HOMŒOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA
by
WILLIAM BOERICKE, M.D.

  
SILICEA TERRA
Silica. Pure Flint
(SILICEA)

Imperfect assimilation and consequent defective nutrition. It goes further and produces neurasthenic states in consequence, and increased susceptibility to nervous stimuli and exaggerated reflexes. Diseases of bones, caries and necrosis. Silica can stimulate the organism to re-absorb fibrotic conditions and scar-tissue. In phthisis must be used with care, for here it may cause the absorption of scar-tissue, liberate the disease, walled in, to new activities (J. Weir). Organic changes; it is deep and slow in action. Periodical states; abscesses, quinsy, headaches, spasms, epilepsy, feeling of coldness before an attack. Keloid growth. Scrofulous, rachitic children, with large head open fontanelles and sutures, distended abdomen, slow in walking. Ill effects of vaccination. Suppurative processes. It is related to all fistulous burrowings. Ripens abscesses since it promotes suppuration. Silica patient is cold, chilly, hugs the fire, wants plenty warm clothing, hates drafts, hands and feet cold, worse in winter. Lack of vital heat. Prostration of mind and body. Great sensitiveness to taking cold. Intolerance of alcoholic stimulants. Ailments attended with pus formation. Epilepsy. Want of grit, moral or physical.

Mind.--Yielding, faint-hearted, anxious. Nervous and excitable. Sensitive to all impressions. Brain-fag. Obstinate, headstrong children. Abstracted. Fixed ideas; thinks only of pins, fears them, searches and counts them.

Head.--Aches from fasting. Vertigo from looking up; better, wrapping up warmly; when lying on left side (Magnes mur; Strontia). Profuse sweat of head, offensive, and extends to neck. Pain begins at occiput, and spreads over head and settles over eyes. Swelling in the glabella.

Eyes.--Angles of eyes affected. Swelling of lachrymal duct. Aversion to light, especially daylight; it produces dazzling, sharp pain through eyes; eyes tender to touch; worse when closed. Vision confused; letters run together on reading. Styes. Iritis and irido-choroiditis, with pus in anterior chamber. Perforating or sloughing ulcer of cornea. Abscess in cornea after traumatic injury. Cataract in office workers. After-effects of keratitis and ulcus cornæ, clearing the opacity. Use 30th potency for months.

Ears.--Fetid discharge. Caries of mastoid. Loud pistol-like report. Sensitive to noise. Roaring in ears.

Nose.--Itching at point of nose. Dry, hard crusts form, bleeding when loosened. Nasal bones sensitive. Sneezing in morning. Obstructed and loss of smell. Perforation of septum.

Face.--Skin cracked on margin of lips. Eruption on chin. Facial neuralgia, throbbing, tearing, face red; worse, cold damp.

Mouth.--Sensation of a hair on tongue. Gums sensitive to cold air. Boils on gums. Abscess at root of teeth. Pyorrhea (Merc cor). Sensitive to cold water.

Throat.--Periodical quinsy. Pricking as of a pin in tonsil. Colds settle in throat. Parotid glands swollen (Bell; Rhus; Calc). Stinging pain on swallowing. Hard, cold swelling of cervical glands.

Stomach.--Disgust for meat and warm food. On swallowing food, it easily gets into posterior nares. Want of appetite; thirst excessive. Sour eructations after eating (Sepia; Calc). Pit of stomach painful to pressure. Vomiting after drinking (Ars; Verat).

Abdomen.--Pain or painful cold feeling in abdomen, better external heat. Hard, bloated. Colic; cutting pain, with constipation; yellow hands and blue nails. Much rumbling in bowels. Inguinal glands swollen and painful. Hepatic abscess.

Rectum.--Feels paralyzed. Fistula in ano (Berb; Lach). Fissures and hæmorrhoids, painful, with spasm of sphincter. Stool comes down with difficulty; when partly expelled, recedes again. Great straining; rectum stings; closes upon stool. Feces remain a long time in rectum. Constipation always before and during menses; with irritable sphincter ani. Diarrhœa of cadaverous odor.

Urinary.--Bloody, involuntary, with red or yellow sediment. Prostatic fluid discharged when straining at stool. Nocturnal enuresis in children with worms.

Male.--Burning and soreness of genitals, with eruption on inner surface of thighs. Chronic gonorrhœa, with thick, fetid discharge. Elephantiasis of scrotum. Sexual erethism; nocturnal emissions. Hydrocele.

Female.--A milky (Calc; Puls; Sep), acrid leucorrhœa, during urination. Itching of vulva and vagina; very sensitive. Discharge of blood between menstrual periods. Increased menses, with paroxysms of icy coldness over whole body. Nipples very sore; ulcerated easily; drawn in. Fistulous ulcers of breast (Phos). Abscess of labia. Discharge of blood from vagina every time child is nursed. Vaginal cysts (Lyc; Puls; Rhod) hard lumps in breast (conium).

Respiratory.--Colds fail to yield; sputum persistently muco-purulent and profuse. Slow recovery after pneumonia. Cough and sore throat, with expectoration of little granules like shot, which, when broken, smell very offensive. Cough with expectoration in day, bloody or purulent. Stitches in chest through to back. Violent cough when lying down, with thick, yellow lumpy expectoration; suppurative stage of expectoration (Bals. Peru).

Back.--Weak spine; very susceptible to draughts on back. Pain in coccyx. Spinal irritation after injuries to spine; diseases of bones of spine. Potts' disease.

Sleep.--Night-walking; gets up while asleep. Sleeplessness, with great orgasm of blood and heat in head. Frequent starts in sleep. Anxious dreams. Excessive gaping.

Extremities.--Sciatica, pains through hips, legs and feet. Cramp in calves and soles. Loss of power in legs. Tremulous hands when using them. Paralytic weakness of forearm. Affections of finger nails, especially if white spots on nails. Ingrowing toe-nails. Icy cold and sweaty feet. The parts lain on go to sleep. Offensive sweat on feet, hands, and axillæ. Sensation in tips of fingers, as if suppurating. Panaritium. Pain in knee, as if tightly bound. Calves tense and contracted. Pain beneath toes. Soles sore (Ruta). Soreness in feet from instep through to the sole. Suppurates.

Skin.--Felons, abscesses, boils, old fistulous ulcers. Delicate, pale, waxy. Cracks at end of fingers. Painless swelling of glands. Rose-colored blotches. Scars suddenly become painful. Pus offensive. Promotes expulsion of foreign bodies from tissues. Every little injury suppurates. Long lasting suppuration and fistulous tracts. Dry finger tips. Eruptions itch only in daytime and evening. Crippled nails. Indurated tumors. Abscesses of joints. After impure vaccination. Bursa. Lepra, nodes, and coppery spots. Keloid growths.

Fever.--Chilliness; very sensitive to cold air. Creeping, shivering over the whole body. Cold extremities, even in a warm room. Sweat at night; worse towards morning. Suffering parts feel cold.

Modalities.--Worse, new moon, in morning, from washing, during menses, uncovering, lying down, damp, lying on, left side, cold. Better, warmth, wrapping up head, summer; in wet or humid weather.

Relationship.--Complementary: Thuja; Sanic; Puls; Fluor ac. Mercurius and Silica do not follow each other well.

Compare: Black Gunpowder 3x (Abscesses, boils, carbuncles, limb purple. Wounds that refuse to heal; accident from bad food or water.--Clarke). Hep; Kali phos; Pic ac; Calc; Phos; Tabasheer; Natrum silicum (tumors, hæmophilia, arthritis; dose, three drops three times daily, in milk); Ferrum cyanatum (epilepsy; neuroses, with irritable weakness and hyper-sensitiveness, especially of a periodical character). Silica marina-Sea sand--(Silica and Natrum mur symptoms. Inflamed glands and commencing suppuration. Constipation. Use for some time 3x trit). Vitrum-Crown glass--(Pott's disease, after Silica, necrosis, discharge thin, watery, fetid. Much pain, fine grinding and grating like grit). Arundo donax (acts on excretory and generative organs; suppuration, especially chronic, and where the ulceration is fistulous, especially in long bones. Itching eruption on chest, upper extremities and behind ears).

Dose.--Sixth to thirtieth potency. The 200th and higher of unquestioned activity. In malignant affections, the lowest potencies needed at times.

  
SILPHIUM LACINATUM
Rosin-weed
(SILPHIUM)

Is used in various forms of asthma and chronic bronchitis Catarrh of bladder. Catarrhal influenza. Dysentery; attack preceded by constipated stools covered with white mucus.

Respiratory.--Cough with expectoration profuse, stringy, frothy, light-colored. Excited by sense of mucus rattling in chest and worse by drafts of air. Constriction of lungs. Catarrh, with copious, stringy, mucous discharges. Desire to hawk and scrape throat. Irritation of posterior nares, involving mucous membranes of nasal passages with constriction of supra-orbital region.

Relationship.--Compare: Aral; Copaiv; Tereb; Cubeb; Samb; Silphion cyrenaicum (phthisis pulmonum, with incessant cough, profuse night-sweats, emaciation, etc); Polygonum aviculare (has been found useful in phthisis, when given in material doses of the mother tincture); Salvia (tickling cough). Arum dracontium (loose cough at night on lying down). Justicia adhatoda (bronchial catarrh, hoarseness, oversensitive).

Dose.--Third potency. Lower triturations preferred by some.

  
SINAPIS NIGRA
Black Mustard
(BRASSICA NIGRA)

Is of use in hay-fever, coryza, and pharyngitis. Dry nares and pharynx, with thick, lumpy secretion. Small-pox.

Head.--Scalp hot and itches. Sweat on upper lip and forehead. Tongue feels blistered.

Nose.--Mucus from posterior nares feels cold. Scanty, acrid discharge. Stoppage of left nostril all day, or in afternoon and evening. Dry, hot, with lachrymation, sneezing; hacking cough; better lying down. Nostrils alternately stopped. Dryness of anterior nares.

Respiratory.--Cough is relieved by lying down.

Throat.--Feels scalded, hot inflamed. Asthmatic breathing. Loud coughing-spells with barking expiration.

Stomach.--Offensive breath, smelling like onions (Asaf; Armorac). Burning in stomach, extending up œsophagus, throat, and mouth, which is full of canker sores. Hot sour eructations. Colic; pains come on while bent forward; better, sitting up straight. Sweat better when nausea comes on.

Urinary.--Pain in bladder, frequent copious flow day and night.

Back.--Rheumatic pain in intercostal and lumbar muscles; sleeplessness from pain in back and hips.

Relationship.--Compare: Sulph; Capsic; Colocy; Sinapis alba-White Mustard--(throat symptoms marked, especially pressure and burning, with obstruction in œsophagus; sensation of a lump in œsophagus behind the Manubrium Sterni and with much eructation; similar symptoms in rectum). Mustard oil by inhalation (acts on the sensory nerve endings of the trigeminal. Relieves pain in middle ear disease and in painful conditions of nose, nasal cavities, and tonsils).

Dose.--Third potency.

  
SKATOLUM
(SKATOL)

Represents the ultimate end of proteid decomposition and is a constituent of human feces.

Acne with auto-intoxication dependent upon intestinal decomposition.

Stomach and abdominal symptoms and frontal headache. Sluggishness with no ambition. Desire to curse and swear.

Mind.--Lack of concentration; impossible to study; despondent; desire to be with people. Irritable. Felt mean towards everyone.

Head.--Frontal headache, worse over left eye, in the evening, better by short sleep.

Gastric.--Tongue coated, foul taste. Salty taste to all cereals. Belching. Appetite increased. Light, yellow, narrow, very offensive stool. Intestinal dyspepsia.

Urinary.--Frequent, scanty, burning, difficult.

Sleep.--Increased desire to sleep; wakes unrefreshed, half doped feeling.

Relationship.--Compare: Indol; Baptis; Sulph.

Dose.--Sixth potency.

  
SKOOKUM CHUCK AQUA
Chuck-Water and Skookum-Strong (Salts from Water from Medical Lake near Spokane, Wash)
(SKOOKUM - CHUCK)

Has strong affinity for skin and mucous membranes-An anti-psoric medicine.

Otitis media. Profuse, ichorous, cadaverously smelling discharge. Lithemia. Catarrh. Urticaria. Skin affections. Eczema. Dry skin. Hay-fever. Profuse coryza and constant sneezing.

Relationship.--Saxonite--(appears to have remarkable cleansing, deodorizing and soothing properties for the skin (Cowperthwaite). Eczema, scalds, burns, sores and hæmorrhoids).

Dose.--Third trituration.

  
SOLANUM NIGRUM
Black Nightshade

Used with success in ergotism, with tetanic spasms and stiffness of whole body, with mania. Marked action on head and eyes. Meningitis. Chronic intestinal toxæmia. Brain irritation during dentition. Restlessness of a violent and convulsive nature. Formication with contraction of extremities.

Head.--Furious delirium. Vertigo; terrible headache and complete cessation of the mental faculties. Night terrors. Congestive headache.

Nose.--Acute coryza; profuse, watery discharge from right nostril; left stopped up, with chilly sensation, alternating with heat.

Eyes.--Pain over both eyes. Alternate dilatation and contraction of pupils; weak sight; floating spots.

Respiratory.--Constructive feeling in chest, with difficult breathing; cough with tickling in throat. Expectoration thick, yellow. Pain in left chest, sore to touch.

Fever.--Alternation of coldness and heat. Scarlet fever; eruption in spots, large and vivid.

Relationship.--Compare: Bellad; Solanum Carolinense-Horse-nettle--(conclusions and epilepsy, twenty to forty-drop doses; is of great value in grand mal of idiopathic type, where the disease has begun beyond age of childhood; hystero-epilepsy, also in whooping-cough); Solan mammosum-Apple of Sodom--(pain in left hip-joint); Solan oleraceum (swelling of mammary gland, with profuse secretion of milk); Solan tuberosum (cramps in calves and contraction of fingers; spitting through closed teeth); Solan vesicarium (recommended in facial paralysis); Solaninum aceticum (threatening paralysis of the lungs in the course of bronchitis in the aged and children must cough a long time before able to raise expectoration); Solan pseudocaps (acute pains, in lower abdomen); Solan tuberos ægrotans-Diseased potato--(prolapse of the rectum, patulous anus; offensive breath and odor of body; tumors of rectum look like decayed potato; dreams of pools of blood); Solanum tuberosum-Potato berries--(cramps in the calves of the legs and fingers).

Dose.--Second to thirtieth potency.

  
SOLIDAGO VIRGAUREA
Golden-rod
(SOLIDAGO VIRGA)

Inhalation of the pollen has caused hæmorrhage from the lungs in phthisis. Repeated colds of tuberculosis (2x) feeling of weakness, chilliness alternating with heat; naso-pharyngeal catarrh, burning in throat, pains in limbs and thoracic oppression. Pain in region of kidneys, with dysuria. Kidneys sensitive to pressure. Bright's disease. Hay-fever when Solidago is the exciting cause. Here give 30th potency or higher.

Eyes.--Injected, watery, burning, stinging.

Nose.--Nares irritated with abundant mucus secretion; paroxysms of sneezing.

Stomach.--Bitter taste, especially at night; coated tongue with very scanty brown and sour urine.

Respiratory.--Bronchitis, cough with much purulent expectoration, blood-streaked; oppressed breathing. Continuous dyspnœa. Asthma, with nightly dysuria.

Female.--Uterine enlargement, organ pressed down upon the bladder. Fibroid tumors.

Urine.--Scanty, reddish brown, thick sediment, dysuria, gravel. Difficult and scanty. Albumen, blood, and slime in urine. Pain in kidneys extend forward to abdomen and bladder (Berb). Clear and offensive urine. Sometimes makes the use of the catheter unnecessary.

Back.--Backache of congested kidneys (Senec aur).

Skin.--Blotches, especially on lower extremities; itch. Exanthema of lower extremities, with urinary disturbances, dropsy and threatened gangrene.

Relationship.--Iodoform 2x antidotes poison of Golden-rod. Arsenic. Agrimonia (Pain in region of kidneys).

Dose.--Tincture, to third potency. Oil of Solidago, 1 oz to 8 oz. Alcohol. 15 drops doses to promote expectoration in bronchitis and bronchial asthma in old people (Eli G. Jones).

  
SPIGELIA ANTHELMIA
Pinkroot
(SPIGELIA)

Spigelia is an important remedy in pericarditis and other diseases of the heart, because the provings were conducted with the greatest regard for objective symptoms and the subjective symptoms are by innumerable confirmations proved to be correct (C. Hering).

Has marked elective affinity for the eye, heart, and nervous system. Neuralgia of the fifth nerve is very prominent in its effects. Is especially adapted to anæmic, debilitated, rheumatic, and scrofulous subjects. Stabbing pains. Heart affections and neuralgia. Very sensitive to touch. Parts feel chilly; send shudder through frame. A remedy for symptoms due to the presence of worms. Child refers to the navel as the most painful part (Granat; Nux mosch).

Mind.--Afraid of sharp, pointed things, pins, needles, etc.

Head.--Pain beneath frontal eminence and temples, extending to eyes (Onos). Semi-lateral, involving left eye; pain violent, throbbing; worse, making a false step. Pain as if a band around head (Carbol ac; Cact; Gels). Vertigo, hearing exalted.

Eyes.--Feel too large; pressive pain on turning them. Pupils dilated; photophobia; rheumatic ophthalmia. Severe pain in and around eyes, extending deep into socket. Ciliary neuralgia, a true neuritis.

Nose.--Forepart of nose always dry; discharge through posterior nares chronic catarrh, with post-nasal dropping of bland mucus.

Mouth.--Tongue fissured, painful. Tearing toothache; worse, after eating and cold. Foul odor from mouth. Offensive taste.

Face.--Prosopalgia, involving eye, zygoma, cheek, teeth, temple, worse, stooping, touch, from morning until sunset.

Heart.--Violent palpitation. Præcordial pain and great aggravation from movement. Frequent attacks of palpitation, especially with foul odor from mouth. Pulse weak and irregular. Pericarditis, with sticking pains, palpitation, dyspnœa. Neuralgia extending to arm or both arms. Angina pectoris. Craving for hot water which relieves. Rheumatic carditis, trembling pulse; whole left side sore. Dyspnœa; must lie on right side with head high.

Rectum.--Itching and crawling. Frequent ineffectual urging to stool. Ascarides.

Fever.--Chilliness on the slightest motion.

Modalities.--Worse, from touch, motion, noise, turning, washing, concussion. Better, lying on right side with head high; inspiring.

Relationship.--Compare: Spigelia Marylandica (maniacal excitement, paroxysmal laughing and crying, loud, disconnected talking, vertigo, dilated pupils, congestions); Acon; Cact; Cimicif; Arnica (Spigela is a chronic Arnica); Cinnab (supra-orbital pain); Naja; Spong (heart); Sabad; Teucr; Cina (worm symptoms).

Antidote: Pulsat.

Dose.--Sixth to thirtieth potency for neuralgic symptoms; second to third potency for inflammatory symptoms.

  
SPIRANTHES AUTUMNALIS
Lady's Tresses
(SPIRANTHES)

Has been used for milk-flow in nursing women, lumbago and rheumatism, colic, with drowsiness and spasmodic yawning. Is an anti-phlogistic remedy akin to Acon its symptoms showing congestion and inflammation. Acidity and burning in œsophagus with eructation.

Female.--Pruritus; vulva red; dryness and burning in vagina. Burning pain in vagina during coition. Leucorrhœa, bloody.

Extremities.--Sciatic pain, especially right side. Pain in shoulders. Swelling of veins of hands. Pain in all articulations of hands. Coldness of feet and toes.

Fever.--Flushes of heat. Sweat on palms. Hands alternately hot and cold.

Dose.--Third potency.

  
SPIRAEA ULMARIA
Hardhack

Burning and pressure in œsophagus, feels contracted but not made worse by swallowing. Morbidly conscientious. Relieves irritation of the urinary passages; influences the prostate gland; checks gleet and prostatorrhœa; has been used for eclampsia, epilepsy, and hydrophobia. Bites of mad animals. Heat in various parts (Salicylic acid is found in Spiraea).

  
SPONGIA TOSTA
Roasted Sponge

A remedy especially marked in the symptoms of the respiratory organs, cough, croup, etc. Heart affections and often indicated for the tubercular diathesis. Children with fair complexion, lax fiber; swollen glands. Exhaustion and heaviness of the body after slight exertion, with orgasm of blood to chest, face. Anxiety and difficult breathing.

Mind.--Anxiety and fear. Every excitement increases the cough.

Head.--Rush of blood; bursting headache; worse, forehead.

Eyes.--Watering; gummy or mucus discharge.

Nose.--Fluent coryza, alternating with stoppage. Dryness; chronic, dry, nasal catarrh.

Mouth.--Tongue dry and brown; full of vesicles.

Throat.--Thyroid gland swollen. Stitches and dryness. Burning and stinging. Sore throat; worse after eating sweet things. Tickling causes cough. Clears throat constantly.

Stomach.--Excessive thirst, great hunger. Cannot bear tight clothing around trunk. Hiccough.

Male.--Swelling of spermatic cord and testicles, with pain and tenderness. Orchitis. Epididymitis. Heat in parts.

Female.--Before menses, pain in sacrum, hunger, palpitation. During menses, wakes with suffocative spells (Cupr; Iod; Lach). Amenorrhœa, with asthma (Puls).

Respiratory.--Great dryness of all air-passages. Hoarseness; larynx dry, burns, constricted. Cough, dry, barking, croupy; larynx sensitive to touch. Croup; worse, during inspiration and before midnight. Respiration short, panting, difficult; feeling of a plug in larynx. Cough abates after eating or drinking, especially warm drinks. The dry, chronic sympathetic cough or organic heart disease is relieved by Spongia (Naja). Irrepressible cough from a spot deep in chest, as if raw and sore. Chest weak; can scarcely talk. Laryngeal phthisis. Goitre, with suffocative spells. Bronchial catarrh, with wheezing, asthmatic cough, worse cold air, with profuse expectoration and suffocation; worse, lying with head low and in hot room. Oppression and heat of chest, with sudden weakness.

Heart.--Rapid and violent palpitation, with dyspnœa; cannot lie down; also feels best resting in horizontal position. Awakened suddenly after midnight with pain and suffocation; is flushed, hot, and frightened to death (Acon). Valvular insufficiency. Angina pectoris; faintness, and anxious sweat. Ebullition of blood, veins distended. Surging of heart into chest, as if it would force out upward. Hypertrophy of heart, especially right, with asthmatic symptoms.

Skin.--Swelling and induration of glands; also exophthalmic; cervical glands swollen with tensive pain on turning head, painful on pressure; Goitre. Itching; measles

Sleep.--Awakes in a fright, and feels as if suffocating. Generally worse after sleep, or sleeps into and aggravation (Lach).

Fever.--Attacks of heat with anxiety; heat and redness of face and perspiration.

Modalities.--Worse, ascending, wind, before midnight. Better, descending, lying with head low.

Relationship.--Compare: Acon; Hep; Brom; Lach; Merc prot; Iod (Goitre).

Dose.--Second trituration, or tincture to third potency.

  
SQUILLA MARITIMA
Sea-onion

A slow acting remedy. Corresponds to ailments requiring several days to reach their maximum. Persistent, dull, rheumatic pains permeate the body. A spleen medicine; stitches under left free ribs. Important heart and kidneys medicine. Broncho-pneumonia.

Acts especially on mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive tracts, and also upon the kidneys. Valuable in chronic bronchitis of old people with mucous rales, dyspnœa, and scanty urine.

Eyes.--Feel irritable; child bores into them with fists. Sensation as if swimming in cold water.

Stomach.--Pressure like a stone.

Respiratory.--Fluent coryza; margins of nostrils feel sore. Sneezing; throat irritated; short, dry cough; must take a deep breath. Dyspnœa and stitches in chest, and painful contraction of abdominal muscles. Violent, furious, exhausting cough, with much mucus; profuse, salty, slimy expectoration, and with involuntary spurting of urine and sneezing. Child rubs face with fist during cough (Caust; Puls). Cough provoked by taking a deep breath or cold drinks, from exertion, change from warm to cold air. Cough of measles. Frequent calls to urinate at night, passing large quantities (Phos ac). Sneezing with coughing.

Heart.--A cardiac stimulant affecting the peripheral vessels and coronary arteries.

Urinary.--Great urging; much watery urine. Involuntary spurting of urine when coughing (Caustic; Puls).

Skin.--Small, red spots over body, with prickling pain.

Extremities.--Icy cold hands and feet, with warmth of the rest of the body (Menyanthes). Feet get sore from standing. Tender feet with shop girls.

Modalities.--Better, rest; worse, motion.

Relationship.--Compare: Digit; Strophant; Apocyn can; Bry; Kali carb. Squilla follows Digitalis, if this fails to relieve water-logged cases.

Dose.--First to third potency.

 

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