Common names. Sulphate of Magnesia. Epsom Salts. Preparation. Triturations.
GENERAL ANALYSIS AND THERAPEUTICS.
The chief action is upon the skin, the digestive system, the urinary organs and the female organs. It has been in disturbances of these functions that it has been used. It is said to be especially useful in diabetes, and is often indicated in rheumatism.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Stomach. Frequent eructations, tasting like bad eggs (Arnica). Rising of water in the mouth.
Abdomen. Distention and fulness after a moderate meal. Rumbling with emission of flatus; followed by diarrhoea.
Urinary Organs. Stitches and burning in the orifice of the urethra after urinating. Stream intermits and dribbles. The urine passed in the morning copious, bright yellow, soon becomes turbid, and deposits a copious red sediment. The urine is greenish as passed; is of a clear color, and in a large quantity. Diabetes.
Female Organs. Thick leucorrhoea, as profuse as the menses, with weary pain in the small of the back and thighs, on moving about. Some blood from the vagina between the menses. Menstruation returned after fourteen days; the discharge thick, black and profuse. Menses too early; intermit.
Neck and Back. Bruised and ulcerative pain between the shoulders, with a feeling as of a lump as large as a fist, on which account she could not lie upon her back or side; relieved by rubbing. Violent pain in the small of the back, as if bruised and as before menstruation.
Limbs. The left arm and foot fall asleep in bed in the morning after waking. Rheumatic pains, worse at night.
Skin. Small pimples over the whole body, itch violently. Suppressed itch (Sulphur). Crawling in the tips of the fingers of the left hand; better on rubbing. Warts.
Fever. Chill from 9 to 10 A.M. Shuddering in back; heat in one part and chill in another.
Compare. Aloe, Phosphorus ac., Hepar., Sulphur
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).