Aranea scinencia


Proving Symptoms of homeopathy medicine Aranea Scinencia, described by Richard Hughes in his book, A Cyclopedia of Drug Pathogenesis, published in 1895….


Provings

1. The following proving was made with the first and second dilutions of a tincture made from the Aranea scinencia [ The writer says he is not sure he has the right name for the spider. It is “a grey one found in Kentucky in the summer on walls and old places; does not spin a web; is very quick in its movements, and takes its prey by a spring.”-EDS] by putting the spider, while alive, into strong alcohol. R. S., a young man of nervous temperament, et. 21. Ist day, took 2 drops at 3 p.m. without effect. At 3:30 3 drops; in 20 m. dull, heavy pain in postero-superior part of head. This having lasted 1 hours, took 4 drops; pain immediately increased, extending all over head, dull, sluggish pain, but quite intense; slight nausea; eyes felt heavy, with a blur over them; felt as if he had been broken of his rest, but not sleepy. Pain continued, gradually increasing till 2 a.m.; could not rest; a strong dose of bellad. then relieved. In m. slight pain still in head; could not collect his thoughts. At 11 a.m. pain left him. At 3 p.m. took 4 drops. In 15 m. slight pains in head. In 30 m. most strange feeling in stomach, as if he had not eaten for a long time; this continued about 1 h. Pain in head persisted till evening, when it passed off. Rested well that n. On 3rd day, at n., 1 drop. Soon began to feel slight headache. At 3 took 5 drops more. Pain in head severe, affecting eyes; felt as if he had been drinking; increased secretion of urine so that he had to get up twice in n., -urine cloudy. Very restless during night; could sleep but a few minutes at a time, and that not soundly. 4th day, m., a good deal of headache, foul stomach, bowels costive and very unpleasant dull rumbling pains in them. Dull heavy pain in head all day; eyes run a good deal, feel weak and inflamed; there seems to be a blur constantly collecting over the eyes; constant twitching of lower lids. 5th d. As yesterday, but worse; head more oppressed, with vertigo when stooping; eyelids swollen, twitching worse 6th d. Bowels still costive; stomach much deranged; sleep on sitting down; head dull, with heavy painful fullness; still twitching of lids. From this time symptoms gradually abated. (Dr. ROWLEY, in N. Am. Journ. of Hom., vii, 65.)

2. E. P., et. 25, stout, dark hair and eyes. On Ist day took 2 drops on going to bed. In 2 hours felt fatigued physically and mentally, as though he had laboured hard (had felt uncommonly well in m.); dull, stupid feeling in head, with fullness and aching, followed by vertigo, with nausea which soon passed away, but was followed by sour eructations and slight pain in stomach, succeeded by sensation as if bowels would be relaxed. Symptoms relieved in open air, and aggravated when in a warm room. After dinner dull pain in head, rather increased till after supper, when it was relieved. Took 2 drops on going to bed; sleep again uncommonly sound; slight palpitation on waking, soon passing off, after which felt particularly well, and had good appetite for breakfast. At 11, 2 drops. Dryness and prickling in throat, with sweet taste in mouth; rather profuse flow of saliva; glimmering before eyes; colic, increased by bending forward. (Ibid.).

Poisonings

[For want of a better place, we insert here accounts of spider bites occurring in non-tropical countries. -EDS.] 1. On Aug. 7th, Mr. Q., while in privy about noon, was stung on glans penis by a spider. Pain was not great at moment, but continued to increase till, 1 hours after accident, it had become extreme. Nothing was visible at seat of sting. In a few m. vomiting set in, and he complained of deep-seated pain in abdomen, extending up into chest, and of sensations of choking and suffocation. Vessels of neck and face were greatly distended, and of dark hue. Venesection and other remedies were employed; but pains and spasms along spine and extremities came on, and the agony and anxiety increased. Under ammonia and laudanum attacks gradually became less frequent; but pains continued till evening of next day, when opening veins in feet relieved them. He then soon recovered.

“I saw several spiders in the place where Mr. Q. received the sting. They were of large size, of a dark brown colour, covered with hairs over the legs and body.” (Dr. HULSE, Am. Journ. of Medorrhinum Sc., xxiv, 69.) 2. A woman was bitten on tongue by a black spider (Saltacus familiaris); instantly a painful sensation, like an electric shock, as though arising from several points, darted along tongue, involving also jaws and head. The tongue seemed almost paralyzed, the utterance thick and heavy, and the pains at root of tongue and in lower jaws, especially at articulation with temporal bones, were most excruciating. (Quoted from Cincinnati Lancet, xix, 900, in Allen’s Encyclopedia, x, 324.).

Richard Hughes
Dr. Richard Hughes (1836-1902) was born in London, England. He received the title of M.R.C.S. (Eng.), in 1857 and L.R.C.P. (Edin.) in 1860. The title of M.D. was conferred upon him by the American College a few years later.

Hughes was a great writer and a scholar. He actively cooperated with Dr. T.F. Allen to compile his 'Encyclopedia' and rendered immeasurable aid to Dr. Dudgeon in translating Hahnemann's 'Materia Medica Pura' into English. In 1889 he was appointed an Editor of the 'British Homoeopathic Journal' and continued in that capacity until his demise. In 1876, Dr. Hughes was appointed as the Permanent Secretary of the Organization of the International Congress of Homoeopathy Physicians in Philadelphia. He also presided over the International Congress in London.