Curare


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


Introduction

Indian arrow-poison (composition unknown).

Provings

1.[*The ladies who took part in these provings (conducted under the superintendence of Dr.Dr.C.Wesselhoeft) were all students of medicine in Boston University, and did not know what drug they were taking. The drug employed was obtained from Merck, of Darmstadt.*]

ANNIE B. TAYLOR, in perfect health, normal pulse 72, temperature 98.1/2o. a. Proved 3x trit. August 6th, 1883, at 10 p. m. took 2 gr., and repeated dose at 7 a. m. and 7 p. m. next day. At 4 p. m. pulse was 90 and temperature. 99. Repeated dose on following day at 7 a. m., 12 morning, and 7 p. m., and so continued daily till morning of 15th. On 8th at 2 p. m., pulse 90; eyes very heavy, can hardly keep them open; yawning; cough in paroxysms, dry, harsh and hollow, irritation seems deep in chest at base of lungs, no expectoration; cough makes face red, and causes shattered, torn feeling in head, as if parts would fly to pieces. At 3 so drowsy she could not keep awake, and slept for 3 hours. At 8 headache over right eye, extending to vertex, sharp and darting, came on after eating, remained for 1 hours, then suddenly disappeared. 9th. – Very restless night, head hot and confused. Pulse this morning 88. At noon, head feels large and confused; darting pain through temples, worse on right; coughing causes scatted, torn feeling, sides of head must be held together; moving head, unless very gently, causes same sensation. Very pale all day, with dark circles round eyes. At 6:30 p. m. very chilly, teeth chattered, chills running up back and then into extremities; chill came on after eating lasting 1/2 hour, followed by high fever-she was burning up with heat, face purple, eyes very red, hot, and sensitive to light, could not keep them open; headache very severe all over, all vessels seem throbbing. At 8, pulse 110, temperature 101o; on trying to walk, limbs felt unsteady, gait as of one intoxicated. Fever lasted till nearly midnight; no thirst with it, and appetite good; headache was congestive, worse after eating, and from motion, light or noise, better from pressure and quiet. Slept only from 12 till 4. 10th. -In morning pulse 86, temperature 99o. Weak, tired feeling all day;no desire to do anything; limbs, especially lower, feel weak; left foot and leg go to sleep when sitting still. Frequently sneezing; several paroxysms of coughing p. m., with usual effect on head. 11th. – Dry, harsh, hollow cough, worse after 3 p. m. till midnight, violent, shaking whole body, but head most; lungs feel dry. 12th. – Woke at 4 a. m., cough as on previous days, and in evening sharp darting pain through chest, now at apex, now at base. 13th. – At 8 p. m. pulse 98, temperature 100. Cough very troublesome in afternoon and evening. Continues to wake every morning at 4. 14th. – Weak tired feeling all over; no appetite, bitter taste, tongue white; eyes dull, pupils contracted. At 3 p. m. head confused, heavy and dull, difficult to hold it up, it feels better when lying down; their is dull heavy pain in it, with sense of great weight on vertex; mouth tastes insipid; half- nausea constantly; great aversion to bread; stomach feels collapsed. At 8, pulse 90, temperature 90, temperature 99.1/2o. Great depression of spirits, inclination to tears, wants to be let alone; occasional temporary pain in bowels, causing faint sinking feeling on strength in limbs, legs tremble when walking. Sick all nigh, pain in bowels every few morning, restless and weary. Took no more medicine. Diarrhea after 1 p. m., preceded by pain, causing faint sinking sensation, stools milky white, sometimes like half-beaten eggs. NO appetite, great aversion to bread; feels weak, tired, depressed, can not sit up; great weight on vertex; eyes look dull, pupils contracted, dark circles under eyes; tongue thickly coated yellow, mouth tastes bitter. He 20 discharges during day; no thirst; pulse in evening 68, temperature 98o; bowels feel sore and bruised, and must be held during coughing and walking. 16th. – Had 8 discharges during night; less pain, but feeling of faintness during an after stool; stomach still feels collapsed; empty feeling in head; great effort to talk; eyes feel better closed; pale, sallow face; no hunger or thirst, no strength to sit up; bowels feels sore, bruised, an trembling. Had more stools during day, without pain; in evening weak, collapsed feeling, could not sit up, dizzy when trying to hold head up; frequent sighting, great depression, do not care to talk or think, wish to keep perfectly quiet. 17th. – Had 5 stools in night. Weak to -day, but no pain, cough better, and more appetite. 18th.-all symptoms better She has lost 4 lbs. since talking drug. Menses came on a week too early, with pain- griping in right ovary, bearing down in uterus, dragging, tired in all pelvic organs, severe (causing faintness) in lumbo-sacral spine, running down thighs. Flow scant and very dark, lasting 3 days only, instead of 5; headache – as from weight on vertex-and dull, dragging pain in pelvic organs all the time, with at first loss of appetite, nausea and giddiness, and frequent micturition, and very weary feeling for several day after flow ceased.

1 b. October 29th, having been well in interval, resumed proving with same potency, taking 2 gr. morning and evening up till morning of November 3rd. On 1st day nothing but violent sneezing (6 times). 30th. – At 3 p. m., eyes heavy, great drowsiness at 6, sore bruised feeling in left lumbar region; throat full of white mucus, difficult to detach, and causing suffocative feeling by its presence. 31st. – At 3 p. m., pulse 92, temperature 100o. Headache over right eye, sharp darting pain, at times very severe, lasting 20-30 morning, leaving confused feeling; worse from motion, better in open air. At 8, still headache, worse after eating; very sensitive, least annoyance brings tears. November 1st, – Bowels uneasy, rumbling and loose in early morning. At 1:30 p. m., headache on right side, half dizzy feeling, face red; tongue white; dry, hacking cough, causing shattered sensation in brain. 2nd – Awoke at 4 a. m.At 1 p. m. great drowsiness. 3rd, 2 p. m. cannot study, head feels confused, dulness of intellect, wish memory, thoroughly discouraged, feels cross, least thing irritates, does not with to talk or have anyone talk to her; lungs eel as if she has taken a hard cold. 7, severe neuralgic pain in right temple, running through head to spine; head painful all over, feels throbbing, congested, large, strained, confused so heavy that she cannot hold it up; pain extends down spine, hot burning sensation between scapulae; deep sighing; eyes feel hot and sore, hurt on movement, sensitive to light; face very red, with dark circle under eyes; darting pain through lungs; feels weak and exhausted all over, stomach as if collapsed, limbs nerveless; nausea and vertigo; urine scanty, brick dust sediment. 4th. – Sleep restless and troubled; head still feels confused and large, with darting pain through right temple to base of brain; eyes feel badly, with wish to keep them closed; weak all over, and inability for mental or physical exertion; coughing affects head as before 5th. – Dull, heavy headache, with great pressure on vertex; eyes sanest to light, and with difficulty kept open; no appetite; weak, trembling feeling all over. 6th. – All symptoms less severe to- day.

1 c. In December, began proving 2x trit., taking 2 gr. twice daily from 2nd – 6th inclusive. 4th. – P. m., tired feeling all over, with heaviness of eyes. 5th. – No sleep till after midnight, and awoke, before 4. Head confused, great weight on vertex; felt too tired and ill to go to college. 3 p. m., headache severe, with throbbing of vessels; frequent, anxious desire to urinate. 7, headache harder through right temple, and pain runs down spine; head very heavy, and weak, tired, languid feeling all over. 6th. – 4 p. m., very low-spirited; head so confused she cannot study, memory weak; eyes sensitive to light; neuralgic pain in head extending down spine; hot sensation between scapulae; no strength. 7th. – Same weakness, depression, inability to study. 8th. – Same; no appetite, stomach feels empty, craving for acid. Menses again 7 day. too soon; character, duration and concomitants as before (August 18th).

1 d. January 8th, 1884. Renewed proving of same trit., taking 2 gr. once on 11th, twice 12th -14th, 4 times daily 15th – 17th inclusive 12th. No sleep after 4 a. m., in morning very sleepy and yawning for 1 hour, with eyelids drooping. 3 p. m.,

dull, heavy headache, beginning over right temple, gradually spreading over whole right side, with feeling of weight on vertex; moving head hurts it, and causes shattered congested feeling, as if all blood was in head and face; at times darting pain shocking from temple to temple; lasted about 2 hours IN evening for 10 morning, chills running up back, with chattering, followed by heat and congestion to head with aching, lasting 1 hour. 13th. – Sneezed several times. Weight on vertex; ptosis as before; tongue coated yellowish-white. 6 p. m., thoroughly discouraged and disheartened, sick of living, tired at everything, irritable, despondent; changeable disposition, jesting and laughing, then shedding tears. 9:30, chest feels constricted, and throat sore, as if she had taken a heavy cold; itching of skin; restless feeling. 14th. – Same catarrhal symptoms; eyes feel as though full of sticks; hands and feet cold; head large, late painful through right temple to occiput, with heat on vertex; dry cough, shortness of breath. 15th. – Chest as yesterday. 8 p. m. eyes weak; tired, languid feeling; no ability for mental work; great weight on vertex; bronchial tubes sore, as if inflamed; right cheek very red, left pale; dark circles under eyes; all blood seems to be in head; hands and feet cold. 9:30, pain between scapulae; hot sensation in cervical region; restless, uneasy, nervous feeling; stomach “collapsed. ” 10:30, hoarseness and tightness of chest has rapidly increased; dry, hacking cough; lungs feel raw, smarting sensation down bronchi; violent headache, throbbing all over, head feels enlarged. 16th. – Chest still constricted; tight dry ought; in evening, hoarseness almost to aphonia; eyes feel strained, head enlarged; face very red; itching of skin, especially at night, on arms smarting also. 17th. – Breath short; a little excitement causes palpitation; dry, hard cough, lungs feel dry and sore, darting pains through chest; sighing; tied feeling all over, and inability to study; “fidgets” in feet; itching on arms; bloating about waist, especially right side; urine scanty and full of sediment. 18th. – General lassitude of mind and body, as before; limbs go to sleep; eyes feel strained; hoarseness, short breath, sneezing. 19th. – Severe headache, pain in every part, great weight and pressure on vertex; nausea and vertigo. p. m., faintness, even to blindness, coming on suddenly, lasting but a few moments, but leaving pain and “gone” feeling in stomach. Hoarseness; hands and felt icy cold, all blood seems in head; very restless feeling; itching all over; limbs go to sleep. Next period as last. ( Publ. of Mass. Hom. Medorrhinum Soc., viii.)

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.