Introduction
Realgar. Arsenious sulphide, Ao2S2.
Provings
For these provings, never before printed, we are indebted to Dr. Neidhard EDS.
1. Dr. Neidhard took, Dec. 30th, 2 gr. of 2nd trit. in m. A loose small evacuation during day at an unusual hour, and another one in e. General heaviness of whole body; sleeps longer, and is more difficult to rouse. Very vivid dreams. Heavy pain in forehead. Pain in bones of left upper arm, more towards m. on waking. Heavy sensation and gnawing in region of stomach. 31st. – 10 a. m. Took a powder of 1st trit. During that day and next had very little appetite, and sometimes aversion to food. Jan. 2nd. – In evening on returning home, felt symptoms of derangement of stomach, great weakness, and trembling all over. 6th. – Took another dose of 1st trit., with little or no effect. 20th. – 1 p. m., took a powder of 2nd trit. After meals indisposed for mental or physical exertion. Slight drawing pain for a short time in J. spermatic cord. Feb. 6th. – Took another powder of 2nd trit. without experiencing any effect. (Communicated.)
2. Dr. Preston, of Providence, R. I., took a powder of 1st trit., and felt for first 24 hours rheumatic pains from right shoulder down arm, as if in bone, with paralytic feeling for 3 day; also considerable pain in right hip, with lameness in leg. (Ibid.)
3 a. Dr. A. Lindsay, of Roxbury, took, Nov. 17th, 5 gr. of 1st trit., but could perceive no effect. On 19th, at n., took another dose of same. Slept better than usual; had bitter taste in the mouth on waking. Dec. 3rd, at n., took a powder of 2nd trit. Towards n. on 4th felt very cold and chilly, even before a hot stove, for 3 – 4 h. He did not sleep so soundly as usual, was restless, and had many dreams, waking often with dull pain in forehead over eyes, extending to vertex (nearly to organ of “self – esteem”).
3 b. A friend of this gentleman, to whom he gave a dose of the same trit. at n., was very sleepy before he took it, but very restless after taking it, and could not get to sleep for 2 hours, often waking with dull pain in head. (Ibid.)
4. Dr. Houard took a powder of 3rd trit. at 8 a. m. on Dec. 20th, but felt no effect till 11, when he experienced general malaise and chilliness, with pain across forehead. This pain lasted until he went to bed, when it left him during his sleep. 21st. Took a second powder of same on rising. Felt no effect until an hours after breakfast. Fulness and weight at pit of stomach; low – spirited, and no disposition to talk all day; ate but little at dinner – time; disagreeable feeling in the stomach lasted until 8 p. m., when a burning sensation set in, which increased every m., and from 10 till 9 next m. was so intense as to deprive him almost of his breath. He found no relief in any position; he lay on his back all night; could not rest a m. on either side. He rolled on the bed, sat up, and groaned incessantly. Feet and hands cold; trembling of whole body; twitching and jerking of lower extremities; anxiety and fear of death; his stomach felt as if he had coats of fur in it. Pain extended from cardiac extremity to left hypochondriac region; took nux vom., chamom., colocynth, without the least relief; cold drinks increased burning in stomach. He sent for Dr. Gardiner, who told him that he had poisoned himself. Pulse depressed and thread – like; face pale and livid; could not bear the least pressure on region of stomach. Took acon. every hours; felt relief on second dose. From that time was better. Next day very weak; much soreness over whole extent of stomach; had stool of pure bile, and urine of saffron colour. This colour continued for 5 d. The discharge of bile also continued for 5 d. Stomach still felt weak; appetite better. Whole mucous membrane lining mouth and throat much inflamed; both lips also inflamed, as well as the left side of the tongue; conjunctiva of left eye very much inflamed and puffed out. Large bluish spots appeared over epigastric region, abdomen, and thighs. Excessive thirst continued for 3 day (Ibid.)
5. Dr. J. C. Raymond, Utica, N. Y., took, April 15th, when in usual health, a powder of 1st trit., at 10 p. m. Observed no effect. 17th. – Took another powder of same. 18th. – Sensation as if a coryza were about to set in, sneezed several times during day, with tingling in the right nostril. Increased heat of head and face, with feeling of fulness and heavy dull sensation in head. Coldness of hands. During afternoon dull pains in bowels, with feeling of fulness extending across them in hypogastric region. 19th. – 5 p. m., severe continued pain extending deep into brain in right frontal region, also to right ear, very much aggravated by stooping and exercise, relieved by application of cold. Sensation of fulness and pressing outward in right ear; a snapping sound in ear corresponding to pulsations of temporal artery; sensible pulsations of arteries of right side of face and head. Scarlet redness and burning of upper half of left ear, with tingling similar to that produced by a frost bite. Ear felt hot to touch. These symptoms continued until he fell asleep at n. Sneezed several times during day 20th. – Occasional sneezing, dryness and tingling of left nostril, with thin white discharge from right nostril. Took a powder of the 1st trit. at 10 p. m. 21st. – Numbness and prickling affecting inner side of right calf, heel, outer side of foot and little to, commenced at 6 a. m., and continued more or less severe until noon of 22nd. Slight numbness of forearms and hands with heaviness; he dropped several things which he took hold of; sneezing occasionally with thin white discharge from both nostrils. 25th. – 6 a. m. took another powder. Felt nausea, p. m., no inclination for supper; during evening felt a dull heavy pain extending from pit of stomach to back, with sensation of weight in stomach. 26th. – P. m., violent itching of third toe of left foot, producing occasional pain of muscles of foot and leg. 27th. – 3 p. m., severe pain affecting inferior third of left tibia, pains commence at the lower point of malleolus internus and extend u; wards in shaft of bone. The pains are momentarily relieved by changing positions of foot and by friction with hand on affected part. They continued severe for 3 hours, after that lighter, until relieved by sleep. Took another powder at 10 p. m. 28th. – 7 p. m., a very unpleasant quick beating extending deep into left ear, with pain, scarlet redness, and heat of upper half of ears. Ear felt full with pressing outwards. 29th. – Awoke at 5 a. m. with sharp cutting pain, commencing between the cartilages of the 5th and 6th ribs, extending inwards and upwards deep into chest. Pain was so sharp that it did not admit of the slightest motion, and he was obliged to suspend respiration as much as possible. Pains continued for 1/2 h. Took powder of 1x trit. at 9 p. m. 30th. – After rising in m. felt a heavy pressing pain extending from point of os coccygis to anus, with soreness of the os; the pain is increased by efforts to evacuate bowels, and when passing water; bearing down would produce a heavy sickening sensation. (These symptoms continued 3 d.). 4 p. m., dull pain in right frontal region, which increased in severity, and became a sharp throbbing and shooting pain extending to right occiput, aggravated by motion and stooping. Heat of head and face, redness and heat of left ear. The symptoms continued until relieved by sleep. May 1st. – Sharp cutting pains in left abdominal region after each meal, aggravated by walking, relieved by firm pressure with hand upon affected part. Free discharge from nostrils, thin and white. 2nd. – Same symptoms as yesterday. Took another powder of 1x at 10 p. m. 3rd. – Discharge from nostrils less and thicker. Occasional sharp pains, which appear to affect base of heart, impending respiration. Hoarseness with accumulation of tenacious mucus in the throat. 4th. – Hoarseness, at times intolerable itching in throat; the irritation induces a short dry, expulsive cough. Enlargement of right tonsil, inflammation of throat with deep redness. Occasional pains and raw feeling. Took another powder at 10 p. m. 5th. – Symptoms as yesterday. P. m., headache similar to of April 19th, with additional symptom that pains were in whole frontal region, but most severe in r. The inflammation of the throat and coryza continued a few day longer, and passed off. Occasional sneezing during entire proving. The majority of the symptoms manifested themselves p. m. (Ibid.)
6. Patrick McNamara, my waiter, made a proving of Realgar. He was so good – natured, that notwithstanding the strongest provocation, he could never be made angry. He merely smiled. After the exhibition of Realgar, he often became cross, and showed more temper than he ever did before. On April 3rd he took at 0 a. m. 3 gr. of 3rd trit., and at 10 p. m. he took 5 gr. 4th. – Had a pain commencing in back of head (below “philoprogenitiveness”), and extending thence around sides; sometimes dull and sometimes sharp. Pain commenced about 7 a. m.; head felt much heavier than it had ever done before. He felt very well in aft. At 9:30 p. m. took 6 gr. 5th. – No effects from second dose. Did not feel the head symptoms any more. 6th. – About 1 p. m. thighs and legs felt itchy. The itching seemed to leave in about 2 hours, and about 5 the anterior muscles of the thighs felt sore in descending stirs. About 9 legs and thighs began to itch again. Head felt better to – day than it had for a long time before (curative). At 9:30 p. m. took 5 gr. 7th. – Has been very cross all d. Has been very cross all d. Has a better expression in the countenance than before; it used to look dull, but now look bright. Last n. dreamed a great deal. Most of the dreams were pleasant. The medicine seems to exert a curative influence upon him. (Ibid.)
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.