Synonym. Mercurius Vivus. Common names. Quicksilver. Mercury. Mercuries Solubilis Hahnemanni. Precipitated back oxide of Mercury, with Nitric Acid and Ammonia.[* I have, in accordance with the usual custom, embraced both these preparations under the one head their similarity being so great that no distinction is usually made in practice. Most of the symptoms are obtained from the Solubilis; and, in order to facilitate the student’s knowledge, I have as far as possible designated those obtained from both preparations by a double asterisk. On account of the varying and doubtful composition of the solubilis, the vivus is usually considered the more reliable remedy, and has replaced the former to a great extend since Hahnemann’s time, and even by Hahnemann himself in the latter years of his practice]. Preparation. Triturations of either of the above preparations are employed.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Mercurius acts profoundly upon the entire organism, affecting both the functions and the substance of every organ and tissue of the body. Pre-eminently it operates upon the vegetative system, altering its functional power, both quantitatively and qualitatively, and decomposing and destroying its organic constituents. The blood corpuscles are destroyed, the albumen and fibrin of the blood are lost, and consequently the coagulability of the blood is diminished. Secretion and absorption are both increased, and the secretions, loosing their plasticity, become thinner and more fluid, and at the same time acrid and excoriating.
On the organic system Mercury acts more especially upon the mucous and serous membranes, the glandular system, the parenchymatous organs, the fibrous and osseous tissues and the skin. The first condition produced in one of excitation, swelling and inflammation, soon followed by reaction and subsequent weakness and exhaustion, which betokens commencing organic decomposition. The tissues above mentioned become the seat of destructive ulcerative processes, suppurations and puriform collections, while there is at the same time a tendency to the deposition of new products, according to the character of the tissue involved Thus we see that mercury penetrates the entire organism, and permeates every tissue, acting upon these tissues by virtue of its presence in them. In some instances the inflammatory and ulcerative processes mentioned are lacking, and there occurs instead nervous phenomena such as paralysis agitans, epilepsy, chorea, neuralgia and melancholia. Its special action upon each we may clearly comprehend by a careful study of the characteristic effects as given below. The most essential feature of the action of Mercury is its remarkable resemblance to the effects of the syphilitic poison, though it should be noted that Mercury attacks the long bones, while in syphilis the flat bones are attacked. The chief characteristic of Mercury is an aggravation of all the symptoms at night, and from warmth of the bed.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS
Mind Weakness of memory(Agn.,Ambr., Anacardium, Kreosotum, lachesis, Natr.mur., Nux moschata, Phos ac.); and will-power lost. Great anxiety, restlessness (Arsenicum), and apprehension, especially in evening and at night (Aconite, Arsenicum, Calcarea c., Rhus tox.). Answers questions slowly (Phosphorus, phosphorusac.). Intellect weak; imbecile. Imaginary fears of dying, or of losing reason (Can ind.). Low muttering delirium (Agaricus, Alianth., Belladonna, Hyos). Delirium like that of delirium tremens. Wretchedness, and dejection of spirits. Inclined to sopor, coma. Morose and suspicious. Irritability and ill-humor. Hurried and rapid talking (Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, Lachesis, Stramonium).
Head Vertigo. Confusion in morning on awaking. Weakness in head like a dullness, as if there was a vibration in forehead and turning about in a circle. Head feels as if bound around with a cord (Gelsemium, Mercurius bin., Natr. Mur., Nitr.ac., Pulsatilla, Sulphur). Head feels as if it would burst with fullness of the brain (Aconite, Bryonia,Cinchona, Natr.mur.). Aching just beneath scalp, as if heavy and tight. Pressive pain in left temple. Pressure outward in forehead, and pain in bone beneath eyebrow, worse on touch. Tearing or drawing pains or stinging on one side of head, extending to the ears, teeth and neck. Constant rotary motion of the head, even when lying. The scalp is painful to touch (Cinchona, Natr., mur., Nitr.ac.,); worse when scratching, which is followed by bleeding. Itching of the scalp day and night. Moist eruption on the scalp (Hepar s., Graphites, Lycopodium, Mercurius, Nitr.ac.), which eats away the hair; yellow running scabs and excoriation. Falling out of the hair (Graphites, Nitr. ac., Phosphorus, Sepia). Tearing and stinging in the bones of the skull. Sutures open; large head; precocious mental development. Exostoses on hairy scalp, with feeling of soreness when touched; worse at night in bed.
Eyes Eyes inflamed, with swollen inverted tarsi (Borax), and very sensitive to the light. Heat, biting as from horseradish, burning, redness, and pressure in the eyes (Aconite, Arsenicum, Sulphur). Pupils dilated. Lachrymation profuse, burning excoriating. Chronic conjunctivitis, with fine injection around cornea. Lids spasmodically closed (Hepars.), red inflamed, swollen; agglutinated in the morning (Alumina, Calcarea c., Lycopodium, Pulsatilla, Silicea, Sulphur). Sensation as if a cutting substance were beneath left upper lid. Eyes forcibly drawn together on attempting to look at anything; cannot see distinctly. Inability to open the eyes well, as if agglutinated to balls. Dimness of vision; fog before the eyes (Kali carb., Lachesis); also black points, flies, etc. (Agaricus, Cyclamen, Phosphorus, sulph.). Intolerance of light and fire-light (Aconite, Belladonna, Sulphur).
Ears Inflammation of internal and external ear, with stinging, tearing, and cramp-like pains (Belladonna, Pulsatilla); bloody, offensive discharge(Calcareac., hepars., Graphites, Lycopodium). Stitches deep in ears with burning. Ringing and roaring in the ears (Cinchona, Sulphur, silicea). Stoppage. Soreness and excoriation of the ears. Hardness of nearing, with obstruction; sounds vibrate in the ears; obstruction momentarily, better after swallowing, or blowing the nose.
Nose Nosebleed during sleep; during cough. Coryza; fluent, corrosive, with much sneezing; offensive odor; nostrils blessing, scurfy;nose red, swollen, shining (Arsenicum, Arum., Pulsatilla). Nasal bones swollen and painful to touch (Alumina, Aurum, Bryonia, Hepar s.).
Face Paleness of face. Sallow. Swollen. Face earthy colored, puffy(Arsenicum, Pulsatilla). Coldness. Internal swelling of the upper lip (Belladonna). Corners of the mouth ulcerated and painfully sore (Antim crud., Graphites). Fissures. Lips dry, cracked and ulcerated (Arsenicum); painful to touch. Masseter muscles contracted so that speech was difficult. Periostitis of lower jaw. Necrosis (Phosphorus).Caries. Atrophy and exfoliation of alveolar processes. Tearing in lower jaw towards evening. Spasm and immobility of the jaws.
Mouth Teeth feel loose, fall out (Mercurius cor.), become black; carious (Staphysagria); denuded of gum;painful on touch of tongue. Dirty discoloration. Pulsating jerking toothache, extending into ear and head; worse at night (Antim crud., Belladonna), and from warmth of bed (Clem.). Aching at night, then general chilliness, with swelling of gums and salivary glands. Gums painful to touch and on chewing; swollen, spongy, receding from the teeth (Carb. v., Nitr. ac.); edges whitish; bleeding; foetid odor from the mouth (Arnica, Hepar S., Iodi., Kali nit., Nitr.ac., Kreosotum); ulcerated; suppurating; Tongue red and swollen (Belladonna); ulcerated; black, with red edges (Arsenicum); swollen, coated white (Ant.crud., Bryonia, Nux v.); Moist with intense thirst; swollen, flabby (Natr.ars.); showing impress of teeth on margin; movement difficult; speech difficult on account of trembling of mouth and tongue; stammering (Causticum, Hyoscyamus, Stramonium). Gray patches on edges, dirty-yellow coat on upper surface. Aphthae in the mouth (Borax, Helleborus, Hydras., iodi.); bluish-red and spongy; ulcers spread without penetrating the flesh. Stomatitis. Inflammation and superficial ulceration of the mucous membranes of the mouth (Nitr.ac.). Salivary glands swollen and painful. Profuse salivation (Aconite, Cinchona, Euc., Iodium, nitr.a.); saliva foetid or tastes coppery. Taste sweetish (Arsenicum, Bryonia, Coccus, Sulphur); especially bread; salty (Natr. mur.); metallic (Aesculus, Coccul., Coccus, Naja, Osm., sulph.); Slimy or putrid (Arnica, Rhus tox.).
Throat Uvula swollen and elongated. Syphilitic ulcers in throat and mouth. Painful dryness of the throat, with mouth full of saliva; pressure on swallowing. Suppuration of tonsils, with sharp, sticking pain in fauces when swallowing(Hepar s., Nitr. ac.). Angina, throat and fauces of a coppery-red color and swollen. Sensation as if something (an apple-core) were sticking in the throat. Throat constantly dry; pain as if tight posteriorly; with pressure on swallowing, yet constantly obliged to swallow, because the mouth is always full of saliva. Inability to swallow liquids, which return through the nose (Lycopodium). Glands swollen (Arum., Aurum, Baryta c., Calcarea c., 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).