Difference
between Aconite and Belladonna
in fever
Aconite
Chill: Ascends from feet to chest. One hot cheek, contracted pupils. Red
face when lying down, pale face and fainting when sitting up. Chilly from being
touched, or even lifting bed clothes. Body chilly, forehead and ears hot. Heat:
Redness and heat of one, coldness and paleness of the other cheek. Sensation of
coldness in the blood-vessels. Likes to be uncovered.
Sweat: Covered or affected parts sweat profusely. Sour smelling sweat
all over the body. Tongue: Coated white “strawberry tongue.” Everything but
water tastes bitter, taste of rotten eggs.
Belladonna
Chill: 1. Begins in both arms at once, 2. over body. Hot face, dilated
pupils. Pale face when lying down, red face when sitting up. Chill after
eating, with redness of the face. Chilliness,
with redness and heat of ears and nose. Heat: Forehead hot, with cold
face and cold cheeks. Distended superficial blood-vessels, like whip-cords on
the skin. Averse to uncovering.
Sweat: On covered parts only, or on covering parts ever so little. Sweat
stains the linen yellow. Sweat of empyreumatic odor. Tongue: Red, dry,
“scarlatina like”, mouth and fauces dry.
Food tastes salty: bread sour.
It has been taught by some authors, and believed by many members of the
homoeopathic faith, that Aconite and Belladonna- except as incurrents during
the congestive stage of heat-are useless in the treatment of intermittent
fever. But the law of cure, as enunciated by Hahnemann, knows no such narrow
restrictions, and is not bound by the ipse dixit of individual opinion.
If Aconite or Belladonna cover the totality of the patient’s symptoms,
it will cure this fever. They are comparatively rarely indicated, but will
effectually do their work when called for.
The characteristic symptoms of the remedy must always be the guide.
Analysis: Congested, red, hot face, head and carotids throbbing, pupils
dilated, cold extremities.
Heat, intense, burning within and without, great thirst, distended
blood-vessels, aggravation uncovering.
Sweat, on covered parts only, or on covering slightly.
A typical Belladonna picture, irrespective of the paroxysm.
[Baehr]
“Where there is a doubt whether Aconite or Belladonna should be given, I
have always found that a disposition to perspire constitutes a valuable
indication for Belladonna.”