INTRODUCTION
ARS. Acidum Arsenicum, Arsenious Acid. Hahnemann’s “Chronic Diseases,” Vol. V.Duration of Action; 36 to 40 days in chronic affections.
COMPARE WITH.
Aconite, Arnica, Belladonna, Bryonia, Calcarea, Carb-v., Chamomilla, China, Coffea, Digitalis, Dulcamara, Cer., Graphites, Helleborus, Hepar, Iodium, Ipecac., Lachesis, Lycopodium, Mercurius, Natr.-mur., Nux.-v, Phosp., Pulsatilla, Rhus., Sambucus, Sepia, Sulphur, Veratrum Arsenicum, is frequently indicated after: Aconite, Arnica, Belladonna, China, Ipecac., Lachesis, Veratrum after Arsenicum, are frequently suitable: China, Ipecac., Ipecac., Nux-v., Sulphur, Veratrum
ANTIDOTES.
Of large doses: the Sesquioxide of Iron; the juice of the sugarcane or astringent substances; large quantities of diluent drinks; Opium Of small doses: Cramp., China, China-sulph. Ferrum, Hepar, Iodium, Ipecac., Nux-v., Sambucus, Tabac., Veratrum Arsenicum is used as an antidote of Carb-v., chin., Ferrum, Graphites, Iodium, Ipecac., Lachesis, Mercurius, Nux-v., Veratrum
RATIONALE OF ITS ACTION.
Christison says: “The symptoms of poisoning with Arsenic may be advantageously considered under three heads.
First Class.
In the first set of cases there are sings of violent irritation of the alimentary canal, and sometimes of the other mucous membranes also, accompanied with excessive general depression, but not with distinct disorder of the nervous system. When such cases prove fatal, which they generally do, they terminate, for the most part, in from twenty-four hours to three days.
Second Class.
In a second and very singular set of cases, there is little sign of irritation in any part of the alimentary canal, perhaps trivial vomiting, or slight pain in the stomach, but something neither; the patient is chiefly or solely affected with excessive prostration of strength and frequent fainting; and death is seldom delayed beyond the fifth or sixth hour.
“Third Class.
In a third set of cases, life is commonly prolonged at least six days, sometimes much longer, or recovery may even take place after a tedious illness; and the signs of inflammation in the alimentary canal are succeeded or become accompanied, about the second or fourth day, or later, by symptoms of irritation in the other mucous passages, and more particularly by symptoms indicating a derangement of the nervous system, such as palsy or epilepsy. The distinctions now laid down will be found in practice to be well defined, and useful for estimating in criminal cases the weight of the evidence from symptoms.”
Hahnemann, in this first easy on the homoeopathic principle, asserts “that it has a great tendency to excite that spasm in the blood-vessels, and the shock in the nervous system, called febrile rigor. If it be given in a pretty large dose (one-sixth or one-fifth of a grain) to an adult, this rigor becomes very evident. This tendency makes it a powerful remedy as a similarly acting medicine in intermittent fever; and this all the more as it possesses the power, observed by me, of exciting a daily recurring, although always weaker paroxysm, even although its use be discontinued. In typical diseases of all kinds(in periodical headache.), this type-exciting property of Arsenic in small does (one-tenth to, at most, one-sixth of a grain in solution) become valuable, and will, I venture to guess, become invaluable to our perhaps bolder, more observant, and more cautious posterity. ***** The continued use of Arsenic, in large doses, causes gradually an almost constant febrile state; it will thus, as indeed, experience has a to a certain extent taught us, prove useful in hectic and remittent fevers, as a similarly acting remedy, in small doses (about one-twelfth of a grain). It possesses a great disposition to diminish the vital heat and the tone of the muscular fibre. Hence paralysis, from a strong dose, or a long-continued and incautious employment of it. It diminishes the tone of the muscular fibre, by diminishing the tone and cohesion of the coagulable lymph of the blood, as I have convinced myself by drawing blood from persons suffering from the effects of Arsenic more especially such as had a too;inspissated blood before the use of this metallic acid. It also diminishes the sensibility of the nerves Thus, it generally seems to kill more by extinguishing the vital power and sensibility than by corrosive and inflammatory power, which is only local and circumscribed. It weakens the absorbent system. I would direct particular attenuation to its peculiar power of increasing the irritability of the fibre, especially of the system of the vital functions. Hence cough, and hence the above mentioned febrile actions. When used for a length of time, and in pretty large cases, it seldom fails to cause some chronic cutaneous disease (at least, desquamation of the skin). It produces acute continued pains in the joints, as I have seen.”
The following remarks were complied many years ago, from authorities not now recollected: The earliest poisonous effects are, diminished action of heart and intense inflammation of stomach. Given medicinally! the first and earliest sign of this action is an increased strength and frequently of the pulse; next follows the well-known fullness of the palpebrae, and, itching of the alae-nasi. If its use be continued, the irritation of the mucous membranes extends to the fauces, inducing redness and cough, and along with these gradually increasing in thickness, gives its surface the appearance of having been rubbed over with chalk; the action of the heart continues of increases in force and frequently the pulse becomes full and heart, and, at last, a general anasarcous state is set up. Again, the symptoms induced by an overdose are of an inflammatory or pyretic character. Bouillaud says it acts poisonously on the system in two different ways: First, By exerting a specific influence on the blood, thus giving rise to adynamia; Second, By exciting an inflamed or sthenic condition in the parts to which it is applied. Emery says, whenever unpleasant symptoms arise from doses of one-fourth of a grain, they are always of a more or less inflammatory character; such as a quickened and strong pulse, sharp pains in the region of the heart, and general feverish heat. Along with these symptoms, he has occasionally observed a partial paralysis of the extensor muscles of the hand. The prostration of the nervous and circulatory systems are often fatally great, coupled with severe structural disorganization of the stomach and bowels. Brodie, in his experiments, always found the action of the heart excessively feeble, although the muscular parts, including the intestines, nearly retained their usual irritability; hence it would seem to exert a specific paralysing power upon the heart.
It seems also to have almost a specific tendency to irritate and inflame the gastric surfaces, as appears from the fact, in several case of fatal poisoning from its external application, that the mucous membrane of the stomach and bowels has, on dissection, been found highly inflamed. Jaeger compares the action of Arsenicum to that of the poison of snakes, which acts primarily upon the blood. Sproegel sprinkled it upon a wound in a dog’s back, and he found that the stomach and bowels became inflamed. Coagulated blood was effused into the cavities of the stomach and bowels. The pleura, pericardium, and lungs were also very much inflamed. Lachaise, of Angers, says that one-eighth of a grain has no other effect than that of inducing speedy vomiting. One fourth to one-half of a grain produces more decided symptoms stomach seriously affected, also the bowels. Hence there was pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, with acrid sensation in the throat. Repetition of the dose, same symptoms, with vertigo and great prostration of strength. A.S. Taylor grave one- third of a grain to a child of sixteen months: in about twenty minutes it became sick, and vomited severely for three hours, and thus recovered; it did not complain of pain. A lady, at fifty- two, took one-half of a grain; in thirty to forty minutes complained of general uneasiness; she had no pain, but vomited violently for four hours; she then recovered. A gentleman, aged forty, took for and one-half gains; in twenty minutes felt unwell, and vomited for three hours; he did not recover entirely for several days. In these four cases there was no pain, but violent vomiting and prostration of strength. A full stomach probably saved them all.
CHARACTERISTIC PECULIARITIES.
Arsenic exhausts the powers of life, either of single organs or of the whole organism. It produces decomposition of the organic substance, a cachectic condition, colliquation, which the following symptoms clearly show; Yellow, pale, deathlike color of the face, sunken eyes, haemorrhage, per rectum.; foul, destructive, easily bleeding, cancerous ulcers; eruptions like scorbutis; black pustules; emaciation; dropsy; phthisis, Among the pains produced by Arsenic, burning pain in the most characteristic and constant, although there are other remedies, such as Carbo-anim. and vegetabilis, Euphorbium, Mezereum, Pulsatilla, Secale-cornutum., which produce this kind of pain, but none in such a marked degree as Arsenic. A very characteristic effect of Arsenic is the periodicity of its physiological phenomena, although there are remedial agents-such as China, Ipecac., Natrum-mur., Nux-vom., Pulsatilla, Rhus-tox., Veratrum-which possess this intermittent character. All morbid conditions produced by Arsenic are characterized by extreme restlessness; uneasiness, and almost causing frenzy in some instance. Arsenic pain in relieved, although only temporarily, by the application of external heat. The arsenic pain appears mostly during rest, and is generally relieved on motion. Roaring in the ears, during a paroxysm of pain, as in China, is a characteristic symptom of Arsenic. Arsenic nausea and vomiting is accompanied by extreme prostration and anguish, periodical, and worse during rest. The cardiac symptoms point strongly periodical, and worse during rest. The cardiac symptoms point strongly to Arsenic as a remedy or palliative in morbid conditions of the heart; also its specific action on the external skin is very strongly marked.
