Mercurius dulcis
Mercury(I) chloride (calomel, Hg2Cl2) · Hydrargyrum chloratum,Mercurous chloride, calomel. · Mineral
Apprehension, restlessness, and agitation are common in those for whom Merc. dulc. is most suitable.
Key symptoms associated with the remedy include catarrhal inflammation in the ears and eustachian tubes, leading to deafness and glue ear. The condition is predominant in children, and Merc. dulc. is particularly appropriate for those who appear pale and ill-nourished.
Key symptoms
- Eustachian catarrh and deafness; otitis media in scrofulous children
- Membrana tympani retracted, thickened, and immovable
- Diarrhea with soreness and burning of anus
- Scanty stools of mucus and blood covered with bile; dysentery
- Offensive breath; black tongue; constant flow of dark putrid saliva
- Flabby and ill-nourished skin; swollen glands; phagedenic ulcers
- Dropsies due to combined renal and cardiac diseases especially with jaundice
Worse (aggravation)
Better (amelioration)
Calomel
Has marked effect on catarrhal inflammation of ear, and useful in Eustachian catarrh, deafness. Diarrhœa, with soreness of anus. Prostatitis. Remittent bilious attacks. Pallor, flabby bloatedness, and turgid flaccidity. Inflammation with plastic exudate. Especially indicated in systems disposed to remittent bilious fevers; in peritonitis and meningitis with plastic exudate. Dropsies due to combined renal and cardiac diseases, especially with jaundice (Hale). Cirrhosis of the liver, especially in the hypertrophic form. Use 1x (Jousset).
Ears
Otitis media; closure of Eustachian tube; ear troubles of scrofulous children; membrana tympani retracted, thickened and immovable.
Mouth
Offensive breath; salivation; sore gums. Ulcers. Tongue black. Constant flow of dark, putrid saliva; very offensive. Ulceration of throat, with dysphagia. Granular pharyngitis.
Stomach
Nausea and vomiting. Cyclic vomiting of infants (Cup ars; Iris).
Stool
Scanty, bloody mucus, with bile, and constant desire, without tenesmus. Dark-green, watery, with griping. Anus sore and burning. Dysentery; small stools of mucus and blood, covered with bile.
Skin
Flabby and ill nourished. Swollen glands. Phagedenic ulcers. Copper-colored eruptions.
Relationship
Compare: Kali mur.
Dose
Third to sixth trituration. For palliative (non-homeopathic) purposes, to secure evacuation of bowels, two or three-grain doses of first decimal trituration, repeated several times every hour.
Subchloride of Mercury. Calomel. Mercurous chloride. HgCl. Trituration.
Clinical
Catarrh. Condylomata. Conjunctivitis. Deafness. Diarrhœa. Eustachian tube, affections of. Gastro-malachia. Meningitis. Peritonitis, plastic. Prostatitis. Throat, sore.
Characteristics
Merc. dulc. is responsible for a large amount of the mercurialisation of the past and for some of the present. As a comparatively mild and slow-acting form of mercurial, it has none of the corrosive effects of the perchloride, but it has all the power of the metal in it nevertheless, and it has had its own share of disasters. For constipation and any affection which could be ascribed to the liver, blue pill was at one time about the only recognised remedy. Some homœopaths have adopted a modification of this by prescribing Merc. dulc. 1x in two- or three-grain doses as a direct purgative. But as Merc. dulc. has caused both constipation and diarrhœa, it is probable that the action is roughly homœopathic. The Schema is made up for the most part of …
Calomel. (Hg2Cl2.)
Catarrhal affections of mucous membranes, especially of the eye and ear. Catarrhal inflammation of middle ear (Kali m.). Eustachian tube closed; catarrhal deafness and otorrhoea in psoric children; deafness of old age (Kali m.). Acute affections of prostrate after maltreated stricture. Deafness and catarrhal affections of nares, throat, and pharynx, from mercurial amalgam fillings. Diarrhoea: of children; stools grass-green; like chopped eggs; profuse, causing soreness of anus.
Hearing and Ears
Catarrhal deafness or inflammation of middle ear; Eustachian tube closed. (Kali mur.).
Phatak's chapter on Mercurius dulcis is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
