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   The drug shows in the iris in the form of lead blue or bluish grey discoloration in the region of stomach and bowels. I have found the dark blue or bluish grey sign of lead many times in the eyes of painters, printers, plumbers and other workers in lead, suffering from lead poisoning or lead colic. The sign in the iris indicates that the drug has a strong affinity for the stomach, but it also affects the nerves in the upper region of the spinal cord, causing the symptoms of wrist-drop and shaking palsy or paralysis agitans. (Mercury shows a stronger affinity for the lower sections of the spinal cord, more frequently giving rise to the symptoms of locomotor ataxia.) One of the plainest diagnostic symptoms of lead poison is a blue line along the edge of the gums.

   I have met with many cases of lead poisoning caused through drug taking or accidental absorption of the metal.

   Several years ago a patient came to me for consultation who suffered intensely from ulcers of the stomach. The eyes revealed plainly the sign of lead in the stomach area. I was unable to locate the source of the lead poisoning until I learned from the patient that for several years he had been employed in a carriage factory and that his work consisted in scraping old varnish and paint from vehicles. In this way he had inhaled and swallowed large quantities of the metal contained in the paint scrapings. Under natural treatment he made a perfect recovery.

   Another patient who had suffered for years with severe indigestion, neuralgia and "rheumatic pains" also showed plainly the lead sign in the region of the stomach. In this case it developed that the patient several years before had worked on the ore wharves in Cleveland, Ohio. He had been in the habit of drinking water from a spring which trickled out from under a large pile of metal bearing rocks. He became violently ill, and was taken to a hospital where the doctors diagnosed his case as metallic poisoning. While he recovered from the acute attack, he was never well afterward and was treated for several years for indigestion, muscular rheumatism and neuralgia. The eyes revealed the true nature of his acute and chronic ailments. He also made a perfect recovery under natural treatment.

   Lead and mercury produce the most stubborn forms of chronic constipation. The intestinal tract in the iris of such patients frequently has a black appearance. (Color plate, e and f, p. 116) Many such cases we have had to treat for six months or longer before the first white lines appeared in the black area of the stomach and intestines indicating the return of life into the paralyzed organs.

Allopathic Uses:

   1. Externally as astringent and sedative in bruises, itches, ulcers and inflamed surfaces in general.

   2. As injection against chronic inflammatory discharges from vagina, urethra, ear, etc.

   3. Sprains (lead water and opium).

   4. Hemostat for internal hemorrhage.

   5. Powerful ecbolic. (Producing abortion.)

Accidental Poisoning:

   1. Workmen handling lead, type, paint, tinfoil, etc.

   2. Lead water pipes.

   3. Action of acid preservers on solder in canned goods.

   4. Lead coated pottery.

   5. Candy and cake colors (chromate).

   6. Hair dyes (sulphid).

   7. Glassware.

Toxicology:

   Enters through skin, respiratory and alimentary tracts. Circulates as albuininate of lead, reducing red corpuscles and salts.

   Is soon taken up by tissues and obstinately retained.

Symptoms of Plumbism:

   1. Blue line along edge of gums.

   2. Malnutrition.

   3. Profound anemia. Icterus saturius.

   4. Lead colic. Stubborn constipation.

   5. Neuromuscular pain and rigidity often mistaken for rheumatism.

   6. Paralysis saturia (lead palsy, wrist-drop, ankle-drop). Symmetrical, starting as feebleness and stiffness. Paralysis agitans.

   7. Retinitis secondary to arteriosclerosis and interstitial nephritis.

   8. Vertigo and delirium in severe cases.

Elimination of the Drug in Healing Crises:

   Severe gastritis, hemorrhages from stomach, hemorrhoidal discharges; skin eruptions and ulcers (similar to mercury), sores in the mouth; bleeding of gums; severe nervous symptoms.

Signs in Iris:

   Have been described in introductory paragraph in this chapter.

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