Case of gravel.
By Edward W. Berridge, M. D.
Presented by Sylvain Cazalet
1881, November 11th.
Mr. O—., æt. 24. (This is the patient whose case is reported in the
Homœopathic Physician Vol. I, pp. 450-2, He reports now that the old
symptoms soon ceased entirely, without further treatment, and never
returned) has been suffering from gravel, at intervals, for nearly 2
years. Pour years ago had rheumatic fever badly ; was treated
allopathically, which was followed by weakness and nervous irritability.
Last year went to Hamburg and drank the waters, since which he has been
somewhat better, but the waters weakened him. (I often meet with
patients who have been injured by taking mineral waters, sometimes
prescribed by professed homœopaths. These mineral waters are most
powerful medicines, and should never be prescribed except in accordance
with their provings, and then only in he dynamized form).
Present Symptoms.
-At times stiffness in renal regions, especially on right side ;
worried by (noise) interruption in business ; brings up wind after
eating and feels mentally depressed and physically weak till it comes
up ; then he passes a small quantity of very fine red sand ;
after this all the above symptoms pass off. The first attack was with
intense pains beginning in right kidney, and going down ureter, relieved
by passing a piece of sharp brown gravel ; the pain was so great
that he took Opium to relieve
it ; for six months afterward his nervous system remained shaken by
it. His father suffers from stone and gravel. Bowels usually act
alternate days ; during the nervous condition for the six months
following the first attack, he used to feel well the days they acted and
better when they did not act. During the attacks of gravel, feels full
even after a little food. The attacks come on usually every six weeks in
summer and every eight weeks, or longer, in winter ; has passed a
little gravel this morning.The fullness after
eating a little, the red sand, and the pains affecting first the right
side then the left, pointed to Lyco.
I gave him a daily dose of Lyco CM
for seven days.Nov. 18 : The
stiffness in renal region has been felt at times during past week, but
no gravel ; less worried ; has few much better during
week ; very much less flatulence after food ; stools much more
regular can work harder and has better spirits. No medicine.Nov. 25 : Passed a
little gravel on 20th, but none since ; stools just as last Week,
very small, the size of a finger ; otherwise much bettor can go
without food without feeling faint, as formerly ; can work better
and without exhaustion.Dec. 2 : Has had
very slight sediment in urine one day ; stools still small on
alternate days ; otherwise the improvement continues.Dec. 9 : No more
gravel, stools alternate days, but rather more free and larger ; a
little stiffness in left renal region. No other symptoms.Dec. 16 : Has
caught a bad cold from the wet weather ; not more gravel ;
stools more natural and more in quantity ; sometimes bowels will
not act for two consecutive days ; no return of pains or stiffness
in kidneys ; he now tell me that he can eat cheese with
impunity ; formerly it would cause fullness of stomach, relieved by
copious eructations ; then troubled sleep, and coated tongue next
morning ; with the fullness, a sense of coldness ; (This case,
therefore, adds Lyco. to the
remedies having “aggravation from cheese”). As the chronic
symptoms were steadily lessening, I gave no medicine for the cold, as
Hahnemann directs.Dec. 23 : No
return of gravel ; up to two days ago bowels acted daily and
freely, quite naturally ; yesterday there was a little stiffness in
kidneys and bladder, none today ; no stools for the past two days,
but natural relief today, though not very copious ; catarrh almost
gone. He now informs me that for the last 18 months, the bowels would
sometimes not act for two consecutive days, and on these occasions, on
the second day, the feeling of stiffness of bladder, followed next day
by a stool, after which the stiffness went off.1882, Jan. 10 :
Wrote to say that he had a slight return of the old symptoms. Lyco.
MM every other morning for 14 days.Oct. 9 : Writes,
“My health is decidedly better. I very seldom pass gravel, and then
only in very small quantities.
Source :
Homœopathic Physician, 1886.
Copyright © Sylvain
Cazalet 2001