Conditions. Especially useful in fat, light-haired persons; fat, chubby children.
Compare.. Arsenicum, Ant.. crud.., Bromium., Hepar s., Iodium, Kali iod., Lachesis, Mercurius, Mez., Nitr. ac., Phytol., Pulsatilla, Silicea, Spongia
Antidotes.. Arsenicum, Lachesis, Pulsatilla
THERAPEUTICS
Kali bich, is an invaluable remedy in the treatment of catarrhal conditions of any part, especially when characterized by a discharge of tenacious stringy mucus. An excellent remedy in catarrhal conjunctivitis with symptoms already described, the inflammation being rather indolent in character. Small deep ulcers in cornea, with tendency to perforation. Subacute scrofulous inflammation of the cornea and iris. Acute iritis, later stages, especially syphilitic. Inflammation and ulceration of the middle ear, involving the tympanum, sharp, stitching pains shooting into the nape and neck; glands swollen. A most valuable remedy in nasal catarrh, either acute or chronic, with characteristic discharge; nose obstructed; heavy pressive pain at root of nose, or shooting pains from root of nose along frontal sinuses; ulceration; sometimes hard plugs form in nostrils, and when detached leave am eroded pr i;ulcerated surface; dropping of mucus from the posterior nares (Hydrastis). Equally valuable in catarrhal inflammation of the throat and fauces; accumulation of much thick, tenacious mucus, difficult to detach; posterior wall of pharynx dry, dark and livid. Ulcers in pharynx, small and deep; with foetid cheesy exudation. Also inflammation of uvula and tonsils, finally ulcerating. Follicular pharyngitis. Follicular tonsilitis. Diphtheria, membrane tenacious, thick and yellow, like wash-leather. In all throat troubles a shooting pain from the throat to the ear is characteristic. Syphilitic ulceration of fauces, surrounding parts of a coppery-red color. Gastric catarrh, vomiting a thin glairy mucus. Dyspepsia; especially in drunkards; from malt liquors. Acid dyspepsia. Gastric symptoms supersede rheumatism. Gastric and rheumatic symptoms alternate. Round perforating ulcer of the stomach. Gastro-intestinal catarrh with stringy mucous discharges; sour or bilious vomiting. Duodenal catarrh, symptoms agreeing. Dysentery occurring periodically every year, in the spring or early summer; tongue dry, red and cracked; with characteristic stools and other symptoms already given. Urethritis with symptoms noted under “Urinary Organs.” Nephritis. Venereal ulcers or chancres, deep, with offensive cheesy exudation. Leucorrhoea, yellow, ropy, can be drawn out in strings. Pruritus vulva. Kali bich, is especially useful in catarrhal affections of the lower air passages. Subacute or chronic laryngeal catarrh, with hoarseness and profuse accumulation of tenacious mucus. A most valuable remedy in membranous croup, especially in the later stages; hoarse metallic cough, labored breathing, tenacious expectoration, causing gagging and efforts to vomit, little or no fever. Subacute or chronic bronchitis with cough and other symptoms already noted under their proper heads. Asthma dependent on bronchiectasis, with characteristic exudation. Asthma, worse from 3 to 4 A.M., liable to recur in winter weather, or in chilly weather during summer. Neuralgia of the coccyx, worse when sitting. Sciatica, left side. Syphilitic periostitis. Syphilitic ulceration of the tongue. Aphthae. The ulceration of Kali bich. is very characteristic, being deep as if cut out with a punch, edges regular (superficial and widespread, Mercurius). Has been found useful in lupus. Popular eruptions. Measles with characteristic catarrhal symptoms of eyes and respiratory organs already mentioned. Sometimes useful in rheumatism, especially of fingers and wrists, occurring in cool weather during spring or summer. Ailments from vapors of Arsenic; from Mercurius, especially the Iodide of Mercury.
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).