Phosphate of Iron. Preparation. Trituration.
GENERAL ANALYSIS AND THERAPEUTICS.
Ferrum phos. is the preparation of Iron selected by Schussler for his group of tissue remedies. It appears to represent in many points the combined action of Iron and Phosphorus, and gives us a fever remedy that seems to occupy a place midway between Aconite and Gelsemium. Schussler proposed to substitute Ferrum phos. for Aconite, and recommends its use in the first stage of all inflammations, before exudation has taken place (second stage, Kali chloratum). Clinical experience has already demonstrated the value of Schussler’s suggestion, in so far that it has led, not to the substitution of Ferrum phos. for Aconite, but to the establishment of the true sphere of action of Ferrum phos. is fevers and inflammations, though doubtless there is much yet to learn of its action. No doubt the use of Iron and its salts in these conditions has heretofore been greatly neglected. The indications for Ferrum phos, so far as known, are: First stage of inflammatory diseases before exudation has taken place; heat, with soft, full, quick pulse; thirst; sweat, which does not relieve the pains; if a mucous inflammation, the discharge is blood-streaked; especially useful for the results of taking cold, particularly from suppressed perspiration. Thus it may be useful in many conditions, especially inflammation of mucous tracts. Congestions and inflammations of the respiratory organs, especially with great oppression, and dyspnoea, dry hacking cough, expectoration streaked with blood; cough with tickling in trachea and bronchi, and with feeling of soreness in the lungs, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, pleurisy; croup. Also in acute coryza; catarrh of external ear with inflammatory symptoms and muco-purulent discharge; catarrh of eustachian tube; pharyngitis; tonsilitis; etc. Schussler recommends the drug in a long list of inflammatory diseases, and others that cannot well be classed in that category. His observations still require verification. The drug has been successfully used in dyspepsia, and in the morning sickness of pregnancy, or during the menses. Haemorrhoids, inflammatory with acute pain; also bleeding, the blood being bright red. Diarrhoea; cholera, infantum; dysentery, with watery or blood-streaked stools, but without tenesmus; especially from taking cold, checked perspiration in hot weather. Cystitis, with fever; retention of urine in children, with fever. Measles, first stage. Ovaritis. Ovarian neuralgia. Dysmenorrhoea, with hot face and soft quick pulse, also with vomiting and indigestion. Rheumatism, articular, with fever; shooting pains, worse on motion.
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).