Generalities. Extreme emaciation (Arsenicum, Ferrum, Phosphorus). Great debility and trembling (Alumina, Cinchona); weariness and prostration. Sensitive to the open air; inclined to tremor of hands. Cannot walk erect; stoop-shouldered. Standing in the most disagreeable position. Child dislike to be washed and bathed (Ant., crud.). Child jumps starts and screams. Epilepsy, with stiffness; sensation as from a mouse running up arms to back, before the it. Dry, flabby skin. Glandular swelling, indurated or suppurating. Body offensive, despite washing.
Skin. Voluptuous itching and tingling, with burning and soreness after scratching (Carbolicum acidum). Vesicular and herpetic eruptions, with much itching and burning (Crot. tig., Mercurius, Rhus tox.). Itching; worse from the warmth of the bed (Alumina, Mercurius, Mez., Phosphorus). Formication over the whole body. Slight cuts and injuries inflame and suppurate (Borax, Chamomilla, Graphites, Hepar s., Silicea). Soreness in the folds of the skin (Graphites, Hydras., Ignatia, Lycopodium, Mercurius). Ulcers, with raised, swollen edges, bleeding easily (Asafoetida, Mercurius, Mez.); surrounded with pimples, and discharging foetid pus.
Sleep. Irresistible sleepiness during the day (Ant. tart., Apis, Nux moschata); wakefulness the whole night. Yawning. Restless sleep, with frequent waking. Late falling asleep. Violent starting on falling asleep (Arsenicum, Belladonna, Hyoscyamus). Vivid., frightful, vexation, anxious dreams (Arnica, Aurum, Pulsatilla).
Fever. Chilliness every evening in bed, followed by heat and profuse perspiration; in morning. Frequent internal chilliness, without thirst (Pulsatilla). Chill creeping up the back. Chill and fever; no reaction; constantly sinking. Heat in afternoon and evening, with dry skin and excessive thirst. Frequent flushes of heat; sometimes ending with a little moisture and faintness. Morning sweat setting in after waking (Sepia). Sweat smelling of sulphur. Profuse night sweat (Cinchona, Phosphorus, Silicea, Acid Sulphuricum). Perspiration from the least exertion (Ambr., Calcarea c., Hepar s., Phosphorus, Silicea).
Aggravation. In evening, or after midnight; from warmth of bed; during rest; when standing; from touch; from washing or bathing; in the open air.
Amelioration. During motion; on walking.
Compare. Aloe, Arsenicum, Belladonna, Calcarea c., Cinchona, Colchicum, Hepar s., Iodi., Lycopodium, Mercurius, Natr. m., Nitr. ac., Nux v., Phosphorus, Psorinum, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox., Sepia, Silicea
Antidotes. Aconite, Camph., Chamomilla, Cinchona, Mercurius, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox., Sepia
Sulphur Antidotes. Cinchona, Iodium, Mercurius, Nitr. ac., Rhus tox., Sepia
THERAPEUTICS.
As has been already suggested, Sulphur may be indicated in any disease, regardless of its character or of the tissue involved. It will, therefore, be impossible to give a complete resume of its clinical range. Its chief use is in chronic diseases. Often times it may be prescribed as an intercurrent remedy, even when its individual symptoms are absent, in both chronic and acute diseases, for the purpose of arousing the reactive energies of the system, when carefully selected remedies have failed to produce a favorable effect. This power of Sulphur depends upon its relation to Hahnemann’s psora; and while we must admit that the latter theory was based upon false premises so far as the single disease, itch, was concerned, science having at that time failed to discover the parasitic nature of this disease, yet it is evident that Hahnemann only used the term scabies or itch to indicate some form of cutaneous eruption, and the term psora to indicate a constitutional taint dependent upon, or having for its external manifestation, some form of cutaneous eruption, not necessarily always identical with itch. This might be hereditary, or due to the suppression of an eruption; and while some skin diseases of a parasitic nature may be cured solely by external means, without immediate bad results, yet remote consequences are, possible, and in many instances at least a constitutional dyscrasia is thus established which afterwards more or less modifies and controls the course of any disease with which the individual may suffer. Sulphur is the chief remedy with which to combat this constitutional condition, often restoring the suppressed disease, and, if not, so controlling the dyscrasia that the action of other indicated remedies may not be interfered with. It is especially useful in people who are subject to eruptions upon the skin, and those in whom the skin is rough and harsh and the hair coarse; light-complexioned; lean, stoop- shouldered; offensive odor from the body; general dislike to and aggravation from washing or bathing. Said to be indicated for people who have very red lips, and redness of the other orifices of the body, often accompanied by soreness and burning. Diseases which alternate with some form of eruption on the skin. All forms of scrofulous disease. Rachitic complaints. Sufferings from the abuse of Mercury or Cinchona, and metals generally. In briefly considering some of the individual pathological states in which Sulphur is especially useful, the remarks just made on the general action of the drug, especially as regards the retrocession of eruptions, must be borne in mind in order to save repetition. It is useful in some of nervous disease; hysteria; epilepsy. chorea; paraplegia; neuralgia of various sorts, sometimes periodic. Sulphur does not produce any spinal or cerebral changes, but its nervous manifestations are due to spinal weakness and general constitutions conditions. Marasmus; tuberculosis, tubercular meningitis; hydrocephalus; differentiated from Calcarea by the characteristics of the patient. Characteristic eruptions on the scalp (see symptoms.). Alopecia. A valuable remedy in many diseases of the eyes and lids, especially of a scrofulous nature. Conjunctivitis. Blepharitis. Styes. Tarsal tumors. Ulceration of lids. Painful inflammation from foreign bodies in the eyes (after Aconite). Pustular inflammation of conjunctiva; of cornea; ulcers on and about cornea; abscesses; always great pain, photophobia and lachrymation; usually worse at night; sharp, burning, sticking and itching; nightly agglutination, etc. Keratitis. Kerato- iritis. Retinitis. Asthenopia. Opacities of the vitreous. Cataract. Inflammation of the external and middle ear. Chronic nasal catarrh. Comedones. Tonsilitis. Pharyngitis. Dyspepsia and gastric troubles in general, with weak, faint feeling at stomach about 11 A.M. Dyspepsia from milk. Swelling and induration of liver. Engorged liver, with piles and other resulting conditions. Various abdominal troubles, with symptoms agreeing; usually follows Nux well. Ascites. An invaluable of the rectum, according to symptoms. Diarrhoea, especially in morning; great variety of stools (see symptom). Dysentery. A valuable remedy in chronic nephritis. Catarrh of the bladder. Chronic gonorrhoea. Phimosis. Hydrocele. Pruritus in both male and female. Amenorrhoea. Dysmenorrhoea. Menorrhagia. Vicarious menstruation. Leucorrhoea. Chlorosis. Uterine displacements, and various forms of uterine and pelvic inflammation, with Sulphur symptoms. Often useful i n chronic respiratory diseases. Aphonia. Laryngeal and bronchial catarrh. Whooping cough (vapors of Sulphur said to be extremely beneficial). Often useful in chronic asthma, especially after suppressed eruptions or discharges, even many years after. An extremely valuable remedy in chronic pneumonia, and in the later stages of acute pneumonia, when resolution does not take place, hepatization remaining, with dry cough, etc.; also in first stage of phthisis following pneumonia. Phthisis, with general Sulphur indications. Hydrothorax. Cardiac dropsy. Spinal irritation. Chronic rheumatism. Rheumatic gout. Synovitis. Lumbago. A most important remedy in skin diseases as already mentioned; vesicular, herpetic and pustular eruptions in general, with much itching and burning; worse at night from warmth of bed; also complaints from their suppression by external applications. The chief remedy in “itch” or scabies. Eczema. Acne. Intertrigo. Ulcers. Abscesses. Erysipelas. Eruptive fevers. Bilious fevers. Typhoid fever. Hectic fever. in fevers Sulph. maybe indicated by the symptoms of the case, or may be useful as intercurrent remedy, as already mentioned.
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).