Euphorbia lathyris

Gopher-Plant, Caper Spurge

The fresh milky juice is exceedingly acrid when applied to the skin and the fruit is highly purgative and poisonous. The juice causes redness, itching, pimples, sometimes gangrene. The symptoms point to its use in erysipelas. Poison Oak, etc. Rheumatic pains during rest. Paralytic, weakness in joints.

Mind

Delirium and hallucinations. Stupor, coma.

Eyes

Almost closed from œdema of lids.

Nose

End of nose very much inflamed externally. Very sensitive and œdematous mucous membranes with ulceration.

Face

At first ruddy glow on cheeks, afterwards death-like pallor. Cold perspiration in beads on forehead. Red, puffed, and in spots suppurating. Erythema, beginning on face, gradually extending into the hair parts, and then spreading over whole body, taking eight days to do so; eruption glossy, rough œdematous, with burning and smarting; aggravated by touch and cold air; ameliorated by close room and sweet-oil applications. Fine bran-like desquamation. Sensation of cobwebs. Stinging, smarting, and burning of face when touched.

Mouth

Tongue coated, slimy; acrid taste. Breath cold, musty odor.

Stomach

Nausea and vomiting of copious clear water, intermingled with white, gelatinous lumps.

Stool

Drastic purgation from large doses; mild laxative condition from smaller doses; followed several weeks afterwards by obstinate constipation. Stools of white, transparent, gelatinous mucus; later mingled with blood.

Urine

Copious flow of urine.

Male

Inflammation of scrotum resulting in deep acrid ulcers, with intense itching and burning; worse, touching the parts from washing.

Respiratory

Labored breathing. Breath cold, musty odor. Cough; first, a hacking, as from inhalation of sulphur; later on, paroxysmal, like whooping-cough, in regular paroxysms, ending in diarrhœa and vomiting, with sleepiness between each paroxysm.

Heart

Weak and fluttering heart-action. Pulse 120, full, bounding, somewhat irregular.

Sleep

Restlessness at night. Sleep disturbed, anxious dreams.

Fever

Temperature increased. Body bathed in profuse perspiration, standing out like beads on forehead; later, cold, clammy perspiration on forehead.

Skin

Erythema, beginning on uncovered parts, on face, and spreading over whole body; glossy, rough, œdematous, with burning and smarting. Fine bran-like desquamation following in the wake of the erythema. Eruption rough, scaly, smarting, and burning; when scratched forms deep, ragged ulcers; skin where ulcerated remains red.

Modalities

Worse, touch and cold air; better, close room and sweet-oil application.

Relationship

Antidoted by Rhus tox (skin symptoms); Veratr alb (vomiting, purging, cough and coma).

Dose

Third to thirtieth potency.