Natrum Arsenicatum

Authorities. (5 a and 8 6 to 10 h, J. G. Thompson, Hahn. Month., vol. xiii, 1878, p. 599, observations, two years after the provings given in vol. vi of the Encyclopedia) ; 5 a, J. C. King, M.D.; 8 6, R. Ramage, M.D.; 9 6, O. R. Shannon, M.D. ; 10 b, J. G. Thompson ; 11, Dr. Gouffia, Med. Circular, 1859, vol. xiv, p. 254, took from the beginning of November till the next June, a dose at intervals of two days, increasing gradually from 5 milligrams to 4 centigrams.

Mind

Feeling of nervousness all through the body. Feeling of gloom ; want to sit quiet. Confusion and want of power to concentrate the mind on any subject

Am more restless than was formerly my habit, so much so as to be noticed by others. Not so cheerful as before the proving. At times feel irritable, and then have not the usual desire to study, although the mind seems clear, and the memory as usual

No mental symptoms have been observed, in my case, for eighteen months or more, but I notice that prover R. R, (®''), with whom I am a.«associated, has never fully recovered from the nervous restlessness and loss of power of concentration

Head

Dull aching pain in the frontal region on awaking in the morning; during the day severe pain in frontal region. Every motion jars the brain. Aching across the brow, over the orbits, and in the balls of the eyes. Face feels hot, and looksflushed at times

Fife

The action of the drug on the eyes was very marked at the time the proving was made, and the symptoms have since been so persistent that I fear the results are permanent. The eyes feel constantly weak, as if the lids must be kei)t closed to protect the ball. The conjunctiva seems dry and painful. When reading or writing, the eyes soon become tired and painful. A slight exposure to cold or wind produces congestion of the conjunctiva. After looking at an object a short time it becomes blurred and indistinct; the eyes are very sensitive to light. All the eye symptoms are worse in the morning, become gradually less severe, and disappear towards evening. The eyes do not suffer especially from artificial light

Eyes congested ; eyes and orbital region much swollen. Agglutination of the lids on awaking in the morning. Eyes sensitive to the light. Eyes smart as from wood smoke. OEdema of the orbital region. Inability to open the eyes wide as usual. Disposition of the lids to close. Inner surface of lower lid distinctly granular in appearance. Severe pain*in the orbits and orbital region. The whole orbital region much swollen, and the bloodvessels of the ball and lids much congested. Smarting and lachrymation on going into the open air. Sight weakened

IMy eyes became sound as usual about seven or eight mouths after I ceased taking the drug, have remained strong and well since

Nose p. 594

Dull aching at the root of the nose. Nose stopped up, right nostril most. Must keep the mouth open to breathe during the night. Discharge from the nose very profuse, commencing clear and watery, gradually becoming thicker, till finally it is tough and yellow. Thickening of the nasal mucous membrane ; can inhale air, but have difficulty in exhaling. Yellow tough mucus drawn by inspiration, and hawking from the posterior nares. Sneezing brought on by inspiration of cold air

The nasal mucous membrane is dry, the mucus becomes tough, hard, and sometimes when disk-dged causes bleeding. From the posterior nares theie is a dropping of mucus, which at times collects in a tough and very tenacious mass, causing considerable hemming and hawking to dislodge it

Since taking the drug have been troubled with nasal catarrh. The nose feels stopped all the time, but is worse at night and in the morning. During the day there is very little discharge from the nose, but a feeling as though the mucous membrane were swollen. In the morning the nose feels stopped up, and pieces of hardened bluish-colored mucus are blown from it, after which the mucous membrane feels sore and raw. I take cold much easier than I used to

Face p. 594

Face flushed and hot; feels puffed. Heavy aching pain in ethmoid bone. Malar bones feel large, as if swollen. Muscles of mastication feel stiff, and motion of the jaw is painful

Throat p. 594

ih irsty, dry, stiff feeling in the fauces and pharynx. Hawking of tough yellow or grayish mucus. Thickening of the uvula, tonsils, and pharynx; irregular on the surface, swollen, purplish-red, and covered with an abundance of yellowish or yellowish-gray mucus. Soft parts of the throat thickened. Difficulty in modulating the voice. (The thickening of the mucous membrane of the fauces and pharynx did not entirely disappear for more than six mouths after I stopped taking the drug, but there was no soreness felt at any time)

The fauces feel dry on inspiration and on deglutition; the dryness is worse in the morning, and always after a cold

Stomach p. 594

During the whole time the appetite was excessive

The tenderness of the epigastrium noticed during the proving remains in a moderate degree. Have had frequent attacks of indigestion, lasting several days at each time. At such times the stomach feels sore, and anything warm or heating causes a sensation of burning, and can be sensibly felt immediately on entering the stomach. Previous to engaging in the proving I had not experienced any tenderness or pain in that region

Tenderness in the entire epigastric region, most marked immediately below the ensiform. Pain through the abdomen. Bowels relaxed. Frequent passage of flatus. Feeling of nausea. Vomiting of large quantities of sour water. The odor of food is pleasant, but on attempting to eat it produces vomiting of a very sour fluid

Abdomen p. 595

The abdominal symptoms have not been prominent for some time; however, the bowels have not been regular since the proving, they are alternately relaxed and constipated; gas accumulates very rapidly, producing pain, which is only Relieved by motion of the bowels or escape of flatus

Rectum and Anus p. 595

Ever since taking the drug the respiratory mucous membrane has been unusually sensitive to the influences of cold and irritating dust or vapor. Every day for two years I have hawked up more or less thick white mucus, while thick yellow mucus has been discharged from the posterior nares. These symptoms are aggravated by the inhalation of dust, smoke, etc. There is a tendency to the formation of dry crusts in the nose; when these are removed blood follows. There is a pretty constant compressive pain at the root of the nose. After a trifling exposure to cold my throat assumes the red puffy appearance noticed at the time of the proving; no pain accompanies this condition

Chest p. 595

Feeling of fulness and oppression in the chest. Dry cough. Cough looser, but no expectoration. Sharp quick pain in the anterior part of the chest, below the seventh rib. Soreness and oppression in the chest; worse on taking a deep inspiration. Tenderness on pressure in the supra-clavicular region. Lungs feel full and clogged. Respiratory sound very indistinct

In the right side of the chest, beneath the cartilages of the fourth and filth ribs, where irritation, pain, and soreness occurred when proving the medicine, there is an uneasiness, which on any physical exertion occasions a teasing sensation, producing a dry hacking cough and slight soreness, but never any acute pain. These symptoms are aggravated by deep inspirations, by dust, and a close atmosphere

Heart and Pulse p. 595

Pulse irregular, variable in volume, and slower than usual. The sounds of the heart are heard through nearly every part of the chest. Can feel the beating of the heart through the chest distinctly

Back p. 595

Severe pain between the scapulae, causing an inclination of the shoulders forward for relief, felt at every inspiration, and gradually passing around below the point of the right scapula to a position on the right side of the chest, below the ninth and across the tenth rib; soreness commencing at the lower cervical vertebra, and extending as far down as the points of and under both scapulae. On taking a deeper inspiration than usual, a stitching pain is felt in the space between the scapulae

Upper Extremities p. 595

The neuralgic pains in the extremities produced by the drug reappeared frequently during the first year. At times they were quite severe, and would remain for several days at a time. Recently they have not given me any trouble

Superior Extremities p. 595

stitches along the palmar surface of the fourth metacarpal bone, between the carpal and phalangeal bones, felt in both hands, but not in both at the same time. The lower extremities feel heavy. On commencing to move, pain and soreness in the right knee-joint. Dull pain on the inside of the popliteal space of the right leg, accompanied by a disagreeable feeling through the muscular part of the posterior portion of the leg, which passed off while walking. Cramp in plantar surface of right foot. Aching in the anterior part of the thigh, extending to the leg and ankle, beginning slightly, and growing worse, till a restless, uneasy feeling was produced

Inferior Extremities p. 595

The neuralgic pains in the lower extremities have returned at intervals, apparently without any exciting causes ; they appear chiefly in the left thigh, leg, and foot, and the nerves supplying the flexor muscles are alone affected

Dull cutting pain, lasting about five minutes at a time, and coming about every half hour, is felt along and about the length of Poupart’s ligament, occurring on both sides at the same time. After the subsidence of the pain, a sickening sensation is felt in the left testicle, as if caused by a blow, and lasting about ten minutes. During the time this sensation lasted the testicle was extremely sensitive to the touch, even of the clothing, but this sensitiveness passed away each time the pain subsided. Urine light-colored, and increased in quantity

Generalities p. 596

Embonpoint very apparent; its discontinuance was followed by considerable emaciation

Skin p. 596

The rash noticed during the proving has made its appearance on the face and neck at irregular intervals since, but has not remained long at anyone time. A squamous eruption (not noticed either before or while proving the drug) has appeared on the chest along the sternum. The scales are quite thin, whitish, and when removed leave the skin slightly reddened. When the scales are allowed to remain the parts covered by them become itchy, especially so when warm from exercise