Salicylicum Acidum sal-ac.

Homœopathic Materia Medica

William Boericke · Homœopathic Materia Medica · 9th edition

Common name

Salicylic Acid

General

The symptoms point to its use in rheumatism, dyspepsia, and Meniere's disease. Prostration after influenza; also tinnitus aurium and deafness. Hæmaturia.

Head

Vertigo; tendency to fall to left side. Headache; confusion in head on rising suddenly. Incipient coryza. Piercing pain in temples.

Eyes

Retinal hæmorrhage. Retinitis after influenza, also albuminuric.

Ears

Roaring and ringing in ears. Deafness, with vertigo.

Throat

Sore, red and swollen. Pharyngitis; swallowing difficult.

Stomach

Canker sores, with burning soreness and fetid breath. Flatulence; hot, sour belching. Putrid fermentation. Fermentative dyspepsia. Tongue purplish, leaden-colored; foul breath.

Stools

Putrid diarrhœa; gastro-intestinal derangements, especially in children; stools like green frog's spawn (Magn carb). Pruritus ani.

Extremities

Knees swollen and painful. Acute articular rheumatism; worse, touch and motion, profuse sweat. Pain shifts. Sciatica, burning pain; worse at night. Copious foot-sweat and ill affects where suppressed.

Skin

Itching vesicles and pustules; better by scratching. Sweat without sleep. Urticaria. Hot and burning skin. Purpura. Herpes zoster. Necrosis and softening of bones.

Relationship

Compare: Salol (rheumatic pain in joints, with soreness and stiffness, headache over eyes; urine violet-smelling); Colch; China; Lact ac. Spiræa and Gaultheria contain salicyl acid.

Dose

Third decimal trituration. In acute articular rheumatism, 5 grains every 3 hours (Old school dose).

A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica

John Henry Clarke · A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · 1st edition (1900-02, three volumes); homeoint.org / Médi-T HTML digitization

General

Salicylic acid. C 6 H 4 (OH).CO.OH. Found in Spiræa blossoms, Gaultheria, &c. Artificially prepared from Phenol. Trituration.

Clinical

Bone, caries of. Climacteric. Coryza. Diarrhœa. Diphtheria. Dyspepsia, flatulent. Flatulence. Flushes. Foot-sweat; suppression of. Gastritis. Intestines, ulceration of. Iritis. Necrosis. Pharyngitis, herpetic. Puerperal fever. Rheumatism. Rheumatoid arthritis. Scarlatina, anginosa. Sciatica. Stomatitis. Tapeworm. Throat, sore.

Characteristics

Salicylic acid is found in nature in the leaves and barks of Willows, in Oil of Wintergreen ( Gaultheria ), which is one of the chief sources of its supply, and is obtained synthetically from Carbolic acid . Like Carbol. ac . it has been largely used as a disinfectant, and as it is supposed to be non-poisonous it is used for mixing with and so preserving foods. MacLagan, of London, and Senator, of Berlin, introduced it into medicine as a remedy for rheumatism. Over-dosings led to the discovery of its power to set up the phenomena of Ménière's disease (auditory nerve vertigo), gastric disturbances and delirium, and these form the nucleus of the homœopathic Schema, which has been filled out by fragmentary provings and clinical use. Among the uses of Sal. ac . recommended in the general text-books are these: " Sal. ac . dissolved in Collodion flexile (gr. xxx to one drachm) is very useful for corns and warts; also to hasten the peeling of palms and soles after scarlet fever" (Brunton). "A mixture of 2 parts with 100 of tallow, applied directly to the feet, not to the stockings, has been found most useful in preventing sweating and soreness of the feet in soldiers after a long march" (Brunton). The property of preventing foot-sweat is by no means an unmixed boon, and serious illness has resulted from it. Consequently in homœopathic practice Sal. ac . has been found an excellent remedy for affections following suppression of foot-sweat. Sal. ac . has a specific relation to rheumatism, but the massive doses given in ordinary practice have been attended with so many unpleasant symptoms ─ vital depression, fainting, flatulent dyspepsia, delirium, &c. ─ that the ingenuity of chemists has been devoted for years past to finding a compound which shall be innocent as well as effective. Aspirin (Acetyl-salicylic acid), Salophen (Acetyl-para-amidophenol salicylate), and Salol (Phenol salicylate), are supposed to fulfil these conditions more or less completely. Salol has had an accidental proving which has led to some homœopathic uses. It is the "unpleasant symptoms" which so many practitioners wish to avoid, which are of especial value to homœopaths. Like Carbolic acid and other disinfectants, Sal. ac . produces fermentative dyspepsia, and diarrhœa with putrid-smelling stools, and it meets dynamically blood-poisoning conditions, such as puerperal fever and septicæmia. Hering says: "Pieces of spongy bone become soft as leather in a few days when placed in a 1/2 per cent. solution, while compact bone tissues are very slowly softened; enamel of teeth is very slightly affected by it, but the dentine, when it is exposed by caries, is rapidly destroyed. The increased amount of the salts of lime in the urine soon after Sal. ac . has been taken shows that the acid deprives living as well as dead bone of its lime salts." He adds that it causes necrosis, especially of the tibia. The symptoms are < by touch. < By motion. < At night. < By cold air or touch of anything cold. > By hot applications, especially by dry heat.

Relations

Compare: Salicin., Nat. sal., Salol. In rheumatism and subsequent weakness, Colch. Piercing in temples; throat; diarrhœa; ulcers; antiseptic properties, Kre. Antiseptic properties, dyspepsia, fever, urine, Carbol. ac. Tinnitus, Nat. sal., Chi., Chi. s., Carb. s. Bones, Pho., (and throat), Lact. ac. As if blood forced through contracted vessel, Coc. cact. Foot-sweat and suppressed foot-sweat, Sul., Sil. Loquacity, Lach.

Causation

Suppression (foot-sweat).

Mind

Anxiety; worrying, restless, yet mild. ─ Melancholic, wants to be quiet; feels faint. ─ Excited mood. ─ Delirium; stupid, can hardly collect his ideas, then laughed without cause, talked incessantly and disconnectedly, frequently looked about him with apparent hallucinations (lasted 24 h.; from 11 grains).

Head

Dulness of head; stupefaction. ─ Vertigo; inclines to fall to l., surrounding objects seem to fall to r. ─ Ménière's disease. ─ Rush of blood to head. ─ Severe headache, piercing in both temples. ─ Headache commencing on top or back of head, running down sterno-mastoid (more r. side), which is tender to touch. ─ Buzzing sensation in interior of brain as if blood were forced violently through a contracted vessel.

Eyes

Diminished acuteness of vision. ─ (Plastic iritis following acute rheumatism; pain temporarily > by hot applications.)

Ears

Hearing diminished. ─ Nervous deafness. ─ Deafness with noises (roaring) in ears. ─ Roaring in ears and difficult hearing; hears music; swarm of bees or buzzing of flies; rush of blood to head, excited mood. ─ Tinnitus dependent on hyperæmia. ─ Auditory nerve vertigo (Ménière's disease); a troublesome nausea accompanying the head symptoms.

Nose

Wants to sneeze. ─ Sneezing. ─ Incipient catarrh; patients, esp. children, sneeze all day.

Face

Dull, heavy aspect; face flushes quickly on slight excitement.

Mouth

Burning in mouth and epigastric region. ─ Burning and scraping in mouth and throat. ─ Redness of mouth and fauces. ─ Stomatitis, mouth hot and dry, tongue covered with burning vesicles. ─ Foul breath and offensive expectoration. ─ Mouth dotted with white patches, burning, scalded feeling; ulcers on tip of tongue. ─ Canker-sores with burning soreness and fetid breath. ─ Taste: extremely disgusting; as of something burnt; bitter; bitter bilious, that cannot be got rid of; food has no taste.

Throat

Burning in throat. ─ Scraping in throat causing cough. ─ Hæmorrhagic pharyngitis with difficulty of swallowing. ─ Tonsils red, swollen, studded white. ─ Violent efforts to swallow, with difficulty in swallowing, woke him from sleep; the pain and difficulty became confined to r. side with sticking along Eustachian tube into ear: swelling of r. tonsil, noticeable externally, with sensitiveness to touch and increased temperature in vicinity; mucous membrane of throat and posterior fauces red, swollen, with ulcers size of head of a pin, after a while a small lump of cheesy matter of strong odour was expectorated.

Stomach

Nausea, gagging, waterbrash. ─ Frequent vomiting. ─ Ecchymoses. ─ Erosions and ulcers in stomach and bowels. ─ Burning in epigastric region. ─ Weak, nervous sensation in stomach. ─ Flatulent and fermentative dyspepsia; putrid belchings.

Abdomen

Abdominal distension. ─ Ulceration of bowels. ─ Violent, constant pressure in abdomen, with feeling of incarcerated flatus; associated with constipation.

Stool and Anus

Diarrhœa: stools green; flushes easily as in hectic; acid, sour, or putrid smelling. ─ Costive: stool dry, hard; then diarrhœa, watery, sour, yellow, with great weakness. ─ Cholera infantum with peculiarly putrid eructations. ─ Caused expulsion of tænia.

Urinary Organs

Diabetes mellitus. ─ Albuminuria, rheumatic diathesis. ─ Urine: scanty, clear, brown; three hours after passage has a green tinge, and a feathery deposit of crystal of Salicyluric acid ; if these are removed the urine at once becomes putrid; if left, urine remains fresh for a week.

Female Sexual Organs

Leuco-phlegmatic woman, frequent hot flushes, irritability, forgetfulness, dull, heavy pain in cerebellum. ─ Septic puerperal fever.

Respiratory Organs

Respiration hurried, sometimes deepened, sometimes shallow or sighing and almost panting, as if laboured, but no complaint of difficulty of breathing. ─ Dry cough of a hard, racking, spasmodic character, < at night in old people.

Chest

Spasmodic, flatulent asthma; fetid bronchitis; gangrene of lungs. ─ Firmly seated pressure at side of sternum as large as the hand, with feeling as if the bone was sore.

Heart

Pulse small, rapid, weak.

Limbs

Heat, redness, soreness, and swelling about joints; < in knees, with acute, piercing pains; < on motion; > from dry heat. ─ Soreness and pain in r. deltoid and r. gastrocnemius, changing next day to l. wrist and forearm; < touch and movement.

Upper Limbs

Rheumatic pain or rheumatoid arthritis, occurring in some women during climaxis; the pains disappeared, the engorgements of fingers subsided, and the hands could again be used.

Lower Limbs

After suppressed foot-sweat, rheumatic pains; < at night; after an hour's sleep forced to get up; pain in course of l. sciatic nerve, drawing burning; "as if foot were in an ant-hill"; as if it would like to perspire. ─ Necrosis of tibia. ─ Copious foul-smelling foot-sweats. ─ (Applied locally it brings away corns.)

Generalities

Weakness, faintness. ─ Deprives bone of its lime salts.

Skin

Skin red, points like flea-bites. ─ Skin red and sensitive. ─ Urticaria.

Sleep

Yawning. ─ Frequently waked from sleep thinking he heard music.

Fever

Slight chill, crawling in spine; yawning; chill in finger-tips. ─ Fever continuous, burning, then sweat with relief; fever again till exacerbation of symptoms. ─ Weak, faint after fever and sweat. ─ Flushes easily as in hectic. ─ Profuse sweat; as sweat increased strength declined.

The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica

Constantine Hering · The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica · 1879–91

General

Salicylic Acid. H 2 C 7 H 4 O 3 .
Found in nature in Spiræa blossoms, Wintergreen (Gaultheria), etc.
Fragmentary provings by Lewi, H. K., vol. 20, p. 106 ; Macfarlan (recorded in Thesis of G. W. Shaffer, March, 1877) common symptoms of 20 provings. See Allen's Encyclopædia, vol. 8, p. 473 .
CLINICAL AUTHORITIES.
- Menière's disease , McClatchey, Hom. Rev., vol. 21, p. 736 ; Hah. Mo., vol. 13, p. 57 ; Deafness , Claude, B. J. H., vol. 36, p. 356 ; Canker of mouth , Hoffman, M. I., vol. 5, p. 66 ; Use in diphtheria , Grosvenor, Mass. Trans., vol. 4, p. 659 ; Fontheim, A. H. O., vol. 13, p. 112 ; Indigestion , Goullon, A. H. Z., vol. 94, p. 86 ; Dyspepsia , Hale, N. A. J. H., vol. 25, p. 354 ; Flatulent dyspepsia , Hale, M. I., vol. 2, p. 326 ; Whitman, M. I., vol. 5, p. 229 ; Inflammation of stomach and bowels , Hoffman ; Flatulence , Hale, Am. Hom., vol. 1, p. 94 ; Diarrhœa , Œhme, N. E. M. G., vol. 12, p. 412 ; Cholera infantum , Hale, N. A. J. H., vol. 25, p. 354 ; Catarrh of bladder , Hale, M. I., vol. 4, p. 156 ; Septicæmia , Hale, N. A. J. H., vol. 25, p. 354 ; Septic fever (2 cases), Hale, M. I., vol. 5, p. 142 ; Sciatica , Goullon, Hah. Mo., vol. 12, p. 371 ; Foot sweats , Pagi, N. A. J. H., vol. 25, p. 404 ; Acute articular rheumatism , Goullon, Times Ret., 1877, p. 3 ; H. K., 1876, p. 69 ; A. H. Z., 1876, p. 76 ; Times Ret., 1876, p. 118 ; Acute rheumatism , Thompson, Hom. Times, vol. 4, p. 108 ; Rheumatism , Hale, N. A. J. H., vol. 25, p. 355 ; Griswold, Cal. Med. Times, vol. 1, p. 5 ; Koeck, N. A. J. H., vol. 26, p. 124 ; Arthritis , Molin, B. J. H., vol. 36, p. 356 ; Chronic caries , Hom. Rev., vol. 22, p. 415.

Mind

Anxiety ; worrying, restless, yet mild.
Melancholic ; wants to lie quiet ; feels faint.
Excited mood.
Delirium ; stupid, can hardly collect his ideas, then he laughed without cause, talked incessantly and disconnectedly, frequently looked about him with apparent hallucinations.

Sensorium

Stupefaction ; dulness of head.
Vertigo ; inclines to fall to left side, while surrounding objects seem falling to right.
Meniere's disease ; vertigo which comes and goes, often from no observable reason ; tendency to fall to affected side, while objects seem to fall away to opposite side ; headache frequent but not always present ; noises in ear ; defective or absent perosseous hearing ; absence of gastric symptoms, or so slight as not to account for the other symptoms ; indeterminate giddiness in horizontal position, but considerable when raising head or sitting up.

Inner head

Rush of blood to head.
Severe headache ; piercing, in both temples.
Headache, commencing on top or in back of head, running down sterno-mastoid (more right side), which is tender to touch.

Sight and eyes

Diminished acuteness of vision.
(OBS :) Plastic iritis following inflammatory rheumatism, the pupil would contract notwithstanding the local use of a one per cent. solution of Atrop. sulph. ; the nightly pain was most agonizing, temporarily > by hot applications.

Hearing and ears

Deafness, with noises in ears.
Nervous deafness.
Diminished hearing.
Roaring in ears, with difficult hearing.
(In sick :) Disturbs hearing when given for rheumatism (large doses).
Tinnitus dependent upon hyperemia.
Auditory nerve vertigo ; a troublesome nausea accompanying head symptoms.
Roaring in ears and difficult hearing ; hears music ; rush of blood to head ; excited mood.
Purulent, fetid otorrhœa.

Smell and nose

Wants to sneeze.
Incipient catarrh, patients, especially children, sneeze all day.

Upper face

Dull, heavy aspect ; face flushes quickly on slight excitement.

Taste, speech, tongue

Taste : as of something burnt ; bitter ; food has no taste.

Inner mouth

Mouth and throat dry ; burning and dryness of mouth and pharynx.
Redness of buccal cavity and fauces. θ Diphtheria.
Stomatitis, the mouth is hot and dry, tongue covered with burning vesicles.
Foul breath and offensive expectoration.
Mouth dotted with white patches, burning, scalded feeling ; ulcers on tip of tongue.
Canker sores, with burning soreness and fetid breath.
Canker of mouth, stomach and bowels ; patient rapidly sinking.

Palate and throat

Burning in throat.
Tonsils red, swollen, studded white.
Violent efforts to swallow, with difficulty in swallowing, woke him from sleep ; the pain and difficulty became confined to right side, with sticking along Eustachian tube into ear ; swelling of right tonsil noticeable externally, with sensitiveness to touch and increased temperature in vicinity ; mucous membrane of throat and posterior fauces red, swollen, with ulcers size of head of a pin ; after a while a small lump of cheesy matter of strong odor was expectorated.
Scarlatina anginosa ; diphtheritic form.
Little or no fever, but great weakness, difficult deglutition, much inflammation, the exudate soft. θ Diphtheria.
Diphtheritis ; violent fever ; entire fauces covered with a white exudate ; in two cases hoarseness and barking cough (affection of larynx).

Hiccough, belching, nausea and vomiting

Nausea, gagging, waterbrash.
Frequent vomiting.

Scrobiculum and stomach

Ecchymoses and ulcerations in mucous membrane of stomach and bowels.
Burning in epigastric region.
Weak nervous sensation in stomach.
Flatulent and fermentative dyspepsia.
Distension and formation of gases in stomach and bowels after meals.
Excessive accumulation of flatus and acidity of stomach, with much belching of gas, anemia and great irritability with despondency. θ Dyspepsia.
Dyspepsia with putrid eructations and much accumulation of gas on stomach.
A young lady of bilious temperament, wasted from a fleshy, strong girl to an emaciated, bony creature ; as soon as she would eat, no matter how simple the food, her stomach would bloat up so that it would be necessary to loosen her dress ; region of stomach looked like an inflated bladder ; after from one to two hours suffering in region of stomach from this extreme distension, was a putrid flatus belched up, accompanied by collapse of stomach and temporary relief ; frequent vomiting characterized by putrid fermentation ; severe headaches ; extremely nervous ; sleep fitful and unrefreshing ; bowels constipated ; urine heavily loaded with sediment ; fermentation and decomposition seemed to commence as soon as food reached stomach. θ Flatulent dyspepsia.
Woman, æt. 30, of very unhealthy family ; always suffering from indigestion ; daily, some hours after dinner, has diarrhœa ; sometimes looks very badly ; least error in diet shows effect in an aggravation of the diarrhœa.
Girl four years old, had relapse from malignant scarlet fever ; inflammation of bowels supervened, with immense distension of abdominal region.

Stools and rectum

Diarrhœa ; stools green ; flushes easily as in hectic ; acid, sour, or putrid smelling.
Costive ; stool dry, hard ; then diarrhœa, watery, sour, yellow, with great weakness.
Cholera infantum or other diarrhœa in children, when eructations have a peculiarly putrid and offensive odor.
(OBS :) In a case where tænia solium had existed for nine years four doses of 0.5 acid Salicyl. a dose every hour, followed by half an ounce Ol. ricini, caused in half an hour discharge of tænia ten yards long, with head entire.

Urinary organs

Diabetes mellitus (two cases).
Albuminuria ; rheumatic diathesis.
Urine very offensive, largely composed of mucus ; microscope revealed pus, blood and an abundance of mucous epithelium. θ Catarrh of bladder.
Urine : scanty, clear, brown ; three hours after its passage it has a green tinge and deposits a feathery precipitate, consisting of oblong, six-sided, silvery-white crystals of Salicyluric acid ; if these are removed the urine becomes at once putrid ; if not the urine remains fresh for above a week.

Female sexual organs

Large leuco-phlegmatic woman, æt. 45 ; constant dull, heavy pain in cerebellum ; great forgetfulness, excessive irritability and frequent hot flushes of fever.

Pregnancy. parturition. lactation

A primipara, delivered on 9th of May of a large male child ; slight lesion of vagina ; a piece of membrane as large as fingernail was torn up ; membranes unusually tough and extensive and a small shred was left in utero ; on third day chill, followed by fever ; pulse 120, temperature 105 ; lochia offensive. θ Septic fever.
Confined with second child on May 15th, delivered with forceps owing to the great size of the head ; no apparent lesion ; lochia not offensive, disappeared on tenth day ; considerable hemorrhage after labor, and I suppose a small clot or clots became impacted in uterine bloodvessels and owing to access of air (perhaps) underwent decomposition, and this septic material was absorbed ; on eleventh day severe chill, repeated twice next day ; pulse 130, temperature 104 ; chills alternated with febrile heats, and chilliness was excited by slightest touch of anything cold or a swallow of cold water, and she was very thirsty ; some pain and swelling of one breast and one knee. θ Septicemia.

Respiration

Respiration hurried, sometimes deepened, sometimes shallow or sighing and almost panting, as if labored, but no complaint of difficulty of breathing.

Cough

Dry cough, of a hard, racking, spasmodic character, < at night in old people.

Inner chest and lungs

Spasmodic, flatulent asthma ; fetid bronchitis ; gangrene of lungs.

Heart, pulse and circulation

Pulse small, rapid, weak.

Upper limbs

Rheumatic gout or rheumatoid arthritis, occurring in some women during climaxis ; the pains disappeared, the engorgements and nodosities of fingers subsided, and the hands could again be used.

Lower limbs

Formerly had foot sweats, and since their suppression is more liable to rheumatic pains ; attacks especially at night ; after an hour's sleep the pains force him to leave bed ; he changes to sofa but must soon leave it again, and thus he passes a sleepless night ; the seat of pain corresponds exactly to exit of left ischiatic nerve, goes from behind forward and downward to knees and toes ; pain is drawing, shooting, at the toes burning, or as he expresses himself, "as if foot were on an ant-hill" and as if the foot would like to perspire ; no fever ; can hardly ascend stairs, must look for some support or he might fall. θ Sciatica.
Copious foul-smelling foot sweats.

Limbs in general

Heat, redness, soreness and swelling about joints ; < in knees, with acute piercing pains ; < on motion, > from dry heat. θ Rheumatism.

Rest. position. motion

Lying indeterminate giddiness.
Wants to be quiet : melancholic.
Forced to leave bed : sciatica.
Sitting up : considerable giddiness.
Motion : rheumatism in joints < ; exquisitely painful, rheumatism of affected limb causes soreness.

Nerves

Weakness, faintness.

Time

Night : dry cough < ; attacks of rheumatic pains <.

Temperature and weather

Hot applications : rheumatism >.
Dry heat : rheumatism of joints >.
Sitting near open window in a hot room : rheumatism.
Touch of anything cold : excited chilliness.

Fever

Slight chill, crawls in spine ; yawning ; chill in finger tips.
Fever continuous, burning, then sweat with relief ; fever again, with exacerbation of symptoms.
Sweat at times more, at others less profuse.
Profuse but short-lasting sweat.
Weak, faint after fever and sweat.
Flushes easily, as in hectic.
Rheumatic fever.

Attacks, periodicity

Daily : some hours after dinner, has diarrhœa.
Nightly : agonizing rheumatism.

Locality and direction

Right : difficulty of swallowing ; swelling of tonsil ; severe pain in several joints ; pain in deltoid and gastrocnemius.
Left : inclines to fall to side, vertigo ; severe pain in all joints ; ankle and knee pains ; elbow and wrist enormously swollen ; pain in wrist and forearm.

Sensations

As if foot were on an ant-hill ; as if foot wanted to perspire ; as if head were squeezed between two beams.
Pain : in shoulder and elbow, then in lumbar region ; in r. deltoid and gastrocnemius.
Terrific pain : in knee joint.
Severe pain : in all the joints on left side and several on right side.
Acute piercing pain : in joints.
Piercing pain : in head.
Shooting pain : in lower limbs.
Burning pains : in toes.
Sticking : along Eustachian tube into ear.
Drawing pain : in lower limbs.
Rheumatic pains : in hands ; exit of left ischiatic nerves to knees and toes.
Dull, heavy pain : in cerebellum.
Dull, aching distress : in stomach.
Soreness : about joints ; in right deltoid and gastrocnemius.
Burning : of mouth and pharynx ; of vesicles in mouth ; of canker sores ; in throat ; in epigastric region.
Painful stiffness : of neck.
Dulness : of head.
Weak, nervous sensations : in stomach.
Dryness : of mouth and pharynx.

Tissues

Pieces of spongy bone became soft as leather in a few days when placed in a half per cent. solution, while compact bone tissue is very slowly softened ; enamel of teeth is very slightly affected by it, but the dentine, when it is exposed by caries, is rapidly destroyed.
The increased amount of the salts of lime in the urine soon after Salicylic acid has been taken shows that the acid deprives living as well as dead bone of its lime salts.
Causes a sort of necrosis, especially of tibia.
Ulceration of mucous surfaces.
Acute articular rheumatism.
Rheumatism : acute articular ; chronic ; gonorrhœal ; diphtheritic.
Acute, inflammatory, articular rheumatism attacking one or more joints, especially elbows or knees, with great swelling and redness, high fever and excessive sensitiveness to least jar ; motion impossible.
Muscular rheumatism.
Severe pain in all the joints on left and several joints on right side ; large joints on left side were attacked, except hip and shoulder, while on right side the wrist and ankle alone suffered.
A tall young man, æt. 16, suffered from severe acute articular rheumatism ; knee joint especially was seat of terrific pain ; painful stiffness of neck ; excessive perspiration, followed by miliaria ; great lassitude ; pulse full, soft, very frequent ; went out too early and a relapse set in, with same weakening sweats ; patient looked anemic and emaciated ; hurried pulse, reminding one of heart's beat in beginning of phthisis.
A teacher suffered from acute articular rheumatism ; a relapse followed from carelessness, attack being very severe, with profuse sour-smelling sweats and extensive eruption of miliaria ; very nervous, urine showed heavy sediment ; desquamation set in just as after scarlet fever in hands and feet ; pains first in shoulder and elbow, then in lumbar region, so that the patient could hardly move ; during relapse hands greatly swollen, could not be used ; sleeplessness or sleep interrupted by frightful dreams, as if his head were squeezed between two beams (stiffness of neck) ; constipation.
(OBS :) Acute gout.
Rheumatism after sitting near an open window in a hot room, so that she felt hot on one side and chilly on the other ; left ankle and knee joint, elbow and wrist enormously swollen, of a pinkish color, very sensitive, every motion exquisitely painful, pulse 120, high temperature, sweat, etc., even in bed, shocks passed from thigh down to foot so that she had to scream.
Polyarthritis rheumatica, temperature 105 ; pain intense, tenderness excessive.
Soreness and pain in right deltoid and right gastrocnemius, changing next day to left wrist and forearm ; some sensitiveness to touch and great soreness on moving limb ; no heat ; on following day pain had removed to inside of l. forefinger ; when the pain appeared in one part it disappeared in the part which had previously been painful.
Purpura hemorrhagica, with hemorrhages from all mucous membranes, accompanied by a constant dull aching distress in stomach and occasional vomiting of blood and mucus.
(OBS :) Has a specific action upon serous membranes and should be very useful in dropsical effusions ; should be tried in hydrocephalus, hydropericardium and renal dropsy.
May prove useful in caries and necrosis.

Touch. passive motion. injuries

Touch : top or back of head tender ; tonsil sensitive ; arm sensitive ; limbs tender.

Skin

Skin red ; points on skin like flea-bites.
Skin red and sensitive ; rheumatism.
Urticaria.
Sprinkled on indolent or inflamed ulcers is said to induce rapid healing.

Stage of life, constitution

Healthy-looking child, æt. 5 weeks, suffering over two weeks ; diarrhœa.
Girl, æt. 12 ; rheumatism.
Young man, æt. 16, tall ; rheumatism.
Woman, æt. 30, coming from a very unhealthy family ; indigestion and diarrhœa.
Man, æt. 80, robust, formerly had foot sweats, and since their suppression is more liable to rheumatic pains ; sciatica.

Relations

Compare : Colchic . (rheumatism, also subsequent weakness) ; Kreos . (piercing in temples ; throat ; diarrhœa ; ulcers, antiseptic properties) ; Carb. ac . (mind ; throat ; weakness, especially at stomach ; hectic ; antiseptic properties ; topical use ; urine) ; Salicyl. of Soda (tinitus aurium, confusion and deafness ; rheumatism) ; Nitr. ac. ; Arsen. ; Phosphor . (bones) ; Lac. ac . (bones, throat) ; Cinchona (preventing sepsis ; fever ; ringing in ears).