AMBERGRIS.
Introduction
Ambra grisea, a morbid of the sperm whale, was first proved by Hahnemann, who directs, on account of its sparing solubility in alcohol, that it should be triturated up to the third potency, which is powerful enough for our use. Hering, differing from Hahnemann, says: “The alcoholic tincture is the best preparation.”.
Symptoms
Ambra grisea is indicated in persons who are debilitated by age (147) or overwork, who are anaemic (15), nervous and sleepless, with asleep feeling in the arms and legs (71), or twitching in the muscles (193).
It has a nervous (46), paroxysmal cough that is worse on waking in the morning (40) and is associated with frequent eructation (50) and great soreness of the chest.
Dr. W.S. Searle, of Brooklyn, reports that in a case of angina pectoris, he confirmed this symptom,”palpitation, with pressure in chest as from a lump lodged there, or as if the chest were obstructed.”
I have used Ambra grisea 3rd.
AMMONIA SALTS.
Ammonia derives its name from the Egyptian god, Ammon,”the hidden one,” near whose temple muriate of ammonia was originally prepared from camel’s dung.
“Ammonia is produced in the juices of various nitrogenous animal and vegetable substances in their putrefactive changes 17,000 pounds of ammoniacal salts have been prepared annually in Paris from urine. Guano is a great repository of it. The shavings of stag’s horns have been used to prepare it, hence the popular name given to the hydrate, spirits of hartshorn” (Appleton’s Cyclop.).
At present, we obtain most of our supply from gas-houses, it being a by-product from the distillation of coal.
Although we do not use the ammonia salts to the same extent as those of the other alkalies, Hahnemann speaks of them as great anti-psorics, and they exert a considerable influence on the blood, Am, carb., especially, producing disintegration of the blood, with tendency towards haemorrhages.
The ammonia salts act powerfully on mucous membranes and are of value in catarrhal condition, especially of the respiratory tract.
Farrington, adding to the classification of Hering, says: “The ammonium salts taken as a class, are best suited to rather fat and of the two introduced by Hahnemann, “Ammonium carb. is particularly indicated in fat flabby individuals of indolent disposition who lead a sedentary life. Ammonium mur. is best indicated for fat sluggish individuals particularly when the adipose tissue is mostly distributed over the trunk, the legs being disproportionately thin.”.
