(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 OEDEMA OF LIDS.
Nose
End of nose very much inflamed externally. Very SENSITIVE AND AEDEMATOUS 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 oedematous, 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 parosysms, ending in diarrhoea and vomiting, with sleepiness between each paroxysm.
Heart
Weak and fluttering heart-action. Pulse 120, full, bounding, somewhat irregular.
Sleep
Restlesness 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, oedematous, 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.