DECACHORDS by A. Gladstone Clarke Presented by Dr Robert Séror

DECACHORDS

by A. Gladstone Clarke.

Presented by Dr
Robert Séror

Lac caninum.

1. Nervous, restless, highly sensitive
temperament.

2

. Patient forgetful, absent-minded ; drops letters and words in writing ;
cannot concentrate ; intense despondency – a chronic
“blue” condition ; attacks of
rage ; fears solitude, death, insanity, falling down stairs, etc.

3

. Symptoms
erratic ; change from side to side every
few hours or days ; apt to begin and end with menstrual period.

4

. Throat complaints ; sensitive to touch
externally (Lach.) ; pains extend to the ears ; < empty swallowing.

5

. Shining,
glazed appearance of lesions ; e.g.
diphtheritic deposit, ulcers, etc.

6

. Sinking feeling at epigastrium ;
usually not > eating.

7

. Female disorders. Periods premature,
profuse, flow bright, viscid, stringy, in gushes. Breasts painful,
inflamed, < towards evening and from least jar ; must hold them firmly
when going up or down stairs. Useful when necessary to dry up the milk.

8

. Hyperaesthesia of the sexual organs.

9

. Intense backache across supra-sacral
region extending to right natis and down right sciatic nerve ; spine very
sensitive to touch and pressure.

10

. Modalities ; < at menstrual period
; often < lying left side.

Note. Acts best in single dose.

Lachesis

1. Dark, phlegmatic subjects ; or women
with red hair and freckled complexion, especially at climaxis ; also
broken-down constitutions.

2

. Extreme alternations, mind and
sensorium, (a) Mental activity with almost prophetic perception ; ecstasy
; loquacity with rapid change of subject especially when delirious ;
hurry and flurry ; delusion of voices, etc. (b) Depression with anxiety ;
patient silent, suspicious ; jealous ; weak memory, writing mistakes ;
deranged time sense ; self-consciousness and selfishness.

3

. Hyperaesthesia of the senses ; of body
surface ; nervous intolerance of touch, pressure and constriction, even of clothing, especially about throat and abdomen.

4

. Marked
aggravation of all complaints from sleep
; patient sleeps into an attack ; sleep disturbed by frightful dreams, of dead and dying
people, of suffocation, etc.

5

. All distressing symptoms are > onset
of discharges ; e.g. at menstrual period always
> during flow.

6

. Ailments
left-sided or travel from left to right ;
yet a special affinity for the appendix.

7

. Adynamic fevers with low, muttering
delirium ; face purplish, besotted-looking, dropped jaw ; offensive breath
; tremors especially of the tongue which is protruded with difficulty ; haemorrhages of dark,
decomposed blood.

8

. Septic states ; malignant ulcerations
and suppuration ; with offensive discharges and bluish, livid appearance
; gangrene.

9

. Tremors, cramps, spasms and even
convulsions.

10

. Modalities ; < heat especially heat of sun ; muggy weather ; must have
air ; < spring ; throat symptoms < hot drinks and empty swallowing
or liquids < than solids.

Note. The great trio of remedies for women at climaxis :

Lachesis, Sepia and Sulphur.

Ledum Palustre

1. Rheumatic, gouty
diathesis ; old people ; constitutions suffering from abuse of alcohol.

2

. Discontent and peevishness.

3

. Alternating complaints, e.g.
haemoptysis and rheumatism ; also symptoms appearing diagonally especially
upper left and lower right (Ant. t., Agar.,
Stram. ; upper right lower left – Brom., Medorr., Phos., etc.).

4

. Contusions especially about the eye ;
patient bruises easily ; long-remaining discoloration after injuries. Punctured wounds
including insect bites especially of mosquitoes (locally and internally).

5

. Rheumatic
and arthritic complaints ; beginning
lower limbs and ascending ; first feet then hands ; small joints mostly
affected ; painful nodosities ; rarely useful if heat and swelling ; pains
< motion, night, warmth of bed ; sometimes > only when holding feet in ice-water.

6

. Skin eruptions ; papular, eczematous ;
in habitual drunkards ; especially face and forehead ; chronic eruptions
with violent itching especially feet and ankles < scratching warmth of
bed.

7

. Emphysemas and bronchitis of the aged
< hot rooms ; spasmodic coughs.

8

. Hemorrhages especially of bright-red
blood ; intra ocular hemorrhage.

9

. Pains sticking, tearing or throbbing ;
rapidly change locality.

10

. Patient lacks vital heat ; always cold yet pains
< heat especially of bed, > cool applications.

Lilium Tigrinum

1. Women with utero-ovarian disorders and
ailments incidental thereto.

2

. Profound melancholic state especially
religious, < consolation fears solitude, insanity, incurability, or
some impending disease or calamity ; crazy feeling on vertex.

3

. Patient listless yet restless ; must keep busy ; aimless,
hurried motion, often to suppress sexual desire.

4

. Persistent bearing down in abdomen
and pelvis as though all the organs would escape ; wants to support vulva
with the hands. Uterine displacements (all forms, especially versions) ;
pressure against rectum and bladder results in constipation or constant
desire to defecate and urinate. Shooting pains (ctr. Sepia).

5

. Menstrual disorders ; flow only on moving about.

6

. Pulsations over whole body. Pains in
small spots ; constantly shifting.

7

. Inability to walk on uneven ground.

8

. Reflex heart symptoms ; pain,
fluttering. palpitation, with sensation as if heart alternately grasped
and relaxed (Cact.).

9

. Ailments principally left-sided.

10

. Modalities, gen. < hot weather,
> fresh air ; < evening and night ; > keeping busy.

Lycopodium Clavatum

1. Patients intellectually keen but physically weak ; emaciation upper part of body ; sedentary habit ;
mentally absorbed ; complexion often sallow ; prematurely old in
appearance. Children precocious, weakly.

2

. Mental powers failing ; fatigue and
forgetfulness ; uses wrong words, etc. ; hypochondriasis with irritability
; emotionally sensitive ; lachrymose ; apprehensive of the future ; lacks self-confidence yet
“gets through” ; dislikes company yet dreads solitude ; in women
dread of men.

3

. Chronic
gastro-intestinal disorders ; general
sourness of alimentary tract ; appetite good but a few mouthfuls-satiate ;
flatulence excessive, much borborygmus, > dejections ; craves sweets,
delicacies ; dislikes oysters and often meat ; < coffee, wine, smoking,
onions ; constipation predominates.

4

. Uric acid diathesis ; red sand in urine, child
cries before micturition ; or increased quantity of pale urine

5

. Dryness of skin (especially, palms) and
mucous membranes ; stoppage of nose with discharge of crusts or elastic
plugs.

6

. Fan-like motion of the alae nasi, of a
twitching nature and independent of respiration (in respiratory troubles
– Antimonium tartaricum).

7

. One foot hot (usually the right) the
other cold.

8

. Irritability after uninterrupted nap.

9

. Complaints right-sided or travel
from right to left.

10

. Modalities ; < both extremes of
temperature but especially heat ; heat of exertion ; < 4-8 p.m., sometimes continuing later (Helleborus
niger) ; sleep ; constriction ; in open air
especially with uncovering and gentle motion ; gastro-intestinal symptom
> warmth.

Note : In deep-seated, progressive, chronic diseases.

Magnesia Carbonica

1

. Subjects of lax fibre especially
children ; nervous temperament constitutions worn out by long strain and
anxiety.

2

. Irritable disposition.

3

. Mental and physical sensitiveness.

4

. Sour smell of whole body ; all
excretions tend to sourness.

5

. Neuralgias with lightning-like pains ;
of face < left side, < at night ; insupportable during rest ;
especially during pregnancy.

6

. Alimentary complaints ; acid dyspepsia,
even vomiting ; of pregnancy ; inordinate craving for meat in children ;
< milk, cabbage, potatoes and other gross foods.

7

. Diarrhoea preceded by colic ; stools green, frothy, like scum of frog pond ; milk passes undigested ; white floating lumps like
tallow.

8

. Menstrual disorders ; flow only or < at night or when lying down (Ammonium muriaticum,
Kreosotum, rev. Lilium
tigirinum) ; ailments of pregnancy.

9

. Epileptiform spasms.

10

. Modalities ; < change of
temperature ; < at menstrual period ; < warmth of bed but > warm
air ; < every three weeks ; abdominal pains > bending over.

Medorrhinum

1. Deep-seated sycotic chronic affections
especially after maltreated or suppressed gonorrhoea, when best selected
remedy fails to relieve or permanently improve.

2

. Patient
lachrymose ; cannot speak without weeping
; always anticipating events, even death ; memory weak ; mentally
sensitive ; irritable, impatient.

3

. Intensely restless and fidgety legs and feet (Zincum metallicum) ; subjective trembling all over.

4

. Burning
of hands and feet ; wants them uncovered
and fanned (Lachesis, Sulphur).

5

. Rheumatic and arthritic complaints of
sycotic origin ; puffy swelling and painful stiffness of joints,
especially knuckles ; constricting pains ; soreness all over.

6

. Insatiate
cravings ; for liquor, salt, sweets,
fruits, etc. ; usually constipation.

7

. Nocturnal
enuresis ; passes enormous quantities of
ammoniacal, high-coloured urine in bed every night.

8

. Female pelvic disorders especially if
symptoms tend to malignancy with or without sycotic origin ; menorrhagia
and metrorrhagia, flow profuse, dark, clotted.

9

. Collapsed state ; wants to be fanned ;
skin and sweat cold yet throws off covering ; craves fresh air.

10

. Modalities ; < daylight to sunset (rev. Syphilinum) ; < heat, covering ; < thunder-storm ; < motion
; > at seashore (rev. Natrum muriaticum) ; > lying on the stomach especially in respiratory
complaints.

Mercurius (Viv. or Sol.)

1

. Light-haired subjects of lax fibre ;
earthy or dirty yellow, rough complexion. Anti-syphilitic, second stage.

2

. Mental slowness but states changeable ;
(a) memory and will power deficient ; answers questions slowly ;
despondency ; (b) hurry and anxiety ; loquacity, especially in delirium ;
time passes slowly.

3

. Weakness and weariness in all the limbs
with pronounced tremor, especially, of hands ; goes on to paresis and
paralysis ; with great restlessness.

4

. Suppurative
conditions ; low potencies hasten, high
potencies abort suppuration ; of glands ; also eruptions of many kinds.

5

. Superficial ulcerations ; spreading,
everted edges, cheesy base, readily bleed, discharge excoriating ;
especially about the mouth and throat.

6

. Ptyalism ; profuse, soapy, stringy
saliva ; foetid metallic taste. Tongue
swollen, flabby, showing teeth
imprints, coated gen. moist yet intense
thirst present.

7

. All mucous membranes have free
secretion of slimy muco-pus, often with ulceration ; discharge first thin,
excoriating then thicker and more bland ; gen. greenish ; naso-pharyngeal
region and colon especially affected ; dysenteric stools with much blood and
tenesmus, not > stool.

8

. Profuse sweating without >
especially in fevers.

9

. Bone diseases with boring pains <
night ; exostosis.

10

. Patient < both heat and cold ; at every change especially to damp weather ; all night,
warmth of bed ; lying right side ; joints
also < touch, pressure and movement.

Notes : In skin affections

Mercurius
solubilis is to be preferred.

Mercurius Cyanatus

invaluable in
diphtheria.

Mercurius biniodatus

in left sided.

Mercurius Protiodatus

in right-sided
throat conditions.

Incompatible with

Silica.

Mezereum

1. Light-haired, irresolute persons of
phlegmatic temperament ; often scrofulous or syphilitic.

2

. Hypochondriasis ; indifferent to
everything and everyone ; angry at trifles but soon sorry.

3

. Vesicular
and pustular eruptions, especially after
vaccination ; copious exudation of thick pus over which tough scabs form ; appear
especially about the face and head ; child scratches till covered with
blood ; intolerable itching and burning < scratching, at night and from
heat.

4

. Ulcerations with much thick scabbing
under which pus collects ; ulcers sensitive, bleed easily and are often
surrounded with burning, itching vesicles.

5

. Periosteal pains and inflammations ; of
long bones especially tibiae ; burning. or flying, stitching pains. <
damp, at night in bed ; caries ; exostoses, tumours soften from within.

6

. Neuralgias especially following eruptions (e.g. zona) or
mercurialism ; particularly of face involving eye, cheek and teeth ;
severe, tearing pains with local soreness ; followed by numbness.

7

. Toothache with caries ; teeth feel
blunt and elongated.

8

. Gastric disorders with burning pains
and pressure (Ars.) even ulceration ; patient craves fat ; constipation
usual.

9

. Ailments usually one-sided.

10

. Modalities ; < night, warmth of bed, touch ; cold air and cold
washing.

Natrum Carbonicum

1. Anaemic, emaciated subjects with pale
face, glue-ringed eyes, dilated pupils, etc.

2

. Intense melancholy and apprehension ;
mental slackness and inability to think ; irritability ; dislikes society especially men ; easily
startled.

3

. Great debility ; heaviness of whole
body ; short walk greatly fatigues.

4

. Ailments from exposure to sun, also artificial light ; chronic effects of sunstroke or
overstudy.

5

. Gastric disorders with great acidity ;
large appetite ; < after vegetable diet, starchy foods ; discomfort
> while eating.

6

. Bearing down pains in female pelvic
organs.

7

. Chronic catarrhal conditions of all
mucous membranes ; gen. with copious secretion of thick mucus, usually
yellowish-green ; much nasal mucus passes through the mouth ; <
daytime, slightest draught, > sweating.

8

. Ankles weak, give way when walking ;
easy dislocation and springing.

9

. Skin dry, rough, chapped especially
dorsi of hands and feet ; chronic dry eczemas.

10

. Patient < during thunder-storm
(from electrical changes not timidity) ; excessive summer heat yet dislikes open air ; <
mental exertion, music ; between
meals.

Natrum Muriaticum

1

. Cachectic, anaemic subjects ; pale,
earthy or yellowish. greasy-looking complexion ; children emaciated
(especially about the neck) and old in appearance ; debility from loss of
vital fluids.

2

. Great depression ; lachrymose yet
irritable especially at small, non-essential noises ; seems to desire but
is markedly < consolation ; dislikes company, > alone ; emotionally sensitive to
music memory weak with inability to concentrate ; hysteria, affections
beyond control.

3

. Headaches, chronic, hammering, periodic, blinding ; from sunrise to sunset,
< motion > semi-recumbent position, face pale or only slightly
diffused ; especially in anaemic girls and women.

4

. Condition of mucous membranes :-(a)
Chronic ; dryness with ulcerations or cracks ; e.g. of alimentary canal
with constipation. dry, crumbling stools, and sore. fissured anus ; (b)
acute ; free watery discharges, often coarse, frothy mucus especially from upper
respiratory tract.

5

. Good appetite yet emaciation ;
inordinate craning for salt (Phos.) dislike to fats and bread ; > going
without regular meals.

6

. “Mapped”
tongue (patchy
appearance) with sense of dryness and violent thirst.

7

. Skin ; (a) chronic ; dryness with
fissures, corns, warts, hangnails, etc., (b) acute ; eczematous.
eruptions, raw surface, acrid, watery discharge, especially at scalp
margin ; acne ; urticaria after violent exercise ; hydroa on lips or tongue,
especially during colds or intermittents.

8

. Backache ; severe, sacro-lumbar ; >
pressure, e.g. lying on something hard ; often assoc. with delayed
menstrual period and bearing-down pains.

9

. Inability to micturate in the presence
of others.

10

. Modalities ; < heat especially
close room, must have air though apt to feel chilly and take cold ; < 9-11 a.m. ; salt ; at seaside,
etc. ; mental exertion ; > loose clothing.

Notes : Chronic of

Ignatia and Bryonia.

Should not be given during a fever paroxysm.

Natrum Sulphuricum

1

. Hydrogenoid constitutions ; subjects
with sycotic history.

2

. Depression ; lively music saddens ;
satiety of life ; irritability, especially when spoken to ; inability to
think.

3

. Mental traumatism ; mental effects of
blow on the head, etc.

4

. Catarrhs of mucous membranes with free
discharge of greenish-yellow muco-pus ; sometimes bloody.

5

. Diarrhoeas, especially chronic ; on first rising and moving about in a.m. ; sudden urging, gushing, with much flatus ;
fluid, yellow stools ; < after vegetables and farinaceous foods.

6

. Loose coughs with soreness and pain
through left chest especially lower lobe left lung ; > sitting up and
holding chest with both hands.

7

. Spinal meningitis with violent
crushing, gnawing pain at base of brain ; delirium ; opisthotonos.

8

. Rheumatic complaints in sycotic or
hydrogenoid patients always < damp ; restless, must change position but
little or no > .

9

. Warty growths on skin and mucous
membranes ; granules on eyelids like small blisters.

10

. Modalities ; < all forms of damp
; sea air ; by day ; lying left side ; > open air.

Nitricum Acidum

1

. Dark-complexioned, thin subjects of
rigid fibre who readily catch cold ; naturally or prematurely old people
with general weakness and emaciation ; sycotic, or mercurio-syphilitic
states, or advanced cases of phthisis.

2

. Depression and irritability with
vindictiveness ; patient excitable ; anxious about his disease or past
troubles.

3

. Ulcerations, fissures, condylomata,
warts, etc., especially at all muco-cutaneous
orifices, with easy though usually slight
bleeding.

4

. Cutting or pricking pains and
sensations as from splinters, especially on touching the part.

5

. Thin, offensive excoriating discharges
; sometimes purulent, dirty yellowish green.

6

. Ptyalism ; offensive odour of breath,
etc., with diseased conditions of the mouth in general.

7

. Haemorrhages of bright red blood,
generally scanty.

8

. Urine scanty,
dark brown and strong-smelling (Benzoïcum acidum) ; often
cold when passed.

9

. Ailments predominantly right-sided.

10

. Modalities ; < cold ; change of
weather ; night ; touch. etc. > while riding in vehicles.

Nux Moschata

1. Women and children of nervous,
hysterical temperament ; old people.

2

. Rapid change of moods ;
absent-mindedness, loss of memory ; thoughts vanish while writing ;
talking, etc. ; sense of double personality ; visionary dreamy states ;
indifference.

3

. Hypersensitiveness to all external
stimuli.

4

. Great drowsiness with nearly all
complaints ; dizziness and disposition to
faint.

5

. Marked dryness of all mucous membranes
especially of mouth, tongue and throat without thirst ; also dry skin
which rarely sweats.

6

. Enormous distension of abdomen
during or just after every meal ; without much pain ; everything seems to
turn, to gas.

7

. Complaints of pregnancy ; e.g.
hysteria, toothache, vomiting, cough, diarrhoea.

8

. Spasmodic affections ; tonic followed
by clonic spasms.

9

. Haemorrhages, especially menorrhagia of
thick, dark blood.

10

. Modalities : Patient < cold, wet
and windy weather ; cold food, water and washing ; least emotional
excitement ; > warmth generally.

Nux Vomica

1. Dark, sallow, spare subjects of
passionate temperament ; sedentary brain workers ; chronic dyspeptics
addicted to stimulants ; victims of drug habits, drastic medicines,
excesses, etc.

2

. Hypochondriasis with irascibility and
impatience ; spiteful and malicious or sullen and surly, thinks everyone
is against him ; melancholy > alone especially from relatives ;
“spasmodic” homicidal or suicidal impulses ; precise, ardent but
overbearing ; dread of, and incapacity for literary work.

3

. Mental and physical hypersensitiveness (even
fainting) to external stimuli ; also to pain, trifling ailments, etc.

4

. Gastric
disorders from
atony ; hunger yet no desire for food, distension and discomfort an hour or so after meals with nausea ; taste, eructations, vomit, etc., all sour or bitter ; ”if
only could vomit would be better” ; assoc. “bilious” morning
headaches ; craving for condiments and sour or bitter things ; likes fat.

5

. Habitual constipation ; frequent but ineffectual desire for stool, or small quantities passed
at each attempt (from spasmodic peristalsis) ; blind or bleeding piles ;
stool temporarily > .

6

. Menstrual period premature, profuse,
protracted with bearing-down pains, nausea in a.m., chilliness and attacks
of faintness.

7

. Drowsiness during evening, wakeful at 3-4 a.m., but
later falls into heavy, unrefreshing sleep ; awakes late tired and worn
out. Always > undisturbed sleep.

8

. Convulsions with consciousness ;
tetanic rigidity < external stimuli especially touch : also violent
local muscular contractions.

9

. In fevers patient must be covered in every stage –
chill, heat and sweat ; cannot move or uncover without being chilly.

10

. Patient very chilly, < winter, open
air acid draughts ; dry weather ; mental exertion ; anger ; mornings ;
after eating ; > warmth ; mild, damp weather.

Notes :

Nux
acts best during repose of mind and body ; dose a few hours before
retiring.

Sepia

often its chronic.

Zincum

is inimical.

Key-note  : irritable tension.

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