Other names and synonyms
lac-c.Description Source
Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica - J.H. ClarkePharmacological Group
Description
Bitch s Milk.
Nosology
Arms, varicosis of. вreasts, painful. сhancre. сroup. Diphtheria. Dysmenorrhoea. Epulis. Eyes, affections of. Gonorrhoea. Headache. Ichthyosis. Leucorrhoea. Neuralgia. Ovaries, affections of. Ranula. Rheumatism. Sciatica. Spinal irritation. Stomach, affections of. Syphilis. Throat, sore. Ulcers. Uterus, affections of. Vaccinosis. Varicose veins. Warts.
Typical features
Lac caninum is not a novelty in remedies. Dioscorides, Rhasis, Pliny, and Sextus recommended it for the removal of the dead foetus. Sammonicus and Sextus praise it in photophobia and otitis. Pliny claims that it cures ulceration of the internal os. It was considered an antidote to deadly poisons. Quotation by Hering. Hering adds that the remedy was revived by Reisig, of New York, who used it successfully in the treatment of diphtheria. After Reisig the remedy was used by вayard and Swan, to whose indefatigable exertions we owe the present status of this medicine. Swan s potencies were prepared from Reisig s 17th. The provings were made with the 30th and upwards and are published in a little volume by Swan and вerridge. As in the case of вufo, сastor equi, and other remedies of ancient times, homoeopathy has stepped in to confirm the accuracy of the old observers. In the provings a large number of the symptoms were manifested in the region of the throat, the effects being diagnosed as actual diphtheria in some instances. It is in diphtheria, both as curative and prophylactic that Lac can. has won its greatest fame; and the provings and clinical experience have developed a grand characteristic in this and other affections-an alternation of sides, often very rapid. Soreness of throat commences with a tickling sensation which causes constant cough then a sensation of a lump on one side, causing constant deglutition this condition entirely ceases, only to commence on the opposite side, and often alternates, again returning to its first condition; these sore throats are very apt to begin and end with the menses. This alternation of sides once led me to the cure of an eczematous condition of the eyelids in a child. The child s aunt, who brought her to me, casually remarked that it often left one side entirely and went to the other and then back again. Lac can. cleared it up in a very short time. Rheumatic and other affections having this peculiarity of changing from side to side are very likely to be benefited by Lac can. From diphtheria, with its fetid discharges, it is not a far step to ozaena, and Lac can. has proved itself curative in a number of cases. сorners of mouth and alae nasi cracked. It has cured a case presenting the following characters: сrusts under which grey matter forms. Throat bad, swallowing difficult; mucous follicles swollen, covered with cream-coloured mucus. Nose bad; feared destruction of bones. вloody pus discharges several times a day. вones of nose sore to pressure. In addition to the changing sides characteristics Lac can. has: Inflamed surfaces (of throat) glistening. The same appearance when found on ulcerated surfaces in the skin is a leading indication for Lac can. The mental symptoms are remarkable. One prover had delusions about snakes; imagined she was surrounded by them; was afraid to close her eyes at night for fear of being bitten by a large snake which she imagined was beside the bed. Awoke in the night with a sensation that she was lying on a large snake. After menses, imagined all sorts of things about snakes. These snake-symptoms led to a cure. E. T. вalch (H. P., x. 286) asked for advice in this case: Maud R., 10, demi-brunette, of healthy parents, one and a half years before fell forward and hurt her chest whilst playing. Nothing was thought of it at the time, but when brought to Doctor вalch she was pale, emaciated, capricious, no desire for play. Sleep disturbed by frightful dreams, during the day piteously begs her mother to take her, she is so afraid. She feels as though snakes were on her back. In response to advice tendered one dose of Lac. can. 50m. was given, dry, and in twenty-four hours the child became more lively and cheerful and very soon all abnormal sensations disappeared. Another mental curiosity which has proved a useful pointer is this: Imagines he wears some one else s nose. Restlessness, nervousness, and prostration appear in the provings and show the relation of the remedy to diphtheritic paralysis as well as to diphtheria itself. In one prover the symptoms occurred periodically: to sore throat. Pains in ankles, forehead, and upper jaw were by warmth. Rest and lying down most symptoms; motion , extension by rubbing. Headache first on one side of forehead, then on the other. On going into the cold wind, felt a terrible pain in forehead as if it would split open, on going into warm room. Headache in upper part of forehead, with sensation of a broad band pressed firmly across forehead from one temple to the other. Darting pain across forehead and over eyes. Headache over both eyes, extending back over left ear. Slight pressure on vertex and over eyes, the day before menses ceased. Dull pain in right temple and right eye, with pressure on vertex during menses. Stiffness in occiput on turning head, with soreness on pressure. Occipital headache, with shooting pains extending to forehead. Headache by keeping quiet; confused feeling in head. Intense headache, entirely by cold-water application, but soon returned, not, however, as severe. Pains in head during day, first on one side then on the other; it seems perfectly unbearable; on first going into the air, but soon grows by flexing leg on abdomen. Very acute pain in left groin, extending up left side to crest of ilium; by stool; sometimes the pain is in track of colon. Abdomen swollen, and sensitive to deep pressure, which also = nausea, the nausea passes off when pressure is removed. Felt as though abdomen and chest were firmly compressed all over, as if the skin were contracted. Abdomen very sensitive to pressure and weight of clothes, entirely by removing them, during very profuse menses. Pains in abdomen intermittent. Pain in pelvis, principally over right ovarian region. Headache (left) on first waking, and great pain in pelvis, most marked at right ovary. Pressure from within outwards, as if contents of abdomen would be forced out literally, just above pelvis. Sensation while walking as if abdomen would burst.
Gastrointestinal tract
Frequent desire for stool all through provings. When having a soft passage great tenesmus; rectum does not act as if it had lost power, but as if it could not expel faeces because they are soft, and adhere to the parts like clay. - сonstipation; occasionally natural passages; urgent desire for stool, but passes nothing but wind, or possibly one or two small pieces like sheep-dung; considerable wind in abdomen, with rumbling, but never any pain. Profuse diarrhoea, with colic pain; diarrhoea watery, profuse, coming out with great force. Great constipation before and after menses; bowels very loose (not diarrhoea) during menses.
Urogenital system
Urination causes intense pain in urethra, soon passing off. Sensation after urinating, as if bladder still full; continued desire to urinate. Frequent desire to urinate, which if not immediately attended to causes pain in bladder; a numb, dull sensation; if not by urination it spreads over abdomen and left side to ends of fingers; never in head; would frequently wake at night dreaming of the pain, and would have to urinate to it. - сonstant desire to urinate, passing large quantities frequently; at night she dreams of urinating, and wakes to find an immediate necessity; a less strong and healthy person would probably have wet the bed. Nocturnal enuresis, a specific.
Sexual desire quite marked. R. spermatic cord, low down, sore to touch. - сhancre on prepuce, left side of frenum; penis greatly swollen; chancre like a cauliflower excrescence, red, smooth, and glistening. Small sore at entrance of urethra; parts of glans around urethra an open ulcer, exhaling most fetid smell, and with most excruciating pain; red, glistening appearance. Gonorrhoeal pains, intermittent, in front, middle, or posterior part of urethra; when the gonorrhoea is , catarrh sets in.
Menses scanty; terribly cross and impatient first day; on second day, severe paroxysmal pains in uterine region, causing nausea; occasional pain in left ovarian region, passing about half-way down thigh, on upper part of it; all these pains by bending backwards; pain and aching in right lumbar region when leaning forwards (as in sewing) even for a short time; entire when bending back. Menses scanty at first; with pain in left ovary. Menses very profuse; abdomen very sensitive to pressure and weight of clothes, entire by removing them. Several cases of membranous dysmenorrhoea. Dysmenorrhoea, pain in left groin, with bearing down and nervousness. Leucorrhoea all day, but none at night, even after taking a long walk. Slight leucorrhoea during the day, by a flow of bright-red blood, which lasted an hour, and did not return. In afternoon, intermittent, sharp pains in right ovarian region. - сonstant pain in right ovary. Pain in left ovarian region, and all across lower part of abdomen. Sharp pains beginning in left ovary, and darting like lightning either towards right ovarian region, or else up left side and down arm, or sometimes down both thighs; but generally down left leg to foot, which is numb, pains like labour-pains; accompanied by great restlessness of legs and arms, and great aching in lumbar region; (5th d. after premature labour). Sharp, lancinating pains like knives cutting upward from os uteri, and as these were being relieved, sensation as of needles darting upwards in uterus. Escape of flatus from vagina. Pressure on anterior part of vulva, entire by sitting; sensation as if everything were coming out at vulva; with frequent desire to urinate and smarting in urethra. Itching in left side of labia, with rough eruptive condition on left side of vagina, with acrid leucorrhoea; excoriating severely. Great swelling of left labia, and terrible, pain while urinating; (from gonorrhoea). Itching of vulva. Intense painful soreness of vulva, extending to anus, coming on very suddenly about noon, and lasting for about two hours; came on again during evening; could not walk, stand, or sit; by lying on., back and separating the knees as far as possible. Raw and bad-smelling sores between labia and thighs, in folds of skin;
Sexual desire quite marked. R. spermatic cord, low down, sore to touch. - сhancre on prepuce, left side of frenum; penis greatly swollen; chancre like a cauliflower excrescence, red, smooth, and glistening. Small sore at entrance of urethra; parts of glans around urethra an open ulcer, exhaling most fetid smell, and with most excruciating pain; red, glistening appearance. Gonorrhoeal pains, intermittent, in front, middle, or posterior part of urethra; when the gonorrhoea is , catarrh sets in.
Menses scanty; terribly cross and impatient first day; on second day, severe paroxysmal pains in uterine region, causing nausea; occasional pain in left ovarian region, passing about half-way down thigh, on upper part of it; all these pains by bending backwards; pain and aching in right lumbar region when leaning forwards (as in sewing) even for a short time; entire when bending back. Menses scanty at first; with pain in left ovary. Menses very profuse; abdomen very sensitive to pressure and weight of clothes, entire by removing them. Several cases of membranous dysmenorrhoea. Dysmenorrhoea, pain in left groin, with bearing down and nervousness. Leucorrhoea all day, but none at night, even after taking a long walk. Slight leucorrhoea during the day, by a flow of bright-red blood, which lasted an hour, and did not return. In afternoon, intermittent, sharp pains in right ovarian region. - сonstant pain in right ovary. Pain in left ovarian region, and all across lower part of abdomen. Sharp pains beginning in left ovary, and darting like lightning either towards right ovarian region, or else up left side and down arm, or sometimes down both thighs; but generally down left leg to foot, which is numb, pains like labour-pains; accompanied by great restlessness of legs and arms, and great aching in lumbar region; (5th d. after premature labour). Sharp, lancinating pains like knives cutting upward from os uteri, and as these were being relieved, sensation as of needles darting upwards in uterus. Escape of flatus from vagina. Pressure on anterior part of vulva, entire by sitting; sensation as if everything were coming out at vulva; with frequent desire to urinate and smarting in urethra. Itching in left side of labia, with rough eruptive condition on left side of vagina, with acrid leucorrhoea; excoriating severely. Great swelling of left labia, and terrible, pain while urinating; (from gonorrhoea). Itching of vulva. Intense painful soreness of vulva, extending to anus, coming on very suddenly about noon, and lasting for about two hours; came on again during evening; could not walk, stand, or sit; by lying on., back and separating the knees as far as possible. Raw and bad-smelling sores between labia and thighs, in folds of skin;
Chest organs
Slight hoarseness, with now and then a change of voice, after waking, but soon passing away. - сough from tickling in upper anterior part of larynx,.
Terrible dyspnoea immediately after sleep, first on left side of chest; the dyspnoea compelled her to be lifted upright with violent exertion to get breath; there was sharp pain in region of heart with each of these attacks; after the medicine had but one attack of dyspnoea, and all the pain was referred to right side of chest (acute rheumatism). Lungs feel as though fast to chest,.
Terrible dyspnoea immediately after sleep, first on left side of chest; the dyspnoea compelled her to be lifted upright with violent exertion to get breath; there was sharp pain in region of heart with each of these attacks; after the medicine had but one attack of dyspnoea, and all the pain was referred to right side of chest (acute rheumatism). Lungs feel as though fast to chest,.
Cardiovascular system
Palpitation of heart, irregular, causing shortness of breath.
Limbs and spine
Neck stiff (rheumatism, neuralgic headache; diphtheria). Sharp neuralgic pain under right scapula. Lameness and cutting pain under left scapula, by leaning back. Pain in sacrum by leaning back, with weakness; this pain extended around left side of pelvis (leaving the back) to inside of thigh followed by a bloody leucorrhoeal discharge after six hours, which came all at once, leaving labia extremely sensitive. Spine aches from base of brain to coccyx (pharyngitis).
Aching pains in limbs and back. Rheumatism beginning in soles flying from joint to joint and side to side,.
Painful swelling and hardness, with suppuration of left axillary gland; menses came on at same time. Pains down right arm and in fingers, which feel cramped; does not seem to have the same power in right hand. From draught in evening, sudden, violent pains in right shoulder, so much so that when retiring she could not raise arm to finish toilet, as if disabled by dislocation. Right wrist lame and painful. Sharp, shooting pains in ball of right thumb. Sharp pain round left arm, as of a cutting instrument; felt principally at the vaccination-cicatrix; passed from thence to left elbow and disappeared; (forty-five minutes after first dose. Trembling of left hand, as in paralysis agitans. Woke at night feeling very chilly, with sharp pain in left hand, and sensation in left arm as if asleep; lasting fifteen minutes. Palms and soles burning hot. Two warts on little finger noticed to be leaving. Painful eruption on axillae, like moist herpes, exceedingly painful on washing them. Veins in hands look bluer than usual, they are swollen. Sensation as if an insect were crawling on shoulders and neck, occasionally on hands. Perspiration in axillae, stains linen bright orange colour, no smell. Very fetid perspiration in axillae, staining linen brown. Wrists very lame, especially right, which has sharp pains passing from thumb to little finger.
A few days before menses, inside of both thighs became raw and painful when walking, they then broke out with large, flat, red pimples; the soreness soon left; but the pimples remained. Varicose veins on outer right thigh, from hip to knee. Sensation of numbness in left leg with great heat as if burning, but cool to touch; brought on by pressure. Stiffness through thighs, flexing it on abdomen. Numb pains chiefly in ankles, while extreme heat is applied (rheumatism). Ecthyma: on right leg.
Aching pains in limbs and back. Rheumatism beginning in soles flying from joint to joint and side to side,.
Painful swelling and hardness, with suppuration of left axillary gland; menses came on at same time. Pains down right arm and in fingers, which feel cramped; does not seem to have the same power in right hand. From draught in evening, sudden, violent pains in right shoulder, so much so that when retiring she could not raise arm to finish toilet, as if disabled by dislocation. Right wrist lame and painful. Sharp, shooting pains in ball of right thumb. Sharp pain round left arm, as of a cutting instrument; felt principally at the vaccination-cicatrix; passed from thence to left elbow and disappeared; (forty-five minutes after first dose. Trembling of left hand, as in paralysis agitans. Woke at night feeling very chilly, with sharp pain in left hand, and sensation in left arm as if asleep; lasting fifteen minutes. Palms and soles burning hot. Two warts on little finger noticed to be leaving. Painful eruption on axillae, like moist herpes, exceedingly painful on washing them. Veins in hands look bluer than usual, they are swollen. Sensation as if an insect were crawling on shoulders and neck, occasionally on hands. Perspiration in axillae, stains linen bright orange colour, no smell. Very fetid perspiration in axillae, staining linen brown. Wrists very lame, especially right, which has sharp pains passing from thumb to little finger.
A few days before menses, inside of both thighs became raw and painful when walking, they then broke out with large, flat, red pimples; the soreness soon left; but the pimples remained. Varicose veins on outer right thigh, from hip to knee. Sensation of numbness in left leg with great heat as if burning, but cool to touch; brought on by pressure. Stiffness through thighs, flexing it on abdomen. Numb pains chiefly in ankles, while extreme heat is applied (rheumatism). Ecthyma: on right leg.
Skin
Sensation as if an insect was crawling on shoulders and neck, occasionally on both hands. Herpetic eruption in both axillae, with light brownish scab, extremely painful when washing; eruption most in right axilla, and in both instances appeared previous to pain in labiae, which was followed by a discharge of blood from vagina. Every scratch gets sore. Icthyosis, with branlike desquamation of skin. Shining, glazed, and red appearance of ulcers on shin and wrist (syphilis). - сrusts on skin, under which greyish yellow matter formed and was squeezed out.
Sleep
Great desire to sleep (diphtheria). - сried out and talked in sleep (diphtheria). - сannot find any comfortable position in bed; there is no way that she can put her hands that they do not bother her; falls asleep at last on her face. Dreamed a large snake was in bed (tonsillitis). Got to sleep late; profuse sweat during sleep; felt feverish all night; in morning in every way. At night lies with left leg flexed on thigh, and thigh on pelvis; restless;
Fever
Chilly feeling lasting all day. Internal chilliness with external warmth. - сold chills run down back, hands as cold as ice (on entering house 4 ; 6.30 entire after a good dinner). Fever and chills for a few days, and up and down every few hours. Intense fever on waking in morning, with perspiration. Dry, hot skin (diphtheria). Exhausting sweats; after sleep. Wakes at night in cold perspiration, with fearful foreboding (metritis). Perspired considerably through night, sweat having a rank smell (acute rheumatism).