Calcarea affects exclusively the vegetative system; all other action is secondary. The secretive and resorptive functions are immediately stimulated to increased activity, and a condition of irritation ensues. All organs and systems are affected, the nutrition of all being altered. The lymphatic system is affected in a special degree; and, in the mode of this affection, the Calcarea symptoms resemble the scrofulous process in its lower grades. Calcarea is a chronic remedy, because it alters the crases; also a subacute, because the products of the altered crases provoke a state of irritation. Its action is not stormy, but mild and slow.
1. Nervous System. Not specifically affected; the isolated spasms that occur are secondary. Pains corresponding to the nature of the organs attacked. Sticking pains, and a sensation of rigidity, predominate.
2. Vegetation in General. A cachectic habit is induced; decrease of temperature; puffiness of the soft parts; laxity and general debility, with increased sensibility to external influences, as changes of weather.
3. Vascular System. Moderate degree of fever; chill and heat quickly alternating; fugitive heats; chilliness predominates. Sweat breaks out easily, especially in the palms and soles; evening exacerbation. Thus, a fever resembling that of Tuberculosis. The composition of the blood is not primarily altered; secondarily it is altered.
4. Lymphatics System. Excitement and irritation. Resorption is deranged, and its activity is increased; the glands are swollen, irritated, become the seat of a deposit, and even pass into a state of inflammation. The glands of the neck and mesentery are especially attacked.
5. Skin. Irritation, evinced by erythema, erysipelas, papules, vesicles, pustules, bleeding ulcers, and scaling off of the epidermis, especially on the head; the skin ulcerates easily, especially at tender points e.g., lips and margins of eyelids, the inner surface of the arms, and the anterior surface of the thigh, dorsum of the foot, and outer surface of the ear, etc.
6. Mucous Membrane and Glands. Irritation. Secretion rather diminished than increased.
ANALYSIS IN ANATOMICAL ORDER.
1. Head. No especial symptom of cerebral disturbance. Frequent congestion in consequence of the general irritation.
2. Eyes. Irritation and rigidity of the lids. Conjunctiva reddened; feeling as of sand in the eye; photophobia; the secretion of the meibomian glands is thick and glutinous. Lachrymal secretion increased.
3. Ears. Increased secretion of cerumen. Purulent discharge; deafness.
4. Nose. Ulceration of the alae; purulent, foetid discharge. Dry obstruction.
5. Mouth. Gums red and swollen. Also the whole mouth to the uvula. Salivation. Tonsils and palate swollen. Deglutition difficult.
6. Intestinal Tract. In stomach and abdominal canal great sensibility to pressure; burning and pinching pains. Loss of appetite. Repugnance especially to meat, which passes away undigested. Rancid, sour eructations. Faeces long retained; hence, tormina. Stools solid and dry, with straining. Sometimes also diarrhoea (secretion being abnormal in quality), water and pappy, always scanty. The intestinal secretion being abnormal, induces irritation; hence, spasm of stomach and intestine.
7. Liver. Irritation, especially in the biliary passages.
8. Urinary Organs. Pressing and sticking in the kidneys and bladder; burning, dysuria, enuresis. Urine diminished in quantity, and for the most part saturated with saline constituents, and hence dark or turbid.
9. Genitals. Congestion and swelling. As to sexual functions, erethism; and, as an alternate effect, diminished instinct. Sweating of the labia and scrotum (in gonorrhoea and onanism, compare Sepia and Selenium, Boenninghausen). It is a most important remedy in connection with early and too copious menstruation; so much so, that it acts favorably only when these conditions are present.
10. Respiratory Organs. Mucous secretion altered, either increased or diminished. Tenacious, thick mucus. Dryness of throat; dry cough, constriction of chest, with hoarseness and roughness.
11. Muscles. Stiffness; pains in the joints, causing difficulty of motion. (Calcarea favors the secretion of chalky deposits in the synovial sac.).
12. Bone-pains from head to feet.
Characteristics. Calcarea affects primary only the vegetative sphere; from this its operation extends over the whole organism, exciting moderately, producing irritation, and appearing to favor a deposit of the earthy salts. The lymphatic system of vessels and glands is first and most deeply affected, being the seat of irritation, swelling, deposits, and their consequences. The skin and mucous membranes are next affected; the secretions are often diminished, and often increased (when increased, only relatively), and are generally acrid and sour. The whole nutrition suffers very greatly. Menstruation is too early and too copious. The pains are various; chiefly a feeling of stiffness, with or without sticking pains. Aggravation by change of temperature, especially by cold, and at night. (Boenninghausen designates many important symptoms, which are aggravated in the morning, in contradistinction to corresponding symptoms of Causticum, which have evening aggravation. C.D.)
Application. To youthful persons and females; to those who are badly nourished, pale, with affections of the skin and mucous membranes; to all, in short, who present the scrofulous diathesis, or one like it; especially at the period of development; dentition and puberty (menses too copious); moreover, for children generally. The symptoms of Calcarea present a striking picture erethistic scrofula, for which diathesis it is eminently appropriate. (For the cancerous diathesis, Arsenic; for the chlorotic, Pulsatilla.) Tuberculosis and Rachitis, with excitement and irritation.
1. Children who do not walk until after the usual age, who manifest great irritability, have large, distended abdomens, and scrofulous inflammations of the skin, i.e., generally little vesicles producing crusts, chiefly on the head and face, lips, nose, and eyes, subjects to scrofulous ophthalmia, scrofulous ozaena, scrofulous affections of the ears, especially with a purulent discharge. In atrophia infantum, without suppuration, Calcarea is better than Arsenic. In osteomalacia; swelling of the glands. Indigestion, with acidity, in scrofulous subjects. Acid, pappy diarrhoea; also constipation. Helminthiasis in a scrofulous diathesis. What is true of scrofula in general, is true also of tuberculosis.
2. Adults also; in tuberculosis, with colliquative sweats. Ophthalmia, with thick blenorrhoea. Ophthalmia which has left behind it opacity of the cornea. Blenorrhoea nasalis.
3. Rheumatism, acute or chronic. Tendency to vesical calculus.
4. Tonsillitis frequently recurring; general irritation of tonsils.
5. Gastritis. Chronic, especially with acid formations. Gastromalacia chronica, with evacuation of undigested faeces. Disposition to catarrh, chronic catarrh, catarrh of bladder and vagina.
Dr. Dunham graduated from Columbia University with Honours in 1847. In 1850 he received M.D. degree at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York. While in Dublin, he received a dissecting wound that nearly killed him, but with the aid of homoeopathy he cured himself with Lachesis. He visited various homoeopathic hospitals in Europe and then went to Munster where he stayed with Dr. Boenninghausen and studied the methods of that great master. His works include 'Lectures on Materia Medica' and 'Homoeopathy - Science of Therapeutics'.