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Materia Medica by John Henry Clarke

Materia Medica by
John Henry Clarke
Materia Medica by John Henry Clarke
The Materia Medica by John Henry Clarke was written in 1902. You can read the full book here.
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Mercurius Praecipitatus Albus.

White Precipitate. Mercurammonium chloride. NH2HgCl. Trituration.

Clinical.-Dwarfism. Eczema faciei.

Characteristics.-The symptoms of Merc. praecip. alb. are taken entirely from poisonings. The most peculiar symptoms are: Green tongue; bilious stools scalding anus; and the old-mannish appearance of a child poisoned with it. Mossa (H. R., ix. 28) relates (1) a case of chronic eczema of the face in an elderly man, a moistening eruption < in winter and from exposure to cold; vesicles on a reddened, swollen skin dry into scales which exfoliate; eyelids, especially lower, oedematous, corners reddened; lachrymation; ear involved; itching and burning on head preventing sleep. Merc. praecip. alb. 3 gr. i. every third day. First the burning itching ceased. Then formation of blisters abated. Exfoliation continued a long time, but the skin finally became normal. (2) Girl, 2, eruption on face and large part of scalp, covered with thick yellow crust, matter exuding from cracks. Offensive odour; swollen cervical glands. Merc. praecip. alb. 3 gr. i once in three days cured in four weeks.

Relations.-Compare: Dwarfish children, Bar. c., Syph. Eczema, Mez., Æthiops. ant.

SYMPTOMS.

6. Face.-Face: much flushed; greatly swollen.-In one night a child (poisoned with 20 gr.) had undergone a remarkable change; had become in appearance "quite an old man."

8. Mouth.-Gums much swollen.-Tongue: much coated; thick greenish fur.

11. Stomach.-Thirst urgent.-Nausea and vomiting.-Vomits deeply blood-stained fluid.-Much pain at stomach.

12. Abdomen.-After half an hour pain began in epigastrium, gradually spreading over whole abdomen.-Great pain in abdomen; continuing after taking any, even liquid, food, for more than a week.-Constant griping.-Whole abdomen painful to pressure.

13. Stool and Anus.-One copious stool with mucous shreds in some quantities, much dark blood.-Numerous scanty stools with much blood.-Almost pure bile causing great scalding of anus.

24. Generalities.-Slight subsultus.-Collapse.-During the night the child shrieked as from great pain, in the morning it had changed to the appearance of an old man.

26. Sleep.-Drowsy, semi-comatose.

27. Fever.-Cold, clammy skin, much congestion of cutaneous vessels.-General perspiration.