About Aalserum/Serum Anguillae

Whenever the kidney becomes acutely affected, either from cold or infection or intoxication, and the attack is characterized by retention of urine, kidney failure and albuminuria, we will find the eel's serum eminently efficacious to re-establish diuresis, and in rapidly arresting albuminuria.

When during the course of heart-disease, the kidney, previously working well, should suddenly become affected and its function inhibited; and when besides we observe cardiac irregularities and a marked state of asystolia (state of no cardiac activity), we may yet expect good results from this serum.

But to determine here the choice of this remedy is not an easy matter. While digitalis presents in its indications, the well-known symptomatic trilogy : arterial hypertension, urine retention and oedema; the serum of the eel seems better adapted to cases of hypertension and urine retention, without oedema.

We should bear in mind that the elective action of the eel's serum is on the kidney, and I believe we can well assert that if digitalis is a cardiac, the eel's serum is a renal remedy. 

So far, at least, the clinical observations published seem to confirm this distinction. The serum of the eel has given very small results in attacks of asystolia (state of no cardiac activity); but it has been very efficacious in chronic renal  failure. There, where digitalis is powerless, the serum of the eel has put an end to the renal obstruction and produced an abundant diuresis. 

But it’s really specific indication seems to be for acute nephritis (inflammation of kidneys). In the presence of acute nephritis with or without oedema, dyspnoea (shortness of breath) and difficult urinary secretion with threatening uraemia (kidney failure) we should always think of aal serum.