Mercurius Sulphuricus

Hydrargyrum oxydatum sub-sulphuricum. Yellow precipitate. Turpeth mineral. HgSO 4 2 HgO. [There is not a little confusion about the identity of this drug in the books. Turpeth is correctly given by Allen as HgSO 4 2 HgO. Hering, who proved and introduced it, calls it Turpethum and Turpeth mineral , but gives the formula HgSO 4 . The Pharmacopæia of the American Institute of Homœopathy describes the white sulphate, HgSO 4 , under the heading Mercurius sulphuricus, but says it is "mentioned in Allen's Encyclopædia ," Vol. vi., p. 325; whereas it is Turpeth , the yellow precipitate, which is there spoken of.] Trituration.

Clinical

Dropsy / Dysuria / Hydrothorax

Characteristics

Lippe is the chief clinical authority for this medicine. He considers it as important as Ars. in dropsies of the chest. The symptoms on which it has been prescribed are clinical, and have been well confirmed. Among them is this: "Pain in right chest extending to scapula; he can scarcely breathe; < 4 to 5 p.m." When Merc. sul. acts well, says Lippe, "it produces a profuse watery diarrhœa with great relief to the patient." It is particularly suited to hydrothorax depending on liver or heart affections. Other confirmed symptoms are: Soreness of tip of tongue. Œdema of legs. Scanty and scalding urine, but clear. Among the Conditions of Merc. sul. the most peculiar is: < In afternoon; 4-5 p.m. > By profuse diarrhœa (dyspnœa). After diarrhœic stools there is numbness of legs.

Relations

Compare: Cinnabar., Æthiops antimonialis, and other Mercuries. Also in hydrothorax, Ars. < Afternoon, Lyc. Dropsy, Dig.

1. Mind

Low-spirited; with chilliness and yawning. Ill-humour after eating.

2. Head

Sensation of giddiness while standing, after headache. Fulness in head with occasional stitches. Soreness and heaviness through head (after breakfast and when walking about.). Violent itching of hairy scalp throughout the proving.

3. Eyes

Oppression over eyes. Eyes < from sunlight.

4. Ears

Burning in ears and in face, after a chill.

5. Nose

Sneezing; in sunshine; with fluent coryza. Swelling and soreness of tip of nose. Itching of nose.

6. Face

Pale, anxious countenance. Swelling of parotid gland.

8. Mouth

Gums and palate dark bluish (black), ulcerated margins. Mouth clammy, and full of mucus in morning. Burning, smarting, stinging pain on tip of tongue (l. side, in evening). Tongue: Greenish yellow down middle; coated white heavily; yellowish at root; the enlarged papillæ stand up like red points, with flat taste in mouth and a reduced pulse. Lips, gums, fauces, mouth, and tongue swollen; look dry and black. Salivation.

9. Throat

Heat and sensation of constriction in throat. Dryness of tongue and throat. Burning in mouth and throat.

11. Stomach

Violent yellow vomiting. Stomach so irritated nothing would stay on it an instant. Pain; weight in stomach; tenderness. Vomiting and diarrhœa.

12. Abdomen

Coldness or burning in abdomen. Woke 1 a.m. with severe pains along duodenum to umbilical region. Soreness in inguinal glands.

13. Stool and Anus

After drinking coffee, pain in abdomen as if diarrhœa would set in. Stools soft and earlier in morning than usual. Sudden and violent pressing to stool while walking compelling him to stand still, causing an anxious perspiration; later the stools are forcibly gushing out in a hot, burning stream of yellow water; followed by great debility, hiccough and belching. After the diarrhœic stools sensation of fulness as from congestion to legs, esp. feet, they feel numb when standing. Violent purging; rice-water motions, some yellow.

14. Urinary Organs

Diminished secretion of urine, does not micturate frequently, but has constant pressure; urine dark, becoming turbid with a scum on it. Increased secretion of urine, without a sediment. Urine scanty and scalding, but clear.

15. Male Sexual Organs

Gonorrhœa and syphilitic diseases, with great congestions to the parts. Swelling of testicles. Involuntary emission and lascivious dreams.

17. Respiratory Organs

Roughness in throat and hoarseness. Sensation of heat in larynx. Increased expectoration of mucus from larynx" and trachea.

18. Chest

Burning in chest. Pain in chest prevents him from breathing. Pain in r, side of chest, extending to scapula, can scarcely breathe, < from 4 to 5 p.m. Pressure on chest. Dyspnœa; in children; hydrothorax.

22. Upper Limbs

Numbness in l. forearm and hand, later numbness in r. hand. Hands icy cold with blue nails. Stiffness in arms.

23. Lower Limbs

Pain in knees and lameness, esp. when walking. Foot-sweat with soreness at ends of the nails. Ulcers on ankles.

24. Generalities

Most pains feel as if a dull stick pressed on the parts and were moving in diverse curved lines; feels as if this pain were in the bones. Debility with sleepiness. Rheumatic pains.

25. Skin

Induration of the glands. Psoriasis: lepra.

26. Sleep

Frequent yawning and great sleepiness in afternoon. Sleeplessness after midnight. Awakens with headache in morning.

27. Fever

Chilliness running up back, with yawning and depression of spirits, followed by dull pain in forehead, burning in face and ears and slight fever. Chilliness, restlessness, and heaviness in upper part of abdomen, frequent yawning and diminished secretion of urine (afternoon).