What is the characteristic of Silicea in epilepsy?
Epilepsy which occurs at night, the aura beginning in the solar plexus.
What, in general, are the skin symptoms of Silicea?
There is a general unhealthy condition of the skin. It suppurates easily and heals with difficulty. In suppurative easily and heals with difficulty. In suppurative skin diseases it is our best remedy.
What is a great characteristic of the drug in conditions of the feet?
The foot sweat is extremely offensive and suppression of this brings on various ailments.
What are the modalities of Silicea?
There is relief by heat and warmth and aggravation from the cold air.
How does Silicea differ from Calcarea sulphurica in the suppurative process?
Silicea promotes suppuration and brings the suppurative process to maturity. Calcarea sulphurica checks suppuration and promotes healthy granulation.
What three remedies are useful for the results of impure vaccination?
Silicea, Thuja and Kali muriaticum.
What is Lapis albus, and for what disease is it used chiefly?
It is the Silico-Fluoride of Calcium, and was recommended by Grauvogl for goitre, as it formed an important constituent of the water of a Swiss valley where goitre was prevalent. It is also of use in certain forms of enlarged glands about the throat. Anaemia is an indication for its use. It acts best in the 6th trituration. Enlargement of the mesenteric glands and chronic glandular swellings in scrofulous children, not a stony hardness but those with some elasticity about them.
THE POTASHES.
What preparations of Potash do we use and how is each prepared?
1. Causticum. A preparation peculiar to Homoeopathy and must be prepared according to Hahnemann’s directions.
2. Kali carbonicum. Triturations of Hahnemann’s preparation of the Carbonate.
3. Kali bichromicum. Triturations; and one part, by weight, of Bichromate dissolved in 99 parts of distilled water makes the tincture. Drug power, 1/100.
4. Kali bromatum. Triturations, or tincture, prepared in same manner as preceding.
5. Kali hydriodicum. One part of pure Iodide dissolved in 99 parts, by weight, of alcohol. Drug power, 1/100. Triturations do not keep well, especially 1x.
6. Kali permanganicum. Tincture in same manner as Kali bichromicum. Triturations decompose.
7. Kali muriaticum. Trituration of pure Chloride.
8. Kali sulphuricum. Trituration of pure Sulphate.
9. Kali phosphoricum. Trituration of pure Phosphate.
What is the general action of all the Potashes?
They are all heart poisoners; they paralyze the heart, diminish the temperature, and increase the oxidation of tissues. They weaken, even paralyze muscles. They produce deep prostration. They cause catarrh and inflammation of mucous membranes, increase their secretions, especially in the lungs and the kidneys.
CAUSTICUM.
Where do we find pathogeneses of Causticum?
In Hahnemann’s Chronic Diseases and the Materia Medica Pura.
Give the general action of Causticum.
Causticum acts through the medulla oblongata and recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing chiefly paralysis and catarrh of the larynx and trachea. It also causes paralysis in various parts of the body.
What are the mental symptoms of Causticum?
Patients are timid; nervous and anxious; full of fancies, apprehensive, feel as if something were about to happen. Afraid to go to bed in the dark.
Give seven characteristic symptoms of Causticum.
1. Cough relieved by a drink of water and accompanied by a spurt of urine.
2. Enuresis during first sleep.
3. Menses flow only by day time.
4. Paralytic aphonia.
5. Stool passes better when patient is standing.
6. Morning hoarseness.
7. Paralysis of single parts.
Give the eye and ear symptoms of Causticum.
There is paralysis of the eyelids; there is heat, burning and feeling of sand in the eyes, muscular weakness and double vision; it is one of the most valuable remedies in cataract; words, sound and the patient’s own voice re-echo in the ears.
What are the symptoms of Causticum about the face, mouth and throat?
There is paralysis of the face, due to exposure to dry, cold winds; there is also a paralysis of the tongue, lips and throat.
How does Aconite compare here?
Like Causticum it has paralysis due to dry, cold winds, but it is more suitable to the beginning, Causticum coming in after Aconite fails.
What are the characteristic symptoms about the rectum?
There is also a paralytic condition; the patient cannot evacuate the stool sitting down; is obliged to stand.
Give the bladder symptoms of Causticum.
Paralysis of the bladder; involuntary urination while coughing; nocturnal enuresis of children during the first sleep.
Give two other drugs that have involuntary spurting of urine during coughing.
Squilla and Natrum mur.
How does the menstruation differ from that of Magnesia carbonica?
It flows only during the day time, while Magnesia carb. flows only during the night.
Give the respiratory symptoms of Causticum.
Complete loss of voice; the patient cannot speak loud; dryness of the larynx and sensitiveness extending to chest; there is a hoarseness, rawness, and a scraping sensation in the chest, especially under the middle of the sternum, giving rise to a dry and hollow cough.
How does Phosphorus differ?
Phosphorus has evening hoarseness, and the soreness of Phosphorus is in the larynx, while Causticum has morning hoarseness, soreness under the sternum, and a cough relieved by a cold drink.
Why should these two drugs especially be carefully differentiated?
Because they are inimical.
Mention some remedies for the hoarseness of singers.
Causticum, Graphites, Selenium and Sulphur.
How does the hoarseness of Carbo vegetabilis compare?
It is aggravated in the evening, being useful after exposure to damp evening air, while Causticum is useful for hoarseness in dry, cold, severe winter weather.
Compare also Eupatorium perfoliatum with Causticum.
Both have hoarseness in the morning, both have influenza and aching in body, but Eupatorium has rather a chest soreness than a burning or rawness.
What are the rheumatic symptoms of Causticum?
Rheumatism stiffness of the joints, with contractions of the tendons; there is restlessness at night and drawing pains in the muscles; the parts upon which he lies become sore.
Mention some drugs having a weakness or giving away of the ankles.
Causticum, Sulphuric acid, Sulphur and Silicea.
KALI CARBONICUM.
What are studies of Kali carbonicum found?
In Hahnemann’s Chronic Diseases.
Give general action of Kali carbonicum. Kali carb. produces an excessive irritation of the respiratory mucous membrane, the digestive tract and the female sexual system. It causes dryness of mucous membranes, hence sticking pains.
Give five characteristic symptoms of Kali carbonicum.
1. Stitching pains.
2. The little sac over the eyes.
3. Great weakness in the small of the back.
4. Aggravation at 3 or 4 A.M.
5. Great sensitiveness to cold, but no perspiration.
What are the female symptoms of Kali carbonicum?
Menses are too early and too profuse, and last too long; there may be itching of the body during menstruation and a great deal of backache. Amenorrhoea, with backache.
When is Kali carbonicum indicated in dyspepsia?
Dyspepsia of the aged; weak, anaemic and easily exhausted patients, who are always tired and suffer from backaches. Before eating there is a faint feeling, sour eructations and heartburn, and a nervous feeling; during meals the patient is sleepy, and after meals there is great flatulence; the belching is putrid, but it relieves.
What are the respiratory symptoms of Kali carbonicum?
Cough worse 2 or 3 in the morning; there are stitching pains through the lower part of the right lung, accompanied by puffiness of the face; the expectoration is difficult and tenacious, or small round lumps of mucus.
KALI BICHROMICUM.
Where do we find the pathogeneses of Kali bichromicum?
British Journal of Homoeopathy, 1846, also Vol. XV.
Give the general action of Kali bichromicum.
Kali bichromicum produces catarrhal inflammations of mucous membranes, characterized by an excessive secretion of tough mucus. It also causes ulceration and formation of false membrane.
What are the three characteristics of Kali bichromicum?
1. Tenacious expectorations.
2. Ulcerations which tend to perforate.
3. Troubles of fat, fair, chubby children.
What is the headache of Kali bichromicum?
Periodical supraorbital headache; as the headache starts the sight becomes lost, but it returns as the headache increases;it is more on the right side.
Give the symptoms of Kali bichromicum in so-called biliousness.
The skin is yellow, sallow and covered with pimples; the whites of the eyes are yellow; the tongue is thick broad and mapped; there is a morning diarrhoea, watery stools, and tenesmus especially after drinking beer.
What are the eye symptoms?
Ulcers of the cornea, with tendency to deep perforation; look as if punched out. Indolent, no inflammatory process, no redness and no photophobia.
In ulceration of the cornea compare Conium, Nux vomica and Aurum.
Conium. Little or no redness, but intense photophobia, superficial ulceration. Nux vomica. Photophobia, especially worse in the morning. Aurum. Intense photophobia, scalding lachrymation, double vision horizontally, eyes sensitive to the touch.
Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Michigan Homeopathic Medical College. Member of American Institute of Homeopathy. In addition to his editoral work he authored or collaborated on: Boericke and Dewey's Twelve Tissue Remedies, Essentials of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Essentials of Homeopathic Therapeutics and Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics.