Kali Bichromicum.
Potassae bichromas. Potassic dichromate. Bichromate of Potash. Red Chromate of Potash. K2Cr2O7. Solution in distilled water. Trituration.
Clinical.-Acne. Anaemia. Asthma. Blotches. Bone, nodes on, exostoses. Bronchitis; croupous. Burns. Cachexia. Catarrh. Climacteric flushes. Coccygodynia. Conjunctivitis. Constipation. Cornea, opacities of. Coryza. Descemetitis. Duodenum, ulcers of. Dyspepsia. Ears, pains in; inflammation of, internal and external. Emaciation. Epilepsy. Epistaxis. Eyes, iritis; keratitis. Farcy. Gastric ulcer. Glanders. Gleet. Gout. Hay fever. Headache. Intermittent fever. Intestines, ulceration of. Lumbago. Lupus. Measles. Mumps. Neuralgia. Nightmare. Nodes. Nose, pressure at root of; soreness of. Ophthalmia. Ozaena. Polypus. Post-nasal catarrh. Pruritus vulvae. Rheumatism. Rhinitis, atrophic. Sciatica. Scrofula. Smell, illusions of. Sun-headache. Sycosis. Syphilis. Throat, hair sensation in; sore. Tobacco, intolerance of. Trachea, affections of. Ulcers. Urethritis. Warts. Whooping-cough.
Characteristics.-Kali bichromicum (with the other Chromium preparations, Chro. ac. and Chro. ox.) owes its introduction into the homoeopathic materia medica to the late Dr. J. J. Drysdale, whose monograph upon it, forming one section of the Hahnemann Materia Medica, and now occupying pp. 457 to 573 of Materia Medica Physiological and Applied, is the most complete account of the remedy which we possess. The Bichromate of Potash, which is manufactured in large quantities from chrome-iron-ore, is the preparation from which all other salts of Chromium are derived. The native association of Chromium with Ferrum is worthy of note. The Bichromate is largely used in the arts in dying, calico-printing, wood-staining, in photography, and as a solution for producing the current in electric batteries. Many of the most remarkable symptoms were obtained from workmen engaged in the preparation of the salt. Some of these had been noted before Drysdale took up the study of the drug. The first proving was published by him in 1844 in the British Journal of Homoeopathy. The following year it was proved by the Austrian Society. The effects of the drug show profound action on the entire organism, and characteristic features of the utmost value to the prescriber have been brought out, rendering the drug one of the most important members of the homoeopathic materia medica. Among these keynotes of Kali bi. four may be named as pre-eminent: (1) Discharges from mucous membranes of tough, stringy mucus, or muco-pus, which adheres to the part and can be drawn out in strings. (2) The occurrence of pain in small spots. In connection with this is another feature showing a sharply defined action: (3) Punched-out, perforating ulcers, occurring on skin, mucous membranes, and affecting bones (e.g. vomer, palate). (4) Alternating and shifting conditions: pains wander from part to part; rheumatic pains alternate with gastric symptoms, or with dysentery; headache alternates with blindness; fibrinous deposits extend downwards. Among other leading characters, scarcely less distinctive are: (a) The formation of plugs or clinkers on mucous membranes, especially in the nose. (This may be regarded as an advanced stage of the stringy mucous secretions.) (b) Still another Variety of this is the formation of false membranes as in croup and diphtheria, with hoarse, metallic cough; and the formation of casts of the bronchial tubes in fibrinous bronchitis. (c) Yet another characteristic mucous discharge is one of "jelly-like mucus." (d) Indigestion from drinking beer; loss of appetite; weight in pit of stomach immediately after eating; flatulence. (e) Among peculiar sensations the "hair sensation" is marked in Kali bi. It occurs chiefly on the back part of the tongue and in the left nostril.-It can hardly be questioned that Chromium is the predominant partner in the action of this salt, but it would be wrong to consider the Kali element as of no account, and it would be still more wrong to disregard the very large proportion of oxygen. It is as an oxydising agent and disinfectant that K. bi. is chiefly known in general medicine, and it is probably to the oxygen element that the ulcerating properties of the drug are largely due. One of its effects is "odourless stools," and the oxygen element is probably accountable for this. Another point in this connection is that the antidotes to poisonous doses of Kali bi. are the same as the antidotes to the acids. The Kali parallels must be sought chiefly in Causticum and Kali carb. The general resemblance is great, but the minute correspondences are not very striking. One possible point of correspondence has been pointed out. Storer (Med. Adv., xxv. 98), cured with Kali bi. a case of asthma in a man who noticed that the attacks were caused by and always followed coitus. The Kali bi. was prescribed on other indications, but this symptom must be noted for future verification. Kali c. has marked "< from coitus," and also from emissions; and Caust. has stupid feeling in the head the day after an emission." Caust. has many symptoms of disordered vision; though it has not the "blindness followed by headache, the sight improving as the pain becomes worse" of Kali bi. This is very characteristic and has led me to many cures. Both Caust. and Kali bi. have many symptoms of ulceration internal and external. Nash relates a good cure with Kali bi. A woman had deep punched-out ulcers with regular edges. One of them had perforated the soft palate and threatened the whole palate. It had a syphilitic appearance, and the patient had been long under old-school treatment. There was also a stringy discharge, but not to a great amount. In three weeks Kali bi. 30 made a cure which proved permanent; the local condition entirely healed and the patient's general state improved correspondingly. Apropos of syphilis Drysdale quotes a long series of cases of syphilis in all stages treated by J. E. Güntz with "Chrome water." This consists of an artificial aerated water containing in 600 grammes of water Kali bi. 0.03 grms., Kali nit. 0.1 grm., Natr. nit., 0.1 grm., Nat. mur., 0.2 grm.; this mixture is incorporated with carbonic acid under the highest pressure, at low temperature, and kept some time before use. The dose given was from half to two bottles daily (each bottle containing 600 grammes) in five doses, given on a full stomach. Even in this dilution the mixture was sufficiently disgusting in taste, and to some quite intolerable. A number of the Kali bi. symptoms were produced, but on the whole very notable and evidently specific curative action was observed. Out of 100 cases of primary syphilis 64 remained without constitutional symptoms. In secondary and tertiary syphilis "chromo-water" was also remarkably successful. In strictly homoeopathic practice Kali bi. has been no less successful, as its symptoms correspond to a great variety of the manifestations of that disease, especially keratitis and iritis, ozaena, bone-pains and nodes, sore throat, syphilitic rheumatism and ulcers. Like Causticum it has some sycotic symptoms as well, including asthma, early morning on eating more.-Cough in morning, with viscid expectoration.-Cough hoarse, metallic, with expectoration of tough mucus or fibrous elastic plugs (croup; membranous or croupous bronchitis).-Dry cough, with stitches in chest.-Violent, rattling cough, lasting some minutes, with an effort to vomit, and expectoration of viscid mucus, which can be drawn in strings to the feet.-(Expectoration sticks in chest so as to almost cause strangulation; it is found in croup, whooping-cough, catarrhs.-Snuffles of infants, particularly in fat, chubby, little babes, where there is a tough, stringy discharge from the nose, &c.-Cough, with thick, heavy expectoration; bluish lumps of mucus.-Hawking up of copious, thick, bluish mucus.-Expectoration with traces of blood.-Expectoration of yellowish tough matter.-Cough, with pain in sternum, darting to between shoulders.-Sensation of dryness in bronchi (in morning).-Dry cough after dinner.-Cough, with pain in loins, vertigo, dyspnoea, shootings in chest.-(Asthmatic attacks always caused by and follow coition).-Oppressed breathing, awakens at 2 a.m.; palpitation; orthopnoea: cold sensation and tightness about heart, lower portions of lungs oppressed.-"Stuffing" cough, with pain in chest and expectoration of yellow or yellowish green tough matter.
18. Chest.-Pressure and heaviness on chest, as from a weight; wakens with this sensation at night and is > after rising.-Stitches below sternum, extending to back.-Dull pain in r. side of chest over circumscribed spot, < on inspiration.
19. Heart.-Cold sensation about heart: tightness of chest; dyspnoea.-Sensation of pressure on heart (after eating).-Sharp, irritating, fixed pain in region of apex of heart.-Pricking pain in region of heart.-Palpitation.-Pulsation felt in arteries.
20. Neck and Back.-Stiffness of neck when bending head forward.-Sticking pain from ears to glands.-Swollen cervical glands and occipital glands.-Sharp, stinging pain in region of kidneys.-Pain in back striking through to sternum with cough.-Pain, as from a knife, through loins; cannot walk.-Violent aching pain, "like a gathering," in small spot in sacrum, a steady, throbbing pain, < at night hindering sleep; > in day when up, walking about, but unable to lift anything.-Pain in sacrum; cannot straighten himself.-Cutting in outer l. side of sacrum, shooting up and down.-Pain in os coccygis (in morning); < from walking and touching it.-Pain in coccyx while sitting.
21. Limbs.-Rheumatic pains in limbs.-Periodical wandering pains, also along bones.-Cracking in joints, < by motion.
22. Upper Limbs.-Rheumatic pain in both shoulders (< at night).-Stitches at lower angle of l. shoulder-blade.-Stiffness of shoulder-joint.-Sensation of lameness of r. arm (as if it had gone to sleep).-Burning pain in middle of forearm, extending to wrist.-Painful stiffness of r. arm.-Stinging pain in l. elbow.-Rheumatic pains in joints, esp. wrists.-Great weakness in hands.-Bones of hands as if bruised, when pressed, ulcers on fingers with caries.-Spasmodic contraction of hands.-Rheumatic pains in fingers.-Cracking of all joints from least motion.-Psoriasis diffusa of hands, degenerating into impetigo.-Ulcer under thumb-nail.-Pustules on roots of nails.
23. Lower Limbs.-Rheumatic pains in hip-joints and knees on moving-more esp. during day.-Pain in course of l. sciatic nerve, extending from behind great trochanter to calf of leg; > by motion.-Stitches in r. side of chest and l. sciatic nerve.-Pain in tendons of muscles of calf, as if stretched, causing lameness.-Soreness in heels when walking.-Heaviness of legs.-Pain in r. hip, extending to knee; > by walking and flexing leg; < in hot weather, by standing, sitting, or lying in bed; pressure = pain to shoot along entire nerve.-Pain in middle of tibia.-Sensation of dislocation in l. ankle.-Ulcers on previously inflamed feet.-Small irregular ulcers on leg.-Acute twinging pain in l. great toe; pricking and stinging pains in different parts of body; acute gouty pain in ball of r. great toe, four minutes after same pain in l.-Sore pain inner side r. great toe where the nail joins the flesh.
24. Generalities.-Pains which wander quickly from one part of body to another.-Periodical wandering pains in all limbs.-Sensitive painfulness of whole body (morning on rising).-Gastric symptoms supersede rheumatic symptoms; or they alternate with one another.-Liability to take cold in the open air; drowsy in open air.-Great debility, with desire to lie down.-Great prostration.-Drawing in various parts; in sheaths of muscles; near bones, as if in periosteum; in neck, back, and limbs; in morning on waking, > on rising.
25. Skin.-Hot, dry, and red skin all over body.-Dry eruption, like measles, over whole body.-Small pustules over whole body, similar to smallpox; they disappear without bursting open.-Pustules over whole body, appearing on inflamed parts of skin, as large as a pea, with a small black scab in middle.-Blood-boil on r. thigh; on r. side of spine, near the last rib; painful on the least motion.-Small pustules on roots of nails, spreading over hands to wrist; arm became red and axillary glands suppurated; the small pustules on hands secreted a watery fluid when they were broken; if they were not touched the fluid became thickened to a yellow, tough mass.-The eruption begins in hot weather.-Suppurating tetter (ecthyma).-The pustulous eruption resembling small-pox, with a hair in the middle, is more prominent on face and arms.-Brown spots (on throat) like freckles.-Blister, full of serum, in sole of r. foot.-Scabs on fingers, or corona glandis.-Ulcers, dry, form oval; have overhanging edges, a bright red, inflamed areola, hard base; movable on subjacent tissues; dark spot in centre; after healing the cicatrix remains depressed.-After an abrasion, a swelling like a knot, forming an irregular ulcer, covered with a dry scab and painful to touch; under skin is felt a hard, movable knot, like a corn, with a small ulcerated spot in middle, where it touches the cuticle; the hard knotty feel remains after the healed ulcer is covered with white skin.-Ulcers corrode and become deeper, without spreading in circumference.-Ulcers esp. painful in cold weather.-Ulcers on previously inflamed feet.-Ulcers on fingers, with carious affection of the bones.-Hands become covered with deep, stinging cicatrices.
26. Sleep.-Sleepiness and prostration, can hardly write.-Unrefreshing sleep; feels very debilitated, esp. in extremities.-Wakens in a start, with nausea or headache (2 a.m.), with heat and perspiration, accelerated pulse, palpitation of heart and dyspnoea; with anxiety, heat in pit of stomach, and spitting of blood; from frequent desire to urinate.-Woke with great oppression on chest (nightmare).-< After sleep.
27. Fever.-Pulse accelerated; irregular, small, contracted.-Great inclination to yawn and stretch.-Chilliness in the back and sleepiness; seeks a warm place.-Chilliness alternating with flushes of heat.-Chilliness, with giddiness and nausea, followed by heat with sensation of coldness and trembling, and periodical stinging pain in temples; without thirst.-Attacks of chilliness, extending from feet upwards, and sensation as if skull on the vertex became contracted, in frequently returning paroxysms.-Chill, followed in an hour by heat, with dryness of mouth and lips, which have to be moistened all the time; followed in morning with great thirst, but no perspiration.-Chilliness, esp. on extremities, and flushes of heat alternating with general perspiration.-Heat of hands and feet; nausea; pain in upper part of abdomen; dryness of mouth; sleeplessness, followed by perspiration of hands, feet, and thighs; ceasing for two hours, when they reappear.-Giddiness; violent, painful vomiting is followed by pain in forehead, burning of eyes, great burning heat of upper part of body and face, with internal chilliness and violent thirst.-Perspiration on back during effort to stool.