems as if he

will die for want of bteath. Constrictions of the chest. Oppression

as if a great load was on his chest, crushing the life out of him, so

great is the constriction, and the congestion. A sudden congestion,

and it comes on and ends without inflammation in many instances.

A violent rush of blood to the chest, with awful dyspnoea and constriction of the heart — and it passes away without inflammation. At

other times Cactus has conditions like pneumonia, inflammation of

the lungs, and congestion ending in inflammation, with the usual

expectoration, bloody or blood streaked. Cactus is also a remedy for

hypostatic congestion of the lungs. He cannot lie down, must sit up

in bed, and there is a dullness of the lower part of each lung, gradually growing higher and higher from an effusion of scrum into the

lower portion of the lungs. This hypostatic congestion is due to a

cardiac weakness. Cactus will often relieve this a few times when it

occurs in old broken down cases towards the end of Bright’s disease,

and at the end of dropsical conditions and heart troubles. It will

• ▸postpone death.
• ▸“Could only breathe with shoulders elevated and lying on back.
• ▸” Lies leaning back or sitting quite upright.
• ▸“Periodical

attacks of suffocation, with fainting; cold sweat,”

“Feeling as if heart was compressed or squeezed by a hand. Cardiacrheumatism. Heart seemed to be held by an iron hand for many

hours. Pain in the cardiac region. Great pressure at heart, going

round under left axilla to back.” Often tbis pain shoots down the

left hand, is attended with numbness, and sometimes with swelling.

Numbness, tingling, swelling. ‘‘Dull pain in the heart. Heavy pain

in the heart, aggravated from pressure. Contractive pain in the

region of the heart going down to left abdomen. At times felt as if

some one was grasping the heart firmly. Paroxysms of pain in the

heart,” that is, this kind of constriction comes in periods of violent

• ▸paroxysms.
• ▸“Acute inflammation of the heart.
• ▸Chronic inflammation of the heart.
• ▸Palpitation of the heart, continued day and night ;

when walking, and at night when lying on the left side.”

Another thing running through the remedy is, that chest complaints often come on or are exaggerated at ii o’clock. Eleven

o’clock in the morning, or eleven at night. Its intermittent fever will

bring on a chill with violent congestion to the head at 11 o’clock.

• ▸Regular paroxysms at ii a.
• ▸m.
• ▸and ii p.
• ▸m.
• ▸, or sometimes at ii

• ▸A.
• ▸M.
• ▸and sometimes at 1 1 p.
• ▸m.
• ▸A daily chill at 1 1 a.
• ▸M.
• ▸It hsis

cured intermittent fever of iht cemgestive type, when the congestions

are here and there, but paffkularly of head, with cotistrictions, congestions and contractions. -

Rheumatic pains, in shoulders, upper and lower arms, in hips down to feet; < in rest

and in motion, and in all positions.