In Lac. can., Lac vac. defl. and Sac. lac. the face shows the profound action of the remedies by the great pallor, the sad, wretched, deathly look.
The mouth symptoms of Lac fel. bear a close resemblance to those of Merc. viv. in the enlarged flabby tongue with serrated edges from the teeth and the excessive saliva. With the exception of cream, all this group has many mouth and teeth symptoms. There are many taste symptoms-metallic, burnt, salty, or the food tastes as if it lacked salt.
Every member of the group manifests throat symptoms: dryness of the fauces, sensation of a plug in the throat, difficulty in swallowing, choking sensation, rawness; and the alternation of sides, most notably in Lac can.
It is homoeopathic history that Lac can. was first introduced into this country by Reisig as a most effective weapon against the severe diphtheria epidemic then prevalent. At that time it proved itself the genus epidemicus, and this was clinical evidence of its homoeopathicity in many violent throat conditions.
Again excepting cream, this group has many symptoms of the appetite and stomach, manifesting generally much bloating after eating. There may be entire loss of appetite, or it becomes voracious; or there is desire to eat paper, as in Lac fel. There is marked thirst running through the group, a frequent concomitant of the diabetic.
The nausea of pregnancy may be covered by some members of this group; and the marked exacerbation of all symptoms during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy gives this group of remedies greater importance in our armamentarium. In fact, this tendency to exacerbate at these periods is a general characteristic of the entire group, running through the whole symptomatology, and by no means confined to any portion of our anatomical schema.
Bearing down sensations, in the abdomen or pelvic, region, are frequent, and may be associated with the constipation or symptoms of the female organs. Constipation or loose mushy stools are those of most frequent appearance among the symptoms of the stool.
The diabetic syndrome is often present in the cows milk group, especially Lactic acid-thirst, dry mouth and throat, frequent desire to urinate; sugar in the urine. There may be albuminuria. With the similarity of many symptoms to those manifest in a stormy pregnancy we might study these remedies in that connection.
There are respiratory difficulties in the upper part of the tract especially; the larynx is constricted, dry; voice changes pitch; hoarseness < using the voice; dyspnoea, oppression, pressure in chest; increased secretions. These symptoms may occur in many syndromes, and with the more “strange, rare and peculiar symptoms” which designate the individual member of the group, may find more general usefulness than has been accorded them.
“Swan, regards cold pains as a keynote of Sac. lac.” says Clarke, and stresses its use in neuralgias with fine cold pains. Thus we find this group useful in neuralgia, sciatica, rheumatic and similar affections.
Even cursory study of this group teaches us that its homoeopathicity to many of our cases is greater than our appreciation of its value, and that in all probability many of our patients who now take much milk as a staple of diet would be much better off without it. This group will bear much more consideration than we have given it heretofore, and our patients should reap the benefit.
