Moschus

[MUSK.]

We obtain this substance from the musk animal, a native of Tartary, China, Siberia. This secretion is contained in a bag situ- ated in front of the preputial orifice, behind the umbilicus ; this bag is from one and a half to one and three-quarter inches broad and from two to two and a half inches deep.

Professor Joerg has furnished some exceedingly instructive provings of this drug. It seems to affect the cerebro-spinal system of nerves with peculiar intensity. Among the symptoms recorded by Joerg we distinguish the following, which show that in nervous vertigo and in nervous congestive headaches, musk may prove an agent of some importance : Slight embarrassment in the forepart of the head, increasing to a dull pain in the frontal region, and extending even to the vertex and occiput, with a slightly increased frequency and fulness of the pulse, and afterward increased desire for food.

Sudden feeling of heat in the open air, ascending from the right cheek to the right side of the forehead. Slight frontal headache, with a gloomy feeling in the head, slight pressure close above the orbits and externally above both eyelids ; with drowsiness.

moschus. 433

In the case of one of the provers, musk caused a feeling of dullness in the herd, almost amounting to vertigo, with troublesome oppression in the stomach which was made worse by exercise; the prover, a lady, felt drowsy ; next day the embarrassed feeling in the head continued, with trembling through the whole body, dryness in the throat, pressure and heaviness in the stomach ; the pulse was accelerated.

Sundelin swallowed twenty grains of musk early in the morning. In a few minutes he experienced an excitement similar to that which is caused by wine, with an increased frequency, fulness and softness of the pulse, with some slight cutaneous transpiration. These symptoms continued for two hours; they disappeared without leaving any feeling of tightness or confusion in the head. The breath, the cutaneous exhalations and the urine smelled strongly of musk even on the next day.

Musk causes a feeling of warmth, and some oppression in the pit 'of the stomach, followed by an extraordinary craving for food. This effect was experienced by Jcerg's provers, and likewise by Trousseau and Pidoux who, in imitation of Jcerg, swallowed half a dozen grains of musk; the effect was: "a feeling of warmth at the pit of the stomach, and a real craving for food." This species of

BULIMIA may occur as a symptom of hysteria, or in the case of pregnant women.

Musk has a decided action upon the sexual organs. It excites the sexual instinct, even in old men and women who had never experienced the least symptom of sexual desire. A robust man who had been completely impotent for four years past in consequence of a cold, recovered his virile powers by grinding up musk for his employer. These various effects of musk commend it to us as a remedy for sexual excitement in

HYSTERIA, or likewise for abnormal sexual excitement in the male, resulting in excessive

SEMINAL EMISSIONS, with voluptuous fancies, debility and trembling sensation after the emission.

IMPOTENCE. — Sexual excitement may be considered the primary, and impotence the secondary effect of musk, or the state of organic reaction, to which musk is likewise homoeopathic.

The action of musk upon the respiratory organs is marked by important symptoms, such as : burning in the chest, extending toward the diaphragm ; sensation in the larynx as from the vapor of sulphur; suffocative constriction of the chest; stitches in the chest, with redness and bloating of the chest, dilatation of the pupils, dryness and redness of the tongue, thirst.

PNEUMONIA. — These few symptoms seem to show that musk is adapted to chest-affections of a nervous character, or to inflam- matory chest-affections, where the nervous symptoms predomi-

VOL. II. — 27.

434 mosuhus.

nate. A condition of this sort, where rnoschus is known to have produced most favorable changes, is pneumonia of an adynamic character; the delirium, prostrations, the sinking and irregular pulse, the sunken and perhaps hippocratic features are not in harmony with the apparent gravity of the local phlegmasia, which does not seem as intense as the dangerous character of the nervous symptoms would lead us to suppose. Musk may rouse the patient's sinking energies and save a human life. In

GANGRENE OF THE LUNGS, musk may act as a palliative.

LARYNGISMUS STRIDULUS yields to rnoschus. Symptoms: fine, wheezing inspirations, loss of breath, <bluish face, tetanic spasms ; it is a purely nervous spasm of the glottis not depending upon existing disorganizations.

A boy, five years old, of light complexion, pale but strong, had the whooping cough in September, 1859, which was treated at first with belladonna3, and afterward with veratrum3. On October 20th new symptoms appeared. At the moment of in- spiration, without anxiety, or cyanosis, or pain, the respiration became crowing and lengthened, as in laryngismus stridulus. Then followed some normal breathing, interrupted again by that crowing and lengthened inspiration.

During play, eating, laughing, even during sleep, the laryngismus continued, and as the attacks got worse, without anxiety and restlessness, I gave him rnoschus12 every two hours. In three days the laryngismus was removed, and the whooping cough was cured by the end of October. (Dr. T.

S. Hoyne, Med. Counselor, April, 1879.)

HYSTERIA. — In hysteria, hysteric affections such as hysteric spasms, hysteric faintings, etc., musk is a capital stimulator of the nervous system. The patients show great fitfulness of temper dur- ing the paroxysm ; they cry at one time, and, the next moment, burst out in uncontrollable laughter; there is extreme oppression on the chest, spasmodic twitchings even amounting to convulsions; sign of cerebral engorgement, with oppression of the stomach, dry- ness of the throat, small and fluttering pulse, coldness of the skin ; women thus affected, are generally troubled with profuse menstruation.

Dr. W. L. Breyfogle, has made use of musk in the cure of the morphine habit.

The soothing effect exerted by the musk upon the nervous system enables the patient to bear up under the craving for the opium and under the frequently alarming nervous symptoms which are developed when an attempt is made to leave off the opiate. Dr. Breyfogle triturates three grains of pure musk with five grains of loaf-sugar, and gives one powder every two hours, until the patient has become quiet. He insists that commercial tinctures and preparations will not answer, but that the musk must be pure, must come from the pod and be free from blood, hairs, etc., and be carefully triturated. [Am.

Homceopathid, December, 1877.)

NAJA TRIPUDIANS. 435

iNAJA TKEPTJDIANS.

Naja tripndians is the poison of the cobra di capella of the Indies. English physicians, especially Drs. Russell and Stokes, have been prominent in introducing this agent to the profession.

E. H. Guiding, a keeper at the gardens of the Zoological Society, in Regents Park, was bitten at about 8:10 a. m., (Oct. 20, 1852,) by a cobra, while partially intoxicated. The animal, darting at his face, inflicted a wound upon the upper part of his nose.

In tweuty minutes after the infliction of the injury he began to stagger in walking and ceased to speak intelligently. Convulsive movements of the mouth and of the limbs were observed. At 8:45 he was received at the University College Hospital, and was seen by Dr. Burder and his colleague, Mr.

Gamgee. He could not speak, was unconscious. He moaned, grasped his throat, tossed his head from side to side and was very restless. His face was slightly livid, the eyes were fixed, the pupils rather large, acting sluggishly to light.

Skin of normal temperature and moist; pulse 120, regular in rhythm, but unequal in force; most of the beats, however, being tolerably full and strong. On the upper part of the nose were a number of small punctured wounds, from one or more of which a small quantity of blood had flowed. The eyelids of the right eye, especially the upper, were swollen and livid, the lividity extending to the right side of the nose. The eyelids of the left eye were not thus affected.

There appeared to be no swelling of the tongue. Respira- tion became more and more difficult, the pulse gradually falling, but indicating that the action of the heart was far less interfered with than that of the lungs. Artificial respiration was kept up perse- veringly, and during a part of the time with encouraging results. At 9:40 a. jr. the man died.

There had be^n no vomiting, nor any discharge from the bowels or bladder ; nor was there any swelling noticed beyond the local swelling spoken of.

A post-mortem examination was held thirty hours after death. Let me simply say: there was oozing of blood from the most important wound made by the snake ; much general livid discolora- tion. Rigor mortis was strongly marked in the lower extremities, less so in the upper. The brain aud spinal cord were almost normal.

The lateral ventricles were filled with transparent fluid. The lungs, as they lay in situ, were observed to be less collapsed than usual. Being removed, they were found to present a healthy appearance in the anterior portions, but in the posterior parts they were excessively gorged with blood, being almost black on section, and exuding copiously a blackish fluid mixed with some air. The air-tubes, large and small, throughout both lungs, were filled with a black frothy fluid, and the lining membrane was generally stained of a very dark, blackish color.

The larynx and trachea presented no

436 isTAJA TEIPUDIANS.

unusual appearance, excepting dark-colored staining of the trachea near its lower end. There was no sign of mechanical obstruction anywhere. Heart : structure healthy. The left cavities were con- tracted and empty, the right were filled with dark fluid blood, amongst which was a small quantity of very loose coagulum.

A native of India was bitten by a cobra and experienced imme- diate sharp pain, which advanced upward, reaching the knee joint in half an hour. Ten minutes later, it had extended to the thigh and had much increased in severity. There was also severe pain in the abdomen, which was hard and bloated. A sense of tension or tightness spread fast toward the heart and respiration became ex- ceedingly laborious ; stricture of the oesophagus ; foaming at the mouth ; the eyes fixed and staring ; pulse and respiration hardly perceptible.

The man recovered under the use of antidotes, slept for a quarter of an hour, vomited freely on awaking ; the pain left him in a retrograde movement, but for several days he felt extremely fatigued.

A large dog was bitten by a cobra. At first he complained loudly, and broke loose in a quarter of an hour after being wounded. He was captured, after a chase of one hour and a half, much heated and fatigued. He refused to drink, but ate some bread thrown into water.

Fifteen minutes later, he grew sick, vomited, howled and showed much inquietude. In ten minutes he vomited again, became extremely fierce, struggled to get loose, snapped desperately at the stake to which he was tied. After the second vomiting he laid down and was much agitated about the belly and stomach ; the muscles of the face were also convulsed. At the end of the third hour he was so ferocious that it became necessary to tie his hind-legs; from this time he grew weaker, the convulsive motions of his face increasing in the meanwhile and he expired in about half an hour.

Where he had been bitten, the parts were quite black for the circumference of half a crown. The observer comments particularly on the symptoms of rage in this case, which were exceedingly violent, reminding him of similar paroxysms observed in hydrophobia.

The cases cited show pretty conclusively that the nervous system ex- periences the full force of the power of the venom. The pneumo- gastric nerve is particularly affected, interfering with respiration, in time arresting the function altogether, preventing the oxydation of the blood and causing the congestion noted; the remarkable fluidity of the blood is one of those general effects of serpent poisons, which have been mentioned under lachesis.

Drs. Russel and Stokes have made provings of the drug ; the latter inoculated himself with a dilution of the poison. The symp- toms recorded by them substantiate the remarks made. Provings with such deadly poisons are not usually productive of anything but

NAJA TKTPUDIANS. 437

confirmatory evidence, for unless they are carried to a point of the most imminent danger they can hardly develop strongly-character- istic features of a drug.

NEURALGIA. — We know comparatively little of naja as a cura- tive agent. It has been used in neuralgia, particularly of the face. Dr. W. H. Holcombe recommends it also in neuralgia of the heart, especially if it occurs in connection with ovarian irritation [left side ? — Ed.]

Mrs. W., aged thiny-two years, of nervous temperament and feeble constitution, had been subject to attacks of neuralgia and sick-headache for a number of years. She bore one child six years since, and following this period she suffered from some female weakness. From her youth she had been subject to periodical headaches, but subsequent to this they took on a very aggravated character, prostrating her greatly and confining her to the bed for days and weeks.

The paroxysms were precipitated mainly by overdoing and by excitement. The headache might be preceded by irrita- bility of the stomach, but the pain was usually severe for several hours before nausea and vomiting set in. The pain was very severe in the left orbital region and ex- tended back to the occiput. About the orbit it was an aching pain; after some hours it might be throbbing, and thence it was drawing in its character to the back of the head.

The vomiting varied from a watery and mucous to an acid or bilious vomit- ing. The bowels were usually regular and the menses normal. The patient had taken narcotics with palliative effects. Naja tripudians6, in water, abated these dis- tressing headaches and lengthened the intervals between the attacks.

(Dr. D. A. Colton, in the Am.

Observer, November, 1873.)

ANGINA PECTORIS. — Naja is recommended in angina pectoris with chronic organic (valvular) disease of the heart ; great nervous excitement; choking; ovarian irritation.

MITRAL INSUFFICIENCY.—" Chest— Most acute pain and sense of oppression at the chest, as though a hot iron had been run in, and a hundred weight put on top of it. Dull, heavy pain over the left half the chest, with stabbing on taking a deep inspira- tion; chest not affected by movement, but intensely aggravated by inspiring deeply ; the attempt to take a deep breath causes a sudden, short, puffing cough ; a real cough is impossible, from the stabbing in the lower part of the right chest, in bed ; cannot lie for a moment on the left side, but pain and breathing much relieved by lying on the affected side.

Heart — Feeling of depression and low- ness about the heart ; a great pain near the heart. Fluttering of the heart, attended by headache. Pulse. — -Regular in rhythm, but unequal in force, most of the beats, however, being tolerably full and strong. Weak and thready." (Dr.

B. W. James, Halm. Monthly, May, 1880.)

MELANCHOLY, bordering on insanity, with chronic palpitation of the heart ; dull severe headaches ; hysterical excitement ; tend- ency to suicidal mania.

438 JSTATRUM.

DIPHTHERIA with great prostration ; grasping at the throat ; dryness in the throat ; dark-red color of the fauces ; short, hoarse cough ; dyspnoea ; symptoms worse after sleep.

A little girl, two years and a half old, had high fever, rapid small pulse ; very restless, sleepless nights : frequent, deep, hoarse cough, wheezing, rasping respiration, very tight and difficult, ameliorated during the morning hours from daylight to II A. M., but aggravated from thence to beyond the turn of night. She could not be kept in bed nor covered; seemed suffocated on lying down, particularly when in bed ; coughed, choked and vomited on lying down, and had to be taken up at once.

Her tonsils were swollen and tender to touch on the outside, and covered internally with a complete covering of diphtheritic deposit. She was much prostrated, and had to be held nearly in an erect position to procure easy respiration. Suffocative spells, and paroxysms of cough occurred after every sleep, however short. She received apis mel.200 In the evening of the same day I found the breathing alarmingly diffi- cult, still aggravated by lying down, waking from sleep, coughing and strangling, in much apparent danger of suffocation.

The deposit in the throat had increased on the left tonsil, where it was quite thick and tenacious and her breath began to have a bad odor. Prescribed naja30, every hour. On the next morning I found that she had rested much better, having been able to lie down half an hour at a time during the latter part of the night ; the breathing was much improved and her throat was rapidly being cleared of diphtheritic deposit. By the following morning all bad symptoms had disappeared, the throat was clear, respiration natural, and rest quiet.

The remaining enlargement of the tonsils diminished to the ordinary size within a few days. (Dr. Mahlon Preston in the Am. Jour.

Horn. Mat. Med., May, 1875.)

A single lady, thirty-eight years old, was taken with sore throat and high fever on January 20th, after having previously suffered with chills for several days. She had intense frontal headache. Continued creeping chills with heat and moisture of the whole body. She was drowsy and stupid, and had to be awakened to ask her a question; swallowing was painful, and the tonsils were found dotted with diphtheritic spots of the size of a buckshot.

When aroused, she complained of aching in the lumbar region, extending to the thighs, and had a spasmodic contraction of the throat, causing difficult breathing and choking; also, when her sleep became more profound she began to snore, which roused her, followed by the same difficulty. Naja30 was given every two hours, and relief was prompt and complete within two days. [Ibid.)

HAY FEVER. — Dr. Preston used the remedy also in hay fever and asthma, deriving good results from its administration.

SPASMODIC CROUP with constant tickling in the throat hoarseness ; filling up of the throat with thick mucus, which is ex- pectorated with much difficulty ; labored respiration ; dyspnoea.

^ATKUM.

[NATRIUM, SODIUM.]

The metallic basis of the alkali soda, caustic soda, or oxide of sodium.

This salt was first accurately distinguished from potash by du Hamel in the year 1736. In combination with other substances it is found in the three kingdoms of nature, in many animal fluids, in plants, especially of the class alga?, those that grow in or on the

NATRUM CARBONICUAT. 439

borders of the sea, and in various mineral products. It is less caustic than potash, with which it agrees in its general properties. A solution of soda is moreover distinguished from a solution of potassa by this, that soda is not precipitated by the hydrochlorate of platina, whereas this salt does precipitate potash from a solution of any of its preparations.

In our practice we use three salts of soda, namely : carbonate, muriate and sulphate of soda.

JSTATKTJM CAEBONICUM.

[carbonate of soda.]

The therapeutic uses of this salt, in old-school practice, are summed up by Pereira in the following paragraph :

"It is employed as an antacid in those forms of dyspepsia which are attended with an inordinate quantity of acid in the stomach ; as a lithonlytic in those kinds of lithiasis which are accompanied with an excessive secretion of uric acid and the urates ; as a resolv- ent or alterative in certain forms of inflammation, in glandular affections, in syphilis, and scrofula ; and as a diuretic in some drop- sical complaints."

The bicarbonate of soda constitutes one of the chief ingredients of some of the most celebrated mineral springs of Europe, and is likewise met with in some of the springs of Virginia, such as the Grayson Sulphur Springs in Carroll county, the Berkley Springs in Morgan county, etc. The famous springs of Ems in the Duchy of Nassau, Germany; the springs of Vichy in the department of Allier, France; and the springs of Carlsbad in Bohemia are particularly famous for the gaseous and alkaline quality of their waters.

Hence it is that patients of wealth who are troubled with a disposition to the formation of urinary calculi, or the calculous diathesis, flock to these places in the hope that their waters will solve the lithic products and thus rid them of the:e troublesome concretions. From time immemorial the bicarbonate of soda has been depended upon as a solvent of gravel or stone, and in the treatment of lithiasis with the subcarbonates or the bicarbonates of potassa or soda, the chemical theory and management of diseases has flourished in all its glory.

This is especially true in regard to the uric-acid diathesis

440 . JNATRUM UAKBONICTJM.

where the calculous deposit arises from the combination of uric acid with bases, and where the urine has a sour reaction.

EXANTHEMATOUS GKOUP.

The pathogenetic record of natrum carbonicum, derived from provings of Hahnemann, Hartmann, Berridge and others, is exceedingly voluminous, Allen giving us nearly twelve hundred symptoms. Its practical uses are limited to the following :

DISEASES OF THE SKIN— The carbonate of soda, in a dynamized form, exerts a very well defined effect upon the skin The following symptoms are pathogenetic : the skin of the whole body becomes dry, rough and cracked here and there; papular eruption on the nates and coccyx, with violent itching; papular eruption with sticking pain, like a boil when touched ; red papu- lar eruption on the forehead, with burning sore pain, with pus at the tip. Pimples on the face, painless; itching and burning pimples on the face and chin.

Ked vesicles, filled with liquid, in the bend of the elbow and groin, with sore pain when touched ; whitish vesicles, as large as a flaxseed, on the red of the upper lip and on the face. Small, sensitive pustules on the back; small ulcers about the mouth ; red boils on the chin, not painful when touched ; tetter, exuding a purulent liquid. Violent itching and burning in various parts of the body, with a sensation as if some- thing were crawling over the parts.

"The eruption is in yellow rings, found on the hands, fingers, elbows and around the nails ; better on motion, pressing and rub- bing." (Dr. F. W. Payne, in Halm. Monthly, April, 1868.)

We may then use the carbonate of soda, in the various eruptive diseases whose local symptoms resemble those just described. In the treatment of herpes iris especially, the remedy may be of great importance.

ULCERS, characterized by burning, pricking and itching, with inflamed circles around them, may yield to its exhibition, particu- larly it' there is much dryness and roughness of the skin, and if the patient is much troubled with soreness at the nails and with the so-called run-arounds.

SCURVY. — The case of scrofulous persons who suffer from glandular enlargements, eruptive diseases and feeble digestion.

The constitutional symptoms which must accompany these cases are: evidences of scrofulosis; great general dryness and roughness

NATRU3I CARBONICUH. 441

of the skin ; impaired digestion ; constipation ; pale face, sunken eyes, dark urine, mental depression.

CHYLO-POIETIC GROUP.

Carbonate of soda causes : loss of appetite ; fitful appetite ; inces- sant hunger ; much thirst ; frequent empty eructations ; sour, bilious eructations ; waterbrash ; nausea, with uneasiness and a feeling of pressure in the stomach ; biting and burning at the tip of the tongue. Dryness of the mouth, with a bitter, slimy, foul taste in the mouth, flatulency. The remedy is frequently of use in

DYSPEPSIA, with a feeling of pressure in the stomach ; hic- cough; frequent eructations of sour, bitter fluid from the stomach or of fetid gas ; irregularity of the bowels, constipation alternating with diarrhoeic stools. Dirty, dry, rough appearance of the skin, with frequent eruptions, as pimples, etc. Great despondency and feeling of loneliness ; sharp stitches in the liver and spleen.

CONSTIPATION, with derangements of digestion; tenesmus and a feeling as if all the stool had not been expelled.

The carbonate of soda is also recommended in the treatment of

SPLENITIS with keen, sharp stitches in the region of the spleen, increased in severity by the drinking of very cold water, and with other constitutional symptoms already described.

URINARY AND SEXUAL GROUP.

The effect of the drug upon the urinary organs is not very important. There is burning and tearing in the urethra, frequent urination of offensive, sour-smelling urine, which, at times, deposits a turbid sediment upon standing in the vessel. It causes upon the sexual organs of men much increase of sexual desire, a tendency to frequent erections and premature emissions and itching of the geni- tals with occasional offensive perspiration of the organs.

In women, it produces a thick leucorrhoea, preceded by frequent paroxysms of colicky pains in the bowels ; pressure toward the geni- tals while at stool ; pustules on the external organs ; dryness and heat of the vagina ; soreness of the pudenda between the thighs.

It may be of service in the treatment of

LEUCORRHCEA, thick, yellow, at times fetid ; preceded by colicky pains about the navel ; too early menstruation ; induration of the os uteri; profuse discharge of mucus after an embrace.

INDURATION OF THE UTERUS with pressure downward

442 NATRUM MURIATICUM.

and characteristic leucorrhoeal symptoms. These symptoms may be present in

SCIRRHUS OF THE UTERUS. If so, the remedy may be prescribed with satisfactory results.

Natrum carbonicum is said to be of service in certain difficulties of the heart, characterized by "painful cracking in the cardiac region ; violent, anxious palpitation of the heart, when ascending, and at night, when lying on the left side : pulse excited at night, with ebullitions." (Lilienthal's Therapeutics.)

CHRONIC NASAL CATARRH— It use is also advocated in chronic nasal catarrh, with obstructions of the nose and occasional discharge of hard, fetid clots ; dropping of mucus from the posterior nares into the throat.

The mental symptoms of the remedy are characterized by great despondency, lack of interest in the common affairs of life, and aversion to mental or physical exertion.

Taking a practical view of this remedy and its importance in the sickroom, we should think its use in diseases of the skin and in derangements of digestion as far more likely to add to our profes- sional renown, than its exhibition in the large number of diseases for which it is recommended by certain writers, who attribute the most miraculous powers to any agent, whose pathogenesis is adorned with an unusually large number of symptoms.

NATEUM MUEIATIOUM.

[muriate oe soda, chloride of sodium, common salt.]

This well-known agent is absolutely necessary to the development of some of the most important properties of the blood, its fluidity, its stimulating qualities, and its own preservation. Lord Somerville, in his address to the Agricultural society of London, alluded to an ancient law in the penal code of Holland, which obliged criminals to eat bread without salt. The effect of this privation was the development of intestinal worms which literally devoured the poor victims.

We know that salt is indispensable to the preservation of our domestic animals. Wibmer informs us, upon the authority of Moeglin, that domestic animals died in the northern -provinces of Brazil, unless they were fed on certain portions of salt. According

NATRUM MURIATICUM. 443

to Boulin, female animals, in the republic of Columbia, lost their fecundity and the flock soon perished, unless they found salt in the plants, water or ground.

These facts show that the absence of salt leads to the deterioration of the lymphatic fluid, and the consequent disintegration of the tissues. On the other hand, the abuse of salt begets a scorbutic dyscrasia, which seems to take its starting-point in a deterioration of the blood, from which all subsequent scorbutic disorganizations seem to emanate.

Between these two negations as the extremes of the series, this positive affirmation may be said to occupy a central position : that a certain amount of salt is absolutely necessary to an harmonious sup- port of the assimilative functions of the organism, and that, for this reason, the therapeutic uses of salt must be of a physiological rather than of a medicinal order. Salt is not, properly speaking, a drug; it is a physiological agent, absolutely necessary to the normal consti- tution and preservation of the organism, and differing in this respect from such substances as aconite, belladonna, and the like, which are inimical to the normally-existing organism, but in harmonious rela- tion with the organism whose functions are disturbed by disease.

Salt will be found adapted to conditions resulting from a cachectic deterioration of the lymph, or from a scorbutic disorganization of the blood. That this is the principle curative range of salt may be in- ferred from the effects which the chronic abuse of salt has been known to produce. Not to speak of the ravages which the con- tinued use of salt-meat produced on shipboard, where many other circumstances concurred in the development of this frightful de- struction of human life, we may content ourselves with recording the simple facts which physicians have observed in their private practice.

Frank, for instance, in his excellent magazine, quotes the following symptoms as resulting from the excessive use of salt :

A literary man was in the habit of consuming excessive quantities of salt with his food. When in the full vigor of his manhood, he was only troubled with a peculiar eruption upon the skin and a troublesome burning during urination; at a later period of his life his eyes became excessively sore, with considerable swelling of the red, disgusting-looking lids, and continual secretion of a saltish, cor- rosive fluid which irritated the adjoining parts.

This gentleman's housekeeper had been living in a family who were in the habit of salting their food very much. After her first

444 NATKUAI MUKIATICTJM.

confinement she experienced the most excrutiating pains at the nip- ple whenever she attempted to nurse her infant ; this led very shortly to inflammation, suppuration and disorganization of the nipples. After her second confinement the same symptoms developed them- selves, compelling the patient to refrain from nursing; the same trouble arose after her third confinement.

In the meanwhile the husband of this woman was attacked with an herpetic eruption on the cheek, which only disappeared after he discontinued the excessive use of salt to which he was addicted.

This change in the seasoning of his food with salt had another unexpected effect upon his wife. After every subsequent confine- ment her nipples remained perfectly sound, so that she was able to nurse her infants from beginning to end, without experiencing any trouble.

Frank reports another effect of the abuse of salt in a man of fifty-seven years. His general health was good, but he was attacked with an inflammation in the middle of the left tibia, which terminated in profuse suppuration and ulceration, involving even a considerable portion of the calf. Gradually the ulcer began to secrete a corrosive ichor- After many ineffectual attempts to heal the sore, this was finally accomplished without any difficulty by simply reducing the amount of salt consumed with the food to a moderate quantity; a watery infusion of chamomile was at the same time applied to the sore externally.

Frank states it as a fact, that infants who were nursed by women who are in the habit of consuming excessive quantities of salt with their food, were attacked with soreness of their private parts, of the axillas, and of various glands. The soreness was speedily removed by abstaining from the abuse of salt. «

On the other hand, salt must necessarily be endowed with a certain amount of irritating properties, in order that it may fulfil the physio- logical uses in the animal economy, for which the Creator has so evidently designed it. TVibmer sums up these properties and their effect upon the tissues, in the following simple language :

"Salt which is a normal constituent of the animal body, especially of the blood, by which circumstance it is made evident that this agent is necessary to the animal body, is a local excitant, causing a very considerable degree of local irritation ; a moderate quantity of it, taken internally, excites the mucous membrane and the muscular fibres of the primes via?, promotes their secretions, the peristaltic

JSTATRUM MURIATIC UM. 445

motion of the intestines, and the digestion ; in a large dose, it causes burning and pain of the fauces and stomach, thirst, dryness and red- ness of the mucous lining, desire to vomit ; in still larger doses it causes vomiting and diarrhoea, which may terminate in fatal inflam- mation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines.

"Beside this local action of salt, it likewise acts after absorption upon the glands and lymphatic vessels, increases the secretions and excretions, especially the urine and sweat, in which it is often found again, but leaves the functional activity of the nervous centres and of the larger blood-vessels undisturbed.

"Partly by habit, and partly by necessity, salt has become an in- dispensable article of diet for us and the animals; on the other hand, the abuse of salt may become noxious, causing a dyscrasia of the blood which resembles very closely a scorbutic disorganization, with disposition to angry eruptions, ulcers, inflammations.

"When applied to the skin in a concentrated form, it causes itch- ing and burning of the skin, a vesicular eruption with erysipelatous inflammation ; if very much diluted, it is simply absorbed, after which it manifests its physiological effects."

Ohristison speaks of a man who killed himself by swallowing a pouud of salt; he died with all the symptoms of violent gastro- enteritis. For some of the conditions which are incidental or pre- liminary to gastro-enteritis, salt may be used as a remedy.

Natrum muriaticum is a favorite remedy with many physicians and is recommended for a great variety of diseases ; these recom- mendations are substantiated by a full and favorable clinical record.

OEBITAL GROUP.

You will remember that in one case of habitual use of large amounts of salt, the eyes became very sore, with much redness, in- flammation and swelling of the lids and a constant secretion of a saltish, corrosive fluid, which irritated the adjoining parts. Provers have also recorded quivering and twitching of the eyelids ; itching and aching of the lids ; obscured vision as if a veil were covering the eyes. Hordeola. These symptoms point to the use of the remedy in

OPHTHALMIA, especially in scrofulous subjects or after the abuse of nitrate of silver, with thin, acrid discharge, sensitiveness of the eyelids, agglutination of the lids ; aching of the eyes, when looking steadily at an object ; appearance of fiery sparks before the-

446 NATRUM MURIATICUM.

eyes and around objects looked at; hordeola, and ulcers on the cornea,

Natrum muriaticum has become an important remedy in the treatment of

DEFECTIVE VISION, caused by the loss of muscular power of the ciliary and recti muscles of the eye. Until recently, mechanical treatment was considered indispensable in such cases, and much credit is due to the specialists of our school for giving time and careful attention to the study of these more remote and delicate drug-effects, which frequently escape the attention of the general practitioner. Not only are such observations of practical value, to the practitioner of medicine, but they are also a source of additional and very important information to the student of drug-action. We cannot expect to gain a complete picture of the action of medicinal forces until specialists undertake to make patient and extensive investigations into the health-disturbing and curative powers of every known drug ; such information, beyond the reach of the great mass of the profession, will do much toward explaining difficult questions, settling grave doubts, supplementing deficiencies and rounding off the knowledge already had.

Dr. W. H. Woodyatt relates a number of interesting cases, in all of which the exhibition of repeated doses of natrum muriaticum30 produced a cure of existing insufficiency. It is not to be forgotten, that in such cases, as in general practice, the symptomatic indica- tions determine the choice of the remedy. {Gin. Med. Advance, November, 1878.)

MORBUS BASEDOWII may come under the curative action of natrum, when there exists : dimness of vision ; nervousness ; glandular enlargements, characteristic heart-troubles, in short, such constitutional disturbances as will point out the remedy with suffi- cient precision to justify its administration.

NERVOUS GROUP.

The muriate of 'soda has caused a heavy, pressing ache in the forehead, with pressure outward ; a feeling of extreme fulness in the head, with a pressure outward as if the head would burst; a feeling as if the head were placed in a vise, particularly noticeable in the temples ; feeling of weight in the occiput, relieved by pres- sure ; pains over the eyes, increased by light ; stitches as if knives were thrust into the head, especially at the occiput. Weakness of

NATRUM MURIATICUM. 447

the head ; heaviness of the head ; vertigo ; absence of mind ; con- fusion of ideas ; weakness of memory. These symptoms indicate its use in various forms of

HEADACHE, which it is unnecessary to enumerate. Suffice it to say, that the pains are usually worse in the morning when waking ; that great nervous prostration is frequently present, and that the remedy has a reputation for great efficacy in the headaches of over- worked school girls.

Mrs. P., seamstress, has a sick-headache whenever she eats rich food. The attack commenced with dazzling in the eyes, like lightning, which lasted half an hour and ushered in a throbbing headache in the forehead and vertex, with nausea ; she can hardly hold her eyes open ; the feet are cold and there is great chilliness all over; occasional sour or bilious vomiting. Prescribed natrum muriaticum200, every three hours. The first dose cured the attack. (Dr. J. C. Morgan, Am. Jour. Horn. Mat. Med., vol. iv.)

Mrs. E., aged thirty-five years; nervo-bilious temperament; tawny complexion and of rather spare habits. She has been much troubled for five years by attacks of sick-headache of a severe character, which comes on periodically, commencing a day or two before a catamential period, the menses being regular and somewhat copious. The attacks were generally first felt early in the morning, even before rising, increasing during the forenoon ; the sensation being that of a tight press- ing ache across the forehead and across the eyebrows, and extending outwardly to the temples.

A confused feeling of the brain and a confined, full, and com- pressed feeling over the whole frontal portion of the head, with a desire to lie down and be quiet, with occasional nausea and even vomiting, were symptoms which were usually developed and lasted during the catamenial period of four or five days. There was a marked desire to keep still and quiet during the entire course of the headache. I was called to her at the onset of one of these attacks, which came on two days before the menstrual flow, and with such regular procedure, that she pre- dicted a severe attack.

I gave her a single dose of natrum muriaticum10000 on the tongue, and requested her to note any effect that might occur and report the same to me. About ten days afterward she reported that the attack of headache had passed off during the afternoon and evening, the menses came on during the next day, and ran the usual course without being accompanied with headache, and with less gen- eral malaise than usual. I gave her a powder of natrum muriaticum10000, to be used in case of a return of a similar attack, but not otherwise.

Two years afterward she still had this powder, as she had had no return of the headache. (Dr. W. Gallupe, in Trans.

Am. Ins. of Horn., 1878.)

PROSOPALGIA which recurs in regular paroxysms ; sallow com- plexion ; eruptions on the skin ; after a suppressed intermittent fever; frequently commences in the morning, when waking, and gets worse as the day advances.

H. N., a girl of fifteen years, had had neuralgia in the region of the right eye, down the right side of the nose, and also in the right frontal region for two weeks. The left eye was also affected for about one week. She has had nasal catarrh for one year.

The pain first began in the regions mentioned at eight o'clock in the evening, accompanied by high fever, great thirst and some nausea. As the fever passed off, the pains abated, to return again the next evening at eight o'clock. Be- sides these symptoms, she had tenderness of the scalp, tenderness to pressure of the fourth cervical vertebra and also of the inferior dental or third division of the fifth pair. I prescribed natrum muriaticum200.

The next evening she missed the usual attack, nor had she a return of the difficulty, although under observation for several weeks after taking the medicine. (Dr. J. M.

Kershaw, in the U. S. Med. Investi- gator, June 15, 1879.)

448 NATRUM HURIATICCM.

S. M. Has sharp darting pains in the left supra-orbital region which continues day and night with such severity, that he can neither rest nor sleep. "When the pain is at its height, there is dimness of vision of the left eye.

Tenderness of the upper cervical region, no appetite, nausea. Shortly after, he had a severe chill at twelve o'clock, followed by high fever, great thirst and profuse perspiration. The neuralgia was greatly aggravated during the attack, and it was accompanied by a distressing and painful cough. The next day he had another chill with the same accompanying symptoms ; the neuralgia, however, continuing during the intermission, I prescribed natrum muriaticum200.

He had no chill afterward, and in a few days the neuralgia had entirely disappeared. [Ibid.)

Natrum muriaticum causes very violent palpitation of the heart, with an ache, and a feeling of compression of the heart. The irregular action of the heart is increased by every motion. Great fluttering of the heart, creating a feeling of weakness or faintness, and a desire to lie down. These symptoms point to

NERVOUS PALPITATION OP THE HEART, as is fre- quently found in weak, chlorotic women, who suffer much from leucorrhoea and great debility.

HYSTERIA. — Natrum muriaticum is also recommended in the treatment of hysteria and of

PARALYSIS, especially of the lower limbs. I can see no reason why we should even think of the remedy in such conditions, unless we are able to trace the difficulty to miasmatic influences.

CATARRHAL AND THORAIC GROUP.

The following are pathogenetic : Dryness in the throat ; scraping, scratching and tickling in the larynx ; hoarseness ; cough, provoked by tickling in the throat and worse in the morning. Dry cough j rattling in the chest, without expectorating any ; cough, with hawk- ing -of mucus. Dyspnoea. Oppression in the chest, with cutting, stitching, vague pains in the chest. Prom these indications we infer that the remedy may be found useful in :

NASAL CATARRH, acute or chronic, with great soreness in the nose, pustules and blisters on the outside of the nose ; acrid dis- charge from the nose ; dull, heavy headache ; dryness in the throat ; cough ; hoarseness.

HOARSENESS of a catarrhal origin; scraping in the throat;, cannot sing or speak in the usual, clear tone. Of great service in cases where nitrate of silver has been applied locally.

WHOOPING-COUGH, with chills and fever and other symptoms of a malarial origin ; dryness and soreness in the trachea ; charac- teristic headache ; hoarseness.

CHRONIC BRONCHITIS. — Persons suffering with chronic bronchitis, and even consumptive patients, suffer with a coughr

NATRUM MURIATICUM. 449

which is well covered by natrum ; cough, provoked by empty deglu- tition ; general catarrhal symptoms, in "which dryness of the mucous surfaces prevail ; expectoration, in some cases, of mucus streaked with blood.

FEVER GROUP.

Natrum muriaticum is not a remedy of which we would speak as important in the treatment of fevers generally ; it is, however, claimed to be of the very first importance in certain types of the common intermittent. The authors of this work have rarely pre- scribed the remedy in their own practice ; but there is at hand a large amount of testimony in favor of its great value, which dare not be overlooked. It is interesting to note, that nearly all of the clinical cases reported show cures performed with the very highest attenuations.

Kaue gives the following indications : Hard chill very often at 11 a. m., with great thirst which continues through all stages. The heat is characterized by the most violent headache. There soon appears an eruption of hydroa or fever-blisters, which cover like pearls the upper and lower lip. During the apyrexia, sallow complexion, dry, white-coated tongue ; bitter taste ; water tastes bad ; loss of appetite ; after eating, sour belching and vomiting ; pressure in the stomach ; swollen stomach ; pain in the region of the kidneys ; cutting pain in the urethra after urination.

According to Guernsey: Thirst for large quantities of water before the chill ; this thirst continues through the paroxysm. Violent chill with headache, and after the chill the headache increases greatly ; feels as if the brain were being beaten with thousands of little hammers. After the fever, sweat, and the patient wishes to lie a long time. If the disease lasts long, the corners of the mouth become sore, and finally the lips.

We were consulted by a working man, about twenty-five years old, of a previous robust habit ; he was of a very dark, olive complexion. He was suffering from a well-developed intermittent, with chill coming on at about IO A. M. The par- oxysms were very pronounced ; no appetite ; the fever had produced a rapid emacia- tion, with great loss of strength.

He trembled excessively from muscular weakness, and was only able to be about on the day his chill did not appear. The fever was of a tertian type. I gave him four powders of natrum muriaticum10000, and he had no more chills. (Dr.

G. N. Brigham, in the Am. Ho?nceopathist, October, 1878.)

Mr. L. had suffered from chills and fever for over three months. He had been under various treatment during this time, without receiving relief. The paroxysms occurred every other day at 11 A. M., with severe pain in the limbs and in the small of the back; the chilly stage continued nearly two hours, with no thirst during the chill. There was fever all the afternoon, with intense thirst for large quantities of water and bursting headache during the fever. There was little or no perspiration.

VOL. 11. — 28.

450 NATRUM MURIATICUM.

He eats and sleeps well and on the next day resumes his occupation. Prescribed natrum muriaticum, 30th trituration, one dose every four hours during the apyrexia. The next chill was light and then no return to date, three months since. (Dr. H. C. Allen, in Am. Hom&opathist, December, 1878.)

BUCCAL AND CHYLO-POIETIC GROUP.

Muriate of soda has caused : Sensitiveness of the gums ; soreness, ulceration; bleeding of the gums. The gums are painful to the touch. The tongue is coated white; blisters on the tongue, which are very painful when eating; dryness and clumsiness of the tongue. Bad, slimy, bitter, salty taste in the mouth. Loss of taste. Difficulty of speech. Sense of constriction in the throat.

STOMATITIS. — The remedy may be of service in stomatitis with symptoms like those given you ; much ptyalism ; stiffness and heaviness of the tongue ; cachectic children, subject to chills and fever. Raue recommends its use in

STRICTURE OP THE OESOPHAGUS, "where only fluids can be swallowed ; solid food reaches only a certain place, whence it is ejected with fearful gagging and suffocation ; hawking up of phlegm in the morning ; obstinate constipation." The writer does not desire to call into question the soundness of the advice of so good an authority as Raue, but he is fully convinced that remedies like aconite, belladonna, lachesis and others will be more apt to meet the demands of a well-defined stricture of the oesophagus than the substance under consideration. In

FOLLICULAR ANGINA, with a feeling of dryness in the throat, frequent cough with hawking up of transparent mucus, hoarseness, etc., especially in cases where the nitrate of silver has been freely used without producing the desired effects, muriate of soda may become a valuable remedy.

The following are pathogenetic effects of the drug : Sticky, bad taste. Ravenous hunger ; occasionally, loss of appetite ; great thirst ; frequent empty eructations ; sour risings of food ; waterbrash after eating; burning rising from the stomach and sour eructations. Nausea and qualmishness, with accumulation of saliva in the mouth ; vomiting of food, then bile. Feeling of constriction in the stomach ; sharp, stitching pain in the left hypochondrium and in the stomach.

Great pressure in the stomach with sensitivenesss to touch. Draw- ing pain in the hepatic region ; stitches it the left hypochondrium. Distention of the abdomen with flatulency, relieved by the frequent emission of flatus. Colic.

Sensation of constriction in the reotun'

JSTATRUM MUlilATICUM. 451

during a stool ; hard feces are at first evacuated with the greatest exertion which causes tearing in the anus, so that it bleeds and pains as if sore ; afterward, thin stools are also passed; constipation every other day. Heat and itching in the rectum and anus ; constriction of the anus ; fine, transient stitches in the sphincter ani. Frequent and ineffectual efforts at stool ; the stool is, at times, followed by blood. The stool is hard, dry, crumbling.

Thin, watery, pasty stools. An examination of these symptoms would lead us to expect curative action from the drug in the treatment of the following disorders :

CARDIALGIA, connected with dyspepsia of chlorotic, emaciated persons, or of persons of dissolute habits of life ; it will be of no service when organic lesion exists. A repetition of the respective gastric symptoms is unnecessary; you may find associated with them palpitation of the heart and constipation. The pain is aggra- vaied by pressure, eating and drinking; it is relieved by motion.

DYSPEPSIA, with mental depression; spells of canine hunger, but at the "same time no relish for food ; heartburn ; soreness of the tongue and mouth ; constipation ; general chilliness.

CHRONIC DIARRHCEA of watery, greenish and even bloody stools, worse during the day ; excoriations at the anus ; dryness and soreness of the mouth and tongue ; sore eyes ; loss of flesh, especially on the neck.

SUMMER COMPLAINT OF CHILDREN with similar symp- toms ; the leanness of the neck is especially characteristic.

CONSTIPATION with great difficulty in the expulsion of the stool ; the stools fissure the anus, causing a flow of blood and leav- ing behind great soreness ; heaviness through the pelvis and across the bladder, worse when walking ; cutting in the urethra after urination. In some cases the stool is preceded and accompanied by colicky or stitching pains in various parts of the abdomen ; ■ and again, we find a marked absence of any desire for stool.

HAEMORRHOIDS with stitches in the rectum and anus; exces- sive tenderness and fissures at the anus ; hepetic eruption at the , anus ; protrusion of the rectum ; cutting pain in the urethra after micturition.

DISEASES OF THE LIVER, with stitching pain, heavy aching and tension in the region of the liver, and the general indications for the use of the remedy.

453 NATRUM MURIATieUM.

URINARY AND SEXUAL GROUPS.

JSTatrum muriaticum has caused : pressure in the bladder and stitches through the bladder, on urinating and while walking. Out- ting and burning after urinating; discharge of thin mucus which leaves transparent spots on the linen. Burning in the urethra. Violent stitches and burning and itching at the orifice of the urethra.

Urination preceded by violent tenesmus. Copious micturition of clear urine. Urine clear ; urine turbid and of strong odor ; brick- dust sediment in the urine ; red sand in the urine ; whitish turbid urine, preceded by pinching in the urethra ; milky urine, depositing a white sediment.

DIABETES. — We may find the remedy useful in certain cases of diabetes, where the constitutional symptoms indicate its use. The gastric symptoms, the state of the bowels, the evidences of scrofu- losis, as shown in the condition of the skin and of the glands, and the mental condition would decide the selection of this remedy.

The following sexual symptoms are pathogenetic : Increase of sexual desire ; violent erections ; sensitiveness and swelling of the scrotum ; pressive pains in the testicle. Frequent emissions, fol- lowed by depression. Sticking pains extending from the right lumbar region toward the uterus, ; stitches extending from the region of the kidneys toward the uterus, relieved by bending over, by pressure upon the bowels, or by sitting down ; aggravated by walking. Leucorrhoea, preceded by colic and a pressing downward as if the menses would come on ; leucorrhoea, with itching.

Dryness of the vagina and painful coition. Menses delayed and scanty for several days, when the flow became copious.

GONOBRHGBA. — The muriate of soda has been employed in gonorrhoea, the discharge being painless, thick, yellow and pus-like, or clear and transparent, leaving a transparent spot on the linen ; cutting and burning pain in the urethra after micturition. It is highly recommended in cases maltreated by nitrate of silver and in cases, where a gonorrhoea! discharge has been caused from contact with acrid menstrual fluid.

LEUCOBBHCEA of transparent white mucus or of a yellow, pus- like fluid, causing soreness and itching. The discharge is preceded by colicky pains and by a pressing down. Pimples on the mons veneris. Tardy menstruation. Palpitation of the heart. Dirty, bad appearance of the skin. Scrofulosis. Mental depression ; con- stipation ; headaches.

NATiiUM MURIATICUM. 453

AMENORRHCEA in weakly young girls, and in scrofulous, pale, anaemic women. Great thirst; morning headaches; palpitation of the heart; great sadness ; lencorrhcea, preceded by colicky pains and bearing down; constipation; cutting in the urethra after urinating.

PROLAPSUS UTERI with characteristic leucorrhceal and menstrual derangements ; dryness of the vagina and painful coition ; aching in ihe lumbar region ; pressing pain from the back toward the genitals ; periodical headaches ; sadness ; constipation ; palpita- tion of the heart, etc.

PRURITUS VULVAE with dryness in the vagina and aversion to an embrace ; pimples on the mons veneris ; leucorrhceal and other symptoms characteristic of the remedy.

CHLOROSIS in young people of scrofulous habit, with constipa- tion, sadness and symptoms like those already described under pre- ceding headings.

EXANTHEMATOUS GEOUP.

Like its kindred salts, the muriate of soda presents an interesting group of skin-symptoms. To the general practitioner we can give no better advice, than be guided, in his selection of the remedy, by the knowledge that this salt produces a scorbutic condition and by his acquaintance with the totality of the symptoms. Complicated and obscure diseases of the skin belong to the domain of the skilled specialist rather than to the over-burdened general practitioner.

HERPES. — Muriate of soda may be called for in the treatment of herpes with intense itching ; the eruption is moist, cracks easily or occurs in large, red, angry blotches ; said to be especially adapted to herpes in the bend of the knees and elbows.

ECZEMA ; rawness and soreness of the skin ; the eruption looks raw and angry ; moist eruption, especially on the scalp ; soreness of the lips and mouth ; inflamed appearance of the eyelids ; dropping off of the hair.

TINEA CAPITIS. — The eruption is moist, oozing, accompanied by great itching. Consult the constitutional symptoms.

SUPERFICIAL ULCERS and varices without suppuration, itch- ing, burning, smarting. Angry appearance of the sores.

MENTAL GROUP AND SLEEP.

There exists great mental depression, and at times much irrita- bility and peevishness. There is a lack of interest in the common affairs of life, a disinclination and inability to perform any mental

454 NATRUM SULPHURICUM.

labor. Forgetfulncss. Daring the day the patient is drowsy, stupid •and weary ; wishes to sleep and can sleep passibly well ; at night ho is restless and cannot sleep.

These symptoms are of the usual importance as parts of the drug- individuality.

We prepare triturations and attenuations on the usual scale. The higher dilutions are preferable. "This remedy cauuot often, in chronic cases, be repeated without an intercurrent." (Dr. Dunham.)

;natrum SULPHURICUM.

[SULPHATE OF SODA, GLAUBER-SALT.]

Natrum sulphuricum was discovered by Glauber in 1658. It acts as a gentle cathartic, and causes a slight irritation of the salivary glands, resulting in an increased flow of saliva.

Trousseau and Pidoux offer the following statement concerning the therapeutic action of this agent :

" The purgative action of the sulphate of soda is very rapid. It is quite common for these purgative effects to manifest themselves after the lapse of three or four hours. The alvine evacuations are soro-bilious, succeed each other with rapidity, and generally cease twelve hours, at the furthest, after the administration of the drug."

The sulphate of soda, even if administered for ever so long a time, does not cause any gastro-intestinal irritation, except under very peculiar circumstances. This enables us to continue its use for several months without the general health being affected thereby. The only inconvenience resulting from the long-continued use of the salt, is an obstinate constipation, which sometimes continues for a long time.

The laxative effects of the salt are procured by means of one ounce or an ounce and a half at one dose. This quantity will cause at an average ten discharges. A smaller quantity, from sixteen to thirty- two grains, does not affect the bowels, but increases the secretion of urine.

In homoeopathic practice, this salt may be administered for a painless sero-bilious diarrhoea, when complicated by nausea, and an increased flow of saliva. The existence of an increased flow of urine would constitute an additional indication for the use- of Ibis salt. In alloeopathic practice the salt is administered in a variety of

JSTATRUM SULPHURICUM. 455

vehicles, such as the juice of prunes, a little broth, an infusion of orange blossoms, or in water. In homoeopathic practice, the one- hundredth or one ten-thousandth of a grain at a dose, to be repeated at suitable intervals, will be found sufficient for all purposes.

Glauber-salt constitutes one of the most common alteratives in old- school practice. One of the most philosophical and agreeable writers of this school, Prof. Vogt, sums up the therapeutic office and character of this agent, in the following concise paragraph, which we lay before the student of homoeopathy for the purpose of affording him a con- venient opportunity of contrasting the direct and reliable method of homoeopathy, which is Nature's system of medication, with the in- direct, round-about and unreliable practice of the alterative system of therapeutics, which is a contrivance of human cunning, copied from a falsely-interpreted and imperfectly-generalized provision of nature, which occasionally institutes or transfers critical changes of morbid processes from one organ to another, with evident relief to the general economy, and as a preliminary to an ultimate cure :

"If Glauber's salt has lost a large portion of its water of crystalliza- tion, and is given in the form of powders, it acts as a powerful refriger- ant, and is a more energetic antiphlogistic than the crystallized salt. As an antiphlogistic, however, it does not equal the nitrate of pot- ash; although as a cooling agent it surpasses this salt.

"In the form of. crystals, and when administered in solution, it possesses, of all the salts, the most powerful purgative properties, on which account it is preferred to all other salts as a digestive and laxative agent. This effect, however, does not go much beyond the sphere of the intestinal canal, so that it is very much inferior to other feebler neutral salts as a solvent of glandular swellings in the abdominal cavity, and is exhibited for atrophy and similar forms of disease only in case the laxative action of the salt should be required by the existing affection of the intestinal mucous mem- brane. Glauber-salt is preferred as a digestive agent in the case of plethoric individuals, where its antiphlogistic and cooling action may likewise be of use. As an antiphlogistic, it is preferred in cases where an increased frequency of the alvine discharges is part of the curative effect to be accomplished, especially if abnormal masses have become accumulated in the bowels, which simply require to be expelled ; and likewise, if inflammatory affections and congestions of the head, epistaxis, etc., are present, which are to be counteracted by the alterative influence of this salt."

45 G NATEUM SULPHUKICUM.

Natrum sulphuricum is not used as extensively in homoeopathic practice as the carbonate or the muriate of soda. You may tiud it a useful remedy in the following diseases :

DIARRHCEA, with urging to stool immediately on rising in the morning ; frequent emission of fetid flatus ; colic and griping in the abdomen, relieved by kneading the abdomen, which causes emission of flatulence; the stools are thin, yellow, not frequent; at times there is difficult expulsion of soft stool; the patient is un- pleasantly affected by damp, cloudy weather, which causes oppression of the chest. Great thirst for cold water.

CHOLERA INFANTUM, with similar indications.

CONSTIPATION", with flatulency; difficult expulsion of soft stools ; inflammation and suppuration around the roots of the nails ; hard, knotty stools, streaked with blood ; smarting at the anus.

DIABETES. — "Depressed, irritable, taciturn, tired of life, dull- ness in the head and weakness of sight ; dryness and burning in the eyes ; nosebleed ; dryness of the mouth and throat; great thirst for very cold drinks ; voracious appetite, with a boring pain ; disgust while eating ; fetid flatus ; increased urination, especially at night ; pains in the small of the back, with, burning urine; haemoptoe; cough, with purulent expectoration." (Lilienthal.)

A case is narrated by Dr. Aegidi, in the Allg. Horn. Zeitimg, in which this sub- stance was administered beneficially.

The patient, aged forty-three years, had had for seven months the usual symptoms of diabetes. When he came under Aegidi's care, these were all very well marked. * . * * The urine is said to have contained five and a half per cent of sugar. On account of a gonorrhoeal anamnesis, he received one dose of thuja30; and then took five drops of the third dilution of natruni sulphuricum four times a day, in a cupful of warm water. In four months's time he was quite well.

" More than a year," Aegidi writes, " has since elapsed, the patient who had been given up is now no longer recognizable; he feels sirong, well, and disposed to work ; his spirits are good, he has increased in size, his muscles are stronger, and his countenance denotes contentment." Nothing is said as to the state of the urine. (N. A. Jour.

Horn., November, 1866.)

HEADACHE, every spring ; during the menstrual period ; usually accompanied by vertigo and fulness in the head ; the brain feels loose when stooping ; pressure in the forehead or in the vertex. Soreness of the scalp to touch; mental depression; nausea; loss of appetite ; scanty urination, with burning ; sensitiveness to touch in the region of the liver ; scanty and retarded menstruation ; the menstrual discharge is irritating; constipation. The headache is worse in the forenoon ; from reading, walking, stooping ; combing the hair ; during the menses ; it is better when the patient is quiet.

NUX JUGLANS. 457