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SCIATICA
Mrs. Jehial Clark, aged about 60, was afflicted with one of
the worst forms of sciatica. Her brother, Charles Sanders, of
New York, of "School Reader" fame, was already a cripple from
the same disease, allopathically treated. In this patient's case
the pains were intense, with decided burning sensation. They
were greatly aggravated from 1 to 3 in the morning. She was
greatly prostrated from her suffering. The only way she could
get any rest (for she was exceedingly restless, continually
wanting to be changed from place to place) was from bags of dry
hot salt continually applied along the nerve. There were other
symptoms, but these are enough to show the remedy that a
homopath would naturally prescribe. Arsenicum alb. was given in
the 30 and 200. To my surprise no good came of it. Then Sulphur
was given in the possibility that psora was complicating
matters, but with no good result given. Now other remedies were
tried, but, of course, ineffectually.
I had one thing in my favor, the history of her brother's case,
which had run much longer than hers. So there was no object in
her changing to the old school, especially as he had been left
an incurable cripple. It was in the earlier part of my practice,
so I had not gotten much above the 200th potency then. But I had
a graft of Jenichen's 8,000th in the office, so as nothing else
did any good I concluded to try it. It was given in solution
with rapid and permanent relief. She was well in an incredibly
short time, and never had a return of the trouble, although she
had suffered for four weeks, before she got this preparation.
(Nash).
METRORRHAGIA
Mrs. E. G., æt. 36, had been given up to die by her family
physician.
She came of a consumptive family, her mother and her mother's
parents having died with the disease. She had always menstruated
VERY PROFUSELY, and after having practiced upon herself, within
the course of eight or nine years, no less than seven abortions,
her menses assumed the type of recurrent hæmorrhages. Her lungs
had always been very sensitive ; has had more or less cough ; at
first DRY and HACKING, later loose and hollow. Has had pneumonia
twice, making a tardy recovery each time. At present was
convalescing from a third and severe attack of pneumonia, when
some imprudence on her part brought about an unfavourable
change, and she failed so rapidly that her case seemed hopeless.
SYMPTOMS. Constant hollow, loose cough, extreme sensitiveness of
the lungs to cold air and to far ; profuse and general
perspiration at night, of a sour smell. Extreme emaciation,
constipation alternating with watery diarrha ; great
despondency ; constant passive hæmorrhage from the uterus of
dark foul blood. Calcarea carb. 30 was the first and only remedy
prescribed. Under its use she not only made a good recovery from
this attack, but regained by its long continued use a surprising
degree of general health. (Arndt.)
ENTERO-COLITIS
Peckham, child at 18 months. Fair haired, blue eyes, chubby
when born, but with open fontanelles and sweaty headed. Has for
a few weeks past had what her doctor called cholera infantum.
All sorts of foods had been tried until now, when they called me
in, the diarrha, of a sour smell and light colored, was almost
incessant ; every diaper. There was also frequent vomiting of
sour substance and the milk came up in very large curds. There
was great emaciation and child when it slept did so with half
open eyes, and the sweat on the head wet the pillow far around.
I put Calcarea carb. 6m. (Jenichen) in the child's food, as
suggested by Dr. Hering, and in a few days marked improvement
set in and continued until the patient was perfectly well. Many
such cases are on record. (Nash.)
CARIES
rank W., a lad aged 10, blue eyes, light thin hair, pale,
thin face and of a scrofulous disposition. One year previous to
my call a periostitis set up in the shaft of the left tibia upon
the inner side. Case as presented to me the first time ; bone
has exfoliated along the whole length of the shaft ; ulcer is so
deep that not more than one-half of the supporting structure
remains and leg is much bent ; ulcer keeps up a continuous
discharge which has left little vital resource behind. Patient
is not only badly emaciated, but has a hectic fever and a bad
cough, with dullness in the right apex. Cough is dry and
harasses him in the evening ; has night sweats. Was given
Calcarea carbonica 6, and urged to use milk freely as a diet, to
which added the amount of three tablespoonfuls of brandy every
twenty-four hours. Ulcers were fully healed and bone reparation
complete within the next twelve months. All traces of lung
trouble also passed away and I have never known of subsequent
trouble, though case passed from my observation in the course of
half a dozen years. We will here add that we have many times
succeeded in curing these bone ulcers, commonly called "fever
sores," with the use of Calcarea carb., milk and brandy, and
they all remain cured so far as we know. (G. N. Brigham.)
MARASMUS
Eddie D., 18 months old. Oct. 30, 1881, the mother brought
him to me, saying she had done all she could, and now desired me
to treat him, if I thought I could do him any good.
The child was pale, flabby and very weak ; has pale blue eyes
and golden hair ; had diarrha three months, which nothing could
stop. According to the mother's ingenuity, "He's a good child
and never cries much." Was eating a biscuit when his mother
entered the office with him. I told her the child was forming a
bad habit. She immediately answered, "I must always carry
something for him to eat wherever I go, because he wants to eat
all the time, and he just loves eggs, but I don't know whether
he ought to have them or not ; they make his bowels run off, and
he takes a very bad spell once a month. I have noticed it now
three times."
Question : What time of the month ?
Answer : When the moon fulls.
I noticed a watery coryza and rattling in the chest. Every time
the mother opened her mouth I thought more of Calcarea, which I
gave in the 85m potency, one dose, dry on the tongue, in the
office, and thirteen powders of Sac. lac., a powder to be
dissolved in a half glass of water, and a teaspoonful to be
given every two hours. The mother desired to know about letting
him have the eggs. I told her that his craving for them would
gradually decrease, and that I could not withhold them from him.
November 14. Much better in every respect. "He does not crave
eggs quite so much and his bowels are better, but he cannot walk
yet." I told her she should not expect the child to be entirely
well in two weeks, when it had been sick three months.
Sac. lac., 13 powders to be taken in the same manner.
Dec. 9. Still improving. Is beginning to walk again and does not
crave eggs any more, though he likes to eat them. Mother thinks
his bowels are natural now. I could detect no rattling in the
chest, and nose had stopped running.
Sac. lac., nine powders. Told the mother she need not come back
unless the child got worse, and then to let me know immediately.
I have heard from the child repeatedly and he is still "hearty."
(Tom Hagen.).
SUPPRESSED
INTERMITTENT FEVER
In the year 18-- I was called on to visit a Mrs. D., aged
40, who had come some forty miles to place herself under my care
for the treatment of an obstinate and grave inflammation to both
eyes, supposed to have arisen from cold, and which had hitherto
resisted all attempts at cure. The inflammation was severe, and
the eyes so extremely sensitive that any examination beyond a
mere glance was out of the question, and I hesitated somewhat to
assume the responsibility of the case. Without delay she was
placed under the use of such remedies as seemed indicated by the
ascertained totality of symptoms, the names of which, writing
from memory, cannot now be recalled.
This treatment
continued about three weeks, the only beneficial result obtained
being a slight mitigation of the symptoms. Not satisfied with so
poor a return, and diligently searching for some cause for this
partial success, I conceived that the history of the case might
not have fully reached me. So I sat down for a patient inquiry,
from which was gathered that Mrs. D., with her husband,
emigrated from the city of London some years before this and had
purchased a piece of land on our Northern Railroad contiguous to
a marsh, the proximity of which induced recurring attacks of
intermittent fever, for which Quinine had been freely and often
taken, with the usual effect of at length "breaking the chills,"
as it is termed, and, as our patient supposed, of curing the
disease. Unfortunately, when the ague ceased its chill, etc.,
the eyes, which had hitherto been sound, became greatly
inflamed, and so persistent and severe that at times total loss
of vision seemed imminent.
My inference from
this statement was that the intermittent fever had not been
cured by the Quinine, but suppressed, and so thrown back into
the system to concentrate its baneful effects in another form,
which I conceived to be this affection of the eyes. Should these
deductions be correct, it was further premised that no
improvement in the eyes was possible unless the restraining and
suppressive action of the Quinine on the primary disease could
be antidoted ; and if this were predicable, the intermittent
might return. Actuated by these thoughts, and the presence of
nausea as a prominent but hitherto unrecognized symptom, I gave
Ipecac 30, four times daily, during several days, when, to my
surprise and delight, one morning about 9 o'clock a very decided
chill set in more severe than any which the patient had yet
experienced, followed by intense fever and subsequent
perspiration.
The next day was
an intermission, succeeded on the third day by a renewal of all
the symptoms, time etc., of the first I had then a clear
tertian, beginning at 9 A. M., from which, and other symptoms
now forgotten, there remained no reasonable ground for rejecting
Nat. mur. as the remedy. It was accordingly administered in the
30th potency four times daily for a while, an after three
paroxysms, occupying nine days, the disease ceased to return,
being, as the sequel showed, completely cured ; and, to my great
delight, the Natrum had acted so beneficially that nothing else
was required, and I shortly had the pleasure of sending my
patient home, cured of both the malarial fever and the terrible
effect on the eyes of its having been suppressed. (John Hall).
INTERMITTENT
FEVER
I was called to Mrs. Shultz, a young married woman, who had
a short time before (three months, I think) had a miscarriage.
She had, under the care of an old school physician, who stood
high in the profession, not recovered her health, but had grown
anæmic, weak and emaciated, and a bad cough, with considerable
expectoration, had set in. Now the doctor gave it as his opinion
that she had consumption and an unfavourable prognosis.
This of course was
discouraging, and as he had treated her so long with this result
they concluded to change doctors.
I took charge of the case with some misgivings, as the former
physician was a man of acknowledged ability, but, as I watched
the case, after a few days I observed that what the doctor had
called hectic fever every afternoon was preceded by a distinct
chill every day at 10 A. M. with clock-like regularity. I also
noticed that the high fever was accompanied with very red face
and throbbing headache, and was followed by sweat, which
relieved all the suffering, and the rapid pulse became nearly
normal in the morning. I also observed that the patient lived
right on the banks of a swampy marsh. So I concluded to ignore
the name the doctor had given the disease and give the remedy
covering the symptoms. I gave Natrum mur., although it had never
cured a case of consumption, and cured the patient, completely
and rapidly. (Nash.)
SUPPRESSED
INTERMITTENT FEVER
Woman aged 53. She complains of a dull heavy feeling all
over her ; almost continual headache, which is worse in cloudy
and damp weather ; extremely sensitive to cold air, especially
the head and feet ; sleeps well, but dreams bad dreams. There
are also unmistakable evidences of liver trouble, which she says
have existed for twenty-five years. The period of aggravation of
all her symptoms, especially headache, is between 10 A. M. and
12 noon ; the appetite is generally fair ; has a craving for
salt. The history of this case shows that when she was a girl
she had frequent and protracted attacks of fever and ague,
during which she took large quantities of Quinine in some form
or other. She says she has never been well since then ; she
continually experiences a dull and heavy feeling throughout her
whole body.
Her only
recollection of these attacks, of the fever and ague, is that
she was at that time fond of salt ; craved salt. It is very
evident that this patient, when she had the fever and ague, was
a subject for Natrum mur., and the probability is that had she
had the remedy administered at that time her life would not have
been so miserable an existence during the interim. The remedy is
clearly indicated at the present time, especially by the craving
for salt, and the persistent headache agg. between 10 A. M. and
12 noon and the bad reams. Jan. 29th three powders of Nat. mur.
1 m were prescribed.
Feb. 5th. Headache less, dull heavy feeling of body less, and no
bad dreams. Sac. lac. prescribed.
Feb. 12th. Same report ; still improving.
Feb. 19th. Continual improvement.
March 4th. The patient seemed almost well and said she had
improved more during the past week than in any previous week
since taking the medicine, notwithstanding she had taken no
medicine except that prescribed at her first visit. (C. M. Boger.)
INTERMITTENT FEVER
R., boy aged four years, had for fourteen months continued
attacks of tertian intermittent. Quinine had been given until
the little fellow sensibly refused to take more.
In August, 1880, I
learned that he had had a paroxysm every other day for seven
months. The malarial and quinine cachexia was well marked, and
with the chill, which began between 10 and 11 A. M., there was
intense thirst for large draughts of water, and during the fever
which followed he complained of his head "hurting and jumping."
One dose of Natrum mur. (30) was given at the end of a paroxysm.
He remained free from another attack until in the following
October, when, the same symptoms presenting, another dose of
Nat. mur. was given, and he has no chills since (May, 1881), and
has continued to live in the same place, and his health is
constantly improving. This case came under observation while I
was visiting the section in which he resides with his parents,
and on learning that many cases of a similar character were in
the neighborhood I felt a vial of Nat. mur., with directions to
give one dose to any case met with ; and I learned a few months
afterwards that several cases had been cured with that remedy.
(Geo. H. Clarke.)
LIVER DISEASE
R., lad, æt. 12, living at Park-gate. He suffered for some
time from constipation, loss of appetite, dirty looking
complexion, emaciation, frontal headache going round to the
back, sleepiness towards evening and, first thing in the
morning, urine thick, with nasty smell.
Excepting the "nasty" smell, which the boy could not define, I
find these symptoms in the pathogenesis of Natrum muriaticum in
Allen's Encyclopædia of Pure Materia Medica and numbered
respectively 529, 353, 251, 885, 64, 970, 561. Therefore, Natrum
mur. 6, and that six grains in water, forenoon and afternoon.
After taking 24 powders he returned, cured of all the symptoms
except the odor of the urine and the emaciation, and "feeling
very much better." The prescription was repeated and the patient
did not return. His father subsequently informed me that the
cure was complete. (Burnett.)
RHEUMATISM
Mrs. Dr. Keese was attacked with a severe inflammatory
rheumatism of the knee. The swelling was very red and painful.
There was high temperature, quick pulse, great restlessness and
exceeding sensitiveness to the pain.
Aconite brought
very little if any relief, and Bryonia next on account of the <
on movement and great thirst suffered like defeat. Now (said the
patient) why don't you help me ? I know you can if you have a
mind to. That was flattering, and I naturally wanted to "make
good." I turned down the bed clothes to view the situation. As I
put out my hand to feel of the knee, she exclaimed in terror, Oh
! don't touch it. The least touch is unbearable and brings on
the pain for hours.
I said you hold
still, and put my hand carefully on the inflamed knee and
gradually increased the pressure until I pressed it hard and
firm. The patient looked astonished and ashamed as she said why,
doctor, that don't hurt me, but I tell you that the least touch
has put me in agony before. I took off the pressure as gradually
as I had put it on, and the usual severe < did not follow. She
then got China 200th, and when I visited her twenty-four hours
later she exclaimed, there, I knew you could help me if you
wanted to. No other remedy was needed. (Nash.)
NEURALGIA
Chas. P., a tailor, came to see me at the dispensary, having
suffered a long time from facial neuralgia. Had been treated by
several old school doctors, but each one after treating for some
time with remedies and liniments with hardly any relief told him
that he would have to be operated on to have the diseased nerve
cut out, as it was the only way he could ever be cured. This was
to him always a signal to try another doctor, as he did not
relish the idea of an operation. He had been so long unable to
work and had spent all his savings for doctors and drugs that he
was now compelled to try the free dispensary.
The pain was
entirely on the left side of the face and neck. It would come
and shoot through the face like lightning, especially in the
house, especially if the tried to sew on the machine, or the
children made any noise. The only relief he could get was by
walking slowly about in the open air. He could only sleep after
applying cloths, wet with cold water, to the left side of the
face and head ; when these got warm the pains would awaken him,
but on re-applying them he could go to sleep again. The relief
from cold, open air and slow motion decided me to give him
Pulsatilla c. m., but all in vain.
I then assured him
he must be mistaken about his symptoms, for, if correct, I
thought he ought to have been cured, but he persisted that he
had given his symptoms correctly, and continued : "If I only
touch my nose or cheek ever so slightly, thus," suiting the
action to the word, "I can bring on that pain," and the
expression of his face and his groans showed that he had been
more than successful. He was still worse from any noise indoors,
heat, lying on the left side of the face and from eating, better
from fresh open air, walking slowly and from cold in general.
Stools daily, but almost black, urine dark yellow. I now gave
him China 200, to take one powder mornings and evenings. After
three days he returned, saying : "I have had no more neuralgia
since taking the second powder, and have slept well every night
since without the cold cloths. You are the thirteenth doctor who
has treated me for this, but the only one who has cured me." (F.
H. Lutze.)
TYMPANITES
J. Hall, a young man, unmarried, has had for a long time
great bloating of the abdomen, with severe paroxysms of colic.
When I was called to him he had been in bed some time, a number
of days, as the colic and bloating was getting worse
continually. He was a dark complexioned, medium height and
build, dark hair and eyes. He was jaundiced and had a yellow,
watery diarrha, which passed with much flatus, but did not
relieve the pain or reduce the size of the abdomen. The abdomen
was as full as that of a woman ready to be confined ; very
tympanitic, and the convolutions of the whole length of the
colon bulged out so that they could be seen as well as felt
through the thin abdominal wall, for he was quite emaciated
generally. He laid straightened out on the bed on his back,
except when the painful paroxysms came on, when he would throw
himself about in agony and groan.
I tried various
remedies, among which were Colocynth., Arsenicum, Nux vomica,
and finally Dioscorea, which I thought would certainly relieve
him, because he bent backward instead of doubled up with the
pain, and Dioscorea is a great flatulent remedy, and had served
me well in such cases. China, Carbo v. and Lycopod. had also
been tried. They were all used in the 30th and below. But no
good from any of them. It was a poor family, and the mother
being worn out with night watching (no nurse to help her) fell
asleep, and the patient became delirious with the pain and
escaped from the bed, and in his night clothes was overtaken
three miles from home and taken back. Of course, things got
serious, but they had one advantage, they were too poor to
change doctors or to pay for an operation of any kind. Well, as
has been my custom, I sat down and studied up the case again.
Nearly all his symptoms called for China. But he had had China
low. Now the only thing to do was to try it high. What, in such
a desperate case ? Yep. Only thing to do. So I gave him some
China 5m. made on my own potentizer (so I knew what it was). The
result was all a Lippe could desire. The terrible pain grew
promptly but gradually less, the tympany gradually subsided, the
diarrha stopped, and in a month from its first administration
he was working on the road with the rest of his fellow laborers.
There was no return. Now there was a very prominent subjective
symptom in the case which I have not mentioned. As H. N.
Guernsey used to give it : "Uncomfortable distention in the
abdomen, with a wish to belch up, or sensation as though the
abdomen were packed full, not in the least relieved by
eructations." In this case neither belching nor stool relieved
in the least. (Nash.)
NEURALGIA
Mrs. R., age 65, had been treated during five or six years
at different times by two homopaths for torpid liver. During
all this time she had not had a natural evacuation, the stool
had to be washed out by an enema ; there had not been the least
desire for stool, nor any urging.
She had become very feeble and emaciated and suffered frequently
and severely from neuralgia on the right side of the face, which
the treatment of her physicians did not seem to relieve. An
allopath being called in gave her a lengthy prescription,
containing Quinine, Strychnia, Aloe, Podophyllum, Euonymus,
etc., to be made into pills to take two mornings and evenings.
The first dose aggravated her so much that she did not take the
second dose until the following morning ; this making her still
worse, the pills were abandoned and I was called. I found her
delirious, temperature 104 degrees, but could obtain no
symptoms.
Nux vom. 200, given at bed-time, produced a favourable change by
next morning, but in the evening neuralgia of right side of head
and face appeared, with symptoms of Bellad., and this soon
relieved the neuralgia, as also another attack a month later.
During the interval and after the second attack she was treated
according to symptoms, but after two months the neuralgia made
its appearance again ; this time on the left side of the head,
face and neck, with exactly the same symptoms, but Bellad. gave
no relief whatever ; she was rather worse in the afternoon. Mrs.
R. then told me that the slightest touch would not only
aggravate the pain, but actually reproduce it in its worst form,
if touched when she was free from it. Chin. sulph. covering all
the symptoms, including the reproduction of pain by touch, which
is not found under Bellad., I gave her a dose of Chin. sulph.
45m in water, to take two teaspoonfuls every two hours, which
gradually improved her, so that she was free from pain in four
hours and never had another attack of neuralgia. (F. H. Lutze,
1893.)
DIARRHA
A delicate girl, three years old, has had an exhausting
diarrha three weeks. It is now painless, consisting of brownish
yellow fluid, with much undigested food. She has ten or twelve
operations in twenty-four hours, and is much debilitated. China
200, every two hours, produced decided improvement in thirty-six
hours, and complete convalescence in two days more. (J. B.
Bell.)
RHEUMATISM
I was called to see a man with rheumatism. He had been
confined to his bed and arm chair for many months, and had
suffered greatly from the disease and many doctors. Had not
tried homopathy, for there was "nothing in it." I found joints
swollen (hands, feet, knees, body). The affection had continued
all the time to move from joint to joint since he was attacked.
Heat did not > but <.
Tongue coated white, poor appetite, no thirst.
Very greatly discouraged, depressed.
Temperament, fair ; mild disposition. There were other symptoms,
but these were leading. He received Pulsatilla c. m. (Fincke).
He improved promptly, but in a few days sent for me. He showed
me a discharge from the urethra that looked gonorrhal in
character. That was in the days of long ago, when we did not
know so much about bacteriology. He said that his wife had given
it to him, for he had, as everybody knew, not been able to get
away from home. The wife indignantly denied the imputation. Both
looked to me for a solution of the mystery. I said to him - did
you ever have clap before ? He hesitated under the scrutiny of
the flashing eyes of his wife. Then said : Yes, I did when I was
a young man, before I was married. I said your rheumatism is
improving since this discharge appeared. Yes. How were you cured
of the clap ? By an injection. Well, then, I said neither you
nor your wife are guilty of inconstancy toward each other. This
rheumatism from which you are now suffering is the result of
that suppressed gonorrha of twenty years ago, and you will get
well of both under the action of appropriate medication. But no
more local injections, please. He recovered rapidly. I have seen
other cases similar from such suppressions and am careful not to
resort to them. I did not know of the history of gonorrha in
the case, but treated it on the symptomatic indications. (Nash.)
NEURALGIA
Mrs. G., age 35, a farmer's wife, called to get some
medicine for neuralgia, stating that the whole right side of the
head was involved. The pains would come and go gradually at very
irregular periods, shoot into the ear along the side of the neck
and under the eye, and were always made worse by putting
anything cold in the mouth. To the question if the pain was
relieved by putting anything warm in the mouth, she answered :
"Oh, no ; that makes it a great deal worse." The pains, although
mostly confined to the right side of the face, were moving about
frequently, often after leaving the head appearing in the left
leg or heel ; she was always chilly, easily moved to tears, and
felt decidedly better in the open air. I gave her Pulsatilla 30,
two powders, to dissolve one in four teaspoonfuls of water, and
take one every two hours. The neuralgia was cured with the first
powder and remained so ; she had no need of the second. (F. H.
Lutze.)
SUPPRESSED
MENSTRUATION
Emma G., aged about 30 years. Has been an invalid for years,
under the care of an allopathic gynæcologist, who treated her
for ulceration of the cervix. He had succeeded in healing the
ulcers by local cauterizations, etc., but the canal had become
so narrow that for a year he had been obliged to introduce a
catheter to draw off the menstrual fluid. Finally it became so
closed that the could not introduce the instrument at all. Then
the patient passed another year having great pain and fullness
in the uterine region at every period, which confined her to the
bed for days, but no appearance of the menses. I was called to
the case and prescribed Pulsatilla routinely. Visited her when
she was due the next month. Found her suffering as usual, and no
relief in any way from the remedy.
Then I sat down
and wrote out her case in toto.
I found a history decidedly scrofulous or psoric, and among a
quite long list of symptoms the following :
Frequent flashes of heat all over the body followed by sweat and
debility.
Much burning of the feet, has to put them out of bed.
Weak, faint spells, especially in the forenoon.
These with the psoric history decided the prescription.
I gave her Sulphur c. m. (Fincke), a powder, dry on the tongue,
once a week (Sac. lac. in solution between), with a promise that
I would come up the next time when she was due, and if she was
no better would make an examination. So when the time came I
took my wife and went up prepared to do so.
Found the patient
instead of upstairs in her bed as usual down in the parlor
entertaining some lady friends who were calling.
She came out where we were, and I said, How about that
examination ? Oh, said she, I am so glad it is not necessary. I
am menstruating perfectly easy, and feel so well. She never
failed afterward to menstruate regularly, and was restored to
perfect health. (Nash.)
LEUCORRHA
Mrs. W., age 25 years, married, and has two children : the
last was born fifteen months before I saw her, from which time
she has suffered from profuse yellow leucorrha with violent
pruritus vulvæ ; worse at night. She has at the same time great
bearing down of womb, perfectly incapacitating her from standing
or walking or doing her household duties, such as ironing and
washing.
Most violent
chronic headaches, of a throbbing and tensive character, and
arising from the least worry or fatigue, with habitual
constipation. Has been, under allopathic treatment two years
without benefit. The keynotes to the cure were as follows : Heat
and pressure on vertex ; throbbing and tension ; headaches more
or less constant and worse before the menses ; worried by
trifles, and memory impaired. Flushing of face ; fainting spells
without cause ; sinking, empty, exhausted, craving for food ;
worse at eleven o'clock in the forenoon ; intense icy cold feet
; worse when the head is bad.
Sulphur, one millionth potency (Boericke), in one dose of five
pellets, cured permanently every symptom, constipation,
leucorrha and sensation of prolapsus included and without
repetition. (Skinner).
DIARRHA
I., aged 12 months, had had diarrha for nearly a month. Her
flesh was soft and flabby ; open fontanelles ; tongue coated
white at the back. She was thirsty and drank a good deal of milk
and water. The diarrha was worse in the morning, beginning
about 4 A. M., continuing more or less until the afternoon. It
was dark yellow, watery, occasionally greenish white mucus,
coming with a gush early in the morning, almost involuntarily
during the day when standing. Child cried a little before bowels
were moved. There was also a cough, worse on lying down at
night, sometimes causing her to vomit ; child slept with eyes
only half closed.
The patient's appearance suggested Calc. carb., which was
prescribed ; no benefit resulting, Sulphur 6 was given ; the
italicized symptoms being very characteristic of the drug. The
diarrha ceased, and her health greatly improved in a few days ;
no other remedy being needed. (A. E. Hawkes.)
CHOREA
Chorea of eight years' standing, affecting right side only
excepting the face, all the muscles of which were affected. Ign.
and Caust. failed. Sepia 55,000 and 100,000 relieved for a few
days each, but Sulph. 6,000 given on account of "weak, faint,
hungry spells" about 10 A. M. was followed by immediate
improvement. (Goodno.)
DEAFNESS
Mrs. A., age forty-nine, deaf in right ear for twenty years,
in left ear for five years. Hears no conversation except upon a
high key, and that only when very near. Sensation of heavy
pressure and heat at the vertex, extending to both ears with
soreness of the brain. Soles burn at night, hot flushes on the
face followed by cold sweat ; constipation, faintness at 10 or
11 A. M. Sulphur300 for twelve days, with but little
improvement. Sulphur 6,000 was followed by restoration of left
ear and relief from soreness and pressure at the vertex. The
hearing in the right ear was slowly restored. (Hoyne.)
METRORRHAGIA
Was called to visit Mrs. -----, æt. fifty-two, June 6, 1879.
Found she had been suffering from metrorrhagia, constipation and
concomitants for about ten years. She stated that her medical
adviser had always been an allopath. He who last attended her,
after a protracted and unsuccessful trial of his individual
skill, had accompanied her to New York to consult a now emeritus
professor of surgery of an allopathic medical college, who had
made for himself an enviable reputation as an operating surgeon.
The emeritus professor, after obtaining a history of the case
and making his examinations, endeavored to console the lady by
informing her that his wife was in about the same condition as
herself ; that he sent her to this retreat and that watering
place, all of which resulted in little if any benefit ; and
intimated that she might, if she thought well of it, do the
same.
She concluded not
to think well of it, and so returned as she went, like the door
upon its hinges, unprofited.
Her physician, after an attendance of several years, during
which his patient became gradually worse, abandoned the case.
She had the assurance, however, to inform me that if he had only
persevered in his attendance she supposed he would have relieved
her.
She gave me to understand, moreover, that it was at the instance
of some of her friends that I had been called, and not because
she had any confidence in Homopathy.
Her metrorrhagia,
which had been exceedingly prostrating and annoying in many ways
from its incipiency, had continued constantly for the last six
months with the exception of two weeks, and was of a passive or
active character, accompanied by very little pain.
At time it
consisted of a slight oozing, the discharge presenting a dark
appearance ; at others it passed in considerable gushes, and was
a bright red color, with very few clots.
To procure alvine evacuations, it was her custom to resort to
enemata or cathartics. She complained bitterly of painful
hæmorrhoids. Her general appearance was bloated, and her
extremities dematous. She had an annoying bearing down
sensation, especially when on the feet, so that she moved about
with difficulty. She had occasional stitches from right to left,
across the epigastrium, and was quite sensitive to a jolt or
jar.
The symptoms which
led to the selection of the similimum were the following :
Frequent hot flushes to the face ; feet habitually cold or
burning soles. (Feet so cold she must sit with them in the oven
of the kitchen stove, or soles so hot at night that she must put
them from under the bedcovers to cool them). Heat in the vertex.
An empty, faint sensation at the epigastrium about 11 A. M.,
rendering it necessary to partake of some food. Unable to lie on
the left side or back ; must lie on the right side. (Lying on
the left side was followed by intolerable unrest, on the back by
nightmare). Drinks much, eats little.
During treatment the importance of keeping quiet was not
enjoined upon the patient, but she was allowed to exert herself
in any way she deemed proper, nor was she restricted in the
least in regard to her diet.
A few pellets of
Sulph. m. m. were given her dry on the tongue, June 6, 1876, and
the dose was not repeated nor any other remedy given for four
months. As she had been subjected for many years to allopathic
dosing, she was provided with the usual placebo, with direction
to take three pellets at night if she felt that she needed them.
She was also directed to call me at any time if warranted by any
change in her symptoms. On the 6th of October, 1876, being in
the immediate vicinity of her residence, I called on my patient
to ascertain particulars, having heard, incidentally only, that
she was better. She soon presented herself, exhibiting an
appearance very different from that of four months previously.
Her first exclamation was, "Under God I am indebted to you for
my restoration to health." She further stated, "A week after
commencing the medicine the hæmorrhage ceased, and has not
returned. At the time the hæmorrhage disappeared my bowels
became regular in their evacuations, and have remained so. My
painful hæmorrhoids have ceased to exist. At my monthly periods
I menstruate normally for two or three days." I inquired, "What
about your other symptoms ?" She replied, "Oh, the hot flushes
to my face, my cold feet or burning soles, the all-gone feeling
at the stomach about 11 o'clock A. M., the inability to lie on
the left side or back, the disposition to drink frequently and
largely, and not being able to eat much have all disappeared,
and I really feel as if I could not be sufficiently grateful."
(L. Shafer, M. D.)
CHRONIC URETHRITIS
Mrs. S-----, a married woman of fifty years of age, of light
complexion, blue eyes, auburn hair. A nervous sort of body,
complained for nearly six months as follows :
Frequent micturition day and night. Urine passed in small
quantities - about a large spoonful at once - with urgency
before, pain, smarting, burning, scalding, after each passage.
There was a sensation of pressure upon the bladder also. The
above were all the symptoms she gave, all I could get, at the
time.
The above
condition was distressing and kept her from church and social
gathering. Without any comparison of remedies, for such
condition, I gave Cantharis 200, which gave some relief, but
only that. At the third call, I questioned her more closely and
found she had, in addition to the foregoing symptoms, the
following. Had much prurigo of labia, groins, upper part of
thighs : the itching being so intense she wore out her clothing
rubbing and scratching the parts.
The labia
vestibulum, meatus urinarius and otium vaginæ, together with the
adjacent skin, were inflamed and the labia majora dry and
cracked. All these areas were subject to attacks of intense
itching, burning and smarting upon scratching, daily. She was
subject to frequent flushes of heat with redness of face,
followed by slight perspiration. Got chilly easily and warm as
easily. Heat and work aggravated her symptoms. Had considerable
thirst ; and less hunger. Often had burning of feet, both day
and night ; worse nights.
She had used all
sorts of medicines, salves and ointments, hot and cold water,
but only to repel the local irritation from time to time. This
is what had been done, just prior to the time she first called
on me, and this accounted for the paucity of symptoms given at
first and second call. On the basis of the last symptoms, I gave
her Sulphur 500, three doses, and a subsequent prescription of
Sac. lac. At the end of a week she was materially better, and
from that time to this she had no more trouble. The Sulphur was
given Feb. 22, 1890. (Stow.)
CHOLERA
It was in 1851, on one of those unsurpassably hot mornings
that prevail here in August, that I was summoned to see a case
of cholera at a great distance. A Redemptorist Father had been
with him during the night, and finding his apparently
homopathic treatment not as successful as he desired wished
further advice. The patient was an emaciated, sharp-faced
German, a tailor, about 50 years old. He had indulged on the
previous day for his supper in blood pudding and cucumber salad.
He was taken about 11 P. M. with Asiatic cholera ; he still
continued to vomit and to be purged, with violent cramp at short
intervals. All of these cramps and rice-water discharges ceased
during that day, the principal remedy had been Arsenicum ; but
from that evening till the next evening he continued to vomit,
and apparently was sinking from exhaustion.
Thirst was very great ; he had to drink large quantities of cold
water, and felt better afterwards, till the water became warm in
his stomach in from fifteen to twenty minutes, and then he had
to vomit it up again, to be relieved of this exhausting painful
vomiting and thirst by drinking another large quantity of water.
A number of remedies administered produced not the slightest
relief.
The symptom found by the clinical experiment in this case - cold
water drunk is vomited up as soon as it becomes warm in the
stomach - was not to be found in our Materia Medica. But there
was found, after a long search, under Phosphorus, in the fifth
volume of Hahnemann's Chronic Diseases, Symptom 745 : "In the
most terrible agonies he vainly tried to vomit ; only the
drinking of cold water relieved." Nothing could be found in a
search for a similar remedy but this symptom, and now we gave
this suffering man one dose of Phosphorus 19m. about 9 P. M.,
with the order to repeat it every two hours until he was
relieved. On the next morning we found that he had been given no
more than this solitary dose, and that he was rapidly improving.
He recovered without needing any more medicine.
COMMENTS.
The case here briefly stated might be claimed to belong to the
"Causes célèbres." Ever since this case was cured and published
everybody has admitted into our Materia Medica this so
frequently confirmed Phosphorus symptom - "vomiting of what has
been drunk as soon as it becomes warm in the stomach." Everybody
knows it, and the knowing ones have and will continue to cure
this not infrequently recurring symptom with Phosphorus. The
case illustrates the manner in which our Materia Medica has been
developed ; how symptoms observed by provers only similar to the
symptoms observed on the sick as the result of disease may be
cured by a given drug, and that the confirmation of such cures
entitle this symptoms - the result of the clinical experiment -
to as much importance as if it had been observed on a dozen of
provers.
Upon reflection, the men who persistently insist in the sifting
of our Materia Medica may think the better of it. (Ad. Lippe.)
DYSENTERY
Several years ago I treated a child suffering for two weeks
from an obstinate attack of dysentery. Several remedies had
failed utterly. Counsel was called, but our combined efforts
were equally unsuccessful. At one of my visits the mother
chanced to be changing the child's diaper. I noticed that the
anus was wide open. I could have inserted my little finger to
the depth of two inches without touching the bloody mucus-lined
walls. (The tenesmus was almost continuous). Neither Jahr's
Manual (snelling), Bell on Diarrha, nor Hering's Condensed
contain this important symptom. Finally I discovered this under
Phosphorus in Lippe's Textbook. Three days after the use of the
remedy naught remained of the troublesome disease except the
resulting weakness. (Nash.)
HEADACHE
Mrs. M., æt. 30, dark hair, dark complexion, medium size,
WHENEVER SHE WASHES CLOTHES, or walks fast, has the following
symptoms : Rush of blood to the head, red face and eyes, heat in
the head, sensitiveness of the scalp to touch, sudden shooting
pains in the head, especially in the vertex. She has a permanent
hard protuberance on the left side of the head, where
phrenologists locate ideality ; also one on the metacarpal bone
of her left hand, and one on the right foot. These parts, after
washing, become very much swollen, red and hot, with shooting
pains.
There is a small ulcer on the left foot, near the little toe.
All the above symptoms are so severe, especially the pains in
the head, as to necessitate her lying in bed. The pains in the
head are also experienced when walking fast, as well as after
washing, but much more after washing. After a few doses of
Phosphorus c. m. she found she could wash or walk fast without
experiencing any return of the above symptoms. The ulcer on the
foot healed. (Compare Am. c., Ant. m., Bell., Bry., Calc. carb.,
Calc. phos., Carb. v., Clem., Dulc., Lycop., Merc., Nux m., Puls.,
Rhus, Sars., Sep., sulph. - Eds.).
Note by the Editor
(Dr. Geo G. Gale.) : "On receiving this extremely interesting
case, from Dr. Gale, we happened to have on hand one exactly
similar, viz., head symptoms, of a most chronic type, in a
washer-woman, rendering her occupation at times quite impossible
; always worse when washing clothes or walking fast, but much
more after washing. Her symptoms were identical with those of
Dr. Gale's patient, which are italicized. Considerable relief
was obtained from the administration of Pulsatilla c. m.,
followed, a week after, by Sulphur m. m., Mercurius 10 m (for
toothache in a carious tooth, and faceache, caused by washing
clothes), and Lycopod. d. m. for sadness, gloomy sadness, and
ill humor before menses ; severe dysmenia, with back as if
broken ; coldness of left foot. But is was reserved for Dr. Gale
to effect a speedy and permanent cure by the similimum. Rush of
blood to face and head with heat ; the scalp is sensitive to
touch, with sudden shooting pains in the head, especially in the
vertex, induced and always aggravated when washing clothes or
walking fast."
Phosphorus will
cure.
On the 17th of last September a washer-woman to the family
was fairly "hors de combat" with these symptoms and the
following : Sinking at the epigastrium ; nausea and loss of
appetite ; sleepless, and when she does sleep she wakes always
with a congestive headache and giddiness. She is afraid to wash.
Phosphorus c. m. was given then and there, one powder dry on the
tongue. We did not see her again till the 21st of Sept., when
she informed us that "the last medicine had done her more good
than all the rest put together." Thanks to Providence and his
servant, Dr. Gale. We left her on the 21st of Oct., perfectly
well and healthy, pursuing her vocation in comfort. (Skinner).
PNEUMONIA
C. H. Nearing, about 30 years of age, was attacked with
pneumonia (double). The right side worst. There was great
oppression of breathing, very high temperature and quick pulse,
circumscribed redness of the cheeks, right most, not much pain,
rather apathetic, the cough (without much expectoration at
first), and oppression much worse when lying on the left side.
What little pain was complained of was located in the lower
right lobe, but the hepatization was general over that side and
in evidence to quite a degree on the left. All this condition
followed a chill at the beginning. Aconite did not do much good,
though it had a fair chance. Then I gave Phosphorus 1 m in
solution, to be repeated once in two hours.
In the night the
wife came running to my office, saying she feared Mr. N. had
gone into a stupor, and wished me to come immediately. I was at
the bedside in a few moments, and instead of a stupor found my
patient sleeping soundly enough, but quietly, and breathing
quite a good deal more naturally, and bathed in a nice warm
perspiration. I awoke him and he drew a long breath and said how
much better I feel. Then he coughed and raised easily a mouthful
of bloody sputum, with great relief, and made a rapid and
complete recovery. (Nash)..
PNEUMONIA
In the year 1876, in the course of a severe attack of typhus
fever, during my residence in Liverpool, my state, as I am told
(for I was in delirium), suddenly became very critical through
pneumonic consolidation of the right lung.
Phosphorus was the
remedy selected by Drs. Drysdale, Hayward and Hawkes, who
attended me, and under its action I made a rapid recovery. Hard,
dry cough, rusty sputum ; increased at twilight and until
midnight ; < lying on left side ; > lying on right side ;
abdomen distended, sore, very sensitive to touch ; stools
offensive, bloody, involuntary ; the anus appearing to remain
open. Each one of the symptoms I have italicized is a keynote of
Phosphorus. When any of them are present (with or without
pneumonia) Phosphorus is likely to be the remedy. (John. H.
Clarke.)
DIARRHA
Mr. Van Hoesen, middle aged, very large tall man, was
attacked with a profuse light-colored, grayish-white diarrha.
It poured away from him like water form a hydrant. Every passage
was followed by a very weak, gone feeling in the abdomen.
Phosphoric acid., China, Arsenic, Verat. album and other
remedies failed to check the discharges, although they grew a
little less in quantity at each time. Looking at the stools
again and again, on the third day I discovered little white
particles looking like sago, or little lumps of tallow, floating
on the surface. This was a keynote. Then I could see Phosphorus
in the whole case. This remedy in the 3d in solution, a
teaspoonful.
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