Iodium

LARYNGITIS.

Iodine. Especially in brunettes, with constant tickling cough with pain in the larynx, ulceration, great emaciation and hunger. Glandular swelling or dwindling. The general symptoms will guide to its choice better than the local.

CROUP.

Iodine is a wonderful remedy in croup if occurring in dark complexioned, black eyed children. The child grasps at its throat during the paroxysm, and cries as if in pain; the fever and restlessness are almost equal to Aconite. It follows well after Hepar.

PNEUMONIA.

Iodine. Kafka says “at the beginning when the disease localizes itself.” Well, if that was all, what a “dead easy” time we would have of it. Gatchell does better than that when he says—“It replaces Bryonia in a certain class of subjects. There is fever with high temperature, but an abscence of the pleuritic pains of Bryonia.” The class 0/ subjects is a large factor in the Iodine case. It is the subject that is spare, dark complexioned (brunette), dark ‘eyes, subject to scrofulous affections of the glands, especially goitre. The fever does not give way to Aconite, but continues with great general nervous and irritated manifestations, even when the case has gone on to a chronic form. Absorption does not take place, and the patient emaciates greatly, though he may want to eat and feels better while doing so. In such cases Iodine may do more than any other remedy. My observation is that it does better low, say, the 2d trit., than higher. Lycopod. follows well and is adapted to the same kind of temperament.

PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.

Iodine is one of our so-called anti-scrofulous remedies. A low cachectic condition with profound debility and great emaciation is generally present. The weakness like that of Calcarea is especially evident in the loss of breath on going up stairs, or ascending an eminence, Arsenicum also has this symptom, strongly, but the Calcarea and Arsenicum constitution and temperament are quite different as a rule. Iodine is intensely brunette; dark eyes, complexion and hair; no remedy more so. The glands swell while the other tissues waste, sometimes the mammæ dwindle, but swell and are sore at the menses. Menses profuse, even cancerous disorganizations, or chronic leucorrhœa, which is profuse and so corrosive that it eats holes in the linen; but the most prominent symptom of all is—“ravenous hunger,” wants to eat all the time, and loses flesh, too; is greatly relieved by eating, always feels the best during, or immediately after, eating. Most remarkable cures have been made with this medicine on these indications, as leaders to the remedy.