Colocynthinum


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


Provings.

GERSTEL began, May 28th, 1843, with 20 dr. of 6x dil. (aqueous), taken fasting at 7 a. m. Nothing followed but slight fulness in head and bowels, and copious discharge of flatus. 30 dr. on 29th, and 20 dr. of 5x on June 3rd, were alike ineffective. June 4th. – 40 dr. of 5x. Soon after, slight oppression in sinciput; creeping in lids and lower left incisors; pressure in temple; pricking and metallic taste on tip of tongue; these symptoms soon disappeared. 6th. – 50 dr. Four painless pappy stools during day; suggestions of tenesmus in urethra and rectum after maturating. 7th. – Same dose. Soon after toothache, oppression of head on left side, painfulness of left face, weakness of right arm while writing, tearing in left shoulder, pricking in left calf and sole, tickling in rectum, crawling in penis. In course of forenoon, weakness of legs. 8th. – 50 dr. without slightest effect. 20th. – 30 dr. of 4x; no symptoms. 21st. – 60 dr.; same result. 22nd. – 100 dr. in morning. Suggestions of colic, with inflation of umbilical region; pressive aching in both soles, with feeling as if they were swollen; frequent micturition. Same dose at bedtime caused (in 6 hours) slight colic below navel, palpitation, and pulsation in scrob. cordis, accompanied by prickling stitches on back about middle dorsal vertebrae. 24th. – M., 50 dr. of 3. Heat in stomach. E., 80 dr. Sharp inward – pressing pain at some spots on nape, as from sprain, aggravated by movement, spots tender on pressure; at same time, short hacking cough from tickling in throat. Vivid dreams at night; on following forenoon continual burning pressure in stomach up into oesophagus. 27th. – 20 dr. of 2x in morning, fasting. Soon after, whole head affected; slight pains here and there in left leg and arm; feeling of heat and congestion in genitals, with painful persistent burning on small spot on scrotum (without erections); stitches in region of lowest dorsal vertebrae; pain in right great and little toe, with dull sense of heat in various spots of right thigh, especially along course of sciatic. Some hour later, pressure in left cheek-bone and left great toe; burning at back of pharynx; colicky pains, with inflation of abdomen – all this developed while sitting, lasting 2 hours, and going off on walking. 28th. – 40 dr. Took long and fatiguing walk immediately afterwards, and noted no symptoms. 29th. – 60 dr., fasting. Soon after, burning stitching and sense of warmth on dorsum of right foot; pressing-digging pain in left second toe; cramped pain in muscles of left wrist; feeling of swelling and pressure in lower lids; slight intimations of colic, from hypogastrium upwards, with contraction of storm, erections, and pain in buttocks. (Oest. Zeitschr., left 96).

2. WATZKE took, May 21st – 23rd, twice each day 6 days of 6x dil. without effect save that he woke on morning of 22nd with griping and movements in abdomen. On 24th, two doses of 6 dr., and on 25th of 10 dr. of 5x. Some looseness and slight colic. 26th. – At noon, 6 dr. of 4x. P. m., some slight, rapid, brown, soft stools. In evening felt all over hotter than usual, and remarkably depressed, but with excellent appetite. Slept very restlessly, had many and vivid dreams, and perspired profusely towards morning 27th. – In morning great depression; dull frontal headache; aching in eyeballs, aggravated by straining sight, moving eyes rapidly and bowing head, lasting all days. Several soft stools rapidly and easily discharged. 28th. – 10 dr. in morning. All symptoms continued, but more mildly; also failing of great stiffness and immobility in lower legs. Towards evening, stitching for several morning in epigastrium, which was tense and inflated. 31st. – 10 dr. Late symptoms continued for several day,

in slight and transient fashion. ON June 9th and 10th, 5 dr., on 15 th, 10 dr., and on 16th, 10 dr. of 3x dil. produced nothing fresh. 18th. – 10 dr. of 2x at 9 a. m., Soon after, slight oppression of head, sensibility of temples and forehead, transient vertigo. Three hours later stool with colic and tenesmus; inclination thereto several times afterwards. Towards evening prostration, heat in whole body, thirst, quickened pulse; at 11, loose easy stool. Restless and feverish night; towards morning perspiration. IN morning prostration and lassitude of whole frame, painful pressure in eyeballs and temples, appetite diminished, pulse over 90. This condition lasted all day, getting worse towards afternoon and evening; could then hardly keep up. In bed, sensibility and feeling of heat all along spine; chest sensitive and oppressed at times; dry cough; frequently repeated stitches from left axilla to elbows; pulse 100. N. as last. 20th. – In morning as yesterday, but in less degree; effort required to get up; skin hot, pulse 92. Prostration increased towards noon, with previous symptoms of head, chest, and spine; at same times, feeling of roughness in throat, repeated stitches in epigastrium, painfulness of malleoli. No pain in swallowing or difficulty in deep breathing; no stool to-day or yesterday; urine now fiery, becoming cloudy on standing. N. good; woke several times in profuse perspiration. Next day better, but railway journey brought on headache badly, and cough caused violent stitches through cerebellum. Same thing happened through subsequent ride p. m..; also for whole afternoon disagreeable feeling of chilliness, great debility, unusually disturbed temper – so that he could not bring himself to take notice of the stitches, tearing, pressure in parts of body, especially in joints, outer thighs, and upper arms. He was most conscious of a cramp pain in penis, lasting several morning during which it seemed as if bent double. A cup of black coffee immediately relieved symptoms, but they did not disappear till he went to bed, which he was glad to do at 7 p. m. Slept uneasily, and perspired copiously, but felt pretty well on waking next morning. 22nd. – A good deal of cough; mucus, formerly whitish, now thick and yellow. A good deal of cough; mucus, formerly whitish, now thick and yellow. Was fairly well all day, but towards evening head and general symptoms returned, lasting till bedtime. This continued, wit free perspiration at night, for 3 days more. [Dr. Watzke, who was an experienced prover, is satisfied that the above symptoms were medicinal, and not due to any acquired bronchial catarrh. – End.] (Ibid.).

Experiments on animals.

1. A strong rabbit had received during 2 mo. 40 gr. of 1x trit. of pulp, and 700 dr. of tinct., without being strikingly affected by it. Having remained 4 days without med., he now got 1 – 5 gr. doses of colocynth in, without effect, save some sluggishness. Five days late 7 gr. were given at 4 p. m., and next morning he was found dead. P. M. Animal not emaciated. R. cavities of heart, with veins, fill with pitch-black coagulated blood; left cavities with blood of same colour, but this was fluid. Some injection of stomach, within and without, about smaller curvature, increasing towards pylorus, diminishing towards cardia. Mesenteric vessels bright red and injected throughout intestine; meso-colic vessels distend, dark-red, -this especially noticeable in greet reins accompanying rectum to its termination. Mucous membrane of small intestine pale red, of colon unaltered. Liver presented a single protuberant suppurating point. All else normal. (Oest. Zeitsch., left)

2. A strong doe rabbit took 5 gr. in water, and had dose repeated next day, after which animal became dull, continued to eat with appetite. On next 2 days she had 7 gr. each time; on latter began to seem very ill, and died on day following, after having several thin stools. P. M.- Liver of normal consistence, but strewn with cysts from size of millet seed to hat of pea, filled with serous fluid, having snow-white hardish points rather depressed below surface; cysts themselves covered with injected vessels. Similar appearances in intestines. Stomach in one place peritoneum; mucous lining reddened, easily separated, and thickly set with brownish – black points. Vivid reddening of mucous membrane of small intestines; mesenteric vessels injected. (Ibid.).

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.