Ferrum Metallicum

by H. C. Allen

Iron. (The Element.)

Ferrum Metallicum suited for Persons of sanguine temperament;; pettish, quarrelsome, disputative, easily excited, least contradiction angers ( Anacardium, Cocculus indicus, Ignatia ); > mental exertion.

Irritability: slight noises like crackling of paper drive him to despair ( Asarum europaeum, Tar. ).

Women who are weak, delicate, chlorotic, yet have a fiery red face.

Extreme paleness of the face, lips and mucous membranes which becomes red and flushed on the least pain, emotion or exertion. Blushing ( Amyl., Coca. ).

Erethitic chlorosis, worse in winter.

Red parts become white; face, lips, tongue and mucous membrane of mouth.

Vertigo: with balancing sensation,, as if on water; on seeing flowing water; when walking over water, as when crossing a bridge ( Lyssinum ); on descending ( Borax, Sanicula ).

Ferrum Metallicum Headache: hammering, beating, pulsating pains, must lie down; with aversion to eating or drinking. For two, three or four days every two or three weeks.

Ferrum Metallicum Menses: too early, too profuse, too long lasting, with fiery red face; ringing in the ears; intermit two or three days and then return; flow pale, watery, debilitating.

Haemorrhagic diathesis; blood bright red, coagulates easily ( Ferrum p., Ipecac., Phosphorus ).

Regurgitation and eructation of food in mouthfuls ( Alumina ). without nausea.

Canine hunger, or loss of appetite, with extreme dislike for all food.

Vomiting: immediately after midnight; of ingesta, as soon as food is eaten; leaves table suddenly and with one effort vomits everything eaten, can sit down and eat again; sour, acid ( Lycopodium, Acid sulphuricum ).

Diarrhoea: undigested stools at night, or while eating or drinking ( Croton tiglium ); painless with a good appetite; of consumptives [Compare Kent’s Lectures].

Constipation: from intestinal atony; ineffectual urging; stools hard, difficult, followed by backache or cramping pain in rectum; prolapsus recti of children; itching on anus at night.

Always feels better by walking slowly about, although weakness obliges the patient to lie down.

Cough only in the day time ( Euphr. ); relieved by lying down; > by eating ( Spongia ).

Dropsy; after loss of vital fluids; abuse of quinine; suppressed intermittent ( Carbo vegetabilis, Cinchona ).

Ferrum Metallicum Relations. – Complementary: to, Alumina, Cinchona

Cinchona : the vegetable analogue follows well in nearly all diseases, acute or chronic.

Should never be given in syphilis; always aggravates the condition.

Aggravation. – At night; at rest, especially while sitting still.

Amelioration. – Walking slowly about; in summer.