Mercurius Cyanatus (Merc Cy)
মার্কিউরিয়াস সায়ানেটাস (merc-cy)
A Mercurial patient with malignant diphtheria whose greenish membrane spreads through the nose over a large surface.
- Source
- Cyanide of Mercury, mercuric cyanide, Hg(CN)2
- Kingdom
- Mineral
- Thermal
- Not given by Kent in this lecture; he gives only a Merc. base with malignant diphtheria
- Main spheres
- Throat (diphtheria), Nose, Mucous membranes and exudation, Phagedenic ulceration
- Kent's lecture
- 50 words, about 1 min
Meet the Mercurius Cyanatus Patient
Kent's lecture on Mercurius Cyanatus is among the shortest in his book, only three sentences, yet it draws a sharp picture. Its starting point is a condition: given a Merc. base and diphtheria. The patient must first stand on the ground of Mercury in his general state; only then does the throat decide which form of Mercury he needs. Kent does not repeat the Mercurius picture here. He expects the reader to bring it with him to the bedside.
What marks the Cyanide is the membrane. It is greenish. It does not stay where it began but is inclined to spread through the nose, and it involves a large surface. Kent says this salt has exudation more marked than any other form of Mercury, so the image is of a throat and nose coated far and wide. The cases he has in mind are malignant forms of diphtheria, rapidly forming, with phagedenic ulceration, ulceration that eats onward. Kent gives no thermal state, modalities, mental symptoms or cravings in this lecture; for these the student must look to the Mercurial base and to the patient in front of him. Remember three words: greenish, spreading, malignant.
What Kent Wants You to Remember
A Mercurial base comes first
Kent's opening condition is that the patient already has a Merc. base. The diphtheria then selects this form of Mercury.
Given a Merc. base and diphtheria
KentThe membrane is greenish
The colour of the diphtheritic membrane is the first local guide Kent gives. A greenish membrane on a Mercurial base points here.
when the membrane is greenish
KentSpreads through the nose
The membrane does not stay in the throat. It is inclined to spread upward through the nose.
inclined to spread through the nose
KentInvolves a large surface
The membrane covers wide areas rather than a small patch. Extent is part of the picture.
involve a large surface
KentMost marked exudation among the Mercuries
Kent sets this salt above every other form of Mercury for exudation. Abundant, wide exudation is its hallmark.
It has exudation more marked than any other form of Mercury.
KentMalignant forms of diphtheria
Kent places it among the malignant, dangerous cases. It is not drawn for a mild sore throat.
Malignant forms of diphtheria
KentRapidly forming membrane
The membrane forms quickly. Speed of formation goes together with its spread and extent.
rapidly forming
KentPhagedenic ulceration
The ulceration eats onward and destroys. Kent names it as a feature of these malignant cases.
with phagedenic ulceration
Kent
The Picture on One Screen
Mind
- Not described in this lecture
- Take mental state from the Merc. base
- Kent gives only the throat picture
Generals
- Merc. base required
- Exudation more marked than other Mercuries
- Malignant, rapidly forming states
- Phagedenic, spreading ulceration
Worse
- No modalities given in this lecture
- Seek modalities in the Merc. base
- Lecture confined to diphtheria
Better
- No ameliorations given in this lecture
- Seek them in the Merc. base
- Lecture confined to diphtheria
Desires and aversions
- Not given in this lecture
- Thirst not mentioned by Kent
- Seek desires in the Merc. base
Where it acts
- Throat: diphtheria
- Nose: membrane spreads through it
- Mucous membranes: marked exudation
- Phagedenic ulceration
Do Not Confuse It With
Mercurius
Mercurius is Kent's starting point: the general Merc. picture must be present first. Within that base, the Cyanide is chosen when diphtheria brings a greenish membrane spreading through the nose over a large surface.
Mercurius Corrosivus
Kent sets the Cyanide against every other form of Mercury, the Corrosive included. Exudation more marked than in any of them, in malignant diphtheria, points to the Cyanide.
Mercurius Iodatus Ruber
This is another form of Mercury within Kent's comparison. Where the exudation is most marked, the membrane greenish and rapidly spreading with phagedenic ulceration, Kent prefers the Cyanide.
Test Yourself
Answer in your head first, then tap to check. Come back tomorrow and try again: spaced recall is how keynotes stay.
1What two conditions does Kent require before thinking of Mercurius Cyanatus?
A Merc. base and diphtheria. The general Mercurial picture must be present along with the throat disease.
2What is the colour of the membrane in this remedy?
Greenish.
3How does the membrane behave as it extends?
It is inclined to spread through the nose and to involve a large surface.
4How does Kent rank the Cyanide among the forms of Mercury?
He says it has exudation more marked than any other form of Mercury.
5What kind of diphtheria does Kent describe for this remedy?
Malignant forms, rapidly forming, with phagedenic ulceration.
6Does Kent give a thermal state or modalities for Mercurius Cyanatus?
No; the lecture is confined to diphtheria. The general state must be taken from the Merc. base.
Mercurius Cyanatus by J. T. Kent
Complete and unabridged, with a faithful Bangla translation. Switch on parallel reading to see both languages paragraph by paragraph.
Malignant Diphtheria
Given a Merc. base and diphtheria, when the membrane is greenish and inclined to spread through the nose and involve a large surface, the Cyanide of Mercury is needed. It has exudation more marked than any other form of Mercury. Malignant forms of diphtheria, rapidly forming, and with phagedenic ulceration.
রোগীর মধ্যে মার্কারির মূল লক্ষণচিত্র এবং সেই সঙ্গে ডিফথেরিয়া থাকলে, যখন ঝিল্লি সবুজাভ হয় এবং তা নাকের ভেতর দিয়ে ছড়িয়ে পড়ার ও বড় একটি উপরিতল আক্রান্ত করার প্রবণতা দেখায়, তখন মার্কারির সায়ানাইড, অর্থাৎ মার্কিউরিয়াস সায়ানেটাস দরকার হয়। মার্কারির অন্য যেকোনো রূপের চেয়ে এর মধ্যে নিঃসরণ (এক্সুডেশন) বেশি স্পষ্ট। ডিফথেরিয়ার মারাত্মক রূপ, যা দ্রুত গড়ে ওঠে এবং যার সঙ্গে থাকে ক্ষয়কারী (ফ্যাজেডেনিক) ক্ষত।
Original text: James Tyler Kent, Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica (1905), public domain. Section headings, light punctuation fixes, study notes and the Bangla translation: IZ Homeo.
For study by homeopathic physicians and students. This is not advice to take any medicine: in classical homeopathy a remedy is chosen only after a full case. For treatment, book an online consultation. Book Online Consultation