Causticum

Questions

How is Causticum prepared ?

By distillation of slaked lime with the sulphate of potash.

Give the general action of Causticum ?

Causticum acts through the medulla oblongata and recurrent laryngeal ner\'e, causing chiefly paralysis and catarrh of the larynx and trachea. It also causes paralysis in various parts of the body.

What are the mental symptoms of Causticum ?

Patients are timid; nervous and anxious; full of fancies, apprehensive, feel as if something was about to happen.

Afraid to go to bed in the dark. Give seven characteristic symptoms in Causticum?

1 . Cough relieved by a drink of water and accompanied by a spurt of urine. 2. Enuresis during first sleep. 3. Menses flow only by day time. 4. Paralytic aphonia. 5. Stool passes better when patient is standing. 6. Morning hoarseness. 7. Paralysis of single parts. Give the eye and ear symptoms of Causticum. There is paralysis of the eyelids; there is heat, burning and feeling of sand in the eyes, muscular weakness and double vision; words, sounds and the patient's own voice re-echo in the ears.

What are the symptoms of Causticum about the face, mouth and throat ?

There is paralysis of the face, due to exposure to dry, cold winds; there is also a paralysis of the tongue, lips and throat.

How does Aconite compare here ?

I^ike Causticum it has paralysis due to dry, cold winds, but it is more suitable to the beginning, Causticum coming in after Aconite fails.

What are the characteristic symptoms about the rectum ?

There is also a paralytic condition; the patient cannot evacuate the stool sitting down; is obliged to stand. Give the bladder symptoms of Causticum. Paralysis of the bladder; involuntary urination while coughing; nocturnal enuresis of children during the first sleep. Give two other drugs that have involuntary spurting of urine during coughing. Squilla and Natrum vir.

How does the menstruation differ from that of Magnesia carbonica?

It flows only during the day time, while Magnesia carb. flows only during the night. Give the respiratory symptoms of Causticum. Complete loss of voice; the patient cannot speak loud; dryness of the l?rynx and sensitiveness extending to chest; there is a hoarseness, rawness, and a scraping sensation in the chest, especially under the middle of the sternum, giving rise to a dry and hollow cough.

How does Phosphorus differ?

Phosphorus has evening hoarseness, and the soreness of Phosphorus is in the larynx, while Causticum has morning hoarseness, soreness under the sternum, and a cough relieved by a cold drink.

Why should these two drugs especially be carefully differentiated ?

Because they are inimical.

Mention some remedies for the hoarseness of singers. Causticum, Graphites, Selenium, Sjilphur. How does the hoarseness of Carbo veg. compare?

It is aggravated in the evening, being useful after exposure to damp evening air, while Causticum is useful for hoarseness in dry, cold, severe winter weather. Compare also Eupatorium perf. with Caustium. Both have hoarseness in the morning, both have influenza and aching in body, but Eupatorium has rather a chest soreness than a burning or rawness.

What are the rheumatic symptoms of Causticum ?

Rheumatic stiffness of the joints, with contractions of the tendons; there is restlessness at night and drawing pains in the muscles; the parts upon which he lies become sore. Mention some drugs having a weakness or giving away of the ankles. Causticum , Sulphuric acid. Sulphur, Silicea.