Nitric Acid
By H.C. Allen — Keynotes And Characteristics With Comparisons of some of the Leading Remedies of the Materia Medica
Nitric Acid. (HNO3.)
Especially suited to thin persons of rigid fibre, dark complexions, black hair and eyes - the brunette rather than the blonde - nervous temperament. Persons suffering with chronic diseases who take cold easily; are easily disposed to diarrhoea; rarely to those who suffer with constipation. Old people with great weakness and diarrhoea. Excessive physical irritability. Pains: sticking, pricking as from splinters ; suddenly appearing and disappearing; on change of temperature or weather; during sleep; gnawing here and there as from ulcers forming. Sensation: of a band around head, around the bones (Carb. ac., Sulph.); of a splinter in affected parts, ulcers, piles, throat, ingrowning toe nail, < on slightest contact. Ailments: which depend on some virulent poison; from mercury, syphilis, scrofula; in broken-down cachetic constitutions. After continual loss of sleep, long-lasting anxiety, over-exertion of mind and body from nursing the sick (Coc.); anguish from the loss of his dearest friend; indifference; tired of life; sadness before menses. Great anxiety about his disease; constantly thinking about his past troubles; morbid fear of cholera (Ars.); depressed and anxious in the evening. Irritable, headstrong; hateful and vindictive; inveterate, ill-willed, unmoved by apologies. Hardness of hearing > by riding in carriage or train (Graph.). Very sensitive to rattle of wagon over paved streets; headache from pressure of hat (Cal. p., Carbo., Nat.). Ozaena: green casts from the nose every morning. Diarrhoea: great straining but little passes, as if faeces remained and cannot be expelled (Alum.); pain as if rectum or anus were torn or fissured (Nat. m.). violent cutting pains after stool , lasting for hours (Rat., Sulph. - during and after, Mer.). Fissures in rectum; tearing, spasmodic pains during stools; lancinating, even after soft stools (Alumen., Nat., Rat.). Urine: scanty, dark-brown , strong-smelling , "like horse's urine;" cold when it passes ; turbid, looks like remains of a cider barrel. Ulcers: easily bleeding; in corners of mouth (Nat.); splinter-like pains , especially on contact (Hep.); zig-zag, irregular edges; base looks like raw flesh; exuberant granulations; after mercury or syphillis or both, engrafted on a scrofulous base. Discharges; thin, offensive, acrid; of a brown or dirty yellowish green color; rarely laudable pus. Haemorrhage: from bowels in typhoid or typhus (Crot., Mur. ac.); after miscarriage or post-partum; from over-exertion of body; bright, profuse, or dark. Cracking: in ears, on masticating; of the joints, on motion (Coc., Graph.). Warts, condylomata: sycotic or syphilitic; large, jagged, pedunculated; bleeding readily on washing; moist, oozing, sticking pain (Staph., Thuja). Affects especially the mucous membrane join; mouth, nose, rectum, anus, urethra, vagina (Mur. ac.).
Relations . - Complementary: Ars., and Calad. Inimical: to, Lachesis. Resembles: Ars. in morbid fear of cholera. Often difficult to distinguish from Mer.; but is adapted to black-haired people, while Mer. is more useful in light-haired persons. Relieve ailments resulting from abuse of mercury, especially, if there be erethism; bad effects of repeated doses of Digitalis. Follows well: Calc., Hep., Mer., Nat. c., Puls. or Thuja; but is most effective after Kali c.
Aggravation . - Evening and at night; after midnight; contact; change of temperature or weather; during sweat; on waking; while walking.
Amelioration . - While riding in carriage (reverse of Coc.).