Category: Materia Medica

PREFACE NINTH EDITION

In preparing the ninth edition of this work, I have followed the lines laid out for all the previous editions, namely, to present in a condensed form the homśopathic Materia Medica for practical use.

The book contains the well known verified characteristic symptoms of all our medicines besides other less important symptoms aiding the selection of the curative remedy, All the new medicines and essentials of the published clinical experience of the school have been added. In its present compact form it contains the maximum number of reliable Materia Medica facts in the minimum space.

I have tried to give a succinct resume of the symptomatology of every medicine used in Homśopathy, including also clinical suggestions of many drugs so far not yet based on provings, thus offering the opportunity to experiment with these and by future provings discover their distinctive use and so enlarging our armamentarium.

I am aware that there is a difference of opinion about the advisability of further introduction of remedies, especially of such as seem obsolete or to some minds illusory. But it is not for the compiler to leave out information about any substance that has received the clinical endorsement from a reliable source.

Our Materia Medica must include all substances which have been proved and which have been used with apparent efficacy. It rests with the individual student to judge for himself the accuracy and, reliability of such observation. In this connection, I cannot forego to avail myself of the high authority of that master of Homśopathy, Dr. Constantine Hering, favoring the introduction of all remedies capable of producing reactions in the body that may guide to their medicinal employment. “Homśopathy is essentially not only many-sided but all-sided. She investigates the action of all substances, whether articles of diet, beverages, condiments, drugs or poisons. She investigates their action on the healthy, the sick, animals and plants. She gives; a new interpretation to that ancient, oft quoted saying of Paul, Prove all things–a new meaning, a new application that acts universally. Elimination of the useless may gradually take place with the growth of accurate physiological and pathological knowledge.”

Again, imperfectly proved remedies necessitate the use of names of diseases at times instead of the component symptoms that alone are the legitimate guide to the choice of the curative remedy. Here, too, I have Hering as pioneer guide for the ligitimacy of this method, which he also followed in his great work, the Guiding Symptoms. He said that he used the disease designations not for the purpose of recommending the particular remedy for that disease, but to show the great variety of remedies that may be used for any form of disease when otherwise indicated. For the same reason I have included nosological terms in the symptomatology and Therapeutic Index, as this is a practical handbook for every-day service, and any aid for finding the curative remedy ought to be utilized. As Dr. J. Compton Burnett expresses it:

“The fact is we need any and every way of finding the right remedy; the simple simile, the simple symptomatic similimum and the farthest reach of all-the pathologic similimum, and I maintain that we are still well within the line- of Homśopathy that is expansive, progressive, science fostered and science fostering.”

The dosage needs some apology. It is, of course, suggestive only; more often to be wholly disregarded. I have followed the lines of the earlier Homśopathists in this regard, and given what was then considered the usual range of potency, to which I have added my own experience and that of many observing practitioners. Every teacher of Materia Medica is constantly importuned by students to suggest the potency–something to start with at least.

The book is in no sense a treatise, and must not be considered or judged as such. It is as accurate and reliable a compilation and the fullest collection of verified Materia Medica facts and clinical suggestions as it is possible to obtain within the compass of the volume. It supplements every other work on Materia Medica, and if used as a ready reminder of the essential facts of our vast symptomatology and as an introduction to the larger books of reference and record of provings, it will fulfill its purpose and prove a useful aid to the student and general practitioner. As such it is again offered with much appreciation of past endorsement to his professional brethren.

I have been aided in seeing this edition through the press by the efficient help of Mr. F. O. Ernesty, who has lightened the labor of making the manuscript more acceptable to the printers, and I desire to express my hearty appreciation of this kind and helpful service.

BOERICK MD

  • NATRIUM PHOSPHORICUM

    Phosphate of Sodium

    Natrum phosphoricum is the remedy for conditions arising from excess of lactic acid, often resulting from too much sugar. Ailments, with excess of acidity. Sour eructations and taste. Sour vomiting. Yellow, creamy coating at the back of the roof of mouth and tongue. Inflammation of any part of the throat, with sensation of a lump in throat. Flatulence, with sour risings. Colic, with symptoms of worms. Cracking of joints. Jaundice (1x trit). Oxaluria.

    Mind.–Imagines, on waking at night, that pieces of furniture are persons; that the hears footsteps in next room. Fear.

    Head.–Feels dull in the morning, full feeling and throbbing.

    Eyes.–Discharge of golden-yellow, creamy matter from the eyes. Dilation of one pupil. Whites of eyes dirty yellow.

    Ears.–One ear red, hot, frequently itchy, accompanied by gastric derangements and acidity.

    Nose.–Offensive odor. Itching of nose. Naso-pharyngeal catarrh, with thick, yellow, offensive mucus.

    Face.–Paleness of bluish, florid appearance of face.

    Mouth.–Canker sores of lip and cheeks. Blisters on tip of tongue, with stinging in evening. Thin, moist coating on the tongue. Yellow, creamy coating at the back part of the roof of the mouth. Dysphagia. Thick, creamy membrane over tonsils and soft palate.

    Stomach.–Sour eructations, sour vomiting, greenish diarrhœa. Spits mouthful of food.

    Male.–Emissions without dreams, with weakness in back and trembling in limbs. Desire without erection. Gonorrhœa.

    Female.–Menses too early; pale, thin, watery. Sterility, with acid secretions from vagina. Leucorrhœa; discharge creamy or honey-colored, or acid and watery. Sour-smelling discharges from uterus. Morning sickness, with sour vomiting.

    Extremities.–Rheumatism of the knee-joint.

    Back.–Weariness; aching in wrists and finger-joints. Hamstrings sore. Synovial crepitation. Rheumatic arthritis.

    Skin.–Yellow. Itching in various parts, especially of ankles. Hives. Smooth, red, shining. Erysipelas. Feet icy cold in daytime, burn at night. Swelling of lymphatic glands.

    Relationship.–Compare: Natrum lactic (rheumatism and gout; gouty concretions, rheumatism with diabetes); Natrum nitrosum (angina pectoris. Cyanosis, fainting, copious liquid stools at night; throbbing and fullness; faintness, nervous pain in head, nausea, eructations, blue lips). Natrum silicofluoricum-Salufer–(a cancer remedy; tumors, bone affection, caries, lupus, ethmoiditis. Must be used carefully); Nat selen (chronic laryngitis and laryngeal phthisis; hoarseness of singers, expectorate small lumps of mucus with frequent clearing of throat); Nat sulphurosum (diarrhœa, with yeasty stools); Nat sulphocarbol (pyæmia; purulent pleurisy, 3 to 5 grains every three hours); Nat telluricum (breath has odor of garlic; nightsweats of phthisis) calc; Robin; Phos. In oxaluria 1x four times daily prevents formation of calculi; keeps the oxal of lime in solution (Schwartz).

    Dose.–Third to twelfth trituration. In Jaundice 1x. Non-homeopathically, Phosphate Soda used hypodermically for Morphine habit, by Dr. M. J. Luys. Phosphate Soda, 75 gr daily, for constitutional iodism, thyroidism and Grave’s disease.

  • NATRIUM NITRICUM

    Nitrate of Sodium
    (NATRUM NITRICUM)

    A Rademacherian remedy for inflammations. Hæmoptysis. Hæmaturia. Purpura hæmorrhagica. Hæmorrhagic Variola. Drowsiness. Pains of tabes. Influenza. Hemoglobinuria. Uric acid diathesis. Asthma with urine supersaturated with solids. Anæmia and hydræmia. Exhaustion, must rest frequently when walking.

    Head.–Dull. Indisposed to mental and bodily exertion. Pressing inward pain. Otalgia. Inward pressing in malar bones. Nosebleed.

    Stomach.–Sour risings. Aversions to coffee. Flatulence, with pressure in pit of stomach and pain in chest; worse motion, better eructation.

    Abdomen.–Abdominal muscles painfully contracted towards the spine. Distended. Difficult stool; feels as if more remained to pass.

    Heart.–Pain in region of heart. Pulse slower and softer.

    Dose.–Second trituration, also watery solution; 1 dram of salt to 8 oz water. Dram doses.

  • NATRIUM MURIATICUM

    Chloride of Sodium
    (NATRUM MURIATICUM)

    The prolonged taking of excessive salt causes profound nutritive changes to take place in the system, and there arise not only the symptoms of salt retention as evidenced by dropsies and œdemas, but also an alteration in the blood causing a condition of anæmia and leucocytosis. There seems also to be a retention in the tissues of effecte materials giving rise to symptoms loosely described as gouty or rheumatic gout. The provings are full of such symptoms (Dr. Stonham) A great remedy for certain forms of intermittent fever, anæmia, chlorosis, many disturbances of the alimentary tract and skin. Great debility; most weakness felt in the morning in bed. Coldness. Emaciation most notable in neck. Great liability to take cold. Dry mucous membranes. Constrictive sensation throughout the body. Great weakness and weariness. Oversensitive to all sorts of influences. Hyperthyroidism. Goitre. Addison’s disease. Diabetes.

    Mind.–Psychic causes of disease; ill effects of grief, fright, anger, etc. Depressed, particularly in chronic diseases. Consolation aggravates. Irritable; gets into a passion about trifles. Awkward, hasty. Wants to be alone to cry. Tears with laughter.

    Head.–Throbs. Blinding headache. Aches as if a thousand little hammers were knocking on the brain, in the morning on awakening, after menstruation, from sunrise to sunset. Feels too large; cold. Anæmic headache of school-girls; nervous, discouraged, broken down. Chronic headache, semi-lateral, congestive, from sunrise to sunset, with pale face, nausea, vomiting; periodical; from eyestrain; menstrual. Before attack, numbness and tingling in lips, tongue and nose, relieved by sleep. Frontal sinus inflammation.

    Eyes.–Feels bruised, with headache in school children. Eyelids heavy. Muscles weak and stiff. Letters run together. Sees sparks. Fiery, zigzag appearance around all objects. Burning in eyes. Give out on reading or writing. Stricture of lachrymal duct with suppuration. Escape of muco-pus when pressing upon sac. Lachrymation, burning and acrid. Lids swollen. Eyes appear wet with tears. Tears stream down face on coughing (Euph). Asthenopia due to insufficiency of internal recti muscles (Gels and Cup acet, when due to external muscles). Pain in eyes when looking down. Cataract incipient (Secale).

    Ears.–Noises; roaring and ringing.

    Nose.–Violent, fluent coryza, lasting from one to three days, then changing into stoppage of nose, making breathing difficult. Discharge thin and watery, like raw white of egg. Violent sneezing coryza. Infallible for stopping a cold commencing with sneezing. Use thirtieth potency. Loss of smell and taste. Internal soreness of nose. Dryness.

    Face.–Oily, shiny, as if greased. Earthy complexion. Fevers-blisters.

    Mouth.–Frothy coating on tongue, with bubbles on side. Sense of dryness. Scorbutic gums. Numbness, tingling of tongue, lips, and nose. Vesicles and burning on tongue, as if there was a hair on it. Eruptions around mouth and vesicles like pearls on lips. Lips and corners of mouth dry, ulcerated, and cracked. Deep crack in middle of lower lip. Tongue mapped (Ars; Rhus; Tarax). Loss of taste. Large vesicle on lower lip, which is swollen and burns. Immoderate thirst.

    Stomach.–Hungry, yet loose flesh (Iod). Heartburn, with palpitation. Unquenchable thirst. Sweats while eating. Craving for salt. Aversion to bread, to anything slimy, like oysters, fats. Throbbing in pit. Sticking sensation in cardiac orifice.

    Abdomen.–Cutting pain in abdomen. Distended. Pain in abdominal ring on coughing.

    Rectum.–Burning pains and stitching after stool. Anus contracted, torn, bleeding. Constipation; stool dry, crumbling (Am m; Mag m). Painless and copious diarrhœa, preceded by pinching pain in abdomen.

    Urine.–Pain just after urinating (Sars). Increased, involuntary when walking, coughing, etc. Has to wait a long time for it to pass if others are present (Hep; Mur ac).

    Male.–Emission, even after coitus. Impotence with retarded emission.

    Female.–Menses irregular; usually profuse. Vagina dry. Leucorrhœa acrid, watery. Bearing-down pains; worse in morning (Sep). Prolapsus uteri, with cutting in urethra. Ineffectual labor-pains. Suppressed menses (Follow with Kali carb). Hot during menses.

    Respiratory.–Cough from a tickling in the pit of stomach, accompanied by stitches in liver and spurting of urine (Caust; Squilla). Stitches all over chest. Cough, with bursting pain in head. Shortness of breath, especially on going upstairs (Calc). Whooping-cough with flow of tears with cough.

    Heart.–Tachycardia. Sensation of coldness of heart. Heart and chest feel constricted. Fluttering, palpitating; intermittent pulse. Heart’s pulsations shake body. Intermits on lying down.

    Extremities.–Pain in back, with desire for some firm support (Rhus; Sep). Every movement accelerates the circulation. Palms hot and perspiring. Arms and legs, but especially knees, feel weak. Hangnails. Dryness and cracking about finger-nails. Numbness and tingling in fingers and lower extremities. Ankles weak and turn easily. Painful contraction of hamstrings (Caust). Cracking in joints on motion. Coldness of legs with congestion to head, chest, and stomach.

    Sleep.–Sleepy in forenoon. Nervous jerking during sleep. Dreams of robbers. Sleepless from grief.

    Skin.–Greasy, oily, especially on hairy parts. Dry eruptions, especially on margin of hairy scalp and bends of joints. Fever blisters. Urticaria; itch and burn. Crusty eruptions in bends of limbs, margin of scalp, behind ears (Caust). Warts on palms of hands. Eczema; raw, red, and inflamed; worse, eating salt, at seashore. Affects hair follicles. Alopecia. Hives, itching after exertion. Greasy skin.

    Fever.–Chill between 9 and 11 am. Heat; violent thirst, increases with fever. Fever-blisters. Coldness of the body, and continued chilliness very marked. Hydræmia in chronic malarial states with weakness, constipation, loss of appetite, etc. Sweats on every exertion.

    Modalities.–Worse, noise, music, warm room, lying down about 10 a m;, at seashore, mental exertion, consolation, heat, talking. Better, open air, cold bathing, going without regular meals, lying on right side; pressure against back, tight clothing.

    Relationship.–Complementary to Apis; Sepia; Ign.

    Compare: Aqua marina-Isotonic plasma. Marine plasma is a sea water taken some miles from shore and some depth below surface, filtered and diluted with twice as much pure fresh water. It acts primarily on the blood, as in intoxications, scrofulous conditions, enteritis. It disintoxicates in cancer (administered subcutaneously in the treatment of diseases of skin, kidneys and intestines, gastro-enteritis, and tuberculosis). Scrofulous affection of children. Lymphadenitis. Lupus, eczema, varicose ulcers. A great “blood purifier and vitalizer. ” Potentized sea-water in weakness, lack of reaction; symptoms worse seaside (Goitre). Sal marinum sea salt, (indicated in chronic enlargements of glands, especially cervical. Suppurating glands. It appears likely to become a most useful remedy as an auxiliary, if not as a principal, in the treatment of diseases in patients of a strumous diathesis. Also useful in constipation). Natrum selenicum (laryngeal phthisis with expectoration of small lumps of bloody mucus and slight hoarseness). Natrum silicum (hæmophilia; scrofulous bone affections; given intravenously every 3 days for senile pruritus); (Dolichos. Fagopyr). Ignat; Sep; Thuja; Graph; Alum.

    Antidote: Ars; Phos; Spir nit dulc.

    Dose.–Twelfth to thirtieth and higher. The very highest potencies often yield most brilliant results. And in infrequent dosage.

  • NATRIUM HYPOCHLOROSUM

    Labarraque’s Solution
    (NATRUM CHLORATUM)

    In congested and atonic states of the uterus and its ligaments, with hepatic disorders. Chronic catarrhal diseases of the middle ear. Flabby, debilitated constitution. Both hands swollen in morning. Phlegmatic. Depressed, faint.

    Head.–Vertigo, with aching across forehead. Swimming feeling, as if top of head would float off. Bleeding of nose in clots.

    Mouth.–Sore irritable spots along sides of tongue and throat, gums sore, tongue swollen; aphthous ulceration. Putrid taste. Furred tongue, large, flabby, intended. Cough with aphonia.

    Stomach.–Drowsy after meals.

    Urine.–Dark, with albumen and casts. Diffuse nephritis. Much pain across small of back.

    Female.–Feeling as if uterus were pushed up on sitting down (Ferr iod). Feels as if it opened and shut. Violent metrorrhagia. Leucorrhśa and backache. Passive, bearing-down from heavy condition of uterus. Womb is heavy, sodden, with tendency to prolapse. Subinvolution.

    Extremities.–Hands swollen every morning. Extreme weakness in ankles and knees.

    Relationship.–Compare: Aur mur nat; Calc; Sepia; Heliotropium (uterine displacement, with active bearing-down sensation and loss of voice; membranous dysmenorrhśa).

    Antidote: Pulsat; Guaiacum.

    Dose.–Fifteen to twenty drops of Labarraque’s solution in water. Third attenuation made with dilute alcohol, lower with water.

  • NATRIUM CARBONICUM

    Carbonate of Sodium
    (NATRUM CARBONICUM)

    All the Natrums stimulate cellular activity and increase oxidation and metabolish. Great debility caused by summer heat; chronic effects of sunstroke; exhaustion; anæmic; milky, watery skin; very weak ankles, are all peculiar Natrum carbonicum conditions.

    Mind.–Unable to think; difficult, slow comprehension. Mental weakness and depression; worries; very sensitive to noise; colds, change of weather. Anxious and restless during thunderstorm; worse from music (Ambra). Marked gayety. Sensitive to presence of certain individuals.

    Head.–Aches from slightest mental exertion, worse from sun or working under gas-light (Glon) Feels too large. Oversensitive of hearing. Head aches with return of hot weather. Vertigo from exposure to sun.

    Nose.–All troubles of external nose which may attain a morbid size-pimples and puffiness. Constant coryza; obstruction of nose. Catarrh; bad smell of nasal secretion. Many troubles of external nose (Caust). Posterior nasal catarrh. Hawking much mucus from throat; worse, slightest draught.

    Face.–Freckles, yellow spots, pimples. Swelling of upper lip. Pale, with blue rings around eyes and swollen lids.

    Stomach.–Feels swollen and sensitive. Ill effects of drinking cold water when overheated. Water-brash. Hungry at 5 am. Very weak digestion, caused by slightest error of diet. Averse to milk. Depressed after eating. Bitter taste. Old dyspeptics, always belching, have sour stomach and rheumatism. Dyspepsia relieved by soda biscuits.

    Bowels.–Sudden call to stool. Escapes with haste and noise. Yellow substance like pulp of orange in discharge. Diarrhœa from milk.

    Female.–Induration of cervix. Pudenda sore. Bearing-down sensation (Sep; Murex). Heaviness; worse, sitting; better by moving. Menses late, scanty like meat-washings (Nitric ac). Leucorrhœal discharge, offensive, irritating preceded by colic.

    Respiratory.–Dry cough, when coming into warm room from out of doors. Cough with coldness of left side of breast.

    Sleep.–Wakes too early in morning. Amorous dreams. Drowsy during day.

    Extremities.–Old sprains. Great weakness of limbs, especially in morning. Easy dislocation and spraining of ankles. Foot bends under (Caust). Soreness between toes and fingers. Heel and tendo-Achilles affected. Capped hands. The hollow of the knee is painful on motion. Icy cold up to knees.

    Skin.–Inclination to perspire easily, or dry, rough, cracked skin. Eruption on finger-tips, knuckles and toes. Vesicular eruption in patches and circles. Veins full. Soles of feet raw and sore.

    Modalities.–Worse, sitting, from music, summer heat, mental exertion, thunderstorm. Least draught, changes of weather, sun. Better, by moving, by boring in ears and nose.

    Relationship.–Compare: Sodii bicarbonas (in vomiting of pregnancy with acetonuria, 30 grains in water spread over twenty-four hours); Nat sulph; Caust; Natr cacodyl (Foul breath and mouth with bad odor. Dry dermatitis of the skin of abdomen. Malignant growths. In phthisis, 5 centigrammes hypodermically, daily. Increase number of red blood corpuscles to double. Also in malignant disease). Arsynal–(Disodium methylarsenate). Introduced by M. A. Gautier, for phthisis in the second stage 4 to 6 centigrammes per day for one week followed by a week’s intermission. But much smaller doses, i.e, 1x to 3x are followed by improvement, lessened fever, night sweat and hæmoptysis ceasing.

    Antidote: Ars. Camph.

    Dose.–Sixth potency.

  • NATRIUM ARSENICOSUM

    Arseniate of Sodium
    (NATRUM ARSENICUM)

    A remedy for nasal catarrh, with headache, pain at root of nose, dry and painful eyes. Psoriasis (Ars; Chrysoph ac; Thyroid). Bronchitis of children over seven years. Facilitates the termination of the cold and conserves strength and appetite (Cartier).

    Head.–Floating sensation on turning head quickly; aching in frontal region and root of nose, over orbits. Headache; worse pressure and tobacco smoke.

    Nose.–Watery discharge; drops into throat. Feels stopped; pain at root. Dry crusts, on removal, leave mucous membrane raw. Post-nasal dropping of thick, bland, yellowish mucus. Crusts in nose.

    Ears.–Catarrhal conjunctivitis and blepharitis marginalis. Eyes feel weak, stiffness of balls and tendency of lids to close. Feel heavy and droop. Lachrymation in wind. Agglutination in morning. Dry, painful, burning; soon tire. Œdema of orbital region. Supraorbital pain.

    Throat.–Dark, purplish, swollen, œdematous; red and glassy.

    Respiratory.–Racking cough, with profuse greenish expectoration. Oppression of chest and about heart, and also larynx. Miner’s asthma. Lungs feel as though smoke had been inhaled.

    Extremities.–Aching in arms; worse in shoulder. Pain in anterior crural nerves. Joints stiff. Feels tired all over. Knee-joints crack.

    Relationship.–Compare: Ars; Kali carb; Apis.

    Dose.–Third to thirtieth potency.

  • NARCISSUS PSEUDONARCISSUS

    Daffodil
    (NARCISSUS)

    Symptoms of nausea followed by violent vomiting and diarrhœa.

    Daffodil bulbs contain an alkaloid the action of which, according to authorities, varies as to whether the alkaloid is extracted from the flowering bulb or from the bulb after flowering. Thus in the former case the alkaloid produces dryness of the mouth, checks cutaneous secretions, dilates the pupil of the eye, quickens the pulse, and slows and weakens the heart contractions. On the other hand, the alkaloid from the bulbs after flowering produces copious salivation, increases cutaneous secretion, contracts the pupil of the eye, produces slight relaxation of the pulse, and slight faintness and nausea.–The Lancet.

    A remedy for cough and bronchitis. Continuous cough, Coryza; frontal headache. Convulsive stage of whooping-cough.

    Skin.–Erythema of a papular, vesicular and pustular type, aggravation in wet weather.

    Dose.–First attenuation.

  • NAPHTHALINUM

    A chemical compound from Coal-tar; Tar Camphor
    (NAPHTHALINE)

    Coryza, hay-fever, phthisis pulmonalis, also gonorrhœa have been influenced favorably by this drug. Pyelonephritis. Irritation of the periphery of the urinary apparatus. Whooping-cough.

    Head.–Lying as if stupefied by a narcotic. Restless. Face pale yellowish hue.

    Eyes.–Marked affinity for the eye. It produces detachment of the retina; papillo-retinal infiltration; deposits in patches upon the retina; amblyopia and consecutive amaurosis; sparkling synchisis; soft cataract. Exudation in the retina, choroid and ciliary body. Cataract. Opacity of the cornea.

    Urine.–Irresistible desire. Meatus red swollen, and œdema of prepuce. Black urine. Cutting pain down penis. Pain in bladder. Terribly offensive odor of decomposing ammoniacal urine.

    Respiratory.–Sneezing; eyes inflamed; painful; head hot. Hay-fever. Spasmodic asthma; better in open air. Soreness in chest and stomach; must loosen clothing. Dyspnœa and sighing inspiration. Emphysema in the aged with asthma. Whooping-cough, long and continued paroxysms of coughing, unable to get a respiration. Acute laryngo-tracheitis. Bronchitis when the spasmodic element is associated with tenacious expectoration and oppression (Cartier).

    Skin.–Dermatitis; itching infiltration. Eruptions at corners of mouth and pigmentation around nails.

    Non-homeopathic Uses-For worms, and especially pin–worms, one-gramme dose. Externally in skin diseases, five per cent ointment.

    Relationship.–Compare: Dros; Corall; Coccus. Terpin hydrat (Whooping-cough, hay asthma and bronchial affections. 1-2 grain doses).

    Dose.–Third trituration.

  • NAJA TRIPUDIANS

    Virus of the Cobra

    Naja produces a typical bulbar paralysis (L. J. Boyd). Causes no hæmorrhage but only œdema, hence the victims of this reptile frequently bear very little sign of external injury a small scratch or puncture being the only indication where the fangs have worked their havoc. The tissue lying beneath the wound is colored dark purple, and a large quantity of viscid blood-like fluid collects in the vicinity of the wound. An intense burning pain at the spot bitten is the first symptom. In man there follows an interval before fresh symptoms occur. The average is about an hour. Once developed, the symptoms follow a rapid course. A feeling of intoxication is produced, followed by a loss of power over the limbs. The patient is bereft of speech, swallowing, and the control over the movement of the lips. The saliva is ejected in large quantities, the respiration gradually becomes slower and slower, and at length ceases. Conscious all time. Is not a hæmorrhagic or septic, medicine like Lachesis and Crotalus. Its action settles around the heart; valvular troubles. Marked surging of blood upwards, marked dyspnœa, inability to lie on left side. Hypertrophy, and valvular lesions. Organs seem to be drawn together. Very susceptible to cold. With heart symptoms, pain in forehead and temples. Diseases, primarily depending upon degeneration of motor cells. Control of sphincters lost.

    Mind.–Broods constantly over imaginary troubles. Suicidal insanity (Aur). Depressed. Aversion to talking. Blurred speech. Melancholy. Dreads to be left alone. Fear of rain.

    Head.–Pain in left temple and in left orbital region, extending to occiput, with nausea and vomiting. Hay-fever, with dry larynx. Suffocative spells after sleeping (Lach). Eyes staring. Ptosis of both lids.

    Ears.–Illusions of hearing; otalgia; chronic otorrhœa, black discharges; smells like herring brine.

    Respiratory.–Grasping at throat, with sense of choking. Irritating, dry cough, dependent on cardiac lesions (Spong; Lauroc) Sticky mucus and saliva. Asthmatic constriction in evening. Asthma beginning with coryza.

    Heart.–Dragging and anxiety in præcordia. Feeling of weight on heart. Angina pains extending to nape of neck, left shoulder and arm with anxiety and fear of death. With the heart symptoms pain in forehead and temples. Pulse irregular in force. Threatened paralysis of heart, body cold, pulse slow, weak, irregular, tremulous. Acute and chronic endocarditis. Palpitation. Stitching pain in region of heart. Damaged heart after infections diseases. Marked symptoms of low tension (Elaps, Vipera).

    Female.–Neuralgia of left ovary; often serviceable in obscure pain in left groin, especially in post-operative cases; seems to be drawn to heart.

    Sleep.–Profound, like a log, with stertorous breathing, a typical reptilian state.

    Modalities.–Worse, from use of stimulants; better, from walking or riding in open air.

    Relationship.–Compare: Serpent poisons generally. Bungarus Fasciatus (Banded Krait). This venom produces a condition like an acute polioencephalitis and myelitis, both symptomatically and histologically. Lach; Crotal; Spig; Spong.

    Dose.–Sixth to thirtieth potency.

  • MYRTUS COMMUNIS

    Myrtle

    The leaves contain Myrtol, an active antiseptic. Chest pains, as found often in consumptives, call for this remedy. Incipient phthisis. Nerve sedative and stimulant to mucous membranes, bronchitis, cystitis and pyelitis.

    Chest.–Stitching pain in left breast, running through to shoulder-blade (Illic; Therid; Pix). Dry, hollow cough, with tickling in chest. Worse in the morning. Sensation of burning in left chest.

    Relationship.–Compare: Myrtus Chekan (Chronic bronchitis with dense, yellowish sputum, difficult to detach. Copious expectoration keeps patient distressed and coughing).

    Dose.–Third potency.