Acidum Muriaticum


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


Introduction

Muriatic acid, hydrochloric acid. -An aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid gas (HCl) obtained by submitting a mixture of chloride of sodium and sulphuric acid to distillation, and condensing the gas which passes over in water. Sp. gr. should be 1.7. (Brit. Pharm.).

Provings

1. HAHNEMANN, Materia Medica Pura, vol. v. of original, vol. ii, of English translation. Contains 61 symptoms from self, 196 from six fellow-observers, and 22 from authors.

2. IBID. Chronic Diseases. Part iv of original, vol. of translation. The same, with some additional symptoms from author and Rummel, and from.

3. Nenning. Hartlaub and Trinks’ Arzneimittellehre. (Translated in Annals of British Homoeopathic Society, App. to vol. x.). Incorporated, so far as deemed valuable, in pathogenesis of Chronic Diseases.

4. In small doses, medicinal muriatic acid occasions an agreeable warmth in the stomach, and generally some quickening of the pulse, cheerfulness, flushing of the face, and an increased flow of urine. Its protracted use sometimes occasions salivation. In larger doses, it excites the brain in a peculiar manner, causing giddiness, confusion of the senses, a sort of intoxication, in fine. (STILLE, Mat. Medorrhinum, sub voce. TO the same effect PEREIRA.).

Poisonings

In the few cases that have been observed, the symptoms were those of pure local corrosion. (see ORFILA, Toxic., one case; QUEKETT, Medorrhinum Gaz., xxv, 285.).

Experiments on animals

When dogs are made to swallow the strong acid (6-8 grms in small dogs) they at once experience a great failure of strength, they exhale by the mouth and by the nose thick vapours of the acid. They vomit after some minutes brown-greenish stringy matters, as if bilious. They raise plaintive cries, and die in 4 to 6 hours. Death is almost always preceded by convulsive movements of violent character, especially in muscles of neck and spine. In some cases these organs are so strongly contracted that the head is drawn backwards, and forms with the spine a curvature of remarkable concavity. On opening stomach one finds the mucous membrane inflamed, and of a cherry-red colour all over. Sometimes near the pylorus the mucous membrane shows stains of a black or exceedingly deep red colour, which are true eschars, and which might be taken for masses of black blood extravasated on the mucous membrane. Sometimes finally one notices holes in the places which correspond to these eschars, and then there is an effusion into the belly of acid and blackish liquids. The other viscera present no changes of note. (ORFILA, Toxicologie, sub. voce.).

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.