Homeopathic Materia Medica

Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica, James Tyler Kent

Pains: The principal feature of Colocynth is its severe, tearing, neuralgic pains; so severe that the patient is unable to keep still. Sometimes they are > by motion - at least it appears that they are worse during rest- > by pressure and sometimes > by heat. Pains occur in the face, abdomen, along the course of the nerves.

These pains are often due to a very singular cause, namely, anger with indignation. Hence persons who are haughty and easily offended or chagrined have Colocynth complaints. Anger will be followed by violent neuralgia in the head, eyes, down the spine and in the intestines.

In spite of extreme restlessness there is great weakness with the pains. It patient suffering with chronic diarrhoea, with severe colic, will sometimes become so weak that he can hardly speak. A feeling of faintness, or even fainting, is by no means an unusual concomitant of the pains. Griping occurs along the course of nerves, and in some cases numbness, pricking and tingling, like the crawling of ants in the part affected.

With many doctors Colocynth is a routine remedy for sciatica; and only when it fails to do they take the symptoms of the case in order to find the remedy that is indicated. There is no excuse for such practice. Where the pain is better from hard pressure and from heat, where it is worse during repose and drives the patient to despair, Colocynth will generally cure.

But it is not indicated in all cases. Some remedies select the muscles and tendons, some the bones and periosteum, while others select the great nerve trunks in which to manifest their symptoms. The pains of Colocynth appear, as a rule, in the larger nerves.

The mental symptoms are not very striking. As soon as the prover of Colocynth begins to have pains a long the course of nerves he becomes irritable; everything vexes him; he is worse from vexation.

Screams with the pains. Walks about the room and becomes increasingly anxious as the pain goes on. Disinclined to talk or to answer, or to see friends. His friends irritate him and he wants to be alone. He has all he can do to stand those terrible pains.

Vomiting and diarrhea frequently come with the pains, especially if they are in the abdomen.

Colic comes on in paroxysms that grow in intensity. The patient becomes increasingly nauseated until finally he vomits and he continues to retch after the stomach is empty.

Colocynth produces a state in the nervous system like that found in individuals who have for years been laboring under annoyances and vexations. A man whose business affairs have been going wrong becomes irritable and nervous exhaustion follows.

A woman who must watch her unfaithful husband night and day to keep him away from other women gradually assumes a sensitive irritable state of mind and is upset by the least provocation. This is the state of the Colocynth prover.

You will seldom find this medicine indicated in strong, vigorous, healthy people who have suddenly become sick. It is more likely to be in the constitution just described, and those who are in the habit of overeating.

We find tearing pains in the scalp, brought on by anger; exhaustion, pains that are better from pressure and heat, and worse when not in motion. Constant, gnawing pains in the head.

Head: Painful, tearing, digging through the whole brain, becoming unbearable when moving the eyelids. Intense pain through the whole head; worse from moving the eyes. Severe, pressing, tearing headache, causing her to cry out.

Intermittent headache in those of a rheumatic, gouty or nervous diathesis. Pain tearing and screwing together. Violent periodical or intermittent headache.

Such are some of the expressions in the text. But the particular character of the pain is not as important as the circumstances that are likely to cause it and the conditions in which the patient has been living.

Eyes: Knowing the life of a patient affords much knowledge of the patient himself. The same violent neuralgic pains are found in the eye. Rheumatic iritis, worse in the evening and night. Severe, burning, cutting and sticking pains in the eye. Burning is more characteristic of the pains of the eyes than of other parts of the head and face. Sharp, cutting- stabs; pressing pains.

Face: The faceache is especially important, because Colocynth is one of the most frequently indicated remedies for neuralgia of this region.

There are some remedies which are indicated in faceache more often than any others, Belladonna, Magnesia phosphorica and Colocynth.

The Belladonna pains are as violent as any, and are accompanied by red face, flashing eyes, hot head, and great sensitiveness of the part to touch.

In Colocynth the pains come in waves, are better from heat, from pressure, worse if anything during rest, and are brought on by excitement or vexation.

They are generally on the left side; while those of Belladonna are on the right, and are caused by cold.

Magnesia phosphorica has tearing and pains that shoot like lightning along the nerves and are relieved by heat and pressure.

The expression of the Colocynth face is one of anxiety from the severity of the suffering. No matter where the pain is the face is distorted. Finally, it becomes pale and the cheeks become blue.

Tearing pains in the cheek-bones, or more correctly, in the infra orbital nerve where it emerges from the foramen. Sometimes this pain feels like a hot wire, sometimes like a cold nail, and sometimes it is tearing, burning or stinging.

Frequently it spreads over the face, following the ramifications of the small branches of the nerve, usually on the left side. The patient cries out and is very restless. Tearing or burning pain extending to the ear and head.

All pains are better from pressure, but this is in the beginning. After the pain has been going for several days with increasing severity, the part becomes very sensitive and pressure cannot be endured.

Stomach: Aversion to food. Violent thirst. Colic brought on from drinking while overheated; from eating indigestible things, from high living; colic from eating potatoes.

Potatoes and starchy foods disagree with the Colocynth patient like Alumina. The vomiting of Colocynth is different from that of most other remedies .

Nausea does not appear at first, but when the pain becomes sufficiently intense nausea and vomiting begin, the contents of the stomach are ejected and the patient continues to retch until the severity of the suffering decreases.

The stomach pains are clutching, cramping and digging; as if grasped by the fingers.

Abdomen: Similar pains occur lower down in the abdomen, but they are still better from hard pressure, and from doubling up which amounts to pressure, come on in paroxysms of increasing severity, until the patient is nauseated and vomits, and are associated with great restlessness and faint, sinking feeling at the pit of the stomach.

The victim, bends down over the back of a chair, or over the foot-board if unable to get out of bed.

In the Guiding Symptoms we find several pages of repetitions, showing how extensively this medicine is applicable in abdominal complaints where these symptoms are present. It would be well to read them.

The pains in the lower part of the abdomen are relieved by drawing up the limbs and pressing with the fists. In the violent ovarian neuralgias of Colocynth, the woman will flex the limb of the painful side hard against the abdomen and hold it there.

The physician asks:

"What has happened to give you these pains?

Her answer is likely to be:

"My servant spilled some dirty water on a handsome rug, we had some words over it, and this is the result. "

Colic from anger with indignation; better from bending double and worse in the upright position, while standing or bending backwards.

Colic of infants when they are relieved by lying on the stomach as soon as the position is changed they begin to scream again,

The same symptoms accompanying the diarrhoea and dysentery, The stools consists of white mucus, are thick, ropy and jelly-like; at times bloody.

At first they may be copious, strong smelling, pappy, and later watery, yellow, scanty and almost inodorous.

Diarrhoea and dysentery from anger with indignation; the most awful tenesmus during stool; urging to stool with colic. Eating ever so little, rings on the colic, urging and stool. Watery stools after eating. Many of these cases, find relief from heat and the warmth of the bed.

A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica, John Henry Clarke

Citrullus colocynthis. Cucumis colocynthis. Bitter Apple. N. O. Cucurbitaceae. Native of Turkey. Tincture of pulp of fruit.

Clinical.─Cataract. Ciliary neuralgia. Colic. Coxalgia. Diabetes. Diarrhoea. Dysentery. Dysmenorrhoea. Glaucoma. Headache. Hoarseness. Menstrual colic. Neuralgia. Ovaries, affections of. Paraphimosis. Peritonitis. Rheumatism. Sciatica. Toothache. Tumours. Uterus, pains in. Vagina, pains in.

Characteristics.─"The strongest characteristic calling for the use of this remedy is an agonising pain in the abdomen causing the patient to bend over double. Relief is obtained by motion, such as twisting, turning and wriggling around, and the motion is kept up steadily while the pain lasts; the pain is < by eating or drinking the least amount. This pain may occur alone, or in the dysentery, cholera, etc. The doubling over of the patient is the chief characteristic" (Guernsey). The patient bends double or presses something hard against the abdomen. He leans over chairs, the table, or bedposts to get relief. According to Nash Mag. Phos. comes nearest to it in colic and neuralgic affections. Cham. is also very close, both having colic from disturbing emotions, but the Cham. child does not double up, it tosses about. The Staph. patient is likely to have black or decayed teeth and sore eyelids, and there is chronic tendency to colic. Verat. has colic > bending double, but it has also cold sweat. Dioscorea has wind colic, but is > by stretching out. The Stan. child wants to be carried with the abdomen on the mother's shoulder.

The nearest analogue to Colocynthis in its entire action on the human body is its botanical congener Bryonia, with which it should be compared. Both have the same general features─pain in muscles, nerves, and joints, gastro-enteric disturbance, and the same condition in regard to rheumatic joints, < by movement. Both have great irritability and ailments from mental emotion, though the latter feature is more marked in Colocynth. Arthritis and gouty headaches with ophthalmia, facial neuralgic pains extending to eye.

Coloc. has diarrhoea from grief, indignation or chagrin. Suppressed lochia from indignation. Diabetes with milky, gelatinous, or colloid urine. The characteristic griping of Coloc., forcing the patient to bend double, may be accompanied by cramps in other parts, which may occur with or without stool; if a stool occurs it gives immediate relief (Nux the opposite); any attempt to eat or drink <. Cramps occur in the legs, uterus, and ovaries. A sensation as if clamped with iron bands is very characteristic in (coxalgia; dysmenia, etc.). Dragging in uterus and vagina. Griping, cutting, tearing, and spasmodic pains in the body; burning pains; pulsations through the body; sensation as of hard stones or potatoes in the body. Easily intoxicated by stimulants. Affections of right side generally. The pains are often accompanied by stiffness and retarded motion of the affected parts; often affect the hip-joints; pains affecting joints are much < by motion; many neuralgic pains are > by rest. Abdominal pains are > by violent exertion. > Lying with head bent forward. Rheumatic pain in the limbs is > by discharge of flatus. Touch <, and pressure > many of the pains. Warmth > most pains. < Evening and night. Coloc. has, like Lyc., Helleb., and Caust., a 4 p.m. aggravation. One prover had: "At 4 p.m. the colic came on, six days in succession." This has been verified clinically. Coloc. is suited to blondes; persons of choleric temperament; and those liable to cramps and colic, from fruit, lead-poisoning, or excessive venery.

Relations.─Coloc. is antidoted by: Camph., Caust., Cham., Coff., Op., Staph. Large doses are counteracted by tepid milk, infusion of galls, Camph., and Op. It antidotes: Caust., Magnes. Compatible: Staph., Cham. Complementary: Merc. (dysentery) with much tenesmus). Compare: Bry. (nearest analogue), Elater., Cucurbita pepo. Diosc. (griping, tearing, cutting, spasmodic pains in body, but > stretching body and motion); Dig. (paraphimosis); Caust. (Joint rheumatism; follows Coloc. in colic); eyes feel hard, Can. ind.; Canth., Cham., Chel.; Chi. (beer intoxicates easily); Coccul., Gamb., Lyc., Merc.; Nux; Plumb. (inclination to assume strange attitudes in bed). Staph. (anger with vexation, abdominal pains, neuralgia─they follow one another well); Verat.; Pul. (hoarseness 4 p.m.). From emotions, Cham., Bry., Gels., Pho. ac. Ign.; stiffness of knee-joints and all joints, Colch.; stiffness after acute rheumatism, hinders squatting, Graph. Compare also Guaiac.; Crot. tig.

Causation.─Anger. Indignation. Chagrin. Grief. Catching cold.

SYMPTOMS.

1. Mind.─Mental dejection with taciturnity.─Aversion to talk; disinclined to answer questions.─Inclined to be angry and indignant.─Lachrymose humour.─Anxiety and inquietude, with an inclination to run away.─Want of religious feeling.─Disinclined to occupy oneself, even averse to visit his otherwise well-liked friends.

2. Head.─Easy intoxication (from drinking beer).─Vertigo, which occasions falling, on turning the head quickly, with tottering of the knees.─Headache, as from a draught of air, which is dissipated by walking in the open air.─Compressive pain in the sinciput, aggravated by stooping, or lying on the back.─Pressing pain in the forehead and root of the nose, as if a coryza would appear.─Attacks of semi-lateral headache, drawing and cramp like, or pressive, with nausea and vomiting, sometimes daily, towards five o'clock in the afternoon.─Pain in the forehead and in the eyes, as if proceeding from the outside inwards.─Headache with violent pains, which do not permit a recumbent posture, and occasion cries or weeping.─Attacks of headache, followed by suffocation.─Congestion in the head.─Burning pain in the skin of the forehead, and the scalp.─Heat in the head.─Profuse perspiration on the head, itching, smelling like urine (also on the hands, thighs, and feet); worse at night in bed; relieved after rising and walking in the warm room.

3. Eyes.─Sensitive pressure in the eyes, esp. when stooping.─Obscuration of the sight.─Great white light at side of and below r. eye.─Shimmering circle with rays before r. eye.─Inflammation of the eyes.─Burning and incisive pains, and shootings in the eyes (and forehead).─Eyes feel hard.─Aching in upper and outer portions of r. eyeball in evening, < by rubbing it with finger; it feels harder than usual there; this aching lasted some days.─Smarting in eyes; painfulness of eyeballs.─Pressive feeling in orbits, towards root of nose.─Painful pressure in eyeballs, esp. on stooping.─Pains in eyes, sharp cutting in r. eyeball.─Stitches as with knives in r. eyeball, extending to root of nose.─Pain as from pressure on both eyelids from above downward.─External strabismus of r. eye, with smarting lachrymation.─Dryness; burning; smarting; lachrymation.─Discharge of acrid serum from the eyes.

4. Ears.─Warmth in r. ear.─Obstruction before l. ear.─Itching, sticking deep in ear, extending from Eustachian tube to tympanum; > by boring in ear with finger.─Crawling within ear > by boring.─Difficult hearing; everything heard is accompanied by a roaring noise.─Constant roaring and throbbing in both ears, esp. l.

5. Nose.─Fluent coryza.─Severe burning above the nose.─Throbbing burrowing pain in nose extending from l. side to root.

6. Face.─Pale and wasted face, with downcast (sunken) eyes.─Tensive, tearing, burning or shooting pains (prosopalgia) in the face, often on l. side only, and extending to the ears and into the head.─Cramp-like sensation in the l. malar bone, extending into l. eye.─Scabs on the face.─Face of a deep red colour (during the fever).─Face puffed, with heat and redness of l. cheek, and tearing pains.

8. Mouth.─Pains in the teeth, as if the nerve were pulled or stretched.─Pulsative pains in the teeth on l. side.─Burning at the tip of the tongue.─Sensation as if the tongue had been scalded by some hot fluid.─Roughness of the tongue.─Tongue loaded with a white or yellow coating.─Cramps in the gullet, with empty eructations and palpitations of the heart.

11. Stomach.─Diminished appetite, without thirst, though accompanied by a strong desire for drink, with a sickly taste in the mouth.─Constant nausea with risings.─Bitter taste in the mouth, and of all food and drink.─Colic and diarrhoea, however little is eaten.─Pains in the stomach sometimes after a meal.─Vomiting of food, or of greenish matter.─Vomiting, with diarrhoea.─Painful sensitiveness of the epigastrium to the touch.─Violent pressure on the stomach (with sensation of hunger), and in the precordial region.

12. Abdomen.─Inflation of the abdomen, as from tympanitis.─Feeling in the whole abdomen as if the intestines were being squeezed between stones.─Cramp-like pain and constriction in the intestines, esp. after a fit of anger.─Excessively violent colic, with incisive, cramp-like, or contractive pains, which compel the patient to bend double (< in any other position), with restlessness in the whole body, and with a sensation of shuddering in the face, which seems to proceed from the abdomen.─Pain in the abdomen when walking (navel).─Colic, with cramps in the calves of the legs.─Colic, as if from a chill.─Colic after a meal.─The colic and abdominal pains are relieved by bending double, by violent exercise, by coffee and tobacco-smoke; every other food or drink causes an aggravation.─Pinching, and sensation of clawing in the abdomen, mitigated by violent exertion.─Cuttings and shootings in the abdomen, as from knives, with shiverings and tearings along the legs.─Great sensibility, soreness, and sensation of emptiness in the abdomen.─Grumbling in the abdomen.─Inguinal hernia.

13. Stool and Anus.─Constipation.─Constipation, and evacuations retarded (during pregnancy).─Loose evacuations of a greenish yellow, frothy and of a sour smell, putrid or mouldy.─Slimy diarrhoea.─Sanguineous evacuations.─Dysenterical evacuations, with colic.─During the evacuation, contraction in the rectum.─Painful swelling of the haemorrhoidal tumours of the anus, and of the rectum.─Discharge of blood from the rectum, with stinging, burning pain in the small of the back and anus (daily).─Haemorrhage from the anus.─Paralysis of the sphincter ani.

14. Urinary Organs.─Tenesmus of the bladder, with but small discharges.─Diminished secretion of urine.─Abundant discharge of urine of a bright colour, during the pains.─Urine (like that in dropsy after scarlet fever) of a faint flesh colour, with a white-brown flocculent, transparent sediment, depositing on the chamber small, red, hard, solid crystals, which adhere firmly to the vessel.─Fetid urine, which soon becomes thick, gelatinous, and glutinous.─Itching at the orifice of the urethra, with desire to urinate.─Burning in the urethra after micturition.

15. Male Sexual Organs.─Sensation as if everything were flowing towards the genital parts, from both sides of the abdomen, occasioning a discharge of semen.─Excitement of sexual desire, as in priapism.─Complete impotence.─Retraction of the prepuce behind the glans.

16. Female Sexual Organs.─Cramp-like pain in l. ovary; in uterus; as if parts were squeezed in a vice.─Ovarian cyst, paroxysm of acute pain in abdomen, sacrum, and hip, > by flexing thigh on pelvis.─Metritis; metrorrhagia; suppressed catamenia, with cramping pains > by bending double; or caused by indignation or chagrin.─Stitches in the ovaries.─Lochia suppressed; puerperal fever after vexation.─Painful nodosities in the mammae.

17. Respiratory Organs.─Small dry cough, excited by irritation in the larynx, or by tobacco smoke.─Constriction in the larynx, which induces frequent deglutition with oppressed breathing; > in the open air.─Fits of asthma at night.

18. Chest.─Oppression of the chest, as if it were compressed.

19. Heart.─Palpitation of the heart.─Stitches in cardiac region.

20. Neck and Back.─Tension in the neck and shoulder-blades.─Drawing pains in the back, as if the muscles were stretched.─Great weakness in the back, esp. in the small of the back, with pressing headache (morning).─Congestion and suppuration of the axillary glands; subsultus of muscles.

22. Upper Limbs.─Bruise-like pain in the joint of the shoulder, esp. after a fit of passion.─Aching, pressive, and shooting pain in the arms.─Cramp-like pain in the hands, which with difficulty suffers the fingers to be opened; < when at rest.─Pulling in the tendons of the thumbs.

23. Lower Limbs.─Pain in the coxo-femoral joint, as if it were fastened with an iron clasp, the pelvis and sacral region, with pains extending from the lumbar region to the legs.─Tensive lancination, in the lumbar region and of the hips, esp. when lying on the back.─Pain (in the r. thigh) while walking, as if the psoas muscles were too short; on stooping it ceased, but began again when he commenced to walk.─(Spontaneous dislocation of the coxo-femoral joint.).─Want of flexibility in the knee, which prevents the bending of it.─Cramps in the legs.─Shootings in the legs, esp. during repose.─Stitches in the knee-joints.─Sensation of coldness in the knees (in the morning).─Great heaviness and trembling of the legs.─The feet go to sleep (first the l., then the r. foot).─Swelling of the feet.─Tearing in the soles of the feet during repose.

24. Generalities.─Semi-lateral pains.─Painful cramps, and cramp-like contractions, in the internal or external parts.─Sensation as though stones were being ground together in the abdomen, working upon the soft parts.─Contraction of the tendons in some parts only, or throughout the body, with a drawing up of all the limbs.─Twitching of the muscles.─Stiffness in all the joints.─Tearing shootings, traversing the whole body longitudinally.─Physical depression while walking in the open air.─Fainting, with coldness of the external parts.─Swelling of various parts, with oppression of breathing.─Pulsations through the body.─Burning pains.

25. Skin.─Troublesome itching, with great restlessness in the whole body, esp. in the evening in bed, followed by perspiration.─Desquamation of the skin over the whole body.─Carbuncles, with continuous burning pain.─Small ulcers, with itching and burning.─Eruptions which resemble scabies.─Skin hot and dry.

26. Sleep.─Disturbed sleep at night (by dreams).─Sleepiness, alternately with delirium, with the eyes open.─Sleeplessness following a fit of indigestion.─Very wakeful and sleepless.─Lying on the back when asleep, with one hand under the occiput.─Frequent vivid and lascivious dreams.

27. Fever.─Cold and shivering, with heat in the face, without thirst.─Coldness of the hands and soles of the feet, while the rest of the body is warm.─Pulse hard, full and quick.─Strong pulsation in the arteries.─External dry heat.─Internal heat, with attacks of flushes of heat.─Nocturnal sweat, of the smell of urine, on the head, hands, legs, and feet, causing itching of the skin.─Perspiration principally on the head and on the extremities.

Keynotes and Characteristics with Comparisons of Some of the Leading Remedies of the Materia Medica (Allen's Keynotes), Henry Clay Allen

Squirting Cucumber (Cucurbitaceae)

Agonizing pain in abdomen causing patient to bend double, with restlessness, twisting and turning to obtain relief; > by hard pressure (> by heat, Mag. p.). Pains: are worse after eating or drinking; compel patient to bend double (Mag. p. - < by bending double, Dios.); menses, suppressed by chagrin, colic pains. Exteremely irritable, impatient; becomes angry or offended on being questioned. Irritable; throws things out of his hands. Affections from anger, with indignation - colic, vomiting, diarrhoea and suppression of menses (Cham., Staph.). Vertigo: when quickly turning head, especially to the left, as if he would fall; from stimulants. Sciatica: crampy pain in hip, as though screwd in a vise; lies upon affected side. Shooting pain, like lightening-shocks, down the whole limb, left hip, left thigh, left knee, into popliteal fossa.

Relations. - Complemenatary: Merc. in dysentry, with great tenesmus. Compare: Graph. intense pain along right sciatic never, darting, cutting, from right hip joint down to foot; < lying down, motion, stepping; > by sitting. Compare with Staph. in ovarian or other diseases from bad effects of anger, reserved indignation or silent grief.

Aggravation. - Anger and indignation; mortification caused by offense (Staph., Lyc.); cheese < colic.

Amelioration. - From doubling up; hard pressure.

Leaders In Homoeopathic Therapeutics, Eugene Beauharnais Nash

Disinclined to talk, to see friends, impatient, easily offended, danger within indignation; colic or other complaints as a consequence.

Colic, terrible; they seek relief by bending double or pressing something hard against the abdomen.

Dysentery-like diarrhoea; renewed after least food or drink, often with the characteristic colic pains.

Frequent urging to urinate, scanty; urine sometimes thick, foetid, viscid, jelly-like.

Crampy pain in sciatic nerve, from hip down posterior portion of thigh; > from hard pressure and from heat; < in repose, driving patient desperate.

Tendency to painful cramps, with all pains.

Modalities: < evening, anger; after eating; > from coffee, bending double and hard pressure.

* * * * *

No remedy produces more severe colic than this one, and no remedy cures more promptly.

Dr. T. L. Brown once said to me in substance: If I was disposed to be skeptical as to the power of the small dose to cure, Colocynthis would convince me, for I have so promptly cured severe colic in many cases, from a child to adults, and even in horses. Of course, every true Homoeopath can respond amen to that.

The colic of Colocynthis is terrible, and is only bearable by bending double, or pressing something hard against the abdomen. He leans over chairs, the table or bed posts to get relief. This colic is neuralgic in character, and is often attended with vomiting and diarrhoea, which seems to be a result of the great pain more than any particular derangement of the stomach or bowels. We often find it in connection with dysentery. My experience has been that it does not, as a rule, occur in the first stage of the disease, but later, when the disease has not been fully controlled by Aconite, Mercurius, Nux vomica and that class of remedies, but has extended upward to the small intestines. The pains are of a crampy nature. The remedy that comes nearest to Colocynth for colic is Magnesia phosphorica especially in colic in children. They both have the cramping pains, but the pains of Magnesia phos. are most relieved by hot applications like Arsenicum. Both Colocynth and Magnesia phos. are also equally efficacious for neuralgic affections in other localities, for instance, in sciatica and prosopalgia, and even uterine colic of a neuralgic nature, though in this latter affection Magnesia phos. leads. Remember the modalities, for upon the individualization depends the choice between them. Chamomilla and Colocynth resemble each other, in that both have colic from a fit of anger or other neuralgic affections from the same cause. Chamomilla succeeds in the colic of children, if there is much wind which distends the abdomen; the child tosses about in agony, but does not double up like Colocynth. Other symptoms often come in of course and help to choose between them. If both fail I have succeeded with Magnesia phos. Staphisagria is also a remedy for colicky children, with disposition like Colocynth and Chamomilla. In such children the teeth grow black and decay early. Again the Staphisagria child is often troubled with sore eyelids. In such a case there is chronic tendency to colic and Staphisagria is sometimes the only remedy. Veratrum album also has colic, bending the patient double, similar to Colocynth, but the patient walks about for relief, or is much prostrated and has cold sweats, especially on the forehead. Bovista has colic relieved by bending double, after eating.

Dioscorea is a good remedy for wind Colic. The Pain begins right at the umbilicus, and then radiates all over the abdomen, and even to extremities (Plumbum, with walls retracted), and, unlike Colocynth, the pain is aggravated by bending forward and relieved by straightening the body out. Stannum is a colic remedy, and the only way the child is relieved is by being carried with the abdomen on the mother's shoulder. I have cured a case of this kind. It was a very obstinate case of long standing in a weakly child. The usual remedies had signally failed. Jalapa cured one of the most obstinate cases of long standing that I ever saw, the child crying almost continually day and night for weeks. There was in this case diarrhoea all the time. Both colic and diarrhoea were very quickly cured. I have lengthened out these indications for colic remedies in connection with Colocynth because there is great temptation, especially with young physicians, to give "paregoric", soothing syrups, etc., because it is not always easy to find the homoeopathic remedy. I never have to do it, and I cure my cases. Of course there are many other remedies for the same trouble, and all have their particular guiding symptoms.

Colocynth not only cures neuralgic affections originating in the abdominal region, but has been very efficacious in facial and sciatic neuralgia. The pains in these localities, like those in the abdomen, are of a decidedly crampy nature. Here also Magnesia phos. often disputes place with Colocynth, in the fact of its also having characteristically the same kind of pains. The relief from heat, although found under both remedies, is most marked under Magnesia phos. In sciatica, the pain of Colocynth extends from the hip down the posterior portion of the thigh into the popliteal fossa (> lying on painful side, Bryonia). Phytolacca, the pains run down the outer side of the thigh. These two remedies, with Gnaphalium, are the leading remedies for the treatment of this most distressing malady. But of course other remedies often have to be given, and the indications are sometimes found outside of the local trouble, as they are in many other diseases. One of the worst cases of sciatica I ever saw was cured with Arsenicum album, on the indications, worse at midnight, especially from 1 to 3 o'clock; burning pains; and the only temporary relief during the paroxysms, was from bags of hot, dry salt applied to the painful part.

The lady was a sister of Charles Saunders, of New York, of school reader fame, who was himself a cripple from allopathically treated sciatica. She, after suffering indescribable agony for six weeks, was cured rapidly and permanently with a dose of Jenichen's 8m of Arsenicum album. So we see again that no remedy and no particular set of remedies can be entirely relied upon, but the indicated one can. These are the chief uses of Colocynth.