Arsenicum is of value in many troubles of the tongue, such as neuralgia (192), canker sores (140) and epithelioma (192), all with burning pain (140). In fevers the tongue is dry, red, brown or black (192), and smooth as if varnished. In gastric conditions, it is often raw and fissured, looking like piece of raw feet.
It is a remedy to be thought of for ulceration of the mouth and for gangrenous sore mouth in children (141). There seems to be no prevailing taste; the following are to be found at various time-sweets, sour, bitter, putrid and metallic (186).
While Arsenicum is seldom called for in diphtheria in the early stage, it is indicated later with the extreme prostration as a marked feature.
In the oesophagus it is to be thought of in inflammation, with burning pain and spasmodic stricture on swallowing food.
Many gastric conditions, cancer (178), ulcer (181), chronic catarrh (178) and the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (153), call for Arsenicum, all with the characteristic indications of extreme prostration, great soreness and burning pain (178), the thirst for sips of cold water and the great irritability that causes the stomach to reject everything, even the swallow of water that is taken to relieve the burning. The whole inner portion of the stomach seems raw. It is to be thought of in gastralgia brought on by the slightest food or drink, and in gastritis due to ice-cream, if eaten too quickly, or to too much ice-water (177).
In the many catarrhal and inflammatory condition of the abdomen, for which this remedy is useful, the same characteristic symptoms will be found, including the burning pains and great sensitiveness to touch (12), the extreme prostration, general coldness and tendency to collapse (34) and the relief form external heat.
By this times, s it has been repeated so often, if I should ask you to give the indications for Arsenicum in haemorrhoids (86), you would reply in the words of the Handbook, “burning like fire, better from eat.”
In the diarrhoea calling for Arsenicum the stools are dark, scanty, watery of bloody, burning (61) and putrid (59), with aggravation from eating (7) or drinking (57) and after midnight. The movements are preceded by violent burning pains in the intestines, they are excoriating and burning (61), may be accompanied by vomiting and cold sweat (185) and are followed by great exhaustion (58). Thirst and restlessness are constant features.
In children suffering from marasmus (129) it is of great value, with the emaciation, prostration, irritable stomach and bowels and the other characteristic symptoms of the remedy.
It is to be thought of in cystitis, with scanty urine and burning micturition (194).
Arsenicum has become, with many, a routine remedy in chronic interstitial nephritis and the results are no more satisfactory here than with any routine remedy anywhere; but it is indicated in interstitial (124) and croupous nephritis (124), with weak heart, oedematous extremities and dropsy (63), very irritable stomach and bowels, the characteristic thirst, scanty, hot and albuminous urine. While the urine is usually scanty in all diseases calling for the remedy, it may be suppressed in cholera (200) and in general dropsy (200).
Menstruation is apt to be too early and too profuse (135), especially in the anaemic (15) who cannot stand the loss of blood, and followed by exhaustion (138).
It is also to be thought of in amenorrhoea (134), with profuse, excoriating leucorrhoea instead of menses (126). The leucorrhoea of Arsenicum, which is apt to be associated with anaemia, is excoriating (126), burning (126) and offensive (126).
The right ovary is the one mostly affected (147) and the pains are burning as from fire, with aggravation after midnight.
Arsenicum is of great value in diseased condition of the uterus, including inflammations, ulcerations (204), cancer (202), and haemorrhages, with lancinating, burning pains.
In laryngeal and pulmonary conditions, especially if chronic and the patient begins to show the strain and drain on the system, Arsenicum is frequently of value. A few of the many conditions where it is of use laryngeal catarrh and phthisis (150), broncho-pneumonia (151), phthisis (149), emphysema (66) with great dyspnoea and dyspnoea from oedema of the lungs (29), and asthma (19), all with aggravation after midnight and from cold air (21).
The cough is worse after midnight (40) and from cold air (40) and Arsenicum is one of the remedies where the cough is caused by a sensation as if he had inhaled sulphur fumes (43).
The expectorations scanty and the cough is worse when lying on the back (42).
It is of great value for the cachexia which is the precursor to chronic disease of the lungs (149) and while this state will be especially spoken of under our next remedy Arsenicum iod., we want to remember Arsenicum in those cases in which a general anaemic condition (15) makes us fear for the patient’s future and where there is easy exhaustion, a disinclination for the open air (5) and a general desire to hug the fire.
The heart under Arsenicum is weak and tremulous (109), with palpitation upon the slightest provocation (111, after stool, from motion or any exertion (111), and with aggravation after midnight. It is to be thought of in the irritable heart of tea- drinkers, a and tobacco-smokers (114), in dropsy about the heart (109), as well as in general dropsy (63), with weak heart.
We have already spoken of the restlessness of Arsenicum, mental and physical restlessness (160); one of Hahnemann’s symptoms covering the latter condition, reads; “Uneasiness in the lower limbs, he cannot lie still in the night, and had to change the position of his feet all the time or to walk about (10), to get relief” (Allen’s Encyclop). It is a remedy to be thought of in sciatica, coming on or worse at night with burning pains (164) relieved by heat.
On the skin it is indicated when there is a dry, scaly condition, as in eczema of the squamous type and in psoriasis (158).
There is intense itching in Arsenicum, and burning after scratching (122), so that the patient must refrain from scratching as the itching is easier to bear form than the burning. The itching is worse from cold and better from heat. It is for dandruff (53), the whole scalp dry and scaly.
In fevers of various kinds, Arsenicum is of great value; remittent, intermittent, typhoid (1930 and typhus (193) fevers; in blood poisoning, hectic and yellow fevers and in haemorrhagic measles; in all these conditions, with tendency to disorganization of blood and other tissues, along with the general restlessness, irritability, thirst, etc., of the remedy.
In intermittent fever the general indication would be the in-equality of the three stages. There is a short chill, long fever (121) nd short sweat, or the chill and sweat, either or both, may be suppressed, but the fever is prolonged.
The paroxysm may come on at almost any hour, but the usual time for it to begin 12-2 A.M., or 1-2 P.M. and it is apt to anticipate. The chill is short, and they hug the fire for relief or want to be wrapped up warmly, there is no thirst during the chill.
The fever is long lasting (121), is hot and burning, and accompanied by restlessness, prostration, thirst and irritability of the stomach.
The sweat is very variable and is often absent and there is
always great exhaustion and prostration after the paroxysm is over.
I use Arsenicum 6th.
