The expense is considerable. One pound of amber yields about half an ounce of crude acid, and the glass retort, after dry distillation, must be broken to collect the acid.
The fumes of Acidum succinicum crudum are inflammable, producing asthma, cough, sneezing, weeping, dropping of watery mucus from the nostrils, pain in chest and headache.
None of our remedies gives a truer picture of hay fever, and since the oil of amber must be securely inclosed in the amber itself, it was but natural to conclude that by trituration I may receive all the virtue of the remedy.
At the same time I remembered that necklaces and earrings of amber are considered a popular protection agent against neuralgia, colds, and even hay fever.
Since that time I prescribed in cases of hay fever the third decimal trituration, one or two grains dissolved in twelve teaspoonfuls of distilled water, one teaspoonful every two hours, with the best results, and have cured more than thirty persons, who were formerly obliged to go to the mountains to get temporary relief. Already after the first week most of them experienced decided relief.
SYMPHYTUM OFFICINALIS.
Nat. Ord.—Borraginaceæ.
Common Name.—Comfrey, Healing Herb.
Preparation.—One part of the fresh root gathered just before blooming is macerated in two parts by weight of alcohol.
(The following concerning this remedy, which dates back to Dioscorides, we find in American Journal of Homœopathy, 1846:)
The Homœopathic Examiner for August contains a paper entitled "Connection of Homœopathy with Surgery," by Croserio, translated by P. P. Wells, M. D. It is there stated that "injuries of the bones are healed most promptly by Symphytum officinale 30 internally once a day. This remedy accelerates the consolidation of fractures surprisingly." The translator adds a note as follows: "I have had repeated opportunities of verifying this declaration of Croserio. A boy, fourteen years old, broke the bones of the forearm, at the junction of the lower and middle thirds, two years ago. He had twice repeated the fracture by slight falls. The ends of the fragments are now slightly movable on each other, and the arm is weak and admits of little use. Three doses of Symphytum effected a perfect cure. The lad became more robust, and has since had better general health than ever before."