Anthracinum

Anthracinum is a nosode prepared from the purulent discharge and tissues of anthrax-infected animals. Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium producing potent exotoxins. The remedy is potentised after thorough sterilisation and trituration, rendering it safe for homeopathic use while retaining its dynamic properties.

No traditional Hahnemannian proving due to the extreme virulence of the crude substance. Symptoms derive from clinical experience, toxicological observation, and cases of natural infection treated homeopathically by Dr. W. Lux, Dr. Burnett, and others.

Embodies the destructive, putrid forces of septic disease. It is the nosode of malignant local and systemic infection, with a keynote of rapid tissue disintegration. Patients are profoundly weak, apathetic, and poisoned from within, with visible blackening of tissues.

• Skin and subcutaneous tissue – boils, carbuncles, malignant pustules, necrosis.
• Lymphatic system – rapid swelling, adenitis.
• Blood – septic conditions, putrid discharges.
• Digestive tract – septic diarrhoea.
• Respiratory system – septic pneumonia, malignant sore throat.
• Nervous system – septic shock, collapse, prostration.

Profound mental depression is common, with an overwhelming sense of impending death during septic states. The patient may become apathetic, indifferent, and too weak to speak [Clarke]. Anxiety is not excitable but rather a dull awareness of danger, accompanied by listless resignation. When consciousness is clearer, there can be a sense of hopelessness, particularly if gangrene or necrosis is visible.

Restlessness at night with fever; drowsiness and stupor in toxaemia.

Extreme prostration; tendency to gangrene; rapid spread of local infections; putridity of all secretions [Kent].

High septic fever with intermittent chills. Skin hot but with areas of coolness; profuse sweating in collapse.

Rigors in early infection, heat with dusky congestion, sweat cold and clammy in collapse.

The head feels heavy and dull, as if wrapped in a cloth, with throbbing in temples when septic fever rises. In malignant anthrax infections, the brain is oppressed from toxaemia, producing stupor alternating with restless muttering [Hering].

Eyes may be glassy, sunken, with a yellow or dusky hue of sclera. Lids oedematous in severe septicaemia. Photophobia is minimal due to prostration. Discharges may be acrid in septic conjunctivitis.

Hearing dull in low septic states; sometimes ringing during fever spikes. Ears may appear cyanotic in collapse.

Nasal mucosa swollen, with putrid discharge in septic rhinitis. Offensive odour perceptible to bystanders.

Face is pale, earthy, or livid during collapse, or flushed and dusky during septic fever. Anthrax pustules on the face are surrounded by a deep red, oedematous halo, with rapid tissue destruction if unchecked [Kent].

Gums swollen, dusky, bleeding easily. Tongue dry, brown, cracked in advanced sepsis. Ulcers may be present, with foul breath and putrid taste.

No proving symptoms recorded, but teeth may loosen in severe gangrenous stomatitis.

Dryness and intense burning pain on swallowing; oedema of fauces with dusky congestion. Ulceration in septic sore throat has a greyish-black base and fetid odour [Clarke].

Septic pneumonia with high fever, dusky cyanosis, and expectoration of blood-streaked, offensive mucus.

Pulse is rapid, small, and compressible during septic fever; in collapse, it becomes slow, weak, and irregular.

Breathing rapid and shallow in fever, sighing and slow in collapse. Offensive breath always present in advanced stages.

Complete loss of appetite; aversion to food from foul taste and smell. Nausea with retching in septicemia.

Distension with tympany in severe sepsis. Pain is dull, aching, and aggravated by movement. Spleen often enlarged and tender [Hering].

Offensive, watery diarrhoea; stools may be dark, blood-tinged, or foul. Prostration follows each stool.

Scanty, dark urine with high specific gravity; may be albuminous in septic nephritis.

Great aversion to food and drink in septic states.

Puerperal septicaemia with putrid lochia, high fever, dusky skin, and collapse; Anthracinum may be indicated when pyrogen fails.

Severe aching across the lumbar region; soreness in muscles from septic myositis.

Cold, clammy limbs in collapse; or swollen, oedematous extremities in septic inflammation. Gangrenous patches possible.

The hallmark of Anthracinum: malignant pustules with black or brown centres, surrounded by oedematous, dusky-red skin. Carbuncles exude thick, black, tarry pus. Ulcer edges are livid, with surrounding induration [Hughes]. Rapid tissue destruction is typical if untreated.

• Arsenicum album – Restlessness and anxiety prominent; in Anthracinum, the anxiety is dull, with more putridity.
• Carbo vegetabilis – Collapse with coldness; Anthracinum has more malignant local lesions.
• Pyrogenium – Septicaemia with fever and restlessness; Anthracinum focuses more on malignant carbuncles and gangrene.

• Complementary: Arsenicum album, Pyrogenium.
• Antidotes: Lachesis (to septic skin lesions).
• Inimical: None recorded.

Indispensable in carbuncles, malignant pustules, septicaemia, and gangrene when other remedies fail. Often used when Pyrogenium covers the systemic symptoms but the local destruction is more pronounced.

Mind

• Indifference during severe illness.
• Despair of recovery.
• Apathy with prostration.
• Stupor in septic states.
• Fear of death absent despite grave illness.

Head

• Headache from septic toxaemia.
• Heaviness of head.
• Stupor alternating with muttering.
• Brain congestion in fever.
• Vertigo from exhaustion.

Eyes

• Sunken, glassy eyes.
• Yellow sclera in septicaemia.
• Oedema of lids.
• Dull vision in fever.
• Discharges acrid and offensive.

Stomach

• Nausea in septic states.
• Retching without relief.
• Aversion to all food.
• Burning in stomach during fever.
• Offensive eructations.

Skin

• Malignant pustules, black centre.
• Carbuncles discharging black pus.
• Gangrene with dusky redness.
• Rapidly spreading ulcers.
• Oedema around pustules.

Extremities

• Cold, clammy limbs in collapse.
• Oedematous swelling in infection.
• Gangrene of extremities.
• Weakness preventing standing.
• Trembling from exhaustion.

Generalities

• Putrid discharges from all outlets.
• Rapid tissue destruction.
• Prostration extreme.
• Septic fever with collapse.
• Pain burning, stinging, throbbing.

Clarke, J. H. – Noted mental indifference, malignant carbuncles, and septic fevers in Anthracinum.
Hering, C. – Documented stupor, muttering, and abdominal symptoms from septic toxaemia.
Hughes, R. – Detailed malignant pustule pathology and black discharges.
Kent, J. T. – Discussed rapid tissue destruction and putrid secretions as keynote.
Burnett, J. C. – Clinical cures of carbuncles and anthrax with nosode potencies.