Mercurius Dulcis

Merc. dulc. is responsible for a large amount of the mercurialisation of the

past and for some of the present. As a comparatively mild and slow-acting form of mercurial, it

has none of the corrosive effects of the perchloride, but it has all the power of the metal in it

nevertheless, and it has had its own share of disasters. For constipation and any affection which

could be ascribed to the liver, blue pill was at one time about the only recognised remedy. Some

homceopaths have adopted a modification of this by prescribing Merc. dulc. 1x in two- or three-

• ▸grain doses as a direct purgative.
• ▸But as Merc.
• ▸dulc.
• ▸has caused both constipation and diarrhcea, it

is probable that the action is roughly homceopathic. The Schema is made up for the most part of

toxicological and clinical symptoms; though a proving of potencies has been made. It is

especially scrofulous children who are liable to remittent bilious attacks who are benefited by

• ▸Merc.
• ▸dulc.
• ▸The keynote of Merc.
• ▸dulc.
• ▸, in this as in other complaints is pallor: "pallid as a

corpse," and with this a "flabby bloatedness" of appearance. Pale, scrofulous children who have

swelling of cervical and other glands. Skin flabby and ill-nourished. Another leading feature of

• ▸Merc.
• ▸dulc.
• ▸is inflammation with plastic exudation.
• ▸I have seen Calomel in old-school practice

rapidly resolve and cure a violent meningitis, with wild delirium, in a girl of five. In this case

there was probably plastic exudation on the membranes. Plastic peritonitis. Gluing up of

Eustachian tube with catarrh. Scrofulous inflammation in general and particularly of the eyes.

Soreness round anus is a leading indication in many affections when it occurs as a concomitant.

Gummy secretion on edges of lids; later, smarting and indistinct vision.—Eyes: red;

dry; photophobia.—Symptoms < after exercise, and when heated from exercise.—Scrofulous

ophthalmia.—Ciliary blepharitis.

Otitis media; closure of Eustachian tube; ear troubles of scrofulous children; membrana tympani retracted, thickened and immovable.

Deafness, occasioned by a swelling, which compresses Eustachian tube.—(Deafness of

• ▸old age.
• ▸).
• ▸—Scrofulous otitis.
• ▸—Itching in external meatus.
• ▸—Sudden fluttering in |.
• ▸ear for a few

moments.

• ▸Face flushed.
• ▸—Pallid as a corpse.
• ▸—Swelling of cheeks.
• ▸—Exfoliation of lower jaw and

death.

• ▸Offensive breath; salivation; sore gums.
• ▸Ulcers.
• ▸Tongue black.
• ▸Constant flow of dark, putrid saliva; very offensive.
• ▸Ulceration of throat, with dysphagia.
• ▸Granular pharyngitis.

Difficulty to open mouth.—Ulcers in mouth, bleeding throughout night——Aphthe on

tongue.—Salivation sometimes with hemorrhage.—Flow of horribly fetid, dark saliva, which

attacks lips and cheeks; tongue and whole mouth have black appearance.

Violent burning in teeth; teeth become bare, shake, and fall out; gums swollen and

bleeding when touched.

Nausea and vomiting. Cyclic vomiting of infants (Cup ars; Iris).

Violent pain in abdomen; griping; tenderness.—Bloated, hot, painful abdomen

(gastro-malachia).

• ▸Scanty, bloody mucus, with bile, and constant desire, without tenesmus.
• ▸Dark-green, watery, with griping.
• ▸Anus sore and burning.
• ▸Dysentery; small stools of mucus and blood, covered with bile.

Diarrhoea; with vomiting. —Stools-watery, greenish; coppery green, like

chopped eggs; grass-green; stringy; mucous, bloody, dysenteric; black with great epigastric

oppression, sinking.—Constant disposition to stool.—Obstinate constipation—Rectum: burning;

tenesmus.—Soreness round anus.—Condylomata round anus.

Broad, moist, burning condylomata around external genitals,

perinzeum and anus, of exceedingly offensive smell.

Acute inflammation of prostate, after suppressed gonorrhea;

burning, pressing pains; intense dysuria; urine scanty.—Stinging and itching just back of corona

glandis.

Rheumatic stiffness and catching pain in muscles of legs and knee-

joints —Cramps in calves at night.

• ▸Flabby and ill nourished.
• ▸Swollen glands.
• ▸Phagedenic ulcers.
• ▸Copper-colored eruptions.

Desquamation of skin, esp. of hands and feet.—Phagedenic ulcers, with white bases,

and painful and inflamed margins, in mouth, palate, face, genital and other parts—Copper-

coloured eruption.

Feverish heat, profuse nocturnal sweat, tearing pains in limbs, prostration of

strength, and trembling.—Fever, sometimes hot, putrid.

• ▸Catarrh.
• ▸Condylomata.
• ▸Conjunctivitis.
• ▸Deafness.
• ▸Diarrhoea.
• ▸Eustachian tube,

• ▸affections of.
• ▸Gastro-malachia.
• ▸Meningitis.
• ▸Peritonitis, plastic.
• ▸Prostatitis.
• ▸Throat, sore.

• ▸Antidoted by: Hep.
• ▸Compare: In stringy stools, Sul.
• ▸ac.
• ▸Catarrhal inflammation of

middle ear, Kali m. Eustachian tube closed; deafness of old age, Kali m.

Compare: Kali mur.

Third to sixth trituration. For palliative (non-homeopathic) purposes, to secure evacuation of bowels, two or three-grain doses of first decimal trituration, repeated several times every hour.