Phosphorus appears in 12 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.
“Phosphorus. (The Element.) Adapted to tall slender persons of sanguine temperament, fair skin, delicate eyelashes, find blond, or red hair , quick perceptions, and very sensitive nature. Young people, who grow too rapidly, are inclined to stoop (to walk stooped, Sulph.); who are chlorotic or anaemic; old people, with…”
- Allen TF — The raw proving record — symptoms as the provers reported them, unedited.
“The element, Phosphorus. Preparation , Triturations. Authorities. (Nos. 1 to 29 , from Hahnemann, Chr. Kr., 2d ed.).”
- Boericke — The quick clinical read — keynotes, modalities and the conditions it is actually prescribed in.
“Phosphorus irritates, inflames and degenerates mucous membranes, irritates and inflames serous membranes, inflames spinal cord and nerves, causing paralysis, destroys bone, especially the lower jaw and tibia; disorganizes the blood, causing fatty degeneration of blood vessels and every tissue and organ of the body and…”
- Boger (GA) — Which general headings this remedy belongs under — the analytical scaffolding.
“ACRIDITY, excoriations, etc. ADHESIVE, adherent, torn, loose, etc. (Comp. Sticky) ALTERNATING EFFECTS, sides, states, etc.(Comp. Periodicity, Wandering, Waves). AMMONIACAL ODOR APPETITE, Changed ASCENDING, Agg. ASSOCIATED effects. BALL. BLACK, dark, etc. BLOOD SEPSIS, etc. BLOWS, shocks, thrusts, crash, explosions…”
- Boger (Syn) — Generals and modalities in a short analytical portrait rather than a symptom list.
“CAVITIES: Head. LUNGS. Heart. CIRCULATION: Blood. BLOOD-VESSELS. Arteries. MUCOUS MEMBRANES: STOMACH. BOWELS. Lungs (lower). NERVES: Brain. Cord. Bones: Jaw; upper. Shin. Spine. Liver. LYING ON: LEFT or painful side. BACK. SLIGHT CAUSES: EMOTIONS. Talking. Touch. Odors. Light. COLD: HANDS (in water). Open air. WARM…”
- Clarke — The widest entry — sources, provings, clinical uses, relationships and antidotes in one place.
“The Element. P. (A. W. 30.96). Saturated solution in absolute alcohol. Trituration of Red amorphous Phosphorus. Alopecia areata / Amaurosis / Amblyopia / Anæmia, acute pernicious / Anus, fissure of / Antrum, disease of / Arteries, disease of / Asthma / Bone, diseases of / Brain, affections of / softening of /…”
- Hering — Graded symptoms, each weighted by how often provers and practice confirmed it.
“Phosphorus. The Element. Introduced by Hahnemann and proved by himself, Coullon, Gross, Hering, Schreter, Stapf, Hartlaub, etc. Toxicological reports are very numerous. See Allen's Encyclopædia, vol. 7, p. 366 . Provings of Amorphous Phosphorus by H. N. Martin. See Hah. Mo., vol. 12, p. 353 and Tr. H. M. Soc., Pa…”
- Kent — The mental and general picture — who the patient is, before what the remedy cures.
“The complaints of Phosphorus are most likely to arise in the feeble constitutions, such as have been born sick, grown up slender, and grown too rapidly. Its complaints are found in such as are emaciated, and in those who are rapidly emaciating; in children who are going into marasmus, and in persons who have in them…”
- Lippe (MM) — The strict Hahnemannian reading — the symptom picture without clinical interpretation.
“Great excitability; becomes easily vexed and angry, which makes him exceedingly vehement, from which he suffers afterwards. Great anxiety and restlessness, especially when alone, or during a thunder-storm. Zoomagnetic condition; clairvoyance. Ecstasy. Melancholy depression, sometimes with shedding of tears or with…”
- Lippe (Red) — Keynotes with the most-trusted ones marked as red-line symptoms.
“Common name: phosphorus. Adapted to tall, slender persons of sanguine temperament, fair skin, delicate eye-lashes, fine blond or red hair, quick perceptions, and very sensitive nature (A.). Useful for young people, who grow too rapidly, are inclined to stoop (to walk stooped- Sulph.) (A.). Fistulous ulcers, with…”
- Nash — The comparisons — the remedy set beside the ones it is most often confused with.
“Tall, slender, narrow-chested. phthisical patients, delicate eyelashes, soft hair, or nervous, weak persons who like to be magnetized. Waxy, half anæmic, jaundiced persons, Anxious, universal restlessness, can’t stand or sit still. < in dark or when left alone before a thunder storm. Burnings prominent in every place…”
