Crotalus Horridus appears in 10 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.
“Poison of Rattlesnake (Crotalidae) Is indicated in strumous, debilitated, haemorrhagic, broken-down constitutions; during zymotic diseases; in inebriates; tendency to carbuncles or blood boils (Anthr.). Diseases caused by a previous low state of the system; low septic typhoid or malarial fever; chronic alcoholism…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“C. Horridus, Linn. Order , Crotalidæ of the Ophidian family of serpents. Common names , Rattlesnake, Boiquira. Preparation , Trituration of the virus with sugar of milk. Authorities.”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Rattlesnake Snake poisons are supposed to be chemically Cyan hydrates of Soda and other salts. Alcohol is the natural solvent of these salts and is an antidote. Has a profound trophic action. Old age nutritional troubles. Low septic states. General disorganization of the blood, hæmorrhages and jaundice. A crotalin…”
- Boger (GA) — Which general headings this remedy belongs under — the analytical scaffolding.
“BLACK, dark, etc. BLOOD SEPSIS, etc. BLUISH, purple, livid, etc. DUSKY COLOR ERYSIPELAS FAINT, faints easily, etc. HEMORRHAGE, bloody discharges MOTTLED, PATCHY, ETC. (COMP. SPOTS.) NUMBNESS, insusceptibility, absence of pain, etc. PHAGEDENA, slough, etc. ROLLING, turning over, etc., as if (Comp. Loose, Ball, etc.)…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“Rattle-snake. N. O. Crotalidæ. The Rattle-snake of North America. Symptoms of C. Durissus as well as C. Horridus are included in the pathogenesis. Trituration of sugar of milk saturated with the venom. Solution of the venom in glycerine. Amblyopia / Apoplexy / Appendicitis / Bilious fever / Boils / Cancers /…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Rattlesnake poison. Crotalidæ. The first regular provings of the poison were made by C. Hg., and his provers, who proved the first and second triturations ; see Hering's Monograph on the Effects of Snake Poisons, 1837 ; a single proving with the third dilution on an unmarried lady, æt. 35, by Stokes, is recorded among…”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“Crotalus Horridus (Rattlesnake) Aspect: The first impression would be to rebel against the use of such substances as Crotalus, Lachesis, Apis and other animal poisons, and it is true that the lay mind must look with something like horror upon their administration; but when they are properly used and when we consider…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: rattle-snake poison. Is indicated in adynamic conditions that are characterized by a hæmorrhagic tendency (Bl.). Apoplectic convulsions in inebriates, hæmorrhagic or broken down constitutions (A.). HÆMORRHAGES FROM EVERY ORIFICE OF THE BODY, EVEN FROM THE PORES OF THE SKIN. (Ra.). Mouldy smell from the…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Here is another snake poison which, although like Naja has been proven only in the low preparations, has a better clinical record. Yet it lacks the clear-cut indications of Lachesis. It has shown enough, however, to indicate that it is a remedy of great value. It seems, so far, to have shown its greatest usefulness in…”
