Homeopathy LibraryOrigin Mineral · Simple
ClarkePreparation Solution and trituration.
Sources 20 entries across 18 books: Boericke, Kent, Clarke, Hering, Nash …
Dose
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Five to twenty drops ; it may be repeated several times daily. Arsenious acid has been known since the eighth century. In the fourteenth century, it was used as ARSENICUM ALBUM. 1 79 a medicine in the treatment of diseases of cattle. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it was used as a caustic appHcation to malignant ulcers, but its use was condemned by regular physicians. Irregular practitioners, however, had learned its value in the treatment of skin diseases and of intermittent fever. How they found this out is more than we can say. The same has been true of nearly every drug of the materia medica. It is certain, however, that while in irregular and domestic practice intermit- tents and skin diseases were being cured by Arsen- icum every day, its use was condemned by the faculty; and Goeffroy said, "Though it may be a good remedy for the present, it will afterward* prove a poison and bring on very dismal symptoms. Arsenic, therefore, is, in my opinion, worse than the fever!" Not so, however, thought the patients who were glad to get rid of their fevers, and to run the risk of the dismal symptoms. The popularity of the remedy, and its extensive use, unsanctioned by the faculty, at length converted learned doctors ; and Arsenic was received into the orthodox pharma- copoeia, and became forthwith " a safe remedy," and much better "than a fever itself." Arsenic is a poison to plants as well as to animals. Upon animals it acts in its well-known peculiar way, however it be introduced into the system, whether by the stomach or by the rectum, or l8o ARSENICUM ALBUM. through the external surface of the body by the endermic method. Cases of fatal poisoning are on record in which the arsenic was introduced in a wash applied to cutaneous eruptions or to ulcers. The fumes of arsenious acid act very sensibly on the system. It is recorded that persons have been poisoned by inhaling the air of a room in which had been burned candles the wicks of which had been saturated with a solution of arsenious acid. The same result has followed the use of arsenious acid in candles to harden them. Clay tobacco pipes are glazed with a preparation of arsenious acid, — at least those having a superior finish, and designed for the use of the aristocracy. At the first smoking this glazing is volatilized, and the smoker inhales a dose of arsenic. Every new pipe involves a new dose. Some persons scorn to use any but a new pipe. Fatal poisonings have resulted from this fastidious extravagance. A beautiful green wall-paper gets its color from the arsenite of copper, a pigment known as Scheele's green. The exhalations from this paper have caused illnesses and death. The same pig- ment is used in almost every form of ornamenta- tion of dress and furniture and condiments, from the artificial flowers of the fine lady's head-dress, which give her the mysterious arsenical neuralgic headache, to the green candy toy of her spoiled child, which, when eaten, gives the child the equally mysterious arsenical stomachache. ARSENICUM ALBUM. l8l The effects of small doses of arsenic frequently repeated, producing chronic arsenical poisoning, are thus described: " Loss of appetite, nausea, deranged digestion, diarrhoea, thirst, salivation, tenesmus, colic and intestinal cramps ; respiration labored and painful ; a sense of oppression with pain in the breast ; cough ; extreme wasting of the flesh, and hectic fever ; the limbs grow tremulous, and not unfre- quently are paralyzed, especially the lower extrem- ities ; pains in the whole body, but particularly in the hands and feet ; stiffness and contraction of the extensor muscles succeed; numbness invades the extremities, and the mental faculties subside into insensibility and torpor ; oedema of the face and extremities, and even general anasarca are not unusual ; the hair falls out ; epidermis scales off; pustular and other eruptions, ending in ulceration, attack the skin, which acquires a lifeless, earthy hue ; the countenance, if not oedematous, is sunken ; the conjunctiva is strongly injected, and a reddish circle surrounds the eyes." The symptoms of acute poisoning are as follows : " Immediately after the poison is swallowed a metallic taste is perceived, with constriction of the fauces. A violent burning pain, which soon becomes excruciating, is felt in the stomach, and gradually extends itself over the whole abdomen, steadily increasing in severity until it becomes intolerable. Retching and vomiting and cramps of the bowels ensue, with spasms of the oesophagus and chest, 152 ARSENICUM ALBUM. which resemble those of hydrophobia. The thirst is insatiable, but even the mildest drinks cannot be retained. The tongue is generally fissured, hard and dry, although occasionally there is profuse sali- vation, and the voice is hoarse. There is also tenesmus, with bloody and offensive stools and retraction of the abdomen. The irritation extends to the urinary organs, producing strangury. Some- times the urine is completely suppressed, and sometimes it is mixed with blood. Christison says that in women there is burning in the vagina and excoriation of the labia, but this does not happen unless life is prolonged beyond three days. Bach- man had previously noticed the pain above alluded to, and also profuse menorrhagia among the symp- toms in women. "The pulse is irregular, rapid and intermittent; the muscles are spasmodically affected; the skin presents a livid eruption, as already described. The sense of anguish is unutterable, and sometimes there is delirium. The breathing is oppressed. A consuming fire seems to prey upon the vitals, while the whole body is pale, cold, shivery and clammy. The features are sunken and sharp; if vomiting occurs it is convulsive and affords no relief Exhaustion of mind and body; prostration and despair, with anxious restlessness, generally attend this stage of the attack. On the approach of death, spasm yields to general exhaustion, the pulse grows slow and feeble, and urine and faeces are passed involuntarily, but sensibility and ARSENICUM ALBUM. 1 83 consciousness are lost only in the last moments of life " The duration of the symptoms is variable, and may be stated, in general, as from six to twelve hours, but occasionally they last several days. " But even when recovery from the acute symp- toms takes place it is rarely complete. For months or even years, the joints remain stiff and swollen, rendering walking difficult and painful ; the digestive organs continue irritable and feeble, and all the functions of the nervous system are impaired. In some cases paralysis of the upper or lower extrem- ities occurs, and gangrenous ulcers attack the legs." "The quantity of arsenious acid sufficient to cause death will depend," says CEsterlein, "on the condition of the stomach at the time the arsenic is swallowed. If the stomach be full of food at the time a large quantity may produce only a slight effect." Thus QEsterlein reports a case in which just after a hearty meal a man swallowed a quarter of an ounce. Emetics were given immediately and no evil followed. On the other hand, very small doses may pro- duce very violent and fatal symptoms. Four, three, and even two grains of arsenious acid have destroyed life. A summary review of the effects of Arsenic leads us to conclude: I. From the fact that, after death from poi- soning by it, it is found in almost every tissue and secretion of the body, that it is universally 1 84 ARSENICUM ALBUM. diffused throughout the body and acts upon every part. 2. From the fact that its action and diffusion are uniform, however it be introduced into the body, whether through the skin or by the aHmen- tary canal, that its action is specific and not local. 3. From its effects in chronic poisoning, pro- ducing anaemia, exhaustion, emaciation, etc., that it acts upon the blood composition, as well as directly on the tissues and on the nervous system. We consider now the more intimate specific effects as gathered from provings on the healthy body, made by Hahnemann and his pupils. A few words from Hahnemann's introduction to his proving may not be amiss, and especially since the use of Arsenic as a remedy has been denounced on the ground of its frequent abuse as a poison. "When I utter the name Arsenic, powerful recollections possess my soul. " In creating Iron, the All-Merciful left it free to His children to transform it at their pleasure, either into the murderous dagger or the blessed ploughshare, and to use it either for destruction or preservation. * * * * * " It is not the fault of Him who loves us all that we abuse powerful medicinal agents, giving them either in too large doses or in cases for which they are not suitable, being merely guided by the caprice of miserable authorities, and without having taken the trouble to investigate the inherent cura- ARSENICUM ALBUM. 1 85 tive virtues of the drug, and to make our selection depend on the knowledge thus obtained." GENERAL ANALYSIS. 1. Arsenic exhausts the vital power of certain organs or systems or of the entire organism, pro- duces symptoms of impeded activity in the func- tions of organs ; indeed, in some cases, positive paralysis. This asthenic condition characterizes the entire symptomatology of Arsenic. For this reason, the sensations of prostration, lassitude, weakness, etc., sinking of the forces, etc., are highly characteristic indications for Arsenic. They are so peculiar to Arsenic that Hahnemann says: "Even circumstances that are in themselves not very important and would otherwise produce but little effect, occasion in the Arsenic patient a sudden and complete sinking of the forces." This is a vital phenomenon and not a result of chemical or physical destruction of vital organs, as the stomach or intestine ; for this sink- ing occurs when there is no such destruction. 2. The organic substance of the body is acted upon throughout. A cachectic dyscrasia and colli- quative destruction of tissues is indicated by symptoms of the complexion, excretions, ulcers, eruption, and the skin generally. Hence the use of Arsenic in persons of a cachectic habit, in leucophlegmatic persons. 1 86 ARSENICUM ALBUM. 3. The sphere of action embraces almost all the organs and systems of the body, but it acts especially on the mucous membranes and the exter- nal skin. 4. It is one of the most eminent periodics of our materia medica. 5. As characteristic peculiarities may be men- tioned : That the symptoms of Arsenic are almost always accompanied by great restlessness and anxiety, indeed sometimes by frantic desperation. That they are sometimes relieved for a time by external warmth. That they occur and are aggravated during repose, but are ameliorated by standing and by moving. That the symptoms are almost always attended by concomitant symptoms ; that is, by symptoms which stand in no pathological relation to the former. That as regards the time of day at which the symptoms occur or are aggravated there is a great variety. Most of them occur at night after lying down, or about two a. m. ; some on rising, and after dinner. SPECIAL ANALYSIS. The action on the head is not very striking. Pressing pain and semi-lateral headaches are mentioned by provers, but not graphically. It is ARSENICUM ALBUM. 187 probable that the general symptoms alone will suf- fice to guide the prescriber in selecting Arsenic for headache.
Reason for useDunham
THIS substance is generally prepared by subli- mation from the ores of cobalt, and is often found adulterating the ores of zinc. It is a white powder, completely soluble in boiling water. It has neither taste nor smell, but leaves a somewhat acrid sensation on the fauces ; and when fused and thereby deoxidized, it emits the odor of garlic which char- acterizes the heated metal. In medicine, the forms of Arsenicum chiefly used are the arsenious acid and the solution of the arsenite of potassa known as " Fowler's solution," or the *' tasteless ague drop." The latter is pre- pared by dissolving equal parts of arsenious acid and carbonate of potassa in boiling distilled water. A very little compound spirit of lavender is added to give color and flavor. It contains four grains of arsenious acid to the fluid ounce.
By regionDunham
Eyes Upon the eyes and their appendages Arsenic produces : itching, drawing and pressure around the eyes, swelling of the lids, pains on moving the eyelids, as if they were dry and rubbed against the eyeball ; agglutination of the lids ; increased lachrymation ; drawing and pressure, but especially tickling, itching and burning (the charac- teristic sensation produced by Arsenic.) The con- junctiva is reddened, there is photophobia, the pupils are contracted; in fact there is every symp- tom of inflammation. …
Headache Tearing, burning in the temples; semi-lateral tearing in the head at night, as if the head would burst, along with soreness and a tired aching in the nape of the neck. …
Books*
Antidoted by Nux Vomica 5, Cinchona Officinalis 3, Euphorbium Officinarum 3 +43
Complementary Phosphorus, Allium Sativum, Secale Cornutum +4
Follows well Aranea Diadema, Iodium, Mercurius Solubilis +3
Compare Phosphorus, Arsenic Album, Cinchona Officinalis +36
* Number of books that state the relation, where more than one. Historical text from the classical materia medica (1828–1950). Not medical advice, and not a claim that any remedy works.
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