Remedy
Kali Arsenicosum kali-ar.
Relationships
Polar generals
Boger's Synoptic Key — Materia Medica
C. M. Boger · Boger's Synoptic Key — Materia Medica · 1915
Region
Cardio-vascular system.
Worse
Touch. Noise. Cold feet. 1-3 A.M.
Better
Rainy days.
General
Nights are filled with suffering. Aversion to open air. Palpitation; with nephritis. Burning, in throat, aching in stomach, etc. Passes much gas, then diarrhœa. Black leg ulcer, running bloody, foul water; with cutting, burning, itching and dyspnœa. Chilly and sensitive to cold. Can't get too warm, even in summer.
Homœopathic Materia Medica
William Boericke · Homœopathic Materia Medica · 9th edition
Common name
Fowler's Solution (KALI ARSENICUM)
General
The Kali ars patient tends towards malignancy, and inveterate skin diseases. He is restless, nervous and anæmic.
Skin
Intolerable itching, worse undressing. Dry, scaly, wilted. Acne; pustules worse during menses. Chronic eczema; itching worse from warmth, walking, undressing. Psoriasis, lichen. Phagedænic ulcers. Fissures in bends of arms and knees. Gouty nodosities; worse, change of weather. Skin cancer, where suddenly an alarming malignancy without any external signs sets in. Numerous small nodules under skin.
Female
Cauliflower excrescences of os uteri, with flying pains, foul smelling discharge, and pressure below pubis.
Relationship
Radium.
Dose
Third to thirtieth potency.
A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica
John Henry Clarke · A Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · 1902
General
Kali arseniatum. Potassium arsenite. KH 2 ASO 3 . "Fowler's Solution," the form in which Kali ars . has been tested, consists of Arsenious acid 1 part, Carbonate of potash 1 part. Compound tincture of lavender 3 parts, distilled water 95 parts. Dilutions should be made from this.
Clinical
Bright's disease. Cancer. Deafness. Diarrhœa. Dropsy. Eczema. Epithelioma. Exophthalmos. Eyes, affections of. Herpes zoster. Jealousy. Measles. Melancholy. Miliary rash. Neuralgia. Neurasthenia. Psoriasis. Skin, affections of. Tongue, neuralgia of. Varicose veins. Ulcers.
Characteristics
It is not possible to separate entirely the pathogenesis of Ars. alb . and Kali ars. Kali ars . is the favourite form in which Arsenic is prescribed by the allopaths, consequently the bulk of observations from over-dosing are due to this preparation; and as it is named Liquor arsenicalis it is considered as Arsenic and nothing else. However, a sufficient number of pure observations have been made to warrant a separate consideration. The cases of poisoning with massive doses present nothing to distinguish them from cases poisoned with other arsenical preparations. But Kali ars . has had a short proving, and a number of cases of medicinal provings in allopathic hands are on record. Jonathan Hutchinson has recorded a number of cases of right-side herpes. One of his patients observed that whilst taking Kali ars . her sclerotics became thick and yellow instead of clear and bluish. The iris which was blue became more grey. Her skin instead of being fair and florid became muddy and older looking. This was a mystery to Hutchinson seeing that he usually gave Kali ars . to make the skin clearer, but he was compelled to record the homœopathic fact, though, he did not apparently perceive the homœopathic solution of the mystery. The same authority has put on record cases of epithelioma developing after prolonged medication with Kali ars . for psoriasis. The skin symptoms of Kali ars . are exceedingly well marked. In one case an attack of measles was almost exactly depicted. Itching was < at night; and < on undressing, < by warmth. Among the peculiar symptoms of Kali ars . are: "Head feels larger." "Protrusion of eyeballs." "Burning and numbness of tongue; tongue feels too large." "Sensation of a ball rising from pit of stomach to larynx causing suffocation." "As if a red-hot iron were in anus." Periodicity was marked as with Ars .; symptoms were < every other day in the morning; mind symptoms < every third day. The right-sidedness of Ars . was reproduced in the right-sided herpes, repeatedly noticed by Hutchinson, but there was a left-sided headache. A case of deafness of years' standing was cured with Fowler's Solution (gr. 1/60 of the salt), the accompaniment being constant sickness; nothing could be kept down.
Relations
In some cases of overdosing Kali iod. proved antidotal . For other antidotes see Arsen., which it greatly resembles, and with which it must be compared. Compare: Levico, Nat. ars., and other Arsen. compounds; Chi. (periodicity) Cicut. (fixed eyeballs); Rumex and jug. r. ( < on undressing); Iod. Kali bich., Merc. c.
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. — Nervous depression. — Great nervousness.
Head
Thought her head felt larger. — headache in l. 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 > . — Crusta lactea.
Eyes
Startled look, with protruding, brilliant eyes, pale face, and sunken cheeks. — Eyes red. — Heat and itchiness of lids, followed by swelling and tenderness; conjunctiva becomes inflamed, eye sensitive to light, dark discolouration round orbit. — Itching of conjunctiva. — Protrusion of eyeballs. — Whites of eyes look thick and yellow. — Jaundice. — The blue iris becomes more grey. — Conjunctiva glassy. — Dyspnœa; injected conjunctivæ, and eyeballs fixed. — Right eye weaker; watery, as after weeping.
Face
Nodular eruption on face; boils. — Face pale. — Complexion muddy. — Looks older. — Furfuraceous eruption on beard.
Mouth
Gums swollen and tender. — Tongue clear, red, like raw beef. — Tongue coated on edges only with mucous stripes. — In middle towards tip of tongue a smooth, red spot with troublesome burning and numbness. (Neuralgia of tongue). — Tongue swollen, felt too large in mouth. — Tongue whitish.
Throat
Sensation in throat and larynx as if forced asunder. — Throat dry and sore. — Throat constricted with copious flow of saliva.
Appetite
Appetite lost. — Intense thirst.
Stomach
Constant pain and nausea after food; frequent vomiting of ingesta. — Weight after eating. — For one or two hours, repeated every five or ten minutes, sensation as of a ball rising from pit of stomach to larynx threatening suffocation, > by loud belching. — From pit of stomach to spine an anxious feeling accompanied by palpitation, not perceptible objectively. — Empty feeling in stomach. — Sin king at epigastrium with faintness.
Abdomen
Burning pain in bowels; unquenchable thirst; belly tense and painful; involuntary watery stools with sense as if a red-hot iron were in anus. — Frequent griping pains in bowels, and almost constant desire for stool; considerable tenderness in whole abdomen, which is distended.
Stool and Anus
Violent diarrhœa. — Stools white, watery, frothy. — Sensation as of a red-hot iron in anus.
Urinary Organs
Urine scanty with pellicle.
Female Sexual Organs
Cauliflower excrescence of os uteri, with flying pains, pressure below os pubis, and stinking discharge. — Menses absent. — Milk entirely arrested (afterwards restored by treatment).
Respiratory Organs
Some gastric cough, and frequent raking of throat and fauces of a muco-purulent secretion mixed with specks of blood. — Complete aphonia, following skin affection.
Pulse
Pulse weak and contracted. — Pulse small, scarcely perceptible, rapid.
Back
Much pain and tenderness down spine.
Limbs
Palms and soles spreckled over with corns.
Upper Limbs
Aching pain in r. shoulder and elbow, followed by herpetic eruption.
Lower Limbs
Knees bent up so he could not move his feet. — Varicose veins of legs. — Crampy feeling of lower extremities, with partial loss of motion and sensation, livid in places, tending to slough.
Generalities
Such weakness she cannot sit up in bed; a loud noise or sudden, unexpected motion throws her whole body into a tremor. — Emaciation. — Tremor. — Faintness. — Phagedenic ulcers, deep base and turned-up edges. — Rheumatic, gouty, and syphilitic pains. — Gouty nodosities.
Skin
Dry, wilted skin; emaciated to a skeleton. — On three different occasions, swelling of face and eyelids, then erysipelas invading whole face ending in desquamation in a week. — Acne, appearance like that in early stage of variola. — Miliary eruption. — Herpes zoster behind r. ear, r. side of neck, r. shoulder, r. upper arm, r. chest, a few isolated vesicles l. side of neck. — Severe attack of shingles r. side of chest. — Eruption covering entire body except scalp, comes out in red papulæ, 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-coloured cicatrix, and the skin generally has a dusky look; intolerable itching, stinging, and burning, esp. on undressing at night; it is < on trunk, leg., 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. — One of the earlier signs is a minute papular rash, which by and by assumes the form of delicate, brownish scales giving the skin an unwashed appearance; esp. observed on parts protected from light by clothing. — After taking it for three weeks, suddenly, after feeling ill for a few hours, a copious rash made its appearance on face, hands, and chest, like measles; accompanied by catarrhal symptoms swelling of face, lips, eyelids, yellow-furred tongue, gastro-intestinal irritation, intense lameness of feet, standing giving great pain; complete aphonia followed in a few days, desquamation commenced in tenth day; redness lasted some weeks. — Epithelial cancer supervened after prolonged medication with Kali ars . for psoriasis. — A clerk had taken arsenic for a long time for psoriasis, palms and soles became spreckled over with corns, finally epithelial cancer of scrotum appeared (Hutchinson). — 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. — Psoriasis: scaly itchings, causing him to scratch till an ichorous fluid discharges, forming a hard cake. — Discolouration 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 behind them a red skin. — Jaundice.
Fever
Temperature of surface diminished. — Skin cool, dry. — Increase of heat and dryness of skin. — Temperature, which before had been normal rose to 101, with malaise and anorexia.
The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica
Constantine Hering · The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica · 1879–91
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 .
Kent's New Remedies
James Tyler Kent · Kent's New Remedies · 1926
Text
This is a very deep, long acting remedy, and one greatly abused by traditional medicine in the form of Fowler's Solution. It was used extensively as an antiperiodic after quinine had failed, and as a tonic, for skin diseases of all sorts, for syphilis, for anaemia etc
It is a most positive remedy in all of these complaints, when it suits the patient's symptoms. The toxicological symptoms following the traditional abuse have furnished a broad beginning for the homeopathist to build upon.
How well it was known to the good old doctor that Fowler's Solution must be stopped if the patient became pale, waxy, puffed under the eyes and was weak. Who does not know the "fattening" powers of this drug! Horses become fat and shiny of coat after taking Fowler's Solution for a while.
The jockey knew this too well. He traded off a broken-down horse as a fine animal, but the horse soon gave out ; his wind was short ; he would sweat easily, become weak and incapable of work. It was then said: "That horse must have been jockeyed up on arsenic." The old medical journals are full of effects of overdosing with this drug.
A summary of old school drugging, a few pathogenetic symptoms, and extensive clinical observation with the use of this remedy in potentized form, have given the basis of this study. Not too much reliance should be placed upon the writer's clinical opinion ; let the remedy be tested along the lines indicated until provings shall fix the finer action.
While it has morning and evening aggravation, the nights are full of suffering ; midnight especially, and from 1 to 3 a. m., there are many sufferings. The chilliness is very marked.
Extreme sensitiveness to cold, and complaints ice aggravated from cold, from cold air and from becoming cold, from entering a cold place. Aversion to open air. Takes cold from a draft, and from being heated.
Anaemia. Chlorosis. Pale, waxy, and covered with sweat. Ascending brings on suffocation, cough, and manifests the weakness of body and limbs. Glands dwindle and the extremities become numb and prickly.
Molecular death prevails extensively. Cancerous ulceration has been restrained by this remedy many times. It has cured lupus.
The weakness that it has produced is much like that found in patients looking toward phthisis and Bright's disease.
Clonic spasms have been produced by it. Convulsive action of muscles with full consciousness is not uncommon. It has cured epilepsy and hystero-epilepsy. It has caused abdominal dropsy and oedema of all the limbs, face and eyelids.
While taking it there is an increase of flesh and weight, but after stopping it the prover emaciates.
Most complaints are aggravated after eating and after exertion. The muscles are flabby. Faintness and fainting spells. Eating ice cream when overheated brings on many complaints. Aggravated from cold foods, cold drinks, milk and fat food.
There is formication all over the body. It sets up inflammation in many organs and glands, especially the stomach, liver and kidneys. Great dread of motion. All mucous membranes become catarrhal. It is a most painful remedy ; burning, stitching and tearing. The most marked periodicity is every third day.