Ter.
was introduced to homœopathy by Hartlaub. A proving of it appeared in Hartlaub and Trinks' Annalen. Many symptoms have been added from poisonings and
overdosings in old-school practice. According to Taylor, children are particularly sensitive
to its action. Illness caused by sleeping in newly painted rooms is due in great part to the
turpentine. "A stimulant and tonic to the mucous membranes, especially of the bladder
and urethra: it proves useful in gleet, leucorrhœa, and cystorrhœa." This is Milnes'
account of the old-school use of Ter. as an internal
remedy. Brunton gives these points: (1) Applied to the
skin Ter. acts as an irritant and rubefacient, causing a
sensation of burning, and vesicles if applied for any length of time. (2) Inhaled it causes sneezing, tightness across eyes, and
dyspnœa. (3) Given internally it causes burning in
mouth and salivation; in stomach, sensation of heat or cold; gastro-enteritis, with vomiting
and diarrhœa; ulceration of intestines. The pulse is sometimes slowed, sometimes quickened.
Respiration is quickened and spasmodic; the drug is partly excreted by the lungs and acts on
the mucous membrane, lessening its secretion. The temperature sometimes rises, sometimes
falls. Voluntary movement is diminished; reflex action lowered; blood-pressure lowered, and
vessels dilated. Diminishes the quantity of urine; gives the urine an odour of violets;
causes lumbar pain, burning in urethra, painful micturition, hæmaturia. Among the uses of Ter., Brunton mentions the treatment of biliary colic. For this
it is given in ether in the proportion of one part of the Oil of Turpentine to three of
Ether. Homœopaths have confirmed the value of this. Throughout this list of effects burning is a constant note, and gives the key to many cases
calling for Ter.─burning in gums,
tongue, tip of tongue, mouth, throat, stomach, rectum, and anus, kidneys, bladder, and
urethra, uterus, air passages, chest, and sternum. The last was particularly noticed after
warm drinks, the pain running along the sternum with the drink and spreading in the chest.
Burning extends from kidneys along ureters. Ter. is an
irritative, sensitive remedy. Cooper has found it indicated in children (especially teething
children) when they fly into passions. There is irritation of the meninges and often
ascarides or other intestinal worms. In one case of maniacal fury in a man it did good. This
irritability manifests itself in some cases of spasms and convulsions, and Lippe observed a
case in point (H. P., x. 480). A woman had made her feet
sore by walking, and applied turpentine to them. This was followed by a state like
hydrophobia; she had spasms whenever she saw water or heard it poured, or saw a bright
object; and also whenever she attempted to urinate. Ter.
is a great hæmorrhagic and its hæmaturia is particularly characteristic: Smoky, turbid
urine depositing a sediment like coffee-grounds. Dull pain, or burning pain in region of
kidneys, burning during micturition are leading indications. Ter.
corresponds to many cases of albuminuria and hæmaturia after scarlatina; and also to the
consequent dropsy. This last may indicate Ter. in many
affections of the genito-urinary sphere. "Burning in uterus" is very
characteristic. Peritonitis, metritis, metrorrhagia will probably need Ter. if the burning is present. The hæmorrhages of Ter. are generally passive; dark, and fetid. Purpura
hæmorrhagica calls for it if there are fresh ecchymoses in great numbers from day to day.
The hæmorrhages may occur from any orifice. Additional keynotes of Ter.,
which will be decisive if combined with others, are: (1)
Smooth, glossy, red tongue, as if deprived of papillæ. (2)
Excessive tympanites. (3) Drowsiness. In capillary
bronchitis, the child is drowsy. Stupor and great weakness are found in many Ter. conditions, rendering it appropriate in cases of typhus,
typhoid, and uræmic poisoning. "Drowsy with retention of urine." With the
tympanites there is generally extreme sensitiveness to touch. With cystitis and uro-genital
and rectal troubles there is sensitiveness of hypogastrium and pains in symphysis pubis.
Pains go from left to right across bowels and then shoot upward. From being exposed to
turpentine odour, a lady, 35, got pain as from pinchings in the throat, with lifeless
feeling in the tongue and dryness of the mouth, followed by pains in r. eyeball, which
extended back to same side of occiput (Cooper). S. H. Roberts (B.
M. J., Dec. 25, 1875) maintains Ter. has a
specific effect in tonsillitis when applied externally. Marc Jousset gave Ter. 1x with marked benefit in two cases of bronchial asthma. He
was led to give it in the first case by coincident hæmaturia; but this was not present in
the second (L'Art Méd., April, 1901). A remedy may be
known by its antidotes and antidotal properties. Ter.
antidotes and is antidoted by Phos. A young man who was
badly poisoned by a low attenuation of Phos. got more
relief from Ter. 3x than from any other remedy. Brunton
says it is only Ozonised Ter. that is effective here.
The preparation I used was the ordinary one. Hering says the ozonised oil is recommended as
a prophylactic in malarial and African fevers, a few drops being given daily on a lump of
sugar. George Royal (Med. Cent., ix. 70) gives three
cases illustrating the action of Ter.: (1) Typhoid, third week, in man 24. Extreme distension, rapid,
small, compressible pulse, cold sweat in lower limbs. Ter.
6x two drops in water every half-hour. Oil of Ter. was
applied locally to the abdomen mixed with lard, and later in the evening, when there was
already slight improvement, an injection containing turpentine was administered. This
relieved the patient of a large quantity of flatus, and next morning he was on the high-road
to recovery. (2) Pyæmia after abortion at third month,
brought on by patient herself. Enormous distension; lower limbs covered with cold sweat;
lochia thin, scanty, offensive. Ter. given in another
case brought about slow improvement for three days, when Chi.
30 was indicated and finished the cure. (3) Teamster,
36, had severe nephritis after being out in cold rain. Constant desire to urinate, severe
pain in back, down ureter, to bladder; urine scanty, very high-coloured. Temperature 102°.
Pulse weak, 130. Ter. 6x every half-hour; and hot
fomentations on kidneys greatly relieved. After three days he was able to leave his bed.
Royal considers cold sweat of lower limbs, and rapid pulse with the distension, as leading
indications. A keynote of Burnett's for Ter. is:
"Pains in the bowels which = frequent
micturition." Peculiar Sensations are: As if he
would pitch forward on walking As of a band round head. As if sand thrown violently in eye.
As of a seashell sounding in l. ear. In ear as of striking of a clock. As from hasty
swallowing in epigastrium. As if he had swallowed a bullet, which had lodged in pit of
stomach. Sense of anxiety and utter prostration about epigastrium. Umbilical region as if
covered with a round, cold plate. As if intestines were being drawn towards spine. As if
abdomen distended with flatus. As if diarrhœa would set in. As if inguinal hernia would
appear. As if symphysis pubis were suddenly forced asunder. As if foreign body had entered
windpipe. As from electric shocks. Twitching of limbs. Crawling tingling as if parts were
asleep. As if hot water running through a tube in nerve. Sprained pains, contusive pains,
and rheumatic pains appear in the pathogenesis, and notably pressure and drawing pains.
These show the suitability of Ter. to the effects of
injury and rheumatic conditions. It is on this property that certain popular embrocations
containing turpentine owe their reputation. Ter. is
specially Suited to: Children (dentition, nose-bleed,
worms). Bleeders. Nervous women (amenorrhœa; dysmenorrhœa; headache). Complaints of old
people; of people of sedentary habits. Chronic rheumatism and gouty complaints. The symptoms
are: < By touch. <
By pressure (in region of bladder it = convulsions).
Effects of falls and injuries. < Lying on left side, > turning to right. Sitting <.
Stooping >. Motion >.
(Pain in crest of ilium < from motion and least jar.)
Walking in open air <. <
Night; 1-3 a.m. Damp dwellings <. Damp cellar = diarrhœa. Damp weather =
neuralgia in legs. (Ter. is hydrogenoid.) Cold water > burning in anus. >
Belching and passing flatus. Loose stool > nausea.