Kali iodatum


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


Introduction

Iodide of potassium. KI.

Provings

1. HARTLAUB and TRINKS. (Without name of observer, but probably from Nenning.) In evening, very anxious and lachrymose, as if some evil were impending, for 2 hours; very peevish and excited, everything goes wrong, and she is ready to quarrel with everyone (17th day); she is frightened at every trifle (5th day.); she is very talkative and quarrelsome (12th day); the usual head symptoms, but without vertigo, and some irritation of eyes; an indescribable pain extends out from left ear, and if she only moves hand towards ear, without touching it, the pain creeps over whole side of face (evening); violent jerking or shooting in right eye-tooth, scarcely to be endured, frequently lasting for an hour, but worst after going to bed till midnight, and at 4-5 a. m., relieved by warmth, aggravated by cold, pain at times so great that it seems as if tooth would break off, or as if a worm were gnawing at it (25th days).; after taking accustomed cold milk in morning, sudden extremely painful dragging in both groins, so that she was obliged to bend double, frequent yawning, great weariness in thighs, violent griping in abdomen even to thighs, excessive restlessness so that she could not remain in any position, coldness with goose-flesh, anxiety and warmth in head, followed by eructations and rumbling in abdomen, and stoppage of the catamenia (which had begun), then nausea and pressure in stomach, with urging to vomit, aggravated by moving about, shivering in feet and hands, with heat and sweat in face (14th days); diuresis. (Arzneimittellehre, iii, 36.)

2. Dr. COLBY took 15 gr. at one dose. At night, after retiring, but before going to sleep, had terrible spasmodic pain at root of tongue, extending to both sides of throat. For about 15-20 minutes pain was excruciating, causing fear that death was impending. There was a sensation as if spasms would close pharynx. (N. Engl. Medorrhinum, Gaz., vii, 25.).

Poisonings

I. F. R. -, aet, 35, was admitted at 9:30 a.m. on October 9th in a semi-comatose condition. His face was swollen and deeply congested, and the eyelids puffy and red, as in facial erysipelas. Lips and tongue were extremely livid, tongue being swollen and protruding between teeth. Very little air entered lungs; there was croupy breathing, and on one occasion cough was typically laryngeal. Pulse was scarcely perceptible. Tracheotomy was performed with great relief. When seen at noon some pustules were observed on face and neck and a papular eruption on back of hands and flexor surface of forearms. Temperature was 99.4o, pulse 100, respiratory (easy) 36. Eyelids were less swollen but their was great chemosis. There had been no rigor, pains in loins, or vomiting; but there was considerable headache. On inquiry it was found that he had had two similar attacks 3 years ago, with sore-throat and pustular rash, but with unaffected breathing. Each had followed administration of K. iod. This time he had taken same 6 doses of 10 gr. each – for renal affection and rheumatism. After 4th dose he thought he had caught a violent cold, and went to bed. At 1 a. m. on next night but one he woke up with sensation of choking and could scarcely articulate. In this state he was brought into hospital. Next day, morning temperature was 102.4o, pulse 130, respiratory 21; evening, temperature 102.8o, pulse 136, respiratory 24. Besides pustules, which looked very like those of variola, there were spots over ear, hemorrhagic looking, and evidently containing bloody serum. Uvula was elongated, and mucous membrane somewhat swollen, as if oedematous, but there was no eruption on palate or pharynx. Next day he was better; laryngoscopic examination showed slight congestion of epiglottis and vocal cords. On 13th temperature was normal and rash had almost disappeared. Cannula had been removed after 48 hours. (FENWICK, Lancet, 1875, ii, 698.)

2. A syphilitic child, aet. 5 mo., was given K. iod. After taking one dose of 2 1/2 gr. in about 3/4 hour mother noticed it “turn black” about mouth and chin, and similar appearances followed on upper part of face. On being brought to hospital there was observed a large, hard, dark discoloration of lower lip with separate dark spots of purpura around it. There were a few hemorrhagic spots on left arm above elbow; none elsewhere. While it was watched path’s perceptibly increased in size, until in an hour or so scalp and face were well covered. Next day purpura had become more general and on 4th day child died.[* “Kuess is said to have frequently observed haemorrhages from the lungs during iodine treatment; while in a few cases metrorrhagia, or habitual increase of the periodic menstrual flow, has been observed.”- BOEHM, op.cit.*] (MACKENZIE Medorrhinum Times and Gaz., 1879, i, 173.) 3. A man, aet, 28, with history of venereal disease, and now suffering from swelling of feet, pains in tibiae, and ecthymatous ulcerations on legs, got 20 gr. of K. iod., to be taken twice daily. After only 3 doses, he complained in evening of heat, and of burning sensation in face and hands, which were observed to be reddened; and medicine was discontinued. Seen next day, p. m. it was found that since previous evening an eruption of very large bullae had made its appearance; some were 1 1/2 in.in diameter; they occupied back of neck, forehead, face, and back of hands. Some were filled with clear serum, others were turbid, and of reddish or purplish colour, from admixture of blood, while skin around then was somewhat reddened and oedematous. In course of 2 days most of them had become ruptured, and were drying and disappearing. In evidence of the fact that this eruption was produced by the drug, patient reported that on 3 previous occasions during last year he had taken the iodide, and always with the same unpleasant results. After disappearance of eruption he has felt better, and syphilitic symptoms have improved. (BUMSTEAD, Amer Journ. of Medorrhinum, Sc., N. S., lxxi,99.)

4. HUTCHINSON describes an eruption resembling hydroa as resulting from K. iod. It is sudden and symmetrical and prefers the face and forearms. There are vesicles and small bullae, from the size of a shot to that of a pea, or even to that of half a small cherry, and usually surrounded by an erythematous and sometime inflammatory swelling of the skin. In the earliest stages the papules resemble those of smallpox. The vesications become larger, lifting up a very delicate layer of epidermis, which presents no central depression. Their contents become grey and opaque but not distinctly purulent. Although there is no umbilication, yet a peculiar appearance is sometimes assumed by the vesication spreading at its margin and sinking at its centre, the patch then becoming sometimes as large as a shilling. (Trans. of Clin. Soc. of Lond., 1875, p. 152.)

5. The irritative effects on the skin which occur in distant parts of the body after the external application of Iodium also show themselves in many cases after the internal administration of K. iod. In the latter case, however, the multiformity of the eruptions is much more marked than in the former. This particular incidental effect of K. iod. has been well known ever since its introduction into the materia medica, and one therefore finds almost innumerable observations on the subject in literature. They all go to establish as a fact that it often produces eruptions, from simple erythema to petechiae, with or without fever, occurring either alone or in combination with other abnormal effects of Iodium, and disappearing, as a rule, very soon after the use of the remedy is suspended. These eruptions, according to Fischer (Wiener med. Wochenschr, 1859), are divisible into four principal forms.

5 a. Erythematous form. – The skin, particularly on the forearms, and also on the face, is reddened, either diffusely, or in circumscribed spots, and its temperature elevated. After discontinuing the drug, this disappears in a few hours; but if its use be persisted in, the eruption may pass into that which is most common –

5 b. The urticaria-like form – Usually on abdomen and extremities, but also on other parts of the body, there appear, without fever, intensely red wheals, but slightly raised, surrounded by an areola, generally collected into groups, only distinguishable from a genuine urticaria by their more intense colour, which is usually described as rose red, and becoming pale on pressure. They disappear after the use of Iodium is stopped, without desquamation.

5 c. The nodulo-pustular form. – This is more rarely observed, and occurs most frequently in scrofulous individuals, usually upon the upper half of the body. An itching spot forms, of a deep red colour, which is soon transformed by exudations into a papule, or a bluish-red nodule, with or without an areola. This may persist; but as a rule there is developed upon it a coloured vesicle filled with clear fluid, or a pustule, which may burst or dry up; while the papule, on omission of the drug, slowly disappears with desquamation, often leaving behind a bluish-red or marbled pigmentation of the skin. As intermediate forms pure vesicles, acne-like pustules(iodine-acne), and even furuncles are observed.

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.