CYCLAMEN By C. L. Olds, M.D.

This Article originally published in: 

THE
MEDICAL ADVANCE
A HOMOEOPATHIC MAGAZINE.
Vol XXXIV CHICAGO, JULY 15, 1895. No. 2

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Materia Medica and Therapeutics

The lectures on Materia Medica by PROF. J. T. KENT, of the POST 
GRADUATE SCHOOL OP HOMOEOPATHICS, have proven of such practical value that they will continue to be a leading feature of this Department. Original
provings and verifications will appear from time to time as they may be secured.
To these will be added other papers of value from prominent
teachers of Materia Medica, making
THE MEDICAL ADVANCE one of the most valuable mediums through which our
Materia Medica may be studied.

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CYCLAMEN*
C. L. OLDS, M. D.

When a patient comes into our office, one of-the first things
that we do is to note his or her actions, to consider the aspect, to
scrutinize closely the external of the patient, knowing that the
external appearance will often give us the clew to the remedy
needed; we can often say, this looks like a Calcarea patient,
this a Sepia, this a Pulsatilla, this a Thuja patient, and so on.
Bat should we prescribe on the actions and aspect of the patient
only, our conclusions would often be unwarranted.
   Imagine before you a patient, a woman with clear complexion
and blue eyes—a blonde. She seems to be absorbed in
thought and weeps while giving her symptoms. You learn
that she is fond of solitude, and often weeps; worse in the
evening; thirstless; aversion to fats, which cause nausea; a few
mouthfuls of food fill her up; she has many menstrual symptoms.
Pulsatilla will probably come into your mind, but
wait! you now learn that she is a cold patient, one that is alwaya
chilly; that whenever she goes out of doors she is made
worse thereby, but is pretty comfortable in the house where it
is warm; and further you learn from a companion that she is
the most cranky and irritable person in the world. This will
in some measure show you the necessity of a careful examination
of the patient, for all the symptoms related are quite characteristic
of Cyclamen. And now as we take up the study of
Cyclamen, you will see that it has many symptoms in common
with Pulsatilla, you will see that it has essentially the same
sphere of action, yet certain of the generals of the two remedies
separate them widely.
   The Cyclamen patient is sluggish in both mind and body;
torpid; there is relaxation of the whole body. She weeps and
wants to sit in the corner and think of the future; this state
may alternate with one of irritability, in fact there seem to be
many symptoms that alternate; weakness and exaltation of the
memory, joy and sadness, good and ill humor, peevishness and
serenity. In the eye double vision that comes and goes,
Strabismus that comes and goes, dilated pupils that come and
go. The appetite is also variable, sometimes there is ravenous
hunger and at others complete loss of appetite. The heat and
the chill symptoms alternate.
   Ill humor seems to predominate. She thinks that she is deserted
and persecuted by everyone, or she may feel that she
has committed a great sin and grieves over it until she cannot
sleep at night. The least trifle makes her angry (Pulsatilla is
hurt by every trifle, almost breaks her heart over it.)
   The vertigo is < in the open air and > in the house.
(Pulsatilla vertigo > in open air). There is a motion in the
brain as from riding in a carriage, a sensation as if the brain
was in motion when leaning the head against anything. There
is dullness of all senses. (Pulsatilla is oversensitive).
The headaches are violent. They usually commence with
an obscuration of the sight and flickering before the eyes; the
brain feels as if bound or enveloped with a cloth. The pains
are chiefly in the left temple. (Pulsatilla headache all over
head). The headaches are < motion, < in the evening and
< in the open air, but > from cold water applied. This relief
from cold water is an exception to the general of the remedy.
The patient is generally > motion, > warmth and > weeping;
and < evening, < open air, < before the menses.

   There is itching on the scalp, great itching which changes
place on scratching, > moving about, < in the evening.
   There are all sorts of sensations before the eyes; flickering,
mist-like appearances, yellow and green colors and obscuration
of sight, nearly all of the provers had sudden vanishing of the
sight, especially with the headaches.
   At the time of the menses, or at any time when there is
uterine trouble, the eye symptoms seem to come out in full
force. It is at that time that you will find the strabismus,
the dilated pupil and the obscuration of vision most prominent.
This remedy furnishes an illustration of the sympathy that
exists between the eyes and the sexual organs.
   The menstrual periods come too early, and the blood is
black and clotted, the flow is too profuse. Before the menses
she is sad, melancholy, full of fears, irritable. When the
flow comes on, the mental state is relieved, she feels better
generally. During the flow you have pains that start in the
back. They go down across the abdomen to the pubes, and
then go down the thighs. These pains are violent, and while
they are present the flow ceases, but on the pains ceasing the
flow starts again. Again, we may find that the menses are
scant, or even suppressed and as a result of this suppression,
the mental symptoms will come on; the sadness, desire to be
alone, melancholy, irritability. The menses are scanty; first
there will be black clots with thin blood, later, simply a scant
watery flow, similar to what we see in Pulsatilla. While she
is moving about, the menses cease, but on sitting down or
lying down they come on again. With these menstrual symptoms,
we will have the eye symptoms that I spoke of, the head
symptoms and stomach symptoms. She is very apt to have
nausea and vomiting during the menses, with a left-sided
headache. The head feels as if it were bound, she feels confused.
The eye symptoms are < in the evening < from going
out of doors. The menstrual conditions are < from the open
air, > from a close room, and although she is > from a close
room, i.e., a warm room, she feels as if the room were too
small, she can hardly bear to sit in the room, it seems so
small, and yet she is averse to going into the open air. Before
the menses there is bloating of the abdomen with great sensitiveness;
after the menses, there is swelling of the breasts,

and perhaps the secretion of milk and a peculiar sensation as
if air were streaming through the nipples. Now, usually if
there are any breast symptoms with the menses, they will be
before the menses, swelling of the breasts before the menses,
> at the coming on of the menses, but with the Cyclamen
patient, this comes on after the menses.
   We might also expect this remedy to be useful in Chlorosis.
No menses for a long time, the patient looks exsanguinated—
as if there were no blood in her. The lips are pale, coldness
of the extremities and of the prominent parts of the body, with
the other general symptoms that I have described.
   There is a great deal of sneezing in this remedy, sneezing
with fluent coryza, and this coryza is >in the open air; there
is another exception to the general conditions, something like
Nux Vomica and Kali Carb. Both these are chilly remedies
and yet their coryza are > in the open air. This remedy
should be remembered when colds come on accompanied by
obscuration of sight.
   All sorts of tastes in the mouth, flat, putrid, fatty, salty,
and like the taste of Pulsatilla—bitter. This salty taste is
not only in the mouth while eating, but at all times. The saliva
tastes salty, the food tastes salty and everything tastes salty.
There is a great deal of saliva; very profuse, always having
this salty taste.
   In the throat there is rawness, scraping, soreness. Nothing
very important.
   Like Pulsatilla, there is indigestion; the digestion is slow,
the food lies in the stomach like a load, it takes a long time to
digest it. There will be passing of gas up and down. If she
has an appetite at all a few mouthfuls seem to satisfy her, she
fills up with a few mouthfuls. (Pulsatilla has this also, as
well as Sulphur and Lycopodium.) After she has taken a few
mouthfuls, there is nausea, nausea that seems to be referred
to the throat. Disgust of food, disgust for anything. She
dislikes even the mention of pork, or of anything fat. She
seems to have a craving for certain indigestible things only.
She wants sardines; she wants sour things. Anything that is
indigestible she may have a craving for, but the ordinary articles
of food, she will dislike. She cannot bear the sight of

bread and butter, cannot bear the sight of the ordinary articles
of food.
   In the abdomen we find this same state of inactivity. There
is a feeling as if a lump were there, as if the food did not digest,
as if it stayed for a long time in the intestine, causing
colic, gripings of various kinds. Sensation beneath the liver
as if there were a great ball there, rather a peculiar sensation;
a feeling in the intestine as if something were alive, as if an
animal were there, creeping and crawling about. This com-
pares with Thuja and Crocus, which have a sensation as if
something were alive in the abdomen. The abdomen becomes
distended, exceedingly sensitive to pressure. With the colic
there comes on a diarrhoea that has little or no odor. The stools
of Cyclamen seem to be almost odorless. The first part of the
stool seems to be crumbly and the next pappy and all shot
out at once. So it is with the urine. He will want to go directly
to urinate and he will worry and tease and suddenly
there will be a flow of dark reddish or yellowish urine. “He
can only urinate while hearing someone whistle”; this is a clinical
symptom I believe. Cutting, stinging, rending pains in
the urethra, with great desire to urinate, with the sudden
gushing out of urine.
   Throughout the extremities there are pains of various kinds,
rending, tearing, lancing, bruising pains, cramp-like pains in
different parts. Sensations as if the bones were dislocated,
and particularly in the fingers do we find cramps like the
cramps that writers have, and clinically it has been found
useful in writer's cramp.
   There are a few chill symptoms. The chill predominates.
With the chill there is great coldness. The chill starts in the
prominent parts of the body, as in the fingers and toes, in the
nose and ears; with this, great aversion to covering up. No
thirst with the chill. After a long chill, then comes the heat
—no thirst then. Following the heat there will be sweat,
sweat which is offensive—rarely any thirst at that time. So
that you see this somewhat competes with Apis, as a thirstless
remedy in chills and fever. (With Pulsatilla there is thirst
during the heat). The chill usually comes on in the evening.
There is a general aggravation in the evening.
   I did not mention the sleep symptoms. She falls asleep

very late. Does not seem to get asleep ever before midnight,
and the sleep is full of vivid dreams, and she rolls and tosses
about. After she has gone through a number of the earlier
hours of the night with this restlessness, she will wake up very
early in the morning and will feel so tired and dragged out,
will seem to be completely exhausted; she does not want to
get up, does not want to do anything.
   There is an aggravation of most of the symptoms by the
use of coffee.
   Another distinction that I want to give you between Pulsatilla
and Cyclamen, is that in Pulsatilla the stomach symptoms
are < in the morning; although Pulsatilla is generally < in
the evening, the stomach symptoms are < in the morning;
with Cyclamen the stomach symptoms are < in the evening,
following the general of the remedy.

* Notes from lecture at Post-Graduate School, reported by S. Mary Ives, M. D.

Homeopathic Therapeutics of Spinal Sclerosis By CLARENCE C. HOWARD

 THE MEDICAL ADVANCE

.. AND ..
Journal of Homeopathics
VOL. XLII. CHICAGO, JANUARY, 1904. No. 1.

Homeopathic Therapeutics of Spinal Sclerosis

CLARENCE C. HOWARD, M. D., NEW YORK

Under the head of Spinal Sclerosis I have included Locomotor
Ataxia, Spastic Paraplegia or Lateral Sclerosis, Ataxic Paraplegia
and Friedruck's Ataxia, diseases characterized by a process of
connective tissue proliferation supplanting the normal or injured
parenchyma, and although differing in their symptoms vary considerably

according to the locality of the injury to the cord from
a therapeutic standpoint they can be grouped under one head. I
believe there is no remedy in our materia medica which might
not be the similar of some of these diseases during their course,
but I have selected only drugs the symptoms of which I have verified,

having found in them a cure, a relief to the distressing symptoms.

When these cases are diagnosed early, my experience has
been that the progress of the disease can be arrested and practically
cured as the healthy or less-affected portion of the cord will perform

the normal functions of the whole.

ALUMINA

The pains of Alumina are sudden, sharp, stabbing, gnawing and
throbbing, coming on at intervals, accompanied by a sensation at
times as if the limbs were being squeezed in a vise; these pains are
felt through the body. Again, there is pain mostly confined to the
lower vertebrae, as if a hot iron were being thrust through the tissues;

stiffness, numbness and insensibility of lower limbs, tearing
in all parts of the lower limbs.
Drawing pains in the knees on ascending stairs : cramp in calves
on crossing legs and on resting toes on ground ; on stepping the
soles of the feet are painful, as if swollen or too soft; there is great
lassitude of both arms and legs; heaviness, the arms and legs feel
heavy like lead: itching, tingling, prickling of the legs.
Pains as if burnt by hot iron are felt in the elbow and fingers.
The toes and fingers become red and swollen, with a tendency
to ulcerate.
   Sensation of constriction along the esophagus when eating; liver
sensitive, with stitching pains; flatulent colic; sharp stitching pains

with dyspnoea; pains ascend to cardiac region; sensation as if abdomen

hung down heavy as lead.
    The symptoms are generally < while sitting and better from
walking; < after dinner and from potatoes, are characteristic.
When acting well, the change of feeling, "better after dinner,''
will be noticed.
    The constipation of Alumina is due to an inactive or paralyzed
state of the rectum; even a soft stool requires much straining.
The stool may be large, hard and dry. Great tenesmus. These
patients will complain of distended abdomens which is loud rumblings

of flatus with emissions of large quantities.
      Dizziness, objects turn in a circle; ptosis, diplopia or strabismus;
unable to walk with the eyes closed, or in the dark; sensation as
if walking on cushions. Formication as if ants were crawling
back of legs. Nates go to sleep when sitting; heels become numb
when walking; sensation on the face as of a cobweb or the white
of an egg had dried upon it; the urine is slow in passing.
The sexual desire is increased at first, later suppressed; at first
frequent nocturnal erections with pollutions.

ARGENTUM NITRICUM

The character of the pains of Argentum Nitricum are tearing,
squeezing, drawing, sticking as if sprained. The digging pains
in the back are < at night and on rising from sitting and > by
walking; there is a sensation at times as if the body were expanding.
There is a general feeling of lassitude in lower limbs, legs
insensible to touch, diminished warmth of legs, sudden contraction
of the knees at night, jerking of toes.
  Formication of arms and legs.
  Convulsive motions of arms and legs, working outward and up-
ward.
  Rigidity of the muscles, especially the calves of the leg.
  Feeling as if a band of iron were around chest or waist.
  Sensation as if splinters were sticking in arms and legs. Vertigo
when attempting to walk with the eyes closed, with a tendency
to fall sidewise, staggering "when walking in the dark. Debility
 of the limbs, they tremble; calves are weary as after a long
journey.
   Legs feel as if made of wood; staggering gait. The hands
tremble. Eyesight worse by candle-light; right pupil dilated;
right pupil contracted, loss of light reflex.
Loss of sexual functions, organs shriveled. Only partial erections
failing on attempting coition. Incontinence of urine. Retention
of urine, urine dribbles.


BELLADONNA

Inco-ordination; weak and tottering gait with trembling in all
the limbs; when walking, the legs are raised high and slowly, and
put down forcibly. The pains are sudden, lightning like, throbbing,
burning, stabbing lasting a longer or shorter period and coming
and going quickly, leaving no pain in the interval except
a soreness. Heaviness of the thighs and legs with stiffness of the
knees. Pains sometimes in the leg as if jammed; a sensation of
crawling in the feet, stiffness and heaviness of hands, rigid fingers,
sharp stitches, pains through hands.
   Pupils contracted or dilated immovable; the eyes and hands are
in a constant spasmodic motion.
   Obstinate constipation, spasmodic contraction of the anus preventing
stool.
    Inability to retain the urine; the urine is frequent and copious
and of a pale straw color. Sensation of a worm twisting and turning
in the bladder. Sexual instinct seems extinguished in his fancy, complete
loss of power.
    The Belladonna patient is chilly and very sensitive to changes
from warm to cold, from draught of air in damp weather, better
from wrapping up warmly and in a room symptoms are < in the
afternoon and after midnight > in the morning.


GELSEMIUM

Has an unsteady gait, staggering on attempting to walk. Difficulty
of walking due to lack of control of the muscles, incoordination
with the loss of voluntary muscular movement; the
limbs are heavy. There are paroxysms of shooting, drawing,
contracting and cramping pains in the legs. Coldness of the legs ;
the feet feel as if they were in cold water; the calves feel bruised;
the thighs are sore to touch. The legs tremble; there are neuralgic
pains with deep-seated aching and numbness. Great lassitude,
listless and languid; tires easily.
    Ptosis, the eyes are almost closed with loss of vision; can't read
or write; unable to recognize any one across the room.
    Constipated from paralysis of the rectum.
    The urine is involuntary with a very frequent desire < from
excitement.
    Sexual power completely exhausted; slightest excitement causes
emission without an erection. Coldness of the genitals.

HYOSCYAMUS

Inability to rise from a chair, walk without assistance or without
the eyes fixed upon the ground; when walking in the open air
with heat and trembling of the whole body; a staggering gait,
weariness and languor; extreme coldness of the lower extremities
both to touch and sensation.
   The extensors of the limbs jerk and twitch so as to advance the
leg and foot; the pains are sharp and mostly in the joints; gangrenous
spots are apt to appear on the buttock and thighs.
   The toes are spasmodically contracted while walking or going
upstairs.
   The hands are painfully numb with tingling and prickling;
swelling of both hands and feet.
   The pupils are contracted with dimness of the sight as from a

gauze before eyes.
   The urine is retained; urgent desire to urinate the discharge of
a feeble dribbling stream, followed by copious micturition with
rumbling in the abdomen involuntary day and night.
   Impotence.

NUX MOSCHATA

The lower limbs are painful and languid, with great uneasiness;
the back feels weak and painful as if broken or bruised from a
blow < on riding in a carriage.

  The muscles of the neck are so weak the head drops forward
on the chest.
   The knees feel weak with pains in them, especially on going
upstairs.
  On the dorsum of the foot there is a pain as if a hard body had
fallen upon it.
   Pains in both legs as if the bones were being smashed to pieces;
feeling in calves as from a blow; cramps in calves before going to
sleep.
   The pains come all over the body, occupying but a small space,
continue but a few moments, but soon return, passing from place
to place; they are digging and pressing, < from cold damp air.
   The feet pain as if bruised from jumping; soles are always wet
from perspiration.
   The odor of the perspiration in the axillae is offensive.
   There are pains of a steady drawing character from fingers to
shoulder with a sensation as of a string tied about the arm.
In the toes and fingers there is a buzzing sensation as if frost
bitten.
   The chest feels as if in a vise.
   The characteristics are drowsiness, chilliness and listlessness,
with dry mouth.
   The bowels are distended with flatus: even soft stools are evacuated
with difficulty, the constipation being from inactivity. All
symptoms are < by emotional excitement.
   The genital organs are relaxed with inclination.
   The eyelids droop and feel heavy and stiff: pupils dilated or
contracted.
   There is an < from cold, damp air and in repose an > from
warmth.

NUX VOMICA

When walking, the legs tremble: unsteady gait, staggering;
drags feet; stiffness and rigidity of muscles and numbness; can
only walk with the aid of a cane or holding on to the wall for
support.
   Exaggeration of all the reflexes (or complete loss of patella) —

tapping the patella reflex the leg is violently extended followed by
alternate contraction; must be firmly held to control the spasm.
   Great reflexed excitability, chilliness of backs of limbs in morning
with pain as if from freezing cold.
   Drawing, tearing pains, mostly from below upward < from
light touch > from heat and firm pressure, beaten and bruised
sensation < during motion and at night.
   Great weariness after being in open air. Inclined to boils .and
sores on nates; sharp pain as from an electric shock; shooting,
jerking, tearing and drawing pains on posterior part of thighs.
Crawling feeling over affected parts with sensation of heat; the
arms and hands go to sleep, having a numb and stiff feeling <
in dry, generally > in wet weather, < from cold air and being
in open air, < of all symptoms from external impressions.
    Incontinence of urine, nocturnal enuresis, constant dribbling
with an overloaded bladder; great tenesmus with great burning
and tearing pain. Constant desire for stool and urine, great
straining.
    Ineffectual urging to stool, or passing but small quantities of
feces at an attempt; stools in large hard masses, frequently blood
streaked; after stool exhaustion with trembling, especially of the
hands < of symptoms during and after stool.
    Sexual desire on slightest provocation at first, soon followed by
complete loss of sexual functions.
    < in moving, after waking, after mental exertion.

PHOSPHORUS

The lower limbs are heavy with great weakness, especially on
ascending steps; complete insensibility of lower extremities and
body as far up as the chest. The gait is unsteady and stumbling;
lowering temperature of the parts; formication from back to legs.
Drawing, tearing pains from exposure to cold.
    Excessively troubled with mghtly attacks of fidgets in the legs
and hips preventing sleep; must get up and move about; knees feel
weak and stiff, very much swollen (a charcot joint) legs heavy
and weary. Feet icy cold. Pains in soles as if bruised after a
long walk as if feet were asleep. Inclined to have blisters and
sores on the feet, especially heels. Drawing pains in back of leg.

     Heaviness of both hands and feet; the hands feel numb and
clumsy and burn; the arms are weak; can hardly move them, they
tremble and become numb.
     Drawing, tearing pains in joints of elbow, hands and fingers at
night; hands fall asleep; fingers are all thumbs; numbness and
insensibility, crawling, burning of hands, icy cold palms, clammy.
Hot burning spots on spine, burning along spine; intense heat

running up back, feeling as if a band were all around body. Speech
embarrassed.
     Pupils contracted.
    At first excessive sexual desire accompanied with lascivious
thoughts followed by complete loss of functions.
    The hunger of Phosphorus is very marked, right after or soon
after a meal, must eat again; almost faints without food.
    Constipated stools, long narrow, voided with difficulty.

PICRIC ACID

Profound prostration, both physical and mental; any attempt
to study or work brings on exhaustion and burning along the
spine, with great weakness of the legs, and increases the pains in
the limbs. The lower extremities are weak and heavy and
tremble; can only be lifted with difficulty; numbness and crawling
with trembling and prickling with a sensation as if encircled
in elastic stockings, or a band around the chest as of ants crawling
over surface.
    Weakness of the fingers, inability to grasp objects unless eyes
are fixed upon them; rigidity and spasticity of fingers.
    Over excitement of the sexual organs; great sexual desire with
violent long lasting erections, later impotence, penis relaxed and
shrunken, coldness of-the genitals, wet weather <, the pains >
from cold air and water; chilliness predominates.

RHUS TOXICODENDRON

The pains are of a lame, stiff, sore and bruised aching character
as if the parts had been strained < by rest, sitting or lying for any
length of time brings on the aching and pain; when first attempting

to move there is an < but continued motion > which soon
produces exhaustion necessitating resting again only to have a
repetition of the suffering.
    Worse always in damp weather, especially when cold and damp
in the morning on first arising and from prolonged bodily effort:
great restlessness is a very marked feature of the remedy due to
the pains on resting.
    Weariness and exhaustion from any physical effort. There are
drawing, darting, cutting, tearing pains as well as the lameness.
    There is ptosis as well as paralysis of the muscles of eyeballs
with a tendency to edematous swelling of the upper lids.
    Urine involuntary at night during damp cold weather.

SULPHUR

The pains of Sulphur are generally made worse by heat and at
night and extend from above downward; they are of an aching,
drawing, tearing, burning character which forces the patient out
of bed to find a cool place; the soles of the feet burn so that
they keep the sufferer awake hunting about for a cool place. The
limbs are heavy and weak when walking. Cramps take place in
the calves at night, drawing up the limbs ; tingling in limbs; sen-
sation in the middle of the thigh as if broken. Torpor and numb-
ness of the legs, pains commence in thighs, extend down the leg,
causing contraction. Sensation of icy coldness of the feet which
are not cold. The soles are cold and damp. The gait is unsteady,
the limbs tremble; there is great weariness and prostration. The
legs go to sleep, especially when lying down.
    The perspiration in the axillae smells like garlic. The hands
tremble, the fingers feel dead in the morning; the palms burn.
Jerking in the arm and fingers, sharp pains, cramps in the arms at
night: the hands feel weak as if paralyzed. Involuntary con-
traction of the hands when about to grasp anything; dead feel of
the fingers. (Excessively sensitive to open air and washing.)
     Eyes: Impaired vision, unable to recognize any one on the
street; letters run together when attempting to read as if looking
through a thick veil or fog and has a dead look; complains of
heaviness of eyelids ; eyes burn ; pupils contracted.

Constipated stool, hard, knotty and dry as if burnt.
     Urine involuntary, especially at night, exe0rating parts.
     Irritability of the bladder; must hurry to urinate day and night.
     Sexual functions entirely lost; organs cold; testicles relaxed;
soreness and moisture with offensive sweat on genitals.

A Cure Made by Picric Acid
J. T. KENT, M. D., CHICAGO

The patient is a woman passing through the climacteric period.
Burning heat in the back, coming in paroxysms like flushes,
brought on or made worse by mental exertion or excitement.
Cold extremities.
Face cold and pale.
Heat in the head.
Violent occipital headache.
Heaviness of the limbs, especially the lower limbs.
Picric acid 10M (F. C.) produced a marvelous constitutional
improvement in the case.

ECHINACEA ANGUSTIFOLIA IN BLOOD POISONING

Following article published in THE MEDICAL ADVANCE AND  Journal of Homeopathics VOL XLII CHICAGO, JANUARY, 1904. No. 1

Proceedings of the Central New York Homeopathic
Medical Society

ROCHESTER CLUB.

ROCHESTER, N. Y., June 11, 1903.

Dr. A. C. Hermance read the following paper In the quarterly meeting of the Central New York Homeopathic Medical Society

ECHINACEA ANGUSTIFOLIA IN BLOOD POISONING :

My knowledge and use of this drug is of necessity empirical. However, from reports read of its action and my own clinical experience, I am inclined to think it destined to take a prominent place in our materia medica. Particularly will it be indicated in diseases arising from a depraved state of the blood; in poisoned
wounds, stings and bites of poisonous animals or reptiles; in erysipelatous conditions, septic infections and blood poisoning generally.

From my limited source of information I can only say that this remedy is obtained from an American plant indigenous to our Western prairies, the common name of which I do not know. However, my purpose in this paper is not to discuss the botanic characteristics of this remedy, but in a few clinical cases to relate its action and the general results obtained by its administration.

CASE I.— Mr. C., aged sixty-five years, a paper box maker by occupation, while working with some colored paper, cut his right thumb slightly on edge of the paper. The injury caused him little inconvenience until next day, when the finger began swelling rapidly, accompanied by intense lancinating pain, and much discoloration, purple in character. The day following I was called and found the following conditions:

Finger greatly swollen, dark blue or purple in color.
Lancinating, burning pain, running up the arm arterially.
Veins distended and swollen; arteries like red streaks running up arm, and very painful to touch.

Axillary gland swollen and very painful.
General muscular soreness, "seems as if pounded."
Vertigo with deathly sick feeling all over.
Trembling of lower limbs, cannot walk.
Dull, stupefying headache, with sense of weight on vertex.
General and extreme prostration.
Face drawn, haggard, deathly pallor, cold moisture on forehead.
Nausea and vomiting.
Diarrhea with frequent, offensive stools.
Throat swollen, fauces dark and purplish in color, with ulcerated patches.

Inability to swallow. Raises bloody mucus when coughing.
Tongue swollen, bluish color, very sore to touch.
Temp. 103° F. Pulse 100.

Lach. 200, in solution, was given every two hours. This was at 9 A. M.; at 8 P. M. there was no improvement. Hand and arm swelling rapidly; profuse watery diarrhea; stool every hour, very offensive; cannot retain nourishment. Flaxseed fomentations ordered applied to hand every half hour. Lach. continued, 11 P.M. condition was unchanged.  Ars. CM, one dose.

9 A. M. next morning. Patient had a very bad night. Heart action is now irregular. Hand and arm terribly swollen. Diarrhea, pain and prostration marked. Slight delirium. Temp.103 2-5°. Pulse 110.  Echinacea, Q twenty drops in half a glass of water, a teaspoonful every hour. Dressing, same remedy, I dr.to pint warm water.

4: 30 P. M. Diarrhea lessened. Hot milk retained, other symptoms unchanged. Echinacea continued.


9 A. M. Following morning. Pulse regular, Temp. 101° much less pain, purplish color fading. Had two hours sleep during night, nourishment retained. Echinacea continued.


4: 30 P. M. Continued improvement; tongue moist and better color; throat clean and swelling reduced.


9 A. M. Third day. Patient rested well, temperature and pulse normal, Diarrhea ceased, swelling gradually subsiding, purplish color not so marked, pain much better. Echinacea continued.
The patient continued to improve daily. In one week from the time he went under treatment the glandular involvement had disappeared. The hand and arm had assumed a healthful color, pain and swelling almost entirely disappeared. Taking regular nourishment, and gaining strength rapidly. In ten days he was practically well, with the exception of some muscular soreness.

CASE II— Mrs. C, aged twenty-two years, while breaking up some boxes, accidentally ran a rusty nail in the palm of her hand.
The next day after the accident, she presented the following conditions:
Hand much swollen.
Purplish areola around wound.
Red streaks running up forearm, muscular soreness, continued burning pain shooting up arm, swelling in axillary gland, severe frontal headache; nausea and vomiting. Tempt 102°, Pulse 101.

Echinacea 1X in solution every hour.
In twenty-four hours there was marked improvement, the 3x was then given every three hours for two days, with continued and rapid improvement. In five days patient was discharged cured.

CASE III— Mr. M., aged fifty years, scratched his leg just above the knee with a rusty nail while packing some furniture. This was followed next day with swelling, burning, lancinating pains through wound, nausea, vomiting and offensive diarrhea, frontal
headache, rise of temperature, purplish areola around wound, general prostration, marked thirst. Arsenicum was given in different potencies without results. This was followed by Lachesis without improvement. The wound began sloughing badly, pains so severe patient could not rest day or night. A marked symptom

in this case was sensitiveness to touch of the affected part, he being unable to bear the least pressure. Echinacea Q twenty drops in half a glass of water, a teaspoonful every hour was given and a dressing of the same applied externally. The result being immediate

improvement and complete recovery in two weeks.
The special sphere of action of this drug seems to be upon the fluids of the body. It might be termed an internal antiseptic. We have records of it as greatly relieving the pains of carcinoma, and in malignant carbuncles its action has been quick and curative:
also in septic diarrheas, and septic peritonitis from retained placenta, we have clinical evidence of its great efficacy.

Among the drugs whose pathogenesis correspond more closely to the symptoms exhibited in these cases are perhaps: Arsenicum, Arnica, Crotalis, Pyrogen and Lachesis. The latter remedy, as I have stated, was given by me with the result here given; also
the Arsenicum.

Under Lachesis, we have the swollen, purplish, ulcerated throat, the marked systemic weakness, with offensive diarrhea, the burning lancinating pains, and purplish areola at seat of injury. Affected parts are bluish in color. Carbuncles with purplish surroundings,

gangrenous ulceration with purplish areolae.

Crotalus Hor: With its purplish erysipelatous inflammations. Stings of insects turning blue, felons and abscesses when parts are bluish, septic poisoning, purpura hemorrhagica, etc.

Arsenicum: With its burning pain, malignant pustules with livid areola, septic diarrhea and glandular affections.

Arnica: With its muscular soreness, ecchymosed spots, and septic states generally. Whether or not I should have accomplished thesame results with one or the other of these remedies I do not know, but my desire to prove the efficacy of Echinacea, led to its
exhibition with the results here recorded. I would suggest, when, in these cases of septic origin, our well-selected remedies fail, that we do not forget Echinacea Augustifolia.

DR. ALEXANDER C. HERMANCE.

[Anthracinum and Pyrogen may also be compared in carbuncles, malignant pustules, septic poisoning, etc., with purple or bluish areola and intense burning pain.—ED.]

Dr. Hermance's paper was presented for discussion.
Dr. Rowland' thought the case suggested Natrum sulph.
Dr. Graham was inclined to believe that one of several remedies might have cured the case.
Dr. Leggett thought that from the standpoint of a treatment of the disease, the last assertion might be true, but from the standpoint of the individual expression of the sickness, the one remedy only had power to complete the cure; else, why so many partial
cures ?
Dr. Graham had used Echinacea in wounds and injuries, with success, when indicated by the symptoms.
Dr. Hermance related a case of blood poisoning following the extraction of a tooth with a local anesthetic, that had exhibited, the color, sensitiveness, etc., and yielded quickly to the prescription

of Echinacea.
Dr. Leggett asked if the extreme sensitiveness was a strong indication. Dr. Hermance said, "Yes."
Dr. Graham recommended the remedy in puerperal sepsis.