Helix tosta
Cornu aspersum (roasted snail) · Animal
Indicated in patients of tubercular diathesis with haemoptysis, persistent hoarseness, and night cough that prevents sleep. The remedy was found useful when well-indicated remedies had failed to check the progress of pulmonary tuberculosis, particularly when haemorrhage set in. Constitutional tuberculosis with respiratory hemorrhage is the central clinical picture.
Key symptoms
- Haemoptysis with continuous hoarseness
- Dry, tickling cough worse at night preventing sleep
- Dyspnoea worse on ascending stairs
- Phthisis in patients of tubercular diathesis
- Cough and expectoration gradually improving under treatment
- Haemorrhage checking promptly with the remedy
Worse (aggravation)
- Cough worse at night
- Dyspnoea worse ascending stairs
Toasted snail. N. O. Helicidæ. Trituration.
Clinical
Hæmoptysis. Phthisis.
Characteristics
Snails have a traditional virtue in curing consumption, and homœopaths have put the remedy to the test by potentising it. W. H. Leonard (Med. Adv., xxii. 310) reports two cases cured with Helix t. c.m. (1) A gentleman had frequent attacks of hæmoptysis. Continuous hoarseness; dry, tickling cough; < at night, preventing sleep; dyspnœa, < ascending stairs. He had already had all the usual remedies. Helix tost. c.m., three powders given. There was no more hæmorrhage. A few weeks later a return was feared and a few more doses were given. Four months later the patient was greatly improved in health and remained well. (2) A lady of tubercular diathesis developed the disease after confinement. Several well-indicated remedies failed to check its progress. At length hæmorrhage set in. Helix was given as in the other case with prompt effect. Hæmorrhage ceased; cough and expectoration gradually improved, and in eight months the patient was well and remained so.
Classical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
