Tartarus Stibiatus – Tartar Emetic (Antimonium tartaricum)

The attenuations are prepared from Tartar Emetic, C₈H₄K₂O₁₂Sb₂ · 3H₂O, MW: 668.

Tartarus Stibiatus, Tartar Emetic, is – as its name suggests – a substance which causes vomiting (emesis). Thus, in the poisoning-symptoms we find an inflammato- ry condition of the gastric mucosa with collapse and great superficial coldness of the limbs, great unsteadiness, weakness and trembling of the muscles. Large doses re- sult in death after convulsions resulting from cerebral and cardiac paralysis.

Small doses bring about a characteristic increase in secretory activity of the glands. This is accompanied by a drepessed, restless mood, which may also be tim- orous, irritable and anxious.

Particularly characteristic of Tartarus Stibiatus are pustular skin eruptions, which are not only the result of local action of the remedy, but occur as a general effect, possibly accompanied by itching vesicular eruptions or purpura, along with haemor- rhagic ulcers. The pustules develop only slowly and with pain, and ulcerate, with the result that, from the similarity of the picture, Tartarus Stibiatus has been used in the treatment of smallpox.

Further toxic effects which were brought out in the provings include flickering be- fore the eyes, conjunctivitis, blurred vision, tinnitus, trembling and jerking, rheu- matic drawing pains in the back and in the upper and lower extremities, similar to those observed after taking Antimonium Crudum.

In the heart there is arrhythmia with lowering of the blood pressure, coolness of the skin and chilliness to the point of rigors, when the skin may be covered with cool, sticky sweat. This may be followed by warm night-sweats.

Also included in the remedy-picture of Tartarus Stibiatus (or Emeticus) is laryn- geal and bronchial catarrh with aphonia, râles and coughing, the mucus being diffi- cult to raise; thus air-hunger and a constrictive sensation may occur, with pains and stabbing in the chest. Tartarus Stibiatus is able to facilitate the raising of the mucus. Increased salivation may also be present, the papillae standing out on a bright red tongue; there may be ulceration of the oral mucosa with an accumulation of quanti- ties of mucus in the pharynx. On the whole, ulcerations are typical of Tartarus Stib-

iatus, possibly migrating down the oesophagus and continuing in the stomach.

Violent stomach pains and continuous watery diarrhoea mixed with blood and with pains in the rectum and anus occur in poisonings from Tartarus Stibiatus.

In the genito-urinary organs there is also a strong urge to urinate, with pains and burning on passing water, and urine passed drop by drop, as is seen in cystitis, pro- statitis, and possibly in renal colic, especially when brick-dust sediment is present, and when pustules are also found on the scrotum.

In women the action of Tartarus Stibiatus produces a discharge of blood and serum from the uterus.

Nash also refers to the drowsiness which is often present in the Tartarus Stibiatus picture, which, e.g. in pneumonia, calls for Tartarus Stibiatus. He also mentions the main symptom, the severe râles with inability to raise the sputum, which applies to all age-groups and constitutions, but above all to children and old people. Here Tar- tarus Stibiatus competes with Sulphur, when in pneumonia there is shortness of breath resulting from hepatisation of the lungs and the patient is too ill and drowsy to expel the expectoration. It also competes with Ipecacuanha, in which remedy the complaints are ameliorated by vomiting or by the setting in motion of expectoration; and possibly also with Phosphorus.

According to Dewey (p.321) the main action of Tartarus Stibiatus covers accumula- tions of mucus on the chest with panting respiration and constriction, and also pustular eruptions, similar to those of smallpox, so that Tartarus Stibiatus can also be used as a remedy for smallpox, especially since lung symptoms regularly occur in smallpox.

If we sum up the main symptoms of Tartarus Stibiatus, the result is the following typical remedy-picture:

1. Accumulation of mucus on the chest with râles and inability to raise the mucus, especially in pneumonia and pulmonary catarrhs with facial pallor and inability to expel the sputum.
2. Skin affections with pustules, similar to smallpox, in which it may be tried.
3. Pustules on the mucosa, especially stomatitis, pharyngitis, gastritis, colitis, but also leucorrhoea and cervical erosions.

• 4.   Drowsiness in respiratory illnesses or in cholera infantum.
• Consolidation of the lungs persisting after the use of antibiotics.

The German Monograph-Preparation Commission for the Homoeopathic Field of Therapy has, under the Preparation Monograph for Kalium stibyltartaricum, pub- lished the following indication(s) in the German Bundesanzeiger (German Federal Gazette) for tartarus stibiatus: inflammations of the lower respiratory passages with circulatory insufficiency; diarrhoea with vomiting; inflammations of the urinary organs; suppurative skin diseases; rheumatic diseases of the lower spine.