A common sensation under Causticum is as though the irritation to cough was caused by mucus situated just below the larynx, just too low to be reached by the cough although frequent efforts are made to raise it; a sip of cold water will now relieve the necessity to cough. We must not forget the symptom already spoken of, cough with involuntary micturition (52), nor the symptom that I have learned to place great reliance upon, cough at the end of pronounced expiration, the cigarette cough.
Many rheumatic conditions call for Causticum, with a general aggravation from taking cold and during stormy weather (9). The pains make the patient restless, but motion does not relieve.
It is useful in stiffness of the neck from taking cold (174), in lumbago, with painful stiffness in back, sacrum and “coccyx” (Dunham), worse on attempting to straighten out, and in sciatica of the r. side, with pain on motion, and in all these conditions with relief from heat (10) and aggravation from easterly storms. It is of value in many conditions of paralysis resulting from rheumatism, and in rheumatic paralysis of the r. deltoid, especially (161), with inability to raise the hand to the head or to fix the hair.
There is stiffness and cracking in the joints (125) when walking, weakness of the ankles (71), cramps in the calves (71), feet and toes, a sensation as though the hamstring muscles were too short (71), so that the leg could not be extended, or there is contraction of the tendons of the palms of the hands.
Causticum may prove useful in arthritis deformans (161), especially in persons who suffer from great weakness of the limbs, and with aggravation from easterly winds or storms.
On the skin there is more or less tendency to soreness in the folds back of the ears, between the thighs, etc., especially when associated with sour sweat.
It is of value for warts (208), small flat, or horny, that appear on the eyelids, tip of nose, hands and fingers, especially on the tips of the fingers and about the nails.
The acids, Coffea cr., and Phosphorus, are incompatible with Causticum.
I use Causticum 3d.
