– Muzumdar K P.
[Method]:
In principle Hahnemann’s methodology was followed with slight modifications.
In order to obtain the effects on a cross section of the populated of the country three units were selected in three different States i. e. Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. This gave us the opportunity to study the variations in effects if any, due to constitutional, temperamental and climatic differences and also due to difference in food habits and other environmental factors.
In all 75 provers including twenty controls were selected from both the sexes of different age groups ranging between 18 to 62 years.
This selection was done after medically examining the provers. Routine blood, stool, urine examinations and blood chemistry was done to understand and record their state of health. A complete history sheet for each prover was maintained. Only those who were found in apparent good health were taken up for proving the drug.
The Project Officers of these units were asked to send the names of the provers finally selected to the Central Drug Proving Cell, New Delhi. The Double Blind method was employed whereby neither the proving master nor the prover knew who was taking drug and who was the control nor the identity of the drug.
One of the authors (VTA) gave code numbers to the provers and sent the drugs with the code numbers marked on the bottles along with the instructions to the Project Officer for distribution and for conducting the provings.
The following norms were adopted in the selection of provers, conduct of proving, maintenance of day books and compilation of data.
Selection of Provers
A minimum of 30 provers were selected which included adult males and females in each of the three units. The student community from II and III years classes of the Homoeopathic Medical College were preferred since the units were attached to the Homoeopathic Medical Colleges.
Since no person is in a perfect state of health in the true sense, provers in a reasonable state of health were selected as far as possible. A careful record of the conditions and present state of health (including symptoms if any) of the selected provers was maintained. The various
laboratory investigation reports such as of blood, urine, faeces and radiological findings etc. were also properly recorded in the respective medical record books. The preliminary physical examinations of all the provers were done thoroughly in accordance with the proforma supplied Appendix II.
Procedure of Proving
Medical records books in respect of each prover were distributed among the consulting staff. This was done with a view to keep the uniformity for ascertaining the medical record of each prover. This was though to be necessary at the final stage of compilation.
Each prover was provided with a suitable blank sheets in the file. Each prover recorded all the symptoms (subjective and objective) he or she experienced during the course of proving in the blank sheet. The provers then deposited the same with the technical officers during their next visit.
Reliable preparation of Kali muriaticum were obtained from Messers Hahnemann Publishing Co., 165 Bipin Behary Ganguly Street, Calcutta in the 1x, 6x, 12x, 30th, 200th and 1000th potencies.
The preparations were made by trituration.
Kali muriaticum in crystals 100 g
Saccharum lactis 900 g
The mixture was triturated in accordance with the method mentioned in H.P.I. The subsequent potencies 6x and 12x were prepared by triturations. The liquid potencies 30th, 200th and 1000th were prepared in dispensing alcohol in accordance with the method mentioned in H.P.I.
Coded samples made from these potencies were sent from the Central Drug Proving Cell of the CCRIMH, New Delhi. The instructions and directions for administration of drugs were given every supply of drug substance. 4 to 5 globules of the coded sample or 1 to 2 grains of the coded trituration were given to each prover thrice daily on bare tongue.
The provings was conducted with potencies in descending order that is standing with 1000th potency and gradually reducing through the 200th, 30th, 12x, 6x, to 1x. At all the stages the Central Drug Proving Cell maintained a strict control.
In this proving all the provers received placebo during the initial period of proving to rule out any symptoms arising from personal idiosyncrasies. The authenticity of the symptoms produced by the provers was ascertain. The controls among the provers, however, were receiving placebo at all times. Administration of the coded samples (drugs) was stopped immediately after the appearance of the first symptoms. It was ensured that the provers did not make any changes in their daily routine during the course of proving such as sleep, exercise, bathing, eating and drinking etc. It was also ensured that no excesses were done in respect of their routine habits. In case the provers were found to be addicted either to tobacco or to any other stimulates including coffee and tea they were not allowed to use them in excess beyond their average quantity of their daily requirements. Special care was taken to see that the provers did not use any extra medicaments and that they did not use camphor or seasoned food. The results of the interrogation of the prover at his each visit were recorded properly in the record sheets provided i.e. treated like a new patient and accordingly various conditions and circumstances were noted with a special care to their sequences of appearance, concomitants and modalities etc. Weather conditions, temperature, percentage of humidity etc., were also recorded daily prior to the interrogation of the provers.
Each prover was summoned to the unit daily during the course of proving and his record sheet was collected. Further information with respect to details of his recorded symptoms such as location,sensation, modalities, concomitants, extension and duration etc. of each sign and symptoms were recorded in proving master’s sheet. This intensity of each symptom and sequence of its appearance and its repetitions were also noted. The number of provers who brought out identical symptoms were also noted. Clinical, pathological,serological and biochemical investigations were also done whenever the symptoms indicated their necessity and data were recorded on the explanatory sheet just below the recorded symptoms. This was done with a view to determine their true character and relation.
As and when the consultancy services was found necessary the provers were examined by the consultants in their respective disciplines and the data of their investigations were incorporated in their day books.
Reproving
A reproving of Kali muriaticum following the same parameters as were followed during the course of first proving, was conducted at a research unit in West Bengal during the period between 1972 74. Thirty provers took part in this proving. The symptoms obtained during this proving have been incorporated in the pathogenesis obtained during the first
proving and such symptoms which were elicited during both the provings are denoted with an asterisk ().
Data Documentation and Reporting
The Units collected the data after intelligent questioning of the provers with regards to location,sensation, modalities, concomitants, duration, extension along with laboratory investigations ( as and when found necessary) of each sign and symptom and submitted the same in the following proforma already circulated.
Code Date of Time of Time of appearance Symptom Location No. intake intake of symptoms and sign of drug disappearance of symptom
1 2 3 4 5 6
Sensation Modality Concomitant Any investigation Remarks
7 8 9 10 11
Data Compilation
The total number of symptoms thus collected were thoroughly screened by one of the authors (KT) The symptoms produced by the controls were discarded.
Identical symptoms experienced during the same period of proving both by the provers and controls were treated as doubtful and were discarded.
Only such symptoms and signs are reported in the compilation, which were distinctly experienced by the provers constantly or repeatedly and at all times of the proving.
After sifting the symptoms they were arranged in the schematic form as found in the Kent’s Repertory.