1Calcarea and Magnesia: A Comparison. Edward C. Whitmont. Psyche and Substance.Comparison of remedies amounts to a differential diagnosis of therapeutic indications. As such it goes to the heart and core of the specific homeopathic approach. Incomparingremedies, weactuallycompareconstitutional responsesandconstitutional statesofpeople.Our basic premise for differential diagnosis is expressed in Hahnemann's formulationOrganon,!aragraph "# that "sincethetotalityof thesymptoms is theoutwardlyreflectedpictureof theinternalessence of the disease, it must be the principle or sole means whereby disease can makeknown what remedy it requires$. %hispostulaterepresentsanapproachtotherapeuticswhichinsistsupondealingdirectlywithperceivedphenomenarather thanwithmental abstractionsli&eour usual clinical concepts ofdisease syndromes, as useful as they may be for the purpose of theoretical classification. 'phenomenon(ree&) somethingthathasbecomeapparent, percei*able# isdirectlyandimmediately obser*able. 'n abstraction, in turn, is something that has been wor&ed upon by thin&ing often enough,tampered with by thin&ing# in the form of abstracting. %o abstract from the +atin abstrahere, to pull or draw away# is defined as mentally drawingawayanisolatedcontentfromtheconnectionorcontextin which itisoriginally foundorpercei*ed.his original conte!t contains also otherelements, the combination of whichvaries from case to case in an individual fashion. o %he abstraction, therefore, draws the common, that is, non,indi*idual, non,differentiatingelements out of the indi*idual phenomena for the purpose of creating commondenominators for remembering and classifying. o 'bstraction, therefore, bydefinitiondoesawaywiththeindi*idual andindi*iduali-ing.ualities. It is concerned with .uantities, statistical a*erages and common, non,indi*idualfactors. o /o pneumonia that we e*er encounter actually is the textboo& pneumonia, which is anabstractionof theelements commontothegreatest possiblenumber of peoplewithinflamed lungs. E*ery actually encountered case differs from this mental abstraction calledpneumonia in his own indi*idual fashion since no indi*idual $is$ the a*erage. In turn, ourmodern clinical pathology deliberately and by definition limits itself to dealing only withsuchabstractionsandwithstatistical a*erages. 'samatterof principlethisapproachre0ects the *alidity of the indi*idual fact which is always a singular and uni.ue one. "ahnemann based his whole approach upon the unique individual and individuali#ed picture $ thephenomenon rather than the abstraction. He follows in the footsteps of !aracelsus who in *ain# called upon the physician to hold on to natureitself rather than to speculation, since $nature is what can be seen butspeculation we used theword abstraction# is what cannot be seen. 1ut it is the seeable rather than the unseeable thatma&es one a physician. %he seeable renders the truth. %he unseeable renders nothing. E*erything2that is in*isible in us becomes *isible. 2rom this, it follows that you should not say this is cholera,that is melancholia but rather this is an arsenical that is an aluminous state.$ 1oo& !aragranum#.%his.uotation,bythe way,showsusalso!aracelsus' indicationsforhisdrugsseem.uitein&eeping with our modern experimental pro*ings.%hus, it is the differentiation of indi*idual pictures, the arsenical, the aluminous that becomesthe tas& of practical differential diagnosis rather than of disease concepts. he disease concept gives us merely an average of general prognosis and e!pectation%to be sure, is valuable too& but not a practical way of helping a given individual case.%hemaincolouringelements of thesepictures arecontributedbythegeneral andmentalsymptoms. 2urthermore, in comparing disease pictures with remedy pictures, symptom totalitywithsymptomtotality,wecreatenot only fundamentallynewconstitutional classifications3actually entirely new concepts are introduced into physiology and pathology. Arsenic, Aluminum, Calcium, Magnesium, are not merely substances. hey are recogni#ed as representing energy fields of specific physiological qualities. %heir integration or disintegration within the $whole$ of the organismic balance finds its concretephenomenological expression in health or disease, nay is health or disease. We begin our medical study with the consideration of the curati*e agents and not of the causes ofdisease, since $it is the cure that shows us the cause of disease$ says !aracelsus right at the1eginning of his Volumen Paramirum. %helikeness of thestatethat therapeuticallyresponds toCalciumis theCalciumenergy field in a state of one$sided preponderance which disbalances the whole. %his statement is a simple *erbalisation of empirically established phenomena. In the form ofexpressing those facts, we follow the method of modern physics which concei*es of the uni*ersenot any more in terms of the mechanistic interaction of $things$ but of dynamic interactions ofenergy fields 4 that is,force patterns $ simply more modern words for the same entity that"ahnemann called "spirit like" force or dynamics. hus our differentiation of remedies is a differentiation of qualitatively distinguishedenergy fields which are building stones of our peculiar human nature. What we ha*e called drug pictures are pictures of people, of states of personality, of li*ingand suffering.o %he perception of such pictures, in what otherwise would be a ma-e of dis0ointedfacts,allows us to see a pervading oneness in an otherwise confusingmultiplicity of symptoms. o Itpro*idesuswitha redthreadofmeaningaroundwhichwe canarrange inalogical fashion those symptoms that otherwise would be an endless ma-e ofirrele*ant facts which ha*e to be committed to memory in a mechanical fashion. 'n this sense, we proceed to a specific instance of comparing the state of Calcarea with thestateofMagnesia,thequalityof theCalcareaenergyfieldwiththepatternof theMagnesia energy field.%he *ery act of comparing and differentiating two things implicitly postulates their basic similarity. InthecaseofCalcareaandMagnesia,that basicsimilarityof constitutional actionappears butinsufficiently appreciated so far in our 5ateria 5edica. 1eforedifferentiatingthetwodrugs, someattentionis due, therefore, totheircommonfeatures first.%his is the more important practically since a good many of the less &nown Magnesium indications ourMagnesium symptomatology being .uite fragmentary# are simply duplications of Calcarea indications.3%he ignorance of this fact will ma&e the prescriber consider Calcarea only, in the face of symptomswhich would actually call for Magnesium. +et us recall first that Calcium and Magnesium belong to the same group of the periodic systemof elements3 the so,called earth,al&alis include Calcium, 5agnesium, 1arium and 6trontium. o In the electrolyte balance of cells and tissue li.uids, Calcium and 5agnesium ions aresynergistic and mutually exchangeable to a certain extent. o With 6odium and !otassium, Calcium and 5agnesium are the four principal cations of7inger's solution, which duplicate the physiologic salt balance of the body fluids. o 6odiumand!otassiumincreasetissueirritability,Calciumand5agnesiumreduceit.6odium and !otassium do not pass readily through the cell membranes3 their action isprimarily in the tissue li.uids. o %he earth,al&alis in turn are centered in their acti*ity in the formed structuralelements,thetissuesthemsel*es,particularly,musclesandbones.%heyaffectthepermeability of the cell membranes and in the case of Calcium# the blood clotting. o %he earth,al&alis, thus, are functionally connected with formation, solidification andaction of the tissues proper as they delimit themsel*es against the li.uid medium out ofwhich they are formed. o %hey seem to be builders of solid ground in the organism 0ust as in the mineral sphereof the earth, they precipitate and solidify the sedimentary roc& formation out of theflowing waters. In most general terms, we may tentati*ely characteri-e the effect ofCalciumand5agnesiumasupongrowthandstructural organi-ationaswell asuponcirculation.(rowthandstructural organi-ationincludenot onlytissueespeciallybonegrowth# but alsothedelimitation and maintenance of the body's own form principles against such exogenous or endogenousfactors that would lead to disorgani-ation. %hey encompass the organi-ation of tissue li.uids as well asthedefensemechanismsagainstinfecti*eandallergenicelementsaswell asagainstendogenous,namely, ner*ous and endopsychic factors , that would upset the normal balance. %he protection of any functional organi-ation against disturbances from outside, we may, ingeneral, characteri-e as walling off. %he protection against upsetting influences from within amounts to stabili#ation.(alling off and stabili#ation, thus, are most apt general descripti*e terms to characteri-e broadly theenergy pattern of Calcarea and Magnesia..Clinically spea&ing, the constitutional expression of a disturbance in the sphere of walling off andstabili-ation is found in thesymptoms which characteri-e that statethat formerly was calledscrophulosis or lymphatism3 later, exudati*e diathesis, and today runs under the more fanciful name ofallergictendency. Oneauthor willascribeittoadisbalanceofthe body chemistry. 'ccording toanother, it is due to a disorder of the *egetati*e ner*ous system, or due to a hormonal imbalance, anda third one may describe it as a psychosomatic disorder. 'nd indeed, all and any of these explanationsseem to be correct and not mutually exclusi*e at all3 if we but think in terms of formative energypatterns which include chemistry, hormones, ner*ous and psychological entities as indi*idual means of.ualitati*e manifestations. %hus, the broad functional concept of the morbus Calcarea or morbus Magnesia to use !aracelsus'modeof expression# isanillnessof disturbedprotecti*eorgani-ationandstabili-inge.uilibrium,exudati*e or allergic diathesis with all the possible ramifications of psychological, sympathic,parasympathic, serological, hormonal, biochemical nature that ha*e been ascribed to it. 't is the state which "ahnemann called )sora.We find with Calcarea and Magnesia the tendency to disturbed assimilation and growth, poor nutritionand underweight3 furthermore, asthma, hay fe*er, ec-ema, hi*es, the whole host of allergic conditionsaffecting s&in and internal parts, the low general and s&in resistance, the tendency to repeated colds,acute and chronic infections, pus formation, boils, abscesses, poorly healing and poorly functionings&in, enlargedinflamedandswollentonsilsandadenoids.'lsocommontobothsubstancesareageneral rheumatic diathesis of both acute as well as chronic forms. %ypical for their lymphatic state isalso the pasty, pale or yellowish tinged colour of the generally unhealthy s&in, a feature of both drugs.Inthesphereof thecirculation, whichis themainexpressionof what wemaytermtheinner4stabili-ing balance, the disturbance expresses itself in states of *iolent congestions affectingparticularly the head region#, ebullitions of heat, acutest fe*ers, excessi*e perspiration worse head,worse at night# sensation of fullness with pulsating, constricting or bursting pains, clinical states ofmigraine and biliary colics. External *asoconstriction, internal *asodilation, internal congestion withcold, clammy s&in and feeble, fast pulse, shoc& li&e states.Into the circulatory disbalance, we may also classify the paradoxical modalities of lac& of *ital heatand aggra*ation from cold air and yet sensation of heat with a desire for cool drin&s and cool air.Chemically, the stabili-ing, balancing function, in its failure, results in a shift of the hydrogen ionconcentration to the acid side. 1othCalciumandMagnesiumare &nown as al&ali-ing buffersubstances. ' failure of this functional balance explains to us the symptom of $sourness$ and acidity asheartburn stomach hyperacidity, sour diarrhea, sour sweats, sour smelling patients and the &eynote of$sour babies$.'lso fitting into the range of the stabili-ing balancing function of both Calcarea and Magnesia is thetendency to spasmophilia, tetany, clonic constricti*e states of heat, blood *essels, the biliary systemand extremities in the sphere of their disturbance. 5entally and on the personality le*el,the tendency of walling off and inner stabili#ationmeans a leaning towards separativeness and self$finding. o While in its fa*orable aspect, this means independence3 o in its less fa*orable, one,sided exaggeration it is withdrawal from people, tendency togo it alone, loss of social contact, stubbornness and obstinacy, typical for both Calcareaand Magnesia. hus, for the common features. o 't is when we turn to the differentiating factors that the full individuality of eachdrug personality becomes apparent. 'nourquestforsomething likeakeyto themeaningof theindividuali#ingfeatures offormative patterns, we look for phenomena in nature which seem most characteristicallyto e!press the prototype of the substance activity. 'n such an image, we may behold the force pattern that, like a guiding symbol, gives usan understanding of the manifoldness of the symptomatology. We find it for Calcarea in the formations of chal& and of the oyster shell3 forMagnesia in the plant green, the chlorophyll and the characteristic lightning,li&e flash ofthe Magnesium explosion which e*en has been used for flash bulbs and formerly for incendiarybombs. %he chlorophyll, the greenness of the plants, the *ery archetype of all greenness that islifeandrenewal, is that en-ymewhichaids inthesynthesis of starchout of water andcarbondioxide under the influence of light. Wemight say that through chlorophyll themolecule of which is built around the Magnesium atom# light, water and air are condensed intomatter3Magnesium helpstosynthesi-ematter.IntheMagnesium flashexplosion, inturn,matter is destroyed, light and heat are generated. Here Magnesium represents destruction ofmatter. 1etween both of these poles , creation and destruction , mo*es the eternal restlessflow of life which is acti*ity in ne*er ending restless e*olution and change. $1irth and death, aneternal sea, a changing wea*ing, a glowing life$ are the words (oethe puts into the mouth ofthe $6pirit of the Earth$. %rue to our image, we find a preponderance of Magnesium also in theseawater, the primordial source and origin of all primiti*e and undifferentiated life, ne*er atrest in its flow of tides and up and down of wa*es. 'ncontrast,thesymbol imageofchalkandofoysterrepresentstandstill,passivityandimmobility, the antithesis to the restless flowing life activity.Chal&consistsof depositsof theremainsof foraminifera, namelymillions andmillions of shells,remainders of tiny sea animals, sea life that has come to a standstill and has formed immobile roc&s.%he oyster shell, from which Calcarea carb is prepared, is the casing by which the flabby gelatinousoyster immobili-es itself and stic&s to a roc&. %he oyster represents a form of animal life which hasreduced acti*ity to the barest minimum. Clinging to the roc&, its only acti*ity consists in opening andclosing its shell. %hus, the calcification process represents standstill, immobili-ation, shell formation,walling off and firmness3 in the human organism in addition to the s&eleton, which to us symboli-esboth firmness and stability of structure, as well death, calcification occurs where tissue dies, becomes5necrotic and is ta&en out of the metabolic process. Calciumtightens the cell membranes,Magnesiumincreases permeability.Calciumis found asprecipitatedepositinthebones3Magnesium mostlyinioni-edsolutioninthesofttissuesthatasacti*ating elements en*elop the passi*e bones, namely muscle and ner*e tissue. 5oreo*er, aparticularly high amount of Magnesium is found in sperm, the *ery essence of acti*e mobility.While they are synergistic in respect to solidification, growth, balance and stabili-ation out of theli.uid medium3Calcium and Magnesium are antagonistic to each other in their dynamic impulsationwithin that state which they ha*e established. 1ipartisan in foreign policy, as it were3 they representthe tension between conser*atism and radicalism within. Magnesium representsmotion, change, dri*eimpulse, acti*ityanddirection, acentrifugal,in*igorating, acti*e, dri*ing force3 life that is borne out of creation and destruction, a positi*eoutgoing influence. Calcareais standstill, passi*ity, immobility, clinging, restraining, peripherally enclosing,restricting, ingoing, negati*e on holding in recepti*e principle.One is reminded of the tenet of Chinese philosophy which holds that e*erything in nature is based onthe balance of what is called 8ang and 8in forces. 8ang is the principle that is masculine, hot, dri*ing,acti*e, outgoing in pulsating, symboli-ed by gold and the sun. 8in is feminine recepti*e, cool, moist,passi*e, .uiet, immobile, symboli-ed by sil*er and by the earth. %he old practice of acupuncture,which in Europe is meeting with increasing attention and acceptance again, is based on that conceptof 8angand8in. 'lsomoderndepthpsychologyhas*erifiedthesoundnessof thatconcept3 also,psychiclifecanbeunderstoodinthelightofthepolartensionofoppositesof 8angand 8inli&e.ualities.We may begin to comprehend the Calcareastate now when we *iew it as a stress or problematicsituation of the le*el of the 8in forces3 that is a stress situation that brings into one,sidedpreponderance or brea&down the forces of immobili-ation, defensi*e protection, separation, wallingoff and shielding off. 6tagnation and standstill seems to pre*ail. With Magnesium,in turn, the pictureis dominated by the stress or the problem arising from too much impulsation, acti*ation and dri*e.Explosi*eness, aggressi*eness and spastic *iolence tend to pre*ail. (rowth and stability, of course,dependonabalanceof bothsides, onimpulsationanddirection, aswell as, onprotectionandorgani-ation3 theCalciumandMagnesiumfieldinits synergismrepresents theinterplayof thecentrifugally dynamic and the centripetally static forces.We can see before our inner eye the oyster,li&eCalcareatype as the plump, passi*e, phlegmatic,indolent complacent person that the 5ateria 5edica describes. 5ost of the problems stem from theirpassi*ity. %hey may be too open to influences fromtheir surroundings, too easily affected,hypersensiti*e or too armored and isolated in order to compensate for their lac& of ability to meet achallenge by initiati*e , thus, becoming stubborn and obstinate. !hysiologically that samedefenselessness and failure of adaptability and of meeting challenges, we find as hypersensiti*ity torough weather, coldness, dampness and the lac& of stamina and endurance.%hey are de*oid of initiati*e and courage, easily cowed, weepy, fearful, apprehensi*e and depressed3the compensating opposite appears as o*erexcitability with a tendency to spastic conditions.In the less extreme expressions of the Calcarea type, we simply ha*e a lac& of endurance and of theability to rebound. 'lso, muscular endurance and performance are reduced.Onthepositi*esideof theledger,thosesame.ualities may ma&ethe Calcareapersons slow,conscientious wor&ers who steadily plod along. %hey are reliable partners, the opposite of the erraticand unpredictable Magnesium type3 they are satisfied to build patiently and drag stone upon stone intheir wor&. /ot too imaginati*e, they may do best when left alone and allowed to proceedindependently. %hus, although often .uite sociable, they may gi*e the impression of obstinacy.%he further details of the Calcarea symptomatology which are &nown well enough, we may safely omitin this presentation after ha*ing brought out the basic characteri-ing features.6*ather let us concentrate on the less well$known Magnesium.9 %he Magnesium personality is characteri-ed by acti*ity out of bounds. It is in a state of continuousflash fires and explosions of endless emotional up and down of angry outbursts and fearful depres,sions.Magnesium maywell becalledthemost*iolent,ill,tempered, erraticbutalsofearful anddepressed remedy of our 5ateria 5edica. Its nearest resemblance for comparison would beChamomilla. 1ut unli&e the acute and transitory temper tantrum of Chamomilla, the Magnesium stateis the expression of a permanent constitutional personality pattern.9 We deal here with people of a basic central emotional imbalance and unsteadiness. %hey helplesslyare under the sway of their dri*es and impulses. %he patients are excessi*ely o*ersensiti*e, hysterical,irritable and sub0ect to the extremist forms of emotional tensions. %hey are utterly unable to controltheiremotionsorimposeanyamountofself,disciplineuponthem3sub0ectto*iolentrages,fury,temper tantrums, the terror of the family or of the office should they be in charge. 2ull of fears andanxieties, children screaming at the sight of the doctor. Here we may remember that often fear is thereactiontoone's ownrepressed, unconscious *iolence. Hypochondriacs, whoaresurethat e*erytrifling indisposition is a catastrophical illness without hope for reco*ery, eternal complainers, *iolentbosses, patients in a state of ner*ous exhaustion but also, in the writer's own experience, borderlinenearpsychoticcasesmar&edbyfearordepression.Itdefinitelywoulddeser*eatrial asamostpromising drug in manic depressi*e, as well schi-ophrenic patients whene*er the symptoms agree. Intheactual near psychoticstates of myownexperience, most fre.uently,theindicationwas forMagnes. mur)./ot infre.uently, the mental state is mar&ed by a seemingly .uiet and composed disposition. In thesecases,thestormy,touchy*iolenceiseitherhiddenunder a mas&as thefamilywilltell you or adiscipline imposed by strongest will,power has succeeded in dri*ing the stormy emotions underground.6uch people, if they are of the Magnesium constitution, may then suddenly find themsel*es on the*erge of a ner*ous brea&down descending upon them out of the blue s&y. Or the rep'ressed *iolence,depri*edof theemotional outlet, expresses itself inits physiologice.ui*alent instorms of theautonomic ner*ous system. :ust as it is the most temperamentally imbalanced, so Magnesium is alsothe most *iolently spastic and neuralgic drug of our 5ateria 5edica. %his is true of allMagnesias, notmerely the phosphate#.%he spasms affect the *isceral muscles, for instance, bronchial asthma, intestinal biliary, renal colics,etc3 they affect the blood *essels as retinal spasms *isual disturbances# di--yness, migraine due toconstriction of the arteries of the head region and coronary condition (Mag. phos).2inally, we findspasms in the extremities with ischemia, coldness, paresthesia, anesthesia and e*en states of shoc&,li&e nature with external coldness, nausea and cold sweat. %he neuralgias may affect any ner*e groupand are often of the paresthetic type./ext and in closest interplay with the autonomic ner*ous system are the ductless glands. %he mentalstate of explosi*e, restless dri*e is most closely reflected in a hyperacti*ity of the thyroid gland. 'ndindeed, therepro*ingofMagnesium carriedout by5et-ger,6tuttgart, (ermany,demonstratedapronounced effect upon the thyroid but also upon the prostate gland. /ext toIodium, Magnesium isfirst and foremost to be considered as a remedy in states of hyperthyroidism; toxic goiter, as well asthyroid heart. %he symptoms produced in the pro*ings were) swelling, pressure sensation andtenderness, cho&ing and sensiti*ity to clothes pressure in the thyroid and nec& area3 heartpalpitations, tachycardia, stitching pains in the heart area.With this tendency to toxic goiter, we see again a confirmation of the complementary relationship toCalcareawhich produces and cures fibrous goiter. 'lsohere,Magnesium represents the o*eracti*edri*ing *ersus the slowing and arresting tendency of Calcarea.%he second important organotropic relation is to the prostate gland, thus suggesting that this glandabout whosefunctionwe&nowsolittle, mayperhapsha*esomethingtodowiththemasculineaggressi*e dri*e. In the pro*ings, the sex dri*e may be increased or decreased3 there is pressure andstichingpaininprostateandtesticles, worseafter urinationanddefecation. Inclinical prostatehypertrophy, where our medical armamentarium lea*es still much to be desired, the Magnesiasareamong the leading most fre.uently indicated remedies.5et-ger draws attention to the fact that in the family ascendancy of Magnesium types, one fre.uentlyfindshyperthyroidismwhichipsofactoisapotentialMagnesium indication.Hethereforesuggeststhere may be a familial incidence of the Magnesium constitution by dominant inheritance. %hus, whenha*ing one Magnesium case in a family, one may do well to consider possible Magnesium indications7for any other member of that family who either does not respond to the' apparently indicated remedyor failsto show clear prescribing symptoms or, most important, loo&s li&e aCalcareacase onthesurface, yet fails to show sufficient progress under Calcarea.Magnesium, li&e Calcium, has rheumatic diathesis. 1ut whereas Calcarea primarily affects the joints";theMagnesn;m rheumatism, in linewith generalcharacteri-ation,prefersthe muscles and ner*eswith contracti*e, spastic and neuralgic states,'nother important Magnesium symptom is acyclical intermittency and changeability of symptoms. 2ornoapparentreason, symptomschange, disappearandafter afewwee&sha*eelapsed, reappearagain.In their modalities, Calcarea and Magnesia differ inasmuch as Magnesium is better from wal&ing in theopen air. Magnesium is aggra*ated by riding in a carriage carsic&ness#, from sweets and fat partic,ularly Mag. sui!).'lso, the Magnesiasare among the $di--iest$ remedies. 1oth are chilly and worsefrom coldness.1oth, theCalcarea,as well as theMagnesiastates, are most typically represented in thesymptomgtology of the carbonates. 6ince our 5ateria 5edica lists a fair amount of symptomatology asfar as the particulars of Mag. carb and Mag. mur. are concerned, the further details may be studiedthere and need not be referred to here. A few words may be in place, however, in respect to the differentiating features of thevarious Magnesium compounds..Magnesia mur. seems characteri-ed by a particularly mar&ed depressi*e tendency. ' dar& gloom hassettled which may be temporarily interrupted by explosions of *iolence. 6ince the picture reminds oneof atrum mur. but is far in excess of the atrum mur. depression#, one may wonder whether there isnotacertainaccentuationof adepressi*echaracterinherentinthechlorideion.Magnesiamur.deser*es attention in psychiatric conditions.With the phosphate, we are also fairly familiar. /ot sufficiently appreciated is the fact, howe*er, thatMag. phos., li&e all Magnesias, has a broad range of deep and long lasting constitutional effects. %heMagnesia phos. type is, as we would expect from the foregoing, similar to the Calcarea phos. patient.%heyarethe samethin,wea&,andsensiti*etypes, withthesame nutritional,psoricand allergicproblems, yet characteri-ed by the fiery magnesium impulsi*ity rather than the calc. passi*ity. %heyoften are thin, dar& complexioned, *ery sensiti*e artistic or intellectual people, extremely ner*ous,intense, restless, spastic, and neurotic with cramps and colics all o*er3 foremost, we mention anginapectoris, chorea paralysis agitans, but also professional neuroses li&e writer's cramp, etc., in additionto the other well,&nown indications.Magnesium iodatum is dar&, scrawny, shri*eled, thin and worn out, is in a state of continuous uproaror depression. It combines the features of two of the mostrestless drugs we &nowof. Itsspecialindications are hyperthyroidism, prostatic and biliary condition.Mag. sul! Epsom salt# has a special affinity to li*er, biliary, pancreatic and intestinal disturbances. Iha*e been watching a case of prostate hypertrophy gradually impro*ing o*er three years now withmag. sul! Its special features are aggra*ation from fats, from riding trains, diarrhea with great thirst,diabetes with great thirst, and polyuria, disseminated warts of children, depression, fits of passion,beside themsel*es with forebodings and anxiety. %he sulfur component is .uite ob*ious.Inour differential diagnostic comparison, weha*egi*enmoreattentiontoMagnesiumthantoCalcarea. It is hoped that this comparati*e stress upon the less well,&nown of the two earth al&alieswill help to restore to its deser*ed place in the scope of our prescribing, one of the most importantdrugs of our homeopathic armamentarium.