The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica
Kali Arsenicosum kali-ar.
General
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
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
(OBS :) Crusta lactea.
Sight and eyes
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
(OBS :) Nodular eruption on face ; boils.
(OBS :) Furfuraceous eruption in beard.
Taste, speech, tongue
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
(In sick :) Sensation in throat and larynx as if forced asunder.
Hiccough, belching, nausea and vomiting
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
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
Violent diarrhœa.
Female sexual organs
Cauliflower excrescence of os uteri, with flying pains, pressure below os pubis, and stinking discharge.
Heart, pulse and circulation
Pulse weak and contracted. θ Melancholy and jealousy.
Pulse small, scarcely perceptible, rapid. θ Neuropathia.
Lower limbs
Varicose veins of legs.
Ulcers on legs with general psoriasis.
Rest. position. motion
Cannot sit up in bed : on account of weakness.
Walking : causes perspiration.
Nerves
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
Night : intolerable itching of eruption.
Temperature and weather
Warmth : < dry chronic eczema.
Undressing : at night, itching of eruption <.
Fever
Temperature of surface diminished. θ Melancholy and jealousy.
Lassitude with febrile heat.
Perspiration when walking.
Attacks, periodicity
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
Left : headache in parietal bone.
Sensations
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
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
Pressure : does not relieve constricted feeling in head.
Skin
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
Compare Arsen . which it greatly resembles ; Cinchon . in periodicity ; Cicuta in fixed eyeballs ; Iodium, Kali bich., Merc. cor .