Psorinum

CATARRH.

CHRONIC NASAL CATARRH.

Psorinum. Is, like Sulphur, always to be carefully considered in psoric subjects. This is like Hepar, Sulphur, Silicea and Tuberculinum, very susceptible to cold air or change of weather, wants to wear a fur cap, overcoat or shawl even in the hottest weather. It is also especially useful in chronic catarrh with purulent or bloody discharge which may be yellowish-green, like the expectoration. It is dropping from posterior nares so as to awaken at night. Hawking of lumpy mucus gives temporary relief.

PNEUMONIA.

Psorinum has profuse green expectoration and the patient is very despondent, thinks he is never going to get well, and sweats from weakness on the least exertion or when asleep.

PLEURITIS.

When the disease action spreads and involves the lungs and bronchi, as it sometimes does, constituting a case of pleuro-pneumonia, which it sometimes does, though it is oftener the other way in my experience, i. e., beginning in the lung first; the pneumonic remedies must come into the case, viz., Phosphorus, bronchitis with severe cough, which is worse in the evening, and when lying on the left side, dyspnœa with a sense of heaviness in the chest. It generally comes in the later stages of the disease with purulent infiltration, and in flat chested people of a consumptive build. It must be used in those cases which “hang fire” in the process of convalescence, after improvement sets in and consumption threatens, or in those cases which show decided tubercular signs, and just here is where Tuberculinum may do good work in cases having a decided tubercular family history. I have seen such cases do well on a dose of this remedy once a week, interpolated with the other indicated remedies, just as we give Psorinum in psoric cases, and now we mention Psorinum in this connection, it must also be used if the symptoms are present and may be preferred before Tuberculinum.

PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.

Psorinum should never be forgotten in an unquestionably psoric subject. If Sulphur fails where there is in the history of the case a supressed eruption, scabies, herpes, eczema, etc., Psorinum is the next remedy to be thought of; and especially if the poor health of the patient dates back to some former acute affection. The patient has never been well since that time (Carbo veg.). The Psorinum patient is very sensitive to cold air or change of weather. Wears a fur cap, overcoat or shawl even in the hottest weather (Hep.), is easily affected by stormy weather, and is restless for days before a storm or during a thunder storm.

There is great weakness, debility, even though there is no organic disease perceptible. Sweats on slight exertion or at night, and is discouraged or hypochondriacal to a degree not surpassed by any other remedy. The excretions generally are offensive; sometimes of a carrion-like odor. The hair is lustreless, mats at the ‘tips and tangles easily, and the skin or eruptions itch intolerably, < at night or in warmth of the bed. There is short or oppressed breathing, relieved lying down, riding and moderate exercise. Cough, dry, hacking, and for a long time until expectoration occurs, then there is THICK, GREEN PUS-LIKE expectoration. Cough returns every winter (Cham.). Dr. Halleck, of Saranac Lake, lauds this remedy very highly after much experience and observation.

It does not make much difference what the mode of onset, whether with pneumonia, pleurisy, laryngitis or hæmoptysis, if this class of symptoms are present, Sulphur must at least begin the remedial treatment. Psorinum is its most natural complementary. This is, of course, in cases that have passed the acute stage or affection. Not only here is Sulphur the remedy, but with the same symptoms in those latent types, where no marked recognizable ailment has preceded. The disease makes considerable progress before there are serious symptoms to arouse the patient, and it is remarkable how slight the lung symptoms may have been.

COUGH.

Character—Dry cough, provoked by a tickling in the larynx or trachea, or loose cough of GREEN MUCUS, nearly like matter. Winter cough.

Aggravated—< in evening; pn lying down.

Ameliorated—> keeping quiet.

Concomitants—Takes cold easily, feels as though took cold every little exposure. Sensitiveness to cold air or change of weather; wears a fur cap in the summer. Especially adapted to the psoric constitution, which is prone to eruptions. Body has a filthy smell even after bathing. All excretions offensive. Mind awfully depressed.

A nosode, but well proven, as all nosodes should be, and clinical verifications in abundance. Medorrhinum, Syphilinum, Anti toxine, Tuberculin and many other disease products are fast coming to the front as indispensable curative agencies. Sulphur and Psorinum stand very near together, but have characteristics that are positive. Both are powerful antipsorics. The red, raw orifices that characterize so strongly Sulphur are not prominent under Psorinum, Neither are the universally offensive excretions of Psorinum found under Sulphur, There are many other marked differences which a study will show. Notwithstanding they follow each other well, supplementing what the other could not do, an understanding of both will be a great advantage.