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
Toxin of Bacillus Botulinum
Food poisoning from canned spinach produced a clinical picture suggested in a bulbar paresis.
Eye symptoms, ptosis, double vision, blurred vision.
Difficulty in swallowing and breathing, choking sensation; weakness and uncertainty in walking, “blind staggers”, dizziness, thickening of speech. Cramping pain in stomach.
Mask-like expression of face, due to weakness of facial muscles. Severe constipation.
Dose.–Higher potencies.
Yellow Viper
(BOTHROPS LANCIOLATUS – LACHESIS LANCIOLATUS)
Its venom is most coagulating, (also Lachesis). We should expect to find under these remedies the symptomatology of thrombosis, also thrombotic phenomena, as hemiplegia, aphasia, inability to articulate (Linn J. Boyd).
Broken-down, hæmorrhagic constitutions; septic states. Great lassitude and sluggishness; hæmorrhages from every orifice of the body; black spots. Hemiplegia with aphasia. Inability to articulate, without any affection of the tongue. Nervous trembling. Pain in right big toe. Diagonal course of symptoms. Pulmonary congestion.
Eyes.–Amaurosis; blindness from hæmorrhage into retina. Hemoralopia, day blindness, can hardly see her way after sunrise; conjunctivial hæmorrhage.
Face.–Swollen and puffy. Besotted expression.
Throat.–Red, dry, constricted; swallowing difficult, cannot pass liquids.
Stomach.–Epigastric distress. Black vomiting. Intense hæmatemesis. Tympanitis and bloody stools.
Skin.–Swollen, livid, cold with hæmorrhagic infiltration. Gangrene. Lymphatics swollen. Anthrax. Malignant erysipelas.
Modalities.–Worse, right side.
Relationship.–Compare: Toxicophis.–Moccasin Snake (pain and fever recur annually, after bite from this snake, and sometimes change location with disappearance of first symptoms. An unusual dryness of skin follows the bite. Œdematous swellings and periodical neuralgia. Pain travels from one part to another). Other snake poisons, notably Lachesis.
Trachinus,-Stingfish (intolerable pains, swelling, acute blood, poisoning, gangrene).
Dose.–Sixth to thirtieth potency.
Borate of Sodium
(BORAX)
Gastro-intestinal irritation. Salivation, nausea, vomiting, colic, diarrhœa, collapse, albuminuria, casts and vesical spasm. Delirium, visual changes, hæmaturia, and skin eruptions have all been observed from over-dosing.
Dread of downward motion in nearly all complaints. For homeopathic purposes, the peculiar nervous symptoms are very characteristic, and have frequently been verified, especially in the therapeutics of children. Of much value in epilepsy. Aphthous ulceration of mucous membranes.
Mind.–Extreme anxiety, especially from motions which have a downward direction, rocking, being carried downstairs, laid down. Anxious expression of face during the downward motions, starts and throws up hands on laying patient down, as if afraid of falling. Excessively nervous; easily frightened. Sensitive to sudden noises. Violent fright from report of a gun, even at a distance. Fear of thunder.
Head.–Aches, with nausea and trembling of whole body. Hair tangled at tips, cannot be separated, as in Plica Polonica (Vinca min).
Eyes.–Lashes turn inward. Visions of bright waves. Eyelids inflamed, lids cut against eyeball. Entropium.
Ears.–Very sensitive to slightest noise; not so much disturbed by louder ones.
Nose.–Red nose, of young women (Nat carb). Red and shining swelling, with throbbing and tensive sensation. Tip swollen and ulcerated. Dry crusts.
Face.–Pale, earthy, with suffering expression. Swollen, with pimples on nose and lips. Feeling of cobwebs.
Mouth.–Aphthæ. White fungous like growth. Mouth hot and tender; ulcers bleed on touch and eating. Painful gumboil. Crying when nursing. Taste bitter (Bry; Puls; Cup). Taste of “cellar mould”.
Stomach and Abdomen.–Distention after eating; vomiting. Gastralgia, depending upon uterine disturbance. Pain as if diarrhœa would result.
Stool.–Loose, pappy, offensive stools in children. Diarrhœa, offensive, preceded by colic; stools mucous, with aphthous sore mouth.
Urine.–Hot, smarting pain in orifice. Pungent smell. Child afraid to urinate, screams before urinating (Sarsap). Small red particles on diaper.
Female.–Labor pains with frequent eructations. Galactorrhœa (Cal; Con; Bell). In nursing, pain in opposite breast. Leucorrhœa like white of eggs, with sensation as if warm water was flowing. Menses too soon, profuse, with griping, nausea and pain in stomach extending into small of back. Membranous dysmenorrhœa. Sterility. Favors easy conception. Sensation of distention in clitoris with sticking. Pruritus of vulva and eczema.
Respiratory.–Hacking and violent cough; expectoration, moldy taste and smell. Stitches in chest, with inspiration and cough. Cough with moldy taste-breath smells moldy. Pleurodynia; worse upper part of right chest. Arrest of breathing when lying; is obliged to jump and catch breath, which causes pain in right side. Out of breath on going up stairs.
Extremities.–Feeling as of cobwebs on hands. Itching on back of finger-joints and hands. Throbbing pain in tip of thumb. Stitches in sole. Pain in heel. Burning pain in great toe; inflammation of balls of toes. Eczema of toes and fingers with loss of nails.
Skin.–Psoriasis. Erysipelas in face. Itching on back of finger-joints. Unhealthy skin; slight injuries suppurate. Herpes (Rhus). Erysipelatous inflammation with swelling and tension. Chilblains relieved in open air. Trade eruptions on fingers and hands, itching and stinging. Ends of hair become tangled.
Sleep.–Voluptuous dreams. Cannot sleep on account of heat, especially in head. Cries out of sleep as if frightened (Bell).
Modalities.–Worse, downward motion, noise, smoking, warm weather, after menses. Better, pressure, evening, cold weather.
Relationship.–Acetic acid, vinegar, and wine are incompatible.
Antidote: Cham; Coffea.
Compare: Calc; Bryon; Sanicula; Sulph ac.
Dose.–First to third trituration. In skin diseases continue its use for several weeks. Locally, in pruritus pudendi. A piece of borax, the size of a pea, dissolved in the mouth, acts magically in restoring the voice, in cases of sudden hoarseness brought on by cold, and frequently for an hour or so, it renders the voice silvery and clear.
Boracic Acid
Used as an antiseptic disinfectant, since it arrests fermentation and putrefaction.
Pain in region of ureters, with frequent urging to urinate. Coldness (Heloderm). Diabetes, tongue dry, red, and cracked. Cold saliva.
Skin.–Multiform erythema of trunk and upper extremities. Œdema around eyes. Exfoliating dermatitis. Œdema of tissues around eyes.
Female.–Climacteric flushings (Lach; Amyl nit). Vagina cold, as if packed with ice. Frequent urination with burning and tenesmus.
Dose.–Third trituration.
Non-homeopathic Uses.–When the diplococcus of Weichselbaum is present in the sputum of pharyngitis or bronchitis, pneumonia with tenacious sputum, hacking cough and pain, five-grain doses six times daily. A solution of Boracic Acid, as an injection, in chronic, cystitis, or, a teaspoonful to a glass of hot milk, taken internally. Boro-Glyceride in solution (1:40) is a powerful antiseptic. Styes, 15 gr to 1 oz water externally. As a dusting powder on ulcerated surfaces. In cystitis as an irrigating fluid.
White Agaric
(POLYPORUS OFFICINALE)
Quotidian intermittent fever. Sweat is light, and without relief. Night-sweat in phthisis.
Head.–Feels light and hollow with deep frontal headache. Thick, yellow coating of tongue; teeth indented. Constant nausea.
Fever.–Chilliness along spine, with frequent, hot flashes. Yawns and stretches when chilly. Severe aching in shoulders and joints and small of back. Profuse perspiration at night, with hectic chills and fever.
Skin.–Hot and dry, especially in palms. Itching more between scapulæ and on forearms.
Relationship.–Compare: Agaricin, active constituent of Polyporus officinale (phthisical and other enervating nightsweats 1-4 to 1-2 gr doses; also in chorea, in dilatation of heart with pulmonary Emphysema, fatty degeneration, profuse perspiration and erythema). Boletus luridus (Violent pain in epigastrium, urticaria tuberosa). Boletus satanus (dysentery, vomiting, great debility, cold extremities, spasm of extremities and face).
Dose.–First attenuation.
Indian Cockroach
A remedy for asthma. Especially when associated with bronchitis. Indicated after arsenic when this is insufficient.
Cough with dyspnœa in bronchitis and phthisis. Acts best in stout and corpulent patients. Much pus-like mucus.
Dose.–Lowest potencies during an attack. After the spasm, for the remaining cough, use the higher. Stop with improvement to prevent return of aggravation.
Cockroach
Ascites. Various forms of dropsy. Yellow complexion. Extreme weariness. Pain in urethra on urinating. Weariness on going upstairs.
Dose.–Sixth potency.
Precipitated Sub-Nitrate of Bismuth
(BISMUTHUM)
Irritation and catarrhal inflammation of the alimentary canal, is the chief and action of this drug.
Mind.–Solitude is unbearable. Desire for company. Complains about his condition. Anguish. Discontented.
Head.–Headache alternates with gastralgia. Neuralgic pain, as if torn by pincers; involves face and teeth; worse, eating; better, cold; alternate with gastralgia. Cutting or pressure above right orbit extending to occiput. Pressure in occiput; worse, motion; with heaviness.
Mouth.–Gums swollen. Toothache; better, cold water in mouth (Coff). Tongue white. Swollen. Black, gangrenous looking wedges on dorsum and sides of tongue. Profuse salivation, teeth loose. Thirst for cold drinks.
Stomach.–Vomits, with convulsive gagging and pain. Water is vomited as soon as it reaches the stomach. Eructation after drinking. Vomits all fluids. Burning; feeling of a load. Will eat for several days; then vomit. Slow digestion, with fetid eructations. Gastralgia; pain from stomach through to spine. Gastritis. Better, cold drinks, but vomiting when stomach becomes full.
Tongue coated white; sweetish, metallic taste. Inexpressible pain in stomach; must bend backwards. Pressure as from a load in one spot, alternating with burning, crampy pain and pyrosis.
Stool.–Painless diarrhœa, with great thirst, and frequent micturition and vomiting. Pinching in lower abdomen, with rumbling.
Respiratory.–Pinching in middle of diaphragm, extending transversely through chest. Angina pectoris; pain around heart, left arm to fingers.
Extremities.–Cramps in hands and feet. Tearing in wrist. Paralytic weakness, especially right arm. Tearing in tips of fingers under nails (Berb). Itching erosion near tibia and back of feet near joints. Cold limbs.
Sleep.–Restless on account of voluptuous dreams. Sleepy in morning, a few hours after eating.
Relationship.–Antidotes: Nux; Capsic; Calc.
Compare: Antimon; Ars; Bellad; Kreosot.
Dose.–First to sixth potency.
Beet-root
Influences chronic catarrhal states and tuberculosis. The salt Betainum hydrochloricum obtained from the Beet root itself seem to be the best adapted to phthisical patients. Children yield very quickly to the action of the remedy. Use about the 2x Trit.
Mountain Grape
(BERBERIS AQUIFOLIUM – MAHONIA)
A remedy for the skin, chronic catarrhal affections, secondary syphilis. Hepatic torpor, lassitude and other evidences of incomplete metamorphosis; stimulates all glands and improves nutrition.
Head.–Sensation of a band just above ears. Bilious headache. “Scald head”. Scaly eczema.
Face.–Acne. Blotches and pimples. Clears the complexion.
Stomach.–Tongue thickly coated, yellowish-brown; feels blistered. Burning in stomach. Nausea and hunger after eating.
Urine.–Stitching, crampy pains; thick mucus, and bright-red, mealy sediment.
Skin.–Pimply, dry, rough, scaly. Eruption on scalp extending to face and neck. Tumor of breast, with pain. Psoriasis. Acne. Dry eczema. Pruritus. Glandular induration.
Relationship.–Carbol acid; Euonym; Berb vulg; Hydr.
Dose.–Tincture in rather material doses.
