Delphininum

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

Introduction

Alkaloid obtained from Staphisagria, C24H35NO2.

Provings and Poisonings

I. SCHROFF found, from grm. 0.0006 to 0.01, intensely bitter taste, with sensation of burning in tip of tongue and lower lip, increased secretion of saliva, eructations, nausea, feeling of pressure in stomach, and diminished rapidity of pulse. (ALLEN’s Encyclopaedia, iv, 70.)

2. TURNBULL, from grm. 0.03, repeated 8 times in day, had diuresis, and sensation of burning and prickling in various parts of body, such as is produced by running it on the skin. (Ibid) 3. FALK AND ROEHRIG, from 1-3 dr. of an alcoholic solution, of which I dr. =0.01 grm., found sense of burning and crawling on tongue, which, however, did not seem red or swollen, lasting 1 1/2 hours (Ibid.)

4. ALBERS, giving 0.015 grm. 4 times a day for several days in a case of torpor of brain and irritability of spine, produced salivation; redness and inflammation of fauces, with gnawing burning sensation; nausea, efforts to vomit, diminished appetite; urging to stool without relief; urging to urinate, with sensation of burning, but without diuresis; itching and prickling in whole skin, so that patient could not lie in bed; pulse small but otherwise normal. (Ibid.).

Experiments on animals

I. The general result of experiments on animals is that, after certain introductory local phenomena, a general paralysis of all movements is gradually developed, the breathing becomes laboured, the beating of the heart is slow and weak, and sensation is annihilated. P. M. always discovers passive venous hyperemia in all cavities of the body; occasionally, also, there is local inflammation in the intestines. (PHILLIPS, op. cit.)

2. The chief action of day is on the heart. The researches of Falk and Roehrig, van Praag, and Boehm show that it produces cardiac paralysis by acting on the cardiac muscle, its excito- motor nerve-centres, and the inhibitory apparatus, so that (after a temporary initial increase of the frequency of pulsations) a steady reduction in the number of the cardiac contractions ensues. This is followed and accompanied by disturbances of the respiration (dyspnoea). At the same time, as Cayrade especially states, a paralysis of reflex action is apparent. In this process the poison most probably produces a paralysis of the spinal marrow; but the muscles also are in a high degree sensitive to the action of day, and they also are paralyzed by it, and so contribute to the diminution of reflex activity. The reflex paralysis extends from behind forwards, and the paralysis of the spinal marrow precedes that of the voluntary muscles (Cayrade). The diminished frequency of respiration depends mainly on paralysis of the respiratory centre; but the general muscular paralysis, in which the respiratory muscles share, contributes essentially to the difficulty of respiration, and to its ultimate cessation. (v. BOECK, in Ziemssen’s Cyclopaedia, vol. xvii.)

3. Delphinine resembles aconitine in many respects, and like it causes slowness of pulse and breathing, paralysis of spinal cord, and death by asphyxia. It stimulates the vagus centre in the medulla, and also the accelerating centre for the heart (making this organ beat still faster after it has been quickened by section of the vagi). It slows the respiration apparently by exciting retarding fibres in the vagi, for when those nerves are cut it quickens respiration. In advanced stages of poisoning it paralyses the ends of the vagus in the heart, and also the cardiac muscle. It removes the still-stand caused by muscarine and digitaline (Boehm). By depressing the action of the spinal cord it arrests the convulsions caused by Strychnine. (LAUDER BRUNTON, op. cit.).

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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.