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Leaders In Homoeopathic Therapeutics
by E. B. NASH

Presented by Médi-T

   

ÆSCULUS HIPPOCASTANUM.

Sense of fullness and pulsation in various organs and veins (especially plethoric), as if too full of blood.

Constant dull backache across sacrum and hips; < walking or on stooping (piles, leucorrhœa, displacements etc.).

Sense of fullness, and as of sticks in the rectum (hæmorrhoids).

Mucous membranes of mouth, throat, rectum are swollen, burn, dry and raw.

Coryza; thin, watery, burning; rawness and sensitive to inhaled cold air.

Frequent inclination to swallow, with burning, pricking, stinging and dry constricted fauces (Apis., Bell.).

* * * * *

This is one of the remedies that is not so remarkable for its wide range of action as it is for positiveness within its range. Almost all its usefulness, so far as known, centres in its action in the lower back and pelvic region and ever prominent is this characteristic: Constant dull backache, affecting sacrum and hips, much aggravated by walking or stooping. It is one of our leading remedies for hæmorrhoids, and in addition to this backache there is a feeling of fullness, dryness, and sticking as if the rectum was full of sticks. There is not the tendency to protrusion or prolapsus that there is in Ignatia, Aloe, Podophyllum and some other remedies, and the backache is often greatly out of proportion to any external evidence of piles. This feeling of fullness seems to be a sort of general characteristic of Æsculus, but is especially prominent in the pelvic cavity.

These symptoms are often found in conjunction with other affections besides hæmorrhoids, such as uterine displacements, and inflammations; and some very bad forms of leucorrhœa have been promptly cured by this remedy. There is another quite valuable symptom in these pelvic troubles, viz.: throbbing or beating sensations, that calls for Æsculus. I have seen equally good results from the use of this remedy in the 3d, and the potencies.

I used Æsculus with great results in coryza and sore throat. The coryza is very much like the Arsenic coryza, thin, watery, and burning, but what characterizes Æsculus here is sensation of rawness: sensitive to inhaled cold air. In the throat it has the same sensation of rawness, both in the acute form, and also in chronic follicular pharyngitis, for which it is often a good remedy. It may be that age and use will develop more uses for this remedy.

   

ZINCUM METALLICUM.

Inability to develop or hold out the rash in eruptive diseases, can't expectorate or menstruate, is > if can.

Cannot take stimulants, as they aggravate in general.

Fidgety feet, must move them constantly.

Twitching of single muscles all over the body.

Violent trembling all over, so as to shake the bed; lost nerve control.

Weakness and weariness in nape of the neck; < holding head long in one position; backache < sitting.

Modalities: < from wine; > by restoration or development of eruptions, during menses, restored expectoration, seminal emission, discharges generally.

Defective vitality, brain and nerve power wanting; to comprehend, to memorize.

Child cries out during sleep; rolls the head from side to side; face alternately pale and red.

* * * * *

This metal seems to act principally upon the nervous system. I think it is Burt who says: "What Iron is to the blood, Zinc is to the nerves." If we examine the provings and clinical records of Zinc, we find that it seems to have the power to arouse or strengthen the nervous system in its inability to supply force to carry on functions necessary to health or the elimination of disease products from the system. This is speculation. What are the facts? 1st. If scarlatina or other eruptive diseases do not properly develop the eruption, on account of too great weakness of the patient, as evidenced by general depression of pulse, temperature, etc. Zinc is very useful.

Other remedies have such or similar trouble, Cuprum, for instance; but in Cuprum the eruption has been suppressed by some outward cause. Zinc, it has never come to the surface, or it has been out, and has receded from lack of vitality or strength to hold it there. Sulphur may be the remedy, but the cause is then more often apt to be traceable to psora.

This weakness shows in other ways, as, for instance, in asthma. The patient can't expectorate, but as soon as he can he is relieved; or again she cannot menstruate, and is relieved of her suffering while menstruating. (Lachesis).

There is another peculiarity connected with this characteristic. The nervous weakness of the Zincum patient is that he can take no wine or stimulants. You would think that a little wine would at least temporarily relieve; on the contrary, it aggravates all the sufferings, even though taken in small quantities. Of course other remedies have this aggravation from wines or stimulants, like Glonoine, Ledum, Fluoric acid, Antimonium crudum, etc., but I think Zinc stands first.

The nervous debility of Zinc shows in other ways also. There is sometimes aching and weariness in the nape of the neck, as it had been held in one position too long, < by writing or other long continued labor. The backaches are worse while sitting and better when moving about. This would call to mind Rhus toxicodendron, but with Zincum you would not get the general aching relieved by continued motion, as in the case with Rhus. Pulsatilla has it also, but generally in connection with menstrual irregularities. The remedy most resembling Zinc in this particular is Cobalt. Both these remedies have this symptom in consequence of sexual excesses or weaknesses, but in Zinc an emission temporarily relieves the pain and in Cobalt it does not. The most characteristic of all the symptoms of Zinc in connection with its general nervous weakness, is: "An incessant, violent fidgety feeling in the feet or lower limbs; must move them constantly." This is present in many, if not almost all, of the affections for which Zinc is par excellence the remedy.

There is also sometimes present "burning along the whole length of the spine." This burning is purely subjective, for there is no actual local increase of temperature. Another characteristic of this remedy is, "twitching and jerking of various muscles." I spoke of this symptom when writing upon Ignatia. I would place Zincum, Ignatia and Agaricus in the van of all remedies for causing and curing these general twitchings.

Another symptom for which this is one of our best remedies is, general trembling. This is also from prostration.

The patient loses control over his motions, although he is not yet paralyzed. Paralysis may come later if this condition is not remedied.

A word or two about the importance of this remedy in brain troubles. It makes little difference whether the affection of the brain arises from suppressed eruptive diseases, dentition, typhus fever or disease of any other name or nature, if the symptoms indicating the remedy are present. Allow me to relate a case from my own practice illustrating its curative value in typhoid A young lady about 20 years of age complained, a week before I was called, of weakness, or feeling of general prostration; headache, and loss of appetite, but the greatest complaint was of prostration. She was a student and her mother, who was an excellent nurse, attributed all her sickness to overwork at school, and tried to rest and "nurse her up." But she continued to grow worse. I prescribed for her Gelsemium and followed it with Bryonia according to indications, and she ran through a mild course of two weeks longer, and seemed convalescing quite satisfactorily.

Being left in a room alone, while sleeping and perspiring, she threw off her clothes, caught cold and relapsed. Of course the "last state of that patient was worse than the first." The bowels became enormously distended profuse hæmorrhage occurred, which was finally controlled by Alumen, a low form of delirium came on, the prostration became extreme notwithstanding the hæmorrhage was checked, until the following picture obtained -staring eyes rolled upward into the head, head retracted; complete unconsciousness, lying on back and sliding down in bed, twitching, or rather intense, violent trembling all over, so that she shook the bed. I had nurses hold her hands night and day, she shook and trembled so; hippocratic face, extremities deathly cold to knees and elbows, pulse so weak and quick I could not count it, and intermittent; in short, all signs of impending paralysis of the brain. The case seemed hopeless, but I put ten drops of Zincum metallicum in two drams of cold water, and worked one-half of it between her set teeth, a little at a time, and an hour after the other half. In about one hour after the last dose she turned her eyes down and faintly said, milk. Through a bent tube she swallowed a half glass of milk, the first nourishment she had received in 24 hours. She got no more medicine for four days, and improved steadily all the time. She afterward received a dose of Nux vomica and progressed rapidly to a perfect recovery. So Zincum 200th can, like other metals, perform miracles when indicated.

   

STANNUM METALLICUM.

Sinking, empty, all-gone sensation in stomach (Chel., Phos., Sep.).

Sad, despondent, feels like crying all the time, but crying makes her worse; faint and weak, especially when going downstairs; can go up well enough.

Colic > by hard pressure, or by laying abdomen across knee or on shoulder (Col.); lumbrici; passes worms.

Leucorrhœa; great debility; weakness seems to proceed from chest.

Prolapsus, worse during stool, so weak she drops into a chair instead of sitting down. While dressing in the morning has to sit down several times to rest.

Great weakness in chest, can hardly talk, with general debility, which centers in the chest.

Loose cough; with heavy, green, sweet expectoration.

Pains gradually increase to a great height, and as gradually subside.

* * * * *

Another metallic remedy. The leading characteristic is great weakness in the chest (Argentum met.); so weak cannot talk. No remedy has this symptom so strongly as tin. It is present, not only in the laryngeal and lung troubles for which Stannum is such a great remedy, but in great debility. So weak she drops into a chair, < going down stairs (Borax; Calc. ost. up stairs). It is found in connection with uterine displacements and leucorrhœas of thin, debilitated subjects and has made brilliant cures in such cases. Of course in the lung, bronchial, and laryngeal affections, this symptom is very prominent. In these troubles there is generally very profuse expectoration with the cough, and the matter raised tastes very sweet, or it may be exceptionally salty. For the salty expectoration I would sooner think of Kali iod. or Sepia. In all three of these remedies the expectoration may be thick, heavy, and green or yellow in color. Both Stannum and Kali iod. have profuse night sweats, but the Stannum has greater sense of weakness in the chest (cannot talk) than any of the others. Another very characteristic symptom of Stannum is that the pains gradually increase to a great degree of intensity and then as gradually decrease. (See Platinum.) This pain is of course neuralgic, may be located anywhere in the tract of a nerve, but has been often verified in prosopalgia, gastralgia and abdominal colic.

These pains are ameliorated by pressure, like Colocynth and Bryonia; so if Colocynth fails, which is generally first thought of in abdominal pains relieved by pressure, Stannum may relieve, and especially if the attacks have been of long standing or the patient seems to have a chronic tendency thereto. If in children, the patient is relieved by carrying it over the point of the shoulder, the shoulder pressing into the abdomen. The Stannum patient is generally very sad and despondent, feels like crying all the time. (Nat. m., Puls., Sepia.) I have often verified the above symptoms and have seen equally good effects from the 12th, 30th, 200th and 500th (Boericke & Tafel) potencies.

   

PLATINA.

Pride and over-estimation of one's self; looking down on others; things look small to her.

Genitals exceedingly sensitive, but excessive sexual desire; nymphomania, with ovarian. troubles; prolapsus or profuse menses.

Pains increase gradually and as gradually decrease (Stann.); sometimes attended with numbness (Cham.).

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This remedy may be studied in three relations: in its relation to the mental, nervous and sexual systems. It has curious mental symptoms. Here are three of them: "Pride and over-estimation of one's self; looking down with haughtiness on others." "Illusion of fancy, on entering the house after walking an hour, as if everything about her were very small, and all persons mentally and physically inferior, but she herself physically and mentally superior." "Changing moods, gay and sad alternately." This last symptom is like Ignatia, Crocus, Nux moschata and Aconite, and Platina has another symptom like Aconite -"fear of death." Now the first two symptoms above mentioned might appear to some as of no practical value in the treatment of the sick. There is no pathological explanation for them beyond the fact of a generally disordered mind, which might take any other form of hallucination -But this is a valuable indication and found under no other remedy. I was led by it to prescribe the remedy in a very obstinate case of insanity which had resisted the skill of several allopathic physicians of note, and they had finally decided that the case must be sent to the insane asylum. The parents however, who were quite wealthy, could not consent to that, and were induced to try Homœopathy. I gave her Platina on the strength of this mental indication, which was very prominent, coupled with another prominent symptom, which also appears under this remedy, viz, "physical symptoms disappear and mental symptoms appear" and vice versa. The physical symptoms was a pain the whole length of the spine. This was the symptom alternating with the mental one. It was one of the most brilliant cures I ever saw. Improvement began the first day and never flagged, and she remained well now 15 years with never a sign of return.

The nervous symptoms outside the brain symptoms calling for Platina are: 1st "The pains increase gradually and as gradually decrease." 2nd. "This pains are attended with numbness of the parts" This first symptom you will remember is like Stannum but the Platinum patient is not characteristically so weak as the Stannum one. The second one is like Chamomilla, but the Platina patient is not so unvaryingly ugly as the Chamomilla one. Both are great mental remedies, however, and if any question arises (as there may) a close study of them in their entirety may be necessary.

In regard to the gradual outset of the pains of Platina and Stannum, Belladonna has exactly the opposite: but Belladonna more resembles the Platina in its brain symptoms.

Sexual organs. "Nymphomania aggravated in the lying-in; tingling or tittilation up into the abdomen." "Excessive sexual desire, especially in virgins; premature or excessive development of sexual instinct." "Genitals excessively sensitive; cannot bear to be touched; will almost go into a spasm from an examination, and almost faint during intercourse." "Metrorrhagia or profuse menses; blood black and clotted."

Ovarian trouble and prolapsus with the profuse menses and excessive sensitiveness of the genitals to touch or coition. All these are very strong indications for this remedy. All these symptoms, mental, nervous, spasmodic, sexual, etc., would indicate that Platina ought to be a good remedy for that protean malady, hysteria, and so abundant experience has proven it to be. Here again I have, as in the case of Zincum and Stannum, found the higher preparation of the drug most potent for good, though in, a case of insanity I used the 6th, not having it high at that time.

Platina has a form of constipation similar to Alumina, i. e., the stools adhere to the anus like soft clay.

   

SELENIUM.

Here is another metal that, like Stannum, has for its most characteristic condition, excessive weakness. But the weakness of Selenium does not, like Stannum, seem to centre in any particular locality. It is more general. He is so weak that he is easily exhausted from any kind of labor, either mental or physical. This debility follows any exhaustive disease like typhoid fever, or may come from seminal emissions. The weakness of Selenium shows itself as much in the male sexual organs, as it does generally. Erections are slow and weak, emissions of semen too rapid in coition and he is cross and weak afterwards. Sexual desire strong, but he is physically impotent. Has seminal emissions two or three times a week, and gets up with weak, lame back after them. Prostatic fluid oozes while sitting, during sleep, when walking, or at stool. I this weakness has been of long standing, he begins to emaciate, especially in the face, hands and thighs (Acetic acid.) This is a picture of the Selenium prostration. Aside from or connected with it are a few other characteristic symptoms such as constipation, the stool being of such immense size that it cannot be discharged without mechanical aid. (Sanicula). It must be picked away with the fingers. Involuntary dribbling of urine while walking, or after urinating or stool (Sarsaparilla dribbles while sitting).

Bad effects from drinking too much tea; all complaints are aggravated by it. Irresistible longing for spirituous liquors. Hoarseness, must often clear the throat of mucus especially at the beginning of singing. Irresistible desire for stimulants, wants to get drunk but feels worse after it. Very forgetful in business, but during sleep dreams of what he had forgotten. I have never used this metal below the 200th potency.

   

PHOSPHORUS.

Tall, slender, narrow-chested, phthisical patients, delicate eyelashes, soft hair or nervous, weak persons who like to be magnetized. Waxy, half anæmic, jaundiced persons.

Anxious, universal restlessness, cant stand or sit still. < in dark or when left alone, before a thunder storm.

Burnings prominent in every place, as in mouth, stomach, small intestines, anus, between scapulæ, intense, running up spine, palms of hands, heat begins in hands, spreads to face.

Craving for cold things, ice cream, which agrees, or cold water, which is thrown up as it gets warm in the stomach. Must eat often or he faints. Must get up at night to eat.

Sinking, faint, empty feeling in head, chest, stomach and whole abdominal cavity.

Cough, < twilight till midnight, < lying on left side, > on right side. Right lower lobe most affected.

Diarrhœa, profuse, pouring out as from a hydrant; watery with sagolike particles or dysenteric, with wide open anus.

Apathetic, unwilling to talk, answers slowly, moves sluggishly.

Constipation: fæces slender, long, dry, tough and hard like a dog's; voided with difficulty.

Hæmorrhagic diathesis; slight wounds bleed profusely, hæmoptysis; metrorrhagia worse; vicarious, from nose, stomach, anus, urethra in amenorrhœa.

Cannot talk; the larynx is so painful; cough, going from warm to cold air, laughing, talking, reading, eating lying on left side (Dros., Stan.).

* * * * *

As a general characteristic, Burning is almost as strong under this remedy as under Arsenicum and Sulphur. There is no organ or tissue in which it may not be found, from the outer skin to the innermost surface of every tract or parenchyma. It may be subjective only without actual rise of temperature, or it may attend organic changes in malignant diseases, with great rise of temperature. The sensation of burning in an intense degree should always place Phosphorus in the front rank for consideration. Again, there is perhaps no remedy having stronger action on The Nervous System. It attacks it in its very citadel of strength, the brain and spinal cord, producing softening or atrophy with all its attendant symptoms in their order, as prostration, trembling, numbness, and complete paralysis. It does this in both acute and chronic form of disease.

It will be found in acute typhoids as well as in that slowly progressive disease, locomotor ataxia. Its causes may be sudden, like pneumonia, typhus, exanthematic diseases, croup, bronchitis, when vitality reaches its lowest ebb, or may arise in a condition undermined by grief, care, or excessive mental exertion; excess in venery or onanism.

Its action at the first may be characterized by a burning heat in various parts, and especially in the skin, with restless moving and anxiety, especially at twilight. Over-sensitiveness of all senses, such as external impressions; light, odors, noises, touch, etc., and later when organic changes have taken place the other extreme, of loss of motion, sensation, and sensitiveness obtains.

In the former state there is one very characteristic symptom, the patient moves continually, can't sit or stand still a moment. Instead of fidgety feet, like Zincum, he is fidgety all over. Phosphorus affects every tissue. The blood becomes broken down or impoverished. Chlorosis and pernicious anæmia obtain. Apis and Kali carb. also each have anæmia or a pale waxy or what is called bloodless appearance of the patient. They all have œdema or bloating, and there is one peculiar difference in the face between them. In Kali carb. the upper lids bloat and hang down like a bag of water. In Apis it is more in the lower lids, while in Phosphorus they bloat all around the eyes; and the whole face bloats. Under Phosphorus the blood becomes so broken down that it will not clot any more, and we have purpura hæmorrhagica. Even in apparently healthy tissues we have this strong characteristic discovered by Hahnemann, viz.: "Slight wounds bleed much." This is what is called the hæmorrhagic diathesis, and much to be feared, as many persons having it may bleed to death from any slight abrasion; and this same tendency to bleed extends to fungoid growths like fibroids, fungoids, cancers, etc., and are very dangerous and troublesome.

Then again Phosphorus attacks the bones in the form of necrosis. It is so especially of the lower jaw, but is also true of other parts, as the vertebræ; and I once cured a very extensive and long standing case of caries of the tibia with it.

Fatty degeneration of heart, liver and kidneys, with the characteristic anæmic condition, should call attention to this remedy. General emaciation, rapid or slowly progressing like atrophy in children, also comes under its tissue destroying power.

And so we find it to be a remedy of wide range and great power. But it is never enough for the homœopathist to know simply the action in general upon any organ or set of organs. He must know how it acts differently from other remedies when acting upon the same tissue or organs. Now while Phosphorus acts upon the mind, to cause, "great anxiety and restlessness" as in other remedies, Aconite, Arsenicum, etc, it must be remembered that it is the anxiety and restlessness that precedes another state.

It belongs to a stage of irritation in the brain and nervous system which if not checked will go on to organic changes, which will be attended with a very different set of symptoms such as come for instance from actual brain softening in which appears apathy, sluggishness; talks slowly, is indifferent or won't talk at all. There is one particular symptom worthy of note: the patient fears to be left alone; is afraid: afraid of the dark, in a thunder storm, etc. This is more during the irritable stage of which we have spoken. Phosphorus is a great remedy in typhoids, especially with lung complications, and here we often get stupor and low muttering delirium like Lachesis, but while Lachesis is worse after sleep, Phosphorus is generally better, if he can get to sleep. In the late stage of brain or nervous troubles, calling for this remedy, we find the patient losing all ambition to do anything; either mental or physical labor is shunned. There is great indifference. He cannot think with his usual clearness; cannot apply himself to study or mental operations, ideas come slowly or not at all. Again the patient is sometimes amative, or like Hyoscyamus shamelessly exposes himself.

There is no remedy that covers a greater variety of mind symptoms arising from brain trouble than Phosphorus. No remedy produces greater vertigo, with a longer list of various connections. I have found it one of the best and oftenest indicated for vertigo of the aged. Chronic congestion to the head is characteristic, and the sense of burning in the brain is prominent; the heat and congestion seems to come up from the spine.

Heat running up the back is more characteristic of this than any other remedy. Deafness is prominent, and is peculiar, in that it is especially deafness to the human voice, a common symptom in the aged. The most frequent use I have made of the remedy in nose affections is in a chronic catarrh, in which the patient frequently blows small quantities of blood from the nose; the handkerchief is always bloody.

As I said when writing upon the tissues, the face of Phosphorus is characteristically pale and bloated around the eyes, but in pneumonia we often find circumscribed redness of the cheek upon the side of the lung inflamed. This is also true with Sanguinaria. About the mouth and tongue I do not know anything particularly characteristic. It has a peculiar symptom of the throat. The food swallowed comes up immediately as if it had never reached the stomach. This is supposed to be due to spasmodic stricture of the œsophagus.

Under appetite and thirst we have some very valuable indications for this remedy.

Hunger is one, must eat often or he faints; right after or soon after a meal, is hungry; hungry in the night; must eat. He is relieved by eating, but is soon hungry again. This calls to mind Iodine, Chelidonium, Petroleum, Anacardium, etc.

The thirst is also peculiar. He wants cold things, like Pulsatilla, but as soon as they get warm in the stomach they are vomited.

Some people have an abnormal craving for salt, or salt food, and eat too much of it. Phosphorus is a good remedy to counteract the bad effects. (Nat. mur.).

We have many kinds of vomiting under Phosphorus, but nothing characteristic except the one already mentioned.

We have already spoken of the hungry, faint feeling in the stomach. Sometimes this is described as an empty, gone feeling, and here again we think of such remedies as Ignatia, Hydrastis, Sepia and others; but Phosphorus does not stop here with this sensation, but extends through the whole abdomen. No remedy has this feeling in the abdomen so strong as Phosphorus. Under stool and rectum occur some very characteristic symptoms also, for instance: Stools profuse, watery, pouring away as from a hydrant, with lumps of white mucus, like grains of tallow. Stools bloody, with small white particles like opaque frog-spawn. Stools involuntarily oozing from a constantly open anus, or dysenteric stools with wide-open anus and great tenesmus. Constipation; fæces slender, long, dry, tough like dog stools. No remedy has a richer array of stool symptoms, and as we see by the above few select ones, some of them are very unique and have often been verified. It will repay any physician to carefully and frequently look them over.

This remedy powerfully excites the sexual appetite in both sexes. It is almost irresistible, and leads the patient into a mania in which he will expose himself. This is succeeded by the opposite extreme of impotence, though the desire remains after the ability to perform is gone. Of course, these sexual symptoms are accompanied with concomitant symptoms of the drug.

Upon the female sexual organs Phosphorus is true to its general hæmorrhagic tendencies; if the menses do not appear, there is often vicarious bleeding from the nose or lungs instead. Phosphorus is bound to bleed. It is so with cancer of the womb or breasts also. They bleed easily. Upon the respiratory organs also this is one of our greatest remedies. Beginning with the voice and larynx, it causes and cures great hoarseness. Patient can hardly make a loud noise, and is apt to be worse in the evening or fore-part of the night. There is pain in the larynx, worse by talking, or can't talk at all on account of it. In croup, it sometimes comes in after Aconitum and Spongia have failed. The disease has progressed downward until it involves the bronchi and parenchyma of the lungs. It is of indispensable value here, and, also when, after the violence of the affection seems to have abated, the patient hoarses up every evening and seems to be inclined to relapse.

In bronchitis the cough is tight, worse from evening to midnight, also from speaking, laughing, reading aloud (Argentum met.), cold, and lying on left side. The patient suppresses the cough with a moan just as long as he can, because it hurts him so. The whole body trembles with the cough.

It has great oppression of breathing in both acute and chronic affections of the lungs. There is heaviness, as of a weight on the chest. In pneumonia, for which Phosphorus is one of our best remedies, it attacks by preference the lower half of the right lung. It is apt to be indicated by the symptoms, either at the beginning of the stage of hepatization, when it puts a stop to the further progress of the disease, but its more frequent application comes in where the stage of hepatization is past and we want to break it up and promote absorption or resolution. Here it has no equal, as I am fully convinced by abundant experience.

Now, do not misunderstand and give the remedy blindly on a pathological indication only. If you do you will sometimes fail, and ought to. But I repeat, this remedy will oftener be found the indicated one here than any other. After the hepatization begins to break up, other remedies like Tartar emetic, Sulphur and Lycopodium will come in.

In pleuritis you will find stitches in the left side increased by lying upon the left side. Remember in both affections Phosphorus is characteristically increased by lying upon the left side.

In tuberculosis, it is oftenest indicated in the incipient stage with symptom of cough, oppression and general weakness already mentioned; but I have often found it indicated in the later stages, and if given very high and in the single dose and not repeated have seen it greatly benefit even incurable cases. If given too low and repeated it will fearfully aggravate.

One of the most characteristic symptoms of this remedy is, "feeling of intense heat running up the back." Again the burning may be in spots along the spine. Also it has intense heat burning between the scapula (See also Lycopodium.) These, like the rest of the burning of Phosphorus, often occur in diseases of the spine and nervous system, but not necessarily so. Like Zinc, these burnings may be purely subjective, but are none the less valuable as therapeutic indications.

Another very characteristic symptom of Phosphorus is burning of the hands. It is as strong as the burning feet of Sulphur, and is found both in acute and chronic diseases; cannot bear to have the hands covered. The flashes of heat all over (which Phosphorus has) begin in the hands and spread from there even to the face. It now remains to call attention to the Constitution of Phosphorus.

1. "Tall, slender persons of sanguine temperament, fair skin, blonde or red hair, quick, lively perception and sensitive nature."

2. "Tall, slender phthisical patients, delicate eyelashes, soft hair."

3. "Tall, slender women disposed to stoop."

4. "Young people who grow too rapidly and are inclined to stoop."

5. "Nervous, weak persons who like to be magnetized."

Now, in number four there is not the tendency to grow fat, like Calcarea carbonica, but tall, and you will notice that the Phosphorus element in Calcarea phosphorica takes away the fat producing property of the Calcarea element.

Now, in closing, we desire to say we have only touched upon the wonderful virtues of this drug, which must be studied in its entirety. Enough, however, we trust to convince of its great value.

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