[Illustration]
This species moves either backwards or forwards, as occasion may require,
and is quite frequent in the woods of Brazil. Its body is cylindrical,
from two feet to two and a half long, terminated by a very obtuse
tail. It has no scales properly speaking, but its skin is divided into
quadrilateral compartments disposed in rings round the body; 228 on the
trunk and 26 on the tail. The lower lip is divided into six long and
narrow plates; the head is small, rather sharp, protected by scutellæ,
and not distinguished from the neck. It has small eyes; the jaw is
not dilatable, the teeth are conical, bent, unequal and distinct from
each other; the nostrils are on the sides, and pierced in a single
naso-rostral plate. The amphisbœna is of a brownish color above, and
a pinkish-white under the belly. The poison was taken from the living
animal by cutting off part of its jaw, which was triturated immediately.
1. Debility. Sadness and lassitude in the morning, which leaves one
while walking. Tender sadness which disposes one to be gentle and meek.
Violent pain in the whole of the vertebral column, worse when walking,
moving the arms or stooping. 5. Painful and large pimple on the left
side of the upper lip, suppurating. Acne rosacea miliaris (a dry itch
cured), covering extensive ellyptical spots; after the eruption healed, a
furfuraceous desquamation took place wherever a pimple had been situated.
Wakes at midnight, for ten consecutive nights. Disturbed sleep.
_Fifteenth day._—Depression. 10. Ennui. Impatience. Weight in the
forehead and parietal regions. Weight at the forehead. Vertigo as if one
would fall towards one side and is then impelled towards the opposite
side by a contrary oscillation. 15. Pain at the inner canthus of the
right eye as if a stye would form. Repeated beating at the right side
of the forehead as if hail-stones fell upon it. Sweat about the head.
Horrible headache, with sensation as if the feet were in the brain.
Dizziness when turning round. 20. Constant twitching at the upper
eyelids, especially the left. Constriction of the right eye as if strung
together with a cord. Shooting pain in the outer angle of the left eye.
Sensation as of a grain of sand in the right eye. Weariness of the
eyes, in the evening, with pain and pricking when looking at the light.
25. Lachrymation and constriction of the left eye. Pain in the meatus
auditorius, as if air were rushing in. Pricklings and heat at the right
malar eminence. Dull pain _in the right lower jaw-bone_. Lancination
and pain all through the right side of the head. 30. Pains in the right
lower jaw, and considerable swelling aggravated by air and dampness.
Swelling of the right lower jaw, worse in the open air. The teeth feel
elongated and set on edge, especially the right lower molares. The
toothache is worse in the evening and afternoon. Chewing is painful,
but the contact of liquids is not painful. 35. Swelling of the tonsils.
Deglutition is difficult, one is not able to swallow saliva. Protrusion
of umbilical hernia. Chilliness and pains at the epigastrium. Tearing
pain at the navel, all day. 40. Suppuration of inguinal hernia. The
hernia is painful, and air is felt in it. Lancination in the navel as
from a stiletto. Constipation. The miliary acne rosacea spreads over
the chest, neck and back, with itching which is worse in the morning and
decreases in the evening. 45. Gradually a white vesicle forms on every
pimple, discharging a clear serum, after which the eruption dries up on
the fifth day. Breaking out of little pimples, especially on the forearm.
Painful swelling of the arm, on the fifteenth day. Cramp in the left leg.
Painless drawing up of the legs. 50. Cramp in the left leg; it remains
behind in walking as if paralyzed.