Mercurius Dulcis
Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 4,793 chars · source ↗
General
Mercurius Dulcis.
Subchloride of Mercury. Calomel. Mercurous chloride. HgCl. Trituration.
Clinical
Catarrh. Condylomata. Conjunctivitis. Deafness. Diarrhoea. Eustachian tube, affections of. Gastro-malachia. Meningitis. Peritonitis, plastic. Prostatitis. Throat, sore.
Characteristics
Merc. dulc. is responsible for a large amount of the mercurialisation of the past and for some of the present. As a comparatively mild and slow-acting form of mercurial, it has none of the corrosive effects of the perchloride, but it has all the power of the metal in it nevertheless, and it has had its own share of disasters. For constipation and any affection which could be ascribed to the liver, blue pill was at one time about the only recognised remedy. Some homoeopaths have adopted a modification of this by prescribing Merc. dulc. 1x in two- or three-grain doses as a direct purgative.
But as Merc. dulc. has caused both constipation and diarrhoea, it is probable that the action is roughly homoeopathic. The Schema is made up for the most part of toxicological and clinical symptoms; though a proving of potencies has been made. It is especially scrofulous children who are liable to remittent bilious attacks who are benefited by Merc. dulc. The keynote of Merc. dulc., in this as in other complaints is pallor: "pallid as a corpse," and with this a "flabby bloatedness" of appearance.
Pale, scrofulous children who have swelling of cervical and other glands. Skin flabby and ill-nourished. Another leading feature of Merc. dulc. is inflammation with plastic exudation. I have seen Calomel in old-school practice rapidly resolve and cure a violent meningitis, with wild delirium, in a girl of five.
In this case there was probably plastic exudation on the membranes. Plastic peritonitis. Gluing up of Eustachian tube with catarrh. Scrofulous inflammation in general and particularly of the eyes.
Soreness round anus is a leading indication in many affections when it occurs as a concomitant.
Relations
Antidoted by: Hep. Compare: In stringy stools, Sul. ac. Catarrhal inflammation of middle ear, Kali m. Eustachian tube closed; deafness of old age, Kali m.
Mind
Agitated.—Apprehensive.
Head
Heaviness across forehead.—Falling off of hair.
Eyes
Gummy secretion on edges of lids; later, smarting and indistinct vision
Eyes: red; dry; photophobia
Symptoms < after exercise, and when heated from exercise
Scrofulous ophthalmia
Ciliary blepharitis.
Ears
Deafness, occasioned by a swelling, which compresses Eustachian tube.—(Deafness of old age.)
Scrofulous otitis
Itching in external meatus
Sudden fluttering in l. ear for a few moments.
Nose
Violent epistaxis
Dry, crusted nostrils
Sore r. nostril.
Face
Face flushed
Pallid as a corpse
Swelling of cheeks
Exfoliation of lower jaw and death.
Teeth
Violent burning in teeth; teeth become bare, shake, and fall out; gums swollen and bleeding when touched.
Mouth
Difficulty to open mouth
Ulcers in mouth, bleeding throughout night
Aphthae on tongue
Salivation sometimes with haemorrhage
Flow of horribly fetid, dark saliva, which attacks lips and cheeks; tongue and whole mouth have black appearance.
Throat
Excessive ulceration of throat.—Difficulty of swallowing.
Stomach
No appetite
Urgent thirst
Vomiting
Weight and pain at epigastrium.
Abdomen
Violent pain in abdomen; griping; tenderness.—Bloated, hot, painful abdomen (gastro-malachia).
Stool And Anus
Diarrhoea; with vomiting
Stools-watery, greenish; coppery green, like chopped eggs; grass-green; stringy; mucous, bloody, dysenteric; black with great epigastric oppression, sinking
Constant disposition to stool
Obstinate constipation
Rectum: burning; tenesmus
Soreness round anus
Condylomata round anus.
Urinary Organs
Urine increased (2nd d.); diminished (3rd, 4th, and 5th d.).
Male Sexual Organs
Acute inflammation of prostate, after suppressed gonorrhoea; burning, pressing pains; intense dysuria; urine scanty.—Stinging and itching just back of corona glandis.
Female Sexual Organs
Broad, moist, burning condylomata around external genitals, perinaeum and anus, of exceedingly offensive smell.
Chest
Great oppression in chest and in region of heart.
Limbs
Trembling of hands and feet.
Upper Limbs
Rheumatic stiffness and catching pain in muscles of legs and knee-joints.—Cramps in calves at night.
Skin
Desquamation of skin, esp. of hands and feet
Phagedaenic ulcers, with white bases, and painful and inflamed margins, in mouth, palate, face, genital and other parts
Copper-coloured eruption.
Fever
Feverish heat, profuse nocturnal sweat, tearing pains in limbs, prostration of strength, and trembling.—Fever, sometimes hot, putrid.