Copaiva

This remedy acts strongly upon mucous membranes. It has, like many other remedies, been so abused by the old school that it has fallen into disrepute, and the tendency even with our own school under such circumstances is to underrate its virtues or to fail to investigate as they ought to. It is, however, an excellent remedy in the form of chronic bronchial catarrh, with profuse expectoration of greenish or gray purulent matter. (Stannum, Lycopodium, Sulphur, Phosphorus, etc.) Among remedies not yet well understood we have

Copaiva, profuse greenish-gray, disgusting smelling sputa.

Illicium anisatum, pus, with pain at third cartilage, right or left.

Pix liquida, purulent sputa, pain at left third costal cartilage.

Myosotis, copious sputa, emaciation, night sweats.

Balsam Peru., catarrhal phthisis, copious purulent expectoration.

Yerba santa, accumulation of mucus causing asthmatic breathing.

I mention these remedies in order to call attention to them for trial in case we cannot find the curative among the better proven ones. All the old remedies had to have their beginnings.

Copaiva is a valuable remedy in gonorrhœa. There is great irritation in the urethra and at the neck of the bladder. It may be indicated in the beginning, when the discharge is thin or milky, and later, especially when the disease has extended to the bladder, with discharge of a large amount of viscid mucus or blood and mucus in the urine. Although not so violent in its action on the urinary tract as Cantharis, it stands very close to it.