Synonyms: Phosphate of Soda, Sodi Phosphas, Sal Mirabile Perlatum, Alkali Phosphorus, Tasteless Purging Salt., etc.
The Phosphate of Soda exists in minute proportions in all solids and fluids of the body. Like all the alkaline Phosphates, its quantity is greater in flesh-eating animals.
Its function in the blood is not conclusively known; but it has been recently demonstrated that it conveys carbonic acid fro tissues to lungs. If this is so, it must have a nutritive value, and is well-worthy of a therapeutics study. Schussler, so impulsive in therapeutics, is an excellent student of Physiology. According to him, it plays an important part in the lymphatic system; hence in the blood genesis.
In 1800, Dr. Person introduced this Salt into Allopathy. He considered it a mild purgative, suitable to children, and persons of a delicate stomach. It has sometimes been given medicinally by substituting it for common salt.
Dr. William Stephenson (Edinburgh Medical Journal, 1867, Vol xiii, p. 336) recommends it for “infants who are being artificially reared, and who are liable to frequent derangement of the bowels…. where, from the character of the motions, there is a deficient or defective secretion of bile…. chalky stool, or white fluid motions, and in many cases of green stools”, etc.
In our school, several partial provings were made years ago by Dr.Hering. In 1873, Schussler mentioned it as a tissue remedy. Von Grauvogl lays more stress on the Muriate and sulphate of Soda, preferring the Phosphate of Potash in the saponifications of fats, change of gases, etc. as the most active. But potash salts exist more in the blood-cells, muscles, etc. soda, in the liquor sanguinis. Potash Salts, when proved, show an aggravation when awakening, that is, when we begin to use oxygen, which was stored up during sleep; Soda Salts are worse during sleep, while oxygen is accumulating (C.Hg.). Hence even though as alkalies they have many similarities, we shall find sharp differences, depending upon variations in function. Potash must be present to insure an amount of oxygen calculated to keep muscles in their full power of contraction; Soda must be present to carry away carbonic acid, a resultant of oxidation.
The following resume is collected from nineteen provings made by twelve provers; nine males, three females. The potencies range from the 6th to the 100,000th. No prover knew the name of the medicine, nor did any two have opportunities of conversing or comparing notes. In no case was a single dose given, but at least twenty were taken. The first provings made in 1869, the last in August 1875.
I am well-aware that prejudice will lead some to refuse these provings because they were made principally with the high potencies. This, however, will in no wise alter their truth or falsity. If four or more persons, in different seasons of the year and and in different latitudes, experience the same effects from any given potency, we have an indisputable right to claim these effects as resulting from the medicine taken. If only one prover develops a certain symptom, or set of symptoms, they may, be fallacious or they may be true. Who shall decide from performed opinion? The advocate of the high or of the low potencies? Neither. There is no court of appeal for the Homoeopathician but that which Hahnemann was the first to establish, viz. experiment. So with the symptoms here offered for trial. If they fail when tried, let them go. If they do not fail, let us use them, however our prejudices may question their origin.
Great care has been exercised in preparing the accompanying resume. Symptoms which had been previously experienced by the provers have generally been omitted. Something may thus have been lost, especially as illustrating the reawakening, of latent disease; but much has been gained in precision and certainty. For the same reasons obscure or indefinite symptoms have been reserved until more clearly expressed.
PROVERS
Each symptom has the initial of the prover and the potency used.
Mrs.P.; Miss F.; A., a doctress; Dr. V.; Dr.H.; Dr.K.; Dr.D.; Dr.S; Dr.Hn.; Mr.H.; Mr.M.; Mr.J.
NATRUM PHOSPHORICUM Mind.
[Every fifth symptom of this proving has been marked with numerals like 5, 10, 15 and so on.]
Melancholy, especially after emissions J. 10 m.
Depression; too apt to dwell on annoyances. J.50m.
Frequent attacks of gloominess, evening. Dr. D., cm.
Apprehensive of some approaching evil J. 50m.
5. Worries about his health; about the future. Dr.D.,10m Vexed at trifles; disposed to be irritable. M. 50m.
Ill-humor, mostly forenoons; no ambition to do anything; inclines to study in the evening. Dr. D., 10m., cm.
Imagines he hears foot-steps in the next room. M., 50m.
Study makes him so nervous he must get up and walk about. M.,50m.
10. Study is burdensome, it is so difficult to remember what is read. Dr. D., cm.
Easily startled by the least noise, especially at night, causing palpitation. See Sleep. Dr. D., cm.
SENSORIUM
On rising in the morning, dizzy, as if he would fall; objects turn around; gone feeling in the stomach; nervous Dr.S., cm.
INTERNAL HEAD
Tensive headache, with dullness and heaviness, accompanied by dim sight, as from a veil before the eyes. P., 30th.
Dr. S., cm.
15. Pain in right temple extending to right eye and ear, at noon; Frontal headache, sharp over the left eye every forenoon. better by 5 p.m. (after eating grapes). In evening, pain over left temple while riding in a street car. p. 6th, 30th.
Immediately after dinner, sharp tearing in left side of head, front of ear and temporal region particularly. Dr. D. cm.
Pressure over the right eye, with sighing, as if room were too close, later, over left eye; worse before and after, better during menses. F. 30th.
Pinching in left temple descending to left ear and tonsil. P. 6th.
Heaviness and fulness of the head, with flushes of heat in the after noon, followed by sweat. P.2c.
20. Empty feeling in the head; stomach feels empty. Dr. S., cm.
Frequent sensation of fulness in the head, with pulsating pain on stepping. Dr.D.,10m.
Pain in centre of left eye-brow.
Pain in left orbit, with pain in bowels, extending up into the chest; flatulence.
Headache 9 A.M. preceded by gagging and faint feeling; pain all over head, better at first from pressure; no better after dinner or siesta, but suddenly leaves at 8 P.M. Dr. V., 1m.
25. Headache at 10 A.M. M.10m.
Every afternoon, after menses, headache. F., 30th.
Headache better after breakfast; worse after dinner. Dr.S., 50m.
EXTERNAL HEAD
Rheumatic drawing up left side of occiput into the forehead.
Very severe pains in the temples nearly all the morning. Dr. S.,
cm.
SIGHT, EYES
30. Mist before the eyes; halo around the gas-light; eyes feel sore, weak. Dr.S. cm.
On rising, 5 A.M. flickering of slight in left eyes. A., 10m.
Dim sight, as from a veil over eyes, with dull, heavy headache. P., 30th.
Quivering of right eye-lid while reading, before sleep, and on awaking. Dr. Hn. 30th.
On using the eyes, dull, aching pain in the orbit above the ball; eye-lids feel sore, itch, and burn. Dr.S., cm.
35. Eyes feel sore, when reading in evening. M., 10m.
Eyes, as if bathed in hot water; drowsy. M.,50m.
Eyes blood-shot, M., 10 m.; feel as if sand was in them, mostly the left eyes. M.,50m.
Burning lachrymation; drowsy, 10 A.M. M., 50m.
Inner canthus of right eye feels sore, he wants to rub it; slightly injected. Dr.S., cm.
40. Aching in right eye-ball. M.,1 m.
Dryness of left eye-ball with pain in same, as if bruised. Dr. K.,1 m., 10m.
Scrofulous Ophthalmia. Schussler.
Lids feel heavy and itch along the margins; pain over the eyes. Dr. s., cm.
HEARING, EARS.
Tickling from middle ear into the Eustachian tube. J. 10m.
45. While lying down, sensation as of water dropping from a height into a long, narrow vessel. M., cm.
Lobe of right ear burns and itches so intolerably, he has to scratch until it bleeds; face burns; joints itch. M. 50m.
SMELLING, NOSE
Offensive odor before the nose in the morning, tow days. Dr. D., cm.
Slight epistaxis in the morning; irritable. Dr. D., 10m.
Tough, clear-white phlegm from posterior nares. J., 10m.
50. Dropping of thick, yellow mucus from the posterior nares; worse at night; awakes him, he must sit up to clear his throat. J. 1m, 10. Left nostril stopped up accumulation of mucus in the throat. J.,1m.
Left nostril stopped up; worse in open air. M.50m.
Left nostril sore, painful; picks it continually; scabs from. Dr.S., 70m., cm.
Itching of the nose A., 10m.
TEETH, GUMS
55. Teeth in the morning, and mouth all day, covered with a brownish mucus. J.,10m.
TASTE, TALKING, TONGUE
Coppery taste, 5 A.M. A., 10 m.
Bad taste in the mouth, morning, on awaking; gastric symptoms. Dr. D., cm.
Tries to say a word, but it will not come out; feels, as if something closed in the throat, preventing speech. J. 10m.
Sensation of hairs on the tip of the tongue, followed by pricking numbness of whole moth, next day a small pimple. P.2c.
60. Tongue coated dirty-white with a dark-brown centre. Dr. D., cm. Blisters on tip of tongue. M., 10m.
PLATE, THROAT.
