– VERMEULEN Frans,
Sul-ac.
The world is moving so fast these days that the man who says it can’t be done is generally interrupted by someone doing it.
[Elbert Hubbard]
Signs
Sulphuric Acid. Oil of Vitriol. Hydrogen Sulphate.
SUBSTANCE Colourless, viscous, corrosive, oily liquid, commonly used in a 96-98% solution of the acid in water. It is produced by dissolving sulphur trioxide in water and is extensively used in industry. It is a powerful dehydrating agent [strong affinity for water] and is used to remove a molecule of water from many organic compounds. It dehydrates sucrose, leaving a spongy black mass of carbon and diluted sulfuric acid.

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Concentrated sulfuric acid reacts similarly with skin, paper, wood, cotton, and other animal and plant matter. When it is mixed with water, large amounts of heat are liberated, and the energy released can be enough to heat the mixture to boiling. Therefore, concentrated sulfuric acid must be diluted by adding the acid slowly to cold water while the mixture is stirred to limit the build-up of heat. The liquid melts at 10.5o C and fumes when heated. It reacts with many metals, releasing hydrogen gas and forming the sulphate of the metal. Dilute solutions of sulphuric acid show all the behaviour characteristics of acids. They taste sour, conduct electricity, neutralize alkalies, and corrode active metals with formation of hydrogen gas. The combination of sulphur fumes, water vapour and oxygen forms weak sulphuric acid which falls as acid rain.
USES As one of the most important industrial chemicals sulphuric acid, like sulphur, is considered an indicator of a country’s industrial well being. More of it is made each year than is made of any other manufactured chemical; more than 40 million tons of it were produced in the United States in 1990. It has widely varied uses and plays some part in the production of nearly all manufactured goods. The major use of sulphuric acid is in the production of fertilizers, e.g. superphosphate of lime and ammonium sulfate. It is widely used in the manufacture of chemicals, e.g. in making hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulphate salts, synthetic detergents, dyes and pigments, explosives, parchment paper, glue, and drugs. It is used in petroleum refining to wash impurities out of gasoline and other refinery products. Sulphuric acid is used in processing metals, e.g. in pickling [cleaning] iron and steel before plating them with tin or zinc. Rayon is made with sulphuric acid. It serves as the electrolyte in the lead-acid storage battery commonly used in motor vehicles [acid for this use, containing about 33% H2SO4, is often called battery acid]. 1
TOXICOLOGY The target organs of sulphuric acid are respiratory system, lungs, eyes, kidneys, teeth, and skin. Inhalation may result in severe irritation or burns of the respiratory system, pulmonary oedema, pneumonia, emphysema, bronchitis, and may even be fatal. Severe burns occur on contact with any body tissue. Ingestion causes severe burns to mouth, throat, and stomach, vomiting, and kidney disfunction. Circulatory collapse with clammy skin, weak and rapid pulse, shallow respirations, and scanty urine may follow ingestion or skin contact. Circulatory shock is often the immediate cause of death. Long-term exposure to vapours may cause damage to tooth enamel. Workers chronically exposed may show tracheobronchitis, stomatitis, conjunctivitis, or gastritis.
PROVINGS •• [1] Hahnemann – 6 provers; method: unknown.
Numerous poisoning cases are recorded in Allen’s Encyclopedia.
[1] The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed; Columbia University Press.
Affinity
DIGESTIVE TRACT. Blood. Blood vessels. * RIGHT SIDE.
Modalities
Worse:Open air. Cold. Alcohol. Injuries. ODOUR of COFFEE. Climacteric. Towards evening. Excessive heat or cold. After dinner. Forenoon. During sleep.
Better: Hot drinks. Hands near head. Moderate temperature. Lying on affected side. Pressure.
Main symptoms
M HURRY; feels that everything must be done in a hurry.
Angry because things move so slowly. [Clarke]
M NERVOUS and anxious to get things done in time.
Can not relax.
• “The theme of accidents is one of the most important for people who benefit from Sulphuricum acidum. Somewhere in their history, there was an accident that changed everything, an accident for which they felt responsible [or for which a feeling of guilt has been transmitted to them]. It may be an illegitimate birth experience as an accident by the family, or a real accident with loss of a loved one. … These people are hurried, and because of their great haste and activity, they actually do perpetuate accidents, repeating the ‘original sin’.” [Grandgeorge]
G WEAKNESS [and PERSPIRATION].
[May appear after injuries.]
• “The patient is particularly weak about the digestive organs; thus there is a cold, relaxed feeling about the stomach, making the patient long for some strong or stimulating drink, as brandy, and this, too, in persons who are not addicted to drink. So weak is the stomach they vomit all food; the ejected matters are very sour.” [Farrington]
G Very CHILLY.
< Becoming COLD. G Sensation of heat when eating warm food. G Hot FLUSHES followed by trembling or cold sweat. Worse in upper parts of body. > Motion.
G > Walking FAST.
G > Seashore.
G < SMOKE, SMOG, FUMES, odours. < Industrial areas. G < CLIMACTERIC PERIOD. [flushes of heat, perspiration, weakness, internal tremor, hurriedness, bruises] G < Cold drinks [< digestive disorders]. G Pains appear gradually and disappear SUDDENLY. G Profuse, acrid or stringy discharges. G SOURNESS. [perspiration, eructations, HEARTBURN, vomit, breath, temper] G INTERNAL sensation of TREMBLING [compare hurriedness]. • "Sensation of trembling all over, without actual trembling." [Nash] G Easy BRUISING [from least bumping]. Purpura haemorrhagica; ecchymoses; petechiae. Black and blue spots. After Arn. if bruises do not go away. G Injuries with extravasation. Rubrics Mind Answering, aversion to answer [2]; refusing to answer [2]; slowly [1]. Confusion while sitting [1]. Exhilaration alternating with timidity [1]. Hurry, while eating [3], in movements [3], in movements, cannot do things fast enough [3], to arrive for the appointed time [1], while walking [3]. Prostration of mind from injuries [2]. Undertaking many things, persevering in nothing [1]. Eye Pain, burning, when looking sharply [1]. Ear Noises, roaring, as from a waterfall, on opening mouth during dinner [1/1]. Nose Coryza, with hunger [2]. Obstruction after sneezing [1]. Face Twitching, on motion of head [1/1]. Mouth Dryness tongue during menses [1]. Stomach Pain, after cold drinks [2], after cold food [2]. Sensation of a stone > salivation [1/1]. Vomiting, after drinking cold water [2], > hot water [1].
Rectum
Diarrhoea, after smell of coffee [1/1].
Bladder
Pain, pressing in neck of bladder, > coition [1/1].
Respiration
Difficult, > letting legs hang down [2/1], > sneezing [1/1]
Dreams
Nightmares, before menses [1], after menses [1], at end of menses [1]. Teeth breaking off [1], falling out [1].
Food
Aversion: [2]: Alcohol; coffee; fruit; sweets. [1]: Fish; odour of coffee; milk; plums; tonics.
Desire: [2]: Alcohol; brandy; fruit; sweets. [1]: Fish; juicy fruit; lemonade; lemons; plums; refreshing things; sour; tonics.
Worse: [3]: Alcohol. [2]: Cold drinks; oysters; hot food. [1]: Bread; coffee; cold food; cucumbers; fruit; fruit, sour; milk; odour of coffee; pickles; warm food; tobacco; vinegar.
Better: [2]: Cold food. [1]: Hot food; wine.

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