Formica rufa

Volume I — Special Symptomatology

(Formic Acid — The Poison of Ants.) Pharmacology. — Dr. Constantine Herring, in N. A. J. of H., Vol. XX, pp. 12, says: "The name Formica was used by Linnaeus as a generic name for a large number of species, all of which appear to common people to be ants." Later entomologists had to separate the species and arrange them under different names, as different genera.

The genus to which the old name, Formica, was left by Latrielle, is the one from which we have report of cures, and from which we made our provings. Ants belonging to the genus Formica, as Latrielle has it, when attacked, defend themselves by biting with their mandibulae, or jaws, and bending, at the same time, their abdomen downward and forward, they eject from the anus a sharp, sour fluid towards the place which they tried to wound with their pincers.

This fluid reddens Litmus paper, and contains the Fomyl acid, (Formica or Formic acid,) C H2 O2.

Officinal Preparations. — Triturations of the insect; tincture; dilutions.

Analogues. — Apis, Rhus, Urtica, Croton, etc.

Mental Sphere. Indisposed, forgetful, morose, fearful and apprehensive. Exhilarated condition after the pain in the vertex had abated Giddy on attempting to rise.

Dull, sleepy feeling, with heaviness of the eyelids, and inability to study.

Head.

Dullness and pressure on both sides between temples and ears.

Severe pain in the vertex, like a stitch from a dull instrument.

Headache in the posterior upper and inner part of the head, increased by drinking coffee, and aggravated during washing with cold water.

When waking in the morning headache, with vomiting, stitches in the chest.

Eyes,

Spasmodic twitching of upper lid of right eye.

Face.

Entire left side of the face and cheek feels as if paralyzed.

Nose.

Sneezing and fluent coryza.

Ears.

Stitches in the left ear (frequent), followed by a small abscess

in the external portion of the meatus auditorius. Pressive pain in both ears (with heat).

Pains in the eyes mornings when awaking, better on washing.

Stomach.

Constant pressure at the cardiac end of the stomach, and a burning pain, there.

Nausea, with headache, and vomiting of yellowish, bitter mucus.

Burning pain in the stomach, with oppression and weight.

Abdomen and Stool. In the morning difficult passages of small quantities of flatus;

afterwards diarrhoea-like urging in the rectum. Diarrhoea, with tenesmus; pain in bowels before stool. Dull pain in the region of the spleen. Severe pain in the bowels, with shuddering chilliness. Sensation of constriction in the anus. Pressure in the rectum, worse in the evening and in bed. Loose diarrhceic stool, which left a desire for another stool. Painful desire in the anus and rectum for stool, which, how

ever, will not pass. 0 Constipation, with sensation of constriction of sphincter ani.

Generative Organs. Male. — Itching on the scrotum; during coition insufficient

erection ; jerking pain in the left half of the penis. Long lasting erections in the morning in bed on returning

from urination.

Female. — Menses scanty and pale, with bearing down in the back.

Menses appear eight days too soon.

Chest.

Violent prickling, pressing stitches in region of left nipple; later on the left side of the back., but more violent; still later, the same sensation on other parts of the body.

Violent penetrating itching at the right nipple.

Palpitation of the heart; fluttering of the heart.

Upper Extremities.

Severe pain above the right elbow. Itching in the armpits in the morning. Violent itching on the left shoulder-blade. Rheumatic pain in the right elbow joint, and along the course of the ulna.

Violent pain in left side of the nape of the neck, extending,

down the left arm. Pain leaves the left arm and goes to the right.

Neck is very stiff and painful, worse from motion. Burning stitches in the finger ends.

Lower Extremeties. Pains in the hips (bruised) at night in bed. Pains in the knee joints (rheumatic) increased by walking. Lancinating pain in the left knee joint. General weakness of the whole muscular system. Severe pain across the sacrum aud dorsum of each ham, worse on motion.

Sensation as if the muscles were strained and being torn from attachment.

Cramp in both feet, especially in the soles near the toes. Generalities.

Dr. Hering {Hahnemannian Monthly, Jan., 1871), gives the following indications for the use of Formica:

"Affections of the spinal cord, paralysis, spasms.

" Rheumatism appearing suddenly, mostly in the joints, with the character of restlessness; the patients desire motion, although it makes pain more acute.

" Pressure relieves the pains.

" Sweat without amelioration.

" Eye disease, especially the so-called rheumatic inflammations of the eyes, with their sequela?; but still more in difficulties of hearing and many diseases of the ear.

" Lack of milk in nursing women.

u Seminal emissions.

" The predominant time of day is from 2 to 4 a. m.

" The burning pains are removed by washing in cold water.

" Consequences of cold and wet, cold bath, or damp weather.

"It often helped when Chamomilla only ameliorated, and when Belladonna did not agree. Formica, therefore, like Apis, belongs to the class of acids with ethereal oils, to which the aromatics are complementary. Formica seems to be as great an enemy to the narcotics as Apis is to the acids {Rhus).

Volume II — Special Therapeutics

This remedy, which should be called Formic acid, is a secretion

of several species of ants — particularly the Formica rufa. It is an acrid, irritating fluid, exuding from these insects when they are irritated or angry. It was introduced into practice by Dr. Hering, who has a 'penchant for unique and out-of-the-way remedies. He recommends it for the following affections :

Affections of the spinal cord, spasms.

Rheumatism, appearing suddenly, mostly in the joints, with restlessness ; the patients desire motion, although it makes the pains more acute ; pressure relieves the pain ; there is sweat without amelioration.

Ophthalmia, rheumatic, and its sequelae. Deafness, and other diseases of the ear. Lack of milk in nursing women. Seminal emissions.

The predominant time of day is from 2 to 4 p.m.

Consequences of cold and wet, cold baths, or damp weather.

It often helped when Chamomilla only ameliorates, and when Belladonna did not agree.

The analogues of Formica are Apis, Rhus, Urtica, Dulcamara, and Croton.

I have never used it, and think you will find other remedies more useful.

It ought to be useful in nettlerash, for Chloral hydrate, which contains Formic acid, causes and cures urticaria.

The sting of the agricultural ant of Texas causes quite painful symptoms. A nervous, chilling thrill, painful and disagreeable, passes rapidly all over the body from the point where the sting penetrated. A feeling like alarm and horror accompanies this sensation.