SCILLA-SQUILLA-SQUILL OR SEA-ONION-SCILLA MARITIMA.
Introduction
(Scilla or squilla- skila, skilla, a squill (shrimp), sea- onion.)
Squilla was first proved for our school by Hahnemann.
(The compound syrup of squills, as used by the old school, is not wholly dependent upon squills for its action, as the emetic property of this combination is due chiefly to the tartar- emetic which it contains.).
Symptoms
Squilla is of frequent use for irritations and inflammations of the mucous membranes of the air-passages, the cough often accompanied by involuntary discharge of urine (52).
It is of value in bronchitis, both acute and chronic, generally with a good deal of mucus in the chest, which rattles (45) and causes violent spasms of cough. Associated with this rattling cough we usually have severe sticking pains in the sides of the chest (49), especially on the left side. For all the seeming looseness of the mucus, the patient must cough a long time before it can be expectorated, after which he has relief.
Hering says that the Squilla cough is worse on going from warm into cold air (40) and the cough is also worse, or brought on by drinking (41); from cold drinks (41).
In the cough of Squilla, for all the difficulty in raising the accumulation of mucus, there is little prostration but usually sharp, sticking pains (49), especially in the left side of the chest, and during the paroxysms of cough we are apt to have involuntary spurting of urine (52).
There may be a dry morning cough, from 5-7 A.M., caused by a sort of spasm in the pit of the stomach, the paroxysm of cough always followed by need to clear the nose (51); also violent paroxysms of cough associated with lachrymation (51) and sneezing (51).
Allium cepa and Aloes are incompatible with Squilla.
I use Squilla 6th.
