Kali Arsenicosum
By Constantine Hering — The Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica
Potassium Arsenite (Fowler's Solution). As 2 O 3 K 2 O.
A short proving, Med. and Surg. Journ., 1848, p. 459 ; physiological and pathogenetic effects by Berndt and Cattell ; see Allen's Encyclopædia, vol. 5, p. 212 ; pathogenetic effects observed by Hering, MSS.
CLINICAL AUTHORITIES.
- Melancholy and jealousy , N. N. ; Affection of uterus , Cattell, B. J. H., vol. 11, p. 350 ; Neuropathia , Gradowicz, Med. Ztg., vol. 3, p. 180, 1846 ; Psoriasis , Cattell, B. J. H., vol. 11, p. 350.
MIND [1]
Scolding, morose, retired, quarrelsome and discontented, jealous, indifferent to everything, scarcely answered questions addressed to her, or replied to them in a peevish tone ; eyes had a fixed look, face looked frightened and anxious ; < every third day. θ Melancholy.
(In sick :) Thought her head felt larger.
(In sick :) Headache in left parietal bone, as if it was sore and pressed upon by a hand ; behaves like a crazy person.
Constricted feeling in head, as if there was a wound on parietal bone which was being scratched ; the place feels hot ; pressure does not relieve. θ Neuropathia.
OUTER HEAD [4]
(OBS :) Crusta lactea.
SIGHT AND EYES [5]
Startled look, with protruding, brilliant eyes, pale face and sunken cheeks. θ Neuropathia.
(In sick :) Protrusion of eyeballs.
Conjunctiva glassy.
(In sick :) Dyspnœa ; injected conjunctivæ, and eyeballs fixed.
(In sick :) Right eye weaker ; watery, as after weeping.
UPPER FACE [8]
(OBS :) Nodular eruption on face ; boils.
(OBS :) Furfuraceous eruption in beard.
TASTE, SPEECH, TONGUE [11]
Tongue coated on edges only with mucous stripes. θ Neuropathia.
In middle towards tip of tongue smooth red spot with troublesome burning and numbness. θ Neuralgia of tongue.
(In sick :) Tongue swollen, felt too large in mouth.
PALATE AND THROAT [13]
(In sick :) Sensation in throat and larynx as if forced asunder.
HICCOUGH, BELCHING, NAUSEA AND VOMITING [16]
For one or two hours, repeated every five or ten minutes, sensation as of a ball rising from pit of stomach to larynx threatening suffocating, > by loud belching. θ Neuropathia.
SCROBICULUM AND STOMACH [17]
From pit of stomach to spine an anxious feeling, accompanied by palpitation, not perceptible objectively. θ Neuropathia.
Empty feeling in stomach. θ Neuropathia.
STOOLS AND RECTUM [20]
Violent diarrhœa.
FEMALE SEXUAL ORGANS [23]
Cauliflower excrescence of os uteri, with flying pains, pressure below os pubis, and stinking discharge.
HEART, PULSE AND CIRCULATION [29]
Pulse weak and contracted. θ Melancholy and jealousy.
Pulse small, scarcely perceptible, rapid. θ Neuropathia.
LOWER LIMBS [33]
Varicose veins of legs.
Ulcers on legs with general psoriasis.
REST. POSITION. MOTION [35]
Cannot sit up in bed : on account of weakness.
Walking : causes perspiration.
NERVES [36]
Such weakness she cannot sit up in bed ; a loud noise or sudden, unexpected motion throws her whole body into a tremor. θ Neuropathia.
TIME [38]
Night : intolerable itching of eruption.
TEMPERATURE AND WEATHER [39]
Warmth : < dry chronic eczema.
Undressing : at night, itching of eruption <.
FEVER [40]
Temperature of surface diminished. θ Melancholy and jealousy.
Lassitude with febrile heat.
Perspiration when walking.
ATTACKS, PERIODICITY [41]
Worse every other day in the morning. θ Neuropathia.
For one or two hours, repeated every five or ten minutes ; sensation of ball rising from pit of stomach to larynx.
Every third day ; mind symptoms <.
LOCALITY AND DIRECTION [42]
Left : headache in parietal bone.
SENSATIONS [43]
Head felt larger ; as if left parietal bone was sore and pressed upon by a hand ; as if there was a wound on parietal bone which was being scratched ; tongue felt too large ; sensation in throat and larynx as if forced asunder ; as if a ball was rising from pit of stomach to larynx.
Pain : in left parietal bone.
Flying pain : in uterus.
Troublesome burning : in middle towards tip of tongue ; of eruption on trunk, legs and forearms.
Anxious feeling : from pit of stomach to spine, accompanied by palpitation.
Constricted feeling : in head.
Pressure : below os pubis.
Lassitude : with febrile heat.
Numbness : of middle towards tip of tongue.
Intolerable itching, stinging ; of eruption on trunk, legs and forehead.
TISSUES [44]
Phagedenic ulcers, deep base and turned up edges.
Eruptions ; lichen, psoriasis, icthyosis.
(OBS :) Rheumatic, gouty and syphilitic pains.
(OBS :) Gouty nodosities.
TOUCH. PASSIVE MOTION. INJURIES [45]
Pressure : does not relieve constricted feeling in head.
SKIN [46]
Dry, wilted skin ; emaciated to a skeleton. θ Neuropathia.
Acne, appearance like that in early stage of variola.
Eruption covering entire body except scalp, comes out in red papula, varying in diameter from size of pin's head to that of a three cent piece ; vesicles form on summit, suppurate, crusts form and fall off, leaving a sore which heals ; the places occupied by these sores are marked by a dark colored cicatrix, and the skin generally has a dusky look ; intolerable itching, stinging and burning, especially on undressing at night ; it is worst on trunk, legs and forearms ; mind much depressed.
Lichen confluens over whole body, except face, palms and soles, and part of chest ; the rest studded with papulæ, particularly distinct about outer sides of thighs, arms and back ; they are covered with very minute, flimsy, whitish scabs, causing a powdery appearance of skin ; head very scurfy ; hair crisp and dry ; often irritation in skin, which becomes reddened and cracked, particularly about bend of arms and knees.
Dry chronic eczema ; skin of arms thicker and rougher than natural, covered with flimsy exfoliations of epidermis ; very irritable, itching and tingling when she gets warm ; intensely fissured about bends of elbows and wrists ; occasional exacerbation, with eruption of distinct vesicles ; languor and lassitude ; pale, sallow complexion ; catamenia irregular.
Patches of psoriasis on back, arms and spreading from elbows, and anteriorly on legs, size of a crown piece, and indolent.
Lepra.
Psoriasis : scaly itchings, causing him to scratch till an ichorous fluid discharges, forming a hard cake.
Discoloration of skin after psoriasis and lepra.
Psoriasis in numerous patches, with great itching ; the patches becoming more active, scale off, and are replaced by smaller, they leave beneath them a red skin.
RELATIONS [48]
Compare Arsen . which it greatly resembles ; Cinchon . in periodicity ; Cicuta in fixed eyeballs ; Iodium, Kali bich., Merc. cor .