Mercurialis

Mercurialis perennis. Dog's Mercury. N. O. Euphorbiaceae. Tincture of whole fresh plant in flower. CUaleali— Amblyopia. Breasts, swelling of ; pain in. Conjunctivitis. Dysmenorrhoea. Epiphora. Flatulence. Menses, late. Pannus. Ptosis. Rheumatic affections. Spleen, affections of. Tongue, paralysis of. Trachoma. Vertigo.

Characteristics

Dos Mercury is a common plant with poisonous properties, on account of which it is avoided by cattle. It was proved by Hesse. Like other Euphorbias, it has exceedingly acrid properties, and many of its symptoms resemble closely those of the more corrosive salts 01 Mercury : prevalence of burning symptoms ; irritation of eyes and nose ; tenesmus after stool, &c. '' Compared with other Euphorbias/' says Cooper, "it dries up the mucous surfaces, causing burning locally and a general drowsiness, whilst most Euphorbias set up violent irritation and diarrhoea from the first. Moreover, its action is not expended on the skin so soon as that of the others." Among the most characteristic symptoms is " vertigo by going downstairs." The dryness of the mouth and throat is more remarkable than in any other remedy, even sugar refuses to melt in the mouth. Eating < the dryness. The breath from the mouth is hot and dries the ups. There is also hot breath in the nose, but cold breath in the nose is more characteristic. " Tension " is a leading note of the remedy running through the symptoms ('' pain as of a band tied tightly across the forehead " is a characteristic of David Wilson’s) ; also dragging and especially dragging down ; in small of back with rectal pains ; in groins and thigh as if a hernia might appear. A very remarkable action is ibai on the female generative organs, and puts Merls, in the front rank of remedies for amenorrhoea, scanty and delayed menses, and dysmenorrhoea, accompanied with orgasm, pains, and swelling of breasts. Among the peculiar sensations are : Heaviness ih head as if pressed on pillow with a weight. Numbness of head and dulness of mind. Conscious of having a nose ; also I have noted (but am unable to trace the authority), " she feels as H she has two noses." Head confused as if inflated. As if intoxicated. Rolling, throbbing, trembling, and orgasm in all the veins. The liver and spleen are influenced ; " warmth in spleen " is one symptom. Tension in rectum and back. Touch <. Headache < indoors, > by cold. Sunlight < eyes. Open air = blinking.

Relations p. 436

Antidoted by: Aco., Bell. Compare: Euphorb., Croton, Acalypha, &c. In < descending stairs, Borax. Straining after stool, Merc Dragging pains, Lil. t. Numbness of head, Graph, (feels like wood). Also : Asaf., Caust, K. bi., Kre., Lach., Led., Mag. m., Nat. m., Nit. ac, Nux, Nux m., Rhod., Sul., Thuj.

Causation p. 436

Blow on head.

Mind p. 436

Excited mood ; like intoxication.— Morose, quarrelsome. — Fretful, ill-humoured. — Difficulty in collecting his senses. — Coma.

Head p. 436

Giddiness on descending stairs. — Whirling vertigo. — Head confused as if inflated. — Scalp feels tense and numb, is moved with difficulty. — Tension and heaviness of head with sensation of heat. — Tension in head, esp. forehead and above eyes ; on stooping changing to a pressing-out pain. — Burning on vertex. — Shooting in l. forehead and temple, < coming indoors. — Aching in forehead > by cold and pressure. — Numbness of occiput and vertex ; after a blow on head.

Eyes p. 436

Eyelids feel heavy and dry, it is difficult to move them. — Pain ; burning ; forcing-out sensation in eyes. — Weakness of upper lids. — Trembling and twitching of upper lids (esp. 1.). — Blinking of eyes. — Dilated pupils with great sensitiveness of eyes to light — Asthenopia ; as (tf a cloud, veil, or cobweb before sight — Watery eyes.

Nose p. 436

The breath from nose is cold. — Crawling and burning of nose. — Breath hot in nose ; sensation of heat rising from stomach into nose. — Conscious of having a nose, nostrils feel sore. — (Feels as if she had two noses.)

Face p. 436

Feeling of coldness in face. — Feeling of tension in face and head. — Great redness of cheeks. — Lips dry and parched, with increased thirst.

Mouth p. 436

Dryness of mouth, it is difficult to move tongue and impedes chewing. — Burning in mouth and tongue. — Tongue feels heavy and dry, numb, insensible, with loss of taste. — Burning blisters on tongue, inside of lips and cheeks ; they form very painful spreading ulcers. — Tongue painful if it touches palate as if there were blisters on it

Throat p. 437

Burning dryness in throat. — Ulcers on palate, tonsils, and back of pharynx.

Appetite p. 437

Increased thirst with dry lips and mouth. — Great dryness in mouth while eating. — After eating : biting burning on tongue ; nausea ; vomiting.

Stomach p. 437

Chilly feeling or burning in stomach. — Belching >.— Vomits food as soon as eaten.— Tumour inside pit of stomach size of hen's egg, < pressure ; cannot bear clothing.

Abdomen p. 437

Abdominal pulsation. — Violent twinging in l. hypochondrium. — Pressure in liver region extending to spleen. — In spleen : warmth ; gnawing ; pressure < lying down. — Sticking in liver. — Gnawing from pit of stomach to gall-bladder. — Rumbling ; movings and workings in abdomen ; emission of much flatus.

Stool and Anus p. 437

Dragging pressing in rectum (and burning and smarting in anus) with pressure and tension in small of back. — Dragging ; burning ; crawling ; itching in anus. — Diarrhoea with constant colic. — Thin stools. — Profuse soft stool followed by some straining.

Urinary Organs p. 437

Burning ; prickly burning in urethra.— Crawling in urethra and prepuce, with crawling in anus and tearing and dragging in small of back. — Frequent urging; with burning; micturition somewhat increased.

Male Sexual Organs p. 437

Dragging in inguinal region, at times sticking pain, < walking, at times extending down into spermatic cord, sometimes one, sometimes both.

Female Sexual Organs p. 437

Menses: shorter, with abdominal cramp ; too late. — Menses profuse, violent orgasm of blood, great anxiety so that she nearly fainted, oppressed breathing, heat over whole body, esp. head and face, anxious sweat ; limbs heavy, trembling ; next day great swelling and pain fulness of breasts ; on third day headache, faint-like weakness, compelled to lie down ; menses only appeared that night, were scanty, and only lasted three days instead of seven (from gr. vi. of extract of root).

Respiratory Organs p. 437

Breath hot, almost burning, lips almost made sore by it — Breathing : stertorous ; difficult, esp. r. side.

Chest p. 437

Pressure and pain fulness on chest ; in forepart ; and in stomach with dyspnoea. — Sticking in 1. ; throbbing in r. chest.— -Orgasm with dysmenorrhoea.

Heart p. 437

Orgasm in heart region. — Constriction.— Whirling, rushing, throbbing in heart, stomach, and upper abdomen ; then rolling, throbbing with trembling and orgasm in all the veins, without heat ; abdominal aorta felt distinctly beating while sitting ; dulness and stupefaction of head as if blood mounted violently upward; pulse accelerated and full. — Palpitation with oppression, as if chest would be constricted, after stooping.

Neck and Back p. 437

Aching in nape. — Flushes of heat in back. — Drawing tearing along r. scapula, extending into upper arm. — Tensive dragging and dragging tearing in small of back (with anal symptoms).

Limbs p. 437

Tearings ; stitches ; burning, smarting, tearing in limbs, almost in the skin, esp. of hands and feet. — Tired and weary. — Weakness of arms and legs as if she would fall to l. without vertigo.— (Headache.)

Upper Limbs p. 437

Jerking, sticking, drawing tearings throughout upper limbs.— Stitches in finger-tips. — Veins of hands distended.

Lower Limbs p. 438

Dragging in l. thigh as if hernia would occur. — Tearing from side of l. palm down front of thigh. — Jerking tearing in L patella. — Painful ache in knees. — Pressive tearing pain in tibiae. — Sticking tearing in toes and tips of toes.

Generalities p. 438

Feeling of emptiness and weariness in wide body. — Persistent pains in muscles on motion.

Skin p. 438

Pimples on chin ; with biting itching.— Burning ; itching ; tearing on skin.

Sleep p. 438

Frequent yawning and weariness. — Dizzy sleepiness. — Sleep unrefreshing, full of dreams. — Dreams of animals.

Fever p. 438

Cold over the whole body, with hot flush in face ; must be warmly covered, then sleeps and perspires.— Cold over whole body, emanating from r. side, particularly from r. arm, shuddering, great debility, sleepiness. — Gooseflesh on the cold r. arm, extending over whole body ; after midnight an offensive perspiration on both sides, particularly on arms. — On going to bed in evening chill, during night and towards morning heat with intense thirst ; perspiration in morning.