Synonym.-Potassium Carbonate. Common name.- Carbonate of Potash. Preparation.-Triturations.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Acts especially upon the respiratory mucous membrane, the digestive tract, and upon the ovario-uterine system. The condition produced is one of excessive irritation, giving rise to a condition bordering on inflammation, yet hardly reaching that point. The membranes, under its influence, became extremely dry, and as a result w have sharp stitching pains, which is its great characteristic.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS
Mind. Very easily frightened (Nitr. ac.). Irascible, passionate humor (Bryonia, Chamomilla., Nux v.). Anxiety with fear (Aconite, gelsemium, Opium); about her disease. Peevish and irritable (Bryonia, Chamomilla, Cina, Hepars.).
Head. Vertigo when rapidly turning the head or body (Coni.). Constant sensation of something loose in thee head, turning and twisting towards forehead. Pressive headache. Headache mornings on waking (Natr. mur., nux v.); from walking in the open air. Pressure and drawing tearing in the forehead, extending into the eyes and root of the nose. One-sided headache; paroxysmal, in evening, with nausea. Stitches in the temples; worse stooping, moving head, eyes or jaw; better raising the head, and from heat. Headache and vertigo from motion of a carriage (Coccul.). Dryness and falling out of the hair (Lachesis, Nitr. ac., Sepia, Phosphorus).
Eyes. Burning and stitches in the eyes; smarting. Swelling between the eyebrows and lids, like a sack (upper lid, Apis). Lids swollen and inflamed; agglutinated, especially mornings (Lycopodium, Mercurius, Pulsatilla, Sulphur)((>)) tearing in right orbit and eye at night(>) pain in the eyes while reading (Ruta). Soreness of external canthus, with burning pain. Photophobia, lachrymation (Aconite, Belladonna, Mercurius, Mercurius, Sulphur). Weakness of vision; fog before thee eyes (Belladonna, Cyclamen, Mercurius, Pulsatilla, sulph.). Bright spots and sparks before the eyes (Belladonna, Cyclamen, Mercurius, Phosphorus, Sulphur).
Ears. Stitches in the ear (Coni., Graphites, Nitr. ac.); tickling, itching. Inflammation and swelling of thee parotids (Mercurius bin.). Roaring, whizzing, cracking noises in the ear (Borax, Cinchona, Graphites).
Nose.. Nose swollen and red (Belladonna, Nitr.. ac.., Rhus tox.); nostrils sore and scurfy (Mercurius, Nitr. ac., Kali bichromicum, Sepia). Stoppage of the nose; dry coryza. Frequent bleeding of the nose (Aconite, Belladonna, Bryonia) mornings. Fluent coryza. Burning. Blowing offensive matter from the nose. Ulcerative pain in right nostril.
Face. Pale, sickly color of the face; face bloated (Arsenicum). Haggard exhausted look. Lifeless expression. Tearing stitches in thee check. Scurf on the upper lip.
Mouth. Toothache only when eating; throbbing; worse when touched by anything cold or warm. Tearing lancinating toothache, with pain in facial bones. Much saliva constantly in the mouth. Burning and soreness on tip of tongue (Calcarea c., Carb. v.). Mouth and tongue covered with painful, burning vesicles (Lycopodium, Acid Muriaticum, Natr. mur.). Offensive odor from the mouth every morning, like old cheese. Dryness in the mouth in the evening, without thirst. Foul, slimy taste in the mouth (Arnica, Mercurius, Nux v.).
Throat. Much tenacious in back part of throat (Hydras, Kali bichromicum); mornings; which can neither be completely swallowed nor hawked up. Sticking pain in the pharynx, as if there were a fish bone in it (Hepar s.), on becoming cold. Scraping, dryness and roughness in throat. causing hemming and coughing. Difficult swallowing; the food descends the oesophagus very slowly, with gagging and vomiting. Swelling of the cervical glands.
Stomach. Sour eructations (Alumina, Carb. v., Nux v., Phosphorus, Sulphur); regurgitation of food and water. Eructations; in morning; of water after midnight. Nausea after a meal; on every inward emotion; during pregnancy (Nux moschata, Pulsatilla, Sepia); with faintness. Vomiting of food and acids. A constant feeling as if the stomach were full of water. Pit of stomach swollen, tense, sensitive to the touch (Hyoscyamus, Natr. carb.); violent throbbing; cutting (Belladonna). Heavy pressure in the stomach after eating (Bryonia, Nux v., Pulsatilla). Burning acidity rising from stomach, with spasmodic constriction.
Abdomen. Heat and burning pain, or stitches, in hepatic region (Aconite, Arsenicum, Bryonia, Cinchona, Mercurius, Nux v., Sepia); sore pain on touch. Pain in liver when walking, changing to heaviness; drawing soreness. Violent cutting pains all over the abdomen as if everything would be torn to pieces. Fullness, heat and great distension in the abdomen immediately after eating a little (Cinchona, Lycopodium, Nux v.). Feeling of coldness, as if a cold fluid passed through the intestines; during menses. Stitches in the lower abdomen. Heaviness and tension in abdomen; when sitting and walking. Discharge of much flatulence; increased flatulence.
Stool and Anus. Burning or biting, sore sensation in and around anus after stool. Large painful haemorrhoids (Acid Muriaticum), with stitches and burning; protrude during stool; much bleeding. In thee anus, stitches; cutting; soreness;itching (Sulphur); burning. Burning and griping in rectum. Ineffectual urging to stool (Ammonium mur., Coni., Nux v.); rectum feels too weak to expel it. Stool insufficient, soft, bloody; like sheep’s dung (Alumina, Plumb., Opium, Sepia); only with much exertion. Constipation during menstruation.
Urinary Organs. Frequent urination, especially at night (Ambr., Coni., Digit., Phosphorus ac.), with much pressure and scanty emission; has to wait long for thee urine to pass. Burning in the urethra while urine flows slowly. Discharge of a few drops after urinating; urine fiery, hot, scanty; pale greenish; turbid.
Male Organs. Sexual desire excessive or deficient. Great weakness after pollutions or coitions (Agaricus, Calcarea c., inch., Phosphorus. ac., Staphysagria).
Female Organs. Menses too early, too profuse, and long lasting (Belladonna, Calcarea c., Nux v., Phosphorus, Sabin..). Suppression of the menses, with dropsical effusion. Great soreness about the genitals before, during and after menstruation. During menses cutting in abdomen; aching and pressure in small of back (Cimic., Pulsatilla) as if everything would press out of the genitals; itching, nettle rash (Dulcamara); constipation. Yellow corrosive leucorrhoea (Arsenicum.); backache. Tearing stitches in the mammae (Bryonia).
Respiratory Organs. Easy choking when eating. Shortness of breath in the morning. Arrest of breath awakens at night. Complete hoarseness and loss of voice (Carb. v., Causticum, Hepar s., Phosphorus). Raw pain in larynx on coughing. Cough worse from 3 to 4 A.M. (Ammonium carb., Drosera). Cough evening after lying down; paroxysmal from tickling in thee throat; spasmodic, with gagging and vomiting; suffocative dryness of the larynx. Dry cough from tickling in the throat. Dry cough, waking at night, with acute pain in chest on coughing, little cough during the day. Purulent expectoration with the cough (Cinchona, Lycopodium.., Phosphorus, il.). Expectorations of small round lumps from the throat. Weakness of thee chest from rapid walking; also tightness and oppression. Tension across the chest on expiration, while walking. Cutting pain in the chest in the evening, after lying down; extending into left hypochondrium. Stitches in the chest on inspiration (Bad., Bryonia, Phosphorus). Sore pain in chest from talking, breathing, lifting (Rhus tox.). Pressure in the chest.
Heart. Frequent and violent palpitation (Aconite, Arsenicum, Spigelia, Sulphur); on least exertion. Intermission of the beats of the heart (Digit., Natr. mur.).
Neck and Back. Stiffness of the nape of the neck (Ignatia, lachesis, Rhus tox.); in morning in bed. Swelling of glands. Backache while walking; feels as if she must give up and lie down; after confinement, abortion, metrorrhagia, etc. Backache as if bruised or broken (Belladonna, Natr. mur., Nux v.) during rest. Stitches and tearing in right scapula on breathing, mornings. Stitches and pain in region of kidneys. Drawing pain in small of back. Hard pressure in small of back. Tearing in lumbar muscles, impeding respiration.
Limbs. Uneasiness in limbs, in evenings, in bed. Heaviness of the limbs; scarcely able to lift the feet. Extremities inclined to fall asleep. Stitches in joints and tendons. Drawing, tearing pains in limbs. Limbs pain when he rests them upon any object.
Upper Limbs. Weakness and loss of power in both arms. Tearing in the left shoulder joint. Swelling of the axillary glands. Drawing, tearing in both elbows. Pulsative pain in left upper arm by pauses. Hands and fingers go to sleep. Tearing between thumb and index finger. Perspiration in axillae.
Lower Limbs. Falling asleep and numbness. Tearing in and on nates not far from hip-joint; also suppurative pain, from sitting and in thighs. Paralytic drawing pains in thigh. Uneasiness of legs in the evening. Cramp in right thigh and calf at night. Jerking in the muscles of thighs. Tearing pain in knees, and over the leg and feet. Tearing on inside of foot and on sole; in toes. Heaviness of feet, walking is irksome. Tips of toes very painful on walking.
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).