Natrum Nitricum

Nitrate of Sodium. Cubic Nitre. Chili Saltpetre. Sodic Nitrate. NaNO 3 , Trituration. Solution.

Clinical

Anæmia / Constipation / Debility / Distension / Flatulence / Otalgia / Otitis

Characteristics

Na. n. has had a considerable proving, and among the peculiar symptoms were: Heat in left ear; coldness in right. Heat spreading left to right. Coldness streaming through upper part of body. Coldness of left foot. Pressing-inward pains: in temple and forehead; in malar bones. Flatulent troubles with weight in lower abdomen. Painful retraction of abdominal muscles. Painful constipation. Anæmia and excessive exhaustion. The symptoms were < by exertion; ascending stairs; sitting bent over; deep inspiration. Na. n. was Rademacher's Aconite. He used it in inflammations of all kinds, especially laryngo-tracheitis and croup, acute pneumonia, acute rheumatism and heart affections, purpura, hæmorrhages, inflammations of the eye, exophthalmic goître (Hansen).

Relations

Compare: K. nit. Abdomen mostly contracted, constipation, Plumb. (Na. n. should be a good antidote to lead poisoning).

1. Mind

Great ill-humour (mental indolence).

2. Head

Head dull; as from too much study. Pressing inward pain l. temple and forehead, with heat.

4. Ears

Pain in r. ear, as if in drum; with sensation of binding up in ears. Otalgia: in evening; with warmth in ear, coldness of r. concha, burning heat of l., which extends beyond the temple.

6. Face

Face pale, thin. Inward pressing in malar bones.

8. Mouth

Tongue whitish. Distressing burning dryness in mouth and throat.

9. Throat

Some dull stitches back of throat on drawing air through nose (evening, in bed).

10. Appetite

Coppery taste on lips and tongue. Acid taste. Appetite diminished. Repugnance to coffee.

11. Stomach

Sour risings. Sufferings from flatulency, with pressive pains, esp. in epigastrium and chest, < by movement, and > risings or expulsion of flatus. Flatulence with pressure in pit of stomach and under sternum.

12. Abdomen

Distended abdomen, with a feeling of heaviness in it, followed by emission of a quantity of wind and eructations. Painful retraction of abdominal muscles towards spinal column.

13. Stool and Anus

Constipation: fæces of a large size; the stool is discharged with difficulty, slow, and with the sensation after the stool as if the fæces were still remaining. Stool always consisted of isolated fæcal masses, evacuated with great exertion; during last days of proving constant desire to go to stool. Stool indolent, only after effort, leaving sensation as if more to follow. Stool retarded one day.

14. Urinary Organs

Frequent distressing desire, increased mucous secretion of passages. Profuse emission (in spite of summer heat and profuse perspiration). Urine very light colour and high specific gravity.

18. Chest

Pressive pains below outer part r. pectoral muscle, as if between and on ribs, on deep breathing, whilst sitting bent over.

19. Heart

Pulse become slower; smaller, softer.

21. Limbs

Aching, contusive pain in the joints; and in adductors of thighs.

22. Upper Limbs

Pressing-asunder pain in first joint of r. index and middle fingers.

24. Generalities

The blood became colour of cherry juice; white corpuscles increased, red diminished; watery constituents increased. Weakness, disinclined for exertion. Exhaustion, esp. in knees, during a walk (after a slight venesection). Exhaustion < every motion, esp. going up stairs.

26. Sleep

Overpowering inclination to sleep, which, however, did not refresh.

27. Fever

A fine cold sensation streams through body, esp. upper part and arms, followed by increased warmth after a quarter of an hour in bed. General shivering chill at times. Feet cold (and feel cold) up to calves. Icy coldness of l. foot extending half up leg (both in warm room and when walking). Whole l. concha becomes burning hot, r. remaining cold; heat soon extended over l. temple, then changed to pressing-inward pain; later heat spread to r. side of head, esp. concha, thence over face with pressive pain in l. frontal sinuses, in afternoon.