Niccolum sulphuricum

Synonyms – Nickel sulphate, Nicolli sulphas.
 Formula – NiSO4, 7H2O.
 Sulphate of nickel is formed by dissolving Carbonate of nickel in dilute sulphuric acid, concentrating the solution, and setting it aside to crystallize.
 Carbonate of nickel is produced by taking ten parts of nickel and treating it with eighty parts of pure nitric acid, specific gravity 1.185, so that a small portion of the metal remains undissolved. The solution, after being filtrated, is evaporated to dryness, heated to about 302 F., and the saline residue dissolved in 120 parts of distilled water, filtered and precipitated by a boiling solution of fifty parts of crystallized sodium carbonate.
 The precipitate is thrown upon a filter, well washed with warm water, and treated with hydrochloric acid in considerable excess. The solution is now saturated with hydrogen sulphide, set aside for several hours, then filtered if necessary and heated to boiling, then two parts of barium carbonate are added, the mixture repeatedly agitated and set aside for a day.
 It is then to be saturated with chlorine gas, filtered, and the filtrate treated with dilute sulphuric acid, as long as any precipitate continues to fall.
 The solution is again to be filtered and decomposed with a solution of about fifty parts of crystallized sodium carbonate, or as much as may be required to make the reaction of the liquid alkaline.
 The precipitate is collected on a filter, washed with hot water and dried at a moderate temperature.
 Nickel sulphate is an emerald green, salty, prismatic crystals, efflorescent in the air, soluble in three parts of cold water, but insoluble in alcohol or ether. It has a sweet, astringent taste.
 The solution gives black precipitate with yellow sulphide of ammonium, slightly soluble in excess, forming a dark brown solution, and with caustic potash a pale green, bulky precipitate.
 Boericke and Tafel kindly furnished the 2x, 3x and 6x trituration for these experiments.
 In August, 1908, I made a proving of Nic. sul. 3x, taking five grains every two hours until symptoms were produced, then stopping.
 I took sixty grains. That night I dreamed I had a very disagreeable taste in my mouth, which caused me to spit all the time. I awakened and found my mouth full of saliva, with a coppery taste, and sure enough, I was obliged to spit.
 I fell asleep again, and when I awoke in the morning there was the same coppery taste and mouth full of saliva. The next night I was awakened at 2 A. M. with pains in the occiput, sore pain in the eyes, coppery taste, and much saliva. After falling asleep was awakened with a desire to urinate. Urine increased in quantity. Next morning had shooting pains in my hands and fingers.
 The dull pains in the occiput and eyes continued. Then there appeared a soreness in the cervical region, going down the spine. In the afternoon there was a hot feeling in my face as if standing before a hot fire.
 Full sensation temples.
 Dull pain in both zygomas.
 Fine shooting pains in upper row of teeth.
 Fine shooting pains in upper part of face.
 Tongue red, elevator papillae sore to the touch. Increased thirst, at the same time mouth full of saliva, with coppery taste.
 On the third night was obliged to urinate four times. Was aroused at 3 A. M. with burning of soles of feet. The dull pain in the occiput, neck and eyes continued just the same as the day and night before.
 Loss of appetite, dizzy, with a general weakness.
 Every night for a week was obliged to urinate three or four times during the night. Every night for two weeks was aroused once or twice a night between the hours of two and three with burning of feet. Coppery taste, pain in the occiput, neck and spine, continued for over two weeks then gradually disappeared.
 Face flushed and feet hot every afternoon for ten days.
 In January, 1909, I made a proving of Nic. sul. 6x trituration, using five grains every two hours. I took the remedy for three days, and the very same symptoms appeared again, but did not continue as long as when taking the 3x.
 April 13, 1909, I began the proving of Nic. sul. 2x. After taking it one day the same old story was repeated, but much more marked and lasting for three weeks.
 Miss F. began taking five grains of 6x trituration of Nic. sul., July 27, 1908, and continued it for two days. On the morning of the 30th complained of bad taste in the mouth, coppery taste, etc. At noon “head felt big and heavy.”
 Legs and arms felt heavy and weak. Unsteady when walking.
 Face flushed. Face felt hot. Eyes began to burn and ache.,
 Head felt heavy, as if it needed a prop. Wanted to lie down.
 Obliged to lie down all afternoon.
 Slept well, and next day was able to be about, although same symptoms continued, yet not so marked. By the fourth day felt herself well again.
 August 20, 1908, began a proving, using the 2x trituration for one day. The same symptoms were produced, lasting for three days.
 On January 25, 1909, Mrs. E. took five grains of Nic. sul. 3x every two hours until 9 P. M. On January 26, 1909, she began with five grain doses every two hours. At 2 P. M. began to have dull aching pains in both ovaries, then to have hot flashes, which came on every half hour to an hour. Hot flashes all over the body, often lasting ten minutes. Afterwards would break out in a perspiration over entire body, this only lasting a few minutes. When the flashes came on she wanted to fan herself or have the doors wide open. Did not take cold, although the weather was very severe. Flashes continued just the same through the night as during the day. When flashes came on would throw off covers. Would remain uncovered until perspiration came over the entire body. After a few minutes this perspiration would dry off and disappear as suddenly as it came on.
 Then she would get chilly and would cover up again. This was repeated every one or two hours during the night. Always waking up with hot flashes. The burning flashes were just like heat from a hot oven. Pain in ovaries continued for two days, with a sensation as if the menses would appear, although not having menstruated for a long time. The menses having stopped and the symptoms accompanying the change of life all being past.
 On the second day there was great pain in the cervical region and in the occiput, which extended to the eyeballs. There was a pulling sensation from the eyeballs to the occiput.
 A sensation as if strings were pulling the eyes back to the base of the brain. This pain was made worse by turning head from side to side, also at night by lying on the back.
 Could not lie on the back but a few minutes as it aggravated the pain in the occiput and down the spine.
 The spine became sore the entire length. She could not lie on the back. If she fell asleep on her back, would soon arouse in great pain, and would be obliged to turn on side at once. This afforded partial relief.
 Urine was increased. She was obliged to get up three or four times during the night.
 Stiff, numb feeling in neck and back, but worse in neck. Temporary relief obtained by rubbing.
 Coppery taste in mouth, loss of appetite, weakness and increased thirst. A continued tired feeling over entire body.
 Tongue at first had a white furry coat. After a few days it was coated brown.
 Was nervous, uneasy, could not settle down to any occupation.
 Another strange feature of the proving was a breaking out of sweat when one part of the body came in contact with another part, i. e., one limb crossing another, and the parts in contact would be wet with sweat instantly, all the rest of the body remaining dry. If clasping hands the palms would be wet with perspiration. Removing hand, the parts would dry immediately. If the hand were placed on any part of the body the same thing would occur.
 Could scarcely bear any clothing, owing to these hot flashes and perspiration. Many times, when the weather was frosty or snow was on the ground, and the window was up, could bear scarcely any covers at night. With all this condition never contracted a cold.
 This state of affairs lasted about six weeks when an antidote was sought. Two powders of Sepia stopped the flashes within two days, but not until after trying Glon, first, the remedy which stopped the flashes when passing through the climacteric period.
 The pain in the occiput, spine and eyes was relieved by Picric acid.
 Discussion
 Q. – Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask if the urinary examination showed anything as to solids?
 Dr. Fahnestock: Examination of the urine showed nothing abnormal in any way.
 Dr. Frank L. Newton: Was the specific gravity lower?
 Dr. Fahnestock: Yes.
 Dr. Newton: No solids.
 Dr. Fahnestock: Nothing more than ordinary. We had hoped to find quite a bit, but we found nothing abnormal in any way.
 Dr. Newton: This is a proving made of Niccolum sulphuricum on yourself?
 Dr. Fahnestock: Upon myself and my provers.
 Dr. Newton: And you present it as a new remedy?
 Dr. Fahnestock: I have never known it to be proved before. I gave it in one case of periodical neuralgia. I verified a number of these conditions given in the provings; for instance, the hot flashes in individuals who were not passing through the change of life.
 Dr. Newton: Did you try it in facial neuralgia?
 Dr. Fahnestock: In only one case. I had a case of neuralgia of the fifth pair of nerves on the left side. There was a sensation of stiffness in the muscles of the neck on the left side and down the spine; very tired; great thirst; pain in the back part of head, on taking cold; disagreeable coppery taste in mouth. I gave the patient two powders. That has been six months ago, and the patient has had no trouble since.
 Dr. Newton: Have you associated the neuralgia with ovarian complications?
 Dr. Fahnestock: I have never given it in that connection.
 Dr. Newton: Did you notice that it occurred at periods coincident with the menstrual period?
 Dr. Fahnestock: No. I have given it, however, to two patients suffering from the menopause. They had hot flashes, and other symptoms. I had tried quite a number of remedies, Sepia, etc., but these failed Whether the neuralgia, however, was reflex from ovarian trouble or not, I cannot say.
 Dr. Newton: The symptoms as you give them bring to my mind a very recent case that I have had, and it is sufficiently suggestive so that I shall try this remedy.
 Dr. Fahnestock: This is just a fragmentary proving. We should go right on proving it thoroughly on a number of individuals. I think it will be a valuable remedy. I myself brought out a great many symptoms and conditions. For instance, I developed a cough, as I often do during the winter. I developed this cough on the second or third day. I did not put this down in the proving as I thought I might be mistaken, but you know Niccolum is used for whooping cough, and sulphate of niccolum may act just the same.
 Dr. Newton: Did you prove it on a female?
 Dr. Fahnestock: Yes, two of them. In one it did not affect the menses at all, but there was only a short proving, and the other prover had passed a normal menstrual period. She never had any trouble at all, no pain, never any vaginal discharge, no disease at all. She then had pain in both ovaries, just as though becoming unwell, as she expressed it; then pain in the spine came on with nervousness and restlessness.
 Dr. Newton: If it will be interesting to you I will give the symptoms of some of these patients, in which this remedy will probably be indicated. The first is a married woman. She had one child about thirteen years ago. My first introduction to the case was finding her in a puerperal convulsion. She was a stranger to me. I was called and found her lying on the kitchen floor in front of the stove. She had been taken evidently at about the time for full term, as she was expecting to be confined any day. I was called in as a stranger to a stranger. She was removed to bed, and I made a slow delivery. She was taken at 9 o’clock in the morning, and the child was delivered at 8 in the evening. The child was a very large child. The woman by 12 o’clock developed convulsions. Within the next two weeks there was albuminuria at times. A little preceding her menstruation she had congestive headaches, and a few months ago she developed the symptoms about which I have been asking you. She has pain in the head, neuralgia. I thought it might have been from her teeth or ear, and both were examined. The symptoms are exaggerated at the time of menstruation.
 Dr. Netherton, Clinton, Mo.: In regard to Dr. Fahnestock’s examination of the urine, that is one thing lacking in all our old provings; because of lack of microscopical facilities our provings are not definite. I am glad to see these remedies being proved, so that we may determine exactly the diseased condition, or whether the symptom is a sort of neurosis. I am also pleased to note that this remedy proved by Dr. Fahnestock is developing along the lines of a great many remedies to bring out neuroses in various forms. I am glad to know that the proving is going right on.
 Q. Were there any respiratory disturbances?
 Dr. Fahnestock: No respiratory disturbances whatever, except the cough I spoke of. I am not sure about that, and consequently did not put it in the provings. You are liable to take cold, and have a little cough, or something of that kind, but those things were not mentioned. I know the symptoms I have given are perfectly reliable.