Epilepsy of Long Standing By Dr. H. Gouixon

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"

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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

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

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

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.

Cases Of Epilepsy - By T. F. Allen

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.