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The gastric distress comes soon after eating with sensation of
a lump or load in stomach, with ineffectual efforts to eructate.
Enormous distention of the abdomen. Pulsatilla also has a sensation
of lump in stomach, although it is located mostly at the end of
oesophagus as though food had lodged there. Nux vomica as from a
stone in the morning, or immediately after eating. Kali carb, bloating
with feeling of lump in pit of stomach and sour eructations. Abis
niger, feeling of hard-boiled egg in pit of stomach. Both Argentum
nit and Nux vomica have ineffectual urge to eructate. Argentum nit
has a decided craving for sweets, which aggravate. Pulsatilla has
discraving for sweets, while Zinc has aversion to sweets, with a
sweetish taste in the mouth.
Allen speaks of Argentum nit as unrivalled for the gastritis of
drunkards. Here it may be differentiated from Nux vomica by the
difference in temperament. Cadmium sulph has persistent vomiting
of drunkards with burning in the stomach, cannot retain even water.
Fluoric ac, bilious vomiting of drunkards with diarrhoea and resembles
Nux vomica in that it has a craving for seasoned foods. Selenium,
headache of debauches, better from additional alcohol.
The stool of Argentum nit is usually of a diarrhoeic nature, green
looking, like chopped spinach; sometimes containing undigested food;
offensive; passed with noise and flatulence and forcible spluttering.
Worse from sweets, drinking water, mental excitement, worry or shock.
Aconite also has green stools, as has Mercurius viv, Nitric acid,
and Sepia, but none have the characteristic "chopped spinach" stool.
Aconite has diarrhoea from fright, as has Gelsemium, Pulsatilla
and Ignatia. Argentum nit is of value in both acute and chronic
diarrhoea, and here resembles Kali carb, Natrum mur, Phosphoric
acid and Sulphur.
Argentum nit has been much used in ophthalmia neonatorum. Also
it of value in specific urethritis, which is frequently the cause
of ophthalmia. Willard I. Pierce stated many years ago that even
then the old school advised against the use of injections of nitrate
of sliver early in gonorrheal infections, due to its irritable nature.
The inner canthi are red and swollen; abundant, purulent discharge.
Here it resembles Hepar sulph, Graphites, Mercurius cor, Pulsatilla
and Staphysagria. It might be mentioned that Natrum mur in potency
internally is a valuable remedy in cases that have been abused by
the local application of silver nitrate.
In gonorrhoea Argentum nit is of value when there is profuse purulent
discharge, with cutting and characteristic splinter-like pains,
with occasional blood in the urine. Here it resembles Cannabis sat,
the later not having the characteristic stitching pains. Cantharis
has bloody urine but lacks the stitching pains. Apis, stinging pains
with strangury, Clematis, great burning on beginning to urinate,
especially referred to the glans. Copaiva, great dysuria entire
length of urethra; great effort to pass urine. Cubeba, cutting in
urethra, with smarting, but little purulent discharge.
Don't forget Argentum nit in post-diphtheritic paralysis, and here
must be studied Causticum, Conium, Natrum mur, Phosphorus and Naja.
In paralysis of the lungs following diphtheria it resembles Gelsemium.
Lachesis and Opium.
Argentum nit has been of value in angina pectoris where there is
precordial pain, free of suffocation, and the sensation of a band
round the chest Here it resembles Cactus, but is differentiated
by the fact that Cactus has a sensation as if the heart itself had
been squeezed rather than the chest wall. Lachesis has intolerance
to the clothing or any weight on the chest rather than the band
sensation. Its pain does not radiate to the left arm as in Spigelia
and Cactus. Lilium tig also has a sensation as if the heart were
grasped.
While this paper is far from complete, I hope in a measure it will
assist in clarifying related remedies, Argentum nit being one of
the most valuable remedies of our Materia Medica.
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