Clinical cases with
comment.
By Bernhardt
FINCKE, M.D., BROOKLYN, N.Y.
Presented by Sylvain
Cazalet
Dr Bernhardt
Fincke (1821-1906)
Syncope
-Mr.
R—., 87 years, farmer, tall and stout. 1884, October 12 : has
been troubled for years with spells of trembling around the heart and
dizziness. He used to have them every two or three weeks, but now they
come every two or three days. He turns white in the face, is trembling
around the heart and all over as if going to die. He must sit down and
wait till the attack is over. Very weak. Losing flesh, though appetite
is good. Bowels regular. Sleeps well.
Spigelia
90m. 15 powders, one once a week dry. Medicine acted very well. He had
no more spells. Only when working too hard all day long he begins to
tremble.The old man is living
yet and working outdoors, haying, making shingles, etc. He has been well
ever since he was prescribed for.
Syncope :
Samuel R—., farmer, the farmer’s son, about 50 years old, tall,
slender, a veteran of 1862.July 24, 1855 :
Complains of weakness, beating of the heart, pulse 52. Had for four
years always a little pain like an oppression on the chest. Twitching of
the intercostal muscles. For the last three or four weeks spell of
weakness and trembling, lasting a few minutes and then gradually wearing
off ; sometimes coming every day or two, sometimes not ;
generally they occur in the day-time. Left arm and shoulders lame and
< with the spells. Cramp in the legs ; more in the left, which was wounded.
Digitalis
9c. every third night dry. If better, stop.After the first week
his wife said : “He was like a young man” and “he
was by six inches taller because he could carry himself erect.” I
wondered myself at the change when meeting him at the post office.Jan. 27, 1890 :
Those trembling spells came on again, the first he had since 1885. He
gets white as a sheet and trembles allover, and the sweat stands in big
drops all over his face. He must either sit or fall down. The trembling
commences in the stomach, and he feels like sinking away, and certainly
looks that way. Unfortunately, when going to town, he cannot withstand
the invitation of friends to drink, and cannot stand much liquor.
Digitalis 9c
.
in half a tumbler of water, one teaspoonful every two hours. This
relieved him very soon.1889, July 22 :
Fell against the left lower ribs upon a sapling which he cut about a
fortnight ago. Since then short breath and pain in the ribs. Arnica
water rubbed in did nothing. Rhus tox. 20m. 6 powders, one every night
dry, relieved him.1890, Feb. 20 :
Sinking spells With one on 17th he seemingly was all gone ; he did
not know enough to swallow anything. After he got so that he could talk
be said he felt no pain, only he had such a fluttering at his heart, and
was so weak that he could not help himself. He is getting thin in flesh
and in strength. His wife writes that I helped him for two years and he
wanted the same medicine.
Digitalis 9c
,
in half a tumbler of water, one teaspoonful every two hours.March 11 : Patient
is getting smart, says he did not feel so well in two years as now. The
soreness has all gone out of the region of his heart, and the swelling
on the outside has gone down very much.
Digitalis 9cm.
every
other night dry ; 14 powders.April 17 : Patient
took the powders till gone ; the first one in water as before. His
wife writes : “Sam has not had but one of those spells since
he first commenced talking the medicine and that was only a light one.
This was when he had to take the third powder, which he took, and that
helped to make it light.”May 9 : His wife
reports : “The second slight spell was April 29, and no doubt
provoked by watching a son till 2 A. M. At midnight (12 P. M.) he looked
pale. He will leave off liquor. He is feeling as well as ever he can
except under the circumstances, for he can work, can lie on his left
side some, which he could not do before. Some soreness around the heart
yet.”June 6 : Had these
spells again, though not so hard as they used to be. On May 24, 26 and
30, there is something wrong with his stomach. He took fresh buttermilk
which made him tremble and brought on a spell. No appetite. Very weak.
Patient don’t touch liquor now.
Nux vom. cm.
June 19 : Patient
had only one scarcely perceptible attack on the heart in the night of
June 13 ; but now he is feeling better in all respects.Feb. 3, 1891 : Has
not been able to do anything since before the holidays, not as much as
to clear his pig-pen, without having one of those spells, and they have
become so bad that he just lives and that is all. Severe pains ail the
time just under the right, lower ribs, and his right arm and hand are as
cold as ice, and so also the right foot. His breathing is much oppressed
and short. He thinks the liver is affected, as his wife wrote.
Digitalis cm
dry, one at a time ; stop when better ; renew when worse.
Seven powders.Feb. 14 : This
worked splendidly. Patient has been gaining ever since, and says he is
feeling better now than at any time since last summer.Having heard nothing to
the contrary up to the present time, it is to be supposed that he is
well.
Angina
pectoris :Mr. R—., merchant, age 44, tall
and thin, a rheumatic subject ; a victim of the blizzard in
1888 ; carried through a severe attack of inflammatory rheumatism.1888, June 22 :
Was taken in the night with oppression on chest, with agony, centering
in his left chest, very short breath, and sharp pain like a knife going
through every time he moved. A doctor was called and found him very
sick. Pulse, 104 and fluctuating. His medicine relieved him at the time,
but next morning the pain was gradually creeping to the heart again, so
the medicine was changed by the physician, who is not known to be a
Hahnemannian. Then it went to the chest again, and grew gradually worse,
till the agony commenced last night at 1 o’clock. It was intense and
patient did not know how to stand it.
Digitalis 5m.
dry.
In two minutes patient
was asleep, and slept till night, when the pain came back a little.12 P. M. –Digitalis
5m. now, and at 3 A. M.The next morning
patient was very stiff, but he improved rapidly, and got well.
Enuresis
nocturnal :F. P—., age 16, blonde, gracile, small
for age, puny looking.1891, April 13 :
Generally weak ; pale ; habitual sick headaches. Strong
odorous of flowers or perfumery give him a sick headache, Also always
comes out of a theatre with a headache. Running, in the country exposed
to the sun gives him a headaches, mostly on the top and forehead. He can
only sleep his headaches off. Left eye inflamed, with photophobia ;
it used to run. Appetite good, sometimes he cannot eat enough. Loves
candy, but much sweet disagrees with his stomach. Tongue in the morning
dry and sour. About an hour after dinner nausea and vomiting of his food
and slime, which is sour. Frequent urination in the day-time. The urine
smells strong. He passes the urine in his bed every night, without
noticing it, because he sleeps so soundly. Even in the day-time whenever
he sits down he falls fast asleep and snores. In the morning he is hard
to wake, and after getting up walks around like one dazed. Every summer
he has prickly heat. Mountain air agrees better with him than the sea
air. Two years ago smoked cigarettes to an extent that made him unfit
for school. He loves open air. Is in the habit of drinking soda water.
Sulphur cm.
now,
and 12 blank powders, one every night dry.April 26 : Patient
did not wet his bed till Thursday night, when be forget to take powder.
Left eye well. Less frequent urination during the day. No dyspeptic
symptoms. Tongue right. Canine hunger satisfied. Sleeps well and feels
well.No medicine. Powders
14, one every night.May 10, 1891 :
Patient says he never felt so well in his life.No medicine. 14
powders, one every night dry.
Scarlatina, Lavigato
and Dropsy :Gustav H—., 9, short, not very
strong.1886, Jan. 3 : 12
P. M.After vomiting eight
times scarlatina broke cut with inflammation of the throat in the night
of December 31. Red all over with a bluish shade, skin tight.
Uninterrupted high lever. Insatiable thirst. Great restlessness and
tossing about. No appetite. His mother treated him with Aconite,
Bryonia and Belladonna 9c. Belladonna increased the heat,
but in the night diminished the delirium. Moaning incessantly. Thinks
the left arm feels queer, as if he had lain on it too long.At 8 P. M. I saw him.
The body was covered with the smooth scarlet eruption, with a livid
shade all over ; the lividity more marked at the right upper arm,
which was swollen, and in the right elbow bend. Tongue coated with white
slime. Sub-maxillary glands swollen and painful. Right parotid swollen
and painful ; right tonsil ulcerating with greenish pus. Swallowing
difficult, with stinging. No stool for 2 days. Pulse, 128.
Apis mel. 45m.
in
half a tumbler of water, one teaspoonful every two hours.Jan. 10 : Much
better. The fever went down lower each day. Since yesterday none. The
skin begins to desquamate some. Good appetite. Normal stool.
Cheerfulness. Two or three days after I saw him, patient complained of
his right arm as if broken ; it is better now, but still pains
some. Some soreness from the recumbent position.Jan. 22 : Got up
last Saturday at 10 A. M. and complained of his throat, which was much
inflamed, and of his nose, disappearing after two days. Then a peculiar
dull sensation in the left ear. The last two days patient got up about 4
or 5 P. M. and felt tired and cold. Yesterday nervous headache. Went to
bed at 5 P. M. and had a restless night, breathing rapidly and
heavily ; pushed his other from him, because she took away his
breathing air. Pulse full, more rapid than before, without fever. After
Puls 9c. he had a headache after two hours, and felt better when walking
up. Urine dark, turbid, in three times only as much as would be normal.
Had not much thirst yesterday. This night swelling of the face and neck,
around the eyes which appear small, also around the stomach and ribs,
tender to pressure. Pulse slow, especially when sleeping sixty eight,
and very irregular, like crotchets and quavers. Today be seems somewhat
better, has good appetite ; don’t look so pale. More drinking. Less
urine, dark but clear. Sometimes sneezing. Had chills and fever for a
long time forming, and used a solution of quinine. The skin is
continually detaching in shreds.
Arsenicum. 9cm.
in
half a tumbler of water, one teaspoonful every two hours.Jan. 23 : Took the
medicine at 10 P. M. and 2 A. M., in the morning headache on waking up.
Pale, swollen face. Profuse bleeding from nose, with amelioration of the
headache. Bitter through the day ; good appetite ; less
thirst ; less urine ; abdomen more swollen.Face less swollen. Free
passage of urine, as much as the last two days together. Nose bleed
after picking. Nose dry, stopped especially on the right side, causing
restless sleep. Stool after three days. Appetite moderate. Pale.Jan. 24 : Restless
night. Nose stopped and dry. Sides of throat, pharynx and uvula more red
than the palate. Some pain on swallowing in the morning. Face less
swollen ; but hypochondria and abdomen much enlarged. Stool twice,
free urination in the night and morning, and till 7 P. M., half a pint.
Urine 1019 Sp. g., pretty clear, with albumen. Appetite good ;
pulse 80, irregular.
Hepar sulph. Calc. cm.
In
half a tumbler of water, one teaspoonful every two hours.Jan. 27 : Appetite
good. No stool yesterday, today blackish broken, ill milling defecation.
Tongue thickly and roughly coated yellow. Sublingual gland swollen and
painful to touch. Face thin also the abdomen is diminished, because he
can meet his clothes again. Twice profuse epistaxis by day, and twice by
night, after an intolerable headache Right nostril closed. When be
touches it or draws the air up, it begins to bleed. Urine sufficient.Jan. 28 : Patient
feels very good, is cheerful and looks better. Right nostril still
closed. Yellow coated tongue. The desquamation still going on. Last
night pieces came off from the soles an eighth of an inch thick.Feb. 1 : Enormous
appetite. Pale at noon before eating. Headache better after eating. Nose
better. From spinning a top a large water blister formed on a finger.
Hepar cm.
dry.
After that patient
recovered rapidly, and has grown much stronger since.
Sycosis :
Louisa
T—, 21 years, servant, small stature, brunette.December 4, 1856 :
Suppression of menses after taking cold. Copious leucorrhœa, white like
cream and excoriating the parts. Poor appetite. No sleep. Small sores on
her back and side. Looks poorly.
Pulsatilla cm.
Removed the leucorrhœa
immediately, though not entirely. Soreness gone. Menstruation set in and
lasted four days. The sores are healing.Dec. 20 : Since
about a week patient fell back again. She had an attack of cholera
morbus last summer for which the was treated, and after that her trouble
commenced. Yesterday her menses appeared and stopped again. When
running, sticking pain in the right side : in a hip. Rumbling in
the bowels. Leucorrhœa yellow and acrid, Restless sleep. Homesickness.
Depression.
Sepia 2cm.
Dec. 27 : As there
was no change for the better, I examined her further, and learned that
she had a scald head when going to school, which went away by itself.
Two years ago she had fine furuncles on the left side, which were
treated with plasters. The examination of the genitals showed extensive
condylomata of cauliflower form at the both thighs. On inserting the
speculum the pus intruded from all sides, and escaped from the mouth of
the womb, the lips of which were enlarged and reddened, touch smooth.
Two ulcers in the vagina discharging pus. Looseness of stool. Face as
write as a sheet.
Thuja 10m.
Jan. 2, 1867 :
Better. Less secretion. Much burning pain at the excrescences, none
inside. Terrible burning when passing water.No medicine, powders in
water, teaspoonful every 3 hours.Jan. 9 : Slept
well. Appetite better. Good spirits. Not much pain and slight discharge.
Menstruation set in Friday and lasted till Sunday ; blood thick,
black-brown and scanty, almost without pain. Stool normal. On
examination no pain. The labia majora beginning to scale on the top,
otherwise the excrescences are just as large ; toward the anus they
are lumps the size of a walnut. At the inside of either thigh flat,
round, elevated excrescences of red color. The vaginal ulcers discharge
but very little pus.No medicine every
night.Jan. 16 :
Everything better. She says there is little discharge now. Mucus hanging
between the labia, and some purulent secretion a during. The flat
excrescences at the right inside of the thigh disappear, as also the
general cauliflower form of the others. Appetite and sleep, good. Looks
well.No medicine, every
night, dry.Jan. 23 : Two days
ago headache. Severe smarting pains at the parts, mostly from the anus
forward. The excrescences dry up with slight scale. Those at the left
side are still unchanged.No medicine, every
night dry.Jan. 30 : On the
27th, after a good night’s rest patient felt quite well. But the
breakfast was not palatable. The 28th, in the forenoon, no appetite,
aversion to eating, so that she had to take the food out of her mouth
again. Yawning. Nausea. Vomiting of water without taste. Yesterday her
mistress gave her warning to quit. She was so miserable that she had to
lie down, looking white as snow. Much smarting from the drying up
secretions. The condylomata still extend as far as the anus, but present
now a roundish elevation on a broad base. The surface of the labia
majora is covered with a greenish-yellow scabby substance, the
cauliflower form disappears. No vaginal ulcers, but the vagina is very
red and full of muco-purulent matter. Mouth of the womb thickened
anteriorly and somewhat irregular and slightly opened.No medicine, every
night, dry.Feb. 6 :
Menstruation passed in regular order. Much smarting and little
secretion. Vagina very red, with muco-purulent matter. Some jelly-like
substance protruding from the mouth of the womb. Otherwise well. Has an
excellent appetite and looks perfectly well and blooming. Continue no
medicine.Feb. 13 :
Everything improving. Not much smarting. Leucorrhœa slight. Still much
mucus in vagina. The broad lumpy excrescences toward the anus still the
same.No medicine, every night, dry.
Feb. 20 : The 14th
inst., before noon, and lasting through that and all the next day,
drawing together pain in stomach pit, could not bear the pressure of her
clothes, not sit upright, not stand, but was forced to stop. Patient
took some stomach drops for it that night without relief. But the next
day it went off by itself. Not much discharge, and what there is of it
is not as fluid as formerly. The excrescences at the right thigh are
gone, those at the left thigh and at the anus are the same. Erosions at
the labia minora. Muco-purulent matter in vagina. Mouth of womb normal.
Generally well. No medicine, every night, dry.May 6 : Perfectly
well.
Indigestion :
Mrs. S—., after eating new potatoes, complained of accumulation of
saliva, nausea, pressure in epigastrium.
Alumina 25c.
Immediately eructation of wind, diffusion in
epigastrium with relief. In the night cutting in the bowels with one
loose stool. Since then well.
Sycosis
Lavinia C., Negro girl, 17 years, small stature.1867, June 20 :
Swelled abdomen. Irregular in menstruation for eight months. Bearing
down pain is in hypogastrium. Cramps in stomach. Breaks out with pimples
on legs, and then at the privates, white looking warts, hurling her,
about weeks since. Two years ago menstruated first time. Since then it
has never stopped as long this time Appetite good, but victuals sour on
the stomach. Head-ache most all the time over eyes and behind ears. She
sometimes swells all over the body. Passing water freely. Pain on
pressure in the uterine region. Small white excrescences at the external
genital parts. After a few mesmeric passes she fell sleep, and had no
pains when waking up.10 A. M. :
Thuja 10m.
Jan. 26 : The
waters are gone, in their place is now eruption and soreness, that she
can hardly walk.Merc. viv. 30, in half
a tumbler of water, one teaspoonful every 3 hours.Jan. 30 : Better.
Suppurating yet. Swells in evening, but less. Head swimming. A little
sharp pain about navel. There are large fig warts in the perinæum like
cockscombs projecting half an inch.
Thuja 51m.
July 28 : Rises
well in morning, and when going to work swells all up. Soreness in
groins. Head right. Appetite and sleep good. No cramp. The excrescences
better ; it runs more like water, and is not so sore. They begin to
turn white as they commenced. She can walk well. On digital
examination the parts very sore. Cervix uteri cannot be reached. In the
lower part of abdomen a solid substance like a child, which can be
pushed up without pain. The fig-warts just a ? large as before, and
very sore.
Remark :
Patient had a fever, which was broken by bone set. She was swelled so
much that she could not help herself after getting wet by dew and water.
Vomited blood every new moon. Smoked tabacco. Toothache in hollow tooth
cured by inserting Kreosote. Morning breath feverish and sour.
Thuja 10m.
1871, Aug. 23 :
About a month after this dose the fig-warts went away, and she was well
in three months. After that she had a boy which was ail jelly, and had
no bone, looking purple. It was alive when was born, but soon died for
want of viability.Now for the last three
weeks when washing and ironing, scrash breaks out all over the body,
except face and hands, and forming a white scale like a fish scale. The
hair on the scalp comes out. Blinding headache from the ears icing over
the eyes.Patient is now married,
and has a second child, a girl, now two and a half years old, which is
healthy.
Thuja 20m
.
once a week.1871, Nov. 25 :
The eruption healed up, and the hair is coming in. Entirely well.
COMMENT.
652 and 663 : It
is wonderful how the simple farmer responds to the action of our high
potencies, if well selected. Our antagonists make the people believe
that robust men of large size must have strong medicine and large doses
of it, to make the desired impression and they sneer at our nothing’s,
which may be good enough for children and hysterical, maids, but not for
strong men and women. How much are they mistaken I A few doses of a 90m.
sufficed to cure the old man, standing over six feet in his stockings
and weighing more than 200 pounds, with broad shoulders, if stooping
from age and large, horny bands. Living mostly in the open air, working
daily on the farm and in the fields and woods, and eating simple,
wholesome food, without injuring their strength by using spirituous
drinks, these farmers live out their number of days in useful
occupation, and are more amenable to homœopathic treatment than people
living in the city and yielding to the manifold temptations of civilized
life.Had the son followed
the good example of his sire, he would probably have escaped the attacks
described in the prime of his life, though it must be said to his credit
that when in the war, he bad to sleep on the wet ground, had typhoid
fever in consequence, and was wounded, was subjected to conditions well
able to undermine his vitality. But, nevertheless, his life-force
responded with the same alacrity to the action of high potencies as in
the case of the old man.The totality of
symptoms of the pathogenetic pictured led to the selection of Digitalis,
in the pathogenesis of which all the corresponding symptoms are found.
The repetition of the remedy, before its action could have been spent,
was perhaps, not necessary. It did not, however, retard its healing
action by a cumulating ascribed to Digitalis in large doses. The various
potencies given acted as well as desired from 9c to cm ; and the
latter seemed to have had even a better effect than the lower ones.There was no organic
disease of the heart or liver, that could be discovered, and the disease
seemed to affect the organism in its nerve system, rather than in single
organs in which it might be localized.The ready response of
the life-force to the same remedy when similar symptoms reappeared after
a lapse of time, confirms the clinical rule to continue the remedy if it
has made a favorable impression, till its propensity is satisfied, and
to change the potency this time to a higher one.The retardation of the
pulse in the healthy, as observed by Hahnemann, seems to be the
legitimate pathogenetic effect of Digitalis purp. In large doses, such
as were probably used in his provings and in those of his pupils.Yet we find also
symptoms :652. Small quick, hard pulse (Hahnemann).
653. Small soft pulse (Jœrg).
654. Excited pulse (Kraus).
655. Accelerated pulse-after one hour (Jœrg).
657. First rapid, than slower pulse (Jœrg).And Baehr, in his
monograph on Digitalis says : The Digitalis pulse is usually small,
weak, easily compressed thread like, indistinct, undulating and, at
time, indistinct irregular and intermittent, after 3-7 or 15 to 18
beats, with intermission of the heart beat. All these symptoms were
obtained by comparatively large doses, which acts, constantly irritating
and accelerating the pulse and heart’s actions of Digitalis. After large
and very large doses, the acceleration of the pulse exceeds by far its
normal but very soon, or later, great depression, with sinking of the
pulse far below the normal limit occurs, “Through” Baehr
continue -“acceleration of the pulse is the characteristic of
Digitalis even retardation can occur as first action, when previously it
has been applied for a shorter or longer time in large doses.” Then
new doses produce the proper after action as first action on the heart
is only secondary, and of a depotentiating nature, producing what might
be termed irritable weakness of the heart. Under Digitalis even the
least bodily exertion or mental excitement has an immediately
accelerating influence on the pulse, and afterward on the heart’s
action. In continued application of large doses or intoxication,
Digitalis shows the tendency to turn the irritable weakness of the heart
into paralysis or heart failure.Parallel to the action
of Digitalis on the pulse is the action on liver. The ash colored white
stool points to deficient action to the liver, such as happens in
jaundice, though the yellow skin and conjunctiva have not yet been
observed in provings, only in poisonings. But, per contra, we have
decided symptoms of an increased secretion of bile. These are opposite
actions appearing as first action in one or the other prover. The
solution of the dilemma, that sometimes the one or the other symptom
appear first is-in the varying sensitivity of the provers, which in some
shows first the acceleration, in others the retardation of the pulse.We have in our cases
663 and 664 an example of utilizing the opposite symptoms of Digitalis,
reconciling the opposite opinions of Hahnemann and Baehr, the first
ascribing the retardation of the pulse to its first action, the second
the acceleration. In case II the pulse was only 52 ; in case 564.
104. Hahnemann says : “The after-action of Digitalis in large
doses, is acceleration of the pulse.” Baehr says “Retardation
is the after-action.” It is the old story of Opium
applied to Digitalis. Opium sedat ! Opium
mehercle excitat !
Why the one prover
should have this or that action first or afterward is a question
concerning theory more than practice, but it acquires practical
significance when we have to decide upon what symptoms the potency is to
be administered in the given case. And for this purpose a further
investigation into the sensitivity of individuals to be acted upon
appears to be very necessary.But Hahnemann, in
warning against lowering a high pulse by large doses of Digitalis, is
worthy of the closest attention, especially as this warning is not to be
confined to Digitalis, but extends to all the strong medicines which the
allopathicians use in large doses, in order to obtain the opposite
effect ; to which, invariably, that action follows which they want
to annihilate, so that they frustrate their own purpose, because they
are ignorant of the reciprocity of medicinal action in the organism.The characteristics in
this case were : The canine ; hunger, the invincible
sleepiness in the day-time and the sound sleep at night and long sleep
in the morning. Increased urination, especially in the night. Desire for
sweets. Indigestion as hour after dinner.Strange that he passed
urine again in the night, when he had forgotten to take his no medicine
powder. This shows how important a factor imagination is, that organism
reacts even automatically, upon the omission of an imagined medicinal
powder, from which the comfort may be derived that we do not altogether
deceive our patients when we give then no medicine powders. Nay, it
might even be that by making up these powders, we by the contact of our
fingers with the indifferent vehicle, may impart to it some magnetic
power, which is perceived by the life-force of the patient, if not by
himself. But evidently the action of that cm Sulphur was not the result
of imagination, but a fact not to be gainsaid.
Dr Thomas SyndenhamThe scarlatina
lævigata of Sydenham is a rare occurrence in this country, where we
find mostly the miliary form, and it is more to the feared than the
latter, on account of it volatility. Though Belladonna is more suited
for the smooth variety. Apis was selected on account of the livid shade
of the skin, and it acted as pleasantly as could be desired. But
probably from taking cold when getting up too soon, dropsy and
albuminuria ensued, which was promptly and effectively subdued by Hepar.
Looking on its provings we find only the following symptoms possibly
bearing some relation to dropsical affections :245. Tension over the stomach, be must unbutton his
dress and cannot endure sitting.
247. Stomach distended as of flatulence, with ice-cold hands.
252. Distension as of flatulence, in the left hypochondrium.
256. With distension the abdomen is painfully tender, more of walking
than fitting.
259. Pressing in the abdomen below the stomach pit, and everything in
the abdomen is as hard as stone.
260. Distended, thick belly without flatulence.
261. Distended, tense abdomen.
262. Tension in the abdomen all day.
456. Swelling of the right hand.
468. Swelling of the fingers of both hands with stiffness on lying.
459. Swelling of all fingers with tension on motion.
534. Swelling of the feet around the ankles with dyspnœa.These symptoms would
hardly have pointed to the selection of Hepar in the present case, after
Arsenicum alb. After a lapse of two days did not have the desired
effect, Dr. Kafka first recommended this remedy in dropsy following
scarlet fever from a mere pathological indication, because he found it
especially suited in all croupous exudations, here, the kidneys. The
effect justified Kafka’s acumen, for, from the time of its exhibition,
recovery commenced. He recommended the third potency, we used the cm,
and it did everything that could be desired. The fact of administering a
remedy of so much importance as Hepar upon a general pathological
indication shows that our Materia Medica Pura, rich as it is, still in
an imperfect state, and that it, as all the over well known old
remedies, bear proving over and over again, to render them still more
available in cases where otherwise they never would be thought of.These cases rooting in
the miasm of sycosis show two different modifications of fig-warts, the
one taking-the form of common warts or a conglomeration of tubular
excrescences of the skin which on the surface resembles the cauliflower,
and the other assuming the form of fleshy and massy excrescences
resembling the comb of a cock. Thuja had the same salutary influence
upon both modifications.The child to whom the
girl in the last case gave birth showed the dreadful disease in its
faulty development.That four years later
she still showed symptoms of he sycotic proves how deeply rooted it was,
though it was not sufficient to arrest the normal development of a
second child.Having heard no more of
the case, it is to be supposed that Thuja extinguished the miasm.
DISCUSSION.
Dr H. C. AllenDr. H. C. Allen :
I do not pretend to be well versed in homœopathic philosophy ; but
I do not think he follows the rules laid down in the ‘Organon‘
for practical work when he gives several powders of a high potency to be
taken without a re-examination of the patient. It is there clearly
stated that a second dose should not be given until the first ceases to
act. That such a method is successful has been many times demonstrated
at our meetings. Only yesterday we had a report of a magnificent cure
from Dr. Tomhagen, wrought by a single dose of Conium. That dose acted
one hundred and five days. No one can doubt that the cure would have
been interfered with by a repetition of the dose. Such a case is a real
homœopathic cure, and I would like to hear how Dr. Fincke explains such
repetition.
Dr. Fincke :
The patient lived
in the country and I could not see him after prescribing. I thought that
it would not hurt him to take the medicine in the form. I do not think
that the topic of repetition by any means is settled or exhausted. I
wanted to see whether the repetition would spoil the case or not, and it
didn’t (patent is well to the present day). I am open to improvement,
but I wish more experiments would be made in this line, and I think
cases ought to be reported, even if they not come up to the highest
model.
Dr. H. C. Allen :
I feel sure
that if Dr. Tomhagen had repeated his remedy, it would have spoiled the
case, although Dr. Fincke’s explanation may be a good one.
Source :
Medical Advance, 1891.
Copyright ©
Sylvain Cazalet 2001
