Argentum nitricum appears in 11 of the 13 classic books on Similia. Each was written to do a different job — here is what each adds on this remedy, with the opening of its entry.
- Allen HC — The keynotes that separate this remedy from its nearest neighbours.
“The Silver Nitrate (AgO,NO5) Acute or chronic diseases fro unusual or long-continued mental exertion Relation . - Natrum mur, for the bad effects of cauterizing with nitrate of silver. Coffee increases nervous headache. Boys' complaints after using tabacco (Ars., Ver.). Similar: to, Nat. m., Nit. ac., Lach., Aur…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“Silver nitrate, Ag.NO3. Preparation , Solution of the crystals in distilled water, for lower dilutions. Authorities.”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Nitrate of Silver In this drug the neurotic effects are very marked, many brain and spinal symptoms presenting; themselves which give certain indications for its homeopathic employment. Symptoms of inco-ordination, loss of control and want of balance everywhere, mentally and physically; trembling in affected parts. Is…”
- Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“MIND. NERVES: Cerebro-spinal. ABDOMINAL. MUCOUS MEMBRANE: STOMACH. Bowels. Eyes. Throat. Urethra. Periosteum. Skin. Left side. EMOTIONS: ANXIETY. Suspense. In room. Sugar. Shut in places. Lying on R side. Looking down. Drinking. Crowds. COOL: AIR; open. Bath. Hard pressure. Motion. Old, dried up, tremulous and weak…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Nitrate of Silver. Lunar Caustic. Ag NO 3 . Trituration and solution. Acidity / Addison's disease / Anæmia / Chancre / Dyspepsia / Epilepsy / Eructations / Erysipelas / Eyes, affections of / Flatulence / Gastric ulcer / Gonorrhœa / Hands, swelling of / Headache / Heartburn / Impetigo / Locomotor ataxy / Neuralgia /…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Nitrate of Silver. AgO, NO 5 . First prepared by the Arabians. Introduced into practice by Paracelsus. In olden times called Hell-stone, a prophetic name, indicating the horrible abuse of it in our age. See Skinner's pamphlet on Diseases of Women. After the short proving of the 15th centesimal by Hahnemann (see his…”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“We shall find by examining the symptoms of this remedy that the intellectual feature predominates, as in the metal; that the affections are disturbed only in a limited way. There is a predominance of mental symptoms. First of all, disturbance in the memory, disturbance of reason, he becomes most irrational in his…”
- Lippe (MM) — The strict Hahnemannian reading — the symptom picture without clinical interpretation.
“Very impulsive; in continual motion; he walks fast. Apathy. Vertigo, with headache. Morning headache, (when he awakens). Excessive congestion of blood to the head. Stitches in the left frontal eminence. Digging up, incisive motion, through the left hemisphere of the brain. Headache, with chilliness. Headache relieved…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: silver nitrate. Think of this remedy on seeing a withered and dried-up person (G.). Acute or chronic diseases, from unusual or long continued mental exertion (A). Weakness of mind and inability to express himself suitably and coherently (R.). IMPULSIVE, TIME SEEMS TOO SHORT, WANTS TO DO THINGS IN A HURRY…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Impulsive; time goes too slow; must walk fast. Apprehension, on getting ready for church, opera, etc.; has an attack of diarrhoea. Vertigo, with buzzing in the ears, and weakness and trembling. Canthi, as red as blood; swollen, standing out like a lump of red flesh. Irresistible desire for sugar; gastric ailments…”
