Pic. ac.
was discovered by Hausman in 1788. It is formed by the action of Nitric
acid on Carbolic acid, Salicin, Silk, and
many other substances. It crystallises in bright yellow needles or scales, of very bitter
taste, sparingly soluble in water. The yellow colour is imparted to the eyes and skins of
patients who take it in the crude, and it not only produces a semblance of jaundice, but
actually disorganises the liver if pushed. In some experiments by Parisel (C. D. P.) these symptoms were observed: Buzzing and whistling in
ears; sparks, whirling round of objects; heaviness of head alternately with sense of
emptiness. Moderately copious, oily-looking, yellowish
stool, with > of cerebral symptoms. Pulse slow,
small, very feeble. Great weakness, compelling to lie down;
limbs hardly able to stir themselves; no anxiety,
profound calm. Vivid colouration of sclerotics and integuments;
urine coloured blood-red. These were effects of 0.5 grm. doses. Slow poisoning
set up an intermittent fever of quotidian type, and "anorexia, thirst, often sweat, cancerous tint about skin, tendency to cachexia." These
observations give the chief features of the drug's action: Fatigue, mental and bodily;
symptoms < by least exertion fatigue going into
actual paralysis; brain fatigue, nerve fatigue at the same time absence of anxiety─indifference.
Like so many other yellow substances, Pic. ac. acts powerfully on the liver, and produces jaundice,
cachexia, and cancerous tints. "Tired-out, washed-out feeling─must
give in," is the chief keynote of Pic. ac. and its
salts. Nash cured promptly with Pic. ac. 6 trit. an old
man who had been failing for a year, and complained of heaviness in the occiput, inability
to exert the mind, talk, or think, and general "played-out" feeling. Nash had
feared brain softening. Halbert (Clinique, September,
1898) reports a case illustrating the power of Pic. ac.
over the effects of fatigue in professional neuroses. A stenographer and typewriter after
using her right index finger continuously for six years, noticed weakness of her thumb and
index, and inability to hold pen or pencil. Next there was difficulty in striking correctly
the keys of the typewriter and some wrist-drop. The finger when Halbert first saw her was
quite rigid and straight, showing extreme spasticity. Massage, electricity, &c., had
failed to give any relief. Pic. ac. 3x six times daily
cured the case and made great improvement in the patient's general health. Evans has found
it Curative in girls and young women who, under the strain of many studies, show signs of
breaking down─lose appetite─sleep lightly and lie
awake (Pic. ac. 30 caused
a patient of mine, previously a good sleeper, to lie awake a long time at nights.─J.
H. C.), exhaustion after the day's studies, fatigue even from a short walk, twitchings of
muscles when asleep or awake; hysterical state, loss of will power; constant headache,
irregular menses. Such patients are usually given iron, which does little or no good. Pic. ac. and its compounds are among the most powerful explosives
known, lyddite being an example. Pic. ac., like Glon., has occipital headaches and bursting
headaches. The headache, frontal or occipital, is <
on any attempt to use the mind, and it may extend down the spine. There is also a headache
extending from the top of the spine up over the head to the eyes. In a case of spinal
irritation I relieved with Pic. ac. 30 a pain which shot
up from the spine into the head. The pains referable to the spinal cord are strongly marked.
Any attempt to study = burning along spine; with great
weakness of back and legs; soreness of muscles and joints. To the spinal congestion must be
attributed the remarkable disturbance in the sexual sphere: Priapism; penis distended almost
to bursting. Terrible erections, disturbing sleep. When over-excitement of sexual system is
associated with spinal or cerebellar affections in either sex. Great sexual desire with
emissions. Amorous fancies. On the skin Pic. ac.
produces jaundice with itching; small painful furuncles, particularly in the auditory
meatus; and erythema and pruritus of abdomen and feet. Théry of Paris accidentally
discovered in Pic. ac. solution a remedy for burns. He
twice dropped burning matter on his hands whilst working with a Pic.
ac. disinfectant, and was astonished at the absence of pain or injury. From that
date Pic. ac. became his principal remedy for burns, and
though others have complained that it caused violent pains, Théry has only once in some
thousands of cases had to abandon its use on that account. A. C. Blackwood (Clinique, October, 1898, H. W.,
xxxiv. 133) gives the details of its use. Burns of the first and second degree only are
suitable. A saturated solution (Pic. ac. gr. xc to
alcohol three ounces) diluted with one quart of water is used. The clothing is removed and
the burnt surface cleansed with the solution and absorbent cotton. Blisters are opened but
the epithelial covering is carefully preserved. If extensive, the whole surface may be
bathed with the solution, and strips of sterilised gauze soaked and applied to entirely
cover it, a layer of absorbent cotton held with a light bandage over all. After three or
four days the dressing is removed carefully after thorough moistening, as it adheres
closely. The second dressing is applied as at first, and allowed to remain a week. Blackwood
finds it painless, anodyne, antiseptic, preventing inflammation and suppuration and septic
poisoning. It coagulates the albuminous exudation, and healing takes place under the
coagulum. The staining of the hands and linen caused by the dressing can be removed by Boracic acid. Gaucher (Sem. Méd.,
May 26, 1897) has removed acute vesicular eczema by the same treatment. The skin and kidneys
are intimately related, and Pic. ac. has a powerful
action on the latter. Among other affections it has cured diabetes. Halbert (Clinique, quoted H. W.,
xxxiv. 542) reports this case-Mrs, C., 49, had "nervous prostration" since the
shock of the loss of a child three years before. Wasting with great appetite. Intense thirst
and copious urination, especially at night. Great perspiration and some jaundice. Heart
flabby, mitral bruit, dyspnœa; emaciation, anæmia, exhaustion. Urine 1040, 7 1/2 per cent.
of sugar and some albumen. Pic. ac. 6x six times daily.
Rapid and continuous improvement followed. Kent (H. P.,
viii. 168) says Pic. ac. cures fig-warts and gonorrhœa;
he was led to infer its relation thereto by its power over pernicious anæmia, which he has
often traced to a gonorrhœal base. Pic. ac. is suited to dark complexioned persons, with dirty appearance about
knuckles (from bile pigments); anæmic and cachectic persons; worn-out persons, overtaxed
mentally and bodily. Peculiar sensations are: As if
sand, or sticks, in eyes. As if throat would split. As if legs enclosed in elastic
stockings; as if chest encircled in a tight band. Pricking as from needles in legs. As of a
lump back of thyroid cartilage. As if stairs or ground coming up to meet him. As of ants
crawling over surface. Nose-bleed accompanies heat and congestion of head. Heaviness of head
alternates with emptiness. The right upper part of the body is more affected than the left,
the left leg more than the right. Touch < pimples.
The headache is > by binding head tightly; > by rest; lying down. <
By motion; walking; raising head; sitting up; stooping; ascending stairs. < By study or slightest mental exertion. The throat is > by eating; < empty
swallowing. Turning over, and turning the head <
headache. < Morning; 5 a.m. nausea. Open air and cold
room > headache. Work in open air = prostration. Wet weather <
pains. > From cold air and water. Chilliness
predominates. Lamplight, strong light, moving eye <
pain in eyes. During and after micturition, burning.