**Ammonium causticum is considered by some specific in membraneous croup.
Iodine. [Iod]
Iodine, in its provings, not only presents all the symptoms peculiar to croup, such as hoarseness, dry, rough, deep cough, painful larynx, whistling respiration, sensation of obstruction in larynx, but in the record of poisonings we have the formation of pseudo-membrane on epiglottis, vocal chords and the parts of the larynx beneath them. Experienced teaches that its curative actions is all the more favorable the firmer the consistency of the morbid product is, hence **Iodine is less indicated for mucous than for membraneous formations. It may be employed in all stages of croup. Given in the beginning, it may cut short the attack, and after the exudation has taken place it diminishes this either directly by absorption, or by rendering it more fluid it become more easy to expectorate; and when exudation has existed for some time and the patient is exhausted it has the effect of rousing the organism to general reaction.
The special indications for its use are the dry, short, barking cough with wheezing, sawing respiration, dyspnoea and imminent suffocation. The cough may have lost the peculiar metallic tone and become muffled and indistinct. There is constant desire to change position, and it acts especially well in dark-complexioned children. Use the Ix dilution, three drops every fifteen minutes. Croup caused by long continued damp weather, with more fever than with **Bromine, are good indication for **Iodine. It comes in after **Hepar when in spite of that remedy the exudation forms itself into membrane. Some practitioners pin their faith to there remedy in the Ix dilution, especially when the case is a severe one.
Kali bichromicum. [Kali-bi]
This remedy is suitable to children with short, fat necks, and it is indicated in true membraneous croup. The cough is metallic, the fauces and tonsils are red and swollen, breathing is labored and the larynx is sensitive. The child has smothering spells and awakens choking. The formation of a thick membrane takes place, and the tendency of the disease is to extend downward, becoming croupous bronchitis. There is violent wheezing, and the expectoration is of tough and stringy mucus. It offers the most hope of removing the false membrane. Cowperthwaite places this remedy before all others in membraneous croup.
When the spasm o;f the throat is very severe, **Lachesis will sometimes be indicated.
**Mercurius proto-iodide has been successful in certain cases and if diphtheria is suspected **Mercurius cyanatus.
Sanguinaria. [Sang]
This remedy may be useful in croup. There is the formation of a false membrane with dryness, burning and swollen feeling in the throat and a wheezing, whistling croupy cough. Dryness and burning are the keynotes of **Sanguinaria.
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.