Asiatic Cholera: Cases By R. C. Mitter

The

 Homeopathic Recorder

Vol XX. Lancaster, Pa., February, 1905. 2

ASIATIC CHOLERA CURED BY SINGLE MEDICINE

By R. C. Mitter

Of sixty-seven cases of Asiatic cholera treated by me in 

Sahebgunge(Bengal), the following require special mention: 

Case I. — Hindu, male, aged thirty years, was attacked with 

cholera on the 15th of August, 1904. When I saw him in the 

evening I could perceive no pulse, except at an interval of seven 

minutes. He was evacuating profuse rice-water stools with sago 

sediment; unquenchable thirst for large quantity. Sudden jump- 

ing out of bed. I prescribed Jatropha 12X, in drop doses every two 

hours. 

16th August, 1904. No restlessness; thirst at an interval of 

fifteen to twenty minutes; no vomiting; stool, yellow; pulse, 

natural, though not healthy. Jatropha 12X, one dose. 

17th August, 1904. Cured. His father wanted some medi- 

cines and I gave him three powders, Sugar of Milk. Diet, barley 

water (Robinson's). 

Case II. — 16th August, 1904. Mahomedan lad, eight years. 

Collapse; vomited thirty times, but no purging. Vomited sub- 

stance: First, only food, then bile, and lastly the water he 

drank. Tabacum 30 C, four powders every hour. No call for 

the night. 

17th August, 1904. Perfect recovery. 

Case III. — 16th August, night. A boy of five years, col- 

lapse. Had about sixteen motions and the same number of 

vomiting. He was yet restless and very thirsty. Prescribed 

Dr. Salzar's preparation of Camphor trituration, one grain made 

into four powders, every half hour. 

17th August, morning. Pulse returned, but the boy was 

screaming and crying loudly. I examined and found this was 

due to excruciating pain in the abdomen. He was quieted in five 

minutes by Aconite 1x. 

Case IV. — 17th August, forenoon. A Mahomedan woman 

evacuated about fifty times. Pulseless; present color of stools, 

rice-water; no thirst; coma; can hardly be aroused. Ricinus 6x, 

every hour. No call for the night. 

18th August, morning. Pulse returned, but still in coma. 

Repeated the same medicine every three hours. I saw her again 

in the evening; much better; she can now articulate and with 

difficulty described her malady. 

19th August. Cured. Diet, Robinson's Barley as usual. 

Case V. — 18th August. A cartman, aged thirty-five years, 

was expiring when I saw him at 10 o'clock in the morning. 

Deathly appearance; no pulse; labored breathing. Purging and 

vomiting stopped. Eyes sunk in the sockets. Cannot articulate 

a single word. I expected every breath would be his last. I at 

once gave him Cobra 200 C, five globules, which he could with 

difficulty deglutinate. I would have used hypodermic syringe, 

but I preferred the internal application in the usual way if it 

could be done. The patient seemed to be improving. I followed 

a second dose in another twenty minutes, although this was 

rashly given without waiting an hour or so to see the effect of the 

higher dilutions; the patient was almost cured as his respiration 

was nearly normal. I waited there for nearly three hours to see 

how he fared, when I saw him in perfect composure in about four 

hours after the administration of the second dose I was cheerful 

and returned home peacefully. I saw him again a 3 p. m., he 

seemed to be all right. I left a few powders of Sugar of Milk. 

19th August. He is doing well. 

Case VI. — 19th August, 1904. A Mahomedan woman, aged 

sixteen years, was found in collapse state, lockjaw, stools of rice- 

water, cramps in lower abdomen and vomiting of bile were 

present. Retention of urine. I injected hypodermically Agaricus 

phalloides 30 C. and returned home. I was called again in an- 

other three hours and saw her in the same state. Injected a 

second dose and came back. No call for nearly four hours. I 

was summoned again and saw the lockjaw was gone, vomiting 

stopped, purging was still going on. I prescribed the same 

medicine which she could swallow easily. I saw her again in the 

evening. She was in perfect humor and had no complaints what- 

ever except the purging. I gave her no more medicine and left 

with her relatives a few powders of Sugar of Milk. I saw her 

again the next morning, the 20th August, and found her to be 

cured. Diet, barley water. 

N. B. — It is preposterous and non-homoeopathic use to ad- 

minister a certain remedy in weakness after cholera. Indian 

homoeopaths have always used China indiscriminately in each 

case without knowing that the remedy that has worked out the 

reaction has also its curative power in weakness brought on by 

the malady. 

Sahebgunge, India, Nov. 26, 1904. 

CATARRH OF THE BLADDER By Eli G. Jones

 The

Homeopathic Recorder

Vol. XX Lancaster, Pa., March, 1905. No. 3

CATARRH OF THE BLADDER

By Eli G. Jones, M. D.

Several years ago I was called to the southern part of this 

State to see a middle aged man suffering with catarrh of the 

bladder. The physician whom I met in consultation had used 

many remedies to try and relieve the distress of the patient. He 

finally had to use the catheter to draw off the water every few 

hours, and the pain at such times was so great that the neighbors 

could hear him scream with the pain. The discharge from the 

bladder was mixed with blood and mucus, with a burning pain 

extending down from the bladder to the end of the penis. I told 

him I thought I could help him, and in consultation with his phy- 

sician gave him my idea of the treatment of the case. To relieve 

the most pressing symptoms I prescribed Solidago virga-aurea ix, 

third dilution, five drops once in two hours; in twenty-four hours 

he could pass water without the catheter. For the constant dis- 

charge from the bladder I gave him Tr. Chimaphila umb. 9C ten 

drops once in three hours. In cases of this kind it is well to remem- 

ber that the greater the amount of catarrhal discharge the more cer- 

tain the indications for the Chimaphila As his nervous system was 

pretty well unstrung with the pain, I gave him Kali phos. 3X 15 

grains in a goblet of water, teaspoonful once an hour, till his nerves 

were calmer. This plan of treatment was strictly followed out 

until the patient was discharged cured. 

I have used the Solidago (golden rod) in cases where it is indi- 

cated and it is one of our best remedies. 

New Brunswick, N. J. 

A CASE OF COLICKY PAIN WITH A FOETUS-LIKE MOVEMENT - By A. W. K. Choudhury

The

 Homoeopathic Recorder

 Vol. XX Lancaster, Pa., April, 1905. No. 4.

A CASE OF COLICKY PAIN WITH A FOETUS-LIKE

MOVEMENT IN ABDOMEN 

TREATED WITH

A SINGLE HOMCEOPATHIC MEDICINE.

By A. W. K. Choudhury, M. D.

Patient, a poor Mohammedan female adult, named Makhau, 

came under my homoeopathic treatment May 27, 1904. She be- 

ing mother of two children, both surviving. She came to me 

with the following history and symptoms: 

The colicky pain commences from the left ovarian region and 

spreads rightward to below the umbilicus, and then extends up- 

wards. It is not constant, but when it ails her it increases in the 

morning and continues till noon, then the pain subsides and fever 

sets in. This fever is characterized by a chill of about an hour, 

then a severe heat followed by sweat, no thirst in any stage. The 

pain under pressure on the left ovarian region is constant, in- 

creasing especially at each menstrual nisus; during menses she 

has pains all over body and is feverish; flow copious, may be 

with blackish clots, and it continues six days; menses irregular, 

some days too early or some days too late. She had been ill nine 

months. 

She notices a foetus-like movement in the abdomen from left to 

right and then sometimes upwards. 

Bowels open daily, once; stool hard, not sufficient; never diar- 

rhoea; no thread-worms; acidity afternoon, evening or morning; 

heartburn; acid eructation; taste in mouth insipid; appetite dull; 

urine sometimes colored; sleep, good; heaviness of head; tooth- 

ache. 

Dark complexion and black hair. 

Never leucorrhoea; vertigo when closing the eyes; headache; 

photophobia and lachrymation since nine months ago; no warts 

anywhere; spleen little enlarged; pain under percussion on right 

hypochondrium and epigastrium, and below navel a little to the 

left; nails all right; vaccinated in infancy; itching all over body 

since about a month; itching increasing while sweating. 

1 -6- 1904. — Thuja 30, two doses given; to be taken daily, one 

dose. 

Diet: Rice, vegetable curry, milk. 

Bathing allowed. 

7-6-1904. — Felt much better for three days; menses five days; 

menses on this occasion at full month; pain in abdomen much 

less; no foetus-like movement in abdomen any more; complaints 

little increased since yesterday; no toothache; pain all over body; 

bowels open; appetite as above; heartburn. 

Repeated one dose of Thuja 30. 

8-6-1904. — Pain in abdomen no more felt; no more foetus-like 

movement in abdomen; pain all over body somewhat less; heart- 

burn always, frequent eructation; daily, one or two better stools; 

stools soft with bad smell; appetite not good after evening; taste 

in mouth insipid; burning of eyes; heat of soles of feet; paleness 

of hands and of vertex; pain under pressure on abdomen a little 

below the navel and a little to the left, where a hardened structure 

of about the size of a hen's egg is felt under the fingers; slight 

enlargement of spleen; no pain under pressure on right hypo- 

chondrium and epigastrium. Placebo. 

She continued under treatment and observation till the 14th 

inst., getting only Placebo. She gradually improved and fully 

recovered. 

Remarks. — Three doses only cured her complaint. A bodily 

complaint of nine months' duration disappearing with the ad- 

ministration of three doses of the medicine would not fail to excite 

envy and admiration in the bosom of our elder brothers, the 

allopaths, if they kindly condescend to study the case. 

Thuja was tried in this case, and why? Dr. H. C. Allen, in 

his Therapeutics of Fevers, mentions Thuja, Crocus, Sulphur and 

Nux as having the movements of living child in abdomen. 

Our patient was vaccinated; and treating chronic cases previously 

vaccinated we may get a good help using Thuja. Her left 

ovarian pain increasing at every menstrual nisus is another symp- 

tom in the patient to indicate Thuja. So Thuja was selected and 

given her. 

Satkhira P. O., Calcutta, India. 

A Case of Constipation

 A Case of Constipation

© Dr. R.S.Mann 2014

A 32yr, female has described her primary complaint of constipation for years, since childhood. No desire to stool even for days, once or twice a week, urging for stool. (India is a tropical country, in tropical areas urging are more frequent) Stool hard, difficult. Thirst less person, no desire to drink. Appetite normal. Desire for cold foods. Patient is very extroverted , communicative and talkative. Lean and thin.

She accepts, she is very irritable and get angry very easily. Menses is regular and normal in quantity. Sleep well but favorable position is right can not sleep on left side.

Very uncommon and strange feature in this case is that she has burning on upper eyelids whenever she is badly constipated. Another symptom is, she feels that her anus remains open even long after stool. 

11 Sep, 2013

Phos 200, 3 Dose prescribed with SL for a week.

18 Sep, 2013

A little better in constipation. Not much progress.

SL prescribed for a week.

25 Sep, 2013

Stool is not hard, but formed and easy, first time in her experience in her lifetime. Feel thirsty many times a day.

SL prescribed for a week.

1 Oct, 2013

Came a day early to report. She has wonderful experience of urging for stool everyday. Stool soft, formed and very very refreshing.

No burning on upper eyelids since last 15 days. No abnormal feeling of open or loose anus now.

SL prescribed for 20 days. And advised to report, if any abnormal symptoms or feelings she has. 

Remarks:- 
       I never seen any chronic case responding so early and so quickly. First time I found, in a single case, the strange, uncommon symptoms, guiding symptoms, characteristic symptoms and unique positional modalities of a single medicine with physical constitutional match. 

PROLAPSUS OF VAGINA CURED BY THUJA By Dr W H Wheeler

The

Homoeopathic Recorder

Vol. XX Lancaster, Pa., March, 1905, No. 3

PROLAPSUS OF VAGINA CURED BY THUJA

 By   Dr. W.  H. Wheeler

Edited By Dr. Vandana Patni 

About five months ago I was consulted in regard to a case of 

prolapsus of the vagina in a woman seventy-seven years old and 

told, that one of the best homoeopathic and Hahnemannian physicians 

in the country had advised a surgical operation, saying that 

she knew of no internal remedy which would be likely to help the 

case. The prolapsus had already existed for at least a year and 

was steadily getting more and more troublesome, together with 

increasing weakness and marked irritability in one who naturally 

was one of the kindest of women. But having an intense antipathy 

to needless surgery, and counting surgery always needless until 

careful study of all possible clews has proved beyond a 

doubt that no other remedy is possible, I asked the privilege of 

going over the case to see if somewhere in our Materia Medica a 

vaginal tonic could not be found which would touch the case. 

As so often happens in such cases, I soon discovered that in the 

case as it now stood there were no clews; but a very careful study 

of the lady's past life and family history brought out the fact 

that she had often been helped for a while by Pulsatilla and Silica, 

though neither of these seemed to have any real control over the 

prolapsus. But Thuja is complementary to both of these; in fact, 

is probably the true chronic of Pulsatilla three times out of four, so 

I devoted myself to a study of some of the more rare and unusual 

symptoms of Thuja, and sending my patient by mail a list of 

seventy-nine of these I soon got conclusive proof that all through 

her past life a thuja vein had run, for she had had quite a number 

of its rarest and most distinctive symptoms. So I advised a 

trial dose of Thuja 1000 to see if medicine could do anything 

for the case. This was Oct. 15, 1904. As is so often the case 

with Thuja when it does its finest curative work, the initial 

aggravation after taking this one dose was very severe, actually 

putting the dear lady to bed. But then came the relief. She 

began to feel stronger, and the prolapsus gradually became less 

and less and soon wholly ceased. Her irritability also became a 

thing of the past, and for four whole months she felt better than 

she had for years, in spite of slowly advancing old age and a very 

trying winter climate. At the end of these four months some of 

the symptoms and a renewed tendency to prolapsus showed itself, 

and I have just advised a second dose of Thuja; but that in a 

woman seventy-seven Thuja should have given such marked 

relief for four solid months certainly shows that it has a marked 

affinity for prolapsus vagina in so-called Pulsatilla women, which 

is well worth keeping in mind. 

To show how marked and many-sided the improvement has 

been I will quote a part of the lady's last letter: she writes, 

“Till the last few days I have not had to lie down as often as I 

used to, have had but little backache, have been largely free from 

coughs which used to trouble me a good deal and have had only 

one attack of grippe this winter, and that much milder than usual; 

my knees and ankles do not feel cold as they used to do before 

[one of her most persistent symptoms formerly] . I do not get 

tired when working, as I used to do, and am able to do a good 

many hours' work each day.” To all of which her daughter 

adds,  “that she has also been her old, sweet self once more, with- 

out the strange irritability and temper fits which were formerly 

beginning to trouble her so much, and make it so hard to keep a 

servant girl.” Evidently Thuja has helped, and is going to help 

still more; but this is enough to set many an interested reader to 

observing for himself. Think of it as one of the commonest 

chronics of Puls., always expect a rather severe aggravation 

EVERY time you USE IT, and tell your patient to expect it, 

and except in very urgent cases like this do not begin higher 

than the 30th for chronic troubles, and I am sure you will soon 

learn to love it almost as much as I do, for it has saved some of 

my dearest friends and is saving others from sufferings almost as 

old as Noah's ark; for though it works very slow it works 

wondrous deep. Of course, the 30th is slower than the 1000th would 

be, but the curative aggravation is also less. In fact, one young 

doctor who needed it, turning up her nose at 30ths, took the cm. 

and was almost frantic, so sharp was her aggravation. But if 

you wish to get really fine results be patient and don't repeat 

until an unmistakably serious relapse of at least five days’ duration 

calls for it, for some of its later curative action is even more 

cheering than the relief and uplift which it gives when first taken, 

two to four months seeming to be the time that a single dose of 

the thirtieth can run with steady improvement and only a lot 

of minor annoyances to show that the work is not mere palliation 

but cure, melancholia slowly changing to mere neurasthenia, in- 

sanity slowly changing to mere restlessness, despair to mere 

intermittent blues, etc. 

And now just one more hint that may save some one much 

worry. It has wonderful power over dropsical swelling of the 

feet of several weeks’ duration in some mild Pulsatilla women, 

when the dropsy is probably due to mere weakness rather than 

heart disease in its graver forms, though over true heart disease 

it seems to have great power in some cases. But dropsy due to 

weakness it sometimes cures like magic. I do not find this symp- 

tom reported in our repertories; but Allen's Cyclopaedia 

(Symptom 2714) tells us that in the case of one prover it persisted for 

ten days. 

SOME CASES OF RHEUMATISM By Dr. Mossa

 The

 Homoeopathic Recorder

Vol. XX, Lancaster, Pa., January, 1905  No. 1

SOME CASES OF RHEUMATISM

By Dr. Mossa, Stuttgart

Translated for the Homoeopathic Recorder from Allg. Hon. Zeit.

Edited By Dr. Vandana Patni

Gnaphalium

A servant girl, twenty-nine years of age, had suffered much 

ever since her ninth year from rheumatism. This pain roved 

about in all the joints, sometimes in the fingers which are red and 

swollen, then again in the shoulders or the loins. She cannot 

sleep at night. The joints are stiff and sore and hard to move. 

The mother-tincture of Gnaphalium, ten drops a week, continued 

for two months, brought remarkable relief. In the course of two 

months she was freed from all pains, except a slight aching in the 

back (Cartier). Gnaphalium is generally most useful in non- 

inflammatory rheumatism, and still more in nervous rheumatism 

and in gouty myalgia. 

Kalmia Latifolia

A school boy, ten years of age, had an attack of rheumatic fever, 

lasting thirteen days. Acute pains in the shoulder-joints and in 

the upper arm, jumping from one side to the other; penetrating 

lancinations in the cardiac region, worse at night; thirst for large 

quantities of water; great restlessness. Pains darting through 

the intercostal muscles in the left side, worse while breathing; 

the tongue, red in the middle, with a red triangular spot on the 

tip; the joints neither reddened nor swollen. Temperature higher, 

respiration 48-60 ; the cardiac pains worst while lying down. The 

boy had had a similar attack the year before, which had been less 

painful, indeed, but which under allopathic treatment had lasted 

six weeks and a half, and had left behind a deficiency of the 

valves. On giving him Kalmia latifolia the pain disappeared in 

two days. 

Medorrhinum

This remedy is according to J. H. Allen most effective in rheu- 

matism after gonorrhoea, especially when the small joints are 

affected. The gonorrhoea in such cases has often been quickly 

repressed. Whenever in rheumatism the joints, especially those 

of the fingers and toes, or the knee joint, are swollen, we should 

think of Medorrhinum; for there is usually a specific infection pres- 

ent. This remedy has cured gouty exudations, extending to the 

whole of the body. The patients in such cases have hardly any 

use of the joints affected (similarly as Rhus in muscular rheuma- 

tism). It is worse in cold weather, better when it is warm.

Winter is always the worst season with such patients, especially 

when it is cold and moist. They complain of heaviness of the 

limbs while walking, as if the limbs would refuse their service. 

In Arthritis deformans, this crux for patients and physicians, 

Dr. Bonino has found the best results from a weekly alternation 

of Causticum and Thuja. In pronounced gout Urtica urens has 

been most serviceable. 

PHOSPHORUS By G.W.Harvey, M.D.

The

Homeopathic Recorder

Vol. XX. Lancaster, Pa., December, 1905 No. 12

PHOSPHORUS.

By G. W. Harvey, M. D., Pittville, Cal.

Edited By: Dr. Ravinder S. Mann

This remedy comes more and more into my daily practice as 

time goes by, and I have learned to prize it highly in many cases 

aside from sexual ailments. I recently cured a man of pruritus 

ani who had tried all sorts of sure cure for blind, bleeding and 

itching piles without more than temporary relief, with Phosphorus. 

In this case there was constant moisture of the parts, evidently a weeping 

of the prostate gland into the rectum, as the odor, so the patient 

informed me, was always one of smegma instead of feces as he thought it 

ought to be. Five drops of Phosphorus in alcohol enough to moisten a 

dram vial of No. 35 blank sugar pellets, and five of these three times a 

day, cured him to stay cured, so he says. 

Another cure was one of bleeding gums, where there had been 

a history of scorbutic taint. There was present also not a little 

pyorrhoea alveolus, but the Phosphorus cured the bleeding perfectly 

and very materially benefited the pyorrhoea. 

I have had many cases of haemoptysis and nose bleed, where 

there were small amounts of blood discharged at frequent intervals 

that were perfectly cured by small doses of Phosphorus. In 

uterine haemorrhage of passive type where the patient is anaemic 

and of pale, sickly color of skin, Phosphorus will very materially 

benefit her and help toward a perfect recovery. 

In nausea and vomiting, where Ipecac nor Nux seem to be indicated. 

Phosphorus will generally do the work and do it well. 

As a prophylactic measure in chloroform anaesthesia I give 

Phosphorus gtt. 1, aqua dest. q. s. to four ounces, and one teaspoonful 

of the mixture before giving the chloroform. This generally 

prevents the terrible nausea and vomiting that so often follows 

this necessary procedure. 

In cirrhosis of the liver from alcoholism, Phosphorus is a sheet 

anchor. It controls the fearful vomiting that often attends this 

disease and promotes the resolution of the diseased gland quite 

rapidly, but I generally combine it with Chionanthus and 

Lycopodium to hasten results. 

Some months ago I was called to attend a lady of forty odd 

summers who evidently was a victim of gall stone colic, but in 

addition to this she also had “jiminy fits,” as she called them, 

with severe uterine haemorrhage and passage of polypi every 

three or four months. Dioscorea, Nux and Chionanthus would 

give relief, but that was all. I finally gave small doses of Phosphorus 

for the haemorrhagic condition, and you may imagine my surprise to 

learn that I had cured the whole collection of ills, polypi, haemorrhages, 

“jiminy fits,” and what made the patient feel most good over, 

the terrible colic that had troubled her years without any material relief. 

Phosphorus will cure many cases of chronic hoarseness where 

there is no acute inflammation. 

Phosphorus will often relieve and cure that terrible itching and 

biting in the skin, following jaundice. It will also cure the purple 

haemorrhagic spots on the hands, following wrongs of the liver. 

Phosphorus is a fine auxiliary remedy with Bryonia and Ipecac, 

in pneumonia with rusty sputum following, hepatization of lung 

tissue. — California Med. Jour. 

The Importance Of A Single Symptom By Ad. Lippe

The Homoeopathic Physician

May, 1883

The Importance Of A Single Symptom

Ad. Lippe, M.D., Philadelphia

Edited By: Dr. Vandana Patni

The importance of a single symptom becomes apparent when we detect in a patient a single characteristic symptom corresponding with a single characteristic symptom observed in the proving of a drug. To illustrate this position I will, first, quote a case from my case-book in which an objective symptom indicated the truly specific remedy.

This case was one of very malignant “ship fever.” The patient had been sick nine days when I found him in the morning, lying on his back, perfectly unconscious; eyes wide open, glaring, and fixed on the ceiling, pupils dilated; cheeks red and hot; mouth wide open, lower jaw hanging down; tongue and lips dry, black, and cracked; picking of bed coverings; pulse 200. The pathological condition was most certainly approaching paralysis of the brain.

The unconsciousness in this case reminded me at first of Bell., Hyos., Mur.ac., Opium, Rhus, or Stram. The eyes indicated Bell., Hyos., Opium, or Stram. The tongue and lips of Arn., Ars., Hyos., Opium, or Stram. The hanging of the lower jaw of Ars., Lyc. Or Opium. Not being able to select a remedy, I further examined the patient and found that he has passed urine involuntarily all night, but this symptom again left me to choose between Arn., Ars., Bell., Hyos., or Rhus; but upon still further examination I found on the sheet of the patient a large deposit of red sand, resembling brick dust deposited from the urine involuntarily discharged. Here was the objective symptom characteristic of the case and of the remedy. I now concluded to give Lyc., therefore I dissolved six pellets of the 200^th potency in half a tumbler full of water, and had a spoonful, every two hours, put into the open mouth of the unconscious patient. When I saw him again, at 2 P.M., I found him with his eyes and mouth firmly closed in a natural sleep and in a very heavy perspiration. He finally recovered fully, and enjoyed perfectly good health for many years.

In this case the single characteristic was a guide in the selection of the curative remedy, but not in the diagnosis of the disease. If this single symptom had been a guide in the diagnosis of the disease, it would not have been a guide in the selection of the curative remedy.

To illustrate further the position assumed that one single symptom is very important, let us refer to the frequently recurring symptom, “Sinking at the epigastrium.” This symptom standing alone and by itself is of no importance whatever, neither characterizing a remedy or any abnormal condition of the system. Whether caused by a disturbed condition of pneumo-gastric nerve, or of the uterus, or by nervous depression, the symptom by itself, or the supposed cause, will never assist us in finding the curative remedy.

As far as our observations have been able to enlighten us, this symptom has been successfully removed by the following medicines: Alumen, Ambra, Baryta, Digitalis, Ignatia, Kali Carb, Lobelia, Lycopodium, Petroleum, Oleander, Sepia, and Veratrum.

The important single symptom in this connection under Alumen is that the sinking sensation is aggravated after eating, while under Baryta it is relieved by eating. This symptom is on record in Hahnemann’s Chronic Diseases: “Sensation of weakness in the stomach, which disappears after eating.” The important single symptom under Ambra we find thus in Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura: “She must lie down on account of giddiness and a sensation of weakness in the stomach.”

Under Alumen and Baryta we find one conditional symptom, the aggravation and amelioration after eating. Under Ambra we find one concomitant and one conditional symptom, the combination of the sinking feeling with the condition of being obliged to lie down.

Digitalis has the characteristic symptom so often confirmed in practice and given by Hahnemann in his Materia Medica Pura: “A weakness of the stomach, as if the stomach were sinking away and as if life would vanish.” Later it was observed that this sensation of weakness generally occurred “after eating.”

Under Ignatia, we find in Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura: “A peculiar sensation of weakness in the upper abdomen and in the pit of stomach;” and “drawing and pinching in the lower abdomen, descending into the rectum like pressing, with qualmishness and sinking in the pit of the stomach and paleness of the face (after forty-eight hours, two days before menstruation).” And again: “Debility, as from weakness (sinking), around the pit of the stomach; he feels qualmish and must lie down.”  

Under Kali carb., we find in Hahnemann’s Chronic Diseases: “Pressure in the stomach with rumbling, sensation of emptiness and eructations.”

Under Laurocerasus, we find pain in the stomach, like fainting; feeling of weakness in the stomach.

Under Petroleum we find in Hahnemann’s Chronic Diseases: “Sensation of emptiness in stomach, as from fasting.”

Under Lobelia, we find: “Feeling of weakness of the stomach or in the pit of the stomach, extending through the whole chest.”

Under Oleander, we find in Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura: “Sensation of great emptiness in the pit of the stomach, with a fullness in the abdomen,” and it had been observed that this sensation of emptiness in pit of stomach has been relieved by drinking brandy, often accompanied by nausea.

Under Sepia, we find in Hahnemann’s Chronic Diseases: “Emptiness in the stomach (sensation of) with nausea as soon as she thinks of any food that might be offered to her.”

Under Veratrum, we find in Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura: “Sensation of weakness of the stomach, with an internal sensation of coldness in the region of the stomach and a light pressure.”

The importance of a single symptom in connection with this much perplexing sensation of “sinking at the epigastrium,” weakness at the pit of the stomach, is very obvious. We find that Alumen and Digitalis have an aggravation of this sensation after eating; that Baryta has an amelioration after eating; that under Oleander brandy relieves; that under Kali carb. is accompanied by eructations; that under Ignatia this sensation has appeared two days before menstruation, accompanied by pale face and qualmishness, which caused the patient to lie down; that under Sepia the sensation was increased by thinking of food. The sensation is strongest in the pit of the stomach under Digitalis, Ignatia, and Lobelia; under Digitalis the sensation is so intense that he feels as if life would vanish.

Many cases will met in practice in which these symptoms are present with the sensation of sinking at the epigastrium; yet, at times, other remedies will have to be looked for to find symptoms corresponding with the peculiar characteristic symptoms of the patient.

A single symptom is all-important if it is the characteristic of the medicine, corresponding with the characteristic symptom of the case to be treated. Inasmuch as we no longer treat diseases, or supposed diseases conditions giving rise to them, but as we treat patients, it is no longer our duty to find the single symptom as a guide in diagnosis. It is our task, however, to find the single characteristic symptom both of the patient and of the remedy.

If we first get a clear idea of what constitutes the characteristics of medicines, we involuntarily adapt ourselves to the easy finding of the characteristic symptoms of the patient. The characteristic symptoms of a medicine go through all its pathogenesis like a red streak. We find, for instance, that all the symptoms, Aconite is capable of producing in the human system, and therefore is able to cure, are accompanied by “Anxiety,” and differ in the restlessness which is caused by “anxiety” under Aconite from the restlessness which is caused by “anguish” under Arsenic. Aconite has no characteristic pains. The burning and stinging in internal organs, tearing in external parts, and tingling in (fingers, oesophagus, and back) external parts, Aconite has in common with many other drugs; if, for instance, a patient complains of tearing in external parts, as in acute rheumatism, yet lies perfectly quiet, afraid to move, and if compelled to move suffers much pain, no experienced physician could think of administering Aconite, simply because the accompanying fever indicates inflammatory disease, but he would give Bryonia, if the other symptoms also indicate it. On the contrary, if the patient is very anxious and restless. Not afraid to move, but tossing about, which he declares he cannot help, although it increases his pains, no one would give Bryonia, but Aconite, if otherwise indicated.

The “Anxiety” of Aconite may be termed a general characteristic, like the “anguish” of Arsenic or the constant aggravation of all the symptoms after sleeping under Lachesis, or the amelioration in open cold air under Pulsatilla; the amelioration the cold air alone being equally characteristic of Iodine, or the aggravation at 3 A. M. under Kali carb.

Besides these general characteristics which go through the whole remedy, we observe special characteristics as under Kali bichr. that all the mucous discharges are stringy, or under Phosphorus that the cough is aggravated in the cold air.

The single symptom, which becomes all-important in a case, may comprise the kind of pains experienced, as under Apis “the burning, stinging pains;” or it may comprise the locality, as wrist and ankle under Ruta; or the direction the pain or disease follows, as from right to left, below upward, from the inside outward, or vice versa; or the condition (of amelioration or aggravation),as in the amelioration from heat of Arsenic, the amelioration from cold of Iodine; or from concomitant symptoms, as the great, unquenchable thirst, the great desire to drink large quantities under Natr. mur. or again, the thirstlessness of Pulsatilla.

The single symptom becomes all-important in some well-known diseases, as, for instance, in whooping cough. **** Yet the true physician has first to choose the proper remedy, and then to administer it properly if he hopes to be successful in this, as well as all other diseases. The character and peculiarities of the cough alone do not indicate a remedy. it is indispensably necessary to inquire further, and first ascertain at what time of the day the cough is aggravated. What else aggravates the cough? What are the concomitant symptoms? What is the character of the expectoration?

And in this manner it will become apparent that as to time the Drosera aggravation is after midnight; that the cough returning every day at the same hour may indicate either Lycopodium or Sabadilla.

Under the conditional aggravations it will become apparent that if pressure on the larynx aggravates the cough, Cina will be indicated; or that if walking fast brings on or aggravates the attack, Sepia will cure; or that if hasty eating or drinking causes an attack, Silicea will cure; or, with regard to the expectoration, that if the great quantity of mucus which threatens to suffocate the patient is difficult to expectorate, and if raised at all is tough and stringy and hard to detach, etc., Coccus cacti is the remedy.

All these single symptoms become important and will enable the practitioner to select the curative remedy; the name of the disease never will, as no medicine has ever produced or can produce whooping cough, but only a cough similar to whooping cough. The cough produced by mephitis for instance, has been very similar to whooping cough, but was not whooping cough and can only cure in those cases where the concomitant symptoms correspond with mephitis – Am. Hom. Review, 1863.   

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This paper was written twenty years ago, and after that long lapse of time its author is more than ever convinced of the great importance of the single symptom. The single peculiar symptom, expressive, as it were, of the characteristic individuality of the sick and not necessarily belonging to the form of disease of which he suffers, if also characteristic of a proved drug – becomes very frequently a guiding symptom, will very often lead us to compare the symptoms of the sick with the symptoms of the drug presenting that guiding symptom, a remedy which probably escaped our notice without it, and if the similarity between the symptoms of the sick and the provings of the drug become apparent, then and then only has this single guiding symptom been profitably utilized. Later on it was claimed that this single symptom, when present both on the sick and in the provings, would absolutely demand recognition and was erroneously termed a key-note, and this erroneous interpretation of the importance of the single symptom opened the way for great and fatal abuses. And now for an illustration: We find, for instance, in that excellent work on Diphtheria by Dr. Gregg, a case of diphtheria cured by Lachnanthes. The indications for the use of Lachnanthes were – the stiff neck the patient had. A cure followed. The deduction from this observation of a cure would be that a stiff neck in diphtheria is a key-note for Lachnanthes in that disease. This is, of course, poor logic, and later experience illustrates it. In a case of diphtheria we lately published this very painful stiff neck was a very prominent symptom, and the clinical experiment has shown that another case of diphtheria where this stiff neck was present had been promptly cured by Lachnanthes, that in the stiff neck following not unfrequently diphtheria and scarlet fever Lachnanthes had very often cured it. In the case alluded to, all and every symptom of the patient suffering from diphtheria, also the stiff neck, were covered by Kali bichr., and the stiff neck was cured with the other very grave symptoms of diphtheria. Kali bichr. has probably never been given for wryneck before, and now if in a case of diphtheria this stiff neck occurs, we will have to take into consideration the similarity of the other symptoms of the patient, having this guiding symptom to make us compare Kali bichr. and Lachnanthes. Again, we find under Lachesis, as a very characteristic symptom, throat and cough symptoms worse after awaking. The clinical experiment demonstrates that Kali bichr. and Aralia have the same symptom, and we will now, knowing that this great aggravation after sleeping is not a key-note for Lachesis, not be easily disappointed when we carefully compare also other remedies causing and curing this single important symptom. The lesson we are taught is, that a single important symptom alone should not be termed a key-note, but a guiding symptom.