Synonym. Flores Sulphuris. Common names. Brimstone. Flowers of Sulphur. Preparation. Triturations of pure Sublimed Sulphur. Sulphuris tincture is a saturated solution with Alcohol, and is equivalent to the 2x dilution.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
Acts especially on the ganglionic nervous system, affecting primarily the venous capillary system, and through it affecting profoundly the entire vegetative sphere, penetrating deeply every recess of the human body. Precisely how this mighty agent operates, and exactly the channels through which it produces its wonderful changes in organic and functional life, may not be definitely known; the effects of these operations are ever before us, and offer conclusive evidence as to the character of the remedy in its general constitutional action, tainting the system, as it does, with a chronic miasm, peculiar to itself, yet simulating a vast array of pathological stages which have, for their peculiar expression, some character of cutaneous eruption. Thus, as we have indicated, the chief local action of Sulphur is found to be upon the skin, producing various forms of eruption, papular, vesicular, pustular and herpetic, is most noted action being an itching, vesicular formation, holding a marked resemblance to scabies or itch, and other kindred affections of the skin.
Sulphur also affects particularly the lymphatic glandular system, the mucous membranes, especially of the eyes, bronchi, urethra and rectum, and the portal system, especially the haemorrhoidal vessels. However, as Allen remarks (Hand-book of Materia, Medica, p. 1056): “Since Sulphur is an integral part of every form of protoplasm, it follows that all tissues become affected by its abnormal exhibition, and no particular limit or character can be assigned to it.”
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mind. Melancholy, sad, despondent, inclined to weep (Aurum, Ignatia, Natr. mur., Platina, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox.). Discouraged and weary of life. peevish, irritable; fretful; ill-humored; quarrelsome (Bryonia, Chamomilla, Nux v.). Indolence of mind and body; indisposed to anything-work, talk, pleasure, or motion (Nux v., Phosphorus ac.). Great anxiety and apprehension in the evening (Calcarea c., Mercurius, Rhus tox.). Great tendency to religious and philosophical speculations (Veratrum alb.). Weak memory (Anacardium, Kreosotum, Lachesis, Nux moschata). particularly for names. Mental distraction; cannot think, or fix his mind on any subject (Calcarea c., Gelsemium, Natr. mur., Phosphorus ac., Sepia). Awkwardness at his work.
Head. Great confusion of the head, with dizziness; with aching, as if a band were tied tight around the forehead (Coccul., Gelsemium, Mercurius, Pulsatilla, Spigelia). Vertigo; while walking in the open air (Argentum nit., Calcarea c., Gloninum, Sepia), when stooping (Aconite, Belladonna, Pulsatilla), on looking down; when rising from a seat (Belladonna, Bryonia, Sulphur); when crossing a stream (Ferrum); with nosebleed mornings (Belladonna, Bryonia). Heaviness, fullness, and pressure in the forehead. Rhus of blood to the head; with pulsation, heat, and pressure in the brain (Aconite, Belladonna). Pressive headache, especially in temples, in the morning, after rising. Pain is if the brain were beating against the skull, especially when nodding, or moving the head (Ars, Gloninum, Hyoscyamus, Nux moschata). Every step is felt painfully in the head. Stitches in the head and out of the eyes. Tearing, tensive, jerking, or hammering pains in the head. Heavy, pressive, frontal headache, especially in the morning (Nux v.), with restlessness. Headache, as from a board in front of the head (Aconite, Belladonna, Gelsemium, Mercurius, Nitr. ac.). Pressive headache in vertex, as from a weight on top of the brain (Aloe.). Scalp, especially the vertex, painfully sensitive to touch (Cinchona, Mercurius, Natr. Mur., Nitr. ac.). Profuse falling out of the hair (Graphites, Hepar s., Lycopodium, Merc, Nitr. ac., Phosphorus, Sepia). Roots of hair painful, especially to touch (Cinchona, Ferrum). Violent itching of the scalp (Caust, Carbolicum acidum, Graphites, Sepia, Silicea). Painful elevations on sinciput and vertex. Painful, inflamed, itching pimples on scalp and forehead (Hepar s., Sepia, Silicea). Fontanelles close too late. Humid, offensive eruption, with thick pus, yellow crusts, itching, bleeding and burning (Arsenicum, Graphites, Hepar s., Mercurius, Silicea).
Eyes. Inflammation of the eyes or lids, with swelling, redness of conjunctivae, and much itching, burning and smarting (Antim crud., Argentum nit., Calcarea c., Graphites). Dryness of the eyes in the room; lachrymation in the open air (Pulsatilla). Lachrymation in the mornings, with burning. Retinitis, caused by over-use of eyes; congestion of optic nerve. Burning, dryness, smarting and itching of the margins of the lids. Pain in lid, as if rubbed against spiculae of glass. Burning and rubbing, dry sensation between the lids, as if sand were in them (Arsenicum, Causticum, Hepar s., Thuja.). Agglutinations of the lids at night (Calcarea c., Lycopodium, Mercurius, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox., Silicea). Dryness in balls, and sensation as if they rubbed against the lids. Shooting pains in the eyes, and cutting stitches as from a knife, especially in right eye. Aching in the eyeballs in evening, with weight and loss of vision. Pustules and ulcers on and around the cornea (Hepar s., Nitr. ac., Still.), with redness of the eye, photophobia and lachrymation. Ulceration of the margins of the lids (Graphites). Great sensitiveness of the eyes to the light of the sun (Aconite, Belladonna, Graphites, Ignatia, Mercurius). Burning in the eyes, and easy fatigue when reading. Dimness of vision, as of a veil before the eyes (Croc., Natr. mur., Petrol., Phosphorus, Sepia, Thuja). Dark points and spots floating before the eyes (Agaricus, Chelidonium, Kali. c., Mercurius, Phosphorus, Sepia, Silicea). Flickering before the eyes (Carls.). Dazzled by looking long at an object.
Ears. Pressure and pain in the ear when swallowing and sneezing, as if ulcerate. Sharp, shooting or drawing pains in the ear, sometimes extend to throat and head. Stitches in the left ear (Arsenicum, Coni., Graphites, Kali bichromicum, Kali carb.). Itching in the ears (Baryta c., Hepar s., Mercurius bin.). Ringing and roaring in the ears (Cinchona, Mercurius, Silicea); in evening in bed with rush of blood to the head. Hardness of hearing, preceded by over-sensitiveness of hearing. Something seems to come before the ears. Swashing in the ears. Purulent, offensive otorrhoea, worse left ear. Ears very red with children.
Nose. Nose swollen, red and inflamed (Belladonna, Phosphorus); internal ulceration. Violent, fluent coryza, with frequent sneezing (Aconite, Cepa., Sanguinaria); in evening land morning. Burning coryza in open air; stooped up when in the room. Bloody mucous discharge, when blowing the nose. Profuse secretion of thick, yellow, purulent mucus (Calcarea c., Hydras., Pulsatilla). Comedones not he nose. Dryness of the nose. Tip of nose red and shiny. Itching and burning in the nostrils, as if sore.
Face. Paleness of face, and expression of great suffering, as after long illness. Eyes sunken, and blue rings around them (Cinchona, Kali iod., Phosphorus). Heat and burning in the face, with dark-red face, or circumscribed red cheeks (Baptisia). Pressure and tearing pains in malar bone. Black comedones on face (Selenium), especially on forehead, nose, upper lip and chin. Swelling of the lips, especially the upper lip (Belladonna, Calcarea c.). Swelling of lower lip, with eruption on it. Upper lip and margins of nose dry, scaly, rough and burning. Burning and sticking in upper lip in morning on rising, as if raw. Dryness of the lips. Painful eruptions around the chin. Herpes at the corners of mouth (Ant., curd., Arsenicum). Painful glandular swelling of the lower jaw; drawing, jerking pains.
Mouth. Drawing, throbbing, or boring toothache; in the open air, or in slightest draft of air (Cinchona); from cold water (Antim crud., Calcarea c., Coccus, Staphysagria); in the evening and night, with pain in submaxillary glands. Swelling of the gums, with throbbing pain. Bleeding gums. Taste; bitter (Bryonia, Cinchona, Coloc., Nux v., Pulsatilla); pasty; offensive; sweetish (Arsenicum, Bryonia, Mercurius, Plumb.); metallic (AEsc., Coccul., Merc, Naja); sour; in the morning. Tongue coated white, with red tip and borders (mostly in acute diseases). Blisters on the tongue and in the mouth dryness of the mouth, tongue and palate, with much thirst (Arsenicum). Mouth dry, insipid, and sticky in the morning. Foetid of sour smell from the mouth, especially in morning and after eating. Accumulation of saliva in mouth (Mercurius). bloody (Nitr. ac.). or salty (Ant., crud., Mercurius, cor., Phosphorus); after eating.
Throat. Roughness, rawness and dryness of the throat. Scraping in the throat; hawking and clearing throat (Ammonium carb., Carb v., Phosphorus). Sore throat, with great burning and dryness; soreness begins on right side and goes to left; redness of tonsils. Stitches in throat when swallowing (Alumina, Argentum, nit.). A hard ball seems to rise in throat and to close the pharynx, and take away the breath (Asafoetida, Lycopodium). Painful contraction of the throat when swallowing (Belladonna, Plumb.). Burning up into the throat, with sour eructations. Stitches and swelling in parotid and submaxillary glands.
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).