Lycopodium Clavatum

ache from chagrin ; dull pain in the forehead as if the head were being compressed ; headache as if the bones of the skull were being driven asunder, and as if the brain were vacillating.

Aggravations from physical or mental exertion ; from stooping ; from reading ; from heat of a warm room or of the bed.

Relief in the cool, open air ; from lying down.

The symptoms are all worse from 4 p. m. to 8 p.

M.

A careful study of this remedy shows that it may become a rem- edy of value in several serious disorders of the brain.

"It is a great remedy for overworked brains and where brain-trouble, for instance, softening, threatens from overwork or from metastasis of ulcers suddenly healed ; see the torpor ; the use of wrong words ; failure to collect and to command the thoughts, etc." (Dr.

Dunham.)

I cannot refrain from calling your attention to a symptom, which seems character- istic of- lycopodium.

It is the partial opening of the eye-lids during sleep ; the conjunctiva is then dry and purulent-like and the cornea is hidden under the upper eyelid.

It sometimes presents itself with the prostration and convulsive contractions of the muscles of the eyes, of the face and limbs, in meningitis and hydrocephalus, which often terminates in death.

A child, after vomiting a few times, was taken with a violent fever, total loss of consciousness, drowsiness, insensibility and convul- sive contractions of the eyes, limbs and face.

Aconitum and belladonna, given for twenty hours, had done nothing toward changing this condition and a disastrous termination seemed imminent, when the condition of the partly- opened eyelids made me think of lycopodium.

In less than one hour after the administration of the first dose, I was able to discover a slight improvement.

The next day the child was out of danger.

(Dr.

Roosvelt, Am.

Homxopath, July, 1879.)

"Lachrymation.

Swelling and redness of the nose, which is sen- sitive to touch.

Inner surface of the nose ulcerated and covered with a scab, which, if removed, speedily forms again.

Increased

secretion of mucus in the nose.

Frequent sneezing.

Profuse mucus discharge from the nose.

Acrid, excoriating discharge from the nose, making the upper lip sore.

Violent stopped nasal catarrh.

Flueut coryza with frequent cough.

Nosebleed.

Dryness anil com- plete stoppage of the nose.

Increased acuteness of the sense of smell, at times perverted."

CORYZA

The remedy may be of service in coryza, with heavy frontal headache, acrid discharge from the nose or thick mucus dis- charge.

Cannot breathe through the nose; nose swollen and internally sore.

Among the pathogenetic symptoms we find: "Dryness in the windpipe with hoarseness.

Irresistible itching-tickling in the larynx which compels a forcible cough.

Feeling of rawness and of scratch- ing in the trachea.

The tone of the voice seems muffled, though just as strong as ever.

Irritation to cough from deep breathing, from stretching out the throat.

Cough, with difficult respiration, and stitches in the right side of the chest, constantly increasing in the evening, with great chilliness and trembling of the limbs, oblig- ing him to go to bed ; on stooping, the pain in the chest could scarcely be endured, the breath was short and difficult ; worse on motion and lying on the right side ; better from keeping quiet.

Night cough, affecting the stomach and diaphragm, mostly before sunset.

Short, dry, hacking cough, especially in the evening and in the morning.

Cough, with thick, heavy, granular expectoration.

Tickling cough, as from sulphur fumes in the larynx, witli gray, salty expectoration.

Expectoration of thick, yellow mucus.

Ex- pectoration of bright, red blood.

Shortness of breath ; difficult, respiration; dyspnoea, as if the chest were constricted by a cramp.

Stitches in the chest, especially upon deep inspiration.

Tearing stitches under the clavicles and sternum.

COUGH, with indications given above.

The remedy is of partic- ular value in chronic cough of old people, whose lungs have been weak for a long time aud who have had repeated attacks of pneu- monia.

The expectoration is heavy, yellow and profuse.

Hectic fever.

Brick-dust sediment in the urine.

Fan-like motion of alse nasi.

Mr.

B., aged forty years, has been exposed to the night air for years.

He was suddenly roused from his afternoon nap by copious spitting of blood.

By the use of powerful astringents the haemorrhage was checked after he had lost about half a pint of blood.

On July 20th I was called and found him feverish, restless and weak.

Prescribed aconite2 every two hours.

In the evening I was called again; he had then raised about one pint of bright-red blood.

The fever was much more severe and he was quite weak.

Millefolium3 soon arrested the haemorrhage.

Aconite and millefolium were then given in alternation.

When the fever had abated and danger from haemorrhage had passed, he was to take one dose of china3 every two hours.

July 2ist

On examination, the upper portion of both lungs disclosed dullness, on percussion, with some bronchial respiration and mucus rale.

The dullness was mainly on the left side, while the soreness was principally in the right side.

There was constant hacking cough with bloody sputa.

Prescribed ipecacuanha* every two

hours.

The condition of the patient demanded frequent change of remedies ; the symptoms improved until August 5th, when they grew more violent and alarming.

During the month of September, lycopodium200, arnica, kali carbonicum, arsenicum were given, but without relief.

October 1st

He has had calcarea phosphorica by advice of counsel.

The prognosis both from myself and my medical adviser was very unfavorable.

He is now daily losing flesh ; appetite very poor ; much pain in the lungs, severe hacking cough; eyes bright and glassy ; sunken cheeks ; paroxysms of fever, with bright, red spots on the 'cheeks ; very restless at night ; profuse night- sweats ; dull sound on percussion of the upper lobes of both lungs.

At 4 P.

M. each day, he has a fever and is much worse generally.

Prescribed lycopodium200 every two hours.

October 2d

He had a better night; perspiration less; feels much better every way.

From this date the improvement was so rapid, that at the sixth visit I suspended all medicine.

Now five months have passed and he has been able to be out in all weather ; but, by advice, takes care to guard against the influence of sudden changes.

(Dr.

A.

M. dishing, New Eng.

Med.

Gazette, May, 1873.)

Lycopodium has been recommended in croup and in whooping- cough.

I see no homoeopathicity of the remedy to those diseases ; after either of these diseases has run its course, a cough may remain to which lycopodium may be homoeopathic.

(See cough.)

The following are pathogenetic : Aching pressure in-the stomach, epigastrium and liver, with pain on pressure and deep respiration.

Bitter taste in the mouth.

Excessive appetite, followed by disten- tion of the abdomen ; hunger remains after eating, though the stomach and abdomen are full and sour.

Loss of appetite.

Empty, sour eructations, with gulping up of digested food.

Much thirst.

Nausea with oppression of the chest ; qualmishness, with tremulous weakness of the body.

Rumbling in the stomach ; feeling of empti- ness in the stomach, though without hunger.

Constriction and cramp in the stomach.

Distention of the stomach, with pressure in the epigastrium ; sensitiveuess to pressure.

Pain and tension in the hepatic region, with tenderness to pressure.

Griping pains in the bowels, with fulness and distention of the abdomen ; great flatulency.

Pressing colic, with sensitiveness to pressure.

Rumbling, pressing, drawing, stitching pains in the hypogastrium and iliac regions.

Diarrhoea, with griping and with much flatulency.

Constipation.

Stool small, hard and passed with much difficulty and burning in the rectum.

Great bloating of the entire abdomen.

Lycopodium acts curatively in the following conditions: CARDIALGIA

It suits persons suffering from hypochondria, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, scrofulosis, of lymphatic constitution, or persons liable to exanthemata.

Passing, contracting pains ; the stomach is always full and bloated, excessively distended.

Acidity; pyrosis, flatulency in the stomach and abdomen, relieved by emis-

Mrs.

L., aged fifty-eight years, has been troubled for the past three years with dys- pepsia, characterized by an accumulation of gas in the stomach, giving rise to a distended, full feeling ; the gas seemed to be generated immediately after breakfast and dinner, followed by almost constant eructations of tasteless gas, resulting in an exhausted condition of the whole system; urine profuse and light colored.

Pre- scribed lycopodium', three drops before retiring at night and twenty minutes before meals ; the symptoms have not returned since she took the first dose of medicine, more than two months ago.

(Dr.

A..

B.

Avery, Am.

Homceopathist, December, 1878.)

COLIC from incarcerated flatus ; distention of the whole abdo- men ; pains running upward and downward, depending upon the flatulence.

The remedy is often of great use in wind-colic of chil- dren, where the pain is sufficiently severe to cause spasms.

Brick- dust sediment in the urine.

Mr.

D. had suffered day and night, with short intervals, for six weeks with severe colic.

The pain was constant most of the time, with paroxysms of great severity, when it seemed as if the intestines were grasped with two hands and drawn into a knot in the umbilical region, and then slowly torn asunder.

During these paroxysms he was drawn forward and would lie across the end of a lounge with his arm between it and his abdomen, as it seemed to relieve the pain.

Alternate diarrhoea and con- stipation.

Constant feeling of fulness, which was increased to repletion after eating a few mouthfuls.

Loud rumbling in the left side of the abdomen.

Emission of flatus was followed by relief.

Pain and feeling of fulness was always worse about supper-time.

Prescribed lycopodium200, one dose.

The pain began to lessen soon after the dose was taken and disappeared within a few hours.

A relapse was cured by one dose of lycopodium5000.

He has been well since.

The relief of pain from pressure seemed to call for colocynth, but the feeling of repletion, the loud rumbling in the left iliac region and the time of aggravation made the selection of the proper remedy an easy matter.

(Dr.

E.

A.

Ballard, Med.

Investigator, December, 1872.)

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION" OF THE LIVER, with sore- ness, aching and tension in the liver, which is sensitive to the touch ; dropsy ; bloating and coldness of the feet.

After the abuse of alcohol ; in aged people.

Gall-stone colic ; nutmeg liver.

Lycopodium has caused : Pressive pain and stitches in the region of the bladder, sometimes in the anus at the same time.

Discharge of mucus from the urethra; burning in the urethra while urinating; frequent desire to urinate ; amount of urine first diminished, then increased.

Urine scanty, high colored ; urine dark, with reddish sediment.

Strong odor (at times ammoniacal) of the urine; urine turbid ; red sand in the urine, which remains rather clear.

STRANGURY, especially of children during dentition or as a symptom of gravel.

Iti the former the symptoms are: violent cry- ing; contortions of the limbs and trunk.

The urine is discharged in drops; sometimes, after the child has been crying a long time,

A man of sixty-four years had been suffering from dysentery for about a week ; at this period he was attacked with complete retention of urine and violent pains at the neck of the bladder.

On the first day it was still possible to introduce the catheter, but on the next day this was rendered impossible in consequence of the spasmodic constriction of the neck of the bladder.

The bladder swelled up enormously.

Lyco- podium at once restored the urinary flow.

(Frank's Magazine.)

Men

Sexual desire and power are both diminished.

The penis is small, cold and without erections.

Sticking pains in the testicles.

Women — Violent burning in the vagina d firing and after coition.

Transient cutting, extending from the abdomen into the genitals.

Stitching and swelling of the pudendum.

Profuse, milky leucor- rhoea.

Leucorrhoea, blood-red in color, with cutting pains going across the body from right to left.

LEUCORRHCEA

Lycopodium acts curatively in leucorrhoea of thick, yellow or reddish appearance, accompanied with much itching of the genitals, rumbling in the bowels from accumulation of gas ; sensation of fulness ; urinary derangements with brick-dust sediment in the urine.

Cutting pain in the abdomen, from right to left.

Discharge of wind from the vagina.

Large, heavy women of leuco- phlegmatic temperament.

Mrs.

A., aged thirty-three years, red hair, ruddy complexion, slightly freckled, complained that for several months she had been suffering with a leucorrhceal dis- charge, which had become unbearable.

The discharge was profuse, greenish, thick, corrosive, offensive; was very difficult to wash off, as it would form crusts, causing a distressing, burning-itching.

Frequent urination ; the urine being scanty, scalding and strong-smelling.

Throbbing as if in the womb.

The menses were scanty.

Hot flushes; occasional discharges of wind from the vagina.

Her appetite was fair, but the least quantity of food filled her up to the throat.

The feet were usually cold, but at times the soles would burn like fire.

Prescribed lycopodium200, three powders to be taken on successive evenings.

The whole condition was completely cured in two weeks.

(Dr.

J.

P.

Mills, Am.

Homaopathist, January, 1878.)

A lady, pregnant some five or six months, has been greatly weakened by frequent vomiting all this time ; feels especially weak in her knees and down the legs to the joints of her feet : as soon as she eats anything, she experiences great burning in her throat, which is followed by vomiting ; the vomiting is attended with great straining, causing pain in the head and back ; there are also small, red spots, bloody extravasa- tions scattered here and there around the eyes.

After vomiting she has cramps in abdomen; what she vomits tastes bitter ; she has a great deal of wind in the stomach and bowels, which causes a crampy sensation upward toward the chest ; brandy brings on belching and relieves the cramps; she is always thirsty, but drinking frequently brings on vomiting; she complains of frequent spells of nausea, as if caused by wind in the stomach, smothering her and making her feel very weak; her bowels are con- stipated; in the open air she feels best.

Lycopodium, high, one dose, relieved her entirely.

(C.

J.

Raue, Am. your.

Horn.

Mat.

Med., vol. iv.)

CHANCRE

It is recommended in the treatment of indolent chancre, with raised edges, thick, round margins and flabby granu- lations, condylomata and other expressions of sycosis.

There is, however, nothing in the very extensive pathogenetic record of the drug which, in the writer's estimation, justifies the use of the rem- edy in venereal diseases, especially of a well-marked syphilitic nature.

Provers have recorded: various kinds of toothache.

Gums swollen, hot and tender.

The tongue is coated white; numeixms blisters on the tongue which have a burning pain ; soreness of the tongue.

Great dryness in the month, with or Avithout thirst.

In- creased flow of saliva of a salty or metallic taste.

Accumulation of mucus in the throat.

Pain in the throat, with a sensation of con- striction in the region of the submaxillary glands.

Burning in the throat ; choking in the throat, provoking constant swallowing.

Swelling and elongation of the uvula; ulceration of the tonsils; ulcers in the tonsils like chancres.

Inflammation, of the whole fauces with pressive, sticking pains.

Heat and burning in the

TOOTHACHE

Lycopodium is of service in toothache, brought on from trifling causes, such as "the slightest touch" or from the shock of coughing.

"Relieved by warmth.

A lady called to get relief for sore throat, which had troubled her some two mouths.

An inspection of the throat revealed a slight, dark redness of the right anterior pillar of the fauces.

She said swallowing was very painful on the right side of the throat only, the pain extending up to the ear.

I could see little visible evi- dence of inflammation or swelling.

She also stated that a little food would always fill her up so that she could not eat any more, and there was much rumbling and gurgling in the abdomen, chiefly in the left hypochondrium.

A few doses of lyco- dium4000 and 5000, eventually cured the case.

(Dr.

H.

V.

Miller, Hahn.

Monthly, February, 1 87 1.)

Several years ago I had a very severe case of diphtheria, affecting both the throat and nares.

Counsel was called.

We found the symptoms to correspond to the fol- lowing symptoms under lycopodium in Raue on " Pathology and Therapeutics," page 119: Worse on the right side; the nose is stopped up, and the patient cannot breathe with her mouth shut; she keeps her mouth constantly open, slightly projecting her tongue, which gives her a silly expression.

Lycopodium30 acted like magic.

I had cured three or four other, nearly similar cases. * * * More recently I have tried it in several cases of diphtheria in the nose, that did not have " projecting tongue and silly expression," as only one nostril was stopped up at a time, and it failed to act.

(Dr.

E.

C.

Price, Hahn.

Monthly, October, 1876.)

Provers have recorded a vast array of fever symptoms.

The fever produced by lycopodium is not yery active : the cold stage pre- dominates and there is little heat; perspiration is scanty.

The different stages are not very well marked : there are flashes of heat, followed immediately by a chilly sensation, and frequently the cold stage is followed at once by the- sweat, which is apt to be most pro-

fuse on the chest aud trunk.

There is with these a great deal of indifference about external things, and frequently a great fear of being left alone.

Lycopodium is used in

INTEEMITTENT FEVER of a chronic form; dyspnoea; pal- pitation of the heart; circumscribed redness of the cheeks ; deranged digestion; rumbling of flatus in the bowels; constipation.

The patient feels worst from 4 to 8 p. m.

Stages not clearly defined ; the sweat is sour, foul-smelling and profuse, followed by thirst.

Scanty urination.

TYPHOID FEVER with sopor and muttering delirium.

Twitch- ing of the lower extremities ; yellowish, dirty-looking countenance, with circumscribed redness on the cheeks ; stupid expression of the face; dropping of the lower jaw; fan-like motion of the nostrils.

He does not pronounce correctly.

His sleep is restless ; he awakens with a start, as if frightened at something, and is cross, irritable and does not want to be left alone.

Tongue red and dry.

The bowels are distended with accumulated flatus ; constipation ; scanty urina- tion, with the characteristic deposit; extremities cold; one foot hot and the other cold.

(Typhus : large quantities of fluid blood are discharged even with the soft feces.

Dr.

Ad.

Lippe.)

RHEUMATISMUS, of a chronic form, in old people and in per- sons of a lithic diathesis.

There is much stiffness in the limbs and joints, with drawing and tearing in the limbs toward evening and at night; somewhat relieved by motion and heat, worse in wet weather.

Rheumatismus of the finger-joints; pain in the right shoulder.

Con- sult also gastric and urinary symptoms.

The symptoms may recur regularly every other day and are usually worse from 4 to 8 p. m.

I.

M., aged four years, suffered since his birth with soreness between his thighs, so that he never yet attempted to walk.

He was scrofulous in the highest degree.

Never had the least desire to drink ; between 3 and 4 p.

M., irritability of the whole nervous system with crying spells on account of pain in the left ankle.

The bones of the ankle were softened and discharged a saffron-yellow water, with a tendency to suppuration.

His face was literally covered with freckles.

Everything tasted salty to him.

I ordered cold water ablutions at bed-time and, internally, lycopodium30, five pills twice a day on the tongue, for four days, followed by lycopodium12, three drops in six ounces of water, a teaspoonful every four hours.

The secretion be- tween his thighs increased for the first few days, then stopped entirely with increased urinary secretion.

Improvement continued steadily under sacharum lactis, and in four weeks he was able to take exercise.

(Dr.

Marweg, North Am. your, of Ho?7i., August, 1863.)

Lycopodium has produced many and varied effects upon the skin of provers.

It has produced : burning, itching eruptions on the different parts of the body, the scalp included.

Often red blotches appear on the face as well as elsewhere, suppurating freely.

We note also a fine eruption about the mouth and on the chin ; warts ; irritating eruptions ; rough, sore places under the arms, between the thighs and on the scrotum.

ECZEMA AND IMPETIGO

Fine vesicles appear, which soon become dry and burn and itch, especially in a warm room.

As they are scratched, they bleed and discharge an irritating, foul moisture, which spreads the disease to the healthy tissue.

Thick crusts, which crack.

After the abuse of mercury.

A boy aged nine years, had become a deaf mute after a severe attack of scarlatina in his third year.

He had forgotten how to speak, because he no longer heard, and was about to be sent to a deaf and dumb institution.

The otorrhcea, which in Lobe- thal's opinion, was the cause of the deafness, was well suited for lycopodium.

The boy received lycopodium, 18th dilution, at intervals of two, three, and five days.

The hearing and power of speech were wakened from their six years' sleep, as after one year of treatment he not only heard everything, but displayed a peculiar aptitude for the German language, and was able to express himself with perfect distinctness in all things pertaining to ordinary life. [Horn.

Turns, July, 1879, Retrospect of Literature.)

discharge is usually thick, yellow.

There is every evidence of deep- seated trouble, depending upon the dyscrasia indicated.

A careful examination of all the symptoms of the case must furnish the really reliable indications.

The remedy is also recommended for hemera- lopia, a peculiar condition of the eye, where sight is perfect by sun- light, but vision is nearly, and usually, quite lost by artificial light.

This condition is usually accompanied by a trembling of all objects noted ; constant flickering or black spots before the eyes.

in the form of white sand.

(W.

T.

Brande, Phil.

Trans., 1810, p. 136; and 1813, p. 213.) On account of its greater insolubility, it requires a longer time to produce these effects than the alkalies.

When taken in too large quantities and for a long period, it has sometimes accumulated in the bowels to an enormous extent, and being concreted by the mucus of the bowels, has created unpleasant effects.

A lady took every night during two years and a half, from one to two teaspoonful of Henry's calcined magnesia (in all between nine and nineteen pounds troy) for a nephritic attack, accompanied with the passage of gravel ; subsequently she became sensible of a tenderness in the left side just above the groin, connected with a deep-seated tumor, obscurely to be felt on pressure, and subject to attacks of constipation, with painful spasmodic action of the bowels, tenesmus, and a highly irritable state of the stomach.

During one of these attacks she evacuated two pints of " sand " ; and on another occasion voided soft light brown lumps, which Avcre found to consist entirely of carbonate of magnesia concreted by the mucus of the bowels in proportion of 40 per cent.

In another case a mass of a .similar description, weighing from four to six pounds, was found im- bedded in the head of the colon, six months after the patient had ceased to employ any magnesia.

(E.

Brande, Quart.

Jour, of Science, i, p. 297.)

June 1 8, 1S69, I was called to see a child four years old, who had been much annoyed by ascarides for two years, and there appeared to be an enlargement of the hemorrhoidal vessels, which could only be seen just after stool.

There was great itching, pricking and shooting in and around the anus, often through the day, and frequently keeping him awake during the half or the whole of the night.

Injections of water and picking the parasites away, had often been resorted to for relief.

He was always worse after walking some distance, his sufferings being usually propor- tionate to the extent of the walk.

Appetite deficient: appearance of the child weak and sickly.

Several remedies have all these symptoms but one.

Magnesia carbonica, however, covers the totality.

My attention was called to that remedy by the "prick- ings in the rectum after walking." One dose of magnesia carbonica200 cured the case.

(Dr.

H.

N.

Guernsey, Hahn.

Monthly, September, 1869.)

LEUCORRHCEA

Magnesia exerts a more or less decided action upon the generative organs of women, producing catarrhal inflam- mation and menstrual derangements, which indicate the use of the remedy in leucorrhcea, especially of scrofulous, nervous women, watery, irritating; apt to set in after the menstrual flow, and worse. in the afternoon, when walking or sitting.

Itching of the pudendum.

Griping pains in the abdomen ; bloating of the abdomen ; flatulence.

CONSTIPATION

We should mention the use of magnesia in constipation, especially of scrofulous, nervous women.

We have : frequent, but ineffectual urging to stool with emission of flatulence and expulsion of small stool ; pinching, contractive pains in the ab-