Hekla Lava

The lava and scorise thrown out from Mount Hekla, in Iceland.

It is described in a letter of J. Garth Wilkinson, of London, to Wm. H. Hol- combe, of New Orleans.

He writes : " Its known pathological effects on the sheep in the vicinity of Hekla are immense exostosis of the jaws. It also produces dry- ing up of the milk in both sheep and cows. The finer ash, which fell on the pas- tures in distant localities was particularly deleterious, while the gross ash near the mountain was inert. In cows, post-mortem examination showed intestines filled with ashes hardened to a mass, and stomach coated over with a pitch-black mem- brane, spotted with brown, and difficult to remove by washing ; the jaw teeth were covered with a shining metallic crust.

Several young horses died from lumps on the jaw-bones, so large as to cause dislocation. The sheep, when butchered, were found to be of a bluish hue internally, and the intestines were friable. In many cases worms from two to three inches long, with pale gray bodies and brown heads, and a little thicker than a horsehair, were found in the bronchise. In sheep the osseous and dental systems were much affected.

The head-bones, and especially the jaw-bones swelled and became so friable, that when boiled they fell to pieces. The thigh, and especially the shin-bones swelled and bulged. The jaws were sometimes covered with large swellings, which spread and were loose of texture, and darker in color than the bone ; these could be separated from the bone with- out injuring it ; but in some fatal cases a hole in the bone going down to the mar- row, was discovered under the swelling.

These particulars are from a Danish account of the eruptions of Hekla, and their consequences to nature, to man, beast and vegetable.

Hekla lava, according to Prof. Morris, of University College, London, has for general constituents, combination of Silica, Alumina, Lime, Magnesia, with some Oxide of Iron. Sometimes it contains anorthite and other minerals. In this im- perfect pathogenesy we have undoubtedly symptoms pointing to diseases of teeth and bone.

I have used the lava in toothache and in swellings about the jaws, with magical effect in several cases ; also, in gum-abscess from decayed teeth, and with apparently good results in difficult teething." — Kaue's Eec, 1872, p. 6.

Clinical Authorities Tumor in antrum of Highmore, Bowie, Trans. Horn. Med.

Soc. Pa., 1886, p. 153; Neuralgia, Whiting, Times Ketros., 1876, p. 12; N.

E. M. G., vol. 10, p. 461 ; Affection of tooth with conjunctivitis, Whitney, N.

E. M. G., vol. 10, p. 461 ; Carious teeth (4 cases).

Whiting, N. E. M. G., vol. 10, p. 460, Affections of jaiv-bones (2 cases), Bowie, Trans.

Hom. Med. Soc. Pa., 1886, p. 153;

Affection of r. maxilla. Whiting, N. E. M.

G., vol. 10, p. 461 ; Whitloiv and gumboil, Acales, B. J. H., vol. 34, p. 692 ;

Caries of hone, McClelland, Trans. Hom. Med. Soc.

Pa., 1881, p. 114.

^ Sensorium. ' i Vertigo, everything goes up, down and side- wise. ^ Inner Head. 1 1 Chronic headache.

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^ Smell and Nose. ■ Destructive (syphilitic) ulceration of

nasal bones. ^ Upper Face, l Facial neuralgia or headache dependent on

derangement of dental nerves, or where the irritating

cause is a carious tooth.

■ Polypoid growth commencing in antrum Highmorii

and from thence encroaching upon adjacent structure so as to deform face, forcing eyeball upwards and evert- ing lid, and obstructing nostrils ; downward into mouth, so that breathing and mastication were seriously im- peded ; epistaxis ; headache. ^'^ Teeth and Gums. ' l Toothache, particularly if teeth are very sensitive to pressure.

■ Toothache with swelling about jaws.

■ After extraction of carious wisdom tooth pain in wound,

and at times in various localities in head and face, so severe that he cannot eat or sleep.

■ Neuralgia, when irritating cause is a carious tooth.

■ Neuralgic pains in cavities from which teeth had been

extracted.

■After extraction of molar tooth violent pain in upper jaw which is sore, swollen and painful to touch.

■Since extraction of inferior molar of r. maxilla two years ago, tissues have not healed; continuous slight discharge of bad tasting pus, at times containing small jDarticles of a soft, gritty substance.

■Right cuspid of upper jaw very sensitive to slight press- / ure on crown ; swelling, and indurated tumor as large

as a pea under r. alse nasi very sensitive to touch ; con- junctivitis of r. eye.

■After extraction of sore tooth gradual enlargement of lower jaw near cavity of tooth finally becoming as large as a hickory nut, causing cheek to bulge.

■Gum abscesses from decayed teeth.

■ Toothache caused by abscesses of gums, injuries to alve-

olar process, or diseases of antrum Highmorii. ■Enlargement of maxillary bone from injury.

■ Injury to inferior maxillary of a scrofulous girl, which

produced an immense abscess, and afterwards great en- largement of maxillary bone.

■ Difficult dentition in scrofulous or rachitic children.

^"^ Outer Chest. 'Myalgia, especially of intercostal muscles. '^ Neck and Back. ■ Induration and infiltration of cervical

glands, studding neck like a row of pearls. ^ Lower Limbs, i i Hip disease.

■ Exostoses of tibia ; nodosities very large ; severe, contin-

uous pain, incapacitating him from work; the exostoses and portion of periosteum, which had become carious

527 HEKLA LAVA.

and soft, were removed by operation ; necrosis of whole bone had been diagnosed ; three days after administra- tion of Hekla lava the pain, which still continued after operation, subsided, and by end of second week wound had healed.

I Caries of bones of feet. ^ Locality and Direction. Right : cuspid of upper jaw very sensitive to slight pressure; swelling under alse nasi; conjunctivitis. ^'^ Sensations. Pain in wound when tooth has been extracted.

Violent pain : in upper jaw.

Severe continuous pain : in lower limbs.

Neuralgia : of face ; in cavities where teeth have been ex- tracted.

Headache : dependent on derangement of dental nerves. ^* Tissues. It affects mostly the bones of the head, jaws, teeth and legs.

In five or six cases of osteo-sarcoma, exostosis, and osteitis it arrested the development and prevented recurrence.

Scrofulous ostitis or periostitis, resting on a syphilitic basis, and especially affecting bones of face and antrum High- morii.

Osteitis; periostitis ; exostosis ; osteo-sarcoma ; rachitis.

White swelling.

Whitlow and gumboil.

Syphilis. *^ Touch. Passive Motion. Injuries. Painful to touch: upper jaw; swelling under r. alse nasi sensitive.

Slight pressure : right cuspid of upper jaw sensitive.

From injury to jaw^ : had enlargement of maxillary bone.

*^ Stages of Life, Constitution. Girl, £et. 10, after falling

upon an upright stick ; enlargement of maxillary bone;

Hekla lava 3d given for several days had no effect, but

disappeared rapidly after Lava 31st.

Colored boy, set. 15; exostoses of lower jaw.

Scrofulous girl, after injury to inferior maxillary ; abscess and enlargement of maxillary bone.

Miss , set. 27 ; affection of r. maxilla.

Man, set. 35; neuralgia after extraction of tooth. *^ Relations. Compare: Mercur., Phytol., Phosphor., Silica, Stilling., Sulphur.

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