Bismuth

In the following series of symptoms, some of the important uses of this drug in the treatment of disease are shown. Symptoms, Nos. 26, 43 and 46, show that the praises which Odier, Carminati, Bonnat and others, bestow upon the oxyde of Bismuth in certain forms of pain or pressure in the stomach, or the power which Odier ascribes to Bismuth in palpitation of the heart, are founded upon the homoeopathic relation which the drug has to those diseases.

From Noack and Trinks : Bismuth is said to be especially suitable to lymphatic constitutions, a torpid habit, and paralytic and arthritic diathesis. Bismuth is useful in intermittent fevers with periodical chills, disagreeable heat in the chest, vertigo, great drowsiness, vomiting and diarrhoea, or constipation. — Delirium tremens? — Inflammatory irritation of the stomach and intestinal canal. — Spasm of the stomach, with great sensitiveness of the stomach, when all spirituous and spiced substances cause a burning in that organ ; gastrodynia, originating in an inflammatory affection of the stomach ; pure, nervous cardialgia, especially in females, after previous use of Nux v., Bellad. — Gastromalacia. — Pollutions (?) — Irritations of the spine. — Inflammatory affections of the lungs. — Endocarditis.

Antidotes : Calc. Caps. Nux v.

Hahnemann mentions the following symptoms as those observed by himself:

Long-continued dizziness early in the morning. Burning, contractive pain in the head, especially in the forehead and eyes. Constant searching (grinding) and boring in the forehead, the eyes, and the nose, down to the tip of the nose, as with a dull instrument — alternate, contractive and distensive sensation. Swollen, sore gums, the whole of the mouth being sore and sensitive. Drawing pressure in the molar teeth, from the posterior to the anterior, with drawing pain in the cheeks. Bloody taste in the mouth, early in the morning ; the mucus which one hawks up is tinged with blood. Oppression of the chest. Hot, burning contraction of the chest, which made it difficult for him to breathe or to talk. Cough, interrupting his sleep at night, with a quantity of expectoration — the cough is the same by day. Pain in the chest and back ; a kind of boring and burning. Tremor of the hands, perceptible when taking a meal.

Head p. 149

Vertigo, sensation as if the brain were turning in a circle, (a. 1 h.) Vertigo : sensation as if the anterior half of the brain were turning in a circle, several times a day, for some minutes. Obtusion of the head. The head is heavy as a hundred weight, (a. 1 h.)

5. Heavy, oppressive, painful weight in the forehead, especially above the root of the nose, and in both temples, when sitting, (a. y h.) Pressure and sensation of weight in the forehead, more violent during motion. Pressure and sensation of weight in the occiput, more violent during motion. Hard pressure in both temples from within outwards, unaltered either by motion or contact, (a. 2\ h.) Dull pressive drawing in different parts of the head, more violent during motion.

10. Dull, pressive drawing in alternate parts of the head. Dull, cutting pain in the brain, beginning above the right orbit, and extending as far as the occiput, (a. 3 d.) Boring pain from within outwards, at times in the right, at times in the left frontal eminence, at times in both at the same time. (a. 9 h.) Tearing pressure in the right temple, internally, but more externally, increased by pressing upon the part. Darting, tearing pain in the whole of the occipital bone ; it is the most violent close to the parietal bone. (a. 2£ h.)

Eyes p. 149

15. Tearing pain in the forehead above the internal canthus of the right eye, and in the bottom of the orbit, (a. 24 h.) Pressure on the right eyeball from before backwards, and from below upwards, (a. 10 h.) Gum in both canthi. (v. 8£ 10, h.)

Face p. 149

Livid complexion, blue borders around the eyes ; the features are quite disfigured as if he had been very sick.

Ears p. 149

Drawing pressure in the external meatus of the left ear. (a. 24 h.)

20. Tearing and pressure in the outer cartilage of the ear, disappearing when pressing upon the parts, (a. 4 d.) Pressure on the right zygoma, returning regularly at short intervals, unchanged by contact.

Mouth and taste p. 149

White-coated tongue in the evening, without either heat or thirst, (a. 7, 12 h.) Metallic, sweetishsour taste on the back part of the tongue. Great thirst for cold drinks in the evening, without any heat. (a. 6, 12, h.)

Stomach p. 149

25. Nausea at the stomach; he feels as though he would vomit ; especially violent after a meal. * Pressure in the stomach, especially after a meal.

Abdomen p. 150

Loud grunting in the right side of the abdomen, when standing, (a. 2 h.) Grunting in the abdomen, without any sensation. Painless rumbling in the abdomen.

30. Frequent emission of flatulence. Uncomfortable feeling in the abdomen, with pressure in alternate places, (a. 8 h.) Pinching pain in the abdomen, in alternate places, (a. 7 h.) Pinching pain in the abdomen in alternate places, with grunting and rumbling. Pinching pressure in the abdomen, and grunting, with tenesmus ; sensation as if he would go to stool.

35. Tenesmus, in the evening, without any evacuation, (a. 13 h.)

Urinary organs p. 150

Frequent and copious micturition; the urine is watery, (a. 12 h.)

Genital organs p. 150

Aching of the right testicle, more violent when touching it. (a.. 2 h.) Pollution at night, without any voluptuous dreams.

Chest p. 150

Fine stinging s in the middle of the sternum, unaltered either by inspiration or expiration, (a. 8 h.)

40. Tearing around and by the side of the left nipple, (a. 2 d.) More or less violent aching in the right half of the chest, near the sternum, at a small spot, unchanged by inspiration or expiration, (a. 4 h.) Hard pressure near the left nipple, between the nipple and the sternum. Clawing ache in the region of the diaphragm, transversely through the chest, when walking, (a. 2 h.) Fine, tearing stitches in the region of both nipples, (apparently in the superior surface of the lungs, and the muscles of the chest,) sometimes increasing in violence during either an inspiration or expiration.

45. (Pinching stitches in the region of both nipples, unchanged by inspiration or expiration.) Violent beating of the heart. Dull lancinations and tearings in the region of the last ribs. Intermittent stitches near the last false ribs, at their union with the dorsal vertebrae.

Back and neck p. 150

Pain in the left side of the back when sitting, as if one had stooped too long. (a. 8 h.)

50. Sharp pressure on the upper border of the right scapula and the clavicle. Tensive pressure on the right side of the neck, near the cervical vertebra?, both when in motion and at rest. (a. 3 h.) Sensation of jactitation of the muscles in the right side of the neck.

Superior extremities p. 150

Tearing and pressure in the right shoulder-joint. Contractive, spasmodic pain in the anterior muscles of the left upper arm, when the body is at rest. (a. 24 h.)

55. (Spasmodically) contractive tearing in the muscles of the right arm. (a. 14 h.) Paralytic pressure on the forepart of the right upper arm. Hard pressure on the left forearm, more in the lower and outer part. Paralytic tearing and pressure of the right fore-arm, towards the outer side, at times more in the upper, at times in the lower part ; the pain went off during motion, and by contact. Paralytic weakness and faintishness of the right arm.

60. Incisive tearing in the lower muscles of the right fore-arm (a. 12 h.) Groaning pain in the bones of the left fore-arm, as if they were bruised, (a. 13 h.) Paralytic tearing and pressure in the right fore-arm, especially violent in the carpal bones, (a. 1 h.) Tearing in the right carpal bones, going off during motion. Weak feeling in the hand, as if he were not able to hold the pen, and trembled, (a. 8 h.)

65. Intensely tearing pain around the styloid process of the radius as far as the muscles of the hand, most violent in the process itself, (a. 11 h.) Violently tearing pain in the left carpal bones, (a. 1 £ h.) Tearing in the metacarpal bones of the right index and middle finger, (a. 11 h.) Itching tearing and pressure of the styloid processes of both ulnae, inducing one to scratch. Fine tearing in the posterior joints of the left fingers.

70. Pressure and tearing in the tips of the fourth and fifth finger of the right hand. Fine tearing in the tips of the fingers of the right hand, especially under the nails, (a. 3 d.) Intermittent, fine tearing in the ball of the right thumb, (a. 2 h.)

Inferior extremities p. 151

Intermittent, hard pressure over the left knee-joint, in the lower part of the thigh, on the outer side, left unaltered by motion or contact. Drawing, from the middle of the calf and the anterior side of the left leg down to the foot.

75. Corrosive itching near the tibial and in the dorsa of both feet, near the joint, becoming more violent by scratching ; he has to scratch himself until he bleeds. Drawing, near the external malleolus of the right foot, going off by motion. Tearing pain below the external malleolus of the right foot, every paroxysm terminating at the tendo-achillis. (a. 9 h.) Pressure and tearing between the two last metatarsal bones of the left foot, close to the toes, while sitting, (a. 10 h.) Fine tearing in the left heel.

80. Tearing pain in the right heel, near and in the tendo-achillis. (a. 5 h.) Pressure and tearing in the tip of the big toe of the right foot. Fine tearing in the posterior joints of the left toes.

Weakness and sleep p. 151

Faintishness and depression of strength. When working, an excessive drowsiness assails him — he reads without knowing what ; he had to lie down, and fell asleep immediately, having vivid and confused dreams, in the forenoon.

85. Excessive drowsiness, a few hours after rising ; but he was unable to take his usual siesta from want of sleep, for several days. Violent start in gs in the evening, when slumbering, as if he fell down. (a. 14^ h.) Frequent waking, at night, from his sleep, as if started by fright. Vivid, anxious dreams at night. Night-sleep disturbed by lascivious dreams, frequently accompanied by pollutions, sometimes without any.

90. At night he lies on his back. Frequent waking, at night, with lassitude. Flushes of heat over the whole body, especially on the head and chest, without any chilliness either before or after ; early in the morning, shortly after rising, (a. 24 h.)

Moral symptoms p. 152

Restless ill-humor : every thing is contrary to him ; at times he seats himself, at times he lies down, at times he walks about, but he remains only a short while in the position he takes, on account of its becoming disagreeable to him. Ill-humor the whole day ; he was very still, and was unwilling to talk ; more cheerful in the evening. He is peevish, and dissatisfied with his condition ; he complains about it. He alternately commences one thing, and then another, without finishing any. Solitude is intolerable to him.