Calcarea carbonica is a typical alkaline remedy. Children large and flabby, leuco-phlegmatic. Large open fontanelles and much perspiration about the head, which wets the pillow far around when the child sleeps. Child self-willed and inclined to grow fat. Very sensitive to the least cold air. Causticum, if we judge by its symptoms, belongs in the alkaline class. It is valuable in catarrhal diseases of respiratory or urinary organs.
China or Cinchona is a remedy for stout, swarthy persons, sensitive to cold draughts of air. Its action is upon the alkaline liver and spleen, which determines its rank.
Cuprum is placed, we see, in the alkaline list by Hering, and is a remedy for the carbo nitrogenous constitution by Grauvogl. It is, perhaps, more alkaline unless the patient is suddenly rendered acid as in cholera. Cramps in calves of legs at night are met in hyperaemic spines of fleshy alkaline people.
Dulcamara is indicated for “complaints caused or aggravated by change of weather from warm to cold” in phlegmatic children, and this would keep it in the alkaline list. It is comparable with Baryta carb., Natrum sulph, and Thuja.
Hellebore. The fact that it is comparable with Belladonna, Apis and Podophyllum in brain symptoms during dentition and valuable in post-scarlatinal dropsy, renal hydrocephalus, would class this drug in the alkaline list. (Hydrogenoid also.)
Ignatia. The child has “dark hair and skin, but mild disposition.” Bilious, with a well development of the sympathetic nervous system. Cries and laughs easily; sobs, and cannot stop, from injury or fright, especially if punished. Twitchings from fright or grief. Worse from cold air would keep it in the alkaline class. Stands in the same relation to children (and women), sanguine, the Nux does to nervo-bilious men. “More Ignatia than Nux persons in North America.” Hering.
Kali carbonicum, with its morning cough (4 A.M.) and puffiness of upper eyelids in obese children, settles it in the alkaline list. This also explains the myalgia that similates pleurisy in the hyperaemic, fleshy bodies. Dark hair.
Kali phosphoricum. Pale, sensitive, irritable persons. The Phosphorus governs here. (See Phosphorus)
Lithium carbonicum. From the one symptom, “milk crust,” the inference may be drawn that it belongs in the alkaline class.
Lycopodium is a vegetable sulphur and a remedy “for persons intellectually keen but physically weak; upper part of body emaciated, lower part semi-dropsical.” That would indicate that the body had been fleshy, but through indigestion has been run down, so this drug may be placed in both classes, or in a third class, where Grauvogl has placed it. For weak children with well-developed heads, but puny, sickly bodies. After sleep cross, pushes everything away.
Magnesia carbonica. Magnesia is one of the alkaline earths and this remedy is “frequently indicated in children” “of irritable, nervous temperament, lax fibre, who smell sour.” The tri-weekly attacks of diarrhoea point to the liver, and the stools, “like scum of frogs’ pond,” tell of the sudden flow of bile. Such an irregular system cannot develop properly. The muriate and phosphate puts it towards the acid class indicated in adult diseases chiefly. The comparison is interesting. M. mur. Puny, rachitic children, especially during dentition. M. phos. Teething disorders in strong children.
Mercurius is a bilious remedy and therefore alkaline. It is said to be “best adapted to light-haired persons (children); skin and muscles lax.” This is another periodical (moon) remedy. The broad, flabby, whitish-yellow coated tongue, showing prints of teeth, tells of gastric catarrh and sluggish, irregular absorption.
Natrum sulphuricum. Hydrogenoid condition, feels every change from dry to wet. Feels best on dry day.
Natrum carbonicum. Sodium carbonate is also an alkaline remedy. “Child dislikes to exercise, physically or mental,” because they exhaust. “Aversion to open air,” because takes cold. Alkaline children are lazy and weak. “It follows Sepia well”– another bilious, alkaline remedy.
Nux vomica is a purely bilious remedy. Child has dark hair and eyes. Nervo-bilious temperament, wakes early, is active and quarrelsome. Feels best in damp, wet weather and out of doors. Child wants to be out of doors.
Ailanthus. Bilious temperament, stout and robust, alkaline. Malignant scarlet fever, bluish tint; injected eyes, excoriated nose, dry tongue, stupor.
Palladium. This metal, belonging to the Platina group, is a bilious remedy with chalky stools from duodenal catarrh. It is a rheumatic, lazy drug.
Plumbum has “aphthae and dirty looking ulcers and purple blotches in the mouth and on the tip of the tongue.” “The sallow, pale, corpse-like complexion” tells that the system is torn with a storm interfering with nutrition, manifest by violent colic. Pressure or squeezing the child’s abdomen relieves. Spinal irritation is back of it all.
Rhododendron. This is a gouty, rheumatic remedy, worse in cold, damp weather, as are alkaline and hydrogenoid constitutions, and especially before a storm; when the storm comes they are relieved. Alkaline subjects are very timid; cannot bear to be alone, especially in the dark.
Sanguinaria. This plant grows in rich alkaline earth and should belong where Hering has placed it. It is curative for sick headache that is sometimes met with in nervo-bilious children and recurs every seventh day.
Stannum is another colicky remedy; carrying the child so that the shoulder presses the abdomen relieves. Growing children sometimes manifest “great weakness of chest, so weak cannot talk.” Many of the symptoms would seem to place this drug close on to the border of the acid list.
Strontium has an evening cough and undoubtedly belongs to the alkaline class. Great weakness and emaciation is produced by Strontium carb. It should be thought of when the fleshy child runs down rapidly from diarrhoea or profuse urination, or both.
Tabacum. Many children of to-day are smothered in tobacco smoke, so that it is important to know whether it does more than prevent oxidation of the blood. It is said that the smoke contains little nicotine, “but small amounts of Hydrocyanic and Acetic acids, Kreosote, Sulphur and Carbon compounds” (“White’s Mat. Medorrhinum and Theridion,” p. 382), which tends to paralyze the lungs. Tobacco acts like an acid.
Osmium is an old element that rapidly oxidizes, forming Osmic acid, “though its acid properties are very weak” (Remsen). Hering puts it in a list that may act in an opposite way. “Long- lasting hoarseness” and “paroxysms of convulsive coughing” would suggest this remedy.
Selenium is an element and is said to “be adapted to light complexion (blondes),” and where there is “great emaciation of the face, hands, legs and feet,” due to lack of appetite, sleep and dribbling of urine. It acts like an acid.
Sulphur is one of the most active agents of cell change; united with oxygen it becomes one of the most powerful acids. This drug is adapted to “persons of nervous temperament, quick motioned, quick tempered, plethoric, skin excessively sensitive to atmospheric changes.” Child looks old, cannot bear to be washed (friction irritates), emaciated, big-bellied, restless, hot, kicks off the clothes at night.” Frowzy hair, has worms. The fact is that the child once in normal health, through restless sleep and poor appetite, especially in hot weather, rapidly emaciates. Sulphur may prove the similar curative remedy.
Tellurium is an element found with gold that crystallizes easily. It acts like an alkaline drug, producing and curing “fluent coryza with hoarseness,” increased urination, ringworms, otorrhoea of long standing. It has a quieting effect upon the mind.
Ferrum acts like an alkali. “Diarrhoea worse mornings.” It has pale mucous membrane–lips and mouth–but that is not due to the obstructed condition of the spleen. It belongs to the sanguine temperament, who have a big heart that keeps the little blood well to the face on excitement.
Manganum. No wonder that Hering was in doubt about this drug. It seems that the symptoms were developed by the carbonate (alkaline) and the acetates. The mental irritability would suggest the action of an acid, while the morning cough would place it in the alkaline list. It is worse in cold, rainy weather and from cold things, and Grauvogl would place it in the hydrogenoid group.
Niccolum. Nickel is a metal element that may act both as an alkaline or acid drug depending upon the combination. These symptoms were produced with the carbonate and some are significant: “Weak, burning, eyes in the evening;” “sour, offensive water exudes from the teeth;” “violent hiccough for several evenings.” Our 5 cent pieces contain 25 per cent. nickel and 75 per cent. copper. The physician should carefully inquire; are not these symptoms pathogenic.
Petroleum. The moist eruption; eczema of fingers and toes and hands, worse in winter, would class it chiefly as alkaline and hydrogenoid. It produces gastric catarrh; relieved by eating. It is said to be adapted to persons with light hair and fair skin, but of irritable, quarrelsome disposition; want their own way and are easily offended.
Editor of The United States Medical Investigator. Member of the Chicago Paedological Society. First President of the American Paedological Society Author of: Diseases of infants and children, with their homoeopathic treatment. Published 1878 and Hand book on the diseases of the heart and their homeopathic treatment. by Thomas C. Duncan, M.D. Published 1898