Chlorum.
Chlorine, the element. Cl. Solution.
Clinical.─
Aphthć. Asthma.
Catarrh. Chlorosis. Cold. Convulsions. Croup. Dentition. Diphtheria. Gastritis. Hćmoptysis.
Impotence. Laryngismus. Phthisis. Pleurisy. Sore-throat. Typhus. Ulcers.
Characteristics.─
Chlorum
has been proved in the form of “Chlorine water, and has been tested clinically. It
produces spasms and convulsions, coryza and catarrh. Laryngeal spasm is especially
pronounced; the chief difficulty is in exhaling, can draw in the air well enough. Convulsive attacks on cutting
eye-teeth. Mouth inflamed; ulcerated. Rapid emaciation. Acute rheumatic pains. Excessive
sensitiveness of skin. Nettlerash, with fever. Cutis anserina. Skin dry, yellow, shrivelled.
Malignant pustule and carbuncle. Typhoid state. The mental state is noteworthy. Fears he
will go crazy; that he won’t be able to make a living. Cannot remember names of people he
sees, or if he sees the names cannot remember the person. E. Z. Bacon has recorded (Med. Visitor, Dec., 1893) two cases of chlorine poisoning. The
first was in a boy of five, who, after passing through diphtheria to apparent complete
recovery, was suddenly seized with symptoms of croup: loss of voice, crowing inspiration,
prolonged expiration; incessant dry cough; great restlessness, high fever, profuse
perspiration. The symptoms were < lying on a lounge
by the fire; > when lying in his mother’s lap, and
still more relieved by being carried about. During the previous illness Platt’s chlorides
had been placed in the room as a disinfectant, and it occurred to the doctor that chlorine
vapour is much heavier than air. He himself lay down on the lounge, and in a few minutes
felt the irritating vapour, and began to cough and hack. This soon passed away on sitting
up. The removal of the chlorides had a remarkable effect on the child; cough and respiration
were greatly relieved. But the relief came too late, as the cause was not discovered for
several days, during which time the patient had become steadily weaker, and he died the same
afternoon. The other case was that of an old lady who suffered from chronic bronchitis, and
on January 2, 1892, developed an attack of laryngitis. In three days she was well; but the
two subsequent weeks, on exactly the same day, a fresh attack occurred. The fact was, as the
doctor discovered, his patient went to the back room, where chlorides were kept, every
Monday to wash a few things she did not care to send to the laundry. The chlorides were
banished, and though the washing was continued there were no more attacks of laryngitis. Dr.
Bacon adds, that since giving up the use of disinfectants, other than plenty of fresh air,
he has never had laryngeal complications in scarlatina or diphtheria, though his neighbours
have had plenty. Whitman recommends chlorine water as an efficient palliative in a fit of
asthma. He begins with 10 drops, then in five minutes 20 more, and then in another five
minutes, half-a-teaspoonful, always in a little water. It greatly facilitates expectoration.
In typhus fever Goullon, senior, recommends chlorine water, five drops every two or three
hours until the tongue is dry. I have had excellent results from the 12th and 30th in nasal
catarrh, and in breathlessness remaining after acute bronchitis. The symptoms are < from midnight to 7 a.m. (spasm of glottis). Lying down < nasal complaints. Inclination to lie down, with headache.
Restless; < walking up and down. Sitting with sun
shining on back = shuddering. Open air > chest affections; =
running of tears. Damp air = loss of voice.
Relations.─
Compare:
Mephitis (inability to exhale); closely resembles
Bromine, and, less closely, Iodine. Nat. mur. (sore-mouth); and other chlorides. It is an antidote to: Hydrocyanic acid and Sulphuretted hydrogen. It is antidoted by: Sulphuretted hydrogen, Albumen, Lycopod.
(impotence); Plumb acet. (blood-spitting and pleurisy). it
follows well: Phos.
SYMPTOMS.
1. Mind.─
Apprehension.─Irritability,
inclined to anger.─Forgets names and persons.─Effects
of excitement.─Coma, fainting with cold, viscous sweats.
2. Head.─
Painful aching in vertex and down l.
side, with inclination to lie down.─Warm sweat breaks out on forehead
while coughing.
3. Eyes.─
Running of tears < in open air.─Suddenly numerous fantastic
images appeared before the eyes, disappearing with lightning-like rapidity.
5. Nose.─
Coryza with headache.─Sneezing,
violent; in morning.─Dryness in nose.─Nose smoky or
sooty.─Corrosive feeling in corners of nose.─Sudden
running in drops of sharp corroding fluid, with tears in eyes, dry tongue, palate, and
fauces.─Thin coryza, soon changing to yellow, copious mucus.─Loss
of smell.
6. Face.─
Face swollen, with protruding eyes.─Face
pale, often greenish.─Heightened colour.
7. Teeth.─
Sensation as if teeth were too full; as
if injured by acids.─Teeth black.
8. Mouth.─
Tongue black.─Tongue
as if burnt.─Mouth dry.─Very acid saliva.─Aphthć.─Putrid
odour from mouth.
9. Throat.─
Dry.─Sore from
uvula to bronchi.─Choking sensation; inability to swallow.
11. Stomach.─
Acid stomach and other gastric
troubles (in workmen exposed to fumes of chlorine, and who eat chalk for it).─Desire
to vomit when coughing, without nausea.
13. Stool.─
Diarrhśa: in the morning; with dry
mouth, after the eruption appears in typhus.─Stools of bright blood.─Hćmorrhage
in typhus, blood black, coagulated, or thin, smelling like carrion.
15. Male Sexual Organs.─
Sudden impotence and
aversion to sexual intercourse.
17. Respiratory Organs.─
Aphonia from damp air.─Great
difficulty in articulating or breathing.─Spasms of glottis; air enters
easily, but cannot be expelled.─Feeling as if rima glottidis were stiff,
as if composed of an iron ring.─Sudden tightness of chest.─Expiration
easy, inspiration a little difficult and accompanied by râles (this is less characteristic
than the opposite).─Any attempt to cough =
spasm of the glottis.─Desire to cough from tickling and sensation of
rawness behind thyroid cartilage, but the cough is abortive, as he cannot expel the air from
the chest.─A continuous little dry cough.─At each
cough a spot in chest (region of r. bronchus) feels sore, as if the cough jarred and hurt
it.─Phlegm raised with difficulty; soon collects again.─Cough
with spitting of blood; with pleuritic pains.─Sensation of warmth in
respiratory organs.─Sensation in lower and inner third of r. lung as if
it were ruptured and as if air escaped from lung into pleural cavity at each inspiration.
19. Heart.─
Heart’s action much increased.─Râles
frequent.
27. Fever.─
Chilliness and crawls; 10 a.m. to 2
p.m.─Burning, dry heat, with anxiety and raving.─Genial
glow all over, with night-sweat.─Cold sweat.─Viscous
sweat.─Typhus.® 2000
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