ACIDUM LACTICUM.
Common Name, Lactic acid.
Origin.—Lactic acid is obtained from sour milk, resulting from the fermentation of the sugar of milk under the influence of casein.
Preparation for Homœopathic Use.—One part by weight of pure lactic acid is dissolved in 99 parts by weight of alcohol.
(A very complete proving of this remedy will be found in Allen's Encyclopædia of Pure Materia Medica, but little use seems to have been made of it, though the following by Dr. Tybel-Aschersleben, Allgemeine Hom. Zeitung, March 13, 1890, seems to show that it is very efficient in certain forms of rheumatism).
We are by no means rich in remedies against arthritic rheumatism, and those which we do use lack the reputation of being reliable. A new and a valuable remedy will therefore be a welcome addition to this list. I say reliable, inasmuch as this remedy is truly homœopathically indicated for, according to Foster, of Leitz, Niemeyer's Pathology, 10th edition, 2d vol., pp. 561: "Lactic acid in large doses and used for a long time will produce symptoms entirely analogous to arthritic rheumatism." We also find mention elsewhere that the use of lactic acid occasioned rheumatic pains in the thigh.
Clinical Cases.
1. A young girl æt. 15 was afflicted with acute arthritic rheumatism, she received Acid Lacticum 2x dil., a dose every 2 or 3 hours, and was so much improved in two weeks that the pain had subsided, and for her remaining weakness China off. sufficed.
2. A nine-year-old girl was confined to her bed for three weeks with acute arthritic rheumatism. Acid Lacticum 2 speedily cured her.
3. A miner, B., had been afflicted over six weeks with acute arthritic rheumatism. The first dose of Acid Lactic 2 gave relief and a second dose cured the man.
4. In a case with swollen and very painful joints one dose of Acidum Lactic 2 sufficed to overcome the pain and the swelling. Against the remaining weakness China proved efficacious.