Give four characteristic symptoms of Mercurius on the eyes.
1. Muco-purulent discharges, which causes soreness of the lids and ulceration.
2. Sensitiveness and soreness of eyes to touch, with burning.
3. Intolerance of eyes to firelight, with dimness of vision.
4. Superficial ulcerations of cornea.
How does Mercurius differ from Kali bichromicum in ulceration?
The ulcers of Mercurius are rapidly spreading and superficial, while those of Kali bichromicum are circumscribed and deep with tendency to perforate.
Give the indications for Mercurius in coryza and catarrhs.
There is excoriating mucous discharge, not watery; there is a great deal of rawness and soreness of the nose, which is worse in damp weather. There is also ulceration, with acrid discharge, offensive odor and soreness of the nose. The coryza involves the frontal sinuses, there may be violent sneezing with tendency to perspiration.
Mention three remedies which have thick mucous discharge from the nose.
Pulsatilla, Kali bichromicum and Hydrastis.
Give the mouth symptoms of Mercurius.
Offensive odor; coppery taste; aphthous patches and great salivation; swelling of the salivary glands.
Give indications for Mercurius in toothache.
The teeth feel sore, the roots are inflamed, and often there are abscesses at the roots; there is great nocturnal aggravation; increased salivation and sensation as if the teeth were too long or too loose.
Give the characteristic tongue of Mercurius A swollen moist and spongy tongue, which takes the imprint of the teeth.
Give the characteristics of Mercurius in sore throat.
Dryness and great soreness in the throat; the patient is obliged to swallow constantly, and there is great soreness and swelling of the glands externally. Throat raw, burning red and swollen and breath offensive. Much saliva in mouth.
What are the indications for Mercurius proto-iodide in throat affections?
Diphtheritic deposits beginning on the right side, with great swelling of the glands and accumulation of thick, tenacious mucus in the throat; the tongue is coated yellow at the base, the tip and sides being red.
Give indications for Mercurius bin-iodide in throat affections.
Sore throat, just like the Proto-iodide, except that it is worse on the left side; there is more glandular swelling and more fever than in the Proto-iodide, thus partaking more of the features of Iodine.
Give indications for Mercurius cyanatus in diphtheria.
Malignant type of diphtheria, with extreme prostration; where the disease invades the nostrils and there is a formation of membrane, which is at first white, then dark and gangrenous; the breath is fetid, the tongue is coated, and nosebleed is often present.
When is Mercurius the remedy in tonsillitis?
When pus is forming, it favors its evacuation and formation, as it does in all conditions of abscesses.
What are the symptoms of Mercurius on the liver?
Great soreness over the liver; the patient cannot lie on the right side; the stools are slimy and clay-colored, with the “never-get-done” feeling.
What are the characteristic symptoms calling for Mercurius in diarrhoea?
Great straining after stool, a “never-get-done” feeling; the discharges are mucous, greenish, yellow or bloody; the straining continues a long time after stool.
When is Mercurius indicated in gonorrhoea?
Green, purulent discharge; worse at night; with swollen prepuce, phymosis or paraphymosis.
Give the symptoms calling for its use in syphilis.
Sore throat of secondary syphilis, soft chancres and buboes. Nocturnal syphilitic pains, which come on and banish sleep as soon as the patient goes to bed. It suits easily bleeding phagedenic sores.
In what syphilitic conditions is Mercurius proto-iodide useful?
Iritis, and painless hard chancres, with swelling of the inguinal glands. It suits the secondary eruption and is useful in the early stages of the disease.
Give general difference between Hepar and Mercurius.
Both are sensitive to cold air, both sweat easily, both have tendency to suppurations, but only Mercury has the nocturnal pains.
What is Mercurius dulcis, and what are its uses?
Calomel. Its principal use is in Eustachian catarrh, with deafness and tinnitus aurium. Chronic inflammation of middle ear with thickening of membrana tympani.
MERCURIUS CORROSIVUS.
By whom was Mercurius corrosivus introduced?
By Hahnemann.
Give the eye symptoms of Mercurius corrosivus.
Burning pains; intense photophobia and excoriating lachrymation, making the cheeks sore, almost taking the skin off; tearing in the bones around the eye; ulceration of cornea with tendency to perforation; it is almost specific for syphilitic iritis.
What are the throat symptoms of Mercurius corrosivus?
The uvula is swollen, and there is intense burning, worse from pressure: constriction of the throat, swallow in causes spasm.
What are the indications for Mercurius corrosivus in gonorrhoea?
Green, purulent discharge, worse at night; the meatus is dark red, and there is violent tenesmus of the bladder.
When is Mercurius corrosivus indicated in dysentery?
When the tenesmus is extreme, and when the stools are scanty, of mucus and blood, with great burning at the anus, and at the same time tenesmus of the bladder.
CINNABARIS.
What are the eye symptoms of Cinnabaris or the Sulphide of Mercury?
A pain in the eye, which starts from one canthus and goes around the brow of the eye to the other canthus, a ciliary neuralgia.
Give the symptoms of Cinnabaris in nasal catarrh.
Pressure at the root of the nose, as if a heavy pair of spectacles were there; swollen and dry throat, with swollen tonsils, and stringy mucus in the posterior nares, which passes into throat.
AURUM.
Where is the pathogenesis of Aurum found?
In Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura; Chronic Diseases; Burnett’s Monograph, Gold in Disease.
How do we prepare Gold?
By triturations of the precipitated metal.
Give the general action of Aurum.
Aurum acts upon the glandular system, affecting especially the liver and testicles. It also has a prominent action upon bones, especially the palatine bones, producing caries and exostosis. It is also a valuable remedy in affections of the sexual organs of both sexes.
What is a general characteristic of Aurum which runs all through its pathogenesis?
Hyperaemia and congestion. These will account for many of its symptoms.
What are the mental symptoms of Aurum?
Disgust for life, a longing for death and a tendency to suicide; this tendency is only mental, for the patient rarely attempts it; there is a feeling of worthlessness and despair, the patient thinks he is damned.
Give the eye symptoms of Aurum.
Syphilitic iritis after the abuse of Mercury; ulceration of the cornea and intense photophobia; double vision and half vision, in which the lower half of objects can be seen.
What is the catarrh of Aurum?
Fetid nasal discharge with caries of the bones of the nose; boring pains in the bones of the nose at night.
In what affection of the bones is Aurum indicated?
In caries of the bones, of mercurial origin, with offensive discharge and odor. Especially useful in caries of the nasal bones, turbinates and palate.
ARGENTUM NITRICUM.
Where is the pathogenesis of this remedy found?
Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura; Stapf’s Additions; Allen’s Encyclopaedia.
How do we prepare it?
One part, by weight, of the pure nitrate is dissolved in 9 parts of distilled water. Drug power, 1/10.
What is the general action of Argentum nitricum?
It causes atony and destructive inflammations of mucous membranes, and has a special action on the cerebro-spinal system, producing paralysis and insensibility. Its neurotic effect is manifested in the provers by many symptoms, such as headache, heaviness of lower extremities, etc.
What are its mental conditions?
1. A crowd of impulses to act. Continual motion hurry and discontent.
2. The opposite to this, apathy and imbecility.
3. Errors and defects of perception, fears, etc.
What is the headache of Argentum nitricum?
Hemicrania, a boring pain which is relieved by binding the head up tightly-even the wearing of a tight hat relieves; it is worse over the left frontal eminence; the head sometimes feels enormously large, and there is a feeling as if the bones of the skull would separate.
What are the eye symptoms of this drug?
Violent, purulent ophthalmia, with thick, yellow, bland discharge; the characteristic is the profuseness of the discharge.
Give the indications for Argentum nitricum in gastric troubles.
The patient craves candies or sweets, which disagree; there is flatulence, which presses up and causes dyspnoea; there are violent efforts to belch, and the gas rises to a certain point, when a sudden spasmodic contraction prevents its escape, but finally it is expelled in loud reports. There is severe gastralgia, the pains radiate from the stomach in all directions; they are relieved by hard pressure and by bending double; the pains often increase gradually, and decrease gradually, as under Stannum; vomiting of glairy mucus relieves.
How does Bismuth compare in this gastralgia?
In Bismuth it is a purely nervous gastralgia, and as soon as the least food touches the stomach the patient vomits. Cold drinks relieve.
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.