Arsenicum album

CATARRH.

ACUTE NASAL CATARRH.

Arsenicum follows well either of these three remedies (Merc., Euph. and Cepa) in fluent coryza, when neither of them seem sufficient, but the discharge becomes more BURNING in character. The throat also burns but is relieved by hot drinks so long as they are running over the part. The chill and heat alternate or intermingle. There is generally amelioration from heat of room, or hot local applications. There is also greater weakness and prostration than with the other remedies and the whole case is aggravated at night; especially at midnight.

CROUP.

Arsenicum may still avail. The child grows excessively restless, weak, and is especially worse at midnight. In one desperate case of this kind, where another child had just died in the family under eclectic treatment, I succeeded in curing. The child coughed up a tube of membrane with the rings of the trachea distinctly impressed on it. This was a case of diphtheritic croup.

ASTHMA.

Arsenicum has just as severe oppression of breathing, is much < at night, especially 1 to 3 A. M. Also on lying down, must sit up for fear of suffocation. It is also great < on the least motion, particularly on ascending, and is > by warmth or warm air, or room. There is often great anguish, restlessness and thirst for small quantities of water at a time.

These have been the two great remedies from “way back.” I used to alternate them, and often with marked relief, but think it is better to give the Ipecac first and hold the Arsenicum in reserve to follow if necessary, if indicated of course.

PNEUMONIA.

Arsenicum and Carbo veg. are both indicated in those desperate cases that resist the above remedies.

Arsenicum is most likely to come in after Rhus tox. If the restlessness continues and added to it the weakness and prostration increases. There is great thirst for small quantities at a time, burning pain and heat in chest (Sang.), feels better from warmth and is worse from 1 to 3 A. M. generally.

PLEURITIS.

If in exceptional cases there are strong head symptoms as delirium, high fever and red hot skin, thirst, throbbing carotids and sweat on covered parts while uncovered parts remain hot and dry, the patient moaning and twitching in sleep, all worse at 3 P. M. or A. M., and Aconite does not modify these high grade inflammatory symptoms, Belladonna will often do it or so modify them that Bryonia, Mercurius, Rhus or Sulphur will again come in to take the case along when the stage of effusion is established in spite of the above treatment, or we are not called in in time to prevent it, and the process of absorption is delayed if the patient shows signs of increasing prostration to an alarming degree. If the thirst is for cold water in small and often repeated quantities, there is great dyspnœa, and little pain which motion greatly aggravates, increasing the prostration and the dyspnœa, notwithstanding the patient suffers great anguish and restlessness, so that he wants to be moved or carried from room to room, or place to place, and especially if all is aggravated at night, 1 to 4 A. M., Arsenicum album must be given and will often change the whole aspect for the better in a few hours. Such cases will be often found in cachectic persons, drunkards, malarial subjects and in pyothorax.

PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.

Arsenicum alb. With this remedy the general condition of the patient leads more positively to its use than the local manifestations, though the indication of Dr. R. R. Gregg is a very reliable characteristic, as I myself have frequently proven, viz., sharps fixed or darting pain in apex and through upper third of the right lung. In general the patient begins to grow weak or complains of great prostration, especially on attempting to exercise or ascend an eminence. An anæmic condition is common. Emaciation begins and the old school physician will now prescribe the inevitable cod-liver oil, to supply the waste, without removing the cause. The BREATHING is accelerated, rapid, oppressed and accompanied with restlessness and anxiety, all < by exertion and lying down, and especially at midnight. It is apt to become asthmatic at times, with much wheezing and constriction. The COUGH is < on lying down and on rising in the morning. It is also often < at midnight or 1 to 3 a. m., especially when the asthmatic symptoms are present. The EXPECTORATION is characteristically frothy saliva. Here it outranks all other remedies. Bloody sputum is often present and mixed with the froth. Many other symptoms may be present and confirm these. Cases coming from, or following the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and Quinine often find their remedy in Arsenicum.

COUGH.

Arsenicum alb.—Cough with asthma worse 1 to 3 a. m. Suffocating, must sit up.