Synonyms. Aluminum tri-hydrate. Argilla pura. Pure Clay. Preparation. Triturations.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Alumina affects directly the motor nervous system, giving a paralytic condition, but it shows its most specific action upon the mucous membranes, and of these the intestinal and vaginal are principally involve. The condition seems to be that of extreme dryness and lack of secretion, with more or less irritation.
CHARACTERISTICS SYMPTOMS.
Mind. Anxiety; uneasiness as if she had done sometimes bad. Changing mood, at one time confident, at another timid. Peevish and whining (Chamomilla); obstinate (Bryonia, Nux v., Chamomilla); low-spirited (Pulsatilla); dread of impending even (Anacardium, Arsenicum, Calcarea China Sulph.).
Head. Vertigo; everything turns in a circle (Arnica, Belladonna, Coni., Bryonia, Nux v.); with fainting nausea (Lobelia); in the morning (Phosphorus Nitr. ac.), on opening the eyes (Lachesis). Great stupor with dread of falling forward. Severe stitches in the brain with nausea. Burning pressive pain, with heat in forehead, while standing or sitting. Better in the open air. Pulsative headache in vertex. pressure on forehead as from a tight hat. Headache, worse in the morning on rising.
Eyes. Squinting. Lachrymation. Burning and pressure in the eyes (Arsenicum). Dimsightedness; obliged to wipe the eyes constantly, with sensation as if the lids would adhere in the corners (Croc., Pulsatilla). Itching in the canthi and lids. Photophobia in the morning. Eyes agglutinated on waking (Antim crud. Silicea, Sulphur); burn on being caused, with dread of light. (Aconite, Belladonna, Lycopodium). Eyelids thickened (Graphites, Pulsatilla); dry and burning.
Ears. Heat and redness of ears, evenings.
Nose. Septum of nose swollen, red, and painful to touch (Arsenicum, Mercurius). Swelling and hardness of left ala nasi; point of nose cracked. Ulcerated nostrils (Antim crud., Aurum, Graphites, Kali bichromicum, Nitr. ac., Pulsatilla). Obstruction. Chronic nasal catarrh, with scurfy, sore nostrils, and discharge of thick yellow mucus (Baryta c., Graphites, Hepar s., Hydras., Kali bichromicum, Mercurius, Pulsatilla).
Face. Tension of the skin of the face as though white of egg had dried on it (Baryta carb, Caladium, Graphites, Acid Sulphuricum). Lips chapped. Involuntary spasmodic twitching of lower jaw.
Mouth. Teeth feel loose and elongated (Carb. an., merc., Nitr. ac.). Ulcers in the mouth. Swelling and bleeding of the gums (Mercurius, Nitr. ac.). Saliva increased, though the mouth may feel dry.
Throat. Throat red and inflamed (Belladonna, Lachesis, Mercurius). Great dryness which induces frequent clearing of the throat in the evening. Thick viscid mucus in the throat, evening and morning (Ammonium mur., Kali bichromicum). Feeling of a splinter in the throat (Argentum nit., Acid nitricum, Hepar s.). Sense of constriction from pharynx down to stomach to swallowing food (Lycopodium). Pressure in the throat as from a lump, with soreness, and dryness, rawness, scraping.
Stomach. Entire loss of appetite (Arsenicum, Calcarea c., Cinchona, Natr. mur., Sulphur); to taste. Aversion to meat (Arnica, Carb. v., Graphites, Pulsatilla). Appetite for starch, chalk, charcoal, and other indigestible things; chlorosis. Nausea, with faintness and vertigo, mornings. Burning in the stomach (Arsenicum). Sour eructations (Carb. v., Phosphorus, Nux. v., Sulphur); heart-burn. Constriction and twisting in the stomach, extending up the oesophagus to the throat.
Abdomen. Flatulence. Sticking pressive pain in the region of the abdominal ring, as from hernia (Cocc., Nitr. ac., Nux. v.).
Stool and Anus. Rectum seems paralyzed. pressure and sense of excoriation in rectum after a small hard stool. Tenesmus in rectum during diarrhoea. Inactivity of the rectum (Camph., Opium, Sepia); even the soft stool requires great straining (Carb. v., Cinchona). No desire for and no ability to pass stool, until there is a large accumulation. Excoriation in the anus after an evacuation, with contraction of the rectum and constriction of the anus (Natr. mur.). Stools hard and knotty like sheep dung (Opium, Plumb.); with cutting in the anus followed by blood (Mercurius, Nux v.). Stool scanty, difficult. Constipation of nursing children (Opium Nux v.).
Urinary Organs. Urine voided while straining at stool, or cannot pass urine without much straining. Feeling of weakness in the bladder and genital organs.
Female Organs. Profuse, transparent (Agaricus), acrid leucorrhoea running down to the feet, during the day. Acrid, corrosive leucorrhoea, with burning in the genital organs; parts inflamed and corroded (Coni., Iodium, Kreosotum, Mercurius, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla), making walking difficult; relieved by washing with cold water. After menses great exhaustion in both body and mind (Ammonium carb., Carb. an., Coccul.).
Respiratory Organs. Continued dry, hacking cough, with vomiting and arrest of breathing. Irritation in larynx, inducing cough. Dry cough at night (Cimic., Hyoscyamus, Lycopodium), with dryness of the throat. Cough with much expectoration (Stannum). Violent oppressive pain in chest, worse at night.
Heart. Palpitation.
Neck and Back. Swelling of glands of left side of neck. Pain, as if bruised in small of back and back. Pain in the back as if a hot iron were thrust through the lower vertebrae.
Limbs. Pain as if squeezed narrower, with pressure in joints. Drawing pains in limbs.
Upper Limbs. Pain, as if from a sprain in shoulder joint, especially on raising the arm. Gnawing beneath the finger nails.
Lower Limbs. Great heaviness in the lower limbs; can scarcely drag them; when walking staggers, and has to sit down; in the evening. Inability to walk, except when the eyes are open and in daytime. Locomotor ataxia. Nates go to sleep when sitting. Great weariness of the legs when sitting. Long, continued tension in the thighs and legs, almost like a cramp; extending downward. Trembling in the knees. Frequent cramps in the calves. Numbness of the heel, when stepping. Pain on the sole of the foot, on stepping, as though it were too soft and swollen (Antim crud.).
Generalities. Excessively faint and tired, must lie down (Cinchona, Sulphur). Takes cold easily. Slow tottering gait, as after a severe sickness. Tremulous lassitude (China, Sulphur). Weakness. Paralysis from spinal disease; cannot walk with the eyes closed.
Skin. Intolerable itching of the whole body, especially on becoming heated, and in bed; scratches until the skin bleed, s which is then painful (Chem., Mercurius, Sulphur); especially associated with constipation.
Sleep. Sleepiness in morning. Frequent waking. Dreams, anxious, confused; nightmare.
Conditions. Dry, thin, withered subjects, and in old people. In infancy (constipation). Puberty (chlorosis).
Compare. Aurum, Baryta c., Causticum, Ferrum, Graphites, Kali carb., Magnesia carb., Mercurius, Natr. m., Nux v., Phosphorus, Plumb., Rhus tox., Silicea, Sulphur, Zincum met.
Alumina Antidotes. Plumbum; lead poisoning.
THERAPEUTICS.
Chronic diseases, especially those of a catarrhal character, as nasal catarrh, bronchitis, pharyngitis, etc., also leucorrhoea and gonorrhoea; catarrhal conjunctivitis, with dryness and smarting, and loss of power in lids; granular lids; chronic blepharitis; asthenopia from irritated conjunctivae. Alumina is especially useful in the treatment of constipation from inactivity of rectum, with symptoms above described. It is the chief remedy in the constipation of nursing children, especially when the rectum is dry, inflamed and bleeding. Also in lead colic. In spinal affections, especially progressive locomotor ataxia (Dr. Boenninghausen reports the cure of four cases). It has also proved useful in chlorosis, prolapsus uteri, and in the seminal weakness of males when there are emissions with straining at stool, especially in old men.
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).