Bitis gabonica gabonica (Bit-g)
= Gaboon viper/= Butterfly:
adder
The Gaboon
viper is the largest and most beautifully marked of the African adders and by
bulk the largest viper in the world. Adults average 120cm in length, but
specimens of up to 2m are found.
There are
two races of Bitis gabonica described in terms of their morphology and
geographic distribution: the variant found in
Bitis
gabonica gabonica. The colouration of the two variants is the same as is the
composition of the venom (Marsh et al:764). Colouration is as follows: - on the
body is a ground of rich brown to purple, superimposed on
which is a
series of quadrangular yellow to buff markings over the middle of the back with
brown interspaces; the head is pale buff to chestnut with a dark median line;
underparts are yellowish and the eyes are silvery grey.
For the
most part the Gaboon viper is found in the moister rainforest areas where its
camouflage is adapted to the dappled light of the forest floor. It is said to
be very sluggish and can strike swiftly when provoked, as with other adders
(FitzSimons 1980:190). However, that it is nocturnal and conceals itself during
the day (Marsh et al 1997:764) and is considered rather docile in temperament
must account for the short list of victims, since a bite from
Bitis
gabonica is invariably rapidly fatal due to the quantity of and depth to which
the venom is injected by the massive fangs - see below (Visser & Chapman
1978:35-36). It is this which must account for it’s fearsome reputation as the volume
of venom delivered is “extravagantly in excess of anything they might need for
killing their prey” (Lane M,cited in Marsh et al 1997:764). Prey is usually
ambushed and generally consists of rodents, monkeys, mongooses, hares and
birds. The snake is viviparous, the young are large and the litters are large -
often up to 60 in West Africa, but smaller (16-30) in Southern Africa. Its’ venom is similar to the puffadder
(Bitis arietans) but yields are between 450-600mg in a single bite as compared
to 100-350mg for the puffadder - 100mg being a fatal dose in humans. Bitis
gabonica can be said to produce the largest amount of venom of any poisonous
snake and yields in excess of 2 grams of dry venom per milking have been
documented (Whaler B.C, cited in Marsh et al 1997:764). As stated above, bites
from this snake are rare but serious. Large amounts of venom are injected deep
into the
tissues resulting in rapid swelling at the site and then the whole limb. Pain
is intense, haemorrhagic oedema and blistering at the bite follows rapidly and
hypotension, cardiac damage, dyspnoea and unconsciousness
may occur;
there is haemorrhage, with haematuria and haematemesis possible sequelae;
necrosis and the need for amputation are possible; death is not rare (Spawls
and Branch 1995: 116-118). The four main modalities of
toxicity
are disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC, with the production of large
thrombi in the vacular tree and thus the potential of fatal embolism),
haemorrhage, hypotension and cardiotoxicity. Ultimately, death will
most likely
be the result of cardiac damage. One of the early effects of the haemorrhagins
may be pulmonary oedema and dyspnoea. In the case of a successful hunt,
haemorrhage is unlikely to occur in the short time it takes for
the prey to
die so the purpose of the haemorrhagins is most likely to aid in digestion of
the carcass (Marsh et al 1997:768).
[These are
the toxicological symptoms of the venom itself, they will not appear in the
proving. The venom will be rendered safe by the process of serial
deconcentration according to the method specified by the German Homoeopathic
Pharmacopoeia (GHP), 5th supplement (1991) to the 1st edition (1978) for the
other snake venoms (GHP 289/255)].
Vergleich: Siehe: Schlangen
allgemein:
Repertory:
Mind: Absentminded
Anger
Anxiety (#
contentment/# tranquillity/# cheerfulness/from excitement)
Aversion to
all persons
Brooding
Capricious
Cheerful
(after sadness)
Company -
aversion to/desire for
Concentration
difficult [cannot fix attention/studying (= reading)]
Confidence
want of – in self/from family and friends
Confident
Confusion
(on waking/from mental exertion)
Consolation,
aversion to
Conversation
- </aversion to
Decisive
Delusions -
being alone/is not appreciated/out of body/body looks ugly/child is
sick/division/body enlarged/is friendless/is nor herself/is not ignorant/taken
placebo/separated from the world/were separated from himself/
body and
mind separated (while taking)
Detached
Dullness
(in morning)
Ecstasy
Excitement
in afternoon
Fear [of
death/takes breath away/sudden at night on waking/on waking]
Firmness
Forgetful
Forsaken
(“As if isolated”)
Frightened
on waking
Ideas
abundant, clearness of mind (on waking)
Impatience
Indifference
with aversion to work
Insecurity,
mental
Irresolution
Irritability
(16 h./in morning/on waking/# cheerfulness/to her family/becoming
overheated/and sleepy/at trifles)
Joy
Loathing at
oneself
Marriage
unendurable, idea of seemed
Medicine,
desire for more
Memory -
weak for what just done/for recent facts/for what he has heard
Mental
exertion, aversion
Mistakes -
in time confounds days/in writing (omitting letters/transposing letters)
Mood –
#/changeable
>
Occupation
Offended
easily
Pessimistic
Pities
herself
Prostration
- at night/from vexation
Quiet,
wants to be
Rest,
desire for
Restlessness
– anxious/move must
Sadness
(afternoon/evening/when alone/> afternoon/< company/> occupation/from
trifles/on waking/when unoccupied)
Sensitive
(to criticism/to noise/to reprimands)
Sighing
Spaced out
feeling
Slowness
Timidity
Taciturn
Thoughts –
disconnected/of the past/persistent/rapid/repetition of
Tranquillity
Weeping –
causeless/< consolation/no desire to be comforted/for want of
consolation/desire to/from forsaken feeling/> mental exertion/silent/from
S232 Weeping, vexation, from S232
Vertigo: Afternoon
>
Closing eyes/sitting
“As if
falling from a height”
Head: Congestion/Constriction [in
temples (ext. to jaw)]
Fullness
Heaviness -
in forehead (desires to close eyes)
Pain
<(<(<( viele )>)>)>
Eyes: red in morning
Dry in
morning
“As if
enlarged” (l.)
Heaviness
Inflamed
upper lid r.
Itching in
morning
Pain - in
evening/< pressure/aching/burning/cutting in lid/drawing the eyeball
backward/”As from sand” (> rubbing)/sore [at night/(on motion of)
lids/r./l.]
Photophobia
- in daylight/sunlight
Sensitive
to touch
Swollen -
l./morning/”As if swollen”
Vision: Accommodation too slow
Blurred
Dim,
reading
Foggy
during headache - mist before eyes
Ear: Formication behind the ear
“As if
full”
Itching in
meatus r. (< scratching/< rubbing)
Noises
buzzing
Pain –
r./l. ext. left eye during headache/behind (r.( ear (pulsating)/in (edge of)
lobe (1. r. 2. l.)/in meatus/piercing/sore (behind the ear/l./in front/in
lobe)/stitching
Nose: Catarrh – r./postnasal
Coryza – morning/with
or without discharge [l./in daytime/morning (after
rising)/albuminous/clear/copious/like egg white/salty/thick/watery
(l./watery/in cold room/yellow)]
Dry inside
(l.)
Obstruction
(r./l./morning/at night/+ watery discharge/> blowing/in warm room)
Pain - from
dryness/< pressure/burning (l.)/rawness after blowing/sore (in posterior
nares)
Sneezing
(at night/in cold air/without coryza/> eating/frequent)
Tension
inside
Smell: Acute
Face: Coldness with perspiration
Dry lips
Heat
flushes (in cheeks)
Pain -
pressing (in maxillary sinus)
Sensitive
to cold of lips
Swelling
around eyes in morning
Tension -
below eyes/in jaws (lower/r.)/around mouth and nose
Mouth: Dry lips
Itching
(under) tongue
Pain – sore in
palate (r.)/sore tongue (in spots)
Saliva –
saltish/Salivation - + nausea/profuse
Sensitive
tongue
Taste
metallic
Ulcers
Throat: Anxiety and apprehension in throat
Coldness,
sensation of
Dry -
morning on waking/in oesophagus
Hawk,
disposition to with thick mucus in the throat and mouth
“As if a
lump” (swallowing)
Mucus in
throat (morning)
Pain -
drinking/> eating/drinking cold/swallowing/burning in
oesophagus/scratching/sore (+ dryness/on waking)/”As from asplinter”
Tension
External
throat: Pain –
soreness
Sensitive
at angles of jaw
Stomach: Anxiety
Appetite –
capricious/ravenous in afternoon
Eructations
during anxiety
“As if a
lump”
Pain –
aching/burning (noon/> after eating)/sore
Thirst
(morning/afternoon/evening)
Abdomen: Distension (morning on waking/at
night/during constipation/in hypogastrium/from flatus)
Flatulence
Heat during
menses
Movements
internally
Noises
Pain (in
morning/cramping in crest of (l./above)/cutting in hypogastrium/stitching,
sudden, once)
Rectum: Constipation - > eating ameliorates/ineffectual
urging and straining/insufficient
Diarrhea -
in morning/noon/# constipation
Flatus (at
night/+ pain in head/smells offensive as eggs spoiled)
Inactiv
Urging –
sudden/while walking
Stool: copious/mucus, jelly-like/watery,
frothy
Kidneys: Pain in morning on waking
Urine: Copious
Female
organs: Coition -
enjoyment absent/painful
Eruptions
Leukorrhoea
– bland/thick/white
Menses
painful atz beginning
Pain - in
l. ovary (> bending l. leg/> sitting)/ext. to back/in uterus (gradually comes
and goes/during menses/paroxysmal/> rubbing/> lying on side/>
sleep)/in vagina during coition/bearing down in uterus and region < walking/
Cramping
(before menses/in uterus during menses)/pressing in l. ovary/sharp in (l.)
ovaries/sore in vagina during coition/squeezing uterus
Sexual
desire – increased/diminished
Respiration: Coldness of breath
Desire to
breath deep
Difficult -
evening in bed/lying (impeded)
Sighing
(when lying)
Wheezing
night
Chest: Anxiety internal
Constriction
– lying/behind sternum r.
Dryness
Oppression
(heart/behind sternum)
Pain –
r./> eating/> eructations/behind sternum
Pain – sore
in mammae/stitching in l. lower ribs
Palpitation
of heart
Perspiration
in axilla
Back: Pain - > lying on back/l. cervical
region (night)/burning between/r. scapulae (< motion)/sore (in spine)/stitching
(at night/under scapula)
Stiffness
in (r.) cervical region
Stretch,
desire to
Tension [in
(l.) cervical region/in dorsal region/in lumbar region (> motion)]
Limbs: Cramps in lower limbs walking
Dryness – feet/between
toes
Eruptions -
upper limb rash/nates, boils/thigh – rash/boils/between toes
Jerking - of
upper limb/forearm/hand/l. thumb/l. lower limb
Pain – l.
shoulder/aching [hip/knee (< pressure/walking)
Perspiration
- in hand (+ dryness of feet)
Fingers sensitive
to cold
Sleep: Bad
Disturbed
Falling
asleep difficult
Light
Restless
Remain in
bed, desire to
Sleepy in –
daytime/afternoon (13 h.)/after waking
Sleepless from
coryza
Unrefreshing
Waking -
after midnight/with foreboding/with a feeling of dread/too early/too late
Yawning –
afternoon/> eating
Dreams: Amorous/Anxious/Chaotic/of the
dead/(dead) relatives (parents)/Exciting/Family/Fantastic/Fights/being
forsaken/Freedom/Frightful/Humiliation/Hurry/being nauseous/Nightmare/being paralysed/People
laughing at
her/Pursued by animals (bear)/Strange/Threats/Throat painful/Unremembered
Skin: red spots/dry/rash
Generals: Becoming cold (during perspiration/heat
and cold)
Food and
drinks: Aversion: (rich) Food; Desires: chocolate/coffee/sweets/warm drinks/hot
food;
> Lying
on side
Heat,
flushes of (with perspiration/ext. upwards from the hips)
Pain in
joints
> Rubbing
“As if
swollen”
Weakness [in
daytime/morning (on waking)/afternoon/evening/from loss of sleep]
At this
point in the discussion it is necessary to deal with the proving material as if
the symptoms were all found in a single prover, thus painting the remedy
picture of the patient who fits the remedy perfectly or which the ideal prover
might generate (Sherr, 1994).
Various
themes expressed themselves in the mental and emotional sphere during the
proving: Isolation/being alone/desire to be alone Panic/feeling threatened
Separation
from self/scattered Depression/sadness/crying Well being Irritable Sensitivity
Mistakes/poor concentration/forgetful Confidence/lack of confidence Mental
activity: hyper/hypo-active Calm/confusion
Bloating/expansion
The most
prominent symptom was the isolation, a sense of being alone, forsaken or a
desire to be alone. Overall there is a feeling of social detachment, of being
an ‘outsider’. We see this reflected in the peculiar symptom of feeling
scattered, separated from themselves: “felt they were looking at my face and I was
behind my face looking out; I wasn’t in myself; I couldn’t connect with people.
I feel very alone”. This and other aspects of the remedy reflect the ‘Divided’
nature of the snake remedies. They feel panicked and as if they are under threat,
like most snake remedies. They have a delusion that they are divided, that body
and mind are divided, that they are separated from themselves in some way. This
aspect of the remedy also shows the duality of contradictory or ‘balancing’
states – that is that the subject may feel alone but at times will also want to
be alone and prefers his own company. Almost all well proven remedies will show
such contradictory symptomatology. Notable in this regard is the sadness and
depression that is contradicted by the overwhelming sense of Well being felt at
other times. We begin
to see a
nature which is sad, melancholic, brooding, tearful and sensitive on the one
hand, while on the other it is happy, joyful, positive, motivated, at one with
self and the world. The duality is further observed in the general condition of
being energetic or drained, hyper- or hypo-active, in a heightened state of
mental activity or being ‘slowed up’, flat, tired. They are irritable, moody,
insecure, oversensitive and confused or they are calm and
confident,
unusually so. An unusual amount of mistakes are made, letters are missed out
when writing, dates are confused, memory is poor, concentration is lacking and
the patient is unusually forgetful. Of minor importance in terms of their
frequency but interesting due to their appearance in the proving of Bitis
arietans are the symptoms: feeling sure they were on placebo, and sensation of
bloating after taking the remedy. The former was confirmed
to a
greater degree than reflected in the diaries during post-proving discussions.
The dreams
produced by the proving could be grouped under 4 themes: Isolation
Chaotic/Fragmented Of Parents and Relatives, both dead and living/Conflict/Fear/Escape
No dreams
were shared between subjects in any detail beyond the thematic similarities.
Headaches
were very common. They tended to be left sided, mainly in forehead and temples
and tended to refer to the eyes, notably though the neck was also affected.
There was a strong tendency to the eyes and root of
nose as
well. They are worse for cold and cold drinks, better for warmth. They are
better lying, especially on their left side. The pain is mainly of a pressing
nature. There is heaviness and constriction.
Again we
see the left side being more affected and the sensitivity to cold. Discharge is
mainly clear, watery or albuminous and usually worse in the morning. It is also
more commonly postnasal.
There is
tension in the throat. It is worse in the morning, for cold drinks and swallowing
in general. They have pain, mucus and dryness in the throat as well as the
sensation of a lump in the throat.
They can
become cold easily and they have flushes of heat. They desire coffee,
chocolate, warm food and drink and sweets. They feel better for lying,
especially on their sides. They can be weak at any time of the day.
They have a
swollen sensation and are better for rubbing and occupation and tend to be
worse on waking.
Again more
affected on the left, there is the sensation of, as well as actual, swelling
and inflammation. The eyes feel heavy. They can be sore and the lids tend to be
more affected than the eyeballs.
Vision is
blurred and the eyes are light sensitive.
Sexorgans: Of
main interest here are the pain symptoms. Again the left is more affected and
the pains are better for lying on the side. They seem to be worse for
movement/walking and the pains are felt mainly in the ovaries and uterus. There
is vaginal discomfort during coitus. A thick, bland, white Leukorrhoea may be
seen.
Notably
have a lot of muscle twitches, predominantly in the upper left limb. The feet
are dry and their hands perspire. Rashes and boils may be seen on upper and
lower limbs. There may be pains in the knees (walking).
They have
pains in their ears, mainly on the lobe and behind the ear and in the meatus
that is not better for rubbing or scratching. The right ear is more affected
than the left. They have a sensation of fullness and there are buzzing noises
in the ear.
The
cervical region and the left side are most affected by stiffness and pain. The
symptoms are definitely worse at night and better for lying. There is tension,
stiffness or pain. Of note elsewhere are the following symptoms: distention/bloating
in the abdomen; diarrhoea, constipation and sudden urging; difficult
respiration, sighing and desire to breath deeply; oppression of the chest, pain
and constriction behind the sternum; difficulty sleeping
at night
with sleepiness in the day; thirst, burning pain and the sensation of a lump in
the stomach; there is a metallic taste in the mouth and profuse salivation, the
palate and tongue are sore.
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressum