"
For centuries Gold has been used with excellent effect in scrofula,
heart-disease, skin diseases, dropsy, melancholia, and the morbus
Gallicus, or syphilis." " But of course the metal must be first highly
triturated, or else dissolved, in order to become remedial." As to the
results of Gold, taken experimentally, and to a toxic extent, by
persons in full health, triturated gold-leaf (Aurum foliatum) being
used for this purpose, they have been plaintive depression of spirits,
melancholy, and passionate irritability ; or, in some instances, great
hilarity, as just the opposite condition. Again, pustular eruptions
have appeared on the face, with inflamed soreness inside the nostrils.
Symptoms of asthma, with disturbance of the heart's action, were
produced in some of the provers ; difficult breathing, and a sensation
of heavy weight beneath the breast-bone, being marked symptoms ;
precisely what occurs in " angina pectoris." It is certain that a whole
series of Arabian physicians successively employed finely powdered
Gold, beginning as far back as the eighth century.
It
has been repeatedly found that dry, warm weather favours the curative
action of Gold ; whereas cold and wet weather has quite an opposite
effect, even aggravating the symptoms for which the Gold is given.
Moreover, the fact is well ascertained that the preparations of Gold
will act beneficially sometimes for a long while after they have ceased
to be given.
Pliny,
who died in the year 79, described at large the use of Gold in
medicine. His translators, Bostock, and Riley, tell that the external
application of pure Gold will remove styes on the eyelids. A popular
adoption of this teaching is in vogue to this day, as shown by the
common practice of wetting a gold ring with
