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Leaders In Homoeopathic Therapeutics
by E. B. NASH

Presented by Médi-T

   

HEPAR SULPHURIS CALCAREUM.

Hypersensitive to touch, pain, cold air; fainting with the pain.

General tendency to suppurations; even slight injuries or scratches on the skin suppurate.

Tendency to croupy exudations (larynx and kidneys; and mucous membrane).

Atony; stools passed with great difficulty, even when soft; urine flows slowly, must wait for it, then drops vertically down without force.

Sour diarrhœa; whole child smells sour.

Coughs; croup, bronchitis, consumption; < when exposed to least cold air.

Modalities: < exposure to dry cold air; > in moist wet weather.

Like Sulphur, Hepar is adapted to the psoric, scrofulous diathesis.

* * * * *

This remedy standing half-way between those two great anti-psorics, Calcarea carb. and Sulphur, has some very strong characteristics which guide to its use in a variety of ailments. Its strongest characteristic is its hypersensitiveness to touch, pain, and cold air. The patient is so sensitive to pain that she faints away, even when it is slight. If there are inflammation or swelling in any locality, or even eruptions on the skin, they are so sensitive that she cannot bear to have them touched, or even to have the cold air to blow upon them. This is like China off., only that while the latter is sensitive to the lightest touch it can bear hard pressure. (Remedies especially < in cold air are Arsenicum alb., Calcarea ost., Hepar sul., Nux vomica, Psorinum, Silicea, Tuberculinum.). This supersensitiveness to pain runs all through the drug. It is mental as well as physical, for the slightest cause irritates with hasty speech and vehemence. Next to this is the power of Hepar sulph. over the suppurative stage of local inflammations. It comes in only when pus is about to form, or is already formed. If given very high in the first case (that is before pus is formed), and not repeated too soon or often, we may prevent suppuration and check the whole inflammatory process. But if pus is already formed, it will hasten the pointing and discharge and help along the healing of the ulcer afterwards. I am not at all sure, as is generally taught, that it is necessary to give it low to hasten suppuration. The most rapid pointing, opening, and perfect healing I ever saw was in the case of a large glandular swelling on the neck of a child, under the action of the c. m. potency. Hepar has a general tendency to suppuration, for even the eruptions on the skin are liable to form matter, and slight injuries suppurate. (Graphites, Mercurius, Petroleum.) This remedy is very valuable in diseases of the respiratory organs. I have found it very useful in cases of chronic catarrh, when the nose stopped up every time the patient went out into the cold air. He says it seems as if I get a new cold every time I get a breath of fresh air (Tuberculinum). It is relieved in a warm room. In croup it has been, ever since Bœnninghausen prescribed his celebrated five powders, one of our standard remedies. We do not use the five powders as Bœnninghausen did in a certain order, but only use them according to indications. Hepar croup is accompanied with rather loose cough, with wheezing and rattling. Cough as if mucus would come up, but it does not. It is seldom indicated at first; but oftener comes in after Aconite or Spongia. Like Aconite it seems most effectual in those cases brought on by exposure to dry cold air; but the Aconite croup comes on in the evening after first sleep and Hepar in the early morning hours. This tendency to croupy exudations on mucous membranes seems characteristic of Hepar and is not confined to the respiratory organs. Kafka uses it on the ground of its ability to control such conditions in post scarlatinal dropsy, to prevent or cure, and claims great success for it. I believe it to be one of the best prophylactics in such cases, for the reason that during and after the desquamative stage the skin is unusually susceptible to the effects of chill in cold air, and this is in accordance with the leading characteristic of this remedy. It fortifies the patient against such atmospheric influence.

In croup, as in other affections of Hepar, the cough, difficult breathing and all other symptoms are aggravated by the least of breath cold air, which the little patient must be carefully guarded against. Traveling downward the larynx is attacked, then the bronchia, and even the lungs, and the formation of croupy exudates will take place if not checked by the remedy. The breathing in all these cases becomes rattling, anxious, wheezing, even to threatened suffocation, so that the patient seems asthmatic. In. these cases it is often able to relieve, especially if this condition follows a hard cold and the acute inflammatory symptoms have been controlled by Aconite or some other indicated remedy.

In chronic asthma, Hepar often resembles Natrum sulphuricum, but there is this diagnostic difference, which is very valuable. The Hepar asthma is worse in dry cold air and better in damp, while Natrum sulph. is exactly the opposite, like Dulcamara. There is no other remedy that I know that has the amelioration so strongly in damp weather as Hepar sulphur. One characteristic must not be forgotten, viz.: "Coughs when any part of the body becomes uncovered." (Baryta and Rhus tox.). This is found in croup, laryngitis, bronchitis and consumption, and not only is the cough worse, but the whole case is aggravated. Then, again, it must be remembered that this is one of our strongest anti-psorics, and for that reason should be thought of for all respiratory ailments for which it has such a strong affinity, especially when such ailments have followed a suppressed or retrocedent eruption on the skin.

In accordance with its great power over all suppurative processes, it should come to mind in abscess of the lungs, of course in all cases when indicated by the symptoms in toto. Upon the throat we have 1st, "sticking in the throat, as from a splinter, on swallowing, extending to the ear, also on yawning." "Sensation as if a fish bone or splinter were sticking in the throat" (Argentum nitricum, Dolichos and Nitric acid), but probably the condition where Hepar is oftenest of use in throat trouble is in that distressing complaint, quinsy.

Here, as in croup, it is not generally indicated in the beginning. Having had much success and experience in this disease, I may here give the results of the application of several remedies and their indications:

Belladonna. -High fever, great swelling, and redness, headache, throbbing carotids.

Mercurius vivus. -Either side, fœtid breath, flabby, moist, indented tongue, and sweat without relief.

Mercurius proto-iodatus. -same symptoms, but begins on right side, and tongue thickly coated yellow at the base.

Lachesis. -Left side extending to right, great sensitiveness to touch, and aggravation after sleep.

Lycopodium. -Begins right side, extends to left, with tongue swollen and inclined to protrude from the mouth, and stuffing up of nose.

Lac caninum. -Alternates sides, one day worse on one, and the next on the other.

Hepar sulph. -When notwithstanding all other remedies the case seems bound to suppurate and there is much throbbing pain. Now with each of these remedies I have aborted many cases in old quinsy subjects, who never expected to, and were told by old school physicians that they never could, get well, without suppuration, and in the end have cured them of all tendency thereto. I will add here that Hepar sulphur, is also a good remedy in chronic hypertrophy of tonsils, with hardness of hearing. In these cases which are generally very intractable, Baryta carbonica, Lycopodium, Plumbum, and others are also to be consulted according to indications.

Upon the alimentary canal Hepar has a decided influence. We have already noticed its action upon the throat. The stomach is inclined to be out of order, and there is a "longing for acid things." (Veratrum alb.) This is often the case in chronic dyspepsia and Hepar helps. This condition of the stomach is sometimes found in marasmus of children. It is often accompanied by diarrhœa, and a very important feature is that the diarrhea is sour; indeed the whole child seems to smell sour no matter how much it is bathed. The sour stool is also very prominently under Magnesia carbonica and Calcarea carbonica. Then there is another condition of the bowels, namely, a kind of atony. The stools are passed with great difficulty, even though they are soft and clay-like, as they sometimes are under this remedy. This state of atony is also found in the bladder.

"Micturition impeded, he is obliged to wait awhile before the urine passes, and then it flows slowly for many days." "He is never able to finish urinating; it seems as if some urine always remains behind in the bladder." "Weakness of the bladder, the urine drops vertically down and he is obliged to wait awhile before any passes." This inability to expel makes one think of Alumina and Veratrum album and Silicea. Again, Hepar sulph. is a great "sweat" remedy, either partial or general. It may, for instance, come in after Mercurius in rheumatism, in which the patient "sweats day and night without relief," and Mercurius does not help. So, too, with quinsy, and in large boils and swellings; and by the way Hepar sulph. is one of our best remedies after Mercurius either in homœopathic practice, or as an antidote to old school poisoning so also is it the leading antidote to Iodide of Potassa poisoning from the same source. We could not well do without this valuable remedy.

   

CALCAREA SULPHURICA.

One of Schuessler's so-called tissue remedies, not well understood as yet, but acting much along the line of Hepar sulphur, so far as we do know. I once had a case in which there was great pain in the region of the kidneys for a day and night. Then there was a great discharge of pus in the urine, which continued several days and weakened the patient very fast. A Chicago specialist had examined the urine a short time before, and had pronounced the case Bright's disease. I finally prescribed Calcarea sulphurica l2th and under its action she immediately improved and made a very rapid and permanent recovery. Since then I have found it a good remedy in profuse suppurations in different kinds of cases. This is all I know about the remedy.

   

CALCAREA HYPOPHOSPHORICA.

I once had a case like this: A boy eight years of age had several (four or five) abscesses in and around the knee joint. The ulceration had also attacked the tibia, which was half eaten off, so that the ragged necrosed bone protruded through the surface plainly in sight. The little fellow was greatly emaciated, and had no appetite, and was pale as a corpse. I told the mother that I thought this was a case for the surgeon, but I would try to get him in better condition for the operation. I remembered reading years before of the cures of abscesses by this remedy, made by Dr. Searles, of Albany, and empirically concluded to try it in this case.

I put him upon the first trituration, a grain a day. Called in a week and found a great change for the better. The mother exclaimed as I came in: "Ah, Doctor, the boys is eating us out of house and home." Under the continued use of the remedy he made a complete and rapid recovery, except that the tibia was a little bent. I have since used the remedy in some very large swellings where pus had formed, with the effect of complete absorption of the pus and no opening of the abscess on the surface. One was a case of hip disease which had been pronounced incurable by a specialist on ulcerations, (How is that for a specialist, regular at that.) The different combinations of the Calcareas ought to be so thoroughly proven as to enable us to put them each in their exact place. So, also, with the Kalis, Magnesias, Natrums and Mercuries, etc.

   

GRAPHITES.

Eruption on the skin, oozing out of thick, honey-like fluid.

Mucous outlets; eyelids inflamed, with pustules; ears discharge, moist sore places behind ears; mouth cracked in corners; anus, eruptions, itching, fissured.

Nails grow thick, cracked, out of shape.

Constipation; stools knotty, large lumps, united by mucous threads.

Diarrhœa; stools, brown fluid, mixed with undigested substances, and of an intolerably fœtid odor.

Sad and desponded; inclined to weep; thinks of nothing but death.

Especially adapted to persons inclined to obesity; particularly females who delay menstruation.

Hears better when in a noise; when riding in a carriage or car; when there is a rumbling sound.

Sensation of cobweb on forehead; tries hard to brush it off.

* * * * *

The chief leading characteristic of this remedy is found in its skin symptoms.

Hoyne had expressed it nearly right. "Eruptions oozing out a thick, honey-like fluid." It may be found on any part of the body, but is especially found on or behind the ears, on head, face, genitals, or eyelids. I once treated a case of eczema of the legs which was of twenty years' standing. It was in an old obese woman, and, by the way, that is the kind of subject in which this remedy is found most efficacious.

I gave her, on account of much burning of the feet, a dose of Suphur c. m. In two or three weeks an eruption was developed all over the body which exuded a glutinous, sticky fluid. One dose of Graphites c. m., dry on the tongue, cured this as well as the eczema of the legs and left her skin as smooth as that of a child. This was years ago. Erysipelas sometimes takes this form, and in such cases recurs again and again. It will naturally occur to the physician that, because of this recurrence, there is some psoric taint which must be met by Sulphur. But we must not make the too common mistake of thinking that Sulphur is the remedy on account of its great antipsoric powers, or on the often misleading indication "when seemingly indicated remedies don't act," because Sulphur is not the only anti-psoric and where Graphites is indicated is not at all the anti-psoric for the case in hand. In short, we must not prescribe for psora (which is only a name after all) without indications any more than we would prescribe for the name scarlatina or diphtheria. Graphites is a powerful anti-psoric, as are also Psorinum, Lycopodium, Causticum and many others. Symptoms must decide here, as elsewhere. In order to still further show the wonderful anti-psoric powers of this remedy I will give another case from practice.

A child three years of age had eczema capitis. Under allopathic local treatment the eczema disappeared; but soon entero-colitis of a very obstinate character set in. Then the regulars could not "do" that as they had the eczema, and after they had given up the case, pronouncing it consumption of the bowels, the homœopath (myself) was called in on the ground that he could do no harm if he could do no good (so they said).

Case. -Child greatly emaciated, little or no appetite, very restless, and "stools brown fluid mixed with undigested substances, and of an intolerably fœtid odor." Taking into the account the history of the suppressed eczema I prescribed Graphites 6m. (Jenichen) and in a short time a perfect cure was the result. Psorinum has a similar stool as was present in this case, but the eruptions of the two remedies are different and this one corresponded to Graphites, hence Psorinum was ruled out. If this case of so long standing had not had the eruption I might have thought of China on account of the extreme weakness from long-continued drain or loss of fluid, for China is another remedy that has brown, loose, fœtid stools. So we must take into consideration all the case, psora and all. In chronic cases, in which Graphites is likely to be the remedy, we may look for affections of the eyelids, of the same eczematous character as that found on the head, behind the ears, etc.

Notice. -Eczema of lids, eruptions moist and fissured margins of lids covered with scales and crusts. In Sulphur lids the margins are very red. All the orifices under Sulphur are very red. Graphites leads all the remedies for eczematous affections of the lids, Staphisagria stands next, but of course special indications, local or general, or both, must decide.

Graphites is one of our best anal remedies. We have given the kind of loose stool characteristic of the drug. This is, however, exceptional, for it generally tends to constipation instead of diarrhœa. The stools are knotty and large, the lumps sometimes united by mucous threads and mucus often follow the stool. There is often eczema around the anus, and it is one of our best remedies for fissura ani. There is in these cases apt to be much pain after stool, and much soreness in anus on wiping it. Now if all this should occur in subjects of this tendency to sticky eruptions, we should not hesitate to give Graphites with expectations of success.

Another very characteristic calling for this remedy is found in the nails. Both finger and toe nails become thick, grow out of shape. Never forget Graphites when you find this state of nails present. Again, Graphites has cracks or fissures in the ends of the fingers (Sarsaparilla), nipples, labial commissures, of anus, and between toes (Petroleum). It is one of our best remedies for wens found in persons of herpetic dyscrasia. Old, hard cicatrices soften up and go away under its action, especially those left by abscesses of the mammæ. Lumps in the breast of suspicious appearance also go away under the action of this remedy. In menstrual troubles it resembles Pulsatilla, but there are plenty of points to differentiate them. In temperament it resembles Calcarea ostrearum; but in Graphites the menses are mostly scanty and delayed, in Calcarea too soon and too profuse; Graphites cures complaints of many kinds when you have present two things:

1st. The peculiar tendency to obesity.

2d. The characteristic glutinous eruptions.

   

PSORINUM.

Very sad, hopeless, despondent; "bluest of the blue."

Great debility; sweats on slightest movement; wants to give up and lie down.

Eruptions on the skin, dry, or moist; or skin scaly and dry as parchment; dirty, the great unwashed, unwashable.

Intense itching of skin < in warmth of bed.

Discharges and exhalations exceedingly offensive.

Very sensitive to cold air; wears a fur cap in summer.

Modalities: < in cold air, < in warmth of bed (itching); sitting up or motion; > bringing arms down close to the body, > lying down (even the dyspnœa); wrapping up warm; psoric manifestations.

Great weakness and debility; from loss of fluids; remaining after acute diseases; without any organic lesion or apparent cause.

Cough and dry, scaly eruptions return every winter.

Quinsy; to eradicate the tendency.

* * * * *

The disease products are powerful remedies, and when used in the potentized form have made many wonderful cures. It is believed by some that in the potentized form they are so changed that they become homœopathic to the disease which produced them, especially in any other person than the one in whom the original disease existed.

I have experimented more or less with these so-called nosodes, since they were so widely proclaimed by Dr. Swan. I never found them markedly efficacious in such cases, but I have seen remarkable results from them in cases resembling, for instance, gonorrhœal, syphilitic or psoric troubles, without any history of pre-existing trouble of the kind. I have cured eruptions on the skin resembling itch with Psorinum, rheumatic troubles that were very obstinate under our usual remedies with Medorrhinum and a long-standing case of caries of the spine with Syphilinum, but in not one of these cases had the patient, that I could trace, itch, gonorrhœa or syphilis. The experience of many others seems to be different. I give only my own. The each nosode seems capable of producing the same or similar symptoms when given by mouth in proving as when inoculated the usual way seems well proved in the case of Psorinum. I do not see why the constitutional symptoms appearing after inoculations should nor be considered a proving as well as those following a bee sting, Cantharis blistering, or the local external poisoning of the varieties of Rhus. If Rhus, very high, will cure rhus poisoning, why should not Syphilinum, etc., cure syphilis? Who will answer?

All nosodes are as capable of curing as they are of poisoning. If not, why not? We must not let prejudice hinder honest investigation. As if in corroboration of the theory that the potentized disease product will cure the disease producing it, the provings of Psorinum indicate that the chief action and curative power of the poison is upon the skin. And is it not remarkable that Psorinum should so strongly resemble Sulphur, the old-time remedy for itch, and again that they follow or complement each other in curing skin troubles? Notice some of the leading skin symptoms.

"Itching when the body becomes warm."

"Itching, intolerable in warmth of bed." (Merc. sol.)

"Itching scratches until it bleeds."

"Itching between fingers and in bends of joints." (Sepia).

"Dry, scaly eruptions which disappear summers and return winters."

"Repeated outbreaks of eruptions."

"Skin has a dirty dingy look, as if the patient never washed, and the body has a filthy smell even after a bath." These and many other symptoms, too numerous to mention here, show what an invaluable remedy this should be in skin troubles, and abundant experience and observation corroborate the truth of our law of cure in the curative power of disease poisons, as it also does in vegetable, and mineral and insect or animal.

Psorinum is also found useful in the consequences of suppressed eruptions, and in such cases should never be forgotten when other anti-psoric fail. Dr. Wm. A. Hawley, of Syracuse, N. Y., once made a brilliant cure of a very bad case of dropsy in an old woman, being led to prescribe this remedy by the appearance of the skin. One dose of Fincke's 42m. potency, dry on the tongue, cured the whole case in a very short time. It was a case of long standing. Now, if we examine we will also find that this remedy resembles Graphites in many points. A close comparison will pay the earnest student of Materia Medica. Psorinum is very depressed in mind. "Greatest despondency, making his own life and that of those about him almost intolerable." This state of mind, following acute diseases, like typhus, is especially benefited by this remedy. When writing of Graphites we mentioned the resemblance of the two remedies in the "stools, dark-brown, watery, and of intolerably offensive odor." This is found in bad cases of cholera infantum or chronic diarrhœa. There is one valuable diagnostic difference between them, although the remedies are so much alike, and that is that the Graphites moisture from the eruption is glutinous or sticky and not markedly so with Psorinum.

Again, Psorinum is very useful for weakness or debility during convalescence from severe acute diseases. The patient sweats profusely when taking the least exercise. Notwithstanding, as a rule, the skin is generally dry, inactive, and rarely sweats. Here, again, as in the stool symptom, choice may have to be made between Psorinum and China. Loss of fluids, blood, suppuration, etc., would decide in favor of the latter and itching eruptions or tendency thereto, before or during the sickness, the former. One thing I forgot to mention in connection with the offensive stool. "All excretions, diarrhœa, leucorrhœa, menstrual flow and perspiration, have a carrion-like smell, even the body has a filthy smell, notwithstanding frequent bathing." The Psorinum subject is very sensitive to cold air, or change of weather (Hepar), wants to wear a fur cap, overcoat or shawl, even in the hottest weather.

Chronic complaints following or dating back for years to some imperfectly cured or suppressed acute disease. (Carbo veg.) I advise everyone to buy a copy of Allen's "key-notes," which has a very good rendering of the nosodes. So we see in Psorinum when proven a great remedy for very grave conditions. I have no doubt that all nosodes are equally valuable when as well understood.

   

AURUM METALLICUM.

Wants to commit suicide; thinks he is no good in the world.

Nodes and bone pains, caries and necrosis with great depression of mind.

Abuse of Mercury, in syphilis, in massive doses.

* * * * *

"Looks on the dark side, weeps, prays, thinks she is not fit for this world, longs for death, strong inclination to commit suicide." Strange that this noble metal, for which mankind strives for its pecuniary value, should, when taken into the organism, cause the greatest unhappiness.

The Aurum patient is plunged into the deepest gloom and despair. Life is a burden, he desires death. Suicide dwells constantly in his mind. In men, I have observed it oftenest in connection with liver troubles. In women, with womb troubles, especially when enlarged, indurated or prolapsed. In both these cases, the result, so far as local conditions are concerned, seems to be from repeated attacks of congestion to the parts, which ends in hypertrophy. The liver in enlarged the womb also, and prolapsus occurs from the very weight of the organs. These congestions, so characteristic of the remedy, take place also in head, heart, chest and kidneys; but, whenever they come, the peculiar mind symptoms are always present to furnish the chief indication for Gold. The Gold patient is also at times "peevish and vehement, the least contradiction excites his wrath." He will exhibit these outbreaks occasionally, even when the more characteristic depression and gloom greatly preponderate. Other remedies have a similar depression and tendency to suicide, like Naja and Nux vomica, but none in anything like the degree of Aurum. I once cured a young lady who tried to commit suicide by drowning. After she was cured she laughed at the occurrence, and said she could not help it. It seemed to her she was of no use in the world. She felt so.

Aurum has been found efficacious in curing some bone affections of syphilitic origin, especially if such cases had been the subjects of old school dosing with Mercury. There would be a great falling off of business for physicians if the old school could learn to cure their patients without poisoning them with their drugs. The locality where Aurum has made its best record in these syphilitico-mercurial affections is in caries of the bones (caries of long bones, Fluoric acid, Angustura), of the nose and palate, also of the mastoid process. In these nasal troubles it is sometimes of great use in the catarrh, or ozœna, before the trouble has progressed to actual caries. The nostrils are agglutinated, ulcerated, and nose obstructed and filled with crusts, or there are excessively fetid discharges, and the patient is melancholy and disposed to suicide. Aurum is one of the few remedies that has hemiopia or half-sight, and has cured it even in the 200th potency. Lycopodium and Lithium carbonicum also have half-sight, but Aurum sees only the lower, while the other two see only the left half of objects.

Aurum not only causes and cures indurations of the womb in the female, but indurations also of the testicles in the male, and in both cases de ever-present mental symptoms of Aurum or the syphilitico-mercurial history furnish the chief indications for its use. In fatty heart, in ruddy, corpulent, old people it is one of our best remedies. In these cases there is much vascular disturbance. "Violent palpitation, with anxiety and congestion in the chest and visible beating of the carotids and temporal arteries".

Belladonna may relieve the attack, but Aurum goes deeper and is more lasting in its effect. Aurum is one of our best remedies for bone pains. Never forget it. It ranks with Kali iodide, Asafœtida and the Mercuries in periostical affections.

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