Acidum Lacticum


Proving Symptoms of homeopathy medicine Acidum Lacticum, described by Richard Hughes in his book, A Cyclopedia of Drug Pathogenesis, published in 1895….


Introduction

Lactic acid, HC3H5O3 Result of fermentation of sugar of milk.

Provings

1. F. R. took several doses of 1st dil. Experienced only sense of fulness in forehead, as if brain were too large, during day; and in evening therewith slight headache, a dull pain on both sides of forehead.

2. – on two occasions took same. On both had much nausea, persisting for days. On first also diarrhoeic stools, causing hurrying; and soreness to touch along right sciatic nerve, on getting out of bed, lasting all day, and pulsating constantly but slightly. ON second pupils were dilated; tongue sore on left side, raw and red; rheumatic pains affected both shoulders, running up muscles of neck to mastoid processes, and into ears; and there was sensation as if feet were perspiring copiously.

3. S. took one dose of lx dil. His symptoms were: mouth constantly full of water, worse after each eructation; saliva salt, like brine, for several day; fulness of fauces, with intense burning in throat, fauces, and oesophagus, in latter especially after eructation, which caused also qualmy feeling; the eructations were frequent, burning hot gas or acrid fluid coming up, and spasmodic ringing cough resulting from the irritation produced. There was burning and weight in the stomach, aggravated by tobacco, as were also the eructations. (T. F. ALLEN, N. York Journ of Hom., i.).

Poisonings

1. A man, aet. 31, suffering from diabetes, never had rheumatism. Lung symptoms manifesting themselves. On March 8th took as medicine 15 m. of left acid 4 times in day. On 9th took 30 m. in morning. In afternoon had acute pains in joints and flying pains about limbs. In evening pains increased; medicine discontinued. 10th. -No medicine. Pains gradually ceased. 11th. – Repeat acid 15 m. ter die. 12th, evening pain in joints. 13th, morning, small joints of fingers of both hands, wrists, and in less degree elbows, were noted as being red, swollen, and painful. E, small joints of fingers, both wrists, and elbows, all red, hot, swollen, tender, painful. Heart-sounds clear. Temperature morning 100 F., evening 101F. Pulse 90, soft and full. Moderate perspiration. Discontinue left acid. 14th, morning, decided improvement in all joints. Swelling less, heat and pain still present. T. 100.8, P.84. E. All joints of fingers much better, wrists still affected. Good deal of pain in knees, which had hitherto escaped. T. 100.8, 90. 15th, morning T.98.6 evening T.99.4. Joints better. 16th. – Arms quite well, legs nearly so. 17th. – All pain gone. T. 98.2, P. 72. March 29th. -75 m. of acid in 20 oz. of water to be taken as a drink in 24 hours. No pain for 5 days. Pulse rose 12 per minute on and after 3rd day. Temperature, previously elevated by lung complications, showed no change on 4th and 5th days, remaining at 99, instead of varying as usual for some time previously. After midnight of 5th days pains in joints came on. On morning of 6th days metacarpo- phalangeal and first phalangeal joints of first and second fingers of both hands were red, swollen, hot and painful. Pain much aggravated by movement. Temperature 99.4, P. 102. Heart- sounds clear. Discontinue acid. E. Pain and redness less. Joints still stiff. No other joints affected. T. 99.2. April 5th. – Hands much better. Took 30 m. of acid in forenoon. E., swelling, redness, and tenderness returned in knuckles. Discontinue acid. 6th. -No pain. Took 45 m. up to 4 p. m. At 9 p. m. swelling in knuckles and left wrist. No more acid for 2 days. Joint symptoms gradually disappeared. Resumed on 9th to 13th 35 m. acid per diem. No symptoms till night of 13th, except flying pains about joints, then disturbed by severe pain in right wrist, which in morning was red, hot, swollen and painful. P. 98, full and soft. Copious perspiration, acid reaction. Elbows and knees stiff next day. In 4 days little stiffness in right wrist only remained. The acid taken again in a week with link results. Continued for some weeks taking 20 m. per diem, and stopping a day or two. NO pain. Early in June took 40 to 50 m. per diem. Two sharp attacks as before in the month. At end of mouth took 75 morning daily, increased to 100 on July 6th. On July 7th had pain and stiffness of joints, aggravated by walking. 8th. These symptoms worse in evening, wrists and elbows very stiff and painful. Knees less so. T.100.6. Stop acid. Well by 10th. Took on this day 100 m. of acid, with result similar to last. In addition had pain in left side. Heart-sounds clear. All pain subsided by July 17th. (BALTH. FOSTER, Clinical Medicine, p. 144.)

2. Another man, suffering from diabetes; never had rheumatism. Took 30 or 40 m. of lactic acid per diem. On 4th days had sharp pain in right knee, with stiffness, aggravated by walking. Severe pain in other joints. No swelling or redness. Skin soft and moist. Discontinue acid. Pain gone in 2 days. On subsequently resuming acid for a week, was laid up with severe pain in elbows, shoulders, ankles, and knees, all aggravated by movement. Swelling and redness only in right knee. Free perspiration. P.96, full and soft. Discontinue acid. Well in a week. (Ibid.) [ Kuelz also has observed the same phenomena in a diabetic who was being treated with the acid (Beitrage zur Path. u. Theridion des Diabetes, ii, p. 166).].

Experiments on animals

1. Injection of 3vij of lactic acid into peritoneal cavity of a healthy cat produced during life irregular and irritable action of heart; the beats could not be counted. After death liver, kidneys, and lungs were found congested. The blood in right heart dark, slimy, soft, and cheesy. The mitral valve greatly thickened, red and oedematous. Small fibrinous deposit adhering to surface of valve. Exudation of glutinous fluid on puncture with needle Endocardium of left ventricle intensely vascular, appearing like bright tired velvet. Pericardium dry and slightly injected.

2. Injection of 3j or into peritoneal cavity of six dogs, repeated after a few days, in instances where life was prolonged. During life indications of pain in all joints in 3 instances. In one instance pain and tenderness over region of heart. In all beats of heart were sharp and quick, second sound prolonged, first obscure. Where life was prolonged a soft murmur was noticed on 4th days, and a loud systolic bruit on 5th. In one instance there was slight intermission of pulse. After death, where it had occurred the first day or two, was noticed passive congestion of lungs with hyperaemia of the upper lobe; pericardium dry, vessels finely injected; endocardium, right side normal, one segment of tricuspid swollen several times beyond natural size, the thickening bright red, irregular; left side brilliant red and velvety in appearance, segments of mitral valve thick, oedematous, bright red, with beads around their free margins. Aortic valves deep red. Muscular structure unusually red. If life had been prolonged to 3rd or 4th days, on pericardium over left ventricle there was exudation of plastic lymph; the mitral valve was thickened and pale from exudation of lymph. In one instance the anterior curtain was adherent to the heart wall. The aortic valve slightly thickened. In one instance there was exudation into the pleural cavity. (B. W. RICHARDSON, Cause of Coagulation of Blood, Appendix.) [ Senator (Ziemssen’s Cyclopaedia, xvi, 26-28) states that Rauch also thought himself to have obtained similar results, but that Moller and Reyher have proved either to be erroneous).

Richard Hughes
Dr. Richard Hughes (1836-1902) was born in London, England. He received the title of M.R.C.S. (Eng.), in 1857 and L.R.C.P. (Edin.) in 1860. The title of M.D. was conferred upon him by the American College a few years later.

Hughes was a great writer and a scholar. He actively cooperated with Dr. T.F. Allen to compile his 'Encyclopedia' and rendered immeasurable aid to Dr. Dudgeon in translating Hahnemann's 'Materia Medica Pura' into English. In 1889 he was appointed an Editor of the 'British Homoeopathic Journal' and continued in that capacity until his demise. In 1876, Dr. Hughes was appointed as the Permanent Secretary of the Organization of the International Congress of Homoeopathy Physicians in Philadelphia. He also presided over the International Congress in London.