Mercurius Cyanatus.
Bicyanide of Mercury. Mercuric Cyanide. Hg (CN)2.
Solution. Trituration.Clinical.─
Diphtheria.
Dysentery. Enteric fever. Hćmorrhages. Kerato-iritis
syphilitica. Phlebitis. Throat, sore. Varicosis.
Characteristics.─
The history of this remedy is a
romantic one. When Dr. Alexander Villers was an infant he had diphtheria. Known remedies had
failed to arrest the disease, and his father, Dr. Dominic von Villers, was in despair.
Taking counsel with his friend, Dr. Beck (of Monthey in Switzerland), the latter was struck
with the likeness of the case to the effects of Merc. cy.
in some poisoning cases, reports of which he had just been reading. He suggested the remedy
A small quantity of the salt was procured and an attenuation rapidly made and administered.
Improvement soon set in, and recovery happily followed. The patient, saved by Merc. cy., lived to do most brilliant work with the same remedy
when practising in St. Petersburg, and Merc. cy. has
taken a sure place at the head of remedies for this affection. The local symptoms are very
clearly defined, and among the general symptoms profound prostration, coldness, and cyanosis
are leading indications. Villers had better results with the 30th than with any lower
attenuation. Merc. cy. is also a very efficient
prophylactic in diphtheria. In the sensational New York poisoning case of February, 1899,
Mr. Henry C. Barnett, the victim, was treated for diphtheria by his doctors before the cause
of the illness was discovered. Beck (Rev. Hom. Fran.,
xii. 153) mentions among the leading symptoms: extreme feebleness, trembling, syncope. Icy
coldness; general coldness with nausea. Diphtheritic membrane in throat, mouth, and at anus.
Nash reports as particularly indicating it a chronic sore throat of public speakers, with
rawness in spots and a broken-down appearance, as if about to ulcerate, and this additional
condition─“it hurts the patient to speak.” Hćmorrhages occur,
dark and persistent. Swallowing is impossible or =
severe cutting pains. Thought of food = retching. There
are varicose veins with great tenderness on left leg. Symptoms are <
after eating.
Relations.─
Compare:
Ar. tri., Caust., Hep., K. bi., Phyt., Echin., Lach., Gels.
SYMPTOMS.
1. Mind.─
Excitement, anger, raved furiously at
attendant.─Excessive ill-humour after eating a little too much.
2. Head.─
Vertigo with singing in ears, < sitting up.─Very severe, tearing
headache, esp. forepart, < night.
3. Eyes.─
Eyes: sunken; fixed; injected; pupils
dilated.─(Syphilitic kerato-iritis; much inflammation; severe nocturnal
pains.)
4. Ears.─
Ringing in ear.
5. Nose.─
Profuse epistaxis several times a day
for two weeks.
6. Face.─
Face: flushed; cyanotic; pale and wan.
8. Mouth.─
Teeth painful; gums swollen, covered
with white adherent layers, under which is found a violet border.─Tongue:
pale with a yellowish streak on base; swollen with red edges; grey, metallic-looking coat;
eight blisters on l. margin and on soft palate, opening and becoming irregular ulcers;
afterwards on r. margin.─Lips, tongue, and inside cheeks dotted with
greyish-white ulceration.─Large grey leathery ulcer in mouth.─Inflammation
of whole buccal cavity; salivation; fetid breath; great pain on swallowing.─Taste:
bitter; disagreeable; styptic; metallic.
9. Throat.─
Great redness of fauces with
difficulty of swallowing.─White opalescent coating, like mucous patches
on faucial pillars and tonsils.─Roughness of throat, difficult
swallowing.─Follicular tonsillitis, <
r.─(Chronic sore throat of public speakers; raw, sore, broken-down
appearance, raw in spots; it hurts to speak.─Nash.).─Diphtheria;
profound prostration.─Uvula śdematous.
11. Stomach.─
Aversion to food.─Intense
thirst, but drinks are speedily vomited.─Burning thirst, vomits but not
ingesta; cannot endure soups or hot drinks, which always seem too salt.─Incessant
hiccough.─Violent retching from merely thinking of sugared water.─Milk
>.─Epigastrium sensitive to
pressure.
12. Abdomen.─
Abdomen soft, not painful on
pressure.─Excessive colic < by
every evacuation.
13. Stool and Anus.─
Round anus: small piles;
pains (and in rectum) when sitting; sensitive light red swelling; diphtheritic deposit.─Frequent
urging to stool with tenesmus.─Frequent diarrhśa preceded by severe
colic.─Offensive, green, slimy stools.─Bloody
stools.─Scanty stools.─Obstinate constipation (later
effect).
14. Urinary Organs.─
Micturition painful.─Urine:
albuminous; amber yellow; retained; completely suppressed.
15. Male Sexual Organs.─
Semi-erection of penis
(persisting even after death).─Dark blue colour of scrotum and penis
(persisting after death).
17. Respiratory Organs.─
Slight cough.─Hoarseness;
talking = pain in throat.
19. Heart.─
Violent and abrupt beating of heart.─Strong
palpitation.
21. Limbs.─
Slight spasms of extremities.
22. Upper Limbs.─
Severe pain in l. calf; the
veins of the part form two hard cords meeting above popliteal space, very painful to
slightest touch; leg swells when standing.─(Inflammation of articular
cartilages of r. wrist, with śdema of forearm.)
24. Generalities.─
Great weakness; cannot stand
up.─Repeated fainting.─Great debility during
diarrhśa; at last he fell to the ground in a swoon.
25. Skin.─
Skin moist and cold.─Scarlatina.
26. Sleep.─
Drowsiness with easy waking.
27. Fever.─
Icy coldness.─Great
sensitiveness to cold.─Extremities very cold; in evening.─Skin
moist and cold.® 2000
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