Synonyms – Calcium sulfate. Calcarea sulfate. Common names – Sulphate of calcium. Sulphate of lime. Plaster of Paris. Gypsum. Preparation – Triturations.
GENERAL ANALYSIS AND THERAPEUTICS.
Calcarea sulph. is present in the connective tissue, and, according to Schuessler, acts chiefly on this part, being thus valuable in suppurations. It is in the latter process that it is chiefly employed. It closely resembles Hepar sulph., but, according to Hering, “has a wider sphere and acts with more intensity.” It is not so useful in promoting suppuration in the earlier stages, but it is better than Hepar in promoting and controlling the suppuration after the pus has found a vent and is discharging. It thus seems to occupy a sphere midway between Hepar and Silicea, though perhaps more closely resembling the former. According to biochemical data “it cures purulent discharges from the mucous membranes and purulent exudations in serous sacs, as well as tubercular ulcers or abscesses of the intestines and ulcers of the cornea, etc. The drug is certainly very useful in purulent catarrhs, an important characteristic being that all mucous discharges are yellow, thick and lumpy. Is recommended for cystic and fibroid tumors, torpid glandular swellings and eczema. Other conditions in which it has proved curative are detailed under the symptoms as below given, most of which are purely clinical.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS
Head Scald-head of children, if there be purulent discharge, or yellow, purulent crusts.
Eyes. Inflammation of the eyes, with discharge of thick, yellow matter. Sees only one-half an object. Cornea smoky. Ophthalmia neonatorum.
Ears Deafness, with discharge of matter from the middle ear, sometimes mixed with blood. Pimples around ear.
Nose. Cold in the head, with thick, yellowish, purulent secretions, frequently tinged with blood. One-sided discharge from nose. Yellowish discharge from posterior nares. Edges of nostrils sore.
Face Pimples and pustules on the face. Herpes.
Mouth. Inside of lips sore. Tongue flabby, resembling a layer of dried clay. Sour, soapy, acrid taste. Yellow coating at base.
Throat Last stage of ulcerated sore throat, with discharge of yellow matter. Suppurating stage of tonsillitis, when abscess is discharging.
Abdomen. Pain in region of liver; in right side of pelvis, followed by weakness, nausea, and pain in stomach.
Stool Purulent diarrhoea mixed with blood. Diarrhoea after maple sugar and from change of weather. Pus-like, slimy discharge from the bowels. Painful abscess about the anus in cases of fistula.
Female Organs. Menses late, long-lasting, with headache, twitching, great weakness.
Respiratory Organs. Cough, with purulent and sanious sputa and hectic fever. Empyema, pus forming in the lungs or pleural cavities. Purulent, sanious expectoration. Catarrh with thick, lumpy, white-yellow or pus-like secretion.
Limbs. Burning-itching of soles of feet.
Fever Hectic fever, caused by formation of pus. With cough and burning in soles.
Skin. Cuts, wounds, bruises, etc., unhealthy, discharging pus; they do not heal rapidly (Hepar s.). Yellow, purulent crusts or discharge. Purulent exudations in or upon the skin. Skin affections with yellowish scabs. Many little matterless pimples under the hair, bleeding when scratched.
Compare Calendula, Hepar, Kali mur., Silicea.
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).