Chlorum

The element. Chlorine; (G.), Chlor-gas; (Fr.), Chlore.

Preparations , Saturated solution of the gas in ice-cold water; lower dilutions with water.

Authorities.

1 , Hering "and another man," Neues Archiv, 2, 3, p. 165; 2 , Buchner, ibid.; 3 , Berzelius, effect of inspiring the gas, from Hering's résumé; 4 , Buchheim, general effects, from ibid.; 5 , Christison, general effects of gas, ibid.; 6 , Ferriar, ibid.; 7 , Fourcroy, ibid.; 8 , Gmelin, effects of inspired gas, ibid.; 9 , Hare, effect of plunging the hand into the gas, ibid.; 10 , Kastner, effect of inspiring the gas, from Hering and Wibmer; 11 , (omitted); 12 , Pereira, ibid.; 13 , Siebers, ibid.; 14 , Thenard, effect of the inspired gas, ibid.; 15 , Wallace, ibid.; 16 , anonymous, effect of fumes of Calcium chloride (from Archiv f. Hom., 19, 1, 69), ibid.; 17 , Wallace, from Orfila Tox., effects applied to skin; 18 , Cattell, symptoms (compiled), B. J. of Hom., 11, 157; 19 , Dr. Tott, an apothecary, inhaled fumes, Frank's Mag., 4, 823, from All. Med. Zeit., 37, 1425; 20 , Ziemssen's Handbuch d. Sp. Path. und Ther., 1, acute poisoning, effects on workmen; 21 , ibid., chronic poisoning; 22 , Dunham, effects of washing mouth with a solution of Chlorine, Am. Hom. Rev., 2, 18; 23 , ibid., effect of inhalation of the gas, ibid.; 24 , S. A. Jones, N. Y. J. of Hom., 2, 249, effects of inhaling the gas.

MIND

• Emotional.
• Mind tranquil and active, 18.
• Excessive anxiety attacks him, 10.
• Excessive anxiety; he could not speak a word, 10.
• His mind is terribly affected; he is afraid of becoming insane; thinks it is impossible to get through it; everything seems confused; at the same time he cannot remember anything; worse the second day, 1.
• Great irritability and disposition to anger, 1.
• Great fretfulness in the morning, 1.
• Intellectual.
• The difficulty of recalling names when he sees the persons is far worse, besides, what is not so common, that of recollecting persons when he sees their names (second day), 1.

HEAD

• Vertigo.
• Vertigo and stupefaction, 6.
• General Head.
• Disagreeable sensation in the head when shuddering, 1. [10.]
• Forenoon at 11, disagreeable sensation in the head; crawling shudder, most on the back; he sits with his back to the sun, which makes it worse ; later, a feverish sensation, 1.
• Sensation as if he would have a headache (after the first dose, in a man who never had a headache in his life), 1.
• Headache during coryza, 3.
• Headache, worse after dinner, 1.
• Vertex.
• Painful wearing sensation in vertex and down the left side, with inclination to lie down (in a man who never had suffered from headache, every time on taking a drop of a weak solution of Chlorine, evening and morning), 1.
• Parietals.
• Headache in the left side, before the shuddering, 1.
• Occiput.
• Burning and pressure in the occipital protuberance gradually increased in severity (till he took the antidote, Sulphuretted hydrogen), 19.

EYE

• Eyes protruding, 10.
• Lachrymal Apparatus.
• Lachrymation during coryza, 1.
• Lachrymation on waking (third day), 1. [20.]
• Lachrymation, especially in the open air; the right eye was formerly disposed thereto, 1.
• Watering of the eyes from Chlorine vapor, 1.
• Eyes very much affected the second day; he is often obliged to wipe them, 1.
• Vision.
• Dimness of the eyes during fever, 1.
• Suddenly, numerous fantastic images floated before the eyes, which disappeared with lightning-like rapidity, 19.

EAR

• Ringing in the right ear (dulness also in the left; deaf for forty years), 1.

NOSE

• Objective.
• Severe sneezing, 18.
• Mornings, violent sneezing, after coryza in the evening, 1.
• Violent coryza, 10.
• Flow from the right nostril; his left is always stopped; a few minutes after taking, afternoons, 1. [30.]
• Abundant discharge of mucus from the nostrils, 1.
• Nose discharged mucus freely; water dropped from left nostril; did not burn or excoriate the skin, 24.
• In twenty-four hours after coryza sets in, copious yellow mucus appears, as if the coryza were already ripe; no sneezing, and continued stoppage of the nose, 1.
• Corroding water from the nose, 1.
• Evenings, sudden flowing and dropping from the nose of a corrosive water, but without a sharp taste; at the same time lachrymation, dryness of the tongue, palate, and fauces, without thirst, but cold water is very agreeable; severe stopping up of the nose while it flows; all symptoms of coryza are worse when lying (two hours after 1 drop), 1.
• Subjective.
• Mucous membrane of the nose attacked, 10.
• Dryness of the nose, 3.
• Has a peculiar suffocating odor, which produces a sensation of dryness in the nose and an irritation to cough in the windpipe, with pressure on the chest, lasting a shorter or longer time, 3.
• When Chlorine gas is inhaled, it causes a very disagreeable sticking sensation, and the consequence of this action is a violent coryza, that disappears again after several hours, 4.
• Burning pain, with severe tension and great dryness in the nose and eyes, 19. [40.]
• Sensation in the corners of the nose as if eroded, without visible soreness (after several days), 1.
• Smell.
• Smell of Chlorine in right nostril; left one entirely stopped up, 24.
• Loss of smell, 21.

FACE

• Heightened color of the face, 6.
• Complexion pale, often greenish, 21.
• Face puffy, 10.
• Face bloated, 10.
• Swollen face, with protrusion of eyes, 18.

MOUTH

• Teeth.
• Sensation of fulness in the teeth (after several drops), 1.
• Tongue.
• Dryness of the tongue, palate, and fauces, without thirst, but cold water is agreeable to him, 1.
• General Mouth. [50.]
• Mucous membrane of the mouth affected, 10.
• Mucous membrane of mouth and nose severely affected, 10.
• Increased vascularity and minute ulcerations in mouth and throat, 18.
• Dryness in the mouth, 1.
• Soreness in the mouth, fauces, and pharynx, redness, and even small ulcers (from outward applications), 15.
• Soreness of mouth, fauces, and œsophagus, as if the tongue had been burnt, as if he had been eating vegetable acids, or as if his teeth had been injured by acids, 18.
• Saliva.
• The quantity and character of the saliva and bile are altered, 15.
• Flow of saliva (from continued use), 12.
• Salivation, 18.
• Much mucus in the mouth, 10. [60.]
• Abundant discharge of mucus from mouth and nose, 18.
• Taste.
• Disagreeable taste and odor, so suffocating that it cannot even be inhaled mixed with common air without a sensation of suffocation and contraction of the chest, 8.
• Mornings, febrile taste in the mouth, ceased after ringing it, 1.
• Speech.
• Great difficulty in articulating or breathing, 18.

THROAT

• Choking sensation, 8.
• Throat sore, from uvula to bronchi (after two hours and a quarter), 24.
• For two days after, throat and chest were sore and voice hoarse, 24.
• Evenings, a few paroxysms, as if he would have a cough; as if the whole pharynx were raw or becoming so, 1.
• Swallowing.
• Inability to swallow, 10, 18.
• He could not swallow, 10.

STOMACH

• Appetite. [70.]
• Evenings, less appetite, 1.
• At first, appetite for tobacco later, it does not taste good; smoking bites the tongue, and causes? in the mouth, 1.
• Thirst.
• Desire for wine rather increased, 1.
• Stomach.
• Inflammation of stomach, 18.
• Acidity, 18.
• Acid stomach and other gastric troubles (in workmen exposed to Chlorine, and for which they eat chalk), 5.
• Acts on the mucous membrane of the stomach as a strong local irritant, also increases the secretion of bile; it cannot, however, act long independently, as it comes in contact with many substances having a great affinity for it; in this way it increases the quantity of chlorides in the blood, while it lessens that of carbonates and other salts; its secondary effect will therefore be similar to that of

Natrum muriaticum, 4.

ABDOMEN

• Hypochondria.
• The character of the bile was altered, 15.
• Increased secretion of bile, 18.
• General Abdomen.
• Weakness in the abdomen, mornings (third and fourth days), 1.

STOOL. [80.]

• During coryza, diarrhœa and other complaints, even during fever, appetite remains undisturbed, 1.
• After 1 drop in the evening, some diarrhœa in the morning, 1.
• After taking, stool next morning at the usual hour, but diarrhœa-like; a second still thinner the same forenoon; following day the same, 1.

URINARY ORGANS

• Urethra.
• Frequent desire to urinate, but it is only passed in moderate quantities, for several days, 1.
• Urine.
• Increased urine, 6.
• Urine possesses bleaching properties, 18.
• Urine loses the power of reddening litmus-paper, 18.

SEXUAL ORGANS

• Sudden impotence, even total aversion to sexual enjoyment; ordinarily he was easily excited, but now the contemplation of the greatest charms failed to arouse him; in a vigorous man of 30, 16.

RESPIRATORY ORGANS

• Larynx, Trachea, and Bronchi.
• Inflammation of the air-passages and lungs, 18.
• Inflammation of the bronchial mucous membrane, 7. [90.]
• Phlegmonous inflammation of the bronchial membranes, 18.
• Bronchial catarrh, very common, 21.
• Violent spasms of glottis, 18.*
• A feeling as if the rima glottidis were stiff, as if made of an iron ring (after two hours and a half), 24.
• Inhaled mixed with air it causes a sensation of distress and suffocation, and violent cough; it always gave me a sensation as if the air-passages were contracted, as if there must be a cramp in the muscular fibres of the bronchi; the attack passed off with increased secretion of mucus, often with spitting of blood, 12.
• Sensation of constriction in air-tubes, tightness, and suffocation, 18.*
• Violent irritation in larynx and bronchi, 10.
• Violent irritation in epiglottis, larynx and bronchial tubes, 18.
• Immediately, a violent irritation in the larynx, windpipe, and bronchi, cough, oppression, pressure in the chest; he could not swallow; exercise in the open air agreed very well with him , but did not relieve the excessive pressure and constriction; violent anxiety seized him, he could only utter single words, breathed heavily; the mucous membrane of the mouth and nose was severely affected; much mucus in the mouth, violent coryza; Ammonia did not help him; the face was bloated, eyes protruded, spasmodic cough tormented him, pulse slightly changed; inhalations of sulphuretted hydrogen gas relieved him very much; excepting cough and slight pain in the chest all other symptoms ceased after one hour and a half, 10.
• Irritation to cough, 3.
• Voice. [100.]
• *When inhaled undiluted, it causes spasms in the vocal cords, 12.
• Loss of voice for seven months, 18.
• Aphonia for six months, from damp air, 18.
• Cough and Expectoration.
• Cough, 10.

CHEST

• Inflammation of lungs and air-passages, 18.
• Contraction of the chest, 8, 10.
• Slight pain in chest and cough, 10.
• At once, tightness of the chest, 24.
• When the dyspnœa was at the worst it was attended with a feeling as if a narrow band were drawn tightly around the lower third of the whole chest, 24. [140.]
• Pressure on the chest, 3, 10.
• Oppression, 10.
• Oppression and constriction of the chest, not relieved in open air, 4.
• The sensation of oppression was most felt in the right lung, 24.
• Sensation in lower and inner third of right lung, as if it was ruptured; there is a feeling as if the air escaped from the lung into the pleural cavity at each inspiration ; the inspiration being attended by a separate râle , confined to the ruptured locality, the vibrations of which were felt by the common sensation (cœnæsthesis), perceptible to the touch (hand on chest), and audible to the bystander, 24.
• Two hours and a quarter after inhaling the gas the chest feels sore interiorly, especially on coughing, 24.
• The right lung seems to feel the force of the gas most markedly (having been dosed by inhalation, the superior size and position of the right bronchus most probably explains this seemingly one-sided action), 24.

HEART AND PULSE

• Pulse frequent, 18.
• Accelerated pulse, 6.
• Pulse becomes more frequent, and perspiration breaks out, 12. [150.]
• Pulse diminished, 18.

INFERIOR EXTREMITIES

• Weakness of the legs (second day), 1.

GENERALITIES

• Objective.
• The workmen seem very old: those 30 or 35 seem at least 40, 21.
• Absorption of the fat, 18.
• Loss of fat, 18.
• Disappearance of fat (in workmen), 12.
• Phthisis, 18.
• Consumption, 18.
• Increased secretion from mucous membranes, and increased expectoration, 18.
• Was restless, desired to walk about; could not be easy either lying, sitting, or walking; seems as though the whole attention must be centred upon the act of respiration, 24.
• Inclination to lie down (second day), 1.
• Inclination to lie down during headache, 1.
• Finds it difficult to rise in the morning, and great ill-humor, 1.
• Subjective. [160.]
• Nervous sensibility, 18.
• Excessive sensitiveness of skin, 18.
• Sensibility diminished (from application of pure chlorine), 18.
• Feeling of comfort and increased cheerfulness, 6.
• Sensation as if a severe sickness were coming on, mornings at 3 o'clock, 11.
• Wakes up at 3 or 4 in the morning, and feels as if a dreadful sickness were approaching, 1.

SKIN

• Objective.
• Skin red and painful, becoming tumid and swollen, and thickened, as in facial erysipelas, 18.
• From ordinary application of the gas, the skin became red; if the application is continued a long time, it causes a violent pain, which increases with the redness; the skin swells and looks like erysipelas, with an unpleasant sensation, as if the parts were bruised; these symptoms continue some days, as if the skin were deeply affected; at last, itching and desquamation, 17.
• Cutis anserina, 18.
• Skin like cutis anserina, dry, yellow, and shrivelled, 18.
• Slight desquamation, 18. [170.]
• Furfuration, 18.
• Inflammation of cuticle and ulceration, 18.
• Determination of blood to the skin, with eruption of minute papillæ , chiefly on the back, loins, breast, abdomen, and arms, so close that the skin has a general red appearance at a short distance, like injected papillæ of cutis anserina; the papillæ suppurate and vesicate, or desquamate, 18.
• Accumulation of blood in capillaries of skin, with heat, 18.
• Eruptions.
• Eruption of minute vesicles, thickly studded all over the skin; on shoulders, their bases very nearly touch one another; they disappear on the second day, leaving minute red and livid spots, 18.
• Nettle-rash, wheals white, small, in clusters, surrounded by diffuse redness, 18.
• Urticaria febrilis, 18.
• Causes tetter-like eruptions, and critical sweat, 13.
• Subjective.
• Sticking, pricking sensation in skin for several hours, 18.
• After several days the skin of the nose feels as if eroded, 1. [180.]
• Slight smarting, 18.
• Stinging, as of a nettle, 18.
• Stinging sensation, succeeded by symptoms like those from Cantharides, which subside after half an hour; succeeded by soreness and bruised sensation for some days; replaced by itching sensation, the cuticle coming off in thick scales, as in psoriasis, .

SLEEP AND DREAMS

• Falls asleep late after every mental excitement, during the first days; is sleepy very early the following days, 1.

FEVER

• Chilliness.
• Chilliness in the warm room, evenings; not in the open air, mornings, several days, 1.
• Shuddering and shaking (one hour after 1 drop, in the evening), 1. [190.]
• From 10 to 11 forenoon to 2 in the afternoon, cold shudders over the outer surface of both arms, and over the back and thighs, with dimness before the eyes, then a feverish sensation with unchanged pulse, 1.
• Headache, left side, before the shuddering. After dinner, at 2 o'clock, he feels much worse in his head, and so badly in general, that he is obliged to lie down. He is only improved by walking back and forth. The next day at the same time, the same, but more lightly. (Two days after omitting the remedy, in one who never had intermittent fever), 1.
• Heat.
• Heat of surface of body, 18.
• Heat while eating and after eating, with great irritability and disposition to anger, while drinking wine and coffee, 1.
• Slight fever and coryza, 3.
• Inhaled highly diluted with air, it causes a sensation of warmth, and promotes expectoration, 12.
• Pleasant feeling of warmth, and diminished sensibility (from application of pure Chlorine), 18.
• Warmth in the stomach, 6.
• Agreeable warmth in the stomach, accelerated pulse, sensation of comfort, increased cheerfulness, heightened color, increased urine; but from larger doses, vertigo and stupefaction; from still larger, nausea, vomiting, colic, and diarrhœa, 6.
• Warmth in the air-passages, 12.
• Sensation of warmth in respiratory passages, 18. [200.]
• With the atmosphere at 15° R., the hand dipped in Chlorine gas, feels a heat of from 32° to 55° R., although the thermometer is not affected. This must have been occasioned by a chemical combination of Chlorine, with the exhalations of the skin, 9.
• Sweat.
• Perspiration increased, 18.
• Copious perspiration, 18.
• Night-sweat during sleep, with genial glow all over surface of body, 18.
• Causes critical sweat, 13.

CONDITIONS

• Aggravation.
• ( Morning ), Fretfulness; on waking, lachrymation; sneezing; taste in mouth; weakness in abdomen; at 3 o'clock, sensation as if sickness were coming on.
• ( Afternoon ), From 10 or 11 A.M. to 2 P.M., shudders over arms, etc.
• ( Evening ), Flowing from nose; paroxysms; less appetite; chilliness.
• ( Night ), Sweat.
• ( Open air ), Lachrymation.
• ( After dinner ), Headache.
• ( During and after eating ), Heat, etc.
• ( Lying ), Symptoms of coryza.
• ( Sitting with back to sun ), Shuddering.
• Amelioration.
• ( From motion in open air ), Some relief.
• ( From inspiring sulphuretted hydrogen gas ), Great relief.

SUPPLEMENT: CHLORUM. Authority.

25 , M. Donné, Lancet, 1834-5 (2), p. 737, a girl, æt. nineteen years, swallowed a glass of a solution of Chlorine.

• Immediately seized with severe vomiting; the tongue became dry and red; she had slight fever, and the epigastrium was somewhat sensitive to touch; the saliva was strongly acid, 25.