Arsenicum


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


Introduction

[Including Arsenicum album, arsenious anhydride (acid), As2O3; A. iodatum, arsenious iodide, AsI3; A. metallicum, As; Kali arsenicosum, potassium arsenite, As2O3K2O; and Natrum arsenicum, hydric disodic arsenate (arseniate of soda), Na2HAsO4,7H2O.].

Provings

1. HAHNEMANN, Materia Medica Pura, vol. ii of original, vol. i of English version. Contains 697 symptoms obtained by self and fellow observers with arsenious acid, and 382 from authors- effects of various preparations of metal.

2. IBID, Chronic Diseases, part v of original, vol. of translation. Contains 202 additional symptoms, from arsenious acid.

3 a. Dr. IMBERT-GOURBEYRE took 1 gr. of 4th trit. Jan 26th, 27th, 29th, 30th, Feb. Ist, 2nd, 3rd, in m. fasting. Nothing observed on 26th and 27th. On 28th, slightly painful sensitiveness of both eyes; was told they looked red, as if he had been crying; found conjunctiva finely injected, redness pale and diffused. On 29th, nothing. On 30th, pressive headache in both temples the whole d. Eyes stiff, heavy, a little hot and sensitive, with some difficulty in moving lids; they look veiled and finely injected; several times they feel moist and as if filled with tears, but no actual lachrymation occurs. Weight in stomach and anorexia all d. In evening for 4-5 m. slight but well-marked pain in upper and lower right molars; and several times then, but especially when lying down, head oppressed, and sense of burning and slight pricking in both eyes. During following day, fatigue, more in m. then evening; and even for a fortnight after ceasing proving, a decided stiffness of eyelids, which (with the other ocular symptoms) he never experienced before.

3 b. On 14th May took daily, for 9 day, three doses of 13th trit. On 16th, dullness of head, frontal region, all d., in evening becoming really annoying, mingled with still more painful throbbings there and in temples. Twice in 5 m. he experienced sharp pains along course of right lower maxillary nerve, each time five or six very distinct and painful lancinations. Same headache and neuralgic shoots later, when in bed. On 17th, dullness of head all evening; for 4 d. following, continuous and marked stiffness of eyelids. On 22nd, much gum on eyelids when waking; in evening began to feel as it were sand in eyes, obliging him to rub them. For last 2 d. slight coryza. For 15 d. he continued to feel stiffness and weight in eyelids, which he had never experienced before. (Etudes sur quelques symptoms de l’arsenic, Paris, 1863.)

4. M. BONJEAN, medical student, took 4th trit. Jan. 26th, 27th, 29th, 30th, 31st, and Feb. Ist, 2nd 3rd. On 29th and 30th, feeling of burning and smarting [probably in eyes, but it is not said where. -EDS.] On 31st, these, with pricking, continue; slight lachrymation in morning; in evening, feeling as of sand in eyes. Ist-Same burning and pricking; eyes are stiff. On 2nd, left infra-orbital pain with shoots and prickings, rather sharp for the moment. Great itching in both eyes, also in nose, at n. On 3rd, vomiting 1 h. after rising. Head dull all the day, as if he had been revelling the previous n. Some itching in eyes, especially at n. Very bad headache. On 4th, bilious vomiting on rising. This d. and next, frequent need of handkerchief, with itching in nostrils. (Ibid.)

5. M. SOULEYRE took same. On Feb. Ist, in evening, felt suddenly sharp pain in eyelids, with very painful pricking; eyes at same time began to water for 10 m. On 2nd, at 9 a.m., lachrymation again; same feeling of stiffness and pricking in lids. On 3rd, feeling of smarting there, as from exposure to smoke, lasting all d. On 4th, same symptoms recurred about 4 p.m., but for a few m. only. No further lachrymation, but for next 3 d. occasional and transitory pricking. (Ibid.)

6. M. DAMOUR took same for 5 d. On 4th d. he had pain in mouth, commencing at left side, then involving all the gums, which on 5th d.. were swollen, bleeding, very painful to touch, dotted with white spots. On 6th d. frequent hawking. On 7th d. considerable salivation. On examining mouth, gingivo-labial juncture was highly injected; gums swollen, with narrow strips of white false membrane upon them; great formation of tartar at roots of teeth; velum palati red, especially at base; swallowing a little difficult. He suffered all that n. Next day troubles augmented; same salivation; upper and lower gums covered everywhere with white streaks. It was some day before mouth regained its normal state. (Ibid.)

7. Mlle. E-, took for 15 d. same dose m. and e. After 3 d. began to the troubled with frequent itching on dorsal surface of fingers, with appearance of acuminated papules between them. This continued till end of proving; itching often so great as to compel vigorous scratching. Similar sensations and phenomena in less degree on right ear. For last 4 or 5 d. of proving much nasal defluxion, as in coryza. (Ibid.)

8. M. LALUE took same dose on evening of May 17th, and 3 times daily up to the 22nd. Throughout latter d. itching on hairy scalp, compelling scratching; also at pit of stomach. Skin of head tender to touch. Also all day pain in teeth of left upper jaw. On 23rd, 1 dose only; pains and itchings had ceased. On 24th, resumed his 3 daily doses; and throughout following n. had itchings on head and several parts of body, preventing sleep. On rising on 25th, a little toothache as before, which after another dose became severe, accompanied with abundant salivation, and, in spite of opiates, did not abate till n. He felt general malaise and coldness, though d. was warm; at n. had to cover himself up as in winter. The pains came always in distinct lancinations. On 26th, general malaise on rising; feverish during day up to e. For some d. he had felt a stiffness in eyelids. (Ibid.)

9 a. M. TARDIT began on July 4th to take same dose 3 times daily. No symptoms till 6th in evening, when he had sharp colic, and in n. four diarrheic stools. On 7th, colic had disappeared, but there remained a little diarrhea, with weariness and aching in limbs. On 9th, itching on internal surface of thighs, increasing on 10th, and affecting especially left side of scrotum, which was redder than usual and very hot. He was much disturbed; sweating and itching were such as to compel application of cold compresses. Next m., an eruption of minute vesicles was found at seat of irritation, which Dr. Imbert- Gourbeyre pronounced “un magnifique eczema.” This ran its usual course of exudation and desiccation: after 4 or 5 day the itching diminished greatly, and all was over at the end of a week.

9 b. On 24th May began to take 3 daily doses of 8th trit. On 26th, after first dose, a somewhat severe headache, increasing in intensity all d., with marked feeling of constriction at temples, as in intoxication. On 27th, pain less severe, but persistent; also sense of stiffness in thighs as after a long march. In evening this feeling invaded muscles of nape, and there was general weariness. At same time disagreeable heat in left nasal fossa, with dryness at back of mouth. General malaise had increased and become very unpleasant; complete loss of appetite now and throughout proving; easy and copious sweating. The n. was bad; it seemed as if he were about to have a febrile rigor. In m., muscular stiffness was still more decided; it extended to arms, movement of which was painful. Headache had disappeared, but coryza and nasal obstruction were great and very annoying. On 20th, less general stiffness. This m. there is observed an eruption of small red pimples, conical, closely set, occupying whole dorsum first of left then of right hand; accompanied with itching increased by rubbing. On 30th eruption had extended to fingers and palmar surface of hands; itching more intense. Dr. Imbert-Goubeyre pronounced “une miliaire confluente.” It began to fade on 31st, but neither it nor the coryza had disappeared by June 6th. The prover states that he was very subject to coryza and sore throat; but the other symptoms were quite new to him. (Ibid.)

10. M. PIRONON took same from June 27th. On that d., evening, some stomach-ache. From time to time stiffness in eyelids; some oppression on going upstairs; general lassitude. On 28th better, but on 29th, though eyes were less stiff, he had much sense of suffocation, was obliged to go to open window to breathe; some sore throat in e. Took no more med. During next 3 d. symptoms gradually disappeared; but on July 3rd, on rising, he was seized with pains on anterior and inner surface of thighs. (Ibid.)

11. a. M. TARDIEU began on May 29th to take 4th trit. 3 times a d. On 22nd, on rising, violent headache worse on left side, obliging him to lie down again. He had felt it slightly the previous d.s. On 23rd noticed deficiency of saliva; mouth dry and tongue coated; general malaise followed by vomiting, so that he took no more that d. Next d. Dr. Imbert-Gourbeyre observed on his gums the arsenical streak (see 1, 6). To-day and for 3 d. subsequently, marked disgust for food. From 5th d.. of proving much redness inside eyelids. He felt discomfort there, obliging him to rub frequently, rather than pain. Proving lasted 10 d.

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.