CONSULT HOMEOPATHY

A Case Of Hiatus Hernia with Reflux Oesophagitis

2012-01-18T13:37:00.001+05:30

Presented By Dr. Ravinder S. Mann

A patient, Mr S.Kumar, 33 yrs male, has following complaints since last 7 years, increasing year after year.

Eructations, violent, continuous, loud, starts from morning, increase in afternoon after lunch and constantly increasing, pain in hypochondriac region, epigastrium, back, chest, sometimes left arm, sometimes pain knee with these eructations. Vomiting which relieves for few minutes. Burning and pain in epigastrium region which relieves by eating (it seems a mild relief) and sitting bent. Sleep disturbs by these eructations, have wake up and stand up so that he can eruct and get relief when flatulence passes that is collected in stomach. Can sleep very late and not more then 4 – 5 hours. When he has flatulence, no position gives him relief, sometime lie down, sometime stand up and then sit up but no relief anyway.

He thinks how good it would be if there is no need and provision to eat. He is very much worried about his disease, works very far from his native place, he thinks to resign the job and shift back to that place, thinks what will happen about his wife and kids after him. Thinks if he will die so far, how his dead body will go to his native place.

Angry, very easily on kids when they want to play with him, even he slap them, get angry on wife, noise hurts him.

Thirst very less, not want to eat.

Due to vomiting, he feels rawness in throat and eruptions, which bother him.

Stool hard sometimes. Go once for stool in a day.

Pulse slow. He says his pulse drop as less as to 62 sometimes, and then he feels become much more worried about his health.

Endoscopy report says he has Hiatus hernia and gastritis.

D/H – Taking different kind of antacids, antibiotics off and on since his disease.

P/H – Three years back he quit tobacco chewing.

Repertorization

Radar :

STOMACH - BENDING - forward - amel.

STOMACH - THIRSTLESS

STOMACH - ERUCTATIONS - constant

STOMACH - ERUCTATIONS - violent

STOMACH - VOMITING

STOMACH – PAIN

ABDOMEN - PAIN - Hypochondria

ABDOMEN – FLATULENCE

STOOL - HARD

BACK - PAIN

EXTREMITIES - PAIN - Upper arm

EXTREMITIES - PAIN – Knee

SLEEP - DISTURBED

GENERALS - NIGHT - midnight - before

GENERALS - CHANGE - position - amel. - not amel.

GENERALS - NOISES - agg.

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - food - aversion

GENERALS - PULSE - slow

GENERALS - VOMITING - amel.

MIND - DESPAIR - recovery, of

MIND - ANXIETY - health; about - own health; one's

MIND - ANGER - easily

MIND - DEATH - thoughts of

MIND - FEAR - happen, something will - himself; to

Phos 22/48, Puls 19/43, Acon 19/32, Ars 18/42, Lyco 18/42,
Nux V 18/38, Sulphur 18/35, Ferrum Met 18/32, Kali Carb 18/31,
Lach 18/31

Another Repertorization on

Complete Dynamics

Generic Symptoms:
Throat; pain; sore, bruised
Heart & circulation; pulse; slow, brachycardia
Back; pain
Sleep; disturbed
Generalities; food and drinks; food in general; aversion to
Generalities; noise; agg.
Generalities; vomiting; amel.

Stomach:
Stomach; bending; amel.; forward
Stomach; eructations; constant
Stomach; eructations; empty; profuse
Stomach; eructations; violent
Stomach; pain
Stomach; thirstlessness
Stomach; vomiting
Abdomen:
Abdomen; flatulence
Abdomen; pain; flatulence; from
Abdomen; pain; hypochondria
Stool; hard
Extremities:
Extremities; knees
Extremities; pain; upper limbs
Mind:
Mind; anger; easily
Mind; anxiety; health, about
Mind; death; thoughts of
Mind; despair; recovery, of
Mind; fear; happen; something will; family, to, or to him

Prescription:-
Phosphorus is the most similar medicine for the case which comes out in both repertorization.

Oct. 14, 2011

Phos 200 CH 3 doses prescribed 6 hourly. With Sac lac for 10 days.

Oct. 21, 2011
Very much relieved, no vomiting, eructations reduced lot much. Sound sleep. After many years he has some days when he has no burning, eructations or abdominal discomfort.
Sac Lac for 15 days.

Nov. 5, 2011
Remain normal on every alternate day. Mild eructations on alternate day for few hours.
Pain throat as if raw and stinging.
Phos 1M CH 3 doses prescribed 6 hourly. With Sac lac for 10 days.

Nov. 8, 2011
Vomiting this morning, just after drinking water, water becomes hot as if boiling in stomach, and vomited out.
Restless, anxious.
Note*:- Phos 1M must not be given; it was early to shift to upper potency, early repetition.
Sac lac prescribed with assurance.

Nov. 16, 2011
Eructations, burning, pain, vomiting reduced.
If he has some discomfort after eating, it remains just for half to one hour.
Sleeping very well.
Stool normal.
Appetite good can eat everything now without any burning and worry about abdomen.

Sac Lac prescribed for 10 days.

Nov. 26, 2011
Very much improved.
Eructations only 2 times in 1 day.
Sleep very good.
No vomiting.
Sac Lac prescribed for 10 days.

Dec. 6, 2011
Pain head, from 3 days, continuous whole the day, with vertigo.
Throat feels raw and heavy.
Eructations better.
Vomiting once, just 2 days before.
Worried again for his disorder, although better.

Phos 200 1 dose.
Sac lac for 10 days.

Dec. 17, 2011

Head pain and vertigo improved on next day of last prescription.
Sac Lac for 10 days.

Dec. 27, 2011
Patient has started some discomforts again. Eructations which improves after eating.
Burning pain in throat which also ameliorates after eating. Patient is feeling feverish constantly.
Throat inflamed.

Another Repertorization on
Radar:

THROAT - INFLAMMATION
THROAT - PAIN - burning - eating, after - amel.
THROAT - PAIN - burning
THROAT - PAIN - rawness

STOMACH - ERUCTATIONS

FEVER - FEVER, heat in general

GENERALS - EATING - after - amel.

Mez 7/15, Phos 6/17, Merc Sol 6/15,Natrum Mur 6/15,Puls 6/15, Sepia 6/15,Aconite 6/14, Hep 6/14, Lachesis6/14,Nux V 6/14,Sulphur 6/14.

Phos prescribed on Dec. 6 although help in headache and vertigo but it produced new symptoms in patient. On repertorization Mez seems best similar now which also antidotes the Phosphorus.

Prescription:- Mez 30 Ch 3 doses prescribed with sac lac for 10 days.

Jan 7, 2012

All the symptoms relieved very next day of prescribing Mez 30. Not any symptom and discomfort present.
Sac lac for 10 days.

Jan 18, 2012

Not any discomfort or symptom is felt by patient. Medicine is discontinued.

Clinical Cases By Samuel Swann. M.D.

2012-01-13T22:48:00.002+05:30

This article on clinical cases was published originally in "The Hahnemannian Monthly Vol 6, September 1870." Repertorization part is prepared to understand the case by modern tools.This article is presented by Dr Ravinder S. Mann.

Clinical Cases

By Samuel Swann. M.D.

Acidum Lactis in Morning Sickness during Pregnancy

Mrs.H., a healthy brunette, two months pregnant with her first child, had nausea and vomiting in the morning on rising and after eating, with water-brash so profuse as to require the constant use of a spittoon, while at night her pillow was saturated with saliva. Gave one dose Acid Lac. 1 M and in less than an hour the water-brash had ceased, and she had no return of that or the nausea.

In this, as in several cases where the morning sickness had been cured with Acid Lac., I did not again see the patient till confinement, there being apparently entire exemption from the usual derangements attendant on pregnancy.

I use the 1 M potency, because one dose at night is sufficient, while with the 15th, 30th and 200th, I have sometimes been obliged to repeat the dose.

Repertorization:

MOUTH - SALIVATION - sleep, during

MOUTH - SALIVATION – profuse

STOMACH - VOMITING - pregnancy, during

STOMACH - NAUSEA - pregnancy - during

STOMACH - NAUSEA - morning - rising - agg.

STOMACH - NAUSEA - eating - after

STOMACH - VOMITING - morning

STOMACH - VOMITING - eating - after

STOMACH - ERUCTATIONS; TYPE OF - water brash - pregnancy, during

On repertorization Lactic Acid come prominently with Natrum Mur, Lyco, Nux Vomica, Sepia, Phos, Sil as indicated remedy. In small Rubrics + Small Remedies group it comes on 1^st rank.

Cerebral Irritation- Apis Mel.

A male infant, seven months old, with the large head and large prominent hazel eyes. Symptoms: single, sharp, shrill scream, both while sleeping and waking; at the same time raising the hand to head back of the ears; bores the head in the pillow; breathes heavily and with difficulty, and gasping; vomits food as soon as taken, followed by retching; retention of urine twenty-four hours; small movement from the bowels, dark, and smelling brassy; high fever; full pulse; short sleep; eyelids half open, pupils turned up. Gave Apis 1 M, one dose dry on tongue. In one hour after, he urinated profusely; urine of a dark color and strong, ruinous odor. Six hours after, had a profuse evacuation, olive green, slimy, and full of bright red lumps, like chopped beet, with colic and tenesmus. The next day he was well and continued so. The mother states, that after taking the remedy he did not scream and the breathing became easier very soon.

Repertorization:

MIND - SHRIEKING - sleep, during

MIND - SHRIEKING - waking - on

HEAD - BORES head in pillow

STOMACH - VOMITING - eating - after

STOMACH - RETCHING - vomiting - after

RESPIRATION - DIFFICULT

RESPIRATION - GASPING

BLADDER - RETENTION of urine

STOOL – SCANTY

STOOL - ODOR - brassy

Combined Rubric

STOOL - DARK

STOOL - BLACK

FEVER - INTENSE heat

GENERALS - PULSE - full

SLEEP - SHORT

EYE - TURNED - upward

EYE - OPEN eyelids - half open

Out of 16 rubrics : Apis 16/33, Ars 13/29, Arnica 13/25, Lyco 12/28, Bell 12/26, Cupr 12/24, Zincum 12/24

Clinical Experience By Henry N. Guernsey,M.D.

2011-12-30T21:50:00.004+05:30

The following article on clinical cases was originally published in “The Hahnemannian Monthly” Volume 6, August 1870.

Repertorization part is prepared to understand the case by modern tools.

Clinical Experience

By Henry N. Guernsey,M.D.

Case 1. Mrs. A., of Delware, called on me a few weeks since, complaining of what she termed dyspepsia. Upon asking her to relate her symptoms in the order of their severity as it seemed to her, she replied, that a feeling of emptiness or goneness in her stomach discomforted her more than anything else, but she thought it of no account, as she vomited all her food soon after taking it, and she would naturally feel emptiness and goneness from want of food. I desired her to state merely facts, and I would draw my own conclusions. She replied: “It is a fact that I vomit nearly all my food; I have a painful sensation of emptiness in my stomach all the time; my sleep is broken and does not refresh me, my bowels are very costive, the stools being knotty and very difficult, and they have scarcely been moved for two years without an injection, and I do not think they would be moved now at all without an injection; my urine is cloudy and offensive, and a hard crust settles, that it is difficult to scrape from the vessel; I am very weak and miserable, have spent over two hundred dollars during the past two years for medicine, and despair of becoming any better; but I was compelled by my husband to consult you.”

I always prescribe sepia when a train of symptoms like the above in italics occur in a single case. In this case I gave the patient a few pellets of Sepia 55 m, dry on her tongue, and three packages containing twelve powders each of sac.lac.; one to be taken every night; and enjoined upon her that she should on no account resort to any more injections or other measures for the relief of her bowels, or of other symptoms, and to report to me in forty days. She thought she would not live to see me again if she were to leave off taking injections.

A few days ago she reported that she had not vomited since seeing me, her vowels had become regular very soon, and that she had no need of injections; indeed, she said, she got well so fast her husband was frightened. He was coming to the city that day on business, and he wished her to come and ask particularly what had been the matter, as she had been so sick so long, and now had gotten so well so soon. He did not understand it.

Sepia 55m, a single dose, always produces similar results in similar cases, if plenty of time is allowed the single dose to act. I do not give my experience hastily, nor base it on a single case. I only delineate my path where it has been well trodden; that others may follow it is safety.

Repertorization : Radar 9

STOMACH - VOMITING; TYPE OF - food

STOMACH – EMPTINESS

RECTUM - CONSTIPATION - difficult stool

STOOL - KNOTTY, nodular, lumpy

URINE - SEDIMENT - crusty

URINE - ODOR - offensive

URINE – CLOUDY

SLEEP - UNREFRESHING

SLEEP - WAKING – frequent

Out of 9 rubrics:

Sepia 9/23, Phos 9/22, Calc C 9/20, Caust 9/18, Merc Sol 9/18, Nat C 9/13Agaricus 9/ 10.

Case 2. Two months since a married lady consulted me in regard of her health. She was weak and unhappy, particularly in the morning, when she would feel on awakening, friendless, forsaken and very unhappy. The same symptoms would occur if she chanced to waken during the night. Had a poor appetite, bowels very costive, with a feeling of constriction of the anus, so much so that for months she had not attempted to defecate without the aid of an injection; urine scanty and dark-colored. She had any other symptoms, but the above were the most important. She attributed these sufferings to domestic troubles. The above italicized symptoms always turn my thoughts to lachesis; particularly the mental symptoms. I gave her a single dose of Lachesis 4 M, in my office, and charged her to take no more injections, nor in any way to interfere with the treatment. In about two weeks the unhappiness had greatly improved; the vowels had become regular; and in about six weeks from the first and only dose of Lachesis 4 M, she reported herself quite well in all respects.

Repertorization: Radar 9

MIND - SADNESS - morning

MIND - FORSAKEN feeling

GENERALS - WAKING, on

STOMACH - APPETITE – diminished

RECTUM - CONSTIPATION

RECTUM - CONSTRICTION – Anus

URINE - SCANTY

URINE - COLOR – dark

Out of 8 rubrics:

Lachesis 8/21, Plumbum 8/16, Sepia 8/16, Calc 8/14, Alum 8/13, Rhus Tox 8/11, Sars 8/11

Case 3. June 12^th, was called to see a little boy 18 months old. Found him restless; must be carried all the time to keep him quiet; very sleepless day and night, would sleep only in short naps. He had a disagreeable filthy smell about him all the time, thought great effort was made to keep him clean by frequent bathing and changing of dress. Could not keep milk on his stomach but a short time; it would be rejected sour and in curds. Weak beef-tea or water could be retained. His stools were of a pale, brown fluid, smelling like rotten eggs. He was getting very weak. The italicized symptoms reminded me of Psorinum more than of any other remedy. I gave Psorinum 42M, a single dose only, in the morning. He slept well the following night, the next day the bowels were better, and the bad smell about his body was lessened. On the next day still improving; bowels well; no more bad smell from his body; resumed his milk diet and has been well since. But a single dose of Psorinum, as above, was given and no other remedy.

Repertorization:

MIND – RESTLESSNESS

GENERALS - ODOR OF THE BODY - offensive

GENERALS - WEAKNESS

GENERALS – EMACIATION

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - milk - agg.

STOMACH - VOMITING; TYPE OF – sour

STOOL - BROWN

STOOL - ODOR - eggs, like rotten

SLEEP – SLEEPLESSNESS

Out of 9 rubrics:

Psor 9/28, Ars 9/26, Sulph 9/21, Calc 8/22, Chin 8/21, Phos 8/19, Graph 8/18, Sep 8/18, Sul Ac 8/18

Case 4. May 19^th, visited a little boy about 9 years old, and found him in the following condition; urine nearly suppressed, but passed in small quantities once in twenty-four hours. Stools dark-brown, fluid, and passed involuntarily; delirious much of the time; lies on his back with his knees drawn up; complains much of the back of his head; pulse 120 and hard; breath very fetid; bores his nose very much; nostrils raw and bloody, even into the corners of the mouth; picks his skin in places, making it raw and bloody when he bores into it with much force, and he seems vexed that he cannot bore it deeper, on account of the pain seems to give him; he seems very intent in his efforts to bore and pick the raw surfaces. The italicized symptoms directed attention at once to Arum triphyllum, which was given in water, in the 20 M dilution, every two, four or six hours, as it might seem necessary. Next day he was better and the medicine was discontinued. After two days it was found necessary to repeat a few doses as before. He continued to improve, in all respects, finally under this treatment, till the 31^st of May, when there were no indications left for Arum, but as there were passed considerable quantities of red sand with the urine, one dose of Lycopodium 6M was given. On the 14^th of June, one dose of Lycopodium 100 M was given, and today (June 25^th) he is perfectly well and romping about in the country.

Repertorization:

NOSE - DISCHARGE - bloody

NOSE - BORING in nose with fingers

FACE - PICKING – Lips

MOUTH - ODOR - putrid

RECTUM - INVOLUNTARY stool

STOOL - BROWN

STOOL - THIN

BLADDER - RETENTION of urine

URINE - SCANTY

GENERALS - PULSE – frequent

Out of 10 rubrics:

Arum T 10/20, Phos 10/20, Ars 9/24, Arnica 9/23, Nux V 9/22, Merc Sol 9/21, Apis 9/20, Bell 9/20, Sulph 9/19, Lach 9/18

Case 5. March 25^th, visited a little girl about ten years old and found her in the following condition: Perfectly delirious day and night; cannot be roused to consciousness even for a short time; urine and feces are passed involuntarily, in bed; had, while she could express herself, much pain in the occiput, and down in the spine; is very restless, particularly every night after midnight, but there is a marked degree of restlessness constantly, and much distress; the breath is cold, and the skin is cold and clammy; the lips, teeth and tongue, – so much of it as could be seen – were dry, black and covered with sordes. She took a little water from a spoon frequently, or would occasionally suck a wet rag. It seemed like a hopeless case, but our conclusion, drawn from the italicized symptoms, was that Arsenicum Album 8M would do good if anything could. It was accordingly given in water, every one, two, three or four hours, as it seemed best to the nurse, in accordance with instructions given her. In the morning I found the child somewhat better. The medicine was thereupon discontinued, to be administered as before, if she got decidedly worse. She became worse before next day and repeating the medicine brought no relief. Arsenicum 15 m was now given, as at first, and prompt relief followed and continued several days and purple spots, with pus in their tips, came out on back and hips. She became worse again, in spite of the medicine, when Arsenicum 40 M was had recourse to, and completed the cure. She is now (June 25^th), fit and perfectly well. In every improvement, medicine was withheld, and repeated when it seemed necessary.

Repertorization:

MIND - DELIRIUM

MIND – UNCONSCIOUSNESS

MIND - RESTLESSNESS - night - midnight – after

HEAD - PAIN - Occiput

FACE - DRYNESS - Lips

MOUTH - DRYNESS - Tongue

TEETH - SORDES

STOMACH - THIRST - small quantities, for - often; and

RECTUM - INVOLUNTARY stool

BLADDER - URINATION - involuntary

BACK - PAIN - Spine

RESPIRATION - COLDNESS of breath

PERSPIRATION - CLAMMY

SKIN - COLDNESS

Out of 14 rubrics:

Ars 14/34, Phos 13/30, China 13/26, Sulph 13/26, Merc 13/23, Rhus T 12/30, Verat 12/26, Lach 12/24, Carbo V 12/22

A Case of Chronic Gastritis

2011-12-26T19:27:00.002+05:30

Dr. Ravinder S Mann

B.H.M.S.

Mr S.. kumar, 35 yr male, From Nainital, has following complaints since 10 years.

Burning in stomach, whole abdomen, with eructations which starts every time after eating. Lot much thirst and frequently drinks water, with dry lips. Constipation with insufficient stool. Heaviness of abdomen with tight feeling.

Dose not want to involve anywhere, not want to work, not want to talk and aversion to noise.

No taste in mouth. Aversion to fatty food, sweets. Desire salt. Weakness, want to lie down always. Feel coldness in back.

Frowning constantly while explaining his complaints. Very thin person.

Likes winter, remain healthy comparatively in winters but worse in summers from beginning of March to October. Complaints aggravate at change of weather.

Personal history of recurrent jaundice from many years. Jaundice at beginning of summers in march, every year from few years.

Drug History: Taking antacids of many types daily since many years. Lot much burnings if he miss even a single day.

Repertorization:- Radar

GENERALS - EATING - after

GENERALS - LEAN people

GENERALS - PERIODICITY

GENERALS - SEASONS - summer; in - agg.

GENERALS - WEATHER - change of weather - cold to warm agg.

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - sweets - aversion

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - salt - desire

GENERALS - LIE DOWN - desire to

GENERALS – WEAKNESS

MOUTH - TASTE - wanting, loss of taste

STOMACH - ERUCTATIONS - eating - after

STOMACH - THIRST - large quantities, for

STOMACH - THIRST - large quantities, for - often; and

STOMACH - PAIN - burning - eating - after

ABDOMEN - PAIN - burning

ABDOMEN – HEAVINESS

RECTUM - CONSTIPATION – insufficient

BACK – COLDNESS

SKIN - DISCOLORATION – yellow

MIND - FROWN, disposed to

MIND - LAZINESS

MIND - TACITURN

Combined Rubric:-

MIND - NOISE - aversion to

MIND - SENSITIVE - noise, to

Medicines: Total 24 rubrics are taken into account. Out of 24 score is -- Nat Mur 24/56, Sulph 21/47, Ars Alb 21/40, Nux V 20/40, Phos 19/46, Lyco 19/40, Sep 19/38, Bryonia 19/38.

Natrum Mur. covering every symptom of the patient.

Prescription:-

19 October, 2011

Natrum Mur 200 CH 3 doses prescribed 6 hourly, with Sac Lac for a week.

Patient does not returned after a week.

26 December, 2011

Patient came for weakness after viral fever.

All his gastritic complaints cured magically, after 4^th day of prescription on 19^th October 2011, patient start to relive and day by day all the complaints gone. No eructations, burning afterward, no weakness. Now he works smoothly all the day without tiring.

Epilepsy of Long Standing By Dr. H. Gouixon

2011-12-25T23:21:00.000+05:30

This Case Orginally published in "Allg. Hom. Ztg,, vol. Lxix.
Vol. xxm, No. xci.—January, 1865" and same year published in "THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF HOMEOPATHY VOL 23"

---------------------------

August E—, of T—, aet. 28, at present of stout appearance and well-formed; when one looks at the shape of his skull he gives the idea of a good-natured man of limited intellect. When he was ten years old he had, one day in school, without appreciable cause, a violent epileptic attack. He lost consciousness completely, and nearly twenty-four hours elapsed ere he recovered from the paroxysm. At that time he was of quite a different character of body from what he is now. In fact, his acquaintances described him as a wretched, withered-looking little fellow. He was put apprentice to a tailor for some years, and afterward became servant to a landed proprietor. Suddenly, about fourteen years after the first single attack, he had again a violent outbreak of epilepsy. Curiously enough the fits now came on periodically, one occurring every Saturday, or at latest Sunday. The fits seldom kept off for a fortnight. On the 15th April, 1864, he sought my advice. He had a curious appearance. His face covered with small and large, old and fresh scars, like that of a warrior, all reminiscences of fits of epilepsy he had had, these fits taking him so suddenly that he fell to the ground as if struck down. On this account he had been obliged to give up his place as servant long since. His tongue presents not only several scars from wounds inflicted by biting, but the anterior third is, in fact, only connected with the remainder of the tongue at one side, whilst the middle of this third is still further removed from the rest of the tongue by a complete fissure. The patient asserts that he has an attack now once a week. Previous to the fit he experiences peculiar jerks in the body, and hears distinct voices, saying in rapid succession, "Ja, ja, ja, ja," or else he has roaring noises in the head. The premonitory symptom, known as "aura epileptica," is absent. Although, in general, as is often the case, the fit is followed by great prostration and sleep; still, occasionally, he is cheerful, and quite himself immediately after the fit. The fits are not connected with any particular time of the day. Sometimes they come on in bed in the morning, sometimes while he is at work, fetching water, &c. The complexion intimates fullness of blood and congestion. The conjunctiva are very red. Speech is difficult for him (perhaps partly owing to the split tongue); he betrays a certain amount of laziness, and a constant smile gives him the appearance of a great amount of good humour or commencing moria. He confesses that in former years he used to masturbate excessively, and this circumstance I regard as of much more importance in an anamnestic point of view, since other possible causes, such as hereditary tendency, wounds, mental affection, excesses of other kinds, &c., are wanting.

In consideration of the present physical and psychical state, of the existing plethora, the attacks of giddiness depending thereon, the illusions of hearing, which amount to actual hallucinations, the difficulty of speaking and thinking, I considered Causticum to be the most appropriate remedy. I moistened sugar of milk with three drops of the 3rd dilution and divided it into eight powders, one to be taken every night at bed-time.

A fortnight afterwards the patient reported, with visible joy, that a fit had occurred, but that it was much milder than usual. I did not attach much importance to this. After the continued use of this remedy (waiting always a week without medicine) the attacks became not only always milder, so that the fourth and fifth (since commencing the medicine) consisted only of a transient "jerk" and at length they went off completely. Whereas, formerly, an attack occurred every eight days, the patient has now been a quarter of a year without one, a result certainly deserving of notice.

That there cannot be here a question of a cure by nature is very evident. There may be many self-deceptions among the records of homoeopathic cases, many pneumonias, many acute catarrhs of the stomach, cured in an equally short time without Aconite and Pulsatilla, but all the more striking are cases like the above, of which it would be absurd to allege, after the epileptic fits had occurred regularly every week for six years, that left to themselves they should rapidly decline in intensity from the 15th April, 1864, and after about five weeks quite disappear. It is not requisite to be an adherent of the post hoc ergo propter hoc, still where the facts are so, then the favorable issue of the disease must be solely ascribed to the remedy employed. In similar cases Causticum has already been useful. Perhaps in course of time we may be able to determine with precision, the whole series of epilepsies for which Causticum may be universally acknowledged and employed as the specific.

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS -Some kinds of Paralysis, Chorea, and Epilepsy: By Dr. Th. Rueckert Case 5

2011-12-25T00:01:00.000+05:30

This Article was published in "THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF HOMEOPATHY VOL 23".

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS

Some kinds of Paralysis, Chorea, and Epilepsy

By Dr. Th. Rueckert

Case V —Although the following case is not so instructive as a published case ought to be, still I cannot resist relating it, as it shows how a simple remedy is often at hand when least expected.

On the 8th December, 1861, Mrs. Wiindrig, of R—, brought her boy, aet. 13, from the country to me. Since his sixth year, after a fright he had got, he had suffered from epileptic fits, which occurred regularly every afternoon at 5 o'clock; in winter, however, about Christmas time, they came as often as three or four times a day, but in summer they became rarer. The mother's powers of observation were so feeble that I could not elicit from her any peculiarities of the fits, except that they often lasted a long time before the boy regained consciousness. He was small for his age, backward, and his look showed a want of development in the intellect. All his corporeal functions were in order.

In the absence of decided indications for a remedy, and in hopes of getting some after wards by following my instructions, I gave Sulph. 30, three doses, one to be given every third night.

My trouble however was in vain, for I never again saw the mother, only the boy himself reported on the 23rd December that he had had a fit every day; on the 7th January, 1862, that he had no longer a fit every day; on the 29th January, the 16th February, the 2nd March, the 17th March, and the 26th May that he had no fits, and could attend school without interruption.

At length in August, 1863, the mother sent other patients to me with a message that her boy had continued quite well, was grown strong, and had gone into service with a farmer. That was cito etjucunde!

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS -Some kinds of Paralysis, Chorea, and Epilepsy: By Dr. Th. Rueckert Case 4

2011-12-24T23:55:00.000+05:30

This Article was published in "THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF HOMEOPATHY VOL 23".

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS

Some kinds of Paralysis, Chorea, and Epilepsy
By Dr. Th. Rueckert

Case IV —F— basket-maker in R -, aet. 30, dark complexion, short, had formerly always good health, except that he often suffered from heartburn; in his youth he had practiced onanism for some years. In 1849 he was affected with condylomatous gonorrhoea, and treated with copaiva and mercury, after which his stomach remained weak, and he often complained of stomach-ache.

Two years ago be became affected with epileptic fits, generally at 4 a.m., also several times during the day. He was treated by several homoeopathic practitioners without effect. He then had recourse to a non-medical friend acquainted with homoeopathy, who gave me the following account:—

" F. got from me Calc. 30, once a week, and after waiting eight weeks, a few doses of Sulph. 30. After Calc. the fits ceased for three months, and after Sulph. they again reappeared more frequently. After six weeks Calc. was again given, which was followed by other three months of exemption."

He has now had again several attacks, the last a fortnight ago, when he observed at first a whirling feeling in the head. On this account he wanted to go out into the open air, but he fell down in convulsions. During the fit there is foam at his mouth, and the thumbs are turned inwards. After the fit great weariness and sleep. If when the fit is on there is acid vomiting, the fit soon terminates. The last attack differed from the former ones in this, that when complete unconsciousness came on, the patient sang, whistled, and laughed, but suddenly was unable to speak; with great anxiety. The patient moreover asserts that after every meal he has stomachache and heartburn; is very weak after coitus, with cold hands and feet. In the morning he was often short of breath, he had to press his sides with his hands, and take deep inspirations. From a strong smell of tar, with which he has much to do, he feels uneasiness and nausea.

Prescription. The 11th September, 1862, he got, in consideration of the sycosis for which he had already taken many remedies in vain, Thuja 30 in 3 tablespoonfuls of water, twice a day.

24th September.—He has had no more fits, but an eruption of pimples has several times appeared on the glans, and a secretion of purulent matter, or red moist places, behind the glans, and occasionally traces of condylomata, particularly after coitus, which, however, soon disappeared.

In January, 1863, he had for several days a peculiar symptom, as if fire came out of his right eye, and then as if something black was thrown past the eye, whereby he felt as if he should lose consciousness. Heartburn, stomach-ache, and great weariness of the limbs were permanent symptoms at that time.

Now, August 1863, he has been a whole year without a fit, and feels quite well.

Postscript in July, 1864.—On the 30th November, 1863, his wife wrote to me that he went from home on the 28th, and deranged his stomach with very rich and highly seasoned food, and on his way back was exposed to much tobacco smoke, which, as he was no smoker, he could never bear; that he came home with the right eye somewhat inflamed; that on the 29th he had eaten fat pork for dinner, that then he had attended a meeting where there were many people, much smoking, and many gas-lights, which were highly disagreeable to him; that after this he returned home heated about 6 p.m., went to bed about 7, soon fell asleep, snored loudly, and about 9 had a convulsive attack, of which he knew nothing on awaking, and went about his usual work the following morning. I therefore sent Silic. 100 in solution, to be taken for 3 days. Since then he has remained quite well, and doubtless he would not have had the last attack had he not taken too many liberties. He is now under my care for a chancre, but is otherwise well.

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS -Some kinds of Paralysis, Chorea, and Epilepsy: By Dr. Th. Rueckert Case 3

2011-12-24T23:44:00.000+05:30

This case was published in "THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF HOMEOPATHY VOL 23".

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS

Some kinds of Paralysis, Chorea, and Epilepsy
By Dr. Th. Rueckert

Case III —Miss P— aet. 25, strong, full-blooded, short, healthy-looking, has, as she says, always enjoyed good health up to three years ago, when, after a distressing dream, as she alleges, she had an attack of rigor, followed by fits of alternate laughing and weeping. These attacks have since been periodical; only latterly the weeping has given place entirely to laughing. They are worst just before menstruation, which is regular every four weeks, but sometimes more, sometimes less copious. It is generally preceded by more or less severe cutting in the abdomen. In winter when she is occupied with weaving, the attacks come on more frequently; in summer when she is engaged in field work they are seldom. Her legs are heavy as lead, and when sitting, she often observes a jerking in them. Before the attack comes, they become cold up to the knee, as if she had them in cold water. Then comes a creeping through all the limbs, and the involuntary laughter commences. At the same time she has flushes of heat and headache, the character of which is shooting and throbbing, in a small spot on the top of the head. The digestion was in good order.

Prescription on the 3rd of March, 1863, Sulph. 30, three doses to be taken every other night.

10th March.—After the second dose she had a fit, but it was slighter than usual, but accompanied by redness of face, and the above-described headache. She complains of great weariness in the limbs. Prescribed Sacch. lact.

27th April.—No further attack; she feels quite well, the limbs quite light.

18th February, 1864.—Her health not in the least deranged, in spite of having had to sit so long in the room during the winter.

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS -Some kinds of Paralysis, Chorea, and Epilepsy: By Dr. Th. Rueckert Case 2

2011-12-24T23:38:00.000+05:30

This Article was published in "THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF HOMEOPATHY VOL 23".

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS

Some kinds of Paralysis, Chorea, and Epilepsy
By Dr. Th. Rueckert

Case II.—A tailor, aet. 40, tall, of strongly marked phlegmatic temperament, hitherto always healthy, had about Christmas suffered from erysipelas of the head, which was improperly treated, and left behind it the following horrible symptoms, from which he had been suffering for six weeks, all the time treated with the greatest care by an allopath; but all in vain, so that the patient dismissed his doctor.

The morbid picture we observed on the 25th February, 1863, was the following:—I went to see the patient, who lived at some distance, and found him in a small, narrow room, in which he could scarcely turn, lying naked in a miserable bed, emaciated to the last degree; the countenance expressive of pain and despair; the head, arms, and legs in constant movement; the hands constantly wringing, and he constantly groaning and crying, " Oh my God ! what will become of me" He then, with a loud distinct voice, repeated the Lord's prayer, some verses of hymns, and the introductory prayer to the communion. In this state he passed day and night, he had no sleep, indeed his uneasiness grew worse at night, he wanted to get out, in fact he leaped out of bed several times, and required people to watch him. When I spoke to him he recognized me, and reached out to me; he answered all questions properly, and begged me to relieve him of his painful anxiety. When I took hold of his hand to feel his pulse and observe the play of the tendons, he drew it hastily away from me, because his anxiety increased when he was held. He had little appetite, and had to be fed, because he could not hold the spoon, and carry it to his mouth. His bowels were rather costive, urine normal.

Prescription. Cupr. 6 in solution, for twenty-four hours. I did not see the patient again for several months, but received reports from the parish officer, under whose care I had left him.

1st March.—He has been better and worse, at night he has always most restlessness, but the movements of the limbs are not so violent, there is less anxiety, more appetite, bowels more regular. Cupr. as above.

3rd March.—On the 1st, at 3 p.m., he was bad again, he would not allow the bed clothes on him, wished to jump out of bed, complained of internal heat, and had much thirst. His bowels were opened by a simple clyster. He continued the Cupr.

11th March.—No material improvement, the patient complains chiefly of internal heat, his bowels are confined, and he says he feels as if the limbs were twisted. He has often burning in the soles of the feet. He has little sleep and after sleeping is more restless, but not so much so as formerly, he speaks quite rationally. In consequence of the peculiar sensation in the belly, the constipation and the burning of the soles, I now (as nothing more was to be expected from Cupr.) gave him Nux Vom. 6 and 30, a dose to be given every other evening.

16th March.—The day before the medicine arrived he was quite quiet, had appetite, sleep, and only one hour of restlessness at night. After the first dose of Nux he had more excitement, two hours of nocturnal restlessness, and mental disturbance, but the following day he was better; the bowels are still costive.

On the 18th March, I sent Argent nitr. 12, 1 dose to be taken in solution.

27th March.—The patient slept for some hours at night, had appetite for his food, regular bowels, the anxiety has gone off, he often sits up in bed and reads, and only now and then he has twitchings in the muscles. He complains of great weakness, but starts at every little noise. I sent him now 3 doses of Ignatia 12, one daily.

9th April.—The improvement advances, digestion good, he lies quietly with his clothes on, can also go to the water closet, does not sleep by day, but at night for hours at a time, still complains of great weakness and tearing in the legs. To complete the cure I sent one dose of Sulph. 30, to be mixed with three spoonfuls of water, half a spoonful twice daily.

Up to the 19th July, when I was able to visit him, I heard that he kept well, and then I found him sitting up in his room at the spinning wheel, looking stout and pleased. He had nothing more to complain of, except some bodily weakness, and I found edema of the legs, for which I prescribed Lycop. 30, after which the edema rapidly went off, and the patient could again earn his living as a day laborer.

July, 1864.—The patient remains quite well.

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS -Some kinds of Paralysis, Chorea, and Epilepsy: By Dr. Th. Rueckert Case 1

2011-12-24T23:24:00.000+05:30

This case was published in "THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF HOMEOPATHY VOL 23".

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS

Some kinds of Paralysis, Chorea, and Epilepsy
By Dr. Th. Rueckert

Case 1 —S. M— a girl, aet. 22, came on the 2nd July, 1863, to ask my advice. She was bent forward, and walked with short and trailing steps. She is of feeble constitution, earthy, pale countenance, and complains of the following symptoms-

Since her 14th year she had suffered from frequent attacks of water-brash and vomiting of food. She generally vomited most of what she ate, but she could, soon after doing so, eat again. For the last six or seven weeks the vomiting has ceased, but in place of it she now complains of her back and legs. She has no particular pain in the back or sacrum, nor is any vertebra painful; she has only a paralytic weakness from the back into the legs. When she goes out to walk, she can get on for a little while, but then her strength fails her, the legs refuse to do their duty, and she must stop to rest. In this way she had with great difficulty crawled about three miles to see me. I made her walk about the room, which she did bent quite forward, she could not step out properly, it seemed as if her legs were quite stiff. She complains of no particular pains, nor is there any emaciation. It is always dim before her eyes; she cannot read more than a line. There is nothing abnormal visible in the eyes. For some time back she has every week had urinary tenesmus, the water comes away in drops. She has never been regularly menstruated, it only came on scantily; for a year she had none. She has often leucorrhoea of a bland description. Her digestion is better, the bowels regular.

Prescription. 1 dose of Thuja, 30.

20th July.—The urinary complaints were better the first week, the second they quite disappeared; the leucorrhoea is less. In back, sacrum, and legs, no alteration; the same stiffness when walking.

4th August.—The catamenia have returned and kept on for three days; no urinary symptoms. In the back and sacrum there was occasional burning, less latterly. She has less difficulty in moving about the house, not much improvement in walking about the street. The skin of hands and arms is much chapped, the neck and arms are desquamating, and feel very rough. No prescription.

She presented herself again on the 9th November. She now complained of nothing except a slight want of sensibility of the skin of the legs, she walked with ease about the room, and she had been dancing all night.

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS. By Ad. Lippe

2011-12-20T00:35:00.000+05:30

This Article originally publsihed in THE AMERICAN HOMOEOPATHIC REVIEW., Vol. III. NEW YORK, NOVEMBER, 1862. No. 6.

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS.

BY AD. LIPPE, M. D., PHILADELPHIA, PA.

After some weeks of varied indisposition and much mental anxiety, Dr. R., aged 35 years, was taken ill on the 22d day of October, 1861. He felt great general prostration; a great heat all over; a strong desire to sleep, with sleeplessness; pain in all his limbs; a want of appetite and aversion to light. He took for these symptoms one dose of Bell.200

The following morning, the 23d, he was visited by Dr. Hering and myself, and the following symptoms were ascertained by our examination: he had not slept the night previous, his mind was too active, but they were always the same ideas which disturbed him; a continued hacking cough, from a tickling in the bronchial tubes, aggravated and excited by motion or talking; he raised at times tough green mucus; the cough causing violent stitches in the head; the head pained all over and felt numb. The tongue was coated white, the edges showing the impression of the teeth; pulse small, empty and frequent, vacillating between 94 and 106; no appetite; very little thirst; utter prostration of strength; very low spirited and taciturn; no passage from the bowels for forty-eight hours; urinating but seldom, and the discharge very scanty. There could be no doubt that a very serious disease was developing itself, and that we had to expect a case of typhoid fever. As the Doctor had taken Belladonna on the previous evening without any result as yet, we concluded to wait until evening before prescribing so that we might be certain that Belladonna was not developing any curative or other symptoms. We met at five, p.m., and found all the symptoms we had observed in the morning aggravated, the tongue was whiter, the edges softer, the cough more frequent, the pulse not as full, the prostration greater. The patient received four pellets of Calcarea carb.200 (Lehrman), and another dose of Calcarea carb. was left with the direction to be given in a solution of water, should there be no improvement in six hours. The next morning it was found that no further medicine except the one dose administered at five, p.m., had been given as the patient had slept soon after taking it. The cough had become less frequent and the head much relieved; the pulse was softer and fuller; the skin moist; an increased expectoration of green phlegm had much relieved him from the incessant tickling cough; the tongue was less coated and clearing off from the edges. He continued to improve from day to day; five days after taking the one dose of Calcarea carb. he was able to sit up, his appetite returned and he has been quite well since.

Calcarea carb. cured this case because it was the only remedy that had similar symptoms among the provings.— The utter sleeplessness from over-activity of the mind, the same ideas always disturbing the patient correspond only with Calcarea carb.; while the tickling, hacking cough aggravated by talking and motion corresponds with Calc. carb., Chin., Phos., Silicea, etc. In this case no aggravation appeared after the exhibition of the medicine, but that invariably beneficial sleep, indicating that the true curative remedy had taken effect, and that an improvement was to be anticipated. The improvement was gradual and steady leaving Dr. R. without the sequel of disease and medicine, and in the possession of full health.

Mrs. L. aged 45 years, had been suffering from diarrhoea for ten days during the hot days of August. The diarrhoea commenced in the following manner, was painless but was relieved only for a short time by Sulph.200, a few days later a watery discharge became more frequent in the evening and caused a great deal of burning for which Phos. was given with but little relief. On the tenth day the following symptoms were present: watery diarrhoea, grey, oftener during the day, worse after eating, the discharge passing with a gush; before the discharge, cutting pains in the upper part of the abdomen, the desire to stool very sudden and after the stool burning and soreness in the anus and rectum which were worse in the evening and during the forepart of the night; after the stool great weakness, sensation of sinking in the lower part of the abdomen and frequent perspiration. One dose of Nat. carb.200 was given in the morning. About ten minutes after taking the medicine a discharge came on very suddenly with not much straining, consisting of green lumps and white mucus; the next discharge was brown and in a few days the normal condition returned.

Nat. carb. has not all the symptoms related very strongly pointed out under the provings, but no other remedy has all the symptoms of the case. The time of the day is not strongly pointed out in the provings, but Nat. carb. has aggravation of diarrhoea after eating. See Hahnemann's Chronic Diseases: symptoms 485 and 486, the violent gushing stool is found,'Ibid 494, and reads “violent sudden desire to go to stool, followed by a liquid discharge, which passes and gushes with violence from the patient." The burning and soreness in the rectum is Ibid: 413 and 414. The remedy which has next to Natrum carb. the greatest similarity with the symptoms of the disease is Croton tiglium; but Croton tigliutn has more diarrhoea after drinking, and also motion always increases the desire to evacuate; the gushing discharges and the burning after stool in the anus and rectum are characteristic of both remedies.

Lieut. S., aged 24 years, was stationed before Richmond and participated in the battle of the Seven Pines; he was there much exposed to the wet weather, over-fatigued, and having no proper food and very bad water to drink was attacked with violent diarrhoea, for which he took with some benefit Bryonia, China, and Ars. Having only salt meats to eat, and later, when stationed at Harrison's Landing, the water being more impure, he became worse again and came to Philadelphia to be under my care. > On the 16th of August I found the following symptoms:

Stools discharged in a gush, preceeded by some pain in the abdomen; stools consisting of yellow water; motion, eating or drinking caused him at once to go to stool; perfect rest alone gave him relief; after stool a burning in the anus; much emaciation and debility. I gave him one dose of Croton tig.30 (Jenichen). He felt better the next day and under the influence of the one dose of Croton tig. and a proper diet, mutton, rice, okra, tomatoes, Claret and water, he continued to improve. A soreness in the abdomen which prevented him from buckling any thing around his waist, was removed, ten days later, by one dose of Sulph.200 He has resumed his active duties in the field.

In this case no other remedy but Croton tig. could be given; the aggravation of the diarrhoea from eating and drinking as well as from motion have not been observed under any other medicine, while the gushing stools consisting of yellow water are also under Croton tig.

Major M., aged 42 years, who had been stationed at Fortress Monroe and later at Norfolk, came under my care on the 10th of July, 1S62. He had complained of diarrhoea for which Opium had been administered in large doses. When I saw him he had the following symptoms:

Several attacks during the day; frequent desire to go to stool, and when he gave up to this feeling, he passed only discolored and sometimes large lumps of mucus; the continual desire to evacuate became a violent tenesmus; the rectum feeling as if violently contracted; this tenesmus also effected the bladder. Great debility and emaciation followed these attacks, depriving him of sleep, had no appetite and not much thirst.

July 10th. One dose of Nux vom.30 relieved him so far that he passed some faeces, the strangury remaining; on

July 11th. I gave one dose of Caps.30 The strangury ceased, the attacks came -on only once in forty-eight hours, always in the afternoon, he at first passed a large quantity of black and very foetid faeces, and then a quantity of mucus which was followed by frequent violent attacks of fruitless straining, with a sensation as if the rectum was violently constricted.

July 16th. I ordered him Lach.200 (Lehrmann), six pellets dissolved in half a tumbler full of water, one table-spoonful to be taken every four hours for one day. The attacks returned every other afternoon during a fortnight, but each time with less violence and finally ceased without further medicine. The major remains well and is again in the field.

In the year 1855, a married lady, the mother of three children, aged 35 years, came under my care with the following symptoms:

She had periodical attacks beginning with pain in the region of the right kidney, which incommoded her mostly when she moved about or rode in a carriage, the pain was at first a dull indescribable sensation, a heaviness, and finally in the course of ten or more days it became more severe until at length a very severe colic commenced, the pain drawing from the right kidney through the ureter into the bladder, when much blood was discharged with the urine; after this discharge had lasted two or three days she was relieved for a period of three to six weeks. The medicines I administered, at intervals and according to the changes of the collateral symptoms had been, Canth., Puls., Cannabis, Berb., Calc. c, Thuja, Sassap., Lycopod.. Zinc. Zinc. had a better and a longer effect then any of the other medicines, the amelioration only lasting a short time; on the whole the disease became gradually worse. While laboring under the attack, which now lasted much longer than formerly, she tossed about, screaming and vomiting. After passing some blood, there was a sediment like brick-dust to be seen in the urine. I now gave Ocimum canum., according to the few, but characteristic symptoms published by Dr. Mure, I began with the sixth potency which caused at once a violent aggravation, later I gave the thirtieth potency, and since this, 1857, the patient has gradually recovered, her health remaining excellent.

Mrs. O, aged 35 years, mother of four children, the youngest four years of age, had been suffering for more than three years before coming uuder my care, in May, 1862. Mrs. C. is emaciated and of nervous temperament . For more than three years she had not menstruated; she had frequent attacks of violent colic almost always at night, between two and four o'clock, a.m., those attacks came on at irregular intervals from three to ten days and were followed at times by vomiting of food or mucus, and, if this vomiting did not take place, by a severe headache the next morning. The day after such an attack she would feel very weak in body and mind, notable to fix her attention on any subject, and loosing herself in the street because she could not know where she was; when she thus spoke she could not find the right words. The pulse was small and feeble. Mrs. C. had had all sorts of treatment, she had found some palliatives at times, but the disease always returned more violent when the palliatives ceased to relieve.

She took, on the 25th day of May, one dose of Kali carb.30 (Lehrmann). The first night after taking the medicine she had a very severe attack lasting one hour, but she did not suffer so much during the day, the following night she had another attack, less violent then the first night and another still lighter attack came on the following night; all at the same hour, three o'clock, a.m. The repetition of attacks in this manner had never taken place before. The patient improved afterwards, had for some weeks c6nsiderable pain in the small of the back, menstruation returned and she has remained well since.

In the month of April, 1860, the following case came under my care. Mrs. M., married six months and in the fifth month of pregnancy, has been sick for three'days with headache, pain in the limbs and fever. I visited her on the third day; she had taken no medicine, complained of great weakness, severe pains in her head, in all her limbs, but mostly in her back; much worse when moving, no sleep, bitter taste, much nausea, tongue yellow and becoming very dry, moderate thirst, face red, skin hot and dry, pulse 120 beats a minute, full and hard constipation, discharge of urine scanty and dark. Several members of the family had died during the last few years of typhus fever under allopathic treatment. I gave the patient several doses of Bry.200 and found her easier the next day, I omitted the medicine. The following day, the fifth day of the disease, she was much worse, she had vomited frequently during the night, mostly bilious matter; the headache had been much worse, she was now unconscious, delirious, talked incessantly, she passed urine involuntarily, picked the bed clothes, tongue dry and black, face very dark red, eyes wide open, glassy, pupils dilated, when she drank a loud gurgling noise in her throat to the stomach. I gave her Cuprum met.200 (Jenichen) six pellets dissolved in half a tumbler full of water, every two hours one tablespoonful to be given till an improvement was apparent. After the second dose she fell asleep, slept uninterruptedly for ten hours, perspired profusely, and awoke feeling well but very weak. She took no more medicine and was able to take her meals with the family on the twelfth day of her sickness. The pregnancy progressed and at the proper time she was delivered of a healthy child.

Rheumatism By P.P. Wells, MD PART II

2011-12-18T22:22:00.002+05:30

This Article on RHEUMATISM was published by P.P.Wells in The American Homeopathic Review, Vol 3, New York, Nov, 1862. No 5,6,7. Here it is again published in two parts.PART I can be read here.

PART II

Arsenicum—Drawing tearings, especially in the limbs, with inability to lie on the affected side, and which are relieved by motion of the affected part. Pains which are felt during sleep. It is especially appropriate in protracted cases, with nocturnal aggravation of the pains, great emaciation, and profuse sweatings from exhausted vital force.

Calc. carb., is almost specific for cases contracted by working in the water, or a long continuance in it.

Causticum affects the fibrous tissues in the neighborhood of joints, as ligaments and tendons, and also the periosteum, i.e., the white rather than red fibrous tissues, and produces little or no discoloration, and if there be swelling it is pale. It causes shooting pains, especially in the joints, after taking cold. Tearings in the joints and bones, relieved by warmth and in bed. Shortening of tendons and rigidity and flexion of joints. Great sensibility to cold, open air, and currents of wind, which aggravate the pain. The patient is averse to lying uncovered. Its period of aggravation is evening. It is often appropriate in both acute and chronic cases with and without fever.

Chamomilla, is oftener applicable to acute and inflammatory cases with fever, than to chronic, apyretic cases. The pains are drawing in character, worse at night, and in bed; relieved by external warmth. The patient is disposed to constant movement of the affected part, which is numb, and partially paralytic. Tearings in the limbs, especially in the evening, and only relieved by constantly turning in bed. Drawing jerks in the bones and tendons. Pains in the periosteum, with paralytic weakness. Sensation of paralysis in parts, after the cessation of the pains. Rigid sensation and as if bruised in the joints, with cracking when moving. Its period of exacerbation is evening and before midnight. It will be perceived by the above, that the notable points in this drug are, it attacks chiefly the parts about the joints and periosteum (see Caustic.), paralytic sensation and partial paralysis of affected parts, pains aggravated evening and before midnight, and in bed; relief by external warmth and by moving the part affected. There can be no mistake in its use, if these points are remembered, and also that the disposition it excites is angry, petulant and depressed. (See Nux vom.)

Chin, is valuable in many cases resulting from the abuse of Mercury, especially in weak and emaciated subjects, with inclination to excessive perspiration. (See Ars.) It affects the tissues around the joints, periosteum, lumbar muscles, and those of the face, chiefly. The parts about the joints are swollen, and excessively sensitive to touch. The pains are worse at night, and while lying and sitting are tensive, drawing, as if bruised, and are accompanied by a sensation of weakness in the affected part, which is also restless and disposed to constant movement, which relieves. Great excitability of the whole nervous system, especially the nerves of sense (see Nux v.), all impressions on these are too strong.

Hepar sulph. is also related to cases of Mercurial rheumatism, especially in scrofulous subjects. There are tearings and shootings in the limbs and joints, with aggravation at night, especially during a nocturnal chill. Excessive nervous excitability, so that all impressions on body or mind cause internal trembling.

Ignatia. Pains in the joints as if sprained or dislocated. In the periosteum and long bones, pressing bruised pain especially at night and in bed; and the pains which appear while lying on the side, disappear when lying on the back. Relief by change of position. Great sensibility to currents of air. Alternations of disposition, showing opposite states, at short intervals. The general condition apathetic and depressed. Period of exacerbation, afternoon, evening and after midnight.

Ledum. This remedy is allied to both gout and rheumatism, and to acute and chronic cases, with and without swelling. It affects the joints, muscles, tendons, and periosteum. In the joints it produces jerking and shooting tearings; throbbing which hinders motion; paralytic pains, in all the joints, at night in bed, while moving the body; painful nodules in the joints. In the limbs, pains as if bruised; flying rheumatic tearings, from motion; tearing in the back and knees; pressing, and tearing pressing pains in the limbs, worse evenings and in the warmth of the bed; drawings in all the long bones, during motion. The warmth of the bed and the bed covering are insupportable. This intolerance of covering is quite characteristic of Ledum. Pains aggravated by motion. Period of aggravation evening and before midnight.

Lycopodium. In rheumatism of the finger-joints, and especially in chronic cases. In the practice of the writer it has been used with the best results in a case of rheumatic gout affecting these joints, of fifteen years standing. The joints were much distorted and filled with the characteristic chalk deposites. A perfect cure of the case, with absorption of the calcareous deposites, was effected by Lyc 200 followed by Graph.200, in about six months. The case was characterized by a profuse, icy cold perspiration of the affected hands and fingers, to the extent that several drops a minute would fall from the fingers' ends if these were permitted to hang downwards, and this in the hottest day of July. This remedy may also be of use in affections of the larger joints (mostly in chronic cases), if the general symptoms of the case are like the characteristics of this drug.

Mereurius sol. This drug is especially related to cases of syphilitic origin or complication, affecting the joints, bones, or periosteum. The swelling of the joints is likely to be large, pale, or slightly red, and puffy in appearance, or oedematous. The pains are tearing, drawing, shooting, pressing; in the bones as if broken; in the joints as if sprained; worse evenings and night, and insupportable in the heat of the bed; accompanied by profuse perspiration (often sour or offensive smelling), which gives no relief to the pains.

Nux mos. In cases chiefly of the muscles, the result of chill, or of protracted exposure to cold and dampness. The pains are of a drawing character, worse during repose; relieved by warmth, and aggravated by cold open air.

Nux vom, (see ante). This remedy is especially appropriate to attacks of the large muscles of the loins, and the large joints.

Rhododendron. In cases caused by storms, and a raw chilly atmosphere. The pains are worse during repose (see Rhus tox. and Dulc), and nights in the warmth of the bed (see Merc, Puls., Rhus. tox., and Sulphur). The pains are tearing, drawing and shooting, worse on change of weather. The pains are frequently without redness or swelling. Aftor abuse of Merc, in single joints, with redness and.swelling, aggravation of the pains at night and towards morning, which causes tension and stiffness of the joints. There is great sensibility to cold windy weather.

Rhus tox. (see ante), is one of the principal remedies for that class of rheumatic cases which has the pains relieved by .motion, and worse during repose, numbness of the affected part after motion. It is appropriate to attacks of whatever tissue, if the characteristic symptoms of the case are like those of the drug.

Ruta graveolens. Pains as from a blow, fall, or as if crushed; aggravated by touch, bending the body or the affected joints. The pains in the limbs and loins are relieved by continued motion. Ruta affects chiefly the bones and joints. There is with. the pains of the affected joints a sense of want of power, or partial paralysis. The wrist and first joint of the thumb are not unfrequently the seat of these pains, the patient being unable to grasp or hold objects with the affected hand. The pains of Ruta are aggravated by cold damp weather, and by repose. The disposition is sad, depressed, anxious, or angry.

Sabina, has drawing pains in the long bones of the upper and lower extremities, extending to the joints, where they are most severe, worse in a room and better in the open air. Paralytic pains in the joints after exertion. Tearing shooting in all the joints, with sensation as if swollen, with shooting drawings through the long bones. Cracking of the joints. This remedy has been repeatedly curative of rheumatism of the metatarso-phalangeal joint of the great toe characterized by great swelling, bright shining red, intense sensibility to touch and motion, worse at night. Fever high.

Sepia. In chronic cases, or in the obstinate remains of acute, which have resisted other remedies (see Sulphur). It has tension in different limbs, as if the tendons were too short; drawings in all the limbs, especially in the knees and fingers; drawing tearings, from below upwards, in the arms and legs, only in repose, with great weakness. Tearings in the knees and elbows. Sensation in the joints as if they would be easily sprained or dislocated. Cessation of the pains during powerful movement and walking in the open air. They appear most frequently and severely while sitting in repose and forenoons and evenings. Aggravations evenings and nights. Local warmth relieves the pains (see Ars. and Cham.). The pains are often accompanied by shuddering. Great sensibility to cold air, especially to the North wind.

Sepia was successful in removing the remainder of an acute attack located in the right knee, after Sulph., which at first gave great relief, had failed to effect a complete cure. The knee was semi-flexed, stiff', swollen, red, painful, worse at night, with a great sense of weakness in the joint. The pain and sensitiveness to touch were chiefly in the external lateral ligament. Sepia*", one dose, removed the whole pain, stiffness, swelling, and weakness as well as an extreme sensibility to cold air, and to every change of weather, which had been of some standing. There seems to have been a complete extinction of the rheumatic constitution in this case by the one dose, though it had been active at times for years. There has been no return of pains, or sensibility to change of weather.

Sulphur is appropriate to both acute and chronic cases, though seldom to the early stages of acute; to the results of taking cold, especially from cold dampness, or from working in water; (see Calc. carb.) to cases with or without swelling. Pains with loss of power and numbness in the part affected; shootings in the joints, with stiffness, or at night; pains like a sprain; tension as if from shortening of the tendons, or especially in the tendons of the feet after a short walk; drawings and tearings in the knee and shin-bone, evenings; cracking of the joints, especially of the knee and elbow. Warmth relieves and cold aggravates the pains (see Ars., Cham., Sep., etc.). The pains appear and are aggravated at night. Great disposition to take cold. Great sensibility to wind and open air. Pains on a change of weather. Dread of washing.

Thuja. If the latest observations on this drug should be sustained by practical experience, it will be found scarcely less than a specific in rheumatism, from gonorrhoeal poisoning. Respect for recent writers who have associated this drug with this poison as its great antidote, will secure to Thuja a careful attention in all cases of this kind. The symptoms which ally it to rheumatism are in the neck, tearing, which prevents turning the head; burning cutting, extending between the shoulder blades. In the back, pressing sensation of heaviness extending to the ankles, hindering walking; as if bruised, with great weakness; the whole back is painful, with stiffness of the neck; like a painful saddle over the nape of the neck, shoulders and spine. In the loins a boring tearing pain, extending to the left hip, causing limping. In the shoulders, tearing in the right, preventing lying on it and turning the head; tearing in both, or alternating from one to the other; severe stitch in the left; pain which prevents raising the arm over the head. In the arm, continued pain in the left, from the shoulder to the wrist and fingers, preventing grasping with the hand; in the middle of both, pain as if bruised. In the hands, drawings and tearings; pains in the fingers of the left, preventing grasping; in the thumb and finger joints, stiff, shooting, drawing, jerking and tearing pains, then swelling, when the pains gradually decline. In the hips, pain in the right, worse while sitting; drawings in the right, extending to the sole of foot; pain from the hip to the spine; sudden pain in the left, while stooping, so he can hardly step, with the sensation as if the leg were too long; the whole leg to the foot pains as if crushed. In the shin, shooting in the left, with swelling and redness of a spot, from which the pain extends to the ankle, and does not endure the least touch. In the knees, shooting in both so they cannot be bent, tension in the left; tearings; like excoriation, shooting, tightening, worse on sitting and rising from the seat, and at, night preventing sleep. In the ankle, shooting and tearing with swelling, and also of the sole, worse in the morning. Aggravations for the most part afternoon, evening and night. Warmth relieves and cold increases the pains.

Veratrum. One of the characteristics of this drug is that the violence of its pains produce delirium. In cases of rheumatism where delirium attends its exacerbations, Veratrum can hardly fail to be of service. It produces pains in the limbs like bruise and pressure. Its pains are intolerant of the heat of the bed, but are relieved by rising and walking about. They are renewed by damp cold weather. Renewal of the pains on rising which cease on lying down again. Stiffness of the limbs, especially forenoon and while standing.

A remedy of the first importance in the treatment of rheumatism is Lachesis. It is appropriate in both acute and chronic cases, and should always be in mind when treating cases from mercurial or syphilitic poisoning. The pains are increased evening and night; by touch and motion, and after sleeping, either day or night. It is more appropriate to the cases of spare or emaciated subjects (see Ars.), and also to cases with free perspiration, without attendant relief of the pains. (See Merc. sol.)

But the great province of this remedy is that class of cases threatening the heart or its appendages, or where these are actually invaded. In this class, so dangerous, and sooner or later, s0 fatal, if not met at the outset promptly by appropriate remedies, Lachesis is second in importance to no other medicine. The frequency and serious character of these attacks, will perhaps warrant a few remarks devoted to them in this connection, in which we hope to show the relation of this and some other remedies to rheumatism of the heart and its appendages, and to point out the proper place of each in the treatment, so far as we may he able in the brief space at our command for this purpose.

The first remark we have to make is, that in the treatment of every case of acute rheumatism, attacks of the heart should be suspected and watched for constantly, no visit being passed without positive knowledge of the state of the heart derived from actual careful examination of its condition. It is not enough that\he patient complains of no pain, or is silent as to unusual sensations in the cardiac region, for many cases make destructive progress without these, and without exhibiting the symptoms presently to be named, and which usually characterize such attacks. Nothing but a careful examination of the sounds of the heart's action can be perfectly relied on as evidence of its safety or danger in cases of acute rheumatism. No matter what the other symptoms, while these reveal only the dull, soft and smooth sounds, with the regularity of rhythm, and no more nor less than the active impulse of health, we need entertain no fear. It is all right. But any departure from these is a warning, and woe to both physician and patient if it bo not heeded and met by proper means. Is there a greater impulse to the beat than accords with the general signs of fever, it is significant of threatened trouble, and this is much enhanced, if at the same time the action of the heart is more rapid than would have been anticipated from the grade of violence of the fever, and still more if this action is tumultuous, or irregular in its rhythm. If with or without these signs there is heard with the usual sound of the beat, one as if from the friction of two rough surfaces—a rubbing—or with each beat, a blowing like that from the action of a small hand bellows, we have no occasion longer for suspicion, for trouble is already upon us.
The careful examination of the state of the heart is the more earnestly insisted on, because without this the evil may reach a development necessarily destructive before it is in the least perceptible in the general symptoms of the case.

A sad instance of the oversight we here would guard against, came under the observation of the writer some years ago, in the case of a lad 19 years old who had been ill about three months, the latter part of which time he had complained of no pain, but laid constantly in one position, on his right side, much bent forward, and well over on the face; he was desponding, said he could not get up nor move, though his physician insisted he could, and that " there was nothing the matter with him." On compelling him to get up and Stand on his feet, the poor lad fainted, and the doctor was only puzzled. He was not instructed. It was now the writer was requested to see him, and to say what was "the matter."

A single glance at the outlook and position of the patient instantly excited a suspicion which was fully confirmed by placing the ear over the region of the heart. Its action was so rapid and irregular as not to admit of counting, and more tumultuous than had been previously met by the writer.— The first question, whether he had had rheumatism was answered, that he had three months before, but that his pains suddenly left him six or eight weeks ago, since which he had had no return of them, and had been as I saw him, making no complaints, but insisting constantly, in reply to his physician, who told him there was nothing the matter with him 'and that he should get up and dress himself, that he could not. He was for a long time told this daily, and it was only after the attempt and result above stated, that his physician desisted, but was not satisfied. When told his patient had rheumatism of the heart, he became angry, rude and violent in his denials of the fact, which dissection, two weeks afterwards, established.

In cases of rheumatism attacking young subjects, it should be remembered that the danger of this metastasis is in the inverse ratio of the age. It is rare that children who have suffered from this disease wholly escape deposits on the valves or membranous tissues about the heart. After thirty years the danger of this is comparatively less, though cases do occur much later in life than this. The danger is much greater in thin, nervous, and feeble patients, and in those who have been poorly nourished. Such patients should he watched with double care, and if possible, the evil arrested at the outset. It frequently happens that in such subjects, there is a strong tendency of the disease to return to the heart, after having been once or twice removed to its original point of attack. They call for the utmost vigilance; the heart once invaded acquires peculiar susceptibility to subsequent attacks.

In all cases of acute rheumatism, where the pains of the affected parts suddenly disappear, without corresponding amendment in the general conditions and symptoms, the state of the heart should at once be suspected and examined. If the modifications of its healthy sounds above named are found, there is certainly a transference of the diseased activity to this organ or some of its appendages. There will most likely be with these some of the following symptoms, though the absence of any, or all of them, should not be taken as certain evidence of the integrity of the heart. They differ also much in their intensity in different cases, from extreme severity, to so light a degree as to attract little or no attention. Their lighter manifestation, or even the absence of any of them, however, is not to be taken as a measure of the danger of the patient, as the case just given shows.

The pain in the region of the heart is often intense, shooting, stabbing, boring, burning, pressing, or like a bruise.— Anxiety, restlessness, oppressed respiration, which is short, hurried, often irregular, and always with the short, abrupt expiration compelled by the intolerance of the pressure of the inflated lungs; short, dry, abrupt, loud, and, for the most part, single cough. This cough is peculiar, and once heard is not easily forgotten. It belongs to affections of the heart in general, and is seldom wanting in cases of the kind under consideration. Pressure, like a weight, on the middle or the lower part of the sternum is often present, very troublesome, and embarrassing to the respiration and sleep, sleeplessness at night, or if the patient sleeps, ho is often suddenly waked by a sense of suffocation, or fright, which soon partially passes away after waking—anxious and frightful dreams from which the patient wakes fatigued, and to which fatigue there is no rest. Pale and anxious countenance, indeed there is a peculiar physiognomy to these cases, which, however indescribable, when once seen, is not difficult to recognize. Great prostration of strength and utter intolerance of exertion. Profuse perspiration is a frequent concomitant, but it gives no relief to the patient. He lies, for the most part, on the right side, with the trunk bent forwards, or he is semi-recumbent, inclining to the right side. The manner of the patient is anxious and agitated. His speech is difficult, abrupt, short, and almost always painful. He is for the most part taciturn, desponding, and sometimes exceedingly petulant. His sufferings are likely to be much aggravated at night.

The above symptoms and remarks are given especially for those who are still inexperienced in the observation and treatment of these cases, and to such (the remark is not necessary to the mature practitioner), we say further, spare no pains in your first prescription. Be sure that it is strictly accurate before you proceed, whatever time it may require, and whatever may be the state of the patient, or the agitation and anxiety of his friends. We say be sure, because doing nothing for a short time, in such cases, is far better than doing wrong, which is often an irreparable mischief. It begets complications or excites inveteracies which sometimes are difficult or impossible to overcome. Avoid the loose practice of giving two or more medicines at the same time, for here it will prove not only useless, but most likely mischievous. The frequency of the repetition of the doses must depend on the severity of the attack and the rapidity with which it seems to be running its course. The more violent and rapid require doses at shorter intervals. In prescribing we must have reference as well to the general symptoms as to those more immediately about the heart, and of these last we have the two classes of subjective and objective, both important, in their control of the choice of the remedy.

Aconite may be in place at the very outset of the attack, as it is in the beginning of most inflammations with fibrinous deposit, if there be full, hard, quick pulse, great heat of the skin, thirst and anxiety, with restlessness and loud complainings under the sufferings; sharp shootings in the region of the heart, etc. It is seldom of service later in the attack, and in this it only obeys the law which limits its usefulness in this class of inflammations to the stage of deposit, which is often quite brief. It may be well to caution the class of practitioners for whom these remarks are especially designed not to lose too much time in fruitless waiting for relief from Aconite which it cannot bring, but rather, if it has seemed appropriate in the beginning, and has brought partial relief to the pain, anxiety, difficult respiration and cough, and the amendment has ceased to progress favorably, to proceed at once to the selection of a remedy more appropriate to the case. It is to be remembered that however valuable this remedy may be in the beginning, for a first curative impression, it seldom is sufficient for the complete cure of these cases, and never in constitutions invaded by psoric taint. We use this expression in the general sense which signifies the presence of a miasm which when developed becomes a chronic disease, with no tendency in itself to a limited existence, or to a spontaneous cure, but the course of which, when unimpeded by appropriate remedies, is towards dissolution. We prefer this general expression to "scrofula " and the many other indefinite terms which have been employed to designate the class of cases 'referred to. These remarks are, to a considerable extent, applicable to

Bryonia as a remedy for rheumatism of the heart. It is often valuable in the first stage, as a relief to present suffering, but rarely suffices for a cure, and never of severe cases. It is especially appropriate in this stage, when the fever is acute, with great thirst for cold drinks, pulse hard and quick, the shootings in the heart greatly aggravated by the least motion, and the respiration much embarrassed by a sense of pressing weight in the middle of the sternum. It is more applicable to cases, where the membranes and muscular tissue are chiefly attacked.

Arsenicum is a remedy for a later stage of these cases, where there is great prostration of strength, cold, damp surface, or cold and sticky perspiration; great restlessness; rapid emaciation; great oppression of the respiration; burning pains in the region of the heart; pulse small, rapid and feeble; worse when lying on the back; and also at night, and especially after midnight.

Pulsatilla, if with the well-known disposition characteristic of this medicine, and the common symptoms of this metastasis, there be shootings in the region of the heart, or heavy pressure and burning; palpitation much increased by slight mental emotions, or by speaking, with anxiety, intolerance of the pressure of the clothes, which the patient constantly endeavors to remove, and also with darkening of the vision, and aggravation by lying on the left side. This remedy may be of service in the late stage of the attack, and aid the absorption of the deposited fibrin. The patient is worse evening and night, before midnight.

Lachesis. This is one of the most important remedies in rheumatism of the heart, and in cases of deposited fibrin into the cavity and upon the surface of the pericardium, or upon the surface of the valves, it is one of our chief reliances for its removal. In the last named variety, valvular deposit, it divides the field with Spongia and perhaps Iodine. In rheumatism of the pericardium or endocardium it has no rival, and for it there is at present no known substitute. It has been the pleasant experience of the writer, many times repeated, to watch the daily subsidence of the physical signs of the presence of this most important affection, till the last trace of the fearful friction sound disappeared,- and with this, the gradual return of the patient's accustomed health. The subjective symptoms which indicate Lachesis in this affection are weight in the chest with anxiety; spasmodic pain (cramp like) in the heart, which causes palpitation; the heart feels as if constricted; a sensation as if the heart intermitted a single heat, which produces a slight cough, which seems to re-establish the circulation. Shortness of breath after every motion, especially of the hands, with great weariness. Inability to lie down on account of a suffocating sense of fullness in the chest, with the necessity if removing all pressure from the neck and chest, and gasping for breath, and when relieved of this, the patient lies on the left side with the head raised high. The anxiety, paleness of face, restlessness, perspiration, often excessive, are symptoms which nearly ally this remedy to Ars. They should be regarded as allies, not substitutes for each other. Both are exceedingly valuable, each being in its place, but a careful examination of the symptoms will show that their place is not identical. If called on to state the physical condition to which each is most appropriate, in these affections of the heart, it might be said Ars. is more related to cases with deposit of water in the cavity of the pericardium, and Lach. of fibrin upon the surfaces of the affected organ, of its valves, or of its investing membrane.

Spongia has been mentioned as related to cases with fibrinous deposit upon the valves. If the success which has followed its use by the writer shall continue to attend its prescription in such cases, it will prove a remedy of the highest value. Repeatedly he has had opportunity to observe the speedy, gradual disappearance of the valvular murmur) after giving this remedy, and corresponding relief of the subjective symptoms of the case, quite as satisfactory and remarkable as are often the results of the same remedy in croup. It seems to stand in much the same relation to rheumatic affections of the valves as Lach. does to that of the external and internal membranes of the heart. It was first suggested to the writer as a remedy in diseases of the heart by that eminent Master of the Materia Medica, Dr. A. F. Haynel, of Baltimore. This mention brought to his recollection the effects of Spong. upon a colored servant of the writer, who had suffered many years from an organic affection of the heart—of which she died a year or two after. She stealthily seized and speedily ate and swallowed a piece of sponge, just roasted, which lay in her way, while my back was momentarily turned towards her. The effect was sudden and alarming. It produced a terrible beating of the heart, a suffocation which threatened to be fatal, the lips became livid, respiration violently gasping, great pain in the heart, terror and fear of approaching death. After ten or fifteen minutes these symptoms began gradually to subside, and the dose, though rather large, was followed by a very remarkable relief of her old heart symptoms, which lasted several weeks. The terror of the experiment was sufficient to cure her of all inclination to steal medicines in large doses.

It was not till some ten years after this rather unexpected and startling experiment that a night call, in great excitement and alarm, brought the writer, at about two o'clock, a.m., to the bedside of a patient whose rheumatism had left the lumbar muscles and seized the 'heart, and this was the second similar metastasis in this case. The patient was awakened between one and two, a.m., by a sense of suffocation, accompanied by violent, loud cough, great alarm, agitation, anxiety, and difficult respiration. The action of the heart was violent and rapid, and each beat was accompanied by a loud blowing, as of a bellows. This symptom might have been and probably was the result of the deposit by the previous attack. There could hardly have been time in this recent one for an accumulation of fibrin equal to its production. The whole appearance of the case brought up the recollection of the experiment of my servant. The phenomena of the two cases were quite similar, indeed strikingly so. I immediately gave two pellets of the 200th of Spongia tost., Jenichen's preparation. The relief to the distressing symptoms of the patient was prompt, remarkable, and permanent. The bellows sound, which was loud, gradually disappeared, and in a day or two ceased to be heard. This was the result of my first trial of Spongia in heart disease. I have since, from successes, come to have great confidence in it, where the valves are chiefly the seat of attack, and where the patient is suddenly awaked at night, and shows a train of symptoms like those given above.

Spigelia. This remedy is adapted to cases where the irritibility of the heart is excessive, the beating violent or undulatory, or not synchronous with the beat of the pulse, the pains shooting and sharp, respiration short and oppressed, with great anxiety. The cases to which it is best adapted are those where the neuralgic element predominates, or, if inflammatory, where the deposit is small or before the stage of deposit is reached. In cases marked by distinct rubbing or bellows sounds, it may relieve pains and oppressed respiration, anxiety and restlessness, and the violence of the heart's action, but probably will exercise little influence over the absorption of inflammatory products.

Phosphorus. It is possible this remedy deserves more attention in the treatment of these cases than it has received. In the only case where it has been used by the writer, the result was striking and remarkable. It is given here because it illustrates a principle of the first importance in homoeopathic practice. There was nothing in the symptoms immediately referable to the heart, which was strikingly suggestive of Phos. rather than any other remedy. But the general symptoms were strongly characteristic of the drug, a3 were also the circumstances by which the symptoms were aggravated and relieved. Among the symptoms which found their resemblance in the pathogenesis of Phos. were pressure as if a great weight were lying on the middle of the sternum. Great pressure in the upper part of the chest; cough excited by drinking. Excoriation of the chest when coughing; cough wakes him constantly at night, and excites great pain in the breast. It was impossible to lie on the back.

This patient was now in his third attack of cardiac rheumatism. The first was some three years before this and the second five months. Since the first he had always had short breath and cough, inability to exert himself, palpitation of the heart, and depression of spirits from the belief that he had an incurable disease of the heart, which drove him to reckless courses of life. He became irregular and careless in his habits, drank very freely of intoxicating drinks, being willing by these or almost any means to end his wretched existence. In this third attack he had loud friction and bellows sounds. He was extremely petulant. The least trifle drove him to the greatest anger. He scolded violently if in the least opposed, or at any suggestion not perfectly agreeable. On getting Phos., Lehrman's, he was soon relieved of his most troublesome symptoms, and under the use of the remedy, six globules in half a tumbler of water, a teaspoonful every six hours, his convalescence was complete in about two weeks. He also lost the evidences of the old deposits upon the valves and on the pericardium, and when last seen by the writer, some months after, he was in apparent health, and in constant attendance upon business. The absorption of these deposits, it is believed, must be attributed to the effect of the drug, an effect certainly as unexpected as agreeable. The object of giving this case to the reader, is, to call his attention to the drug, if he should have similar symptoms to treat, or cases with other characteristics of Phos. believing it to be worthy of more attention than it has received in the treatment of the class of cases under consideration. At the same time we cannot but protest against giving this or any other drug, because a patient has cardiac rheumatism, without first making a careful comparison of the symptoms of the case with those of the drug, and then it is only to be given because of the resemblance required by homoeopathic law of cure.

Rheumatism By P.P. Wells, MD PART I

2011-12-18T22:09:00.002+05:30

This Article on RHEUMATISM was published by P.P.Wells in The American Homeopathic Review, Vol 3, New York, Nov, 1862. No 5,6,7. Here it is again published in two parts. PART II can be read here.

PART I

RHEUMATISM

BY P. P. WELLS, M. D., BROOKLYN, N. Y.

By this term we indicate an extended class of affections by no means easily brought within the brief and explicit terms of scientific definition. The difficulty is not so much in the vagueness of the subject, as in its extent, and the varied character of cases brought within the domain ascribed to it. When we suffer the pains of rheumatism we find them neither shadowy nor uncertain, but when we attempt to define what we mean by the word, to present the elements belonging to the genus, found in all its examples and found no where else, we fail, even after much labor, to produce anything satisfactory, and may be compelled to sit down, as the writer now is to the employment of the word, trusting to its general use by readers, for a recognition of the fact that we refer to that numerous class of painful affections which are gathered under this denomination, for the good reason that it has not been so convenient to place them under any other. When he says Rheumatism, the reader thinks he means a definite thing enough, and if perchance he has felt its grip he is quite sure of it. Will he be so good as to tell us what he means, and in terms which shall equally describe the tortures of his ten dear neighbors and friends who also had suffered and who certainly came to sympathize with him, and each to bring the knowledge of a "certain cure." If he will do this, he will have made an addition to the literature of this subject which will deserve to be remembered. If this definition were essential to that understanding of cases as they occur in practice, requisite to their intelligent treatment and speedy cure, it would be a matter for the deepest regret. But as the relationship of curatives to diseases has not been made to depend on strictly scientific definitions, however valuable these may be, and as the chief duty of the physician, in these, as in all other cases, is to find the curative, and as definition, if given, cannot materially aid him in the discharge of this duty, its consideration may for the present be safely waived. The improvements in nomenclature may hereafter make definitions more possible, the signification of terms used more explicit, and thereby enhance convenience in the interchange of ideas, but whether increased certainty of cure, or an abridged duration of the disease, would necessarily result may well be doubted.

In order to a certain and speedy cure of rheumatism, it is essential to begin with that first of all requisites to intelligent and successful treatment of diseases, a strict individualization of the case. It will be a help towards this, if at the outset the case can be referred to either of the following classes: With fever; without fever; swelling with redness and heat; without swelling; swelling with oedema; pains aggravated by motion; pains relieved by motion; pains suddenly shifting from place to place; pains aggravated by change of weather, especially on the approach of a storm. The exciting cause, if known, should be carefully considered, as this is often an important element in the individualization, and also the quality of the pain. The time and circumstances of aggravation are also matters for the strictest inquiry. The character of the tissue invaded—is it muscular, tendonous, ligamentous, membranous, or a mixture of these?

The necessity of this individualization is apparent from the nature of disease of whatever kind, and if there be any variety where this is more imperative than with others, perhaps this variety is rheumatism. If disease be a modification of those actions of the vital forces, the just balance of which conserves the whole and each part of the individual, so that these forces, instead of conservative become destructive of the whole or of parts—-and we assert of disease that it is nothing else—then it is evident that a proper knowledge of their modifications can only be reached after a thorough examination of all the elements of a case, which alone can disclose the nature of the modifications with which we have to deal. This is what we mean by individualization, and this the result we propose to attain by it.

It is only by this process that we gain possession of the elements of these modified vital actions, the finding of the similimum of which is the great duty of the physician, and the cure. Different exciting causes of these disturbances must produce different modifications of vital action; and the same cause, under different circumstances, may be so affected by these as to produce results quite different in their nature, and consequently in their curative relations, though for convenience we give the same name to them all. A man becomes severely chilled by exposure to low temperature, the atmosphere at the same time being dry, and there follows after* the reaction from this state, swelling of the joints, which is red and painful, intolerant of touch and motion, with fever more or less violent. Another is chilled by becoming wet in a rain storm, and results follow so similar that no eyes can perceive a difference. But that sensibility, keener than all human sense, the sensibility of diseased condition to the presence and action of its curative, will, and most certainly the remedy which promptly and completely cures the one will be found powerless for good with the other. Another is chilled by falling into water, or by long working in it, and suffers in like manner, but though we call his pains, swelling and fever rheumatism, his cure requires a different remedy from each of the others, though the sufferings of all result from chill, and we are compelled to call all by the same name. And this requirement of different curatives in these cases is determined by the one circumstance of dry or wet, in the two first cases, and by the manner of becoming wet in the two last. An interesting instance of rheumatism from the last cause came under the notice of the writer about a year and a half since. It was of two years standing, had resisted all remedies, and seemed to have fastened on the poor man a torture for life. He was given a single powder of Calc. carb. 200 which he took, and in a week was perfectly well. He has ever since done duty as a good soldier of the United States. Even the exposures of camp life, for more than a year, have been borne with impunity. Another has suffered from the poison of Gonorrhoea, and has similar sufferings, but the drugs which cured the other cases are powerless with him, and yet we call his case rheumatism also. These examples sufficiently illustrate the necessity of careful attention to the nature of the exciting cause in all cases where it can be ascertained.

The quality of the pain in different cases is exceedingly various, being determined either by the nature of the exciting cause, the vital condition or susceptibilities of the individual, or the circumstances of the attack. There is often a difficulty in the way of investigating this element, arising from the peculiarity of our national mind. It has been trained to the consideration, and has had to do almost exclusively with objective life and phenomena. The life within is to our nation almost an unobserved domain. This fact has stamped itself on our language, and left it poor in the terms necessary to the description of its phenomena, and hence great difficulty is often met in attempts to individualize this element of cases, the patients having no words to express what they feel. A pain is to them only a pain—and every one has been thought of as like every other. The word to most, certainly to many, patients has never had an adjective prefixed to it in their minds. And there is still another difficulty in the way of obtaining exact information, in the liability of persons to attach different meanings to the same word; or what is nearly equivalent to this, of using different terms to describe the same sensation. To avoid errors from these causes, will require the utmost caution. But it is believed the importance of the subject warrants and demands that patient care and perseverance which can and will overcome these and all other difficulties in the way of that knowledge necessary to success.

It is not necessary to say to the experienced observer that almost all diseases have their periods of exacerbation; and when the time arrives in successive days of their progress, it brings with it the aggravation of some or all their elements. Each case has its own periodicity. It is as little necessary to say to the experienced Homoeopathist that this periodicity is of immense importance in directing to the choice of curative remedies. But all have not had the experience which has shown to this class of physicians the extent of this imporance, and it may not be amiss to urge upon such the careful observation of this element, and to assure them that often it alone brings the light which can rightly decide the choice between two remedies, so equal else may the claims of each be, till the case is so decided. The same remark is equally applicable to whatever circumstance aggravates or relieves the sufferings of the case.

The disposition of the patient is also often very significant of the relationship of the proper curative to the case. It is often decisive between Aconite and Bryonia; Pulsatilla and Sulphur, etc. This should never be overlooked.

Having made all the necessary preliminary examinations and drawn out all the essential elements of a case of rheumatism, how shall the curative be found? To show the manner of this will be one object of the remainder of this paper.

When about to attempt a prescription, after the individualization which has been insisted on, and after noting that the case has attacked one or more of the joints with swelling, which is red, hot, painful; the skin is burning and dry or moist, it may be either; the patient has great thirst; the affected parts are intolerant of touch and motion; the pulse has increased frequency, fullness, and hardness; the urine is scanty and high colored. These are the symptoms ordinarily met at first visits to acute, or, as it is often called, and well enough, inflammatory rheumatism. It is a tolerably complete picture of such a case, for all purposes except prescribing; and yet for this, it is all but valueless. With only these elements, a Hering is as powerless for a specific prescription as the veriest tyro, and even more so. He would clearly perceive the necessity of a knowledge of other elements, before such a prescription could be made, and consequently would do nothing till this should be gained, while the tyro would guess, move, and probably blunder and fail. The case so presented has nearly equal claims on Acon., Arn., Bell., Bry., Dulc, Nux v., Puls., Rhus tox., so nearly equal that no man can say that one should be preferred to the others, and yet the physician must select. There are two courses open to him, and whether he takes the one or the other depends much on the knowledge he has of the Materia Medica, and his personal habits of practice. A very moderate share of this knowledge will probably suggest the above named remedies, and perhaps some others, and if his habits of prescribing are loose he will begin by giving two or more of them in alternation, at short intervals, and substituting others for those first selected, if these fail, as most likely they will, till the series has been run through, if the right remedy have not been stumbled on before, and then if the poor patient is not relieved, the prescriber is at the end of his tether. It is certain that this course sooner exhausts the number of supposed available remedies than a simpler and exact one, but it as certainly fails to show any other very obvious recommendation for its adoption, while to it there are two very strong objections. The first is it begets and perpetuates a loose practice, with no definite aims, and can rarely be followed by definite results, other than decided failures. It must be regarded, if rightly, at the best, as only a convenience of either indolence or ignorance, in the first instance, and perhaps of habit afterwards. The second objection is, we have no certainty in this course of practice, that the second remedy given will not injure or destroy the specific curative action of the first, if it be perchance specific, or the first that of the second. We have no right to infer from them conjointly the sum of their actions when employed singly. That they do continually modify the action of each other when so employed there can be no doubt. How, no man can tell. This objection must be fatal to whatever of claim may be set up for this course as an example of specific practice. There may be added a third objection. When the practice is not successful, it leaves the case in increased, and often inextricable, confusion. A further discussion of the practice of alternating remedies is deferred to a future occasion, when we propose to show the class of cases where it may be admissible, and the principles by which it should be governed.

The second course is to proceed to the discovery and analysis of the other symptoms of the case which alone can show its true nature and the remedy required for the cure. The general symptoms of the case supposed are strongly suggestive of Aconite, at the first glance, but a second look, and the query arises, may not Bryonia be better, or Arnica, or Belladonna, or Rhus tox.? The group of symptoms here given is well represented in the pathogenesis of Aconite and Bryonia, but there are differences in the other symptoms of these drugs. The disposition under the sufferings of these two remedies is not the same, nor is there much need of confounding the two. Aconite is characterized by loud complaints and outcries, with weeping, tears and despairing anxiety. Any attempted playfulness, on the part of attendants, for the encouragement of the patient is very offensive to him. He is timid, and intolerant of noise, even musical sounds offend. Bryonia has not the characteristic outcries and complaints of Aconite. Its general tone of disposition is more subdued, or easily excited to anger. It has weeping and despairing with Aconite. Thirst with the two is somewhat different. With Aconite the thirst is incessant, while with Bryonia the calls are occasional for large draughts of cold drinks. In the general symptoms given above there is much resemblance to those of Bryonia and Nux vom., but these drugs differ in the disposition they excite, and also in the time of their aggravation. Nux is after midnight and morning. Bryonia, evening and before midnight. Aconite, evening and night. The disposition of Nux is sad, depressed, silent or angry, despairing of health and recovery. Excessive sensibility to all external impressions. The slightest jarring or concussion is insupportable. The patient complains much of his sufferings but is not so loud, as are the outcries of Aconite. He is impatient of the least opposition. Arnica, in disposition resembles both Nux and Pulsatilla; Nux, in its angry irritability, Pulsatilla, in its despairing hopelessness. The great irritability of Arnica is of the mind; of Nux, of the senses. In periodicity Arn. ranks with Puls., evening and night. In disposition Rhus resembles Puls, but in periodicity Nux. The patient is depressed, sad, without courage, despairing, tearful, with exacerbations chiefly after midnight and morning. Belladonna, in disposition, ranks with Nux, but the manifestations are more violent; its period is rather with Puls., afternoon, evening, and before midnight. The disposition of Dulc. is angry, impatient, morose; which rather affiliates it with Nux, but its period is that of Puls., evening and night.

The quality of the pains is an element of importance. With the above named remedies we have with Acon. pressure like a weight, shooting, as if bruised, tearing (drawing). With Arn. pains as if bruised, broken, dislocated, burning, cutting. Bell., shooting or tearing pressure, and cramp like. Bry. has painful tension, like bruise, shooting, as if the flesh were loose on the bones. Dulc, dull shootings, shooting drawings. Nux v., like bruise (in the joints), painful tension, drawing. Puls., drawing, fine shootings, drawing especially in the joints, like the pains of abscess, on touching the affected part. Rhus, tension, drawing, tearing with sense of dull numbness after motion, shooting (in the joints), like a bruise, like a sprain, as if the flesh were loosened on the bones, paralytic pains (in the joints).

It will be seen that while some of the pains are repeated by the different medicines, there is on the wholes marked individuality in the others, not easily overlooked. In the case of the repetitions, other symptoms must decide the choice of the remedy. The aggravation or relief of pains by motion is an element of the first importance to a specific prescription. In those cases, with the symptoms given, where the pains are increased by motion, if the exacerbation occurs evening and night, Bry. is appropriate; if after midnight and morning, Nux v. When the pains are relieved by motion, and the exacerbation is after midnight and morning, Rhus tox. is called for; if in the evening and before midnight Puls. or Dulc. In relation to the relief of pain by motion, it should be remembered that in many cases of this kind, the pains are much increased by the beginning of motion, though relieved by its continuance. This is true of many of the pains of Rhus.

In the matter of the swelling, it is intense with Acon., Bry., Puls. and Rhus. It is bright red with Acon. Bright and shining with Bry.; with Puls. and Rhus the color is more dull; with Arn., blvmh. Bell. is likely to show an erysipelatous hue, while the swelling in cases characteristic for Dulc. and Nux v. is likely to be less intense. With Nux the color is dull; Dulc. brighter. If the swelling be oedematous, especially of the feet or ankles, Merc. sol. is the remedy.

As to the exciting cause of the variety of rheumatism presented in the group of symptoms given above, it may be stated that most of these cases are the result of atmospheric impressions. Sudden change of temperature from a higher to a lower degree. Continued cold and damp, or cold and dry weather; small jets or currents of air falling upon an individual for a length of time, are all sufficient to produce rheumatism in persons predisposed by their vital condition to this form of disease; and the variety most likely to result is that which we have been considering. In its relationship to remedies it will be found that those cases caused by cold dry air will most frequently call for Acon. and Bry.; cold damp air, Dulc. and Rhus; from currents and jets, Nux and Puls. Rhus has this specialty that it is almost a specific for those cases contracted by exposure to chill and rain. Puls. shares with Rhus a relationship to cases contracted by exposure to rain, while it is especially appropriate to cases caused by protracted wet weather.

We have attempted by the analysis of the above group of symptoms which generally represents rheumatism accompanied by fever to point out its relationships to remedies, and also to show the method by which those relationships are ascertained. For this purpose we have taken a group most commonly met in acute cases and have purposely avoided in its consideration the many modifying symptoms and circumstances which are sometimes associated with this group, and which indicate or establish relationships to other remedies. This has been avoided because it has been thought a view of the simple case better adapted to the object in view—to show the homoeopathic method of dealing with this sometimes obstinate enemy. This being clearly understood, it is easy to extend its application to other cases composed of more numerous elements, it being only an extension of the same process.

Thus, if with the symptoms considered, the swelling and pain suddenly leave the joint affected and appear with the same attending phenomena in another, how are we to decide on the remedy? Am. and Puls., among the remedies cited above, have this peculiarity of sudden transition from joint to joint. It will not be difficult to decide which is the right, if we note the character of the swelling and the disposition of the patient. In both these elements the remedies differ, as has been already noted. But there is another variety of rheumatism with erratic pains, which has neither heat, redness nor swelling, which is relieved by other remedies. Sulphur if the pains are increased at night and by the heat of the bed; Nux mos., if it has been the result of protracted cold, wet weather; Asaf., if the seat of the pain is in the periosteum.

The difficulty of bringing the different forms of rheumatism into classes, the better to show their relation to remedies, is scarcely less than that of giving a definition of the genus. This grows very much out of the fact that the same remedy, on examination, will be found required in individual cases of several, and perhaps many classes. That most common division into acute and chronic is of very little avail in practice, many remedies being almost equally called for in both Nux vom., Puls., Rhus, and Sulph. are examples of this. Besides, the curative power of a drug in a given case depends on the similarity of its pathogenesis to the symptoms to be cured, and not much, generally, on the duration of the case. In view of this difficulty it has been decided in what we have to say on the relation of rheumatism to remedies, to take these up and point out some of the more common and prominent symptoms of each, by which they may be related to cases in practice.

Ant. crud., if there be drawings, shootings, and tensive pains; shortening of the muscles or tendons, with bending of the limbs; the pains are aggravated by warm air and heat of the sun. It is chiefly appropriate in rheumatic inflammation of muscular tissue; especially of the biceps flexor cubiti. It is oftener appropriate in chronic than acute case's.

PART II

A Case Of Common Cold

2011-12-17T21:18:00.002+05:30

Dr. Ravinder S. Mann
B.H.M.S.

Patient Mrs V. consulted me on 26 Nov,suffering from 3 days after exposure to cold. Patient has coryza, yellow discharge, post nasal discharge. < evening, night.
Cough < evening, night, lying on.
Rawness in throat < evening.
Pain throat left side.
Thick yellowish expectoration.
Pain in forehead after taking cold, which increases with cold.

Repertorization in Radar :-

THROAT - PAIN - rawness - evening
THROAT - PAIN - left

COUGH - LYING - agg.
COUGH - EVENING
COUGH - NIGHT

EXPECTORATION - THICK
EXPECTORATION - YELLOW

HEAD - PAIN - Forehead, in

GENERALS - COLD - agg.
GENERALS - COLD; after taking

NOSE - DISCHARGE - Posterior nares
NOSE - DISCHARGE - yellow

General repertorization - Nat. Carb.

Small remedies + Small rubrics - Nat.Carb.

Vitholkas Expert System(VES) - Nat. carb.

Prescription:-

Nat C 30 C, 2 Doses prescribed.

In 30 minutes pain head stops and next evening no symptom reappear.

A Case of Left Sided Diplopia with Headache

2011-12-15T13:48:00.002+05:30

Dr Vandana Patni

B.H.M.S.

August 17, 2010

A 28 year old female B.Laxmi, has Diplopia in left eye, from more than 6 months, has consulted many ophthalmologists without any improvement, no cause detected. Pain in left side of head, on waking up in morning. Has desire for lot much salt in food. Pain in canthi of left eye. Always want to close the left eye, and keep it close by hand all the time, keeping close ameliorate.

Repertorization in Radar

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - salt – desire

GENERALS - CLOSING - Eyes - amel.

HEAD - PAIN - morning - waking, on

HEAD - PAIN - accompanied by - Eye – complaints

EYE - PAIN – Canthi

EYE - CLOSING the eyes - desire to

VISION – DIPLOPIA

Prescription

Nat Mur 30 TDS for a week.

August 24, 2010

Head pain improved.

Diplopia , can not say if any improvement, like as same.

Prescription

Natrum Mur 30 TDS for a week

September 7, 2010

Head pain improved much more.

Diplopia, very little improvement.

Prescription

Natrum Mur 30 OD for 15 days

September 24, 2010

Patient says double vision is improved almost 30%, it does not continue all the time, as it was earlier.

Head pain better but still there.

Prescription

Sac. Lac . for 15 days.

October 16, 2010

Very much better in Diplopia and Headache.

Prescription

Sac Lac for 7 days.

October 23, 2010

Diplopia better but Head pain from sun heat, when expose to sun.

Prescription

Natrum Mur 30 TDS for 7 days.

November 3, 2010

Patient says all my complaints are 75% improved.

Diplopia and Headache very less, not daily.

Prescription

Sac Lac for 15 days.

November 17, 2010

Patient is 95% improved.

In last 15 days only once she faced mild Diplopia and Headache.

Prescription

Sac Lac for 15 days.

December 3, 2010

Patient has got rid off all the symptoms.

Not a single attack of symptoms in last 2 weeks.

Prescription

Sac Lac for 15 days.

Advised to discontinue medicine after it.

February 24, 2011

Patient came for coryza and cough on change of weather and reported no complaint of Diplopia after that last prescription.

The "Three Mistakes"

2011-11-23T10:52:00.001+05:30

An Important Article About Mistakes which We Homeopaths Do In Practice.Published as editorial in "THE MEDICAL ADVANCE VOL. XLII. CHICAGO, JANUARY, 1904. No. 1."

The "Three Mistakes"

If the weight of a word is determined by the size of the brain
behind it, the value of an opinion on a therapeutic question may
be estimated by the ability of the man who gives it, his practical
experience and the opportunities he may have had that would
enable him to express an opinion. But before such an opinion is
entitled to serious or even respectful consideration, he must at
least have demonstrated his familiarity with the subject under
discussion.

For instance, when an allopathic practician who never has had
any practical experience in the use of the homeopathic remedy in
the cure of the sick and who does not claim to have even given
the similar remedy a trial at the bed side, expresses the opinion
that there can be no possible curative power in the third potency

of any remedy, we cannot be blamed for declining to accept his
conclusions or for placing our own estimate upon the value of
his opinion. Without the clinical experience necessary to form
an opinion of any practical worth we may either question his

sincerity or ask him what he knows of it experimentally. How often
has he used the third potency at the bed side when it was actually
the similimum ? Has he ever used the third or any other potency
of a homeopathic remedy? Would he think it fair or just to
have his own system of therapeutics judged by such experience?
But with Hahnemann it was very different. He was perhaps
the ablest medical man of his time in Germany, if not in Europe,
with both a theoretical and practical knowledge of the best there
was in allopathy — the medicine of his time. When he published

his discovery of a law of cure, all that he requested of his
medical brethren was to put his experiments — both in testing
remedies on the healthy and in the cure of the sick — to a

practical test, following his rules, and publish the failures to the
medical world. The challenge has neither been accepted nor the
failures published.

The following rules were formulated by Hahnemann after
years of experimental work based on careful and accurate

observation, with complete written anamnesis of the patient; and

no greater mistake can be made by the homeopathist than their
neglect:

“There are three mistakes which the physician cannot too carefully avoid;
the first is to suppose that the doses which I have indicated as the proper ones in the treatment of chronic diseases, and which long experience and close observation have induced me to adopt, are too small;
the second great mistake is the improper use of a remedy; and
the third mistake consists in not letting a remedy act a sufficient length of time.
Nothing is lost by giving even smaller doses than those which I have
indicated. The doses can scarcely be too much reduced, provided the effects of the remedy are not disturbed by improper food. The remedial agent will act even in its smallest quantity, provided it corresponds perfectly to all the symptoms of the disease and its action is not interfered with by dietetic transgressions. The advantage of giving the smallest doses is this, that it is an easy matter to neutralize their effect in case the medicine should not have been chosen with the necessary exactitude. This
being done, a more suitable antipsoric may then be exhibited— Chronic Diseases.”

Very few homeopaths, we venture to say, have ever even heard
of these "three mistakes," for the simple reason that few have

ever read or studied the Chronic Diseases. We see from this that
Hahnemann does not insist upon the use of a specified potency,
although in the Organon he says that the thirtieth centesimal is
the most useful, according to his observation and experience in
both acute and chronic diseases. Hence, we infer that this is
the potency or dose to which he refers as the dose “I have indicated."

But this was the thirtieth centesimal, and his experience
extended over many years of accurate clinical observation in both
acute and chronic diseases, and was based on a written anamnesis.

Let us enumerate these mistakes:

“First: To suppose that the doses (3Oth cent.) are too small.

Second: The improper use of a remedy.

Third: Not letting a remedy act a sufficient length of time.

The second mistake is generally due to carelessness, laziness and levity.
Many homeopathic physicians, alas! remain guilty of these trespasses to the end of their lives; they understand nothing of the homeopathic doctrine.
The first duty of the homeopathic physician who appreciates the dignity of his profession and the value of human life, is to enquire into the whole condition of his patient, the cause of the disease as far as the patient remembers it, his mode of life, the nature of his mind, the tone and character of his sentiments, his physical constitution, and especially the symptoms of the disease. The enquiry is made according to the rules laid down, in the Ogranon [Section 83 et. seq.]. This being done, the physician then
tries to discover the true homeopathic remedy. He may avail himself of the use of existing repertories. But, inasmuch as these repertories only contain general indications, it is necessary that the remedies should afterward be carefully studied in the materia medica. A physician who is not willing to take this trouble, but who contents himself with the general indications of the repertories, and who by means of these general indications, dispatches one patient after another, deserves not the name of a true homeopathist. He is a mere quack, changing his remedies every moment, until the poor patient loses his temper and leaves this homicidal dabbler.
It is by such levity as this that true homeopathy is injured.”

How many of our professed homeopaths use the remedy properly?

Even when the similimum has been found, the case is often
spoiled by too frequent repetition. And this “improper use of
the remedy " has little or nothing to do with the potency or
strength of the remedy used. The motto appears to be: “If a
little be good, more will be better." and it is repeated irrespective
of the improvement of the condition for which it was given.
In the selection of the remedy too, how many follow the instructions

laid down in the Organon, Section 80 et seq., of carefully
writing out in full the anamnesis of the patient, as a basis for the
selection of the remedy. Once the Symptoms are properly taken

we may refer to the repertory to find what remedy to study, but
we can rarely be certain of the selection without referring to the
pathogenesis of the medicine. Many homeopaths think it beneath
them to write out the symptoms, or use a repertory in the search
for the similimum and then find fault with a cumbrous materia
medica, filled with unreliable symptoms. These are the men who
clamor for a reproving of the remedial agents of our materia
medica, little dreaming perhaps that similar methods in the selection or use of the remedy will yield similar results.

“The third great mistake which the homeopathic physician cannot too carefully avoid in the treatment of chronic diseases, is the too hasty repetition of the dose. This haste is highly indiscreet. Superficial observers are very apt to suppose that a remedy, after having favorably acted eight or ten days, can act no more; this delusion is strengthened by the supposition that the morbid symptoms would have shown themselves again on such or such a day, if the dose had not been renewed.
If the medicine which the patient has taken, produces a good effect in the first eight or ten days, it is a sure sign that the medicine is strictly homeopathic. If, under these circumstances, an aggravation should occur, the patient need not feel uneasy about it; the desired result will be ultimately obtained though it may take 20 or 30 days. It takes 40 and even 50 days before the medicine has completed its action. To give another remedy before the lapse of this period would be the height of folly. Let no physician suppose that, as soon as the time fixed for the duration of the action of the remedy shall have elapsed, another remedy must at once be administered with a view of hastening the cure. This is contrary to experience. The surest and safest way of hastening the cure is to let the medicine act as long as the improvement of the patient continues, were it
even far beyond the period which is set down as the probable period of the duration of that action. He who observes this rule with the greatest care will be the most successful homeopathic practitioner — Chronic Diseases.”

The too frequent repetition of the remedy has been the most
difficult lesson we have had to learn in the practice of pure homeopathy.

Graduating from a college in which the principles of the
Organon inculcated by Hahnemann were unknown or untaught,
it required years of study and experience to overcome the first
impressions of " the slip-shod " methods expounded in the college

clinic. A repertory was never used. How to select the
'remedy, when to administer it or how often to repeat it, was
never heard at college, as it is taught by Hahnemann. Hence,
we have a fraternal sympathy with the great majority of the
homeopathic profession who were never taught to pay any attention

to this all-important, yet vital injunction of Hahnemann

against the “too-hasty repetition of the remedy." This is not a
question of potency but of principle. It applies with almost
equal force to all potencies, all remedies and all patients, especially
those suffering from chronic disease; and it is nearly or quite as
disastrous to the patient under the 3x as under the thirtieth, one
thousandth or one millionth. These principles, vital to the life
of homeopathy and the well being of its patients and not “the
high potency craze " are what the true followers of Hahnemann
are trying to perpetuate. Some professed homeopaths would
seem unable to distinguish between a principle and a potency.

Symptoms that Distinguish a Case by JULIA C. LOOS

2011-11-22T18:12:00.001+05:30

This articles discuss the importance of symptoms belongs to patient over the symptoms belong to disease and particular organs, in Homeopathic methodology to cure the patient. Article published in "THE MEDICAL ADVANCE.. AND ..Journal of Homeopathics, VOL. XLII., CHICAGO, FEBRUARY, 1904. No. 2."

Symptoms that Distinguish a Case: That Sketch the
Image of the Disease in a Patient
JULIA C. LOOS, M. D., H. M., HARRISBURG, PA.

The only basis for study of disease is the record of symptoms
of sick people. No better method has been devised than that of
Hahnemann for bringing symptoms into a comprehensive form
for study and making acquaintance with the image of any individual

miasm. As a preparation for dealing with diseases the first
essential is familiarity with their natural expression when their
course has no interference.

Every miasm (disease), whether acute or chronic, so acts upon
the economy that the orderly functions are disturbed; not properly
performed. In every disease, however, these disturbances occur
in a definite course, each maintains its own order of disturbance,
following the period of invasion, progressing through prodrome
and active period to a period of decline, in acute miasms, but in
never-ending progression throughout the life of the individual in
chronic miasm.

Each disease is characterized by special symptoms by which it
may be recognized, but in various beings these characteristics of
the disease appear in a variety of forms. No individual of the
human race is complete, hence no one is capable of exhibiting in
entirety either the virtues or the vices of its nature. Hence any
disease in an individual is shown only as a fragment of the whole
image, the full nature portrayed by a large number. This individual

fragment is yet a sufficient part of the whole to represent
its nature and is recognized as a form of this or that miasm by the
characteristic combination of symptoms characterizing the miasm.
Many symptoms are so common to different sorts of disturbances

of the vital force that they are characteristic of nothing.

Headache, skin eruptions, loss of appetite, rise of temperature,
vomiting, pain in the abdomen, disturbed bowel evacuations are
common symptoms of sickness; but a certain combination of some
of these common symptoms occurring in definite form characterize

the miasms.

A particular form of fever, with a definite kind of pain in a
certain part of the abdomen with diarrhea of a particular type,
a sluggish, stupid, malaise and peculiar kind of eruption form the
characteristics of typhoid fever.

So each miasm is imaged by a characteristic combination of
symptoms, any one of which is common to many miasms.
From a clear comprehension of the natural functions of all
parts and the control of functions in health, we judge the condition

of each part by the disorder symptoms. No one symptom is
diagnostic of a local condition nor of a disease. All things must
be considered together. The-expression of weak heart action may
include symptoms all over the body, each of which, with different
associations would signify a different derangement. A tumor of
moderate firmness in the epigastrium might be a feature of aortic
aneurism which it would be fatal to have ruptured, but the physician

should be prepared to see a later softening of the tumor with
discharge of pus when the history of the case shows that the tumor
develops after a severe blow at this point and examination shows
superficial tissues involved. To determine the condition giving
rise to functional disturbances sometimes requires careful discrimination, but should not be neglected, if full accurate knowledge is desired.

GENERAL SYMPTOMS

General symptoms of the patient are frequently deduced from
many particulars. We recognize a general catarrhal condition
from the discharges here and there, or a nervous depression from

sluggish response in several functions or a tendency to wandering
pains or alternation of similar symptoms in different parts or alternation of wholly different symptoms. Local changes lead to the
summing up —" general glandular enlargements " or " indurations "

or " deficient nutrition " or " congestions " or " zymotic state."

The broad conception of the symptoms must be considered
in estimating from the record the true state of the case.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PATIENT

The records of the sick people contain another class of symptoms,

viz., those that characterize the patient, an important class
in each case. Our standard of measurement is the normal healthy
man who naturally at night is prepared to sleep and when day returns, awakes and desires to enter into activity according to his
affections. At regular periods he grows hungry, eats, feels refreshed

and is ready for action again, grows tired from long, continued

exertion and by a short cessation is rested from fatigue.

He feels good, enjoys his activity, the society of friends, is unconscious of the action of internal organs, even of their existence.

He appreciates himself as a unit in mind and body, thinking, willing,

acting a harmonious individual.

But when he is sick, these things are changed. He becomes sensitive

to all sorts of circumstances that ordinarily, in normal state,
are unnoticed; sensitive to the very things which contribute to his
life: light, temperature changes, winds, motion, noise, touch, to
articles of food, etc. He has definite periods of time when he feels
bad, certain hours of the day or parts of the month or year. He
has definite aggravations associated with the natural functions of
the organs, digestion, defecation, respiration, etc. Those things
which normally refresh, now aggravate him. He is comfortable
only under certain limited conditions. He desires queer things.
His natural affections are perverted, he loathes friends, food, activity, his very life, and desires things ordinarily repulsive. He
scolds or becomes violent or taciturn. He dwells on trifles that vex
him, entertains morbid fancies, loses control of memory, of
thought, of feelings. In endless variety the individual himself is

disturbed in sickness irrespective of the way the bodily functions
are performed.

These then are the characterizing symptoms of the patient. To
understand the sick man all these things must be perceived. A
full record of symptoms must include these symptoms that mark
the patient as well as the common symptoms, and the symptoms
that characterize the miasm which afflicts him.

MORBID TISSUE SYMPTOMS.

One other class of symptoms is worthy of distinction. Mention
has been made of functions disordered by disease, i. e., by disorder
of the vital force. When disease action has continued under conditions favoring its progress, functions become so far disturbed
that tissue repair is interfered with and normal tissue formation
is replaced by degenerative tissue formation or increased production, developing so-called pathological growth. These things
(overgrowths and deficiencies then destruction), by their actual
presence in the particular locality where they occur, in their interference, give rise to symptoms of disturbed function. Symptoms of disease results must be distinguished from others of all kinds.

Pressure on a part of the brain, on the spinal cord, on the liver,
on the bowels, will be followed by a line of symptoms in accordance with the natural function of the part, not necessarily limited to the area receiving the pressure but extending where the disturbed function is in control. Scar tissue on a sensitive nerve,
growths on the valves of the heart, destruction of the tubules of
the kidney, each produces its mechanical symptoms according to
the function disturbed. These are symptoms of disease results.
Such discrimination of all the symptoms in a full record of disorder

is the rational method of perceiving the image of sickness
for practical use in treating individual cases. Thus we are enabled
to reach definite conclusions of what is going on within, following
the history step by step.

By our philosophy, now proved beyond doubt, the patient is to
be cured most promptly, mildly and permanently by the use of a
remedy most similar in its effects upon the economy to the effects
of the miasm in this particular case, as revealed by the symptoms.

SECTION 104 OF THE ORGANON

When the totality of the symptoms that specially mark and distinguish the case of disease or in other words, when the picture of the disease, whatever be its kind, is once accurately sketched, the most difficult part of the task is accomplished. The physician has then the picture of the disease, especially if it be a chronic one, always before him, etc. Every phrase in this first sentence is important in its meaning.

Read it again:

Among all the symptoms in the record of our patient, which are to be of use in the selection of the remedy? Those symptoms that accurately sketch the image of the disease, the totality of the symptoms that specially mark and distinguish the case.

From the foregoing discriminating study of symptoms it is clear
that not all the symptoms in the case belong to this class. All
symptoms that do not specially mark and distinguish the case
(i. e., the patient under consideration) are not to be included here.
Some of the symptoms in our record are those common to many
kinds of sickness. Some symptoms are common to the disease affecting the patient, they distinguish the disease. Some symptoms
may be evidences of the results of disease. But those that specially
mark the case are the symptoms of the patient himself. The characteristics of the patient under consideration, those peculiar aggravations and ameliorations that are not an essential element in the pathology of the disease but distinguish one case from another afflicted with the same miasm.

The characteristic symptoms of the miasm give an image of
miasm but the characteristics of the patient produce an image of
the man as he is disturbed by the miasm. The common symptoms
and symptoms of disease results may be ignored in sketching the
image of the disease in this particular case but those that characterize the disease and most of all those that characterize the particular patient affected constitute the totality of the symptoms that specially mark and distinguish the case of disease. When the
symptoms have been clearly distinguished in the record and the
image of the disease in this patient thus accurately sketched, then
the most difficult part of the task is accomplished.

Until this is done by the physician, he is not ready to take any
steps in administering remedies for the correction of the disorder.

No matter how long he must study the record, no matter how long
he must wait and watch and question and search, until the case is
thus sketched, he is not prepared to proceed with a prescription.
The curative remedy is the one capable of producing in the economy such an image of disorder as this disease has produced in this patient. How can it be determined what remedy will do that if
we do not perceive the image here portrayed. The characteristics
of this sick patient are to be the guide points to the curative
remedy, the remedy which is characterized by the same or the
most closely resembling symptoms. Evidently then we cannot
proceed until we determine the characteristic symptoms of the
patient in his sick state.

With this aim, to restore the patient to health, ever in view, having

determined what are the symptoms that characterize this patient

and in their combination keeping the image before us — we
seek the remedy which most closely resembles in its effects — or its image, this image of disorder. This should take the whole attention of the physician until it is accomplished. The intensity of
the patient's sufferings, the anxiety of friends, the social position
of the sick person, the possible financial returns to the physician,
the possible contagion of others,— each and all of these must give
way in the physician's mind to the paramount problem — determining the image of the disease in this patient and the remedy whose image is most similar. To concentrate the attention on this matter it is often necessary for the physician to go entirely out of
the environment of the patient and the patient's associates. More
frequently than not in a case of profound sickness it is necessary
to resort to repertories and records of provings to determine what
remedy is most similar.

When we realize the importance of determining in each case to
be treated what are the characteristic symptoms that sketched the
image of disease in the case, when we realize that when this is
done the most difficult part of the task is accomplished, we must
be impressed with the fact that no student who has not been
thoroughly grounded in this discrimination, no matter how many
years' preparation he has had, is not qualified to practice in the
name of Homeopathy.

What must we say, then of the colleges throughout the land

offering to train students in Homeopathy ? Do we find their graduates

well trained in this line? Do we find the professors in the
departments of Medicine, Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics drilling the students in the discrimination of symptoms to determine ineach case the characteristics that sketch the image of disease in
each patient ? Let the graduates of the colleges testify. Let them
show how much was their attention directed to this and how much
it was directed to bacteria annihilation and treatment of disease results. When these graduates in course of time realize that
" symptoms of disease," “symptoms of the patient," " general
symptoms," " common symptoms," — " disease-result symptoms "
are meaningless terms to them and yet are important in the homeopathic application of drugs to disease, how shall the college withstand the reproof of these who were taught in their halls ? How
shall they repudiate the anathemas?

“Woe unto you hypocrites, Pharisees, blind guides, for ye pay
tithes of mint and anise and cummin and have omitted the weightier

matters of the law. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous

unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity,
wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children
of them which killed the prophets, while ye build tombs of the
prophets and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous."

CURE IS FROM WITHIN OUT.

Mr. I. C. L., 27 years of age, medium height, blonde, with blue
eyes and light brown hair, cheeks sunken, reported first on
December 1. He preceded the report of his own case by stating
that there was a family history of stomach troubles and he himself

had had indigestion for three years or so. Recently has been
emaciating. Weight reduced from one hundred thirty-five or one
hundred thirty pounds to one hundred fifteen. As a child he was
thin until seven years of age but grew stout after that and only
of late years has lost flesh.

Weak, draggy, languid; legs weak, used to be in forenoon but
now continues all day.

Sleep generally good until 4 or 5 A. M. Never can sleep late,
and feels unrefreshed in morning.

Feverish in evening after 5 P. M.; face hot, hands and feet
cold; < by excitement.

Indigestion: hungry always, not > by eating. Has had a diet
of eggs, until he has a distaste for them. By direction has used
malted-milk tablets and Wyeth's malt nerve tonic, and still growing

thin, craves sweets, vegetables, meat (latter, disagrees?) ; used
to crave sour things. Wants hot food. Averse to fat.
Thirstless, except about every two weeks has a spell of un-
quenchable thirst.

Mouth offensive odor: slimy, greasy tasting coating. Tongue
dirty, dry, red tip.

Eructations sour; heartburn.

Eyes yellow.

Constipation, may have no stool for two days at a time.

Colds settle in head from drafts. Had a severe cold four or
five weeks ago.

Skin: Eczema six or seven years ago, " itch," on arms (outer
side) and thighs, vesicles forming yellow lumps that can be rubbed
off. Itching, bleeding or scratching, < warm in bed, > warm
bathing (lard and sulphur). Now dry skin, peels up when shaves;
almost cracks. Color yellow, red blotches on forehead. Pricking,
itching, recently after bathing. (Cuticura soap.)

Perspiration little more of late, since he is weak.

Hair falling after eruption.

Chills slight, first, in summer of 1901, last summer doctored a
month or more (Quinine) ; tertian, 9-10 P. M.

Fever next day, all forenoon. During heat, diarrhea.
Sweat after fever began, continued after the fever.

Thirst absent. Intermediate day, weakness.

This continued until after he left the neighborhood.

Tonsilitis in 1899 at college; > in open air; > in warm room
70° to 72° comfortable, 65° is chilly.

Feet cold in morning, though well wrapped. Can't fall asleep
unless they are warm; one leg or one arm, sometimes middle of
back, cold, on waking; perspiration feet offensive < when cold.

Disposition variable; > company, < alone.

Dreads cold morning bath, past six weeks.

A few days later he reports cold in larynx. Hoarseness, cough

with rattling but difficult expectoration of yellow mucus, soreness
and tightness in chest, pain in back, lumbar region, coldness from
feet to knees and sore lameness all over.

The very clear and interesting sequence of things in this history
was emphasized to the young man. He admitted that he had
about concluded that driving off the eruption was really at the
beginning of his indigestion and was ready to accept the statement
that the skin trouble would return as well as some sign of chills.

Sulphur 55M.

The prescription was made after careful study
which brought Sulphur, Pulsatilla and Lycopodium most prom-
inently related to the case.

One week later he reported the cold improved immediately.
Diarrhea began shortly after last visit and for two days occurred
at 5 A. M. but not later in the day. Since that, bowels were regular.

He reported also that he was vaccinated at fifteen years of
age and had a running sore for six months. The proud flesh was
burned three times a week and bathing was prohibited. Healing
began after free bathing in warm water. A year later for a month
there existed a running sore on left side of lower lip. This left
a red scar which grows bright when he gets heated.

At the first visit his diet of eggs was discontinued and he was
told to eat reasonably of ordinary substantial food. This he did
from the first. In three weeks weight increased three and a half
pounds.

Chills came on the 19th, and each evening until the 29th, after
supper. At first they were followed by little fever and some thirst.
Later heat and perspiration followed.

Diarrhea again on 3Oth and for three days, beginning at 5 A. M.
Griping pain before and chilliness during stool; no straining,
stools yellow, brown, watery, with flatus.

Eruption on face before diarrhea; sore pustules; a few on back,
sensitive to pressure.

Rheumatism in shin muscles and ankles came at same time, later
persisted in right ankle only.

January 26. Sulphur 55m.

During next two months the eruption continued on face, neck
and shoulders in successive crops of pustules with redness and
itching. Eyes continued yellow, then vision became blurred and

lids agglutinated in mornings with yellow discharge. By the 20th
of March the following record was obtained:

Sleepless for two weeks; wakens often, falls asleep late and
wakens within fifteen minutes of 3 A. M. On waking feels active,
wide awake.

Loss of weight nine pounds in two weeks.
Bowels irregular, at times flatus from rectum.

Languid < evening 4:30 or 5 P. M. until 8 P. M., then feels
bright.

Feverish spells in evening.

Perspiration copious all over. Feet soles sore as if boiled; offensive.

Warm, feels excessively warm in moderately warm weather.
Appetite good. Thirsty for large drinks.

Headache dull, feels large. Eyes heavy. On shaking feels as
if something goes from one side to other < left side.

Eyes blood shot, pricking like splinters, on rising, morning, and
in evening after riding in the wind; > bathing cold water ;

lachrymation from light, from touch.

Cough for a week, from tickling in trachea, spasmodic, dry >
by lying; sense of contraction in upper trachea.

Mouth: ulcers on inner side of lip. When seven to eight years
old had several for which yellowish-white powder was used. Old
ones used to burn. These are sensitive to acid.

Depression of spirits comes suddenly in evening. Thoughts
wander when he tries to work mentally.

March 20th. Argentum nit. 4Om.

This was followed by a week of skin activity. The eruption
was much < on face and “every little scratch became a running
sore." Then it was “better than it ever was."

By the middle of April he reported that a gain of two pounds
in weight that week brought him to 121 pounds.

A return of symptoms, especially mental symptoms was the
occasion of a repitition of Arg. nit. on April 24.

After an absence of two months he reported himself better than
be had been for years; and we can readily believe it.

Here is a good verification of the doctrine set forth by Hahnemann,

in which the course of disease action in progress and under

curative measures is well displayed. The young man applied for
treatment to relieve him of indigestion but that was only one chapter

in the history and the treatment that cured that brought out to
the surface all the disorder from his early childhood and when
order was restored, he, the man, was better in every way, and the
physician was minus a patient. But the physician's duty in this
case was accomplished with satisfaction.

SYMPTOMS THAT CHARACTERIZE A CASE OF ERUPTION

Maud K., aged 16 years, came to the office about the middle of
July, complaining of an eruption which had troubled her for about
two weeks. She could give no history of its origin but said several
girls working in the same place, a candy factory, had been affected
similarly.

The eruption consisted of groups of small vesicles with dull red
areola, slightly hardened at base. Itching, at night in bed, <
when gets warm. After scratching, burns and breaks open continuing

to ooze yellow water. Areola spreads after first appearance.
Eruption began on abdomen, later developed on outer side of
right thigh, on back, back of neck and in axillae.

Leg stiff (on walking) about the eruption; soreness on walking.
Face on left side frequently has pimples under the skin. Is
swollen beneath the eyes on waking in the morning some days.

In attempting to pick out the most peculiar, unusual, striking
things about this eruption, the first selection was the place of its
first appearance.

Abdomen eruption: given in " Kent's Repertory " with the list:
Agar., Anac., Apis., Ars., Bar. m., Bry., Calc., Kali. bi., Kali. c.,
Merc. Nat. c., Nat. m., Phos., Rhus, Sul.

The following distinguishing features were then noted with
the remedies found in each of the preceding lists:

Eruption vesicles: Anac., Ars., Bry., Calc., Kali. bi., Kali. c.,
Merc., Merc, c., Nat. c., Nat. m., Phos., Rhus., Sul.;

Itching, Anac, Bry., Calc., Nat. c., Rhus, Sul.;

Red areola, Anac, Nat. c., Sul.;
Discharging, Anac., Nat. c., Sul.;

Vesicles in groups, Sul;

Inflamed, Anac;

Itching becoming warm in bed, Anac., Sul.

Because the eruption with its peculiarities presented so unfamiliar

an image and that remedy seemed a little out of the ordinary
for eruptions, Anacardium was first consulted in " Hering's Guid-
ings Symptoms." How beautiful seemed the words of the text:

“SKIN— Bright scarlet eruptions of the whole body, especially of the thighs in contact with the nut and of the abdomen.
Destruction of the epidermis, leaving an inflamed surface covered with small miliary pustules, with unbearable itching and discharging a yellow liquid forming crusts. Chest, neck, axillae, upper arms, abdomen, scrotum and thighs were not only covered with raised crusts, discharging a thick yellowish liquid, but these had partly changed into wart-like excrescences, with thickened epidermis, the whole intermediate skin being of an erythematous redness and
the itching fearful. Itching worse in evening and when he went to bed.”

Here was a better description of the thing than I had made even
on seeing it. So, although the case presented a wholly unfamiliar
image at the beginning, here in the materia medica album I found
its photograph and had no doubt of the effects of Anacardium in
this case.

It was administered with the warning that the eruption might
come out more for a few days but would then grow better and
nothing was to be put on but olive oil and water.

Much later I learned that the eruption came out in large, close,
red spots on thighs and legs but occasioned little pain after a day
or two and the whole skin was cleared in about one week. The
other girls had a much longer siege, even to three months. Then
indeed was breathed again a prayer of thankfulness for means of
discriminating symptoms and the possession of a logical repertory.

A short time ago a friend of the allopathic persuasion, or, call
it what you will, remarked that he had rheumatism, and added
that " Salicylate is good enough for patients but I don't want any
of it; " and we wondered if he knew that homeopathic physicians
were not afraid to take what they prescribed; and if he had any
idea of the number of them who took Perfection Liquid Food —
which they find so good for their patients — " when a little run
down."

DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS OF THE TONGUE

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Tongue observation is an important part of Homeopathic Case Taking.When symptoms are not individualizing a case, signs can be important for final selection. Among signs tongue is an important place to search for guiding indications.

Following article published in THE CRITIQUE,Formerly THE DENVER JOURNAL OF HOMEOPATHY,VOL. V. DENVER, COLO., MARCH 15,1898. No. 3.

DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS
OF THE TONGUE
By Walter J. King, Resident Physician, Denver Homeopathic Hospital.

While a true homeopath never prescribes for one symptom
only, but always in his prescribing considers the totality of
the symptoms, yet their are single symptoms which often serve
as guide-posts and point towards that remedy which, when the
totality of the symptoms is taken into consideration, is found to
be the indicated remedy. Not only in the treatment, but also
in the diagnosis, one symptom may assist us greatly in quickly
and correctly reaching a decision.

The tongue is a mirror in which we may discover by its
color, coating, volume, dryness and movements, the reflection of
the condition of the digestive, circulatory and nervous systems,
and the state of the secretions. A red, smooth tongue is a sign
of failing nutrition; a clean, smooth and bright red tongue indicates

inflammation of the gastric or intestinal mucous membrane.

Whenever the blood is watery and deficient in red
globules, we find the tongue remarkably pale. It is very red in
glossitis; in inflammation of the fauces or of the pharynx; it is
exceedingly red and shining in scarlet fever, also to a lesser
degree in the other exanthemata. In dangerous cases of pneumonia

and bronchitis, or in structural diseases of the heart, the
tongue is bluish and livid; this is due to deficient aeration or to
an obstruction to the flow of the venous blood. In chronic
diarrhoea and dysentery it is often red, smooth and dry; this
condition is also a frequent attendant on the cachexias. A clean
red tongue, with papillae prominent, or a white coating through
which the red papillae appear, is usually indicative of scarlet
fever, though sometimes present in pneumonia. The tongue is
loaded with a whitish coat of epithelium in inflammation of the
respiratory textures, at the beginning of fevers, and in disorders
of large portions of the abdominal mucous tract. In disturbances

of the liver, a yellowish coat is apt to be present; when
the blood is contaminated, the coat will be of a brown or very

dark hue. A furred appearance of the tongue is apt to be
present in scrofulous children; it is often present in grave acute
maladies, also sometimes in chronic diseases of the abdominal
viscera. A thick yellowish sheathing of one side may be produced

by decayed teeth or affections of the fauces. A pale
flabby tongue "with large papilla" is indicative of gastric debility;

also present in chlorosis. A sharp and pointed tongue is
often observed in inflammation or irritation of the brain. The
tongue will be found swollen in inflammation of its own sub-
stance' It will be swollen, broad and flabby in low fevers, in
in some affections of the brain, as a consequence upon the disturbed

circulation which accompanies diseases of the heart, and
sometimes in chronic ailments of the digestive organs. A relaxed,

dilated, and tremulous tongue indicates nervous or congestive

fevers. A dry, dark colored, glazed, furred or fissured
tongue, especially in acute diseases, is always to be dreaded, because

it is proof, not only that the secretions are arrested, but
also of depraved blood and ebbing life force. A dry tongue is
never a favorable sign. A fissured tongue is congenital in some
persons; it may occur in chronic inflammation of the intestines
or in chronic affections of the liver. In diabetes, coma, or persistent

breathing through the mouth, the tongue will be dry.
Impeded and tremulous movements of the tongue are attendant
in delibitated conditions of the system. In hemiplegia one side
is crippled, and the tongue turns away from the affected side of
the organ. A serious cerebral lesion is to be thought of when
the patient has imperfect articulation associated with difficulty
in moving the tongue.
The following manifestations or symptoms of the tongue
indicate a serious condition; a livid color, a very red, shining or
raw aspect, a heavy coating of a dark or black hue, dryness, or
tremulous action.
A few remedies that may be pointed to by the tongue are
as follows:

Antimonium Crudum:—Thick, milky-white coating on the
tongue, from slow digestion.

Antimonium Tartaricum:—Tongue coated thinly, white
with reddened papillae; red edges; tongue very red, dry in the
middle, with bitter taste.

Arsenicum Album:—Gangrene of tongue; spots on tongue
burn like fire.

Arum Triphyllum:—Tongue red like a beet, with prominent
papillae, excessive salivation.

Aurum Metallicum:—Tongue stiff and hard as leather; taste
entirely lost, craves nothing but acids.

Acidum Muriaticum:—Aphthae and ulceration of tongue,
which is heavy and paralyzed; taste acrid and putrid, like rotten
eggs, with ptyalism.

Belladonna:—Papillae deep red, inflamed and enlarged;
tongue fissured; trembling when protruded.

Borax:—Aphthous stomatitis.

Bryonia Alb:—Grayish or thick yellow coating; dry, brown
tongue; everything tastes bitter.

Gelsemium Sempervirens:—Can hardly protrude the tongue
it trembles so; speech thick, from congestion of the base of the
brain.

Hydrastis Canadensis:—Tongue large, flabby and slimy
looking; coating yellow, slimy, sticky, furred, Stomatitis materna.

Hyoscyamus Niger:—Tongue dry, red, brown, cracked and
tremulous.

Iodium:—Tongue heavily coated, continuous taste of salt
in the mouth; ravenous hunger, cannot be satisfied.

Ipecacuanha:—Constant nausea with a clean tongue.

Iris Versicolor:—Gums and tongue feel as though covered
with a greasy substance.

Kali Bichromicum:—Tongue thick, broad and mapped or
coated with thick, yellow felt.

Lachesis:—Tongue dry, red, black, stiff, cracked, much
trembling of tongue when protruding; tongue catches on the
teeth when protruding.

Leptandra Virginica:—Tongue coated yellow or black down
the middle.

Mercurius:—Very heavy, thick, moist, yellow coated tongue,

which takes the imprint of the teeth; fetid breath but
sweet taste in the mouth.

Mezereum:—Burning in the tongue extending to stomach.

Natrum Muriaticum:—Great complaints about the dryness

of the tongue, which is not very dry.

Nux Moschata:—Tongue so dry it sticks to the palate, especially

after sleeping, without thirst; the saliva seems like cotton.

Nux Vomica:—The first half of the tongue is clean or comparatively

clean; sometimes it is red and shining, but the posterior half

is coated with a deep fur.

Opium:—Paralysis of the tongue; tongue white, mouth
dry with unquenchable thirst from arrest of mucous secretions.

Ostrya Virginica:—Yellow coated tongue, slimy, coppery,
bitter taste.

Phytolacca De:—Tongue feels rough with blisters on the
sides, and a very red tip; great pain in the root of the tongue
when swallowing.

Podophyllum Peltatum:—Tongue full and broad with pasty
coat in the center and shows imprints of teeth, from portal congestion.

Pulsatilla Nigricans:—Tongue coated whitish yellow, with
tenacious mucus.

Rhus Toxicodendron:—Tongue has a triangular red tip,
white often on one side; takes imprint of teeth.

Sepia:—Large, pale, flabby and indentated tongue.

Silicon:—Sensation as if a hair were lying on fore-part of
tongue; tastes of blood in the morning.

Spigelia:—Fine stitches in the tongue, is full of cracks.

Stramonium:—Tongue yellowish-brown and dry on the
center or swelled and dry, showing the imprint of the teeth,
no desire for water, all kinds of food tastes like straw.

Sulphur:—Whitish or yellow coating; red tip and borders:
burning and dryness of the tongue.

Terebinthina:—Tongue red, smooth and glossy, as if deprived

of papillae in typhoid fevers.

Taraxacum:—White coated tongue, which peels off, giving
"mapped" appearance.

Thuja Occidentalis:—Ranula on both sides of the tongue,
transparent, of a bluish-red-gray and jelly-like appearance.
Slow speech. Tip of the tongue sore to the touch.

Ustilago Madis:—Prickling sensation in the tongue, with

a feeling as if something was under the roots of the tongue
pressing upward. Slimy, coppery taste.

Valeriana:—Tongue thickly coated, with taste as of rancid
tallow.

Veratrum Album:—Tongue cold; unquenchable desire for
cold drinks; dry, blackish, cracked tongue, or coated yellow,
with red tip and edges.

Veratrum Viride:—Tongue yellow at the sides, with a red
streak along the center and inclined to be dry.

Yucca:—Sallow yellow face and tongue, tongue takes imprints

of teeth.

Zincum:—Taste of blood in the mouth; sweetish rising
from the stomach, with a clean, red tongue; tongue dry and
feels heavy.

CALADIUM SEGUINUM

2011-11-21T12:13:00.000+05:30

Small and Less Used Medicine From Materia Medica Of Dr W. Boericke

CALADIUM SEGUINUM

(American Arum)

This remedy has a marked action on the genital organs, and pruritus of this region. Coldness of single parts and inclination to lie down, with aggravation on lying on left side. Slightest noise startles from sleep. Dread from motion. Modifies craving for tobacco. Tobacco heart. Asthmatic complaints.

Head :- Headaches and mental states of smokers. Very forgetful, does not know about the occurrences of things. Confused headache with pain in shoulder, pressure in eyes and forhead; extremely sensitive to noise, throbbing in ear.

Stomach :- Gnawing in orifice of stomach, which prevents deep breathing, and eructations. Eructations. Stomach feels full of dry food; sensation of fluttering. Acrid vomiting, thirstless and tolerates only warm drinks. Sighing respiration.

Male :- Pruritis. Glans very red. Organs seems larger, puffed, relaxed, cold, sweating; skin of scrotum thick. Erections when half-asleep; cease when fully awake. Impotency; relaxation of penis during excitement. No emission and no orgasm during embrace.

Female :- Pruritis of vulva [Ambr.; Kreos.] and vagina during pregnancy. (Hydrogen peroxide 1:12 locally). Voluptuousness. Cramp pains in uterus at night.

Skin :- Sweet sweat – attracts flies. Insect bites burn and itch intensely. Itching rash alternates with asthma. Burning sensation and erysipelatous inflammation.

Respiratory :- Larynx seems constricted. Breathing impeded. Catarrhal asthma; mucus not readily raised. Patient afraid to go to sleep.

Modalities :- Better , after sweat, after sleeping in daytime.

Worse, motion.

Relationship – Incompatible: Arum Triph.

Complementary: Nitric Acid.

Compare: Capsic.; Phosph.; Caust.; Selen.; Lyc.; Ikshugandha (Sexual weakness, emissions, prostatic enlargement).

Dose – Third to sixth attenuation.

Homeopathic Medicines in Constipation

2011-11-17T21:49:00.003+05:30

Constipation is a very common symptom. Here is one more page for Indicated Homeopathic Medicines in Constipation.

Following article was published in THE CRITIQUE, Formerly THE DENVER JOURNAL OF HOMEOPATHY, VOL. V. DENVER, COLO., MARCH 15,1898. No. 3.

THERAPEUTICS OF CONSTIPATION
By Pearl B. Wheeler, M. D., Physician to the Ladies Relief Home, Denver.

Since the intestinal canal is governed by the two great
systems of nerves, the sympathetic, presiding over the upper

portion and the cerebro-spinal, taking charge of the lower; it
would be but natural to think of a close association between
this canal and all other parts of the body. Consequently, when
a physician has a case of constipation to deal with, he finds
but an index to disorders in the nervous system and the result
and not a cause of trouble as is supposed by many.
The character of the stool becomes a guide to the cure of
distresses elsewhere, for seldom will there be found a case of
real constipation without other symptoms in connection with
it. The true homeopath, then, who accurately chooses his
remedy with reference to the totality of symptoms will seldom
need to resort to enemata(enema), injections, etc.
The following remedies with their accompanying symptoms

may perhaps prove worthy of consideration.

Aesculus:—Constant urging to stool or ineffectual efforts
(Ambra Gris., Nux, Colch., Iod., Anacard.) Stools large, hard,
dry and dark. (Bry. Nux) Dryness of rectum which feels as if
full of sticks. Hemorrhoids with little bleeding. Constant
back-ache, feels as if it would break (Kali. Con). After stool
prolapse of anus with back-ache, (Prolapse of rectum Podo
and Ruta).

Alumina:—No desire for stool. Difficult evacuation from
want of peristaltic motion and dryness even when soft stool is
passed (China) requiring great pressing (Merc. Prot.) Stools
hard, knotty and scanty, (Graph. Agar. and Kali Bi) or soft
and clinging to anus. Bad effects of lead (Platina, Opium),
scanty and insufficient (Carbo. Veg., Hepar, Kali Bi., Nat.Carb.,

Nit. Ac., Ruta., Verbasc., Zinc). Vertigo, as if every
thing was turning in a circle.

Agaricus.—Stools hard and knotty at first, followed by
loose stool and finally diarrhoea. Itching, burning and red-
ness of feet and hands as if frozen. Itching at anus as from
worms (Nux). Violent cutting in abdomen and discharge of
flatus with sharp stitching in liver. Painful drawing in pit of
stomach. Hysterical subjects.

Ammon. Carb.:—Stools difficult, hard and knotty (Alumum.

Graph. and Kali Bi). Hemorrhoidal tumors protruding
before, during and after stools. Discharge of stool during and

after evacuation. Can't sleep at nights on account of burning
pains.

Ammon. Mur.:—Large, hard stool, crumbling after passing

anus, requiring great effort to expel, then followed by soft
stool (Anacard.) Feces covered by glairy mucus. (Causticum
Graph and Lyc.) Giddiness with fullness in head in A.
M. and especially after getting up. Crumbling stool is characteristic

of all the muriates.

Ambra Gris.:—Frequent ineffectual urging to stool (Nux
Aesculus, Colch., Iod., Anacard.) Stinging, smarting and itching

of anus. Varices of rectum. Hemorrhoids (Aesculus,
Hydrast., Iris, Nux.) Heat in head on alternate days with
fear of losing his senses.

Anacard:—Frequent urging through the day, unable to expel

anything. Sensation as if rectum was stopped up with plug,
(Nux) Sensation as if lump had lodged in rectum (Sepia).
The expulsion not taking place immediately, a painful twisting
twitching is felt across the abdomen. Stools loose at first, then
hard (Opposite Agar., Am. Mur.) Pale color, violent pressing
in region of right temple.

Antimon. Crud.:—Hard stool with difficult expulsion
without previous straining. Alternating constipation and di-
arrhoea of old persons (Bry. Lach., Rhus, Puls.) Feces too
large. Milky white coating on tongue. Stupefying headache
with nausea in the evening or after eating.

Apis:—Prolapsus Ani (Calc., Ferr., Mur. Ac., Acetum,
Pod. and Aescul.) Hemorrhoids with stinging pains. Tenderness

of abdomen to pressure (Bry. and Nux) Feeling in
abdomen as if something would give away if he strained at
stool. Great debility as if he had worked hard. Must lie
down.

Bell:—Constipation with tendency of blood to head. When
stooping, blood rushes to head followed by dizziness. Plethoric

individuals. Shuddering during stool. Stools in lumps
like chalk.

Bry.:—Constipation. Chronic constipation (Verat. Alb.)
Stools large, hard, (Calc. Carb., Mag. Mur.) and as if burnt.
(Mag. Mur.) Lips dry and parched. Thirst. Rheumatic
tendency. Headache, as if skull would split by motion.

Calc. Carb.:—Stools large and hard (Nux, Mag. Mur.,
Bry.) sometimes only partially digested (Hepar). White
stools (Black- Opium, Phos., Verat. Alb.) increasing
from day to day. After stool, gloomy feeling in head and
feeling of faintness. Oozing of fluid from the rectum, smelling

like herring brine. Too early and too profuse menstruation (Bell)

Scrofulous individuals. Violent itching of anus
(Caust. Nit. Ac., Sil., Sulph.)

Carbo. Animal:—Constipation. Unsuccessful desire for
stool (Nux, Anacard., Ambra Gris.) Passes only very offen-
sive flatus (Lach.) During stool, pain in small of back (Aesculus)

with inflation of abdomen. Stools hard and knotty
(Alum., Graph., Am. Carb., Kali Bi.)

Carbo. Veg.:—Hard, tough, scanty stool (Caust.) Labor
like pain. Discharge of tough feces in fragments. Violent
urging with tingling in rectum and pressure in bladder (Sulph)
Burning in bowels and sensation as if diarrhoea would set in.
Great debility (Apis) and weakness as soon as he makes the
least exertion.

Caust.:—Frequent and unsuccessful desire to pass stool,
with red face and anxiety. Hard, tough stool (Carbo. Veg.)
covered by mucus (Hyd.) Shining as if greased. Stool too
small shaped (Phos.) comes off in pieces, (Carbo. Veg., Mag.
Mur.) Passes better while standing. Light colored (pale Anacard,

like chalk- Bell,) white stool (Calc. Carb.) Writhing
pain in abdomen, previous to stool. Excessive itching in anus
day and night (Caust., Sil., Sulph., Nit. Ac., Calc. C.) Soft
small stool, size of a goose quill (Phos.) Constipation of
children. Involuntary emissions of urine when coughing
sneezing or laughing, frequent and urgent desire to urinate
with scanty emission. Thirst.

Chelidon:—Stools in hard lumps (Hyper) like sheep dung
(Mag. Mur., Plumb., Ruta, Verbasc.) Suitable to persons with
hepatic diseases, shooting pains from liver to back. Constant
pain under lower inner angle of right scapula. Crawling and
itching in rectum and reddish urine.

China:—Difficult stool even when soft (Alum.,Plat., Phos.Ac.)

Dizziness and heat in head with accumulation of feces

in rectum. Menses profuse, bright or black and clotted. Discouraged.

Cimex:—Stools hard and in small balls (Plumb., Thuja,
Opium, Mag. Mur.) Stools with hemorrhoidal sufferings.
Pain in small of back, extending over abdomen with distension
of abdomen. After white stool, discharged in small pieces,
rectum closes firmly.

Cocculus:—Hard stool expelled with difficulty (Nux), after
stool, violent tenseness of rectum even to fainting. Contractive

pain in rectum, preventing sitting.

Colchicum:—Extremely painful stools. Scanty evacuation
even soft stool is expelled with hard straining in back (Alum.
China, Plat., Phos. Ac.) with pain in back (Aesculus, Kali Carb.)

Ineffectual pressing to stool (Nux, Colch., Anacard.)
Feels feces in rectum but can't expel them. Lancinating or
lancinating-lacerating at anus.

Conium:—Frequent urging without stool (Anac, Lyc,
Nux). Hard stool with tenseness (headache discharge of
prostate fluids). Tremulous weakness after every stool (Verat.Alb.)

passing off in open air. Frequent stitches in anus between stools.

Involuntary flow of urine, suddenly stops and
continues after a short intermission. (Ledum., Gummi-Gutti)
Dizziness when turning in bed. Heat and burning in rectum
during stool, (Burning in Epigastrium, Apis).

Cuprum:—Suppressed stool with general heat. Obstruction

of intestinal canal or violent evacuation.

Eup. Per.:—Constipation with catarrh.

Euphorb.:—Stool like glue (like putty, Alum. Plat.) with
previous itching of rectum. Burning sore pain around the anus
(Mur. Ac, Aloes, Ars.) Itching of rectum during desire for
stool (Mur. Ac).

Graph.:—Stools hard and knotty, (Alum., Kali Bi) lumps
being united by threads of mucus. A quantity of white mucus
is expelled with stool (Lach.) or the feces are covered with
mucus (Am. Mur., Lyc) Stools size of lumbricoides.
Humid tetters and eruptions.

Hepar:—Sluggishnsss of rectum (Alum.) Stools hard or
soft and insufficient (Alum., Carb. Veg., Kali Bi, Nat. Carb.,
Nit. Ac, Ruta). After mercurial dosing.

Hydrastis:—Stools lumpy, covered with mucus. (Lyc.,
Graph., Am. Mur.) Constant headache with piles, severe
pains in anus and rectum for hours after stool. Fainting turns
and heat in bowels.

Ignatia:—Difficult stool causing prolapsus ani (Aesculus,
Mur. Ac., Ruta, Cale. C., Ferrum). After stool a violent, stabbing,

stitching from anus up into rectum (Mezer) Constipation

from taking cold or from riding in a carriage (from traveling, Plat.)

Grieving. All-gone feeling at stomach.

Iodium:—Ineffectual desire for stool, immediately prompted

by drink of milk. Scrofulous people with low cachectic
state of the system. Stools hard, knotty and dark (Graph.)
Part of feces retarded.

Kali Bi:—Habitual constipation. (Verat. Alb.) Painful
retraction of anus. Stools dry, knotty, with burning at anus,
(Nat. M., Verat.) Stools slate colored, bloody, coldness of extremities,

debility and headache.

Kali Carb:—Insufficient, soft stool (Alum.) Constipation

with distress and colicy, stitching pains an hour or two
before stool. Too large sized feces (Ant., Collinson., Cond.)
Stools resembling sheeps dung (Chel., Mag. M., Verbasc., Berber.)

Passing of white mucus before and during stool. Large
painful varices (Mur. Ac.), inactivity of the rectum (Alum.,
Ign., Opium).

Lach.:—Chronic constipation without any other ailments.
Constipation of years standing (Verat. Alb., Lach., Phytol.,
Sarsap.) Unsuccessful urging to stool, anus feels closed, feces
press against it at all times without passing, only flatus
is passed, sensation as of lump lodged in rectum (Sepia)
Sheep's dung stool (Chel., Ruta, Plumb., Mag. M., Verbasc.,
Berber.) with difficult, scanty discharge or tenesmus. Severe
pains in back with constipation (Aesculus, Kali Carb). Cadaverous

smelling stools.

Lycopod:—Ineffectual urging owing to contraction of
sphincter ani. Small stool with sensation as if much remained
behind (Part of feces ratarded, Iodium), (Nux). Acid and
heartburn with great drowsiness after dinner (Phos.). Red
sand in urine (Phos., Sil.) Fermentation in abdomen.

Mag. Mur:—Constipation, stool hard, difficult and insufficient.

Knotty, like sheep's dung, covered with blood and mucus.

Stools in little round balls (Opium, Plumb,) crumbling
as they pass the anus (Am. Mur., Nat. Mur.) Throbbing in
stomach with dullness of head.

Nux Vom.:—Constipation with rush of blood to the head.
Stool insufficient, black, hard, often streaked with blood as
from inactivity of intestines, with ineffectual effort to go to
stool (Bry., Anacard., Lyc, Iod.) Sensation as if anus were
closed or too narrow (see Anacard. and Lyc.) Large hard feces

(Calc. C, Mag. Mur., Bry., Verat. Alb.) Piles, blind or
bleeding. Frequent eructations of some bitter fluid. Sensation

as of stone or lump of lead in stomach. Frontal headache.
Sedentary habits. Pregnant women (Bry., Lyc, Sepia) Victims

of drugs.

Opium:—Torpor of bowels after chronic diarrhoea or from
abuse of cathartics (Nux) Stools small, hard, black balls,
(Plumb.) balls that crumble as they pass, like excrement of
dogs in small lumps, (Prun. Spin.) Constipation from fear
or fright. Costiveness for weeks with loss of appetite. Inertia
of rectum (Alum. Hepar). Vomiting of stecoraceous matter
in consequence of intussusception.

Phos.:—Stools long, narrow and hard like a dog's (Caust.
Opium, Prun. Spin.) Very difficult to expel. Exceedingly
painful cramps in rectum after stool. Alternate constipation
and diarrhoea (Bry., Ant. C, Lach, Rhus., Phos.) Very sleepy
after eating, especially after dinner.

Platina:—Difficult expulsion of scanty stool, adhering to
parts like soft clay. After lead poisoning (Alum, Opium).
Constipation caused by travelling. Cramp like pressing in
temples from within, outward. Low spirited and nervous.
After expulsion sense of great weakness in abdomen or chilliness

(Puls., Cocc, Gummi Gutti, Verat.)

Plumb:—Stools consist of hard balls made up of smaller
balls. Constipation with violent colic. Sensation of constriction

in sphincter ani (see Lyc. and Nux.) with ineffectual
urging.

Puls.:—Constipation, especially if feces are large and hard
after suppressed intermittent fever by quinine, with menstrual
disorders. Constipation consequent upon eating rich greasy

food. Alternate constipation and diarrhoea (Ant. C., Bry. Phos*
Lach., Rhus.)

Ruta Grav.:—Frequent urging to stool with protrusion of
rectum (Ign. Nux., Podo, Aesculus.) Constipation following
mechanical injuries.

Sabadilla:—Violent urging to stool with noise like croaking

of frog. Must sit a long time before stool (which is enormous)

is passed, preceded by immense amount of flatus, and
followed by burning in abdomen.

Sarsaparilla:—Obstinate constipation with urging to
urinate. Desire for stool with contraction of intestines and
excessive pressure from above downward as if bowels would be
pressed out. Frequent scanty emissions of urine, especially at
night.

Selen.:—Stools so hard and impacted that they must be removed

by mechanical agency. Feces contain threads of fecal
matter like hair.

Sepia:—Hard, knotty stools, sometimes mixed with mucus
with cutting pain in rectum (Ignatia, Mag. Mur.) Unsuccessful

urging to stool. Only wind and mucus are passed with sensation

in rectum as if lump had lodged in it (Anac., Sepia.)
Not relieved by stool. Insufficient stool with teneemus. Pressing

stool does not relieve. Constipation during pregnancy
(Alum., Bry., Lyc., Nux.)

Silic.:—After much effort and straining stool recedes back
in rectum after partial expulsion. Stools composed of hard
lumps. Constipation of women before and during menses

(Constipation before and diarrhoea after menses Graph.) Infants
and scrofulous children.

Sulph.:—Stools hard, lumpy, (Silic) mixed with mucus,
followed by burning pain in anus and rectum (Sepia). Constant

heat on top of head (Coolness, Verat.) Frequent weak
spells. Constant urging pressing on rectum as if it would protrude,

with pressure on bladder. Palpitation of heart. Fainting

regularly towards 10 or 11 in forenoon.

Thuja:—Obstinate constipation as from inactivity or

intussusception (Opium). Stools in hard balls (Opium, Plumbum,

Verat. Alb.) streaked with blood (Sulph. ac.) Violent
pain in rectum during stool. Copious and frequent urination

with burning in urethra. Offensive perspiration in anus at
perineum. (Colch.)

Verat. Alb.:—Chronic constipation (long standing Lach,
Phytol., Sarsap.) particularly in infants. Much straining with
cold perspiration on head. Stool too large and hard (Bry.,
Calc. C., Mag. Mur.) Inactivity of rectum, it seems as if

paralyzed (Alum., Opium.)

Painful Menses: Leading Indications In Dysmenorrhea

2011-11-14T00:02:00.001+05:30

Pain, cramps or spasmodic pains during menses is a very common condition faced by more then 25% women, mostly in their adolescents. Many symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and changes in mood and behaviour can associate pain during menses.

This condition medically termed as Dysmenorrhea.

Dysmenorrhea is classified as primary and secondary which depends on presence or absence of underlying pathology. Dysmenorrhea can feature different kinds of pain, including sharp, throbbing, dull, nauseating, burning, or shooting pain. Dysmenorrhea may precede menstruation by several days or may accompany it, and it usually subsides as menstruation tapers off. Dysmenorrhea may coexist with excessively heavy blood loss, known as menorrhagia.

Homeopathy is a wonderful choice to get rid off this painful menses. Painkillers ( mostly NSAID’s) are just a temporary help to reduce or subside this pain every month. Homeopathy in more then 80% of cases permanently cure this disorder.

Here is lot much homeopathic medicine to help the patient facing pains during menses. Following is an article describing a few with their important indication.

Following article published in The Critque, Formerly THE DENVER JOURNAL OF HOMEOPATHY, VOL. V. DENVER, COLO., JANUARY 15,1898. No. 1

LEADING INDICATIONS IN DYSMENORRHOEA

By Pearl B. Wheeler, M. D., Denver.

Aconite:- Congestive type with violent headache, flashed
face; labor like pressing in womb; necessity to bend double on
account of pain, but finds relief in no position; restless; sup-
pressed menses from fright.

Alumina:- Menses too early, too short and too scanty (Nux-
vom); blood pale; pain in abdomen before and during menses.
After menses she is so exhausted in mind and body that the
slightest effort prostrates (Cocculus). Acrid, excoriating, trans-
parent mucous discharge before and after menses.

Ammonium Carb:- Menses too soon; abundant; (may be
scanty); blood clotted, black and passed with colicky pains; hard
difficult stools; pale face, toothache, backache, chilliness and
pain in abdomen during menses. Itching, burning and swelling
of pudendum (Senecio Grac.)

Apis Mel:- Inflammation, induration and swelling of right
ovary (Bell) with sharp, cutting and stinging pains during
menses. Pressing down pain in uterus. Scanty dark urine
(Lyc., Bell, Nit. Ac.) Wax colored skin.

Baryta:- Discharge of bloody mucus. Very weak; has
fainting spells (Moschus). Menses scanty. Troublesome
weight above pubes. Glandular enlargements.

Belladonna:- Strong bearing down as if everything would
protrude through vulva (Sepia, Platinum). Pains come suddenly

and go as suddenly. Congestion to head and confusion of
sight. Redness and bloatedness of face, dilated pupils, throbbing

of carotids. Discharge of copious blood, clotted or bright
red and offensive. Violent pain in small of back and bearing
down. Rage, wants to bite and to escape. Congestion of uterus
and labia (Atropine).

Berberis Vulg:- Catamenia too scanty, painful (in small of
back). Menses consisting of gray mucus or brown blood.

Bufo:- Menses too early with headache.

Bromium:- Some hours after menstrual flow has commenced,

violent contractive spasms followed by soreness of abdomen.
Loud emissions of flatulence from vagina (Lyc.) Hard swelling

of ovarian region.

Cactus Grand:- Menses scanty and cease flowing when
lying down. Terrible pains which make her cry out and weep
(Puls. Cham. Cuprum. Nux.) Periodical pains in evening.
Constricted pain in region of heart as if grasped by iron hand.
Palpitation (Lillium) when lying on left side.

Calcarea Carb:- Various complaints accompanying any
monthly flow. Swelling and tenderness of breasts, headache,
colic, shivering and leucorrhoea precede flow, cutting pain in
abdomen and bearing down in genitals during flow and toothache
following. Feet cold as if covered with damp stockings. Catamenia

too early and too profuse (Bell., Croc., Phos.) Scrofulous

diathesis. Least excitement causes menses to return.

Calcarea Phos:- Dysmenorrhoea resulting from carelessness

at puberty (J. T. Kent.)

Acid Nit:- Painful abdominal spasms during menses.
Discharge scanty and brown. Soreness of mammae at each
period (Calc. Carb.) Urine stops and starts to flow several
times during urination.

Gelsemium:- Dysmenorrhoea preceded by sick headache,
Congestion to head, red face (Acon. Bell.) and bearing down in
abdomen. Pain in back and limbs (Cimicifuga). Loss of voice
during menses. Weakness.

Ignatia:- Menses too early and too profuse, or scanty,
black, clotted and putrid (Puls) Uterine spasms with crampy
pressing during menses by pressure in recumbent position. All
gone sensation at stomach. Tearful.

Caulophyllum:- Spasmodic bearing down pain with scanty
flow. Sympathetic cramps in rectum and bladder. Hysterical
spasms of chest and larynx. Membranous dysmenorrhoea (Ci-
micifuga, Collin.) Headache with heat and heaviness in head.

Chamomilla:- Drawing pains from back to front. Blood
dark and coagulated with tearing in thighs (Cimi.) Pains,
labor-like (Acon.) Bloated face or one cheek pale and the
other red. Hot perspiration about head. Very impatient,
can't answer one civilly, can't bear the pains.

Cimicifuga:- Severe pain in back, occiput and vertex.
Pains through hips and down thighs of a neuralgic character.
Labor-like pain with heavy pressing downward (Cham.) Hysterical

spasms. Tenderness of hypogastrium and cramps. Low

spirited and sensitive. Blood scanty or profuse and coagulated.

Cocculus:- Dysmenorrhoea always followed by hemorrhoids.
Irregular labor-like pains, one severe one followed by several
light ones. Tired by the least conversation. Nausea and vomiting

with dizziness.

Coffea:- Great nervous erythism.

Lachesis.:- Pains relieved by flow. Menstrual colic beginning

in left ovary.

Magnesia Carb:- Menses preceded by sore throat, which
continues until end of flow and is worse at night. Blood thick,
dark and pitch-like, difficult to remove from linen. During
pain there is no flow. Flow at night. During menses weakness,
(Gels.) chilliness, headache, pale face, and pain in small of back.

Lillium Tig:- Pain extends across hypogastrium to groin
and down leg. Menses dark, thick, and smell like lochia
(Kreosot.) Severe neuralgic pain in uterus. Slightest jar aggravates.

Great palpitation. Distressing urination and bearing
down of uterus (Helonin).

Pulsatilla:- Delayed menses. Discharge thick and dark,
flowing by fits and starts (Kreosote). Pains violent, causing
anguished tossing about with weeping (Cimicif.) Chilliness
and paleness of face. All symptoms worse in warm room. Mild
and tearful disposition.

Sepia:- Preceding menses, excoriating leucorrhoea. Menses

scanty and premature, feeling as if every thing would protrude

through vulva, must cross legs to prevent it (Bell.) All
gone sensation at pit of stomach (Ignatia.) Colicky pains and
bearing down. Sallow complexion, yellow saddle across the
bridge of the nose.

Sulphur:- Blood thick, black and acrid, corroding the
thighs. Coustant heat on top of head (Cimicif.) Frequent
flashes of heat (Nitrate of Amyle.) Weak, fainting spells
(Baryta, Moschus.) Spotted red face. Pains by standing.
Chronic eruptions here and there. Suitable to thin people who
walk stooping.

Veratrum Alb:- Before menses, headache, vertigo, nosebleed,
and night sweat. During menses, morning headache, nausea,
ringing in ears and pains in all limbs. After menses, grinding
of teeth and bluish face. Hands and feet ache with the cold.

Viburnum:- Spasmodic dysmenorrhoea. Before flow she
is suddenly seized with terrible colicky pains in womb and lower
part of abdomen, which continues sometimes for hours. Cramps
in legs. This remedy is similar to cimicifuga and caulophyllum.

Kreosotum:- Hardness of hearing before and during menses,

Menses appear in third month of pregnancy. Menstruation

too early and too profuse, discharge offensive.

Natrum Mur:- Melancholy, and colic during menses.
Headache preceding, during and after menstruation. Pressing
and bearing down in genitals. Craves salty food.

BUNIAS ORIENTALIS

2011-11-06T22:54:00.001+05:30

If you've come to this page directly via a search engine, please note this article is mainly for homeopaths and students of homeopathy, so assumes a certain level of understanding of homeopathic concepts and terminology.

Small and Less Used Medicine From Materia Medica Of Dr W. Boericke

BUNIAS ORIENTALIS

The remedy suits to arthrosis or neuritic patients, to fluoric women and specially precancerous. There are hypoergic persons with a depressive psychosis, ending in suicide. Fatigue weakness, loss of dynamism. All difficulties were formerly easily overcome and now painful, accepted with grinding of teeth. Desire for stretching after some hours of work. Cannot keep awake in the evening. Appearance and disappearance of all uneasiness suddenly. Rapid emaciation without any apparent cause (pre-cancer state).

Mind – Neurotic state, anxiety, cenestopathic troubles: Troubles of the sight, of hearing; sensation as if the chest is pierced through, the volume of the head is augmenting, swelling of the upper part of the body, and of the hands; sensation of the coldness of the head, in the stomach, in extremities of the hands, in the back. Unreasonable anxiety, may go up to suicide. Sensation as if balancing in the air lightly, then falling brutally in a fathomless hole.

Head – Vertigo with sensation of losing self-control, coming suddenly of short duration, in the early morning.

Eyes – Visual troubles. Sees mists or black circles before the eyes. Transitory amaurosis.

Ears – Hears of ringing of bells. Hears water boiling.

Abdomen – Abundant bloating in the day time.

Stool – Sudden diarrhea, at an interval of 2 to 3 days, then normal. Constipation with hard stools, difficulty to push out and complicated with a nauseating condition. Tendency to brutal appearance of haemorrhoids (pre-cancer state.)

Urine – Irritating urines, of strong smell, albuminous and bloody.

Female – Painful menses, irregular, of small quantity or very abundant with blood of violetish color and clots. Headache and dyspnoea before the menses. Congestion of vulva of a red brown color. Eczema of the vulva. Irritating leucorrhea, yellowish or brownish, bad smelling, nauseating. Varicose veins of the vulva during pregnancy. Profuse postpartum haemorrhage with voluminous and cicatrized placenta. Bloody Lochia continuing for 3 to 4 months. Metrorrhagia during menopause (pre-cancer symptom.)

Respiratory – Sudden and brutal husky voice. At the age of 40 sudden appearance of asthma. Whistling respiration, dyspnoea, sensation of tightness in the chest, pain on the left side of the sternum.

Extremities – Coccygodynia. Rheumatic arthritis with painful swellings of the joints. Localised oedema, appearing and disappearing suddenly on the backs of the hands, of the clavicles, of the lumbar regions, and of the axillas. Sciatica of the left side.

Sleep – Restless, light sleep, frequently wakes up. Moves constantly from one side to the other to fall asleep being weakened in the morning.

Fever – Periodic fevers every 21 days of short duration coming between 11 p.m. and 12 night, with shivering, left hemithoracic pain, weakness and vomiting. Two to four hours after sweat begins which ameliorates. Fever intermittent beginning with chill, chattering of teeth, heat, ending towards the morning.

Skin – Button like eruptions or vesicles of brick red color, or of pale violet color on the nose, on the cheeks, on the palms, on the forearms, of the thighs, and of legs. Vesicles on the tip of the tongue around the mouth, and perianal. Pruriginous eruptions, aggravation by scratching. Malignant adenopathic prodormal pruritus.

Modalities – Worse: At night on the side of the body long time pressed, by overwork, by heavy diet and fatty diet.

Better: By walk, by change of positions, in open air.

Arthrosis: 1: an articulation or line of juncture between bones

2 : a degenerative disease of a joint

Neuritic / Neurotic 1 a : of, relating to, or involving the nerves neurotic disorder>

b : being a neurosis : nervous neurotic disease>

2 : affected with, relating to, or characterized by neurosis neurotic person>

Hypoergic: characterized by or exhibiting less than the normal

Pruriginous: : resembling, caused by, affected with, or being prurigo <pruriginous dermatosis>

Definitions from : http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical

BLATTA ORIENTALIS

2011-11-06T22:49:00.001+05:30

Small and Less Used Medicine From Materia Medica Of Dr W. Boericke

BLATTA ORIENTALIS

(Indian Cockroach)

A remedy for asthma. Especially when associated with bronchitis. Indicated after arsenic when this is insufficient.

Cough with dyspnoea in bronchitis and phthisis. Acts best in stout and corpulent patients. Much pus-like mucus.

Dose – Lowest potencies during an attack. After the spasm, for the remaining cough, use the higher. Stop with improvement to prevent of aggravation.

A case of Duodenitis, Gastritits, Reflux Oesophagitis and Hiatus Hernia

2011-11-02T00:00:00.003+05:30

Presented by Dr. R.S.Mann & Dr. Vandana Patni.

Mr G. Singh, 33 yrs, Male patient presented the following complaints

March 25, 2011.

Pain abdomen, cramping, eating after, stool before which ameliorates after stool. Flatulence, distension of abdomen with rumbling. Stool mucous on and off. Flatulence very offensive, alternate constipation and diarrhea. Constipation on eating meat.

All the problem for many years, diagnosed for Reflux Oesophagitis, Hiatus hernia, Gastritis and duodenitis on Endoscopy. Using antacids and many other medicines for years.

Repertorizations in Radar 9:-

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - meat - agg.

ABDOMEN - DISTENSION - painful

ABDOMEN - DISTENSION - flatulence - from

ABDOMEN - FLATULENCE

ABDOMEN - PAIN - cramping - eating – after

ABDOMEN - PAIN - cramping - stool – before

ABDOMEN - PAIN - cramping - stool - after - amel.

RECTUM - CONSTIPATION

RECTUM - FLATUS - offensive

RECTUM - DIARRHEA - alternating with – constipation

STOOL – MUCOUS

Prescription –

Sulph 200 CH 2 dose on 2 hours gap.

China 30 CH One dose daily.

Pulsatilla 30 CH One dose daily.

For a week.

April 2, 2011.

A little better but have few another complaints not described earlier and was not present on first visit because he was continuously using Antacids, now because antacids are stopped after first prescription, some more symptoms are here.

Stomach burning pain which aggravates after eating. Flatulence offensive, rumbling in abdomen here and there. All the complaints aggravates after eating. Heaviness stomach after eating.

Prescription –

Lycopodium 30 CH One dose daily.

Robinia 30 CH One dose daily.

For two weeks.

April 19, 2011

Flatulence, Burning in stomach, rumbling improved.

Pain Hypogastrium ameliorate by pressure.

Burning pain in all over the abdomen, better by drinking water.

Repertorizations in Radar 9:-

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - water - amel.

STOMACH - HEAVINESS - eating - after

ABDOMEN - PAIN - burning

ABDOMEN - PAIN - Hypogastrium - pressure - amel.

Prescription –

Iodum 30 CH Two doses two hourly.

Sang Can 30 CH One dose daily

Robinia 30 CH One dose daily

For one week.

April 27, 2011

All complaints better with very mild distress.

Prescription –

Lycopodium 30 CH One dose daily.

Robinia 30 CH One dose daily.

For one week.

May 7, 2011

Burning abdomen.

Rumbling, flatulence.

Mucous stool.

Abdomen pain cramping.

Earlier symptoms return back.

Prescription –

Sulhpur 200 CH Two doses on 2 hours gap.

Nux Vomica 30 CH One dose daily on bed time.

For one week.

May 13, 2011

All complaints relieved again.

Prescription –

Sac. Lac. Only

For a week.

May 24, 2011

Stool thin, not formed properly.

Mucous with stool only one day.

Pain burning abdomen which aggravates after eating.

Flatulence, distension.

Prescription –

Sac. Lac. Only

For a week.

June 2, 2011

Has good appetite, but easy satiety.

Stool fatty, greasy, stick to pot.

Repertorizations in Radar 9:-

STOMACH - APPETITE - easy satiety

STOOL - FATTY, greasy

Prescription –

Platina 200 CH 2 doses with gap of two hours.

Sac. Lac.

For One week.

June 14, 2011

Get Coryza.

Sneezing.

Raw, sore throat.

Prescription –

Ars. Alb. 30 CH One dose Daily

For 3 days only.

June 30, 2011

Flatulence.

Stool Black.

Pain Epigastrium.

Repertorizations in Radar 9:-

STOMACH - PAIN - Epigastrium

ABDOMEN – FLATULENCE

STOOL - BLACK

Prescription –

Vertarum Album 30 CH One dose daily.

Cuprum Met 30 CH One dose daily.

For one week.

July 9, 2011

Heaviness in stomach which aggravates on eating.

Burning in stomach ameliorates by drinking plain water.

Burning and acrid eructation.

Sluggishness.

Repertorizations in Radar 9:-

GENERALS - SLUGGISHNESS of the body

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - water - amel

STOMACH - HEAVINESS - eating - after

STOMACH - PAIN - burning

.STOMACH - ERUCTATIONS; TYPE OF - burning

STOMACH - ERUCTATIONS; TYPE OF – acrid

Prescription –

Phosphorus 200 CH 2 doses with gap of two hours.

Lycopodium 30 CH One dose daily.

July 18, 2011

Pain epigastrium.

Pain gnawing.

Pain eating after.

Stool thin, mucous.

Symptoms on July 8, 2011 are also included in repertorisation.

Repertorizations in Radar 9:-

GENERALS - SLUGGISHNESS of the body

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - water - amel.

STOMACH - HEAVINESS - eating - after

STOMACH - PAIN - burning

STOMACH - ERUCTATIONS; TYPE OF - burning

STOMACH - ERUCTATIONS; TYPE OF - acrid

STOMACH - PAIN - Epigastrium

STOMACH - HERNIA; HIATUS

STOMACH - PAIN - eating – after

STOMACH - PAIN - gnawing

ABDOMEN - PAIN - gnawing

STOOL - THIN

STOOL - MUCOUS

Prescription –

Last prescription was right.

Sac. Lac.

For one week.

July 25, 2011

Stool mucous for 2 days.

Pain and Burning improved.

General weakness, desire to lie down.

Meat causes constipation.

In summers patient feel much aggravations.

Always remain cheerful and happy. (Enters consulting room smiling)

Pain lower limbs.

Appetite with easy satiety.

Repertorizations in Radar 9:-

MIND - CHEERFUL

GENERALS - SEASONS - summer; in - agg.

GENERALS - LIE DOWN - desire to

GENERALS – WEAKNESS

Cross Rubrics

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - meat - agg.

RECTUM – CONSTIPATION

STOMACH - APPETITE - easy satiety

STOOL – MUCOUS

EXTREMITIES - PAIN - Lower limbs

Prescription –

Lycopodium 200 CH 2 doses with two hours gap.

Sac. Lac

For one week.

August 5, 2011

All symptoms improved.

On August 4, eaten meat but no constipation today.

Prescription –

Sac. Lac.

For one week.

August 25, 2011

On August 11 mucus stool, pain stomach, rumbling, cramping pain and urging for stool eating after, all these complaints subsided next day.

On August 24, waken in morning with uneasiness in stomach, drink some water which vomited out after sometime, very sour, then ameliorated immediately after vomiting.But stil have desire to drink chilled water.

Pain epigastrium as well as he started breakfast.

Feeling lot much appetite but could only eat one chapatti (Bread).

Bloated feeling, eating after.

Weakness, wants to lie down.

Heaviness of head.

Sneezing paroxysmal with post nasal discharge.

Repertorizations in Radar 9:-

GENERALS - WEAKNESS

GENERALS - LIE DOWN - desire to

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - cold drink, cold water - desire

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - cold drink, cold water - amel.

HEAD – HEAVINESS

NOSE - SNEEZING - paroxysmal

NOSE - DISCHARGE - Posterior nares

STOMACH - VOMITING; TYPE OF – sour

STOMACH - VOMITING - drinking - after

STOMACH - PAIN - eating - after

STOMACH - APPETITE - easy satiety

Prescription –

Phosphorus 200 CH 2 doses with gap pf two hours.

Sac. Lac.

For one week.

September 10, 2011

All complaints better.

Patients says he never felt so much easy and light in his stomach.

No Prescription.

November 1, 2011

No complaints.

Inferences –

Earlier case started with few symptoms, and wrong prescriptions were given.
The cases which are under allopathic treatment does not disclose all the symptoms on first visit, because they are hidden, after discontinuing those medicines we get more symptoms on later visits.
Phosphorus and Lycopodium cured the case finally.
Prescribing more then one medicine at a time, only complicate the case.
Earlier prescriptions just push the case towards more clear features.
Many similar medicines can give relief to patient but they does not cure. And their effect does not continue for a long time.

Notes on Cystitis by F. E. McCurtain

2011-10-15T22:02:00.003+05:30

This article originally published in "THE CRITIQUE" VOL. V. DENVER, COLO., JANUARY 15,1898. No. 1, on page no. 11 & 12. Still a very indicative and relevant article in diseases of acute and chronic bladder infections and Urinary Tract infections(UTI).

NOTES ON CYSTITIS.
F. E. McCurtain, M. D., Denver

1. Sudden violent urging to urinate- Petroselinum.
2. Urine dropping from meatus instead of being ejected with force- Hepar.
3. High fever, restlessness, constant desire to urinate- Aconite.
4. Burning and pressure in the bladder- Nux Vom.
5. Bladder largely distended- Arsen Alb.
6. After irritating drugs- Camphor.
7. Stitching, recurring, crampy pain; thick mucus and bright red mealy sediment- Berberis Aqua.
8. Urine alkaline and ropy- Kali Bich.
9. Natrum Mur.- Has pain greatest after micturation.
10. Phos. Acid. -Urine looks like milk and quickly decomposes.
11. After exposure to cold the urine deposits a slimy sediment which sticks to the vessel- Pulsatilla.
12. A sensation as if a ball were rolling in the bladder- Lachesis.
13. Sensitiveness of Hypogastrium, tenesmus of bladder.Burning in region of kidneys- Terebinth.
14. Retention of urine; great thirst; dry tongue and delirium- Hyoscyamus.
15. In old people and chronic cases where the acute inflammation has subsided- Carbo Veg.
16. When in consequence of long retention of urine the muscular coat of the bladder becomes almost paralyzed- Causticum.
17. Persistent and violent urging to urinate with great tenesmus; urine seems like molten lead passing through the urethra- Cantharis.
18. Turbid urine and great difficulty in commencing to urinate- Chimaphila.
19. Enuresis, marked vesical irritation. Bladder sore and tender; pressure on bladder- Equisetum.
20. Irritable bladder; dribbling of urine; high colored; ammoniacal odor, like that of the horse- Benzoic Acid.

All the above written and listed medicines are helpful in Urinary Tract Infections when indicated.

Some more medicines which are useful in Urinary Tract Infection are listed here.

BISMUTHUM

2011-10-04T21:21:00.001+05:30

Small and Less Used Medicine From Materia Medica Of Dr W. Boericke

BISMUTHUM

(Precipitated Sub-Nitrate of Bismuth)

Irritation and catarrhal inflammation of the alimentary canal, is the chief action of this drug.

Mind – Solitude is unbearable. Desire for company. Complains about his condition. Anguish. Discontented.

Head – Headache alternates with gastralgia. Neuralgic pain, as if torn by pincers; involves face and teeth; worse eating; better, cold; alternates with gastralgia. Cutting or pressure above right orbit extending to occiput. Pressure in occiput; worse, motion; with heaviness.

Mouth – Gums swollen. Toothache; better cold water in mouth. [Coff.] Tongue white. Swollen. Black, gangrenous looking wedges on dorsum and sides of tongue. Profuse salivation, teeth loose. Thirst for cold drinks.

Stomach – Vomits, with convulsive gagging and pain. Water is vomited as soon as it reaches the stomach. Eructation after drinking. Vomits all fluids. Burning; feeling of a load. Will eat for several days; then vomit. Slow digestion, with fetid eructations. Gastralgia; pain from stomach through spine. Gastritis. Better, cold drinks, but vomiting when stomach becomes full.

Tongue coated white; sweetish, metallic taste. Inexpressible pain in stomach; must bend backwards. Pressure as from a load in one spot, alternating with burning, crampy pain and pyrosis.

Stool – Painless diarrhea, with great thirst, and frequent micturition and vomiting. Pinching in lower abdomen, with rumbling.

Respiratory – Pinching in middle of diaphragm, extending transversely through chest. Angina pectoris. Pain around heart, left arm to fingers.

Extremities – Cramps in hands and feet. Tearing in wrist. Paralytic weakness, especially right arm. Tearing in tips of fingers under nails.[Berb.] Itching erosion near tibia and back of feet near joints. Cold limbs.

Sleep – Restless on account of voluptuous dreams. Sleepy in morning, a few hours after eating.

Relationship- Antidotes: Nux; Capsic.; Calc.

Compare: Antimon.;Ars.; Bellad.; Kresot.

Dose – First to sixth potency.

BARYTA MURIATICA

2011-10-01T02:16:00.005+05:30

Small and Less Used Medicine From Materia Medica Of Dr W. Boericke

BARYTA MURIATICA

( Barium Chloride)

The different salts of Baryta are called for in organic lesions of the aged and dwarfish, both mentally and physically. Arterio-sclerosis and cerebral affections due to this condition. Headaches, but without acute crisis, occurring in old people; heaviness rather than pain. Vertigo, due to cerebral anemia and noises in ears. Acts on lower alimentary canal, especially rectum; on muscles and joints, giving stiffness and weakness as from overwalking. The white blood corpuscles increased. Hypertension and vascular degeneration. Increased tension of pulse. Arterio-sclerosis [Aurum; Secale] where a high systolic pressure with a comparatively low diastolic tension is attended by cerebral and cardiac symptoms.

This remedy has indurated and narrowing of the cardiac orifice with pain, immediately after eating and epigastric tenderness, which has been repeatedly verified, also its use in aneurism and chronic hypertrophy of the tonsils. Nymphomania and satyriasis. Convulsions. In every form of mania when the sexual desire is increased. Icy coldness of body, with paralysis. Multiple sclerosis of brain and cord. Voluntary-muscular power gone but perfectly sensible. Paresis after influenza and diphtheria. General feeling of lassitude in the morning, especially weakness of the legs, with muscular stiffness. Children who go around with their mouth open and who talk through the nose. Stupid-appearing, hard of hearing.

Ears – Whizzing and buzzing. Noises on chewing and swallowing. Earache; better sipping cold water. Parotids swollen. Offensive otorrhoea. Inflates middle ear on blowing nose.

Throat – Difficult swallowing. Tonsils enlarged. Paresis of pharynx and Eustachian tubes, with sneezing and noises. Tubes feel too wide open.

Respiratory – Bronchial affections of old people with cardiac dilatation. Facilitates expectoration. Great accumulation and rattling of mucus with difficult expectoration. Arterio-sclerosis of the lung, thus in senile asthma, modifies the arterial tension.

Stomach – Gone feeling at epigastrium a good guiding symptom for it in chronic affections. Retching and vomiting. Sensation of heat ascending to head.

Abdomen – Throbbing [Sel.]; induration of pancreas; abdominal aneurism. Inguinal glands swollen. Spasmodic pain in rectum.

Urine – Great increase in uric acid, diminution of chlorides.

Relationship – Compare in sclerotic degenerations, especially of spinal cord, liver and heart. Plumbum met and Plumbum iod. Also Aur.mur. (which will often accomplish more in sclerotic and exudative degenerations than other remedies. Multiple sclerosis, fulgurating pains, tremors, Morvan’s disease, hypertrophy of fingers.)

Dose – Third trituration. Bears repetition of dosage well.

Cases Of Epilepsy - By T. F. Allen

2011-10-01T00:14:00.002+05:30

These cases were published in article "Cases Of Epilepsy" by T. F. Allen, in American Homeopathic Review, Vol III, New York, November, 1862. No 6.

CASES OF EPILEPSY

BY T. F. ALLEN, M. D. BROOKLYN, N. Y.

Case I

May 9th, 1861. J. W., paper-hanger and frescoer, formerly healthy and temperate, came under my care. His wife, who came with him, stated that three months before, while at work, he was suddenly taken with a fit, he fell down, was convulsed, foamed at the mouth, bit his tongue and was unconscious for several hours. He was then treated with purgatives and the “heroic” remedies of the old school.

About six weeks from the first fit he was again taken while at stool, and then had three fits in succession, and was insensible for twelve hours after them. The day before I saw him he had three more fits which left his mind much confused. The patient looked pale and haggard; mouth half open; eyes staring; starting at the least noise; hands cold, clammy and trembling; he continually interrupted his wife saying "let me tell," and then would seem to forget and say, " yes, yes, yes," the words would seem to stick in his mouth as if his tongue was too large. The fits, of yesterday, had convulsions only on one side, the left; they began with a cold feeling in the hand which crept up the arm to the cheek, when a gush of ice-cold water came from his mouth, which water "gave the mouth a nasty taste" for some time after. This peculiar sensation was repeated three or four times before the fit came on. During the fit the left side of the face was red, the right side, the hands and feet were cold and white. After the fit he constantly complained of ringing in the ears as of a hundred bells.

I gave Calcarea carb. 200

June 18th. The ringing in the head gone, every way much better.

July 25th. Had three fits much lighter than the previous ones and he was conscious throughout them all, though he could not control them; bit his tongue somewhat until a spoon was put in his mouth. The fits were followed by a tightness in the throat as if constricted; slight dimness of sight and numbness of fingers. Gave Calc. carb. again.

August 1st. Had great roaring in the ears, with slight diarrhoea, and constant inclination to stool, with griping pains in abdomen. No fit.

August 15th. Was taken with dizziness in the head; confused noises in the ear, and thick talking (the tongue seemed too large), which symptoms were followed by three severe fits, after which he entirely lost his speech for twelve hours; he also had cramps in the hands and fingers with soreness of the bowels. I gave Calc. carb.2000, since that time he has had no fits. In October I repeated the remedy owing to some of the premonitory symptoms reappearing. In March, 1862, I gave Lycopodium for other troubles and have not seen the patient since April.

Note.—The following symptoms of Calcarea carb. from Hahnemann's Chronische Krankheiten, Second Ed., Vol. II, pp. 308, et seq., show the correspondence between the individual characteristic symptoms of this remarkable case and of the remedy which cured it:

"17.. Anxious restlessness and disposition to busy oneself; she is constantly disposed to do a variety of things, but does not succeed in accomplishing anything; after this display zeal, she is very much exhausted.

"65. Great weakness of the faculty of conception and expression, after a very trifling effort at speaking, it seemed as if the brain were paralysed, chiefly in the occiput; he could not think of anything, nor remember the subject of conversation, by reason of the confusion of his head.

"66. She confounds words and easily makes errors in speaking

"206. Icy coldness of the head within and without.
"507. Difficulty in moving the tongue.
"508. Speaking is difficult.

"509. He moved the mouth, as though he would speak or cry out, but could not utter a word.

"351. Ringing in the ears.

"1236. Trembling in the hands, for several hours.

"1237. The palms of the hands sweat, on slight bodily exertion.

"1252. The fingers become insensible as if dead.

"1253. The three middle fingers become insensible as if dead; they are white, cold, and without sensibility."

Many symptoms of the upper extremities describe sensations and pains which pass or extend quickly from one end to the other of the extremity.

"1332. Cramp in the right leg, lasting one hour, with a turning inwards and a doubling up of the foot.

"1332. Cramp in the muscles next the shin, at night.

"1335. Violent cramp in the calf, at night.

"1336. Cramp in the calf and in the popliteal region on stretching out the leg (as in drawing on the boot), which ceases on flexing the leg, but recurs when it is extended.

"1396. Quivering in the muscles.

"1397. Painless jerkings of single members.

"1398. Single, involuntary movements and jerkings in the right thigh, in the left shoulder and the left arm."

These and a number similar symptoms in various parts of the proving show the power of Calcarea to produce convulsive action of isolated parts of the body.

"1421. Trembling, early.

"l422. Anxiety and trembling, with lassitude.

"1423. Continued trembling in the whole body, which became worse when he came into the open air."

We have here a general condition strongly resembling that of the patient whose cure was so successfully made with Calcarea. The affections of the muscular and nervous system are such as we should look for, as precursors of an epileptic attack. That Calcarea, however, does actually produce an epileptic attack the following symptom shows:

"1445. Epileptic attack; while standing engaged in manual labor, he suddenly fell sideways to the floor without consciousness, and when he came to his senses, he found himself lying with outstretched arms; this was followed by heat and somewhat of sweat." Dunham.

Case II

Mary F., aged nine, fair complexion, large deep blue eyes, large head, very fond of books and music.

September 19th, 1861. For nine months has had severe epileptic fits, generally one every two weeks. The morning before the attack plainly indicates that the dreaded paroxysm will overtake her before nightfall, she rises with a severe boring pain in the crown of the head, which extends to the occiput, and in an hour or two a most severe pain in the pit of the stomach also arises. This last pain is so severe that she bends double, lays herself across anything hard and resorts to all kinds of postures to relieve herself. Generally about six, p.m., the spasm sets in attended with unconsciousness; convulsions of the head and limbs; rolling of the eyes, especially so, as to appear "cross-eyed," both eyes being drawn inwards; foaming at the mouth; grating the teeth; biting the tongue, and invariably opisthotonos so that two men could not keep her body straight. These fits last about two hours, when she falls into a deep sleep, from which she wakes the next morning with severe pain across the forehead, severe retching and vomiting, and for a few days her evacuations consist of clear water covered on the top by white flakes. She is gradually becoming more and more dull and stupid, inclined to sleep a great deal; her sleep being full of startings up from dreams of falling into the water. I prescribed Nux vom200 every other day for two weeks.

October 19th. No fit until today, about four weeks, which was attended with the same severity of symptoms. I repeated the remedy.

November l1th. Another fit; no change. Nux vom 30

November 12th. Another fit; no change. Bell. 30

November 24th. Another fit; has been better; has ceased to dream of water and has seemed brighter. Bell.200 once.

November 30th. Another fit; seems worse again. Hyos.30

December 6th. Had a slight fit; is every way much improved; no more retching and vomiting; evacuations more natural; seems brighter. Hyos.30 twice a week.

January 15th. A slight convulsion with no previous symptoms and slight subsequent ones. Medicine discontinued.

Since that time has had no more fits; her mind is rapidly improving and she is going to school.

Case III

Child, boy, aged eleven months, of the size of a small child of six months. Head large and triangular; anterior fontanelle widely open; eyes large, protruding, vacant, fixed. Two red marks one between the eyes the other below the occiput which the mother says were caused by the forceps with which the child was delivered.

The father is tuberculosis, has cough, night sweats, emaciation and physical signs of pulmonary phthsis. The child is not able to hold the head up straight and it rolls about on the shoulders. The left arm and hand seem nearly powerless, as the mother remarks that he does not throw it about as he used to and will not close the fingers as with the other hand. The child has not grown any since it was seven months old; has no signs of any teeth; never crept, nor stood alone.

When seven months old, was taken with screaming violently and continued restlessness. In about a week each fit of screaming would terminate in a convulsion, with rolling the eyes upward into the head, foaming at the mouth and violent struggles; the child in a few minutes went to sleep, and when it awoke the eyes for some time seemed turned up onto the head, the child “looking as if dead.”

The convulsions gradually increased in frequency until the, child had them every other day every ten or fifteen minutes, and the alternate days every one or two hours. The child seemed perfectly idiotic, was treated by all the heroism of the old school for four months with no effect. I saw the, child on

June 20th. Left arm and leg paralysed apparently, as the child did not move them; the tongue seemed too large, the mother said it almost prevented it swallowing; urine very scanty. I gave one powder of Sulph.30 and waited five days.

June 25th. Child the same except a pimply rash all over the child. I gave Apis 6 ter die.

July 1st. Left arm and leg seemingly well, as the child moved them as well as the other side; swallowed easily; urine copious, frequent and very offensive; spasms not so frequent and only on alternate days; child awakes with eyes natural; can hold its head up straight for a short time. Apis 200 Once a day

July 4th. The fits came on, on the wrong day every two hours, but has none for one day; has been continually screaming with all its might, and indeed it was doing so when I saw it. Last night they gave it "Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup," but without effect!!! I gave Ars.200

July 7th. The child stopped screaming in one hour after taking the Ars., and has rested quietly and seemed much better; no convulsions; but has diarrhoea of water and some ftecal matter; urine offensive and copious; "the child's hat is too large," says the mother. Gave Sacc. lac.

July 15th. The child moans during the day as if in pain, and rolls the head about; the head is hot, especially the occiput; rests well at night; diarrhoea gone; the child seems bright and notices things and people. Ars.200 once a day.

July 28th. Cries some, but seems to be cutting teeth; some diarrhoea; drooling from the mouth, and constant inclination to put something into the mouth. Cham.30

August 4th. Child better; will laugh; but has a lump coming just in front of the ear, which came out one night; is painful to touch. One dose of Apis 200.

Never Been Well Since - By Joy Lucas

2011-09-30T15:15:00.004+05:30

Never Been Well Since

Joy Lucas

A Great teacher Of Homeopathy
Go to her website From Here

Abortion: Nat mur; Carc; Tub; Pyrogen; Ign; Staph; Syph

Accidents: (with joint trouble) Syph; (with depression) Op; Carbo veg; Gels; (spine) Bellis per; (childbirth) Calc phos; (dorsal) Hyper; (cervical) Ham; (old) Sil; Thuja; (head) Arn; Nat sulph; (with bursting H/A’s) Glon; (skull) Hell;

Acute Illness: Psor; Carbo veg; Sulph; Sil; Tub; Calc phos; other nosodes;...

Allopathic drugs: Gaertner;

Ambition loss: Nux vom

Anger: Cham; Anac; Staph; Colocynth;

Anaesthetics: Phos;

Antibiotics: Nit-ac; Sulph; Gaertner; Penicillin;

Bathing, cold: Ant-c; Bellis; Rhus tox;

Birth: Pyrogen; Secale; Bellis

Blood transfusion: Carc;

Blows to soft tissue: Conium; Bellis:

Boils: Bovista; Pyrogen; Anthrac; Staphyloccocin;

Breast milk suppressed: Calc carb; Bry;

Broncho-pneumonia: Morgan;

Business failure: Ambra gris; Arg-nit; Sil;

Catarrhal illness: Tub;

Chest illness: Sulph; Kali carb;

Childhood: Calc carb; Carc;

Chloroform: Phos; Chloro;

Climacteric: Lach; Kreos;

Confinement: Bell

Coal gas: Bovista;

Cortisone: Cortis;

D & C: Nit-ac

Deaths: Ambra gris; Nat mur; Carc; Kali brom;

Diarrhoea: China; Op; Zinc; China ars; Sep; Nux mosch

Diptheria: Lac can; Gels; Caust; Arg-nit;

Disappointed love: Tarent; Hyos; Ign; Nat mur; Phos-ac;

Discharges: Bry; Sil; Cup met; China

Ear discharges: Merc; Stram;

ECT: Elect;

Exertion: Bellis; Bry;

Falls and Shocks: Arn; Gels;

Fatigue: Calc phos;

Fear: Acon; Op; Stram;

Foot sweat: Sil;

Frustration: Staph; Con; Phos;

Glandular fever: Carc; Tub;

Gonorrhea: Thuj; Med: Lac can; Puls;

Grief: Ign; Caust; Phos-ac; Aur-mur; Cocc; Lach; Nat mur; Staph; Carc; Amm mur;

Hay fever: Histamine;

Headaches: Mag phos; China Sal; Stannum;

Head injuries: Hyper; Glon; Nat sulph;

Haemorrhage: China; Collinsonia;

Hepatitis: Carc;

Histamine injections: Histamine;

Hysterectomy: Ooph; Arist-clem; Follic; Ign; Staph; Lach; Bell;

Inflammatory illness: Carc;

Insults: Staph;

Iron injections: Puls; Phos;

Joy: Coff;

Labour: Pyrogen; Sep; Thuja;

LSD: Phos; Mang;

Lover left: Lyc;

Loss: Nat mur; Aur mur;

Measles: Sulph; Puls; Carbo veg; Sil; Dros; Kali carb; Ip; Ars;

Mental trauma: Psor;

Marriage: Lach; Staph; Med;

Migraines: China sal;

Mumps: Parotid; Puls;

Nervous breakdown: Asaf; Med; Mag phos; Ign; Acon; Asar;
Night watching: Cocc;

Operations: Staph; Stront carb; Gaertner; Pyrogen; Calc phos; Collinsonia; Nux vom; Bellis;

Over heated: Bry; Glon;

Overstraining: Rhus tox;

The Pill: Ooph; Nat mur; Sep; Avena sat; Fraxin amer; Lil-tig;

Piles: Collinsonia; Sulph; Nux vom;

Pneumonia: Carc; Kali carb; Morgan; Phos; Lyc; Sulph; Carbo veg;

Puberty: Sulph; Puls; luna; Syph; Sepia;

Poisons: Hepar sulph; Calc ox; Ip; Mez; Alum; Plat; Colocynth; Caust; Sulph-ac; Aurum; Sars; Nit-ac; Sil; Puls; Coff; Nat mur; Calc sulph; China; Ars;

Rage: Cham;

Rape: Ign; Sep; Acon; Caust; Staph;

Rheumatic fever: Streptoccocin; Iod; Kalmia; Aur; Syph; Med;

Rubella: Gaertner;

Scarletina: Calc carb; Cham; Apis;

Shock: Arn; Ambra gris; Carbo veg; Iod; Phos-ac;

Sleep, loss of: Cocc; Nux vom;

Sterilisation: Follic; Staph; Arist-clem; Lach;

Sunstroke: Nat carb; Gels

Sweat: Colch; Sil; Bar carb; Zinc; Dulc; Cup met;

Tampons: Lach; Cup met;

Tonsilitis: Phyt; Streptoccocin;

Trauma: Arn; Bellis; Hyper; Nat sulph; Ruta

U V Rays: Nit-ac;

Vaccinations: Pyrogen; Thuja; Apis; Staph; Ledum; Nat sulph; Puls; Sil;

Venereal disease: Syco co; Proteus; Med; Syph;

Warts: Staph; Merc; Nit-ac; Thuja;

Whooping cough: Carc; Carbo veg; Dros;

X-Rays: X-ray; Cobaltum; Rad brom;

BELLIS PERENNIS

2011-09-28T23:02:00.002+05:30

Small and Less Used Medicine From Materia Medica Of Dr W. Boericke

BELLIS PERENNIS

(Daisy)

It acts upon the muscular fibers of the blood – vessels. Much muscular soreness. Lameness, as if sprained. Venous congestion, due to mechanical causes. First remedy in injuries to the deeper tissues, after major surgical work. Results of injuries to nerves with intense soreness and intolerance of cold bathing. After gout, debility of limbs.

Traumatism of the pelvic organs, auto-traumatism, expresses the condition calling for this remedy; ill effects from masturbation. Excellent remedy for sprains and bruises. Complaints due to cold food or drink when the body is heated, and in affections due to cold wind. Externally, in naevi. Acne. Boils all over. Sore, bruised feeling in the pelvic region. Exudations, stasis, swelling, come within the range of this remedy. Rheumatic symptoms. Does not vitiate the secretions. “It is a princely remedy for old laborers, especially gardeners.” ( Burnett.)

Head – Vertigo in elderly people. Headache from occiput to top of head. Forehead feels contracted. Bruised soreness. Itching around scalp and over back, worse from hot bath and bed.

Female – Breasts and uterus engorged. Varicose veins in pregnancy. During pregnancy inability to walk. Abdominal muscles lame. Uterus feels sore, as if squeezed.

Sleep – Wakes early in the morning and cannot get to sleep again.

Abdomen – Soreness of abdominal walls and of uterus. Stitches in spleen, sore, enlarged. Yellow, painless diarrhea, foul odor, worse at night. Bloated; rumbling in bowels.

Skin – Boils. Ecchymosis, swelling, very sensitive to touch. Venous congestion due to mechanical causes. Varicose veins with bruised sore feeling. Exudations and swellings. Acne.

Extremities – Joints sore, muscular soreness. Itching on back and flexor surfaces of thighs. Pain down anterior of thighs. Wrist feels contracted as from elastic band around joint. Sprains with great soreness. Railway spine*.

Modalities – Worse, left side; hot bath and warmth of bed; before storms; cold bathing; cold wind.

Relationship – Compare: Arn.; Ars.; Staph.; Ham.; Bry.; Vanad. (degenerative states).

Dose – Tincture to third potency.

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* Railway spine - It is a nineteenth century term for the post-traumatic symptoms of passengers involved in rail accident. It is an abnormal condition due to severe concussion of the spinal cord. Ataxia, back pain, sensory disturbances, muscular dysfunctions and some general features are included in it.