Synonym. Sodium Arsenate. Common name. Arsenate of Soda. Preparations. Triturations.
GENERAL ANALYSIS.
The action of Natr. ars. is especially upon mucus surfaces, where it causes irritation, congestion and subacute catarrhal inflammation. It also acts upon the blood to a limited degree, and interferes with nutrition, the patient becoming weak and emaciated. In its general action the drug resembles Natrum mur. more than it does Arsenic.
CHARACTERISTIC SYMPTOMS.
Mind. Nervous restlessness (Aconite, Arsenicum, Camph.). Cannot concentrate mind; dull, listless (Gelsemium, Nux v., Phosphorus ac.); forgetful (Anacardium, Apis.).
Head. Confused feeling; head heavy, dull. Feeling of heat and fullness in whole head. Dull aching in frontal region and root of nose; on awaking in morning; severe during day; indisposed to study or speak. Aching across brow over orbits and eyeballs. Fullness in forehead, with throbbing in top of head (Bryonia). Every motion jars the head (Belladonna)
Eyes. Vision weakened; objects blur when he looks at them for a short time; eyes sensitive to light (Aconite, Belladonna, Mercurius, Sulphur) Eyes soon tire and pain when reading or writing (Myrica, Natr. mur., Phosphorus, Ruta, Sepia). Feels as though he must close lids to protect the weak eyes. Lids disposed to close; cannot open them as wide as usual (Causticum, Coni., Gelsemium, Natr. carb.). Blood vessels of balls and lids much congested, whole orbital region swollen; oedema of orbital region (Arsenicum, Rhus tox., Phosphorus), especially of supraorbital region (Apis, Kali carb.). Congestion of conjunctiva from least exposure to cold or wind (Aconite); conjunctiva dry and painful. Eyes smart as from wood smoke; smarting and lachrymation on going into open air. Inner surface of (lower) lids granulated. Edges chronically inflamed; morning agglutination. Aching through and over brows and orbits, and in temples on awaking. Eye symptoms worse ion the morning, better towards evening.
Nose. Smell defective or lost. Patient feels stuffed up in nose and chest. Nose constantly stopped up, worse at night and in morning (Nux v.); must breathe at night with mouth open (Ammonium carb.). Nasal discharge yellow, tough; also hawked up from posterior nares; mucus drops from posterior nares (Hydras., Kali bichromicum). Pieces of hardened bluish mucus flow from nose, after which mucus membrane feels raw. Dry crust in nose; when removed blood follows. Nasal mucous membrane thickened, can inhale air, but difficult to exhale. Compressive pain at root of nose and in forehead; catarrh (Aconite, Kali bichromicum, Mercurius iod.).
Face. Face flushed and hot (Baptisia, Belladonna); feels puffed. Malar bones feel large, as if swollen. Swollen, oedematous; more orbital region (Arsenicum, Apis., Rhus tox.); worse mornings on awaking.
Mouth. Corners fissured; also indurated. Muscles of mastication stiff, painful to move jaw. Tongue furred; coated yellow; deep-red, corrugated, anterior part fissured; large, moist, fissured, flabby (Mercurius).
Throat. Fauces dry on swallowing and on inspiration, worse in morning and after a cold. Fauces and pharynx red and glossy. Tonsils, fauces and pharynx purplish and oedematous; patched with yellow mucus (Mercuriusiod.); diphtheria. Uvula, tonsils and pharynx thickened; surface irregular, swollen, purplish-red, covered with yellowish-gray mucus, which is hawked out.
Stomach. Drinks often, but little at a time (Arsenicum, Hyoscyamus); very thirsty, made worse by drinking. Belching and sour eructations. Nausea, worse from cold drink of water. Vomits large quantities of sour water, worse after eating. Stomach feels sore; warm things cause a sensation of burning, and can be felt entering stomach. Moderate dinner lies heavy (Lycopodium, Nux v.); Feeling of fullness. Epigastrium tender, also sinking sensation.
Abdomen. Gas forms rapidly (Carb. v., Lycopodium), worse only when bowels move; colic from flatus and before stool.
Stool. Alternate diarrhoea and constipation (Antim crud., Cimic., Card. m., Nux v., Podophyllum). Stool thin, soft, dark, followed by burning at anus (Sulphur). Yellowish, watery; copious, painless, hurries out of bed in morning (Sulph); preceded by colic, relieved after (Coloc.).
Urinary Organs. Dull aching in kidneys, with profuse urine. Sore feeling in region of bladder, worse while urinating. Urine copious, frequent, clear; heat precipitates phosphates; contains some epithelial scales, casts and fat globules.
Respiratory Organs. Dark slate-colored, scanty mucus in larynx, detached with difficulty. Oppressed or stuffed sensation all day from larynx to bottom of sternum. Roughness and irritation in bronchi mornings, with slight cough. Lungs feels dry, as though smoke had been inhaled (Baryta c., Bromium). Dry cough, with feeling of tightness and oppression in middle and upper third of chest. Chest feels full and oppressed; worse during exertion and on full inspiration. Sharp, quick pain below seventh rib anteriorly. Supra-clavicular regions sore on pressure.
Heart and Pulse. Oppression about heart on least exertion. Pulse irregular, variable in volume, slower than usual; (Digit., Can. ind., Opium).
Neck and Back. Neck stiff and sore. Pain and soreness in back, between scapulae; in lumbar region.
Limbs. Neuralgic pains recur frequently. Joints feel stiff (Rhus tox.); pains erratic, worse in joints and on left side. Lower limbs feel heavy; weary, bruised feelings. Aching anteriorly down legs, until restless, uneasy feeling is produced.
Generalities. Restless, nervous, cannot sit still without great effort (Rhus tox.). Feels tired all over; desire to remain quiet. More susceptible to cold air, takes cold easily (Calcarea c., Kali carb., Silicea). Pains show preference for left leg. OEdema (Apis, Arsenicum, Rhus tox.). Marked emaciation (Iodi., Natr. mur.); after previous increase in flesh.
Sleep. Drowsy, heavy, restless; wakes as if frightened.
Skin. Squamous eruption, scales thin, white, and when removed leave skin slightly reddened; if scales remain they cause itching, worse when warm from exercise.
Fever. Chilly, disposed to wrap up or get near a fire. Chilly at night, then burning, dry heat. Skin hot and dry. Surface cool, covered with cold, clammy sweat (Arsenicum, Camph., Veratrum alb.)
Aggravation. In the morning. After eating.
Amelioration. When walking in the open air.
Compare. Arsenicum, Lycopodium, Kali bichromicum, Hydras., Nux v., Natr. mur., Natr. carb.
THERAPEUTICS.
Natrum ars. is especially useful in chronic catarrhal conditions– nasal, pharyngeal, bronchial, gastric, cystic or intestinal; conjunctivitis; granular lids; rheumatism; neuralgia; sciatica; oedema. The symptoms have already been described, and need not be repeated. Often a valuable remedy in diphtheria where there is great prostration, dark, purplish hue of the throat, great swelling, not much pain, uvula hangs down like a sac of water, feeble intermittent pulse, surface cool, covered with a cold, clammy sweat. Intermittent fever. Hectic fever, night sweats; emaciation, in phthisis pulmonalis.
ALLEN CORSON COWPERTHWAITE was born at Cape May, New Jersey, May 3, 1848, son of Joseph C. and Deborah (Godfrey) Cowperthwaite. He attended medical lectures at the University of Iowa in 1867-1868, and was graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia in 1869. He practiced his profession first in Illinois, and then in Nebraska. In 1877 he became Dean and Professor of Materia Medica in the recently organized Homeopathic Department of the State University of Iowa, holding the position till 1892. In 1884 he accepted the chair of Materia Medica, Pharmacology, and Clinical Medicine in the Homeopathic Medical College of the University of Michigan. He removed to Chicago in 1892, and became Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College. From 1901 he also served as president of that College. He is the author of various works, notably "Insanity in its Medico-Legal Relations" (1876), "A Textbook of Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1880), of "Gynecology" (1888), and of "The Practice of Medicine " (1901).