A CAUSTICUM CASE

Originally Published in "THE Homoeopathic Recorder,Vol. XXVI Lancaster, Pa., February, 1911 No. 3"

By R. F. Rabe, M. D., New York. 

The case to be recited presents nothing unusual or new, but is 

reported from the standpoint of the materia medicist or pre- 

server rather than from that of the gynecologist. Hence, to a 

certain extent at least, the criticism of the latter concerning the 

omission of exact diagnosis is disarmed, although technically 

entirely justifiable. 

Mrs. X, age 22, married three years. Before marriage had 

always had very profuse and prolonged menstrual periods, 

although these were invariably on time. Careful homoeopathic 

treatment seems never to have corrected this Menorrhagia. 

Shortly after her marriage at 19 years, a miscarriage, or rather 

an abortion, occurred at the end of her first month of pregnancy. 

So far as known, this was not artificially induced. She subse- 

quently became pregnant again and went to term, giving birth to 

a healthy child. 

After the abortion, as well as after the birth of her baby later 

on, the menorrhagia continued in spite of careful homoeopathic 

prescribing at the hands of good men, together with local treat- 

ment and curettage. The baby was nursed for three months, 

but since the menstrual periods continued during lactation, the 

latter was abandoned. 

The condition of the patient as noted at the time of my first 

examination of the case was as follows : Menses usually four 

to five days late, lasting eight to nine days and very profuse. 

The patient is irritable, apprehensive, fearful, and will not go 

to the theatre for fear of fire or something happening. Sleep is 

unrefreshing. No appetite, but craves acids. Perspires easily, 

formerly was troubled by offensive foot-sweat. Axillary sweat 

of an offensive odor. Sweaty palms. Attacks of mental de- 

pression, coming at no particular time. Is inclined to constipa- 

tion. After the abortion had symptoms of uterine prolapse, that 

is to say, bearing down sensations, but has had nothing of this 

since the birth of the baby. Has occasional waves of heat through 

the body. Face pale, yellowish, sickly in appearance. Patient 

maintains that she always feels better in rainy weather. 

It will be observed that in addition to the menorrhagia we have 

also a pronounced neurasthenia of the common type to deal with. 

It will be further noted that the taking of the case reveals numer- 

ous symptoms which have absolutely nothing to do with the 

menorrhagia per se. For example, the general amelioration of 

the patient in w r et weather seems absurdly irrelevant to the gyne- 

cologist, but to the materia medicist offers the open sesame to 

the cure of the patient. Unfortunately for the prescriber, a 

bimanual examination was not made, so that he is deprived of 

any corroborative evidence which such an investigation may have 

afforded. This is the weak point in the presentation of the case. 

Although the needful remedy was at once apparent, to prove the 

correctness of choice a rapid repertory analysis was made. 

By taking the most obvious as well as the most characteristic symp- 

tom of the case, we find that fourteen remedies are credited in 

the repertory with the production of cure of late and profuse 

menstruation, Of these, six are especially important. They are 

carbolic acid, causticum, kali carbonicum, kali iodatum, phos- 

phorus and silicea. 

Of the entire fourteen, twelve produce the symptom of mental 

depression, another characteristic of the patient. 

Of these twelve, eleven are especially to be noted, and of these 

again, but two, causticum and phosphorus have the further peculiarity of causing a state of apprehension or fear. 

Of these remaining two candidates for selection, but one, causti- 

cum, is credited with the modality, general amelioration in wet 

weather. 

Hence, if the logic of the analysis be correct, if the technique 

of selection be without flaw, the choice of remedy must be mathe- 

matically certain. A reference to and study of the pathogenesis 

of causticum shows the contention to be justified. 

Since the administration of this remedy in two single doses, 

at an interval of about three weeks, the patient has improved in 

clear general health, the fear and apprehensiveness have been 

almost overcome, and the menstrual periods are more nearly 

normal in amount than they have ever been. Cure seems assured. 

Repertory Analysis 

Menses late and profuse (Kent, p. 724, 2d Ed.) — Carb. ac, caust., 

chol., cur., dulc, ferr, Kali c, kali iod., lach., nit. ac, phos., 

sil., staph., vib. 

Mental depression (p. 75) — Caust., chel., dulc, ferr., kali c., kali 

iod., lach., nit. ac, phos., sil., staph., vib. 

Apprehensive (p. 45), fear that something will happen — Caust., 

phos. 

Amelioration in rainy weather (aggravation in dry weather), 

p. 13 19 — Caust.