CHAPTER VII. – THE OXYGENOID CONSTITUTION.
Concerning
this “Constitution” Grauvogl has more to say than on either of
the other two, but he gives no illustrative cases since he considers
this unnecessary. Bojanus says he has only seen one typical case of the
kind.As the Hydrogenoid
constitution hinders the proper oxygenation of the blood and tissues by
a predominant waterlogged or hydrogenous condition, so the oxygenoid
tends to an excess of oxygen and consequently exaggerates breaking down
of hydro-carbons, nitrogenoids and albuminous tissues and bones. We see
this in syphilis and its analogue in medicine – Mercury. Thus the
oxygenoid constitution corresponds to Hahnemann’s Syphilis and also to
Bazin’s.This constitution,
whether inherited or acquired is of a grave character, says Grauvogl.
The blood is a product of the organism and its elaboration is handed
down from parents to children for generations. Immunity may also be
inherited. A weakened power of resistance against the destructive energy
of oxygen may be acquired by attacks of acute epidemic diseases and by
syphilitic infection. The incubation periods required by these diseases
between the original infection and the outbreak of symptoms is the
period required for the increase of the poison up to the degree
necessary to make it efficient. These poisons must therefore be living
organisms, which induce the most intense processes of reduction, so
changing the constitution of the body as to render it unable to resist
an immediate influx of oxygen.It will thus be seen
that Grauvogl included under the term “Oxygenoid” much more
than is included in Hahnemann’s and Bazin’s “Syphilis”, just
as “Hydrogenoids” included more than the results of Gonorrhśa.
As for Syphilis itself, Grauvogl believed it quite possible that his
poison should arise de novo from ferments generated in impure vaginć
and that it depended on the constitution of the individual in question
which disease followed from one and the same exposure. “From the
same woman on the same day, and indeed in the very same hour, one may
get a syphilitic ulcer, one a sycotic ulcer and one escape without any
infection.” Somewhat parallel with this I have seen a distinct case
of syphilis develop in a woman when her partner for months past never
had and never developed syphilis ; and I have seen a very
inveterate urethritis in a man whose wife suffered from leucorrhśa and
with whom there was no question of other intercourse. Burnett held much
the same view that Grauvogl did, that poisons were generated by the
contents of vaginć of women who had connexion with numbers of different
men.It all depends on the
constitution of the recipient, says Grauvogl, which disease is
communicated. “Only within and in connection with the Hydrogenoid
constitution does the vaginal poison become the cause of the sycotic
secretion of the so-called gonorrhśa. It can produce gonorrhśa as well
as ulcers ; but these are not cured or benefited byMercury,
but aggravated.” The sycotic, hydrogenoid dyscrasia follows the
suppression of these diseases by injections or by local measures.On the other hand, the
so-calledChancre-dyscrasia
is produced from the Oxygenoid
constitution. “Chronic diseases which result from these conditions
from the begetting of the Chancre-poison”
will be cured by Mercury,
while Thuja
or Nat. sulph.,
the hydrogenoid remedies, will aggravate.Speaking generally on
the remedies for the Oxygenoid constitution, Grauvogl says, that on
account of too active an influence of Oxygen on the body this seeks its
remedies mainly in the Carbon an Nitrogen series which prevent the
oxidation of tissues. “Rademacher placesIron
in the first rank, but I put first Hydriodate of Potash – Kali
iodatum – because it absorbs
all the ozone. Here the carbon and alkalis rich in carbon have a
different effect, as Graphites,
Petroleum, Kreosote, Benzoic acid, Citric acid, Hydrocyanic acid,
Laurocerasus, and, chiefly for
inductive reasons, Antozone water, corresponding indeed to iodosmone
water. Furthermore, Nitric.
acid ; also many
so-called narcotics, especially Aconite.
Moreover, China,
Quinine and Arsenic
(given alone and not in alternation with Nux) ;
and also the metals which are capable of suspending the process of
decomposition, hence Chromium
and Kali
bichromicum.”It will thus be seen
that remedies for the Oxygenoid constitution are largely anti-syphilitic
remedies as recognised in homśopathy. And Grauvogl expressly states :
“The law
of similars must always decide the special indication.”Dr. Pascal, in an
article contributed to the “Bulletin
de l’Homśopathie” on
Grauvogl’s Constitutions, gives the following summary of the Oxygenoid
which may be usefully appended, although in may appear to involve
repetition :In this oxygen
predominates, or rather the proteid matters are struck with instability
with a morbid facility of division.Oxidations are rapid
though often incomplete. Consumption of tissue arrives more rapidly than
in normal conditions of life. Hydrocarbons and albuminoids being rapidly
burnt up leave the tissues defenceless against the burning power of
oxygen. Oxygenoids are thin and weigh less than carbo-nitrogenoids of
equal volume. This provokes the using up of proteid materials and the
cellular framework. Scrofula, rickets, infantile atrophy and various
states called “anćmia” result from this.Oxygenoids feel better
in an atmosphere saturated with nitrogen and carbon, in the midst of
resinous, fatty or empyreumatic vapours.They refuse easily
oxidizable, animal foods, and seek for fats and hydrocarbons which
oxidise slowly.They are
worse
when dryness is changing to humidity, before storms, before and during
tempestuous winds and better
when it begins to rain or snow and the electric equilibrium is restored.They are
worse
in foggy weather, and when, with a temperate air, mists rise from the
forests. This is the opposite of what obtains in the carbo-nitrogenoids
with whom fogs, like those of England, provoke melancholy and tendency
to suicide.Nevertheless there is a
certain rainy time whichrelieves
hydrogenoids and aggravates
oxygenoids. This is when the air is charged with ozone and the highest
points of the mountains are not covered with mists.In brief, electric
disturbances aggravate, and electric equilibrium relieves oxygenoids.In the last analysis
the phenomena can be traced to aplus
or a minus
of atmospheric ozone. Electric attractions polarise atmospheric oxygen
and transform it into ozone (oxygen polarised negatively) and antozone
(oxygen polarised positively) ; it is after undergoing this
modification that it becomes an effective and energetic oxidizer.
Electric disturbances then act as hyperoxidants and this accounts for
their aggravations.However, watery excess
enables hydrogenoids to bear hyper-oxidation better, for it demands s
till greater storage of heat. This is why rainy weather, charged with
ozone,relieves
hydrogenoids under certain circumstances whilst it aggravates
oxygenoids.Other symptoms
constantly found in oxygenoids are :Excessive elimination
of urea and phosphates ;
Plethora – great quantity of blood ;
Much oxygen fixed on the
hćmoglobin ;
Excessive thinness.
Animal heat, strong after meals and feeble
in the intervals.
Vigorous appetite which persists
astonishingly during illnesses.
Abstinence, on the contrary, is badly
tolerated.
Amel. by Rest and Food.
Agg. by Cold, Sea-air, Low altitudes.Oxygenoids are what are
commonly called nervous individuals characterised by great physical and
mental activity.
Treatment.
Grauvogl puts in the
first rankKali
iod. since it absorbs all the
ozone. Rademacher gives the first place of Ferrum.Among remedies having a
direct action on oxygenoids are theCarbons
and compounds rich in carbon, Graphites,
Petrol., Benzin., Citric ac., Hydr. ac., Laurocerasus,
and also, by inference, Antozonised
water, which is probably equal
to Iodosmised water (l’eau
iodosmée) ; Nitr.
ac. and a great number of
bodies capable of checking the destructive process : Ars.,
Chi., Chi. sul., Chrom., Kali bichr.The law of similars
always decides special indications.
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