Aurum Muriaticum Natronatum

COMMON NAME.--Chloride of Gold and Sodium.



PREPARATION.--A mixture composed of equal parts of dry chloride of Gold

and chloride of Sodium, triturated in the usual way.



(The following is an extract from a paper by Dr. H.

Goullon in the Allg. Hom. Zeit., bd. 114, No. 12, on

the therapeutics of this remedy):



Never have I observed gold so startling in its action as i the

following case: The patient is a type of the scrofulous habit; reddish

hair, pasty complexion, thick nose, coarse features. About thirty years

of age. He has had the misfortune of being infected by syphilis, and the

still greater ill-luck of being treated by mercurial inunctions and

iodine to excess. All these circumstances conjoined helped to produce a

complication of morbid conditions which would put medical art to a

severe test. Let us recall the region in which gold makes such brilliant

cures, and we find it especially suitable in an uncommon swelling of the

left testicle. In this case I do not exaggerate, when I say that the

scrotum was as large as a gourd of moderate size and the tumor was four

or five times larger in circumference than the right testicle, which was

also swollen. The entire mass simulated an oblong, heavy weight, like

those one meets with in old-fashioned clocks, and could hardly find

space in the capacious suspensory.



The skin was also involved. On the elbow was a wide-spread herpetic

eruption; on different parts of the body were gummy indurations; the ear

discharged; in short, the many characteristic manifestations of the

syphilitic poison were to be seen throughout the cutaneous and mucous

systems. There were also ulcerous formations in the oral cavity and on

the sides of the tongue.



After about four weeks the patient again set foot upon the floor,

saying: 'The drops have done wonders.' And indeed the influence upon the

testicles was so striking that now the right, which was formerly the

smaller, seemed the larger, without having actually at all increased in

size. Not the less remarkable had been the action of gold on the general

condition. The patient, formerly irritable and uneasy, is cheerful and

comfortable; enjoys sound sleep, whereas before he was disturbed with

morbid dreams; has lost his previous debility and disgust for

everything; and says that his digestive power is quite a different

thing. He assimilates articles of diet which he did not formerly dare to

take, unless he wished to suffer with flatulence, gastric acidity and

vomiting. Among other things punch, which he 'could not even smell,'

agrees well.



But, evidently, the mode of administering gold in such cases is not a

matter of indifference. And although I have only recently published a

cure with high potencies (in which I subsequently corrected the mistake

of the 100th Dec. for the Centes., which was what I used of the

Natrum muriaticum), I cannot commit myself to high potencies in

syphilitic complications. Experience in these cases is always in favor

of substantial doses. But, as we shall soon see, these proportionally

massive and heavy doses are always quite out of the allopathic

posological range, and even on this ground one must set boundaries, and

seek for the conversion of the traditional school. By two or three

clinical experiences of this sort many a Saul would become a Paul in

spite of all former prejudices, vis inertia, and most tormenting

skepticism. One-half grain Aurum muriaticum natronatum was dissolved

in 6 grms. Spiritus vini, but of this first 6 drops are again put into a

wineglass of water, of which the patient takes a teaspoonful thrice

daily.



(Dr. Tritschler, of the Gynaecological Clinic of Tuebingen,

furnishes the following on the use of this remedy in

diseases of women. From Allg. Hom. Zeit., bd. 94. Nos.

17. 18, 19):



Permit me now to specify some practical instances of the curative powers

of Aurum, and especially of Aurum muriaticum natronatum, in

reference to gynaecology.



CHRONIC METRITIS.



The first case is that of a woman with chronic metritis and prolapsus

uteri. Hydrarg. chlorat. mit. was given at first, which acted favorably

on the inflammation, but whose further use was prevented by its giving

rise to salivation. The intumescence of the uterus continued about the

same. Chloride of gold entirely reduced the chronic inflammation, and

restored the uterus to its natural position without external means.



INDURATION OF UTERUS.



The second case was an unmarried woman at the climacteric, the vaginal

portion of whose uterus showed an induration which disappeared during

the administration of chloride of gold.



HYSTERICAL SPASMS.



The third case was a woman with periodical attacks of hysterical spasms,

which involved the entire body, with unconsciousness lasting several

hours, asthma, palpitation, etc., beginning with a sense of coldness,

ascending from the abdomen, and perceptible even to the bystanders.

Sometimes the attack began with pulsation through the occiput.

Examination showed an inflamed uterus, filling not only the true pelvis,

and interfering with urination and defecation, but the enlarged uterus

perceptible through the thick abdominal walls above the pubes. At the

end of seven months, Aur. mur. nat. had entirely reduced the swelling.

The woman has enjoyed good health for several years, quite free from the

so-called hysteria.



INDURATION OF CERVIX.



It happened that a woman presented an induration of the cervix, together

with a remarkable softening in the posterior uterine wall. The result of

treatment with chloride of gold was, that in proportion to the decrease

of the induration there was an increase in the consistency of the

softened posterior wall. The woman, who had been married for three years

and childless, became pregnant for the first time and has since borne

several children. With this experience, the Gold-chloride was also given

for a softening of the atrophied cervical canal, in one case until it

was curved at right angles to the body of the uterus; also in a diffused

softening of the uterine tissues, with the result that the hitherto

sterile woman, after toning up the uterine tissue, attained the joy of

motherhood. * * * * *



Habitual abortion and premature labor recurring at about the same month

of pregnancy generally depended upon induration in some portion of the

uterus, which, preventing its natural expansion during gestation, gives

rise to premature expulsion of the foetus. By the use of Aur. mur.

nat. before and during pregnancy, the absorption of this induration

will conduce to the proper termination of parturition.



A swelling of the ovary, reaching as far as the umbilicus, I have cured

with Aur. mur. nat., and have improved others of considerable extent

very decidedly. Martini has cured five cases of ovarian dropsy in the

greatest possible degree with the same remedy.



Ulcers of the os and the vaginal portion, which had resulted from

inflammation and induration, some as large as a dollar, and of a

gangrenous character, were healed by the use of gold, without any

topical applications.



The profession considers ulceration and induration of the uterus

incurable. This dogma of theirs is based on the fact that the usual

change, the disturbance of nutrition, can neither be remedied nor

hindered in its advance. Now since ulcers are generally found only in an

advanced stage of softening and induration, it is conceivable why the

school--seeking a cure solely in the use of local means--turns away

almost entirely from the employment of internal remedies. According to

the opinions of the specialists the use of different remedies, partly

insoluble, partly soluble, pure or in combination, permanent or

transient, is indicated. Others apply ointments on sponges to the

surface of the ulcers, keeping them in contact with it by tampons.

Others again prescribe injections, and with these expect to attain the

end. Finally, glowing-hot iron, the galvano-cautery, or the knife and

scissors remove partially or entirely the vaginal portion.



Now, if the malady continues to thrive on the wounds made by these

procedures, if old cicatrices break out again, if too a permanent cure

is out of the question, there is ground for supposing that the product

of illness, the ulcer, may be cauterized, burnt and cut away, but that

the cause, the diathesis, the tendency to it, can only be removed by

internal medication. * * * * *



CHRONIC METRITIS.



One day an official in Dresden brought his wife to me, who was 41 years

of age. The couple, all of whose children had died soon after birth,

longed once more for children. The woman had aborted several times, and

both were intelligent enough to see that everything could not be right

with the sexual organs, and even begged for a gynaecological examination.

The result was in a few words: inflammation of both lips of the uterus,

a thickening of the cervical canal with a swelling of the posterior

uterine wall as hard as cartilage, and retroversio uteri. Menstruation

too early, dysmenorrhoea, blood dark, tarry, passing in clots.

Yellowish, fetid leucorrhoea. Stools retained, appetite changeable;

pains in the broad ligaments on both sides during rest as well as on

exertion. The so-called "facies uterina"--weeps much. Frequent

exclamations on the distastefulness of life since the death of all her

children, and on account of her present childlessness. Should I register

in my journal in the beginning of a scirrhus? I wrote simply: metritis

chronica; intumescentia labiorum orificii et colli uteri.



Prognosis, not unfavorable as far as regards the swelling, after my

already well-tested experience with Aur. mur. nat. But how about the

removal of sterility acquired in her 41st year. I was more cautious

about this. The cure took six months, and was not only accompanied by

absorption of the affected parts, but the woman became pregnant in good

time and gave birth to a boy with comparative comfort. Thus would the

wishes of the worthy couple have been fulfilled, if their joy had not

been banished once more by the death of the child in four weeks from an

attack of eclampsia.



ANTEVERSION WITH PROLAPSUS.



I now come in conclusion to a gratifying case, which I relate partly

because we make ourselves guilty of sins of omission in certain

instances through neglect of the needful investigation. A woman in her

twentieth year, quite healthy, had been delivered with forceps for the

first time two years before, nominally on account of deficient labor

pains. There was nothing unusual about the confinement. Immediately

after the first getting up, she began to have constant pain in the right

side of the uterine region, and soon a feeling "as if something would

fall out of the parts." The family physician paid no attention to these

persistent complaints for a whole year, until finally a constantly

increasing leucorrhoea demanded an examination. He now expressed

himself as unable to make a diagnosis alone, and the lady was referred

to a celebrated gynaecologist in Leipsic. Cauterizations were now

undergone at the professor's house at short intervals, and further

treatment of a similar character was to be carried out at the patient's

own house, which was, however, discontinued when the patient was

referred to me. Examination showed: metritis following upon

sub-involution of the uterus, anteversion with prolapsus of the whole

organ. Both uterine lips were swollen, and on examination with the

speculum a greenish-yellow discharge was seen to flow from the uterus.

All local treatment was discontinued, the woman received for the first

time in April, 1876, Aur. mur. nat., and in June, 1876, again became

pregnant; the treatment with gold was continued until the 8th month of

pregnancy, in consequence of which the uterus was found in its normal

position on examination twelve days after her safe confinement on March

30th. The menses, which up to this time had been very painful, returned

for the first time on the 25th of April, and were quite free from

suffering.



But now let us ask, whether we have in the salts of gold a simile for

the diseases of the female sexual organs under the comprehensive name of

chronic metritis. We find in the homoeopathic proving, inflammatory

affections of the internal organs; fainting depression and emaciation;

great anxiety, sadness, dizziness, whimsical mood, weariness of life,

morbid desires, and headache; nausea, vomiting; pressure in the gastric

region; cardialgia, contractive, drawing pains in the abdomen.

Stitches in the left hypochondrium, pinching and burning in the right,

the abdomen sensitive to touch, with distension; dull pains in the

abdomen; drawing and stinging in the whole abdomen; eruption of small

papules above the pubes; decreased excretion of urine, pressure on

urinating, burning on urinating; redness, burning, swelling and moisture

of the labia, discharge of yellow mucus, menstruation too soon and

lasts too long; amenorrhoea; labor-like pains, as if the menses would

appear; symptoms which certainly correspond to the whole picture of

chronic metritis and its results.



The mode of administration which I have used for Aur. mur. nat. is in

trituration. Generally I have had the patient herself divide into three

parts a 10 gr. powder of the 3d trit., and take one of these dry just

one hour after each meal. But I have also used the 1st and 2d

trituration. The effect cannot be seen before four weeks, hence I seldom

make a further examination before that time. Many women notice a

remarkable increase of the appetite during the use of gold. After the

administration of the 1st trit. I have observed frequent, dark stools.

An increase in the urine with a thick, gray sediment is often seen.* * *



UTERINE DISEASES.



Uterine diseases, according to my experience of many years, make more

marriages unfruitful than all the other known or fancied hindrances to

child-bearing. They can exist many years even with a blooming

appearance, without apparently disturbing the general health, and on

that account are often overlooked and mistaken by physicians themselves,

who are not concerned about gynaecological examinations, or else make

only superficial investigations, not having their eyes at the ends of

their fingers. I beg, therefore, if this communication should give rise

to a more extensive use of Aur. mur. nat., above all things, a

thorough gynaecological examination, not leaving this to the so-called

surgeons and midwives. If women complain of gastric troubles, dizziness,

pain in the loins and back, disturbances of urination or defecation,

with a more or less pronounced hysterical appearance, and withal

purposely or unwittingly deceive themselves and the physician; if, added

to these, leucorrhoea and a sensation as if everything would drop out

of the abdominal cavity, one may say of the patient that her uterus is

diseased, and may base upon that his proposal for an examination, which

will give the correct information of the nature of the malady. As a

rule, every deep-seated, morbid alteration in the uterine tissues

entails suffering upon the nervous system, which, being in such close

relation with the uterus, not seldom apparently suffers the most.



HYSTERIA.



Because the uterus receives its nerves from the sympathetic system,

which governs nutrition, circulation, respiration with distribution of

animal heat, gestation, etc., these functions being out of sight, it is

difficult to get at the root of the matter as regards the uterus in a

suffering woman. Her sensations and fancies offer, according to her

education, organization, etc., a wide field in which to make her a

burden to herself and others. Her mind is generally out of order, she

knows not why. In the more advanced stages of disease, the functions of

the higher nervous system, the organs of sense, and even the mental

activities are disordered. Then appears that chameleon of diseases,

which goes by the name of hysteria, suitable in so far as hysteria

almost without exception takes root in the "hystera" or uterus. I shall

certainly not deny the possibility of primary or purely nervous diseases

of the uterus, hysteria sine materia; I am nevertheless convinced that

in at least nine cases out of ten, hysteria depends upon objective,

sensible, perceptible changes in the uterus. It is these whose existence

I ascertain by a thorough examination, and according to these that I

regulate my treatment; they give me in every case a more certain

starting point than a lengthy account of true and imaginary suffering.

If I find, however, no palpable abnormality in the tissue to remove,

and prescribe Aur. mur. nat. simply as an excellent nervine,

following Niemeyer, it occasionally does good, but generally leaves me

in the lurch.