BAPTISIA TINCTORIA
Reading in Kent’s Materia Medica his very good
description of the sore and ulcerated condition of the mucous membranes
generally of Baptisia, my mind
reverted to a case which came under my care while in New York giving my
annual course of lectures. A physician was taken ill and sent for me.
THREATENED TYPHOID FEVER
Case 21
I found that for weeks he had been under the pressure
of more than usual amount of business, been complaining of general
lassitude : a tired feeling from which he could not get rested.
When I called he had taken to his bed, and now there was superadded a
headache, general aching and restless, temperature of 103° and pulse
quickened correspondingly. Thinking I had a case of La Grippe on hand,
and that these symptoms pointed so far as clearly to Gelsemium
as I could judge, it was given. But the next day there was no
improvement apparent and he complained of his mouth feeling sore. There
was some dryness of the tongue, but not much ; while the buccal
cavity seemed sore and inclined to be slimy. There was not much thirst.
Another symptom now came out in great prominence, viz., great desire for
cold air, especially when lying down ; must be propped up in bed,
and, although it was cold winter weather, they had to leave the windows
wide open. He wanted the wind right in his face. The nurse had to wear
her wraps, as though out of doors.
Now Pulsatilla was given with
confidence, but brought no relief, and the mouth and breath had become
horribly offensive from the ulcerated condition that had developed.
There was no cough and the respiratory murmur was distinct in the lungs.
The urine was dark and offensive, but there was no trouble with the
abdomen or bowels as yet. Still thinking the Pulsatilla
ought to be good I interpolated a dose of Sulphur
and continued it (the Puls.) a day
longer. The mouth made me think of Baptisia
and then I called to mind that in the old provings of Burt that
opposition of breathing was markedly present
in the case of Dr. J. S. Douglas (the prover).
I went down into the office and read it in “Allen’s Encyclopćdia
of Pure Materia Medica” as follows : “Awoke
with great difficulty of breathing, the lungs felt tight and compressed.
Could not get a full breath ; felt obliged to open the window to
get his face to fresh air … (Symptom 232. Again, Symp. 234). On lying
down difficulty of breathing, in half an hour becoming so great that he
was obliged to rise, etc.”
That looked so like my patient ; and the condition of the mouth,
prostration, etc., corresponding, I gave Baptisia
200th in water (Alpha Sigma preparation).
The effect was magical. The breathing became easy and all the other
symptoms promptly subsided without any other medicine. Of course, it
took some days to recover from the weakness.
The above symptoms quoted from Allen are starred. So it seems that some
one else had already verified them, though this was the first time I had
done so. What is the lesson ?
1st. That this symptom is again verified.
2nd. That although only one out of twelve provers had recorded it, it
was genuine and the clinical test
proved it.
Our Materia Medica has often been called a mass of rubbish by those who
have no patience nor skill in using it. While it is undoubtedly true
that there are many symptoms there that are not reliable, we shall never
know which they are until clinical experimentation settles it.
Hering called Agaricus, Lycopodium
and Thuja “over proved
drugs.” I am not so sure of it ; and many years with Lycopodium
has gone far to convince me to the contrary.
Now proving and re-proving is the cry of many in our school, and while I
would not offer one objection to this, I would suggest that the work of verification
of provings already made, or partly made, go on with redoubled
diligence, for I have in difficult cases repeatedly found among the
symptoms not as yet verified in our Materia
Medica the key to the remedy for the whole case. (Nash.)
STOMACACE
Case 22
Nov. 8, was called to see a child 5 years old,
suffering from sore mouth. The roof of the mouth and the tongue were
covered with small ulcers. An abundance of saliva flowed from the mouth,
the tongue was covered over with a thick white exceedingly moist coat,
the edges being red. Breath fetid. I gave Mercurius
and waited five days. At the end of this time I could see no perceptible
improvement. I therefore studied the case anew. In Hering’s
condensed Materia Medica, under Baptisia,
I found the following symptoms, all of which agreed with the patient’s
condition :
Putrid ulceration of buccal cavity with salivation, well developed
ulcers.
Gums loose, flabby, dark red and fetid.
Fauces dark red ; putrid ulcers, can swallow liquids only. Tongue
white, with red papillć, the edges red and shining.
I gave Baptisia 1 m, and in three
days the whole trouble had disappeared. (W. M. James.)
PNEUMONIA
Case 23
Mr. B. has been feeling poorly for two or three days.
This morning he had a severe chill. I was called at 5 P. M. I find the
following symptoms :
Aching in the muscles and bones ; aching from head to foot ;
bed as hard as a board ; “pillow hard
as a rock.”
Coughing large quantities or rusty sputa ; stitching pain in left
chest, has to hold his chest with his hands (Bry.,
Mer.), fan-like motion of alć nasi
(Phos., Lyc.).
Stupid and sleepy, could hardly keep
awake ; total loss of appetite ; very thirsty for large drinks
of water ; cough worse at night ; several stools per day –
very offensive ; wanted to keep very still, as the least movement
aggravated his cough and pain in the chest (Bry.).
Temp. first evening, 101° ; pulse, 110 ; respiration, 32. The
second evening, temp., 103° ; pulse, 120 ; resp., 40. Third
day, eight A. M., temp., 99° ; pulse, 88 ; resp., 28. Baptisia
8 m. m. (Swan) ; needed no other medicine. (Sherbin.)REMARKS.- I wish we had time and space to report more
cures of my own and others with this most wonderful remedy. I do not
know of many remedies with such a short proving that are more reliable.
Surely this is not an over-proved remedy. I believe we do not yet know
half its virtues. (N.)
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