Benzinum nitricum

Benzinum nitricum is chemically nitrobenzene (C₆H₅NO₂), a pale yellow oily liquid with the distinct odour of bitter almonds, synthesised by nitrating benzene with fuming nitric acid. It is insoluble in water but miscible with most organic solvents. In crude form it is a powerful poison, rapidly absorbed by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact, producing profound effects on the blood (methaemoglobinaemia), central nervous system, and heart [Hughes]. Homeopathic preparation through potentisation renders it non-toxic while retaining its peculiar action on blood oxygenation, circulation, and respiration.

No Hahnemannian proving; knowledge derived from toxicological reports, clinical application, and fragmentary proving data collated in Cyclopaedia of Drug Pathogenesy [Hughes, Allen].

This is the remedy of industrial chemical poisoning with profound blood changes, where the patient presents with deep cyanosis, mental clouding, extreme weakness, and collapse from lack of oxygen at the tissue level. It is the picture of life suffocated from within, the blood unable to carry its vital load.

• Blood: Profoundly alters haemoglobin, producing methaemoglobinaemia and depriving tissues of oxygen [Hughes].
• Circulatory System: Weakens heart action, causes cyanosis, collapse.
• Nervous System: Drowsiness, vertigo, paralysis from cerebral hypoxia.
• Respiration: Slows and weakens breathing; dyspnoea from reduced oxygen carrying capacity.
• Skin: Cyanosis, lividity, mottling due to lack of oxygenation.
• Liver & Spleen: Engorgement from venous stasis in chronic poisoning.

Mental state is clouded, with marked confusion and inability to fix attention [Allen]. The patient often appears dull, indifferent, or even semi-comatose in severe poisoning. Periods of restlessness may alternate with stupor. In some cases, there is delirium, often muttering and low-toned, associated with profound cyanosis.

Drowsiness profound in toxic states; patient may be roused only with difficulty. Sleep unrefreshing.

Collapse from circulatory and respiratory failure is the keynote. Marked cyanosis, profound muscular weakness, slow respiration, and mental dullness are the cardinal features. Effects stem from chemical alteration of haemoglobin preventing oxygen release to tissues.

Temperature often subnormal in poisoning; in mild exposure, a slight febrile rise may occur.

Coldness predominates; profuse clammy sweat in collapse.

Headache is heavy, full, and pressing, especially in the forehead and occiput. Vertigo is intense on rising or attempting to walk, often with staggering gait [Hering]. The head feels congested, yet there is pallor of the face due to circulatory failure.

Marked blueness of conjunctivae from venous engorgement. Vision blurred and dim, with dark or coloured spots. Pupils often dilated and sluggish; in extreme cases, blindness from retinal hypoxia.

Buzzing and roaring in ears during circulatory weakness. Occasionally transient deafness.

No prominent local symptoms beyond occasional nasal congestion.

Face is strikingly cyanotic, sometimes described as slate-coloured or purplish-blue [Hughes]. Lips swollen and livid. Expression is heavy, with a blank stare.

Dryness of mouth; taste may be metallic or bitter. Tongue often bluish or purplish, sometimes swollen in severe cases.

Fullness and dryness; voice low and weak from general prostration.

Oppression is severe, with the sensation that breathing is insufficient. The patient may gasp, with the chest heaving but oxygen intake inadequate due to blood changes.

Pulse slow, feeble, irregular; in acute poisoning it may be almost imperceptible. Palpitations with extreme weakness. Heart sounds muffled from poor oxygenation [Hughes, Allen].

Breathing is shallow and slow, sometimes laboured. Dyspnoea increases on exertion, relieved somewhat by rest and fresh air. In extreme cases, Cheyne–Stokes respiration may appear before death.

Complete loss of appetite, nausea, sometimes vomiting. Epigastric oppression from circulatory stagnation.

Fullness from venous engorgement of abdominal organs. Sensation of weight in hypochondria.

Occasional diarrhoea; more commonly constipation from slowed metabolism.

Urine often scant, dark, and may have a brownish tinge from haemoglobin breakdown. Albuminuria possible.

Aversion to food; thirst minimal despite severe weakness.

General aching and heaviness. Weakness in the lumbar region.

Cyanosis extends to hands and feet; nails blue. Trembling on attempting motion. Muscles weak and flaccid.

Bluish or purplish from cyanosis; mottled and cold to touch. Sweating cold and clammy in collapse.

• Benzinum – More nervous system irritability and vertigo; Benzinum nitricum more marked blood cyanosis and collapse.
• Carboneum oxygenisatum (CO) – Similar hypoxia, but without skin irritation or almond odour; more rapid onset.
• Amyl nitrosum – Sudden vasodilation and flushing rather than cyanosis.
• Arsenicum album – Prostration with restlessness; Benzinum nitricum has indifference and stupor.

• Complementary: Carbo vegetabilis in late collapse.
• Antidotes: Oxygen inhalation, Amyl nitrosum in some cases.
• Follows well: After removal from toxic source, may be followed by China for post-toxic anaemia.

• Consider in cases of occupational nitrobenzene exposure.
• Can be useful in states resembling nitrobenzene poisoning – cyanosis, drowsiness, and weak heart after chemical inhalation.
• Also consider in toxic methaemoglobinaemia from other aromatic nitro-compounds.

Mind:

• Indifference, apathy in poisoning.
• Confusion with stupor.

Head:

• Headache, congestive, with cyanosis.
• Vertigo on rising.

Eyes:

• Cyanotic conjunctiva.
• Vision dim with dark spots.

Chest:

• Oppression, cyanotic face.
• Dyspnoea from blood oxygen deficiency.

Heart:

• Pulse slow, weak, irregular.
• Palpitation with great weakness.

Skin:

• Cyanosis, mottled.
• Coldness with collapse.

Generalities:

• Collapse from toxic exposure.
• Trembling with extreme prostration.

Hughes R. – Cyclopaedia of Drug Pathogenesy: Nitrobenzene toxicology and cases.

Allen T.F. – Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica: Toxicological records and fragmentary provings.

Hering C. – Guiding Symptoms: Clinical notes on cyanosis and collapse.

Clarke J.H. – Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica: Description of nitrobenzene effects.

Boericke W. – Pocket Manual: Brief mention under chemical poisons.

Taylor A.S. – Medical Jurisprudence: Industrial nitrobenzene poisoning cases.

Browning E. – Toxicity of Industrial Organic Solvents: Blood changes in exposure.

Hamilton A. – Industrial Poisons: Chronic exposure effects.

Dewey W.A. – Practical Homoeopathic Therapeutics: Collapse states and antidotes.

Farrington E.A. – Clinical Materia Medica: Comparative chemical remedies.