Magnesia Muriatica

[MURIATE of magnesia.]

This salt is obtained by dissolving carbonate of magnesia in pure muriatic acid ; we filter and evaporate the filtered solution. A watery solution is made of the crystals.

This salt is mainly used for

CONSTIPATION.— Large difficult stools, which crumble as they pass the verge of the anus ; knotty stools like sheep's dung, covered with blood and mucus.

LEUCORRH(EA after every stool; vaginal leucorrhoea of watery thick mucus ; indurations of the uterus ; constipation.

MENSTRUAL DISORDERS with a discharge of black, clotted blood and uterine spasms, which extend to the thigh; debility; constipation.

GASTRALGIA — Eructations like onions; faintness and weak- ness at the stomach, relieved by eating ; continual rising of white froth into the mouth ; throbbing pains in the pit of the stomach. Constipation.

CHRONIC NASAL CATAKRH with great soreness of the nose, externally and internally ; loss of smell (and taste) ; profuse dis- charge of watery fluid from the nostrils or of offensive, yellow, puru- lent matter.

HEADACHES, especially chronic and in persons of constipated habits or in women who are suffering with uterine affections. Pain in the forehead and around the eyes; feels as if the head would

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burst ; relieved by pressure. Very severe pain in both temples, with dizziness and loss of consciousness ; relieved by pressure. Headache worse in the morning when awaking, from motion, from lying down ; relieved from strong pressure; exercise in the open air; wrapping the head in something warm.

A clerk, forty-eight years old, of a yellowish-brown complexion, choleric, suffered for several years from severe headache. The pains are usually located in the fore- head and around the eyes; it seems as if the head would burst; he is obliged to lie down; the headache is aggravated by motion and in the open air; warmth does not relieve, but strong pressure does. At times these attacks continue for several weeks, coming on every day and they return about every six weeks. He also complains of loss of appetite, bitter taste, eructations, waterbrash ; the epigastric and the hepatic region are sensitive to pressure ; the liver is hard and enlarged ; the patient cannot lie on the right side; the bowels moved only with the aid of an enema, when he passed some small, yellowish-gray balls; urine of a deep yellow color, with consid- erable mucus; the tongue is thickly coated, with clean tip and edges; great thirst; no fever.

Magnesia muriatica cured the case in three weeks. Three years have passed and he has had no relapse. (Dr. Stens, Jun., Germany.)

The salt has also been recommended for scirrhous indurations of the womb, with ovarian complications, mental depression, constipation.

MAGKESIA SULPHTIKIOA.

[SULPHATE OF MAGNESIA.]

Also termed Epsom salt because it is contained in large quantities in the saline waters of Epsom, a small town in the neighborhood of London, England. To have the sulphate of magnesia pure, wash the sulphate of the shops, filter the solution and then crystallize. We make a watery solution of the crystals.

According to Pereira, sulphate of magnesia, in moderate doses, is a mild and perfectly safe antiphlogistic purgative, which promotes the secretion as well as the peristaltic motion of the alimentary canal. It is very similar in its operation to sulphate of soda, than which it is less likely to nauseate or otherwise disorder the digestive functions, while it acts somewhat more speedily on the bowels. It does not occasion nausea and griping, like some of the vegetable purgatives, nor has it any tendency to create febrile disorder or inflammatory symptoms ; but, on the other hand, has a refrigerant influence; hence it is commonly termed a cooling powder. In small doses, largely diluted with aqueous fluids, it becomes absorbed, and' slightly promotes the action of other emunctories; thus, if the skin be kept cool and moderate exercise be conjoined, it acts as a diuretic.

"On account of the mildness and safety of Us operation, its ready

334 MAGNESIA SULPHUIUCA.

solubility and its cheapness, sulphate of magnesia is by far the most commonly employed purgative, both by the public and the profes- sion. The only objection to its use is its bitter and unpleasant taste. To state all the cases in which it is administered, would be to enumerate nearly the whole catalogue of known diseases. It must, therefore, be sufficient to mention, that it is excellently well adapted as a purgative for febrile and inflammatory diseases, obstinate con- stipation, ileus, lead-colic, even incarcerated hernia, narcotic poison- ing, etc."

Its antidotal powers in cases of poisoning by the salts of lead and baryta have already been mentioned.

Although sulphate of magnesia is a mild and apparently harmless laxative, yet it has manifested toxical effects on several occasions. Dr. Christison mentions the case of a boy, ten years old, who lost his life by swallowing two ounces of epsom salts. The symptoms were : staggering, imperceptible pulse, slow and difficult breathing, extreme debility, and death within ten minutes, without vomiting.

Taylor relates the case of an old man, a confirmed drunkard, who was poisoned by drinking several pints of beer drugged with sulphate of magnesia. He was seized with violent purging, and died within forty-eight hours. There is reason to believe that the quantity swal- lowed was very large.

DIAKRHCEA — In homoeopathic practice we may use the sulphate of magnesia for a serous diarrhoea, tinged with an admixture of a yellowish and greenish bile ; more particularly, if children, who arc subject to such attacks, are troubled with worms and an inability to retain the urine in consequence of an excessive irritability of the bladder.

In the case of women, the fact of premature and profuse menstru- ation is an additional recommendation for the use of this salt.

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