Radium Bromatum
Clarke - Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica · John Henry Clarke · 25,829 chars · source ↗
General
Radium Bromatum.
Radium Bromide. Ra Br2, 2H2O. Trituration.
Clinical
Acne. Arteritis. Albuminuria. Appendicitis.
Arthritis. Atheroma. Bones, affections of. Callosities.
Cancer. Carcinosis. Carucle of Urethra. Climacteric flushes.
Corns. Dermatitis. Diarrhoea. Duodenal ulcer.
Eczema. Epistaxis. Epithelioma. Erythema.
Eyes, affections of. Gout. Haemorrhage. Headache.
Lumbago. Lupus. Naevus. Neuralgia.
Neurasthenia. Nose: affections of; catarrh of; redness of. Ophthalmia. Phimosis.
Prurigo. Pruritus Ani et Vulvae. Psoriasis. Rheumatism.
Rodent ulcer. Sclerotitis. Skin, affections of. Tic douloureux.
Trachoma. Ulcers. Warts. X-ray Dermatitis.
Characteristics
The discovery of Radium and its properties in 1898 by Pierre Curie and his wife set many persons thinking, and among them, naturally, those who are engaged in the healing of the sick. Curie himself made the first "proving." He put a tiny bit of Radium salt in an indiarubber capsule and fastened it to his arm, leaving it there for ten hours. When he took it off the skin was red, the place turned into a wound, which took four months to heal, leaving a white scar the size of a shilling surrounded by discoloured puckered skin.
On another occasion he left it for half an hour. A wound appeared at the end of a fortnight and took another fortnight to heal. On a third occasion, left for eight minutes only, two months later the skin became red and a bit sore, but it soon passed off In 1904 I began to make a few provings with the 30th, and in 1908 I published them in Radium as an Internal Remedy, along with some observations by Dr.
Molson, experienced by himself when making triturations, and by Dr. Stonham with the 30x. A full account of these will be found in my book. By far the most important proving is that by Dr.
William H. Dieffenbach, of New York City, published in The Journal of the American Institute of Homoeopathy, August 1911, and afterwards reprinted in pamphlet form the same year. Dieffenbach had the co-operation of Drs. R.
S. Copeland, W. G. Crump, H.
C. Sayre, and Guy B. Stearns in his proving, and this leaves little to be desired. It was carried out on both men and women on a much more heroic scale than mine, with 30x, 12x, and 6x, in repeated doses, but the 6x produced such severe symptoms that Dieffenbach warns against its use medicinally.
Pure Radium is a white metal which "oxidises in water, burns paper, turns black on exposure to air, and has the property of adhering firmly to iron." This last quality is not without significance, and shows a close affinity with Ferrum. Its atomic weight is 225. It is found in the ore pitchblende, and Drs. E.
Stillman Bailey and F. H. Blackmarr, of Chicago (J. A.
I. H., September 1911), have used triturations of this combined with Thorium for radio-treatments. Although Dieffenbach used much more crude preparations than I did, his results confirm most of mine, and also greatly extend them, the eyes, skin, joints, and alimentary tracts being particularly affected. Dieffenbach quotes Professor William His, of Berlin, who published an article on the "Use of Radium in Gout and Rheumatism." His used Radium emanations (inhalations of the gas), Radium injections into joints and muscles, and the drinking of Radium water.
The provings show the homoeopathicity of the drug to these conditions, although His used it empirically. Dieffenbach, who had been investigating Radium for ten years before he published his pamphlet, records that as a result of former X-ray and Radium-ray experiments one prover's hands had, when the proving commenced, eczematous eruptions, cracks, scaly excrescences, and wart-like outcroppings. After his proving with 6x these gradually disappeared. This is confirmed by a case reported to me by Mr.
E. S. Pierrepont. A girl employed in the X-ray Department of the hospital with which he is connected developed dermatitis of the r. hand and fingers.
An ointment was prescribed without benefit, and cracks appeared on the skin. Two doses of Radium b. 30 were given, on Mr. Pierrepont's suggestion, one in the morning and one in the evening. The following day the patient came out in a rash, which the matron mistook for measles, eyes watering, fingers very sore, and she felt very ill.
By the following day the rash had disappeared and she felt well. The fingers were now better, and they got quite well, except that a sore feeling was left after washing A noticeable feature of both Dieffenbach's proving and mine was the disappearance of small naevi, which is significant, seeing that the rays are used for the destruction of naevi Among the most successful local uses of Radium may be mentioned cases of lupus, epithelioma, carcinoma of the cervix uteri, and urethral caruncle.
That Radium, like X-rays, can cause as well as cure cancer is on record. I have quoted a case (H. W., August 1923) in a practitioner who contracted squamous-celled carcinoma from a careless handling of Radium tubes. Cases of cure of skin cases with Radium in potencies are numerous.
T. Simpson (H. W., April 1923) records one such. A retired excise officer had an intractable eruption on the genitals, inner surface of thighs and legs, which had prevented him getting any refreshing sleep for three years.
One tablet of Rad. b. 30 each morning was prescribed for a month. All conditions were vastly improved, and the patient got well without further medication. I have recorded another (H. W., May 1924).
A young unmarried woman, after the application of a Belladonna plaster to the back for lumbago, developed an oedematous rash involving the whole face and neck, extremely irritating, < at night, preventing sleep. At the back of the neck was a sore, oozing patch. After temporary relief from some remedies, there still remained an irritating oozing rash, sore eyes—first right, then left—lids swollen, oozing from corners, lips hard, swollen. One dose of Rad. b. 30 was given.
The result was dramatic. The first night she was able to sleep with only once waking. Two days later the rash had nearly gone, and the eyes had ceased to water. In a few days all had vanished, and the patient could enjoy open air.
In H. R. (April 1923) Dr. S.
L. Guild-Leggett records the case of a girl aged 2 1/2 years who had shifting rheumatism—l. foot to r. knee, then to l. knee, hands, and toes. She had also a peculiarity about her stools. They were slate-coloured, very offensive, urgent, and came at noon during a meal.
On these symptoms of Dieffenbach's proving: "Defecation at noon; stool soft, dark, or offensive, slate-colour, clay-colour; pains in extremities, wakes 4 a.m., pains in all joints—knees, ankles, feet; could not walk, had to lie down," Rad. b. was given, and cured entirely. Other of my cured cases will be found in the Schema marked (°). I have also distinguished the symptoms from my proving with the letter (C) appended to each symptom. All the rest are from Dieffenbach.
This enables a comparison to be made between the two.
Peculiar Sensations are: As if skull too small; as if foreign body (lash) in eye; as if something dropped into trachea. Knees feel as if the bones would protrude. Intolerance of tobacco was produced.
The Conditions of Radium are very marked in the general > by motion, < by warmth of the bed, and > in open air; > lying down; > after sleep; > by pressure. < at night. < by shaving, by washing. < by smoking. < 3 a.m., 4 a.m., 7 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, night.
Relationships Rad. bro. is antidoted by Rhus and Nux mos. (dry mouth); Rhus ven. acted promptly in my cases.
Dieffenbach used both Rhus ven. and Rhus tox. with success, and the homoeopathicity is evident enough. Rad. is followed well by Rhus; (in some cases I have given intermediate doses of Rhus v. 3x without interfering with the curative effects and avoiding unpleasant aggravations); by Kali iod., Sep., Calc Rad. b., antidotes Bell.
(H. W., May 1924). Compare: Cancer nosodes, Hydrast., Con., Cundur., Uran. (Rad. is found in pitchblende, which is an Uranium ore.
Tellur. is also associated with Rad. in origin, and its symptoms are closely similar in many respects). Lyc. corresponds in r. to l. direction, flatulent symptoms, and sudden pains; in stomach symptoms, Cad. sul., Ornith., Arg. n., and Uran. n. are allied; in sclerotitis, Act. r.; alternate constipation and diarrhoea, Ant. c. Rad. b. has warming sensation down oesophagus, Manc. has the same sensation rising up oesophagus. Carb. an. has < by shaving.
Causation
Effect of X-ray burns.
Mind
Apprehensive
Depression; hardly able to move about
Fear of being alone; of the dark; wants to have someone near
Irritable, cross, easily vexed
Mind cloudy and unable to think clearly; stupid with dull frontal headache all day
After taking a single dose felt in much better spirits (curative).
Head
Vertigo with pains in occiput;
> after sleep
Vertigo after rising; tendency to fall to left;
> noon and after eating;
> lying down;
> in open air;
> after eating
Dizziness with palpitation of the heart in afternoon
Vertigo with tendency to fall to l.;
> open air
Lightness of head with nausea and sinking in epigastrium; pulsation outward; skull felt too small
Numbness or compression of bones of head
Fulness of head
Head heavy; dull ache
Dull frontal headache; lasts all day; head feels light;
> pressure; with clouded mind, unable to think
Terrific pain over r. eye, spreading back to occiput, continued next morning
Intense sharp headache commencing over l. eye and spreading over the head;
> heat, < cold and pressure
Sharp pain over r. eye, extending to vertex, > in open air
Head heavy all day; began occiput; sharp over r. eye; throbbing, pulsating, < motion, < lying down, < by warm air, > sitting down with head back, > cold air, > pressure over forehead and r. eye; unable to lie in bed until 5 a.m
Sharp sticking pain r. side of head; also in l. temple; on going to bed
Headache in occiput in morning; a tight feeling, < motion (C)
Dull occipital headache, > pressure and open air
Dull headache, mostly occipital.
Eyes
Eyes smart and look red (C)
Eyes have sticky feeling and are reddened; as if sand in them
Sensation as if piece of cotton in eyes, > rubbing
Both eyes sore, < l
Swelling of tissues of l. orbit with slight itching
Lids heavy, hard to keep them open
Discharge from right eye runs down on nose and forms yellow crusts
Margins of lids inflamed and burning
Both eyes ache along margin of lids
Burning, stinging in eyes
Eyes sensitive to light
Some secretion on lashes r. eye on waking (C)
R. eye began to feel sore with occasional sticking pains and increased secretion, < reading, < artificial light, > closing eye; sclerotic vessels injected running to cornea from both sides; occasional itching in lids, < upper (C)
Blenorrhagia of r. eye; injection of sclerotic, slight injection of lower part of cornea; pupil of r. eye dilates and contracts more sluggishly than l.
(C)
Woke with r. eye very painful, with feeling of foreign body in it, > open air (C)
Sensation as if lash in l. eye, slight soreness of ball (C)
When reading for a while letters dance and get blurred.
Ears
Tickling in ears, very severe at night
Sharp sticking pain just over r. ear
Earache, much pain in (r.) ear, stitching and throbbing (C)
Sound of rushing water (associated with rapid heart-action following vivid dreams).
Nose
Much mucus without having taken cold (C)
Pricking and peppery sensation in l. nostril (C).—° Naevus-like spot on tip of nose (C).—° Catarrh with green discharge (C).—° Epistaxis (C).—° Burning sensation in nose (C)
Itching and dryness of both cavities
Pricking and hard crusts
Itching of nose.
Face
Flushed face
Slight patchy erythema diffused over forehead (C)
Succession of little pimples on forehead and chest, raised, red, exuding when punctured serum, blood, and a small amount of pus
Small papule in centre of l. cheek, which dried off and recurred many times.
Heavy crust formed over area when papule scratched.
This also recurred many times
Skin of face very irritable; this gradually got worse and lasted two months; the skin became thickened and broke in places, exuding clear moisture;
> scratching, < by washing, which caused oozing;
> bathing in very hot water;
< shaving (only possible on alternate days);
< night when warm in bed.
(Finally cured by Rhus ven.) (C)
Small naevus on chin turns black and scales off and disappears (C)
Sudden and violent shocks of pain in lower branches of 5th cranial nerve, l., so intense and of such lightning-like suddenness as to call forth an exclamation (C)
Severe aching pain at angle r. lower jaw.—° Erythema of nose and face.—° Acne
Twitching and burning sensation in lips
Lower lip drawn and stiff, feels as if swelling.
Teeth
Teeth painful, feel elongated.—Gumboil r. lower jaw back of molar teeth, swelling and soreness prevented talking.
Mouth
Dry in the morning (C)
Parched, dry sensation in roof of mouth, > cold water but soon returns, > Nux moschata
Mouth dry, breath seems hot
Saliva runs into mouth
Tongue very sore r. side, about middle (C)
Tongue white (C)
Tongue bluish white and thick, swollen sensation; speech difficult and heavy
Taste: peculiar metallic; bitter-sour; of chalk with increased salivation; bitter and oily.—° Power of taste returns (C).
Throat
Dry mouth and throat
Warming sensation in oesophagus and stomach, lasted half an hour after the dose
Throat sore with earache (C)
Wanted cold drinks to quench parched condition of throat
Sore throat followed by tickling cough
Stitching in throat on swallowing
Sensation of lump and constriction
Throat dry and raw, > swallowing and drinking cold water
Throat dry and congested, < r. side; as if he had smoked too much
Throat sore at bedtime, < r. side
Feeling in throat as from eating pepper.
Appetite
No appetite (C)
Loss of appetite, esp. for meat (C)
Loss of appetite with colic
Aversion to meat; to bacon for breakfast (° Rhus ven.) (C)
Aversion to sweets
Aversion to ice-creams, of which she is usually very fond
Great hunger an hour before meals, soon satisfied
Loss of appetite with colic
Usual food not relished; sour things taste good
Distaste for tobacco.
Stomach
Intense emptiness (lasted an hour)
Emptiness one hour before meals
Warm, empty feeling > after eating
Nausea (C)
Nausea 5 p.m., desire to vomit but cannot
Nausea and sinking sensation in pit of stomach < walking, lightness of head
Nausea in abdomen, before meals, > by eating
Food slow of digestion, though appetite good
Colicky pains in stomach
Much pain and distress in stomach, > by much belching of gas and eructations of wind
Frequent belching.
Abdomen
Distended feeling and indigestion after food, alternating with earache (C)
Inflammation of umbilicus (C)
Severe aching pains over pubes
Slight colicky pains with passage of foul flatus
Pain over McBurney's point
Pain after dose > bending double and after defecation
Violent cramps 11 p.m., > bending double
Nausea in abdomen > by eating
Awoke 4 a.m. with colic in abdomen and stitching in rectum, > by passage of dark, watery stool, other stools less dark followed later
Cramping whilst eating > by stool
Cutting pains in intestines after waking, with great sensitiveness to pressure
Sharp sudden pains at McBurney's point, also at sigmoid flexure above crest of ilium; attacks recurred several times in the week, came quickly like shocks and passed off quickly
Abdomen distressed evening
Two red macules on r. and l. sides of abdomen slightly itching
Lameness in both groins after sitting and first beginning to move.
Stool And Anus
Stools paler than normal (C)
Stools relaxed, almost watery, tags of mucus (C)
Constipation (C)
Constipation, difficulty of evacuation even after the use of an enema
Dry, hard, scanty stools
Alternate constipation and looseness
Soft yellow stool with much flatulence
Severe sacral pains with much flatulence, > by stool
Much flatulence; hot, following diarrhoea
Gushing stool of bad odour
Yellow, soft stools alternately with hard brown stools, foul flatus
Burning stool
Rectum feels dry
Very large, dark brown stool, very offensive
Constipated for four days, no desire except twice, when passed three little black marbles; at noon, small diarrhoeic stool
Constipation of years' standing removed in one prover
After several watery stools rectum feels sore and as if prolapsed
Yellow-brown or slate-coloured stools, bad odour
No desire, had to force a stool, which was soft and clay-like.—° Eczema about anus (C).
Urinary Organs
Urine becomes more profuse
Urine slightly burning
Has to wait some minutes before he can micturate
Urine radio-active; clayey or brick-dust sediment
Albuminuria (five provers, one of whom showed hyaline and granular casts)
Increased elimination of solids, particularly chlorides.
Male Sexual Organs
Eruption of psoriasis on penis with circular or serpiginous edges (C).—° Eczema of penis and inner surface of prepuce (C)
Sexual desire diminished or absent for one month
Three weeks after cessation of drug desire stronger than usual
Desire increased
Nocturnal emissions; once whilst sleeping in afternoon
Two emissions in one night
Slight pains in l. spermatic cord when walking
Previous to taking the drug (12x) had slight phimosis, this was worse during the proving, head of penis itching and burning; after the proving phimosis was better.
Female Sexual Organs
Period delayed; rather less painful than usual (C)
Aching over pubes when menses came on (an unusual occurrence); flow copious first two days, then stopped gradually
Menses delayed three days
During period, bearing-down pains in the back
Flow during night very copious and dark red
Leucorrhoea, white and scanty; curdy and cheesy.—° Urethral caruncle.
Respiratory Organs
Feels as if she could not get air enough (C)
Tickling in larynx, < lying down
Tickling in supra-sternal fossa very pronounced; could not stop coughing after once started
Aversion to sweets (of which ordinarily very fond) during cough; after three nights controlled by Rhus tox
Dry, spasmodic cough < smoking, < indoors, > eating, > out of doors
Tickling in throat and hacking cough with frothy expectoration
Tickling in trachea, as if something had dropped into it, causing a dry, hacking cough, > in open air
Occasional dry paroxysms of coughing, with sensation as if dust had reached the larynx or bronchi;
> by coughing.
Chest
Chest feels tight as if she could not get air enough (C)
Eruption disappeared from chest in prover (C)
Pain in chest alternating with indigestion and stuffed-up feeling (C)
Sharp pain in l. chest, comes and goes
Constriction of chest; in heart region
Beating pain r. of sternum, < at end of respiration.
Heart
Sharp pains in region of heart.
> after walking
Palpitation on waking from dreams with sound in ears of rushing water
Constricting sensation about heart, with anxiety and desire for air, > in open air.—[Applied locally in massive doses, Rad. bro. has produced endarteritis, atheroma, and sclerosis of the vessels acted on.]
Examination of the blood of the provers showed a marked increase in polymorphonuclear neutrophiles—"the police" of the blood corpuscles which attack invading bacteria
Lowered blood pressure (in all Dieffenbach's provers).
Neck And Back
Sensation of swelling in back of neck (C)
Itching back of neck and upper part of both arms
Dull throbbing; and sharp pains, r. side neck
Catch (and lameness) in r. sterno-mastoid muscle
Evening, stiffness muscles l. side neck
Pain and lameness in cervical vertebrae
On waking pain between 6 and 7 cervical vertebrae, > motion
Red spot l. side neck; this disappeared and later similar spot appeared r. side
Pain under l. scapula, < on moving, < putting shoulder back, > after rising (C)
Sharp, sticking pain under l. scapula, extending through to front of body, caught breath as if could not raise diaphragm
Dull backache lower lumbar region, > after exercise
Aching lumbo-sacral region;
> after hot bath
Severe lumbo-sacral pain, appears to be in the bones: < going upstairs
Sharp shooting pains (also electric shocks) in lumbar muscles, > by continued exercise
Sudden severe pain l. lumbar region, > pressure
Dull pain runs from sacrum up to shoulder, or to between shoulders, > by exercise
Soreness of latissimi dorsi (esp. l.)
Sacral pains with flatus > by stool
Swelling over sacrum, > lying on something hard
Backache extending through abdomen to iliac crests
Gnawing sensation in lumbo-sacral bones.
Limbs
Pain in all limbs and whole body during the night
Waked 4 a.m. with pains in all limbs, could not keep them quiet, > after warm bath
Pains in all joints, esp. knees and ankles; had to lie down, feet gave out.
Upper Limbs
Sharp pain r. shoulder-joint;
< motion, > by heat; lame sensation r. arm, forearm, and hand, > exercise, > warmth; sharp stitch l. shoulder-joint
Catch in l. shoulder-joint, > exercise
Lameness l. shoulder-joint, under deltoid, > motion
Cracking r. shoulder-joint on raising arm
Very lame r. arm and sore muscles over r. breast
Severe drawing in flexor muscles of l. arm
R. elbow still and slightly lame after writing
In morning twinging pain in l. elbow
Hands cold (C)
Serpigenous ulcer on hand (C)
Blisters on dorsal aspect of first three fingers (l.) just above nails (C)
Small pustule on centre of dorsum of r. hand
Itching on upper part of both arms and back of neck
Bruised pain l. wrist
Dull pains in whole r. hand, all fingers affected, esp. distal phalanges;
> rubbing and continued exercise
Sharp pains in finger-joints, > exercise
Lameness in l. thumb-joint after holding a book.
Lower Limbs
Dull pain in hip-joint, located in head of femur; also under l. patella
Kink in r. hip-joint, > after walking Some time
Beating pain in r. hip while sitting at desk writing, > beginning to move
Lameness in both groins after sitting; left groin aches, but thighs seemed lame on beginning to move
Dull pain r. knee-joint, < motion, > after continued motion
Pain in legs, beginning in knees and running down legs.
> after exercise
Very severe pains in knee-joints, very deep, > from cold and exercise
Dull pains in both legs and back, running up to shoulders
Dull, tired pains in popliteal spaces
Soreness in calves and thighs
Muscles in front r. leg lame
Soreness and pain in both knees, feel as if bones would protrude
When crossing legs they became asleep in a little while; a few days later legs heavy, difficulty in going upstairs
Sharp, lightning-like pain, l. anterior tibial surface, as if in periosteum
Muscles of antero-exterior part of r. leg lame, < from walking and rubbing
Sharp, darting pains in l. calf, come and go suddenly
Pain under l. patella, > when foot still, < walking and moving
Bruised feeling in calves
On rising from sitting, ankles and feet lame and stiff could hardly stand or walk
Lameness and catch in r. ankle, descending stairs
R.
Achilles tendon sore on ascending stairs
Sharp pain in l. great toe (also both), < motion, > continued motion
Numbness of both great toes
Pains in and round r. great toe
Dull aching pain in l. great toe-joint, after dancing
Burning pain in l. great toe as from acid
Needle-pricking in the two middle toes (r.) with some burning
Sharp sticking pain in arch of r. foot
Corns of feet over sensitive
A callosity or corn on inner border r. foot, which had been there for twenty years, disappeared completely (C)
A corn fell off r. foot (C)
Irritable patch appeared on r. foot in patient taking Rad. bro. 30 fourteen days after the dose (C)
Fetid foot-sweat relieved (C).
Generalities
Looked ill all time of proving, lost 3 1/2 lb. in weight (C) Felt as if going to be ill, could hardly crawl about (C) Aching pains all over body; very restless, had to keep moving about Hardly able to move about; unable to work properly
Tiredness; weakness; lassitude; exhausted, wants to take off clothes and rest Pains all over, > in open air and moving about Entire body feels as if afire; with sharpest kind of needle-pricks or electric shocks all over body; also itching all over Sudden, lightning-like "shock"-ing pains (C)
Electric shock through body during sleep.
Skin
Psoriasis (of penis) (C).—° Serpigenous eczema (C)
Itching eruption on face, oozing, < shaving, lasting weeks, finally cured with Rhus (C)
Small naevi cured (C)
Skin of face dry (C)
Patchy erythema on forehead (C)
Pimples
Papules
Itching all over at night
Red itching rash between scapulae
Eczematous dermatitis of hands caused by Radium and X-ray burns disappeared in the proving
Red papules on side of mouth; chest; back;
Neck
Eruption on chest disappears.—° Acne
Burning sensation and itching all over
Exposure to rays causes dermatitis, proceeding to ulceration and necrosis and epithelioma
Corns.
Sleep
Irresistible sleepiness and lethargy
Tired and sleepy all day
Sleeps well, wakes tired, with desire to stretch
Restless from dreams, awakes in fright
Restless all night, kept moving about in bed
Dreams: of passing urine; fires; suicide; alarming; busy; active; with palpitation.—° Sleeps regularly without opiate (in cancer case) (C).
Fever
Shivering bilious feeling (C)
Cold sensation all day; chilliness with chattering teeth till noon;
> afternoon (during menses)
Internal chilliness, followed by heat without sweat, though usually perspires
Internal chilliness with many movements of the bowels
Felt hot all over, had to take off bed covers
Entire body feels afire, with sharp needle-pricks and electric shocks
Fetid foot-sweat relieved (C).