RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ELEMENTARY SUBSTANCES



The arrangement of the elements in tabular form by Mendeleeff and by Meyer also, brought clearly into display their relationship and similarity. There is a division of the elements into nine groups, each being entered in an individual column. There is also a division into twelve series, each being represented upon one horizontal line. The atomic weights increase in passing across the table from left to right. The elements in any one column are similar to one another in many respects, the resemblance being in some cases quite striking. A proper position for hydrogen cannot be found in the table.

Copper, silver and gold, are entered in both the first and the eighth groups, this being so because of the doubt as to their true positions. The similarity between the metals that compose the eighth group is so great, that the necessity arises for their arrangement in groups of threes or fours, (depending on where we place copper, silver, gold) each little group of this kind being considered as lying upon one and the same horizontal line of the table. Between cerium and ytterbium in atomic weight there are a number of closely allied metals, the metals of the rare earths, which do not fit well into the periodic system in any natural manner, and are therefore omitted form the table. In any given group the resemblance between the elements of the even series (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12) is greater than their resemblance to the elements in the odd series of the same group.

The full significance of Mendeleeffs table cannot be understood without an exhaustive study of the chemical department of the elements so classified. The arrangements into groups has been consummated through a study of the properties as a whole, embracing melting points, boiling points, density, malleability, spectra and magnetic properties, basicity, acidity, valence, as well as the colors and heats of formation of their salts. Other physical and chemical properties have likewise been examined in the light of the periodic law, and the arrangement of the elements is that which best represents the entire mass of relationships.

A study of the elements in the same vertical column shows their similarity to each other in valence, base- forming properties and so forth. Lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and caesium are all univalent, from strong hydroxides, and nearly all their compounds are characterized by ready solubility. Moreover the free metals all react violently with water, displacing hydrogen. It can be no accident that an arrangement in periods of nine brings these elements in the same vertical column to constitute a group., It can be no accidents, too, which places sulphur, selenium and tellurium in the same group.

Proceeding from lithium to the right, the chemical and physical properties steadily change. The base-forming property decreases from lithium to fluorine, but with sodium this property returns to full strength. Beginning with sodium, the base-forming property again decreases until potassium is reached, demonstrating the properties of the elements to be periodic functions of their atomic weights.

There is a steady change of properties vertically as well as horizontally in the table, the density, for example, as well as the metallic character, increasing from above downward in any given vertical column.

The modern explanation for the phenomena summed up by the periodic law is that the atom is a system of very small negative electrons in a relatively large sphere of positive electrifications, that the atomic weight is proportional to the number of electrons in the atom, and that the stable arrangements of electrons are in a general way periodic functions of the number of electrons to be arranged. The properties of the elements changed with increasing atomic weights, and this change is a periodic one, so that similar elements occur again and again as the hours repeat themselves in different days or the seasons in different years.

A study of the periodic table reveals the close relationship in the pathogenesis and symptomatology of elements which are closely allied in physical and chemical properties.

GROUP I-THE ALKALI METALS.

The alkali metals in Group One act as the univalent cations of salts in the lithosphere as well as in the organism. Our study of salts in the lithosphere as well as in the organism. Our study can be restricted to lithium, sodium and potassium, because rubidium and caesium bear at present neither physiologic nor pharmacologic significance. Lithium is not vital to life, and has much less reactive power than either sodium or potassium.

A study of the carbonates of these elements yields the most comparative picture, for in these salts we can find most purely the characteristic properties of the alkali constituent.

The radioactivity of potassium characterized by the emitting of beta-particles or rapidly moving electrons, is a property not possessed by any other constituent of the organism.

KALI CARBONICUM.

Kali carb., like all the potash salts, enfeebles the system and produces anaemia. The constitution of this salt is characterized by chilliness, sluggish circulation, weakness and relaxation of muscles and a tendency toward oedema. The vegetative symptoms corresponds in general to an increased excitation of the parasympathetic nervous system, called a state of vagotonia. The rapid physical and mental exhaustion is accompanied by irritability.

Kali carb. is one of the cold remedies, a characteristic of all compounds with cation preponderance. Being sensitive to cold, he seeks the warm room. Besides coldness in general, he feels cold in single parts characterized especially by neuralgias, the pain shooting here and there, especially in the cold parts; by the application of heat, the pain migrates to other parts. This rapid shifting of pain in general is characteristic. Profuse sweating in general on slight provocation, is evidence of parasympathetic stimulation.

The pale, cold, and puffy skin with bag-like swelling between the eyebrows and the upper lids, the sleepiness after eating dependent on circulatory weakness, the anxiety and vague apprehension felt in the gastric region, the giving out of the legs and back on walking, the predominantly sticking pains, which are contrary to Bry. aggravated from lying on the affected parts and being also aggravated from becoming cold, the improvement from moving around and the change in location of the pain by applications of warmth, and the spasmodic and choking cough coming on between three and five in the morning, are distinguishing characteristics. The distended feeling in the stomach and abdomen with eructation and gas accumulation accompanied by the feeling of coldness and the aggravation form cold drinks and after eating is similar to Carbo veg., this being so because the plant charcoal contains some potassium carbonate.

NATRUM CARBONICUM.

The Natrum carb. type is characterized also by chilliness, yet there is intolerance to heat of the sun. There is, too, physical relaxation and a state of mental exhaustion, together with digestive weakness.

Like the Kali salt, the coldness of Natr. carb is characterized by sensitivity to the least draft. The chilliness, headache and palpitation are ameliorated by eating. Music causes melancholia and crying. He awakens about five a.m. with weakness and hunger. The extreme weakness of the joints of the feet causes easy stumbling and spraining of the ankles. The face is pale with puffy lids and dark circles under the eyes. The tendency to sweating on the painful parts, and from the slightest exertion, is similar to Kali carb.

The predominance of symptoms referable to the respiratory system with Kali carb. contrasts with Sodium carb. where the digestive organs are more profoundly involved. The derangement of the digestive system is characterized by acid eructations, severe heartburn, distension, and pressure in the stomach as from a stone, all the symptoms being worse after eating, and better after food has left the stomach, while the general symptoms, such as chilliness, headache and palpitation are improved by eating. Cold drinks aggravate. Milk and vegetables produce diarrhoea. a peculiar symptoms is the sensation of hunger at five a.m. and eleven p.m.

Kent has summarized both remedies in saying that they are useful in “old dyspeptics with constant eructations, sour stomach and rheumatism; the bent back is weak, sensitive to cold, their digestive and rheumatic-gouty complaints become worse from change of weather.”.

LITHIUM CARBONICUM.

Lithium carb. is of great value in the treatment of rheumatism and gout, especially acute arthritic inflammation of the small joints. It is useful also in irritation of the bladder with dysuria where the urine is scanty and acid. In the provings we find that there is frequent urination which disturbs the sleep, and burning in the urethra. The urine is turbid with a reddish-brown sediment. The rheumatic-gouty component which Lith. carb. shares in common with the other alkalis should be noted. A gradual stiffness develops over the entire body. A characteristic of the cardiac complaints is that they are worse before micturition and cease after it.

Joseph L. Kaplowe