Uranium nitricum

Volume IV — Main text

URANIUM.

The meta] so named, generally used as a nitrate— (UOj)"( NO,),, 6 H,0.

I. Provings. — i. a, A young man of 25, in average health, proved Jnd dec, dil. of a saturated solution of the nitrate. On June 6th, '^67, he took I dr.j on 7th 2 dr., on nth 5 dr., on I2th 6 dr. On litter d, head heavy on waking ; general languor ; aching at occipital pfotuberancc. Dry coryza ; 1. nostril stuffed (itching in nose*). Stye I" I, upper lid. Constipation. In e., occipital and frontal headache. '3'''. — 7 dr. No appetite; urine acid, a trace of albumen. J4th. — »dr. Urine flocculent ; very slightly acid. X5th. — 9 dr. Woke with occipital headache ; vertigo twice in e. 16th. — 10 dr. (Prover continued increasing dose by i dr. every d. or two till July 5th, when he IJook 22 dr.) Ill temper, he is cross with everybody j stifFness in wins J urine quite normal. 17th. — Woke at 2 a.m. with urgent desire to evacuate bladder and rectum, and much borborygmus. A small ^•rftjtool. 18th, — A small painless ulcer, with one elevated side, in ouccal aspect of I. cheek, opposite 1. anterior upper molar, igth. — Ulcer more tender, worse in c. 20th, — inside of cheek very sore. list. — 111 humour; acne on forehead; cheek better. 23rd. — 10 micturitions in 24 h. In e., pain shooting from r. orbit to occipital protuberance. 25th. — 9 micturitions in 24 h. 26th. — Frontal head- Sfhe, 27th. — Small quantity of phosphates in urine. 28th. — Languid. 30th. — Saliva and urine highly acid ; sore pain in vesical region in e. ;

• Provcr had ucarides.

burning in urethra. July ist. — Desire to urinate again immediately *fter voiding bladder. 2nd. — Extreme languor on rising from bed ; fishy odour of urine. 3rd. — Hawking of very tenacious mucus. 4th. — Urine highly acid, but otherwise normal. 6th. — (Nothing wis now taken till nth inclusive.) On this d. urine very cloudy; deep amber colour j slightly acid. 8th, — Much mucus in urine. On lath took 24 dr. i no results observed. On i6th took 30 dr., ind thereafter increased dose by 10 dr. daily, till on 24th he took itodr. Nothing is noted save dull aching in r. temple immediately after last dose.

b. On 25th he took 5 dr. of the saturated solution, 26th, — M, urine was high-coloured and turbid ; chlorides more abundant than normally ; no lithates. At 1 1.45 p.m. took 30 dr. In 5 m. slight pain over 1. eye; tasteless eructations. 27th. — At 11 p.m. took 60 dr. At 12 p.m. pain over r. eye ; at 1 a.m. contracted feeling in throat, eructations. He micturated 12 times in the 21 ^ h. after taking the dose, but only passed 31 oz. of urine in the 24 h.

c. Aug. 3rd, at 10.30 p.m., a bolus containing \ oz. was injected mto rectum. It was forcibly returned in 20 m., causing sharp colic and tenesmus, with raw feeling in rectum, followed during sleep by an unconscious seminal emission. 4th. — 20 oz. of urine have been passed between 10.30 p.m. and 6 a.m. ; sp. gr., 1015 \ copious chlorides, diminished phosphates. Urine was examined daily by Moore's and Fehling's test, for sugar ; but none was found at any time. Sp. gr,, whose normal average was 1026 and maximum 1032, had these numbers raised while taking drug to 1028 and 1038 respectivcij. Normal quantity of urine was 29 oz., maximum 37, minimum 24. While taking drug average was 32 oz., maximum 50 oz. ; mininaum was unchanged. (Dr. Edw. Blake's provings, Hahnemann Matirit Med'tca^ Part II,)

1. A young woman, having chronic albuminuria, but otherwise in fair health, began 2x dil. July 2ist, when she took 50 dr. ; on 22nd she took 60, on 23rd too, and on 24th no dr. On 22nd she notes " A few small white vesicles, with red areolse, on hands and le^, which burn and itch ; tight feeling round waist." On 24th, " Debility, cold feeling, vertigo ; red spots on hard palate, which feels raw ; breasts turgid, tender, with burning pain ; pain in nape of neck, and all over abdomen." On 25th and 26th she took 10 dr. of sat. sol. On 29th catamenia occurred. Before them, on 28th, she had heavy burning pain on r, side of vertex ; clothes felt very tight ; fulness in head, with sense of blood flowing to it ; cold feet j restless n. ; diarrhoea. Menxs themselves were more copious than usual, with dark clots ; there va giddiness, faintness, great prostration, and drowsiness ; shivering; vomiting, with much nausea ; no appetite ; diarrhoea, followed by perspiration and flushing of upper body ; borborygmi, with violent pains in abdomen. (As far as appears, albumen was diminished in amount white taking drug; average quantity of urine in 24 h. was reduced from 46 to 40 oz., and sp. gr. raised from 1013 to ioiS8. — The figure given at the end of the proving are quite inconsistent with the statements made therein, and must be ignored.) i^Ib'id.)

2. G. C — , male, aet. 31, in good health. Urine was tested for . d. before beginning experiment, and found normal. From Oct. nd, 1870, took 5 dr. of 15th dil. every m. fasting for another 14 d. o appreciable eiFects ensued. From Nov. 24th to Dec. 4th inclusive 3k 3rd dil. in same manner. On 28th he notes " Urine cloudy ; 3re mucus than usual ; here and there a cast (^ in. glass) ; uric acid ^stals ; in 2 specimens out of 5 uncertain pus or blood cells. Feeling of having taken cold (no exposure) ; headache in 1. temple ; radiaty pain from 1. side of ensiform cartilage, coming and going for last d., worse when fasting ; no appetite ; flatus ; slight constipation." n 29th there was no action of bowels, and only a slight movement

29th, but there was no stomach pain. This, however, returned sc. 2nd, with occasional twisting, screwing feeling rather lower wn, relieved by food. On the 4th he caught a violent cold, and litted medicine till i6th, when (being quite well again) he began, d continued till 24th, a similar course of ist dil. On 17th he notes Urine deposits a thick mucous sediment; acid in passing, soon comes alkaline and offensive ; sediment contains a large quantity of ic acid and lithate of ammonia, with pavement epithelium. No gar or albumen. Return of indigestion 15 m. before dinner, with awing sinking at cardiac end of stomach, not hungry or faint. Very itless at n. with shivering and heat." i8th. — Urine much as above, id some slight pain in head, similar to an old neuralgia from which had been free for 4 years, but on 1. side, instead of r., as then ; it 18 seated at post, border of temporal bone, and lasted from 2 to 4 p.m., lowed by dull aching. 19th. — Awoke about I a.m. with return of in in head, which lasted an h. and prevented sleep. Was ill from in during d. 20th. — Cross and disagreeable ; not feeling well all d.,

partictaar symptoms. 21st. — Thick muco-purulent sediment in ine after standing all n. j deposit consists of urates and mucus, no s-corpuscles ; phosphates more abundant than usual } no sugar. »dache in old place (r. side), severe till after dinner ; came on graduy, soon relieved by food. Putrid eructation between 1 1 and 3. th. — Still muco-purulent sediment in urine after standing all n., it solves on boiling } phosphates more abundant ; no albumen or rar. No headache for 2 d. j appetite good j bowels regular. Sp. gr. urine showed a higher average (1028 to 1023) while taking drug as npared with normal state. {Ibid.)

1. Dr. KoCK proved U. nit. on himself. After he had taken from 0 2 gr. his chief symptoms were vomiting, copious micturition, later Xitj urine, stool only every 8 d., firm and dry. Bad appetite, dislike cold food. Increased thirst, but could not take his accustomed beer, d his fevourite beverage — punch — tasted sour and caused nausea, igestion of head and constant inclination to vomit. He felt very ak and weary, and every e. a feeling in the heel causing him to move constantly, rest was intolerable. When smoking a cigar felt like a X in fauces, making him hawk constantly, which brought up mucus } ;some dryness in throat, so that he had to swallow his saliva istantly. (Buchner, N. Z.f. h. Kl.^ xviii, 170.)*

• Dr. Maodbbvrg writes, " I have satisfied myself by my own experiments

III. Experiments on animals. — i. Dr. Blake introduced 35s solid form into stomach of a full-sized doe rabbit, Sept. 28th and iql* 1867. On latter d. coat looked rough, 30th, — At 9.30 a.m.gssof sat. sol. was introduced into stomach. In ^ h. urinated freely, sp, gi 1033. Urinated again p.m. and at n. No sugar at any time. Theja of sat. sol. was repeated Oct. 1st and 2nd, and on n. of latter nbbf died. It was found lying on r. side, with clear fluid flowing froi mouth. /'.A/.,3rdj 10.30 a.m. — Rigor marked. Stomach largely dii tended with food; mucous membrane near cardiac orifice friable, witl one hscmorrhagic spot ; increased vascularity of greater curvature- "^ All other organs perfectly healthy ; kidneys microscopically so proved- {Loc. cit.)

1. Same gave to 2 young buck rabbits 5 dr. of 1, dil. on 9th, loth, nth, and 12th Oct. In first, latest dose (given it. 15 a.m.) causei' retching. After pressing lumbar vertebrae laterally between fingerini thumb, rabbit turned on 1. side as if moribund, and passed a stool ^ I. L. eyelids inflamed and agglutinated. Hepatic region seemed tender. ^, but there was no soreness on pinching kidneys sharply. It died ii~^«n middle of d. P.M.y 14th, 10 a.m. — Stomach contained food, and waei—*» thickly coated with viscid white mucus. An ulcer as large as a hein| seed, surrounded by a red areola, on great curvature ^ in. from pylonft R. kidney very pale, 1. dark. Second rabbit died during n. of llth P.M. at same time as first. Stomach was same as first in every particular, but ulcer was i in. from pylorus. Spleen was very small anJ pale in both, and medullary layer of kidneys of much deeper colour than cortical. All else healthy. [Ibid.)

2. Oct. 17th, 1 1.30 a.m., 10 dr. of sat. sol. were injected intocclluUr tissue of a rabbit's r. thigh. 18th. — Has taken no food ; lies on 1. side, making ineffectual efforts to rise. Died in n. 19th. — /'.J/., 10.30a.m. Bladder filled with pale urine of alkaline reaction, with copious flocculent deposit, but containing no sugar ; fundus extends nearly to umbi« Hcus. Stomach full of food ; same excess of mucus as in No. 2 ; pylorus congested ; about i in. from pyloric end, and at anterior surface, a yellow patch measuring \ in., surrounded by a pink congested areola. Liver: lobules very distinctly seen on surface, on which appear a few pale vermiform markings, which prove to be tubes traversing substance of gland. All other organs perfectly healthy. [Ibid.)

3. a. October 22nd, 1O.30 a.m., injected i dr. of i, dil. under skin of thigh of a full-grown tom-cat. 24th. — Dose repeated, asth. — Copious salivation. L. eye, which was slightly inflamed before experiment, now weeps much ; lids are closed, when forced open purulent acrid matter flows from them ; marked photophobia. 26th. — Less salivation; eye better, 27th, — Salivation slight ; eye well. 30th. — 5 dr. were injected. Nov. ist. — i dr. of sat. sol. injected. Copious flow of clear, extremely viscid, alkaline saliva, 2nd. — Rectal

that after several weeks' ingestion oi small dose.« of Uran. mur. or nit. by healt person!!, sugar can be found in the urine " (see Brit. Jtmm. of Horn., xxxlv, 70). application being made tu the author for the details of liis experiments, it was foun that he had passed away j so his statement must stand for what it is worth. — Eos,

K

lOJ'j*"; slight salivation. On 4th 5 dr., and on 8th 20 dr. were

injected. On latter d. urine is reported "natural in quantity, acid,

pale, turbid contains sugar,* with copious albumen and chlorides j"

doa not slaver, except under influence of terror ; is now much

ecnaciated. lOth. — Coat is rough; purulent discharge from 1. nostril;

no appetite; ineffectual tenesmus ; cough ; trembles and totters when

attempting to walk. Died that n,, lying prone.

b. P.M.y nth, g.30 a.m. — Stomach and duodenum full of dark blood. Former contains no food ; surface covered with pinVhead ecrcrhymosis. In latter are two large ulcers, with well-defined margins, SLarrounded by congestive areola, and with black coagula adhering; on^ has nearly perforated. Rectum full of very hard dung, and bladder of faintly acid urine, which is albuminous, but contains no sugar, l»«-»iigs can be inflated, save in lower lobes, and these float in water ; gr^y miliary spots are scattered over surface, and on cutting through lo^A/cr lobes similar spots are seen, which, when placed under microscope, look like grey tubercles. {Ibid.)

1. Two young rabbits were taken from same litter, and into thigh of" one a dr. of sat. sol. was injected. It died 3 d. after, when its fellow w^s killed, and both examined together. Organs of latter were found P^ x-fectly healthy ; but in former, on great cul-de-sac of stomach, an ui <rcr was found size of a pea, surrounded by a florid raised border. T^lierc were 3ij of pale yellow fluid in abdominal cavity, which coagu- ^t^d on boiling. [Ibid.)

2. Besides the preceding seven experiments, the drug was adminis- «d, under the skm usually, to 12 animals — 3 rabbits, 7 cats, 2 dogs, ith the exception of the eye-symptoms, the results were in the main

•-^^^incident with preceding observations.

Rabbits. — Of the 3 rabbits, which died in 3,4 and 5 d. respec- **^^<ly, 2 had congestion near pylorus, i had albuminuria (normal in "^^ rabbit), l had ascites, hydropericardium and pleuritic effusion.

Cats. — Of the 7 cats experimented on, ist had vomiting, thirst,

^ «-«.«denitis, ascites, albuminuria, 2nd, vomiting, thirst, emaciation and

3^dropericardium. 3rd, vomiting, pyloric congestion, peritonitis and

*^ writes, perinephritis. 4th, pyloric congestion and ulceration. 5th,

I* *-» rulent peritonitis. 6th, highly albuminous urine. 7th, slight albu-

^^■inuria. All had marked anorexia. The vomiting in the cats is

*- Suable because in each case the drug was introduced into cellular

^5ue of hind leg.

Doos. — I. Hydropericardium and pneumonia. 2. Anorexia; no *~^nic change.

Five of this group of 12 animals had vascular changes noted in the *^^ighbourhood of the pylorus. Ulceration was found in one. {Ibid.)

• Leconte affirms that within the first 3 or 4 d. that follow the ingestion of

. •>», mur., sugar is t'ound in abundance in the urine when it is possible to procure

^^« foi secretion of urine and action of bowels are suspended on ind and 3rd d.

y.'^rtli. gin. dt Mid., 1 8 5+, p. 728. — Leconte's observations art contained in a thesis

Vt^enied to the Paris Faculty of Medicine in 1853, which we have not been able

^o obtain. Dr. Curie states that he has verified Leconte's results. — Eos.)