Sulphur iodatum


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


Introduction

Iodide of sulphur, S2I2.

Provings

Some years ago I happened to take 10 dr. of tinct. of iodine. It was soon followed by symptoms of influenza, which I did not at the time attribute to the action of the drug. Some day later, however, on repeating the dose, the same symptoms recurred – coryza, headache, febrile excitement, difficulty in expanding chest in inspiration, with prostration of strength. Some years after, I took 2 – 3 gr. of an iodide of sulphur, roughly prepared by myself, and similar symptoms occurred. This led to the proving whose details I subjoins. (KELSALL, Monthly Hom Rev., ii, 154.)

2. a. A.J. P. -, dark hair, thin delicate constitution, pale complexion, rather sensitive to medicinal influence. “April 6th, 1850, I was employed in preparing the Ix trit., and during the process I felt a boring pain, as if at the heart, and some dyspnoea. The same evening symptoms of catarrh set in; I felt faint and sick; sides of heat ached, with sensation as if head were pressed in a vice. Next m. I had in addition burning tickling pain in right nostril every time the pocket handkerchief was used; at the same time I perceived a strong odour of iodine I had also sense of dryness in trachea; thick hard clots of mucus collected about top of windpipe, difficult to detach, causing much tickling and irritation of larynx with cough. Headache continued. On the 8th I prepared the 2x, and on the 9th the 3x trit. My symptoms were now worse. I had palpitation of heart; felt sleepy in daytime and restless at night; bowels were constipated, eyes dim, lids heavy; there was throbbing of temples, shooting pain on vertex, constant disposition to swallow saliva – throat and gullet being parched (the doing so did not allay the dryness); felt thirsty and feverish; pain under left shoulder; inclination to take deep inspirations and to expand chest; ardor urinae; thick green mucus formed in nostrils; pustule on upper lip; erythema on chin. Odour of iodine was still present. The above symptoms were very severe for 4 days, but gradually decreased from the 5th days till by the 14th – 16th they had disappeared. (On the 5th days, after smelling the Ix trit., a burning sensation was immediately felt in the nostrils, with a very strong odour of iodine. This lasted 1/2 hour, and left dull headache over eyes and at vertex. Three weeks afterwards I smelt at the bottle containing the 4th dil., and a recurrence of the feelings in throat and head ensued.)” (Ibid.) 2 b. Mr. P. – subsequently wrote out his symptoms in fuller detail and schematic order, as follows:

Sleep. – Drowsy in daytime; unrefreshed by sleep at night; confused dreams; waking in fright; sleeping with mouth open.

Fever. – Day heat; thirst; occasional chills.

Morale. – Apathy and inaptitude for business; dread of exertion; unsteadiness of ideas; anxious and doubtful.

Head. – Headache as if head were compressed in a vice at sides; soreness of vertex; shooting and throbbing of temples when stooping; frontal headache; soreness of scalp; hair feels as if erect; head feels swollen.

Eyes. – Sight dim; lids feel heavy; inclination to close eyes, as if to press out tears.

Ears. – Itching, tingling, buzzing.

Nose. – Itching and soreness; burning pain; yellowish and green mucus secreted; acuteness of smell; flow of acrid serum from nostrils; excoriation f nostrils.

Face. – Erythematous breaking out on upper lip, with yellowish pustules, painful, sore and tender, quickly disappearing in dry scales; face dry, hot, and of yellowish colour.

Teeth. – Feel soft to tongue and are coated with dark fur.

Mouth. – Parched; bitter taste; tongue dry and hard, furred at root, red at point.

Appetite. – Anorexia; desire for acids, pickles, lemonade.

Throat. – Uvula and tonsils slightly enlarged and reddened; drawing creeping sensation at back of throat; accumulation of dark purulent mucus in windpipe, causing continual inclination to swallow saliva, which does not moisten it; mucus removed with difficulty and by violent hawking, coughing and straining; throat dry and painful to touch, feeling as if swelled, sore in m; tickling in larynx.

Stomach, &c. – Soreness and sinking in epigastrium; constipation; itching in rectum. Urine. – Smell as of raspberries; frequent micturition, especially in morning; ardor urinae; itching in urethra.

Thorax. – Tightness across chest; inclination to take deep inspiration, leaving fluttering sensation; palpitation cordis; sense of heat in region of heart, much worse on awaking in m., when stooping or leaning forward, running, or ascending stairs.

Trunk. – Pain and soreness under left scapula; weakness of spinal column, with pain in loins as if bruised.

Legs. – Aching with feeling of weakness; tingling in calves and feet; soles of feet burn and ache, and are sore when standing; weakness of knee – joints; trembling and aching of ankle – joints. (Ibid.)

3. An elderly military officer, of somewhat shattered constitution, but remarkably sensitive to attenuated medicines, one Thursday dissolved a gr. of 3rd trit. in 3 spoonfuls of water, and took one spoonful an hours before breakfast. Singing in ears commenced 5 m. afterwards. An hour before dinner took second spoonful and same disagreeable sensation came on, accompanied by feeling of tightness above eyes, as if a band were drawn tightly over the forehead. Both symptoms were increased on taking last dose on going to bed Much troubled with cough during early part of n., with nasty taste in mouth and foetid breath On the Saturday he dissolved 2 gr. and took it in same manner. The first spoonful produced singing in ears as before. The second did the same, with greater feeling of tightness over forehead, increasing to dull heavy pain. “After third symptoms became much aggravated, with feeling of soreness in throat accompanied by a whistling noise; also sensation of heat about pit of stomach, which increased to such a degree as to become quite painful, extending over chest, and giving me all the feelings of an attack of bronchitis, with nasty cough, expectoration, foetid breath, perspiration, &c.; eyes also watered a great deal. IN about an hour I fell asleep; and in morning eyes were relieved by expectoration. left one. Throat still continued sore, but was relieved by expectoration.

“After the 1st day ‘s experiments,” prover writes,” my arms became covered with an itching rash like nettle – rash. At present I feel debilitated, as if I had had influenza. ‘ (Ibid.).

Experiments on animals

3iij of freshly prepared and pulverised Sulph. iod. were given to a terrier bitch of moderate size. No vomiting was observed to follow. Next day the animal showed no marked sign of depression, save that the refused to take her food. The whole of the 3rd day was spent in the recumbent posture the animal evidently labouring under great lowness of spirits; on the 4th day she could not support herself properly on her legs, and eyes were dry and glassy. On 5th and 6th days. voluntary power was gradually restored. On 7th, for first time since 2nd, she took some nourishment, and hence forward improved till by 12th day no faculty appeared to be defective. Alvine dejections during above period were few, hard, and scanty. (COGSWELL, Iodine and its Compounds. 1837.).

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.