Nitrate of Sanguinarin. C19H17NO4HNO3. Trituration.
Clinical
Adenoids. Asthma. Borborygmus. Bronchitis. Catarrh. Coryza. Deafness. Eustachian catarrh. Hay-fever. Headache. Influenza. Laryngitis. Polypus. Post-nasal catarrh. Quinsy. Stiff-neck. Throat, sore. Tinnitus.
Characteristics
*Sanguinaria *nit. is a very fine brownish-red powder, pungent, acid, bitter, and inodorous. It is soluble in alcohol, ether, water, and oils, but not in the same proportion in all. Pure *Sanguinarin. is a pearly-white substance, but when combined with any of the acids the result is a salt of some shade of red, crimson or scarlet. The colour of the blood-root may thus be due to the presence of some native salt of *Sanguinarin. (Hale). *Sng. n. was proved in 3x trituration by Professor Owens (*C.D.P.), of Pulte Medical College, and some very striking symptoms were elicited. The catarrhal symptoms of *Sanguinaria appear in great intensity-nose, eyes, throat, and bronchi being affected. Lachrymation, pains in eyes and head, sore scalp, obstructed nose, and burning pains throughout all regions were experienced. A sense of *obstruction is very characteristic: Sensation of obstruction and fulness in the head, accumulation of mucus obstructing nose, awakes frequently with dry mouth, the nose being obstructed. Accumulation of mucus behind center of sternum, sense of suffocation, feeling as if air-passages lined with thick, stiff mucus or pus. Heat and tension behind sternum is characteristic, and so is expectoration of quantities of sweet-tasting mucus. There is also expectoration of thin, frothy, very tenacious mucus. The symptoms of influenza are very completely depicted, even to the loss or perversion of taste. *Sng. n. appears to have the nasal symptoms of *Sanguinaria in an enhanced degree. “Sensation arising to nostrils as if he had eaten strong horseradish, ‘ is present. Hale gives these verifications. (1) Mr. B., 40, dark, had for eight years, in spite of continuous old-school treatment, chronic post-nasal catarrh, bronchitis, and laryngitis. Voice altered, deep, hoarse, speech with effort, as if from chest. Severe pressure from behind sternum. Mucous membrane dry, raised only a few balls of grey mucus. He spent two winters on the St. John’s River, Florida, and was better there, but worse again on his return north. *Sng-n. 6 trit. was given every two hours. In one week he was better, there was more moisture in his throat than three had been for two years. Voice markedly better. *Sng. n. was now given every four hours. In ten weeks he had regained six pounds of his lost weight, and strength in proportion. The voice not having improved in the same degree, *Causticum 6, and afterwards *Drosera 3, were given, and in sixteen weeks he was perfectly well. (2) Mrs. S., city missionary, 49, had constant hacking cough, raw, sore feeling in throat, sore aching and pressing behind sternum. She was much exposed to cold winds of winter, which set up coryza and irritation. *Sng-n. 6. trit. gr. i., every two hours, enabled her to follow her occupation without suffering, and in ten weeks she was completely cured. (3) O. W., 55, subject to frequent attacks of cold in head, throat, and chest. After a long drive in open trap contracted a severe cold in head, throat, lungs. Sore and lame all over, frequent sneezing, lachrymation. Next day sore throat very marked, constant tickling in throat-pit, exciting cough, at first short and hacking, but in two days it became violent and convulsive. *Belladonna and *Drosera did little good. Pressure behind sternum became very severe. *Sng-n. 6 was given every two hours. In four hours copious perspiration came on with frequent sneezing. Next day sore throat appeared after waking from a troubled and restless sleep, constriction of throat with difficult swallowing, tension across chest radiating from behind sternum. *Sng-n. every hour. In one hour free discharge from nose set in, in three hours moisture and relaxation of constriction across chest. The discharge was yellow and sweetish-tasting, continued all day. Slept well and woke next morning feeling quite free. But little cough or coryza during the day. The following morning he was quite well. Hering gives this case cured with *Sng-n. 2 trit.: Troublesome cough for number of years, excited by an irritation in region of bifurcation of bronchi, coughs a long time to raise a little whitish-yellow phlegm, sometimes streaked with blood, after which she feels great better, cough day and night, is greatly emaciated. Owens (*M.A., xvii. 31) relates these cases: (1) Mrs. B., 55, widow, fair, catarrhal constitution. Chronic cough many years. Asthmatic on taking cold, great accumulation during attacks, occasionally raising frothy, viscid mucus tinged with blood. Gastric catarrh. Great epigastric tenderness. On October 26, 1883, seized with severe catarrhal symptoms, sneezing, burning in nostrils, fluent, watery, mucous discharge from nose, aching in forehead. Cough dry, hollow. *Sng- n. 3x, gtt. xx., in six ounces of water, two teaspoonfuls every hour. Complete relief in four hours, usually took three days. (2) Dr. G. had hay-fever, at its height on August 21st. Sensation of cobwebs across nose ten days before attack is fully established. Nose feels large, tingles, trickling water, mucous membrane very sensitive to cold air, causing frequent sneezing. worse Light. worse Rising in morning. Eyes itch, could almost rub them out. *Sng-n. relieved this attack somewhat. Next year he commenced taking it in June, and passed through the season without any attack. C. Wesselhoeft regards *Sng-n. as the simillimum for “New England colds.” Adenoids and polypi have been cured with it. There is great craving for air. Bathing with warm water ameliorates heat in forehead. Touch worse. Pressure worse soreness of eyes. Headache is ameliorates by discharge of much mucus from nose. worse At night.
Relations
*Compare: Sanguinaria Burning in nostrils, Ar-t. Tenacious mucus, Kali-bi. Hay-fever, Pso. Sweet expectoration, Stannum
Causation
Driving in cold wind. Winter weather. Exposure.
Symptoms.
Mind
Restless from feverish and irritable condition.
Head
Slight dizziness all through the proving, with discharge of mucus from nose and air passages. Uncomfortable feeling about the head all day, decidedly worse at night. Pain in supraorbital region, proceeding from pain in right eyeball, of a sore, aching character, soon extended across forehead and seemed deep in above root of nose. Burning pain in forehead and root of nose, with
aching and soreness in eyeballs worse on pressure, the pain became worse on left side of head, through left temple. Heat in forehead ameliorates bathing with warm water. Pain in left side of head extended to parietal ridge and back to mastoid process, with stiffness in muscles of left side of neck and top of left shoulder as from a draught. Sensation of obstruction and fullness in head, ameliorated by discharge of a large quantity of thick, yellow, sweet-tasting mucus. Slight aching sensation with soreness all over head and scalp.
Eyes
Sore, aching pain in right eyeball, extending to supraorbital region. Pain in left eyeball extending over orbit and left side of head. Redness and soreness of inner canthi, they feel swollen. Severe heat and burning of eyes. Burning, pressing aching, and sore pains in eyes. Profuse lachrymation, tears gush out. Redness of lids and conjunctiva. Sight dim, as if looking through gauze, or as if film of mucus spread over sight.
Ears
Obstruction of Eustachian tube. Difficulty in distinguishing sounds. Roaring in right ear.
Nose
Water trickles from right nostril (15 m. after first dose). Watery mucus from both nostrils, sneezing every few minutes, profuse lachrymation. Sensation rising to nostrils as if he had taken strong horse-radish. Burning pains in both nostrils. Accumulation of mucus obstructing nose and bronchi. Dry, sore, raw feeling in nostrils. Free discharge from posterior nares (especially left.), tinged with blood.
Mouth
Slight acrid, burning sensation on tongue. Roughness and dryness in mouth and throat. Heat in mouth as if pepper had been taken. Awoke frequently with dry mouth and throat from breathing with mouth open, nose being obstructed. Increased flow of mucus and saliva with sneezing and burning in forehead.
Throat
Roughness and dryness in mouth and throat with sense of constriction in throat. Soreness, roughness, and rawness on right tonsil, painful, with difficulty in swallowing, red, irritable spot seen on inspection. In morning raised great quantities of thick, yellow, sweet-tasting mucus, this continued all day. Great accumulation of mucus in throat and bronchi.
Appetite
Bitter taste extending back to root of tongue. Everything tastes dry like chips. Coffee did not taste natural, wanted something succulent not pungent but soothing to mouth and throat, which was
hot, dry, parched, and raw. Little appetite.
Stomach
Sensation of burning in stomach and oesophagus. Belching up of putrid-smelling gas though she had eaten nothing since morning.
