Chenopodium


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


Introduction

Chenopodium anthelminticum, L. Wormseed. Nat. Ord., Chenopodiaceae.

Poisonings.

1. Man took about 3ss of the oil symptoms were those of a narcotico – acrid poison, affecting brain, spinal system and stomach. He was insensible, convulsed, and foaming at mouth; but recovered under use of emetics, demulcents, and stimulants. All remembrance of having taken poison was completely wanting on recovery. (SMITH, Pharm. Journ., 1862,. 330.)

2. A slave child was given one or move 15 dr. doses of oil for worms. she fell into coma, with deep, heavy, stertorous breathing, accompanied by very peculiar rattle, as if there were a ball rolling loose in trachea; pulse small, feeble and frequent; eyes insensible to light or external objects; convulsive movement of right half of body; extremities cold; any attempts at deglutition excited instant suffocation. she died in 36 hours from onset of attack. (Bost. Medorrhinum and Surg. Journ., xiv, 173.)

3. Man, aet. 31, took in m. about 3iss of oil with 30 dr, of turpentine. there followed disagreeable eructations; nausea; staggering like drunken man when walking; deafness to sound of voice, but exquisite sensibility to sounds of passing vehicles, cash as it rolled by sounding like roaring of immense cannons right into ears, in which also there was annoying buzzing. He craved for his usual cigars, bit found them disagreeable and soon left them off. No disposition to converse, and some aphasia and agraphia. Symptoms of hearing and speech increased as day went on; he took wrong place at table; kept repeating words and actions. Towards close of evening meal, while holding a piece of bread, there was spasm in right forearm and hand, fingers were firmly clenched and hand strongly flexed. On being taken to bed he made some resistance, commenced to groan, drew himself up, and tossed from side to side of bed, as if from abdominal distress. He soon became unconscious, and right arm lay paralysed. Next day there continued impairment of motion and sensation in right side, with insensibility to touch of right eyeball. During 3rd day frequent twitchings and stiffness of right limbs, culminating in a unilateral convulsion at day light on 4th d. Urine passed involuntary unless drawn off. In afternoon the heavy breathing, with flopping cheeks, of apoplexy appeared. there was also more or less constant regurgitation of yellow frothy material from mouth, sometimes so profuse of the attacks of dyspnoea, and white in a drenching sweat, which suggested imminence of dissolution he was gently turned in bed, when a general convulsion with opisthotonos came on, lasting about 2 m. By this time a decided icterus appeared, which had been noticed only the day before. He died about 5 day from beginning of illness in profound coma, and with high axillary temperature. (BROWN, Maryland Medorrhinum Jour., Nov., 1878.).

4. a. child, aet. 12, suspected of having worms, was ordered mixture of 3j of oil of c. with 3j of turpentine and 3iij of extractum spigeliae. He took a full teaspoonful at 8 p. m. on May 31st. On 22nd, was found in m. breathing heavily, and was with difficulty aroused. Gait, when he tried to walk, extremely unsteady, and without assistance he would have fallen; was wholly unable to button clothes or perform any ordinary complex movement; complained of severe frontal headache and loud ringing in ears; deafness very marked; appeared less intelligent than usual; vision normal. During day tinnitus and deafness remained, but gait and general co-ordination improved. Slept soundly. On 23rd headache, deafness and tinnitus same; more drowsy; gait weak and shuffling; much prostrated by mild walk. 24th. – Slept heavily without waking till 6 a. m., when he was found aimlessly wandering about house in nightclothes. Mind now evidently affected; weak, feverish, and very drowsy during day; has kept scarcely any food on stomach since 22nd. 25th. – All previous symptoms aggravated. Remained in bed for first time to – day. 26th. – First seen by Dr. N. -, at 7 p. m. found unconscious, and had slept heavily all day. Temp. 100; pulse 88, weak, and compressible; breathing normal; pupils widely dilated, sluggish to light; had vomited on taking food during day (Stupor gave way on evening of 27th to restlessness and hallucinations, but patient had taken gr. xv of bromide of potassium every 3 h. No action of bowels since 24th, in spite of calomel and croton oil. Gradual improvement till 31st, but sleep obtained only by strong hypodermic morphia. June 1st. – Patient much better; mind clear; appetite fair; no vomiting for 3 days; headache decidedly diminish; sits up in bed, and can walk a little; but hearing very little better, and complains as much as ever of ringing in ears. 4th. – Slight improvement in aural symptoms; no pain in ears at any time, and no change visible on examination. On 5th could just hear watch with left ear on contact, with right ear at 1/4 in.[*Up to the 24th, reporter says, deafness was little changed in either*]. A good deal of frontal headache, but no other symptoms save weakness.

4b. sister, aet, 10, took same dose at same time. Awakened towards m. by extreme nausea followed by profuse vomiting. Fell asleep, and woke again at 7 a. m. still much nauseated. On rising, had same inability to walk and adjust clothing, same deafness, tinnitus and headache as brother; but never fell into stupor or took to bed. Improved steadily though slowly, deafness and headache being very persistent. Hearing on June 5th 1/2 in. in left 3/4 in r. [*See note on preceding page *]

4c. Two more children in same family received a dose. Girl, aet. 7, took teaspoonful, vomited soon after, and had nothing next m. save slight and short-lasting nausea. Boy, aet 4., had half teaspoonful without apparent effect. (NORTH, Am. Journ. of Ontology. July, 1880.) [The mixture of turpentine and spigelia with c. in this observation might seem to render it inadmissible; but (1) the reporter points out that the spigelia must have sunk to the bottom, nor do any of the symptoms belong to it; (2) the dose of turpentine was very small, nor do its effects appear in the narrative; (3) the symptoms are in perfect keeping with the three preceding cases, in one of which also (No. 3) turpentine was mixed without appreciable effect. We therefore judge the case to be one of true poisoning by C., and have admitted it accordingly.- EDS.

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.