Mercurius iodatus ruber
Mercury(II) iodide (mercuric iodide, red) · Mineral
The Mercurius Iodatus Ruber patient presents with severe throat conditions particularly on the left side, with dark red fauces and marked glandular involvement. It suits old syphilitic cases in scrofulous patients and early stages of cold in children. The tonsils and neck glands are prominently involved.
Key symptoms
- Diphtheria and ulcerated sore throats especially on left side
- Fauces dark red with painful swallowing
- Much glandular swelling with throat complaints
- Stiffness of muscles of throat and neck
- Chronic suppurating buboes
- Hard chancres and syphilitic ulcers
- Turbinated bones swollen with boggy mucous membranes
- Scalded feeling on tongue; profuse saliva
Worse (aggravation)
- Left side (throat symptoms)
Bin-iodide of Mercury
Diphtheria and ulcerated sore throats, especially on left side, with much glandular swelling. Chronic suppurating buboes. Hard chancres. Old cases of syphilis in scrofulous patients. Early stages of cold, especially in children.
Throat
Fauces dark red; swallowing painful. Phlegm in nose and throat. Disposition to hawk, with sensation of a lump in throat. Stiffness of muscles of throat and neck.
Nose
Coryza and dull hearing; right side of nose hot. Hawks mucus from posterior nares. Turbinated bones swollen. Boggy mucus membrane of nose and throat; closure of Eustachian tube, opening with a pop.
Mouth
Gums swollen; toothache; glands swollen. Scalded feeling on tongue. Aphthæ. Profuse saliva. Tongue feels stiff at base, and pains on moving.
Throat
Diphtheria; submaxillary glands painfully engorged, fauces dark red; worse on left tonsil. Parenchymatous tonsillitis. Will often abort peritonsillitis if given frequently. Cough form elongated uvula, with sore throat, Laryngeal troubles with aphonia.
Skin
Small fissures and cracks; hard papules; Hunterian chancre; syphilitic ulcers. Bubo. Sarcocele.
Dose
Third trituration. Mercuric iodide is far more active as a bactericide than the other mercurials, including the chloride.
Again, if in a Merc. patient with diphtheria, tonsillitis, etc., the inflammation and pain begin on the leftside, and incline to remain there or spread to the right, the bin-iodide is indicated.
These two iodides have more rapid and greater induration beneath ulcers and chancres than Merc., and in old syphilitics the iodides are sometimes more useful.
Phatak's chapter on Mercurius iodatus ruber is available in the app.
Read Phatak in the appClassical texts are in the public domain. Educational reference only — not medical advice.
