Rheum palmatum

Is another remedy which, like Jalapa, has been abused by the old school, but is very valuable when used homœopathically. The leading indication is sour stools. They may be brown mixed with mucus, or thin and pasty. There is often much pain before the stool, of a colicky nature, and there may be tenesmus after stool. It is most useful in colicky diarrhœa of children. There is another very characteristic symptom, viz.: “Not only the stools are sour; the whole child smells sour, no matter how much it is bathed.” In colic and diarrhœa during dentition a choice will sometimes have to be made between this remedy and Magnesia carb.