Ferrum metallicum

PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.

China off. and Ferrum are remedies that are to be considered in cases of pronounced anæmia, the former especially in those cases which have been brought there by hæmorrhages or other loss of fluids such as seminal or suppurative, etc., etc. In these cases we will find great weakness, anæmic headaches with ringing or noises in the head and ears; digestion is impaired; with great flatulence, and sometimes chronic diarrhœa, which is painless and accompanied with noisy flatus; exhausting sweats; everything, loss of blood, semen, pus, stools and sweat seem to combine to empty out the life of the patient. Another thing I have found very characteristic, viz., the patient is worse every other day. If this state is not met chest and lung symptoms will follow. Hoarseness, oppressed breathing, cough, all aggravated when the head lies low. The chest is extremely sensitive, cannot bear auscultation or percussion (like Calcarea); the cough is worse from deep inspiration (Phos.); talking (Phos.); laughing (Phos.); after eating (Bry.); light touch of the larynx (Lach.); least draught (Hepar); lying with head low (Hyos., Spongia), etc., etc. The expectoration is of various kinds, nothing very characteristic. This remedy complements Ferrum, as would naturally be expected. China may be indicated in any stage of the disease, but is particularly useful to prevent the development of tubercles in cases exsanguined or greatly reduced by loss of fluids.

Ferrum is particularly useful in those cases of congestive anæmia, eristhitic chlorosis, or phthisis florida so common in young people, especially girls. The old school stumbled upon that as they did upon the anti-malarial properties of Quinine, and knowing nothing of the law of similars and the small dose, better than the large one, accomplished much harm with both. It seems to me that nothing but the most pig-headed prejudice could have hindered an honest investigation of Hahnemann and his methods, which would have resulted in showing them when and how to use these agents wisely and well.

The subject for Ferrum is the pale, chlorotic, weak, delicate woman, who easily flushes in the face on the least excitement. There is great paleness of the lips and cavity of the mouth, in fact of the mucous membranes generally. The young of both sexes, notwithstanding the anæmic condition, are very prone to local congestions of a severe type. This is especially true of the chest, and there are pains flying from one point to another. Blood spitting, epistaxis, profuse menstruation is common. The breathing is oppressed as from orgasm of blood, and the expectoration is blood streaked; or hæmoptysis of bright blood interspersed with dark coagula like the profuse menses which it sometimes takes the place of, vicarous is often present. Ferrum is a bleeder like China, and the bleedings are the result of the local congestions aforementioned. (I want to here call attention to another remedy that is equally prone to such local congestions, viz., Sulphur, but with the latter remedy the lips and orifices are VERY RED instead of very pale.) The cough like that of China is varied, but the bloody expectoration is very apt to be in evidence. The exploded theory that the anæmia is to be cured by Iron as a blood food is not to be considered, for if this element is deficient the fault lies in the assimilative processes, and must be corrected by the homœopathically indicated remedy, if at all. Out of this theory have come all the abuses of this truly valuable medicine. Hence, it follows that Iron like all other remedies must be given in the homœopathic form to get really curative results. Ferrum is especially useful for splenic troubles, which are almost always coupled with anæmic states, from the abuse of Quinine. Sometimes the entering wedge that opens the way for the ingress of the little microbic devil to gain a foothold, by weakening the vital force, so as to render it incapable of defending the citadel in which it rightfully resides, is some liver trouble. The pulmonary trouble is secondary, but nevertheless fatal, and as truly tuberculous as from other beginnings. Three remedies that deserve especial consideration here are Mercurius, Chelidonium and Carduus marianus.

Ferrum. Hæmorrhage in connection with the other Ferrum symptoms given under that remedy. Bleeding with pain flying around the chest, or between the shoulders, blood bright-red, anæmic persons or those who flush fiery red in the face by spells.