causticum_prisma

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Causticum-mistery (excerpt)

Excerpt from PRISMA - Franz Vermeulen

SIGNS

Tinctura acris. Caustic substance.

PREPARATION....

MEDICINAL CONTENT....

....(fin du paragraphe)....In 1989 Grimm, who, like Leeser, claimes to have followed the exact procedure originally

employed and documented by Hahnemann, undertook a new attempt. His anlysis revealed that Causticum contains,

"beyond doubt", potassium ions. Analysis of the specimens of Causticum mother tincture produced by three German

homeopathic manufacturers revealed that all of them contained ammonia, but no potassium. Grimm concludes that

the results raise much doubt about the reliability of producing homeopathic remedies at industrial scale. 5***

MYSTERY : "I have not found as yet a satisfactory answer to why Hahnemann went to so much touble to make this

remedy. What were his intentions ? If the goal was to make potassium hydroxide this method is not very efficient and

apparently unnecessary....Andreas Grimm, who reproduced the original method exactly, speculates that Hahnemann

was trying to isolate and distil the "caustic principle"i.e. the OH- ion which is, unknown to him, and a fruitless task

using this crude method. Perhaps we will never know the truth but the combination of so many alchemical elements

seriously leans towards an experiment with another dimension. The use of the great transforming fire, the meeting of

the two principles masculine [acid] and feminine [base] in equal measure, the hermetically sealed unit and the final

distillation in the alembic are all well known alchemical processes. ...According to the formulas the thickish mixture

in the flask contains only three components: potassium hydroxide, calcium sulphate and water. There are actually no

volatile gases or products which would pass over during distillation except water. Potassium hydroxide dissolves in

water but remains behind as the water boils off. Calcium sulphate is insoluble and remains behind as weak solution.

Grimm also suggests that bumping may also occur, which is common with alklaa white hard mass. So how is the final

product alkaline at all? For many years it was thought that the alkalinity was due to ammonia which is created when

elemental calcium metal reacts with nitrogen, and the resulting calcium nitride reacts with water to form ammonia

gas. This gas then forms ammonium hydroxide, sometimes called ammonium causticum, when it contacts water.

....however reactive elemental calcium metal is not present in our process and calcium oxide, which is, does not

form this liaison with nitrogen and thus ammonia is not formed. It is possible for ammonia to be formed if potassium

hydroxide comes into contact with the protein of the pigs bladder but this is very remote. So how is the potassium

hydroxide present in Causticum? Grimm gives, what I believe, is the most likely explanation. At 350-

400degreesC,temperatures, created by the charcoal fire, potassium hydroxide sublimates without decomposing.

Sublimation means that the solid vaporises into the condenser and is carried over into the receiving vessel by water

vapour thus resulting in a weak solution.Grimm also suggests that bumping may also occur, which is common with

alkalis, creating a spitting effect up the tube. Thus Causticumis a weak solution of potassium hydroxide by these

effects. ... However there is also another subtle dimension which must also be remembered. the starting point was

an impure marble which could have had trace elements of many different elements. Ornamental marble gains its

colour from the presence of impurities such as iron creating red, chlorites the greens and graphites the blues. Quartz

[silica] is also found as an impurity in marble, so there are still many possible trace elements which are unknownand

may be present. ...Putting the three elements together - [potassium, oxygen, hydrogen] - shows the true

polychrest nature of Causticum. Kalibringing the will which is linked to the syphilitic miasmand the search for

truth; Oxygenbrings the emotional elementlinked to thesycotic miasm and the search for love; Hydrogen

represents the mental element linked to thepsoric miasmand the search for wisdom"". 6***

........

5*** Grimm, Causticum: Atzstoff oder Phantasieprodukt? Zaeitschrift fur Klass. Hom, 1989 Heft 2

6*** Morgan, The Mystery of Causticum. The Homeopath, Spring 1998

Causticum

- VERMEULEN Frans,

Caust.

CausticumOne man's justice is another man's injustice.

[Ralph Waldo Emerson]SignsTinctura acris. Caustic substance.


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PREPARATION When heated in a glowing fire, marble [crystalline calcium carbonate]turns into burnt lime [calcium oxide]. The red heat allows "an acid of the lowest order"to escape as a gas [carbon dioxide]. "During this process the marble, as burned lime,has received [besides the latent heat] another substance into its composition, whichsubstance, unknown to chemistry, gives to it its caustic property as well as its solubilityin the water, whereby we obtain lime-water. This substance, though itself not an acid,

gives to it its caustic virtue, and by adding a fluid acid [which will endure fire], whichthen combines with the lime by its closer affinity, the watery caustic is separated bydistillation. Take a piece of freshly burned lime of about two pounds, dip this piece intoa vessel of distilled water for about one minute, then lay it in a dry dish, in which it willsoon turn into powder with the development of much heat and its peculiar odour, calledlime-vapour."1 Burnt lime is soluble in water, forming calcium hydroxide - Ca[OH]2 -and generating a large quantity of heat. Calcium hydroxide, called slaked lime, consistsof crystals, soft granules or powder; it is slightly bitter and has an alkaline taste. Whenheated it loses water and turns back into calcium oxide. "Of this fine powder take twoounces and mix with it in a [warmed] porcelain triturating bowl a solution of two ouncesof bisulphate of potash, which has been heated to red heat and melted, cooled againand then pulverized and dissolved in two ounces of boiling hot water. This thickishmixture is put into a small glass retort, to which the helm is attached with wet [pigs]

bladder; into the tube of the helm is inserted the receiver half submerged in water; theresort is warmed by the gradual approach of a charcoal fire below and all the fluid isthen distilled over by applying the suitable heat. The distilled fluid will be about anounce and a half of watery clearness, containing in concentrated form the substancementioned above, i.e. , Causticum; it smells like the lye [strong alkaline solution] ofcaustic potash."2

Potassium HydroxideMEDICINAL CONTENT Hahnemann's aim was to obtain the caustic principle as pure aspossible. At first this resulted in 'Tincture acris sine Kali', caustic substance withoutpotassium. In Chronic Diseases Hahnemann refers to this as a [less pure] preparation ofcausticum and changes it in "Caustic substance" or "Causticum". Some think thatHahnemann introduced it in an effort to combine in one drug the action of calcium andpotassium - "and with more or less success, the potash element seeming topredominate. It seems to be a hydrated caustic solution of lime and potash, and is a

combination of the two earths in rather uncertain proportions."3 The remedy has beenridiculed as a fantasy, being laughed off with the argument that the distillate,chemically, lacked any content of effective substance and could contain nothing butdistilled water. For Hahnemann the new substance, "unknown to chemistry", certainlycarried the caustic principle into effect, for it "tasted very astringent on the back of thetongue, burned in the throat, and hastened the putrefaction of animal substancesimmersed in it." Leeser admits as witnesses for the defence three chemists who foundthat causticum contained free ammonia. "A completely insufficient opposition satisfiesmany who consider this new finding an error. For this reason at my request theJohannes-Apotheke of Stuttgart have repeatedly prepared causticum and controlled itexactly. The method of Hahnemann was followed as closely as possible in respect to hisapparatus. Even a retort of the old form was used. That there is something in thedistillate, which is different from distilled water, one is convinced best through the soda-like odour and the mildly astringent taste. Furthermore, with Merck's universal


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indicator, it shows that the distillate actually has an alkaline reaction. The freshpreparation has a pH of 8.0-8.5 which decreases gradually after 24 hours to a pH ofabout 7.5. Likewise the fresh preparation reacts weakly alkaline to litmus. WithNessler's reagent it gives a light yellow colour, which colourimetrically determinedcorresponds to about the fifth decimal potency of ammonia. Even earlier it was

suggested that the ammonia arises from the lime and indeed from the inclusions ofanimal tissues. In the burning, ammonia would become free, be taken into solution bythe water, and be distilled over. Also if chemically pure, apparently nitrogen-free,original material is employed [calcarea ustae marmore pro analysi and potassiumbisulphuricum crystallisatum], the result remains the same. ... In what form theammonia exists in the distillate is still unknown. At any rate, the preparation must beadded to the ammonium compounds."4 The past research done to identify the chemicalcomposition of Causticum shows controversial results. The researchers were faced withan unsolvable situation. In 1989 Grimm, who, like Leeser, claims to have followed theexact procedure originally employed and documented by Hahnemann, undertook a newattempt. His analysis revealed that Causticum contains, "beyond doubt", potassiumions. Analysis of the specimens of Causticum mother tincture produced by threeGerman homoeopathic manufacturers revealed that all of them contained ammonia, butno potassium. Grimm concludes that the results raise much doubt about the reliabilityof producing homoeopathic remedies at industrial scale. 5MYSTERY "I have not found as yet a satisfactory answer to why Hahnemann went to somuch trouble to make this remedy. What were his intentions? If the goal was to makepotassium hydroxide this method is not very efficient and apparently unnecessary. ...Andreas Grimm, who reproduced the original method exactly, speculates thatHahnemann was trying to isolate and distil the 'caustic principle' i.e. the OH- ion whichis, unknown to him, and a fruitless task using this crude method. Perhaps we will neverknow the truth but the combination of so many alchemical elements seriously leanstowards an experiment with another dimension. The use of the great transforming fire,

the meeting of the two principles masculine [acid] and feminine [base] in equalmeasure, the hermetically sealed unit and the final distillation in the alembic are all wellknown alchemical processes. ... According to the formulas the thickish mixture in theflask contains only three components: potassium hydroxide, calcium sulphate andwater. There are actually no volatile gases or products which would pass over duringdistillation except water. Potassium hydroxide dissolves in water but remains behind asthe water boils off. Calcium sulphate is insoluble and remains behind as a white hardmass. So how is the final product alkaline at all? For many years it was thought that thealkalinity was due to ammonia which is created when elemental calcium metal reactswith nitrogen, and the resulting calcium nitride reacts with water to form ammonia gas.This gas then forms ammonium hydroxide, sometimes called ammonium causticum,

when it contacts water. ... However reactive elemental calcium metal is not present inour process and calcium oxide, which is, does not form this liaison with nitrogen andthus ammonia is not formed. It is possible for ammonia to be formed if potassiumhydroxide comes into contact with the protein of the pigs bladder but this is veryremote. So how is the potassium hydroxide present in Causticum? Grimm gives, what Ibelieve, is the most likely explanation. At 350-400o C, temperatures, created by thecharcoal fire, potassium hydroxide sublimates without decomposing. Sublimation meansthat the solid vaporises into the condenser and is carried over into the receiving vesselby water vapour thus resulting in a weak solution. Grimm also suggests that bumpingmay also occur, which is common with alkalis, creating a spitting effect up the tube.Thus Causticum is a weak solution of potassium hydroxide by these effects. ... However

there is also another subtle dimension which must also be remembered. The startingpoint was an impure marble which could have had trace elements of many different


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elements. Ornamental marble gains its colour from the presence of impurities such asiron creating red, chlorites the greens and graphites the blues. Quartz [silica] is alsooften found as an impurity in marble, so there are still many possible trace elementswhich are unknown and may be present. ... Putting the three elements together -[potassium, oxygen, hydrogen] - shows the true polychrest nature of Causticum. Kali

bringing the will which is linked to the syphilitic miasm and the search for truth; Oxygenbrings the emotional element linked to the sycotic miasm and the search for love;Hydrogen represents the mental element linked to the psoric miasm and the search forwisdom."6CAUSTIC The name Causticum derives from Gr. kaustikos, from kaiein, future, andkausein, to burn. As substances with corroding or burning properties, four caustics arechiefly used: caustic ammonia, caustic lime, caustic potash, and caustic soda. Causticpotash - potassium hydroxide - is used as an emulsifier in hand lotions, as a cuticlesoftener, and as an alkali in liquid soaps, protective creams, shaving preparations, andcream rouges. Caustic soda - sodium hydroxide - is largely employed for similarpurposes: as an alkali and emulsifier in liquid face powders, soaps, shampoos, cuticleremovers, hair straighteners, shaving soaps, and creams. All caustics are extremelyirritating to the skin and mucous membranes, and can cause burns. Ingestion may befatal. Being considered peculiar to homoeopathy and of indefinite composition,Causticum should be prepared in strict accordance with Hahnemann's instructions. Allenstates that "the distillate contains potassium hydrate, but no lime nor sulphuric acid."For that reason, he includes some effects of caustic potash - sources 13 and 14 - in themateria medica of Causticum.PROVINGS [1] Hahnemann - 10 provers; method: unknown.[1-2] Hahnemann, Chronic Diseases. [3] Chase, Causticum; Transactions of the NewYork Hom. Society, 1909-1910. [4] Leeser, Textbook of Hom. MM, Inorganic MedicinalSubstances. [5] Grimm, Causticum: tzstoff oder Phantasieprodukt?; Zeitschrift frKlass. Hom., 1989 Heft 2. [6] Morgan, The Mystery of Causticum; The Homoeopath,

Spring 1998.AffinityNERVES [motor; sensory]. MUSCLES [BLADDER; LARYNX; limbs]. Skin. Respiration. *Right side; face. * Left side.ModalitiesWorse: Air [DRY, COLD; raw; WINDS; drafts]. Extremes of temperature. Stooping.Coffee. Suppressions. 3-4 a.m. or EVENING. Exertion. Clear weather. Motion ofcarriage. While perspiring. New moon. Getting wet. Entering a warm room from theopen air.Better: COLD DRINKS. Washing. Warmth; of bed. Gentle motion. Warm air. Damp, wetweather.

Main symptoms* GRADUAL PARALYSIS, on three levels: EMOTIONAL, MENTAL and PHYSICAL.c EMOTIONAL: ailments from GRIEF [many or long]. Internal suffering, kept in.Suffer from injustice in society, with the following reactions:1. Religious fanaticism.2. Anarchistic opposition to "Big Brother".3. Idealistic fight for a "better world", fighting for a cause.Helps actually the oppressed, the poor, and not only talks about it.

"He has passion for ecologycompassion for minorities

he carries printed placardsto put an end to war


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he is a hero, he is a rebelwith a half a hundred causeshe peddles his petitions door to doorhe is at home among the homelesssinging 'Set my people free'

he will march with total strangersbut he will not walk with me.He writes letters to his congressmenon Indian indignitiesblack men are his brothershe bears collective guilthe's a prophet, he's a pacifistput to peace is his objectivehe has no fear to see his own blood spilthis roots are with the rootlessthat's where he needs to behe will die with total strangersbut he will not live with me. 1

c MENTAL: Immovable points of view, indifference to dictates of conscience.Fear something will happen.Weakness of memory with the characteristic feeling as if he had forgotten something[has to go back and check]. " ... while doing one thing, he always felt as if he had to do something else, more

important, and yet he knew not what." [Hahnemann]c PHYSICAL: Paralysis, facial paralysis [mainly RIGHT-sided], paralysis of bladder,paralysis of vocal cords, drooping of upper eyelids.M WEEPING FROM SYMPATHY WITH OTHERS.

Suffering with others. "Excessively compassionate; at the relations of others and of the cruelties inflicted

upon them, she is beside herself for weeping and sobbing, and cannot content herself." "... and when she saw boys climbing she was very uneasy lest they might get hurt."

[Hahnemann]M CANNOT STAND INJUSTICE.Sensitive to AUTHORITY. "Although [e.g., political] disputes were started with him, he remained pretty calm; hefelt himself excited indeed, but avoided speaking of it, or getting into a passion[curative action, the first hours]." [Hahnemann]c Dictatorial.

"Causticum is often overbearingly present. They like to be able to pull all the strings.You will not often find them in subordinate positions. If you do, then you will hear fromthem how difficult it is to work under such superiors. In general they are born leaderswho can inspire others. In a relationship they are usually the dominant partner. Theythink they know what is best for the other and will let them know in no uncertain terms,even though it may be the wrong moment to pass comment. Frequently they will playthe role of therapist towards their partner. They need to know exactly what the other isthinking, feeling and experiencing and are more likely to criticise their partner thanthemselves, let alone stand open for discussion. In reality these are all expressions ofthe heart of the matter of Causticum, namely an extreme vulnerability and a very deepfear. Many of their survival mechanisms, such as being dictatorial, are a means of

controlling their irrational, vague anxiety feelings."2 "They are definitely irritable people, and often slightly difficult to deal with. They have


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a fairly good opinion of themselves - if their wishes are not carried out accurately andrapidly they are apt to become irritable and fly into violent passions. It is always anaggravation of their present complaint. These bursts of temper always aggravate theircomplaint." [Borland]M Anxious FOREBODINGS [felt in head], < twilight. M Fear of DARK. M STAMMERING

[on account of excitement or anger]. M Obsession and introversion. "It is important toremember that Causticum is a potassium salt, and it is thus not surprising that themore introverted Causticum individual shares many traits with the other Kalis. One ofthese shared traits is obsessiveness. The more introverted a Causticum individual, themore liable he is to become obsessive. This obsessiveness may be in the form offastidiousness, as seen in Arsenicum and Natrum. Some Causticum people areextremely tidy, and will straighten pictures on the wall in strangers' houses. Others areperfectionists in their work. The potassium salts all have a certain mental rigidity. In themore extrovert Causticum this takes the form of doggedly pursuing various causes. Inthe introverted Causticum there may be a problem with repetitive negative thoughts.Just as Lachesis must find an outlet for his powerful sexual energy, or become anxious,so Causticum seems to become anxious when he does not have an external focus for hismental energy. One expression of this is obsessive-compulsive disorder. After prolongedstress Causticum may start to obsessively check that doors are locked. He may alsosuffer from obsessive cleanliness and hand-washing, a syndrome more frequentlyassociated with Syphilinum." [Bailey] M Fanaticism - rigidity. Immovable points of view,indifference to dictates of conscience. "Causticum has very voiced and clear-cut ideasof what is good and what not. For them things are either black or white. For Causticumto come to a compromise is very difficult. You will rarely see them in a political partywith mild ideas. They are more likely to be seen in an outspoken left or right wing party.They will put themselves out to pursue these ideals and can go a long way in this. ...The ideals of Causticum are always combined with great power and perseverance. Theyradiate self-confidence and admire people who appear strong. They are very ambitious

and wish to make a successful career for themselves. ... Causticum has the tendency toexaggerate everything, is quick to become emotional and to dramatise little things."3 GConstitutional effects of burns [physical and emotional]. G Local PARALYTIC affections,gradually developing after an initial stage of irritability and overexcitability; esp. right-sided. G CHILLY. < Cold air; < cold dry weather. G Aversion to sweets; desires smokedmeat; coffee WET weather.> Bathing. > Bathing affected part.G < HEAT and COLD. G < 3-4 A.M. G > SIPS of COLD WATER.Also > facial twitching, and hysterical or epileptic convulsions.G BURNING pains, like "raw flesh", "as from an open wound"; sensation of RAWNESS or

SORENESS of scalp, throat, respiratory tract, rectum, anus, urethra, vagina, etc.BURNING pain in parts grasped with the hand.G Sensation as if MUSCLES and TENDONS were TOO SHORT.G Menses flow only during the day and cease at night; leucorrhoea reversed: flows atnight, not during the day.P STOMACH EASILY UPSET. "As if the stomach refuses everything." [Hahnemann]Heartburn; indigestion; burning eructation.Eructations after fat food, coffee, farinaceous food, [fresh] meat, sweets.Heartburn after sweets, fat food, farinaceous food.Fulness and pressing pain after bread.

P INVOLUNTARY URINATION.When SNEEZING, COUGHING, WALKING, BLOWING the NOSE, during FIRST SLEEP,


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from becoming COLD; > sitting.Or PARALYSIS of the BLADDER after forcible retention or over-distension of bladder.P Dry, deep cough, CAN'T COUGH DEEP ENOUGH to raise mucus; mucus slips backagain; < warmth of bed, stooping, cold air, > sips of cold water.P WARTS around nails, on eye lids, face, tip of nose.

[1] Dory Previn, The Altruist and the Needy Case; from the album Taps, Tremors andTime Steps. [2-3] Sneevliet, Causticum: The often forgotten Polycrest; HL 4/95.RubricsMindWant of amativeness in women [1]. Anarchist [2]. Anxiety, about future, in evening,twilight [1/1]; from night watching [1]. Full of cares about relatives [1]. Checking, mustcheck twice or more [1]. Content with himself [1]. Delusions, sees black images [1].Inclined to discuss political issues [1/1]. Excitement, during debate [2], while talking[1]. Fear, of being alone, at night [2], that something will happen > warmth of bed [2],from noise, at night [2]. Feels constantly as if he had forgotten something [2]. Cannotsupport injustice [1]. Laughing, before epileptic convulsions [1], during [1], after [1].Loss of self-control [1]. Sensitive when hearing of cruelties [2], to crying of children [1].Sentimental, during drunkenness [2]. Talking, desire to talk to someone [1]. Weeping,from sympathy with others [1].VertigoAs if falling from a height [2]. People seem larger during vertigo [1].HeadPain, after epileptic attacks [2], > frowning [1]. Perspiration, scalp, before epilepticattack [2/1].VisionColours, green halo around light [2], white spots, then green [2/1]. Dim, morning onwaking [2], > washing [1], on blowing nose [2/1]. Diplopia, when looking sideways, toright [1], to right > [1/1], when looking upward [2/1]. Flickering, when looking long

[1]. Foggy, when standing [2]. Light points in a dark circle [1/1]. Sparks, on winking[2/1].EarNoises, reverberating [3], every sound with difficult hearing [3], own voice [2].HearingAcute, her own voice seems very loud [2/1].FaceDistortion of mouth when talking [1].StomachEructations, after coffee [2], after fats [2], after sweets [2]; sour, after farinaceous food[2], sour, after sugar [2]. Sensation of fulness, after bread [3/1].

RectumConstipation, passes stool easier when standing [3]. Constriction, after coition [1/1].Diarrhoea, from cold air on abdomen [2/1].BladderUrging, frequent, without passing any, then while sitting involuntary flow [2/1].Urination, involuntary, during first sleep [3], when blowing the nose [3], on becomingcold [3], during exertion [1], from laughing [3], from sudden noise [1], while sitting[2].MaleSexual desire increased, during drunkenness [2].Female

Aversion to coition, after menses [2]. Menses, daytime only [2], cease when lying [2],only on motion [1]. Sexual desire increased, during drunkenness [2].


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RespirationDifficult, on kneeling [1/1], when speaking rapidly [1/1].ChestAnxiety, heart region, > moving about [1].Limbs

Sensation of enlargement, fingers, when touching something [2/1].SleepFalling asleep in society [1], talking [1].GeneralsPain, burning, in parts grasped with the hand [3; Bry.].FoodAversion: [2]: Coffee; fruit; sweets. [1]: Cold water; fish [*]; meat; vegetables; water.Desire: [3]: Smoked meat; smoked things. [2]: Beer; cold drinks; refreshing; salt. [1]:Cheese; eggs; fish; pungent; sour; sweets [*]; tonics; yoghurt.Worse: [3]: Coffee. [2]: Bread; bread and butter; butter; farinaceous; fat; fruit; heavyfood; meat, fresh; veal. [1]: Chocolate; cold food; fish; honey; meat; pork; sour;sugar; sweets; vinegar; warm food.Better: [3]: Cold drinks. [1]: Bread; cold food.* Repertory additions.

- TESTE A, GROUP REMEDIES, GROUP VII,CAUSTICUM

Causticum- According to Hahnemann, the active principle of quick-lime.- This substance which owes its introduction into the Materia Medica, to the author of

homoeopathy, had not only never been employed, before him, as a drug, but was evenunknown to chemists.

- It is obtained by distilling a mixture of quicklime, bisulphate of potash and water.- That which, after the operation, remains in the retort, is, of course, a mixture of the

neutral sulphate of lime and sulphate of potash ; but as regards the product of thedistillation, which is nothing else than a concentrated solution of causticum, we areentirely ignorant concerning the constituent elements of this substance, (Hahnemann,

at any rate, has not apprised us what they are, and, probably, did not know.)- All that we know of this liquid is, that it is colorless and clear like distilled water, that

it smells like ley, causes a smarting on the tongue, a pungent heat in the throat,congeals, like water, at a low temperature, favors to a great degree the putrefaction ofanimal matter suspended in it, does not redden vegetable blues, as other acids do ; andthat sulphuric acid is not detected in it by means of the chloride of barium, nor lime bymeans of the oxalate of ammonia.- Be this as it may, causticum which, together with the caloric, is spontaneously

disengaged from the moistened quicklime, and is no longer present in hydrated lime,possesses therapeutic properties very different from those with which the Hahnemanncausticum is endowed : this is one of the most valuable drugs known to me.

- Its action is well defined, characteristic ; and although the provings of this drug seemto have been instituted with high potencies, yet the symptoms are pretty clearly marked


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and easily studied and remembered.- Causticum is one of our most frequently used drugs.*- According to Hahnemann, the following symptoms have been principally cured with

causticum :- ``Hypochondriac depression of spirits ; melancholy ; saddening thoughts at night,

and weeping in the day time ; anxiety ; mistrust in the future ; despair ; tendency tostart ; disposition to anger, chagrin, ill-humor ; vertigo ; dull pressure in the brain ;stitches in the head ; stitches in the temples ; stitches at the top of the head ;lachrymation ; ophthalmia ; suppuration of the eyes ; incipient amaurosis ; black spotshovering before the eyes ; buzzing in the ears ; eruption at the tip of the nose ; oldwarts on the nose or in the eye-brows ; painful teeth, starting out of their sockets ; oldsuppuration of a spot in the gums ; dental fistula ; mucous affections of the throat andvelum palati ; phlegm in the throat ; aversion to sweet things ; malaise resembling astate of fainting ; vomiting of a sourish liquid ; heaviness at the stomach after eatingbread ; pressure and griping in the stomach ; pressure at the epigastrium ; pressure inthe whole lower abdomen, after eating ; large abdomen of children ; swelling of thelower abdomen ; shifting of flatulence, with chronic constipation ; light-colored andwhite stools ; cutting pain in the rectum and at stool ; discharge of blood during stool ;itching at the anus ; protrusion of the piles ; fistula ani ; urging to urinate, with thirstinvoluntary discharge of urine day and night ; involuntary discharge of urine duringcough, when sneezing, walking ; frequent emissions ; deficient erections ; aversion toan embrace in females ; delaying menses ; scanty menses ; excoriations between thethighs ; discharge from the vagina ; stoppage of both nostrils ; constant stuffing of thenose ; chronic hoarseness ; braking cough ; inability to spit up the phlegm in the throat; asthma ; stitches in the region of the heart ; painful stiffness of the back, especiallywhen rising from a chair ; stiffness of the neck and lions ; pulling and tearing in theshoulder-blades ; goitre-shaped swelling of the cervical glands ; rheumatism in thearms ; eruption on the arms ; pressive pain under the elbows ; sense of fulness in the

hands, when grasping any thing ; stitch in the fingers, striking to the elbows ; pains inthe soles of the feet, ankles and big toes, when walking ; cold feet swelling of the feet ;pain in the varices, vacillating gait of a child that is in the habit of stumbling forward ;restlessness in the body ; palpitation of the heart ; weakness, even unto trembling ;disturbing dreams ; disposition to feel cold ; night-sweat.''- This picture of symptoms is doubtless drawn by the hand of a master, and there is

scarcely a drug, the effect of which Hahnemann has more happily condensed in a similarsynoptical arrangement.- Nevertheless, I beg leave to add to this synopsis an interesting observation from my

own practice ; it is this ; ``Causticum frequently proves wonderfully efficacious in thetreatment of small-pox.''

- ``In my treatise of the diseases of children, I have stated that Merc. corr., inconjunction with causticum, is a most powerful remedy for variola.- Prescribe, for instance, as soon as the first pocks break out, or in the course of the

second or third periods, if we should bot have been called sooner, 8 globules ofcausticum 30, in four ounces of water, and give two table-spoonfuls in the morning, atthree or four hours' intervals ; and 7 globules of Merc. corr., in the same quantity ofwater, and to be taken at the same dose and interval ; and in the vast majority of thecases, the exanthem and all the accompanying symptoms, will, under the influence ofthese two drugs, be found to disappear as by enchantment.''- Several physicians, among whom I have the privilege of mentioning my friend, Dr.

Delavallade, have tried this treatment to their highest satisfaction.

- The cutaneous action of corrosive sublimate is somewhat analogous to that ofcausticum, but these two action, so far from neutralising, strengthen each other.


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- Before giving these two drugs together, I had given them separately in small-pox,and I did not resort to the former method of using them conjointly, until I have becomeperfectly satisfied, first, that either of these drugs extinguished the small-pox exanthemform its commencement with surprising rapidity ; secondly, that they neutralised eachother no more than did causticum and coffee, or causticum and cocculus ; bryonia and

ipecacuanha, etc., etc.*- Laurocerasus is, in most cases, the antidote of causticum.

causticum_prisma

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