Barium


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


Introduction

Including Baryta acetica, baric acetate, Ba (C2H3O2)2, h2O; B. carbonica, baric carbonato, Ba Co3; and B. muriatica, baric chloride, Ba Cl2, 2H2O.

Provings

1. HAHNEMANN, Chronic Diseases, Part II of original, vol. of translation. Contains 795 symptoms from self and 8 fellow- observers, obtained from B. carbonica and acetica, with 4 from an author who used B. muriatica (see II, 12).

2. Vertigo, objects appeared to turn round. Head so heavy he could not remain up. Eyes became quite stiff, he could not move them. On side of tip of nose a broad red pimple, with somewhat smarting, tickling, sore sensation, with small fine pricks when touched and rubbed, but the sensation does not lead him to scratch. Toothache, at first fine shooting, then (jerking) throbbing, synchronous with pulse, especially after sleeping and after midnight, which makes him sit up in bed, but which is neither aggravated nor ameliorated either by touching, biting, or by cold water. Putrid taste in mouth, the food also tastes putrid. Stools covered with mucus. Stools greenish and chopped. Internal heat at top of chest. Painless twitching in arm, especially at n. Cramps in toes. Smarting pain in skin. So heavy in body he could not remain up, like debility. (IBID., Arch., iii, 3, 188 et. seq. From B. mur., without explanation.).

Poisonings

1 a. A patient of Dr. LAGARDE’S took, by mistake, a drought containing 10 grms. of B. acetica. When seen 1 hours later he was lying stretched on back, deprived of all voluntary motion, with pale face, haggard features, drooping eyelids, normal pupils. Skin was covered with profuse clammy sweat, voice faint, and speech unintelligible. Pulse 125-130, very small; heart-sounds muffled; respirations incomplete, more frequent than normal; sounds scarcely distinguishable. Tongue was cold, slightly blackened, but still movable. Patient complained of a nauseating taste. Epigastrium was not sensitive to pressure, nor were colics present; there was, however, belching and inclination to vomit, also involuntary diarrhoea and micturition; urine clear and profuse. Friction, warmth, and stimulants were unavailing; and patient died within 12 h. of taking drought, in full possession of senses, but with absolute paralysis of all voluntary muscles.

1 b. Autopsy showed congestion of brain and its membranes; cord not examined. Muscular tissue of heart was soft, and its cavities filled with black fluid blood. Lungs congested, and in centre an apoplectic patch of size of hen’s egg. Mucous membrane of stomach showed here and there dark red patches and swollen veins. (Allg. Medorrhinum Chir. Zeit., 1873.)

2. Dr. Lagarde tested solution himself (in what quantity is not stated). After 3 h. discomfort and general weakness, with lightness of head, set in. In upper extremities and on scalp and skin of face, formication was felt. He was obliged to go to bed, and was immediately attacked with nausea, belchings of wind, and liquid diarrhoea. After 3 h. more weakness had perceptibly increased, and left arm could no longer be moved, though sensation was intact; temperature and transpiration of skin were normal; pulse about 5 beats slower than usual. He found it impossible to pull the bell or leave the bed; and 8 hours after taking dose upper and lower extremities were almost paralyzed. To previous symptoms was now added copious vomiting, which was repeated several times during n. Paralysis of muscles still increased, and spread first to abdomen, then to chest and neck, and last to sphincters of bladder and rectum. Coughing, spitting, and even utterance of polysyllables became difficult; respirations were laboured, and urine and faeces were evacuated involuntarily. Pulse fell to 56 and for a short time became irregular; temperature of skin now seemed lower than usual. A few red spots showed themselves in thorax, but disappeared after a few d. There was constant thirst, relieved by pieces of ice in mouth. No pain was felt, but the experimenter, with full consciousness and unimpaired sensation, experienced all the symptoms of impending death. (Ibid.)

3. A young woman swallowed half a teacupful of the powdered carbonate stirred up with water. After 2 h. she experienced dimness of slight, followed by double vision, ringing in ears, pain in head, throbbing in temples, sense of distension and weight at epigastrium, and palpitation. A little later came pains in legs and knees, and cramps in calves; vomiting (twice); hot dry skin; flushed face; full hard pulse 80. During n. 15 motions, little or no sleep. Next day surface still hot, but perspiring profusely; slight pain about pharynx; tongue moist but white furred. After 1-2 d. cramps in limbs increased, with sense of weight in them, and soreness to touch. Symptoms continued with little change for a long time, especially pains in head, left side, and epigastrium; also severe and long-lasting palpitations. (WILSON, Lond. Medorrhinum Gaz., xiv, 487.)

4. A family, consisting of parents, daughter, and female friend, partook of some meal which contained 10 per cent. of carbonate, with a minute quantity of sulphate; a dog and a canary bird also ate some. Bird died in 5 m.; immediately after dog was taken with violent diarrhoea; and 15 m. later the four human beings became sick, one woman being affected like dog. The three women drank some milk, vomited immediately, and felt relieved. Father experienced only rumbling in bowels; did not take milk till later (10 p.m.); this was followed by vomiting with diarrhoea, and at 4 a.m., on attempting to go to closet, he fell to the ground with symptoms of collapse. In m. vomiting and diarrhoea ceased, but gave place to paralysis, extending from elbow upward, so that at 10 a.m. he could only nod his head. At 2 p.m. physician found face red, speech difficult; loss of voluntary motion in limbs, but sensation intact; excitability increased; sphincters normal; respiration rapid, with tracheal rales; sensorium free. Pulse and temperature normal; no pain, even in stomach. At 9 p.m. he died. P.M. showed a most remarkably dark colour of grey substance of brain; stomach and intestines were normal. (REINCKE, Viert. f. ger. Medorrhinum, &c., 1878, xxviii, 248.)

5. A healthy barmaid, aet. 22, took a teaspoonful of bar. mur. at 12:30 p.m. In 1/2 h. became badly sick all over, sharp burning pains in stomach and bowels, vomiting and purging with much straining. Got an emetic. Seen at 2 p.m., was lying on back, face pale, anxious, eyes deeply sunken, surface of body very cold, heart’s action feeble and irregular, pulse hardly perceptible, tongue natural and warm, muscular power of extremities almost gone, sensation unimpaired. All fluids vomited mixed with ropy mucous. Pains in stomach and hypogastrium, lightness of head, singing in ears, twitching of face, and twisting of legs and arms. Was given Epsom salts, heat to extremities, sinapisms to abdomen, &c. At 9 p.m. vomiting and purging gone, colour returned to lips, warmth to surface, p. 60, regular and pretty strong, still complained of twitching and twisting, and of noise in ears. At 2 a.m. found purging returned, all voluntary muscular power annihilated, except that she could speak feebly, and could swallow. Slow and laboured respiration with copious effusion into bronchial tubes, loud loose rales all over chest. Perfectly sensible, feel asleep for 1 h., breathing all the time becoming slower and more laboured, and countenance dusky. Awoke about 3 a.m., muttered something and became convulsed, continued to be agitated by the most frightful paroxysms for 2 h., when she died. During fits had several watery motions. (WALSH, Lancet, 1859, i, 211.)

6. A medical student, aet. 19, took at 8:30 a.m. as he supposed 3 teaspoonfuls of Epsom salts, which was afterwards found to be bar. mur., after which he vomited four times and had four stools. Seen at 10 a.m. he was very weak and prostrated, complained of pinching in abdomen, nausea and urging to stool. P. soft and regular, tongue clean. Ordered 5 drops of laudanum and infusion of peppermint every h. and a cataplasm to abdomen. In 1/2 an h. the upper and lower extremities were icy cold, p. 54, irregular, soft, tongue clean, icy cold, great weakness, unable to move hands or feet, sensibility intact, incomplete paralysis of left eyelid, speech weak, indistinct, complains of violent cutting and pinching in abdomen, which came on in fits every 2 m., and was attended by loud groaning; abdomen not sensitive to touch. Had vomited three times, stools ceased. He got a lemonade made with sulphuric acid from 11 a.m. onwards. No alteration of state during day; the treatment pursued was poultices to abdomen, sulphuric acid internally, and 3 clysters of castor-oil. At 5 p.m. the extremities were warm, rose to 84. 8 p.m., alternate heat and cold of limbs, quicker and slower pulse, slight sweat, no more vomiting and purging. N. pretty quiet, pains much diminished, no sleep. M. pretty lively, pains slight, pulse 80, warm, could move arms. No urine passed since yesterday m., a moderate quantity of clear urine now drawn off with catheter. He got a clyster of Epsom salts with croton oil. Chicken broth for dinner. Four stools occurred. He could move arms and legs, the paralysis of eyelid was gone, there were no more pains in abdomen, he slept well, and next morning was quite well. (C. WOLF, Casper’s Wochenschr., 1850, p. 591.)

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.