Sulphuric Acid

Extreme weakness, with sense of internal trembling, which is not observable to others. Hemorrhages from every outlet of the body, with ecchymosed spots under the skin. Child smells sour all over, despite the actual cleanliness. Sour, acid vomiting.

Adapted to the light haired, old people, especially women; flushes of heat in climacteric years.

Aphthæ, of mouth, gums, or entire buccal cavity, gums bleed readily; ulcers painful; offensive breath. Bad effects from mechanical injuries, with bruises, chafing and livid skin; prostration.

Sensation as if the brain was loose in forehead and falling from side to side (Bell., Bry., Rhus, Spig.) Often very useful in the stomach troubles of old whiskey topers.

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Sulphuric acid is another remedy of value in aphthous affections of the mouth. It is particularly efficacious in greatly debilitated subjects, and in children with marasmus with this kind of mouth. There is often present sour stomach (Iris versicol. and Robinia, sour eructations and vomiting) with sour vomiting, and the child smells sour all over despite the greatest care in regard to cleanliness. (Rheum, Hepar and Magnesia.) One of the strongest characteristics, perhaps the strongest, in weakened subjects in which this is the appropriate remedy, is a sense of internal trembling. This is a subjective symptom, for, notwithstanding this positive sensation, to a degree that is very distressing, there is no visible trembling. This symptom is frequently found in old topers (see Ranunculus bulb.), who are broken down or almost wrecked in health by strong drink. The symptom, however, is not confined to such subjects, but is often found in other cases when the debility is traceable to other causes; when markedly present from whatever cause, Sulphuric acid should never be forgotten. We have already spoken of the value of this remedy in purpura hemorrhagica. Like Crotalus, it has hemorrhages from every outlet of the body (Acetic acid, Thlaspi), and the blood also settles in ecchymosed spots under the skin. This last symptom would indicate that Sulphuric acid might be useful in black and blue spots in the skin, as the result of bruising, and practice corroborates it, and it follows well after Arnica. Ledum palustre is also one of our best remedies for ecchymosis from bruises, “black eye,” for instance; this is, of course, for bruises under the skin; while Ruta is just as efficacious fur bruises of the periosteum. There is enough of the Sulphur element so that it may succeed in “flushes” of heat, after Sulphur has failed at the climacteric.