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Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 6,342 chars
General
Alumen.
Potassic-Aluminic Sulphate. Potash Alum. K2 SO4 Al2 S04 24H2O, Trituration of the pure crystals.
Clinical
Alcohol, effects of. Anus, affections of. Bronchitis. Catarrh. Cancer. Chilblains. Colic. Constipation. Cough. Diabetes. Diarrhoea. Dysentery. Eczema. Eyes, affections of. Eyes, operations on. Gleet. Gonorrhoea. Haemorrhages. Hoarseness. Lead colic. Leucorrhoea. Locomotor ataxy. Noma. Oesophagus, stricture of. Paralysis. Polypus. Pruritus. Scurvy. Skin, rough. Strabismus. Teeth, operations on. Throat, affections of. Typhoid, haemorrhage in. Ulcers. Uterus, affections of. Uvula, relaxed. Vaginismus.
Characteristics
The well-known astringent action of Alum. gives a leading indication for its use in practice. Sensations of dryness and contraction are prominent in various parts. I have frequently removed with it constipation of the most aggravated kind, as in cases of cancer of uterus and rectum. Stools as hard as stones is the leading indication.
No desire for stool for days. Contractive sensation in abdomen and pelvis, and retraction of abdomen as in lead colic. Paralytic states with the sensation as if bound with a tight band. On the other hand, it is equally available for the states of relaxation, which corresponds with its secondary action: sluggish action of muscles; haemorrhages of various kinds; large clots in typhoid; relaxed mucous membranes; relaxed uvula; hoarseness and bronchial affections; diarrhoea.
Catarrhal conditions prevail throughout the remedy. The Alum. patient is very sensitive to cold; exposure to air roughens and chaps the skin. Slight scratches bleed. Bleeding after tooth extraction.
There is a tendency to indurations whenever inflammations occur, hence: scirrhous indurations; indurated glands. Pains are insupportable. Attacks come and go suddenly; periodic. Many complaints come on during sleep.
There is nightmare. Turning on r. side > vertigo. Lying on r. side brings on palpitation. There is sensitiveness to all sorts of weather changes, and especially to cold.
W. P. Wesselhoeft has cured bronchitis characterised by scraping from upper sternum to throat, with free expectoration of thick, yellow mucus, paroxysmal cough, morning cough with gagging, aching in chest and in the lower part of the back in region of lower ribs. A peculiarity was the profuse expectoration with the scraping, for scraping coughs are usually dry.
Cepa had helped the preliminary sneezing and coryza.
Relations
Antidoted by: Cham. (cramps in abdomen); Nux v., Ipec. (nausea and vomiting); Sul. Antidote to: Lead poisoning; calomel and other mercurials; Aloe (vomiting blood). Similar to: Alumina, Aluminium; Alo. (rectum); Caps. (long uvula); Fer. (relaxed abdominal walls, prolapsed uterus); Kali bi. (stringy discharges); Merc. (prolapsed uterus, vagina, rectum; tenesmus); Merc. cor., Mur. ac., Nit. ac., Nux v., Op., Plat. (lead poisoning); Plumb., Rhatan., Stan., Sul., Sul. ac., Zinc (eyes).
Causation
Bad news. Operations on eyes; on teeth.
Mind
Unpleasant news cause nervous tremors.—Lectophile.
Head
Vertigo, lying on his back, with weakness in pit of stomach, > opening eyes, > turning on r. side
Headache > drinking cold water
Burning pain and weight on vertex > ice-cold cloths pressed on the part.
Eyes
R. eye squints towards nose
Prolapse of iris after cataract operation
Sees double by candle-light.
Ears
Purulent otorrhoea.
Nose
Nasal polypus l. side with rough skin all over the face and body and neuralgic headache.—Lupus or cancer on rose.
Mouth
Teeth loose
Gums swollen, inflamed, spongy
Teeth and gums rather scorbutic
Profuse haemorrhage after extraction of tooth
Tongue dry (black); burning in evening; sour feeling; stitches < at tip (scirrhus of tongue)
Spreading ulcers in mouth; noma
Profuse ptyalism.
Throat
Tonsils inflamed
Uvula elongated, relaxed
Spasm of oesophagus, liquids can scarcely be swallowed
Prickly sensation both sides of throat and great dryness with constant desire to drink
Scraping in throat with cough
Throat covered with mucus, causing cough
Spitting up of a coagulated lump of blood morning after rising
Enlarged indurated tonsils from frequent colds.
Stomach
Vomits large quantities of glairy mucus or tough, colourless slime, and often everything he eats; blood; habitual haematemesis in hard drinkers
Sinking sensation > by eating
Burning heat > by drinking cold water
The pain is > by pressing on stomach.
Abdomen
Colic < by walking, with fulness and heaviness.
(Potter's colic, lead colic.)
Abdomen retracted, > from pressure.
Stool And Anus
No desire for stool for days
Violent, ineffectual urging to stool
Stool hard as stones
Difficult stool, with some blood and subsequent beating in anus
Diarrhoea ichorous, mixed with blood of an offensive odour, great exhaustion
Very exhausting diarrhoea
Masses of coagulated blood in typhus
Putrid dysentery
Pains from rectum going down thighs
After stool: scarcely endurable pain with scirrhous induration in rectum
Itching in anus all evening.
Urinary Organs
Urine voided with difficulty.—(Diabetes mellitus.).—Oily iridescent film on urine.
Male Sexual Organs
Erections while at dinner
Frequent emissions
Gonorrhoea; gleet
Shooting pain from middle line of belly, as along a thread, down into penis
Cutting pain in l. side of penis.
Female Sexual Organs
Affections of l. ovary (with constipation), insupportable pain
Weight and prolapse of uterus
Indurations, ulcerations, of uterus, even scirrhus
Copious leucorrhoea
Leucorrhoea and emaciation, with yellow complexion
Menses scanty, watery
During menses hands weak
Vagina very sensitive, and narrowed by swellings of various size (vaginismus)
Pruritus
Flooding after childbirth; sore, inflamed nipples; cancer of the breasts.
Respiratory Organs
Hoarseness < from talking
Aphonia
Croup and bronchitis
Cough from tickling in larynx caused by talking
Scraping from upper sternum to larynx, thick, yellow sputa, paroxysmal cough
Ropy sputa
Atonic haemoptysis.
Heart
Pain from heart to lower part of r. lung.—Strong pulsation through whole body.
Skin
Proud flesh; chilblains; indolent ulcers.—(This remedy is particularly applicable to old people.)
Fever
Slow pulse.—Furious delirium.