Ferrum essentials

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ESSENTIALS OF
Homœopathic Materia Medica
and Homœopathic Pharmacy
Willis Alonzo DEWEY, M. D.
Presented by Médi-T
CHAPTER VI.
MINERAL KINGDOM.

6 - 6 - IRON.
What preparations of Iron do we use and how are they prepared ?
1. Ferrum metallicum. Triturations of pure reduced Iron.
2. Ferrum iodatum. Triturations of the freshly prepared Iodide.
3. Ferrum aceticum. One part, by weight, of Acetate of Iron dissolved
in 99 parts of strong alcohol. Drug power, 1/100.
4. Ferrum phosphoricum. Triturations of the pure Phosphate of Iron.
FERRUM METALLICUM.
Where are our data concerning Ferrum metallicum found ?
In Hahnemann's Materia Medica Pura ; British Journal of Homœopathy,
Vols. XXXII and XXVII.
Give the general action of Ferrum.
Produces a false plethora ; an irregular distribution of blood, with
headache, nosebleed, dyspnœa, neuralgia, etc. Its action is to dilate
the blood-vessels.
Give six grand characteristics of the drug.
1. Anæmia with plethora.
2. Vomiting of food.
3. Chill with red face and thirst.
4. Flushed face.
5. Coldness of the body.
6. Undigested diarrhœa, worse from eating.
When is Ferrum indicated in anæmia ?
When the patient has an appearance of full bloodedness or plethora,
which is followed by a paleness and earthiness of the face, and
puffiness of the extremities. The mucous membranes are pale and there
may be anæmic murmurs in the veins of the neck. The patient is
constantly chilly with perhaps an afternoon hectic like fever.
What is the chill of Ferrum ?
It is a chill with red face and thirst ; during the heat there is
distension of the blood-vessels and headache ; the chill is apt to
come on about 3 or 4 in the morning.
What are the stomach symptoms ?
There seems to be no secretion in the stomach capable of changing the
food, and it is vomited as taken. The appetite is ravenous.
What is the characteristic headache ?
It is a throbbing headache at the base of the brain. It seems as if
the head would burst ; there is congestion and pulsating in the head,
worse after midnight, with red face and cold feet.
What is there characteristic about the vertigo of Ferrum ?
It comes on on going down hill, or on crossing water, even though the
water be smooth.
What is the diarrhœa of Iron ?
Undigested, painless, sometimes involuntary stools ; there is a
desire to go to stool as soon as anything touches his stomach ; it is
worse just after midnight ; there is great hunger, but eating brings
on diarrhœa.
What is the characteristic rheumatic pain of Ferrum ?
In the left deltoid muscle.
What remedy has rheumatism in the right deltoid muscle ?
Sanguinaria.
FERRUM IODATUM.
Give an indication of Ferrum iodatum.
Bearing down in the uterine region when sitting ; the patient feels
as if something sore and painful were being pushed up. Prolapsus
uteri. Starchy leucorrhœa. Pressure in the rectum ; painful menses,
especially in pale anæmic subjects.
FERRUM ACETICUM.
What is a clinical use of Ferrum aceticum ?
In stubborn anæmia and debility. In children who grow tall rapidly
and are so active that they become easily exhausted ; they keep thin,
weak and pale.
FERRUM PHOSPHORICUM.
Where are the principal data found concerning this remedy ?
In Boericke and Dewey's Twelve Tissue Remedies of Schüssler.
What is Ferrum phosphoricum ?
It is the Ferroso-ferric phosphate, or Phosphate of Iron, one of the
so-called twelve tissue remedies.
What are the twelve tissue remedies ?
Calcarea fluorica,
Calcarea sulphurica,
Natrum muriaticum,
Kali sulphuricum,
Kali muriaticum,
Natrum sulphuricum,
Calcarea phosphorica,
Ferrum phosphoricum,
Kali phosphoricum,
Magnesia phosphorica,
Natrum phosphoricum,
Silicea.
Why are these called the tissue remedies ?
They are so called because they are the inorganic cell salts and
constituents of the tissues.
Hahnemann was the first to make investigations in this line, and gave
us provings of some of the salts of Lime, Soda and Potash.
Give in brief the biochemic theory of their action.
This theory was advanced by Schüssler, a German homœopathic
physician, and consists of the assertion that these twelve remedies
are all sufficient to cure any curable disease, and that they act by
supplying a sufficient quantity of the proper cell salts to re-
establish an equilibrium which has been disturbed ; disease being,
according to the same theory, a disturbed equilibrium of the
inorganic cell salts.
Do Homœopathists accept this theory ?
They do not. The only law of cure known to Homœopathy is Similia
Similibus Curantur. Clinically, however, these remedies have been
found most valuable additions to our Materia Medica, and thorough
proving of them is necessary.
Give the general action of Ferrum phosphoricum.
Its field is in all ailments of a hyperæmic or congestive nature,
anæmia, etc.
Give four characteristic indications of Ferrum phosphoricum that have
proved of value.
1. First stage of inflammations.
2. A florid complexion.
3. It stands midway between Aconite and Gelsemium in febrile
conditions.
4. It stands midway between Ferrum metallicum and Phosphorus in
respiratory troubles.
Give the eye symptoms of Ferrum phosphoricum.
Eyes inflamed, red, with a sensation as if grains of sand were under
the lids ; pain on moving the eyes ; photophobia worse from
artificial lights.
Give five indications for Ferrum phosphoricum in ear troubles.
1. Diffused inflammatory processes.
2. Dark, beefy redness of parts.
3. Muco-purulent discharge with tendency to hæmorrhage.
4. The complete establishment of the discharge is not followed by
relief of pain.
5. The paroxysmal character of the pain.
Give the throat symptoms of Ferrum phosphoricum.
Dry, red, inflamed and painful throat ; sore throats of singers and
speakers.
What is the diarrhœa of Ferrum phosphoricum ?
Undigested or copious, watery and accompanied by vomiting.
Diarrhœa in children with pinched face, half open eyes, hot skin and
thirst, startings, in sleep, etc.
What are the symptoms of Ferrum phosphoricum in the urinary sphere ?
Incontinence of urine from weakness of the sphincter, constant
dribbling of urine during the daytime.
When is Ferrum phosphoricum indicated in respiratory affections ?
During the first stage of any inflammatory condition about the
chest ; it stands about midway between Aconite and Bryonia in many
cases.
What forms of rheumatism is Ferrum phosphoricum suitable to ?
Articular rheumatism or sub-acute rheumatism, the pains are worse
from motion.
What action has Ferrum phosphoricum on sleep ?
In low potencies it has been found to cause sleeplessness, and in
higher potencies it has been used with success in sleeplessness,
especially when caused by a hyperæmic condition of the brain.
Give indications for Ferrum phosphoricum in anæmia.
It is useful to improve the quality of the red blood corpuscles and
follows Calcarea phosphorica well, but should be indicated by general
symptoms.