Venous hæmorrhages (very dark and clotted); veins full, enlarged and sore to touch.
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Hamamelis Virginica is another remedy having the symptom "soreness as if bruised" in a marked degree, and which I did not mention when writing of Arnica. This soreness is sometimes found in rheumatism and Hamamelis has cured when Arnica failed. But one of the chief distinctions between these two remedies is that Arnica acts more upon the capillaries, causing their relaxation, whereby suggillations take place, while Hamamelis acts more upon the veins, which are very full, enlarged and sore. One author says:
"It is the Aconite of the veins."
From clinical use we know enough of the remedy to value it highly in varicosities of almost all kinds. (Fluoric acid.) It is here a powerful rival of Pulsatilla, but except the soreness of the veins we do not know of guiding symptoms for its use.
It has produced, in provings, severe hæmorrhages, and clinical use has defined the bleeding to be of very dark clotted, venous blood. There is no doubt of its power over such hæmorrhages, whether occurring from the nose, bowels, uterus, lungs or bladder. I have used it in every place with satisfaction. It is not a powerful poison and can be used low without bad effects. One of its best uses is in orchitis and inflammation of the spermatic veins, the provings markedly indicating its homœopathicity here. In hæmorrhages from the anus, whether from piles or typhoid fever, if the blood is of the above described appearance, Hamamelis is excellent.
Like Arnica and Calendula, Hamamelis has often seemed to act well as a local application. I am not in favor, generally, of using remedies in this way, unless it be for external injuries, which are not diseases.
Disinclined to talk, to see friends, impatient, easily offended, danger within indignation; colic or other complaints as a consequence.
Colic, terrible; they seek relief by bending double or pressing something hard against the abdomen.
Dysentery-like diarrhœa; renewed after least food or drink, often with the characteristic colic pains.
Frequent urging to urinate, scanty; urine sometimes thick, fœtid, viscid, jelly-like.
Crampy pain in sciatic nerve, from hip down posterior portion of thigh; > from hard pressure and from heat; < in repose, driving patient desperate.
Tendency to painful cramps, with all pains.
Modalities: < evening, anger; after eating; > from coffee, bending double and hard pressure.
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No remedy produces more severe colic than this one, and no remedy cures more promptly.
Dr. T. L. Brown once said to me in substance: If I was disposed to be skeptical as to the power of the small dose to cure, Colocynthis would convince me, for I have so promptly cured severe colic in many cases, from a child to adults, and even in horses. Of course, every true Homœopath can respond amen to that.
The colic of Colocynthis is terrible, and is only bearable by bending double, or pressing something hard against the abdomen. He leans over chairs, the table or bed posts to get relief. This colic is neuralgic in character, and is often attended with vomiting and diarrhœa, which seems to be a result of the great pain more than any particular derangement of the stomach or bowels. We often find it in connection with dysentery. My experience has been that it does not, as a rule, occur in the first stage of the disease, but later, when the disease has not been fully controlled by Aconite, Mercurius, Nux vomica and that class of remedies, but has extended upward to the small intestines. The pains are of a crampy nature. The remedy that comes nearest to Colocynth for colic is Magnesia phosphorica especially in colic in children. They both have the cramping pains, but the pains of Magnesia phos. are most relieved by hot applications like Arsenicum. Both Colocynth and Magnesia phos. are also equally efficacious for neuralgic affections in other localities, for instance, in sciatica and prosopalgia, and even uterine colic of a neuralgic nature, though in this latter affection Magnesia phos. leads. Remember the modalities, for upon the individualization depends the choice between them. Chamomilla and Colocynth resemble each other, in that both have colic from a fit of anger or other neuralgic affections from the same cause. Chamomilla succeeds in the colic of children, if there is much wind which distends the abdomen; the child tosses about in agony, but does not double up like Colocynth. Other symptoms often come in of course and help to choose between them. If both fail I have succeeded with Magnesia phos. Staphisagria is also a remedy for colicky children, with disposition like Colocynth and Chamomilla. In such children the teeth grow black and decay early. Again the Staphisagria child is often troubled with sore eyelids. In such a case there is chronic tendency to colic and Staphisagria is sometimes the only remedy. Veratrum album also has colic, bending the patient double, similar to Colocynth, but the patient walks about for relief, or is much prostrated and has cold sweats, especially on the forehead. Bovista has colic relieved by bending double, after eating.
Dioscorea is a good remedy for wind Colic. The Pain begins right at the umbilicus, and then radiates all over the abdomen, and even to extremities (Plumbum, with walls retracted), and, unlike Colocynth, the pain is aggravated by bending forward and relieved by straightening the body out. Stannum is a colic remedy, and the only way the child is relieved is by being carried with the abdomen on the mother's shoulder. I have cured a case of this kind. It was a very obstinate case of long standing in a weakly child. The usual remedies had signally failed. Jalapa cured one of the most obstinate cases of long standing that I ever saw, the child crying almost continually day and night for weeks. There was in this case diarrhœa all the time. Both colic and diarrhœa were very quickly cured. I have lengthened out these indications for colic remedies in connection with Colocynth because there is great temptation, especially with young physicians, to give "paregoric," soothing syrups, etc., because it is not always easy to find the homœopathic remedy. I never have to do it, and I cure my cases. Of course there are many other remedies for the same trouble, and all have their particular guiding symptoms.
Colocynth not only cures neuralgic affections originating in the abdominal region, but has been very efficacious in facial and sciatic neuralgia. The pains in these localities, like those in the abdomen, are of a decidedly crampy nature. Here also Magnesia phos. often disputes place with Colocynth, in the fact of its also having characteristically the same kind of pains. The relief from heat, although found under both remedies, is most marked under Magnesia phos. In sciatica, the pain of Colocynth extends from the hip down the posterior portion of the thigh into the popliteal fossa (> lying on painful side, Bryonia). Phytolacca, the pains run down the outer side of the thigh. These two remedies, with Gnaphalium, are the leading remedies for the treatment of this most distressing malady. But of course other remedies often have to be given, and the indications are sometimes found outside of the local trouble, as they are in many other diseases. One of the worst cases of sciatica I ever saw was cured with Arsenicum album, on the indications, worse at midnight, especially from 1 to 3 o'clock; burning pains; and the only temporary relief during the paroxysms, was from bags of hot, dry salt applied to the painful part.
The lady was a sister of Charles Saunders, of New York, of school reader fame, who was himself a cripple from allopathically treated sciatica. She, after suffering indescribable agony for six weeks, was cured rapidly and permanently with a dose of Jenichen's 8m of Arsenicum album. So we see again that no remedy and no particular set of remedies can be entirely relied upon, but the indicated one can. These are the chief uses of Colocynth.
Eczemas, on scalp, behind ears, scrotum, anus, hands, feet, legs; hands chap and bleed; all < in winter; get better in summer.
Diarrhœa preceded by colic, only in the day-time.
Headache, or heaviness like lead in the occiput; sometimes with nausea on vomiting; < by motion, as in riding in boat or carriage.
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One of our best anti-psoric remedies. The eruptions that it causes and cures are very similar in appearance to those of Graphites. They appear on different parts of the body, as scalp, behind ears, on scrotum, female genitals, hands, feet and legs, etc.
There is one very marked characteristic symptom that guides to this remedy out of a large list having similar eruptions, and that is that the eruption is worse during the winter season (Aloe, Alumina, Psorinum). There is no other remedy that has this so prominently. The hands chap, crack and bleed, and are all covered with eczema during the winter and get well in summer. I hake cured a case of eczema of the lower legs of twenty years' standing, always worse in winter, with one prescription of the 200th. I have cured chapped hands the same way. I once had a very obstinate case of chronic diarrhœa, but as soon as the fact that he had eczema of the hands in winter came to light I cured him quickly of the whole trouble with Petroleum 200th. Chilblains (Agaricus), which are moist, and itch and burn much in cold weather, are also cured by it. Petroleum; also has a symptom similar to Hepar sulphuris, viz., the slightest scratch of abrasion of the skin suppurates. You remember that Hepar sulphuris is also worse in cold weather or cold air. Petroleum has headache in the occiput, which is as heavy as lead, also vertigo in the occiput.
Again, Petroleum is one of our best remedies for seasickness. In this it resembles Cocculus. Another curious symptom is cracking of the joints. This is like Causticum. Both of these remedies are valuable in chronic rheumatism, especially where this symptom is present. Petroleum has, with Chelidonium and Anacardium, a symptom, pain in stomach, relieved by eating. Again it is valuable in diarrhœa and dysentery, which is worse during the day. Petroleum deserves to be classed with the leading anti-psorics, such as Sulphur, Graphites, Causticum and Lycopodium.
Pain and very weak, faint, gone feeling in stomach, which is sometimes actually sunken.
Affections of the mucous membranes, where there is viscid stringy discharge; stomach, bronchi, uterus, etc.
Chronic constipation, that is remarkable for its absence of any other symptoms.
* * * * *
This is more celebrated remedy with the eclectics than with us. They especially value it for what they call its tonic properties and its specific action in the way of healing ulcerations in mucous membranes. We have also found it useful in such cases, but we have more decided indications for its use. For instance, in stomach troubles, where they attribute it curative powers to its tonic properties, we find it especially valuable only when we have this symptom present: "Dull aching pain in stomach which causes a very weak, faint, gone feeling in the epigastrium." The stomach is sometimes actually sunken (objectively). There are two other remedies that have this symptom to a degree almost equal, viz., Sepia and Ignatia, but Sepia is generally in connection with uterine affections while Ignatia is purely nervous. Hydrastis is a good remedy for chronic constipation. E. M. Hale taught that it must be used in tincture or very low dilution. I have found it most efficacious in the 200th. (B. & T.). I once cured a case that was of years' standing, had worn cathartics out, and all the way she could live (her words) was to swallow a spoonful of whole flaxseed with every meal. I have used it in infantile constipation successfully, and it is almost useful when all other symptoms aside from the constipation are conspicuous for their absence. Again, Hydrastis is indicated in affections of mucous membranes where there is a viscid stringy discharge. This is like Kali bichromicum, but the other symptoms of these two remedies are not much alike.
Chronic bronchitis of old debilitated people is sometimes greatly relieved by it; also leucorrhœa, with the stringy discharge as above described.
Great coldness of the external surface, with sudden and complete prostration of the vital force; collapse.
The patient objects to being covered, notwithstanding the objective coldness; throws off all the covering.
Pains disappear when thinking of them; exceedingly sensitive to cold air.
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The great characteristic around which the whole action of Camphor seems to revolve is: "Great coldness of the external surface, with sudden and complete prostration of the vital forces." It is no wonder Hahnemann headed his trio (Camphor, Cuprum and Hellebore) of cholera remedies with Camphor. If we were to sum up the same condition in one word it would be collapse. No remedy comes nearer to Camphor than the last of the trio, viz., Veratrum album, but Camphor has the collapse with painless stool or even no stool at all, while Veratrum has the collapse seemingly as a consequence of the very profuse evacuations of stomach and bowels. Both have great external coldness, but Veratrum has a very marked appearance of cold sweat upon the hippocratic face, especially forehead. Cuprum leads the trio, when the cramp in stomach and extremities is the most prominent symptom. These remedies are indicated when these characteristic symptoms appear, not only in cholera, but in any disease. There is one peculiarity in the coldness of Camphor, viz., the patient will not be covered, or objects to it, no matter how objectively cold he is. Secale coldness or collapse is exactly like this, and even in gangrena senilis it proves a great remedy on the same indications. The signal success of Dr. Rubini, of Naples, in treating five hundred and ninety-two cases of cholera with Camphor verified the prediction of Hahnemann beyond question. Collapse with cold surface and aversion to heat may come on in retrocedent exanthema, or in the later stage of so-called cholera infantum, in pneumonia, or capillary bronchitis, from exposure to intense cold or traumatic shock. Indeed it does not matter from what cause except death. Camphor is the first remedy to be thought of, and according to susceptibility or strength of the patient the dose must be varied from tincture to highest potency
Hahnemann's chief anti-sycotic.
Proliferations or pathological vegetations: condylomata, polypi, warts, sycotic excrescences, etc.
Bad effects following vaccination; never well since.
Especially suited to the treatment of ailments following suppressed gonorrhœa.
Urethritis in sycotic patients, which Cannabis sat. does not relieve; stream split, cutting after urination; discharge thick.
Sweat only on uncovered parts.
Modalities. < cold, damp air (hydrogenoid); after vaccination excessive tea drinking, extension of limbs; > drawing up limbs.
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Hahnemann recognized three miasms (as he called them) which complicated the treatment of all diseases. They were syphilis, psora and sycosis.
Sulphur was his chief anti-psoric, Mercury his anti-syphilitic and Thuja his anti-sycotic.
Whatever may be said against his theories along this line, certain it is that these three remedies do correct certain states of the system which seem to obstruct the curative action of other seemingly well-indicated remedies.
Thuja, for instance, cures or so changes the existing conditions that other remedies cure which could not do so before Thuja was given. Many diseases of various forms come under this rule. Whenever warts, condylomata, fig-warts etc., which come in consequence of gonorrhœal affections, especially suppressed, gonorrhœa, are found in any case we think of Thuja. For instance, a case of enuresis had resisted many seemingly indicated remedies, until the hands were discovered to be covered with warts, when a few drops of Thuja cured. Of course, the curative power of Thuja is not confined to sycosis, but can, like other remedies, cure when symptoms indicate it where no sycotic element in the case is apparent. Nevertheless, its chief power is manifested in those cases in which this miasm is unmistakably present. It is astonishing what widely different and varied forms of disease will be so modified by this miasm as to call for anti-sycotic treatment.
As Sulphur is not the only anti-psoric, or Mercury the only anti-syphilitic, so Thuja is not the only anti-sycotic; for Nitric acid, Staphisagria, Sabina, Cinnabaris and other remedies are sometimes called for, either before or after Thuja, or even when Thuja is not at all the remedy. But on the whole, Thuja, perhaps, as Hahnemann taught, stands at the head of the list. Thuja, Agaricus and Lycopodium have been called over-proven remedies; but when we realize the wide range of diseases which are complicated by the sycotic element in them we are not so sure of the over-proving of the Thuja, for it could not so benefit such a wide range of complaints if it could not produce a wide range of symptoms in its pathogenesis. This is also true of Sulphur and Mercury. Thuja has some very peculiar symptoms of the mind which have been verified.
"Fixed ideas, as if a strange person were at his side; as if the soul and body were separated; that the body and particularly the limbs were made of glass, and will readily break; as if a living animal were in the abdomen; tells about being under the influence of a superior power." Insane women will not be touched or approached. Aside from these curious mind symptoms we have: "Headaches of sycotic origin, with various symptoms; white dandruff, hair falling out or grows slowly and splits; eyelids bear styes, chalazæ, tarsal tumors, or condylomata; ears inflame, discharge pus, or grow polypi. Nose discharges thick, green mucus like Pulsatilla, or scabs are formed in it; warts on the outside of the nose or eruptions on its wings; face has a greasy or shiny look; teeth begin to decay at the roots as soon as they come, the crowns remaining sound. Ranula under the tongue, or varicosities in the mouth or throat; a great deal of croaking, rumbling and grumbling in the abdomen, as if of an animal crying; abdomen puffed and big, protruding here and there as if from the arm of a fœtus, or of something alive; constipation of hard black balls; chronic; stools large; and stool recedes after being partially expelled (Sanic., Silic.); or diarrhœa forcibly expelled, copious gurgling like water from a bung hole of a barrel; diarrhœa, especially from the effects of vaccination; anus fissured or surrounded with condylomata (see Antim. crud., Graphites and Silicea); ovarian troubles; asthma; nails brittle, distorted, crumbling, misshapen or soft; warts, condylomata, bleeding fungous growths; nœvi; epithelioma, and many other affections in sycotic subjects." Finally don't forget to look for the three miasms in all obstinate cases, whether acute or chronic.
Cross, ugly, scrawny, pot-bellied children; subject to colic; < after food or drink. Extreme hunger even when stomach is full of food.
Styes, nodosities, chalazæ, on eyelids, one after another, sometimes ulcerating.
Burning in the urethra when not urinating; very sensitive to slightest mental impressions; least action or harmless word offends.
Bad effects from sexual abuse; mind dwelling continually on sexual subjects.
Teeth decay early in children; cannot be kept clean.
Sensation as if stomach and abdomen were hanging down, relaxed; craving for tobacco.
* * * * *
"Great indignation about things done by others or himself, grieving about the consequences, continual concern about the future."
"Throws things away indignantly, or pushes them away on the table."
"Children are ill humored and cry for things which after getting they petulantly throw away; worse in the morning."
"Very sensitive to the least impression, the least word that seems wrong hurts her very much."
"Hypochondriasis, apathy; weak memory; caused by unmerited insults, sexual excess, or by persistently dwelling on sexual subjects."
"Ailments from indignation and vexation or reserved displeasure; sleeplessness."
I quote all these symptoms in order to impress the reader with the value of Staphisagria as a mind remedy. Chamomilla is often used when Staphisagria would be better, especially for children, and Nux vomica is sometimes used for adults the same way.
Phosphoric acid is sometimes used for the results of onanism when Staphisagria would do better. You will also notice that this remedy may be indicated for the effects of anger instead of Chamomilla or Colocynth. Here are Chamomilla, Nux vomica Cina, Colocynth and Staphisagria standing very close to each other for cross, ugly, irritable subjects, and there are few cases that one or the other will not fit. Then we have Phosphoric acid, Natrum muriaticum, Anacardium, Aurum and Staphisagria for the apathetic or hypochondriacal.
Staphisagria has a sensation as if the stomach were hanging down relaxed. Ipecac and Tabacum, have the same sensation.
Sometimes it is described as a sinking sensation. It also has the same sensation in the abdomen; feels as though it would drop, wants to support it with the hands. Colic, which might be styled "habitual colic," in scrawny, ugly, pot-bellied children, and especially if they suffer much with their teeth, which turn black, with tender, spongy gums, which are sensitive and painful.
Now when we add dysentery to the foregoing, we see that Staphisagria acts along the whole intestinal tract. Staphisagria is one of the remedies which has a marked characteristic aggravation after the least food or drink. This remedy has a very peculiar symptom, which appeared in the provings, and which I have verified, viz., "burning in the urethra when not urinating." While urinating the burning ceased. We have plenty of remedies for burning before, during and after urination, but Staphisagria is the only one having this burning all the time between the acts of urinating. In addition to being one of the best remedies for onanism, it is one of the best for affections of the prostrate gland in old men, with frequent urination and dribbling of urine afterwards. A very common and troublesome symptom found in connection with troubles of the genital organs, both male and female, is backache, which is very peculiar, in that it is always worse at night in bed and in the morning before rising. It is a very efficacious remedy here. Staphisagria is a good skin remedy. It cures both dry and moist eruptions. The eczema of Staphisagria oozes an acrid moisture from under the scabs, and new vesicles form from the contact of the exudation. They generally itch very severely, and one peculiarity is, that when the itching is relieved by scratching in one place it immediately appears in another. The eczema is often on the head, on the sides around the ears, but the most marked action is in the eyelids. Herring's card expresses it thus: "Styes, nodosities, chalazæ on eyelids, one after another, sometimes ulcerating." There is only one remedy that can compare with this one in chronic blepharitis, and that is Graphites (see also Borax). It has some remarkable cures of cross, puny, sickly children, having the teeth and eyelid symptoms. Not only were the local troubles remedied, but the patient was cured every way.
I think of but two other uses of Staphisagria, which I wish to mention. First, its use in the cure of condylomata, figwarts, or cauliflower-like excrescences. In one case, with the 200th of this remedy, I removed an excrescence on the perinæum of a lady in which the growth was an inch long and the appearance was exactly in appearance like cauliflower. It rapidly disappeared under the action of this remedy and never returned. Second, its use for Incised wounds. It is the best remedy here, where there is a clean cut as after surgical operations. It is to such wounds what Calendula is to lacerations, Arnica, Hamamelis, Ledum and Sulph. acid for bruises, Rhus tox., Calcarea ostrearum and Nux vomica for strains; Calcarea phosphorica and Symphytum for fractures.
The smell of food cooking nauseates to faintness.
Fall dysenteries when the days are warm and nights cold; stools shreddy and bloody, like scrapings.
Swelling of joints moving from one place to another; they are often dropsical and pit on pressure; < in extremes of wet and cold, or warm and dry (Kent).
* * * * *
This remedy has one of the most positive and reliable characteristic symptoms in the whole Materia Medica, and one which cannot be accounted for from any pathological standpoint that I know of. I mention this here because there is a seeming desire on the part of some to base all their prescriptions on pathological indications. I have no objections to their doing so if they can and succeed in curing their patients. But I claim full recognition for the value of those subjective, sensational symptoms and the modalities which cannot be accounted for. Indeed, I feel quite sure that the well-verified subjective symptoms are oftener to be relied upon in curing our patients than all the pathological conditions we know. Now for the symptom. "The smell of food cooking nauseates to faintness." To illustrate the value of this symptom I will give a case of my own practice; it was also my first experience with a potency as high as the 200th. Patient was a lady, seventy-five years of age, who was suddenly seized with sickness at the stomach and vomiting of blood in large quantities; then bloody stools followed, which were at first profuse, then became small and of bloody mucus. There was great tenesmus and pain in the bowels. Aconite, Mercurius, Nux vomica, Ipecacuanha, Hamamelis and Sulphur, all tried as well as I knew how to select them at that time, but no relief came, and at the end of twelve days my patient was rapidly going down and it looked to me as though she must die. She had become so weak that she could not lift her head from the pillow. By actual count the number of stools passed on cloths in the bed was sixty-five, in twenty-four hours, the pains, number of passages and an symptoms were aggravated from; sundown to sunrise (this is another characteristic of Colchicum).
Now during ad this sickness this patient had been so nauseated and faint at the smell of cooking food that they had been obliged to keep the doors closed between her bedroom and the kitchen, which was two large rooms away. I was not so well acquainted with Materia Medica then as now, and while I did not overlook the symptom did not know of any remedy that had it. But I had my Lippe text-book of Materia Medica in my carriage and I went out and got it and sat down by the bedside; determined to find that peculiar and persistent symptom and "fight it out on that line if it tom all summer" I began at Aconite and looked at the stomach symptoms of every remedy, until, the first time I remembered ever having noticed it there it stood in plain English under Colchicum. Then I looked in my medicine case for the remedy. None there, and I was four miles from home. I had a box of Dunham's 200ths under my carriage seat that had been there for over a year, but which I had never used for want of confidence in high potencies. It was the best I could do for the present, so I dissolved a few pellets in a half-glass of cold water, and directed to give one teaspoonful after every passage of the bowels. On my way home I stopped my horse two or three times to turn around and go back and give that poor suffering woman some medicine. I felt guilty, but I said to myself this is Lippe's Materia Medica, and these are Carroll Dunham's potencies, and here is a clean cut indication for its administration, and the other symptoms do not counter-indicate. Well, I got home. But I started early the next morning to try and make amends for my rashness (if the patient was not dead) of yesterday. Imagine my surprise as I stepped into the sick-room when my patient slowly turned her head upon the pillow and said, with a smile, "Good morning, Doctor." I had been met with a groan several past mornings. I felt faint myself then. I dropped into a chair by the bedside and remarked, "You are feeling better." "Oh, yes Doctor." "How much of that last medicine did you take?" "Two doses." "What!" "Two doses; I only had two more stools after you left." "Don't you have any more pain?" "Pain stopped like that" (putting her hands together) "and I feel well except weakness." She took no more medicine, quickly recovered, and was perfectly well for five years after, and finally died at eighty years of age. I never got over that surprise. Convinced against my will, but not of the same opinion still.
Now I fell to experimenting with the 200th in down-right earnest. I have cured many cases since of autumnal dysentery with this remedy on the same indication, and with the same potency. I have also cured a very severe case of typhlitis (now called appendicitis, for which they so often operate with more deaths than were ever known before the operation became popular) on the same symptom, which was markedly present in the case. Bright's disease, a bad case, was also cured by it. Rheumatism, gout and dropsies have been cured, this symptom being present, and so I have been at length in giving my experience with this remedy in order to prove three things:
1st. That we should not be influenced by prejudice.
2nd. That subjective symptoms are most valuable.
3rd. That the 200ths do act and cure.
Of course, there are other valuable symptoms besides the one upon which we have laid such particular stress. For instance, Colchicum has two symptoms that are opposite one to the other, viz.: Violent burning and icy coldness in the stomach. These opposites are often found in the abdomen. Again, it is sometimes indicated in autumnal dysentery, the white or bloody mucous discharges having a shreddy appearance, looking as if the mucous membrane had been scraped off the intestines, with great tenesmus. Cantharis has these stools, looking like scrapings, as prominently as Colchicum, but with Cantharis the pain and tenesmus implicate the urinary organs at the same time. Colocynth also has such stools, but the doubling-up, colicky pains distinguish it from both the others. Colchicum has great meteoritic distention of the abdomen. It is in the 200th potency a good remedy for the bloating of cows that have eaten too much green clover. In dyspepsia, when there is complaint of burning or sensation of coldness in the stomach, and much gas in stomach or abdomen, or both, Colchicum is excellent, taking sometimes preference over Carbo vegetabilis, China or Lycopodium.
Colchicum is always set down in the text-books for rheumatism, articular, migrating and gouty, and I have often tried it, but never with anything like the success of our other rheumatic remedies. I have been greatly disappointed in it here. Perhaps I did not use it low enough. It is also said to be a good remedy for weakness or sudden prostration, but here I have no personal experience with it. However, if in any of these troubles, or others, I should find its prime characteristic present I should certainly give it and confidently expect good results.
Spasmodic contractions and twitchings of single sets of muscles.
Hæmorrhages from different parts; blood black, viscid, clotted, forming into long black strings, from the bleeding orifice.
Changeable disposition; laughs, sings, jumps, wants to kiss everybody, or again cries, gets mad, abuses everybody, etc.
Sensation as of something hopping or moving about in stomach, abdomen, uterus or chest.
* * * * *
This remedy has three different spheres of usefulness in homœopathic therapeutics.
1st. In hæmorrhages from different parts. The blood is black, viscid, clotted, and forming itself into long black strings from the bleeding orifice. It makes no difference whether from the nose, uterus, lungs or stomach, if the blood is of this nature Crocus must be given. (Mercur. sol., the blood hangs from the nose like an icicle).
2d. In hysterical conditions in which there is great changeableness of the mental symptoms.
The patient is alternately cheerful or depressed. In the former state she will sing, dance, jump, laugh and whistle, love and want to kiss everybody. In the latter she will cry, get into a rage, abuse her friends, and then repent it, etc.
Crocus, for these alternate mental states, resembles Aconite, Ignatia and Nux moschata, but with Crocus there is another peculiar and persistent symptom, viz., sensation as of something morning, or hopping about in the stomach, abdomen, uterus or chest. Often this sensation of movement is so positive that the patient mistakes it for the movement of a fœtus, and is sure she is in a family way. If the mind symptoms above described are present, don't be too ready to promise a baby, but give a dose of Crocus and await developments.
3d. Crocus is one of our remedies for chronic affections. There are twitchings of single sets of muscles (Ignatia and Zinc.), twitchings of eyelids especially. These twitchings are very common in hysterical subjects, and there are many remedies for them, so that one could not of course prescribe on that alone. There are, however, remedies which are suited to hysteria and also other nervous disease, in which twitchings are very prominent and Crocus is one of them.
Dread of downward motion; child jumps and cringes or cries when laying it down; also very sensitive to noises.
Aphthous sore mouth; greenish stools day and night; mouth very hot.
Pain in right pectoral region; enough with expectoration of an offensive, herby taste.
* * * * *
This remedy, although an old one, is not universally appreciated. Its action upon the nervous system is very marked. In the first place it manifests itself in what is called nervousness in regard to noises, to which the patient is very sensitive. Almost any noise, as a cough, a sneeze, restling of a newspaper, a cry, distant shot, etc. Belladonna is sometimes given for this starting at noises; when Borax would do better. Then there is another very peculiar nervous symptom, viz., fear of falling, from downward motion (Gelsem., Sanicula). The child cries out and clings to the nurse when she attempts to lay it down in the cradle. Carrying it down stairs has the same effect. It will scream and cling to the nurse as long as the downward motion continues. Adults get the same symptom. Will not sit in a rocking chair, or ride on horseback, or on the waves, or swing, or go coasting, because of this dread of downward motion. There is only one other remedy having this symptom that I know of, and that is Gelsemium, and so far I think that this has only appeared in intermittent fever.
A child may be sleeping quietly and awake suddenly screaming and holding on to the sides of the cradle, without an apparent cause for so doing, or it may start from sleep clinging to the nurse as if frightened. In such cases we might think of Apis mellifica, Belladonna, Cina. Stramonium, etc., but don't prescribe on the one symptom. Look at the child's mouth and if you should find an aphthous sore mouth it would settle it pretty surely for Borax. Then, again, Borax has a very strong action as a general remedy, even domestic, from "way back," and has been prescribed without rhyme or reason until the homœopaths took it and found its exact place. Now the choice has to be made between it and Mercurius, Hydrastis, Sulphur and Sulphuric acid. etc.
It is not necessary to draw the line between the different remedies here, but I will say that the sore mouth itself is only one symptom in every case. The rest are found outside the local affection and often have more to do with the final choice of the remedy. The nervous symptoms already mentioned are "pointers," for Borax. Not only upon the mucous membranes of the mouth is this action of Borax notable, but upon every other one. The eyelashes become gummy and stick together, or turn inward. The ears discharge. I cured a case of otorrhœa of fourteen years' standing with this remedy.
Dry crusts form in the nose and re-form if removed. Greenish stools day and night, with aphthæ. The infant cries when urinating or before, showing an inflamed condition of the urethra. If the crying spells before urinating should be followed with a deposit of sand in the diaper or vessel, Lycopodium or Sarsaparilla would be thought of.
The mucous membranes of the respiratory organs are also affected. There is cough, and expectoration of an offensive herby taste. Then we have decided pleuritis in the chest, in the right pectoral region.
Borax has also white, albuminous, starchy leucorrhœa, quite profuse, and with a sensation of warm water running down.
These altogether show the action of Borax upon the mucous membranes. Like Chamomilla, Hepar sulphuris and Silicea, Borax has ulcerations of the skin from slight injuries, which suppurate.
Painful soreness of eyeballs; coryza; aching in every bone; prostration in epidemic of influenza (La Grippe).
Deep hard achings as if in the bones, with sore, bruised feeling all over, back, arms, wrists, legs.
Vomiting of bile between chill and heat. Chill 7 to 9 A. M.
Hoarseness in the morning, with soreness in chest when coughing; holds it with his hands.
* * * * *
When writing upon Arnica, I there compared several remedies which have a sensation as if bruised. This remedy might also have been mentioned there, as it has "Bruised feeling as if broken, all over the body." (Arnica, Bellis, Pyrogen.) The bruised feeling of Eupatorium is accompanied with a deep hard aching, as if in the bones.
Let us quote some of the symptoms illustrating: "Intense aching in the limbs and back as if the bones were broken." "Aching in the bones of the extremities, with soreness of the flesh; soreness of the bones." "Soreness and aching of the arms and forearms; painful soreness in both wrists as if broken or dislocated." "Soreness and aching of lower limbs; stiffness and general soreness when rising to walk." "Calves of the legs feel as if they had been beaten." "Aching pains as if in the bones, with moaning." These symptoms are all characteristic and may be found in influenza, bilious or intermittent fever, bronchitis, especially of the aged, and many other diseases. This is what gave the popular name "bone-set" to Eupatorium, because on account of the severe aching, as if the bones were broken, that occurred in an epidemic of intermittent fever this was the remedy that cured, or "set the bones." The epidemic was called break-bone fever. Of course this curative property of the drug was then discovered by accident, but abundant proving and verification have demonstrated the homœopathicity of such cures. So with Apis in dropsies. If this remedy has no curative properties other than it has for intermittent it would still remain a priceless boon to Homœopathy. It cures a kind of intermittent for which the great anti-periodic (Quinine) of the old school can do little or nothing. Three characteristics stand out prominently, to indicate the cases in which it is appropriate:
1st. As to time of chill -7 to 9 A. M.
2nd. The intense aching in the bones before the chill.
3rd. Vomiting of bile between chill and heat.
There are, of course, other symptoms which may appear in a Eupatorium case, but these three are a sure guide, and many authentic cures corroborate the genuineness. This remedy is also very useful in diseases of the respiratory organs. In the so-called la grippe of recent years it has proven in my hands very valuable; the "aching all over as if in the bones" being the leading symptom.
It also has hoarseness in the morning, like Causticum but while Causticum has more burning and rawness Eupatorium has more soreness in the chest; Ranunculus bulb. has pain in the chest when walking, turning, from touch or weather changing; when coughing has to support the chest with the hands, it hurts so (Bryonia, Drosera, Kreosot., Natrum sul., Sepia). Both remedies have aching in the bones especially in influenza or la grippe, but Eupatorium the most. If either of these remedies fails to cure the hoarseness, Sulphur will often complement them. Altogether, Eupatorium is to be remembered in many diseases having these characteristic symptoms. Eupatorium is especially adapted to worn out constitutions of old people or inebriates. Bryonia is near analogue, having free sweat, but pains keep patient quiet, while Eupatorium has scanty sweat, but pains make the patient restless.
From the provings made by Dr. Dresser and his wife this remedy ought to be a good one for urinary diseases. And Dr. Hughes says: "The drug has become my favorite remedy for vesical irritability in women." I have not yet tried it in such cases; but I have done some good work with it in intermittents, when the chill began in the small of the back and spread from there up and downward, which is as near a keynote as any I know for its use. Like the Eupatorium perfoliatum there are bone pains present. A lady who had lived near a marsh or swamp for seven years never had any appearance of malarial symptoms while living there, but after she came away they developed and were unyielding to the usual Quinine treatment. In fact, it utterly failed to do more than suppress for a short time when it would return and in an intensified form. On the above indications she was quickly and permanently cured by Eupatorium purpureum 200th.
Capsicum seems to resemble this remedy, both in the chills beginning in the back and the vesical irritability, but the Capsicum chill begins exactly between the shoulders, while Eupatorium begins in the dorsal or lumbar region.
Capsicum has violent chill, with general coldness of the body.
Eupatorium purp., violent shaking with little coldness of the body. Eupatorium purp., Eupatorium perf. and Capsicum all have bone pains before the chill, but Eupatorium perf. the strongest.
Burning pains, especially in mucous membranes, or smarting, as from red pepper, on the parts.
Cough with pains in distant parts as head, bladder, knees, legs, etc.
Chill or shuddering after every drink; begins between the shoulders and spreads all over.
* * * * *
Capsicum is also a good remedy for dysentery or one later stage of gonorrhœa, or in throat complaints, when there is great burning in the mucous membrane of the affected part. In short, it is a remedy to be remembered in all affections, accompanied with burning of mucous membranes in any locality. The characteristic burning is not like that of Arsenicum, but feels as if red Pepper had been applied to the parts; nor is it relieved by heat applied, as is that of Arsenic. Capsicum has pain in head when coughing as if it would burst. I cured a very bad case of years' standing; the patient would cry out and grasp head with both hands at every cough. It finally became so bad that he had to lie in bed, because the hurt was so much < when sitting, Capsicum cured very quickly. Other remedies having similar < are Bryonia, Natrum mur., Squilla, Sulphur.
Capsicum also has pain in distant parts on coughing, such as bladder, knees, legs, etc.
Chilliness or shuddering after every drink.
Chill begins between shoulders and spreads.
Lack of reaction especially fat people.
Croup cough; sounds like a saw driven through a board; < on awakening out of sleep.
Awakens out of sleep with a sense of suffocation, with violent loud cough, great alarm, agitation, anxiety and difficult respiration.
Cough < talking, reading, singing, swallowing, lying with head low.
* * * * *
This is not a remedy of very wide range, so far as yet known, but is of such marked utility within its range that we could not afford to lose it. Its action upon the respiratory organs is first to be considered. It first attacks the larynx, extends from there to the trachea, bronchial tubes and into the air cells of the lungs themselves. Next to Aconite it is the remedy, oftenest indicated in croup. The cough is dry and sibilant, or sounds like a saw driven through a pine board, each cough corresponding to a thrust of the saw. Croup often comes on after exposure to dry, cold winds. It generally comes on in the evening, with high fever, excitement and fearfulness. For this cause and these symptoms Aconite is the first remedy, and in the 30th or 200th cures a great majority of cases without the aid of any other remedy. But if after a few doses, or a reasonable time, it does not alleviate, and the case continues to grow worse, and the paroxysms of cough and suffocation come on oftener, and especially on awakening out of sleep, Spongia is generally the next remedy.
I live in a croupy climate and district, and after experimenting for thirty years, first with the low, then with the higher preparations, affirm that the 200th potency of this remedy does better work in croup than the lower preparations. I often give either of these remedies (Aconite or Spongia), according to indications, as often as once in fifteen minutes in watery solutions until amelioration, and then lengthen the intervals between doses according to amelioration. After the Croup becomes loose, but still retaining some of its croupy sound, Hepar sulphuris comes in, especially if inclined to get worse after midnight or in the morning hours. If the case inclines to relapse, or gets a little more croupy every evening, Phosphorus will often finish the cure. In the laryngitis or bronchitis of adults, Spongia is as useful as it is in the case of croup in children. There is a great hoarseness, some soreness and burnings and the cough is worse on talking, reading, singing or swallowing. I often find it particularly useful after Belladonna has improved the sore throat which often precedes the laryngeal or bronchial trouble, and which is generally brought on by colds so often contracted here in our northern climate.
In Chronic affections of the respiratory organs, which may finally lead to consumption, Spongia vies with Phosphorus, Sanguinaria and Sulphur. There is soreness, burning, rawness and heaviness in the chest, while the cough is worse in the evening, from cold air, talking, singing or moving, and better from eating and drinking warm things. I will not attempt to give all the symptoms for its use in respiratory diseases, but proceed at once to its remarkable action upon the heart. I have never done better work with any remedy in valvular disease than with Spongia. "Awakes out of sleep from a sense of suffocation, with violent, loud cough, great alarm, agitation, anxiety and difficult respiration" is a key-note and is frequently met in valvular affections. No remedy, not even Lachesis, can do better here. Not only are these paroxysms relieved or stopped, but valvular murmurs of years' standing have disappeared under the action of Spongia. Cannot lie with head low is characteristic, also sleep into the paroxysm (Lachesis).
The dry, chronic, sympathetic cough of organic heart disease is oftener and more permanently relieved by this remedy than by Naja. Spongia is also a good remedy for goitre, with sense of suffocation after sleep.
I have had some valuable experience with this remedy in cystitis. It has made some fine cures where there were great quantities of ropy mucus in the urine. There may be strangury or not in such cases. There is one symptom to which I wish to call attention, because it indicates that this remedy may become very useful in prostatic troubles, and is found under only one other remedy that I know of, viz., Cannabis Indica. These prostatic troubles are very serious ones, and anything that can contribute to their successful treatment is valuable. The symptom is -"Sensation of swelling in the perinæum or near the anus, as if sitting on a ball." We often have very large amounts of mucus in the urine in prostatic troubles, and if I found it coupled with this sensation would expect benefit from the remedy. I know of no other use for this remedy at present. While we are here upon a urinary remedy, we will call attention to another comparatively new but good one.
This remedy is sometimes successful in cases which are not relieved by Cantharis. There is as much inclination to urinate as with Cantharis, and there is pain in the bladder, as if too full of urine, which must be voided in order to get relief from both pain and pressure, but urinating does not satisfy and he must soon go again. There is burning in the urethra when urinating, but there are larger quantities of urine discharged than with Cantharis, which has characteristically very small amounts, but often repeated, even but a few drops at a time. Equisetum, like Chimaphila, sometimes shows excess of mucus, and it is also very useful in enuresis. Both Chimaphila and Equisetum need further proving to draw out their characteristic. Equisetum sometimes has severe pain at the close of urination. (See Berberis, Natrum mur., Sarsaparilla, Thuja).
Frequent inclination to urinate, with pain in bladder as if too full, which must be relieved; normal quantity at a time, sometimes excess of urine.
This is the name given by Von Grauvogl to a species of gneiss that he found in the spring of Gastein. Goître and cretinism abound among the people who drink this water. Grauvogl experimented with it, and found it to cause burning and shooting pains in the cardia and pylorus, and also in the uterus and mammæ. In practice he found it remarkably successful in scrofulous affections, but that it did harm in cases that had previously suffered from malaria. He treated five cases of uterine carcinoma, pronounced true and incurable by allopaths, and cured them all. I have a case now under my care, to which I was called a year ago. She has a very large uterine fibroid. Under various remedies she grew worse, having hæmorrhages, frequently repeated, so profuse that it seemed as if she would bleed to death. The tumor, which involved the whole body of the womb, laid across the pelvis, the upper part, in the left sacro-iliac fossa, and the os, of course, exactly opposite in the other side of the pelvic cavity so far up on the other side that it was impossible with the speculum to get the least view of it. After the bleeding had gone on for months in this way the discharges became black and horribly offensive, and the os had a decidedly rough feel to the finger. Finally she began to complain of intense burning pains all through the diseased parts. Arsenicum album effecting nothing for her, I put her upon Lapis albus as an experiment, for I had no hope she could live more than two weeks at the longest. Under the action of this remedy she began to improve immediately, and from the half dead wreck that could not turn in bed without help, a skeleton, white as a ghost, she has steadily improved until she is now doing her own housework, the discharges having all ceased except her natural menses at her regular periods. The tumor grows smaller, and it seems as though she might get well. She takes a dose of Lapis albus 30th once a week.
The gonorrhœal virus, is undoubtedly a great remedy. Any one who has had much to do with gonorrhœa well knows the severe form of rheumatism, which is often the consequence of the introduction of this disease product into the system. I have seen some remarkable results from the use of this remedy in chronic forms of rheumatism. One case (a middle-aged lady) was not able to attend church, a few rods from her residence, for a long time, the trouble being in her feet and ankles and soles of the feet. The ankles were so sore and stiff and soles so tender that she could not walk on them. Antimonium crud., which had cured some bad cases with similar symptoms for me, was without any beneficial effect, but Medorrhinum c. m., one dose, so benefited her that she could walk where she pleased. In the Organon (journal), Vol. 3, Dr. J. A. Biegler, of Rochester, N. Y., reports a remarkable cure of chronic rheumatism in a man 60 years of age. No history of previous gonorrhœa appears in the case, and I have never found any such history in the cases which I have been able to benefit with this remedy. In Vol. 1, of the same journal, is a remarkable cure reported by Dr. Skinner, of Liverpool, England. It is a cure of caries of the spine of long standing by Syphilinum (high). I had a very similar case, for which I had been prescribing for over a year without success, when I first read the report of this case. In my case, as in his, the patient had severe pains in the diseased part during the night. Every one acquainted with syphilitic troubles, especially of the bones, knows of these (terrible, sometimes) nightly bone pains. Three doses of Swan's Syphilinum c. m. cured this case in the remarkably short space of forty days. I could not find any reliable history of syphilis in this case. Then the question arises, is Swan's nosode theory true, or are disease products homœopathically curative only in those cases resembling them, not having a disease product history? Let others answer, I am not able to as yet.
Since writing the above I have experimented more with the so-called nosodes and have had seemingly very good results from this remedy as well as Syphilinum in intractable cases of chronic rheumatism. The most characteristic difference between them is that with Medorrhinum the pains are worse in the day-time, and with Syphilinum in the night.
There are, no doubt, great curative powers residing in these two disease poisons and they should not be discarded simply because they are the products of disease.
In regard to the other nosodes, I have, within two years past, seen more remarkable effects from them.
Cosmopolitan; never satisfied to remain in one place long; wants to travel.
Wandering pains in limbs and joints; stiff when beginning to move; < standing, > continued motion.
Longs for open air, wants doors and windows open, or to ride in strong wind.
Takes fresh cold on least exposure, can't get rid of one before another comes.
Emaciation, even while being well, and so hungry must get up nights to eat.
Pain through left upper lung to back. Tubercular deposit begins there.
Persons with a history of tuberculosis in the family.
Symptoms ever changing, begin suddenly, ceasing suddenly.
* * * * *
One case or retarded menstruation in a young girl who had greatly enlarged tonsils and who began to grow tired and weak, pale and short breathed on any exercise. The menses appeared twice under the action of Pulsatilla, but at intervals of several months, and finally not at all. After the failure of several other remedies to give her any benefit, she took one dose of Tuberculinum 1m. with prompt, easy and natural appearance of the menses and corresponding improvement in other respects, and is now attending school in apparent good health. I forgot to state that her sister, older, died of consumption a few years before.
Again, while on a visit to my daughter in Athens, Pa., I called upon one of the homœopathic physicians of the place, whom I had never met before. He had read "Leaders," and after we had talked books a while he asked me if I would not like to see a curious case, and there was no money in it, but it had come into his hands from all allopaths who had given it up to die. Of course, there being no money in it, I readily consented to go. Found a child of seven months with "head on him" larger than a man's head, with eyes pushed out and turned upwards, only movable a little from side to side. It looked idiotic. The fontanelles could not be felt, because of the hydrocephalic condition which filled the whole scalp, distending it as above described.
I could not see that that child recognized anything, except that its whining, moaning (almost constant) seemed to increase if it was spoken to or moved.
Inquiry into its family history discovered that several of the mother's sisters had died with tuberculosis. She was the only one left of the family, I think. I gave, with the doctor's consent, a powder of Tuberculinum 1m. and advised to let it act. This was on the Monday following Easter Sunday.
May 24th, l900, I received the following letter:
"Dr. E. B. Nash,
"Cortland, N. Y.
"Dear Doctor: -You will doubtless remember the case of hydrocephalus you saw with me while in Athens, and for which you prescribed Tuberculinum. Well, from that day, the head ceased to increase in size and (though it has taken no medicine at all, since taking that) has begun to gradually decrease. They measure it in the same place every Sunday, and last Sunday it was half an inch smaller than a week before. Will you kindly send me a graft at once of Tuberculinum high, that I may continue the remedy at intervals, etc., etc."
I received one letter since, reporting further improvement. I can hardly expect a cure in such a case, but the effects of the remedy, so far, seem to be quite remarkable. A case of lung trouble brought to me over a year ago from Seneca Falls, N. Y., had been under allopathic treatment for four years and had been every summer up in the Adirondacks at Saranac, at a Sanitarium established by Dr. Loomis of New York, lung specialist. She continued to grow worse until I took her case in hand. Under the action of two doses of Sulphur c. m. followed by Tuberc. c. m. she is so improved that I think it would be hard to convince any one that she ever suffered from such conditions.
The trouble located in the upper left lung, where there was a distinct cavity, which as far as I can discover, is now healed, though there is a little dullness of respiratory murmur remaining.
One result of the action of these remedies was to restore a granular surface to the eyelids which had been cured (?) with local applications. I am sure that many incurable chronic diseases have had their beginning in just such tampering with local manifestations of Psora.
One more case. -L. D. G., a man sixty years of age, whose brothers and sisters had several of them died of consumption, had been troubled at times with a spasmodic gagging cough for twenty-five years. He was operated for a stricture of the urethra, and a few weeks after was attacked with chills resembling fever and ague. It was in the winter season, and chills and fever are not common here at any time of the year, unless imported. He had several of these chills daily, until there developed a strong Rhus toxicod., condition, when a dose of that remedy put an end to them. But here followed frequent attacks of great pain from the back all through the abdomen, especially the hypogastric region. When I would get these pains in the bowels relieved in a measure he would have what appeared to be neuralgic pains in different parts all over him, first in one place, then in another. When these would seem to subside, he would begin to cough more, and so the thing travelled from pillar to post, for months.
Dr. Sheldon, of Syracuse, man of large experience, was called in consultation. After careful examination, he decided, in view of the family history and (as he expressed it) a peculiar doughy feeling in the abdominal walls, that the case was tubercular in character, and advised Verat. album at present, because the patient was so weak and reduced and cold, especially the extremities.
It was given, but with little or no effect, and things went on as usual until on his theory of Tuberculosis one evening I dropped a dose of Tuberculinum upon his tongue. The effect was that he slept that night as quietly as if under the influence of an anodyne, and every symptom was alleviated, and he improved in every way for weeks until he was able to be out on the street every day. It was very cold weather and he caught cold and came down to the bed again. After a few doses of Aconite for symptoms following his exposure, he received another dose of Tuberculinum as before, with similar effect, and in a short time he had so far improved as to be able to go on a visit to his friends in Troy, N. Y.
How he will come out is still a question, but repeated effects of the remedy were so apparent in so grave a case that I have deemed them worthy of narration.
If you turn to H. C. Allen's "Key-Notes of Leading Remedies," page 297, you will find recorded: "Symptoms ever changing, ailments affecting one organ, then another, the lungs, brain, kidneys, liver, stomach, nervous system -beginning suddenly, ceasing suddenly."
This seemed to be the case with this patient.
In conclusion, I have seen apparent benefit follow the exhibition of this remedy in both incipient as well as advanced cases of Phthisis, always giving the high preparations in the latter and letting it act a long time without repetition. In view of what Dr. Burnett has written, and my own limited experience lately, I am confident that Tuberculinum is destined to rank with Psorinum in the treatment of chronic diseases.
I will add now, Dec. 17th, 1900, that the case of L. D. G. has continued to improve until he seems as well as he has during the last ten years and weighs more.
Another case. -Maude Porter, age 27, unmarried; sanguine, nervous temperament; short, and stout when in health; blue eyes, brown hair.
Has had bad occasional epileptic fits for eleven years. Have been less frequent for past two years under the influence of a specialist's medicine that she got by letter from New York. Her mother had just died of tubercular consumption. Maude cared for her and was continually over her for the last month of her sickness.
After her mother died, on May 28, 1900, she came to me bringing symptoms as follows:
Can't eat anything.
Mouth tastes very badly; in the morning <.
Smell of cooking food nauseates.
Coughs badly, especially nights.
Soreness middle of chest, behind sternum, worse when coughing or ascending hill or stairs.
Has lost 22lbs. of flesh since May 1st.
Backache when tired.
Feels cold and shivery, < morning and evening.
Feels very weak, can't walk without fatigue.
Passed her last period without menses.
Greatly depressed and cries easily.
Has had a cough since la grippe last December.
Has had a diarrhœa for past four weeks.
Pulse from 100 to 120 all the time.
Sweaty nights.
On that date I prescribed Pulsatilla 200th and later 10m. with no perceptible change for the better.
After Pulsatilla failed I prescribed for her Tuberculinum 1m., and for the next four months she got about once in two weeks the same, once or twice changing to Bacillinum 200, under which treatment she made a perfect recovery, and is doing her usual housework, looking as well as ever at this date, December 17, 1900.
I believe that she would have gone with quick consumption but for this remedy. What do you think, my reader?
Diseases originating in ptomaine or sewer gas infection.
The bed feels hard, parts lain on sore and bruised, must move to relieve the soreness.
Tongue: large, flabby, clean, smooth as if varnished; fiery red, cracked, difficult articulation; vomiting, persistent, brownish coffee ground, offensive, stercoraceous.
Diarrhœa; horribly offensive, brown or black; painless, involuntary.
Distinct consciousness of a heart; it feels tired; as if enlarged; purring, throbbing, pulsating, constant in ears, preventing sleep.
* * * * *
I have not used this remedy myself, but (if Allen's "Keynotes" are reliable) it must be of great value in affections of the most serious nature. A remedy recommended so highly, by such authority, for septicæmia, puerperal and surgical, and for diseases originating in ptomaine or sewer gas infection should not be passed lightly over. Let me quote: The bed feels hard (Arnica), parts laid on feel sore and bruised (Baptisia), rapid decubitus (Carbol. acid)." "Great restlessness, must move constantly to > the soreness of the parts (Arnica, Eupator. perf)." "Tongue: large, flabby; clean, smooth as if varnished ; fiery red; dry, cracked, articulation difficult."
Diarrhœa; horribly offensive (Psorin.), brown or black (Leptand.), painless, involuntary, uncertain when passing flatus (Aloe, Oleander).
Did you ever meet such an array of symptoms in typhoid? I have, and when we remember that typhoid is often traced to defective drains, sewver gas, etc., as its cause, this remedy, if these symptoms are reliable, ought to be invaluable. The other symptoms given by Allen are just as valuable if true, and if not true the sooner they are proven to be untrue the better.
So far as prejudice again using such remedies is concerned, we should be as honest as was James B. Bell when he said of Psorinum -"Whether derived from purest gold or purest filth, our gratitude for its excellent services forbids us to enquire or care." As might be expected, Anthracinum is more like this than any other remedy. In all cases simulating septic fever or poisoning Arsenicum, Anthracinum and Pyrogen should be remembered. The horrible burning pains of the first two are prominent.
I have the 30th potency marked Chenopodium glauci, with which I cured one case of pain under the left shoulder-blade. This case was of several years, standing, the pain at times becoming very severe. I have also used it in other cases with benefit. I always think of this remedy where I find such pain and of Chelidonium where it is under the right shoulder-blade. According to Dr. Jacob Jeanes, Chenopodium anthelminticum cures a pain under the right shoulder-blade similar to that of Chelidonium. The pain in both seems to depend upon some hepatic derangement. Having succeeded with the Chelidonium so well, I have never used it. Chelidonium is well proven, and a full proving of the Chenopodium may enable us to distinguish between them. Between the two Chenopodiums and Chelidonium, we have an important trio for infra-scapular pains which ought to be better understood. Such single symptoms are, of course, small guides to follow, but are sometimes the only ones we have, and when, after full proving, the drug having them is developed, we often find that they were reliable though we could not at first give their pathological significance. I would, I think, as often follow such a guide, as speculations and theories. For instance, here are some such single symptoms which have often been verified. Inframammary pains at climacteric. Actæa racemosa. Pain drawing through from nipple to back when child nurses, Croton tiglium (Silicea). Pain in upper left chest through to scapula, Myrtus com., Pix liquida, Theridion and Sulphur. Pain though lower right chest, Chelidonium, Mercurius vivus and Kali carbonicum. Pain through upper right chest, Calcarea ostrearum and Arsenicum album.
Pain through lower left chest, Natrum sulphuricum. We might add many more such to this list, and they are very valuable.
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