Crotalus Horridus

Here is another snake poison which, although like Naja has been proven only in the low preparations, has a better clinical record. Yet it lacks the clear-cut indications of Lachesis. It has shown enough, however, to indicate that it is a remedy of great value. It seems, so far, to have shown its greatest usefulness in diseases which result in a decomposition of the blood of such a character as to cause hemorrhages from every outlet of the body (Acetic acid); even the sweat is bloody. This occurs in the lower fevers of hot climates, such as the bilious remittent fevers, typhoids, and that dread scourge of tropical climates, yellow fever. It is also the chief remedy in diphtheria when the profuse epistaxis occurs which marks many cases of a malignant type. In hæmorrhages of the nose in an old man of broken down constitution, where none of the remedies usually applied, did the least good, Crotalus acted promptly and no doubt saved the man’s life. This was a patient of my own, and, although he had frequent attacks before, he never had another after the Crotalus. As would be expected with such a remedy, there is great prostration at such bleedings. Crotalus is right-sided.

Malignant jaundice is set down as an indication for Crotalus, but the yellowness of the skin, so characteristic of Crotalus, is after all, I imagine, more of hematic than hepatic origin; yet there may be an element of both, as hepatic troubles are so common in hot latitudes where Crotalus has gained its greatest laurels.

Crotalus richly deserves proving in the potencies in order to bring out its finer characteristics.