Materia Medica Notes.
By Henry Clay Allen
Presented by Sylvain Cazalet
Dr Henry
Clay Allen
(1836-1909)Benzoic Acid : Urine ;
ammoniacal, strong-smelling, excessively offensive, the odor penetrating
the whole room. This is a guiding symptom in enuresis nocturne, dysuria
senilis, irritable bladder, gravel, enlarged prostate, dribbling
urine ; Diarrhœa ; stool, copious, grey or white, like dirty
soap-suds with excessively offensive, strong pungent odor, like the
urine, scenting the entire house. The name of the disease matters
little, if these characteristics be present the result will usually be
prompt and entirely satisfactory. We recently obtained almost unexpected
results in chronic tonsillitis of right side, from a few doses of Benzoic Acid 200, the first time we ever
prescribed it in that affection. It must not be repeated too often if we
would obtain the best effect.
Nitric Acid :
Has dark, brown, turbid urine, like the sediment of a cider barrel, and
strong-smelling like horse’s urine, but it lacks the pungent,
penetrating character of the odor of Benzoic
Acid.
Sepia :
Has turbid, blood-red, dark brown, very offensive urine with a white or
reddish-white sediment which adheres so strongly to the vessel that it
can be removed only with great difficulty. The odor is atrocious and
must be at once removed from the room.
Argentum
Nitricum :Children with constant craving for sugar
or candy ; irresistible desire for sugar, but diarrhœa may be
caused or aggravated by it.
Oxalic Acid :
Sugar aggravates pains in stomach, but, unlike Argentum,
rarely causes diarrhœa. Dr. Deschere says, “Children so often get
sick from eating candies it should be more frequently thought of, and I
know of no other remedy which will as certainly cure gastric ailments
aggravated from eating sweets.”We have used it for
years, when, after eating candies, colic or cramp pains in the stomach
usually follow, and verify the observation of Dr. Deschere.
Ipecacuanha :
Has craving for sweets, for dainties, and gastric ailments from
indigestible food-ice cream, raisins, cake, pastry, salads, fruits-but
it is nearly always attended with more or less constant nausea, and the
nausea is referred to the stomach.
Kali-carb., Lycopodium,
Mag-mur., Sulphurand other have desire for sweets,
but the effect produced by indulging in them is not so marked.
Spigelia : Cancer
of Sigmoid :I was led to use Spigelia in a case of
cancer of sigmoid occurring in a stout plethoric lady with black hair,
florid complexion and apparently in perfect health. She suffered
fortunately from a moderate diarrhœa, and the cancerous mass had so
contracted the caliber of the intestine that nothing approaching a
normal passage of fecal matter had occurred for months, and the terrible
pains through the pelvis, shooting into the back, hips, and down the
limbs, were not even palliated by repeated doses of morphia which
produced distressing nausea and insomnia. Guided by the following
symptoms-a recent proving by Dr. Hoyne in January Advance- Spigelia 200 at once relieved the pains and
diarrhœa and for ten days she had a normal stool. The pains then began
to return when Spigelia 1000 again
relieved. On their return the second time Spigelia
3000 afforded relief and for three weeks more she was
comfortable and free from pain. I have since used it in two cases of
incurable disease with intolerable pains in back, chest, pelvis, etc.,
with gratifying results.
Spigelia :
Stomach and Œsophagus : Severe constricting pain in the
œsophagus, in two places ; one stricture is one inch and one-half
above the cardiac orifice, and the other about the middle of the tube,
at which point the pain is constant and severe, passing through to the
back just below the inferior angle of the right scapula, aggravated by
every attempt to swallow either liquid or solid substances, and by
vomiting. Spasmodic constructions the entire length of the œsophagus,
so severe that for days and nights, could neither rest nor sleep without
the constant use of ice.Sharp, cutting pains
streak across abdomen, low down, and extend into back and lower limbs.Severe labor like
pains, coming in paroxysms, gradually increasing and decreasing in
strength, preceded by the chili and aggravated by change of position,
making face and feet cold, hands remaining warm.Pressure and pain in
whole pelvic region, the pains shooting down the limbs. Burning heat in
vagina, with sense of fullness and pressure ; worse standing. Heat,
pain and pressure in uterine region ; a dislike to move.
Source :
Medical Advance, 1886.
Copyright © Sylvain
Cazalet 2001
